Efficient evaluation of thyroid nodules by primary care providers and thyroid specialists.
(33/1261)
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether primary care providers and thyroid specialists at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center are evaluating thyroid nodules efficiently by following recently published clinical guidelines. STUDY DESIGN: One-year retrospective chart review. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed patient records from 1996 and tabulated the use of fine-needle aspiration cytology, radionuclide scanning, and thyroid ultrasonography by 49 primary care physicians evaluating 81 thyroid nodules and by 5 thyroid specialists evaluating 29 thyroid nodules. The results were compared with our previous findings and those recently reported by others. RESULTS: Fine-needle aspiration cytology was widely used by both groups of Gundersen Lutheran healthcare providers. Primary care physicians used imaging studies modestly and generated $106 per patient in unnecessary costs. Thyroid specialists occasionally used radionuclide scanning but did not use thyroid ultrasonography; they generated $41 per patient in unnecessary costs. Overall, the introduction of fine-needle aspiration cytology at our institution has reduced the use of radionuclide scanning from 90% to 12% and the use of thyroid ultrasonography from 30% to 10%. We also found that the frequency of surgery in patients with thyroid nodules fell substantially, yet detection of thyroid cancer in the operative specimens increased from 16% to 43% while the cost of removing a thyroid carcinoma decreased from $64,000 to $25,000. CONCLUSIONS: Fine-needle aspiration cytology, adopted as the initial test for diagnosing thyroid nodules by most of our healthcare providers, has reduced the use of imaging studies far below the frequency reported by others and has substantially decreased the cost of thyroid nodule management. (+info)
The epidemiology of retinal vein occlusion: the Beaver Dam Eye Study.
(34/1261)
PURPOSE: To describe the prevalence and the 5-year incidence of retinal central and branch vein occlusion and associated risk factors. METHODS: The Beaver Dam Eye Study (n = 4,926) is a population-based study in which retinal vein occlusions were detected at baseline (1988-1990) and at a 5-year follow-up examination (1993-1995) by grading of 30 degrees color fundus photographs. RESULTS: The prevalence and 5-year incidence of retinal branch vein occlusion were each 0.6%. The prevalence of retinal central vein occlusion was 0.1%, and the 5-year incidence was 0.2%. While adjusting for age, the prevalence of branch vein occlusion was associated with hypertension (odds ratio [OR] 5.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.18, 13.47), diabetes mellitus (OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.04, 5.70), pulse pressure (OR 1.24 for 10 mm Hg, 95% CI 1.03, 1.48), ocular perfusion pressure (OR 2.09 for 10 mm Hg, 95% CI 1.45, 3.01), arteriovenous nicking (OR 16.75, 95% CI 7.33, 38.24), and focal arteriolar narrowing (OR 22.86, 95% CI 8.43, 62.03). The age-adjusted incidence of retinal branch vein occlusion was associated with current smoking (OR 4.43 95%, CI 1.53, 12.84) compared with nonsmokers and to focal arteriolar narrowing (OR 5.24, 95% CI 1.97, 13.94) at baseline. While controlling for age, the incidence of branch vein occlusion was not associated with serum lipid levels, body mass index, white blood cell count, alcohol consumption, aspirin use, glaucoma, intraocular pressure, or ocular hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Retinal vein occlusion is infrequent in the population. These data suggest a strong association between retinal branch vein occlusion and retinal arteriolar changes. Data from larger populations are needed to further assess associations between risk factors and the incidence of retinal vein occlusions. (+info)
Impact of the 1999 AAP/USPHS joint statement on thimerosal in vaccines on infant hepatitis B vaccination practices.
(35/1261)
On July 8,1999, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) jointly recommended reducing infant exposure to thimerosal, a commonly used vaccine preservative that contains mercury. Specific recommendations were made to postpone the first hepatitis B vaccine dose until 2-6 months of age for infants born to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative (i.e., not hepatitis B virus [HBV]-infected) women. Infants born to HBsAg-positive (i.e., HBV-infected) women, or to women whose HBsAg status was unknown, were recommended to receive postexposure prophylaxis with the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine administered within 12 hours of birth. By mid-September 1999, when adequate supplies of preservative-free hepatitis B vaccine became available, PHS advocated a return to previous infant hepatitis B vaccination practices, including administering the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine to newborns in hospitals that had discontinued the practice. In 2000, preliminary assessments of the impact of these policy changes on routine hepatitis B vaccination practices were conducted by public health officials in Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Michigan. This report summarizes the results of these analyses, which indicate that many hospitals in Wisconsin have not reinstated policies to ensure routine administration of hepatitis B vaccine to newborns despite the availability of preservative-free hepatitis B vaccine, that the number of hepatitis B vaccine doses given to newborns in Oklahoma and Oregon has declined, and that an unvaccinated Michigan infant died from fulminant hepatitis B. Restoring routine newborn hepatitis B vaccination practices may require active advocacy by professional and government groups. (+info)
Cryptosporidium parvum-specific antibody responses among children residing in Milwaukee during the 1993 waterborne outbreak.
(36/1261)
A major gastroenteritis outbreak among >400,000 residents of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in April 1993 was attributed to Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in drinking water. Plasma specimens obtained from children (6 months to 12 years old) for routine blood lead level surveillance March-May 1993 were assayed by ELISA for levels of IgG antibody against the immunodominant Triton-17 and 27-kDa C. parvum antigens. Over a 5-week period, the seroprevalence for antibodies to the 2 antigens increased from 15% to 82% and from 17% to 87%, respectively, in samples from children living in southern ZIP code areas (n=218), whereas smaller increases (20% to 43% and 22% to 46%, respectively) were noted among samples from children living in northern ZIP code areas (n=335; P<.0001). The results demonstrate that C. parvum infection was much more widespread than previously appreciated and confirm that infection was associated with residence in the area served by the southern water treatment plant. (+info)
Effects of compensation method on physician behaviors.
(37/1261)
OBJECTIVE: To examine physician and leader perceptions of the relationship between physician compensation and the productivity of physicians practicing in medical groups. STUDY DESIGN: Key informant interviews identified subjects' perceptions of factors influencing physician productivity and the behavioral effects of individual financial incentives. Interview transcripts were analyzed by a team of physicians, economists, and other researchers. STUDY POPULATION: Physicians, medical leaders, and group practice administrators (n = 114) representing 46 medical group practices in California, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin were interviewed. RESULTS: Five major themes emerged: (1) Most physicians reported that financial incentives did not substantially affect their own behavior, except for productivity. However, they suggested that specific compensation models do lead to certain seemingly undesirable physician behaviors. (2) By contrast, medical group leaders reported that financial incentives do affect a variety of physician behaviors. (3) Four productivity drivers emerged: financial incentives, demand-side factors, systems and infrastructure, and other individual or group attributes. (4) Physician compensation systems are evolving toward a blend of production-based and production-neutral incentives, plus new metrics aligned with the demands of managed care. (5) Culture, size, and specialty mix are significant determinants of group physician compensation systems. CONCLUSIONS: Compensation method is perceived to be a significant influence on physician productivity, particularly among group practice leaders. The changing context of medical practice represents another powerful "macro" lever on physician behavior. (+info)
A two-item conjoint screen for alcohol and other drug problems.
(38/1261)
BACKGROUND: Although nonmedical use of illicit and prescription drugs is not uncommon among American adults, the currently recommended screens for substance use disorders focus only on alcohol. This study reports on the criterion validity of a two-item conjoint screen (TICS) for alcohol and other drug abuse or dependence for a split sample of primary care patients. METHODS: Two random samples of primary care patients aged 18 to 59 years responded to several screening items that emanated from a focus group process. The DSM-III-R criteria for substance use disorders, as codified by the Composite International Diagnostic Interview-Substance Abuse Module, served as the criterion standard. RESULTS: At least one positive response to the TICS (In the last year, have you ever drunk or used drugs more than you meant to? and Have you felt you wanted or needed to cut down on your drinking or drug use in the last year?) detected current substance use disorders with nearly 80% sensitivity and specificity. The TICS was particularly sensitive to polysubstance use disorders. Respondents who gave 0, 1, and 2 positive responses had a 7.3%, 36.5%, and 72.4% chance of a current substance use disorder, respectively; likelihood ratios were 0.27, 1.93, and 8.77. The results were consistent across split samples of 434 and 702 participants. CONCLUSIONS: Current alcohol or other drug problems can be detected in nearly 80% of young and middle-aged patients by asking two questions that are easily integrated into a clinical interview. (+info)
Tickborne infections as a cause of nonspecific febrile illness in Wisconsin.
(39/1261)
Lyme disease, human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE), and babesiosis are tickborne infections that are indigenous to Wisconsin. To assess their importance as a cause of nonspecific fever, we recruited patients with febrile illness at 10 clinics in northwestern Wisconsin from May through August of both 1997 and 1998. Eligible patients had a temperature >38.0 degrees C but no rash or other localizing source. Acute and convalescent serological tests were performed for Borrelia burgdorferi, Babesia microti, and Ehrlichia equi; polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect granulocytic Ehrlichia rDNA. Seventeen (27%) of 62 eligible patients had laboratory evidence of tickborne infection, including 7 (11%) with probable Lyme disease only, 8 (13%) with HGE only, and 2 (3%) with apparent coinfection. No patients with Babesia infection were identified. Patients with and without tickborne infection were similar with regard to age, sex, symptoms, history of tick bite, and outdoor exposure. The results suggest that tickborne infections are an important cause of nonspecific febrile illness during the tick season in northwestern Wisconsin. (+info)
Natural abundance deuterium and 18-oxygen effects on the precision of the doubly labeled water method.
(40/1261)
The doubly labeled water method for measuring total energy expenditure is subject to error from natural variations in the background 2H and 18O in body water. There is disagreement as to whether the variations in background abundances of the two stable isotopes covary and what relative doses of 2H and 18O minimize the impact of variation on the precision of the method. We have performed two studies to investigate the amount and covariance of the background variations. These were a study of urine collected weekly from eight subjects who remained in the Madison, WI locale for 6 wk and frequent urine samples from 14 subjects during round-trip travel to a locale > or = 500 miles from Madison, WI. Background variation in excess of analytical error was detected in six of the eight nontravelers, and covariance was demonstrated in four subjects. Background variation was detected in all 14 travelers, and covariance was demonstrated in 11 subjects. The median slopes of the regression lines of delta2H vs. delta18O were 6 and 7, respectively. Modeling indicated that 2H and 18O doses yielding a 6:1 ratio of final enrichments should minimize this error introduced to the doubly labeled water method. (+info)