Preventive Medicine Commons^™

Small Cell Lung Cancer In A Never-Smoking Patient: A Case Highlighting Diagnostic And Screening Gaps In Primary Care, Edward Hamilton, Alexandra She, Francis Jenney

The Journal of Integrated Primary Care

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is best known in relation to tobacco exposure and tends to be seen in advanced disease. Contemporary guidelines in lung cancer screening demonstrate a strong emphasis on smoking exposure, which may serve as a barrier to recognition in never-smokers who lack conventional risk factors. As a result, SCLC in never-smokers remains an important but underrecognized consideration in general and primary care settings. The current case involves a 65-year-old African American man who has never been a smoker but who presented with progressive thoracic pain, shortness of breath, and unintended weight loss, leading to the discovery …

Nutri One-On-One: The Assessment And Evaluation Of A Single One-On-One Nutritional Coaching In Patients Affected By Metabolic Syndrome, Jennifer L. King

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

The Nutri One-on-One Program's aim was to positively modify participants' nutritional habits and lifestyles through a brief one-on-one health coaching session, which was conducted within a primary healthcare setting at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine's Clinics. It is documented that 70% of deaths in the U.S. result from complications secondary to chronic diseases of metabolic syndrome. The participants were selected by physicians and classified as suffering from one or more of the five indicators of metabolic syndrome: abdominal obesity, elevated serum triglycerides, low HDL-cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, and insulin resistance. Evidence shows that health coaching positively assists individuals in …

Do Mechanical Pressure-Equalizing Devices Such As Otovent® And Prep Relieve Or Reduce Ear Pain And Pressure In Aircraft Passengers During Flight?, Michael Ferentino

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not mechanical pressure-equalizing devices relieve or reduce ear pain and pressure in aircraft passengers during flight.

STUDY DESIGN: A review of two double-blind control trials and one case control study published between 1988 and 2010 in the English language.

DATA RESOURCES: Double-blind control trials focused on the use of pressure-equalizing ear plugs (PREP) and a case control study on the Otovent® auto-inflation device for the prevention of barotrauma in aircraft passengers were found using Cochraine Library, Medline, and PubMed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Outcomes measured …

Is Probiotic Supplementation Effective In Reducing The Incidence Of Atopic Dermatitis In Children Age 3 And Under?, Kristen M. Mclaughlin

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not probiotic supplementation is effective in reducing the incidence of atopic dermatitis in children age 3 and younger.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of three Engligh language primary studies one published in 2009 and the other two in 2010.

DATA SOURCES: Three double blind randomized controlled trials comparing the efficacy of probiotic supplementation for reducing the incidence of atopic dermatitis in children ages 3 and under were found using Cochrane Library EBM and PubMed databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Diagnosis of atopic dermatitis, via a positive …

Does Immersion In Water During Labor Decrease The Likelihood Of Perineal Tears?, Julie Rikkers

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review is to determine whether or not “Does water immersion in the course of labor decrease the risk of perineal injury during vaginal delivery?”

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English Language primary studies published in 1996, 2001 and 2002.

DATA SOURCES: Two Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled trials as well as One Case Control Study which evaluated Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes during labor and delivery were found using PubMed and Cochrane Databases.

OUTCOME MEASURED: Each study looked at women who used water immersion during labor and those that did not. The outcomes measured were those regarding …

Are Triptan Drugs Safe And Effective For Use In The Prevention Of Menstrually Related Migraines (Mrms)?, Christina Ponzio

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not Triptan drugs are safe and effective for use in the prevention of menstrually related migraines (MRMs).

STUDY DESIGN: Review of two English language randomized controlled trials and one pilot randomized control trial.

DATA SOURCES: Randomized controlled trials comparing Triptan drugs to a placebo group were found using Medline, PubMed, and OVID.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Incidence of MRM based on patient self-report; number of relapses; patients’ subjective evaluations of effectiveness based on questionnaire; adverse effects of Triptan treatment.

RESULTS: Two randomized controlled trials …

Does Daily Intake Of Glucosamine Supplements Prevent The Need For Knee Replacements Later In Life For Adult Patients Predisposed To Osteoarthritis?, Nancy Helmy

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not daily intake of glucosamine supplements prevents the need for knee replacements later in life for adults predisposed to osteoarthritis.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary randomized controlled trial studies published between 2001 and 2008

DATA SOURCES: Three double blind randomized control trials comparing glucosamine supplements to placebo were found using PubMed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Outcomes were measured using radiographic studies of the knees, joint space measurements, and symptoms were evaluated using Lequesne and WOMAC indexes.

RESULTS: The Reginster (2001) and Pavelka (2002) studies demonstrated no …

What Is The Effectiveness Of Onabotulinumtoxina (Botox®) In Reducing The Number Of Chronic Migraines (Cm) In Patients 18-65 Years Old?, Kristin A. Beddingfield

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox®) is effective in reducing the number of chronic migraines (CM) in patients 18-65 years old? Study Design: Review of three published, double blind randomized controlled trials were used for this review, which were found on PubMed; were selected based on their relevance to the clinical question and if they included patient oriented outcomes.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcomes measured were headache/migraine free days measured by >50% responder rate analysis, the Treatment Responder Rate based on Physician Global Assessment, and total adverse events reported by …

Does Parent And Therapist Delivered Qigong Massage Therapy Decrease Sensory And Self-Regulation Impairments In Children Ages 3-6 Years Old With Autism?, Lisa A. White

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not parent and therapist delivered Qigong massage therapy decreases sensory and self-regulation impairments in children ages 3-6 years old with autism.

STUDY DESIGN: Reviewed three English primary studies published in 2005, 2009 and 2011.

DATA SOURCES: All studies were randomized controlled trials that compared a group of children with autism who received Qigong massage treatments to a controlled group of children with autism who did not receive the treatments. All studies were found using PubMED and Cochrane research databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Overall reduction …

Does Neonatal Massage Lead To Reduced Stress Behavior In Medically Stable Preterm Infants In The Nicu?, Sarah E. Werner

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not neonatal massage leads to reduced stress behavior in medically stable preterm infants in the NICU.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary studies published in 1996, 2005 and 2007.

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized control trials comparing stress behavior in preterm infants receiving massage to a control group that did not receive massage were found using PubMed and Medline databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Researcher recorded stress behavior as behavioral distress activity and motor activity via direct observations and a time sampling method. Motor …