And clear geographical split in use of potentially addictive opioids England has a North-South ‘pain divide’, with a clear geographical split in the prevalence and intensity of chronic pain and the use of potentially addictive opioids for symptom relief, reveals research published in the online journal BMJ Open. Given the public health concerns associated with the […]
Category: In the news
US sexual minorities less likely to be in work or insured than straight peers
They also have poorer health and quality of life, large survey shows Sexual minorities in the US are less likely to be in work or to have health insurance than their straight peers, reveal the results of a large survey, published in the online journal BMJ Open. They also have poorer health and quality of […]
Managerial support for depressed employees linked to fewer days off work
Findings bolster case for active mental health workplace policies, say researchers The provision of managerial support and help for employees with depression is linked to lower rates of workplace absenteeism, finds an international survey study of practice in 15 countries in different regions of the world, published in the online journal BMJ Open. The findings […]
Unhealthy blood fat profile linked to greater odds of having only one or no kids
Findings might explain previously observed link between lower fertility and heart disease, say researchers An unhealthy blood fat (lipid) profile before pregnancy is linked to greater odds of having only one or no children, suggests an observational study published in the online journal BMJ Open. The findings might explain the previously observed association between lower […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
Alcohol intake may be linked to premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Around 1 in 10 cases worldwide might be associated with drinking, estimate the researchers Drinking alcohol may be linked to pre-menstrual syndrome, or PMS for short, suggests a pooled analysis of published study data in the online journal BMJ Open. Based on the global prevalence of alcohol drinking and their study findings, the Spanish researchers […]
Huge variation in prescribing practice for gluten free foods in England
Those in most deprived areas least likely to get a prescription Prescribing practice for gluten free foods in England varies hugely, and doesn’t seem to be driven by obvious medical factors, reveals research published in the online journal BMJ Open. And those living in the most deprived areas of the country are the least likely […]
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 […]