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On this episode, Dr. Blair Bigham and Dr. Mojola Omole explore a clinical case involving a rare infection in a returned traveler, highlighting the critical role of travel history in diagnosing unusual diseases. They discuss the case of a woman in her 60s who presented with fever and ankle pain after returning from India. Initial concerns for septic arthritis led to further investigation when standard treatments failed to alleviate her symptoms. Dr. Mara Waters is the lead author of the clinical case entitled “Melioidosis with septic arthritis in a returning traveller,” published in . She details the steps the infectious diseases team took to ultimately identify the infection as caused by . Dr. Waters, an infectious diseases fellow at the University of Toronto, describes the challenges of diagnosing and treating melioidosis, emphasizing the importance of considering travel history and the evolving geography of infectious diseases. She highlights the broader implications of climate change on the spread of infectious diseases and the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. Following the case discussion, Dr. Jeffrey Pernica, a specialist in infectious diseases and tropical medicine, offers a refresher on common infections in returning travelers, such as malaria, dengue, and typhoid. He stresses the importance of considering these more prevalent conditions when evaluating a returning traveller with fever, providing practical advice on diagnosis and management. This episode serves as a reminder of the complexities of diagnosing travel-related infections and the need for clinicians to be vigilant about travel history, especially in the context of global travel resurgence and the impacts of climate change on infectious disease patterns. Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something youd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on X @BlairBigham https://twitter.com/BlairBigham and @Drmojolaomole https://twitter.com/Drmojolaomole X (in English): @CMAJ https://twitter.com/cmaj X (en français): @JAMC https://twitter.com/JAMC_CMAJ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CMAJ.JAMC Instagram: @CMAJ.ca https://www.instagram.com/cmaj.ca/ The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PodCraft Productions http://www.podcraftproductions.com/
On this episode, Dr. Blair Bigham and Dr. Mojola Omole explore two articles in focused on the critical importance of trust in the health care system. They speak with Louis Lochhead, who shares his experiences navigating the health care landscape as a caregiver after his wifes serious accident, which resulted in a coma lasting nearly two months. Lochhead highlights the difficulties in building trust with the medical team, pointing to challenges in communication and empathy. He recounts moments where the lack of clear, compassionate communication from health care providers compounded the stress and uncertainty of the situation, leaving him feeling isolated and disconnected from the decision-making process regarding his wifes care. Next, Dr. Omole and Dr. Bigham speak with Dr. François Lamontagne, an intensive care specialist, who offers insights into how health care professionals can better connect with families and build trust, especially when faced with uncertain diagnoses or prognoses. He emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the inherent unpredictability of medicine and the value of being transparent about known facts and areas of ambiguity. Dr. Lamontagne suggests that by engaging in open, honest dialogues that respect the familys perspective and concerns, health care providers can create a more supportive environment that encourages shared decision-making. This approach not only helps in building trust but also empowers families during challenging times, making them feel valued and part of their loved ones care journey. This podcast has been sponsored by MD Financial Management. Click here https://mdm.ca/investing/tax for more information. Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something youd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on X @BlairBigham https://twitter.com/BlairBigham and @Drmojolaomole https://twitter.com/Drmojolaomole X (in English): @CMAJ https://twitter.com/cmaj X (en français): @JAMC https://twitter.com/JAMC_CMAJ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CMAJ.JAMC Instagram: @CMAJ.ca https://www.instagram.com/cmaj.ca/ The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PodCraft Productions http://www.podcraftproductions.com/
On this episode of the Podcast, Dr. Catherine Varner, deputy editor of , sits in for Dr. Blair Bigham and joins Dr. Mojola Omole to explore two articles published in the journal that highlight troubling findings concerning the treatment of opioid use disorder. They begin with a study that revealed significant gaps in treatment for opioid overdose patients, where only 5.5% received opioid agonist therapy within a week of their hospital visit. This comes five years after the release of guidelines for opioid use disorder management in Canada, which recommended starting opioid agonist therapy, specifically Suboxone, in patients with opioid use disorder. One of the paper’s co-authors, Dr. Jessica Kent-Rice, a PGY5 resident in emergency medicine and toxicology fellow at the University of Toronto, dissects the complexities of treating opioid use disorder in the emergency department and makes a passionate plea for physicians to increase their prescriptions of these life-saving therapies. Transitioning to the second article, the hosts examine the presence of xylazine, a veterinary sedative, in the illicit opioid supply. Dubbed the "zombie drug" due to its effects on peoples skin and prolonged effects during overdose, xylazine is raising alarm bells among emergency physicians. However, the articles co-author, Dr. Peter Wu, an internist and clinical pharmacology and toxicology physician at the University Health Network in Toronto, advocates for a balanced response. He cautions against excessive concern, noting that treatment continues to revolve around providing supportive care. Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something youd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on X @BlairBigham https://twitter.com/BlairBigham and @Drmojolaomole https://twitter.com/Drmojolaomole X (in English): @CMAJ https://twitter.com/cmaj X (en français): @JAMC https://twitter.com/JAMC_CMAJ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CMAJ.JAMC Instagram: @CMAJ.ca https://www.instagram.com/cmaj.ca/ The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PodCraft Productions http://www.podcraftproductions.com/
