ScienceDaily: Public Health News

Clinical support for patient self-management is rhetoric rather than reality, experts say

Fri, 17 May 2013 08:57:57 EDT

The processes to allow people to self-manage their own illness are not being used appropriately by health professionals to the benefit of their patients, new research suggests. Self-management support aims to increase the patient's ability to take ownership over their condition and in some cases, to self-treat.

Expert questions US public health agency advice on influenza vaccines

Thu, 16 May 2013 21:54:54 EDT

The United States government public health agency, the CDC, pledges "To base all public health decisions on the highest quality scientific data, openly and objectively derived." But experts argue that in the case of influenza vaccinations and their marketing, this is not so.

Global health policy fails to address burden of disease on men

Thu, 16 May 2013 21:54:54 EDT

Men experience a higher burden of disease and lower life expectancy than women, but policies focusing on the health needs of men are notably absent from the strategies of global health organizations, according to experts.

Body mass index of low income African-Americans linked to proximity of fast food restaurants

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:17:17 EDT

African-American adults living closer to a fast food restaurant had a higher body mass index than those who lived further away from fast food, according to researchers, and this association was particularly strong among those with a lower income.

Massachusetts' health care reform didn't raise hospital use, costs

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:16:16 EDT

Health care reform in Massachusetts didn't result in substantially more hospitalizations, longer stays or higher costs. There were no significant differences in post-reform hospital use in Massachusetts versus to three other states without reform. There was also no significant increase in use of safety-net hospitals in Massachusetts.

Researchers shocked by new statistics on head injuries among people who are homeless

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:26:26 EDT

Men who are heavy drinkers and homeless for long periods of time have 400 times the number of head injuries as the general population, according to a new study by researchers who said they were shocked by their findings.

Returning genetic incidental findings without patient consent violates basic rights, experts say

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:25:25 EDT

Scientists push back against recent American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics recommendations, and offer compelling reasons why patient autonomy must remain firmly in place as science advances.

Work-related stress linked to increased blood fat levels, cardiovascular health risks

Thu, 16 May 2013 06:38:38 EDT

New results link job stress to dyslipidemia, a disorder that alters the levels of lipids and lipoproteins in the blood. An altered lipid profile is dangerous for the heart.

Despite new recommendations, women in 40s continue to get routine mammograms at same rate

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:49:49 EDT

Women in their 40s continue to undergo routine breast cancer screenings despite national guidelines recommending otherwise, according to new research.

Infection and sepsis-related mortality hotspots identified across the U.S.

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:37:37 EDT

In the past, researchers have sought to determine the geographic distribution of many life-threatening conditions, including stroke and cardiac arrest. Now, researchers have created the first U.S. map that pinpoints hotspots for infection and severe sepsis related-deaths -- with notable clusters located in the Midwest, mid-Atlantic, and the South. The research is a critical first step in helping to determine which areas of the country require vital public health resources to fight these deadly diseases.

Stronger partnerships to improve healthcare

Tue, 14 May 2013 21:31:31 EDT

Today the British Medical Journal calls for doctors and patients to join together as partners to improve healthcare.

'Owning' a darker skin can positively impact racial bias, study finds

Tue, 14 May 2013 21:30:30 EDT

Scientists in the UK have found that when white Caucasians are under the illusion that they have a dark skin, their racial bias changes in a positive way.

Nearly 50 percent increase in ICU admissions in U.S., new study says

Tue, 14 May 2013 21:29:29 EDT

A new study offers an in-depth look at hospitals nationwide in the United States and admissions to intensive care units (ICU). The study finds a sharp increase—nearly 50 percent—in ICU admissions coming from U.S. emergency departments.

New study explores providers' perceptions of parental concerns about HPV vaccination

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:54:54 EDT

A new study has found that low-income and minority parents may be more receptive to vaccinating their daughters against Human Papillomavirus, while white, middle-class parents are more likely to defer the vaccination.

Studies support population-based efforts to lower excessive dietary sodium intakes

Tue, 14 May 2013 12:27:27 EDT

Recent studies that examine links between sodium consumption and health outcomes support recommendations to lower sodium intake from the very high levels some Americans consume now, but evidence from these studies does not support reduction in sodium intake to below 2,300 mg per day, says a new report.

