American journal of preventive medicine
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Hearing loss is a worldwide societal and public health concern. Globally, disabling hearing loss affects 538 million adults (men, 12.2%; women, 9.8%). This study examined the prevalence and risk factors associated with deafness or serious difficulty hearing in two nationally representative surveys. ⋯ The prevalence of deafness or serious difficulty hearing was approximately 6% in the National Health Interview Survey and BRFSS, but increased considerably for older, less advantaged individuals and in more public health-challenged states.
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Healthy People 2020 includes a goal of increasing use of preventive dental care among children from low-income families. The services used to define preventive care are evidence-based services (i.e., dental sealants and professionally applied topical fluoride) and professional dental cleaning, which lacks evidence of effectiveness in preventing caries. This study examined how increasing preventive dental care use and reducing disparities by race/ethnicity among children from low-income families varied by the services included in case definitions of preventive dental care use. ⋯ Case definitions of preventive dental care that include non-evidence-based services may overstate receipt of effective preventive dental care and reductions in certain racial/ethnic disparities.
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It is well established that socially marginalized groups experience worse health than dominant groups. However, many questions remain about the health of members of multiple marginalized groups, such as black sexual minority women. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between health-related quality of life (HRQOL), race, and sexual orientation identity among a general population sample of black and white women and to assess additive interaction between sexual orientation identity and race. ⋯ Having two marginalized identities compared with one is often associated with worse HRQOL. In addition, race and sexual orientation identity may interact in their relationship to HRQOL, such that black sexual minority women have worse or better HRQOL than expected.
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The purpose of this study is to examine adolescent perceptions of harms and benefits associated with electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and their associations with use. ⋯ Youth who are susceptible to use, currently use, or have used e-cigarettes are less likely to report harms and more likely to perceive benefits associated with e-cigarette use compared with committed never users. Addressing harm and benefit perceptions may be important for interventions designed to reduce e-cigarette use among adolescents.
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Despite the proven effectiveness of immunization in preventing morbidity and mortality, adult vaccines remain underutilized. The objective of this study was to describe clinicians' and pharmacists' self-reported implementation of the Standards for Adult Immunization Practice ("the Standards"; i.e., routine assessment, recommendation, and administration/referral for needed vaccines, and documentation of administered vaccines, including in immunization information systems). ⋯ This report highlights gaps in access to vaccines recommended for adults across the spectrum of provider specialties. Greater implementation of the Standards by all providers could improve adult vaccination rates in the U.S. by reducing missed opportunities to recommend vaccinations and either vaccinate or refer patients to vaccine providers.