Preventive medicine
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Preventive medicine · Apr 2023
ReviewEducation messages and strategies to inform the public, potential screening candidates and healthcare providers about lung cancer screening: A systematic review.
International lung cancer screening (LCS) trials, using low-dose computed tomography, have demonstrated clinical effectiveness in reducing mortality from lung cancer. This systematic review aims to synthesise the key messages and strategies that could be successful in increasing awareness and knowledge of LCS, and ultimately increase uptake of screening. Studies were identified via relevant database searches up to January 2022. ⋯ Evidence from behavioural studies suggests that campaigns supporting engagement with platforms such as educational videos and digital awareness campaigns might be most effective. Group based learning appears to be most suited to increasing health professionals' knowledge. This systematic review found a lack of consistent evidence to demonstrate which strategies are most effective for increasing participant healthcare professional and community awareness and education about LCS.
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Preventive medicine · Apr 2023
ReviewLearning from community-based HIV prevention to inform control and mitigation of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The current COVID-19 pandemic and the likelihood of future viral pandemics demonstrate a need for strategic prevention campaigns that integrate biomedical, structural, and behavioral interventions within larger scale comprehensive public health initiatives. In Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevention, community-based efforts have resulted in reductions in transmission rates, increases in testing, increases in biomedical prevention uptake, and increased engagement in secondary and tertiary prevention efforts. In this paper, we review three community-based strategies (health communication, accessible screening, and accessible prevention resources) that have demonstrated effectiveness in HIV prevention and offer recommendations for utilizing these strategies in the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ In addition, studies have shown that improving accessibility of HIV screening and prevention resources in community venues such as schools, pharmacies, mobile-testing sites, churches, hair salons, and bars is useful for increasing the uptake of HIV testing, especially among disproportionately affected populations and those deemed hard to reach. Despite differences in modes of transmission, it is plausible that a synergistic multilevel response with emphasis on community-based efforts could lead to similar outcomes for the current COVID-19 pandemic and future viral pandemics. Community-based prevention strategies offer an opportunity to integrate, and bolster disconnected and siloed initiatives that achieve limited impacts independently.
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Preventive medicine · Apr 2023
The FIRST nicotine product tried is associated with current multiple nicotine product use and nicotine dependence among a nationally representative sample of U.S. youths.
This study examines the demographic factors associated with youths' first product tried (i.e., cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, hookah, or smokeless tobacco). This study also evaluates whether the first product tried is associated with future nicotine product use (i.e., no use, single product use, and multiple product use) and nicotine dependence. Participants were 1999 youths (ages 12-17 years) who had ever tried a nicotine product and completed the Population Assessment of Tobacco Health study's Wave 1 (2013-2014) and Wave 4 (2016-2018) assessments. ⋯ Regarding the degree of nicotine dependence (n = 713), first trying smokeless tobacco (vs. e-cigarettes) was associated with higher nicotine dependence scores among those with any symptom of dependence. Youths who first try smokeless tobacco (vs. e-cigarettes) may be at higher risk for future multiple product use and more symptoms nicotine dependence. Research should explore tailored interventions for smokeless tobacco users.
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Preventive medicine · Apr 2023
Rental assistance improves food security and nutrition: An analysis of National Survey Data.
The U. S. is experiencing a severe housing affordability crisis, resulting in households having to make difficult trade-offs between paying for a place to live and basic health necessities such as food. Rental assistance may mitigate these strains, improving food security and nutrition. ⋯ This national quasi-experimental study utilizes linked NHANES-HUD data (1999-2016) to investigate the impacts of rental assistance on food security and nutrition using cross-sectional regression. Tenants with project-based assistance were less likely to experience food insecurity (B = -0.18, p = 0.02) and rent-assisted individuals consumed 0.23 more cups of daily fruits and vegetables compared the pseudo-waitlist group. These findings suggest that the current unmet need for rental assistance and resulting long waitlists have adverse health implications, including decreased food security and fruit and vegetable consumption.
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Preventive medicine · Apr 2023
Randomized Controlled TrialYouth and adult understanding of public displays of information about harmful constituents in cigarette smoke.
The U. S. FDA is required by law to publicly display a list of harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) "by brand and by quantity in each brand and subbrand" in a format that is "understandable and not misleading to a lay person." An online experiment examined youth and adult understanding of which HPHCs are present in cigarette smoke, understanding of health effects of smoking cigarettes, and endorsement of misleading information after viewing HPHC information displayed in one of six formats. ⋯ Respondents (20.6% to 73.5%) endorsed misleading beliefs after exposure to information about HPHCs. Endorsement of the one misleading belief that was measured pre- and post-exposure significantly increased for viewers of four formats. All formats increased understanding of HPHCs in cigarette smoke and the health effects of smoking cigarettes, but some participants endorsed each misleading belief after exposure to HPHC information.