UpToDate Patient and Member Engagement Program Updates and Enhancements - July 2025

Asthma Using Your Peak Flow Meter

Program Code: 138

Main changes:

• Streamlined language to improve brevity.
• Created 2 focused programs: one for how to use the PFM, the other about how tracking peak flow can help manage asthma.

Medicines for Osteoporosis

Program Code: 25140

Main changes:

• Cut content aside from info on medicines because most sections had the same information as in Preventing Low Bone Mass and Osteoporosis.
• Expanded information on medicines outside of bisphosphonates.
• Other changes based on clinical review.

Birth Control: Full Program

Program Code: 32071

Main changes:

• Enhanced Pain Management Information: Language around pain during IUD placement has been strengthened, per the latest CDC practice guidelines.
• New Birth Control Option Added: Information about Opill®, the newly released progestin-only birth control pill available over the counter, has been added to reflect the latest contraceptive options now accessible without a prescription.
• Other changes based on clinical review.

These updates have also been applied to the following UpToDate Educate programs:

• Birth Control: Pregnancy 101 (31635)
• Birth Control: Options (31636)

In additional to the above updates, one new Short-form videos have been released:

• Birth Control: How it Works (50259)

Inhaler - Pediatric Dry Powder Disc Inhaler (DPI)

Program Code: 223

Main changes:

• Reorganized content for better flow.

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Program Code: 10

Main changes:

• Updated to clearly differentiate between on-pump and off-pump CABG techniques, including an enhanced explanation of the procedural differences and the possibility of intraoperative conversion from off-pump to on-pump for clinical safety.
• Other changes based on clinical review.

These updates have also been applied to the following UpToDate Educate programs:

• Why May I Need Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery?: Overview (50423)
• What Happens During Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG)?: Overview (31947)

In additional to the above updates, four new Short-form videos have been released:

• Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: Before Your Surgery (50424)
• Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: After Your Surgery (50425)
• Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: Risks (50426)
• Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: Alternatives (50427)

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion

Program Code: 56

Main changes:

• Bone Graft Options: Expanded details on the types of bone grafts available, including donor bone and artificial bone. Edited language to inform views that autografts are now rarely done.
• Other changes based on clinical review.

These updates have also been applied to the following UpToDate Educate programs:

• Why May I Need an Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion?: Overview (32220)
• What Happens During an Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion?: Overview (32219)

In additional to the above updates, four new Short-form videos have been released:

• ACDF: Before Your Surgery (50765)
• ACDF: After Your Surgery (50766)
• ACDF: Risks (50767)
• ACDF: Alternatives (50768)

Spinal Fusion For Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Program Code: 102

Main changes:

• Refocused introductory chapters to focus on surgical candidates rather than a broad discussion of scoliosis.
• Updated descriptions of hardware and procedure to reflect the current standard of practice.
• Additional updates per clinical review.

These updates have also been applied to the following UpToDate Educate programs:

• Why a Spinal Fusion May Be Needed: Overview (32463)
• What Happens During a Spinal Fusion for Scoliosis?: Overview (32462)

In additional to the above updates, five new Short-form videos have been released:

• Your Expectations for Spinal Fusion: Overview (32461)
• Spinal Fusion for AIS: Before Your Procedure (50938)
• Spinal Fusion for AIS: After Your Procedure (50939)
• Spinal Fusion for AIS: Risks (50940)
• Spinal Fusion for AIS: Alternatives (50941)

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Program Code: 23

Main changes:

• Updated goals of the procedure to treatment rather than diagnosis.
• Additional updates per clinical suggestion.

These updates have also been applied to the following UpToDate Educate programs:

• Common Gallbladder Problems: Overview (32091)
• What Happens During a Cholecystectomy (Laparoscopic)?: Overview (32099)

In additional to the above updates, four new Short-form videos have been released:

• Cholecystectomy (Laparoscopic): Before Your Procedure (50942)
• Cholecystectomy (Laparoscopic): After Your Procedure (50943)
• Cholecystectomy (Laparoscopic): Risks (50944)
• Cholecystectomy (Laparoscopic): Alternatives (50945)

Program Name Change: Asthma Using Your Peak Flow Meter

Program Code: 138

Previous title: Asthma Peak Flow Meter

Program Name Change: Medicines for Osteoporosis

Program Code: 25140

Previous title: Treating Weak Bones (Osteoporosis/Osteopenia)

Program Name Change: Your Expectations for Spinal Fusion: Overview

Program Code: 32461

Previous title: What is Scoliosis?: Overview

As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance our library and harmonize with the clinical topics in UpToDate, we will retire the programs below on August 29, 2025. To ensure a smooth transition, we’ve provided recommended replacement programs:

• Finding Out About Bone Loss: Overview (31963)
• Please use Bone Density and Bone Loss: Overview (31865) as a replacement video.
• Metabolic Syndrome (81)
• Please use Hypertension (86); Prediabetes (25331); Hyperlipidemia (707) as replacement videos.