rmcnutt

A “MMWR” report on mask wearing. Can the results be used for decision making?

1 Comment / COVID-19, PATIENT /

A report from the CDC in MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) on February 4, Volume 71, examined if wearing a mask protects from getting COVID-19. The study design is a case-control study. Cases were people who tested positive for COVID-19 and the comparison group was those who tested negative for COVID-19. These subjects were […]

A “MMWR” report on mask wearing. Can the results be used for decision making? Read More »

When can individuals make decisions only for themselves? A letter to Aaron Rodgers.

1 Comment / Informed decision-making, PATIENT /

Dear Mr. Rodgers, I have been a fan from the moment I saw you play quarterback for the Cal Bears. I was at a daughter-father weekend at the University of Illinois in, I think, 2003, or 4. My daughter got tickets and we watched you pick the Illinois defense apart. Your skills were so striking

When can individuals make decisions only for themselves? A letter to Aaron Rodgers. Read More »

Should total knee replacement (TKA) be supported by insurance?

2 Comments / PATIENT, Total Knee Replacement /

In 2015 a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of knee replacement (TKA) versus 12-weeks of physical therapy for people with osteoarthritis (OA) was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. A quote from the authors of that paper; we are “not aware of any high-quality randomized, controlled trials of TKA …. compared to nonsurgical interventions”.

Should total knee replacement (TKA) be supported by insurance? Read More »

Should I take vitamin D to prevent hip fractures? My physician says my vitamin D level is a bit low.

Leave a Comment / PATIENT, Vitamin d /

This week’s post responds to two women asking me the same question. One woman, known to have kidney stones, was prescribed vitamin d alone without calcium as a treatment to lower her chance of having a hip fracture. The woman is healthy with no family history of an increase in fractures. The other woman “succumbed”

Should I take vitamin D to prevent hip fractures? My physician says my vitamin D level is a bit low. Read More »

I am in my 50’s, healthy but my cholesterol is 263. My physician called in a prescription for a “statin”. Should I take it?

Leave a Comment / Cholesterol, PATIENT, Statins /

A healthy man in his 50’s cholesterol test was “elevated” at 263. When a nurse from his physician’s office called with the result, he was told a prescription for a statin was waiting for him. Before picking it up, he wondered if the treatment would be worthwhile. I introduced this question in a previous blog

I am in my 50’s, healthy but my cholesterol is 263. My physician called in a prescription for a “statin”. Should I take it? Read More »

Do you want this “drug”? Should everyone have this “drug”? Should we pay for others to have this “drug” or should the user pay?

Leave a Comment / Decision making, PATIENT /

A person asked if they should take this “drug”. The word, “drug” is in quotes to disguise the intervention that was proposed to this person. I have not been asked this person’s question in over 10 years, which prompted me to relook at the data on benefit and harm of the intervention. This blog post

Do you want this “drug”? Should everyone have this “drug”? Should we pay for others to have this “drug” or should the user pay? Read More »

Should I take a “BCI” test to decide on 10-years of Tamoxifen?

2 Comments / Breast Cancer, Genetics, PATIENT, Tamoxifen /

A woman read my previous blog regarding a genetic test to decide for/against adding chemotherapy to Tamoxifen (T) for her hormone responsive breast cancer. Now, during a follow-up visit with her oncologist, and nearing 5 years on T, her physician suggested she get a test called, Breast Cancer Index (BCI), to determine if she should

Should I take a “BCI” test to decide on 10-years of Tamoxifen? Read More »