American journal of preventive medicine
-
Health-related social problems may be conceptualized as the presence of either a social risk (i.e., food insecurity as defined by a screening tool) or a social need (i.e., desire for referral to a food program). Identification of social risks may not correlate with patients' desire to receive help. This study aimed to identify and compare patients and families with social risks versus social needs in a pediatric emergency department. ⋯ Both social risks and self-identified social needs should be considered within social care interventions in the pediatric healthcare setting.
-
Alcohol use is involved in a large proportion of homicides and suicides each year in the U.S., but there is limited evidence on how policies targeting alcohol influence violence in the U.S. ⋯ Increases in the restrictiveness of state-level alcohol policies are associated with reductions in homicides. More restrictive alcohol policy environments may offer an opportunity to reduce homicides.
-
Preventive and primary care in the postpartum year is critical for future health and may be increased by primary care focused delivery system reform including implementation of Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations (ACO). This study examined associations of Massachusetts Medicaid ACO implementation with preventive visits in the postpartum year. ⋯ Implementation of Massachusetts Medicaid ACOs was associated with decreases in receipt of preventive visits and preventive PCP visits for Medicaid-insured individuals relative to privately-insured individuals. Medicaid ACOs should consider potential implications of primary care access in the postpartum year for health across the lifecourse.
-
The UK implemented a single-dose HPV vaccination policy in September 2023, aiming for sustained protection, better vaccine coverage, and reduced healthcare costs. This research assesses the cost-effectiveness of both one-dose and two-dose schedules from a healthcare perspective. ⋯ The study affirms the cost-effectiveness of the UK's single-dose HPV vaccine, in sync with its September 2023 policy shift. The shift not only provides financial benefits but also simplifies vaccine administration, strategically reducing HPV's epidemiological and economic impacts.
-
This study identifies changes in Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) contact volume following the 988 National Suicide Prevention Hotline rollout, and examines changes in contact volume for self-identified Veterans. ⋯ The 988 rollout was associated with increased VCL contact volume and broad changes in the profile of users. This underscores the importance of crisis services in adapting to dynamic user needs and highlights the potential of national suicide prevention initiatives to reach diverse populations.