AMJ

Australia is one of the highest users of antibacterials in the developed world. Previous research has suggested repeatable antibiotic prescriptions are connected to software systems used in general practice, as these systems default to the maximum number of repeats. Repeat prescriptions encourage continued use of antibiotics without medical advice. This study explores patients’ attitudes and knowledge about their prescriptions, and what advice, if any, they received from healthcare professionals regarding the repeated use of antibiotics. Researchers concluded that patients were unaware and unconcerned about repeated antibiotic use, and information provided by physicians and pharmacists regarding repeated use was sub-optimal. 

Hepatitis C is a leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. As many as 12 million people in India may be infected with hepatitis C and most are unaware of. It is transmitted by blood transfusions and unsafe therapeutic injections. In this study, researchers went house-to-house in the Ratia block, district Fatehabad, Haryana, India, over a period of 2 weeks to investigate the prevalence of hepatitis C. Researchers found that most local private medical and dental practitioners were using unsterilised needles and syringes. They also found that people aged 21–60 were most affected.

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Pharmacy practice is intended to improve people’s health. Pharmacists now focus on pharmaceutical services and patient care rather than simply filling prescriptions. In Yemen, a country with a poor quality healthcare system, pharmacy practice is still in its infancy and faces many challenges: lack of standards within the profession, an abundance of graduates from non-accredited colleges, medicines that are too expensive and the prevalence of counterfeit medicines. In this first-of-its-kind study, the researcher describes pharmacy practice in Yemen, its challenges, and presents several recommendations on what needs to be done to raise pharmacy standards and quality.

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Diabetics are more prone to infections than non-diabetics. The urinary tract is the most common site of infection. Because most urinary tract infections (UTIs) in diabetic patients are relatively asymptomatic, severe kidney damage and renal failure can ensue. Bacteriuria is more common in diabetics than in non-diabetics due to a combination of host and local risk factors. This study investigated whether differences exist in the clinical and microbiological characteristics of UTI between diabetic and non-diabetic patients. The researchers also studied the influence of diabetes mellitus on the spectrum of uropathogens and antimicrobial resistance pattern in patients with UTI.

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Patient satisfaction is an important part of assessing the quality of health care, and may affect whether patients adhere to treatment and recommendations. This study explores patients’ level of satisfaction with public healthcare services in Kedah, Malaysia. Waiting times were the primary factor that influenced patient satisfaction, followed by the length of consultation sessions and the process of patient registration.

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Diabetes is gaining an epidemic status in India with steady migration of people from rural to urban areas, economic boom, and corresponding change in life-style. Studies reflecting prevalence of disease across the nation are lacking due to number of geographical, socio-economic, and ethnic challenges. However, disease is paving its way in all the sections of society narrowing the urban-rural disparity, demanding urgent measures both at an individual-level and policy making.

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The Internet has increasingly become the go-to resource for people seeking patient health information. While a more involved and information patient is a positive thing, sources of health information vary in quality and are largely unregulated. In this literature review, the authors explore quality indicators of health information, and look at how Google and Wikipedia are important emerging sources of patient health information. Improving the quality of health information on the Internet will require a multi-faceted approach, encompassing better patient education and guidelines to support the development of online health resources.

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Biliary cystadenomas are uncommon cystic neoplasms of the liver. Cystadenomas are typically benign, slow-growing tumours, but they can become malignant. Often they are asymptomatic, but may present with abdominal pain and distension. Though rare, spontaneous rupture can be a potential complication of biliary cystadenoma. Cystadenomas are more commonly found in women, however, this case presented in a man who had spontaneous intraperitoneal rupture of biliary cystadenoma presenting as ascites without peritonitis.

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Carers and Patients Affected by Huntington’s Disease; Independent information on medicines.

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