How to conduct and write a cross-sectional study

@#<p style="text-align: justify;" data-mce-style="text-align: justify;">Cross sectional study design involves observation of variable/s at a particular point in time. It can be descriptive or analytical. Descriptive cross-sectional study design measures prevalence of disease/traits. Analytical cross-sectional study design evaluates associations between variables. However, it could not establish causality. Doing a cross-sectional study starts with identification of the purpose of the study. This is followed by development of the objectives that should follow the SMART criteria. A dummy table should also be constructed that is based on the objectives of the study so that needed data would not be missed. The next step is defining the population of the study followed by sample size computation which could be done using the Epiinfo™ program. Next, selection of sample population, ideally, using random sampling should be done. This is followed by the development of data collection methods. For cross-sectional studies, questionnaires are frequently used to collect data. 5A’s of questionnaire development should be kept in mind when formulating the questionnaire. In addition, the use of the following should be avoided: double-barreled item; negatively worded item; statements as questions; agreement response anchors; and too few or too many response anchors. Data collection and data analysis will be done next. Analysis of data could also be done using the Epi-info™ program. Descriptive statistics which includes frequency distributions, measures of central tendency and measures of variability provide a description and summary of participants data. Specific type of statistics is determined by the type of variable. For analytical type of crosssectional studies, measure of association could either be Prevalence Ratio (PR) or Odds Ratio (OR). Data independence and type of o utcomedata measured determine what statistical test to utilize in order to test the hypothesis. The STROBE statement should guide the writing of the final paper.</p>

Treatment decisions based on clinical trials

@#The randomized Controlled Trial is the standard design to prove the effectiveness of drugs or other forms of interventions. In this type of clinical research, individuals are randomly assigned (randomization) to either of the two or more groups, one with the intervention the other without the intervention being tested or another intervention. When done properly, it can provide the best evidence of effectiveness

Clinical pathway for the management of uninvestigated Dyspepsia among adults in family and community practice: Updated 2021

Background@#Uninvestigated dyspepsia is a common complaint in family practice in the Philippines. Patients usually seek consult due to severity of symptoms which affect their quality of life. The goals of management are short- and long-term symptom control, with reversal of possible underlying mechanisms, achievable through a combination of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions.@*Objective@#The main objective of this pathway is to guide family physicians and primary care physicians in the assessment, diagnosis and management of adult patients with uninvestigated dyspepsia through a shared decision-making process.@*Method@#This clinical pathway is an update of the PAFP’s Clinical Pathways for the Management of Dyspepsia in Adults (2016). The current panel utilized the ADAPTE method and prioritized reviewing relevant clinical practice guidelines from 2017 to present. Grading of recommendation was achieved through a mixture of strength of available evidence and a consensus from a panel of experts.@*Summary of Recommendations@#The main changes in the recommendations in this update are as follows: symptom-based classification of dyspepsia, screening for anxiety and depression, family and SCREEM assessment; initiation of therapeutic trial for most patients to whom H. pylori testing is not available; extension of initial PPI treatment to 4-8 weeks, consideration of antacids/alginates for immediate symptom relief, consideration of tricyclic antidepressants for non-responders to initial treatment; symptom-based non-pharmacologic advice, consideration of counseling and other psychosocial interventions; empowerment for self-treatment and as-needed therapy for those who have completed the initial treatment regimen@*Dissemination and Implementation@#This guideline shall be disseminated and implemented at the clinic and organizational level. It will be published in the “The Filipino Family Physician” journal, social media platforms and will be disseminated through PAFP local chapters, training institutions and during the national convention. Non-FCM primary care physicians will also be reached through relevant agencies. It shall be included in the references required during training activities and national exams of accredited training institutions, in coordination with the PAFP committee on Residency Training. It shall be incorporated in checklists for compliance in audits and QA cycles, with support from the PAFP committee on Quality Assurance and that on Standards for Family Practice. Feedback on utility and applicability will be actively sought from the intended users and other stakeholders.

Diagnosis and management of Dyslipidemia in family practice

Background@#Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is a top cause of mortality in the Philippines. A known modifiable risk factor for ASCVD is dyslipidemia. Thus, proper diagnosis and management of dyslipidemia in family practice clinic could significantly decrease the burden of cardiovascular disease in the country@*Objectives@#This clinical pathway was developed to guide family and community physicians on the diagnosis and management of dyslipidemia.@*Methods@#To develop evidence -based recommendations, the authors searched for the latest guidelines of reputable international and local societies. They also searched PubMed using the terms “dyslipidemia”, “diagnosis”, “therapeutics”, “family” and “community medicine”. The more rigorous meta-analysis of clinical trials and observational studies were prioritized over lowquality trials in the formulation of the recommendations.@*Recommendations@#Thorough ASCVD risk assessment for all adults should be done during initial visit in family practice. The physician should review patient’s present medication; probe regarding lifestyle habits; conduct complete physical examination; use family assessment tools; and assess risk for ASCVD using calculators or risk factor counting method. For patients ≥ 45 years old and all adult patients regardless of age at increase ASCVD risk the following should be requested: lipid profile, urinary albumin- creatinine ratio/ urinary dipstick test, alanine transaminase (ALT), 12-lead electrocardiography (12-L ECG) and fasting blood sugar (FBS). During subsequent visits, re-assessment of ASCVD risk; checking compliance to non-pharmacologic intervention; and review of medication adherence and adverse effects should be performed. Repeat measurement of lipid profile should be done 6-8 weeks after initiation of statin therapy; 8-12 weeks after dose adjustment; and biannually for patients with controlled lipid levels. For individuals on statin therapy who have already achieved their low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goal, compute for non- high density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL C). Repeat ALT 6-8 weeks after initiation of statin therapy for those at high risk of statin-induced liver injury. Request creatine kinase (CK) if with development of muscle symptoms while on statin therapy. For primary prevention, start low-moderate intensity statins for following: individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM) Type 2 without ASCVD; individuals with mild-moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD); and individuals without ASCVD aged ≥ 45 years old with LDL -C ≥ 130 mg/dl AND with ≥ 2 risk factors. Start high intensity statins for individuals diagnosed with Familial Hypercholesterolemia. Give high intensity statins as secondary prevention for individuals with established ASCVD. For individuals with ASCVD on maximally tolerated statin therapy not meeting target LDL-C, ezetimibe could be added to their regimen. Low saturated fat diet rich in fruits and vegetable; regular exercise; and smoking cessation should be advised for all adult patients. The physician should also engage other family members to adopt healthy lifestyle. Formation of a community-based lifestyle intervention program to reduce cardiovascular risk should also be supported by the family physician.@*Implementation@#Adherence to pathway recommendations that are graded as either A-I, A-II or B-I is strongly advised. However, the authors also recommend using sound clinical judgment and patient involvement in the decision making before applying the recommendations.