Economic costs of dysphagia among hospitalized patients.

Objectives/hypothesis: Difficulties swallowing may lead to aspiration pneumonia and death. In a hospital setting where patients are admitted for other causes, we hypothesized that the additional burden of a swallow problem would increase length of stay, rate of pneumonia, cost, readmissions, and morbidity compared to those without dysphagia.

Study Design: Retrospective parallel cohort study.

How effective is the plain packaging of tobacco policy on rates of intention to quit smoking and changing attitudes to smoking?

Background: The aim of this study is to critically appraise the evidence for the effectiveness of the plain packaging of tobacco products policy.

Methods: A systematic approach to a literature review was undertaken using five databases: PubMed, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Global Health and Legacy Tobacco Documents Library. Quantitative and qualitative studies that evaluate attitudes towards smoking, starting smoking and quitting intentions when plain packaging use is compared with standard cigarette packaging use were included.

A booklet on participants' rights to improve consent for clinical research: a randomized trial.

Objective: Information on the rights of subjects in clinical trials has become increasingly complex and difficult to understand. This study evaluates whether a simple booklet which is relevant to all research studies improves the understanding of rights needed for subjects to provide informed consent.

Methods: 21 currently used informed consent forms (ICF) from international clinical trials were separated into information related to the specific research study, and general information on participants' rights.