Non-smoking hotel rooms still expose occupants to tobacco smoke

Mon, 13 May 2013 20:24:24 EDT

Non-smoking rooms in hotels operating a partial smoking ban don't protect their occupants from tobacco smoke, reveals new research.

Higher child marriage rates associated with higher maternal and infant mortality

Mon, 13 May 2013 17:40:40 EDT

Countries in which girls are commonly married before the age of 18 have significantly higher rates of maternal and infant mortality, report researchers.

Salt levels in food still dangerously high

Mon, 13 May 2013 17:40:40 EDT

The dangerously high salt levels in processed food and fast food remain unchanged, despite numerous calls from health agencies for the food industry to voluntarily reduce sodium. Excess sodium in the diet is a major cause of high blood pressure and prematurely kills up to 150,000 people in the US each year. The government must regulate sodium, the study says.

North Carolina coal plant emissions might play role in state suicide numbers

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:24:24 EDT

New research finds that suicide, while strongly associated with psychiatric conditions, also correlates with environmental pollution. Researchers looked specifically at the relationship between air pollution and emissions from coal-fired electricity plants in North Carolina.

Routine screening for depression not recommended for adults with no apparent symptoms of depression

Mon, 13 May 2013 12:33:33 EDT

For adults with no apparent symptoms of depression, routine screening is not recommended in primary care settings because of the lack of high-quality evidence on the benefits and harms of screening for depression, according to new evidence-based guidelines.

Poultry drug increases levels of toxic arsenic in chicken meat

Mon, 13 May 2013 09:50:50 EDT

Chickens likely raised with arsenic-based drugs result in chicken meat that has higher levels of inorganic arsenic, a known carcinogen, according to a new study.

Agent orange exposure linked to life-threatening prostate cancer

Mon, 13 May 2013 08:30:30 EDT

A new analysis has found a link between exposure to Agent Orange and lethal forms of prostate cancer among US Veterans. The findings suggest that Agent Orange exposure history should be incorporated into prostate screening decisions for Veterans.

Brain diseases affecting more people and starting earlier than ever before

Fri, 10 May 2013 07:55:55 EDT

Scientists have found that the sharp rise of dementia and other neurological deaths in people under 74 cannot be put down to the fact that we are living longer. The rise is because a higher proportion of old people are being affected by such conditions -- and what is really alarming, it is starting earlier and affecting people under 55 years.

Super-sized citizens: The relationship between a country's fast-food outlets and its obesity rates

Fri, 10 May 2013 07:54:54 EDT

Many studies have linked the meals served at fast-food outlets to obesity, but is there a relationship between the number of restaurants in a country and the girth of its population?

How state and local governments can address the obesity epidemic

Thu, 09 May 2013 14:21:21 EDT

Researchers suggest that simple and innovative measures at the state and local level can play a significant role in promoting healthier eating habits.

Positive social support at work shown to reduce risk of diabetes

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:36:36 EDT

Low levels of social support and high levels of stress in the workplace accurately predict the development of diabetes over the long term -- even in employees who appear to be healthy otherwise.

Patients should have right to control genomic health information, experts say

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:34:34 EDT

Doctors should not have the right or responsibility to force-feed their patients with genomic information about their future health risks, according to bioethicists. They write in response to controversial recommendations from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics on the reporting of incidental findings in clinical genome sequencing.

Local health departments find Twitter effective in spreading diabetes information

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:33:33 EDT

The web-based social media site Twitter is proving to be an effective tool for local health departments in disseminating health information — especially in promoting specific health behaviors.

Credit card debt leads some to skip medical care

Wed, 08 May 2013 21:31:31 EDT

People with outstanding credit card or medical debt were more likely to delay or avoid medical or dental care, finds a new study.

5,000 steps a day to avoid paying higher health insurance costs? When money talks, people walk

Wed, 08 May 2013 09:24:24 EDT

Faced with a choice between higher insurance prices or exercising, people who were obese enrolled in and stuck with Internet-tracked walking program for a year.

All hospitals should require drug, alcohol tests for physicians, experts say

Tue, 07 May 2013 12:48:48 EDT

To improve patient safety, hospitals should randomly test physicians for drug and alcohol use in much the same way other major industries in the United States do to protect their customers.

