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 […]
Category: In the news
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 […]
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Thousands of appointments cancelled; effects greatest when emergency care withdrawn The 2016 junior doctors strikes in England had a ‘significant’ impact on the provision of healthcare, with thousands of appointments cancelled, and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 […]
Slow eating speed may be linked to weight loss
…Along with cutting out after dinner snacks and not eating within 2 hours of going to sleep Slowing down the speed at which you eat, along with cutting out after dinner snacks and not eating within 2 hours of going to sleep may all help to shed the pounds, suggests research published in the online journal BMJ […]
Women taking probiotics during pregnancy might have lower pre-eclampsia and premature birth risk
But timing may be crucial, findings suggest Probiotics taken during pregnancy might help lower the risks of pre-eclampsia and premature birth, suggests observational research in the online journal BMJ Open. But timing may be crucial, the findings indicate. Pre-eclampsia, a condition in which the mother’s body mounts an exaggerated inflammatory response, affects up to 8 percent […]
Emotionally demanding workload and confrontational patients key stressors for GPs
Bullying/unsupportive colleagues and fear of complaints add to the mix The emotional impact of their daily workload and confrontational patients are among the key stressors for family doctors in England, reveals an analysis of feedback from general practitioners (GPs), published in the online journal BMJ Open. Dysfunctional working relationships and unsupportive/bullying colleagues, combined with the […]
Patients’ unfavourable views of hospital care strongly linked to nurse numbers
Increasing the headcount may boost satisfaction with quality of care, say researchers Patients’ unfavourable views of hospital care in England are strongly linked to insufficient numbers of nurses on duty, rather than uncaring staff, indicates observational research published in the online journal BMJ Open. Increasing the registered nurse headcount may boost satisfaction with the quality […]
Rubber/plastic bullets used for crowd control can maim and kill
Given their inherent inaccuracy, they shouldn’t be used for this purpose, say researchers Rubber/plastic bullets used for crowd control can maim and kill, and given their inherent inaccuracy, they shouldn’t be used for this purpose, concludes a review of the available evidence, published in the online journal BMJ Open. Rubber/plastic bullets (kinetic impact projectiles) are […]
Different types of alcohol elicit different emotional responses
Spirits most frequently associated with feelings of aggression, international survey shows Different types of alcohol elicit different emotional responses, but spirits are most frequently associated with feelings of aggression, suggests research published in the online journal BMJ Open. To explore the potential emotional factors underpinning alcohol preference the researchers drew on anonymised responses to the […]
Health and social care spending cuts linked to 120,000 excess deaths in England
Over 60s and care home residents most at risk; changes in nurse numbers may be key The squeeze on public finances since 2010 is linked to nearly 120,000 excess deaths in England, with the over 60s and care home residents bearing the brunt, reveals the first study of its kind, published in the online journal BMJ […]