Heart Failure Due to Reduced Ejection Fraction: Medical Management.

Heart failure is an increasingly common condition resulting in high rates of morbidity and mortality. For patients who have heart failure and reduced ejection fraction, randomized clinical trials demonstrate consistent mortality benefit from angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, direct-acting vasodilators, beta blockers, and aldosterone antagonists. Additionally, some data show benefits from two new classes of drugs: angiotensin receptor blocker/neprilysin inhibitor and sinus node modulator. Diuretics and digoxin can be used as needed for symptom control. Statins are not recommended solely for treatment of heart failure. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators and biventricular pacemakers improve mortality and function in selected patients. For patients who have been hospitalized for heart failure, disease management programs and telemonitoring can reduce hospitalizations and mortality.

Residents' perceptions over time of pharmaceutical industry interactions and gifts and the effect of an educational intervention.

PURPOSE: To describe change in residents' attitudes toward gifts from and interactions with industry and to measure the effects of a formal educational workshop on changes in perceptions. METHOD: At the University of Chicago, 118 internal medicine residents completed an observational survey and took part in a controlled intervention across three years (2001-2004) of residency. Four cohorts of residents completing the program in 2004-2007 participated. The intervention was an interactive educational workshop, including reviews of literature and guidelines, and three videos demonstrating routine resident interactions with pharmaceutical representatives. Residents graduating in 2005 were the intervention group and residents graduating in 2004 the comparison group. Analysis of variance and linear regression models were used to determine the relationship between variables. RESULTS: Residents perceived "lunch sponsored at noon conference" and "pharmaceutical representative brief talk at noon conference" as increasingly appropriate over their training period (p < .02). Residents perceived "pens, notepads, pocket antibiotic guides" as increasingly appropriate and "tickets to sporting events," "round of golf," and "travel/registration for national conference" as increasingly inappropriate (p < .05). The intervention group was more likely to rate only one item, "lunch at noon conference," as less appropriate (p = .042). CONCLUSIONS: Residents' perceptions toward industry gifts and interactions changed modestly during their training to reflect institutional policy. "Appropriate" gifts of minimal value were generally perceived as increasingly appropriate, whereas "inappropriate" gifts were perceived as increasingly inappropriate over time. An educational workshop alone may not significantly alter residents' perceptions toward industry without the implementation of broad and consistent institutional policy.

Integrating education into primary care quality and cost improvement at an academic medical center.

INTRODUCTION: In 1996 the University of Michigan Health System created the Guidelines Utilization, Implementation, Development, and Evaluation Studies (GUIDES) unit to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of primary care for common medical problems. GUIDES's primary functions are to oversee the development of evidence-based, practical clinical guidelines for common medical conditions; measure and provide feedback on physicians' performance; and facilitate systemic changes to support appropriate care. Various methods are used to improve care, including evidence reviews, formal education, informal clinical "opinion leaders," feedback, reminders, and procedure changes. Twenty-four common medical conditions have been addressed through this process. More than 30 measures of clinical performance have been developed and reported. METHODS: This case study describes a systematic, multifaceted program to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of primary care. RESULTS: Illustrative results for clinical performance are presented for 2 measures of chronic care, 2 measures of preventive care, and 2 measures of acute care. All 6 measures show general improvement in performance across years, with performance near or above the National Committee for Quality Assurance's 90th percentile for Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set measures. DISCUSSION: A systematic approach involving all relevant components of a health system integrates the synthesis of information, education about the information and how to implement it, and addressing operational barriers. Benefits include a curriculum that is shared across faculty, residents, and medical students and more uniform quality of care that faculty model for physicians-in-training.

Accuracy of physician self-assessment compared with observed measures of competence: a systematic review.

