The BMJ: Leading Medical Research, News, Education, Opinion
High impact medical journal. Champion of better research, clinical practice & healthcare policy since 1840. For GPs, hospital doctors, educators, policymakers.
Covid-19: Two rare vaccine side effects detected in large ... - The BMJ
Feb 26, 2024 · The largest vaccine safety study to date has identified two new, but very rare, side effects associated with covid-19 vaccines—transverse myelitis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. The Global Vaccine Data Network cohort study included 99 million vaccinated people from 10 sites across eight countries. Researchers compared the observed with expected rate for 13 neurological, blood, and ...
Quality improvement into practice | The BMJ
Mar 31, 2020 · Box 1 Definitions of quality improvement. Improvement in patient outcomes, system performance, and professional development that results from a combined, multidisciplinary approach in how change is delivered.3 The delivery of healthcare with improved outcomes and lower cost through continuous redesigning of work processes and systems.4 Using a systematic change method and strategies to improve ...
Vitamin B12 deficiency: NICE guideline summary | The BMJ
Jun 13, 2024 · Vitamin B 12 deficiency is associated with a range of symptoms and signs, resulting in substantial variation in patient presentation. While epidemiological data are limited, cross sectional studies from the UK and US suggest a prevalence of 3% in people aged 20-39, increasing with age up to about 20% in people aged 85 and over.1 2 Complications of vitamin B 12 deficiency include visual changes ...
Strengthening the basics: public health responses to prevent the …
Nov 29, 2021 · Victoria Haldane and colleagues argue that to make covid-19 the last pandemic, public health responses to outbreaks must be strengthened, starting with their most basic functions The covid-19 pandemic has challenged countries to mount and sustain comprehensive public health responses that identify and control an emerging infectious hazard. These challenges have persisted into 2021 and likely ...
Low back pain and sciatica: summary of NICE guidance - The BMJ
Jan 6, 2017 · Low back pain is the leading cause of long term disability worldwide. 1 The lifetime incidence of low back pain is 58-84%, 2 and 11% of men and 16% of women have chronic low back pain. 3 Back pain accounts for 7% of GP consultations and results in the loss of 4.1 million working days a year. 2 More than 30% of people still have clinically significant symptoms after a year after onset of ...
Investigating dysphagia in adults | The BMJ
Oct 17, 2022 · ### What you need to know Dysphagia is a commonly encountered problem affecting one in 17 people in their lifetime.1 It describes difficulties with eating, drinking, and swallowing. In those presenting acutely or to primary care, a detailed history guides the decision about urgency, need, and nature of onward referrals. This article highlights salient points in the history and examination when ...
Revitalising audit and feedback to improve patient care
Feb 27, 2020 · Audit and feedback are widely used in quality improvement. Robbie Foy and colleagues argue that their full potential to improve patient care could be realised through a more evidence based and imaginative approach ### Key messages Healthcare systems face challenges in tackling variations in patient care and outcomes.12 Audit and feedback aim to improve patient care by reviewing clinical ...
Management of pneumonia in critically ill patients | The BMJ
Dec 6, 2021 · Severe pneumonia is associated with high mortality (short and long term), as well as pulmonary and extrapulmonary complications. Appropriate diagnosis and early initiation of adequate antimicrobial treatment for severe pneumonia are crucial in improving survival among critically ill patients. Identifying the underlying causative pathogen is also critical for antimicrobial stewardship. However ...
Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation - The BMJ
Dec 30, 2021 · What you need to know • More than half of patients with atrial fibrillation are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, and none of the classic symptoms of atrial fibrillation have high diagnostic sensitivity • Since paroxysmal atrial fibrillation cannot be excluded by normal 12 lead ECG or short term Holter monitoring, consider …