BMJ Learning

New free course just launched 🚨 Encephalitis: diagnosis in adults and children This course offers practical advice on recognising and diagnosing encephalitis in adults and children, with an emphasis on clinicians working in low-resource settings. After completing this course, you should: ✅ Understand the infectious and autoimmune causes of encephalitis in adults and children ✅ Be able to identify common and atypical clinical presentations of encephalitis across different age groups ✅ Be able to select appropriate investigations to support diagnosis in both adults and children This course has been supported by @encephalitis International. Find out more and start learning today⬇️ new-learning.bmj.com/course/30000373

As part of a series on ECG skills this course 'ECG skills: Basic anatomy and physiology of the heart' is designed to support your understanding of the structure of the heart, including electrical and blood flow through the heart, and what causes the heart to beat. Find out more 👉 bit.ly/4lkHlNM

BMJ Careers is continuing its exclusive 65% discount on GP recruitment advertising for BMA member practices, helping you reach engaged doctors across The BMJ and BMJ Careers. 📢 2026 GP recruitment packages • £499 + VAT – ¼ page print advert + 4 weeks online • £899 + VAT – 2 print adverts + Premium & Promoted Job, 6 weeks online • £1,099 + VAT – 3 print adverts + Premium & Promoted Job, 12 weeks online ✔ Reach 25,000+ GPs in print and 130,000+ GPs online monthly ✔ Free advert design included Quote GP2026 to access the BMA member discount. 📧 careers@bmj.com 📞 020 3655 5100 🌐bit.ly/47BcOp4 #GPRecruitment #NHSJobs #HealthcareRecruitment

PMS is also often trivialised and many women struggle to access appropriate help and support. Some individuals will have predominantly psychological, predominantly somatic or a mixture of symptoms, but it is the timing, rather than the types of symptoms, that supports a diagnosis of PMS. In order to differentiate physiological menstrual symptoms and other conditions from PMS, it must be demonstrated that symptoms cause significant impairment to the individual during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (ie in the two weeks before menstruation). The severity of symptoms is judged according to the degree of interference with day to day activities and relationships. Improve your knowledge and patient care with our 'Premenstrual syndrome' course 👉 bit.ly/4rmcZf5

🔵 Patients with reflux will have an abnormal oesophageal pH, defined as a drop in pH to < 4.0. The magnitude of oesophageal acid exposure time (AET) is measured by the percent time the pH is < 4.0 🔵 Other measures of oesophageal pH include the number of sustained pH drops lasting more than five minutes, as this may indicate reduced clearance of refluxate Improve your knowledge in the “Physiological measurement in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease” free course, sponsored by @ThisIsReckitt Find out more 👉 bit.ly/47cCqbI

Specialist understanding of functional neurological disorder (FND) has improved rapidly in recent years. Yet research shows that there is still a worrying lack of awareness of the condition among healthcare professionals more broadly. Understand the history, symptoms, and management of FND, to communicate more effectively and sensitively with your patients. Get unlimited access for £39 👉 bit.ly/40cdCwM This collection has been produced exclusively by City St George’s, University of London, and is hosted on BMJ Learning.

Nilesh is an 8 year old boy who is brought to see you by his father. His father tells you his teachers have concerns about his learning. He has problems paying attention in school and gives up easily. On further questioning you establish that the parents report no symptoms at home or during school holidays. Which one of the following diagnoses is the most likely? 1️⃣ Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) 2️⃣ A specific learning disability such as dyslexia 3️⃣ Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) 4️⃣ Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) Comment your answer below 👇

Try the latest course in the Gastro-oesophageal reflux: Latest thinking and advancements collection. In just 30 minutes you will improve your knowledge in the topic Barrett’s oesophagus and cancer. Sponsored by Reckitt Find out more 👉 bit.ly/3Mi4NOA

NHS GP practices with BMA membership can now save 65% on GP recruitment advertising with BMJ Careers for a limited time 🩺 Reach high intent GPs where they actively look for roles ✔ 25,000+ GPs reached through The BMJ ✔ 130,000 job seeking doctors visit BMJ Careers monthly ✔ Full design support included Packages from £499 + VAT Quote *GP2026* to claim this exclusive offer 📞 020 3655 5100 📧 careers@bmj.com 👉bit.ly/3NgkZQu #GPRecruitment #NHSJobs #PrimaryCare #MedicalRecruitment #BMJCareers

❕ Save the date ❕ 📆 Wednesday 11th February 2026 🕜 17:00 - 20:00 (CET) We are thrilled to announce the upcoming BJSM Live Webinar, organized by the International Olympic Committee in partnership with the BJSM. Join the conversation from anywhere in the world! 🌐 Olympic Medicine Uncovered: Live Insights from Milano Cortina 2026 Watch this space for more information #SportsMedicine #EliteSport #WinterSport #BJSMLive #MilanoCortina #WinterOlympics #Webinar

