American journal of preventive medicine
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A total of 21 states have enacted laws that extend the types of firearm transfers that require the prospective purchaser to undergo a background check, often referred to as comprehensive background check laws. Utilizing a national representative survey of gun owners, this study estimates the proportion of firearm transfers that occur without background checks in states with and without these laws. ⋯ Fewer gun owners acquired their most recent firearm without a background check when the transfer occurred in a state with, relative to without, comprehensive background check laws. Private firearm sales that do not occur at traditional retail locations continue to be the type of sale least likely to have a background check.
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Routine HIV testing is expected to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment. Nevertheless, to date, limited data are available on the presumed benefit of early detection with improved outcomes through routine HIV testing. ⋯ Routine HIV testing was associated with highly favorable outcomes, including decreased late diagnosis, lower HIV-related mortality, and lower all-cause mortality, among people diagnosed with HIV infection. Under universal health coverage, expanding routine HIV testing in well-targeted settings may improve both HIV epidemic control for society and clinical outcomes for people living with HIV.
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Although growing evidence links residential evictions to health, little work has examined connections between eviction and healthcare utilization or access. In this study, eviction records are linked to Medicaid claims to estimate short-term associations between eviction and healthcare utilization, as well as Medicaid disenrollment. ⋯ Results suggest that eviction drives increased healthcare spending while disrupting healthcare access. Given previous research that Medicaid expansion lowered eviction rates, eviction and Medicaid disenrollment may operate cyclically, accumulating disadvantage. Preventing evictions may improve access to care and lower Medicaid costs.
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Lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals have elevated suicide risk, but there is little information available about how this risk may vary by gender, age, and race/ethnicity. ⋯ In light of consistently elevated rates of suicide thoughts and behaviors, lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults may expressly benefit from enhanced prevention, identification, and treatment of suicide risk. Additional research is needed to assess the associations between sexual identity and suicide mortality as well as to understand the heterogeneity in suicide risk among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth, particularly by race/ethnicity.
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The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issues "Insufficient Evidence" (I) statements when scientific evidence is inadequate for making recommendations about clinical preventive services. Insufficient Evidence statements may be changed to definitive recommendations if new research closes evidence gaps. This study examines the characteristics of evidence that informed changes from I statements to definitive recommendations, including NIH's role as a funder. ⋯ Study designs and funding supports varied widely across topics, but overall, NIH was the largest single funder of evidence informing 11 changed USPSTF I statements. Enhanced efforts by NIH and other stakeholders to address I statement evidence gaps are needed.