American journal of preventive medicine
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Two hundred and fourteen young women received acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) prevention interventions at an inner-city family health center serving minority patients predominantly. The community in which the health center is located has a high incidence of intravenous (IV) drug abuse. Either a peer or a health care provider delivered the intervention. ⋯ In addition, subjects in both groups who were sexually active stated immediately after the intervention that asking a sexual partner about past sexual experience would now be less difficult, and at one-month follow-up they reported a significant decrease in the frequency of vaginal sex. Our findings suggest that counseling by physicians can achieve more changes in knowledge of sexual risks, whereas peer education can achieve greater changes in knowledge about IV drug use. Results show that both approaches to AIDS prevention used in this study can significantly affect knowledge, attitudes, and sexual behavior.
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Clinical Trial
Narrowing the gap in health status of minority populations: a community-academic medical center partnership.
A major challenge in the United States is to narrow the gap in the excess morbidity and mortality rates of minority populations. This article presents a synthesis of the 15-year results of a collaborative program between the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions and an African-American community with the highest rates of premature disease and death in Maryland. The program began with an efficacious disease prevention clinical trial with patients and ended with effective population approaches. ⋯ Results indicated significant decreases in morbidity and mortality as a result of improved control of hypertension. This program has begun to decrease the health status gap in an African-American population and has demonstrated long-term sustainability. Current joint activities are directed at several major causes of excess morbidity and mortality, including smoking, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension, and at plans for programs to control diabetes, substance abuse, and breast and cervical cancer.
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Occupational medicine (OM) training programs apparently vary more in content and practice skills than other medical special training programs. This variation appears to exist both within programs, in that individual trainees in some programs may engage in very different experiences, and between programs. Some variation is not necessarily undesirable, considering the multiplicity of professional roles, the eclectic backgrounds of many residents, and the diversity of points of view in each of the specialties. ⋯ A consensus would help physicians to judge their own level of preparation in order to decide to participate in further training and continuing education programs. I prepared a model set of objectives for occupational medicine under the auspices and with the endorsement of the American College of Preventive Medicine. Further evaluation can refine the objectives, implement use of the objectives in formal training programs, and assess the utility of the format for other preventive medicine specialties.