Public Health Challenges, News & Research

The Boston Globe published two articles in September that examined language barriers between U.S. physicians and foreign-born patients with limited ability to speak English. Read summaries of the articles on the Kaiser Network Web site which also provides links to the full stories.

As consumers assume greater responsibility for their own health care, they are being asked to make more—and more complex—decisions than ever before. At the same time, the growth of information and increasing customization of health care products and services has ratcheted up the need for understandable information that aids in consumer health care decision-making. A new report published by the California Health Care Foundation (CHF), "Consumers in Healthcare: The Burden of Choice," distills the latest research on consumer decision-making, explores the methods consumers use to make choices, and looks at what influences affect consumer action. Download the report as a PDF document from the CHCF Web site.

The latest U.S. Census Bureau study reports the following:
• 29% of new mothers are unmarried and 15% are not U.S. citizens.
• About 12% of married mothers and about 50% of unmarried mothers live in poverty.
• 7.7% of women and girls giving birth are teens.
• 37% of single mothers are teens. (Atlanta Journal Constitution on kaisernetwork.org)

A report by RWJF grantee Trust for America's Health (TFAH) outlines immediate actions that the United States should take to prepare for a pandemic influenza outbreak. According to the report, even a moderately severe strain of a pandemic flu could kill more than half a million Americans, with an additional 2.3 million hospitalizations.

"Poverty is the single biggest reason Kentucky is one of America's sickest states. Not only is Kentucky one of the nation's poorest states, but it also is plagued by a type of poverty that makes things even worse — rural poverty that has eroded health for generations." Laura Ungar writes in The Courier-Journal's latest installment of the Louisville newspaper's series on Kentucky's health. The newspaper series incorporates case studies, video interviews with legislators, graphical statistics, and a health fair.

USA Today, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and the Harvard School of Public Health recently released the results from a new comprehensive survey looking at how Americans are being affected by rising health care costs. The Health Care Costs Survey includes information on the problems Americans have paying for medical care and prescription drugs; the impact paying health care bills has on family budgets; the barriers health care costs pose to obtaining medical care; and the special burden of medical bills for people with chronic health conditions, moderate and lower incomes, and those without insurance. Full survey results and a link to USA Today articles is available online.

Mary Agnes Carey of Congressional Quarterly reports that House conservatives have introduced an array of spending cuts totally nearly $1 trillion to offset the cost of Hurricane Katrina. Audio report "Entitlement Cuts" is available on-line:

Misunderstandings between American doctors and foreign-born patients can cause a wide range of problems--misunderstandings, higher medical costs, and even death. Some hospitals have launched language programs to address the issue. Critics say interpreters should be used "whenever a clinician is not 100% fluent" because because small misinterpretations can lead to big differences. (Source: Boston Globe quoted on the Kaiser site)

Literacy, health-literacy and language are all issues that can be barriers to obtaining basic health information. Healthy Roads Media contains free audio, written and multimedia health education materials in a number of languages. Former Sound Partners WMPG's PSAs have an extended life through this project.

The California Healthcare Foundation has teamed up with the Center for Governmental Studies to offer an election resource providing analysis of California's three health-related ballot measures. HealthVote.org provides voters with facts and non-partisan analysis, as well as easy access to information on who supports and opposes the measures, who is paying for the campaigns, how much is being spent, results of statewide polls, and the latest news.