On this episode of the , Dr. Blair Bigham and Dr. Mojola Omole examine an article published in titled, Tackling barriers to Canadian medical school admissions for students with disabilities https://www.cmaj.ca/content/195/44/E1512#:~:text=In%20light%20of%20the%20described,GPA%20during%20times%20of%20illness.. The analysis highlights how medical education has historically devalued or excluded trainees with disabilities and emphasizes the need for more flexible and inclusive admission processes. They are joined by Shira Gertsman, the lead author and a medical student at McMaster University, who shares her personal battle with Crohns disease and the hurdles she encountered applying to medical school. Gertsman underscores the critical need for accommodations for individuals with disabilities and the importance of greater representation and understanding within the medical field. Next, the hosts speak with Dr. Caroline Bowman, a family physician who developed multiple sclerosis mid-career, to discuss her initial symptoms, her fears and concerns, and the impact of MS on her ability to work as a family physician. She also talks about the challenges she faced in accepting her disability and the shame associated with it. Dr. Bowman offers her thoughts on how the medical profession can be more accommodating and understanding towards physicians with disabilities, and the benefits that both physicians and patients can gain from addressing shame and creating a more compassionate culture in medicine. The discussion acknowledges how strains in the medical system reduce flexibility and challenge its capacity to make systemic changes. This podcast has been sponsored by MD Financial Management. Click here https://www.mdm.ca/investing for more information. Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something youd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on X @BlairBigham https://twitter.com/BlairBigham and @Drmojolaomole https://twitter.com/Drmojolaomole X (in English): @CMAJ https://twitter.com/cmaj X (en français): @JAMC https://twitter.com/JAMC_CMAJ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CMAJ.JAMC Instagram: @CMAJ.ca https://www.instagram.com/cmaj.ca/ The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PodCraft Productions http://www.podcraftproductions.com/
On this episode of the Podcast, Dr. Blair Bigham and Dr. Mojola Omole discuss the practice article in the journal entitled, “Five things to know about…Novel obesity treatments" https://www.cmaj.ca/content/195/45/E1546. They discuss the impact of new medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide in treating obesity with Dr. Shohinee Sarma, the lead author. Dr. Sarma explains the significant effects these drugs have on weight loss and cardiometabolic health. They also discuss how these treatments can be combined with behavioral therapies for improved results, while considering potential side effects and complications. Next, Dr. Ashley White, a family physician and diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine, emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to obesity management. She stresses the importance of establishing realistic expectations with patients, addressing self-image concerns, and considering the long-term impacts on metabolic health. The conversation also touches on the societal biases and stigmas around obesity, highlighting the necessity for a change in how physicians and society view this medical condition. Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something youd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on Twitter @BlairBigham https://twitter.com/BlairBigham and @Drmojolaomole https://twitter.com/Drmojolaomole Twitter (in English): @CMAJ https://twitter.com/cmaj Twitter (en français): @JAMC https://twitter.com/JAMC_CMAJ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CMAJ.JAMC Instagram: @CMAJ.ca https://www.instagram.com/cmaj.ca/ The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PodCraft Productions http://www.podcraftproductions.com/
On this episode, Dr. Emmanuel Bujold addresses the gross underutilization of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) in Canada during pregnancy, a treatment highly effective in preventing preterm preeclampsia among those at risk. Dr. Bujold is an OB-GYN in Quebec City and a professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Laval Universitys School of Medicine. He is a co-author of the commentary in entitled, “Screening for preeclampsia risk and prophylaxis with acetylsalicylic acid https://www.cmaj.ca/content/195/45/E1557”. Dr. Bujold presents evidence showing ASAs effectiveness in preventing more than 80% of severe preeclampsia cases. He advises that high-risk pregnant women take ASA up to 36 weeks of gestation, with ongoing research potentially adjusting this recommendation. Dr. Bujold describes a simple, relatively inexpensive, and widely available testing protocol that can effectively predict preeclampsia in the first trimester and that starting aspirin before 16 weeks of pregnancy can prevent severe cases. Next, Dr. Modupe Tunde-Byass, an OB-GYN based in Toronto and the inaugural president of the Black Physicians of Canada, emphasizes the disparities in pregnancy outcomes among racialized communities, particularly the higher rates of morbidity and mortality among Black women. She advocates for the implementation of race-based data collection in healthcare to better understand and address these disparities, highlighting the importance of tailored medical approaches to improve outcomes for these communities. This podcast has been sponsored by PrescribeIT. Click here https://go.prescribeit.ca/e-prescribing/?utm_source=CMAJ&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=Awareness&utm_content=Pre-Roll&utm_term=Steward for more information. Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something youd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on Twitter @BlairBigham https://twitter.com/BlairBigham and @Drmojolaomole https://twitter.com/Drmojolaomole Twitter (in English): @CMAJ https://twitter.com/cmaj Twitter (en français): @JAMC https://twitter.com/JAMC_CMAJ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CMAJ.JAMC Instagram: @CMAJ.ca https://www.instagram.com/cmaj.ca/ The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PodCraft Productions http://www.podcraftproductions.com/
On this episode, Drs. Blair Bigham and Mojola Omole discuss the paper "Cost-effectiveness of pharmacogenomic-guided treatment for major depression https://www.cmaj.ca/content/195/44/E1499". The paper examines the potential of pharmacogenomic testing in the treatment of major depression and its implications for health care costs. The study suggests that implementing pharmacogenomic testing for adults with moderate to severe major depressive disorder in British Columbia could save the health system about $956 million over 20 years, equating to roughly $4,926 per patient. The hosts interview the studys authors, Dr. Jehannine Austin, Professor of Psychiatry and Medical Genetics at UBC, and Dr. Shahzad Ghanbarian, a mathematical modeler and research scientist, also at UBC. They explain how pharmacogenomic testing can reduce the often lengthy trial and error process of selecting medication for depression. The study demonstrates that this approach facilitates more effective early intervention, potentially reducing the number of patients with refractory depression by 37%. Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something youd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on Twitter @BlairBigham https://twitter.com/BlairBigham and @Drmojolaomole https://twitter.com/Drmojolaomole Twitter (in English): @CMAJ https://twitter.com/cmaj Twitter (en français): @JAMC https://twitter.com/JAMC_CMAJ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CMAJ.JAMC Instagram: @CMAJ.ca https://www.instagram.com/cmaj.ca/ The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PodCraft Productions http://www.podcraftproductions.com/
