Essential Evidence

This manual helps clinicians easily to find the best available evidence to facilitate sound medical decisions. It is the first published compilation of highly relevant InfoPOEMs that the editors believe has the potential to change a clinician's practice. The editors have selected over 300 of the most influential, compelling POEMs, and organized them by topic for easy reference.

Each POEM contains:

• Clinical Question: Poses a question that the study seeks to answer.
• Bottom line: Summarizes the findings of the research and places these findings into the context with the known information on the topic. The bottom line also is designed to help readers understand how to apply the results.
• LOE: Each review is given a Level of Evidence indicator. This allows the reader to discern an overall sense of how well the new information is supported.
• Reference: Displays the citation of the article being reviewed.
• Study Design: Identifies the procedures of the study (i.e., Meta-Analysis, randomized controlled trial).
• Setting: Identifies the environment in which the study took place (i.e., outpatient, inpatient).
• Synopsis: Provides a brief overview of the study design and results, but is not an abstract. The editors have pulled out only the most important information – the materials that readers need to judge the validity of the research and to understand the results.

The manual opens with two complementary, original chapters:

1) Introduction to Information Mastery which covers the skills physicians need to practice the best medicine.

2) An Introduction to Evidence Based Medicine that reviews the key concepts and principles behind this practice model.

Preface.

Taking an Evidence-Based Approach to the Care of Patients.

How to Become an Information Master: Feeling Good about NOT Knowing Everything.

InfoPOEMs (Patient-Oriented Evidence that Matters).

Cancer.

Breast cancer.

Gynecologic cancers.

Melanoma.

Prevention and screening.

Prostate cancer.

Cardiology.

Acute myocardial infarction and acute coronary syndromes.

Anticoagulation management.

Atrial fi brillation.

Coronary artery disease.

COX-2 inhibitors and heart disease.

Heart failure.

Hyperlipidemia.

Hypertension.

Peripheral vascular disease and aneurysm.

Pulmonary hypertension.

Thrombophilias.

Venous thromboembolism.

Venous thromboembolism diagnosis and prognosis.

Care of Infants and Children.

ADHD.

Anemia.

Asthma.

Diarrhea.

Prevention.

Otitis media.

Other pediatric problems.

Respiratory infections and fever.

Sore throat.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Diarrhea.

Diet and exercise.

Mental health problems.

Musculoskeletal problems.

Prevention of cancer.

Upper respiratory problems.

Women’s health.

Endocrinology.

Diabetes.

Obesity.

Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat.

Allergicrhinitis.

Epistaxis.

Eye problems.

Otitis media.

Sinusitis.

Sore throat.

URI.

Gastrointestinal Problems.

Diarrhea and gastroenteritis.

Dyspepsia and gastrointestinal bleeding.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Hepatobiliary disorders.

Gynecology.

Cervical and endometrial cancer.

Infertility and contraception.

Menopause.

Vaginitis.

Hematology.

Anemia.

Thrombophilias.

Infectious Disease.

Prevention.

Prescribing practices.

Respiratory infections.

Kidney Diseases.

Diabetic nephropathy.

Gout.

Renal failure.

Urinary tract infection and dysuria.

Musculoskeletal Problems.

Back and neck pain.

Degenerative joint disease.

Osteoporosis and fractures.

Other musculoskeletal problems.

Neurology.

Headache.

Herpes zoster.

Insomnia.

Syncope and vertigo.

Stroke.

Pregnancy Care.

Labor management.

Prenatal care.

Preterm labor.

Psychology and Substance Abuse.

ADHD.

Antipsychotics and schizophrenia.

Anxiety and stress.

Dementia.

Depression.

Tobacco abuse.

Respiratory Problems.

Asthma.

COPD.

Lower respiratory infections.

Pneumonia.

Skin Diseases.

Acne vulgaris.

Dermatitis.

Herpes zoster.

Melanoma.

Other skin problems.

Surgery + Procedures.

Cancer.

Implantable defi brillators.

Minor procedures.

Orthopeidcs and sports medicine.

Otitis media.

Preoperative care.

Vascular surgery and procedures.

Systems of Care.

Care of children.

Critical care.

Prescribing practices.

Process of care.

Self-monitoring.

Urology.

Dysuria and urinary tract infection.

Incontinence.

Nephrolithiasis.

Prostate cancer.

Glossary.

Index.

David Slawson, MD, Vice Chair of Family Medicine, University of VA Health System in Charlottesville, VA
He is the Director of the Center for Information Mastery and a Professor in the Department of Health Evaluation Sciences. He is the assistant editor for the Journal of Family Practice and on the?editorial board for the Journal of the American Board of Family Practice, the American Family Physician, and the BMJ USA. Dr. Slawson is a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Medicine.

Allen Shaughnessy, PharmD, Clinical Professor of Family Med., Tufts University
He received his degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. He is a Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist and a fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy. He is the section editor for the Journal of Family Practice and co-editor of Evidence-Based Practice: POEMs for Primary Care. He has written over 120 papers in the areas of pharmacology and medical information management.

Mark Ebell, MD, is Associate Professor, Department of Family Practice at Michigan State University and Deputy Editor for the American Family Physician. A graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School, Family Medicine residency, and School of Public Health. He is the author or coeditor of?3 books and over 100 articles.

Henry Barry, MD, is Associate Professor and the Sr. Associate Chair, Department of Family Practice, Michigan State University He attended medical school at the University of Maryland and did his residency in Family Practice in Lansing, Mich. Following residency, he spent 4 years in Appalachia with the Nat'l Health Service Corps. He subsequently joined MSU in 1989.

Quickly and easily find the best available evidence to facilitate sound medical decisions

Essential Evidence: Medicine that Matters is a collection of more than 350 of the most influential, compelling InfoPOEMs (Patient-Oriented Evidence that Matters) available, selected and organized by a panel of some of the world's most recognized leaders in evidence-based medicine.

The book begins with two original, complementary chapters that provide a synopsis of some of the key concepts of evidence-based medicine, as well as tips on keeping up with—and finding—the most up-to-date medical news and information available. The remaining chapters are organized by disease category, providing one-page synopses on topics in: cancer; cardiology; caring for infants and children; complementary and alternative medicine; endocrinology; eye, ear, nose, and throat; gastrointestinal problems; gynecology; hematology; infectious diseases; kidney diseases; musculoskeletal problems; neurology; pregnancy care; psychology and substance abuse; respiratory problems; skin diseases; surgery and procedures; systems of care; and urology.

The editors have sorted through all of the newest research findings to give physicians and healthcare workers only the most relevant and helpful information they need to care for their patients. Each of these concise, structured, and unbiased POEMs contains:

• Clinical question: Poses a question that the study seeks to answer

• Bottom line: A summary of research findings

• Level of Evidence (LOE): A rating from 1a (best) to 5 (worst) of how well the study is designed to avoid bias

• Reference: Displays the citation of the article being reviewed

• Study design: Identifies the procedures of the study (i.e., meta-analysis, randomized controlled trial, etc.)

• Setting: Identifies the environment in which the study took place (i.e., outpatient, inpatient)

• Synopsis: Provides a brief overview of the study design and results, based on the materials readers need to judge the validity of the research and to understand the results

These easy-to-follow chapters can be read cover-to-cover or turned to for quick reference with the help of a useful index. A glossary of terms is also included.