American journal of preventive medicine
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Studies of tobacco product warnings have focused primarily on the reach and effectiveness of cigarette warnings for adult smokers, whereas few observational studies have examined noncigarette tobacco product warnings among youth. ⋯ Warnings on noncigarette tobacco products reach some youth at risk for using these products, but these warnings may need to be strengthened to further reduce their use.
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Greenspace exposure has been associated with physical activity, but few studies have investigated its association with physical activity in the residential neighborhood. This study investigates whether greater amounts of neighborhood open space and forest are associated with neighborhood-based walking in older adults. ⋯ Type of neighborhood green land cover (open space versus forest) may be differentially associated with neighborhood walking depending on race/ethnicity. This study suggests a possible association between greater neighborhood open space and greater walking among African Americans that must be confirmed in future studies.
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Early childhood vaccination rates are lower in rural areas than those in urban areas of the U.S. This study's objective is to quantify vaccine timeliness and the prevalence of undervaccination patterns in Montana and to measure the associations between timeliness and series completion by age 24 months. ⋯ Fewer than 2 in 5 Montana children were fully vaccinated on time for the combined 7-vaccine series. To increase vaccination rates, initiatives to increase vaccine confidence and remind parents to complete vaccine series are needed.
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Monitoring the trends in undervaccination, including that because of parental vaccine refusal or delay, can inform public health responses directed at improving vaccine confidence and vaccination coverage. ⋯ In a 14-year cohort study, vaccination timeliness has improved. However, the small but increasing number of children who received no vaccines by age 23 months warrants additional attention.
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The Affordable Care Act of 2010 mandated private health plans to fully cover the services recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. In June 2016, the Task Force added computed tomography colonography to its list of recommended tests for colorectal cancer screening. This study evaluates the association among the updated recommendation, patient cost-sharing obligations, and the uptake of colorectal cancer screening through computed tomography colonography in the privately insured population. ⋯ In an environment of already largely eliminated patient cost sharing, the release of supportive evidence-based recommendations by a recognized credible body was associated with an immediate increase in computed tomography colonography use for colorectal cancer screening in the privately insured population.