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Allied Health News in Review

Allied Health News in Review (AHNR) is an initiative featured monthly on the iCAHE website.

Consumers of health care are often presented with large amounts of information. Often much of this information is misleading, biased or technically inaccurate. The aim of AHNR is to inform and educate clinicians, patients and other stakeholders about the quality of research underpinning news articles and websites.

  • Do you know of an allied health related research finding that has been reported in the media? 
  • Are you confident that these research finding have been accurately reported?
  • Email your AHNR ideas to iCAHE staff member Luke Perraton

Summary AHNR Reports

Edition  

Title

Link

Summary

21

 

Will eating fish reduce the chance of heart attack?

 

Kromhout et al (2010) NEJM abstract

 

Reported by Time magazine on the 31st of August 2010 the article suggestes that Omega 3 fatty acids 'may not help reduce heart attacks as much as previously thought'.

 

20

 

Does Fructose cause Cancer?

 

Liu et al (2010) Cancer Research, 70: 6368 abstract

 

Reported online by CBSnews.com on August 4th 2010 and on Reuters Health on August 2nd 2010. The articles suggest that consumption of fructose may increase the growth rate of cancer. It is therefore important to establish whether this hypothesis is supported by the results of the study itself.

 

19

 

Stop! Have you washed your hands?

 

McLaws et al (2009) Med J Aust, 191: S18 abstract

 

Reported on ABC (Australia) news website on October 18th 2009. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a hand washing campaign in NSW South Wales, Australia. It focused on four key professional groups that work in public hospitals: doctors, nurses, allied health and other staff.

 

18

 

Whole body vibration: an example of how to find and evaluate research evidence

 

Gusi & Taimundo (2006) BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 7:92 abstract

 

This special edition AHNR guides clinicians through the process of searching for an evaluating research evidence for a clinical question

 

17

 

Can an inexpensive blood pressure drug reverse Multiple Sclerosis symptoms?

 

Platten et al (2009) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 106: 14948 abstract

 

Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have found a link, in mice and in human brain tissue, between high blood pressure and multiple sclerosis. Their findings suggest that a safe, inexpensive drug already in wide use for high blood pressure may have therapeutic value in multiple sclerosis.

 

16

 

Are women more likely to hurt their knees at different times in their menstrual cycle?

 

Park et al (2009) Am J Sports Med,  37: 588 abstract

Park et al (2009) Am J Sports Med, 37: 1169 abstract

Park et al (2009) Br J Sports Med, 43: 174 abstract

 

This health news article from Medical News Today reports on a series of studies published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine and the British Journal of Sports Medicine. The authors of these studies are based at the faculty of kinesiology at the University of Calgary in Canada.

 

15

 

Cough CPR: How to survive a heart attack when alone

 

Online article link

 

For many years an email has been circulating which claims to provide people with a method of self-resuscitation during a heart attack. The following News in Review does not aim to provide medical advice. The aim of this report is to evaluate any research evidence which either supports or refutes the advice provided in this email. This website reports on research cited in No 240 of the Journal of General Hospital Rochester . A spokesperson for Rochester General Hospital provided an online statement which denied any knowledge of this article.

 

14

 

The effects of acupuncture on pain management

 

Madsen et al (2009) BMJ, 338: a3115 abstract

 

Reported on-line, at virtual medical centre on 11th of March 2009. The findings suggest that acupuncture has only a small pain relieving effect when compared to placebo acupuncture.

 

13

 

Does eating less help with weight loss?

 

Sacks et al (2009) N Engl J Med, 360: 859 abstract

 

This news report is based on a study conducted by researchers from the U.S.A. The principal author is based at the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health. The findings support the premises that irrespective of the diet you choose, eating less will result in short-term weight loss. 

 

12

 

Does Tai Chi help diabetes?

 

Lam et al (2008) Aust Fam Physician, 37: 884 abstract

 

The article Tai chi gentle on diabetes was published on the ABC Health and Wellbeing website. The article suggests that tai chi may be helpful for people with Type 2 Diabetes and improve their physical and mental wellbeing.

 

11

 

Is physiotherapy as effective as arthroscopic knee surgery?

 

Kirkley et al (2008) New Engl J Med, 359: 1097 abstract

 

To compare optimised physical and medical therapy alone with arthroscopic treatment in addition to optimised physical and medical therapy.

 

10

 

Are vitamins recommended for adults?

 

Fletcher et al (2002) JAMA, 287: 3127 abstract

 

The article: Journal of the American Medical Association announces recommendation that all adults should take vitamins was published in Healthy Life magazine, Spring 2008.  This AHNR looks at a topic close to many adults hearts "that of the vitamin" do they actually make a difference?

 

9

 

Is Physiotherapy effective in the management of urinary incontinence in women?

 

Shamliyan et al (2008) Annals of Internal Medicine, 148: 459 abstract

 

To synthesise evidence on the effectiveness of non-surgical clinical interventions used to treat UI in community-dwelling women. This news report was based on a systematic review conducted by researchers from the: University of Minnesota and Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research (USA).

 

8

 

Can music influence clinical stroke outcomes?

 

SÃrkÃmo et al (2008) Brain, 131: 866 abstract

 

To evaluate whether regular, self-directed music listening during the first two months after middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke can enhance the recovery of cognitive functions and mood, as reported by R Preidt for HealthDay on 20th February 2008

 

7

 

Lifting and back pain

 

Martimo et al (2008) BMJ, 336: 429 abstract

 

To determine whether advice and training on working techniques and lifting equipment can prevent back pain in occupations that involve heavy lifting tasks, as reported by P Crosta for Medical News Today on 5th February 2008

 

6

 

Does acupuncture affect the success rate of IVF?

 

Manheimer et al (2008) BMJ, 336: 545 abstract

 

Reviews the hypothesis that acupuncture improves rates of pregnancy and live birth when used as an adjuvant treatment to embryo transfer in women undergoing in vitro fertilisation, as reported by Dr N Swan, Health Minutes, ABC News Radio, 5 March 2008: Acupuncture helps IVF.

 

5

 

Can acupuncture bring some relief for chemotherapy nausea?

 

Ezzo et al (2006) Cochrane Database Sys Rev, 19;(2) abstract

 

Investigates the premise that acupuncture can help bring some relief from chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting (author: Dr Caroline Smith), Reuters Health Information 1 May 2006.

 

4

 

Does strength training slow knee arthritis?

 

Mikesky et al (2006) Arthritis Rheum, 55: 690 abstract

 

Explores the idea that strength training can possibly slow knee arthritis, as reported in The Sydney Morning Herald, 5 October 2006.

 

3

 

Acupuncture and lower back pain

 

Thomas et al (2006) BMJ, 333: 623 abstract

 

Assesses an article based on the hypothesis that acupuncture relieves low back pain over long-term as reported by Reuters Health Information on 15 September 2006

 

2

 

Tennis elbow treatment

 

Bisset et al (2006) BMJ, 333: 939 abstract

 

Reviews a publication on Forbes.com, investigating the efficacy of physiotherapy compared with a 'wait and see' approach or corticosteroid injections over 52 weeks in tennis elbow.

 

1

 

Acupuncture and knee osteoarthritis

 

Scharf et al (2006) Ann Intern Med, 145: 12 abstract

 

Explores an article on acupuncture, in true and placebo form, and its effectiveness in relieving knee pain caused by Osteoarthritis (OA), as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald on 6 July 2006.

 

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Areas of study and research

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