How to Be an Informed Consumer of Evidence Ratings: It's in the Details.

What are evidence-based strategies and how can public health practitioners find evidence without conducting extensive literature reviews? We developed an inventory of clearinghouses and other resources that disseminate research on evidence of effectiveness. We examined differences in evidence classification among 6 evidence clearinghouses that rate the effectiveness of community-level strategies to address determinants of health. Most evidence clearinghouses clearly defined their scope, but only a few clearinghouses explicitly defined the types of strategies they assess (eg, programs, policies, practices).

Wisconsin's BadgerCare Plus reform: impact on low-income families' enrollment and retention in public coverage.

Objectives: To examine the impact of a Wisconsin health care reform enacted in early 2008 on public insurance enrollment and retention.

Data Sources: Administrative data covering the period January 2007 to November 2009.

Study Design: We calculate unadjusted enrollment trends and exit rates stratified by age, income group, and enrollment mode.

Wisconsin physician opinions on health care reform.

Objective: To determine Wisconsin physicians' opinions regarding health care reform.

Methods: The University of Wisconsin Survey Research Center performed a 46-question mail survey of 2500 randomly selected physicians from the Wisconsin Medical Society master list of practicing physicians. Respondents rated opinions on a 5-point Likert scale.

Short report: factors that affect specialty choice and career plans of Wisconsin's medical students.

Objective: To identify factors that influence specialty choice among Wisconsin medical students and provide insight into approaches to encourage more students to pursue careers in primary care.

Methods: The importance of several factors in medical student career choice was surveyed using a Web survey convenience sample of all Wisconsin medical students. Students intending to pursue a career in primary care and in other specialties were compared.