Tackling the drop in childhood vaccination; AI creates new body part; Adapting text interventions
Recommendations to improve childhood vaccination rates
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has shared its recommendations to increase uptake of routine childhood vaccinations. The charity says declining vaccination rates pose a significant public health risk and we are already seeing outbreaks of preventable diseases such as measles and whooping cough. While the RCPH recognises the challenges posed by anti-vaccine sentiment, misinformation and vaccine hesitancy, it says these do not account for the whole picture and vaccine confidence in the UK is still relatively high. Its report makes recommendations across three themes: access to services, improved data systems and strengthening public information, education and communication. They include:
- Investing in improving the accessibility of health information for families including online information and other formats.
- Providing standardised information at a national level translated into multiple languages and in multiple accessible formats.
- Sharing public health campaigns and vaccine positive information through multiple communication channels, including on social media.
- Providing an online resource for healthcare providers to share good practice for reaching underserved and seldom heard communities.
Read the full report on the RCPCH website here.
Google AI refers to body part that does not exist
The latest edition of Neoscope reports on growing concern about the accuracy of Google's healthcare AI. The article focuses on an example from a Google research paper introducing a healthcare AI model, dubbed Med-Gemini, where researchers were analysing brain scans. Neoscope says the paper referred to a purported part of the brain, "basilar ganglia", that does not exist in the human body. Board-certified neurologist Bryan Moore flagged the issue to The Verge, highlighting that Google fixed its blog post about the AI but failed to revise the research paper itself. Google blamed the incident on a simple misspelling of "basal ganglia".
Read the full article on the Futurism website here.
New mums help to adapt text intervention
New mums given feedback on a text messaging intervention to help with weight management after giving birth. The Supporting MumS (SMS) intervention, originally piloted in Northern Ireland, uses automated text messages to support diet and physical activity behaviour change. Before testing the effectiveness of the intervention in a UK-wide randomised controlled trial, engagement activities were organised to ensure the text content was acceptable and culturally relevant for a diverse range of women. Recruitment focused on mothers who lived in London, Bradford and various locations in Scotland, who had a child within the last 2 years and had struggled with their weight. During review and discussion of the original content, the collaborators suggested minor amendments on the length, language, humour and cultural relevance of the text messages.
Read about the PPI research via the Wiley website here.
New guidance to help people after weight treatment
PIF member NICE has said people need support to keep weight off after their treatment ends. An updated quality standard says people coming off obesity medication or finishing a weight management programme should be offered support to help keep the weight off and stay healthy long-term. This includes access to the NHS Better Health platform and help to produce an action plan with a dietician or nutritionist. Under the new guidance, healthcare teams should monitor people for at least a year after they complete treatment and offer extra support if needed. As well as emphasising continuity of care, the standard highlights the importance of helping people build long-term behavioural habits, use self-monitoring tools, and draw on wider support.
Read more about the new standard on the NICE website here.
Digital triage for GP patients must be inclusive
In this guest blog for The King's Fund, Ellie Watkins asks whether the use of digital triage in GP practices is enhancing access to care or increasing inequalities. With experience of both an e-consult online triage system and an on-the-day appointment policy during GP training, Ellie shares that neither system worked perfectly and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. However, Ellie said "blended" triage systems, offering a mix of digital, phone and in-person options, may provide a more equitable and flexible way forward.
Read the blog in full on The King's Fund website here.
Helping families stay connected with premature babies
A new video messaging app has launched to support families who are not always able to be with their baby on neonatal units. The secure, user-friendly video service is keeping families in touch with their babies at King’s College Hospital and Princess Royal University Hospital. The app allows staff on neonatal intensive care units to send regular photo and video updates securely to families. Parents and families can also use the app to ask questions and receive important updates about their baby’s progress. Staff said the app helps to reduce separation anxiety and allows the whole family to create and build an emotional bond with their baby.
Read about the app on the King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust website here.
Breastfeeding support will be available 24 hours a day
New parents can now access free, evidence-based information and support on breastfeeding whenever they need it. The government has extended the National Breastfeeding Helpline to 24 hours a day. The extension of the helpline – which is run by the Breastfeeding Network and the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers – recognises that feeding challenges can arise at any time of the day or night.
Find out more about the support on the GOV.UK website here.
Listening can help tackle health inequalities
In this opinion piece for the BMJ, Rageshri Dhairyawan says nurturing the skill of listening can help to tackle health inequalities and is vital for patient safety. Rageshri, a consultant in genitourinary medicine, writes that we must listen to patients and challenge the biases and power imbalances that prevent us from hearing them.