Health Info Blog

Helping people live healthier lives

2012-01-24T03:34:00.000-08:00

Yesterday the new complete Public Health Outcomes Framework was published by the Department of Health. The Framework sets out over 60 health measures so we can see where we are, where we are going and how we are doing! Councils and health authorities which do 'best' (according to the measures) are rewarded with some extra cash. Here are some of the measures from the accompanying press release:

fewer children under 5 will have tooth decay
people will weigh less
more women will breastfeed their babies
fewer over 65s will suffer falls
fewer people will smoke
fewer people will die from heart disease and stroke

Happy reading!

Department of Health publishes education and training strategy

2012-01-11T01:23:00.000-08:00

Just a quick update to alert you to a new publication. Yesterday the Department of Health published their new policy framework for workforce education and training and you can have a read of it here.

Calling all third years! National Student Survey

2012-01-11T01:18:00.000-08:00

If you are a third year undergraduate or dipHE student, please don't forget to complete the National Student Survey. It only takes a couple of minutes to complete, and we do take notice and act on your feedback. We would also love to hear about the good things you have experienced during your course as well as areas where we can improve! There is a section in the survey about learning resources which does inform our services and strategic planning - your opinion counts!

NICE offers guidelines on how to keep your New Year's resolutions

2012-01-06T02:38:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to you all, and hope you had a good break. How many of you have set yourselves some New Year's resolutions? Well, don't worry if that last selection box is calling to you because NICE have issued some guidance to help you succeed with your New Year goals!

Global health resources

2011-12-22T14:30:00.000-08:00

We have a lot of databases here that enable you to search for health material, but you might have noticed that many of the results you get are from North America and Europe. What do you do if you need research from other countries?

Well, there are several resources available to you, and I'm starting to put them together in one place on the Health Subject Guide. The links at the moment are to indexes, full-text databases, and open access journal collections. In the New Year, I'll be adding links to good sources of global health statistics.

Let me know what you think, and in the meantime have a great Christmas and New Year. See you in 2012!

Public health reform updates published

2011-12-20T03:42:00.000-08:00

Today the Department of Health has published a series of factsheets outlining the new public health system. The factsheets include a general summary, and also outline key roles and commissioning bodies.

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

2011-12-14T08:50:00.000-08:00

Another quick link to a website you may find useful - the MHRA, or Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. This website contains lists of approved medicines and also recalls, safety warnings and alerts about drugs. They also have specialist sections which deal with particular areas, e.g. anaesthesiology, critical care, obs and gynae and physiotherapy which are well worth a look. Their guidance coverage includes drugs and medical devices including things like syringe drivers, infusion pumps and even bed rails so is broad ranging and comprehensive.

Department of Health Outcomes Framework 2012/13

2011-12-09T06:11:00.001-08:00

Today the Department of Health has published the Outcomes Framework for 2012/13. This builds on and updates on the progress indicators within five domains as set out in the White Paper: Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS:

Domain 1: Preventing people from dying prematurely;
Domain 2: Enhancing quality of life for people with long-term conditions;
Domain 3: Helping people to recover from episodes of ill health or following injury;
Domain 4: Ensuring that people have a positive experience of care; and
Domain 5: Treating and caring for people in a safe environment; and protecting them from avoidable harm.

The Framework also identifies next steps towards meeting the targets set out in the White Paper.

Research on the go

2011-12-02T05:38:00.001-08:00

Just a little update to alert you to some very handy apps which will allow you to carry out research on your smartphone.

If you use EBSCOhost databases such as CINAHL Plus with Full Text, PsycARTICLES or SOCIndex, why not try the new apps for iPhone and iPod Touch and Android phones?

If you registered to use the British National Formulary there are now some snazzy apps to go with it (unfortunately not free though - expect to pay up to £29.99).

And finally BMJ has a number of apps including the free student BMJ for iPhone and iPad.

Drop in with the librarian!

2011-11-24T05:08:00.001-08:00

I regularly drop in around different campuses and hospital libraries so feel free to come and see me if you need help searching for information, referencing, or finding research! Here are the forthcoming drop in dates - put them in your diary now!Friday 25th November 2011 – Butterfield LRC – 9:30-16:00Monday 28th November 2011 – Bevan Library, Bedford Hospital – 9:30-16:00Friday 2nd December 2011 – COMET Library, L&D Hospital – 9:30-16:00Monday 5th December 2011 – Oxford House LRC – 9:30-16:00Friday 9th December 2011 – Polhill LRC – 9:30-16:00Look forward to seeing you there!

Introducing PsycARTICLES

2011-09-09T07:36:00.000-07:00

Welcome back! I hope everyone has had a fab summer. Over the summer we have acquired a brand new, full-text database that I think is going to be really useful, especially if you are focussing on mental health issues.

The database is called PsycARTICLES - it is produced by the American Psychological Association (APA) and contains 78 full-text journals, including all of the APA titles such as Developmental Psychology, Health Psychology, and Psychological Bulletin.

Have a look and tell me what you think. You can access it here.

Nursing Times freebies this weekend!

2011-06-24T02:02:00.000-07:00

As part of it's one-year anniversary celebrations, Nursing Times Learning is making all of it's online content free this weekend, 24-27 June. You can access all of the Learning Units and if you complete and pass one unit you will be entered into a prize draw to win a £25 Marks & Spencer Voucher! Good Luck!

Navigating the NHS reforms

2011-06-24T01:56:00.001-07:00

If you're confused by all the news about the recent amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill, take a look at this guide by the Nursing Times, who have outlined what the impact of the reforms will be for nurses.

Learning Disabilities Week

2011-06-21T05:28:00.001-07:00

This week is Learning Disabilities week so I thought I would flag up a few resources you might find useful. Mencap has a lot of resources on their website, as does the Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability which has some great free podcasts.

You can also access government reports on the Department of Health website, such as Valuing People Now, which focuses on improving quality of life for people with learning disabilities.

Doing a literature review

2011-06-17T06:47:00.000-07:00

Lots of you seem to be working on literature reviews at the moment so I thought I'd share some hints and tips. Firstly, if you are not sure what a literature review is, or how to go about doing one, have a look at some of the books in the library. This one by Helen Aveyard is very good and we have a previous edition as an ebook here. If you are doing a literature review you need to search comprehensively - don't forget to search the databases here. You can use search engines like Google (or preferably, Google Scholar) but databases offer much more sophisticated ways of searching so you are more likely to find what you need with the minimum hassle. CINAHL, for example, has a handy tick box to limit your results to primary research articles.

Finally, don't forget that most literature reviews require you to write up where you have searched, what you searched for (keywords) and also any limits you have applied (e.g. dates or language limits), so keep a record as you go. If you haven't got one already, it is worth signing up for an Ebsco account as you can save your search history to refer back to later.

Get career advice from the RCN

2011-05-27T03:19:00.000-07:00

The Royal College of Nursing has produced a series of videos giving guidance on careers and employment issues. They are full of useful advice which give you information about your employment rights and how to get the best out of your career as a nurse. Watch them here.

Don't drop out, drop in!

2011-05-18T03:39:00.000-07:00

Are you struggling to access good quality information? Do you rely too much on the internet for assignment references? Are you stressed out by how to reference? Are you confused when your lecturer tells you to do a 'literature search'? If you have answered 'yes' to any of those questions, then drop in with the librarian! Here are some forthcoming dates and locations in May and June...

Friday 27th May - Butterfield library
Friday 27th May - Bevan Library, Bedford Hospital
Friday 3rd June - COMET Library, L&D Hospital
Wednesday 8th June - Oxford House library

If you would like any more information we'd love to hear from you! Also see our web page here http://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/guides/subjectguides/health/dropin

Look forward to seeing you soon,

Best wishes
Janine

NHS Evidence is changing

2011-04-15T01:40:00.001-07:00

If you haven't already used NHS Evidence, you really should be. It's a fantastic search engine, managed by the NHS. It's super-easy to use and here's why you should be using it: everything in it has been reviewed for quality, reliability and authority. The bonus factor is that NHS Evidence also pulls together documents from all the sources you would otherwise have to search separately, such as NICE, Department of Health, Clinical Knowledge Summaries, and so on.

Take a look at the video here.

Critical appraisal of research

2011-04-12T05:17:00.000-07:00

A lot of students are working on assignments which require a critical appraisal or critique of a research article. If you are not sure what critical appraisal is and why it is important, have a read of this article in the Nursing Times and this one from Bandolier. If you have never carried out any critical appraisal before and you are wondering where to begin, there are lots of resources to help you.

Firstly, have a search of the library catalogue for books about nursing research. Many of these have handy checklists to work through when carrying out a critical appraisal.

Secondly, have a look at at some great websites such as the Centre for Evidence Based Medicine. There are a lot of free resources here to help you.

Thirdly, don't forget to check your BREO unit site. Have a look at your assignment brief and examine any guidance your lecture has provided.

Web-based printing

2011-03-22T09:01:00.000-07:00

We are trialing a wireless based printing service called EveryonePrint that will allow students and staff to send print jobs direct from their PC, Mac, laptop, or mobile device via a web interface or email attachment to the PCounter printing system.

The url is http://webprint.beds.ac.uk and users will need to login with their usual network username and password.

There is a simple browse function and supported files are Office files, PDF and text files. At present JPG, GIF etc are NOT currently supported so it will be necessary to place them in (for example) a Word document first.

Submission via email allows any file attachments to be submitted automatically to webprint@beds.ac.uk after an initial email registration process. Multiple email addresses can be used.

Once the job is submitted the user is presented with a choice of either mono or colour print queue and the option to print multiple copies or duplex. Options such as multiple pages as with Powerpoint will need to be printed in the conventional way from the software on a normal student / staff PC.

The print job, if successful will be processed and placed into the normal PCounter queue, ready for collection in the normal way.

The trial is operating until the end of March and we would really like to hear what you think of the service, so please send any comments to library.technical@beds.ac.uk

Mental Capacity Act Resource

2011-02-08T07:11:00.000-08:00

The Social Care Institute for Excellence has developed an excellent resource with loads of information about the Mental Capacity Act. If you haven't seen it already, take a look here.

New mental health strategy launched

2011-02-04T01:54:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week the Government launched 'No health without mental health', a new mental health strategy for the UK. The strategy outlines six objectives to improve outcomes for people with mental health issues. The six objectives are:

1. More people will have good mental health

2. More people with mental health problems will recover

3. More people with mental health problems will have good physical health

4. More people will have a positive experience of care and support

5. Fewer people will suffer avoidable harm

6. Fewer people will experience stigma and discrimination

The strategy outlines assessment criteria and responsibilities of the various stakeholder groups. If you are a mental health nurse, you need to know about this strategy.

Setting up a search alert in Ebsco databases

2011-01-19T07:32:00.000-08:00

If you are working on a big project, or you simply need to keep on top of the latest research, a very useful tool can be the search alert feature in Ebsco databases. You can save a search as an alert which will then run 'behind the scenes' and email you the results. So, in theory, you only need to search the database once and from then on it does the rest of the work for you! You need an EbscoHost account in order to use this feature (free to sign up).

Here's a great video which explains the process:

All the books are so old!

2011-01-12T07:03:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to you! I hope you all had a lovely break.

One of the biggest complaints I hear is that all the healthcare books in the library are old and out of date. Keeping a healthcare library up to date is a challenge, both logistically and financially, and I am always happy to hear about particular areas or texts in the library which need updating or which don't meet your needs. If you have any suggestions please feel free to submit them here. Obviously any purchases I make depend on whether there is money in the library budget or not (if there isn't, your request will usually be queued until the next financial year). If your request is very specialised and/or very expensive, I might advise you to get it through our Document Supply service instead. If it is a textbook you might be using a lot, you might consider purchasing it. Second hand copies on Amazon, Abebooks and Ebay can be very reasonably priced.

But I also wanted to take the opportunity to say - don't just rely on browsing the library shelves! New and popular books are almost always out on loan (no matter how many copies we buy), so you need to use the library catalogue to check what we have, and then use the reservations system to get in the queue for books, or to get books from different sites sent to your local campus. A popular textbook is a lot like a commuter train in rush hour - lots of people waiting for it and it's never around when you want it.

Remember also that we try to order electronic copies of popular textbooks and if you only browse the shelves you are missing out on a book that is available a few clicks away, 24/7! Search our ebooks here.

Anyway, if you did want to see what new items we have coming in, both in print and electronic formats, have a look at our new book lists here.

Public health white paper - healthy lives healthy people

2010-12-03T05:55:00.000-08:00

The new government White Paper on public health in the UK - Healthy Lives, Healthy People, is now available online here.

Solutions for Public Health

2010-11-24T05:40:00.000-08:00

The Solutions for Public Health website is a goldmine of information about public health, and well worth a look. It contains information on health policy, outcomes, workforce development and commissioning. There is also an excellent publications section where you can find lots of useful statistics.

Today I Learnt That...

2010-11-21T05:35:00.000-08:00

TILT (Today I Learnt That) is a new free online learning tool, which aims to capture and share clinical learning. Users can create a personal learning log and also use the site's social networking features, which allows them to follow clinicians and create special interest groups.

This is a brand new and innovative learning tool - well worth exploring.

Exporting from NHS databases into RefWorks

2010-11-19T07:15:00.000-08:00

If you regularly use NHS databases and want to be able to export your results into RefWorks reference management software, I've prepared a guide below. Note: you need an NHS Athens account and a RefWorks account to be able to do this.

Image credits: (c) NHS, 2010 (c) RefWorks, 2010

RefWorks_HealthInformationResources

Better understanding and support needed for armed forces veterans

2010-11-18T06:17:00.000-08:00

A new report examines the links between mental illness and offending amongst armed forces veterans and calls for more research and support in this area. Findings from Across the Wire, written by Matt Fossey, include evidence to show that only a small percentage of veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, and alcoholism and depression are more common. Fossey also states that veterans who have left the armed forces unexpectedly early are more vulnerable to mental illness.

Picture credit: Afghan Villagers Killed By Insurgent Bomb © Getty Images.

Red tape hindering evidence-based practice

2010-11-16T08:08:00.000-08:00

Interesting piece in today's Guardian newspaper. Sir Iain Chalmers, editor of the James Lind library, is arguing that red tape and over-regulation of research is hampering proper evaluation of medical treatments. He makes a very interesting point that research results which are disappointing are often never published, thereby skewing the evidence-base. An interesting article and well worth a read.

Image credit: New Technique May Change Debate Over Stem Cell Research © Getty Images.

NMC publishes new guidance and toolkit for raising and escalating concerns

2010-11-08T07:31:00.000-08:00

The NMC has published new guidance about raising and escalating concerns about the safety and well-being of patients. The guidance comes with a poster, toolkit, and links for further advice.

Comprehensive Spending Review 2010 - impact on health care

2010-10-20T07:20:00.000-07:00

The Department of Health has published a press release outlining the impact of the Comprehensive Spending Review on the health service. You can read it here.

NMC gives sneak preview of new safeguarding films

2010-09-29T07:26:00.001-07:00

The Nursing and Midwifery Council has published some new film trailers for a series of films on safeguarding adults. The full features will be released next month but in the meantime have a look at the trailers here.

Can you access your student email?

2010-09-23T01:06:00.000-07:00

The final installment in my series of 'things new students should know' is about your student email account. Although I'm sure you all have your own personal email accounts, it is important to use your student email when you are corresponding with any lecturers or members of staff at the University. This is because if you are using a hotmail or yahoo account it might be blocked by our spam filters and it may never reach the intended recipient! Make sure you check your student email regularly because all University messages will go through to this address, including library notices (reservation pick ups and overdue books), assignment receipts and BREO announcements.

Find out more about using your student email here.

Have you explored the Health Subject Guide?

2010-09-21T03:58:00.001-07:00

Today's post for new students is all about the Health Subject Guide. This guide is designed to point you to all the useful resources you will need throughout your course. You'll also find a guide to literature searching and the latest referencing guidelines. My contact telephone number and email address is also in the guide. So if you haven't had a look already, check it out!

NMC publishes new standards for pre-registration nursing education

2010-09-16T07:41:00.000-07:00

Today the NMC has launched their new Standards for Pre-registration Nursing Education. This publication outlines the standards that students will need to gain entry to the NMC register. These new standards have been produced to reflect the move to an all-graduate nursing profession.

#3: Do you know the support services that are available to you?

2010-09-15T07:40:00.000-07:00

Number three in our new student series is all about the support services that are available. Coming to University can be scary. You might be feeling anxious about moving away from home, about having to write essays, or about how you are going to juggle your studies with family life, placements, work and other commitments.

There is lots of help available, so don't suffer in silence if you are struggling. From study skills help to computer skills training, counselling to financial advice, we can offer help and advice.

For more information, have a look at our website.

#2: Have you got a copy of the Library Handbook?

2010-09-14T01:52:00.001-07:00

Number two in our new student checklist is: have you got a copy of the Library Handbook?

The Library Handbook tells you everything you need to know about using the library - how many books you can take out, how to renew books, contact telephone numbers and opening times, and lots more! You will find Library Handbooks available at every Learning Resources Centre, or alternatively flip through an online copy here.

Welcome New Students! #1 Can you log on?

2010-09-13T01:12:00.001-07:00

Welcome to all new health care students at the University of Bedfordshire! The Learning Resources Centre (LRC) is here to help and support you throughout your course. Over the next two weeks blog posts will be dedicated to new students to tell you everything you need to know. And even if you are not a new student, it's always good to have a recap!

So, #1 on the new student checklist is: can you log on? Once you have registered with the University, it takes about 48 hours for all your log ons and passwords to become active. We've tried to make it as easy and simple as possible for you, and for most of the resources (including library resources) you log on in the same way: your username is your student number (which you will find on your ID card) and your password is your date of birth (format ddmmyy). If you are experiencing problems logging on, go to any LRC help desk or ring 01582 743488.

Have a look at this video below for more information on logging on.

NMC new student guidance

2010-09-03T01:38:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday!

Just a couple of items today. The Nursing and Midwifery Council have published their student guidance for the new academic year. You can access it here.

In other news, NHS Evidence have released an update on neurological conditions, which includes details of the latest research in brain injury, epilepsy and cerebral palsy.

Have a great weekend!

