American journal of preventive medicine
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The present study examines psychosocial and behavioral influences, particularly drug and alcohol use, as correlates of inconsistent condom use and having multiple sexual partners during the past months among African-American women. ⋯ HIV sexual risk-reduction interventions for African-American women need to address the overlapping epidemics of drugs, alcohol, and STDs. Additionally, HIV sexual risk reduction efforts should be incorporated into existing drug and alcohol treatment programs and STD clinics.
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The age of smoking initiation has dropped over the past four decades. Since behaviors and attitudes adopted in late childhood or early adolescence predict future smoking, it is important to understand the smoking and other risk-taking behaviors and attitudes of children aged 12 and younger. The goal of the analyses presented here was to describe behavioral and attitudinal factors associated with smoking among elementary school (grades 4-6), middle school (grade 7-8), and high school (grades 9-12) students in Connecticut. ⋯ Smoking occurs within the context of other risk-taking behavior and psychological distress, among both children and older adolescents. Our data provide support for the idea of early identification and targeting of children at high risk of smoking in elementary school, possibly as early as grade four.
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Physicians have a unique role to play in the prevention of elder suicide, yet they may not be sufficiently attentive to the prominence of firearms in the rising trend in suicide by elder persons. This study sought to examine the extent to which physicians inquired about firearms with their depressed and suicidal elderly patients and further identified factors associated with physicians' likelihood of asking about firearms. ⋯ Physicians working with depressed and suicidal elderly persons need to be informed about the prevalence of elder suicide and about the likelihood of elderly persons using firearms as a method of suicide. Effective suicide prevention will require physician training that directly addresses geriatric mental health and firearm suicide, in particular, at the student, residency, and continuing education levels.
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These analyses were designed to elucidate U.S. physicians' perception of residential radon risk, as measured by the prevalence of residential radon testing using a representative sample of U.S. women physicians from the Women Physicians' Health Study database. In addition, characteristics of women physicians who were more likely to have conducted a residential radon test were identified. ⋯ The study demonstrates that although U.S. women physicians are more likely to have conducted a personal residential radon test than the general population, 82% report not having done so. Increasing the awareness of physicians about the health risks associated with prolonged radon exposure will be essential if they are to play a role in addressing this important public health problem.