Four new entries made it into BMJ Open’s top 10 most read articles in May. This month, Petrilli et al are at first place with an observational study examining patient preferences for physician attire. While formal attire with a white coat was found to be the most highly rated, the authors conclude that patient expectations and perceptions for physician attire varied significantly by clinical context and region.

Also new this month is a systematic review by Gimson et al, which investigates the association between clinically significant midlife anxiety and late-life dementia. The authors found that clinically significant midlife anxiety was associated with an increased risk of dementia after an interval of 10 years. However, Gimson et al caution that further research is needed to confirm the role of anxiety as a risk factor for dementia and clarify the underlying mechanisms.

Other new entries include a systematic analysis of UK cancer research funding awarded by gender of primary investigator (PI). Zhou et al demonstrate significant gender differences in cancer research investment, with female PIs receiving less funding than male PIs. The authors suggest that further work is required to determine the factors involved in the observed gender differences.

Lastly, in at number nine is Heneghan et al, who examine the effect of sedentary behaviour and physical activity on thoracic spinal mobility. The authors found reduced thoracic mobility in individuals who spend over 7 hours per day sitting and less than 150 min per week being physically active. Heneghan et al highlight that additional studies including individuals from different age groups and sociodemographic backgrounds are required to ensure generalisability to different populations.

Most read figures are based on pdf downloads and full text views. Abstract views are excluded.