Annual review of public health
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The stated mission of current public health activities is to prevent mortality, morbidity, and disability. Though this mission is a noble challenge, attention is now being drawn to that group of the public who are not prevented from living with a disability. ⋯ It describes the changing demographics of disability and provides a framework for addressing the complex issues associated with defining disability. Finally, we outline a strategy for stronger and clearer public health presence to improve the health and well-being of people with disabilities.
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Every day in the United States the airline industry boards over 1.7 million passengers for a total of 600 million passengers per year. As these passengers enter the cabin of their aircraft few are aware of the artificial environment that will protect them from the hazards of flight. Passengers are exposed to reduced atmospheric pressure, reduced available oxygen, noise, vibration, and are subject to below zero temperatures that are only a quarter inch away-the thickness of the aircraft's skin. ⋯ Transmission to other passengers has occurred with tuberculosis and influenza. Vectors for yellow fever, malaria, and dengue have been identified on aircraft. Although there are numerous health issues associated with air travel they pale in comparison to the enormous benefits to the traveler, to commerce, to international affairs, and to the public's health.
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Annu Rev Public Health · Jan 2002
ReviewThe importance of the normality assumption in large public health data sets.
It is widely but incorrectly believed that the t-test and linear regression are valid only for Normally distributed outcomes. The t-test and linear regression compare the mean of an outcome variable for different subjects. ⋯ We discuss situations in which in other methods such as the Wilcoxon rank sum test and ordinal logistic regression (proportional odds model) have been recommended, and conclude that the t-test and linear regression often provide a convenient and practical alternative. The major limitation on the t-test and linear regression for inference about associations is not a distributional one, but whether detecting and estimating a difference in the mean of the outcome answers the scientific question at hand.
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Reductions in motor vehicle injury and death represent a major public health success. Since the advent of the federal program in highway safety in 1966, motor vehicle deaths have dropped dramatically, not only in rates per miles driven but also in absolute numbers. ⋯ Although progress has been made on many fronts, major areas addressed here include federal motor vehicle safety standards, alcohol safety programs, occupant restraint laws and usage, and speed limits. The achievements in motor vehicle safety provide a model for other injury control efforts.
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The resurgence of telemedicine can be attributed to its potential for addressing intransigent problems in health care, including limited accessibility, cost inflation, and uneven quality. After discussing definitions and the genesis of telemedicine, this review focuses on conceptual issues and an assessment of past research. ⋯ Research strategies and a framework for analysis are discussed. Without a commitment to the types of research objectives, framework, and strategy presented here, the considerable promise of telemedicine, as an innovative system of care, may not be fully realized.