Content about Studies and Surveys

WASHINGTON — A new Consumer Reports poll released Monday found that only one-fifth of U.S. adults were aware of having purchased food, medication or a product (other than a car) that was recalled in the past three years.

Americans surveyed believed it is important to know about product recalls, but they were not confident that they are getting adequate information delivered to them, the poll also revealed.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The very substantial decrease in teen smoking that began in the mid-1990s has come to a halt among younger teens in the United States, and some evidence of a possible increase in their smoking was observed this year, announced researchers that were part of the "Monitoring the Future" study on Tuesday.

ATLANTA — Among those getting their health on track in time for New Year's resolutions are consumers who are concerned about the long-term, negative effects of drinking unhealthy beverages.

WASHINGTON — Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the third-leading cause of death in the United States, according to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics released the report Friday, which showed that COPD became the third-leading cause of death in 2008, but it was expected to reach that rank in 2020. COPD is a collective term for such respiratory diseases as emphysema, chronic bronchitis and bronchiectasis, and affects around 24 million Americans.

NEW YORK — An annual holiday shopping index found that an overwhelming majority of Americans said that while online shopping for holiday gifts is easier, brick-and-mortar stores do a better job of putting them in the holiday spirit.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Pharmacists who intervene with diabetes patients are having a clear and positive impact on clinical outcomes, a new study from Walgreens has found.

SAN ANTONIO — Despite recommendations, half of women ages 40 years and older do not get annual mammograms, according to a new study by pharmacy benefit manager Medco.

The analysis, from the Medco Research Institute, also found that nearly 40% of women ages 50 years and older don’t get biennial screenings. Data from the study will be presented at the 33rd annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

BURLINGTON, Mass. — Chemotherapy drugs made by Johnson & Johnson and Merck will become the standard second-line treatment for ovarian cancer within the decade, replacing a treatment made by Bristol-Myers Squibb and generic versions, according to a new report by market research firm Decision Resources.

CARY, N.C. — Almost half of women in the United States who suffer from diabetes reported that it has a negative impact on their sex lives, according to a new study released Tuesday by MicroMass Communications.

The research, which highlighted the need for improved education and support to help women build confidence in their ability to overcome the challenges of the disease, was conducted with a representative sample of more than 800 women with diabetes.

NEW YORK — Switching to private-label brands could help consumers save one-third of their typical spend on products, a new study conducted by the Private Label Manufacturers of America found.

LONDON — Daily aspirin use may curb cancer-related deaths, according to a new study published in The Lancet.

The study, led by Peter Rothwell of the University of Oxford and colleagues, analyzed data from eight eligible trials — which typically lasted about four years — and included more than 25,000 subjects. Among them, 674 died from cancer.

NEW YORK — Consumers see smart phones as future personal, coupon-clipping shopper assistants, a global survey released Monday by Accenture found. According to the survey, 79% of smart-phone users would find it useful to download money-off coupons to their phones, and 73% of those shoppers would be receptive to being pinged with instant money-off coupons as they passed by an item in a store.