Healthy Dialogue

Interview with Daniel C. Cherkin, PhD, author of Effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction vs Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Usual Care on Back Pain and Functional Limitations in Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial

An opioid abuse epidemic now plagues US healthcare. It was caused, in part, by overzealous advocacy for controlling chronic pain resulting in overuse of narcotics. There are now 2 million Americans addicted to opioids. The approach for treating chronic pain must change. In this podcast, we summarize recent CDC guidelines for the proper use of opioids for treating chronic pain.

Articles discussed in this episode:

• CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain— United States, 2016,
• The CDC Guideline on Opioid Prescribing: Rising to the Challenge (Yngvild Olsen, MD, MPH),
• The DSM-V definition for opioid use disorder and 11 point checklist

Interview with Saad B. Omer, MBBS, MPH, PhD, author of Association Between Vaccine Refusal and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in the United States A Review of Measles and Pertussis

Polypharmacy is a rapidly worsening problem that hits elderly patients particularly hard. As patients grow older, they need more medications but at the same time become less capable of managing the complexity of drug treatments. In order to simplify treatment regimens for older patients, it is necessary to consider the evidence supporting treatment of various conditions and when the evidence is not particularly strong, reduce or eliminate medications accordingly. Diabetes management in the elderly is highlighted in this podcast with specific attention given to deintensifying diabetes treatment in the elderly.

Articles discussed in this episode:

• Polypharmacy in the Aging Patient: Glycemic Control in Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: A Review (Kasia J. Lipska, MD, MHS)
• Evaluation and Treatment of Older Patients With Hypercholesterolemia: A Clinical Review (Timo E. Strandberg, MD, PhD)
• Trends in Prescription Drug Use Among Adults in the United States From 1999-2012 (Elizabeth D. Kantor, PhD, MPH)

Interview with Lynn Babcock, MD, MS, author of Identifying Children and Adolescents at Risk for Persistent Postconcussion Symptoms

Interview with Michael P. Pignone, MD, MPH, author of Screening for Impaired Visual Acuity in Older Adults: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement

Robert O. Bonow, MD, the editor-in-chief of JAMA Cardiology, the JAMA Network’s newest addition, discusses his editorial vision for the journal, as well as his insights on advances in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Interview with Clifford Deutschman, MD, MS, Mervyn Singer, MD and Derek Angus, MD, MPH, authors of The Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis-3)

Interview with John G. Laffey, MD, MA, author of Epidemiology, Patterns of Care, and Mortality for Patients With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Intensive Care Units in 50 Countries

Interview with David C. Grossman, MD, MPH, author of Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorder in Young Children: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement