Primary Care News and Research

Latest Primary Care News and Research

Child infections are an increasing concern in affluent countries

Dr Deborah Lehmann, who leads infectious diseases research at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, said the findings show that infection is an increasing concern in affluent countries.

4 May 2007

Ohioans spend $62.2 billion on non-institutional health care each year

...while the Ohio economy loses between $2.1 and $5.8 billion due to lost productivity and other indirect costs of having 1.3 million Ohio residents without health insurance, according to research released today by the Health Policy Institute of Ohio (HPIO).

2 May 2007

New study on judicial sleepiness

While sleepiness among judges and other members of the judiciary is not uncommon, it is viewed unfavorably by the media, society and the judicial system as a whole, according to a study published in the May 1st issue of the journal SLEEP.

2 May 2007

Sleep deprivation can adversely affect a person's decision-making

Gambling is a risky activity that can potentially result in the loss of a significant amount of money.

2 May 2007

Doctors ill equipped to confront parent smoking

With the growing concerns of children's exposure to secondhand smoke, it has become more critical than ever to involve health care providers such as pediatricians in educating parents about the potential hazardous health consequences.

2 May 2007

Chronic fatigue syndrome impairs sleep and homeostatic response

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has been associated with altered amounts of slow wave sleep, which could reflect reduced electroencephalograph (EEG) activity and impaired sleep regulation.

2 May 2007

A mobile medical care approach targeting underserved populations in post-hurricane Katrina Mississippi

They packed what they needed for a disaster - equipment for trauma treatment and IV fluids - and headed south to Mississippi.

2 May 2007

Smokers and the obese banned from UK hospitals

Certain hospitals in the UK who have imposed a ban on smokers and the obese from receiving particular treatments have been defended for their action by the Health Secretary.

2 May 2007

St. Lawrence University in pilot project to improve depression screening

Fifteen percent of college students suffered from depression last year, up from 10 percent in 2000, according to The American College Health Association. Mental health professionals on college campuses expect the percentage to rise again this year.

1 May 2007

House subcommittee debates rural veterans' access to care

House Veterans Affairs Health Subcommittee members on Thursday discussed several bills to improve veterans' access to health care, particularly in rural areas, CQ HealthBeat reports.

30 Apr 2007

Employers can blame hay fever for the loss of millions of hours of work productivity this spring

A new study of nearly 600 people with hay fever symptoms, including sneezing, watery eyes and runny and itchy noses, found that workers missed an hour of work per week during peak hay fever season.

27 Apr 2007

NHS together now?

Health minister Andy Burnham got a mixed reception when he spoke to UNISON's health conference in Brighton.

25 Apr 2007

Overcrowded hospitals may hinder patient safety

Hospitals that operate at or over their capacity may be at increased risk of adverse events that injure patients, according to a study led by investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Brigham and Woman's Hospital (BWH).

24 Apr 2007

Low vitamin D levels linked to poor physical performance in older adults

Older adults who don't get enough vitamin D - either from their diets or exposure to the sun - may be at increased risk for poor physical performance and disability, according to new research from Wake Forest University School of Medicine and colleagues.

24 Apr 2007

Inflammatory bowel disease linked to nerve damage and other neurological problems

People with inflammatory bowel disease may also be at risk for developing nerve damage and other neurological problems, according to research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 , May 5, 2007.

24 Apr 2007

Talk beyond pain: Understanding diabetic nerve pain

Results from a new survey of more than 600 physicians who treat diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain, or diabetic nerve pain, reveal that nearly all (97 percent) believe that the condition is often misdiagnosed.

20 Apr 2007

Antibiotics before dental procedures may do more harm than good

Taking a precautionary antibiotic before a trip to the dentist isn't necessary for most people, and in fact, might create more harm than good, according to updated recommendations from the American Heart Association.

20 Apr 2007

Cigarette smoking status can be used as a clinical indicator for alcohol misuse

Where there is cigarette smoking there is probably misuse of alcohol too, according to a study by Yale School of Medicine researchers in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

19 Apr 2007

Short and simple interventions can reduce drinking in the general population

Five minutes of straight talk between doctors and problem drinkers could help reduce the toll of alcohol-related injuries, violence and accidents.

19 Apr 2007

Should primary care doctors be assessing the safety of older drivers?

In an editorial published in the April issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine, Malaz Boustani, M.D., M.P.H., of the Indiana University Center for Aging Research and the Regenstrief Institute, Inc. writes that assessing the safety of older drivers is not a responsibility that should reside with the primary care physician.

17 Apr 2007