Preventive medicine
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Preventive medicine · Dec 2021
Crisis response among essential workers and their children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Limited research has been conducted on the mental health concerns of frontline and essential workers and their children during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States (U. S.). This study examined the association between working on the frontlines in the U. ⋯ Increases in CTL usage among frontline workers were noted across 7-28 days after spikes in local COVID-19 cases. The research to date has focused on the mental health of frontline essential workers, but our study highlights troubling trends in psychological stress among children of these workers. Supportive interventions and mental health resources are needed not only for frontline essential workers, but for their children too.
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Preventive medicine · Dec 2021
Political affiliation and risk taking behaviors among adults with elevated chance of severe complications from COVID-19.
This study determines whether COVID-related risk-taking behavior was different among Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, in adults with elevated chance of severe complications from COVID-19. Using US national survey data collected September 30-October 27, 2020 (N = 6095), behaviors in the prior week examined were: 7 potentially risky activities, mask wearing anywhere, and mask wearing while undertaking each activity. Differences among political affiliations were estimated for adults with 0 and with ≥1 medical risk factors for severe complications, adjusting for sociodemographic factors. ⋯ While undertaking each specific activity, the adjusted percentage of at-risk adults never wearing a mask was higher for Republicans than Democrats: 24% vs 8% at bar/club; 6% vs 0% at grocery/pharmacy; 63% vs 30% visiting at friend's home; 68% vs 41% hosting visitors; 30% vs 5% at gathering of ≥10 people; 25% vs 11% while within 6 ft of someone they do not live with. Rates of mask wearing among political Independents were between rates among Democrats and Republicans. Efforts to reduce COVID-related risky behavior should recognize that although Republicans take more risks, rates of mask wearing at common activities are low across political affiliations, even for populations vulnerable to severe complications.
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Preventive medicine · Dec 2021
The role of motivation on physical activity and screen time behaviors among parent-adolescent dyads: The FLASHE study.
Behavioral theories inform the development of lifestyle interventions to address low participation in physical activity (PA); however, relatively little is known about the value of self-determination theory (SDT) for explaining screen time (ST) behaviors or in extending SDT into a dyadic context. Actor-partner (i.e., parent-adolescent) interdependence models (APIMs) allow for examination of these interpersonal relationships. The purpose of this study was to examine PA and ST among parent-adolescent dyads using the cross-sectional Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) Study. ⋯ Adolescent motivation was only associated with parent motivation for PA. In the FLASHE study, SDT constructs extend acceptably to the dyadic setting, with PA models providing a slightly better fit to the data than ST models. Longitudinal studies that target perceived competence and the self-regulation of motivation in parents and their adolescents are a next logical step to understanding both PA and ST behaviors.
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Preventive medicine · Dec 2021
Prescription opioid use among women of reproductive age in the United States: NHANES, 2003-2018.
Women are prescribed opioids more often than men. Prescription opioid use among women of reproductive age is a public health concern because opioid use during pregnancy is associated with decreased prenatal care and increased risk of adverse perinatal and maternal outcomes. Recent prevalence estimates and correlates of prescription opioid use and long-term use among women of reproductive age are limited. ⋯ Correlates of prescription opioid use and long-term use included ages 35-44, non-Hispanic White, public insurance, and women with poor or fair health status. As policy makers and clinicians strive to reduce the negative impacts of the opioid epidemic, they should consider the demographic groups most likely to use prescription opioids long-term. Additionally, reductions in opioid prescribing should be balanced with increased availability of nonopioid therapies and monitoring for opioid use disorder.
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Preventive medicine · Dec 2021
Impacts of prescription drug monitoring program policy changes and county opioid safety coalitions on prescribing and overdose outcomes in California, 2015-2018.
In 2015, California received funding to implement the Prescription Drug Overdose Prevention Initiative, a 4-year program to reduce deaths involving prescription opioids by 1) leveraging improvements to California's prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) (i.e., mandatory PDMP registration for prescribers and pharmacists), and 2) supporting county opioid safety coalitions. We used statewide data from 2011 to 2018 to evaluate the Initiative's impact on opioid prescribing and overdose rates. Prescribing data were obtained from California's PDMP; fatal and non-fatal overdose data were obtained from the California Department of Public Health. ⋯ Both interventions were also associated with significantly fewer deaths involving any opioid but had no significant association with non-fatal overdose rates. Findings add to the knowledge available to guide policy to prevent high-risk prescribing and opioid overdoses. While further study is needed, coalitions and mandatory PDMP registration may be important components in such efforts.