National bans on slapping children linked to less youth violence

In countries with full bans at home and school, rates of physical fighting are 42%-69% lower National bans on parents slapping or spanking their children to punish them for bad behaviour are linked to lower rates of youth violence, reveals an international study published in the online journal BMJ Open. Countries that prohibit corporal punishment at […]

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Top ten most read in September: sugar content of supermarket yoghurts, the potential link between dementia and air pollution in London, and the experience of patient and public peer reviewers in medical publishing

The list of the ten most-read articles in September at BMJ Open sees five new entries. Taking over the top spot is a study by Moore et al. looking at the nutritional content of supermarket yoghurts. This analysis of the sugar content of over 900 yoghurt products showed that less than 9%, and only 2% […]

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Air pollution may be linked to heightened dementia risk

Associations found not explained by known influential factors Air pollution may be linked to a heightened risk of developing dementia, finds a London-based observational study, published in the online journal BMJ Open. The associations found couldn’t be explained by factors known to influence the risks of developing the condition, say the researchers. Air pollution is now […]

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Sugar content of most supermarket yogurts well above recommended threshold

Organic products, perceived as healthier options, among some of the worst offenders The sugar content of most types of yogurt is well above the recommended threshold, reveals an analysis of the nutrient content of available UK supermarket products, published in the online journal BMJ Open. And organic varieties, often viewed as healthier options, contain some of […]

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North-South chronic ‘pain divide’ evident in England

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 […]

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Top Ten Most Read in July: listening to music during pregnancy, stress reduction for intensive care patients and anxiety among Tunisian medical residents

The July Most Read list sees the return of two previously highly accessed papers to the top spots. At number one, Pereira Gray et al examine continuity of doctor care and whether this is related to mortality while at number two, Petrilli et al take a look at patient preference for physician attire. A case-control study from Heazell […]

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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 […]

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Data sharing safeguards the accuracy of published data: Correction of the Framingham Risk Score Data Reported in the SPRINT trial

A study published today in BMJ Open highlights one often overlooked benefit of data sharing, the discovery of honest errors which allow correction of the published scientific record.   Data is the foundation of all medical research and data sharing, making the raw data opening available, is a cornerstone of the open science movement. Data […]

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