Millions pass up free health subsidy

Mon, 06 May 2013 18:17:17 EDT

Low-income Medicare beneficiaries with poorer cognitive abilities are less likely to enroll in the Low Income Subsidy program, which provides nearly free prescription drug coverage for low-income adults. The findings suggest that even when presented with a single dominant option in the form of free additional drug coverage, many seniors fail to act in their own economic interests.

Saving money on medical costs: Slowdown in health care spending growth could save Americans $770 billion

Mon, 06 May 2013 18:16:16 EDT

A slowdown in the growth of US health care costs could mean that Americans could save as much as $770 billion on Medicare spending over the next decade, economists say. The slowdown, researchers say, is the result of a decline in the development of new drugs and technologies and increased efficiency in the health care system. If those trends continue, government estimates of health care spending could be off by hundreds of billions.

Nearly 20 percent of suicidal youths have guns in their home

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:54:54 EDT

Nearly one in five children and teens found to be at risk for suicide report that there are guns in their homes, and 15 percent of those at risk for suicide with guns in the home know how to access both the guns and the bullets, according to a new study.

Research supports laws that require bicyclists to wear helmets

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:54:54 EDT

Bicycle helmets save lives and their use should be required by law. That's the conclusion of a new study.

Hospital surgical volume should be considered when judging value of procedures

Sun, 05 May 2013 14:58:58 EDT

The volume of cases performed at an institution each year has a direct effect on the outcome of surgical procedures, and should always be considered when looking at the benefits of a technique, according to a team of researchers.

Cyberbullying rampant among high school students: Nearly one-third of youths also report playing video/computer games for more than 3 hours a day

Sun, 05 May 2013 07:37:37 EDT

Step into a class of 30 high school students and look around. Five of them have been victims of electronic bullying in the past year. What's more, 10 of those students spend three or more hours on an average school day playing video games or using a computer for something other than school work, according to a new study.

Poverty threatens health of US children

Sat, 04 May 2013 16:32:32 EDT

Pediatricians, economists, social scientists and policy experts came together to address one of the greatest threats to child health -- poverty.

Toxic waste sites cause 'healthy years of life lost' for people living in India, Philippines and Indonesia

Sat, 04 May 2013 16:31:31 EDT

Toxic waste sites with elevated levels of lead and chromium cause a high number of “healthy years of life lost” in individuals living near 373 sites located in India, Philippines and Indonesia, according to a new study.

Researchers outline concerns about unproven stem cell therapies

Fri, 03 May 2013 11:46:46 EDT

An international group of leading stem cell researchers has issued a statement that specifies concerns about the development and use of unproven stem cell therapies. The commentary is published ahead of a debate in the Italian parliament on whether to change a recent law that allows certain untested stem cell therapies to be used by the public health system. The authors of the commentary argue that rigorous clinical testing and regulation of stem cell therapies are essential to introduce safe and effective medical interventions for patients.

Focus on STD, not cancer prevention, to promote HPV vaccine use

Thu, 02 May 2013 12:04:04 EDT

The HPV vaccine can prevent both cervical cancer and a nasty sexually transmitted disease in women. But emphasizing the STD prevention will persuade more young women to get the vaccine.

Protecting hospitals from 'new' terrorist threats

Thu, 02 May 2013 10:45:45 EDT

Health care facilities play a vital role in the UK’s terrorism contingency plans, but a new study provides a timely warning to managers, regulatory bodies and government that crucial services such as hospitals are also potential targets for malevolent actions.

'Slippery slope' fears for legal euthanasia of very sick newborns unfounded, experts say

Wed, 01 May 2013 19:32:32 EDT

Fears that legalizing euthanasia for very sick newborns would prompt the start of a "slippery slope" and lead to abuse of the option have proved groundless, say experts.

Expanding Medicaid: Mental and financial health improve, but no improvement shown in physical health

Wed, 01 May 2013 19:31:31 EDT

New findings from the Oregon Health Insurance Experiment show that Medicaid coverage had no detectable effect on the prevalence of diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure, but substantially reduced depression, nearly eliminated catastrophic out-of-pocket expenditures, and increased the diagnosis of diabetes and the use of diabetes medication among low-income adults.

