Tuesday, 6 December 2016
'Exercise boosts men's sperm count'
Doing half an hour of exercise three times a week may boost men's sperm count, scientists have found. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..
NHS unprepared for winter pressure, say doctors
Read More Here..
No safe level of smoking, study finds
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Low-intensity smokers still at risk Related items from OnMedica Smoking causes DNA mutations Stop Smoking Services Smoking in cars with children, banned in Scotland E-cigarettes beneficial to UK health and help quitting Quitting smoking at any age reduces the risk of death after 70 |
Caesarean births 'affecting human evolution'
The regular use of Caesarean sections is having an impact on human evolution, say scientists. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..
Pubic hair grooming 'STI risk linked to skin tears'
People who regularly trim or remove all their pubic hair are at greater risk of STIs, research suggests. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..
Monday, 5 December 2016
The campaign against alcohol abuse deserves two cheers
After years of public health messaging alcohol consumption is falling – now we need a sober assessment of how much further to push it via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
Spikes in search engine data predict when drugs will be recalled
An algorithm can predict drug recalls on the basis of internet searches made using Microsoft’s Bing, and might help identify faulty batches via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
4 Really Cool (and Surprising) Benefits of Peppermint
'Tis the season for all things peppermint—whether it's hot cocoa spiked with minty flavor, candy canes being hung on a tree or smashed on top of chocolate bark (like in this Peppermint Mocha Chocolate Bark recipe). And there are plenty of reasons to love mint, beyond the icy cool flavor. Here are four unique and somewhat surprising health benefits to this often overlooked herb.
Boost Your Memory
via EatingWell Blogs - All Blog Posts More READ
UK pushes ahead with sugar tax
The UK government publishes draft legislation for a tax on sugary drinks to begin from April 2018. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..
How to Secure Therapy Completion with Meta-Intervention
Keeping messages brief and simple is more effective when trying to encourage patients to complete a health care program, according to new research.
In a study that analyzes six years of data, a team of researchers found small “nudges” in the right direction were a simple, inexpensive, and effective way to increase completion of health care programs, leading to a 16 percent jump in the completion rate for an already fastidious audience.
Dr. Dolores Albarracin, a professor of psychology and business administration at the University of Illinois and one of the co-authors of the study said that:
“Retention and completion are critical components of the effectiveness of health care interventions in real-world conditions, so a 16 percent increase in completion is significant.”
She noted that most health care intervention programs — for example, 10 sessions with a counselor — are expensive to implement and deliver:
“Patients start but they often drop out, which is not beneficial and is a huge deadweight loss of resources for everyone. That’s why increasing retention rates is vital for public health, because multi-session behavioral interventions or a series of appointments with a health care provider are more efficacious when completed.”
For the study, a randomized control trial with more than 700 eligible patients in Florida was conducted to identify a simple, effective intervention to increase the completion of an HIV-prevention counseling program delivered at the Duval County Department of Health.
The study involved two factors: One representing an instrumental message and the other an empowering message. The messages were brief videos played immediately after the counseling program.
The instrumental message reminded participants that they could discuss issues other than HIV with their counselor. The empowering message was designed to make them feel free, independent and in charge of their decision to return — a strategy that doubled enrollment in programs in other work by the same team, according to the study.
The idea was to use brief, simple marketing messages not for a commercial product. As Albarracin explains:
“health programs to get people to complete interventions that change detrimental behavior. These messages were designed to either empower clients as agents responsible for their own change or to highlight the instrumental outcomes of the intervention in terms of participants’ lives by addressing health concerns other than HIV, such as employment or education.”
Results indicated that the instrumental message alone produced more completion than either the empowering message alone or combined with the instrumental message.
The success of the simple, post-session message, which the researchers termed “meta-intervention,” comes down to the power of the nudge as a “gentle reminder to do something,” Albarracin said:
“The word ‘nudge’ has such a nice connotation to it because it reminds us that we need to find strategies that are simple and cost-effective. In a health care setting, you need something that’s practical, implementable and inexpensive. This is that kind of approach.”
For people who are vulnerable or disadvantaged, repeated contact with the health care system is important, according to Albarracin.
“Contact with the public health system is often the front door to accessing a lot of other public services — mental health services, career and employment services, and other forms of social assistance,” she said. “So the public health system might design a program with health in mind, but the audience who is buying into the program has multiple goals in mind, not just health.”
Having a good job or access to other services is just as important, which is why you have to sell the benefits of the program from the perspective of the audience, not of the provider, according to Albarracin:
“Social marketing is a marriage between psychological approaches and an approach that has the consumer in mind. Make it recipient- and patient-centered, not provider-centered. The instrumental message capitalizes on that.”
This guest article originally appeared on PsychCentral.com: Brief ‘Nudge’ Can Help Patients Finish Health Program by Rick Nauert PhD.
