American journal of preventive medicine
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Adverse childhood experiences contribute to both short- and long-term health issues and negative health behaviors that affect the individual as well as families and communities. Exposure to ≥4 of the 11 adverse childhood experiences (high adverse childhood experiences) compounds the problems in later life. This study assesses the associations among tobacco use, adverse childhood experiences, mental health, and community health. ⋯ Including adverse childhood experiences in community needs assessments provides important information for tobacco control efforts and prevention of chronic disease.
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Vaccination mandates for elementary and middle school attendance have been shown to increase vaccination rates and decrease the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases. Fewer studies have evaluated similar requirements for child care attendance. This study provides robust, quasi-experimental estimates of the effect of state laws mandating the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for child care attendance on vaccination coverage among children aged 19-35 months. ⋯ Results indicate that state adoption of a child care mandate for the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine leads to an increase in the proportion of resident children aged 19-35 months who are up to date with pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.
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Dentists are a common source of opioid exposure. This study investigates the association between initial dental opioid prescription characteristics and subsequent persistent use and examines the rate of opioid overdose after initiation. ⋯ Among people who initiated a dentist-prescribed opioid, 1 in 23 experienced persistent use, and persistence was associated with the characteristics of the prescription. Prescribing lower doses, prescribing for shorter durations, and avoiding long-acting formulations may be an opportunity to lessen the risk of persistent opioid use.
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This manuscript characterizes primary and secondary prevention research in humans and related methods research funded by NIH in 2012‒2019. ⋯ The number of new NIH awards classified as prevention research increased to 20.7% in 2019. New projects continued to focus on observational studies and secondary data analysis in 2018 and 2019. Additional research is needed to develop and test new interventions or develop methods for the dissemination of existing interventions, which address the leading risk factors, particularly in minority health and health disparities populations.
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Paid sick leave laws have received more attention in recent years as a way to improve public health. This study estimates the impact of paid sick leave laws on the use of preventive services using a quasi-experimental design created by the implementation of Connecticut's paid sick leave law in 2012, the first statewide mandate in the U.S. ⋯ This study found that adult workers' use of preventive services increased in Connecticut after implementation of its paid sick leave law. State-paid sick leave laws can improve public health by supporting the use of preventive care services among workers.