Public health reports
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Public health reports · Nov 2016
VA Suicide Prevention Applications Network: A National Health Care System-Based Suicide Event Tracking System.
The US Department of Veterans Affairs' Suicide Prevention Applications Network (SPAN) is a national system for suicide event tracking and case management. The objective of this study was to assess data on suicide attempts among people using Veterans Health Administration (VHA) services. ⋯ Evaluation of administrative data suggests that use of SPAN substantially increases the collection of data on suicide attempters as compared with the use of medical records alone, but neither SPAN nor the VHA's medical records identify all suicide attempters. Further research is needed to better understand the strengths and limitations of both systems and how to best combine information across systems.
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Public health reports · Nov 2016
Homelessness, Unsheltered Status, and Risk Factors for Mortality: Findings From the 100 000 Homes Campaign.
People who live in unsheltered situations, such as the streets, often have poorer health, less access to health care, and an increased risk of premature mortality as compared with their sheltered counterparts. The objectives of this study were to (1) compare the characteristics of people experiencing homelessness who were sleeping primarily in unsheltered situations with those who were accessing homeless shelters and other sheltered situations, (2) identify correlates of unsheltered status, and (3) assess the relationship between unsheltered status and increased risk of mortality. ⋯ These findings highlight the need to assertively reach out to vulnerable populations and provide interventions to assist them during their transition-for example, as they exit incarceration or age out of foster care. Such a response could prevent unsheltered homelessness and thereby address increased mortality risk. Connecting people with resources to increase their access to employment, benefits, and other sources of income is especially important.
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Public health reports · Sep 2016
Cigarette Smoking and Sociodemographic, Military, and Health Characteristics of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans: 2009-2011 National Health Study for a New Generation of US Veterans.
We examined the sociodemographic, military, and health characteristics of current cigarette smokers, former smokers, and nonsmokers among Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) / Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veterans and estimated smoking prevalence to better understand cigarette use in this population. ⋯ Mental and physical health, substance use, and military service characteristics shape cigarette-smoking patterns in OEF/OIF veterans.
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Public health reports · Sep 2016
Characteristics of Pregnant Women With Hepatitis B Virus Infection in 5 US Public Health Jurisdictions, 2008-2012.
We estimated the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), a serologic marker of active hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, among pregnant women, and estimated the proportion HBsAg-positive pregnant women who had received additional recommended testing. ⋯ One-fifth of HBsAg-positive pregnant women had documentation for HBeAg and/or HBV DNA, and about one-third reported receiving care for HBV infection during a case-managed pregnancy. Greater emphasis is needed on prenatal evaluation for HBV liver disease care and treatment among pregnant women with HBV infection.
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Public health reports · May 2016
Utility of Keywords from Chest Radiograph Reports for Pneumonia Surveillance Among Hospitalized Patients with Influenza: The CDC Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network, 2008-2009.
Transcripts from admission chest radiographs could aid in identification of pneumonia cases for public health surveillance. We assessed the reliability of radiographic data abstraction and performance of radiographic key terms to identify pneumonia in patients hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza virus infection. ⋯ Radiographic key terms abstracted by surveillance staff members from final impressions of chest radiograph reports had moderate to almost perfect reliability and could be used to identify pneumonia among patients hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza virus infection. This method can inform pneumonia surveillance and aid in public health response.