Clinical Update – Contraception: Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs) include copper coils, Mirena coils, Implanon implants and Depo provera injections (which are given every 12 weeks). All of the long-acting reversible contraceptives are progesterone only. There are three types. The progesterone in Implanon is potent and effective, and this reversible device can be rapidly taken [...]
Clinical Update – Contraception: The Mirena coil was a major leap forward in contraception, according to Dr Aisling Quinlan from Tullamore, who conducted research for a thesis on the extent to which Irish women were being offered Implanon and the Mirena. This involved surveying a large number of GPs – 90 per cent of whom [...]
Drs Brian O’Shea, Catherine McCollam, Marjorie Stokes and John Yek discuss how diabetes mellitus can impact on a patient’s mental health and well-being The diabetic way of life brings its own particular stresses, and diabetes mellitus (DM) has direct effects on the nervous system. A diagnosis of DM may elicit anger, anxiety, depression, social withdrawal, [...]
Prof Michael Turner examines the rising problem of obesity in pregnant women and how to manage it At the start of the twenty-first century, maternal obesity has emerged as a major healthcare issue. There is strong epidemiological evidence that maternal obesity is associated with increased pregnancy complications. There is, for example, an increase in maternal [...]
A marked and broad expansion in antidepressant treatment occurred between 1996 and 2005, although treatment rates remain low among racial and ethnic minorities, according to a new report from the United States. In the study, doctors analysed data from the 1996 and 2005 Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys, sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and [...]
Doctors in training who report higher levels of fatigue and distress are more likely to report a medical error, according to a new report. In the study, doctors assessed the independent contributions of fatigue and distress to self-reported medical errors when considered simultaneously. The study included data provided by 380 internal medicine residents who began [...]
Doctors who participated in an educational programme that included an emphasis on ‘mindful’ communication reported improvement in personal well-being, emotional exhaustion, empathy and attitudes associated with patient-centred care, according to a new study. Researchers designed a continuing medical education (CME) course to improve doctor well-being. “One proposed approach to addressing loss of meaning and lack [...]
Depression among preschoolers appears to be a continuous, chronic condition rather than a transient developmental stage, according to new research. The report followed a study in which doctors followed 306 preschoolers aged three to six years. Of these, 75 met criteria for major depressive disorder, 79 had anxiety or disruptive disorders but not depression, and [...]
Continuing with our series, Dr John Faul, Consultant Respiratory Physician and Sleep Disorder Specialist, gives his 10 top tips on managing asthma Top Tip 1: Allergen avoidance Climate change has increased the worldwide pollen burden with grass and tree species continuing to pollinate for longer periods due to the effects of global warming. In seeking [...]
A potential new treatment for COPD has been shown to significantly improve lung function A potential new breakthrough in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that targets the underlying inflammation has been shown to significantly improve lung function and also reduce exacerbations in patients with COPD. Roflumilast also demonstrated additional benefits when added [...]
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