Latest Internal Medicine Topics for Public Awareness
Public awareness campaigns should focus on diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease management using technology and shared decision-making to improve health outcomes. 1
Cardiometabolic Health Education
- Patients should "know their numbers" for key health metrics including blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, kidney function, and understand what these values mean for their health 1
- Public education campaigns should emphasize early recognition of heart attack symptoms and the critical importance of seeking immediate medical attention, as delays in accessing care remain one of the biggest impediments to improving outcomes 1
- Educational messaging about cardiovascular disease should be incorporated into social media, entertainment industry, and community theater to increase public awareness 1
Technology-Enhanced Self-Management
- The public should be educated about validated health apps and wearable devices that can help track:
- Physical activity levels
- Dietary quality
- Sleep patterns
- Weight management
- Blood pressure control 1
- Home blood pressure monitoring should be encouraged as out-of-office readings more accurately predict morbidity and mortality than in-office measurements 1
- Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology allows better tracking of blood glucose patterns and can significantly improve diabetes management 1
Shared Decision Making and Health Literacy
- All healthcare management decisions should be made using shared decision making based on personal priorities and medical needs, which has been shown to improve health metrics 1
- Clinicians should explain medical tests and procedures in plain language, avoiding medical jargon 1
- Patient education improves adherence to therapeutic interventions and reduces health risks 1
Cancer Screening Awareness
- Despite improvements in colorectal cancer screening rates, breast and cervical cancer screening rates have remained relatively stable since 2000, indicating a need for greater public awareness 1
- Public awareness campaigns should emphasize the importance of regular cancer screening and the need for preventive health examinations 1
- Creative approaches are needed to improve public awareness of cancer screening importance, especially for medically underserved populations 1
Telehealth and Digital Health Access
- Telehealth can improve access to care for people with chronic conditions, particularly those in rural or underserved areas 1
- Various telehealth modalities can facilitate reducing A1C in people with type 2 diabetes compared with usual care 1
- Telehealth may allow clinicians to provide education to multiple persons in a group setting, improving efficiency 1
Medication Safety Awareness
- Patients should understand their medication regimens, including:
- What each medication does
- When they should take it
- Potential side effects
- What to do if a side effect occurs 1
- For medications like metformin, patients should be educated about important safety concerns such as lactic acidosis, its symptoms, and conditions that predispose to its development 2
- Medication reconciliation helps drive discussions about treatment adherence—a frequent problem in clinical practice 1
Health Equity and Social Determinants of Health
- Support and information on navigating the healthcare system can help address healthcare disparities and improve health outcomes 1
- Understanding health-seeking behaviors is essential for aligning public health practice and healthcare delivery models for better outcomes 1
- Research is needed to explore how to best integrate social determinants of health into electronic health records to enable practitioners to coordinate care for patients challenged with health inequities 1
Climate Change and Health
- As climate change-related extreme environmental events become more severe and intense, public awareness about preventative strategies during periods of substantial wildfire smoke exposure or extreme heat is needed 1
- The public should be educated about protective measures such as indoor air purifiers, N95 masks, and utilizing public spaces with air-conditioning during extreme heat events 1
Implementation of Guidelines
- Public awareness campaigns should include information about facilities available for treatment at local hospitals and healthcare institutions 1
- Dissemination of health guidelines should be tailored to specific audiences, with brief summaries for the general public and more detailed information available on request or on websites 1
- Educational meetings and interactive workshops can have moderate to large effects on health professional behavior and healthcare outcomes 1