Volume 10, Number 3, Oct-Nov-Dec 2013

BACK TO BASICSBlood clots - and how they are prevented

DISEASE FOCUSManaging venous thromboembolism in the 21st century
Dr Ivan Benett

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) occurs when a blood clot forms in the wrong place, and it can cause serious illness or death. Treatment of VTE is currently very labour-intensive for nurses and awkward for patients. Novel treatments are more expensive and have their own risks. But this new approach is less reliant on nurse time and more straightforward for patients, and seems likely to become the norm during the next few years.

EDITORIALEditorial
Jan Procter-King

I looked through the topics in this issue of the journal and thought: wow, so many ways to kill ourselves younger than we really intended! I had also just heard a programme on the radio about the perils of alcohol consumption, especially in ladies ‘just like me’, and wondered if I should ever have a meal, a drink or sex again—it all sounded so risky.

EVIDENCE IN PRACTICEEvidence in practice

Providing need-to-know information and recommended actions resulting from new clinical research

HAVE YOU HEARD?Have you heard?

MONITORINGAndrogens really matter to older men
Professor Mike Kirby

Androgens such as testosterone, male sex hormones produced by the testicles, control the development and maintenance of masculine characteristics. Reduced testosterone levels—known as male hypogonadism—may cause both physical and psychological effects. These effects may be severe enough to compromise a man’s general wellbeing and his sex life in particular. But the decision to replace testosterone is not always straightforward, and patients need careful monitoring before and after starting treatment.

POPULAR
TOPICPRACTICE IN ACTIONAmbulatory blood pressure monitoring: from guideline into practice
Grace Mhora, Sarah Pollard

NICE now recommends that 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) rather than repeat clinic measurements should be the gold-standard test for diagnosing high blood pressure. This article considers the practicalities of using ABPM in the clinic, including advice to pass on to patients to ensure accurate readings.

POPULAR
TOPICQUALITY MATTERSNHS Health Checks: Time to raise awareness about dementia
Jan Procter-King

The NHS Health Check is changing again. Since the beginning of April 2013, practice nurses have been expected to raise the issue of dementia when seeing patients aged 65-74. But why (I can hear you ask)? Surely we have enough to do! This article explains why dementia matters, and sets out your role in the NHS Health Check.

POPULAR
TOPICTHERAPEUTICS REVIEWHepatitis B: A closer look at prevention and treatment
Helen Caldwell

Liver disease is the fifth largest cause of mortality in England, after heart disease, cancer, stroke and respiratory disease. Of this 'big five', liver disease is the only major cause of death that is rising year on year, and it affects people at a younger age. It is also becoming clear that chronic hepatitis B infection is making an increasing contribution to the rising death toll from liver disease. Recently published NICE guidelines now give practice nurses and GPs a key role in the initial assessment and onward referral of patients to specialist services, and their subsequent care.

POPULAR
TOPICHANDS ONAfter brain attack: the new stroke guidelines
Alastair Bailey, Helen Brooks

Most people now survive a first stroke, but many patients are left with significant disability. In this article, our very own BATman ‘goes through rehab’ to review recently published NICE guideline. This aims to ensure that all stroke survivors have access to effective, individualised rehabilitation, both in the hospital and during long-term follow-up in the community.