In nursing there are many ways of saying goodbye when the therapeutic relationship ends. Some patients bid a cheery goodbye, cherishing their restored health, even prematurely self-discharging; for others, adieu is agony since it is a wrench to leave the ward routine and regain independence. Sometimes the farewell feels forced in the face of escalating […]
Enhanced lifestyle counselling prevents cognitive decline even in people who are carriers of the APOE4 gene, a common risk factor of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study published in JAMA Neurology. The two-year FINGER trial involved 60–77 year-old people living in Finland and with risk factors for memory disorders. The study participants were divided […]
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Christmas trees, candle fumes and smoking Christmas puddings may be festive but they can all make asthma symptoms worse this holiday season. A sudden change in weather, especially gusts of freezing air, thunderstorms, colds and flu can all trigger asthma attacks. Asthma sufferers have more sensitive airways and the condition can lead to unpleasant symptoms […]
A constituent of cannabis known as cannabidiol could hold promise as a new class of treatment for psychosis, according to King’s College London research showing significant benefits in a clinical trial. The main psychoactive compound in cannabis is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is responsible for many of the drug’s harmful effects, such as paranoia and anxiety. […]
Pancreatic Cancer UK has received accreditation from the Information Standard for the fourth year in a row for its range of publications about pancreatic cancer. The resources aim to assist healthcare professionals in giving advice on the disease, and help them provide the best support to patients and their carers. The charity began publishing information […]
RITA is a digital robot – an avatar that appears on a phone or tablet screen and can interact with older people to cater for their needs. RITA, which stands for Responsive Interactive Advocate, harnesses emerging technologies from the entertainment industry, including voice recognition and facial recognition software, to innovate future models of personalised care. […]
Most people would agree that research is necessary to improve clinical care: research tells us which treatments and services work, and which don’t, so that we can provide patients with the most appropriate, and most effective care. But an important question is: how much of the research that is done in biomedicine actually leads to […]
As a specialist eye surgeon, I am seeing a growing number of patients who are the victims of acid attacks which can cause life-changing injuries such as facial disfigurement and sight damage. It doesn’t surprise me that the number of people requiring specialist treatment for acid attacks has doubled over the last three years, according […]
A hand to hold. A shoulder to cry on. A gentle touch to reassure. A light to guide you through the darkest hours. […]
Dr Julian Abel is speaking at the annual Marie Curie Palliative Care Research conference held in partnership with the Royal Society of Medicine which takes place today in London. Have you ever looked after someone who has died? And if so, what do you think was the most important thing to him or her? In […]
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