What We're Reading: Violence in Hospitals; Nutrients and Cancer Risk; New Smoking Intervention

Hospital Workers Fed Up With Violence Against Them

A rising epidemic of violence against physicians, nurses, and healthcare workers has been brought into focus, NPR reported. While workers have previously considered enduring acts of violence to be “part of the job,” more are speaking out about the outbursts they frequently endure. Hospital workers have said that the majority of physical and verbal abuse comes from patients, but they have also experienced attacks from upset family members. Some hospitals have installed metal detectors, and thousands of weapons are confiscated each year. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration stated that incidents of workplace violence are 4 times more prevalent in healthcare than in other industry sectors.

Nutrients From Food Linked to Decreased Risk of Cancer, Death

A new study has found that proficient intake of nutrients supplied by food, but not supplements, has been associated with a reduction in mortality from cancer, according to ScienceDaily. The study was published in Annals of Internal Medicine and was conducted to evaluate links between dietary supplement use and all causes of death. No association was found between use of dietary supplements and a lower risk of death. Excess calcium intake surpassing 1000 milligrams per day from supplements was linked to an increased risk of death from cancer. Adequate intakes of vitamin K and magnesium from food were associated with a lower risk of death. The study also found that ample intakes of vitamin A, zinc, and vitamin K from food were linked to a lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease.

New Intervention Doubled Rates of Smoking Cessation Among Individuals With Severe Mental Illness

A new intervention has been found to double rates of smoking cessation among people with severe mental illness, ScienceDaily reported. Smoking rates among individuals with mental health conditions are higher than in any other group and haven’t significantly changed in 2 decades. Smokers who received evidence-based behavioral support from mental health nurses as well as access to Nicotine Replacement Therapy and medication were more than twice as likely to quit smoking within 6 months than those who received standard care. The study was published in The Lancet Psychiatry.