What's the Proof?

Is routine Vitamin D testing necessary? Should you be taking a supplement? The 2024 Endocrine Society guidelines provide updates that may change the way you think about Vitamin D. In this episode of What’s the Proof?, we break down the latest evidence on Vitamin D supplementation, discuss who likely benefits, and clarify why routine testing is not needed for most people. Join Dr. Bobby Scott, Dr....

In this special What's the Proof? EXTRA episode, recorded in September 2024, we dive into a candid conversation about our personal fitness journeys, the challenges we’ve faced, and how our exercise habits shape the way we teach and motivate patients. These EXTRA episodes are bonus content designed to explore important topics beyond the usual evidence-focused format of our regular episodes. As we r...

In this episode of "What's the Proof?" we uncover why exercise truly is the miracle treatment we've been searching for. Exercise can drastically reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer,  dementia, and it has significant mortality benefits. Despite its profound impact, many physicians don't emphasize it enough in their practices. Join hosts Bobby, Dawn, and Sandy as they delve into...

In this episode of "What's the Proof?" we delve into non-hormonal therapies for menopausal vasomotor symptoms (VMS), commonly known as hot flashes and night sweats. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the most effective treatment for VMS, but it isn't suitable for everyone. Join Bobby, Dawn, and Sandy as they explore alternative treatment options for women who cannot or choose not to use HRT. Fro...

The ASCVD Risk Estimator is OUT and PREVENT is IN!  Join us on this episode of 'What's the Proof?' where hosts Bobby Scott and Sandy Robertson explore the American Heart Association's revolutionary PREVENT calculator. This new tool not only replaces outdated risk calculators but also introduces the comprehensive Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) Syndrome framework, aimed at transforming t...

"One drug, three doses, one test.” In this episode of 'What's the Proof?', we are joined by our guest, Dr. Bobby Levy, who will be discussing the application of buprenorphine-naloxone in the treatment of opioid use disorder. Discover how personal experiences led Dr. Levy to become a passionate advocate for integrating opioid use disorder treatment into primary care.  Gain insights into the ro...

Are you checking eosinophil counts on your COPD patients?  If not, it's time to start!  Do you know which class of COPD medications have demonstrated a mortality benefit in RCTs?  If not, you don't want to miss this one! In the premiere episode of Season Two, Bobby and Sandy review updates from the 2023 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines.  ...

How can one class of medication be beneficial in treating type 2 diabetes, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease?  It may seem too good to be true, but your hosts welcome guest Austin Bush, MD to discuss the evidence and why family physicians should be regularly prescribing these medications. We then introduce a new segment, "This Week in Placebo Effect," where we discuss the mysterious e...

Insomnia is one of the most common conditions encountered in primary care.  In this episode, Drs. Scott & Robertson explore the evidence-based management of chronic insomnia, with some surprising revelations along the way! Additionally, Episode #4 on Probiotics for the Prevention of Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea provoked a lot of debate, and the What's the Proof team lets you in on the c...

In this episode, the What's the Proof team is shocked by the practice-changing evidence surrounding the use of probiotics in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea.  Also, in "Residents Ask the Darnedest Things," Dr. Caviness shares what she learned when a medical student asked about co-testing for influenza along with COVID-19 in symptomatic patients. Most Studied Probiotics: In adults: S...

Levothyroxine is one of the most commonly prescribed medications in the US, and nearly two thirds of these patients don't actually need to be taking it!  In this episode, Drs. Bobby Scott and Sandy Robertson review the evidence to find out which patients, if any, with subclinical hypothyroidism should be treated.  Also, Dr. Dawn Caviness interviews our first guest, Cabarrus Family Medici...

Is it true that "an aspirin a day keeps the doctor away?"  Aspirin has long been used to prevent cardiovascular disease for those at risk, but new evidence has driven a major shift in professional guideline recommendations.  Drs. Bobby Scott and Sandy Robertson review three landmark studies which have informed these practice-changing guidelines, and explore how over the past 20 years, we...

Elderly patients over age 75 have the highest rate of statin use in the United States, but should this be the case?  Are elderly patients more likely to be helped or harmed by these medications?   Drs. Bobby Scott and Sandy Robertson discuss the evidence in the medical literature surrounding this topic in an attempt to answer these questions and more... Plus, Dr. Dawn Caviness answers a...