Editor's Choice | This Week in BMJ | Press releases
BMJ No 7116 Volume 315 Press Releases Saturday 1 November 1997 Embargoed: 00.01 hrs 31 October 1997 UK time Melanoma epidemic in Scottish women may have peaked Melanoma epidemic in Scottish women may have peaked(Cutaneous malignant melanoma in Scotland: incidence, survival, and mortality, 1979-94)Until recently, incidence of melanoma of the skin has steadily increased in the United Kingdom. In this week's BMJ, MacKie et al show that this trend may have been halted, at least in Scottish women under 65 years. Recent reports from Australia, also suggest a levelling off in deaths from cutaneous melanoma. In Australia, the stabilisation of the numbers of deaths in women was seen five years before they were seen in men, so the authors conclude that it will be interesting to see if this pattern is repeated in Scotland over the next five years. See Paper (Mackie et al) p 1117
Contact:
Department of Dermatology,
tel: 0141 211 2229 In a corresponding editorial in this week's BMJ, Melia considers the most likely explanations for the changing mortality from melanoma (increased awareness about early detection; improved sun protection; changes in environmental factors, such as diet and changing natural history) and shows that these explanations are by no means definitive . Melia concludes that the results from the study by MacKie et al are encouraging, but their explanation remains intriguing and suggests that further research should be undertaken. Contact: Jane Melia
Cancer Screening Evaluation Unit,
tel: 0181 643 8901 x4285 How do patients feel about the presence of students when visiting their GP?(Consent and confidentiality in teaching in general practice: survey of patients? views on presence of students)Medical schools are expanding their teaching in general practice, and until now there have been few studies on how patients feel about the presence of students when they visit their GP. In this week's BMJ, O'Flynn et al reveal that there is general support among patients for the presence of undergraduate students in general practitioners' surgeries. Their research found that patients were more willing to have a student present if the consultation was for a simple physical condition rather than an emotional problem or an internal examination. However, the authors stress that those responsible for organising undergraduate teaching programmes should give patients a real choice about whether or not they see a student. They also suggest that patients? concerns about access to their records and discussion of their case outside the consultation should be taken into consideration. The authors recommend that consent should be sought when the appointment is made. See Paper (O'Flynn et al) p 1142
Contact:
Lambeth Walk Group Practice,
(not available after
the evening Thursday 30 October)
tel: (w) 0171 735 8881/2 In a related editorial in this week's BMJ, Williamson and Wilkie state that patients have the right to choose whether to participate in the training of medical students, but in many cases, patients' permission to have a student present during consultation, was sought at the last moment, making it difficult to refuse. The authors conclude that if patients concerns about student presence could be met, their willingness to help with medical education would be safeguarded and students' education would be improved. See Editorial (Williamson and Wilkie) p 1108
Contact:
York Health Services NHS Trust,
tel: 01347 888244 Professor Mark Williamson tel: 01904 432860
Embargo: 00.01 hrs Friday 31 October 1997 Please contact Public Affairs Division for the text of the paper & the authors for further comment For further information, please contactel:
Jill Shepherd on 0171 383 6529
or telephone (8.30am -
6.00pm): 0171 383 6254 Or fax requests to Public Affairs Division, BMA on 0171 383 6403. If you currently receive your British Medical Journal press release by mail and you would like it faxed to you please telephone (0)171 383 6123, Fax: (0)171 554 6123 or E-mail: LRiviere@mail.bma.org.uk When dialling the UK from abroad, remember to delete the first zero from the local area code, eg, (00 44) 171... BMA on Internet page: http://www.bma.org.uk If you intend to use any article publicised in this press release, ensure you quote the British Medical Journal as source
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