Preventive medicine
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Preventive medicine · Aug 2002
Understanding physician agreement with varicella immunization guidelines.
Although varicella vaccine was licensed in 1995, immunization rates are only moderate. This study identifies factors associated with physician self-reported likelihood of recommending varicella vaccination to patients. ⋯ Physicians, especially pediatricians, report that they recommend varicella vaccination when they agree with national recommendations, believe in the efficacy of the vaccine, and perceive that parents want the vaccine for their children.
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Preventive medicine · Jul 2002
A healthy diet indicator: quantifying compliance with the dietary guidelines using the BRFSS.
The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) monitors population prevalence of risk factors related to chronic disease through annual telephone surveys. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using the BRFSS to estimate an indicator of overall diet quality among adults. ⋯ A BRFSS-based indicator can be a feasible and valuable tool for evaluating diet quality among adults using an established state-level surveillance system.
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Preventive medicine · Jul 2002
Obesity and associated coronary heart disease risk factors in a population of low-income African-American and white women: the North Carolina WISEWOMAN project.
Obesity has been associated with many co-occurring coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors as well as CHD mortality. These associations have been shown to vary between African-American and white sample populations. ⋯ The differences between and within African-American and white women may be accounted for by the high levels of HDL-C among obese and nonobese African-American women.
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Preventive medicine · Jun 2002
Concomitant use of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco: prevalence, correlates, and predictors of tobacco cessation.
This study examined the characteristics, tobacco use patterns over time, and predictors of tobacco cessation among concomitant users of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. ⋯ The study yielded several key findings: (a) the prevalence of concomitant smoking and smokeless tobacco use was high among males and nonexistent among females, (b) the characteristics of concomitant users were relatively distinct from those of both smokers and smokeless tobacco users, (c) concomitant users exhibited substantial variability in their tobacco use patterns and were less likely to stop using tobacco than were smokers or smokeless tobacco users, (d) indicators of nicotine dependence predicted tobacco cessation for both smokers and smokeless tobacco users, but were largely unrelated to tobacco cessation among concomitant users, and (e) demographics, environmental variables, and measures derived from the transtheoretical model were not consistent predictors of tobacco cessation after controlling for nicotine dependence.
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Preventive medicine · Mar 2002
Comparative StudyMen's and women's knowledge and perceptions of breast cancer and mammography screening.
Although most men are not directly affected by breast cancer, they participate in decisions influencing breast cancer screening and contribute to shaping the social norm on mammography screening. This study tested the hypothesis that men may be less knowledgeable than women about breast cancer and mammography and have less favorable perceptions of mammography screening. ⋯ Men were as knowledgeable about breast cancer and mammography screening as women but had more favorable attitudes toward breast cancer screening than women. Actions to strengthen community support for mammography screening programs should primarily target older and less educated persons of either sex.