Preventive medicine
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Preventive medicine · Jul 2007
Associations of physical activity with smoking and alcohol consumption: a sport or occupation effect?
The aim of this study was to explore the associations of physical activity with smoking and alcohol consumption. It examined whether these associations are due to people participating in organized sports (the sport hypothesis), and/or reflect the concentration of drinking and smoking in manual occupational groups (the occupation hypothesis). ⋯ This study shows that it is worthwhile to distinguish between different types of physical activity; and that multiple processes underlie the clustering of health behaviors.
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Preventive medicine · Jul 2007
Randomized Controlled TrialCost-effectiveness of alternative approaches for motivating activity in sedentary adults: results of Project STRIDE.
To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of non-face-to-face interventions for increasing physical activity in sedentary adults. The study took place in Providence, Rhode Island between the years 2000 and 2004. ⋯ The Print intervention provides an efficient approach to increasing physical activity. Research is needed to determine the cost-effectiveness of the intervention in a more diverse population, within the context of the health service delivery system and over a longer period of time.
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Preventive medicine · Jun 2007
Controlled Clinical TrialEmergency Department education improves patient knowledge of coronary artery disease risk factors but not the accuracy of their own risk perception.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the single largest killer of both males and females in the United States. The Emergency Department (ED) represents a unique environment in which patient education may improve coronary artery disease risk factor knowledge and relative risk perception. ED patients' understanding of CAD risk factors is often limited. Patients' perception of their own risk is often not a reflection of their true risk. We hypothesized that an American Heart Association educational video intervention would improve patients' knowledge of coronary artery disease risk factors and personal risk awareness in the ED setting. ⋯ Simple educational intervention at a teachable moment (i.e. when a patient is experiencing chest pain in the ED) significantly improves patient's knowledge of CAD risk factors immediately post-intervention. This improvement in knowledge is not fully retained at 30-day follow-up, which suggests that patients may benefit from further educational intervention prior to 1 month follow-up. Patients overestimate their risk when compared to an objective measure of risk, regardless of whether they receive an educational intervention or not.
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Preventive medicine · Jun 2007
Prevalence and correlates of adolescent dating violence: baseline study of a cohort of 7,960 male and female Mexican public school students.
Factors correlated with adolescent dating violence have yet to be documented in most developing countries; this study assesses the prevalence and correlates of victimization with and perpetration of dating violence among Mexican youth. ⋯ Future research on adolescent dating violence in Mexico should further explore severity and frequency of violent behaviors, include a focus on severe dating violence and take into account the context and meaning of dating violence. A longitudinal design that allows determination of causality will also be needed in order to develop prevention strategies.
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Preventive medicine · Jun 2007
Obesity prevention in schools: current role and future practice of school nurses.
To determine responsibilities of school nurses in delivering obesity prevention services, assess opinions and beliefs about school-based obesity prevention and determine factors associated with school nurses supporting and providing obesity prevention services. ⋯ Our study suggests considerable support among school nurses for school-based obesity prevention efforts and a growing interest in providing primary and secondary preventive care services in the school setting. Study findings also speak to the need for preparation, time and support from the school and health provider community.