Research Methods

Implementing and evaluating the appropriate research methods is essential to developing solutions to complex health challenges.

Free Associations Podcast | January 11th, 2022

HIV self-testing kits in Zambia

Matt, Chris, and Jess examine a study looking at whether giving pregnant women HIV self-testing kits can increase HIV testing and access to care for male partners in Zambia, they discuss using confidence intervals to judge null results, and Chris solves a musical medical mystery.

Free Associations Podcast | September 21st, 2021

Migraine prevention AND treatment?

Matt and guest hosts Michelle Caunca and Sarah Ackley discuss a study on a new treatment to stop migraines, they talk about stitching together multiple datasets to study lifecourse epidemiology, and Michelle tells us about how doctors react to observational epidemiology.

Free Associations Podcast | August 24th, 2021

Do sugar taxes really work to reduce sugar consumption?

Matt and guest hosts Hoda S. Abdel Magid and Geetika Kalloo discuss a study on whether a tax on sugar sweetened beverages reduces consumption in South Africa, they talk through ethical guidelines for peer reviewers, and Simone Biles makes a return appearance.

Free Associations Podcast | June 29th, 2021

MDMA for PTSD?

Matt, Chris, and Don discuss a study on the effectiveness of MDMA for treatment of PTSD, they look at whether electronic passports for COVID vaccination are ethical and legal, and Matt goes into the history of peer review.

Free Associations Podcast | June 15th, 2021

Is this show going down the tubes?

Matt, Chris, and Don discuss a study on the effectiveness of ear tubes for ear infections, they consider the role of funders in international research, and Don goes cicada hunting.

Free Associations Podcast | May 4th, 2021

More walkies for health? Pets and diabetes

Matt, Chris, and Don discuss a study that asks whether pets and humans get diabetes in pairs, they debate who got the best of the new deal between Elsevier and University of California, and Chris and Matt share a love of a specific food.

Free Associations Podcast | April 20th, 2021

Is the key to concussions in saliva?

Matt, Chris, and Don look at some new research on whether a saliva test can detect concussions, they discuss how to take down the anti-vaxx industry, and Matt gets saucy.

Free Associations Podcast | April 6th, 2021

The self-controlled podcast

Matt, Chris, and Jess examine a study that looks at whether opioids increase the risk of fractures, they discuss what is likely to happen with measles when COVID is over, and Matt worries about lawsuits.

Free Associations Podcast | February 23rd, 2021

Getting spicy! Does spicy food cause or prevent GI cancers?

Matt, Chris, and Don discuss a study that looks at whether spicy foods prevent gastrointestinal cancers in China, they debate the role of social media in public health messaging, and Matt repeats himself, yet again.

Free Associations Podcast | February 9th, 2021

Cannabis in the driver's seat

Matt, Chris, and Jess examine a study that looks at whether cannabis reduces the ability to drive well, they discuss whether COVID is affecting just the elderly, and Jess shows us she’s an animal lover.

Free Associations Podcast | January 26th, 2021

The C-section implications

Matt, Chris, and Jess discuss a study that looks at whether babies born by C-section are more likely to have infectious illnesses after birth, they debate who should be allowed to critique public health (and who even is public health?), and Chris quizzes us on traffic.

Webinar | January 5th, 2021

Alcohol Policy and COVID-19

This webinar reviews what we know about changes in alcohol consumption since the beginning of the pandemic, as well as the changes in policies governing alcohol availability. It then reviews the policy issues associated with both alcohol marketing data and physical availability of alcohol.