Amusement rides in U.S. injure 4,400 kids a year: Injuries higher on 'fixed' rides

Wed, 01 May 2013 09:18:18 EDT

On average, a child is treated in an emergency department every other hour in the US for injuries on amusement rides, according to the first national study to examine those types of accidents in depth. Researchers investigated amusement ride injuries from 1990 to 2010 and found nearly 93,000 children were injured on rides including roller coasters, merry-go-rounds and coin-operated rides. The study finds consistent safety standards are needed.

‘Catastrophic’ malpractice payouts add little to health care’s rising costs

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:20:20 EDT

Efforts to lower health care costs in the United States have focused at times on demands to reform the medical malpractice system, with some researchers asserting that large, headline-grabbing and “frivolous” payouts are among the heaviest drains on health care resources. But a new review of malpractice claims suggests such assertions are wrong.

Targeted screening for C. difficile upon hospital admission could potentially identify most colonized patients

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:13:13 EDT

Testing patients with just three risk factors upon hospital admission has potential to identify nearly three out of four asymptomatic carriers of C. difficile, according to a new study.

Shedding light on the long shadow of childhood adversity

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:57:57 EDT

Childhood adversity can lead to chronic physical and mental disability in adult life and have an effect on the next generation, underscoring the importance of research, practice and policy in addressing this issue, according to a new article.

Targeting prescribers can reduce excessive use of antibiotics in hospitals

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 21:09:09 EDT

Giving prescribers access to education and advice or imposing restrictions on use can curb overuse or inappropriate use of antibiotics in hospitals, according to a new Cochrane systematic review. This is important because unnecessary use of these life-saving drugs is a key source of antibiotic resistance in bacteria.

Smoking prevention in schools: Does it work?

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 21:09:09 EDT

Smoking prevention in schools reduces the number of young people who will later become smokers, according to a new systematic review. For young people who have never smoked, these programs appear to be effective at least one year after implementation.

Cancer studies often lack necessary rigor to answer key questions

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:48:48 EDT

Fueled in part by an inclination to speed new treatments to patients, research studies for cancer therapies tend to be smaller and less robust than for other diseases.

Analysis: U.S. emergency care cost estimates are too low

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:05:05 EDT

US emergency care costs may be more than twice previously published estimates, according to a new analysis that critiques those estimates, argues for improved accounting, and suggests considering the value of emergency care as well as total spending.

U.S. health insurance survey: 84 million people were uninsured for a time or underinsured in 2012

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 07:38:38 EDT

84 million people -- nearly half of working-age US adults -- went without health insurance for a time last year or had out-of-pocket costs that were so high relative to income they were considered underinsured.

Cost-effectiveness of helicopter transport of trauma victims examined

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:45:45 EDT

Researchers have for the first time determined how often emergency medical helicopters need to help save the lives of seriously injured people to be considered cost-effective compared with ground ambulances.

Facebook interests could help predict, track and map obesity

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:52:52 EDT

The higher the percentage of people in a city, town or neighborhood with Facebook interests suggesting a healthy, active lifestyle, the lower that area's obesity rate. At the same time, areas with a large percentage of Facebook users with television-related interests tend to have higher rates of obesity. Such are the conclusions of a study comparing geotagged Facebook user data with data from national and New York City-focused health surveys.

ERs have become de facto psych wards

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:58:58 EDT

Long waits for insurance authorization allowing psychiatric patients to be admitted to the hospital from the emergency department waste thousands of hours of physician time, given that most requests for authorization are ultimately granted. A new study argues that pre-authorization process is akin to health care "rationing by hassle factor."

Targeted screening for hepatitis C is cost-effective

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:23:23 EDT

Researchers have found that targeted screening for populations with a higher estimated prevalence for hepatitis C may be cost-effective.

Costs to treat heart failure expected to more than double by 2030

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:22:22 EDT

By 2030, you — and every U.S. taxpayer — could be paying $244 a year to care for heart failure patients, according to a new policy statement.

Study reveals alcohol industry tactics to influence alcohol policy reform in Scotland

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:27:27 EDT

The alcohol industry misrepresented international evidence on effective alcohol control measures in an attempt to influence the Scottish Government's public health policy to its advantage, according to new research.

Children routinely injured or killed by guns, U.S. study shows; Access to loaded, unlocked firearms remains a problem

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:19:19 EDT

While gun control issues usually surface after major incidents like the fatal shooting of 20 elementary school students in Newtown, Connecticut, a new U.S. study shows that children are routinely killed or injured by firearms.