Older Americans Say They’re Ready To Try Out Telemedicine In New Poll
In other public health news: depression and suicide among female vets; those most at health risk are under-represented in politics; how racial resentment influences attitudes toward safety net programs; and concussions caused by domestic violence.
The Associated Press:
Poll: Seniors Ready To Skype Doctors, Care Quality A Concern
The vast majority of older Americans and their caregivers are ready to give virtual health care a try: Nearly 9 in 10 adults ages 40 and over would be comfortable using at least one type of telemedicine for themselves or an aging loved one, says a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. (Neergaard and Swanson, 5/31)
NPR:
Battling Depression And Suicide Among Female Veterans
The suicide rate for female veterans has soared 85 percent in recent years, leading the military, VA and advocacy groups to try new ways to improve women's mental health care during and after service. One key focus: how to tailor the sometimes tricky jump from the military to the civilian world. Women's experiences in the military are different from men's, so their transition needs to be different, too, said retired Army Col. Ellen Haring, director of research for the advocacy group Service Women's Action Network (SWAN). (Price, 5/29)
The Washington Post:
Poor People Die Younger In The U.S. That Skews American Politics.
Meanwhile, because low socioeconomic status leads people to be sicker and to die earlier, poor Americans have far less chance of shaping political life — or of pursuing the policies that would help improve their health and lengthen their lives, such as improvements in health care, education, child care, neighborhood safety, nutrition, working conditions and so forth. (Rodriguez and Capotescu, 5/31)
The Washington Post:
White America’s Racial Resentment Is The Real Impetus For Welfare Cuts, Study Says
White Americans are increasingly critical of the country’s social safety net, a new study suggests, thanks in part to a rising tide of racial resentment. The study, conducted by researchers at two California universities and published Wednesday in the journal Social Forces, finds that opposition to welfare programs has grown among white Americans since 2008, even when controlling for political views and socioeconomic status. (Dewey, 5/30)
NPR:
Domestic Violence: A Leading Cause Of Women's Brain Injuries
Hundreds of survivors of domestic violence have come through the doors of neurologist Glynnis Zieman's Phoenix clinic in the past three years." The domestic violence patients are the next chapter of brain injury," she says. ... While many patients initially seek out the clinic because of physical symptoms, such as headaches, exhaustion, dizziness or problems sleeping, Zieman says her research shows anxiety, depression and PTSD usually end up being the most severe problems. (Stone, 5/30)