Preventive medicine
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Preventive medicine · Feb 2022
ReviewNudges used to promote physical activity and to reduce sedentary behaviour in the workplace: Results of a scoping review.
Physical inactivity is one of the most important risk factors for non-communicable diseases. Workplace health promotion is therefore of growing interest to support an active day using nudges. The scoping review aims to (a) analyse how frequently nudges are applied in workplace health promotion to increase physical activity and/or reduce sedentary behaviour, and (b) characterise the nudges used. ⋯ There is a lack of long-term studies that analyse habituation and behavioural changes beyond the intervention period. In addition, the potential of digital and mixed approaches is not yet fully exploited. Further studies from low- and middle-income countries with different climates and working conditions are needed to investigate the feasibility of approaches and advance the fight against physical inactivity.
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Preventive medicine · Feb 2022
Two randomized controlled trials for colorectal cancer screening invitations developed using a behavioral science approach.
The effectiveness of behaviorally informed, targeted invitations to standard invitations and to no invitation (control arm, primary analysis) were compared in the context of an organized colorectal cancer (CRC) screening program. Two multi-arm, pragmatic randomized controlled trials in men (arms: male-specific, unisex, standard invitation, or no invitation) and in women (arms: unisex, standard invitation, or no invitation), were conducted in Ontario, Canada. Eligible persons aged 50-74, due for CRC screening, were randomized. ⋯ In both trials, the findings were similar for the secondary outcome. Mailed invitations were effective for both men and women. With greater targeting using the behaviorally informed invitations, the magnitude of benefit relative to no invitation appeared to increase. (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02364895).
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Preventive medicine · Feb 2022
Changes in harm perception of ENDS and their predictors among US adolescents: findings from the population assessment of tobacco and health (PATH) study, 2013-2018.
Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use has dramatically increased in the US. This study aimed to characterize changes in ENDS harm perception over time and associated predictors among US adolescents. Data from the 2013-2018 Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study (PATH) for adolescents (12-17 years) were utilized. ⋯ Additionally, having ever used ENDS or alcohol were more likely to be associated with reduced ENDS-related harm perception over time (P's < 0.05). Our results show that while ENDS-related harm perception have generally increased, this does not appear to be equally experienced across all adolescents, potentially highlighting the importance of at-risk groups and targets for intervention. This study can help identify individuals at risk of ENDS initiation because of their favorable ENDS harm perception profile, as well as guide the development of ENDS risk communication interventions for adolescents.
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Preventive medicine · Feb 2022
Repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on preventive health services in Brazil.
The increasing burden of non-communicable diseases and limited public financing are major challenges facing health care systems in Latin America. Although COVID-19 severely impacted the Brazilian health care system, it is crucial to further characterize the degree of disruption caused to public health efforts, in order to address and manage long term effects of this pandemic. We therefore quantified the demand for preventive and treatment services from the Brazilian Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde/SUS) in 2020 to evaluate potential repercussions of COVID-19 in this setting. ⋯ The COVID-19 pandemic appears to have led to a dramatic decline in preventative and treatment services provided by SUS to the Brazilian population. Our findings may aid decision-makers in formulating policies to increase the availability of outpatient services in the aftermath of the pandemic. Counter measures will be critical to avoid a resurgence in vaccine-preventable diseases and complications stemming from non-communicable, chronic health conditions.
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Preventive medicine · Feb 2022
Family's socioeconomic profile at birth and offspring mortality until midlife - The Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 study.
Family's socioeconomic profile collected prenatally is known to predict offspring mortality during early life, but it remains unclear whether it has the potential to predict offspring mortality until later life. In this study, 12,063 individuals belonging to the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 were followed up from mid-pregnancy for 52 years (570,000 person years). Five distinct socioeconomic profiles were identified by latent class analysis based on mother's marital status, education, and occupation; father's occupation; number of family members; location of residence, room count, and utilities; and family's wealth. ⋯ Risk for midlife mortality was higher among male offspring from larger families (hazard ratio 2.19, 95% confidence interval 1.32-3.63), average wealth families (1.66, 1.02-2.73) and rural families (1.63, 1.00-2.68), relative to offspring from highest status families. It seems that family's socioeconomic profile constructed prenatally has predictive value for midlife mortality among male offspring. Premature mortality of men and women seem to be two distinct phenomena with differing underlying factors as socioeconomic profile was not associated with mortality among female offspring.