Journal Watch Polls

Do you currently practice tight BP control in your nondiabetic, hypertensive patients?

(456 total responses)

• Yes, in all of them.
  55%
• Yes, in those with additional cardiac risk factors.
  25%
• No.
  10%
• Not applicable to my practice.
  9%

Given the recent NEJM study showing no benefit of vertebroplasty over a sham procedure, will you continue to perform or recommend this procedure for some patients?

(49 total responses)

• Yes
  16%
• No
  49%
• Not applicable to my practice
  35%

How would you feel if Physician's First Watch took off a couple of slow news weeks each year (e.g., end of July, August, December)? We'd remain "on call" for important items.

(1076 total responses)

• I'm fine with this.
  92%
• I'm neutral on the issue.
  4%
• I don't like it. I need to get Physician's First Watch each weekday.
  4%

Have your patients been asking about when a vaccine against the novel H1N1 influenza will be available?

(368 total responses)

• Yes, many of them have.
  44%
• Yes, a few them have.
  27%
• No.
  29%

How useful are the clinical practice guidelines in your field?

(17 total responses)

• Provide comprehensive guidance
  18%
• Generally a good starting point
  53%
• Typically not useful
  18%
• Never helpful
  12%

Given the swine flu outbreak, how likely would you be to prescribe an antiviral to a healthy patient who wants a prescription "just in case"?

(1156 total responses)

• Very likely
  9%
• Somewhat likely
  11%
• Not very likely
  43%
• I would never.
  37%

Do you routinely screen your adolescent patients for depression?

(285 total responses)

• Yes, I routinely screen all of them.
  28%
• I routinely screen only those at increased risk (e.g., teens with a parental history of depression).
  16%
• No, I don't routinely screen them.
  29%
• Not applicable to my practice.
  27%

Have you been screening at-risk children for high cholesterol since the AAP released its recent recommendations?

(250 total responses)

• Yes, I screen all of them.
  19%
• I screen only those with suggestive family histories.
  23%
• I screen only those with obesity.
  12%
• No, I don't screen any of them.
  12%
• Not applicable to my practice.
  33%

Have you noticed an increase in overall MRSA infections in your practice?

(330 total responses)

• Yes, the rate has increased.
  67%
• No, the rate has stayed about the same.
  17%
• No, the rate has declined.
  2%
• Not applicable to my practice.
  14%

Have you been recommending vitamin E, vitamin C, or selenium for prevention of prostate cancer in middle-aged and older men?

(329 total responses)

• Yes, for most men of that age.
  9%
• Yes, but only in certain groups, such as those at increased risk.
  5%
• No, I have not recommended any of these supplements.
  86%

Do your patients ever ask about genetic testing (outside of prenatal testing)?

(464 total responses)

• Often
  7%
• Sometimes / rarely
  44%
• Never
  50%

What proportion of your postmenopausal patients complain of sexual dysfunction?

(274 total responses)

• More than 75%
  23%
• 50-75%
  30%
• 25-49%
  22%
• Less than 25%
  26%

Do you routinely order high-sensitivity CRP testing for your adult patients?

(565 total responses)

• Yes, for all adults.
  10%
• Yes, but only in certain circumstances (e.g., when other cardiovascular risk factors are present).
  45%
• No/not applicable to my practice.
  45%

Having read the candidates' proposals for healthcare reform, whose do you prefer?

(903 total responses)

• Sen. McCain
  28%
• Sen. Obama
  64%
• Undecided
  6%
• Neither
  2%

Roughly how many of your female patients aged 9 to 26 have been vaccinated with Gardasil?

(314 total responses)

• <25%
  37%
• 25-50%
  11%
• 51-75%
  9%
• >75%
  5%
• Not applicable to my practice
  38%

Do you routinely recommend omega-3s to your patients?

(485 total responses)

• Yes, for all patients.
  35%
• Yes, but only for patients with hyperlipidemia.
  25%
• Yes, but only for those with heart disease.
  7%
• No, I do not routinely recommend omega-3s.
  33%

How often do you prescribe methadone for pain in your practice?

(304 total responses)

• Frequently
  10%
• Sometimes/rarely
  29%
• Never
  61%

Until now, have you screened men 75 or older for prostate cancer?

(495 total responses)

• I've screened all men in this age group.
  40%
• I've screened only selected patients (e.g., those at high risk).
  29%
• I've never screened men of this age.
  15%
• Prostate cancer screening is not applicable to my practice.
  16%

Which type of diet do you most commonly recommend to your patients?

(717 total responses)

• Low-carbohydrate
  31%
• Low-fat
  14%
• Mediterranean
  49%
• None of the above
  7%

Will these findings change the way you manage low-risk women with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes?

(240 total responses)

• Yes
  29%
• No, I already favor conservative treatment for these women.
  29%
• No, I will continue to opt for invasive management.
  13%
• Not applicable to my practice
  30%

Do you routinely screen your adult diabetic patients for depression?

(346 total responses)

• Yes, I screen all of them for depression.
  23%
• No, I only screen those who exhibit signs of depression.
  45%
• No, but given this study's findings, I plan to start screening them.
  18%
• No, this is not applicable to my practice.
  15%

Have you prescribed aliskiren since its approval in 2007?

(464 total responses)

• Yes, for most of my hypertensive patients
  3%
• Yes, but only in selected patients (e.g., those with refractory hypertension)
  16%
• No, not at all
  58%
• No, not applicable to my practice
  23%

How often do you see patients with vertigo in your practice?

(571 total responses)

• At least once a week
  47%
• At least once a month
  35%
• Infrequently
  14%
• Never
  4%

Do you plan to use ultrasound for breast cancer screening in your practice?

(439 total responses)

• Yes, I plan to order it routinely.
  20%
• Yes, but only in high-risk women or for follow-up evaluations.
  48%
• No, I don't believe it's valuable.
  9%
• No, breast cancer screening isn't applicable to my practice.
  24%