Health policy Archives

Third hand smoke – another reason to quit smoking

Third hand smoke – Another reason to quit smoking; Adults who recognize dangers of third-hand smoke more likely to ban smoking at home. – Need another reason to add “Quit Smoking” to your New Year’s resolutions list? How about the fact that even if you choose to smoke outside of your home or only smoke in your home when your children are not there ? thinking that you’re keeping them away from second-hand smoke ? you’re still exposing them to toxins?

2 new CBO reports on health care issues

CBO is releasing two volumes that focus on health care issues: Key Issues in Analyzing Major Health Insurance Proposals and Budget Options, Volume 1: Health Care – US’ Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is releasing two volumes that focus on health care issues: Key Issues in Analyzing Major Health Insurance Proposals and Budget Options, Volume 1: Health Care.

US adults skip needed care due to costs

US has highest rates among 8 nations of patient-reported medical errors, wasteful or poorly coordinated care and high out-of-pocket costs; Dutch often fare best in affordable, accessible care, low rates of medical errors – Compared to patients in seven other countries, chronically ill adults in the United States are far more likely to forgo care because of costs; they also experience the highest rates of medical errors, coordination problems, and high out-of-pocket costs, according to a new study from The Commonwealth Fund.

Obama has modest lead over McCain – US Election

Four in ten US voters don’t see either Obama’s or McCain’s health care plan as better for them. Among those who do, Obama has only modest lead over McCain. – As part of the ongoing poll series, Debating Health: Election 2008, the Harvard Public Opinion Research Program at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and Harris Interactive conducted a new survey focused on how voters think the presidential candidates’ health care reform plans would affect them personally – rather than how they think the plans would affect the nation as a whole.

Retail clinics attracting patients with no regular doctor

Typical patients of retail medical health clinics in the United States include patients who don’t have regular health care provider or doctor. – Retail medical clinics located in pharmacies and other stores typically attract insured and uninsured patients who are seeking help for a small group of easy-to-treat illnesses or preventive care and do not otherwise have a regular health care provider, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

HIV risk high in indian women abused by husbands

Among married Indian women, physical violence combined with sexual violence from husbands was associated with an increased prevalence of HIV infection. Prevention of IPV may augment efforts to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS. – Married women in India who experience physical and sexual violence from their husbands have an increased risk of HIV infection, compared with women who are not abused by their husbands, according to a study in the August 13 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on violence and human rights.

Knee surgery referral to men more

Disparity in the use of medical or surgical interventions is an important health care issue, and this research suggests a gender bias in the treatment of patients who may need orthopedic surgery. Gender bias may affect care of people with osteoarthritis. – Physicians and surgeons recommend knee replacement surgery to men more than female patients complaining of knee pain, revealed by canadian researchers highlighting unconscious prejudices among doctors.

Schistosomiasis more debilitating than estimated

The health effects of one strain of schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease common in developing countries, are seven to 46 times greater than previously estimated, according to new Brown University research. – The health effects of one strain of schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease common in developing countries, are seven to 46 times greater than previously estimated, according to new Brown University research.

Many maternal deaths worldwide are preventable

A study published in PLoS Medicine this week suggests that of women who die during pregnancy and childbirth in sub-Saharan Africa, more may die from treatable infectious diseases than from conditions directly linked to pregnancy. – Women who die during pregnancy and childbirth in sub-Saharan Africa, more may die from treatable infectious diseases than from conditions directly linked to pregnancy, revealed by researchers.

Heavy cell phone users subject to cancers

Cell Phone – Cancer Link Found by Tel Aviv University Scientist; A new study finds an association between heavy cell phone use and tumors – An Israeli scientist, Dr. Siegal Sadetzki, has found a link between cell phone usage and the development of tumors. Dr. Sadetzki, a physician, epidemiologist and lecturer at Tel Aviv University, published the results of a study recently in the American Journal of Epidemiology, in which she and her colleagues found that heavy cell phone users were subject to a higher risk of benign and malignant tumors of the salivary gland.

HIV can be transmitted through pre-chewed food

AIDS virus can be spread by a mother pre-chewing her infant’s food. – HIV can be transmitted to infants through food that is pre-chewed by an HIV-positive parent or caregiver, CDC researchers said Wednesday at the 15th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Boston, the New York Times reports. Specific findings from the study have not been released, the Times reports.

Defeat of California health care legislation highlights difficulties states face

Defeat of California health care legislation highlights difficulties states face in establishing universal coverage – The defeat of a $14.9 billion proposal to overhaul California’s health care system “underscores a difficulty states face in achieving universal insurance coverage” and “their inability to slow the upward trajectory of health care costs”.