Journal of general internal medicine
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Observational Study
Impact of Recreational Cannabis Legalization on Opioid Prescribing and Opioid-Related Hospital Visits in Colorado: an Observational Study.
Cannabis may be a substitute for opioids but previous studies have found conflicting results when using data from more recent years. Most studies have examined the relationship using state-level data, missing important sub-state variation in cannabis access. ⋯ Our mixed findings suggest that further increases in cannabis beyond medical access may not always reduce opioid prescribing or opioid-related hospital visits at a population level.
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Young Black and Latino men who have sex with men (YBLMSM) have the highest rates of new HIV infections in the USA and use PrEP at lower rates than White MSM. ⋯ Modifiable barriers for PrEP uptake and persistence were reported by most participants, with an emphasis on PrEP misinformation and the pervasiveness of intersectional stigma, providers' low awareness, and hesitant attitudes towards PrEP and barriers created by insurance companies. Supportive infrastructures for PrEP providers and patients are needed.
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Observational Study
Health-Related Social Needs: Which Patients Respond to Screening and Who Receives Resources?
Health systems are screening patients for health-related social needs (HRSN) but the optimal approach is unknown. ⋯ HRSN questionnaire responses may not accurately represent the needs of patients, especially when delivered solely via patient portal.
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Early recognition and treatment of bacteremia can be lifesaving. Fever is a well-known marker of bacteremia, but the predictive value of temperature has not been fully explored. ⋯ The majority of bacteremic patients had maximum temperatures below 100.4 ˚F (38.0˚C) and positive likelihood ratios for bacteremia increased with high temperatures above the traditional definition of fever. Efforts to predict bacteremia should incorporate temperature as a continuous variable.
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Food access for patients remains a critical need for health systems to address given varying resource availability and inefficient coordination among health and food services. ⋯ Our findings suggest that centralized platforms can address household food insecurity by (1) streamlining partnerships between health systems and CBOs for food delivery and (2) facilitating the real-time coordination of resources among CBOs.