FRIDAY, Oct. 17 — Many patients misunderstand the written questions American doctors have them answer before physical exams, a finding that calls into question the usefulness of these screening tools, new reports say.
Two studies, presented earlier this year at the 2008 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons, found that lower-than-expected literacy levels among patients and a failure to understand basic numerical measurements hurt the validity of the questionnaire results. A third study, though, found promise in using computer programs to “speak” the questions to patients.
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January 6th, 2009 | Posted in Prostate Cancer | Tags: Doctors, Health, Literacy, Often, Overestimate, patients
The best-known example of vitamin D deficiency is rickets, a bone-softening disease that can result in bowed legs and fractures, but a burgeoning body of evidence links vitamin D deficiency with an array of serious ailments. New research shows it plays a role in certain cancers, autoimmune diseases, and even diabetes.
That’s why today the American Academy of Pediatrics is set to announce it is doubling the amount of vitamin D it recommends for infants, children, and adolescents to 400 IU a day, beginning in the first few days of life.
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January 4th, 2009 | Posted in News | Tags: children, Doctors, double, Vitamin