On this episode, Drs. Blair Bigham and Mojola Omole delve into the evolution and advancements in virtual urgent care since the COVID-19 pandemic. The discussion centers around the study published in entitled " https://www.cmaj.ca/content/195/43/E1463#:~:text=Patients%20seen%20by%20VUC%20were,72%20hours%20(1.1%25%20v.," which analyzed patient usage and outcomes during the height of the pandemic. The study didn’t specifically track how many patients were redirected from emergency departments (ED) to virtual care. However, it found that around 80% of patients seen via virtual urgent care didnt require an immediate ED visit, suggesting that virtual care likely reduced some emergency presentations. However, it also noted that virtual urgent care didnt always prevent subsequent hospital visits. Importantly, the study reflects a specific period and doesnt capture the current state of virtual urgent care. Dr. Justin Hall, director of the Toronto Health Regions Virtual Urgent Care Program, describes how the service has developed since 2020. Key improvements include enhanced technology for a more seamless patient experience and additional capabilities like imaging and laboratory testing. Dr. Hall says the program now acts as a crucial link for patients without regular access to healthcare providers and can successfully address acute, non-life-threatening conditions. Drs. Bigham and Omole then speak with Mary Dimeo, a nurse practitioner working in the Toronto regions virtual urgent care service. She describes her role and experiences in the virtual environment. Ms. Dimeo says, typically only one patient per day needs to be referred to the emergency department which suggests the service helps divert patients from the hospital, especially those without family doctors or who cannot wait for an appointment. Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something youd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on Twitter @BlairBigham https://twitter.com/BlairBigham and @Drmojolaomole https://twitter.com/Drmojolaomole Twitter (in English): @CMAJ https://twitter.com/cmaj Twitter (en français): @JAMC https://twitter.com/JAMC_CMAJ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CMAJ.JAMC Instagram: @CMAJ.ca https://www.instagram.com/cmaj.ca/ The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PodCraft Productions http://www.podcraftproductions.com/
On this episode, Drs. Mojola Omole and Blair Bigham speak with two vaccine experts about the necessity, timing and availability of vaccines as we move into the season when influenza, RSV and COVID-19 are on the rise. Dr. Scott Halperin, co-author of a practice paper on SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in pregnancy, emphasizes the importance of vaccination to protect against COVID-19 infection during pregnancy. He notes that while there is awareness among healthcare practitioners, it is crucial to continually highlight and reemphasize the importance of vaccination during pregnancy. The risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 is higher in pregnant individuals compared to non-pregnant individuals. Vaccination during pregnancy not only protects the mother but also transfers antibodies to the fetus, providing protection in the first few months of life. Next, Dr. Trevor Arnason, Associate Medical Officer of Health with Ottawa Public Health, discusses the availability and administration of fall vaccines. He explains that the influenza vaccine is recommended for everyone over six months of age, with a higher dose available for older adults. The SARS-CoV-2 vaccine can be administered at the same time as the influenza vaccine, as there is now sufficient data on its safety. The RSV vaccine, currently approved for individuals over 60, is not government-funded and may not be accessible to everyone. Dr. Arnason emphasizes the importance of getting both the influenza and SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, particularly for high-risk groups such as young children, older adults, and individuals with underlying health conditions. In summary, both Drs. Halperin and Arnason argue it is crucial for healthcare providers to educate and encourage their patients, especially pregnant individuals, to get vaccinated. article https://www.cmaj.ca/content/195/37/E1274 Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something youd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on Twitter @BlairBigham https://twitter.com/BlairBigham and @Drmojolaomole https://twitter.com/Drmojolaomole Twitter (in English): @CMAJ https://twitter.com/cmaj Twitter (en français): @JAMC https://twitter.com/JAMC_CMAJ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CMAJ.JAMC Instagram: @CMAJ.ca https://www.instagram.com/cmaj.ca/ The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PodCraft Productions http://www.podcraftproductions.com/
In this episode, Drs. Blair Bigham and Mojola Omole delve into the pressing issue of alcohol use disorder (AUD) in Canada with Dr. Evan Wood, the lead author of the “Canadian guideline for the clinical management of high risk drinking and alcohol use disorder https://www.cmaj.ca/content/195/40/E1364” published in . They explore the concerning prevalence of AUD in Canada, contrasting it with other countries and shedding light on the diagnostic criteria that underscore the significance of assessing clinically significant impairment or distress. Dr. Wood clarifies the hurdles faced in identifying and treating AUD, highlighting the shortfall in healthcare provider education and resources. He underscores the importance of routine screening for alcohol use by physicians and offers invaluable tips to improve recognition of this pervasive disorder. Dr. Wood outlines the recommended pharmacotherapies as stipulated in the guideline. He points out the frequency with which ineffective, or even harmful, treatments are prescribed for mood symptoms related to AUD and calls on physicians to follow evidence-based approaches. Dr. Wood concludes by emphasizing the necessity of constructing a comprehensive system to tackle alcohol use disorder head-on in Canada, fostering a thorough understanding of this widespread health challenge among the medical community. Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something youd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on Twitter @BlairBigham https://twitter.com/BlairBigham and @Drmojolaomole https://twitter.com/Drmojolaomole Twitter (in English): @CMAJ https://twitter.com/cmaj Twitter (en français): @JAMC https://twitter.com/JAMC_CMAJ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CMAJ.JAMC Instagram: @CMAJ.ca https://www.instagram.com/cmaj.ca/ The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PodCraft Productions http://www.podcraftproductions.com/
In this episode, Dr. Blair Bigham and Dr. Mojola Omole speak with two co-authors of a new guideline published in entitled "Preventive care recommendations to promote health equity https://www.cmaj.ca/content/195/37/E1250". Dr. Nav Persaud and Dr. Aisha Lofters explain the importance of embedding health equity into healthcare and discuss specific ways public policy and individual primary care physicians can work together to promote equity in their practices. The conversation highlighted some key recommendations such as: __ __ Overall, Drs. Persaud and Lofters advocate for a shift towards recognizing that inequities in health outcomes exist and that primary care physicians need to embed equity into their healthcare practices. Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something youd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on Twitter @BlairBigham https://twitter.com/BlairBigham and @Drmojolaomole https://twitter.com/Drmojolaomole Twitter (in English): @CMAJ https://twitter.com/cmaj Twitter (en français): @JAMC https://twitter.com/JAMC_CMAJ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CMAJ.JAMC Instagram: @CMAJ.ca https://www.instagram.com/cmaj.ca/ The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PodCraft Productions http://www.podcraftproductions.com/
