Preventive medicine
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We sought to examine support for gun polices by race and ethnicity, and among gun owning subgroups. We combined two waves of the National Survey of Gun Policy (January 2017 and 2019 [N = 3804]). We used chi-square tests to assess whether support for gun policies differed by race or ethnicity overall and among subgroups of gun owners. ⋯ S. adults supported nearly all gun policies examine regardless of race. One notable exception, carrying a concealed gun on K-12 school grounds did not reach majority support among any subgroup. While tailored messaging may be appropriate in certain circumstances, it is important to highlight the similarities in support for evidence-based gun polices across racial and ethnic groups.
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Preventive medicine · Aug 2021
Clinical prediction of extra-medical use of prescription pain relievers from a representative United States sample.
Use of prescription opioids 'beyond the bounds' of medical guidance can lead to opioid dependence. Yet recent efforts to predict extra-medical use of prescription pain relievers (EMPPR) have relied on electronic medical or pharmacy records. Because peak incidence of EMPPR occurs during adolescence- a time of relative health- administrative data may be inadequate. ⋯ Results are robust to survey redesign that occurred in 2015, and are not moderated by past-year use of medical services. In conclusion, while selection of predictors is limited to those with known timing prior to initiation of EMPPR rather than any cross-sectional variable, this model discriminates well. Good classification occurs even with a small set of clinically available predictors- age, a history of depression and alcohol, cigarette, and cannabis use.
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Preventive medicine · Aug 2021
Impact of screening between the ages of 60 and 64 on cumulative rates of cervical cancer to age 84y by screening history at ages 50 to 59: A population-based case-control study.
There is little empirical data on the absolute benefit of cervical screening between ages 60-64y on subsequent cancer risk. We estimate the incidence of cervical cancer up to age 84y in women with and without a cervical cytology test at age 60-64y, by screening histories aged 50-59y. The current study is a population based case-control study of women born between 1928 and 1956 and aged 60-84y between 2007 and 2018. ⋯ The absolute difference in risk is equivalent to one fewer cancer for every 202 such women screened. The highest risk (10.01, 95%CI:6.70 to 14.95) was among women with abnormal screening at ages 50-59y and no tests 60-64y. 25y risk among women with a screening test every five years between age 50-64y was just under two in a 1000 (1.59, 95%CI:1.42 to 1.78). Results suggest the upper age of screening should be dependent on previous screening participation and results.
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Preventive medicine · Aug 2021
Identifying nonfatal firearm assault incidents through linking police data and clinical records: Cohort study in Indianapolis, Indiana, 2007-2016.
Nonfatal firearm assault incidents are more prevalent than gun homicides, however, little is understood about nonfatal firearm assault incidents due to a lack of accurate data in the United States. This is a descriptive study of all nonfatal firearm assault incidents identified through police and clinical records from 2007 to 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Records were linked at the incident level to demonstrate the overlap and non-overlap of nonfatal firearm assault incidents in police and clinical records and describe differences in demographic characteristics of the victims. ⋯ The other 20% (n = 461) did not have an ICD firearm related diagnosis code. Results indicate most nonfatal firearm assault incidents overlap between police and clinical records systems, however, discrepancies between the systems exist. These findings also demonstrate an undercounting of nonfatal firearm assault incidents when relying on clinical data systems alone and more efforts are needed to link administrative police and clinical data in the study of nonfatal firearm assaults.
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Preventive medicine · Aug 2021
Seeing an occupational health psychologist reduces sickness absence due to mental disorders: A quasi-experimental study.
Mental health problems are a major public health and work-life issue. We examined in a quasi-experimental design whether occupational health psychologist (OHP) appointment reduces subsequent sickness absence (SA) due to mental disorders among younger Finnish employees. The present study was conducted among 18-39-year-old employees of the City of Helsinki using register data from the City of Helsinki and the Social lnsurance Institution of Finland. ⋯ In the weighted matched sample, the mean of SA days due to mental disorders was 11.4 (95% CI, 6.4-16.5) for those treated (n = 238) and 20.2 (95% CI, 17.0-23.4) for the comparison group (p < 0.01) during the follow-up year. The corresponding figures in the full sample were (11.1, 6.7-15.4) days for those treated (n = 288) and (18.9, 16.7-21.1) days for the comparison group (p < 0.01). This quasi-experimental study suggests that seeing an OHP to support work ability reduces SA due to mental disorders.