News

Netherlands tops healthcare table that focuses on patients’ perspective

The Netherlands has Europe’s best healthcare system, concludes the latest Euro Health Consumer Index, which is based on indicators such as patients’ rights and waiting times.

Other news published on 17 November:

• Underfunding of Australian health system leads to 1500 unnecessary deaths a year
• Acute medicine needs better standards to guide development of the specialty
• France needs to clarify how important genetic information is passed to patients’ relatives

Research

Effect of fibre, antispasmodics, and peppermint oil in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome

According to this systematic review and meta-analysis, soluble fibre, antispasmodics, and peppermint oil were all more effective than placebo in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. It may be a little premature to follow the authors’ recommendation that national guidelines should be updated to include therapeutic guidance on these agents, but the results should reawaken an interest in the pharmacotherapy of irritable bowel syndrome and stimulate further research, says an accompanying editorial.

Other recent research:

• Incremental prognostic value of the exercise electrocardiogram in the initial assessment of patients with suspected angina
• Efficacy of percutaneous versus intradermal BCG in the prevention of tuberculosis in South African infants
• Recruitment to multicentre trials - lessons from UKCTOCS: descriptive study

Comment

Statins and primary prevention of cardiovascular events

The JUPITER randomised controlled trial is seen by many as opening the door to new avenues to prevention, but despite the hype surrounding the study, no change in strategy is needed, concludes this editorial.(Picture credit: SPL)

Other recent comment:

• Pipe dreamer
• Is health care getting safer?

Careers

Doctors' health

Is medicine simply a "young person's game?" The latest Career Focus looks at the evidence for performance in doctors over the age of 65. Also, the current BMJ print issue contains four research papers and an editorial on doctors' health to coincide with an international conference taking place in London this week. In an accompanying podcast, a doctor describes the steps she took to tackle alcohol dependency.