American journal of preventive medicine
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This study examines the prospective association between a range of psychosocial factors and common noncommunicable diseases. ⋯ These findings suggest that several adverse psychosocial risk factors are independently associated with the onset of noncommunicable diseases.
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Review Meta Analysis
Impact of Pokémon Go on Physical Activity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Pokémon Go is a popular mobile augmented reality game that requires players to travel to different locations to capture virtual characters. This study systematically reviews and quantifies Pokémon Go in relation to physical activity engagement among players. ⋯ Playing Pokémon Go was associated with a statistically significant but clinically modest increase in the number of daily steps taken among game players. One challenge for future physical activity interventions using Pokémon Go is to retain active engagement once the initial novelty wears off. Additional studies with longer follow-up periods and experimental study design are needed to assess to what extent Pokémon Go and other augmented reality games can be used to promote physical activity at the population level for a sustained time period.
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Cost sharing can deter the use of health services and act as a potential contributor to racial/ethnic disparities in cancer. The Affordable Care Act required most health plans to cover, without cost sharing, preventive services, including colorectal cancer screening. Population-based data were used to estimate the impact of the Affordable Care Act's cost-sharing provision (together with other Affordable Care Act provisions targeting preventive care) on ethnic disparities in colorectal cancer screening, comparing Hispanics with non-Hispanics. ⋯ These findings suggest that Affordable Care Act implementation resulted in increased colorectal cancer screening; however, the effect of the law was not significantly different between Hispanics and non-Hispanics. These results provide indications that more needs to be done to reduce racial/ethnic disparities in colorectal cancer screening.
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Recent increases in maternal mortality and persistent disparities have led to speculation about why the U.S. has higher rates than most high-income countries. The aim was to examine the impact of changes in state-level factors plausibly linked to maternal mortality on overall rates and by race/ethnicity. ⋯ Recent fiscal and legislative changes reducing women's access to family planning and reproductive health services have contributed to rising maternal mortality rates.
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E-cigarettes deliver an aerosol of nicotine by heating a liquid and are promoted as an alternative to combustible tobacco. This study determines the longitudinal associations between e-cigarette use and respiratory disease controlling for combustible tobacco use. ⋯ Use of e-cigarettes is an independent risk factor for respiratory disease in addition to combustible tobacco smoking. Dual use, the most common use pattern, is riskier than using either product alone.