Top 10 most read in June: Continuity of care and mortality, visual imagery and clinical measures, experiences of belated treatment of Lyme disease and e-cigarette and nicotine replacement therapy use among smokers

  Four new entries made it into BMJ Open’s top 10 most read articles in June. Holding on to the top spot is Petrilli et al, with an observational study examining patient preferences for physician attire. New in at number two is a systematic review by Gray et al, investigating whether there is a relationship […]

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Large gender imbalance in funding given for cancer research

Male researchers receive more than three times as much funding as female researchers Male researchers receive far greater funding for cancer research than their female equivalents, suggests a study published in the journal BMJ Open. Within the European Union (EU), women represent nearly half of the workforce and more than half of all university graduates, […]

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Moderate to severe mid-life anxiety may be linked to later life dementia

But it’s not clear whether active treatment might curb risk, say researchers Moderate to severe mid-life anxiety may be linked to dementia in later life, suggests an analysis of the available published evidence in the online journal BMJ Open. But as yet, it’s not clear whether active treatment could curb this risk, and whether non-drug […]

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Fetal exposure to moderate/high caffeine levels linked to excess childhood weight gain

Should mums-to-be cut out caffeine altogether, ask the researchers? Exposure to moderate to high caffeine levels while in the womb is linked to excess weight gain in early childhood, suggests a large observational study published in the online journal BMJ Open. The findings, which back general advice to limit caffeine intake while pregnant, prompt the […]

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Top 10 Most Read in March: dietary fats and changes in cardiovascular risk factors, declaration of conflicts of interest by clinicians and the association between eating speed and obesity

March saw a varied selection of articles enter the Top 10 Most Read. In the top spot, and receiving quite a bit of attention on social media, is a randomised trial by Khaw et al looking at coconut oil, olive oil and butter as dietary fats and the changes in blood lipid profile, weight, fat distribution […]

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Poor practice on conflict of interest in NHS may be damaging trust in clinicians

US-style statutory body needed to ensure all trusts have strong policies in place, say researchers Many NHS trusts in England are failing to log, track, or disclose information on conflicts of interest (COI) for their staff, so potentially undermining public trust in health professionals, suggests research published in the online journal BMJ Open. A statutory […]

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Surgeries employing GPs with additional training in complementary medicine appear less likely to prescribe antibiotics

Use of complementary/alternative medicine may help reduce over prescribing of antibiotics GP surgeries with doctors who also have training in complementary and alternative medicines appear to be less likely to prescribe antibiotics to patients and may hold the key to reducing over-prescribing of these drugs, suggests a study published in the journal BMJ Open. Inappropriate […]

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2016 junior doctor strikes in England had ‘significant impact’ on healthcare provision

Thousands of appointments cancelled; effects greatest when emergency care withdrawn The 2016 junior doctors strikes in England had a ‘significant’ impact on the provision of healthcare, with thousands of appointments cancelled, and significantly fewer admissions and A&E attendances than expected, reveals research published in the online journal BMJ Open. The effects were greatest during the last of […]

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