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Category Archives: Health Care

Our World in Data

“Poverty, disease, hunger, climate change, war, existential risks, and inequality: The world faces many great and terrifying problems. It is these large problems that our work at Our World in Data focuses on. Thanks to the work of thousands of researchers around the world who dedicate their lives to it, we often have a good understanding of how it is possible to make progress against the large problems we are facing. The world has the resources to do much better and reduce the suffering in the world. We believe that a key reason why we fail to achieve the progress we are capable of is that we do not make enough use of this existing research and data: the important knowledge is often stored in inaccessible databases, locked away behind paywalls and buried under jargon in academic papers.  The goal of our work is to make the knowledge on the big problems accessible and understandable. As we say on our homepage, Our World in Data’s mission is to publish the “research and data to make progress against the world’s largest problems”.

 

Public Trust in Scientists and Views on Their Role in Policymaking

“A majority of Americans say they have confidence in scientists to act in the public’s best interests. Confidence ratings have moved slightly higher in the last year, marking a shift away from the decline in trust seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. A new Pew Research Center survey of 9,593 U.S. adults conducted Oct. 21-27, 2024,… Continue Reading

Genetic Discrimination Is Coming for Us All

The Atlantic: [unpaywalled] “Insurers are refusing to cover Americans whose DNA reveals health risks. It’s perfectly legal…Studies have shown that people seek out additional insurance when they have increased genetic odds of becoming ill or dying. “Life insurers carefully evaluate each applicant’s health, determining premiums and coverage based on life expectancy,” Jan Graeber, a senior… Continue Reading

GAO Congressional and Presidential Transition Resources

[On November 5, 2024] Americans voted for members of the 119th Congress and a new president. Representatives and senators will be sworn in on Friday, January 3. As they take office, our nation faces many significant challenges—including those that threaten national security, financial stability, public health, and more. Our work here at GAO highlights some… Continue Reading

RFK Jr. Healthcare Claims Depository

NewsGuard’s Reality Check – RFK Jr. Healthcare Claims Depository – Explore the provably false health-related claims promoted by Kennedy and his anti-vaccine nonprofit Children’s Health Defense Overview – This depository documents the provably false health-related claims promoted by Kennedy and his Children’s Health Defense anti-vaccine nonprofit. Provably False Claims – NewsGuard has identified 90 false… Continue Reading

A Soft Murmur

Ambient sounds to wash away distraction by Gabiel Brady. I created A Soft Murmur for myself. I like to work in public spaces like libraries and coffee shops, but they can be noisy and distracting. Listening to ambient helps me focus, and I like being able to mix different sounds together to match the environment… Continue Reading

e-Patients White Paper

“The whitepaper, e-Patients: How they can help us heal health care, authored by the late Tom Ferguson, MD, is the foundation for the founding of the Society for Participatory Medicine (SPM). After his 15 year battle with multiple myeloma ended in 2006, the group of advisors Doc Tom had assembled decided to ensure that his… Continue Reading

Freedom to Read Advocates Notch a Legal Victory in Alaska

Publisher’s Weekly: “After a favorable legal ruling in August, freedom to read advocates in Alaska have scored a significant victory in court over would-be book banners. In an October 31 filing, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District in Alaska agreed to pay $89,000 to settle claims that the district improperly removed dozens of books, including several… Continue Reading

Managing Election Stress

Your Local Epidemiologist Managing Election Stress 5 Therapists Share How They Plan to Manage Election Day Stress Managing Stress Related to Political Change 8 Ways to Cope with Election Anxiety Navigating Conversations Managing Conversations When You Disagree Politically Are political disagreements stressing you out?  Here are tips to bridge the divide. Self-Care Strategies Take Good… Continue Reading

In Praise of Hearing Aids

Slate – unpaywalled: Millions of Americans who could benefit from them don’t use them. Why not? – “One morning this past March, I stirred from slumber convinced that someone had snuck in overnight and packed my ear with Jell-O. Still drowsy, I registered that the fullness seemed to extend horizontally toward the window, some six… Continue Reading