New study finds fake, low-quality medicines prevalent in the developing world
August 12, 2018 A new study by Drs. Sachiko Ozawa and James Herrington, and colleagues, found that substandard and falsified medicines, including medicines to treat malaria, are a serious problem in much of the world. In low- and middle-income countries, more than 13 percent of the essential medicines that satisfy the priority health care needs of the population fall in this category. Map design by UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy.
A new threat to immigrants’ health: The ‘public charge’ rule
August 3, 2018 Drs. Krista Perreira and Jonathan Oberlander are co-authors of an article about a proposed federal plan that could have major life and health consequences for millions of immigrant families. Photo by Rutgers School of Nursing.
UNC, RTI International researchers assess US travelers’ knowledge of Zika virus, willingness to take hypothetical vaccine
July 2, 2018 A collaboration between researchers at the Gillings School, RTI International and UNC's School of Medicine has resulted in the first study to assess and compare United States travelers’ knowledge levels about the Zika virus across three regions, as well as their willingness to take a prophylactic Zika vaccine that currently is in development.
Parents ranked cancer prevention as No. 1 provider reason for HPV vaccination
June 16, 2018 A survey led by Dr. Melissa Gilkey found that parents ranked cancer prevention as the most compelling reason health care providers can give for recommending the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
Picture warnings on cigarette packs change behavior because they are upsetting and memorable, study finds
May 31, 2018 In a 2014-2015 study, researchers from UNC Gillings found that pictorial warnings on cigarette packs led to more quit attempts than did text-only warnings. Now, a follow-up study has sought to identify the precise psychological mechanisms that explain why pictorial warnings are so much more effective at changing smokers’ behavior.
Researchers find fewer young people are completing the HPV vaccine series, urge better compliance
May 18, 2018 UNC researchers led by doctoral student Jennifer Spencer have reported in a new study that follow-through on the HPV vaccine – the percentage of those who complete the series within a year of receiving their first dose – has fallen dramatically. The drop is problematic, given that timely completion of the vaccine series protects those who are sexually active from a number of reproductive system cancers, notably cervical and anal cancers. Photo by VCU CNS.
Study examines sustained effects of NC’s Medicaid ‘lock-in’ program on prescription drugs
May 17, 2018 A study led by Dr. Rebecca Naumann and other Gillings School faculty members has reviewed North Carolina’s Medicaid “lock-in” program and the program’s impact upon the number of opioid prescriptions obtained. Photo by Virginia Commonwealth University Capital News Service.
Federal panel calls for urgent collaborative action to align cancer drug prices with value
March 13, 2018 The President's Cancer Panel, chaired by Dean Barbara K. Rimer, reports that urgent action must be taken to address the dramatic rise of cancer drug prices and to better align prices with value.
Four UNC Gillings School researchers are among the world's highly cited
March 2, 2018 Four Gillings School faculty members have been named to Clarivate Analytics’ 2017 Highly Cited Researchers list. They are Dr. Ralph Baric (epidemiology), Dr. Noel Brewer (health behavior), Dr. Hans Paerl (environmental sciences and engineering) and Dr. Barry Popkin (nutrition).
Home test for HPV may be lifesaving for women who do not receive regular cervical cancer screenings
July 25, 2017 A new study, led by Dr. Jennifer Smith and published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Diseases, finds a convenient at-home test for human papillomavirus (HPV) to be a promising tool for preventing cervical cancer in underscreened women in the United States.
