American journal of preventive medicine
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Progress in U.S. 5-year survival trends for all cancers combined was assessed using the North American Cancer Survival Index, a sum of age-, sex-, and cancer site-standardized relative survival ratios. ⋯ Cancer Survival Index survival estimates increased among all race and sex subpopulations during 2005-2014. A substantial but decreasing survival gap persisted between blacks and whites. The Cancer Survival Index can assist decision makers and others in comparing cancer survival among populations and over time and in monitoring progress toward national cancer surveillance objectives.
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This study examined the association between state physical education time requirements and physical activity and physical education outcomes among high school students. ⋯ Findings from this study help support the role that physical education state requirements can play in enhancing adolescents' ability to meet recommended amounts of daily physical activity and the related public health benefits.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Health for Hearts United Longitudinal Trial: Improving Dietary Behaviors in Older African Americans.
Church-based interventions have been shown to improve the dietary health of underserved populations, yet few studies have examined sustainability of health behavior change over time. This paper examines dietary outcomes over a 24-month period (baseline and 6, 18, and 24 months) for fruit and vegetable and fat consumption behaviors of African-American participants in the Health for Hearts United church-based intervention in North Florida. ⋯ Dietary behaviors of mid-life and older African Americans can be improved and sustained over 24 months using a church-based heart health intervention, with similar improvements noted for both comparison and treatment participants.
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Unmet social and economic needs are associated with poor health outcomes, but little is known about how these needs are predictive of future healthcare utilization. This study examined the association of social and economic needs identified during medical visits with future hospitalizations and emergency department visits. ⋯ These results demonstrate that documented social and economic needs are a powerful predictor of future hospitalization and emergency department use and suggest the need for research into whether interventions to address these needs can influence healthcare utilization.
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The association between e-cigarette use and chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has not been studied thoroughly, particularly in populations defined by concomitant combustible smoking status. ⋯ The results suggest possible e-cigarette-related pulmonary toxicity across all the categories of combustible cigarette smoking status, including those who had never smoked combustible cigarettes.