American journal of preventive medicine
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Accounting for occasional or intermittent e-cigarette use has yielded higher estimates of current use among U.S. adults. However, frequency of e-cigarette use by population subgroups is not well described. This study assessed e-cigarette use frequency by sociodemographic characteristics and other tobacco product use among U.S. adults. ⋯ E-cigarette use frequency varies by sociodemographic characteristics and other tobacco use. Further surveillance, particularly related to frequency of e-cigarette use and its impact on cigarette cessation, could inform public health policy, planning, and practice.
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Engaging patients to make informed choices is paramount but difficult in busy practices. This study sought to engage patients outside the clinical setting to better understand how they approach cancer screening decisions, including their primary concerns and their preferences for finalizing their decision. ⋯ Although this sample was predisposed to screening, most patients wanted help in finalizing their decision. Many wanted to weigh the pros and cons and expressed fears of potential harms from screening. Understanding how patients approach decisions may help design more effective engagement strategies.
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The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that primary care providers screen unaffected women with a family history of BRCA mutation-associated cancers, but without a personal history of BRCA-related cancer, for referral to genetic counseling and potential genetic testing. ⋯ Despite a decade-old U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation, few unaffected women at risk for BRCA-associated cancer report discussing genetic testing with a provider.
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Several studies have identified disparities in human papillomavirus (HPV)-related outcomes by nativity status (i.e., U.S.- versus foreign-born). However, few studies have explored whether vaccination differences exist by nativity status. Vaccination disparities have the potential to exacerbate HPV-related cancer disparities in the long term if left unaddressed. Therefore, the authors investigated whether there were significant differences in HPV vaccination initiation (one or more doses) and completion (three or more doses) between U.S.-born and foreign-born men and women. ⋯ The demographic, socioeconomic, and healthcare factors included in this study did not appear to account fully for observed disparities. Future research is needed to understand other factors that may contribute to nativity status disparities in HPV vaccination.
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Excessive alcohol use is associated with car crashes, violence, and multiple disease conditions, including fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that primary care providers screen all adults and conduct brief counseling interventions with those who misuse alcohol. The USPSTF prefers use of three screening tools that measure alcohol consumption (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption, and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Single Question) because these tools detect the full spectrum of alcohol misuse in adults. This study estimated the prevalence of primary care provider screening practices for alcohol misuse and examined factors associated with using a USPSTF-preferred screening tool. ⋯ Although most primary care providers reported screening for alcohol misuse, about two thirds did not use a tool capable of detecting the full spectrum of alcohol misuse. Using suitable screening tools will better identify patients who misuse alcohol and increase the opportunity for appropriate intervention, ultimately helping to reduce the burden from the many conditions associated with excessive alcohol consumption.