All articles

James McCormack
Sep 16, 2015

Cardiovascular outcomes and blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol numbers

Numerous observational studies have consistently shown in many (but not all) patient populations a correlation between people with higher blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol numbers, and a greater risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks, strokes, and other unwanted outcomes. read more...

Dr. Catherine Allaire
Sep 02, 2015

Management of cyclical pelvic pain

Endometriosis is a very common condition affecting an estimated 10% of women of reproductive age. Severe dysmenorrhea is the most common symptom of endometriosis and the earliest one to occur. read more...

Dr. Anne Antrim
Aug 19, 2015

This app changed my practice – Read by QxMD

Read by QxMD provides the current research and opinions on topics in your field in a user-friendly manner so that I am not the last person in the province using Ribavarin for RSV infection when everyone else has read about the lack of efficacy. read more...

Douglas Cave, PhD
Aug 03, 2015

Recognizing the Potential Influence of the Interpersonal Gap in Teaching

I was frustrated at times that the students and residents did not always follow the instructions I gave. Their work was sometimes incomplete, off topic, or plainly wrong. While this was not true for most students, it was consistently true for a few each year. Teaching about empathy for example, I would invite residents to practice doing an interview with each other using empathic reflections and they would do it incorrectly. read more...

Dr. Clara van Karnebeek and Dr. Sylvia Stockler
Jul 29, 2015

This app changed my practice – Treatable Intellectual Disability Endeavor in B.C. (TIDE) – Treatable ID App www.treatable-id.org

Affecting 2-3% of Canadians, intellectual disability (ID) is a lifelong, devastating condition defined by deficits in cognitive functioning (IQ<70) and adaptive skills. It is called global developmental disability (GDD) in children less than 5 years of age; it is defined as deficits in 2 or more developmental domains. In Canada, approximately 7,600-11,500 children are born annually with GDD. Identification of GDD or ID in children is the essential first step and often a task for the primary care practitioner. read more...

Dr. Randall White
Jul 08, 2015

Measurement of depressive symptoms improves outcomes in primary care

Simple use of a self-rated symptom checklist can double the odds of response to antidepressant medication in primary-care patients. read more...

Dr. Sue Murphy
Jul 03, 2015

Open book exams – something to consider?

One of the topics examined in my initial “professionalism” course are the bylaws and Standards of Practice of the licensing body. Bearing in mind that the end goal is that students should be able to apply these standards to practice, not just memorise them, the multiple choice question (MCQ) exam format I have used contained a typical practice scenario with a variety of possible options for action, with instructions for the student to select the “best” option. read more...

Dr. Jane Buxton and Erica Tsang
Jun 24, 2015

BC Take Home Naloxone Program

Opioid overdose is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and constitutes a serious public health issue. Throughout British Columbia (BC), the landscape of opioid overdose has evolved, first with oxycodone and more recently, illicit fentanyl. read more...

Dr. Kourosh Afshar
Jun 10, 2015

Role of imaging in management of undescended testis (UDT)

UDT is one of the common causes for referral to Pediatric Urologists. 1-2% of boys have UDT at age of 12 months. UDT is associated with increased risk of malignancy (relative risk 2.75-8). read more...

Dr. Mustafa Toma and Dr. Christopher Cheung
May 27, 2015

Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction: The TOPCAT and ALDO-DHF trials

There are approximately 500,000 Canadians living with heart failure, and more than 10% in patients older than 65. Up to 50% of patients presenting with signs and symptoms of heart failure will have a preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF or diastolic dysfunction). However, there is a lack of evidence for effective therapies in the management of HFpEF. read more...

Dr. Hamidreza Abdi and Dr. Peter Black
May 13, 2015

Evolving use of multi parametric MRI in prostate cancer detection

The prostate is the only organ in the body that is routinely biopsied blindly without visualization of a specific suspected tumour. MRI before prostate biopsy may become routine practice, which should reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies. read more...

Andrea Warnick
Apr 29, 2015

The unvoiced questions of children experiencing an illness, dying, or death in their family

Serious illness, dying, or death of a family member is one of the most significant life events a child will ever experience. I no longer wait for them to share their concerns and questions with me. I invite questions and address the grief. read more...