Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Otolaryngology for April 2018. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Hearing Aid Use Linked to Beneficial Health Outcomes
MONDAY, April 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Use of hearing aids (HAs) is associated with beneficial health outcomes, including reduced probability of emergency department visits and hospitalizations and reduced number of nights in the hospital, according to a study published online April 26 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
New Clinic Satisfaction Tool Provides Real-Time Feedback
THURSDAY, April 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A new clinic satisfaction tool improves communication and provides real-time feedback, according to a study published online April 14 in Neurosurgery.
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Proactive Swallowing Rehab Program Helpful in Phalangeal CA
THURSDAY, April 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A proactive speech and language pathology (SLP) program is beneficial for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), according to a study published online April 19 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Saturday Is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
THURSDAY, April 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and local agencies are holding the 15th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day across the country this Saturday, April 28.
Medicare Requiring Hospitals to Post Prices Online
WEDNESDAY, April 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — U.S. hospitals will have to post their standard prices online and make it easier for patients to access their electronic medical records, Medicare officials said Tuesday.
Factors ID’d for Hearing Loss After Loud Music Exposure
WEDNESDAY, April 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Non-use of earplugs, use of alcohol and drugs, and male sex are associated with a temporary threshold shift (TTS) after music exposure at an outdoor music festival, according to a study published online April 19 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Alcohol Intake May Influence Oral Microbiome Composition
TUESDAY, April 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Alcohol consumption, specifically heavy drinking, may influence the oral microbiome composition, according to a study published online April 24 in Microbiome.
Patients Prefer Doctors Who Engage in Face-to-Face Visits
MONDAY, April 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Patients prefer physicians who engage in face-to-face (F2F) clinic visits, rather than those using an examination room computer (ERC), according to a research letter published online April 19 in JAMA Oncology.
Celecoxib Lowers Opioid Use Post Head & Neck Cancer Surgery
MONDAY, April 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing head and neck cancer (HNC) surgery, perioperative use of celecoxib is associated with reduced use of opioids after surgery, according to a study published online April 18 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Most Smokers With Head and Neck Cancer Have Tried to Quit
THURSDAY, April 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Most active smokers with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have made one or more quit attempts, according to a study published online April 12 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Hearing Aids May Mitigate Cognitive Decline, Memory Loss
THURSDAY, April 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Using hearing aids may slow cognitive decline in later life, according to a study published online April 10 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Recommendations Developed on Gender Equity in Medicine
MONDAY, April 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In a position paper published online April 17 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, recommendations are provided aimed at addressing gender equity in physician compensation and career advancement opportunities.
Nonoptimized Drug Therapy Costs More Than $500 Billion Annually
MONDAY, April 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The estimated annual cost of drug-related morbidity and mortality resulting from nonoptimized medication therapy is more than half a trillion dollars in the United States, according to a study published online March 26 in the Annals of Pharmacotherapy.
Recent Years Saw Increase in Burden of Prior Authorization
THURSDAY, April 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The burden of prior authorization (PA) has increased over the past five years, and 92 percent of physicians report associated delays in access to care, according to the results of a survey published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Workplace Noise Exposure Affects Cardiovascular Risk Factors
THURSDAY, April 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Hypertension, elevated cholesterol, and hearing difficulty are more prevalent among noise-exposed workers, according to a study published online March 14 in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine.
Suggestions Offered to Reduce Physician Frustration With EHRs
TUESDAY, April 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Changes can be implemented to help reduce physician frustration with electronic health records (EHRs), according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Considerable Differences in Burden of Disease at State Level
TUESDAY, April 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There are considerable differences in the burden of disease at the state level, according to a study published in the April 10 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Interns’ Schedule Takes Toll on Sleep, Physical Activity, Mood
FRIDAY, April 6, 2018 (HealthDay News) — New interns’ intense and changing schedules take a toll on sleep, activity, and mood, according to a study published online March 14 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
ACA Marketplaces Expand Coverage for Chronically Ill
THURSDAY, April 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The Affordable Care Act’s Marketplaces covered a disproportionate share of non-elderly adults with high health care risks in the 2014 to 2015 time period, according to a study published in the April issue of Health Affairs.
Online Doc Reviews Don’t Reflect Patient Satisfaction Surveys
THURSDAY, April 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Online physician reviews do not reflect patient satisfaction surveys (PSSs), according to a study published in the April issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
Variations Identified in Free-Text Directions in E-Prescriptions
WEDNESDAY, April 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There is considerable variation in the quality of free-text patient directions (Sig) in electronic prescriptions (e-prescriptions), according to a study published online April 2 in the Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy.
Thyroidectomy Rates Lower After Guideline Implementation
MONDAY, April 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Implementation of the 2015 American Thyroid Association guidelines on surgery for well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma was associated with a significant decrease in the rates of both up-front total thyroidectomy and completion thyroidectomy, according to a study published online March 29 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
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