UnitedHealth Group To Provide Immediate Resources For Those Affected By The Southern California Wildfires
Due to the recent event of ongoing wildfires in Southern California, UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) and its family of companies, including UnitedHealthcare, Ovations, OptumHealth and Prescription Solutions, are taking the following immediate actions to help those affected by the fires. Effective Nov. 16, 2008, through Nov.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/130066.php
Togo Begins Distributing No-Cost Antiretrovirals, Government Says
The government of Togo on Monday announced that it has begun distributing no-cost antiretroviral drugs through the network of the Central Supply of Essential and Generic Medicines, Reuters reports.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/129968.php
United Nations World Food Programme Operational Update - Eastern Congo
The United Nations World Food Programme is stepping up food distributions in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo with plans to reach nearly 100,000 displaced people around the city of Goma and in territory further north, which is controlled by rebel leader Laurent Nkunda. WFP, on Tuesday, started distributions of a 20-day ration to over 56,000 people in the three camps of Mugunga 1, Mugunga 2 and Bulengo, which are situated around Goma.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/130011.php
Development of Alive! (A Lifestyle Intervention Via Email), and Its Effect on Health-related Quality of Life, Presenteeism, and Other Behavioral Outcomes: Randomized Controlled Trial
Background: Cost-effective interventions to improve diet and physical activity are a public health priority. Alive! is an email-based intervention to increase physical activity, reduce saturated and trans fats and added sugars, and increase fruit and vegetable consumption. It was shown to improve these behaviors in a large randomized controlled trial. Objective: (1) To describe the components and behavioral principles underlying Alive!, and (2) to report effects of the intervention on the secondary outcomes: health-related quality of life, presenteeism, self-efficacy, and stage of change. Methods: The Alive! behavior change model is designed to elicit healthy behaviors and promote their maintenance. Behavioral strategies include assessments followed by individualized feedback, weekly goal-setting, individually tailored goals and tips, reminders, and promotion of social support. Alive! was tested among non-medical employees of Kaiser Permanente of Northern California, who were randomized to either the intervention group or the wait-list control group. After randomization, intervention group participants chose one topic to undertake for the intervention period: increasing physical activity, increasing fruits and vegetables, or decreasing saturated and trans fats and added sugars. Pre-post questionnaires assessed changes in SF-8 health-related quality of life, presenteeism, self-efficacy, and stage of change. Mixed effects multiple linear regression and ordinal logistic regression models were used, with department as a random effect factor. Analyses were by intention to treat: the 30% (238/787) who did not respond to the follow-up questionnaires were assigned change scores of zero. Results: Participants were 19 to 65 years (mean 44.0 +/- 10.6), and 74.3% (585/787) were female. Mean SF-8 Physical quality of life score increased significantly more in the intervention group than in the control group, 1.84 (95% CI 0.96-2.72) vs 0.72 (95% CI -0.15-1.58) respectively, P = .02. SF8 Mental score also improved significantly more in the intervention group than in the control group (P = .02). The odds ratio for improvement in self-assessed health status was 1.57 (95% CI 1.21-2.04, P < .001 ##AU:.0007##) for the intervention group compared to the control group. The odds ratio for having a reduction in difficulty accomplishing work tasks because of physical or emotional problems, a measure of presenteeism, was 1.47 (95% CI 1.05-2.05, P = .02) for the intervention group compared to the control group. The odds of having an improvement in self-efficacy for changing diet was 2.05 (95% CI 1.44-2.93) for the intervention vs the control group (P < .001). Greater improvement in stage of change for physical activity (P = .05), fats (P = .06), and fruits/vegetables (P = .006) was seen in the intervention group compared to the control group. Significant effects on diet and physical activity behavior change are reported elsewhere. Conclusions: Cost-effective methods that can reach large populations with science-based interventions are urgently needed. Alive! is a fully automated low-cost intervention shown to effect significant improvements in important health parameters. Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00607009; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00607009 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/5cLpCWcT6)
http://www.jmir.org/2008/4/e43
Comparing Two Web-Based Smoking Cessation Programs: Randomized Controlled Trial
Background: Smoking cessation remains a significant public health problem. Innovative interventions that use the Internet have begun to emerge that offer great promise in reaching large numbers of participants and encouraging widespread behavior change. To date, the relatively few controlled trials of Web-based smoking cessation programs have been limited by short follow-up intervals. Objective: We describe the 6-month follow-up results of a randomized controlled trial in which participants recruited online were randomly assigned to either a Web-based smoking cessation program (Quit Smoking Network; QSN) or a Web-based exercise enhancement program (Active Lives) adapted somewhat to encourage smoking cessation. Methods: The study was a two-arm randomized controlled trial that compared two Web-based smoking cessation programs: (1) the QSN intervention condition presented cognitive-behavioral strategies, and (2) the Active Lives control condition provided participants with guidance in developing a physical activity program to assist them with quitting. The QSN condition provided smoking cessation information and behavior change strategies while the Active Lives condition provided participants with physical activity recommendations and goal setting. The QSN condition was designed to be more engaging (eg, it included multimedia components) and to present much greater content than is typically found in smoking cessation programs. Results: Contrary to our hypotheses, no between-condition differences in smoking abstinence were found at 3- and 6-month follow-up assessments. While participants in the QSN intervention condition spent more time than controls visiting the online program, the median number of 1.0 visit in each condition and the substantial attrition (60.8% at the 6-month follow-up) indicate that participants were not as engaged as we had expected. Conclusions: Contrary to our hypothesis, our test of two Web-based smoking cessation conditions, an intervention and an attention placebo control, failed to show differences at 3- and 6-month assessments. We explored possible reasons for this finding, including limited engagement of participants and simplifying program content and architecture. Future research needs to address methods to improve participant engagement in online smoking cessation programs. Possible approaches in this regard can include new informed consent procedures that better explain the roles and responsibilities of being a research participant, new program designs that add more vitality (changing content from visit to visit), and new types of reminders pushed out to participants to encourage return visits. Simplifying program content through a combination of enhanced tailoring and information architecture also merits further research attention.
