Publications by authors named "Alexei DeCastro"

Background And Objectives: A recognized gap exists between primary care physicians' training in musculoskeletal (MSK) medicine and the burden of MSK complaints in primary care. Family medicine interns often lack adequate baseline MSK physical exam skills, which prompted a proposal to introduce a fourth-year preceptorship to reinforce MSK education. The aim of this study was to prioritize the most important elements to include in this new clinical rotation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Insomnia affects 30% of the U.S. population, with 5% to 15% meeting criteria for chronic insomnia.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Ventricular tachyarrhythmias remain a major cause of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) that leads to sudden cardiac death (SCD). Primary prevention strategies to prevent SCD include promoting a healthy lifestyle, following United States Preventive Service Task Force recommendations related to cardiovascular disease, and controlling comorbid conditions. For a patient experiencing SCA, early cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation should be performed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background And Objectives: Musculoskeletal (MSK) concerns constitute up to 40% of primary care outpatient visits. Despite Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) family medicine program requirements for musculoskeletal medicine and sports medicine training, previous studies have shown that family medicine residency graduates do not have adequate training to manage common musculoskeletal conditions. Factors for this may include deficiencies in education at both the undergraduate and graduate medical education training levels.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Athletes of various skill levels commonly use many different types of medications, often at rates higher than the general population. Common medication classes used in athletes include analgesics such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen, inhalers for asthma and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, antihypertensives, antibiotics, and insulin. Prescribers must be aware of the unique considerations for each of these medications when using them in patients participating in physical activity.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Primary care and sports medicine physicians will undoubtedly encounter upper-extremity injuries on a regular basis in their practice. Athletes have injuries most commonly to the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand as a result of a fall onto an outstretched arm. This article aims to educate physicians about sports-related upper-extremity injuries.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background And Objectives: "Forward feeding" is defined as the sharing of information regarding learner behaviors and performance outside of formal institutional committee structures. The purpose of this study was to establish baseline opinions and policies of forward feeding in family medicine residency programs.

Methods: Data for this study were obtained as part of the 2015 CERA Program Directors Fall Survey.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Sport-related concussions in youth and adolescent athletes most commonly resolve within one week without residual symptoms, with athletes resuming full participation following return to play guidelines. A small percentage of athletes have persistent symptoms that cause significant morbidity, some of whom are ultimately diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome. In these athletes, symptoms in the emotional domain can be more prolonged than other domains, with athletes reporting anxiety and depression months to years following injury.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background And Objectives: Forward feeding signifies sharing information about learners for purposes of professional and academic advancement, and promotes progression toward a competency-based educational continuum. The aim of this study is to assess reasons for difficulty or failure of the family medicine clerkship and investigate utilization and methods of forward feeding. Reasons behind medical school policies regarding forward feeding are also evaluated.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF