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Patients seen by female gastroenterologists have significantly less health care utilization than patients seen by male providers

A recent study found that patients seen by female gastroenterologists have significantly less healthcare utilization than those seen by male providers. Female patients, in particular, experience lower rates of emergency department visits and primary care office visits after receiving initial consultations from female gastroenterologists.

SourceDigestive Disease Week·TypeObservational study·DateMay 18, 2024

Turning the page on children’s pain

A new study from the University of South Australia shows that young children learn about pain through reading, promoting empathy and emotional development. Reading picture books frequently prompts interactions about pain and injury, teaching valuable responses to these concepts.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalJournal of Pain·TypeObservational study·DateMay 12, 2024

Assessing knowledge and first-aid practice scores of caregivers of epilepsy patients before and after an educational program in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia

A recent study in Saudi Arabia assessed the effectiveness of an educational program improving epilepsy care among caregivers. The intervention showed a significant decrease in knowledge gaps, with 23.2% having sufficient knowledge post-intervention compared to 60% before.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalThe Open Public Health Journal·DateMay 6, 2024

Location, location, location

A University of California, Riverside study found that communities in unincorporated areas lack basic critical infrastructure, including healthcare access. Caregivers perceive U.S.-based physicians as not providing sufficient information, while Mexican-based physicians are seen as offering better care.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalSocial Science & Medicine·TypeSurvey·DateApr 26, 2024

New research unveils three distinct language comprehension phenotypes in autistic children

A new study published in npj Mental Health Research reveals three distinct language comprehension mechanisms in autistic children, challenging the common linear trajectory of language development. The findings support the idea that intensive language therapy should start earlier and highlight the importance of improving language compre...

SourceBoston University·Journalnpj Mental Health Research·TypeObservational study·DateApr 22, 2024

Care home staff and residents need ‘family’ bonds to thrive

The study found that staffing considerations such as stable and consistent staff, sufficient staff for family-like relationships, supporting staff, and key staff leading by example improve quality of care. Care homes with experienced care staff and higher staff-to-bed ratios are more likely to receive positive CQC ratings.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalHealth and Social Care Delivery Research·DateApr 16, 2024

Helping caregivers help people with dementia eat at home

A new study suggests that caregivers can establish a safe and workable mealtime routine for people with dementia living at home by reducing distractions, clearing away clutter, and leveraging community-based nutrition programs. The strategies aim to address the complex factors surrounding mealtime in the home, including cognitive impai...

SourceOhio State University·JournalThe Gerontologist·DateFeb 15, 2024

Children's Hospital Los Angeles researchers uncover social and economic factors that influence acute liver failure in children—and ways to overcome them

A CHLA research team found that socio-economic factors like family support, employment status, patient age, race, and language spoken can impact clinical outcomes. Children with limited social support systems and working caregivers have worse outcomes.

SourceChildren's Hospital Los Angeles·JournalPediatric Transplantation·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 13, 2024

Supportive, stable caregiving in childhood protects heart health in adulthood

Research reveals that stable and supportive caregiving during childhood can protect cardiovascular health later in life, contrary to previous findings on childhood adversity. The study analyzed over 2,000 participants and found that each additional unit score of caregiver warmth was associated with 11.7% higher odds of cardiovascular h...

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalCirculation Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes·TypeObservational study·DateJan 23, 2024

Caregiving can be stressful, but it could also lower risk of depression

A new study from the University of Texas at Austin found that depression in adult caregivers is mostly driven by having a loved one experiencing serious health problems. Conversely, becoming a caregiver was associated with fewer symptoms of depression. The research suggests that caregiving may have a protective effect on mental health.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalAdvances in Life Course Research·TypeObservational study·DateDec 12, 2023

Light therapy may improve symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease

A meta-analysis of 15 randomized controlled trials found significant improvements in sleep efficiency and psycho-behavioral symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Light therapy also alleviated depression and reduced patient agitation and caregiver burden.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeMeta-analysis·DateDec 6, 2023

Dutch researchers explore patient profiles of those who choose to stop eating and drinking to hasten death

Researchers from the Amsterdam University Medical Centre conducted a study on patients who choose to voluntarily stop eating and drinking (VSED) to hasten death. They identified three distinct groups: older patients seeking control over their lives, care-dependent patients with poor quality of life, and younger psychiatric patients. Th...

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateNov 27, 2023

Chlorine disinfectant is no more effective than water at killing off hospital superbug

A new study by the University of Plymouth reveals that chlorine disinfectants used in hospitals are no more effective at killing off hospital superbugs than water. The research highlights the need for alternative strategies to tackle Clostridioides difficile, which causes diarrhoea, colitis and other bowel complications globally.

SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalMicrobiology·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 21, 2023

It takes a village: Hunter-gatherer approach to childcare suggests that the key to mother and child wellbeing may be many caregivers

Research with contemporary hunter-gatherer societies found infants receive attentive care from up to 15 different caregivers for about nine hours a day. High levels of sensitive care and personal attention are crucial for mother and child wellbeing, supporting maternal care and reducing risks of neglect and abuse.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalDevelopmental Psychology·DateNov 13, 2023

Does being a caregiver affect older women’s longevity?

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that caregiving is associated with a lower risk of death from all causes. Caregiving was also linked to reduced risks of cardiovascular disease and cancer mortality. The association did not vary by age, race-ethnicity, or other factors.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateNov 8, 2023

NIH study validates new scale for measuring pandemic-related traumatic stress in children and adults

The Pandemic-related Traumatic Stress Scale (PTSS) measures stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic and identifies those with higher levels of stress. The study found caregivers had the highest PTSS scores, followed by adolescents, pregnant or postpartum individuals, and children.

SourceEnvironmental influences on Child Health Outcomes·JournalPsychological Assessment·TypeObservational study·DateNov 6, 2023

Researchers use AI to predict challenging behaviors common in profound autism

A study found that gastrointestinal and sleep issues may be connected to self-injury and aggression in adolescents diagnosed with profound autism. The researchers discovered a possible connection between these health issues and future challenging behaviors, predicting next-day behavior with over 80% accuracy.

SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·JournalJournal of Personalized Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 6, 2023

Children as young as four eat more when bored

A new study at Aston University shows that children aged four and above consume 79% more calories when they are bored compared to a neutral mood. Children who were emotionally fed often ate five times more kilocalories when feeling bored.

SourceAston University·JournalFood Quality and Preference·TypeObservational study·DateOct 24, 2023

Intervention for caregivers helps prevent elder mistreatment

A new intervention for caregivers has been shown to reduce elder mistreatment of older adults with chronic illness, including dementia. The Comprehensive Older Adult and Caregiver Help (COACH) program provides personalized support to caregivers, reducing mistreatment rates from 22.5% to 0%.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateOct 4, 2023

Dying with dignity in Mexico

A University of Oklahoma professor is conducting an ethnographic study on end-of-life care in two public palliative care wards in Mexico City. The study aims to understand the cultural and bioethical dimensions of death and dying, with a focus on improving palliative care practices.

Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric, policies contributed to decline in preventive healthcare visits among children of immigrants

A new study found that Trump's election was associated with a 5-percentage-point decrease in well-child visits for children of immigrant mothers, compared to US-born families. This decline may have resulted in missed vital pediatric care, including vaccinations and health screenings.

SourceBoston University School of Public Health·JournalHealth Affairs Scholar·TypeSurvey·DateSep 18, 2023

NIH study explores the role of caregiver pandemic-related stress in child behavior

A recent NIH study found that caregiver pandemic-related stress was associated with increased child behavior problems, while higher levels of emotional and instrumental support reduced these issues. The research suggests that support for caregivers positively impacted child behavior outcomes across diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.

SourceDuke Clinical Research Institute·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·TypeObservational study·DateSep 11, 2023

Care robots: Ethical perceptions and acceptance

A cross-sectional study across Japan, Ireland, and Finland found that the willingness to use care robots was highest in Japan (77.1%) and lowest in Finland (52.8%). A conceptual model explained the correlation between ethical perceptions and social implementation of care robots across three countries with different geographies, demogra...

SourceChiba University·JournalArchives of Gerontology and Geriatrics·TypeSurvey·DateAug 29, 2023