http://www.jmir.org/2008/5/e40
eHealth Trends in Europe 2005-2007: A Population-Based Survey
Background: In the last decade, the number of Internet users worldwide has dramatically increased. People are using the Internet for various health-related purposes. It is important to monitor such use as it may have an impact on the individual’s health and behavior, patient-practitioner roles, and on general health care provision. Objectives: This study investigates trends and patterns of European health-related Internet use over a period of 18 months. The main study objective was to estimate the change in the proportion of the population using the Internet for health purposes, and the importance of the Internet as a source of health information compared to more traditional sources. Methods: The survey data were collected through computer-assisted telephone interviews. A representative sample (N = 14,956) from seven European countries has been used: Denmark, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Norway, Poland, and Portugal. The European eHealth Consumer Trends Survey was first conducted in October-November 2005 and repeated in April-May 2007. In addition to providing background information, respondents were asked to rate the importance of various sources of health information. They were also queried as to the frequency of different online activities related to health and illness and the effects of such use on their disposition. Results: The percentage of the population that has used the Internet for health purposes increased from an estimated 42.3% (95% CI [Confidence Interval] 41.3 - 43.3) in 2005 to an estimated 52.2% (95% CI 51.3 - 53.2) in 2007. Significant growth in the use of the Internet for health purposes was found in all the seven countries. Young women are the most active Internet health users. The importance of the Internet as a source of health information has increased. In 2007, the Internet was perceived as an important source of health information by an estimated 46.8% (95% CI 45.7 - 47.9) of the population, a significant increase of 6.5 % (95% CI 4.9 - 8.1) from 2005. The importance of all the traditional health information channels has either decreased or remained the same. An estimated 22.7% (95% CI 21.7 - 23.6) are using it for more interactive services than just reading health information. Conclusion: The Internet is increasingly being used as a source of health information by the European population, and its perceived importance is rising. Use of the Internet for health purposes is growing in all age groups and for both men and women, with especially strong growth among young women. We see that experienced Internet health users are also using the Internet as an active communication channel, both for reaching health professionals and for communicating with peers.
http://www.jmir.org/2008/4/e42
Officials Say More Rwandan Children Receiving Access To HIV/AIDS Services; New Strategies To Be Discussed At Pediatric Conference
The Rwandan government is increasing efforts to provide HIV/AIDS testing and treatment to children who are living with or vulnerable to the disease in the country, Health Minister Richard Sezibera said recently, Rwanda's New Times reports.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/129966.php
Louisiana Gov. Jindal Unveils 'Louisiana Health First' Medicaid Overhaul Plan
Louisiana Gov.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/129953.php
Senate Democrats Introduce Economic Stimulus Package With Additional Federal Medicaid Funds For States
Senate Democrats on Monday introduced a $100.3 billion economic stimulus package (S 3689) that includes $37.8 billion in additional federal Medicaid funds for states and $1 billion in additional funds for NIH, CQ Today reports. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said that he hopes to hold a vote on the stimulus package on Wednesday.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/129944.php
ZIOPHARM Oncology Presents Positive Data From Studies Of Palifosfamide
ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZIOP) announced today that it presented positive data from a Phase I study of palifosfamide (ZymafosTM) in combination with doxorubicin at the 14th Annual Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS) meeting held in London, UK, November 13 to 15. Also presented was an update of the data from the Phase II trial of palifosfamide used as a single agent in advanced sarcoma.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/130057.php
First Retinal Prosthesis Study Of Its Kind Seeks To Partially Restore Vision To The Blind
Second Sight® Medical Products, Inc., the leading developer of retinal prostheses for the blind, announced that it will increase patient enrollment for the ArgusTM II Retinal Implant study throughout clinical trials sites within Europe. The three-year feasibility study is currently underway in the United States, Europe and Mexico for people with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), a genetic eye disease that causes blindness.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/130062.php
PAION Announces Successful Completion Of Phase I Study With The Sedative/Anaesthetic CNS 7056
The biopharmaceutical company PAION AG (ISIN DE000A0B65S3; Frankfurt Stock Exchange, Prime Standard: PA8; London AIM: PAI) today announces that it has successfully completed a Phase I study with its intravenous sedative/anaesthetic CNS 7056. The study was completed ahead of schedule because the target criterion, more than 50% of the volunteers reaching loss of consciousness for more than 5 minutes, was reached in the 9th of the 10 planned cohorts.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/130063.php
Diabetes Cost U.S. $218B In 2007, Report Finds
Diabetes in 2007 cost the U.S. $218 billion in direct medical care and indirect costs, such as lost productivity, according to a report released on Tuesday, the AP/Raleigh News & Observer reports. For the report -- funded by Novo Nordisk, which manufactures insulin and diabetes medications -- researchers at the
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/129951.php
California Diabetes & Family Medicine Experts Respond To Study Showing Diabetes-related Costs Are $218 Billion Annually
A nationally prominent expert at treating diabetes, a chronic illness with potentially serious complications including blindness, limb amputation and death, said today many complications of diabetes are preventable and family physicians play a key role in preventing and controlling the disease.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/130064.php
CMS Will Not Cover Weight-Loss Surgeries For Non-Obese Diabetes Patients
CMS on Monday said that it will not cover weight-loss surgery for Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes who are not dangerously overweight because there is not ample evidence proving the procedure can improve their health, Reuters/Yahoo! News reports.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/129947.php
