American journal of preventive medicine
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About 25% of people who currently smoke cigarettes in the U.S. smoke nondaily, and relatively little is known about their intentions or attempts to quit. Active surveillance is essential to identify services needed to support smoking cessation efforts and reduce the burden of disease. ⋯ Given the substantial number of adults who smoke nondaily in the U.S. and their interest in quitting, developing targeted interventions and communication is an important public health priority.
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Quantifying the use of emerging tobacco products such as nicotine pouches (NPs) and heated tobacco products (HTPs) is crucial for informing public health interventions and measuring their potential effects on tobacco use morbidity, mortality and benefits from complete tobacco cessation. ⋯ Continued surveillance of emerging tobacco products such as HTPs and NPs can inform public health approaches and support future research to better quantify the health consequences from these products.
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Few studies have examined county-level hotspots of veteran suicide and associated place-based contributors, limiting development of targeted community-level prevention strategies. The objectives of this national spatial analysis of all veteran suicides were to identify areas of the United States with higher-than-expected veteran suicide rates and determine county-level social and economic characteristics associated with areas of higher risk. ⋯ This study contributes to a comprehensive public health approach to veteran suicide prevention by identifying where resources are needed most, and which place-based intervention targets have the largest potential for impact. Findings suggest that public health efforts to address suicide among veterans should address community-level firearm access and identify ways to alleviate deleterious effects of social fragmentation.
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Effective patient-provider communication is a critical component of optimal patient care, but its potential impact on the delivery of healthcare services remains unclear. This study examines the association of patient-provider communication with access to care, healthcare utilization, and financial burden of care. ⋯ Encouraging effective patient-provider communication is essential for advancing patient-centered care and mitigating health inequities.