D.O. Research and Perspectives on America's Health: Treating People, Not Just Symptoms.

CHICAGO--(BW HealthWire)--June 21, 1999--

Reporters: Call 312/988-2030 or email [e-mail] for more

information, to set up an interview, or to request B-roll footage.

To find a D.O. or for more information, consumers can call

1-800-621-1773, ext. 8252, or visit the AOA Web site at:

www.aoa-net.org.

Lights...Camera...Doctor?

Catch the distinct style of Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.s) by tuning into TV's "ER." Behind the scenes of the hit medical drama is Jon W. Fong, D.O., a physician who is one of two medical advisors to the show. Dr. Fong's job is to ensure medical accuracy and to train the cast to realistically portray caring and competent physicians. Reflected in the show is the D.O. philosophy of treating people, not just symptoms, which is practiced by D.O.s in hospitals and medical practices across the country. [B-roll available]

Battle of the Childhood Bulge

Obesity has become a major child health issue, affecting 27 percent of children and 21 percent of adolescents nationally. When it comes to treating obesity, Osteopathic Physicians' (D.O.s') "whole person" approach extends to a "whole family" approach. In a special supplement to the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association (JAOA), Loretta Rudloff, D.O., and Emily Feldmann, D.O., say that physicians treating obesity should involve the entire family in behavioral changes. In particular, physicians should educate the parents to:

-    Help children keep food diaries
-    Use the food guide pyramid for food choices
-    Evaluate parental rules (e.g., allow kids to leave food on the
     plate)
-    Encourage socializing around physical activity, instead of food
-    Limit junk food and store it out-of-sight

D.O.s believe that ultimately, it is the parents' and child's decision to stick to healthy habits, but it's the physician's responsibility to identify children at risk and try to prevent the serious consequences associated with childhood obesity such as hypertension, diabetes and even poor self image. [Note: Achieving "healthy weight" was recently named one of the priority health goals of the government's Healthy People 2010 initiative].

Rudloff LM, Feldmann E, "Childhood Obesity: Addressing the Issue," JAOA, (99) 4: S1-S6.

OMT: A Potential Tool to Help Treat Older Patients with Pneumonia.

One million people are hospitalized with pneumonia every year. Now, a new study shows that osteopathic manipulative treatment (see box on OMT) may play a significant role in treating elderly pneumonia. Researchers studied 21 patients over age 60 who were admitted to the hospital with acute pneumonia. All patients received standard treatment, but about half also received OMT. The need for IV antibiotics and the length of hospital stays were reduced in the OMT group compared to the non-OMT group; however, the authors suggest a larger study is needed to clarify this outcome. The biggest significant difference was that the OMT group was on oral antibiotics for an average of 3.1 days versus 0.8 days for the non-OMT group. Study authors suggest this is because patients were able to get off the IV antibiotics more quickly. The authors also offered suggestions on future studies to test these initial results. Noll DR, Shores J, Bryman PN, Masterson EV, "Adjunctive osteopathic manipulative treatment in the elderly hospitalized with pneumonia: A pilot study," JAOA (99) 3: 143-152.

OMT: Did You Know?

D.O.s are fully trained and licensed medical physicians who can prescribe medication and perform surgery, but they have additional training in a form of manual medicine called OMT - osteopathic manipulative treatment. Physicians have used OMT, a predecessor of physical therapy, for over 100 years to help treat structural abnormalities and relieve joint restrictions and misalignments (see related stories). [B-roll available]

More Behind Migraines

Frederick G. Freitag, D.O., associate director of the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago and a migraine sufferer himself, estimates that three-quarters of the roughly 23 million sufferers of migraines in the U.S. are women. Dr. Freitag says that the majority of sufferers actually have migraines triggered by outside environmental factors. Physicians can help their patients identify these triggers by having patients keep diaries of their activities and migraine attacks. According to Dr. Freitag, things that may affect migraines are:

-    Work patterns that lead to not enough rest or physical activity
-    Foods and beverages containing "vasoactive amines" such as
     chocolate and alcohol.
-    Poor posture
-    Poor eating habits

     Addressing these issues may help migraine sufferers. In addition,
OMT directed to the spine or head can reduce migraine attacks.

     Freitag FG, "Manage Your Migraines," The DO, (40) 6: pp. 40-43.

     Domestic Violence Increases Risk of Low-Birth-Weight Babies

     A study published in the JAOA showed that pregnant women who are
victims of domestic violence are up to 2.5 times as likely as
non-victims to deliver low-birth-weight babies. Women in the study
were mostly white, suburban and poor, and one in five of them were
victims of domestic violence. Study authors urge physicians to be more
vigilant in detecting signs of domestic violence. The osteopathic
medical approach of getting to know their patients and their lifestyle
should help identify patients who are victims of domestic violence
early in their pregnancies.

     Fernandez FM, Krueger PM, "Domestic Violence: Effects on
pregnancy outcome," JAOA, (99) 5: 254-256.

                      Did You Know?

     Four of the top 50 schools of medicine for primary care are
schools of osteopathic medicine (OM), reported U.S. News & World
Report in their annual rankings of medical schools nationwide.

27.  West Virginia School of OM
31.  Michigan State University College of OM
38.  Nova Southeastern U. College of OM (FL)
48.  U. of New England College of OM (ME)

     Lieber, R., Kleiner, C. and Perry, J. "Best Graduate Schools."
U.S. News & World Report. 3/99: 74-84.

     Mark your calendars. From July 16-18, representatives from the
more than 43,000 osteopathic physicians nationwide will convene in
Chicago for the AOA's House of Delegates meeting to establish new
policies for the profession to include:

-    Sudden infant death syndrome
-    Gun control
-    Anabolic androgenic steroids.

     Also, the 1999-2000 president, Eugene A. Oliveri, D.O., of
Michigan will be installed. For a media pass, call Karyn Gianfrancesco
at 312/202-8042.

     Number of D.O.s On the Rise:

1990: 29,315
1995: 36,548
1999: 43,681 (49% since 1990)

     States with Most D.O.s:

Pennsylvania: 4,557
Michigan: 4,544
Ohio: 3,049

     States with Highest D.O. Growth:

(b/w 1990 and 1998)
North Dakota: 159%
Alabama: 154.7%
Utah: 152.6%

Reporters:

Expert spokespersons and B-roll footage are available. Call 312/988-2030 or email [e-mail] for more information.