UK Doctors Adopt Action Plan to Address Obesity in Patients
The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) in the UK has published a report called
Measuring Up: The Medical Profession's Prescription for the Nation's Obesity Crisis, setting out a 10 point action plan for healthcare professionals aimed at tackling the nation’s obesity crisis.
Professor Terence Stephenson, a paediatrician and Chair of the Academy, said:
“As health professionals, we see it across all our disciplines – from the GP’s surgery to the operating table and everything in between. So it is no exaggeration to say that it is the biggest public health crisis facing the UK today."
The report recognises that some clinicians are
‘insensitive, ineffective, and lack confidence’ when dealing with patients with weight problems, but goes on to point out that part of the problem is doctors do not have the services to refer patients to. Many of the recommendations in the report in fact seem to be calling for external changes directed at the fast food industry and media advertising. This is all well and good but it brings to mind those two most popular words in the english language,
"you should".
The
BMA comments on the point that doctors themselves need to measure up. The other consideration is that doctors may not want to be seen as '
insulting' their patients, as highlighted by Brian Regan in his comedy sketch below of a visit to the doctor. A stronger emphasis on patient communication skills training for physicians and medical students, would be a good thing! Enjoy the video!
Labels: Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, Brian Regan, comedy sketch, doctor patient interaction, obesity crisis, physician patient communication, public health, United Kingdom, visiting the doctor's office
Recently in London, a UK Publishers Association in partnership with the University of Greewich, held a one day conference entitled
‘Students at the Heart of the System: How to fulfill their learning needs?’.A panel of students was afforded the opportunity to register their take on the academic
'textbook'.
Note some comments and expectations voiced by the Student Forum: "Too much information – students are often overwhelmed by the amount of information, across a variety of formats... Although access to information is important, the critical skills to analyse and filter are greatly in demand."
"There is an overwhelming need for information analysis skills."
"Most students recognised that a mixture of formats is necessary or even desirable."
"Students would love, shorter chapters, chapter summaries, key learning points, revision aids etc."
"Because of the cost of their education, students expect their learning resources to be made available by their institutions/ libraries – and think most of them should be free. They should also be available in any format they can."
Click on the post title to read the report published
November 21, 2011 in the
"Information Today: Europe Blog"
.
Labels: academic textbooks, consumer preferences, ebooks, epublishing, learning resources, opinion of students, publishing industry, publishing news, resource format, student panel, United Kingdom
Conclusions of the NMC Study:"The findings are overwhelmingly positive and suggest strongly that simulated learning: helps students to acheive clinical learning outcomes, provides students with learning opportunities which are not possible in the clinical setting, and helps to increase students confidence in approaching clinical situations."
Simulation allows the attention and focus to sift away from the patient, to the nursing student and their learning.
"The latest development enables universities to use up to
300 hours previously set aside for learning with patients, to learn instead in a safe simulated practice learning environment, where mistakes can be made without risk of causing harm to patients."
Click on the title to read the news report from Medical News Today
& access the full text document from the Nursing & Midwifery Council - UK [NMC] website.Labels: nursing education, nursing skills, research study, simulation, skills practice, teaching methods, United Kingdom
