Drs. Jennifer Kask and Kirsten Duckitt
January 25, 2023
Vaginal progesterone for the prevention of preterm birth
Preterm birth is the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality in British Columbia and worldwide. We now carefully elicit any history of previous preterm birth and offer vaginal progesterone therapy for ANY history of spontaneous preterm birth. We fill in the Special Authority Request and give out the patient handout even before the patient goes to the pharmacy. We also encourage women to continue the medications until 37 weeks of gestational age. read more...
Dr. Karin Kausky, Dr. Tracy Monk, and Daniela Michel, MPH
January 11, 2023
Bugs & Drugs guide to antimicrobial therapy
Antimicrobial resistance is recognized as a top public health threat and is estimated to be directly responsible for 5,400 deaths and $1.4 billion in health care costs in Canada in 2018 which underlines the critical importance of wise prescribing of antibiotics. Every time I prescribe an antibiotic now, I check the Bugs & Drugs guidelines via PathwaysBC.ca. read more...
Dr. Steve Wong
December 19, 2022
Letter from the editor
While I do think AI will become a tool we integrate into all aspects of medical practice in the coming years, we still need our collective human intelligence to reflect on how our choices impact patients, their families, the medical system, and society. We might not always agree, but I've always held that respectful debate leads to learning and evolution of knowledge. read more...
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...