In this episode, Drs. Blair Bigham and Mojola Omole speak with two leading experts: Dr. Samira Jeimy, an allergist, and Dr. Isaac Bogoch, a specialist in infectious diseases, about the increasing prevalence of allergies and infections in Canada attributed to insects. Dr. Jeimy authored the article in the titled “Five things to know about… tick-borne red meat allergy (α-gal syndrome)”. Dr. Jeimy describes how tick bites introduce a carbohydrate, alpha-gal, leading the human body to manifest allergic reactions to red meat. She underscores the diagnostic challenges associated with this allergy due to its delayed reactions and the spectrum of symptoms, which can range from mild to critical. Dr. Bogoch shifts the focus to the expanding footprint of tick and other insect-borne diseases in Canada, such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. He attributes this surge to the climatic shift towards warmer temperatures and abbreviated winters. He emphasizes the indispensability of preventive measures, including vigilant tick checks, use of repellents, and donning protective clothing. Both experts stress the urgency of heightened education, rigorous surveillance, and enhanced testing methodologies. As ticks and insects advance further north, physicians need to be alert to this emerging health challenge. Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something youd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on Twitter @BlairBigham https://twitter.com/BlairBigham and @Drmojolaomole https://twitter.com/Drmojolaomole Twitter (in English): @CMAJ https://twitter.com/cmaj Twitter (en français): @JAMC https://twitter.com/JAMC_CMAJ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CMAJ.JAMC Instagram: @CMAJ.ca https://www.instagram.com/cmaj.ca/ The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PodCraft Productions http://www.podcraftproductions.com/
Canada’s emergency departments are in crisis: hospital occupancy rates exceed 90% for many days in a row, and many Canadian hospitals have been exceeding 100% occupancy for months on end. As a result, quality of care has decreased, staff retention has become problematic and overcrowding of emergency departments, a symptom of the problem, is assured. On this episode, Drs. Omole and Bigham speak with Dr. Catherine Varner, an emergency physician in Toronto, deputy editor of https://www.cmaj.ca/, and author of two https://www.cmaj.ca/content/195/24/E851 editorials https://www.cmaj.ca/content/195/34/E1157 in the journal detailing the state of Canada’s emergency departments, the causes of the crisis and possible solutions. Joining the conversation is Dr. David Petrie, an emergency physician in Halifax and co-chair of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians’ EM:POWER Task Force on the Future of Emergency Care https://caep.ca/empower-2/ who explores what a whole system approach to resolving this pressing issue might look like. Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something youd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on Twitter @BlairBigham https://twitter.com/BlairBigham and @Drmojolaomole https://twitter.com/Drmojolaomole Twitter (in English): @CMAJ https://twitter.com/cmaj Twitter (en français): @JAMC https://twitter.com/JAMC_CMAJ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CMAJ.JAMC Instagram: @CMAJ.ca https://www.instagram.com/cmaj.ca/ The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PodCraft Productions http://www.podcraftproductions.com/
On this encore episode, we revisit and update one of the most-read articles on the website. The article is titled, “Smartphones, social media use, and youth mental health https://www.cmaj.ca/content/192/6/E136.” It reviews the extensive literature linking poor mental health in adolescents with smartphone and social media use. The article details a variety of studies that implicate smartphone and social media use in increased mental distress, self-injurious behaviour, and suicidality among youth. It also indicates that theres a dose-response relationship, with the effects appearing to be most pronounced among girls. The lead author of the paper is Dr. Elia Abi-Jaoude. He is a psychiatrist and researcher at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. He delves into recent research exploring how social media and smartphone use negatively impact the mental health of young individuals. Later in the episode, Dr. Michelle Ponti offers practical tips that physicians can provide parents to effectively manage their childrens smartphone and social media use. Dr. Ponti is a paediatrician in London, Ontario, and Chair of the Digital Health Task Force for the Canadian Paediatric Society. Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something youd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on Twitter @BlairBigham https://twitter.com/BlairBigham and @Drmojolaomole https://twitter.com/Drmojolaomole Twitter (in English): @CMAJ https://twitter.com/cmaj Twitter (en français): @JAMC https://twitter.com/JAMC_CMAJ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CMAJ.JAMC Instagram: @CMAJ.ca https://www.instagram.com/cmaj.ca/ The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PodCraft Productions http://www.podcraftproductions.com/
On this episode, we revisit and update one of the most-read articles on the website. The article is titled, “Smartphones, social media use, and youth mental health https://www.cmaj.ca/content/192/6/E136.” It reviews the extensive literature linking poor mental health in adolescents with smartphone and social media use. The article details a variety of studies that implicate smartphone and social media use in increased mental distress, self-injurious behaviour, and suicidality among youth. It also indicates that theres a dose-response relationship, with the effects appearing to be most pronounced among girls. The lead author of the paper is Dr. Elia Abi-Jaoude. He is a psychiatrist and researcher at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. He delves into recent research exploring how social media and smartphone use negatively impact the mental health of young individuals. Later in the episode, Dr. Michelle Ponti offers practical tips that physicians can provide parents to effectively manage their childrens smartphone and social media use. Dr. Ponti is a paediatrician in London, Ontario, and Chair of the Digital Health Task Force for the Canadian Paediatric Society. Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something youd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on Twitter @BLAIRBIGHAM https://twitter.com/BlairBigham AND @DRMOJOLAOMOLE https://twitter.com/Drmojolaomole Twitter (in English): @CMAJ https://twitter.com/cmaj Twitter (en français): @JAMC https://twitter.com/JAMC_CMAJ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/CMAJ.JAMC Instagram: @CMAJ.CA https://www.instagram.com/cmaj.ca/ The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PODCRAFT PRODUCTIONS http://www.podcraftproductions.com/
