In a recent study, researchers explored the possibility of giving everyone the health of the educated.

In a recent study, researchers explored the possibility of giving everyone the health of the educated. It is well-established that inadequate and low levels of education contribute greatly to mortality rates. This study examined whether correcting social conditions that are often attributed to excess deaths among persons with "inadequate" education might save more lives than new drugs or medical devices. Balancing disparities in "education-associated mortality rates" has the potential to save eight lives for every one life saved through medical advances. Strong efforts in social change would be necessary to correct educational disparities, but this study provides evidence that such investment is a more effective method to improve public health than is the current trend of heavy investment in medical advances. In fact, researchers concluded that spending large sums of money on medical advances instead of social change actually harms the public's health.

American Journal of Public Health, APRIL 2007