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Spotlight

Every month, the subjects in Prescrire’s Spotlight.

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The 2011 Prescrire Awards are announced in Paris

This year's annual Drug Awards, announced on 26 January in Paris, included not a single winner: no "Golden Pill", no new entries to the "Honours List", not even a "Noteworthy" new drug. Prescrire's annual awards for Drug Packaging and Information were also announced.
26 January 2012

Pregnancy and alcohol: occasional, light drinking may be safe

FEATURED REVIEW There is a risk of cognitive and behavioural problems in children whose mothers regularly drank more than 2 standard units of alcohol per day during pregnancy. Fetal alcohol syndrome occurs in about 5% of cases of regular exposure to five or more standard units per day. Women must be informed, but  the risks of minimal consumption should not be overstated.
Full review (7 pages) available for download by subscribers.
1 February 2012

In the February issue of Prescrire International:
Mobility aid-related accidents in children

FREE DOWNLOAD Mobility aids for children can be a source of accidents. Wheelchairs are the devices most often involved, followed by crutches and walkers. Correct use of these devices should be explained to parents and children, and children using them should be supervised if necessary.
Full text available for free download.
1 February 2012

Patients want to know

Less advice, more explanations! Many patients expect healthcare professionals to help them develop their skills so they can take an active part in making decisions affecting their health.
1 February 2012

Smoking cessation: no varenicline

Varenicline is used as a smoking cessation drug. It exposes patients to neuropsychological adverse effects, including depression and suicide, and there is a risk of cardiovascular events in the long term. In practice, it is better to avoid prescribing varenicline as a smoking cessation drug and to keep to nicotine when a drug treatment is deemed necessary.
1 February 2012

Outpatient care: preventable adverse events too frequent

At least 40% of severe adverse events related to outpatient care that have resulted in hospitalisation appear to be preventable. They are chiefly drug-related.
1 February 2012

How a review in Prescrire is produced

Prescrire's reviews are produced through a complex, collective editing process, which has been fine-tuned over the years. The absence of any direct or indirect financial links to the phramaceutical industry is an absolute requirement to be a member of the Prescrire editorial team. 
1 February 2012

Sedation at end of life: When distress is unbearable despite treatment

FEATURED REVIEW The decision to begin terminal sedation is difficult; it should only be taken when the patient is in extreme distress. What are the principles, practices and ethics of palliative sedation in distressed terminally ill patients? To answer this question, we reviewed the relevant literature using the standard Prescrire methodology.
Full review (5 pages) available for download by subscribers.
1 January 2012

In the January issue of Prescrire International:
fentanyl nasal (Pecfent°), still no tangible advantage

FREE DOWNLOAD Fentanyl intranasal proved no better than immediate-release oral morphine in a trial including 84 patients, but caused more frequent adverse effects. There is a risk of overdose due to confusion between the different forms and doses of fentanyl.
Full text available for free download.
1 January 2012

Prostate cancer: too many unknowns with cabazitaxel

In patients with metastatic prostate cancer, when treatment fails, the emphasis should be on quality palliative care.
1 January 2012

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