Increasing Epidemic of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in China

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) were virtually eliminated in China in 1964 after Chinese government illegalized commercial sex and implemented active prevention and treatment programs among former sex workers (Chen et al., 2000).  However, in the last three decades, the centralized economy in China made a transition to a more market-oriented economy, which brought significant changes in culture and social norms and dramatically influenced sexual attitude and behaviors among Chinese adults. One consequence of those changes is the significantly increasing prevalence of STDs in China(Abrams, 2001). The common STDs in China include gonorrhea, syphilis, AIDS, cervicitis, genital herpes, chancroid, lymphogranuloma venereum, and chlamydial infection

INTERVIEW WITH DR. REN MINGHUI, MINISTRY OF HEALTH, CHINA

Dr. REN is the Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Health (MOH) of the People’s Republic of China. Throughout his career, Dr. REN has been involved in numerous health policy research projects including the “Health care systems research in rural China” (MOH), “Financing and organization of health care services in poverty areas of China” (World Bank), “The pilot study of health insurance reform in urban China” (Chinese State Council) and the “Experiment in community health protection-policy exploration, training and demonstration program” (UNDP). In recent years, as a senior representative of the Chinese government, he served as a leading board member in a number of international organizations including WHO, UNAIDS, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. He is also the point of contact for many Chinese bilateral cooperation mechanisms in health. Dr. REN received his MD, MPH and PHD from Xi’an Medical University in 1987, Harvard School of Public Health in 1993 and Peking University in 2008, respectively.  Dr. Lingling Zhang initiated this interview when she met with Dr. REN at the Harvard America-China Health Summit organized by the Harvard School of Public Health China Initiative. Dr. REN was one of the invited guests of honor at the Summit. Dr. REN responded to Dr. Zhang’s questions in writing after he returned to China

Heterogeneity in Treatment Effect and Comparative Effectiveness Research

The ultimate goal of comparative effectiveness research (CER) is to develop and disseminate evidence-based information about which interventions are most effective for which patients under what circumstances. To achieve this goal it is crucial that researchers in methodology development find appropriate methods for detecting the presence and sources of heterogeneity in treatment effect (HTE). Comparing with the typically reported average treatment effect (ATE) in randomized controlled trials and non-experimental (i.e., observational) studies, identifying and reporting HTE better reflect the nature and purposes of CER. Methodologies of CER include meta-analysis, systematic review, design of experiments that encompasses HTE, and statistical correction of various types of estimation bias, which is the focus of this review

INTERVIEW WITH DR. JIN MA, SHANGHAI JIAOTONG UNIVERSITY

Dr. Jin Ma is the Executive Dean of Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Public Health. In this interview with the China Health Review, conducted by Qi (Harry) Zhang, PhD, (Assistant Professor, Old Dominion University) and Jing Hao, MPH, (Doctoral Candidate, University of Massachusetts, Amherst) in April 2010, Dr. Jin Ma shared his views on China’s Health Care System Reform and ongoing research in Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Public Health

Charting an Inevitable Course: Building Institutional Long-term Care for a Rapidly Aging Population in China

The last 10-20 years have seen a rapid growth of elder care homes across major Chinese cities, primarily in the private sector. Given ongoing demographic shifts, family changes, and profound socioeconomic transformations in China, the rise of institutional elder care seems all but inevitable to meet the growing demand for long-term care of a rapidly aging population. As this new industry expands rapidly, it is imperative for Chinese policymakers to institute a formalized regulatory structure as soon as possible. To this end, building an information infrastructure is essential to enhance regulatory oversight and quality monitoring in Chinese long-term care facilities