patients

Understanding and Managing Headaches in Children and Teens

Hope Smashey — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 19:28:20 +0000

Date Added:

July 1, 2025

Journal/Publication:

JAMA Pediatrics

Publication Date:

June 23, 2025

URL:

Understanding and Managing Headaches in Children and Teens

Type:

Patient Education Materials

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1001/jamapediatrics.2025.1111

Keywords

children

teens

headaches

PMID (1):

40549366

MeSH

A summary for parents on the causes and management of headaches in children. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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This JAMA Pediatrics Patient Page discusses symptoms and treatment of headaches in children and teens.

Author/s:

Cynthia-Mae M Hunt, Lindsay A Thompson

What Is a Pacemaker?

Hope Smashey — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 17:53:07 +0000

Date Added:

July 1, 2025

Journal/Publication:

JAMA

Publication Date:

June 5, 2025

URL:

What Is a Pacemaker?

Type:

Patient Education Materials

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1001/jama.2025.5887

Keywords

heart rhythm

electronic pacemaker

patients

PMID (1):

40471556

MeSH

heart rhythm

electronic pacemaker

patients

Information for patients about pacemakers. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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This JAMA Patient Page describes the body’s heart rhythm and the role of electronic pacemaker devices in maintaining heart rhythm for patients with certain conditions.

Author/s:

Albert Liu, Gregory M. Marcus

A GUIDE to help patients and families better understand serious illnesses: Mnemonic device provides way to teach learners about advance care planning

Erin Blanchette — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 22:49:57 +0000

Date Added:

February 4, 2024

Journal/Publication:

Canadian Family Physician

Publisher:

College of Family Physicians of Canada

Publication Date:

January 1, 2024

Issue:

Volume:

Pages:

68-70

URL:

A GUIDE to help patients and families better understand serious illnesses: Mnemonic device provides way to teach learners about advance care planning

Type:

Clinical Decision Aids, Best Local Practices

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.46747/cfp.700168

Keywords

advance care planning

PMID (1):

38262750

MeSH

Advance Care Planning

patients

terminal care

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

life expectancy

anxiety

Explanation of how to use illness trajectory graphs to guide advance care planning in people with serious illnesses. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Advance care planning (ACP) was identified as a priority in the 2006 final report of the Public Information and Awareness Working Group of the Canadian Strategy on Palliative and End-of-Life Care.1 An important component of ACP is patients’ understanding of their prognoses, which might include expectations related to future function, symptoms, and life expectancy.2-4 Without realistic prognostic information, patients are at risk of not engaging in ACP that would otherwise help them gain control over their illnesses, reduce anxiety, and avoid unwanted treatments.2,3,5 Moreover, lack of that information might lead to challenging downstream goals-of-care conversations. In guidance published in 2023 regarding a physician’s duty to discuss a patient’s medical condition and prognosis during a goals-of-care discussion when the physician deems cardiopulmonary resuscitation not to be indicated, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario highlighted the importance of physicians being able to communicate prognoses skillfully.6

Author/s:

Helen James, Warren Harris Lewin

Demystifying breast cancer

Aubrey Delammermore — Sat, 15 Jul 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Date Added:

July 15, 2023

Journal/Publication:

Canadian Family Physician

Publisher:

College of Family Physicians of Canada

Publication Date:

July 1, 2023

Issue:

Volume:

Pages:

473-476

URL:

Demystifying breast cancer

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.46747/cfp.6907473

Keywords

PMID (1):

37451990

MeSH

patients

breast neoplasms

Combined Modality Therapy

Humans

female

A concise summary of the types of breast cancer and their treatment. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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The first question a patient often asks their FP after receiving a diagnosis of breast cancer (BC) is “What will my treatment be?” This article will help FPs answer this complex question by reviewing multimodal therapy for BC, which is contingent on molecular subtype and stage.

Author/s:

Wilkinson, A. N.

Parkinson disease primer, part 1: diagnosis

Aubrey Delammermore — Sat, 28 Jan 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Date Added:

January 28, 2023

Journal/Publication:

Canadian Family Physician

Publisher:

College of Family Physicians of Canada

Publication Date:

January 1, 2023

Issue:

Volume:

Pages:

20-24

URL:

Parkinson disease primer, part 1: diagnosis

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.46747/cfp.690120

Keywords

PMID (1):

36693741

MeSH

Canada

Levodopa

Parkinson Disease* / diagnosis

Parkinsonian Disorders*

patients

A review of how to identify patients with Parkinson's Disease. James W. Mold, MPH

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Objective To provide family physicians an updated approach to the diagnosis of Parkinson disease (PD).

Sources of information Published guidelines on the diagnosis and management of PD were reviewed. Database searches were conducted to retrieve relevant research articles published between 2011 and 2021. Evidence levels ranged from I to III.

Main message Diagnosis of PD is predominantly clinical. Family physicians should evaluate patients for specific features of parkinsonism, then determine whether symptoms are attributable to PD. Levodopa trials can be used to help confirm the diagnosis and alleviate motor symptoms of PD. “Red flag” features and absence of response to levodopa may point to other causes of parkinsonism and prompt more urgent referral.

Conclusion Access to neurologists and specialized clinics varies, and Canadian family physicians can be important players in facilitating early and accurate diagnosis of PD. Applying an organized approach to diagnosis and considering motor and nonmotor symptoms can greatly benefit patients with PD. Part 2 in this series will review management of PD.

Parkinson disease (PD) is the fastest growing neurodegenerative condition, with prevalence predicted to double from more than 6 million globally in 2015 to more than 12 million by 2040.1 Recognizing parkinsonism and having knowledge of the presentation, diagnosis, and management of motor and nonmotor symptoms of PD are increasingly important, particularly as access to neurologists and specialized clinics is limited in many parts of Canada.2 Family physicians are well placed to identify symptoms, participate in diagnosis, and collaborate with specialty clinics in management of patients through the course of the disease.

Author/s:

Frank, C., Chiu, R., Lee, J.