Dr. Caitlin Dunne
November 30, 2022
Diagnosis and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) using virtual health
Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common endocrinopathy in women of reproductive age. It affects 8%–13% of young women and its symptoms are some of the most prevalent concerns that community physicians encounter. In many cases, diagnosis and management can be carried out in a virtual health setting using clinical criteria and judicious use of laboratory investigations. read more...
Drs. Piszczek, Wright, and Grant
November 16, 2022
Moving into the treatment phase of the COVID-19 pandemic
My approach now is to have the confidence to reassure patients who are low risk that SARS-CoV2 infection will most likely be mild for them and that no specific therapy is needed. Those who are of intermediate risk will also generally do well, but it is an opportunity to create a plan of what to do if they have flu-like symptoms, including their preferences should they test COVID positive. For those who are at high risk, especially CEV-1, I ensure them that there is a clear testing and treatment plan. Any physician can prescribe Nirmatrelvir/rt. A step-by-step instruction guide for prescribing is available on the BCCDC website. read more...
Drs. Cheryl Young and David McVea
November 2, 2022
Radon: a preventable cause of lung cancer
November is Radon Action Month. There are approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths in Canada attributable to radon exposure each year, but there is limited awareness of radon both among the public and health care providers. read more...
Dr. Elisabeth Baerg Hall
October 19, 2022
Women with ADHD — Practice Tips
October is ADHD Awareness month. Until recently, female presentations of ADHD have been largely overlooked in both clinical and research settings. With increasing awareness and media attention to women and ADHD, adult women are asking if ADHD could explain their longstanding challenges. read more...
Drs. Fiona Petigara and Joanna Cheek
September 28, 2022
Offering CBT skills by group medical visits
A large part of physician’s day is spent on mental health and wait times to see specialists can be very long. In 2022 the BC Government created “Group Medical Visit” (GMV) codes to promote physicians to deliver services to groups of patients as “an effective way of leveraging existing resources; simultaneously improving quality of care and health outcomes, increasing patient access to care and reducing costs” (BC Gov, 2022). Physicians can now refer their patients to the Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy program via cbtskills.ca or through PathwaysBC fillable PDF and they can also train to facilitate group medical visits. read more...
Dr. Konia Trouton
September 12, 2022
Why I talk about all Long Term Reversible Contraception (LARC)
Patient satisfaction and continuation rates are very well documented for various contraceptives in Canada. Among the combined hormonal contraceptives — the pill, patch, and ring — only 50% of people are still using them after a year, despite all efforts to improve compliance and reduce side effects. In contrast, over 80% of people are still using long-acting and reversible IUDs a year later. read more...
Dr. Kevin Afra, Maggie Wong, PharmD, Tim T.Y. Lau, PharmD, and Dr. Victor Leung
August 15, 2022
Duration of antimicrobial therapy for common infections in primary care
Antibiotic treatment duration decision-making is fundamentally a balance of expected benefit and harm. Anchoring our expectations of benefit and harm with the most current literature can better inform clinical decision-making. The harms of antibiotics are often underappreciated. Shorter treatment durations are just as effective as longer durations for a wide range of common infections. read more...
Drs. Mel Krajden and Jim Gray
July 28, 2022
Hepatitis C birth cohort testing
WHO observes July 28th as World Hepatitis Day and aims to eliminate Hepatitis B and C by 2030. The Pan-Canadian Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections (STBBI) Framework for Action released in 2018 echoes this goal and calls for 80% of eligible people in Canada to receive hepatitis C treatment by 2030. In order to achieve these goals by 2030, high rates of testing and diagnosis are essential. New HCV therapies are well tolerated, require 8–12 weeks of treatment, are publicly funded in BC, and have cure rates of about 95%. read more...
Arman Abdalkhani, MD FRCSC
July 15, 2022
It’s not the ear — how TMD can confound clinicians
Otolaryngologists receive many referrals for what is classified as Eustachian Tube Dysfunction, aural fullness, and subjective hearing loss. Practitioners frequently encounter ear fullness or subjective hearing loss, in the face of an otherwise normal exam. It may lead practitioners to “read into” their physical exam with abnormal tympanic membrane (TM) findings. read more...
Drs. Val Stoynova and Celia Culley
June 28, 2022
Mitigating the climate impact of asthma therapy
I have changed my practice to optimize patient care and planetary health by considering the climate impact of my prescribing choices while continuing to provide high-quality, evidence-based, lower cost, patient-centred asthma care. read more...
Drs. J Marie Kim and William Connors
June 15, 2022
Prevention of recurrent cellulitis
Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are exceedingly common and account for up to 10% of all hospital admissions in Western countries. The most common SSTIs, cellulitis, refers to diffuse, superficial, spreading skin infections, often with significant inflammation of lymphatic vessels. Cellulitis can frequently recur and studies have shown that up to 29% of admissions with cellulitis were due to repeat episodes. Prophylactic therapies and mitigating of risk factors have been recently shown to reduce recurrence. The focus of this article is the prevention of recurrent, lower-extremity, nonpurulent cellulitis that is not associated with major penetrating trauma, preceding leg ulceration, or surgery. read more...
Drs. Angela Hu, Jon Chan, and Neda Amiri
May 24, 2022
Inflammatory back pain: distinguishing it from common mechanical back pain
Low back pain is a common complaint encountered in the general practitioner’s office. In fact, about two-thirds of adults suffer from low back pain at some point in their life, and it is second to only upper respiratory problems as a reason for visits to a physician. Axial spondyloarthritis is an autoimmune disease that results in inflammation in the spine. A number of therapies exist for this condition and early therapy may prevent progressive spinal fusion. Given the sheer prevalence of low back pain, identifying patients with axial spondyloarthritis can be challenging. read more...