== This is an encore presentation of an episode originally published on Jan 30, 2023 == MIGRAINE IS A COMMON CONDITION THAT AFFECTS AROUND 12% OF ADULTS, WITH A HIGHER PREVALENCE IN WOMEN (18%) THAN MEN (6%). GLOBAL BURDEN OF DISEASE ESTIMATES IN 2019 FOUND MIGRAINE TO BE THE LEADING CAUSE OF DISABILITY IN WOMEN AGED 15-49 YEARS AND THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DISABILITY OVERALL. ON THIS EPISODE, DRS. MOJOLE AND BIGHAM INTERVIEW THREE AUTHORS OF TWO REVIEW ARTICLES ON THE TOPIC PUBLISHED IN which focus on diagnosis, acute treatment and prevention of migraine. Dr. Velina Tzankova is a neurology resident at the University of Toronto; Dr. Werner Becker is a neurologist and the founding director of the Calgary Headache Assessment and Management Program, and currently professor emeritus in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Calgary; and Dr. Tommy Chan is a neurologist and director of John H. Kreeft Headache Clinic at University Hospital in London, Ontario. AS WELL, DRS. BIGHAM AND OMOLE INTERVIEW TWO WOMEN WHO HAVE BATTLED SEVERE MIGRAINE SINCE CHILDHOOD: PSYCHOLOGIST, DR. SHANTHY EDWARD, AND MED STUDENT, ZIKRA AWOSANMI. THEY DISCUSS THE IMPACT MIGRAINE HEADACHES HAVE HAD ON THEIR LIVES, THE CHALLENGES THEY HAVE FACED ACCESSING ADEQUATE TREATMENT, AND THEIR THOUGHTS ON WHAT PHYSICIANS COULD BETTER UNDERSTAND ABOUT THIS DISABLING CONDITION. Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something youd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on Twitter @BLAIRBIGHAM https://twitter.com/BlairBigham AND @DRMOJOLAOMOLE https://twitter.com/Drmojolaomole Twitter (in English): @CMAJ https://twitter.com/cmaj Twitter (en français): @JAMC https://twitter.com/JAMC_CMAJ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/CMAJ.JAMC Instagram: @CMAJ.CA https://www.instagram.com/cmaj.ca/ The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PODCRAFT PRODUCTIONS http://www.podcraftproductions.com/
THE AWARD-WINNING ESSAY IN THE , "SOMETIMES, OFTEN https://www.cmaj.ca/content/195/1/E17" BEAUTIFULLY SHOWCASES THE POWER OF NARRATIVE TO FORGE A DEEP CONNECTION BETWEEN PHYSICIANS AND PATIENTS. THE ARTICLE CLEARLY RESONATED WITH OUR READERS, AS IT WAS THE MOST-READ HUMANITIES PIECE THIS YEAR. ON THIS EPISODE, THE AUTHOR, DR. SIMRAN SANDHU, DELIVERS A POWERFUL READING OF HER ARTICLE. SHE THEN SPEAKS WITH DRS. BLAIR BIGHAM AND MOJOLA OMOLE ABOUT WHAT INSPIRED HER TO WRITE THE ESSAY AND HOW STORYTELLING ENABLES HER TO BUILD DEEPER CONNECTIONS WITH HER PATIENTS, AND IN TURN, FIND MEANING IN HER PRACTICE. NEXT, DR. INDU VORUGANTI JOINS THE CONVERSATION. SHE IS A RADIATION ONCOLOGIST AND INSTRUCTOR IN THE NARRATIVE-BASED MEDICINE PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO. DR. VORUGANTI DESCRIBES NARRATIVE MEDICINE AS A TOOL FOR COMBATING BURNOUT AND PROMOTING EMPATHY IN MEDICAL PRACTICE. SHE ADVOCATES FOR CREATING SPACE FOR REFLECTION AND VULNERABILITY, AND ARGUES THAT NARRATIVE MEDICINE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO ENHANCE BOTH PATIENT CARE AND PHYSICIAN WELL-BEING. Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something youd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on Twitter @BLAIRBIGHAM https://twitter.com/BlairBigham AND @DRMOJOLAOMOLE https://twitter.com/Drmojolaomole Twitter (in English): @CMAJ https://twitter.com/cmaj Twitter (en français): @JAMC https://twitter.com/JAMC_CMAJ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/CMAJ.JAMC Instagram: @CMAJ.CA https://www.instagram.com/cmaj.ca/ The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PODCRAFT PRODUCTIONS http://www.podcraftproductions.com/
RADON GAS EXPOSURE IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF LUNG CANCER IN NON-SMOKERS, ACCOUNTING FOR APPROXIMATELY 3,000 CASES ANNUALLY IN CANADA. A “FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT…” PAPER IN https://www.cmaj.ca/ ENTITLED “R" ENCOURAGES PHYSICIANS TO ASK PATIENTS TO TEST THEIR HOME AND WORKPLACE FOR THE INVISIBLE GAS. DR. SILVINA MEMA https://www.linkedin.com/in/silvina-mema/?originalSubdomain=ca AND GREG BAYTALAN https://www.linkedin.com/in/baytalan-greg-85a53946/?originalSubdomain=ca are co-authors of the article, and on this episode, they detail the significant public health risk radon poses, the relative ease of testing, and the cost of successful mitigation. They argue that family doctors and specialists play a critical role in creating awareness about radon gas and reducing its impact on patient health and the public healthcare system. NEXT, DR. AARON GOODARZI https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-goodarzi-1059554/ ADVOCATES FOR CHANGES TO CANCER SCREENING GUIDELINES TO INCLUDE INDIVIDUALS WITH ELEVATED LIFETIME RADON EXPOSURE. DR. GOODARZI IS THE SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR OF THE EVICT RADON NATIONAL STUDY https://evictradon.org/. He points out that 40% of people who experience lung cancer will never be eligible for current screening programs because they dont use enough tobacco. DR. GOODARZI GOES ON TO DESCRIBE THE MANY WAYS PUBLIC POLICY CAN BE USED TO REDUCE THE RISK OF RADON EXPOSURE, FROM UPDATED BUILDING CODES TO MANDATORY TESTING OF PUBLIC SPACES LIKE DAYCARES, AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR RADON GAS MITIGATION. Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something youd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on Twitter @BLAIRBIGHAM https://twitter.com/BlairBigham AND @DRMOJOLAOMOLE https://twitter.com/Drmojolaomole Twitter (in English): @CMAJ https://twitter.com/cmaj Twitter (en français): @JAMC https://twitter.com/JAMC_CMAJ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/CMAJ.JAMC Instagram: @CMAJ.CA https://www.instagram.com/cmaj.ca/ The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PODCRAFT PRODUCTIONS http://www.podcraftproductions.com/
MAJOR HEMORRHAGE IS LIFE-THREATENING AND CAN OCCUR IN A VARIETY OF CLINICAL SETTINGS. A REVIEW PAPER IN https://www.cmaj.ca/, ENTITLED " https://www.cmaj.ca/content/195/22/E773" ADVOCATES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MASSIVE HEMORRHAGE PROTOCOLS ACROSS ALL TYPES OF HOSPITALS TO OPTIMIZE PATIENT CARE. DR. JEANNIE CALLUM https://pathology.queensu.ca/faculty-staff/jeannie-callum, THE ARTICLE'S LEAD AUTHOR AND THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSFUSION MEDICINE AT KINGSTON'S HEALTH SCIENCES CENTRE SPEAKS WITH DRS. BLAIR BIGHAM AND MOJOLA OMOLE ABOUT HER WORK STANDARDIZING MASSIVE HEMORRHAGE PROTOCOLS THROUGHOUT ONTARIO. DR. CALLUM SHARES THE TRANSFORMATIVE MOMENT THAT INSPIRED HER TO DEVELOP A PROVINCE-WIDE PROTOCOL, STARTING FROM THE POINT OF ROADSIDE PATIENT CARE. SHE THEN DETAILS THE CRITICAL NEED FOR PRECISION IN MANAGING MAJOR HEMORRHAGE, EMPHASIZING A RAPID RESPONSE WITHIN THE "GOLDEN HOUR." DR. CALLUM OUTLINES KEY COMPONENTS OF CARE SUCH AS SWIFT ADMINISTRATION OF TRANEXAMIC ACID AND THE DETECTION OF COAGULOPATHY. SHE THEN SIMPLIFIES THE MAIN ELEMENTS OF A MASSIVE HEMORRHAGE PROTOCOL INTO WHAT SHE CALLS "THE SEVEN 'T’S." IN RURAL SETTINGS, DR. CALLUM IDENTIFIES THE NEED FOR A SIMPLIFIED PROTOCOL DUE TO CONSTRAINTS LIKE SMALLER MEDICAL TEAMS AND A LACK OF COMPREHENSIVE LABORATORY TESTS. DESPITE THESE CHALLENGES, SHE RECOMMENDS INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS LIKE THE IMMEDIATE ADMINISTRATION OF TRANEXAMIC ACID AND ENCOURAGES PHYSICIANS TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES ABOUT NOVEL POINT-OF-CARE TESTING TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS VISCOELASTIC TESTING. Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something youd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on Twitter @BLAIRBIGHAM https://twitter.com/BlairBigham AND @DRMOJOLAOMOLE https://twitter.com/Drmojolaomole Twitter (in English): @CMAJ https://twitter.com/cmaj Twitter (en français): @JAMC https://twitter.com/JAMC_CMAJ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/CMAJ.JAMC Instagram: @CMAJ.CA https://www.instagram.com/cmaj.ca/ The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PODCRAFT PRODUCTIONS http://www.podcraftproductions.com/
