Preventive medicine
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Preventive medicine · Jul 1994
Comparative StudyHispanic/white differences in dietary fat intake among low educated adults and children.
This comparative study tests for ethnic differences in dietary fat consumption in a community-based sample of Hispanic and white adults with low educational attainment (< 12 years of schooling) and a separate sample of their children. ⋯ This study illustrates the high dietary fat consumption of whites with low educational attainment, the increasing fat consumption of Hispanics at higher levels of acculturation, and the need for effective dietary interventions for low educated whites and Hispanics.
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Preventive medicine · Jul 1994
The tobacco problem: commercial profit versus health--the conflict of interests in developing countries.
As smoking gradually decreases in developed countries, the tobacco epidemic is overtaking developing countries, where the legislative controls and other measures, which in industrialised countries succeed in limiting tobacco use, either do not exist or are, at best, inadequate. Of particular concern is the penetration of developing countries by the transnational tobacco companies, who with aggressive promotional campaigns and the use of political and commercial pressures, open up markets to promote foreign cigarettes. ⋯ Developing countries must exercise their own public health responsibility and implement measures to reduce the growing tobacco epidemic. Health concerns in Western countries can assist by bringing these issues to public and government attention in order to ensure that transnational tobacco companies, at minimum, adhere to the same standards of product, marketing, promotion, and sales in developing countries as are required in their country of origin; that these tobacco companies should desist from lobbying and pressuring the governments of developing countries to prevent the passing and implementing of antitobacco measures; that the United States and UK governments desist from helping their tobacco companies with export activities; and that Western expertise in countering the tobacco epidemic be shared with developing countries so that the West becomes an exporter of health rather than of tobacco-related diseases.
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Although the disease consequences of cigarette smoking are well documented, smoking may also be associated with increased risk of injury. Our purpose is to provide an overview of this potential association. ⋯ Smoking may be an independent risk factor for thermal, motor vehicle, occupational, and other unintentional injuries. Nonsmokers may be at increased risk of injury from the presence of smokers in their environments, e.g., from fires. Societal benefits from decreased smoking prevalence are likely to include reduction of both fatal and nonfatal injuries.
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Preventive medicine · May 1994
Screening for cardiovascular disease and risk reduction counselling behaviors of general practitioners.
This study presents prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in general practice patients and screening rates for risk factors. Conditions addressed include smoking, weight, alcohol intake, blood pressure, and cholesterol. ⋯ Although preventive activities are being undertaken in general practice, performance of these activities is less than ideal. The barriers to undertaking these activities need to be addressed for change to occur.
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Preventive medicine · Jan 1994
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialEvaluation of an intervention to increase mammography screening in Los Angeles.
METHODS. A randomized pretest post-test control group design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of a mail-out intervention for increasing screening mammography rates. A random sample of 802 women, 40+, residing in Los Angeles County, was surveyed by telephone at baseline and again 12 months after the intervention. ⋯ In the combined intervention and control group, a stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed four baseline variables to be significant prospective predictors of mammography behavior during the follow-up period: Women who were adherent to the age-specific screening guidelines at baseline and women who had health insurance were more likely to obtain a mammogram during the follow-up, as were older women. Also, women who were greatly concerned about radiation exposure during a mammogram were about two and a half times less likely to obtain a mammogram during the follow-up than women who were less concerned. Self-reported reasons for adherence and nonadherence to screening guidelines are also described.