Understand the history, symptoms, and management of FND to communicate more effectively and sensitively with your patients. On this three-week course taught by world-leading experts @CityStGeorges, you’ll gain in-depth insights into all aspects of the condition. You’ll learn from the lived experience of FND sufferers, and explore the impact that poor patient communication has had on their lives. Find out more 👉 bit.ly/4a68oIr

Master your skills in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease with this new course sponsored by @ThisIsReckitt Find out more 👉 bit.ly/4qZq5PP

✨ Start 2026 by securing the right GP for your practice ✨ BMJ Careers is offering NHS GP practices with BMA membership an exclusive 65% saving on GP recruitment advertising, with flexible print and online packages designed to deliver reach and value. 📢 Packages start from £499 + VAT, including a ¼ page print advert in The BMJ and at least 4 weeks online visibility on BMJ Careers. ⏳ This limited time offer is available now. 📞 Contact us on 020 3655 5100 or 📧 email careers@bmj.com to book. Or click here for more information: bit.ly/3NgkZQu #GPRecruitment #NHSJobs #PrimaryCare #HealthcareRecruitment #BMJCareers

An important concept to understand is that although pain is experienced “in the body”, and triggers of pain may occur in the body itself, for example following an injury, the sensation of pain is entirely generated by the brain, whether a peripheral trigger is present or not. In most patients with chronic pain, the initial harmful trigger in the body has healed, but the brain has become sensitised such that it still experiences strong pain, even in the absence of ongoing tissue damage. Boost your medical skills with the "Functional neurological disorder: a healthcare professional’s guide" course for £39 👉 bit.ly/3VRP7Te Created by @citystgeorges and hosted on BMJ Learning.

There are essentially four anatomical and physiological factors that contribute to acid escape: 🔵 Transient lower oesophageal sphincter relaxations (TLOSRs) 🔵 Hiatus hernia 🔵 Loss of the flap valve at the oesophagogastric junction (OGJ) 🔵 Distensibility of the OGJ. Any surgical procedure to reduce reflux tends to address both: 🔵 Anatomic issues: specifically the diaphragmatic hiatus and mechanical configuration of the OGJ 🔵 Functional problems: oesophageal motility and the physiology of the OGJ. Improve your knowledge further with the "Antireflux surgery in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease" course, sponsored by Reckitt 👉 bit.ly/48XvT4G

A 22 year old man with asthma and seasonal allergies is referred by his GP for investigation of dysphagia. He describes a sensation of food sticking when he eats, especially dry breads and meat. He minimises symptoms by eating slowly, chewing thoroughly, and drinking water with each bite of food. From the history you consider a diagnosis of eosinophilic oesophagitis. Which one of the following would you arrange next to confirm the diagnosis? 1️⃣ Blood test for eosinophilia 2️⃣ Trial of a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) 3️⃣ Oesophageal biopsy 4️⃣ Oesophageal manometry Check your answer in the "What to do when it’s not gastro-oesophageal reflux disease" course, sponsored by Reckitt 👉bit.ly/3MAYlSF

This course provides practical tips for managing patients entering the last few days of their lives, including recognising dying patients, communicating with them sensitively, managing hydration and anticipatory prescribing. After completing this course you should: 🔵 Know what clinical signs might indicate a person is in the last days of their life 🔵 Be able to communicate and share decisions sensitively and respectfully with a dying patient and the people important to them 🔵 Know how to create an individualised care plan for a dying patient 🔵 Know how to manage hydration in a dying patient 🔵 Recognise the importance of prescribing medicines in advance to relieve distressing symptoms. Find out more 👉 bit.ly/4oVFS0o

What is a suitable type of exercise to recommend as a starting point to someone newly diagnosed with dementia who has been sedentary for several years? 1️⃣ Start at 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise a week, such as brisk walking, cycling, or running 2️⃣ Gentle walking or swimming each day, building up to 150 mins of moderate activity a week 3️⃣ High intensity, high impact exercise such as aerobics or running 4️⃣ Exercise should be avoided in someone newly diagnosed with dementia 5️⃣ Aim to be physically active one day a week Check your answer in the "The health benefits of physical activity: mild cognitive impairment and dementia" course, sponsored by Sport England 👉 bit.ly/49XvTnA

Are you confident in antireflux surgery in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease? Boost your knowledge in this new course sponsored by Reckitt Find out more 👉 bit.ly/49KiTBB

Improve your knowledge with the latest free course "What to do when it’s not gastro-oesophageal reflux disease" sponsored by @ThisIsReckitt 👉 bit.ly/47Mu37y