American journal of preventive medicine
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Health-related social needs are associated with poor health outcomes. Many primary care practices now screen and refer patients with health-related social needs to assistance organizations, but some patients decline screening or assistance. Improving communication about health-related social needs screening and referral could increase screening response and assistance acceptance rates. ⋯ Altering practice workflows to provide verbal explanations of health-related social needs screening may reduce response rates but may encourage responders to accept assistance referrals. Optimal communication strategies and workflows will likely differ depending on the intended goals of health-related social needs screening and referral.
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Medication adherence is important for optimal management of chronic conditions, including hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. This study describes adherence to antihypertensive and statin medications, individually and collectively, and examines variation in adherence by demographic and geographic characteristics. ⋯ This study highlights opportunities for efforts to remove barriers and support medication adherence, especially among racial/ethnic minority groups and within the regions at greatest risk for adverse cardiovascular outcomes.
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Observational Study
Binge Drinking and Alcohol Problems Among Moderate Average-Level Drinkers.
A significant amount of binge drinking among adults escapes public health scrutiny because it occurs among individuals who drink at a moderate average level. This observational study examined the role of a binge pattern of drinking in predicting alcohol problems among moderate drinkers in a U.S. national sample of adults. ⋯ These results substantially broaden an increasing recognition that binge drinking is a public health concern among adults. Moderate average-level drinkers should be included in efforts to reduce alcohol problems in adults. These findings are applicable to primary and secondary prevention of alcohol problems with the potential to advance population health.