The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
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Obesity is a global pandemic that threatens the health of the population and the sustainability of publicly funded health care. This randomised controlled trial addresses the gap in the literature surrounding unconscious persuasion and its use in weight loss and weight management. The Slimpod® tool is unlike any of those currently available on the market. Using breakthrough research in 'nudge' thinking, it is designed to retrain an adult's habitual and emotional response to foodstuffs. This therapeutic model allows unconscious thought to be shaped into a manner more consistent with a healthy lifestyle. Candidates can then take control of their eating behaviours to induce a holistic state of wellbeing. ⋯ Slimpod® was effective at reducing weight and increasing eating self-efficacy in overweight adults.
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There is growing interest in the role of vitamin D in extra-skeletal health, including postural hypotension. Postural hypotension is found in 1 in 5 community-dwelling adults aged 60 years and above. It increases risk of falls, fractures, cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. Better understanding of the aetiology of postural hypotension may help yield more effective treatment options than those that are currently available. ⋯ In this study, vitamin D deficiency was associated with increased risk of postural hypotension. Further research may help clarify whether treating vitamin D deficiency can reduce the degree of postural hypotension, or if preventing the progression to vitamin D deficiency can reduce the incidence of postural hypotension.
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The NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) was introduced in 2015 and is mandatory for NHS trusts. Nine indicators have been created to evaluate the experiences of black and minority ethnic (BME) staff compared with the rest of the workforce. The trust data published showed a poor experience of BME staff compared with non BME staff. ⋯ BME staff in general practice report high levels of racism, especially from service users. In 22% this led to a career change. A zero-tolerance policy needs to be enforced and a multi-pronged approach is required to address this.
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Effective communication is considered an essential component of delivering health care. Trained, professional interpreters are the gold standard for overcoming language barriers with those with limited English proficiency (LEP). However, LEP patients often use unqualified interpreters such as family members and friends. Existing literature explores the rationale behind choosing different interpreters, but rarely from the patient perspective. ⋯ This study identified conflicts between patient preferences and guidance for healthcare professionals; all of the participants disliked telephone interpreting, and many recognised the benefits of untrained interpreters. The study highlights the complexities of interpreter preference in primary care and suggests that the decision should be flexible, and patient centred.