Representational predicaments at work: How they are experienced and why they may happen

Moisturizers: what they are and how they work.

Moisturizers are widely used in various dermatologic and cosmetic skin therapies. Different classes of moisturizers are based on their mechanism of action, including occlusives, humectants, emollients and protein rejuvenators. Commercially available moisturizers often utilize components of each of these classes to provide their beneficial effect. Dry skin (xerosis) is the major indication of us...

Understanding Herbicides: What They are and How They Work

Medication errors: what they are, how they happen, and how to avoid them.

A medication error is a failure in the treatment process that leads to, or has the potential to lead to, harm to the patient. Medication errors can occur in deciding which medicine and dosage regimen to use (prescribing faults--irrational, inappropriate, and ineffective prescribing, underprescribing, overprescribing); writing the prescription (prescription errors); manufacturing the formulation...

Holding relationships in general practice: what are they? How do they work? Are they worth having?

Advance Care Planning Discussions: Why They Should Happen, Why They Don't, and How We Can Facilitate the Process.

Recent data suggest that we are not successfully getting the message across about the importance of advance care planning for patients who have a life-ending illness. Half to three-quarters of patients with incurable cancer think that they might be cured by chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. The source of this denial may lie with them, it may be traceable to their physicians, or it may be a c...