Preventive medicine
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Preventive medicine · Feb 2022
Changes in harm perception of ENDS and their predictors among US adolescents: findings from the population assessment of tobacco and health (PATH) study, 2013-2018.
Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use has dramatically increased in the US. This study aimed to characterize changes in ENDS harm perception over time and associated predictors among US adolescents. Data from the 2013-2018 Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study (PATH) for adolescents (12-17 years) were utilized. ⋯ Additionally, having ever used ENDS or alcohol were more likely to be associated with reduced ENDS-related harm perception over time (P's < 0.05). Our results show that while ENDS-related harm perception have generally increased, this does not appear to be equally experienced across all adolescents, potentially highlighting the importance of at-risk groups and targets for intervention. This study can help identify individuals at risk of ENDS initiation because of their favorable ENDS harm perception profile, as well as guide the development of ENDS risk communication interventions for adolescents.
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Preventive medicine · Feb 2022
Lower social participation partly explains the association between perceived neighbourhood crime and depressive symptoms in European adults aged 50 years or older: A longitudinal mediation analysis.
Neighbourhood crime likely increases the risk of developing depression among older adults. However, little is known about the underlying behavioural and social pathways. We examined the association between perceived neighbourhood crime and depressive symptoms and whether this relationship was mediated by health behaviours (physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption) and social participation. ⋯ Exploratory analyses revealed that the mediating role of social participation was more pronounced among participants with low household wealth (b = 0.012; 95% CI: 0.004-0.023; 7.3% mediated). Lower engagement in social activities partly explained the association between perceived neighbourhood crime and depressive symptoms in adults aged 50 years or older. Policies targeting disadvantaged communities to prevent crime and support social participation might be beneficial for population mental health, especially among financially vulnerable older residents.
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Preventive medicine · Feb 2022
Implications of the United States recommendations for early-age-at-onset colorectal cancer screening in Canada.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recently issued an updated recommendation for population-based colorectal cancer (CRC) screening starting at age 45, due to a sustained increase in the incidence of early-age-at-onset CRC (eoCRC). A similar increase in the incidence of eoCRC has been observed in Canada since the early 2000s. ⋯ In the meantime, we suggest that physicians and patients begin discussions about screening at age 45 by reviewing family history and alerting patients to symptoms of CRC, which may increase screening adherence at age 50. This issue will remain an active area of debate with Canada as a careful laggard in changing recommendations, while attempting to balance system considerations with eoCRC trends and patient outcomes.
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Preventive medicine · Feb 2022
Socioecological approach for identifying the determinants of objectively measured physical activity: A prospective study of the UK Biobank.
The socioecological approach emphasises that health promotion should focus on a variety of factors that surround individuals simultaneously, yet there is little evidence on how these factors relatively affect physical activity (PA). The main objective was to identify relevant determinants of PA by examining the associations between factors within multilayered socioecological categories and PA. A prospective analysis was conducted with 84,052 participants participating in the accelerometer measurement from the UK Biobank. ⋯ PCs related to body composition and socio-economic status were proposed as the key regulatory hubs in the network because they exhibited the highest level of indirect linkages with other components. In the environmental category, PCs related to greenness and air pollution were revealed to be key factors in the self-reported walking for pleasure. Using a socioecological approach, it was discovered that obesity and disease-related factors were the most important determinants, and they had an integrative influence with other factors in different categories.
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Preventive medicine · Feb 2022
Impact of a structured older persons health assessment on herpes zoster vaccine uptake in Australian primary care.
Vaccine uptake in adult immunisation programs is often suboptimal. We aimed to assess the impact of the structured older persons health assessment (health assessment) on herpes zoster (zoster) vaccine uptake in Australia. We used national general practice electronic medical records (MedicineInsight) of encounters with patients aged 75-79 years because these patients were age-eligible for both free zoster vaccines and health assessments in the two years following the addition of zoster vaccine to the national immunisation program (Nov 2016-Dec 2018). ⋯ Zoster vaccine was more likely to be administered during a general practice encounter with a health assessment compared to encounters without one (adjusted odds ratio 2.99; 95% CI: 2.76-3.23). In conclusion, the structured older persons health assessment, which acts as both an incentive and a reminder for healthcare providers to recommend vaccinations in adults improves uptake of zoster vaccine in eligible adults. Such interventions may have a role in improving vaccine uptake among older adults.