The psychology and policy of overcoming economic inequality.

Recent arguments claim that behavioral science has focused - to its detriment - on the individual over the system when construing behavioral interventions. In this commentary, we argue that tackling economic inequality using both framings in tandem is invaluable. By studying individuals who have overcome inequality, "positive deviants," and the system limitations they navigate, we offer potentially greater policy solutions.

The persistence of cognitive biases in financial decisions across economic groups.

While economic inequality continues to rise within countries, efforts to address it have been largely ineffective, particularly those involving behavioral approaches. It is often implied but not tested that choice patterns among low-income individuals may be a factor impeding behavioral interventions aimed at improving upward economic mobility. To test this, we assessed rates of ten cognitive biases across nearly 5000 participants from 27 countries.

The Feasibility of the Nationwide Health Information Network.

The Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) use in health care facilities was examined for utilization and efficacy; although the advantages are abundant, health care facilities have been reluctant to adopt it because of associated costs. The purpose of this study was to analyze the feasibility of a US NHIN by exploring and determining the benefits of an NHIN and assessing the barriers to its implementation. The research methodology applied in examining the implementation of NHIN in the United States was a qualitative literature review, which followed the basic guidelines of a systematic literature review, partnered with a semistructured interview of a chief information officer of a private, nonprofit, 193-bed hospital located in Westminster, Maryland.

Tweeting and Treating: How Hospitals Use Twitter to Improve Care.

Hospitals that have adopted Twitter primarily use it to share organizational news, provide general health care information, advertise upcoming community events, and foster networking. The purpose of this study was to explore the benefits that Twitter utilization has had in improving quality of care, access to care, patient satisfaction, and community footprint while assessing the barriers to its implementation. The methodology used was a qualitative study with a semistructured interview combined with a literature review, which followed the basic principles of a systematic review.