Primary Care News and Research

Latest Primary Care News and Research

Strategies to overcome social challenges in cancer prevention

Researchers at University of California San Diego and collaborating institutions have shed light on the ways that social risks, such as housing or food insecurity, pose barriers to routine cancer screenings.

13 Dec 2024

Patients couldn’t pay their utility bills. One hospital turned to solar power for help.

Anna Goldman, a primary care physician at Boston Medical Center, got tired of hearing that her patients couldn't afford the electricity needed to run breathing assistance machines, recharge wheelchairs, turn on air conditioning, or keep their refrigerators plugged in.

12 Dec 2024

Study highlights global surge in early-onset colorectal cancer

A new study led by American Cancer Society (ACS) researchers shows that early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence rates are rising in 27 of 50 countries/territories worldwide, 20 of which have either exclusive or faster increases for early-onset disease.

11 Dec 2024

Study links metal exposure to overweight and obesity in children

Researchers from the Granada Biosanitary Research Institute (ibs.GRANADA) and the University od Granada have revealed positive and negative associations between exposure to a combination of different metals and overweight and obesity in children.

11 Dec 2024

A centenarian thrives living alone, active and engaged

"The future is here," the email announced. Hilda Jaffe, then 88, was letting her children know she planned to sell the family home in Verona, New Jersey. She'd decided to begin life anew — on her own — in a one-bedroom apartment in Hell's Kitchen in Manhattan.

10 Dec 2024

Study: One-third of older Americans still struggle with loneliness

Loneliness and isolation among older Americans have mostly returned to pre-pandemic rates, but that still means more than one third of people age 50 to 80 feel lonely, and nearly as many feel isolated, a new national study shows.

9 Dec 2024

CHOP study shows safety of rotavirus vaccine in neonatal intensive care unit

Researchers from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) found that transmission of rotavirus vaccine strains in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is rare and without clinical consequences, strongly suggesting that giving the rotavirus vaccine to eligible infants during their hospitalization provides immune benefits that outweigh any risks.

9 Dec 2024

Experts gather at NCCN summit to promote patient-centered cancer information

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) - a non-profit alliance of leading cancer centers - hosted a Patient Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C., today.

6 Dec 2024

Concerns grow over accuracy and safety of direct-to-consumer health tests

Better information and regulation are essential to protect consumers from potential harms of tests advertised directly to consumers, argue experts in The BMJ today.

5 Dec 2024

AI tool for heart failure screening demonstrates long-term cost savings

Earlier research showed that primary care clinicians using AI-ECG tools identified more unknown cases of a weak heart pump, also called low ejection fraction, than without AI. New study findings published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Digital Health suggest that this type of screening is also cost-effective in the long term, especially in outpatient settings.

5 Dec 2024

Children's National and FDA sign five-year collaboration for pediatric device innovation

In a significant collaboration to help advance pediatric health, Children's National Hospital and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories (OSEL) in the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) have signed a five-year research collaboration agreement to develop regulatory science tools (RSTs) intended to assist in the technical evaluation of pediatric and perinatal medical devices.

4 Dec 2024

Nursing homes fell behind on vaccinating patients for covid

It seems no one is taking covid-19 seriously anymore, said Mollee Loveland, a nursing home aide who lives outside Pittsburgh.

4 Dec 2024

AI in medicine: Revolutionary tools, uncertain results

AI decision-making systems show promise but lack consistent evidence for improving patient-relevant outcomes like mortality and quality of life. Rigorous harm-benefit assessments and transparency are needed for safe integration into healthcare.

3 Dec 2024

Lifestyle choices and cognitive health linked to future dementia risk

The risk of developing dementia later in life is strongly predicted by a person's cognitive ability, functional limitations and physical health as many as 20 years before onset of the illness, according to a new RAND report.

3 Dec 2024

Homebound seniors living alone often slip through health system’s cracks

Carolyn Dickens, 76, was sitting at her dining room table, struggling to catch her breath as her physician looked on with concern.

2 Dec 2024

Capsule sponge test revolutionizes GERD diagnosis, reduces unnecessary endoscopies

Capsule sponge testing, a minimally invasive diagnostic tool, effectively triages gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients, reducing unnecessary endoscopies by 70% and accurately identifying high-risk cases for Barrett’s esophagus and cancer in real-world clinical settings.

1 Dec 2024

How genetic traits contribute to earlier diabetes onset and metabolic challenges in South Asians

The study uncovers genetic factors driving early type 2 diabetes in South Asians, highlighting risks of insulin dependence and medication response challenges.

28 Nov 2024

Culturally appropriate interventions strengthen healthcare responses to domestic violence

Culturally appropriate women-centred interventions can help healthcare systems respond to domestic violence, research has found.

27 Nov 2024

Routine health checks for heart disease risk did not recover fully after the pandemic

Routine screening to detect risk factors for heart disease dropped sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic in England, and some key measurements, such as blood pressure readings, may still lag behind pre-pandemic levels.

26 Nov 2024

Addressing the challenges of cognitive impairment detection in primary care

Early detection of cognitive impairment is essential for improving patient outcomes, but primary care settings face significant challenges in screening. This special report summarizes key points and gaps in knowledge about methods for detecting cognitive impairment in primary care clinics.

25 Nov 2024