Stats, stats and more stats

2010-08-31T03:32:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone had a good bank holiday. I thought I would draw your attention to the statistics section of the Department of Health website, if you haven't seen it already. All the latest figures on various health administration stuff, for example Accident & Emergency waiting times, or bed availability, is uploaded here regularly. A great site if you want the latest national figures.

Online tutorial to brush up your maths skills

2010-08-24T06:55:00.000-07:00

Photo credit: Flickr StreetFlyJZ

http://www.flickr.com/photos/streetfly_jz/2762076152/sizes/m/in/photostream/

The University of Leeds has produced some maths for nurses tutorials which you can access here.

You can choose from quizzes on fractions, decimals, percentages, ratios, and drug calculations. Great if you need to brush up on your maths skills.

If you are feeling nervous about maths, remember you can also make an appointment to see our Professional and Academic Development (PAD) team.

It's official - chocolate IS good for you!

2010-08-20T03:11:00.000-07:00

Acknowledgement: Chocolatier Prepares For Valentine's Day © Getty Images.

Persistent URL: http://0-edina.ac.uk.brum.beds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/purl/eig/84785377-001.jpg

A recent piece of research indicates that 'moderate' amounts of chocolate may cut the risk of heart failure.

This nine-year Boston study found that women who ate high quality dark chocolate once or twice per week were 32% less likely to suffer heart failure than those who didn't. However, the researchers warn that only 1-2 squares of dark chocolate per week are sufficient, and if we eat too much we could undo the health benefits. If only it was the other way around, and the more chocolate you ate the healthier you became...I would possibly be the healthiest woman on the planet if that were the case!

New Cochrane review on oxygen use in heart attack

2010-08-18T02:12:00.000-07:00

A new Cochrane review has revealed that the effects of giving oxygen to patients with acute heart attack are inconclusive, and highlights the need for more research in this area. Current guidance is that oxygen should not routinely be given to patients with a suspected heart attack.

Updated referencing guidelines

2010-08-17T01:45:00.000-07:00

Just to let you know that the 2010-2011 referencing guidelines for the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences are now available online here.

Nothing to worry about, they are the same as last year's except that some of the examples have been updated.

If you have any queries about the guidelines or referencing in general you can leave me a comment or contact me.

Introducing Quertle

2010-08-16T02:05:00.000-07:00

Quertle is a new search engine specialising in biomedical literature but also covering health care. It's still very new (and seems mostly to have content which has been culled from BioMed Central and PubMed Central at the moment) but it's worth keeping an eye on. Quertle's unique-selling-point is the way it searches using "conceptual relationships", supposedly making your search results more relevant. A quick search for diabetes retrieves almost 200,000 hits, so there's certainly plenty to read.

New antibiotic resistant bacteria identified

2010-08-12T01:11:00.001-07:00

The Health Protection Agency has published information on a newly discovered strain of bacteria resistant to antibiotics. The bacteria is prevalent in India, Pakistan and the UK and about fifty cases in this country have been identified.

For more information you can call the Health Protection Agency's Centre for Infections on 0208 327 7097 or go to their website.

In other news, the World Health Organisation has announced the end of the influenza pandemic. Read more here.

Tips for a healthy Ramadan

2010-08-11T07:21:00.000-07:00

NHS Choices have provided some great advice on how to have a healthy and safe Ramadan. Access it here.

Ramadan Mubarak!

Plagiarism in the digital age

2010-08-10T04:52:00.000-07:00

I've decided to write about something a little different today. It's true that this isn't strictly 'health info', but nonetheless I think it's still relevant. I recently read a really interesting article in the New York Times about rising cases of plagiarism amongst students. The author argues that online information is so much easier to cut and paste as students perceive the information as 'out there' - not belonging to anyone, and therefore OK to take word-for-word. One student assumed that information on Wikipedia counted as 'common knowledge' so didn't need to be referenced. I kind of get this. But the difficulty is, how do academics, librarians and other professionals get across to students that it isn't OK? This goes beyond learning how to reference correctly (and that in itself can be a challenge), and it goes beyond changing assessment strategies and beyond plagiarism detection software. What we are talking about here is changing students' beliefs and value systems at a time when these same students are encouraged to use and share information online through catch-up TV, Facebook, Twitter and other social media. I'm not surprised students get confused and anxious about it all.

I don't have any answers (sorry). And part of the problem is that academics often can't agree on what plagiarism is and how to deal with it either. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on this issue.

New research on dementia prevention

2010-08-09T06:32:00.000-07:00

Acknowledgement: Food Display in a Store Window, Italy © Getty Images.

Persistent URL: http://0-edina.ac.uk.brum.beds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/purl/eig/aa037389-001.jpg

The British Medical Journal has published some interesting research which suggests that dementia can be prevented if other illnesses are treated. The research concluded that treating diabetes and depression, together with a high consumption of fruit and vegetables, can help to prevent onset of dementia. Read more here.