CONTEXT: Core physician activities of lifelong learning, continuing medical education credit, relicensure, specialty recertification, and clinical competence are linked to the abilities of physicians to assess their own learning needs and choose educational activities that meet these needs. OBJECTIVE: To determine how accurately physicians self-assess compared with external observations of their competence. DATA SOURCES: The electronic databases MEDLINE (1966-July 2006), EMBASE (1980-July 2006), CINAHL (1982-July 2006), PsycINFO (1967-July 2006), the Research and Development Resource Base in CME (1978-July 2006), and proprietary search engines were searched using terms related to self-directed learning, self-assessment, and self-reflection. STUDY SELECTION: Studies were included if they compared physicians' self-rated assessments with external observations, used quantifiable and replicable measures, included a study population of at least 50% practicing physicians, residents, or similar health professionals, and were conducted in the United Kingdom, Canada, United States, Australia, or New Zealand. Studies were excluded if they were comparisons of self-reports, studies of medical students, assessed physician beliefs about patient status, described the development of self-assessment measures, or were self-assessment programs of specialty societies. Studies conducted in the context of an educational or quality improvement intervention were included only if comparative data were obtained before the intervention. DATA EXTRACTION: Study population, content area and self-assessment domain of the study, methods used to measure the self-assessment of study participants and those used to measure their competence or performance, existence and use of statistical tests, study outcomes, and explanatory comparative data were extracted. DATA SYNTHESIS: The search yielded 725 articles, of which 17 met all inclusion criteria. The studies included a wide range of domains, comparisons, measures, and methodological rigor. Of the 20 comparisons between self- and external assessment, 13 demonstrated little, no, or an inverse relationship and 7 demonstrated positive associations. A number of studies found the worst accuracy in self-assessment among physicians who were the least skilled and those who were the most confident. These results are consistent with those found in other professions. CONCLUSIONS: While suboptimal in quality, the preponderance of evidence suggests that physicians have a limited ability to accurately self-assess. The processes currently used to undertake professional development and evaluate competence may need to focus more on external assessment.

The uncertain future of continuing medical education: commercialism and shifts in funding.

To preserve a professionally responsible system for continuing medical education (CME), medicine must recognize and address two powerful economic forces: commercial interests and societal resource limitations. Commercial support to accredited CME providers is now more than 50% of total CME income. The cumulative influence is increasingly biasing CME development, presentation, and participation toward topics that benefit commercial interests. Options to address this cumulative bias are proposed. Limitations on societal resources for health care have reduced funding from medical schools and hospitals for the infrastructure of CME. Financial pressures are likely to increase, potentially leading to controls on drug costs and significant reductions in commercial support of CME. Financial pressures on physicians' incomes may limit the extent to which registration fees could offset these reductions. Physicians and their professional organizations should recognize these threats to the objectivity, funding, and infrastructure of the CME system and they should work to ensure a viable CME system in the future.

Systems-based framework for continuing medical education and improvements in translating new knowledge into physicians' practices.

Concerns about health care costs and quality are focusing increasing attention on physicians and their continuing medical education (CME). These concerns have produced several calls for "a new definition, " "a new vision, " "repositioning, " "reinventing, " and "transforming" CME. However, differences in conceptualizations and vocabularies have introduced appreciable confusion in recommending changes. This article uses a systems-based approach to describe and analyze the processes involved in translating new information into physicians' practices. The article (1) introduces a conceptual framework that links physician learning and performance to systems for information, education, implementation, and regulation in the context of the larger health care system; (2) uses the framework to identify concerns and opportunities for the major types of systems immediately relevant to CME; and (3) uses the framework to suggest broader implications for CME, including the nature of process for changing physicians' practices, needed improvements, priorities in performing research, and implications for CME professionals.

Diagnosis and management of osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a common disorder with significant morbidity and mortality. Clinical risk factors can identify patients most likely to have osteoporosis. Patients who have decreased bone mass are candidates for calcium and vitamin D supplementation; those who have more severe bone loss should be screened for secondary causes and started on medical therapy. First-line therapy most often is a bisphosphonate. Estrogen reduces hip fractures in women. Recombinant parathyroid hormone is reserved for patients who have failed or are not candidates for bisphosphonate therapy. Follow-up dual-emission x-ray absorptiometry is reserved for when a change in bone mineral density will make a difference in therapy.

Pharmacologic management of heart failure caused by systolic dysfunction.

Heart failure caused by systolic dysfunction affects more than 5 million adults in the United States and is a common source of outpatient visits to primary care physicians. Mortality rates are high, yet a number of pharmacologic interventions may improve outcomes. Other interventions, including patient education, counseling, and regular self-monitoring, are critical, but are beyond the scope of this article. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and beta blockers reduce mortality and should be administered to all patients unless contraindicated. Diuretics are indicated for symptomatic patients as needed for volume overload. Aldosterone antagonists and direct-acting vasodilators, such as isosorbide dinitrate and hydralazine, may improve mortality in selected patients. Angiotensin receptor blockers can be used as an alternative therapy for patients intolerant of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and in some patients who are persistently symptomatic. Digoxin may improve symptoms and is helpful for persons with concomitant atrial fibrillation, but it does not reduce cardiovascular or all-cause mortality. Serum digoxin levels should not exceed 1.0 ng per mL (1.3 nmol per L), especially in women.

