American journal of preventive medicine
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Efficacy of a behavioral intervention for reducing sedentary behavior in persons with multiple sclerosis: a pilot examination.
Sitting time (ST), a form of sedentary behavior, has been identified as a highly prevalent risk factor for multiple sclerosis (MS)-related morbidity. There is limited information on the efficacy of behavioral interventions for reducing ST in persons with MS. ⋯ We provide the first data on the efficacy of a behavioral intervention for reducing ST in MS patients. This highlights the importance of designing and testing the effect of behavioral interventions that reduce ST on secondary outcomes such as function, symptoms, quality of life, and health status in persons with MS.
-
The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) is providing a set of recommendations designed to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with distractions due to texting while driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 12% of all fatal crashes involving at least one distracted driver are estimated to be related to cell phone use while driving. Given the combination of visual, manual, and cognitive distractions posed by texting, this is an issue of major public health concern for communities. ⋯ Promote further research into the design and evaluation of educational tools regarding texting while driving that can be incorporated into the issuance of driver’s licenses. 3. Provide primary care providers with the appropriate tools to educate patients of all ages. 4. Conduct additional studies investigating the risks associated with cell phone usage while driving, particularly texting, with motor vehicle crashes.
-
Lack of access to healthy foods may explain why residents of low-income neighborhoods and African Americans in the U.S. have high rates of obesity. The findings on where people shop and how that may influence health are mixed. However, multiple policy initiatives are underway to increase access in communities that currently lack healthy options. Few studies have simultaneously measured obesity, distance, and prices of the store used for primary food shopping. ⋯ Placing supermarkets in food deserts to improve access may not be as important as simultaneously offering better prices for healthy foods relative to junk foods, actively marketing healthy foods, and enabling consumers to resist the influence of junk food marketing.
-
Experts have historically recommended better integration of public health content into medical education. Whether this adoption is associated with physician practice location has not been studied. ⋯ Findings suggest an association between perceptions of public health and community medicine instruction and practice location. Improved public health and community medicine instruction may support medical students' preparation and ability to integrate public health skills into practices in underserved settings. More research is needed to ascertain factors enabling better incorporation of public health and community medicine in medical education.
-
Nonmalignant blood disorders currently affect millions of Americans, and their prevalence is expected to grow over the next several decades. This is owing to improvements in treatment leading to increased life expectancy of people with hereditary conditions, like sickle cell disease and hemophilia, but also the rising occurrence of risk factors for venous thromboembolism. ⋯ CDC is strengthening surveillance activities for blood disorders by improving and developing new methods that are tailored to best capture and monitor the epidemiologic characteristics unique to each disorder. These activities will provide a robust evidence base for public health action to improve the health of patients affected by or at risk for these disorders.