The New England journal of medicine
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Comparative Study
Use and cost effectiveness of smoking-cessation services under four insurance plans in a health maintenance organization.
Lack of information about the effect of insurance coverage on the demand for and use of smoking-cessation services has prevented widescale adoption of coverage for such services. ⋯ Use of smoking-cessation services varies according to the extent of coverage, with the highest rates of use among smokers with full coverage. Although the rate of smoking cessation among the benefit users with full coverage was lower than the rates among users with plans requiring copayments, the effect on the overall prevalence of smoking was greater with full coverage than with the cost-sharing plans.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A comparison of nebulized budesonide, intramuscular dexamethasone, and placebo for moderately severe croup.
In children with croup, treatment with nebulized budesonide decreases symptoms, but it is uncertain how budesonide compares with dexamethasone, the conventional therapy for croup, and whether either reduces the rate of hospitalization. ⋯ In children with moderately severe croup, treatment with intramuscular dexamethasone or nebulized budesonide resulted in more rapid clinical improvement than did the administration of placebo, with dexamethasone offering the greatest improvement. Treatment with either glucocorticoid resulted in fewer hospitalizations.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
A controlled trial of nonoxynol 9 film to reduce male-to-female transmission of sexually transmitted diseases.
Nonoxynol 9 is a proved spermicide, but whether it is also a microbicide is uncertain. A truly effective vaginal microbicide would reduce the susceptibility of women to sexually transmitted diseases, including infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). ⋯ The use of a nonoxynol 9 vaginal film did not reduce the rate of new HIV, gonorrhea, or chlamydia infection in this group of sex workers who used condoms and received treatment for sexually transmitted diseases.