Primary Care News and Research

Latest Primary Care News and Research

New Jersey to receive additional flu vaccine

The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) received information on October 5, 2004 that, due to manufacturing problems in the United Kingdom, the United States will have only one-half of the expected supply of the influence vaccine available for this year’s flu season.

13 Oct 2004

Portion control or planned exercise induces greatest weight loss

The journal, Obesity Research, today published an article on the results of a 24-month federally funded obesity study led by Summa Health System researchers in Akron, Ohio.

13 Oct 2004

BMA Response to NAO report on improving emergency care in England

A&E departments have worked exceptionally hard to bring down waiting times for patients and the results of this are evident in the National Audit Office report on emergency care.

13 Oct 2004

GPs need more help from PCOs to be ready for Freedom of Information Act

GPs are looking to primary care organisations (PCOs) to help them meet their obligations under the Freedom of Information Act that comes into force next year.

13 Oct 2004

Results do not suggest widespread anthrax antibiotic abuse in the aftermath of the 2001 terrorist attacks

Prescriptions for antibiotics that could be taken in advance to prevent against anthrax were uncommon among concerned patients after September 11, 2001 and the 2001 U.S. anthrax attacks, according to an article in the October 11 issue of The Archives of Internal Medicine.

11 Oct 2004

GP registrar training budget remains in place

The BMA's GP Committee for Wales (GPC Wales), the Welsh Faculty of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and the Department for Post Graduate Studies for Wales jointly welcomed the Welsh Assembly Governments assurances that there would be no reductions in the GP Registrar training budget for Wales during this financial year.

11 Oct 2004

Surgery for extremely obese patients may be more effective for weight reduction

A new report issued today by HHS’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality concludes that surgery for extremely obese patients who have tried and failed to lose weight with exercise and diet may be more effective for weight reduction.

10 Oct 2004

Shortage of pediatric rheumatologists often leads to improper diagnosis and treatment

More than 150,000 children in the United States are affected by rheumatic diseases such as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, dermatomyositis, scleroderma, and systemic vasculitis.

10 Oct 2004

GP leader calls for equity in practice based commissioning

All GP practices in England will have the right to hold an indicative budget for commissioning health services from April 2005.

5 Oct 2004

Veterans in rural areas are in poorer health than their urban counterparts

The findings, reported in the October American Journal of Public Health, validate recent and ongoing VA efforts to expand health care for rural patients.

5 Oct 2004

Giving flu vaccine to toddlers in the spring and fall guards against infection

Giving flu vaccine to toddlers in the spring and fall guards against infection and is easier on parents than the fall schedule of two doses administered a month apart, found researchers from Duke University Medical Center and the University of Washington.

4 Oct 2004

People with mental disorders develop cancer at younger ages

People with mental disorders develop cancer at younger ages and have higher odds of later being diagnosed with certain cancers, including tumors of the brain and lung, according to a new analysis of insurance claims.

4 Oct 2004

Black men in the United States are significantly less likely to be screened for prostate cancer

Although black men in the United States are more likely than white men to be diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer and have a two-fold greater risk of dying from it, they are significantly less likely to be screened for prostate cancer

29 Sep 2004

Secure web sites can improve communications about critically ill patients for hometown physicians and loved ones

Password-protected Web sites can improve communications about critically ill patients for hometown physicians and loved ones, according to a study by researchers at Doernbecher Children's Hospital.

29 Sep 2004

New guidelines for the treatment of patients with stroke and TIA

New guidelines launched today aim to help primary care teams deliver effective treatment and secondary prevention to stroke patients.

28 Sep 2004

Study of mental health of assisted living residents has found a higher rates of mental health problems than expected

The first large scale comparative study of the mental health of assisted living residents has found a higher rate than expected of a range of mental health problems in this rapidly growing population.

27 Sep 2004

Small proportion of women eligible for discussions about use of tamoxifen to prevent cancer

A survey conducted in primary care practices showed that a small proportion of women are eligible for discussions about use of tamoxifen to prevent cancer, and of those women, the proportion of breast cancers that would be prevented is also small

26 Sep 2004

Auckland kids are five times more likely than those in other developed countries to need hospital admission for pneumonia

Pneumonia is a major problem in New Zealand. We believe a significant proportion of it is preventable. We want to know what the risk factors are so that we can find ways to reduce the number of children who get so sick they need hospital care

23 Sep 2004

Ireland’s alcohol related problems cost in excess of €2.65 billion

According to the Second Report of the Strategic Task Force on Alcohol (STFA), Ireland’s alcohol related problems continue to increase and in 2003 cost Irish society in excess of €2.65 billion.

22 Sep 2004

British Government says GP training places safe

A firm reassurance that training places for future GPs will be resourced was given today (22/09/04) by English Health Minister John Hutton speaking at a GP Recruitment conference at the BMA.

22 Sep 2004