Only seven percent of adults have good cardiometabolic health

Less than 7 percent of the U.S. adult population has good cardiometabolic health, a devastating health crisis requiring urgent action, according to research led by a team from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University in a pioneering perspective on cardiometabolic health trends and disparities published in the July 12 issue of the Journal of the American […]

Study explores when nursing home chains should customize or standardize

A new study by a University of South Florida researcher found important revelations that could provide chain-operated nursing homes with crucial implications for operational goals and strategic findings that carry over to other service industries. The biggest takeaway for nursing home operators is that having a similar percentage of Medicaid patients among its mix of residents while having a staff […]

Just 3% of adults with a recording of overweight or obesity in primary care in England are referred to weight management programmes

New research presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Maastricht, the Netherlands (4-7 May), has found that just 3% of adults with a recording of overweight or obesity in England are referred to weight management programmes by their GP. National obesity guidance was introduced in England at the end of 2006, with a 2014 update stating that adults […]

Linking medical and dental records in health information exchanges could improve dental patient safety, preventive care, and treatment outcomes

Dental professionals require access to each patient’s complete electronic health record – including laboratory test results and current prescriptions – so they can provide the best care possible; care that is safe for the patient, promotes preventive management and improves dental treatment outcomes. This unprecedented access would aid all types of dental professionals, including general dentists, oral surgeons, periodontists, prosthodontists, […]

Evidence-based recommendations on menopause management advise individualized care

Best practice recommendations for healthcare professionals providing help and support to women experiencing the menopause have been issued in a joint position statement from the British Menopause Society (BMS), Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and the Society for Endocrinology (SfE). The statement is in response to growing concerns around hormone replacement therapy (HRT) shortages and provides an expert […]

How common are medication-related errors in home care?

In a questionnaire-based study published in Pharmacology Research & Perspectives that included 485 fully trained nurses of 107 home care services, nearly half of all nursing staff made at least one error within the last year when administering medications. In the study, 41.6% of nurses reported medication errors within a 12-month period, and 14.8% did not provide an answer. Medication errors experienced […]

In-house pharmacists essential for aged care

Medicines are the most common treatments used in healthcare, especially for older people. But when they’re not used correctly, they can cause serious and sometimes fatal outcomes. Now, new research from the University of South Australia shows that regular visits from pharmacists to aged-care residents can reduce problems due to medicines and improve health outcomes. Working with 248 aged-care residents across 39 aged-care facilities […]

Recreational marijuana access reduces demand for prescription drugs

Legalization of recreational marijuana reduces demand for costly prescription drugs through state Medicaid programs, according to an analysis by a Cornell researcher and a collaborator. When states legalize marijuana, the volume of prescriptions within the drug classes that align with the medical indications for pain, depression, anxiety, sleep, psychosis and seizures significantly decline, the researchers found. Shyam Raman, a doctoral […]

Pandemic drives use of telehealth for mental health care

The COVID-19 pandemic likely permanently increased the delivery of mental health counseling through telehealth, according to new research from Oregon Health & Science University. The retrospective analysis was published today in the April issue of the journal Health Affairs. “Our study suggests that telehealth services for mental health counseling expanded significantly and is likely to stay,” said lead author Jane Zhu, M.D., assistant […]

Recent developments and primary care goals for ovarian cancer

For primary care teams, keeping up-to-date with developments and current best practice is the key to expediting ovarian cancer diagnosis, according to Dr Sharon Tate, Head of Primary Care Development, Target Ovarian Cancer (TOC). A national clinical audit and the approval of niraparib are two important, recent developments for ovarian cancer. Government funding for a national ovarian cancer audit (in […]