Preventive medicine
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Preventive medicine · Jul 2024
Non-tobacco nicotine E-cigarette use and flavored E-cigarette use among young adults in the United States.
E-cigarette flavors can create sensations of sweetness and coolness while masking the aversiveness of nicotine. Recently, non-tobacco nicotine (NTN) products were introduced to the market, but little is known about flavors in NTN e-cigarette use. We examined associations between flavors (i.e., sweet, mint/menthol) and susceptibility to and use of NTN e-cigarettes. ⋯ The use of sweet and mint/menthol flavors was significantly associated with NTN e-cigarette use among US young adults, highlighting the need for ongoing surveillance of flavored NTN e-cigarettes and appropriate regulations to discourage use.
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Preventive medicine · Jul 2024
Utilizing social determinants of health to identify most vulnerable neighborhoods-Latent class analysis and GIS map.
Public Health officials are often challenged to effectively allocate limited resources. Social determinants of health (SDOH) may cluster in areas to cause unique profiles related to various adverse life events. The authors use the framework of unintended teen pregnancies to illustrate how to identify the most vulnerable neighborhoods. ⋯ What is already known on this topic Public health practitioners struggle to develop interventions that are universally effective. The teen birth rates vary tremendously by race and ethnicity. Unplanned teen pregnancy rates are related to multiple social determinants and behaviors. Latent class analysis has been applied successfully to address public health problems. What this study adds While it is the pregnancy that is not planned rather than the birth, access to pregnancy intention data is not available resulting in a dependency on teen birth data for developing public health strategies. Using teen birth rates to identify at-risk neighborhoods will not directly represent the teens at risk for pregnancy but rather those who delivered a live birth. Since teen birth rates often fluctuate due to small numbers, especially for small neighborhoods, LCA may avoid some of the limitations associated with direct rate comparisons. The authors illustrate how practitioners can use publicly available SDOH from the Census Bureau to identify distinct SDOH profiles for teen births at the census tract level. How this study might affect research, practice or policy These profiles of classes that are at heightened risk potentially can be used to tailor intervention plans for reducing unintended teen pregnancy. The approach may be adapted to other programs and other states to prioritize the allocation of limited resources.
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Preventive medicine · Jul 2024
Effectiveness of patient reminders on influenza vaccination coverage among adults with chronic conditions: A feasibility study in Australian general practices.
Influenza vaccination is recommended for Australians 18+ years old with medical risk factors, but coverage is suboptimal. We aimed to examine whether automatic, opportunistic patient reminders (SMS and/or printed) before appointments with a general practitioner increased influenza vaccination uptake. ⋯ These findings indicate that automated SMS reminders delivered at proximate times to appointments are a low-cost strategy to increase influenza vaccination among adults at higher risk of severe disease attending Australian general practices.
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Preventive medicine · Jul 2024
Perceptions of a reduced nicotine policy and predictors of policy support: A nationally representative U.S. survey.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is considering a policy to reduce nicotine in cigarettes to non-addictive levels. Although current evidence supports the public-health benefits of a reduced-nicotine policy, almost half of people who smoke (∼ 40%) do not support the policy. This study estimates the factors most strongly associated with support or opposition toward the policy, including tobacco use status, perceived effects of a reduced nicotine policy, trust in the FDA, and psychological distress. The study aims to inform messaging campaigns and policy makers. ⋯ Educational campaigns about reduced nicotine policy should expect higher impact by targeting prevalent perceptions and those more strongly associated with policy sentiment. In anticipation of the policy rollout, there may be a critical window to shape public opinion.
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Preventive medicine · Jul 2024
Association of lifestyle behaviors and oral health care needs: Mediating effects of inflammatory markers.
Mounting evidence indicates that modifiable risk factors such as lifestyle behaviors may be involved in the occurrence of oral diseases. However, existing research doesn't come to a unanimous consent. This study aims to evaluate the association between lifestyle behaviors and oral health care needs. ⋯ The possible beneficial effects of healthy lifestyle behaviors on oral health will guide individuals to develop good habits, thereby reducing the burden of oral diseases.