Preventive medicine
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Preventive medicine · Nov 2017
Comparative StudyA comparison of nicotine dependence among exclusive E-cigarette and cigarette users in the PATH study.
Electronic cigarettes ("e-cigs") have recently gained in popularity, but their health risks, including dependence potential are unclear. This study analyzed the adult database from the Wave 1 Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, a nationally representative survey of tobacco use in the United States, to assess the relative level of dependence among adult, exclusive everyday users of e-cigarettes and cigarettes. Of the total 32,320 observations from the Wave 1 PATH adult database, 3586 (5.9%, weighted) were eligible for our analysis population. ⋯ In addition, cigarette smokers were significantly more likely to consider themselves addicted (Adj. Odds Ratio [95% CL]: 6.9 [4.5-10.7]); have strong cravings (2.9 [1.9-4.2]); find it difficult in the past 12months to refrain from using their product in places where it was prohibited (6.4 [2.9-14.3]); and feel like they really needed to use their product (3.9 [2.4-6.4]). These results are consistent with previous studies, in finding that exclusive daily e-cigarette users are less dependent on their respective product than comparable cigarette smokers.
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Preventive medicine · Nov 2017
ReviewExercise interventions for individuals with advanced cancer: A systematic review.
Despite improvements in therapy a large proportion of individuals with cancer will have a shortened life expectancy because of advanced or metastatic disease. Advances in therapy have however, extended life in those with advanced cancer thus heightening the importance of living well and preventing decline. The burdens of disease and cancer therapy impair aerobic fitness, strength, physical function and quality of life (QOL). ⋯ Fatigue and QOL were identified to improve in slightly over half of all evaluated studies (11 of 19 studies and 10 of 19 studies for fatigue and QOL respectively). The numbers of total participants reporting improvements in QOL (60%) were greater than fatigue (45%). Exercise provided to individuals with advanced cancer maintains or improves fitness and physical function and may diminish fatigue and enhance QOL and should be considered as an intervention to prevent further health complications.
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Preventive medicine · Nov 2017
A growing geographic disparity: Rural and urban cigarette smoking trends in the United States.
Rural areas of the United States have a higher smoking prevalence than urban areas. However, no recent studies have rigorously examined potential changes in this disparity over time or whether the disparity can be explained by demographic or psychosocial characteristics associated with smoking. The present study used yearly cross sectional data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2007 through 2014 to examine cigarette smoking trends in rural versus urban areas of the United States. ⋯ We conclude that differences reported in earlier studies may be explained by differences in rural versus urban demographic and psychosocial risk factors, while more recent and growing disparities appear to be related to other factors. These emergent differences may be attributable to policy-level tobacco control and regulatory factors that disproportionately benefit urban areas such as enforcement of regulations around the sale and marketing of tobacco products and treatment availability. Strong federal policies and targeted or tailored interventions may be important to expanding tobacco control and regulatory benefits to vulnerable populations including rural Americans.
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Preventive medicine · Nov 2017
Tobacco and nicotine delivery product use in a national sample of pregnant women.
Monitoring use of tobacco products among pregnant women is a public health priority, yet few studies in U. S. national samples have been reported on this topic. We examined prevalence and correlates of using cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and other tobacco/nicotine delivery products in a U. ⋯ In turn, current cigarette smoking and past year illicit drug use were correlated with using e-cigarettes, hookah, and cigars. These results underscore that tobacco/nicotine use during pregnancy extends beyond cigarettes. The results also suggest that use of these other products should be included in routine clinical screening on tobacco use, and the need for more intensive tobacco control and regulatory strategies targeting pregnant women.
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Preventive medicine · Nov 2017
EditorialEditorial for the special issue on behavior change, health, and health disparities 2017.
This Special Issue of Preventive Medicine (PM) is the 4th in a series on behavior change, health, and health disparities, a topic of critical importance to improving U. S. population health. The U. ⋯ S. In this 4th Special Issue we address (a) the potential health impacts of liberalizing laws on recreational marijuana use; (b) the ongoing challenge of tobacco use in vulnerable populations; and (b) the importance of weight management and physical activity in caring for vulnerable medical populations. Across each of these topics we include contributions from accomplished policymakers and scientists to acquaint readers with recent accomplishments and remaining knowledge gaps and challenges in these important topic areas.