Medicare patients with cancer often receive aggressive treatment over supportive care
“Overall, claims records showed that 45% of the patients experienced potentially aggressive care (such as multiple acute care visits within days of death), while there was a low receipt of supportive care, such as palliative, hospice and advanced care planning in the last six months of life. While hospice care spiked to more than 70% during the month that death occurred, over 16% of patients spent less than 3 days in hospices. Moreover, receipt of advanced care planning and palliative care remained below 25%.”
Acceptability of self-sampling and self-testing for infections: a rapid systematic review on public users’ views
“Conclusions: This review synthesised evidence on the acceptability of SS/ST and factors affecting it across different infections, sampling approaches, settings, and populations. Evidence shows that most people with experience of self-sampling/self-testing found it acceptable and were willing to accept some discomfort in favour of several perceived benefits. This amenability to self-sampling/self-testing could be leveraged for diagnosing infections and preventing transmission. It can be used to support the viability of new models of clinical care and pandemic preparedness.”
Dancing your way to fitness: Study shows health benefits of free-form dance are comparable to conventional exercise
“Forget sneakers or cleats and put on those boogie shoes, as new research from Northeastern University finds that dancing can have the same health benefits as running and other forms of exercise.”
Diet and fitness apps linked to problem eating and body image issues
“New research has linked the use of diet and fitness apps to problematic eating habits and body image issues, particularly in young people. It highlights the fine line that exists between using these apps for motivation and using them to perpetuate potentially dangerous behaviors.”
Nutrition Misinformation
“Nutrition advice is rife with misinformation − a medical education specialist explains how to tell valid health information from pseudoscience”
FDA delays when a final rule on what foods can be labeled as ‘healthy’ goes into effect
“The US Food and Drug Administration’s new standards for foods before they can be labeled as “healthy” on their packaging will go into effect about two months later than planned, according to a government document scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on Tuesday.”
QA Exclusive: Food Safety Leaders React to Jim Jones’ Departure, FDA Layoffs
“Last week’s news of Jim Jones’ resignation from his position as deputy commissioner for human foods at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) following the Trump administration’s layoffs of 89 staffers in the agency’s food division has sparked concerns about the future of food safety in the United States, according to various stakeholders interviewed by QA magazine.”
Most plant-based restaurant meals are unhealthy, study finds
“In a recent study published in the journal Nutrients, researchers examined the menus of restaurants around the world to see whether plant-based offerings at both omnivore (OMNI) and vegan or vegetarian (VEG) eateries are ‘healthful’ in terms of avoiding saturated fats, refined grains, and deep-fried foods.”
