Preventive medicine
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Preventive medicine · Nov 2015
HIV prevention and treatment strategies can help address the overdose crisis.
Since the 1990s, effective HIV prevention and treatment strategies have been coordinated and implemented in the United States, resulting in substantial reductions in HIV-related death and HIV transmission among people who use injection drugs. During the same period, despite substantial long-term funding of War on Drugs policies, opioid addiction, driven by increased prescription opioid use and heroin accessibility, has made overdose the leading cause of accidental injury death in the United States. This commentary describes how the prevention and treatment successes among people who use drugs in the HIV/AIDS epidemic can be applied to address the opioid overdose crisis.
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Preventive medicine · Nov 2015
EditorialEditorial: 2nd Special Issue on behavior change, health, and health disparities.
This Special Issue of Preventive Medicine (PM) is the 2nd that we have organized on behavior change, health, and health disparities. This is a topic of fundamental importance to improving population health in the U. S. and other industrialized countries that are trying to more effectively manage chronic health conditions. ⋯ S. prescription opioid addiction epidemic, a crisis that was not addressed in the prior Special Issue. We also continue to devote attention to the two largest contributors to preventable disease and premature death, cigarette smoking and physical inactivity/obesity as well as risks of co-occurrence of these unhealthy behavior patterns. Across each of these topics we included contributions from highly accomplished policy makers and scientists to acquaint readers with recent accomplishments as well as remaining knowledge gaps and challenges to effectively managing these important chronic health problems.
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Preventive medicine · Nov 2015
ReviewSmoking and cardiac rehabilitation participation: Associations with referral, attendance and adherence.
Continued smoking after a cardiac event greatly increases mortality risk. Smoking cessation and participation in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) are effective in reducing morbidity and mortality. However, these two behaviors may interact; those who smoke may be less likely to access or complete CR. This review explores the association between smoking status and CR referral, attendance, and adherence. ⋯ Continued smoking after a cardiac event predicts lack of attendance in, and completion of CR. The issue of smoking following a coronary event deserves renewed attention.
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Preventive medicine · Nov 2015
Distribution of naloxone for overdose prevention to chronic pain patients.
In this commentary, we reflect on the growing opioid overdose epidemic and propose that chronic pain patients prescribed opioids are contributing to growing mortality rates. We advocate for expanding naloxone access and overdose prevention training, which has historically been directed when available to injection drug users, to chronic pain patients who may be at high risk for accidental opioid overdose.
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Preventive medicine · Nov 2015
Health behavior change following a diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ: An opportunity to improve health outcomes.
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a non-invasive breast cancer that comprises approximately 20% of new breast cancer diagnoses. DCIS is predominantly detected by screening mammography prior to the development of any clinical symptoms. Prognosis following a DCIS diagnosis is excellent, due to both the availability of effective treatments and the frequently benign nature of the disease. ⋯ Thus, the maintenance and improvement of healthy behaviors that influence a variety of outcomes after diagnosis may warrant increased attention during DCIS management. This may also represent an important opportunity to promote the adoption of healthy behaviors, given that DCIS carries the psychological impact of a cancer diagnosis but also a favorable prognosis. Particular focus is needed to address these issues in vulnerable patient subgroups with pre-existing higher rates of unhealthy behaviors and demonstrated health disparities.