MANY WOMEN COMPLAIN THAT PHYSICIANS ARE RELUCTANT TO TREAT MENOPAUSE WITH THE FULL RANGE OF AVAILABLE THERAPIES, OFTEN DISMISSING SYMPTOMS AS 'NATURAL' AND SOMETHING TO BE ENDURED. A REVIEW ARTICLE IN https://www.cmaj.ca/ FINDS THAT PHYSICIAN FEARS AROUND MENOPAUSAL HORMONE THERAPY AND LACK OF KNOWLEDGE REGARDING TREATMENT OPTIONS OFTEN IMPEDE PATIENTS FROM RECEIVING TREATMENT. ON THIS EPISODE, DRS. MOJOLA OMOLE AND BLAIR BIGHAM SPEAK WITH DR. ILIANA LEGA, THE LEAD AUTHOR OF THE REVIEW ENTITLED " https://www.cmaj.ca/content/195/19/E677" DR. LEGA IS A CLINICIAN SCIENTIST AND ENDOCRINOLOGIST AT WOMEN’S COLLEGE HOSPITAL IN TORONTO. SHE ENCOURAGES PHYSICIANS TO UPDATE THEIR THERAPEUTIC UNDERSTANDING OF MENOPAUSE AND TO INITIATE CONVERSATIONS WITH WOMEN ABOUT THE SYMPTOMS OF PERIMENOPAUSE AS THEY ENTER THEIR FORTIES. DRS. OMOLE AND BIGHAM ALSO HEAR FROM JANET KO, THE CO-FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF THE MENOPAUSE FOUNDATION OF CANADA https://menopausefoundationcanada.ca/. SHE SHARES HER PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF RECEIVING A DELAYED DIAGNOSIS OF PERIMENOPAUSE AND THE IMPACT OF HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY ON HER WELL-BEING. MS. KO ALSO SHARES THE RESULTS OF THE FOUNDATION'S STUDY https://menopausefoundationcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/MFC-Report_The-Silence-and-the-Stigma_Menopause-in-Canada_October-2022.pdf ON WOMEN'S EXPERIENCE RECEIVING CARE FOR MENOPAUSE, AND REPORTS THAT 72 PERCENT OF WOMEN FOUND MEDICAL ADVICE TO BE UNHELPFUL OR ONLY SOMEWHAT HELPFUL. Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something youd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on Twitter @BLAIRBIGHAM https://twitter.com/BlairBigham AND @DRMOJOLAOMOLE https://twitter.com/Drmojolaomole Twitter (in English): @CMAJ https://twitter.com/cmaj Twitter (en français): @JAMC https://twitter.com/JAMC_CMAJ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/CMAJ.JAMC Instagram: @CMAJ.CA https://www.instagram.com/cmaj.ca/ The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PODCRAFT PRODUCTIONS http://www.podcraftproductions.com/
ON THIS EPISODE, DR. GREG HUNDEMAR, CO-AUTHOR OF THE PRACTICE PAPER IN “SCREENING FOR PRIMARY ALDOSTERONISM IN PRIMARY CARE https://www.cmaj.ca/content/195/11/E410” DISCUSSES PRIMARY ALDOSTERONISM, ITS IMPLICATIONS AND THE NEED TO EXPAND SCREENING GUIDELINES. PRIMARY ALDOSTERONISM, ALSO KNOWN AS PRIMARY HYPERALDOSTERONISM OR CONN'S SYNDROME, IS AN ENDOCRINE DISORDER WHERE THE ADRENAL GLANDS SECRETE TOO MUCH ALDOSTERONE, LEADING TO HYPERTENSION. THIS CONDITION WAS ONCE THOUGHT TO BE A RARE CAUSE OF HYPERTENSION, BUT RECENT RESEARCH SHOWS THAT IT MAY ACCOUNT FOR 10-20% OF CASES. CLASSIC SYMPTOMS OF PRIMARY ALDOSTERONISM INCLUDE HYPERTENSION, LOW POTASSIUM, AND METABOLIC ALKALOSIS. PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION ARE AT A DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH RISK FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, RAPID DECLINE IN KIDNEY FUNCTION, AND HIGHER MORTALITY, INDEPENDENT OF BLOOD PRESSURE. EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND TARGETED TREATMENTS CAN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE OUTCOMES. DR. HUNDEMAR STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF SCREENING MORE PEOPLE WITH HYPERTENSION FOR PRIMARY ALDOSTERONISM TO DIAGNOSE AND TREAT THE CONDITION EARLIER. CURRENT GUIDELINES RECOMMEND SCREENING FOR THOSE WITH SEVERE OR RESISTANT HYPERTENSION, HYPERTENSION WITH LOW POTASSIUM, OR HYPERTENSION WITH AN ADRENAL NODULE. HOWEVER, DR. HUNDEMAR ADVOCATES FOR EXPANDING SCREENING FOR PRIMARY ALDOSTERONISM IN PATIENTS WITH HYPERTENSION, AS DOING SO CAN POTENTIALLY IDENTIFY A LARGE NUMBER OF UNDIAGNOSED CASES. Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something youd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on Twitter @BLAIRBIGHAM https://twitter.com/BlairBigham AND @DRMOJOLAOMOLE https://twitter.com/Drmojolaomole Twitter (in English): @CMAJ https://twitter.com/cmaj Twitter (en français): @JAMC https://twitter.com/JAMC_CMAJ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/CMAJ.JAMC Instagram: @CMAJ.CA https://www.instagram.com/cmaj.ca/ The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PODCRAFT PRODUCTIONS http://www.podcraftproductions.com/
ALLOPURINOL HYPERSENSITIVITY SYNDROME (AHS) AFFECTS APPROXIMATELY 1 IN 1,000 PATIENTS PRESCRIBED ALLOPURINOL, WITH REPORTED MORTALITY RATES BETWEEN 20% AND 25%. THE RISK OF AHS IS NEARLY 100 TIMES HIGHER IN CARRIERS OF THE HLA-B*58:01 ALLELE THAN IN NONCARRIERS. POPULATIONS WITH A HIGH ALLELE FREQUENCY INCLUDE HAN CHINESE (6%-8%), KOREAN (12%), AND THAI (6%-8%) PEOPLE. IN THIS EPISODE, DRS. WID YASEEN AND JONATHAN ZIPURSKY DISCUSS THEIR PAPER PUBLISHED IN , TITLED "FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT…ALLOPURINOL HYPERSENSITIVITY SYNDROME". DR. JONATHAN ZIPURSKY IS A GENERAL INTERNIST, CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGIST, AND CLINICIAN SCIENTIST AT SUNNYBROOK HEALTH SCIENCES CENTRE. DR. YASEEN IS A SECOND-YEAR INTERNAL MEDICINE RESIDENT PHYSICIAN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO. THEY ARGUE THAT THE SYNDROME'S FREQUENCY IS OFTEN UNDERESTIMATED AND EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF GENETIC TESTING IN SUSCEPTIBLE POPULATIONS. NEXT, DR. DAVID JUURLINK BROADENS THE DISCUSSION BEYOND ALLOPURINOL TO DESCRIBE OTHER COMMON MEDICATIONS WHOSE EFFECTIVENESS AND SAFETY ARE SIGNIFICANTLY INFLUENCED BY GENETIC PREDISPOSITIONS. DR. JUURLNK IS A STAFF INTERNIST AND HEAD OF DIVISION OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY AT SUNNYBROOK HEALTH SCIENCES CENTRE IN TORONTO. HE IS ALSO A MEDICAL TOXICOLOGIST AT THE ONTARIO POISON CENTRE. HE EXPLORES THE NEED FOR EXPANDED GENETIC TESTING TO PROTECT PATIENTS AND ENSURE PROPER DOSING. Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something youd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on Twitter @BLAIRBIGHAM https://twitter.com/BlairBigham AND @DRMOJOLAOMOLE https://twitter.com/Drmojolaomole CMAJ https://www.cmaj.ca/ Twitter (in English): @CMAJ https://twitter.com/cmaj Twitter (en français): @JAMC https://twitter.com/JAMC_CMAJ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/CMAJ.JAMC Instagram: @CMAJ.CA https://www.instagram.com/cmaj.ca/ The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PODCRAFT PRODUCTIONS http://www.podcraftproductions.com/
