American journal of preventive medicine
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Observational Study
Trends in fatal opioid-related overdose in American Indian/Alaska Native Communities 1999-2021.
Opioid-related overdose mortality rates have increased sharply in the U.S. over the past two decades, and inequities across racial and ethnic groups have been documented. Opioid-related overdose trends among American Indian and Alaska Natives require further quantification and assessment. ⋯ Sharp increases in opioid-related overdose mortality rates among American Indian and Alaska Native communities are evident by age and Hispanic ethnicity, highlighting the need for culturally sensitive fatal opioid-related overdose prevention, opioid use disorder treatment, and harm-reduction efforts. Future research should aim to understand the underlying factors contributing to these high mortality rates and employ interventions that leverage the strengths of American Indian and Alaska Native culture, including the strong sense of community.
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This study aimed to examine changes in emergency department (ED) visits for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) among uninsured or Medicaid-covered Black, Hispanic, and White adults aged 26-64 in the first 5 years of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion. ⋯ Medicaid expansion was associated with reductions in ACSC ED rates in some expansion states and reductions in ACSC ED share in all expansion states combined, with some heterogeneity by race/ethnicity. Expansion should be coupled with policy efforts to better link newly insured Black and Hispanic patients to non-ED outpatient care, alongside targeted outreach and expanded primary care capacity, which may reduce disparities in ACSC ED visits.
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Since May 2018, federal restaurant menu labeling regulations have required large U.S. chain restaurants to disclose calorie counts on menus. This study estimates the share of U.S. adults who notice calorie information on fast-food and sit-down restaurant menus and identifies the consumer characteristics that predict noticing calorie labels. ⋯ Approximately half of U.S. adults reported seeing calorie labels when they last ordered food in a fast-food or sit-down restaurant in 2022. Sex, income, marital status, and residential location influenced the likelihood of noticing calorie counts posted on restaurant menus.
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Federal guidelines recommend physical activity throughout the day for preschool-aged children. Time playing outdoors can support physical activity participation, health, and development. Estimates of time playing outdoors among U.S. children aged 3-5 years have not been published. ⋯ Nearly 40% of preschool-aged children play outdoors for ≤1 hour per day on weekdays, with differences by sociodemographic and neighborhood characteristics. Further study and interventions focused on building supportive, equitable communities might increase the amount of time preschool-aged children spend playing outdoors.
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The importance of preventive medicine and primary care in the sphere of public health is expanding, yet a gap exists in the utilization of recommended medical services. As patients increasingly turn to online resources for supplementary advice, the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in providing accurate and reliable information has emerged. The present study aimed to assess ChatGPT-4's and Google Bard's capacity to deliver accurate recommendations in preventive medicine and primary care. ⋯ ChatGPT-4 and Bard demonstrated potential in offering accurate information in preventive care. It also brought to light the critical need for regular updates, particularly in the rapidly evolving areas of medicine. A significant proportion of the AI models' responses were deemed "accurate with missing information," emphasizing the importance of viewing AI tools as complementary resources when seeking medical information.