"Though it is highly preventable, tooth decay is a common chronic disease both in the United States and worldwide. Evidence shows that decay and other oral diseases may be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. However, individuals and many health care professionals remain unaware of the risk factors and preventive approaches for many oral diseases. They do not fully appreciate how oral...

"For patients and their loved ones, no care decisions are more profound than those made near the end of life. Unfortunately, the experience of dying in the United States is often characterized by fragmented care, inadequate treatment of distressing symptoms, frequent transitions among care settings, and enormous care responsibilities for families. According to this report, the current health care system of rendering more intensive services than are...

At a time when lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals--often referred to under the umbrella acronym LGBT--are becoming more visible in society and more socially acknowledged, clinicians and researchers are faced with incomplete information about their health status. While LGBT populations often are combined as a single entity for research and advocacy purposes, each is a distinct population group with its own specific health needs. Furthermore,...

Abstract: This book offers a thorough examination of current nutrition labeling practices and the need to make labeling policy consistent with recent dietary recommendations from the U.S. Surgeon General and the National Research Council. Several recommend ations are presented including: expanding nutrition labeling to many foods that do not currently provide this information; making federal labeling requirements uniform; updating the nutrient content...

A report from the Committee on Preventing Nicotine Addiction in Children and Youths, Division of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Disorders, the Institute of Medicine.

Summarizes and analyzes what is known about the medical use of marijuana, emphasizing evidence-based medicine, and focusing on the evaluation of the effects of isolated cannabinoids, the risks associated with the medical use of marijuana, and the use of smoked marijuana.

The book relates the findings of the National Institute of Medicine's Committee for Understanding and Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care. The findings show that racial and ethnic minorities tend to receive a lower quality of healthcare in the United States than do non-minorities.

This book explores ways to enhance nursing education, allow nurses to practice to the full extent of their education and training, provide opportunities for nurses to serve in leadership positions, and improve data collection methods for workforce planning and policy making.