The Institute of Medicine Reports on Legalized Abortion and the Public Health

The North American Institute of Medicine (IOM) recently published their report on dietary reference intakes (DRI) for Ca and vitamin D. The DRI committee's deliberations underpinning this most comprehensive report on vitamin D nutrition to date benefited hugely from a much expanded knowledge base in vitamin D over the last decade or more. However, since their release, the vitamin D DRI have been the subject of intense controversy, which is largely due to the persistence of fundamental knowledge gaps in vitamin D. These can be identified at the levels of exposure, metabolism, storage, status, dose–response, function and beneficial or adverse health effects, as well as safe and effective application of intake recommendations at the population level through sustainable food-based approaches. The present review provides a brief overview of the approach used by the IOM committee to revise the DRI for vitamin D and to collate from a number of authoritative sources key knowledge gaps in vitamin D nutrition from the public health perspective. A number of research topics are outlined and data requirements within these are identified and mapped to the risk assessment framework used by the DRI committee. While not intended as an exhaustive list, it provides a basis for organising and prioritising research efforts in the area of vitamin D, which may offer a perspective on the major areas in need of attention. It is intended to be of use to researchers, national policy makers, the public health community, industry groups and other relevant stakeholders including funding institutions.

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State Laws Regulating Prescribing of Controlled Substances: Balancing the Public Health Problems of Chronic Pain and Prescription Painkiller Abuse and Overdose

The Journal of Law Medicine & Ethics ◽

10.1111/jlme.12037 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. 42-45 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Andrea M. Garcia

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Chronic Pain ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

The United States ◽

Institute Of Medicine ◽

State Laws ◽

Controlled Substances ◽

The Public ◽

Lost Productivity ◽

Subsequent Rise

According to the Institute of Medicine, chronic pain affects at least 116 million adults in the United States (U.S.), which is more than the total affected by heart disease, cancer, and diabetes combined. Pain costs the nation up to $635 billion each year in medical treatment and lost productivity. It has been conceptualized as a public health problem due to its prevalence, seriousness, disparities, vulnerable populations, the utility of population health strategies, and the importance of prevention at both the population and individual levels. For many patients, treatment of pain is inadequate due to uncertain diagnoses, societal stigma, the lack of effective treatments, and inadequate patient and clinician knowledge about the best ways to manage pain. This article explores the inadequate treatment of pain in the U.S. and the subsequent rise of prescription painkiller abuse, misuse, and overdoses. This is followed by a review of the actions taken by states to regulate the prescribing of controlled substances.

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Analysis of existing international policy evidence in public health genomics: mapping exercise

Journal of Public Health Research ◽

10.4081/jphr.2012.e8 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 8

Author(s):

Elena V. Syurina ◽

Tobias Schulte in den Bäumen ◽

Frans J.M. Feron ◽

Angela Brand

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

New Technologies ◽

Human Subjects ◽

Science Research ◽

Institute Of Medicine ◽

Public Health Genomics ◽

The Public ◽

Initial Stage ◽

Protection Of Human Subjects ◽

Design And Methods

Background. In the last decades we have seen a constant growth in the fields of science related to the use of genome-based health information. However, there is a gap between basic science research and the Public Health everyday practice. For a successful introduction of genome-based technologies policy actions on the international level are needed. This work represents the initial stage of the PHGEN II (Public Health Genomics European Network II) project. In order to prepare a base for bridging genomics and Public Health, an inventory study of the existing legislative base dealing with controversies of genome-based knowledge was conducted. The work results in the mapping of the most and the least legislatively covered areas and some preliminary conclusions about the existing gaps. Design and Methods. The collection of the evidence-based policies was done through the PHGEN II project. The mapping covered the meta-level (international, European general guidelines). The expert opinion of the partners of the project was required to reflect on and grade the collected evidence. Results. An analysis of the evidence was made by the area of coverage: using the list of important policy areas for successful introduction of genome-based technologies into Public Health and the Public Health Genomics Wheel (originally Public Health Wheel developed by Institute of Medicine). Conclusions. Severe inequalities in coverage of important issues of Public Health Genomics were found. The most attention was paid to clinical utility and clinical validity of the screening and the protection of human subjects. Important areas such as trade agreements, Public Health Genomics literacy, insurance issues, behaviour modification in response to genomics results etc. were paid less attention to. For the successful adoption of new technologies on the Public Health level the focus should be not only on the translation to clinical practice, but the translation from bench to Public Health policy and back. Coherent and consistent coverage of all aspects of the translation of genome based information and technologies is of outmost importance.

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Legal Preparedness for Obesity Prevention and Control: The Public Health Framework for Action

The Journal of Law Medicine & Ethics ◽

10.1111/j.1748-720x.2009.00386.x ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 37 (S1) ◽

pp. 9-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

William H. Dietz ◽

Alicia S. Hunter

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Obesity Prevention ◽

Prevention And Control ◽

Care Delivery ◽

Integrated Approach ◽

Public Health Approach ◽

Institute Of Medicine ◽

Public Health Perspective ◽

The Public ◽

And Control

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has focused its obesity prevention and control efforts on improving population-level health. A recent Institute of Medicine report identified systems that affect population health, to include health care delivery systems, schools, businesses and employers, communities, and governmental public health infrastructure. CDC uses the public health model to engage these systems, and this process coordinates multiple settings, sectors, and jurisdictions to develop an integrated approach to identify, prevent, and control obesity. The public health approach goes beyond medical care to prioritize policy and environmental strategies that can be implemented across jurisdictional levels, in collaboration with traditional and nontraditional partners. The process ultimately produces tools, guidelines, and interventions that can be used to prevent and control obesity. In this manuscript, we provide an overview of the public health perspective on obesity, outline the public health framework for addressing obesity, and discuss the rationale for leveraging law-based efforts as a tool to accomplish the public health mission.

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