The Cannabis Conundrum
Jacob Lenz, OMS-IV, explores the benefits and adverse effects of cannabis—both recreational and medicinal—and how the role of continued legalization across the United States impacts patient care.
Supporting Mother-Infant Attachment in Primary Care
Monica Hammer, MPH, OMS-III, discusses the role primary care physicians can play in helping foster relationships between mothers and their children, highlighting both risks of and potential solutions for attachment issues.
Through the Lens of COVID-19: Persistent Disparities in HIV Prevention
Georgianna Stoukides, OMS-III, MA, highlights the similarities and differences between COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS—not only in the type of virus but also in how they are transmitted and who they most often affect—and the role stigmatization plays in treatment.
Addressing Healthcare Disparities With Community-Tailored Programs
Nicole Rakhmanova, OMS-III, highlights the importance of tailoring preventative medicine approaches and interventions to community and cultural beliefs, while providing suggestions for ways to overcome mistrust and misinformation.
Need for Increased Screening and Treatment of Anxiety and Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults in the Setting of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Samantha Gordon, OMS-IV, outlines the importance of screening for depression and anxiety in adolescents and young adults, especially amid the pandemic, and offers tips for providing individuals and their families with appropriate resources.
Housing Is Health Care: Why Advocating for Safe and Stable Housing for Those Without Homes Is the Duty of the Family Physician
Sara Robinson, MD, discusses the impact of homelessness on individuals’ health and offers suggestions for addressing this ongoing problem as family physicians.
The Value in Prioritizing Immigrant LGBTQI+ Adult Health
2022 Namey/Burnett Preventive Medicine Writing Award third-place winner Krisdaniel Berreta, OMS-III, discusses how the intersection of being a member of the immigrant and LGBTQI communities can lead to poor health outcomes and outlines actions to address these issues.
Recognizing Advance Care Planning as Preventative Medicine
2022 Namey/Burnett Preventive Medicine Writing Award second-place winner Lissie Arndt, PhD, OMS-IV, clarifies the difference between palliative care and hospice and advocates for osteopathic family physicians to discuss advance care planning with their patients earlier.
The Limits of Colorectal Cancer Screening Tools
As part of Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Awareness Month, Srijesa Khasnabish, OMS-III, highlights the disparities of CRC screenings and how healthcare providers can work toward addressing these barriers to care.
Let’s Talk About Sleep: The Insomnia Public Health Problem and Literature Review on Osteopathic Interventions
2022 Namey/Burnett Preventive Medicine Writing Award first-place winner Michelle Lanspa, OMS-III, reviews the current literature surrounding insomnia and identifies why OMT should be involved in treatment.
Best of the ACOFP Blog: Top Five Posts From 2021
See which groups contributed to the ACOFP blog in 2021 and check out the five most-viewed member-generated posts for the year in this “best of” wrap-up.
Changing Landscape of Mental Health During COVID-19: Encouraging Individual Mental Health Assessments
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the limited access, inadequate quality and high cost of mental health resources, putting more responsibility onto the individual to evaluate their own mental health.
Air Travel and Venous Thromboembolism: Victory Is in Prevention
As air travel is expected to globally increase by 2039, family physicians should be prepared to help patients prevent venous thromboembolisms by addressing risk factors and reducing said risk.
The Importance of Establishing with a PCP Amid a Global Pandemic
Establishing with a PCP and maintaining regular follow up appointments will always be an important component of taking control of your health, but this year—more than ever—it is imperative for patients to find their health home.
Food for Your Mood: Nutrition as a Part of the Treatment and Prevention of Major Depressive Disorder
The mainstays for treatment for major depressive disorder include cognitive behavioral therapy and antidepressant medications; however, we also have an underutilized opportunity to connect our patients with depressive symptoms to lifestyle modifications that have the potential to improve their mental health, especially in the area of nutrition.
Treating Osteoarthritis Flare-Ups in the Age of COVID-19
For years we have been telling our patients to move more. With the COVID-19 pandemic leading to wide-spread shutdowns, stay-at-home orders and quarantine protocols, employees are working from home and finding new and even more sedentary daily routines than ever before. As a result of this physical inactivity, metabolic and musculoskeletal complications may lead to worsening of these chronic diseases and increase the number of physically disabled people in the years to come.