NICE develops set of quality indicators for patient care

2010-08-04T04:43:00.001-07:00

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has developed a new set of potential indicators for providing good quality patient care. The new indicators cover foot examination in diabetic patients, dementia treatments, and six new indicators covering mental health. Access the full set here.

Evidence update - neurological conditions

2010-08-03T06:28:00.000-07:00

NHS Evidence has published an update of the latest research on neurological conditions. The update includes links to some new Cochrane systematic reviews, with topics including mobility after stroke and the use of music therapy in brain-injured patients. Access the update here.

New England Journal of Medicine revamps website

2010-07-29T00:03:00.000-07:00

The New England Journal of Medicine website has had a makeover. The new site offers free registration and a bonus 'premium collection' of noteworthy articles from the journal, with topics including surgery, COPD, salt intake, and pharmacological treatment of shock. You can also register for a table of contents alert email.

We don't have a current subscription to this journal at the University, but if you see an article of interest, you can order it through our Document Supply Service.

NICE issues guidance on weight management in pregnancy

2010-07-28T00:50:00.001-07:00

Persistent URL: http://0-edina.ac.uk.brum.beds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/purl/eig/aa043482-001.jpg

Acknowledgement: Female doctor performing ultrasound on pregnant woman © Getty Images.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has issued clinical guidelines on managing weight problems in pregnancy. The guidance warns of the increased health risks to both mother and child if a women is overweight or obese in pregnancy. You can access the full guidance here.

NHS Information Centre publishes diabetes audit figures

2010-07-27T00:33:00.000-07:00

The NHS Information Centre has published an audit of diabetes care in the UK for 2008-9. The figures reveal that diagnosis of diabetes has increased by 25% compared to five years ago, and that type 2 diabetes is strongly linked with ethnicity and socio-economic status. The report concludes with a number of recommendations, including the need for diabetes prevention strategies in deprived areas.

Annual Evidence Update for Hepatitis B and C launched

2010-07-26T06:52:00.000-07:00

NHS Evidence has published their annual evidence update for Hepatitis B and C. You can access it here.

Health inequalities more severe than World War I

2010-07-23T03:35:00.000-07:00

Acknowledgement: Soup Kitchen © Getty Images.

Persistent URL: http://0-edina.ac.uk.brum.beds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/purl/eig/jd7843-001.jpg

The BBC has reported that the health inequalities gap is wider now than in the days of the great depression. They warn that we could see a fall in life expectancy if the gap continues to widen.

New research on dietary interventions for diabetes

2010-07-22T01:57:00.001-07:00

The British Medical Journal has published details of a randomised controlled trial which has shown that nutritional advice can improve outcomes in diabetes over and above pharmaceutical interventions. It's an interesting read.

Measuring the impact of public health policy

2010-07-20T03:34:00.000-07:00

Have a look at this interesting open source article about measuring the impact of public health policy. It makes some very interesting points about communicating public health research to the public.

Are parents of obese children guilty of neglect?

2010-07-16T00:52:00.000-07:00

Acknowledgement: Schoolchildren Still Lured To Traditional Unhealthy Diet Options © Getty Images.

Persistent URL: http://0-edina.ac.uk.brum.beds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/purl/eig/55855281-001.jpg

A new report in the British Medical Journal states that childhood obesity could become a child protection issue.

Whilst the article in the BMJ is more measured in its tone, the newspapers are opting for a more sensational approach, suggesting that overweight children could be snatched away from their 'failing' parents. What are your thoughts on this issue? Whilst childhood obesity is a concerning (and increasing) problem in developed countries, are parents to blame? Or is it a wider issue?

Department of Health structural reform plan

2010-07-14T00:34:00.000-07:00

The coalition government has released plans for reform of the Department of Health. You can read more here.

New government White Paper outlines the future of the NHS

2010-07-12T08:41:00.000-07:00

The government has published a White Paper on the future of the NHS, called 'Equity and excellence: liberating the NHS'. You can access it here.

Problems accessing Dawsonera e-books

2010-07-08T00:30:00.000-07:00

We are currently experiencing some problems with e-books at the moment. If you try to access an e-book via the library catalogue and you get an error message, try this route instead:

If you go here:

http://library.beds.ac.uk/record=b1441896~S20

Choose the top link - 'Dawsonera - choose Enter your institutional username...'

In the section 'Log in to the Reader Portal' choose 'Enter your institutional name and password'

In the section 'Where are you From? choose 'University of Bedfordshire' (Not the 'Test IDP one) from the list and click 'Proceed'

Search for the books you want using the search box in the top right

Hope this helps and apologies for any inconvenience - we're trying to get the problems sorted as soon as we can.

