Journal of community health
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Review
Evaluated community fire safety interventions in the United States: a review of current literature.
The purpose of the study was to assess the state of fire prevention research, provide an updated synthesis of evaluated fire prevention programs, and discuss the role of fire fighters and data systems in prevention efforts. The review included all evaluations of U. S. based fire prevention interventions published between January 1998 and September 2004 and any earlier articles about U. ⋯ Programs involving partnerships with fire departments have indicated success in preventing fires and deaths, improving smoke alarm ownership and functional status, and improving children's fire safety knowledge. Using existing data systems to target and to evaluate interventions was effective. In the years since prior reviews, some improvements in the rigor of evaluation designs have been made, but there is still a need for high quality evaluations that will inform fire injury prevention efforts.
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Threatened use of the smallpox virus in bioterrorist attacks recently prompted national concerns in the United States. Smallpox, the "speckled monster," was known in antiquity. In 1856, New York City opened its first hospital devoted to caring for victims of smallpox. ⋯ In the mid 1950s, the building was abandoned. Today, the ruins of the smallpox hospital are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. At night, the ruins are illuminated casting an eerie, green aura on the remaining stone walls.
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This study examined the relationship of 16 variables with homicide, suicide, and unintentional firearm deaths. This cross-sectional analysis, using adjusted partial correlation coefficients, found that state-level firearm homicide rates significantly varied by the prevalence of firearms and by percent of the population which was African American. ⋯ Furthermore, state gun laws had only a limited effect on firearm-related homicide deaths. Although the current study cannot determine causation, firearm mortality in its various forms is most commonly related to the prevalence of firearms and the percent of the population that is African American.
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We report on results of a one-day survey measuring rates of substance use and HIV risk behaviors among the homeless youth population of Denver, Colorado. On March 15, 2001, staff of Urban Peak, conducted a single-day survey of homeless and runaway youth in the Denver metropolitan region, going to locations known to be frequented by this population. All youth encountered were asked to fill out a brief survey asking about past nine month use of the following substances: alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, hallucinogens, ecstasy and ketamine, and HIV risk behaviors. ⋯ Prevalence rates of substance use among homeless youth in the Denver metropolitan are similar to rates reported in other larger metropolitan areas. Routine screening for every substance needs to be part of the assessment for all homeless youth. Initial data points to a need for more research exploring protective factors among this population and to better understand the prevalence of club drug use.
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Comparative Study
HIV prevention in practice: an assessment of the public health response of physicians and nurses in the Midwest.
Epidemiological trends in HIV infection in the United States suggest existing primary and secondary prevention efforts are inadequate. Healthcare providers may be missing valuable opportunities to engage in necessary public health services, such as prevention education, risk assessment, and case finding. This study examined the HIV-related practice behaviors and training needs of physicians and nurses in the Midwest. ⋯ Physicians with prior HIV continuing medical education and training were 3.1 times more likely to report HIV-related public health services in their practice than providers without prior training (p = .004). Nurses with prior experience serving HIV-infected patients were 2.0 times more likely to identify a public health role (p = .012). These findings reflect the need for greater awareness among medical providers of the importance of assuming a public health role with the HIV epidemic.