Preventive medicine
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Preventive medicine · Sep 2019
U.S. news media coverage of solutions to the opioid crisis, 2013-2017.
News media coverage of the U. S. opioid epidemic influences Americans' knowledge of and preferences for solutions to address the crisis. From 1998 to 2012, news media coverage of the opioid epidemic focused on criminal justice-oriented solutions. ⋯ Treatment (mentioned in 33% of news stories), harm reduction (30%), and prevention (24%) solutions were the most frequently mentioned types of solutions. Several evidence-based public health solutions received little news coverage: medication treatment for opioid use disorder was mentioned in 9% of news stories and the harm reduction solutions syringe services programs and safe consumption sites were mentioned in 5% and 2% of news stories. While news coverage showed a promising emphasis on public health-oriented solutions, efforts to increase news coverage of examples of effective opioid use disorder treatment and harm reduction solutions are needed.
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Preventive medicine · Sep 2019
Associations between psychological distress and health-related behaviors among adults with chronic kidney disease.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects 15% of the US general population, and this rate is projected to increase. A healthy lifestyle is important for individuals with CKD to reduce risk for CKD progression and adverse heath events. Adults with CKD also have high rates of psychological distress, which may be associated with unhealthy behaviors. ⋯ In addition to the health concerns posed by the high smoking rate (17%) and low physical activity rate (34%) among those with CKD, smoking and lack of PA were associated with greater risk of mild-moderate and/or serious psychological distress. Compared to no unhealthy behaviors, 2-3 unhealthy behaviors were associated with 4.72 (95% CI = 2.97-7.48) times greater risk of serious psychological distress. Adults with CKD and unhealthy behaviors need help with lifestyle modifications and assessment and treatment of psychological distress to reduce CKD progression and prevent other health complications.