Preventive medicine
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Preventive medicine · Apr 2021
Randomized Controlled TrialEffects of fact-checking social media vaccine misinformation on attitudes toward vaccines.
Social media vaccine misinformation can negatively influence vaccine attitudes. It is urgent to develop communication approaches to reduce the misinformation's impact. This study aimed to test the effects of fact-checking labels for misinformation on attitudes toward vaccines. ⋯ Exposure to fact-checking labels on misinformation can generate more positive attitudes toward vaccines in comparison to exposure to misinformation. Incorporating labels from trusted universities and health institutions on social media platforms is a promising direction for addressing the vaccine misinformation problem. This points to the necessity for closer collaboration between public health and research institutions and social media companies to join efforts in addressing the current misinformation threat.
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Background checks are designed to prevent firearm acquisition by people prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms. There is limited information about background checks, particularly on a state by state basis. We conducted a state-representative, probability-based, Internet survey of California adults in 2018 (n=2558; completion rate 49%) to describe where, when, and how firearms are acquired and to estimate the proportion of current firearm owners who purchased their most recent firearm without a background check. ⋯ Overall, firearm purchases without background checks are considerably less common in California than in states without regulations on private sales. However, gaps in implementation and proper enforcement remain. Future research could investigate reasons for such lapses, as well as complementary state policy approaches that require background checks prior to point of purchase.
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Preventive medicine · Apr 2021
EditorialDying at home of Covid-19: Meeting the need for home-based care.
Despite the increased burden of Covid-19 on older adults, ethical and public health frameworks lack adequate guidance for elderly patients who manage severe, even fatal, illness at home. The U. S. ⋯ Older patients are more susceptible to experiencing severe illness at home from which they may not recover; and if they do seek medical care, they tend to suffer worse outcomes than younger patients in intensive care settings. Given their likelihood of severe illness, worse outcomes in intensive care settings, and potential difficulty accessing resources, frail, disabled, and otherwise vulnerable older patients may face Covid-19 at home without adequate resources, information, or support for home-based care. This editorial proposes three approaches to prevent needless suffering and ensure that this vulnerable population continues to receive needed care.
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Preventive medicine · Apr 2021
Adolescent perceptions of E-cigarette use and vaping behavior before and after the EVALI outbreak.
This study sought to determine whether adolescents' e-cigarette risk perceptions, perceived benefits, and positive expectations, and vaping behavior changed after the electronic-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) outbreak. This longitudinal survey studied 1539 high school students in suburban Philadelphia, PA in 11th and 12th grade, before and after the outbreak of EVALI cases in 2019. Adolescents who reported current nicotine vaping at baseline (versus those who did not) had a greater increase in risk perceptions (B = -0.31, p = 0.04) and a greater decrease in positive expectations (B = -1.30, p = 0.003) at follow-up. ⋯ Perceptions of the risks of e-cigarette use increased and positive expectations of e-cigarette use decreased after the EVALI outbreak. Adolescent risk perceptions and positive expectations of e-cigarette use are two potential targets to impact vaping behavior. Emphasizing the risks of e-cigarette use while decreasing positive expectations of use have the potential to reduce vaping behavior, and perhaps subsequent EVALI cases.
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Preventive medicine · Apr 2021
Diversity of social networks versus quality of social support: Which is more protective for health-related quality of life among older adults?
Both social networks and social support are important in addressing bio-psycho-social events in older adults. Their associations with health-related quality of life (HRQOL), however, are not well understood. This study aims to examine the associations of diversity of social networks and perceived quality of social support with HRQOL in older adults. ⋯ In multivariable-adjusted analyses, diversity of social networks was positively associated with HRQOL-MCS (coefficient = 0.59; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 0.08-1.09), HRQOL-PCS (coefficient = 1.00; 95% CI, 0.38-1.61), and QALYs (coefficient = 0.01; 95% CI, 0.00-0.02). Perceived quality of social support was not associated with HRQOL. The diversity of social networks, more than perceived quality of social support, may be protective for HRQOL in older adults.