Preventive medicine
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Preventive medicine · Sep 2004
Review Comparative StudyTurning free speech into corporate speech: Philip Morris' efforts to influence U.S. and European journalists regarding the U.S. EPA report on secondhand smoke.
Previously secret internal tobacco company documents show that the tobacco industry launched an extensive multifaceted effort to influence the scientific debate about the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. Integral to the industry's campaign was an effort to derail the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) risk assessment on environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) by recruiting a network of journalists to generate news articles supporting the industry's position and pushing its public relations messages regarding the ETS issue. ⋯ This is the first report, from the tobacco industry's own documents, to show the extent to which the tobacco industry has gone to influence the print media on the issue of the health effects of secondhand smoke. Unfortunately, what we report here is that even journalists can fall victim to well-orchestrated and presented public relations efforts regardless of their scientific validity. It is not clear how various professional media organizations oversee the ethical conduct of their members. Certainly, on the topic of the health effects of secondhand smoke, more scrutiny is warranted from these organizations for articles written by their members lest the public be misinformed and thus ill served.
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Preventive medicine · Sep 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialIncreasing mammography screening among women over age 50 with a videotape intervention.
A randomized trial was conducted to test the effectiveness of a videotape for increasing mammography screening among a multiethnic sample of older women. ⋯ The videotape had a small effect on increasing mammography screening. Although the effect was smaller than more intensive interventions, the video is a convenient, low cost, and easily implemented method to increase mammography screening.
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Preventive medicine · Sep 2004
Comparative StudyThe mortality risks of smokers in Taiwan: Part I: cause-specific mortality.
Few studies of adverse health effects from smoking have been conducted in southeastern Asian populations which may exhibit racial, cultural, and smoking behavioral differences that could affect mortality patterns. This study aims to quantify cause-specific mortality risks among cigarette smokers in Taiwan. ⋯ The pervasive and serious impact of cigarette smoking on the health of Taiwanese cannot be underestimated.
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Preventive medicine · Sep 2004
Comparative StudyMedical triggers are associated with better short- and long-term weight loss outcomes.
Medical events are often reported as triggers for weight loss, but it is unknown whether medical triggers result in better short- and long-term weight control. ⋯ Medical triggers may produce a teachable moment for weight control, resulting in better initial weight loss and long-term maintenance.
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Preventive medicine · Sep 2004
Comparative StudyOmega-3 fatty acid supply from milk associates with lower type 2 diabetes in men and coronary heart disease in women.
Omega-3 fatty acids may prevent type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease (CHD). We investigated these fatty acids in Nordic cow's milk and whether their supply from milk associates with type 2 diabetes prevalence and CHD mortality in the Nordic countries. ⋯ Milk fatty acids content can depend upon the origin of the milk. The higher supply of omega-3 fatty acids from milk might explain the lower type 2 diabetes prevalence and CHD mortality in Iceland compared to the other Nordic countries.