Preventive medicine
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Preventive medicine · Mar 2004
Associations between smoking prevalence, stages of change, cigarette consumption, and quit attempts across the United States.
We tested whether across the 50 U.S. States, smoking prevalence was associated with smoking behavior among smokers. ⋯ Across the 50 States, a higher prevalence of cigarette smoking was associated with a lower motivation to quit smoking, fewer quit attempts, and higher cigarette consumption among smokers.
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Preventive medicine · Feb 2004
Direct observation of physician counseling on dietary habits and exercise: patient, physician, and office correlates.
This study documented the frequency and correlates of directly observed physicians' counseling on dietary habits and exercise in private medical practices. ⋯ Physician counseled patients in 20-25% of visits, and this was not affected by physician characteristics. Results suggest that physician counseling protocols and other office prompts should be developed and promoted. Strategies targeting both physician and the health care system may improve the consistency of physician preventive counseling practices.
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Preventive medicine · Feb 2004
Quality of care in stroke prevention: results of an audit study among general practitioners.
In identifying opportunities to improve the quality of stroke prevention in general practice, insight in areas of suboptimal care is essential. This study investigated the quality of care in stroke prevention in general practice and its relation to the occurrence of stroke. ⋯ A substantial number of shortcomings in care, particularly in the domain of hypertension control and the assessment of patient's risk profiles for cardiovascular disease (CVD), were identified. This study suggests that improving preventive care delivery in general practice could reduce the occurrence of stroke.
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Preventive medicine · Jan 2004
Comparative StudyNeighborhood playgrounds, fast food restaurants, and crime: relationships to overweight in low-income preschool children.
We examined the relationship between overweight in preschool children and three environmental factors--the proximity of the children's residences to playgrounds and to fast food restaurants and the safety of the children's neighborhoods. We hypothesized that children who lived farther from playgrounds, closer to fast food restaurants, and in unsafe neighborhoods were more likely to be overweight. ⋯ Within a population of urban low-income preschoolers, overweight was not associated with proximity to playgrounds and fast food restaurants or with the level of neighborhood crime.
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Preventive medicine · Jan 2004
Perceptions about the local neighborhood and walking and cycling among children.
This study examined associations between perceptions of the local neighborhood and walking and cycling among children. ⋯ Perceptions of the local neighborhood may influence children's physical activity.