American journal of preventive medicine
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This paper describes the theoretical basis and content of the universal student component of the Guiding Responsibility and Expectations for Adolescents for Today and Tomorrow (GREAT) Schools and Families' middle school violence prevention program for changing school climate. The GREAT Student Program builds on and extends the content of the sixth grade Responding In Peaceful and Positive Ways (RIPP-6) social-cognitive violence prevention program through an expanded conceptual framework that focuses on changing school norms and explicitly incorporates cultural and contextual goals. The program consists of twenty 40-minute lessons taught by a trained facilitator on a weekly basis during the school day.
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Recently several concerns regarding vaccine safety have received significant media attention. Primary care physicians are the most common interface for parents with the immunization delivery system and are likely to have the greatest opportunity for exposure and experience with parental vaccine safety concerns. ⋯ While almost all PDs and most FPs experienced at least one vaccine refusal from parents in the past year, far fewer physicians of both specialties observed an increase in their occurrence. Physicians must work to be consistently well informed of both the benefits of immunization as well as the issues of parental concern regarding vaccine safety.
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The association of physical inactivity and elevated body mass index (BMI) with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is well established. The relationship of dietary caloric intake and CVD risk is less certain. ⋯ In this large general population sample, lower levels of physical activity and obesity were independently associated with decreased CVD survival. Moreover, when BMI, physical activity, and other relevant characteristics were taken into account, caloric intake was not related to CVD mortality.
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To evaluate the associations of state laws restricting firearms and incidence rates of suicide in men and women using a cross-sectional design. ⋯ Results support the hypothesis that state restrictions on firearms have the potential to reduce the suicide rate. Findings do not support a hypothesis that greater firearm restrictions are associated with the substitution of alternative methods of suicide. Firearms appear to be a comparable exposure for suicide in men and women. Although men are more likely to use firearms in suicide than women, this difference may merely reflect more frequent gun ownership among men.
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A Healthy People 2010 objective includes increasing public awareness of the warning signs of stroke, yet few data exist about the level of awareness. Recognition of stroke symptoms and awareness of the need to call 911 for acute stroke events were examined among the general population. ⋯ Public recognition of major stroke symptoms is low. Educational campaigns to increase awareness among the general population and targeted messages to those at high-risk persons and their families may help to improve time to treatment for adults suffering acute strokes.