Celebrate Christmas in July with Research on The Sims 4, Sleep, and Free Snacks

The Christmas issue of The BMJ, once known as the British Medical Journal, raises intriguing questions and research each year. This tradition, which started in 1982, has become a highlight for readers who enjoy both scientific inquiries and humor.

A featured research topic asks whether you could navigate the challenges of being a doctor in The Sims 4. It also explores the social etiquette of taking samples from public stations and examines how clock tower chimes affect sleep patterns.

Publishing in this particular issue is prestigious, attracting over a hundred submissions annually. Researchers and writers aim to make the cut before the July 31 deadline for research and the August 31 deadline for non-research submissions. The BMJ’s dedicated editorial team, including Jenny Rasanathan and Timothy Feeney, review each submission closely.

“At the end of the day, we would like physicians to be able to grab this issue, sit down on a break over the holidays or after a big holiday meal, open it up and be intrigued, interested, and sometimes given a laugh,” says Timothy.

The final issue features diverse topics and formats. Jenny Rasanathan appreciates analysis on the acceptable quantity of free food one can take from a sample station. Moreover, Liz Metzger enjoys comparisons between doctors in The Sims 4 and real-world physicians, noting both struggle with balancing work and life.

Readers can delve into past published issues of the Christmas Edition. Some memorable articles include:

• “Taking the biscuit: defining excessive quantities of free refreshments in a healthcare library”
• “I tried to survive as a Doctor in The Sims 4”
• “Things that go BONG! in the night”
• “Does Peppa Pig encourage inappropriate use of primary care resources?”
• “Anticipating the ageing trajectories of superheroes in the Marvel cinematic universe”

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This episode involved efforts from Liz Metzger and Margaret Cirino in production and reporting, with editorial oversight by Rebecca Ramirez. Facts were meticulously checked by Liz, Margaret, and Rebecca, and audio engineering was managed by Hannah Gluvna.