Health Disparities News and Research

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Health disparities (also called healthcare inequality in some countries) refer to gaps in the quality of health and health care across racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and socioeconomic groups.

Economic resurgence not associated with improvement in cardiovascular health

A new study published in the American Journal of Medicine by the University of Alabama at Birmingham indicates that economic resurgence was not associated with improvement in cardiovascular health among American adults after the great economic recession of 2008-2009.

8 Sep 2019

Racial/ethnic minority students remain underrepresented in medical schools

Black, Hispanic, and American Indian students remain underrepresented in medical schools, despite increasing efforts to create a diverse physician workforce, according to a new study by researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

8 Sep 2019

Study shows large differences in ED and hospital destinations of minority patients

A new national study done by researchers at Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center showed large differences in the emergency department and hospital destinations of minority (Black and Hispanic) patients who are transported by emergency medical services when compared with their non-Hispanic white counterparts.

7 Sep 2019

Exposure to 9/11 WTC dust associated with increased risk of heart disease in NYC firefighters

A new study of New York City firefighters has found that exposure to 9/11 World Trade Center dust is associated with a significantly increased long-term risk of cardiovascular disease.

7 Sep 2019

Cancer patients with low income and no insurance see fewer trial benefits

When it comes to benefiting from experimental treatments offered in cancer clinical trials, your health insurance status and where you live matters, according to results of two new research studies to be presented at the 2019 ASCO Quality Care Symposium, held September 6 and 7 in San Diego.

5 Sep 2019

Rutgers studies find link between poor oral health and cognitive decline, perceived stress

Oral health is an essential part of psychological well-being and overall health in older adults. Poor oral health is associated with decreased quality of life, depression, hypertension, and cognitive decline.

4 Sep 2019

JAMA review: Clinicians encouraged to consider social determinants screening and referrals

The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research Professor and Senior Vice President Karina W. Davidson, PhD, MASc, reviews clinical practices for social determinants of health screening and referrals in the September 17 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association.

29 Aug 2019

Depressive symptoms linked to increased disabilities, chronic health conditions among aging minorities

More than 50 percent of older Chinese American immigrants experience depressive symptoms linked to increased disabilities and chronic health conditions, according to two new Rutgers studies.

28 Aug 2019

NIH announces new round of funding for Research Centers in Minority Institutions

The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, part of the National Institutes of Health, has funded three new awards and renewed the awards of eight institutions previously funded under the Research Centers in Minority Institutions Specialized Centers program.

26 Aug 2019

Traumatic stress associated with depression risk among Central American immigrant mothers

Traumatic stress is a key factor associated with depression among immigrant mothers from Central America, reports a study in Family and Community Health: The Journal of Health Promotion & Maintenance – part of a special theme issue devoted to "Family Health in Hispanic Communities" that includes guest editors Paul Branscum, PhD, RD, and Daphne C. Hernandez, PhD, MSEd The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

21 Aug 2019

Rutgers studies find prevalence of elder abuse in the Chinese American community

Not enough is being done to prevent elder abuse in the Chinese American community, according to four new Rutgers studies published in the current edition of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

19 Aug 2019

Unsatisfied Chinese Americans' expectations lead to increased mortality risks

Filial piety - the traditional value of caring for one's elders - is foundational to the Chinese concept of family and greatly influences intergenerational relationships.

19 Aug 2019

Transgender college students more likely to experience mental health problems than their peers

The largest and most comprehensive mental health survey of college students in the US reveals that students who identify as transgender, gender nonconforming, genderqueer, and nonbinary face enormous mental health disparities relative to their peers.

18 Aug 2019

Oligodendrocytes play key role in determining individual’s resilience to stress

Exposure to violence, social conflict, and other stressors increase risk for psychiatric conditions such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

13 Aug 2019

Cultural factors influence Chinese Americans' health, study reveals

Since 2011, the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago, the most extensive epidemiological cohort study of Chinese older adults in the United States, has revealed critical health disparities among the growing Chinese American population.

13 Aug 2019

Air pollution remains a serious problem in low-income black neighborhoods, study shows

Disease-causing air pollution remains high in pockets of America – particularly those where many low-income and African-American people live, a disparity highlighted in research presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association in New York.

12 Aug 2019

Medical mistrust contributes to delays in African American men using health care system

Mistrust of health care providers, fueled by painful experiences with racism, makes African American men more likely to delay routine screenings and doctor's appointments, according to a new study in the journal Behavioral Medicine by the Health Disparities Institute at UConn Health, with potentially serious implications for their overall health.

8 Aug 2019

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