NHS Evidence update - gastroenterology and liver diseases

2010-07-07T02:45:00.001-07:00

Check out the July 2010 NHS Evidence update for gastroenterology and liver diseases here.

Sainsbury Centre name change

2010-07-06T02:50:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone

Just to let you know that from 21 July, Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health will be changing its name to 'Centre for Mental Health'. Find out more information about the change here.

What to expect if your rights are restricted under the Mental Health Act

2010-07-05T02:53:00.000-07:00

The Care Quality Commission has produced some excellent guidance about what to expect for those detained under the Mental Health Act. Access the guidance here.

NHS Evidence update - neurological conditions

2010-07-04T03:01:00.000-07:00

NHS Evidence have published a new evidence update for neurological conditions, check it out here.

Fewer heart attacks since smoking ban?

2010-06-10T05:35:00.000-07:00

The BBC has reported that since the smoking ban was introduced in the UK there have been fewer heart attacks. However, critics say that heart attack figures have been falling steadily for some time and that the findings of the research study should be treated with caution. What do you think? Is this a piece of research with 'spin' on it? Or do you think that the smoking ban has been responsible for this decline?

NICE podcast on binge drinking

2010-06-09T03:38:00.000-07:00

Acknowledgement: Beer Bottle Close-up © Getty Images.
Persistent URL: http://0-edina.ac.uk.brum.beds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/purl/eig/aa029658-001.jpg

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) have put together a podcast on how the health service can tackle binge drinking and alcohol problems. Listen to it here.

Drugs misuse evidence update now available

2010-06-08T08:18:00.000-07:00

NHS Evidence has released the latest Evidence Update for drugs misuse, focussing on treatment in offender populations.

Gastroenterology and liver diseases evidence update

2010-06-07T02:02:00.000-07:00

Here is the latest NHS Evidence update on gastroenterology and liver diseases.

Sainsbury Centre launches workplace depression programme

2010-06-04T03:44:00.000-07:00

The Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health has launched a workplace training programme to raise employers' awareness of depression and anxiety at work. You can find more details about it here.

As it's Friday, I thought I'd post a clip of how not to deal with a stressed colleague.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Can you get through the day without coffee?

2010-06-03T00:29:00.000-07:00

Acknowledgement: Young woman holding mug © Getty Images.
Persistent URL: http://0-edina.ac.uk.brum.beds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/purl/eig/aa047032-001.jpg

Are you the sort of person that needs a cup of coffee to wake you up in the morning? Well, according to a new study, coffee doesn't make you any more alert but could leave you feeling more tired and sluggish than non-coffee drinkers. This study was interesting as participants' DNA was analysed and they concluded that people who were 'predisposed' to suffering anxiety drank more coffee than non-anxious people. What do you think about this research?

Keeping up to date: RSS feeds

2010-06-02T06:29:00.000-07:00

It can be really hard to keep up to date with the latest health information. Have you thought about setting up RSS feeds so that the information comes to you, rather than you having to check lots of different sources? This short video explains how.

New guidance on contraceptive services for socially disadvantaged young people

2010-05-27T02:03:00.000-07:00

NICE has released some draft guidance on providing contraceptive services for socially disadvantaged young people. View it here.

The health and socio-economic impact of sport

2010-05-25T08:49:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what effect the Olympics or other major sporting events have on our health? Well, wonder no more as a group of researchers have very kindly carried out a systematic review to tell us. For those students carrying out a systematic review at the moment, it would be worth having a look at this one so you can get an idea of the structure and layout. I'm feeling a bit 'meh, whatever' about the World Cup but I'd be interested to hear from any of you sports fans out there. Can sport have that much of an impact on us?

Persistent URL: http://0-edina.ac.uk.brum.beds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/purl/eig/83297299-001.jpg

NMC gets a makeover

2010-05-24T06:40:00.000-07:00

The NMC website has had a makeover - I much prefer it. What do you think?

Can you trust health information on the internet?

2010-05-20T03:51:00.000-07:00

Would you give a patient health advice you had found from Wikipedia? There is so much health information available on the internet but how do you know you can trust it? This BBC Case Notes radio programme gives some great advice about what you can trust.

Would you lose weight if you were paid to do it?

2010-05-19T06:33:00.000-07:00

Hmmm, interesting question. Would you lose weight if you had a financial incentive to do so? The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) are discussing this issue tomorrow and Friday. I think for me, it would depend on what the incentive was, but ultimately I don't think it would encourage me to be more healthy in the long term. What do you think?

