NB Hot Topics Podcast

Welcome to the Hot Topics Podcast from NB Medical with Dr Neal Tucker.Merry Christmas everyone! This is a special edition on empathy in general practice. Does it matter and what does the research tell us? Can not being a grinch in surgery make a difference to our patients and ourselves? We are joined by NB colleague Dr Andy Ward, who is also Associate Professor of Medical Education and an Honorary Senior Academic General Practitioner at the Stoneygate Centre for Empathic Healthcare at the University of Leicester, who is going to get us through the data and explain why empathy might help get us through the festive period in practice too.ReferencesStoneygate Centre for Empathic Healthcare websiteBJGP Just Do It! Ten Easy Ways To Enhance Empathy in the Consultationwww.nbmedical.com/podcast

Welcome to the Hot Topics podcast from NB Medical with Dr Neal Tucker.In this episode we have three new and interesting research papers to look at. First, new data on the effects of social media use and cognitive development in younger adolescents. Is it really a problem? Second, can a simple urine sample be as accurate as a smear test for identifying cervical HPV, and what do women feel about this? Finally, if you're struggling to sleep could Tai chi be better than CBT for insomnia? ReferencesJAMA SM & cognitive developmentJAMA EditorialBJGP Urine vs smear for cervical HPVBMJ Tai chi vs CBTi for insomniawww.nbmedical.com/podcast

Welcome back to the Hot Topics podcast from NB Medical with Dr Neal Tucker. In this episode, we look at three new pieces of research and have a special interview in conjunction with Prostate Cancer UK. First, do antidepressants have physiological side effects? How do they compare to each other, and how does this influence what we prescribe to whom?Second, exercise is a key treatment for knee osteoarthritis, but which type is best? What should we recommend to our patients?Third, how has PSA testing changed over the past two decades? Is there variation in testing in high-risk groups? Discussing this further, we are joined by Dr Bunmi Olajide, a GP with a special interest in cancer, and Kevin Howell, Black Health Equity Engagement manager for Prostate Cancer UK.ResourcesLancet Anti-depressants and physiological side effectsBMJ Knee OA and Best ExercisesNEJM Knee pain and home exercisesBMJ PSA testing trends in EnglandPCUK PSA Consensus statement 2024PCUK Guide for Counselling Patients on the PSA Blood TestPCUK Online Educationwww.nbmedical.com/podcast

Welcome to the Hot Topics podcast from NB Medical with Dr Neal Tucker! In this episode, we talk about some real research rather than stuff made up by over-tanned heads of state. Three papers. First, can researchers fill the gap on whether anti-inflammatory reliever therapy is best for mild asthma? Second, how effective are SCAN pathways for suspected cancer in patients with non-specific symptoms who don't meet site-specific referral criteria, and what lessons can we learn from years of referrals?Third, how do the numbers of licensed GPs differ from actual GPs working, and how does this all compare to what's happening with hospital consultants?ReferencesLancet AIR for kids asthmaLancet Primary Care SCAN referrals  BMJ Trends in practising GPswww.nbmedical.com/podcast

Welcome back to the Hot Topics podcast from NB Medical with Dr Neal Tucker. In this new season, we chat to Dr Simon Curtis about the upcoming Autumn 2025 Hot Topics course, then discuss three new pieces of research.First, in the Lancet, which are the best anti-hypertensives, what effect does increasing a dose actually have and how good are combinations? Second, in the NEJM, does giving all the drugs improve CKD outcomes? The case for finerenone and empagliflozin. Third, do ADHD drugs help outcomes beyond core symptoms such as accidents, suicide and crime? But can we rely on the research method used...?ReferencesLancet Antihypertensive Efficacy PaperNEJM Finerenone & EmpagliflozinReport on trends in CKDBMJ ADHD meds & prevention of complicationswww.nbmedical.com/podcast