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Young male cyclists are the most likely to die after being involved in a traffic accident

A University of Granada study found that young male cyclists between 15 and 24 years old are at highest risk of death in traffic accidents. The researchers analyzed data from over 50,000 cyclists involved in accidents between 1993 and 2009, concluding that age and sex play a significant role in mortality rates among cyclists.

SourceUniversity of Granada·JournalAccident Analysis & Prevention·DateSep 11, 2015

Enthusiasm for personalized medicine is premature, prominent public health scholars argue

Two leading public health scholars, Sandro Galea and Ronald Bayer, warn that the US emphasis on precision medicine may distract from broader investments to reduce health inequities and address social factors. They cite a 2013 report by the National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine, which found that health is determined by...

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateAug 5, 2015

Education 'experts' may lack expertise, study finds

A new study suggests that education 'experts' with substantial media presence but little background in education and policy research may be more influential than those with empirical expertise. Researchers found experts associated with organizations like the American Enterprise Institute received nearly 2.5 times more citations.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalEducation Policy Analysis Archives·DateFeb 20, 2015

Can (and should) happiness be a policy goal?

A new article finds that happiness levels can reflect societal conditions, allowing policymakers to test the impact of policies on citizens' well-being. Researchers conclude that prioritizing policy-related welfare programs can lead to a more ideal society where citizens feel happy and satisfied.

SourceSAGE·JournalPolicy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences·DateNov 4, 2014

Study reveals medical students believe health policy education is improving

A multi-center study found significant improvements in medical students' perceptions of their health policy education between 2008 and 2012. The study revealed gains in three domains: systems and principles, value and equity, and quality and safety. However, the domain politics and law experienced a decline due to inadequate training.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalAcademic Medicine·DateJul 23, 2014

Call for circumcision gets a boost

New study finds infant circumcision reduces risk of adverse medical conditions by over 100 to 1, with benefits including protection against urinary tract infections and foreskin-related diseases. The procedure is also shown to be cost-saving and promote access for poor families.

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalMayo Clinic Proceedings·DateApr 2, 2014

Quality improvement initiative leads to reduction in unnecessary follow-up imaging

A quality improvement initiative at an American College of Radiology institution led to a significant reduction in unnecessary follow-up imaging for adnexal cystic lesions. The initiative improved sonographic characterization and imaging triage, increasing confidence in characterizing certain lesions as physiologic or benign.

SourceAmerican College of Radiology·JournalJournal of the American College of Radiology·DateApr 1, 2014

Researchers find substantial drop in use of affirmative action in college admissions

Researchers found a substantial drop in the use of affirmative action in college admissions from 1992 to 2004. Selective public colleges in states affected by statewide bans or judicial rulings significantly reduced their affirmative action policies, whereas others continued to prioritize minority applicants.

SourceAmerican Educational Research Association·JournalEducational Evaluation and Policy Analysis·DateJan 13, 2014

Majority of Americans avoid addressing end-of-life issues, according to new study

A new study found that only 26.3% of adults have completed an advance directive, with women, whites, and those with higher education or income being more likely to have one. The study highlights racial and educational disparities in advance directive completion, emphasizing the need for education on facilitating end-of-life decisions.

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateDec 10, 2013

Do academic rankings create inequality?

A study by Michigan State University scholars questions whether global rankings fuel competition at the expense of financial stability and accessibility in higher education. The researchers found that universities receiving more federal research money tend to score higher in Shanghai rankings.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalMinerva·DateAug 14, 2013

Study finds disagreement on the role of primary care nurse practitioners

A survey of nearly 1,000 primary care clinicians reveals significant disagreements between physicians and nurse practitioners on the scope of nurse practitioner responsibilities, including leadership roles, reimbursement levels, and service provision. The study highlights the need for further analysis of the economic implications and c...

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMay 15, 2013

How school report cards can backfire

New research from Michigan State University finds that publicizing performance data for K-12 schools can lead to decreased parent satisfaction and erosion of trust in the schools. The study suggests that clear and easy-to-understand grading systems are crucial, rather than constantly changing them for policy or political purposes.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalEducational Policy·DateMar 25, 2013

Education doesn't increase support for affirmative action among whites, minorities

A study by Geoffrey T. Wodtke finds that education does not increase support for affirmative action among whites and minorities, contradicting the common view that education is uniformly liberalizing. However, it does increase support for race-targeted job training. Education also has no effect on negative stereotyping among Asians.

SourceAmerican Sociological Association·JournalSocial Psychology Quarterly·DateFeb 22, 2012

Improving health will take a village

Two papers examine the history of Healthy People Objectives and the new integration of social determinants in Healthy People 2020. The authors conclude that addressing root causes requires collective effort and expanded partnerships to make true impacts on public health. Health experts call for systems thinking and a new metric of heal...

SourceSAGE·JournalHealth Education & Behavior·DateDec 7, 2011