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Articles

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Questions and Answers for Effective Care

John M. Wilkinson, Margaret C. Gill

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a heterogeneous group of conditions related to specific biologic and cellular abnormalities that are not fully understood. Psychological factors do not cause IBS, but many people with IBS also have an anxious or depressed mood, prior adverse...

Mobility Assistive Device Use in Older Adults

Mandi Sehgal, Jeremy Jacobs, Wendy S. Biggs

Assistive devices such as canes, crutches, walkers, and wheelchairs can help alleviate the effects of mobility limitations in older adults, providing improved independence and quality of life. Clinicians should understand how to select the appropriate device and size for...

Obstetric Lacerations: Prevention and Repair

Michael J. Arnold, Kerry Sadler, KelliAnn Leli

Obstetric lacerations are a common complication of vaginal delivery and can lead to chronic pain and urinary and fecal incontinence. Perineal lacerations are defined by the depth of musculature involved. Late third-trimester perineal massage can reduce perineal lacerations in...

Editorials

AFP 2021: Updates, New Fellow, Top 20 Articles, AFP Statistics, and Thanking Peer Reviewers

Sumi M. Sexton

American Family Physician (AFP) continues its annual tradition of updating our readers on changes in the journal, welcoming new members to our editing team, highlighting the top 20 articles from the prior year, sharing print circulation and website statistics, and thanking...

AFP Clinical Answers

Endometrial Biopsy, Circumcision, Fever in Children, Thyroid Nodules, Pancreatitis

Key clinical questions and their evidence-based answers directly from the journal’s content, written by and for family physicians.

Putting Prevention Into Practice

Interventions for Tobacco Smoking Cessation in Adults, Including Pregnant Persons

Tina Fan, Grace Lee

This PPIP quiz is based on the recommendations of the USPSTF.

Photo Quiz

Rapidly Growing Red Nodule on the Scalp

Ossama Abbas, Carla Stephan, Tara Bardawil, Mazen Kurban

A patient presented with a fleshy, erythematous, round, exophytic red nodule over the frontal scalp.

Lown Right Care

Poor Physician-Patient Communication and Medical Error

Andy Lazris, Alan R. Roth, Helen Haskell, John James

A collaboration between AFP and the Lown Institute promotes a vision of delivering health care that is based on the evidence, balanced in its approach, and focused on the patient.

Point-of-Care Guides

Predicting True Penicillin Allergy in Adults

Seán O. Whelan, Frank Moriarty

In patients reporting a penicillin allergy, is it possible to determine the likelihood of true allergy without formal testing?

Diary of a Family Physician

Diary of a Family Physician

Kento Sonoda, Seiji Hayashi

First-person accounts from the front lines of family medicine.

Practice Guidelines

Hypertension: New Guidelines from the International Society of Hypertension

Andrew Buelt, Adrienne Richards, Andre L. Jones

The International Society of Hypertension has published summary guidelines based on major international guidelines published between 2017 and 2020 on the control of hypertension. These summary guidelines include essential recommendations and suggestions for optimal care.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

Interventions for Tobacco Smoking Cessation in Adults, Including Pregnant Persons: Recommendation Statement

The USPSTF recommends that clinicians ask all adults about tobacco use, advise them to stop using tobacco, and provide behavioral interventions and U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved pharmacotherapy for cessation to nonpregnant adults who use tobacco.

Letters to the Editor

The Importance of Keeping Patients with Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (Long COVID) Engaged in Work

Chris Stewart-Patterson, Robert Bourgeois, Douglas W. Martin

Primary Care Is Essential in Screening, Treating, and Referring People for Unhealthy Drug Use

Alann Weissman-Ward, Smita Das

Reply: Sarah Marie Coles, Alexis Vosooney

All Patients Undergoing Any Surgical Procedure Should Be Assessed for Frailty

Marie Cris Tamesis, Jeanne Spencer

Reply: Ann Lindsay

Information from Your Family Doctor

How to Use Canes and Walkers

If you have one leg that is painful or weak and makes it hard to walk or keep your balance, a cane might help. If you have poor balance or feel unsteady on your feet, a walker might be better. The type of cane or walker that is best for you depends on your strength, fitness...

Corrections

Corrections

Missing reference text. In the article “Cerebrospinal Fluid Analysis,” (April 1, 2021, p. 422) the full citation for reference 60 was inadvertently truncated (page 428). The full citation should have read: “60. Zorofchian S, Iqbal F, Rao M, et al. Circulating tumour DNA,...



Disclosure

All editors in a position to control content for this activity, AFP journal, are required to disclose any relevant financial relationships. View disclosures.


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