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October 31, 2006
Subjective Versus Objective Measurements by Race/ Ethnicity
On Friday, November 10, 2006, from 3pm to 4pm, the Center for Reducing Health Disparities will hold the next in our works in progress series.
Measuring Health Disparities:Subjective Versus Objective Measurements by Race/ Ethnicity.
Presented by Joseph J. Sudano, Jr., PhD. Assistant Professor of Medicine, CWRU and Senior Researcher for the Center for Health Care Research and Policy.
Location will be the Case Medical School- T503 - 10900 Euclid Avenue .
Please RSVP your attendance to Sharon Lowstetter at slowstetter@metrohealth.org or by phone 778-8484. We look forward to seeing you there!
Send news items related to health disparities to ReduceDisparity(AT)case.edu
Posted by: David Porter on October 31, 2006
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Category: Health Disparities
October 30, 2006
Racial gaps in U.S. health care seen in studies
From Reuters via CNN:
Blacks, Asians and Hispanics in California who had complex surgeries were less likely than whites to be operated on at high-volume hospitals where the outcomes are known to be better, researchers said Tuesday.
The University of California-Los Angeles study provided further evidence of racial disparities in the U.S. health care system, where blacks and other ethnic groups tend to get less, or inferior, care.
It might be interesting to contrast this study with a study of insurance payouts to Katrina victims.
From Central Florida News 13:
Whites were found three times more likely to appeal their settlements than lower-income blacks, who didn't know or doubted the government would help.
But, once appeals were filed, whites and minorities both received an average of about $40,000 more than they'd first been offered.
It seems that knowledge of how the system works might result in more equal insurance payouts. Perhaps this can be applied to the health care sector as well.
Send news items related to health disparities to ReduceDisparity(AT)case.edu
Posted by: David Porter on October 30, 2006
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Category: Health Care; Health Disparities; Health Inequities
October 17, 2006
In Ohio - Earnings Grow Slower Than Health Care Premiums
From the Dayton Daily News:
The amount Ohio workers and employers must pay for family health insurance premiums has risen 73.3 percent over the six years, about the same as the national average. Individual premiums in Ohio have increased 73.8 percent, more than the national average of 64.1 percent.
The average median income in Ohio, meanwhile, went up only 8.7 percent during the same period — shy of the national earnings increase of 11.6 percent, Families USA found using U.S. Census, Labor Department and Health and Human Services data.
This provides a little insight as to why so many Clevelanders are without insurance. From Planning & Action:
About one in four working-age adults on Cleveland’s east side had no insurance, compared to fewer than one-fifth on the city’s west side.
Send news items related to health disparities to ReduceDisparity(AT)case.edu
Posted by: David Porter on October 17, 2006
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Category: Health Disparities; Health Inequities
October 11, 2006
Should We Be More Aware Of Our Eating Habits?
Over at nytimes.com (Subscription may be required) there is an interesting story that talks about current research looking at cues to eating behavior.
Although people think they make 15 food decisions a day on average, [Prof. Brian Wansink's] research shows the number is well over 200. Some are obvious, some are subtle. The bigger the plate, the larger the spoon, the deeper the bag, the more we eat. But sometimes we decide how much to eat based on how much the person next to us is eating, sometimes moderating our intake by more than 20 percent up or down to match our dining companion.
Much of his work is outlined in the book “Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think” (Bantam), which will be published on Tuesday.
Perhaps this type of research will lead to a more informed consumer.
For more information visit the Cornell University Food and Brand Lab.
Send news items related to health disparities to ReduceDisparity(AT)case.edu
Posted by: David Porter on October 11, 2006
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Category: Research
October 10, 2006
Being A Black Man
The Washington Post has an excellent series titled, 'Being A Black Man.'
The most recent article in the series, 'His Last, Best Cause', chronicles an activist who neglected his own health.
In his final days, as he underwent grueling chemotherapy, Smith said he was fighting for Asha -- "I've got to see the man she marries," he cried. But in the end, he was no match for colorectal cancer -- or his own failure to seek medical treatment.
Smith, 54, like many other black men, died before his time. Black men have a life expectancy of 69 years, six years less than white men and far shorter than men of other ethnic group. They are more than twice as likely to die from cancer as white men, according to the National Cancer Institute, and nine times as likely as white men to die of AIDS. They suffer from lung disease, heart disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes and other chronic illnesses in disproportionate numbers that alarm health-care professionals.
The entire series is worth the read. Additionally, there is a good discussion thread about health care education and awareness here.
Send news items related to health disparities to ReduceDisparity(AT)case.edu
Posted by: David Porter on October 10, 2006
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Category: Health; Health Inequities; racial differences
October 06, 2006
ACT: Advancing Central’s Health Together
The Case Center for Reducing Health Disparities is presenting the next in our works in progress series on Friday, October 13, 2006 from 3-4 pm.
ACT: Advancing Central’s Health Together
PRESENTERS:
George Weiner, PhD
Director, Center for Health Equity
Cleveland State University
Bette Bonder, PhD
Interim Dean, College of Science
Cleveland State University
Peter Whitt, MSW, LSW
Community Outreach Consultant
LOCATION:
Case medical school- T503
10900 Euclid Avenue
You can read more about ACT here.
Please RSVP your attendance to Sharon Lowstetter at slowstetter@metrohealth.org.
Send news items related to health disparities to ReduceDisparity(AT)case.edu
Posted by: David Porter on October 06, 2006
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Category: Works in Progress