Persistent URL: http://0-edina.ac.uk.brum.beds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/purl/eig/71148280-001.jpg

Money off Learning Matters books - discount code

2010-05-17T03:38:00.000-07:00

Learning Matters are running a 15% discount offer on all their books. Go to the Learning Matters website and enter code LM28 at checkout. For more information click here.

Interruptions linked to medication errors

2010-05-14T01:29:00.000-07:00

A recent piece of research in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine has shown that interruptions are linked to medication administration errors. Would you agree?

Chocolate linked to depression

2010-05-12T04:36:00.001-07:00

A new research study has found that people who eat chocolate are more prone to depressive illness. But which comes first? Scientists have said that they cannot rule out chocolate as a possible cause. What do you think?

RefWorks

2010-05-10T05:37:00.000-07:00

Did you know the library has RefWorks, a reference management program? You can access RefWorks through the library catalogue (you'll need to register for a RefWorks account if you have never used it before). RefWorks will store your references, create a bibliography and lots more. And the good news is that it it web-based, so you can access it wherever you have an internet connection! If you have used RefWorks or would like more information about it feel free to post a comment.

New report - worldwide access to medication for children

2010-05-08T02:34:00.000-07:00

Unicef and the World Health Organisation have worked collaboratively to produce a guide to availability and prices of medicines for children worldwide. It also includes food, vitamin and mineral supplements to treat major childhood illnesses and diseases. The guide can be accessed here.

Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives update

2010-05-07T02:31:00.000-07:00

The Department of Health have recently launched a progress update on the Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives obesity research and monitoring programme. Details here.

Do children eat what they watch?

2010-04-27T05:29:00.001-07:00

Are children's food choices influenced by what they see on TV? The writer of this article thinks so. What do you think?

Annual evidence update - acupuncture

2010-04-23T03:12:00.000-07:00

NHS Evidence has published the annual evidence update for acupuncture.

New evidence update on childhood obesity

2010-04-19T01:36:00.000-07:00

Today the National Library for Health launches a new annual evidence update on childhood obesity. Check it out here.

'5 a day' benefits in doubt

2010-04-14T01:14:00.000-07:00

Have a look at this report which questions the benefits of eating '5 a day'. What do you think? Do you manage to get your 5 a day?

Extended library opening hours

2010-04-12T07:03:00.000-07:00

For all of you out there who like to burn the midnight oil, the Learning Resources Centres at Park Square and Polhill will be opening later than usual during the exam period.

Mon - 19 April - Friday 7 May (excluding May 3rd) Mon - Fri
The Library Floors at Park Sq , Luton LRC
will be open 8.30 - 02.00 (unstaffed 22.00 - 02.00)

and Polhill, Bedford Library
will be open 0.8.30 - 00.00 (unstaffed 22.00 - 00.00)

Visit the Learning Resources website for more details.

New information for nurse and midwife prescribers

2010-04-09T03:17:00.000-07:00

The Nursing & Midwifery Council have published two new circulars about prescribing unlicensed medicine. Have you read them yet?

Writing an academic report

2010-04-08T01:09:00.000-07:00

If you need to write a report and you're not sure of the structure, have a look at this great tutorial. I can also recommend the great book 'The Study Skills Handbook' by Stella Cottrell (we have several copies in the library).

TRIP Answers

2010-04-07T04:26:00.000-07:00

TRIP Answers is a free repository of clinical questions and answers from a global network of information services. The site currently holds 6,381 Q&As. Have you visited yet? Click here to check it out.

Health inequalities resource manual

2010-04-02T01:03:00.000-07:00

The Department of Health has recently published this health inequalities resource manual, which contains some great 'how to' guides (including how to develop a Balanced Scorecard) and masterclass reports.

Building the National Care Service

2010-03-31T00:50:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the government launched a new White Paper, Building the National Care Service, which is already creating some controversy. What are your thoughts about this new strategy?

New report regarding children and passive smoking

2010-03-29T07:18:00.001-07:00

The Royal College of Physicians have produced a new report about children and passive smoking.

Tuberculosis annual evidence update

2010-03-24T07:49:00.000-07:00

Today is World TB Day. Why not check out this brand new annual evidence update about tuberculosis here.

Electrical maintenance work, 10-11 April 2010

2010-03-24T07:21:00.000-07:00

The University's Park Square campus, including the Learning Resources Centre, will be closed on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th April 2010. During this time access to our online resources such as the library catalogue and some of our databases and ejournals will also be unavailable.

New study reveals gender differences in drug use

2010-03-22T07:51:00.000-07:00

A new report reveals that there has been a big fall in the number of women being treated for heroin addiction.

Accessing e-books

2010-03-17T02:48:00.000-07:00

Don't forget you can access many of our e-books through this portal.

Log in with your student number and password and browse our e-book collection!