More research needed to understand the usefulness of mistletoe as a complementary therapy for cancer patients22 December 2021Researchers at the University of Bristol’s Centre for Academic Primary Care have conducted a systematic review of the evidence for the use of herbal mistletoe as a complementary therapy. They found gaps, biases and weaknesses in the research but concluded that further research for its use in cancer patients is warranted.
Barnardo’s urges men to seek help to prevent domestic abuse this Christmas20 December 2021Domestic abuse is expected to rise over Christmas and New Year, but men who worry the holiday season could trigger them to be abusive at home can now find help. Barnardo's, who are partners on the REPROVIDE study, are offering men a 23-week support programme designed to change abusive behaviour and make families happier, safer places.
Online consultations can disadvantage some patients and create more work for GP practices14 December 2021Online GP consultations have unintended consequences that may put some patients at a disadvantage and create additional work for GP practice staff, a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)-funded study at the University of Bristol has shown. The DECODE study, published in the British Journal of General Practice, examined the use of online consultations in primary care to improve how they will be used in the future.
Guidelines may promote over-diagnosis of cow’s milk allergy in infants8 December 2021International guidelines developed to help doctors diagnose cow’s milk allergy may lead to over-diagnosis, according to University of Bristol-led research published in the journal Clinical and Experimental Allergy today [8 December]. The study found that three-quarters of infants have two or more symptoms at some point in the first year of life which guidelines say may be caused by cow’s milk allergy, yet the condition only affects one in 100.
New project to examine blood tests in primary care1 December 2021A new project will investigate why blood tests are requested in primary care and how the results are managed. The project, Why Test?, is a collaboration between the Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol, the Primary Care Academic Collaborative (PACT) and NIHR ARC West.
Pharmacies could play a crucial role in supporting victims of domestic and sexual abuse23 November 2021Pharmacies could play a crucial role in identifying and referring victims of domestic and sexual violence and abuse to specialist services but need ongoing training, support and adequate funding to do so, according to researchers from the Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol and National Institute for Health Research Applied Research Collaboration West (NIHR ARC West).
Hard Evidence: Raising awareness of domestic abuse and financial control3 November 2021Next week (9 and 12 November) sees the premiere of a new theatre piece written by two women with experience of domestic abuse, supported by Ingrid Jones from acta community theatre in Bristol. The performance is a collaboration with researchers from the National Institute for Health Research Bristol Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR Bristol BRC) and the Centre for Academic Primary Care at the University of Bristol.
Can portable air filters prevent respiratory infections and COVID-19 in care homes?21 October 2021A major new randomised controlled trial will investigate the effectiveness of air filtration systems in preventing respiratory infections (such as coughs, colds and flu) and COVID-19 among care home residents in England. The AFRI-c (Air Filters to Prevent Respiratory Infections including COVID-19 in Care Homes) study, which received funding from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), is led by researchers at the University of Bristol.
Region’s top football clubs back new #ChangeChampions domestic abuse campaign 15 October 2021Bristol Rovers, Bath City FC and Newport’s County In The Community, three of the region’s leading football clubs and charitable organisations, are teaming up with University of Bristol researchers to back #ChangeChampions — a new domestic abuse campaign aimed at supporting men who want to change their behaviour in relationships with women.
CAPC co-authored paper wins RCGP Paper of the Year award in the Medical Education category14 October 2021Professor Trevor Thompson, Head of Primary Care Teaching at the Centre for Academic Primary (CAPC) Care, Bristol Medical School, is co-author of the winning paper in the Royal College of General Practitioners’ 2020 Paper of the Year Medical Education category.
Staying on long-term antidepressants reduces risk of relapse4 October 2021When people stop taking antidepressants after a long period of use, just over half (56 per cent) experience a relapse within a year, compared to 39 per cent of those who stay on medication, finds a new study led by UCL and involving researchers from the universities of Bristol, Southampton, York and McMaster University in Canada.
Largest trial of antibiotic amoxicillin for treating chest infections in children finds little effect28 September 2021The largest randomised placebo-controlled trial of the antibiotic amoxicillin for treating chest infections in children, one of the most common acute illnesses treated in primary care in developed countries, has found it is little more effective at relieving symptoms than the use of no medication. The study, published in The Lancet, was led by researchers from the University of Southampton and supported by centres at the Universities of Bristol, Oxford and Cardiff.
Dr Natalia Lewis awarded research fellowship by the NIHR School for Primary Care Research27 September 2021Dr Natalia Lewis has been awarded a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) School for Primary Care Research (SPCR) post-doctoral fellowship of £145K. Natalia is a Research Fellow in the Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol and part of the influential Domestic and Sexual Violence and Abuse and Health group led by Professor Gene Feder.