FRAGILITY FRACTURES ARE A MAJOR HEALTH CONCERN FOR OLDER ADULTS AND CAN RESULT IN DISABILITY, ADMISSION TO HOSPITAL AND LONG-TERM CARE, AND REDUCED QUALITY OF LIFE. THE CANADIAN TASK FORCE ON PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE GUIDELINE PUBLISHED IN PROVIDES EVIDENCE-BASED RECOMMENDATIONS ON SCREENING FOR PRIMARY PREVENTION OF FRAGILITY FRACTURES. IN THIS SPECIAL EPISODE OF THE PODCAST, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DR. KIRSTEN PATRICK SPEAKS TO DR. ROLAND GRAD, A FAMILY PHYSICIAN AND AN AUTHOR OF THE NEW GUIDELINE, ABOUT THE EVIDENCE REVIEWS CONDUCTED BY THE TASK FORCE, THE MAIN POINTS OF THE NEW GUIDELINE, AND HOW FAMILY DOCTORS CAN USE IT IN PRACTICE. THE GUIDELINE RECOMMENDS SCREENING FEMALES OVER 65 USING THE FRAX TOOL WITHOUT BONE MINERAL DENSITY (BMD) AS A RISK ASSESSMENT FIRST STRATEGY. DR. GRAD EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARED DECISION MAKING, WHICH CAN BE FACILITATED USING THE FRAGILITY FRACTURE DECISION AID, WHICH INCORPORATES THE FRAX TOOL. THIS ONLINE, INTERACTIVE TOOL HELPS GUIDE DISCUSSIONS WITH PATIENTS ABOUT THEIR FRACTURE RISK AND POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF PREVENTIVE TREATMENT. LINKS TO RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE INTERVIEW: CANADIAN TASK FORCE ON PREVENTIVE HEALTHCARE GUIDELINE https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.221219 FRAGILITY FRACTURES CLINICIAN INFOGRAPHIC https://canadiantaskforce.ca/tools-resources/fragility-fractures-clinician-infographic/ FRAGILITY FRACTURE DECISION AID https://frax.canadiantaskforce.ca/ ARTICLE IN JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS https://systematicreviewsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13643-023-02181-w Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something youd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on Twitter @BLAIRBIGHAM https://twitter.com/BlairBigham AND @DRMOJOLAOMOLE https://twitter.com/Drmojolaomole CMAJ https://www.cmaj.ca/ Twitter (in English): @CMAJ https://twitter.com/cmaj Twitter (en français): @JAMC https://twitter.com/JAMC_CMAJ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/CMAJ.JAMC Instagram: @CMAJ.CA https://www.instagram.com/cmaj.ca/ The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PODCRAFT PRODUCTIONS http://www.podcraftproductions.com/
An estimated 23%-45% of patients undergoing major surgery have anemia, with the most common causes being iron deficiency anemia and anemia of inflammation or chronic disease. In this episode, Drs. Mojola Omole and Blair Bigham speak with Dr. Clarissa Skorupski and Dr. Yulia Lin, two authors of the practice paper in , "Five things to know about preoperative anemia in major elective surgery." Dr. Skorupski is a third-year internal medicine resident at the University of Toronto, and Dr. Yulia Lin is the division head of transfusion medicine and tissue bank at Sunnybrook Health Sciences in Toronto. They highlight the high prevalence of preoperative anemia, its adverse outcomes, and the importance of targeting a preoperative hemoglobin level of 130 g/L for both sexes. NEXT, DRS. BIGHAM AND OMOLE TAKE A CRITICAL LOOK AT THE WHO GUIDELINE WHICH SETS A LOWER HEMOGLOBIN THRESHOLD OF 120 G/L FOR FEMALE BODIES. THEY SPEAK WITH DR. MICHELLE SHOLZBERG, THE HEAD OF HEMATOLOGY-ONCOLOGY AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE HEMATOLOGY ONCOLOGY CLINICAL RESEARCH GROUP AT ST. MICHAEL'S HOSPITAL IN TORONTO. DR. SHOLZBERG ARGUES THAT THE WHO'S SEX-BASED HEMOGLOBIN THRESHOLDS FOR DIAGNOSING ANEMIA PERPETUATE STRUCTURAL DISCRIMINATION IN MEDICINE, AS THEY NORMALIZE ANEMIA IN FEMALES AND ARE BASED ON OUTDATED DATA WITH A HIGH RISK OF BIAS. DR. SHOLZBERG DESCRIBES HOW THE POLICIES AND CLINICAL PRACTICES FOLLOWING THE BIASED THRESHOLDS MAY IMPACT HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE, COGNITIVE FUNCTION, AND THE HEALTH OF PREGNANT INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR BABIES. Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something youd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on Twitter @BLAIRBIGHAM https://twitter.com/BlairBigham AND @DRMOJOLAOMOLE https://twitter.com/Drmojolaomole CMAJ https://www.cmaj.ca/ Twitter (in English): @CMAJ https://twitter.com/cmaj Twitter (en français): @JAMC https://twitter.com/JAMC_CMAJ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/CMAJ.JAMC Instagram: @CMAJ.CA https://www.instagram.com/cmaj.ca/ The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PODCRAFT PRODUCTIONS http://www.podcraftproductions.com/
MANY PATIENTS REPORT THEIR SYMPTOMS OF ENDOMETRIOSIS ARE OFTEN DISMISSED BY HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AS “NORMAL” DYSMENORRHEA. THIS WORLDWIDE TREND RESULTS IN DELAYS TO DIAGNOSIS THAT ARE ESTIMATED TO RANGE FROM 6 TO 11 YEARS FROM SYMPTOM ONSET. ON THIS EPISODE, DRS. BIGHAM AND OMOLE SPEAK WITH DR. CATHARINE ALLAIRE, A CLINICAL PROFESSOR AT UBC'S DEPARTMENT OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY AND CO-AUTHOR OF THE REVIEW IN ENTITLED “DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF ENDOMETRIOSIS”. DR. ALLAIRE DISCUSSES THE CHALLENGES AND DELAYS IN DIAGNOSING ENDOMETRIOSIS, ITS SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES, AND THE DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF THE CONDITION. SHE ALSO EXPLAINS THE ROLE OF IMAGING IN DIAGNOSING ENDOMETRIOSIS AND HOW IT CAN BE MANAGED THROUGH VARIOUS TREATMENT OPTIONS FROM HORMONE THERAPIES TO SURGERY. DRS. BIGHAM AND OMOLE ALSO SPEAK WITH HANNAH ROBINSON, AN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT NURSE WHO HAS STRUGGLED WITH ENDOMETRIOSIS FOR SEVEN YEARS. SHE DESCRIBES THE CHALLENGES SHE FACED RECEIVING A DIAGNOSIS AND ACCESSING CARE. Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something youd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on Twitter @BLAIRBIGHAM https://twitter.com/BlairBigham AND @DRMOJOLAOMOLE https://twitter.com/Drmojolaomole CMAJ https://www.cmaj.ca/ Twitter (in English): @CMAJ https://twitter.com/cmaj Twitter (en français): @JAMC https://twitter.com/JAMC_CMAJ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/CMAJ.JAMC Instagram: @CMAJ.CA https://www.instagram.com/cmaj.ca/ The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PODCRAFT PRODUCTIONS http://www.podcraftproductions.com/
CLINICIANS MAY FIND DIAGNOSING POLYNEUROPATHY CHALLENGING DUE TO THE VAGUE AND INSIDIOUS ONSET OF SYMPTOMS. IDENTIFYING SIGNS CONSISTENT WITH POLYNEUROPATHY AND DETERMINING WHICH INVESTIGATIONS TO CONDUCT AND WHEN TO BE CONCERNED CAN BE DAUNTING. POLYNEUROPATHY INVOLVES SIMULTANEOUS DYSFUNCTION OF MULTIPLE PERIPHERAL NERVES, WITH THE MOST COMMON FORM BEING DISTAL SYMMETRIC POLYNEUROPATHY. SYMPTOMS PRIMARILY OCCUR DISTALLY, MAINLY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FEET, AND PROGRESS PROXIMALLY. SENSORY SYMPTOMS ARE MORE FREQUENT THAN MOTOR SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS. PATIENTS WITH DISTAL SYMMETRIC POLYNEUROPATHY MAY EXPERIENCE NEUROPATHIC PAIN, IMPAIRMENTS IN WALKING, AND DISTAL MOTOR FUNCTION, SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTING THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. DR. ARIO MIRIAN, A FIFTH-YEAR NEUROLOGY RESIDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN ONTARIO'S SCHULICH SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND DENTISTRY, IS THE LEAD AUTHOR OF A REVIEW ARTICLE IN J ENTITLED DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH POLYNEUROPATHY IN THIS EPISODE, DR. MIRIAN PRESENTS A PRACTICAL APPROACH TO DIAGNOSING AND MANAGING POLYNEUROPATHY WHILE HIGHLIGHTING 'RED FLAGS' THAT SHOULD PROMPT CLINICIANS TO INVESTIGATE POTENTIALLY SERIOUS UNDERLYING CAUSES, SUCH AS MALIGNANCY OR VASCULITIS. Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something youd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on Twitter @BLAIRBIGHAM https://twitter.com/BlairBigham AND @DRMOJOLAOMOLE https://twitter.com/Drmojolaomole CMAJ https://www.cmaj.ca/ Twitter (in English): @CMAJ https://twitter.com/cmaj Twitter (en français): @JAMC https://twitter.com/JAMC_CMAJ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/CMAJ.JAMC Instagram: @CMAJ.CA https://www.instagram.com/cmaj.ca/ The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PODCRAFT PRODUCTIONS http://www.podcraftproductions.com/
