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Six new members named to Population Health Initiative executive council

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Six new faculty members have been named to the 30-member Population Health Initiative executive council by President Ana Mari Cauce. They are: Sharon Laing, assistant professor of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership, UW Tacoma Clarita Lefthand-Begay, assistant professor, Information School Magaly Ramirez, assistant professor of Health Systems and Population Health, School of Public Health Judd Walson, professor of Global Health, Medicine, and Pediatrics, Schools of Medicine and Public Health Mayumi Willgerodt, associate professor of Child, Family, and Population Health Nursing, School…

Impact of COVID-19 on domestic violence survivors’ ability to get help

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The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped many industries, including the legal landscape. Some of these changes have proved beneficial, notably for survivors of domestic violence who may now file protection orders online rather than in-person. This finding is especially relevant considering the reported rise in domestic violence during lockdowns. New research from the University of Washington reveals that online access to legal services reduces barriers associated with in-person proceedings for domestic violence survivors. Significant barriers have included taking time off work…

Initiative-funded COVID-19 economic recovery grantees report final results

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The University of Washington Population Health Initiative awarded 18 COVID-19 economic recovery research grants to teams of UW faculty researchers in June 2020. These grants were intended to support UW researchers in quickly responding to the vast array of economic-related challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funded project teams were composed of individuals representing 13 different schools and colleges at the UW. The $333,000 in initiative funding was partially matched by additional school, college and departmental funds, bringing the…

New UW collaboratory to support equitable and just climate action

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An interdisciplinary group of University of Washington researchers has teamed with Front and Centered to create an innovative Collaboratory to promote just and equitable climate action. The Collaboratory aims to respond to climate change impacts with attention to equitable mitigation and adaptation solutions. It will feature three linked platforms to achieve this goal through a community-informed and multidisciplinary approach. Leading this effort is Jeremy J. Hess, professor of Emergency Medicine, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, and Global Health at the…

Aspects of built environments do not play expected role in weight gain

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According to a University of Washington-led study on obesity, certain features of the built environment, such as proximity to fast food restaurants and supermarkets, do not impact weight. The study is part of a 12-year collaboration between the UW and Kaiser Permanente Washington for the research project, Moving to Health. After examining more than 100,000 Kaiser Permanente Washington patients’ anonymized data, researchers were able to refute previously held beliefs that built environment amenities contribute to weight changes. The study found…

PestiSeguro™ paves the way for improving the health and safety of agricultural workers

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According to data from the Pesticide Illness Surveillance Program from the Washington State Department of Health, of the 630 cases of pesticide-related illness reported in 2010-2017, 90% of cases involved farmworkers whose preferred language was Spanish. Although most agricultural workers in Washington State are Spanish speakers, required pesticide safety information is primarily available in English. This language barrier poses a potential health and safety risk for workers. Recognizing the severity of this issue, Kit Galvin, University of Washington research scientist,…

Increasing vaccination rates in underserved King County communities

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A new project from the University of Washington Health Promotion Research Center (UW HPRC) aims to increase vaccination rates for underserved communities within King County. The project is made possible by $500,000 in funding from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The data yielded through this project will contribute to the Connecting Behavioral Science to COVID-19 Vaccine Demand (CBS-CVD) Network, a national network of which the UW HPRC is one of 26 member centers included. Researchers from…

Researchers have established a link between drug rebates and higher costs to patients

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Healthcare spending in America has remained a prominent topic of debate, with much concern over the rising list prices and out-of-pocket costs for patients seeking prescription drugs. Associated with these increasing costs is the industry practice of using rebates to lower drug costs for insurers. A University of Washington-led study examined cost and price data on more than 400 branded drugs. The researchers uncovered a positive association between rebates and increases in out-of-pocket costs for patients. Prices increased by an…

Co-designing a technology intervention to support the health and development of children

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The King County’s 2018-2019 Community Needs Assessment revealed that infants from racially and economically marginalized groups encounter the highest rates of infant mortality and lowest birth weights compared to any other population. King County has offered developmental screening services and virtual information to help child caregivers address this issue. However, there is growing consensus among healthcare providers and child caregivers that these tools do not adequately respond to diverse cultural, social and economic experiences. Recognizing that these factors do not…

Research finds health professionals can offer context in process to restrict firearm access

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Washington State law allows citizens to file an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO), a civil order to temporarily restrict an individual’s access to firearms due to concern that the individual poses an extreme risk of harming themselves, others, or both. By law, health professionals cannot independently file on behalf of a petitioner. Still, their professional insight and knowledge of appropriate legal resources and strategies for harm reduction may prove critical for ensuring patient safety. Recognizing the impact health professionals may…