MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'consumer reports'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:12:00 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107522&cid=t_156408_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fconsumer-reports-promotes-alternative-medicine-with-questionable-research%2F2011.08.07 Ever since I was a teenager, I’ve intermittently read Consumer Reports, relying on it for guidance in all manner of purchase decisions. CR has been known for rigorous testing of all manner of consumer products and the rating of various services, arriving at its rankings through a systematic testing method that, while not necessarily bulletproof, has been far more organized and consistent than most other ranking systems. True, I haven’t always agreed with CR’s rankings of products and services about which I know a lot, but at the very least CR has often made me think about how much of my assessments are based on objective measures and how much on subjective measures. Until now. I just saw something yesterday on the CR website that has made me wonder just how scientific CR’s testing ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107522 Sun, 07 Aug 2011 18:00:43 +0100 5107522 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4953042&cid=t_156408_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2F4fJ7W88-ohk%2F I’ve had some interesting reactions to my post about the various characteristics of a Jabba the Hutt EHR Vendor. One of the more interesting conversations happened by email with a reader named Richard. Yes, I have lots of interesting back channel discussions. After a lengthy email exchange, I asked Richard if I could post our discussion on the blog so you could participate as well. He agreed and even commented, “I look forward to an expansion of our discussion.” So, here you go (or at least scroll to the bottom for a short summary of my feelings). The conversation started with this email that Richard sent me: I understand your reluctance to name names in your article, BUT… this is exactly what is needed. I’ve taken a few days to ruminate over what I was going... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4953042 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 17:49:40 +0100 4953042 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4821183&cid=t_156408_167_f&fid=38271&url=http%3A%2F%2Frebeccascritchfield.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F05%2F12%2Fconsumer-reports-diet-rankings-a-waste-of-time%2F Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers as health foods? Seriously? This NPR Health blogger “get’s it” – she argues there are profits to be made from their selling of processed foods. She says, of the “savory” steak and ranch flatbread … But there was nothing very whole or natural to be found among the ingredients. We counted no fewer than 80 distinct substances on the list from salt and soybean oil to titanium dioxide and ammonium chloride. Hmmm… makes you “think”. How can they promote healthy eating and sell you THAT food-like substance? If anyone gets the allure of dieting, it’s me. I swear if you could get a PhD in diets, I’d have at least five. I actually have more experience dieting (started at 12) than I do as a registe... Balanced Health and Nutrition Rebecca Scritchfield's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4821183 Thu, 12 May 2011 12:51:37 +0100 4821183 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4459957&cid=t_156408_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdoctors-and-patients-wish-their-relationship-was-better%2F2011.02.10 Physicians said in a survey that noncompliance with advice or treatment recommendations was their foremost complaint about their patients. Most said it affected their ability to provide optimal care and more 37 percent said it did so “a lot.” Three-quarters of patients said they were highly satisfied with their doctors. But they still had complaints ranging from long wait times to ineffective treatments. Those are just some of the findings from two surveys, the first a poll of 660 primary care physicians conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center in September 2010 and the second a poll of 49,000 Consumer Reports subscribers in 2009. The magazine reported its results online. In the doctors’ poll, physicians named these top challenges: – 76 percent o... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4459957 Fri, 11 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4459957 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4082087&cid=t_156408_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdollars-for-doctors-investigative-public-service-journalism%2F2010.10.19 An historic piece of journalism was published today. Six news organizations partnered on the “Dollars for Docs” project — ProPublica, NPR, PBS’s Nightly Business Report, the Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe and Consumer Reports. They examined $258 million in payments by seven drug companies in 2009 and 2010 to about 18,000 healthcare practitioners nationwide for speaking, consulting, and other tasks. This webpage can be your gateway to the project, with links to a database searchable by doctor’s name or by state, and links to the journalism partners’ efforts: Boston Globe “Prescription for Prestige” The Harvard brand, unrivaled in education, is also prized by the pharmaceutical industry as a powerful tool in promoting drugs. Its allure is evid... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4082087 Tue, 19 Oct 2010 20:00:21 +0100 4082087 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3942728&cid=t_156408_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F09%2Fheart-bypass-results-consumer-reports%2F The Society of Thoracic Surgeons has agreed to release the results of their national database of cardiac surgery outcomes to Consumer Reports to aid patients in selecting the best surgeons and hospitals when they are facing surgery. