The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
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Observational Study
Assessment and management of fracture risk in men with prostate cancer taking androgen deprivation therapy: a retrospective observational primary care database study.
Prostate Cancer (PCa) is the commonest cancer in the UK. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is a mainstay of treatment. It increases fragility fractures causing a huge burden to patients and the NHS. As men live longer with PCa, many require prolonged ADT. Reducing fracture risks and improving cancer survivorship is becoming increasingly important. Primary care plays an important role. ⋯ Osteoporosis is underdiagnosed and undertreated in men with PCa-ADT, especially in those with deprived backgrounds. There is an unmet need to manage the fracture prevention in this population.
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Acne is common and has a significant impact on quality of life. Topical treatments are first-line and effective, but non-adherence is common due to slow onset of action, or lack of advice on how to manage side effects. ⋯ HCPs were positive about the potential for the intervention to be implemented as a useful tool in practice. Potential implementation barriers need to be considered, such as making the intervention quick to access in time-limited consultations.
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Improved screening uptake is essential for early breast cancer detection, women's health and reducing health disparities. However, minority ethnic and deprived communities often face lower breast cancer screening rates and limited access to culturally tailored educational materials. A recent review found limited culturally tailored materials for breast cancer education. ⋯ This study highlights the SAM toolkit's role in selecting suitable educational materials for breast cancer prevention. The research offers prospects for improving breast cancer awareness in ethnically diverse communities and addressing healthcare access disparities, with salon hairdressers emerging as crucial advocates for health promotion.
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Recruitment and retention of undergraduate (UG) GP educators is vital, they are essential to educating the next generation of doctors. The expected loss of GPs as they retire and leave the profession means clinical delivery is under tension; adding to the strain on the number of GP educators. With GP educators numbers decreasing and student numbers increasing, the pressure on the system is growing. ⋯ The Wass report, 2016 showed that students' exposure to GPs in UG education plays a significant role in choosing a career in general practice. This exposure needs GPs to act as positive role-models. Further research is required to examine the GP educators' need to 'be seen and heard', and if this can be used to recruit/retain GP educators.
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Giving students more responsibility for real patients during medical school may help prepare them for their transition to clinical practice. Student-led clinics (SLCs) may facilitate this. Within SLCs, students take the lead role in delivering patient care while being supported and supervised by qualified clinicians. A general practice SLC was established in Dundee, with four final-year medical students and one GP involved in each clinic. ⋯ The findings suggest that giving students responsibility for real patients is beneficial and feasible when adequate support is provided, and that it is possible for one GP to supervise multiple students successfully.