Ruby Wax to headline Good Grief Festival23 September 2021Good Grief Festival returns this October 30th and 31st with a packed programme of 30 free events. The ‘virtual festival of love and loss’ explores the universal human experience of grief through panel discussions, conversations and workshops. The festival that started just one year ago has already attracted over 20,000 people to its events.
New research shows impact of grief during the pandemic as two thirds of bereaved people report experiencing social isolation and loneliness14 September 2021New research has highlighted the experiences of those who were bereaved during the pandemic and found that two thirds (67%) experienced social isolation and loneliness, with bereaved partners and people bereaved due to Covid-19 at particular risk of social isolation and loneliness. Those bereaved due to Covid-19 were also less likely to be involved in care decisions and be well supported by healthcare professionals after the death of their loved one.
How did GPs manage face-to-face appointments during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic?8 September 2021General practices creatively and rapidly adjusted the way they operate during the COVID-19 pandemic to continue face-to-face contact for patients who needed it most, research by the Centre for Academic Primary Care and NIHR ARC West at the University of Bristol has shown.
Gap between what is said and what is documented in GP consultations could have medico-legal implications7 September 2021GPs frequently do not document spoken safety-netting advice – advice given to patients about what to do if symptoms change or worsen – according to researchers from the University of Bristol’s Centre for Academic Primary Care. This could lead to higher medico-legal risk in the event of an untoward incident, they warn.
Is remote consulting compatible with personalised care or does something have to give?6 September 2021Personalised care, which aims to give people more say in their healthcare, and Digital First Primary Care, a move towards remote consulting, are both important NHS England policies, but they can be in tension. A new report aims to explore this tension and understand how remote consulting could be best set up to support personalised care. The report was commissioned by the NHS Personalised Care Institute and was conducted by researchers from the National Institute for Health Research Applied Research Collaboration West (NIHR ARC West) and the Centre for Academic Primary Care (CAPC) at the University of Bristol.
Exploring trends in recording anxiety symptoms in UK primary care4 August 2021The way GPs record anxiety in patient records could be leading to a reduction in formal anxiety diagnoses, new research from the University of Bristol has found. Anxiety disorders are common in the UK, with the level of anxiety symptoms being recorded by GPs increasing between 1998 and 2008. However, studies have shown that the recording of anxiety disorders decreased in the same period.
£3.6M funding for research into the link between physical and mental health problems 16 July 2021A research team led by the MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics (MRC CNGG) at Cardiff University and involving researchers from the University of Bristol has received significant funding for an international collaborative project.
Applications open for NIHR School for Primary Care Research funded summer internships9 July 2021We have three exciting 4-week internship opportunities for UK undergraduates from medicine or other disciplines who are interested in primary care research this summer. These are a fantastic opportunity to get hands-on experience conducting primary care research with experts in the field.
Can you help us? New video explains how patients and public can help shape our research7 July 2021Primary care is the first port of call when we have a health problem or concern. It includes GPs, pharmacists, dentists and opticians. At the Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol, we want to make primary care better for everyone through our research. To do this we need members of the public to help us shape our research. We’ve launched a new animated video that explains what primary care is and how you can get involved.
New guidance published to help GPs interpret Lateral Flow Device test results2 July 2021New guidance for GPs and other health professionals on how to interpret and communicate results from Lateral Flow Device (LFDs) tests based on the current understanding of the tests’ performance is published in the BMJ. Researchers from the Universities of Bristol, Cambridge, and Trinity College Dublin have devised a calculator which aims to help doctors, who are increasingly asked by patients what they should do after receiving their results, to better advise patients on what their LFD test result means.
Friends and family found creative ways to support women experiencing domestic abuse during COVID-1929 June 2021In usual times, women experiencing domestic abuse reach out to those around them for support, but the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated social restrictions have made this more difficult to do. New research has found friends, family, neighbours and colleagues (informal supporters) used creative ways to keep in touch with and continue offering support to domestic abuse survivors.
New research shows UK faces post-pandemic bereavement crisis and lasting legacy of grief15 June 2021New research has highlighted the difficulties and distress people experienced when trying to get support after the death of a loved one during the pandemic, with more than half of people (51%) experiencing high or severe vulnerability in their grief and those seeking support facing long waiting lists or being told they are ineligible.
‘Game of Stones’ study to help men lose weight26 May 2021Researchers at the University of Bristol are looking for men to take part in a National Institute for Health Research funded study that uses text messages to help men lose weight and keep it off.