REFERENCE
AlbarracÃn, D., Wilson, K., Durantini, M. R., Sunderrajan, A., & Livingood, W. (2016). A meta-intervention to increase completion of an HIV-prevention intervention: Results from a randomized controlled trial in the state of Florida. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 84(12), 1052–1065. doi:10.1037/ccp0000139
Low-Carb Diet May Aid Your Metabolism
Cutting back on sweets helps, while exercising before meals may not, small study finds
Source: HealthDay via Exercise and Physical Fitness New Links: MedlinePlus RSS Feed Read More Here..
Nairobi striking doctors tear-gassed as patients 'walk out'
Police disperse hundreds of striking doctors as many mental health patients reportedly walk out. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..
'It's lovely to find out about their lives'
A young care home worker describes the positive side of her role. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..
Women with dementia get less care than men
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Study reveals inequalities in healthcare Related items from OnMedica The increasing incidence of dementia Late-stage dementia patients failed by care homes Dementia care – tending the roots of identity Care for dementia patients with hip fractures - ‘sadly lacking’ UK to be 'the world’s most dementia friendly society’ |
Government to unveil sugar tax
Read More Here..
Platypus venom paves way to possible diabetes treatment
Australian researchers say platypus venom could pave the way for new type 2 diabetes treatments. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..
Smoking in cars with children, banned in Scotland
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Doctors call for outright smoking ban in vehicles Related items from OnMedica Health plan in Wales to ban smoking in playgrounds Car smoking ban starts in England and Wales E-cigs ‘significantly less harmful than smoking’ insist leading health bodies One in nine people across the EU has tried e-cigarettes Fewer than ever women smoke at point of birth |
HIV prevention scheme gets extension
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Some 10,000 people likely to benefit Related items from OnMedica Public Health England offers £600K to prevent HIV Potential eligibility criteria for HIV prevention drugs outlined GPs should offer HIV tests in routine appointments NHS England loses appeal over PreP drugs |
A third of practices wait over a year to fill GP staff posts
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Vacancy gap is ‘deeply concerning’, says GP lead Related items from OnMedica GP numbers fall 1.9% despite Hunt’s aim for 5,000 more Locum doctor numbers rise 62% in past five years GMC warns of 'state of unease' amongst doctors What value do GPs offer? Make GP a more attractive career, agree MPs |
Breakthrough Prize hands out $25 million for “Oscars” of science
The prize, founded and funded by Silicon Valley billionaires, aims to ape the film industry and make scientists into celebrities with a televised ceremony via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
Sunday, 4 December 2016
Pill could reduce HIV risk by 86%
A drug that reduces the risk of being infected with HIV will be given to NHS patients in England. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..
Have you talked to your family about organ donation?
Too many people die waiting for an organ transplant. Here's how you could save one of them via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
HIV 'game-changer' now on NHS
A drug that dramatically reduces the risk of being infected with HIV will now be given to patients by the NHS in England. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..
Friday, 2 December 2016
In Castro’s Cuba, this is what life as a doctor was really like
Amid Fidel Castro's funeral and furious debate over his legacy, Cuba's health system is often praised. Despite its flaws, it deserves it, says Rich Warner via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
Magic mushroom drug helps people with cancer face death
A single dose of the psychedelic drug psilocybin can relieve feelings of depression and anxiety in people with cancer and increase their quality of life via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
Dialysis Patients May Walk Their Way to Better Health
Even people with advanced kidney trouble can feel better with 'low-intensity' exercise regimen, study finds
Source: HealthDay via Exercise and Physical Fitness New Links: MedlinePlus RSS Feed Read More Here..
Health Tip: Using a Fitness Tracker
Making the most of your device
Source: HealthDay via Exercise and Physical Fitness New Links: MedlinePlus RSS Feed Read More Here..
Source: HealthDay via Exercise and Physical Fitness New Links: MedlinePlus RSS Feed Read More Here..
