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Posts Tagged ‘RESEARCH’

Student loans and repayment rates: the role of for-profit colleges

This paper examines the institutional determinants of federal loan status for a recent cohort of college students. We first set out how institutions influence loan accumulations and repayment rates, with particular focus on for-profit colleges. We then test a set of hypotheses about loan status and repayment using national data on loans, defaults, and repayments merged with college-level data. For all measures of loan status there are significant raw gaps between for-profit colleges and public and not-for-profit colleges. After controlling for student characteristics, measures of college quality, and college practices, large gaps in loan balance per student remain: students in for-profit colleges, especially the 2-year colleges, borrow approximately four times as much as they would have at a 2-year public college. For a student attending the ‘average’ college, their repayment rate is predicted to be 5 [9] percentage points lower if that college is for-profit compared to public [non-profit]. Repayment rates are also lower for colleges with higher proportions of minority students and with lower graduation rates; contrary to some claims, single-program institutions appear to have higher repayment rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

October 28, 2012 Tags: FEDERAL aid to higher education, FINANCE, FOR-profit universities & colleges, GRADUATION rate, MINORITY college students, PUBLIC universities & colleges, RESEARCH, STUDENT loans
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Methodological challenges of measuring primary care delivery to pediatric medicaid beneficiaries who use community health centers

Efforts to measure quality of care have focused on ambulatory care providers. We examined the performance of community health centers serving children on Medicaid in 3 states. Descriptive analysis showed considerable patient population heterogeneity, and regression analysis demonstrated that variation explained by the assigned provider was small (mean R2 = 4.3%) compared with the variation explained by patient demographic variables (mean R2 = 29.9%). The results reinforce the need for caution when one is attributing quality differences to provider performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

October 25, 2012 Tags: ANALYSIS of variance, COMMUNITY health services -- Evaluation, COST analysis, DESCRIPTIVE statistics, HEALTH services administration, LOGISTIC regression analysis, MEDICAID, MEDICAL care -- Quality control, MEDICAL care -- Utilization, MEDICAL care costs, PEDIATRICS, PRIMARY health care, REGRESSION analysis, RESEARCH, RESEARCH -- Finance, STATISTICAL models
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Employer-sponsored health insurance coverage limitations: results from the childhood cancer survivor study

Purpose: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) will expand health insurance options for cancer survivors in the USA. It is unclear how this legislation will affect their access to employer-sponsored health insurance (ESI). We describe the health insurance experiences for survivors of childhood cancer with and without ESI. Methods: We conducted a series of qualitative interviews with 32 adult survivors from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study to assess their employment-related concerns and decisions regarding health insurance coverage. Interviews were performed from August to December 2009 and were recorded, transcribed, and content analyzed using NVivo 8. Results: Uninsured survivors described ongoing employment limitations, such as being employed at part-time capacity, which affected their access to ESI coverage. These survivors acknowledged they could not afford insurance without employer support. Survivors on ESI had previously been denied health insurance due to their preexisting health conditions until they obtained coverage through an employer. Survivors feared losing their ESI coverage, which created a disincentive to making career transitions. Others reported worries about insurance rescission if their cancer history was discovered. Survivors on ESI reported financial barriers in their ability to pay for health care. Conclusions: Childhood cancer survivors face barriers to obtaining ESI. While ACA provisions may mitigate insurance barriers for cancer survivors, many will still face cost barriers to affording health care without employer support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

October 24, 2012 Tags: CANCER in children, CHILDREN -- Health, EMPLOYER-sponsored health insurance, INSURANCE reform, RESEARCH
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Flypaper

Several notable items reported in the news media as of February 2013 are presented. A study looked at the safest and the most dangerous songs to listen to while driving. A secret Cold War-era U.S. plan to set off a nuclear explosion on the moon was disclosed. In 2012 U.S. airport security guards found over 1500 guns and numerous other weapons carried by passengers.

October 21, 2012 Tags: 1945-1989, AIRPORTS -- Security measures, AUTOMOBILE driving, COLD War, FIREARMS, RESEARCH, TRAFFIC safety
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Evaluation of anti-emetic use in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in a third-world country (lebanon)

Rationale In Lebanon, the appropriateness of anti-emetic use is questionable in large measure because of the absence of published multicentre trials. Aim and objectives To evaluate the extent of appropriateness of anti-emetic use in patients on chemotherapy among several Lebanese hospitals. Appropriateness of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) prophylaxis was determined as per National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. Methods A multicentre, cross-sectional study was conducted over a 3-month period. Data were collected from medical charts of cancer patients. The main outcome measure was to evaluate the appropriateness of prophylactic use of anti-emetics in CINV in terms of selected drug regimen, dosage and route of administration, and to investigate the role of several pre-specified variables (including hospital type and size, type of insurance coverage and patient-related factors) in influencing the appropriateness of anti-emetic practice. Results A total of 493 patients’ forms were analysed. The median age was 58.8 ± 13.9 years, 290 (58.8%) patients were female. Around 211 (42.8%) patients received inappropriate anti-emetic regimen, and only 17 (6%) patients of those receiving appropriate regimen received the appropriate dose, and just 55 (19.5%) patients were treated for the appropriate duration. Factors that may affect the relative effectiveness of treatment were identified. Conclusion This study reflected substantial flaws in CINV prophylaxis practice in Lebanon which should alert health care professionals of the adverse consequences resulting from non-adherence to guidelines. Our study also highlighted areas for improvement and suggested recommendations in order to minimize patient risk and optimize safe and effective CINV management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

