Prescribing of long-term antibiotics to adolescents in primary care: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Antibiotic overuse is linked to increased risk of antimicrobial resistance. Long-term antibiotics are commonly used for treating acne and prophylaxis of urinary tract infection. Their contribution to the overall burden of antibiotic use is relatively unknown.

A feasibility trial of acupuncture in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment.

Objective: We conducted a feasibility trial of acupuncture in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment. The trial included training radiographers to deliver acupuncture within patients' routine NHS care.

Methods: Mixed methods pragmatic randomized parallel-group exploratory feasibility trial comparing standard care to standard care plus acupuncture.

Do the effects of acupuncture vary between acupuncturists? Analysis of the Acupuncture Trialists' Collaboration individual patient data meta-analysis.

Objectives: The degree to which the effects of acupuncture treatment vary between acupuncturists is unknown. We used a large individual patient dataset of trials of acupuncture for chronic pain to assess practitioner heterogeneity.

Methods: Individual patient data linked to identifiable acupuncturists were drawn from a dataset of 39 high-quality trials of acupuncture, where the comparators were either sham acupuncture or non-acupuncture controls, such as standard care or waitlist.

A feasibility study of a psycho-educational support intervention for men with prostate cancer on active surveillance.

Background: PROACTIVE is a psycho-educational support intervention for prostate cancer patients managed on Active Surveillance. PROACTIVE is composed of two interdependent components: group workshops and internet-delivered information modules.

Aims: We conducted a feasibility study to determine the practicality of delivering PROACTIVE at two prostate cancer centres.

Identifying patients with chronic pain who respond to acupuncture: results from an individual patient data meta-analysis.

Background: In a recent individual patient data meta-analysis, acupuncture was found to be superior to sham and non-sham controls in patients with chronic pain. It has been suggested that a subgroup of patients has an exceptional response to acupuncture. We hypothesized the presence of exceptional acupuncture responders would lead to a different distribution of pain scores in acupuncture versus control groups, with the former being skewed to the right.