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Residents of Ontario retirement home residences have higher rates of hospital care than residents of long-term care homes

Residents of Ontario retirement homes have high rates of hospital-based care compared to long-term care facilities and community-dwelling individuals. They have double the rate of emergency department visits and hospital admissions as LTC residents, but lower rates of primary care visits.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·TypeObservational study·DateMay 30, 2022

Mental health of college students is getting worse

A recent study found a consistent decline in the mental health of college students across the US over eight years, with significant increases in depression and anxiety among racial and ethnic minority students. The study also revealed a gap between symptom onset and treatment access, particularly for students of color.

SourceBoston University·JournalJournal of Affective Disorders·DateApr 27, 2022

The Lancet Public Health: Substantial increase in life-saving opioid overdose intervention urgently needed in almost every US state

The study found significant gaps in naloxone access and distribution across the US, with state-specific needs varying by epidemic type and distribution pathways. Community-based and pharmacy-initiated access points were more effective in reducing fatal opioid overdoses.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Public Health·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 10, 2022

Spanish-language vaccine resources harder to access, while Hispanic vaccination rates remain below overall average, study finds

A study found that many big box retailers lack Spanish language COVID-19 vaccine resources, hindering access for Hispanic populations. The researchers recommend increasing the visibility of these resources and incorporating non-English materials into public health strategies.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Medical Center·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateFeb 4, 2022

Analysis: Risk aversion plays an important role in the coal-contracting behavior of US power plants

A new analysis by Carnegie Mellon University researcher Akshaya Jha finds that risk aversion drives the purchasing of coal primarily from long-term contracts, resulting in premium prices. The study estimates that if power plants purchased all their coal from the spot market, annual aggregate cost savings would be $2.9 billion on average.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalJournal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists·DateJan 17, 2022

ECMO life support offers sickest COVID-19 patients a chance to survive, but a slimmer one than once thought

A new study found that the survival rate of COVID-19 patients on ECMO has decreased over time, with those treated later in the pandemic having lower chances of survival. Careful patient selection and resource management are essential for hospitals offering ECMO to maximize survival rates.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalThe Lancet·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 29, 2021

Study on fiscal policy advocates for making hay while the sun shines

A study published in Economic Inquiry examined data from 133 countries from 1950-2014, finding that reduced fiscal space in high-income countries after the 2007-2009 global financial crisis led to procyclical policy actions. This resulted in prolonged economic downturns and aggravated business cycle fluctuations.

SourceWiley·JournalEconomic Inquiry·DateJun 23, 2021

A community-level intervention reduces alcohol-related crashes

A community-level alcohol intervention in California resulted in a significant reduction of alcohol-involved crashes among drivers aged 15-30. The study found that the intervention, which included sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols, translated into approximately 310 fewer crashes across the intervention cities.

SourcePacific Institute for Research and Evaluation·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateDec 20, 2020

Shark fishing bans partially effective

A blanket ban on landing thresher sharks has stopped targeted fishing, but persistent 'bycatch' continues to be a problem. The study found that bycatch is widely unrecorded due to mistrust and confusion among fishers, making it hard for authorities to enforce the ban.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalMarine Policy·DateDec 17, 2020

Sights set on curbing gun crime

A Flinders University study found that guns and drugs are linked to serious crime and that reducing access and value in popular culture can decrease their appeal. Experts say broad social changes are needed to make guns less attractive for criminals.

How a police contact by middle school leads to different outcomes for Black, white youth

A new University of Washington study examines the effects of early police contacts on Black and white adolescents, finding that Black youth are more likely to be treated as 'usual suspects' after a first encounter, leading to subsequent arrests. White youth with early police contact are not significantly more likely to be arrested later.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalSocial Problems·DateDec 3, 2020

COVID-19 could spell the end of an egalitarian National Health Service

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns about the allocation of healthcare resources in the UK. Dr Sabrina Germain argues that the liberal egalitarian conception of distributive justice is being replaced by a utilitarian approach prioritizing patients' needs. The NHS will need to address delays in treatment and reassess public health...

SourceCity St George’s, University of London·JournalEuropean Journal of Risk Regulation·DateApr 27, 2020

Veteran-directed care program is effective

A new study published in Health Affairs finds that a veteran-directed care program with flexible budgets for at-home caregivers is as effective as other purchased-care services. The program allows veterans to hire personal care workers or family members as paid caregivers, enabling them to live at home. Researchers found similar hospit...

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalHealth Affairs·DateJun 11, 2019

Novel study creates new metric to illustrate disadvantaged areas nationwide

A novel study creates a new metric to illustrate disadvantaged areas nationwide, highlighting the regions with the highest disparity between opioid-related deaths and access to treatment providers. The study found that nearly 32% of US counties lack any treatment programs, while over 19% have a low number of treatment programs per death.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at Houston·JournalJournal of Addiction Medicine·DateApr 9, 2019