Two new research summaries from the Palliative & End of Life Care Group in Cambridge, on anticipatory prescribing and on bereavement care, pull together the group’s latest research on those themes. The summaries uncover key issues for practitioners and policymakers, including effects of the pandemic. Anticipatory prescribing for adults at end of life […]
Research Alert: Deprescribing blood pressure lowering medications is safe in the short-term in older people with frailty and multiple long-term conditions
GPs can safely reduce the number of antihypertensive medications taken by some older people without substantial changes to blood pressure control, finds new research from the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Southampton, although long term safety of deprescribing still needs to be established. Key messages for clinicians and healthcare commissioners In some older people, it […]
Research Alert and video: Advance care planning in heart failure patients
This research alert is for those working in healthcare. It summarises the case for interventions to engage clinicians in advance care planning with heart failure patients and sets out the latest findings from our research into what interventions work. See the two minute video about this topic on our YouTube channel and download this page […]
Research Alert: Treatment for moderately high blood pressure may be best saved for those at high risk
The largest study yet of people with mild hypertension shows that medical treatment may not be worthwhile in those at low risk of heart attack and stroke. Download this Research Alert as a pdf, for printing. Key messages This study provided no evidence to suggest that new US hypertension guidelines will reduce CVD events in […]
RESEARCH ALERT: The practice of prescribing “Just in Case” drugs for patients nearing the end of life in the community lacks evidence
“Just in Case” anticipatory prescribing – a common practice in community end of life care – lacks adequate evidence, according to a new review of the literature on this topic by researchers from the Primary Care Unit at the University of Cambridge. This research alert is for GPs and healthcare commissioners. Our Palliative and End […]
RESEARCH ALERT: What should GPs say to men asking for a PSA test for prostate cancer?
First in our new series of Research Alerts for GPs and service commissioners, prepared by PCU with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group. Please download and share but reproduce in entirety and cite sources. Queries: Lucy Lloyd, Communications Manager at the Primary Care Unit.