THE USE OF ELECTRIC SCOOTERS (E-SCOOTERS) HAS WITNESSED A SUBSTANTIAL SURGE GLOBALLY. HOWEVER, THE PRESENCE OF THESE MOTORIZED VEHICLES ON SIDEWALKS POSES A SIGNIFICANT RISK TO PEDESTRIANS. A RECENT PRACTICE PAPER PUBLISHED IN describes the case of a 68-year-old woman who suffered serious injuries while walking on a city sidewalk after being hit by an e-scooter traveling at approximately 30 km/h. While the authors of the paper recognize e-scooters as a popular, efficient and green form of transportation, they argue effective policies are needed to mitigate risks associated with their use. On this episode, Drs. Blair Bigham and Mojola Omole speak with Zach Williams, the director of policy and government partnerships and Jamie Perkins the director of communications for Superpedestrian. Superpedestrian is an e-scooter company that spun off from the MIT Sensible City Lab. They discuss the necessary changes to urban infrastructure as well as the responsibilities of e-scooter providers to ensure safety for riders and pedestrians. THE DISCUSSION THEN SHIFTS TO CATHERINE MCKENNEY, A FORMER OTTAWA CITY COUNCILOR AND MAYORAL CANDIDATE, WHO PROPOSED SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENTS IN BIKING INFRASTRUCTURE DURING THEIR CAMPAIGN. THEY ARGUE THAT DEBATES ABOUT SAFE URBAN TRANSIT HAVE BECOME TOO POLARIZED AND THAT IT IS NOT A MATTER OF BEING FOR OR AGAINST CARS, BUT RATHER ABOUT FINDING EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS TO MAKE TRANSPORTATION SAFE AND EFFICIENT FOR ALL USERS. Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something youd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on Twitter @BLAIRBIGHAM https://twitter.com/BlairBigham AND @DRMOJOLAOMOLE https://twitter.com/Drmojolaomole CMAJ https://www.cmaj.ca/ Twitter (in English): @CMAJ https://twitter.com/cmaj Twitter (en français): @JAMC https://twitter.com/JAMC_CMAJ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/CMAJ.JAMC Instagram: @CMAJ.CA https://www.instagram.com/cmaj.ca/ The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PODCRAFT PRODUCTIONS http://www.podcraftproductions.com/
Uptake of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine for children aged 5–11 years has been lower than anticipated in Canada. Although research has explored parental intentions toward SARS-CoV-2 vaccination for children, the drivers of parents’ decisions to seek vaccination for their children - or not - have not been studied in-depth. A research paper published in , entitled , sought to explore parents’ decision-making. It was a collaboration between physicians, social scientists and research scientists. On this episode, four of the paper’s authors discuss their findings with hosts, Drs. Omole and Bigham. They emphasize the importance of existing trusting relationships between parents and their primary care providers when it comes to making difficult healthcare decisions for children. Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something youd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on Twitter @BlairBigham https://twitter.com/BlairBigham and @Drmojolaomole https://twitter.com/Drmojolaomole CMAJ https://www.cmaj.ca/ Twitter (in English): @CMAJ https://twitter.com/cmaj Twitter (en français): @JAMC https://twitter.com/JAMC_CMAJ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CMAJ.JAMC Instagram: @CMAJ.ca https://www.instagram.com/cmaj.ca/ The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PodCraft Productions http://www.podcraftproductions.com/
EARLY IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, ONTARIO SAW A 5600% INCREASE IN VIRTUAL VISITS TO HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS, WHILE IN-OFFICE VISITS DECREASED BY 79% FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. IN 2018, ONLY 4% OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS IN CANADA WERE OFFERING VIDEO VISITS WHILE, AT THE PEAK OF THE PANDEMIC, ABOUT 80% OF PRIMARY CARE VISITS WERE BEING DELIVERED VIRTUALLY IN ONTARIO. MEDIA REPORTS AT THE TIME SUGGESTED PATIENTS WERE SUBSTITUTING EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (ED) VISITS WHEN IN-PERSON CONSULTATIONS WERE UNAVAILABLE, LEADING TO ADDITIONAL STRAIN ON ALREADY STRETCHED ED RESOURCES. A RESEARCH PAPER PUBLISHED IN LOOKED AT WHETHER THIS SHIFT IN CARE WAS IN FACT TAKING PLACE. DR. HEMANT SHAH IS AN INTERNAL MEDICINE PHYSICIAN AND HEPATOLOGIST AT TORONTO GENERAL HOSPITAL AND CO-AUTHOR OF THE STUDY ENTITLED ON TODAY’S EPISODE, DR. SHAH DISCUSSES THE STUDY’S SURPRISING FINDINGS WITH HOSTS DR. BLAIR BIGHAM AND DR. MOJOLA OMOLE. DRS OMOLE AND BIGHAM THEN SPEAK WITH TONI LEAMON, THE CMA’S PATIENT VOICE CHAIR, A MEMBER OF CMA'S VIRTUAL CARE TASKFORCE AND A CO-AUTHOR OF THE CMA'S VIRTUAL CARE COMPANION FOR PATIENTS. SHE OFFERS THE PATIENT’S VISION OF HIGH QUALITY VIRTUAL CARE. Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something youd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on Twitter @BlairBigham https://twitter.com/BlairBigham and @Drmojolaomole https://twitter.com/Drmojolaomole CMAJ https://www.cmaj.ca/ Twitter (in English): @CMAJ https://twitter.com/cmaj Twitter (en français): @JAMC https://twitter.com/JAMC_CMAJ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CMAJ.JAMC Instagram: @CMAJ.ca https://www.instagram.com/cmaj.ca/ The Canadian Medical Association Journal Podcast is produced by PodCraft Productions http://www.podcraftproductions.com/
MIGRAINE IS A COMMON CONDITION THAT AFFECTS AROUND 12% OF ADULTS, WITH A HIGHER PREVALENCE IN WOMEN (18%) THAN MEN (6%). GLOBAL BURDEN OF DISEASE ESTIMATES IN 2019 FOUND MIGRAINE TO BE THE LEADING CAUSE OF DISABILITY IN WOMEN AGED 15-49 YEARS AND THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DISABILITY OVERALL. IN THIS ARTICLE, DRS. MOJOLE AND BIGHAM INTERVIEW THREE AUTHORS OF TWO REVIEW ARTICLES ON THE TOPIC PUBLISHED IN WHICH FOCUS ON DIAGNOSIS, ACUTE TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF MIGRAINE. DR. VELINA TZANKOVA IS A NEUROLOGY RESIDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO; DR. WERNER BECKER IS A NEUROLOGIST AND THE FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF THE CALGARY HEADACHE ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, AND CURRENTLY PROFESSOR EMERITUS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY; AND DR. TOMMY CHAN IS A NEUROLOGIST AND DIRECTOR OF JOHN H. KREEFT HEADACHE CLINIC AT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IN LONDON, ONTARIO. AS WELL, DRS. BIGHAM AND OMOLE INTERVIEW TWO WOMEN WHO HAVE BATTLED SEVERE MIGRAINE SINCE CHILDHOOD: PSYCHOLOGIST, DR. SHANTHY EDWARD, AND MED STUDENT, ZIKRA AWOSANMI. THEY DISCUSS THE IMPACT MIGRAINE HEADACHES HAVE HAD ON THEIR LIVES, THE CHALLENGES THEY HAVE FACED ACCESSING ADEQUATE TREATMENT, AND THEIR THOUGHTS ON WHAT PHYSICIANS COULD BETTER UNDERSTAND ABOUT THIS DISABLING CONDITION. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something youd like to hear on the podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on Twitter @BlairBigham https://twitter.com/BlairBigham and @Drmojolaomole https://twitter.com/Drmojolaomole CMAJ https://www.cmaj.ca/ Twitter (in English): @CMAJ https://twitter.com/cmaj Twitter (en français): @JAMC https://twitter.com/JAMC_CMAJ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CMAJ.JAMC Instagram: @CMAJ.ca https://www.instagram.com/cmaj.ca/ The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PodCraft Productions http://www.podcraftproductions.com/