First-in-class asthma treatment gets provisional green light
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NICE recommends mepolizumab for severe and troubling eosinophilic disease Related items from OnMedica The challenges of asthma Childhood asthma overdiagnosed, warn respiratory doctors Asthma costs UK health service at least £1bn every year Vitamin D supplements reduce severe asthma attacks Hospital discharge of children following asthma attack needs improvement |
Ability to deliver NHS transformation plans and organisational goals queried
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Few finance directors believe doing both at the same time is feasible, survey shows Related items from OnMedica Extra GP-targeted investment would benefit whole NHS Fallout from no-new-NHS-money budget builds Stick with STPs, government and NHS urged GP ambassadors to help drive NHS reform Small Translucent Penguins |
Raise price of alcohol to cut toll of harms, concludes evidence-based review
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Harms extensive and disproportionately affect poorest sectors of society Related items from OnMedica Alcohol and the nervous system Most Brits suffer harm from others’ drinking Alcohol directly causes seven types of cancer Doctors urge industry to respect minimum alcohol unit decision Commission more teen mental health and alcohol services |
Generation clean: Why many young adults choose to stay sober
Younger people are drinking less – or not at all – despite booze getting cheaper, and it's pitting health experts and the alcohol industry against each other via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
Don’t let Brexit scupper UK drug discovery and delivery, MPs told
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UK must align with EU regulation from day one, urges pharma trade body ABPI Related items from OnMedica Disability groups fear funding cuts post-Brexit What implications could Brexit have for NHS patients? Brexit and cancer research Brexit risk to NHS, debated in Scotland Former NHS chief executive says Brexit poses a threat to NHS |
Think more about air pollution in public planning/provision, councils urged
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Air quality is a major public health issue and long-term strategy needed, says NICE Related items from OnMedica Act now to halt air pollution’s death toll, MPs urge government Air pollution may shorten lung cancer patient survival Blood pressure link to pollution long-term exposure Climate change poses major threat to health Fewer lung symptoms in children as air pollution levels drop |
Sir Elton John says improved testing can beat HIV
Sir Elton John says, with improved testing, the end of HIV "is in sight" in Western countries. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..
Thursday, 1 December 2016
Prince Harry and Rihanna get HIV tests in Barbados
Prince Harry and Rihanna have taken HIV tests together in Barbados to raise awareness on World Aids Day. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..
Parkinson’s disease may start in the gut and travel to the brain
It seems the nerve damage behind Parkinson's starts in the stomach or colon before spreading to brain cells - but we don't know what's causing it via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
Standing or 'Easy' Walks May Help Type 2 Diabetics Control Blood Sugar
Study counters notion that vigorous exercise is key to battling the illness
Source: HealthDay via Exercise and Physical Fitness New Links: MedlinePlus RSS Feed Read More Here..
'I'm called a slut for being openly HIV+'
Tom Hayes discusses how there is still a stigma on HIV-infected people via BBC News - Health Read More Here..
In Castro’s Cuba, this is what life as a doctor was really like
Amid Fidel Castro's funeral and furious debate over his legacy, Cuba's health system is often praised. Despite its flaws, it deserves it, says Rich Warner via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
Excessive stress among juniors affects mental and physical health
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Gaps in rotas and poor availability of beds and diagnostics endangers patients, say junior doctors Related items from OnMedica Workloads high and not always enough experienced staff, say doctors Current heavy workloads threaten doctors’ training Understaffing and bullying remain problems for NHS Staff shortages now outweigh funding fears in NHS GMC warns of 'state of unease' amongst doctors |
Booze ruse: Can a drink now and then really boost your health?
New Scientist distils the evidence for claims that a bit of alcohol can protect your heart, stave off dementia and be counteracted by a bout of exercise via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
GPs should offer HIV tests in routine appointments
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GPs concerned about workload, funding – and difficult conversations in 10-minute consultations Related items from OnMedica Preventing HIV Free home testing kit for HIV launched Don’t hold back on HIV testing as part of differential diagnosis, GPs urged NHS England loses appeal over PreP drugs Opt-out HIV testing schemes could improve uptake |
Fertility preservation for girls with cancer ‘haphazard’
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Awareness of and access to services is poor in UK despite NICE guidance, say experts Related items from OnMedica Male cancer survivors missing fertility advice No fertility help for young women with breast cancer Fertility treatments may impact on breast cancer risk Survivors of childhood cancer more prone to autoimmune diseases Beam therapy hope for childhood cancer treatment |
VTE risk raised in first 3-6 months of testosterone treatment
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Relative risk 63% higher in current users – but absolute risk fairly low and falls after 6 months Related items from OnMedica Clinical trials needed on safety of testosterone Statins may slow prostate cancer progression in advanced disease Testosterone levels recover after obesity surgery Testosterone for menopausal women Extending anticoagulation duration cuts risk of VTE recurrence |
Current heavy workloads threaten doctors’ training
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Overwork leaves trainees sleep deprived and threatens patient safety, warns GMC Related items from OnMedica Staff burnout could derail the NHS’s drive for efficiency Understaffing and bullying remain problems for NHS Workloads high and not always enough experienced staff, say doctors Medical training places to increase by 25% Only a third of trainee doctors applying for general practice |
How did World Aids Day come about?
In 1988 around 140 countries took part in the first World Aids Day to raise awareness of the epidemic via BBC News - Health Read More Here..
Meet Jason
Ten-year-old Jason explains how he does not feel like the gender he was assigned at birth. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..
Kissing and toothbrushes
Myths about risks linked to HIV from the 1980s still endure, say the Terrence Higgins Trust. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..
Magic mushroom drug helps people with cancer face death
A single dose of the psychedelic drug psilocybin can relieve feelings of depression and anxiety in people with cancer and increase their quality of life via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
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