Importance Systematic reviews and meta-analyses often report conflicting results when assessing evidence for probiotic efficacy, partially because of the lack of understanding of the unique features of probiotic trials. As a consequence, clinical decisions on the use of probiotics have been…
Importance Cannabis use is increasing among reproductive-age individuals and the risks associated with cannabis exposure during pregnancy remain uncertain. Objective To evaluate the association between maternal cannabis use and adverse pregnancy outcomes known to be related to placental function. Design, Setting, and…
Importance Trial protocols outline a trial’s objectives as well as the methods (design, conduct, and analysis) that will be used to meet those objectives, and transparent reporting of trial protocols ensures objectives are clear and facilitates appraisal regarding the suitability of…
Importance Implemented in 18 regions, Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+) was the largest US primary care delivery model ever tested. Understanding its association with health outcomes is critical in designing future transformation models. Objective To test whether CPC+ was associated with lower…
When a physician refers a patient for a nonclinical reason, that patient has been “turfed.” There are numerous reasons why turfing is clinically, legally, and ethically problematic; a main one is that the practice is physician centered and does not…
Turfing is a colloquialism that refers to what clinicians do to patients whose needs do not fit neatly and tidily into typical clinical placement protocols, especially during inpatient admissions from a hospital’s emergency department. This term and this practice are…
When physicians admit patients to a hospital, their decisions about where—and to whose professional stewardship and services—those patients belong are influenced by federal policies, of which many clinicians are not aware. The distinction between observation and admission has clinical and…
Importance Early anhydramnios during pregnancy, resulting from fetal bilateral renal agenesis, causes lethal pulmonary hypoplasia in neonates. Restoring amniotic fluid via serial amnioinfusions may promote lung development, enabling survival. Objective To assess neonatal outcomes of serial amnioinfusions initiated before 26 weeks’ gestation…
Importance Transparent reporting of randomized trials is essential to facilitate critical appraisal and interpretation of results. Factorial trials, in which 2 or more interventions are assessed in the same set of participants, have unique methodological considerations. However, reporting of factorial trials…
Ensuring the health and safety of health care professionals and patients from transmissible diseases is paramount to a robust health care system. Quick identification of potential infections and the implementation of effective infection prevention and control measures are key to…
© 2026
American Board of Medical Specialties | Policies | Sitemap | Terms of Use | www.abms.org
