J Am Board Fam Med
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Social isolation is a risk factor for many diseases and overall increased mortality. Alternatively human connection has been noted to lead to healthier lives and longevity. ⋯ There are many organizations that we can refer our patients to in order to make connections. This lesson is one we as physicians need to embrace ourselves as loneliness during our busy days is affecting us too.
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Medical cannabis is commonly used for chronic pain, but little is known about differences in characteristics, cannabis use patterns, and perceived helpfulness among primary care patients who use cannabis for pain versus nonpain reasons. ⋯ Primary care patients who use cannabis for pain use it more frequently, often in applied and ingested forms, and have more co-use of tobacco, which may differentially impact safety and effectiveness. These findings suggest the need for different approaches to counseling in clinical care.
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Existing guidelines for primary care clinicians (PCCs) on the detection and management of perinatal depression (PD) contain important gaps. This review aims to provide PCCs with a summary of clinically relevant evidence in the field. ⋯ These clinically relevant data can support the delivery of high-quality care by PCCs. Risks and benefits of PD treatments and the consequences of untreated PD should be discussed with patients to support informed decision making.
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Primary care clinicians screen for breast cancer risk factors and assess the risk level of their patients. Women at high risk for breast cancer (eg, 5-year risk of at least 3% or lifetime risk of ≥20%) are eligible for enhanced screening and/or chemoprophylaxis. However, many clinicians do not identify women at high risk and offer appropriate referrals, screening, or chemoprophylaxis. ⋯ Primary care clinicians can use these independent risk factors as cues to pursue a more formal calculation of a woman's lifetime risk for breast cancer and make appropriate referrals for enhanced screening and chemoprophylaxis counseling if indicated.
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Review
Lingering Impact of COVID-19, Preventive Care Considerations, and US Health System Challenges.
This issue includes articles on the lingering impact of COVID-19, often negative but occasionally positive, on patients, treatment, practices, and health care personnel. Other articles inform on prevention, such as awareness of lung cancer screening among women undergoing screening mammography; failures on sports preparticipation physicals; advance care planning as prevention; and screening for social risk factors. ⋯ There is a review of perinatal depression recognition and treatment. Two articles separately identify the difficulties of the congressionally created Medicare Advantage & Pharmaceutical Benefit Managers.