Journal of epidemiology and community health
-
J Epidemiol Community Health · Apr 2020
Individual and county-level variation in outcomes following non-fatal opioid-involved overdose.
A lack of large-scale, individually linked data often has impeded efforts to disentangle individual-level variability in outcomes from area-level variability in studies of many diseases and conditions. This study investigated individual and county-level variability in outcomes following non-fatal overdose in a state-wide cohort of opioid overdose patients. ⋯ Although patient-level differences account for most variability in opioid-related outcomes, treatment availability may contribute to county-level differences, necessitating multifaceted approaches for the treatment and prevention of opioid abuse.
-
J Epidemiol Community Health · Mar 2020
Cohort study of medical cannabis authorisation and healthcare utilisation in 2014-2017 in Ontario, Canada.
The impact of medical cannabis on healthcare utilisation between 2014 and 2017 in Ontario, Canada. With cannabis legalisation in Canada and some states in the USA, high-quality longitudinal cohort research studies are of urgent need to assess the impact of cannabis use on healthcare utilisation. ⋯ An initial increase (within first month) in healthcare utilisation may be expected among medical cannabis users that appears to wane over time. Proactive follow-up of patients using medical cannabis is warranted to minimise initial risks to patients and actively assess potential benefits/harms of ongoing use.
-
J Epidemiol Community Health · Jan 2020
Community engagement and dementia risk: time-to-event analyses from a national cohort study.
There is increasing interest in the potential health benefits of referring older adults to engage in community leisure activities ('social prescribing') to help promote healthy cognitive ageing. However, it remains unclear whether beneficial effects of community engagement are independent of the well-known protective effects of broader structural, functional and subjective social factors. ⋯ It is not just social factors that are associated with reduced risk of dementia onset, but community engagement may also be protective, particularly when relating to cultural activities. These findings are of relevance when considering the current interest in social prescribing to support healthy ageing.
-
J Epidemiol Community Health · Oct 2019
Comparative StudyComparison of physical and social risk-reducing factors for the development of disability in older adults: a population-based cohort study.
Considerations of modifiable risk factors for the development of disability in older age have traditionally focused on physical activity. However, there is increasing evidence that psychological, social, and cognitive factors also help to maintain functional independence. This study compared the protective associations between physical and social activities and disability onset. ⋯ These results suggest the importance of either developing multimodal interventions to protect against disability and promote healthy ageing or promoting greater physical and social engagement with existing community activities among older adults.
-
This paper examines the associations between state-level gun control and adolescent school safety overall and by student sex, age, and race. ⋯ The adoption of stricter state gun laws was associated with improvements in school climate and subjective perceptions of safety.