The most-read article in July was Wakefield et al‘s article on effects of the Australian plain cigarette packaging policy on adult smokers, which received widespread press coverage. Another popular title was Brynolf et al‘s paper on physician’s use of Twitter. Other newly-published papers in the top ten include Wallace et al‘s systematic review on the epidemiology of malpractice claims in […]
Latest articles
Certain blood pressure drugs slow dementia deterioration
A class of drug, called ACE inhibitors, which are used to lower blood pressure, slow the rate of cognitive decline typical of dementia, suggests research published in BMJ Open. Furthermore, these drugs may even boost brain power, the research indicates. The researchers compared the rates of cognitive decline in 361 patients who had either been diagnosed […]
Plain packaging seems to make cigarettes less appealing and increase urgency to quit smoking
Early findings from Australia indicate that policy has an impact—at least in the short term. Plain packaging for cigarettes seems to make tobacco less appealing and increase the urgency to quit smoking, suggest early findings from Australia, published in BMJ Open. Australia formally introduced plain brown packaging, accompanied by graphic health warnings taking up three quarters […]
Missed diagnoses and drug errors make up bulk of primary care malpractice claims
Missed diagnoses―particularly of cancer, heart attack, and meningitis―and drug errors make up the bulk of malpractice claims brought against doctors in primary care, finds an analysis of published data in BMJ Open. The risk of litigation has not been given a great deal of attention in primary care, say the authors. But with most healthcare […]
More bed sharing, baldness and vitamin C: Most read articles in June
The most-read article in June was once again Carpenter et al‘s article on bed sharing with non-smoking parents and the risks of SIDS, which received widespread press coverage. Another popular title was Yamada et al‘s paper on the associations between male pattern baldness and coronary heart disease. Other newly-published papers in the top ten include Hemilä et al‘s […]
New generation electronic games boosts kids’ physical activity at home
Giving kids new generation “active” electronic games boosts their physical activity at home and has the same effect as stopping them from using the older versions altogether, indicates a small study published in BMJ Open. Most electronic games are no better than watching TV in terms of the body movement and energy expenditure involved, say […]
One in five UK NHS staff report bullying by colleagues
One in five UK NHS staff report bullying by colleagues, with almost half saying they have witnessed bullying, in the past six months, indicates research published in BMJ Open. Managers are the most common source of bullying, with workload pressures and organisational culture contributory factors, the study reveals. The findings are based on the responses of […]
700 women with urinary cancers missing out on prompt diagnosis every year
Around 700 women in England with symptoms of kidney or bladder cancer are missing out on prompt diagnosis and treatment of their condition every year, reveals research in BMJ Open. This may be because family doctors tend to attribute women’s – rather than men’s – initial symptoms to harmless causes, such as bacterial infections, and […]
First impact factor announced: 1.583
BMJ Open’s first impact factor has been announced: 1.583. We are delighted to have this further evidence that BMJ Open is considered a journal of credible, valued research. Does a journal’s impact factor matter? In short – yes. When we surveyed our authors earlier this year, we asked what improvements we could make to […]
Moderate drinking during pregnancy does not seem to harm baby’s neurodevelopment
Moderate drinking during pregnancy – 3 to 7 glasses of alcohol a week – does not seem to harm fetal neurodevelopment, as indicated by the child’s ability to balance, suggests a large study published in BMJ Open. But social advantage may be a factor, as more affluent and better educated mums-to-be tend to drink more […]