Digital technology—and especially the Internet—has revolutionized the way we work, study, socialize, and entertain ourselves. Alongside the global increase in screen time, both public and academic attention to potentially addictive digital behaviors has grown.

One such behavior is online pornography consumption. A study published in Addictive Behaviors, conducted by researchers from Monash University (Australia), the D’Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), investigated problematic pornography use (PPU), particularly in men.

High-fidelity realistic simulation has proven to be a powerful tool for developing critical skills in medical students. A recent study published in the Jornal de Pediatria by the D’Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR) compared the effects of this teaching method with traditional clinical case discussions in pediatric emergency training, revealing the positive impact of both approaches on medical education.

The Covid-19 pandemic exposed longstanding inequalities in healthcare access worldwide, particularly in Brazil. These disparities were especially evident in access to hospital beds and vaccines, disproportionately affecting low-income communities in major cities and regions with lower human development indices.

In response, the Vacina Maré project was launched in 2021 to expand vaccination coverage and study health data in favelas during the pandemic. This ongoing initiative was developed by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), the Redes da Maré organization, and the Rio de Janeiro City Hall, with support from the D’Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR) and several other research institutions.

The Maré Complex, home to 16 favelas and approximately 140,000 residents, became a focal point for community-driven health interventions. Among these efforts, Vacina Maré stood out as part of a broader strategy that included vaccination campaigns, local health surveillance, telemedicine support, social assistance, and risk communication. The initiative’s success was largely due to the massive engagement of the local population, which led to international recognition, including presentations at the World Health Organization (WHO), the Brazilian Ministry of Health, and various global research centers.

A study investigated the unconscious inclinations that influence decision-making in people with depression. The innovative methodology aligned with one of the main trends in modern technology: the research was conducted by immersing participants in a virtual reality (VR) environment. With contributions from the D’Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR) and other international institutions, the study was published in the scientific journal Journal of Psychiatric Research. Its findings offer new insights into the complex relationship between emotions and actions in depression.

New research from University of Notre Dame marketing professor Shijie Lu looks at how the abrupt move from classroom teaching to online learning during the COVID-19 lockdown affected college students’ performance in China.

Students who enroll in short-term, job-focused training through community college noncredit programs experience modest but meaningful earnings gains and a greater likelihood of being employed after training, according to a new study published today in Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Educational Research Association.

In striking new statistics, experts warn of social media’s growing grip on young people, with use among children and teens soaring by more than 200% since before COVID and showing no sign of decline.