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3942728 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:31:12 +0100 3942728 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3929230&cid=t_156408_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpatients-are-splitting-pills-to-cut-healthcare-costs%2F2010.09.02 Patients are pill-splitting more to trim back healthcare costs, according to a poll by Consumer Reports. In the past year, 39 percent took some action to cut costs. The poll of more than 1,100 people found that 45 percent of people take at least one prescription drug and average four. But 27 percent said they didn’t always comply with a prescription, and 38 percent of those younger than 65 without drug coverage didn’t fill prescriptions at all. Just over half of patients felt that doctors didn’t consider their ability to pay when prescribing a drug, while nearly half blamed drugmaker’s influence for physicians’ prescribing habits. (HealthLeaders Media) *This blog post was originally published at ACP Internist* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3929230 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 01:00:00 +0100 3929230 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3899635&cid=t_156408_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F3bEXiAzSrD0%2F What do Americans think about when they think about prescription drugs? A new survey finds that cost, safety and industry influence over physicians are on a lot of minds. The overall picture suggests many Americans want cheaper generics; they worry about side effects and drug interactions, and believe docs are more concerned with newer, expensive meds than what is affordable. The survey was conducted last May by Consumer Reports of 1,154 adults who currently take prescription meds. To be more specific, 46 percent of those surveyed currently take a prescription med, and the average number they regularly take is 4.1. But nearly 90 percent expressed concern about physician prescribing habits - 69 percent agreed completely or somewhat that drugmakers have too much influence. Fifty percent say ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3899635 Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:55:36 +0100 3899635 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3629600&cid=t_156408_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Feco-friendly-living-10-things-to-green-your-garden%2F How does your garden grow? Probably not green-ly enough. So check out our gallery of 10 things we found to help you cultivate your garden into a more eco-friendly oasis: Post from: BlissTree Eco-Friendly Living: 10 Things to Green Your Garden (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3629600 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 14:24:40 +0100 3629600 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3618087&cid=t_156408_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FeIKSx7mehTc%2F This isn’t surprising. A new survey finds that 78 of those seeking treatment for depression or anxiety were prescribed antidepressants, but roughly half of those taking such a pill report being helped ‘a lot.’ Meanwhile, 91 percent of respondents who stuck with ‘talk therapy, reported this approach made things “a lot” or “somewhat” better, according to Consumer Reports, which conducted the survey. The survey also found that older, often less expensive SSRI antidepressants - selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as Lexapro, Celexa, Prozac and Zoloft - work just as well, and with fewer side effects, than newer, more costly SNRIs, including Cymbalta and Effexor (see Consumer Reports cost data here). Last year, doctors prescribed $9.9 billion worth of ant... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3618087 Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:31:11 +0100 3618087 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3403853&cid=t_156408_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fwalls-that-dont-talk-toxic%2F Mod Green Pod's vinyl-free wallpaper "Delight" Volatile organic compounds – also known as VOCs – don’t make good roommates. In fact, they stink. Besides their olfactory offense, VOCs have been linked to ozone depletion, smog build-up, respiratory problems, and even cancer. Yet some folks cozy up with VOCs day in day out by choosing vinyl wallpaper or carbon-loaded paint to cover their walls. But there’s no need to. In the past few years, the number of eco-friendly paints on the planet has proliferated; and now, their quality has caught up. This month, Consumer Reports published the results of its 2010 interior paint survey: Nearly all the high-scorers contained 50 grams or less of VOCs per liter. Low-VOC Behr Premium Plus Ultra received top marks in all categories (fr... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3403853 Wed, 24 Mar 2010 22:14:54 +0100 3403853 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2187699&cid=t_156408_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2009%2F02%2F14%2Fsexbolt-saturday-poll-lists-6-top-reasons-for-not-having-sex%2F Curious as to why people might be avoiding sex? Then check out this national survery that the Consumer Reports National Research Center just released. Turns out that over 80% of the sexually active people in their nationally representative survey of 1,000 adults indicated that they had sometimes avoided sex in the last year. Here’s the top 6 reasons why… too tired or needed sleep more than sex not feeling well or health problems not in the mood taking care of pets or children work watching a TV or a movie It’s interesting to note that money worries and the economy didn’t make the top 6 list. Seems that “…seventy-nine percent of the sexually active respondents said that the financial downturn hadn’t had the same effect on how often they had sex.&#... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2187699 Sat, 14 Feb 2009 21:44:59 +0100 2187699 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2151002&cid=t_156408_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sharpbrains.