Preventive medicine
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Preventive medicine · Aug 2005
Impacts of SARS on health-seeking behaviors in general population in Hong Kong.
The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic that occurred in Hong Kong in 2003 caused serious public health consequences. Its impacts on health-seeking behaviors of the general public have not been assessed. ⋯ The community in Hong Kong responded to the SARS epidemic by practicing more favorable health-seeking behaviors. Public health workers should utilize these opportunities to foster favorable changes.
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Preventive medicine · Aug 2005
Inequalities in influenza vaccine uptake among people aged over 74 years in Britain.
In the UK, payments to providers (General Practitioners) for vaccinating all people aged over 64 years old against influenza commenced in 2000. Little information exists on the relationship between uptake and need. We assessed factors influencing uptake and equity in uptake in over 74 year olds. ⋯ Lower uptake in practices in deprived areas supports targeting of resources. At the individual level, those who are more isolated require support to access influenza vaccination.
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Preventive medicine · Aug 2005
Job strain and leisure-time physical activity in female and male public sector employees.
High work stress could decrease physical activity but the evidence of the relationship has remained equivocal. The present study examined the association between job strain and leisure-time physical activity in a large sample of employees. ⋯ Our findings suggest an independent, albeit substantially weak, association between higher work stress and lower leisure-time physical activity.
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Preventive medicine · Aug 2005
Pain predicts non-adherence to pap smear screening among middle-aged African American women.
Middle-aged African American women have the highest incidence and mortality of invasive cervical cancer in the United States and the lowest adherence to pap smear screening. ⋯ These data suggest that, among middle-aged African American women, future interventions addressing pain during a Pap test will likely increase acceptability of and adherence to cervical cancer screening. Pain could be addressed either by providing information during the pap test and/or using smaller lubricated speculums.
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Preventive medicine · Aug 2005
Smoking prevalence and correlates among Chinese- and Filipino-American adults: findings from the 2001 California Health Interview Survey.
We report prevalence rates and correlates of cigarette smoking among a population-based sample of Chinese- and Filipino-American adults together with rates found in other racial/ethnic groups in California. ⋯ Public health intervention efforts should take into account Asian ethnic subgroup, gender, and acculturation status in targeting high-risk smoking groups.