RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Top 20 POEMs of the Past 20 Years: A Survey of Practice-Changing Research for Family Physicians JF The Annals of Family Medicine JO Ann Fam Med FD American Academy of Family Physicians SP 436 OP 439 DO 10.1370/afm.2288 VO 16 IS 5 A1 Mark H. Ebell A1 Henry C. Barry A1 Allen F. Shaughnessy A1 David C. Slawson A1 Nita Kulkarni A1 Linda Speer YR 2018 UL http://www.annfammed.org/content/16/5/436.abstract AB POEMs (patient-oriented evidence that matters) are studies that address a relevant clinical question, demonstrate improved patient-oriented outcomes, and have the potential to change practice. For 20 years the authors of this article have reviewed more than 100 English language clinical journals monthly to identify POEMs in the medical literature relevant to primary care practice. This article identifies the POEMs in each of the last 20 years that were highest ranked for having recommended a major and persistent change in practice that year. They include POEMs that recommend a novel, effective intervention, a second group that recommends abandoning an ineffective practice, and a third group that recommends abandoning a potentially harmful practice. The top POEMs of the past 20 years illustrate the breadth of practice change in primary care and the need for family physicians to have a systematic approach to keeping up with the medical literature, such as that in POEMs, especially because many of these important articles did not appear in the primary care literature.