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F02%2F01%2Fupdate-learning-about-learning-more-on-brain-age%2F Here you have the January edition of our monthly newsletter covering cognitive health and brain fitness topics. Please remember that you can subscribe to receive this Newsletter by email, simply by submitting your email at the top of this page. Bird's Eye View Brain fitness heads towards its tipping point: How do you know when something is moving towards a Gladwellian tipping point? When health insurance companies and public policy makers launch significant initiatives. Dr. Gerard Finnemore provides a market overview, based on SharpBrains' client webinar held last December. Ten Reflections on Cognitive Health and Assessments: Here are 10 highlights from several stimulating January events:?? Symposium on Adaptive Technology for the Aging (by Arizona State University), Health Bloggers' Summ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2151002 Mon, 02 Feb 2009 04:18:41 +0100 2151002 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1516783&cid=t_156408_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F311175509%2F In the latest installment of its Video Watch, the consumer watchdog picks over the ubiquitous TV ad for Lilly’s Cialis, the erectile dysfunction pill, which is known as ‘The Weekender’ spot. And the results of a survey of about 1,500 men are interesting - about half thought the men who appear in the ads look to be in their 40’s. Of course, ED is prevalent mostly in men 60 years and older. The younger-looking actors may explain why younger men in the survey asked their docs about Cialis after seeing the ad, notes CR. In other words, the TV spot works. Other results - about one-quarter of the survey participants thought all men could benefit from cialis, even if they don’t have ED. And as the narrator notes, the voiceover and fine print don’t mention that... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1516783 Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:11:22 +0100 1516783 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1439524&cid=t_156408_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F05%2F13%2Fadhd-and-consumer-reports%2F Attention deficit disorder is a classic example of the medicalization of mental disorders, where virtually everyone “believes” it is some sort of biochemical or brain disorder and so medications are the appropriate (and wildly popular) treatment choice. Medications are the right and appropriate treatment choice for ADHD; not because it is a medical disease, but because the research base is pretty strong in showing that they are effective. But if you can’t trust Consumer Reports to report accurately on this disorder (and other mental disorders), I’m not sure who you can trust anymore. A colleague recently referred me to the “Best Buy Drugs” section of Consumer Reports health website. So I took a look around and started at the beginning of the alphabet. S... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1439524 Tue, 13 May 2008 14:15:38 +0100 1439524 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1207372&cid=t_156408_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Fmaking-fun-of-pharma-marketing-is-easy.html I've just returned from a few days vacation on the beach in Sunny Isles, Florida and I haven't yet recovered from the Motivational Deficiency Disorder (MDD) symptoms that resulted!Haven't heard about MDD? You might want to take a look at the following video produced by the folks at Consumers International (CI) . The video explains what MDD is, how it's treated, and -- most importantly -- how one pharmaceutical company markets Strivor, its new MDD treatment:I particularly like the part about 4 minutes into this video where the good doctor talks about clinical trial results on sloths."You've seen nothing," says the doctor who invented Strivor, "until you've seen a sloth that's motivated, I'll tell you!"Ba Boom!Ha, Ha, Ha.The anti-pharma marketing shenanigans of CI have only recently caught t... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1207372 Tue, 05 Feb 2008 17:50:00 +0100 1207372 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1025483&cid=t_156408_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F184665583%2F The advocacy group, which receives subtantial support from Glaxo and Boehringer-Ingelheim, is outraged by a video just released by the consumer group. That video, which we wrote about yesterday, debunks a TV ad for Glaxo’s Requip. The effort is the first in a new monthly series in which Consumer Reports debunks some of the claims in a drug ad. In the debut, the consumer group’s Jamie Hirsh chides the ad for describing symptoms that are so vague that almost anyone may suffer from RLS, but she does note the condition is real. And she offers a nearly sentence-by-sentence critique. For instance, a doc’s instant answer to the RLS problem is Requip. Then, however, the ad pauses and Hirsch says: “What he doesn’t mention is that before turning to medication, there are easier and chea... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1025483 Wed, 14 Nov 2007 13:42:24 +0100 1025483 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1024396&cid=t_156408_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F184337240%2F The decade-old advent of DTC advertising on television has produced a storm of criticism and, in particular, parody. Just take a look at YouTube. Consumer Reports, however, has just launched a new monthly series that actually analyzes an ad, nearly sentency-by-sentence. The first installment, which was posted earlier this month on its site, takes a whack at Glaxo’s Requip, the med for Restless Leg Syndrome. Take a look. In the critique, the consumer group’s Jamie Hirsh comments repeatedly after each of the ad’s assertions. For instance, a doc’s instant answer to the RLS problem is Requip. Then, however, the ad pauses and Hirsch appears to say “What he doesn’t mention is that before turning to medication, there are easier and cheaper options to consider.&... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1024396 Tue, 13 Nov 2007 22:06:08 +0100 1024396