January 19, 1999, Tip Sheet
Annals of Internal Medicine is published by the American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine (ACP-ASIM), an organization of more than 115,000 physicians trained in internal medicine. The following highlights are not intended to substitute for articles as sources of information. For a copy of an article, call 1-800-523-1546, ext. 2656 or 215-351-2656. The full text of selected articles can be accessed on January 19, 1999, on the Internet at www.acponline.org/journals/annals
MAKE THE FIRST AND THIRD TUESDAYS ANNALS NEWS DAYS! Annals of Internal Medicine is Now Published on the First and Third Tuesdays of the Month
Elderly Receive Less Life-Sustaining Treatment at End of Life
A study of nearly 10,000 adults hospitalized for life-threatening illnesses found that the elderly received less ventilator support, surgery and dialysis compared to younger patients (Article, p. 116). * * *
Hospital Handwashing Rules Often Ignored
Workers in a Swiss teaching hospital complied with handwashing rules only 48 percent of the time, a study found (Brief Communications, p. 126). An editorial says that after 150 years of poor handwashing compliance, "it is timeÖto get serious about improving hand hygiene in hospitals." (Editorial, p. 153.) * * *
Sedentary Lifestyle Increases Risk for Diabetes
A prospective study of 8,633 men found that those with low cardiorespiratory fitness had a higher risk for impaired fasting glucose and a 3.7 times increased risk for type 2 diabetes than men in a high-fitness group (Article, p. 89). * * *
Group Proposes Ethical Principles To Be Shared by All Health Care Providers
An ad hoc group of international health care providers and management suggests ethical principles to guide delivery of health care (Medicine and Public Issues, p. 143). Although many professional associations have separate codes of ethics, the group feels modern health care needs a shared code to bring all players into a consistent moral framework. The group is asking for comment on the principles from health organizations of all kinds both in the U.S. and abroad.
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