Beyond the Clinic Family Medicine on a Mission Part 1: How Air Force Physicians Achieve Humanitarian Goals Read Family Medicine on a Mission Part 1: How Air Force Physicians Achieve Humanitarian Goals
Phoenix Newsletter - March 2025 President’s Message: ABFM’s Unwavering Commitment to Diplomates and the Specialty Read President’s Message: ABFM’s Unwavering Commitment to Diplomates and the Specialty
Home Research Research Library Diuretic of Choice in ABFM Hypertension Self-Assessment Module Simulations Diuretic of Choice in ABFM Hypertension Self-Assessment Module Simulations 2012 Author(s) Hagen, Michael D, Sumner, W, and Fu, H Topic(s) Education & Training Keyword(s) Clinical Simulation Volume Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine Source Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that chlorthalidone has therapeutic advantages over hydrochlorothiazide, perhaps because of a longer antihypertensive effect. Although guidelines such as the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure treat diuretics as a class, some experts believe chlorthalidone is the diuretic of choice in hypertension management. We evaluated diplomates’ use of chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide as first-choice diuretics in virtual patient simulations of hypertension in the American Board of Family Medicine Maintenance of Certification for Family Physicians self-assessment modules. METHODS: We examined action logs for hypertension simulations completed between 2004 and 2011 and identified initial antihypertensive choices made by diplomates. We tabulated uses of any diuretic as initial treatment, distinguishing between chlorthalidone, hydrochlorothiazide, and other diuretic choices. We examined trends in the use of diuretics and chlorthalidone in simulations using linear models. RESULTS: Chlorthalidone use increased 0.7 percentage points per year (test for beta >0, P < .0013), from approximately 1.3% of simulation prescriptions in 2004 to about 4.8% in 2010 and 2011, whereas hydrochlorothiazide prescriptions fell 2 percentage points per year (P = .035), from nearly 57% to 47%. As a fraction of all diuretic use, chlorthalidone increased 1.4 percentage points per year (P = .0006), from 2% to 9%. CONCLUSIONS: Small but growing numbers of diplomates are heeding recommendations in the growing literature to start with chlorthalidone rather than hydrochlorothiazide, at least in the virtual patient environment. Observed choices in virtual patient management strongly imply that this is a valid topic for additional attention in the hypertension self-assessment module. Read More ABFM Research Read all 2009 Comparing the Performance of Allopathically and Osteopathically Trained Physicians on the American Board of Family Medicine’s Certification Examination. Go to Comparing the Performance of Allopathically and Osteopathically Trained Physicians on the American Board of Family Medicine’s Certification Examination. 2019 Declining Presence of Family Physicians in Hospital-Based Care: A Major Concern or Totally Makes Sense? Go to Declining Presence of Family Physicians in Hospital-Based Care: A Major Concern or Totally Makes Sense? 2016 Over Half of Graduating Family Medicine Residents Report More Than $150,000 in Educational Debt Go to Over Half of Graduating Family Medicine Residents Report More Than $150,000 in Educational Debt 2017 Examining the Functioning and Reliability of the Family Medicine Milestones Go to Examining the Functioning and Reliability of the Family Medicine Milestones
Author(s) Hagen, Michael D, Sumner, W, and Fu, H Topic(s) Education & Training Keyword(s) Clinical Simulation Volume Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine Source Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine
ABFM Research Read all 2009 Comparing the Performance of Allopathically and Osteopathically Trained Physicians on the American Board of Family Medicine’s Certification Examination. Go to Comparing the Performance of Allopathically and Osteopathically Trained Physicians on the American Board of Family Medicine’s Certification Examination. 2019 Declining Presence of Family Physicians in Hospital-Based Care: A Major Concern or Totally Makes Sense? Go to Declining Presence of Family Physicians in Hospital-Based Care: A Major Concern or Totally Makes Sense? 2016 Over Half of Graduating Family Medicine Residents Report More Than $150,000 in Educational Debt Go to Over Half of Graduating Family Medicine Residents Report More Than $150,000 in Educational Debt 2017 Examining the Functioning and Reliability of the Family Medicine Milestones Go to Examining the Functioning and Reliability of the Family Medicine Milestones
2009 Comparing the Performance of Allopathically and Osteopathically Trained Physicians on the American Board of Family Medicine’s Certification Examination. Go to Comparing the Performance of Allopathically and Osteopathically Trained Physicians on the American Board of Family Medicine’s Certification Examination.
2019 Declining Presence of Family Physicians in Hospital-Based Care: A Major Concern or Totally Makes Sense? Go to Declining Presence of Family Physicians in Hospital-Based Care: A Major Concern or Totally Makes Sense?
2016 Over Half of Graduating Family Medicine Residents Report More Than $150,000 in Educational Debt Go to Over Half of Graduating Family Medicine Residents Report More Than $150,000 in Educational Debt
2017 Examining the Functioning and Reliability of the Family Medicine Milestones Go to Examining the Functioning and Reliability of the Family Medicine Milestones