Atypical presentations of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease typically manifests as heartburn and regurgitation, but it may also present with atypical or extraesophageal symptoms, including asthma, chronic cough, laryngitis, hoarseness, chronic sore throat, dental erosions, and noncardiac chest pain. Diagnosing atypical manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease is often a challenge because heartburn and regurgitation may be absent, making it difficult to prove a cause-and-effect relationship. Upper endoscopy and 24-hour pH monitoring are insensitive and not useful for many patients as initial diagnostic modalities for evaluation of atypical symptoms. In patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease who have atypical or extraesophageal symptoms, aggressive acid suppression using proton pump inhibitors twice daily before meals for three to four months is the standard treatment, although some studies have failed to show a significant benefit in symptomatic improvement. If these symptoms improve or resolve, patients may step down to a minimal dose of antisecretory therapy over the following three to six months. Surgical intervention via Nissen fundoplication is an option for patients who are unresponsive to aggressive antisecretory therapy. However, long-term studies have shown that some patients still require antisecretory therapy and are more likely to develop dysphagia, rectal flatulence, and the inability to belch or vomit.

Management of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The primary treatment goals in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease are relief of symptoms, prevention of symptom relapse, healing of erosive esophagitis, and prevention of complications of esophagitis. In patients with reflux esophagitis, treatment is directed at acid suppression through the use of lifestyle modifications (e.g., elevating the head of the bed, modifying the size and composition of meals) and pharmacologic agents (a histamine H2-receptor antagonist [H2RA] taken on demand or a proton pump inhibitor IPPI] taken 30 to 60 minutes before the first meal of the day). The preferred empiric approach is step-up therapy (treat initially with an H2RA for eight weeks; if symptoms do not improve, change to a PPI) or step-down therapy (treat initially with a PPI; then titrate to the lowest effective medication type and dosage). In patients with erosive esophagitis identified on endoscopy, a PPI is the initial treatment of choice. Diagnostic testing should be reserved for patients who exhibit warning signs (i.e., weight loss, dysphagia, gastrointestinal bleeding) and patients who are at risk for complications of esophagitis (i.e., esophageal stricture formation, Barrett's esophagus, adenocarcinoma). Antireflux surgery, including open and laparoscopic versions of Nissen fundoplication, is an alternative treatment in patients who have chronic reflux with recalcitrant symptoms. Newer endoscopic modalities, including the Stretta and endocinch procedures, are less invasive and have fewer complications than antireflux surgery, but response rates are lower.

Characteristics of primary care physicians and their practices associated with mammography rates for older women.

BACKGROUND: Mammography screening rates are below national recommendations for older women. Understanding the relation between the characteristics of primary care physicians (PCPs) and mammography rates for older women can help to target screening improvement efforts. METHODS: Subjects were 2527 PCPs practicing in Michigan between 1997 and 1998. A cross-sectional design used Medicare data to identify women age 68 years or older in 1998 whom PCPs treated in 1997-1998 and to determine whether these women had a mammogram between 1996 and 1998. Eligible women were Medicare beneficiaries age 65 years or older by 1996, residing in Michigan from 1996 to 1998, without specified comorbidities likely to affect decisions regarding mammography. Correlations and multiple regressions examined the relation between this score and characteristics of both PCPs and their practice populations of older women. RESULTS: Mammography rates across physicians' practices ranged from 3-100% (mean = 59%, standard deviation = 17%). Five predictors accounted for 55% of the variance in mammography rates across practices. Higher mammography rates were found to be independently related to physicians who have: a lower mean age for female Medicare patients, a higher mean number of physicians billing for patients' care, a lower mean number of inpatient admissions, obstetrics/gynecology practices, and a higher mean education level in patient's zip code (beta weights >/= 0.25, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: PCPs vary substantially with regard to mammography rates for older women. Mammography rates vary more with the population of patients in physicians' practices than with commonly measured personal characteristics of physicians. Mammography rates should be adjusted for patient population to target individual PCPs with low mammography rates for interventions.