October 16, 2012 Tags: ANTIEMETICS, ANTINEOPLASTIC agents, CANCER -- Patients, CONFIDENCE intervals, CROSS-sectional method, DATA analysis, DATA analysis -- Software, DESCRIPTIVE statisticsTHERAPEUTIC use, EPIDEMIOLOGY, EVALUATION, LOGISTIC regression analysis, MEDICAL cooperation, MEDICAL protocols, OUTCOME assessment (Medical care), RESEARCH, TREATMENT effectiveness
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Analysis of the health status of the homeless clients utilizing a free clinic

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the health status of the homeless population who utilize a free clinic. The study specifically aims to compare the prevalence of asthma, diabetes, tuberculosis, mental health disorders, sexually transmitted diseases, sinus problems, and hepatitis among the homeless population. Investigators collected data from paper medical records during patient visits from 2004 to 2009. Diagnosed health conditions among the homeless population were compared to the general clinic users using logistic regression. There were several similarities between the general clinic and homeless population, however, the homeless population had statistically significant ( p < 0.05) outcomes for diagnosed cases of tuberculosis, hepatitis, anxiety, and bipolar disorders. Prevalence of diabetes, sinus problems, asthma, diabetes, and depression were similar among both populations. The odds ratios among hepatitis, tuberculosis, STDs, bipolar disorder and anxiety disorder indicated the homeless had a significantly greater risk of developing hepatitis, tuberculosis, and bipolar disorder. This study adds to the literature by illustrating the characteristics of the homeless population who utilize the free health clinic and their medical conditions. Previous studies have shown the free clinic clients have a lower level of health than the general population. This study finds that the homeless clients of a free clinic have an even worse level of health than the general clinic clients. This research can contribute to the improvement of the healthcare delivery system in providing access to needed health care services for the homeless population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

October 14, 2012 Tags: ANXIETY, CHI-squared test, DATA analysis, DATA analysis -- Software, DESCRIPTIVE statistics, DIABETES, EPIDEMIOLOGY, HEALTH status indicators, HEPATITIS, HOMELESS persons, LOGISTIC regression analysis, MANIC-depressive illness, MEDICAL care -- Utilization, MEDICAL records, MEDICALLY uninsured persons, PROBABILITY theory, RESEARCH, RETROSPECTIVE studies, SELF-evaluation, SEXUALLY transmitted diseases -- Epidemiology, STATISTICS, TUBERCULOSIS -- Epidemiology
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Risk factor

The author offers opinions on physiological aspects of financial risk management. He cites his own research on securities traders to support the contention that competition creates increased testosterone and elevates oxygen levels in the blood, increasing self-confidence and a tolerance for risk, a sensation which eventually impairs judgment. Risk managers are advised to use sports science techniques for identifying and managing overconfidence, fatigue and anxiety among employees.

September 14, 2012 Tags: RESEARCH, RISK management in business, RISK managers, RISKPSYCHOLOGICAL aspects, STRESS (Psychology), STRESS management, TESTOSTERONE -- Physiological aspects
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Nightmare scenario

The article examines research on dreams and nightmares. A study led by teacher Anne Germain at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine seeking means of assisting U.S. veterans in having fewer nightmares and subsequent insomnia is considered. Research indicating that insomnia was linked to post-traumatic stress disorder among veterans is cited. Two treatments for nightmares being considered by Germain’s project are discussed, one the use of the drug prazosin, the other a psychological approach called imagery rehearsal therapy, in which patients envision an alternative dream to nightmares and imagine it while conscious on a daily basis. Research by physician Barry Krakow indicating that difficulty in breathing during sleep is a cause of nightmares is discussed.

September 13, 2012 Tags: DREAMS, NIGHTMARES, PATIENTS, POST-traumatic stress disorder, RESEARCH, SLEEP -- Physiological aspects, SLEEP deprivation, VETERANS
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Mucho macho metro

The author discusses how research on masculinity found that males are becoming less masculine and more feminine. Topics include research published in the July 2012 issue of periodical “Evolution and Human Behavior” about how women at the peak of their menstrual cycle are more attracted to masculine men, and information on psychological surveys like “Bem Sex Role Inventory” and “Personal Attributes Questionnaire.” Additional information is presented on stereotypical masculinity, and how how technology and intellectual enlightenment reduce overtly masculine traits.

September 13, 2012 Tags: FEMININITY, GENDER differences (Psychology), HUMAN sexuality -- Psychological aspects, MACHISMO, MASCULINITY, MEN -- Psychology, PSYCHOLOGICAL tests, RESEARCH
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Eat this?

The article focuses on food industry firms and biomedical engineers involved with creating food products whose packaging is also edible, including the companies MonoSol and LoliWare and engineer David Edwards.

September 9, 2012 Tags: EDIBLE coatings, FOOD -- Packaging, FOOD industry, RESEARCH
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