British Columbia Medical Journal

The British Columbia Medical Journal is a respected peer-reviewed publication that features scientific studies, review articles, and updates on modern clinical practices, all contributed by physicians from British Columbia. The journal includes content that is relevant to local practitioners, such as columns from the BC Centre for Disease Control and the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia. While it is published by the British Columbia Medical Association (BCMA), it operates independently to promote open discussion and diverse viewpoints. Additionally, the journal has an online archive that includes all issues dating back to the year 2000. David R. Richardson currently serves as the editor-in-chief.

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The future of medicine: From predictions in 2000 to realities in 2025

2 weeks ago | bcmj.org | John Cairns

Reflecting on my bird’s-eye view from 2000 of what the next 25 years of medicine might look like [BCMJ 2000;42:241-242], I have observed that several of my predictions have been fulfilled to varying extents, some have not materialized, and some unanticipated developments have assumed importance. The breakneck pace of change has accelerated.
Youth social media use: Like and subscribe to healthy approaches

Nov 28, 2024 | bcmj.org | Michael Schwandt

In November 2024, Australia passed a new law banning social media use by youth under 16 years of age. The Social Media Minimum Age bill will require social media companies to take “reasonable steps” to prevent the use of their platforms by youth.[1] This legislation aims to protect youth mental health and will be backed by fines of up to C$45 million for failure to comply. Meanwhile, critics have suggested that this approach may be ineffective or even harmful.
I wonder which committee thought that one up

Oct 8, 2024 | bcmj.org | David Chapman

Our hospital’s physician wellness committee is constantly looking for ways to promote and improve the wellness of our physician group. One of our recent projects was to resurrect the tradition of recognizing physicians for their contributions to health care in our community and their lengths of service (a good number of our physicians have given 30 to 37 years; I’ve been there for 31).
A case of eumycetoma in British Columbia

Sep 12, 2024 | bcmj.org | Lu Chen

Eumycetoma is a rare, chronic disease in which fungal entities implant into various body tissues, causing granulation and inflammation.[1] It is endemic in countries along the tropics and affects approximately 1.81 people per 100 000.[2] The fungal agent may initially cause local inflammation and swelling; over a chronic course, it invades subcutaneous tissues. If untreated, this may result in irreversible derangements to soft tissue structure and debilitating injury.
Driving toward injury-free roadways

Apr 25, 2024 | bcmj.org | Michael Schwandt

In the afternoon of Wednesday, 17 April 2024, a cyclist was struck and killed by a pickup truck in East Vancouver. This tragic event was the 14th death due to a road crash in Metro Vancouver this year, and the province-wide fatality count is higher still.
Housing: An important determinant of health

Apr 23, 2024 | bcmj.org | Jia Hu |Rebecca Hasdell

Housing is an important social determinant of health and well-being. Unfortunately, many Canadians, including British Columbians, do not have access to adequate housing. Statistics Canada defines a household as being in core housing need if their housing is unsuitable (e.g., not enough rooms), inadequate (e.g., in need of repairs), or unaffordable, and if they are not able to afford alternative housing in their community.
Is food insecurity the issue, or is it discrimination?

Apr 23, 2024 | bcmj.org | Jennifer Phillips

Community food security means always having access to a safe, nutritious diet through a sustainable system that promotes healthy choices, self-reliance, and equal access.[1] Food insecurity is “the inability to acquire or consume an adequate diet quality or sufficient quantity of food in socially acceptable ways, or the uncertainty that one will be able to do so.”[2] Understanding community food security is essential, because its impacts on health, economics, and social equity are profound...
Understanding chronic conditions in BC

Apr 18, 2024 | bcmj.org | Kate Smolina |Geoff Ramler |Andrea D. Olmstead |Kayla McLean

Chronic diseases are leading causes of disability and death. They have a major impact on individual well-being and result in significant costs to the health care system.[1] In BC, the number of people living with chronic disease is increasing.
The public health paradox of wildfire smoke

Apr 1, 2024 | bcmj.org | Sarah Henderson |Phuong Nguyen |Phương Nguyên |Jiayun Yao |Michael Lee

When the BCCDC presents on the public health impacts of wildfire smoke, we often ask audiences to consider the following question: If there are 10 asthma-related physician visits on a slightly smoky day, how many occur on a day with 10 times as much smoke? Based on epidemiologic evidence, the answer is about 20 [Figure]. Based on human intuition, however, the most common response is 100. This is true even among professionals who are trained in environmental public health.
ASA for postoperative venous thromboembolism prevention in patients with extremity or hip fractures: A critical appraisal of the PREVENT CLOT trial

Dec 3, 2023 | bcmj.org | Daniel Hong |Hans Haag |Anthony Lau

The baseline risk of symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) in the first 35 days after major orthopaedic surgery has been estimated at 4.3%.[1] This burden of VTE, along with a much higher incidence of asymptomatic cases and potential complications, is the basis for the numerous clinical trials that have investigated pharmaceutical options for thromboprophylaxis in this patient population, including antiplatelet agents such as ASA and anticoagulants such as vitamin K antagonists,...