Preventive medicine
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Preventive medicine · Feb 2024
The role of breastfeeding support in racial/ethnic disparities in breastfeeding practices.
Persistent racial/ethnic disparities in breastfeeding practices in the United States are well documented but the underlying causes remain unclear. While racial/ethnic disparities are often intertwined with socioeconomic disparities in breastfeeding, studies suggest that lack of breastfeeding support from family, health care organizations and workplaces may contribute to racial/ethnic disparities in breastfeeding rates. No studies have investigated the extent to which racial/ethnic disparities in breastfeeding practices can be explained by breastfeeding support. ⋯ These findings highlight the importance of improving support from family, hospitals and workplaces for breastfeeding mothers to reduce racial/ethnic disparities in breastfeeding.
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Preventive medicine · Feb 2024
Impact of visit characteristics on intention to recommend HPV vaccine: An experiment with US health care professionals.
Presumptive recommendations that assume parents want to vaccinate can increase human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake. We sought to examine how visit characteristics affect health care professionals' (HCPs) intention to use this evidence-based recommendation style. ⋯ To better support visits with younger children and parents who have refused vaccines, HCPs may need more training for making presumptive recommendations for HPV vaccine. Reinforcing positive attitudes and self-efficacy can help HCPs adopt this evidence-based recommendation style.
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Preventive medicine · Feb 2024
Increasing awareness for dementia risk reduction through a public awareness campaign in Denmark: A pre-post study.
It is estimated that about 40% of all dementia cases are potentially attributable to modifiable risk factors, but awareness of this is relatively lacking. ⋯ This mass-media campaign did not increase overall awareness that dementia risk is partly modifiable. However, exposure to the campaign was associated with more awareness and willingness to take action to improve brain health. Future campaigns should tailor messages to specific subgroups to broaden the reach (e.g., males), co-create materials with the target group, and give special attention to the contribution of metabolic/cardiovascular risk factors to dementia risk.
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Preventive medicine · Feb 2024
Development and validation of a lifestyle risk index to screen for metabolic syndrome and its components in two multi-ethnic cohorts.
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a precursor to cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. Existing MetS prediction models relied heavily on biochemical measures and those based on non-invasive predictors such as lifestyle behaviours were limited. We aim to (1) develop a weighted lifestyle risk index for MetS and (2) externally validate this index using two Asian-based cohorts in Singapore. ⋯ This lifestyle risk index exhibits potential for risk stratification in population-based screening programmes. Future research could apply a similar methodology to develop disease-specific lifestyle risk indices using nationwide registry-based data.
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Preventive medicine · Feb 2024
Effect of long working hours on psychological distress among young workers in different types of occupation.
We investigated how the association between long working hours and psychological distress varies across different employment and occupation types in young workers. ⋯ Psychological distress caused by long working hours can be pronounced among white-collar and wage workers.