American journal of preventive medicine
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Youth who carry firearms-and peers that surround them-are at increased risk for violent injuries. Because firearm carriage behaviors can change over time within an individual, it is important to identify individual and social-contextual determinants that explain this within-person variability in carriage. ⋯ Peer affiliations, victimization, community violence perceptions, and retaliatory attitudes explain within-person variability in firearm carriage. Strategies for reducing carriage among youth should consider individual- and environmental-level interventions to address these individual and social-contextual determinants.
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Sexual orientation‒related disparities in alcohol use disorder are well-established. Yet, the degree to which sexual orientation differences in alcohol use disorder vary across the life course is poorly understood. There is also a limited understanding of how exposure to minority stressors and their relationship with alcohol use disorder vary as a function of age. ⋯ Sexual orientation-related disparities in alcohol use disorder are dynamic across the life course and point to critical times for screening and intervention. Developmental perspectives of sexual minority health inequities demand focused research attention as findings will help to identify strategies for promoting sexual minority health at distinct points in the life course.
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Limited estimates of prescribed opioid use among adults with arthritis exist. All-cause (i.e., for any condition) prescribed opioid dispensed (referred to as opioid prescription in the remainder of this abstract) in the past 12 months among U.S. adults aged ≥18 years (n=35,427) were studied, focusing on adults with arthritis (n=12,875). ⋯ Adults with arthritis are a high-need target group for improving pain management, representing more than half of all U.S. adults with 1 or more opioid prescriptions. The association with ambulatory care visits suggests that providers have routine opportunities to discuss comprehensive and integrative pain management strategies, including low-cost evidence-based self-management approaches (e.g., physical activity, self-management education programs, cognitive behavioral therapy). Those with multiple opioid prescriptions may need extra support if transitioning to nonopioid and nonpharmacologic pain management strategies.
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The availability of safe, effective treatments for hepatitis C virus infection has led to a call for the elimination of hepatitis C, but barriers to care persist. ⋯ The integration of hepatitis C virus testing and on-site treatment in public sexual health clinics is an innovative approach to improve access to hepatitis C virus treatment for medically underserved populations.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Improving Colorectal Cancer Screening in a Rural Setting: A Randomized Study.
Colorectal cancer screening has been shown to prevent or detect early colorectal cancer and reduce mortality; yet, adherence to screening recommendations remains low, particularly in rural settings. ⋯ A mailed motivational messaging letter with a low-cost screening alternative increased colorectal cancer screening in this largely rural community with generally poor adherence to screening recommendations. Mailed colorectal cancer screening reminders using motivational messaging may be an effective method for increasing screening and reducing rural colorectal cancer disparities.