Reducing use of coagulation tests in a family medicine practice setting: An implementation study.

Introduction: Clinicians often order the international normalized ratio (INR) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) to evaluate for the possibility of inherited bleeding disorders despite sensitivities and specificities of 1%-2%. The most accurate tool to evaluate for bleeding disorders is a validated bleeding assessment tool (BAT). Our aim was to reduce coagulation testing by >50% in a large family practice in Ontario, Canada.

Opioid stewardship: implementing a proactive, pharmacist-led intervention for patients coprescribed opioids and benzodiazepines at an urban academic primary care centre.

In 2017, almost 4000 Canadians died from opioid-related causes. Coadministration of opioids and benzodiazepines is a risk factor for overdose. Few studies have evaluated leveraging pharmacists to address opioid-benzodiazepine coprescribing.

Relationship between blood glucose and carotid intima media thickness: A meta-analysis.

Background: Increased coronary intima media thickness (CIMT) has been associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes, as have increased glucose levels. The link has not been established between glucose and CIMT; therefore, we sought to assess the relationship between glucose and CIMT.

Methods: Medline, EMBASE, Scopus, and Cochrane databases were searched from inception through 2009 for original research reporting both postprandial glucose levels and CIMT measurements.