A peer-reviewed Ho, Ho, Ho: Highlights from the BMJ’s Christmas issue
After another tough year of news, we wanted to wrap up the year for journalists with a fun feature, courtesy of studies in this year’s BMJ Christmas issue.
Health
Research roundups, tip sheets, articles and explainers related to health, health care and health equity
Expert Commentary
When water safety violations arise, quick public notification can help prevent millions of dollars in costs
Federal rules no longer require community water systems to tell the public about certain bacterial water contamination discovered during routine testing. But new research finds that prompt notification leads people to buy safe, bottled water — and avoid illness.
Expert Commentary
Five years after Flint water crisis, mental health problems persist
A study based on survey of Flint, Michigan, residents finds 1 in 5 Flint residents met the criteria for depression, 1 in 4 for PTSD and 1 in 10 for both depression and PTSD, estimates that exceed regional, national and global averages.
Expert Commentary
How the health care sector contributes to climate change: a research roundup and explainer
The medical system is responsible for a surprisingly large percentage of greenhouse gas emissions, and the toll is especially heavy in the U.S. We look at how governments are responding and what research reveals — and offer some timely story ideas for journalists.
Expert Commentary
Can red flag laws curb gun violence? Here’s what the research says.
There is research suggesting red flag laws are effective in preventing suicides, along with a small but growing body of research on red flag laws and mass shootings.
Expert Commentary
The 2022 Lancet climate change and health report: Dire warnings and glimmers of hope
The seventh annual report finds climate change is increasingly undermining every pillar of good health and compounding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing conflicts. While mitigation efforts remain inadequate, the report does offer some hope.
Expert Commentary
6 tips for improving news coverage of older people
Two experienced journalists offer tips for better, deeper news coverage of aging-related issues and stories involving older people.
Expert Commentary
The impact of ageism on health and health care: A research roundup and explainer
Ageism against older people results in negative health outcomes for individuals and society, research shows. But momentum is building for policies that take aim at age-based discrimination at the state and federal level.
Expert Commentary
Instagram eye-tracking study sheds light on how women view images of other women
The young female participants in the study paid more attention to Instagram posts that included bodies rather than just faces, and they preferred looking at underweight and average weight images to the images of overweight people.
Expert Commentary
The impact of private equity ownership in health care: A research roundup and explainer — Plus 3 reporting tips
Private equity firms argue they bring value to health care. Critics of private equity’s approach say the intense drive for quick profit puts patients at risk. We look at the research.
Expert Commentary