American journal of preventive medicine
-
Skin cancer prevention emphasizes early adoption and practice of sun protection behaviors. Adolescence represents a high-risk period for ultraviolet radiation exposure, presenting an opportunity for intervention. The ubiquity of mobile phones among teens offers an engaging medium through which to communicate prevention messages. ⋯ A brief, SMS-based intervention affected youth skin cancer prevention behaviors and knowledge. Future research will determine whether program effects were sustained at 24 weeks and explore how sun safety parenting practices inform these effects.
-
The development of an antibody in people with hemophilia to products used in the treatment and prevention of bleeding, also referred to as an inhibitor, is the most serious complication of hemophilia care today. CDC, together with healthcare providers, consumer organizations, hemophilia organizations, and federal partners, has developed a public health agenda to prevent the development of inhibitors. This paper describes a public health approach that combines a national surveillance program with epidemiologic, laboratory, and prevention research to address knowledge gaps in rates and risk factors for inhibitor development, and in knowledge and behaviors of patients and providers, in addition to screening and treatment practices.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
The parent-child dyad and risk perceptions among parents who quit smoking.
Most parental smokers are deeply invested in their child's health, but it is unknown what factors influence parent risk perceptions of the effects of smoking on their child's health and benefits to the child of cessation. ⋯ Providers' smoking-cessation advice and support should begin early and underscore how cessation will benefit the health and well-being of patients' children. Additionally, parents who have recently attempted to quit may be particularly primed for another attempt.
-
Regular assessment of the size and composition of the U.S. public health workforce has been a challenge for decades. Previous enumeration efforts estimated 450,000 public health workers in governmental and voluntary agencies in 2000, and 326,602 governmental public health workers in 2012, although differences in enumeration methodology and the definitions of public health worker between the two make comparisons problematic. ⋯ Using multiple data sources for public health workforce enumeration potentially improves accuracy of estimates but also adds methodologic complexity. Improvement of data sources and development of a standardized study methodology is needed for continuous monitoring of public health workforce size and composition.
-
CDC designed its Health Systems Integration Program to prepare leaders to function at the interface of public health and health care. Specific Health Systems Integration Program competencies in the areas of communication, analysis and assessment, and health systems were developed to nurture evidence-based decision-making and leadership skills crucial for future public health leaders. ⋯ This report describes the Health Systems Integration Program journal club format, its implementation, challenges, and key elements of success. Other programs using a journal club model as a learning format might consider using the Health Systems Integration Program's innovative approach that focuses on leadership development.