Study

Medication beliefs and use of medication lists – is there a connection? Results from a before-and-after study in Germany

Despite increasing digitalisation the paper based medication list remains one of the most important instruments for the documentation and exchange of medical-related information. However, even elderly patients with polypharmacy who are at high risk for medical errors and adverse drug effects, frequently do not receive or use a complete and comprehensible medication list. Increasing the use of medication lists would be a great contribution to medication safety and facilitate the work of healthcare providers.

Older People

A new study shows that UK attitudes to older people are mostly negative

The Centre for Ageing Better has reviewed
research on attitudes towards ageing and
found that older people are subject to many
negative stereotypes.

Read the study here

Medical Education

Development in Danish medical students’ empathy: study protocol of a cross-sectional and longitudinal mixed-methods study

Clinical empathy has been associated with positive outcomes for both physicians and patients such as: more accurate diagnosis and treatment, increased patient satisfaction and compliance, and lower levels of burnout and stress among physicians. International studies show mixed results regarding the development of empathy among future physicians associating medical education with decline, stability or increase in empathy levels. These mixed results are due to several study limitations. In Denmark, no investigation of Danish medical students’ empathy trajectory has yet been conducted wherefore such a study is needed that optimizes the study design of earlier studies.

Mental Health

Can light activity improve mental health for teenagers?

NHS Behind the Headlines evaluates the results of a study which found that people who spent more time doing light activity as teenagers had lower depression scores at the age of 18 than those who had spent more time sitting down.

Systematic Review

Pharmacy-based management for depression in adults

This Cochrane Systematic Review found that additional support given by the pharmacist was no better at reducing people’s depression than their treatment as usual. The studies did show that people who received support from their pharmacy were more likely to take their antidepressants as prescribed.

Read the review here