When Genetic Screening is Useful, but Not Used
This Issue Brief describes the case of a genetic condition for which genetic screening of family members is clearly useful, and just as clearly underused. It explores the barriers to the use of genetic screening and has implications for the future as genetic technologies become more complex and produce more uncertainty.
Penn Research IDs Gene That Makes Quitting Smoking Easier
Smart Phone App Gives Audio CPR Instructions
Direct-To-Consumer Advertising of Prescription Drugs
This Issue Brief summarizes the evidence about the effects of DTCA, and proposes guidelines for improving the utility of prescription drug advertising.
Drug Safety and Surveillance: the Case of Avandia
A year after the Avandia story broke, this Clinical Brief revisits the controversy, summarizes a new study of the cardiovascular safety of diabetes drugs, and analyzes the policy implications for the drug approval process.
Preventing Sudden Death: Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators in Elderly Cardiac Patients
This Issue Brief summarizes studies that analyze health outcomes, costs, and quality of life for patients-at-risk who receive ICDs in real-life settings.
Genetic Counseling and Testing for Breast Cancer Risk in African Americans
This Issue Brief summarizes a series of studies that systematically explore African American women’s beliefs and intentions about BRCA1/2 testing. The findings have been used to tailor genetic counseling programs to better serve this population.
Reacting to Antibiotic Allergies
This Issue Brief summarizes several large studies that can help guide and improve the management of patients with antibiotic allergies.
Helping Smokers Quit Through Pharmacogenetics
This Issue Brief reviews ongoing work at Penn’s Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Center (TTURC) to unravel the genetic factors that might affect smoking cessation and to develop more effective treatment strategies.