Preventive medicine
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Preventive medicine · Feb 2020
ReviewE-cigarettes and youth: Patterns of use, potential harms, and recommendations.
Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use has risen to unprecedented levels among youth in the United States. In this review, we discuss the patterns of use underlying the current youth vaping epidemic, potential harms from e-cigarette use, and the regulatory, public health, and clinical responses to e-cigarette use among youth. Between 2017 and 2018, past 30-day use of nicotine e-cigarettes among high school seniors nearly doubled, from 11% to 21%, representing the largest recorded increase for any adolescent substance use in over four decades. ⋯ However, it remains unclear if ongoing initiatives are sufficient to curb e-cigarette use by youth. Most health professionals agree that youth exposure to e-cigarettes needs to be addressed but feel uninformed, rely on unconventional information sources such as the media and their patients, and report that routine screening procedures concerning e-cigarettes are lacking. A coordinated effort from policy makers, public health agencies, parents, educators, health practitioners, and researchers is essential to mitigate harms from e-cigarette use in this vulnerable population.
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Preventive medicine · Feb 2020
A multimodal assessment of tobacco use on a university campus and support for adopting a comprehensive tobacco-free policy.
Many college campuses now prohibit tobacco use. At a private U. S. university, the current study assessed cigarette and e-cigarette use and characterized the climate for adopting a comprehensive tobacco-free policy. ⋯ Those less likely in favor were students, those who smoke, and those perceiving impingement upon personal freedoms, stigmatization, and broader (slippery slope) implications. Findings indicate low tobacco use prevalence among the campus community, yet a large volume of butt litter and high tobacco clean-up costs. Predictors of policy support can inform campus outreach efforts.
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Preventive medicine · Feb 2020
Cannabis advertising, promotion and branding: Differences in consumer exposure between 'legal' and 'illegal' markets in Canada and the US.
Relatively little evidence exists on the impact of exposure to cannabis marketing, including potential differences between 'legal' and 'illegal' cannabis markets. The current study examined cannabis advertisement exposure and brand awareness across three jurisdictions: (i) all Canadian provinces immediately prior to legalization, (ii) US states that had not legalized non-medical cannabis (US 'illegal' states) as of August 2018, and (iii) US states that had legalized non-medical cannabis (US 'legal' states). Data are from Wave 1 of the International Cannabis Policy Study, an online survey conducted from August 27-October 7, 2018. ⋯ Higher rates of advertisement awareness and brand recall were also associated with greater frequency of cannabis use and self-reported proximity to cannabis retail stores. Results from this study indicate that advertisement exposure was higher in legal cannabis markets, although brand awareness for cannabis products was low across all jurisdictions. The findings reflect the relative novelty of legalized cannabis markets and provide a benchmark for evaluating the impact of cannabis advertising as legal markets become established.
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Preventive medicine · Feb 2020
Geographic and sociodemographic differences in cervical cancer screening modalities.
Cervical cancer screening recommendations for women aged 30-65 years include co-testing (high-risk human papillomavirus [hrHPV] with Pap testing) every five years or Pap testing alone every three years. Geographic variations of these different screening modalities across the United States have not been examined. We selected 82,426 non-pregnant women aged 30-65 years from the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System with data on sociodemographics, hysterectomy, and cervical cancer screening, representing 42 states and the District of Columbia. ⋯ Sociodemographic, healthcare, and behavioral factors accounted for some but not all state-level variation in co-testing. There was substantial state-level variability in co-testing prevalence, which was lowest in Midwestern and Southern states; the variation was not entirely explained by individual sociodemographic, healthcare, and behavioral factors. Future studies should monitor the impact of geographic variations in screening modalities on state-level differences in cervical cancer incidence, survival, and mortality.
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Preventive medicine · Feb 2020
Adults' attitudes toward raising the minimum age of sale for tobacco products to 21 years, United States, 2014-2017.
Raising the minimum age of sale for tobacco products to 21 years (Tobacco 21) could help prevent and delay tobacco product initiation among youth. This study examined changes in U. S. adults' attitudes toward Tobacco 21 policies during 2014-2017. ⋯ Among U. S. adults, Tobacco 21 favorability has remained high since 2014, coinciding with a period of rapid state and local-level policy adoption. These results could be helpful for states and localities as they work to understand the feasibility of Tobacco 21 policies in their jurisdiction.