BMJ open
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To examine the determinants of deprescribing among health professionals in nursing homes, focusing on knowledge, practice and attitude. ⋯ In conclusion, this study highlighted that deprescribing in the nursing homes is perceived by health professionals to be challenging and future research could assess how routine case studies, mentoring and better multidisciplinary communication could improve deprescribing knowledge and process in the nursing homes.
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Comparative Study
Application of orphan drug designation to cancer treatments (2008-2017): a comprehensive and comparative analysis of the USA and EU.
To determine differences in the characteristics of cancer drugs designated as orphan drugs by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA). ⋯ Orphan designation was intended to encourage drug development for rare conditions. This study shows that the FDA approves more cancer drugs with such designations compared with the EMA, especially for subgroups of more prevalent cancers. One reason for the difference could be that the European Union requires demonstration of significant benefit for drugs that target the same indication as a drug already on the market to earn the orphan designation.
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This study aimed to determine colorectal cancer (CRC) risks among patients with gout through a follow-up study on a nationwide population-based cohort that included patients with gout and the general population in Taiwan. ⋯ Similar risks of CRC incidence were observed in patients with and without gout in Taiwan. Allopurinol and colchicine are commonly used as urate-lowering drug and anti-inflammation medication in Taiwan and had been shown to reduce the risk of CRC incidence. Thus, further pharmaco-epidemiological studies should be carried out to specifically assess the role of allopurinol in the relationship between gout and CRC.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Milk and resistance exercise intervention to improve muscle function in community-dwelling older adults at risk of sarcopenia (MIlkMAN): protocol for a pilot study.
Sarcopenia is a progressive muscle disorder characterised by decline in skeletal muscle mass, strength and function leading to adverse health outcomes, including falls, frailty, poor quality of life and death. It occurs more commonly in older people and can be accelerated by poor diet and low physical activity. Intervention studies incorporating higher dietary protein intakes or protein supplementation combined with resistance exercise (RE) have been shown to limit muscle function decline. However, less is known about the role of whole foods in reducing the risk of sarcopenia. Milk is a source of high-quality nutrients, which may be beneficial for skeletal muscle. This pilot study examines the feasibility and acceptability of milk consumption with RE to improve muscle function in community-dwelling older adults at risk of sarcopenia. ⋯ Outputs include pilot data to support funding applications; public involvement events; presentation at conferences and peer-reviewed publication.
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To keep healthcare systems sustainable for future demands, many countries are developing a centralised telephone line for out-of-hours primary care services. To increase the quality of such services, more information is needed on factors that influence caller satisfaction. The aim of this study was to identify demographic and call-related characteristics that are associated with the patient satisfaction of callers to a medical helpline in Denmark. ⋯ Callers were in general satisfied with the medical helpline. Satisfaction was associated with reason for encounter, triage response and waiting time. People calling for 0-year to 4-year-old patients were, compared with the rest of the population, more frequently satisfied when they called for a somatic illness or received a telephone consultation.