American journal of preventive medicine
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Earth's temperature has risen by an average of 0.11°F per decade since 1850 and experts predict continued global warming. Studies have shown that exposure to extreme temperatures is associated with adverse health outcomes. Missed primary care visits can lead to incomplete preventive health screenings and unmanaged chronic diseases. This study examines the associations between extreme temperature conditions and primary care utilization among adult Philadelphians. ⋯ Temperature extremes were associated with higher rates of missed primary care appointments. Individuals with chronic diseases were more likely to have missed appointments associated with extreme temperatures. The findings suggest the need for primary care physicians to explore different modes of care delivery to support vulnerable populations, such as making telemedicine during extreme weather events a viable and affordable option.
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Effective patient-provider communication is a critical component of optimal patient care, but its potential impact on the delivery of healthcare services remains unclear. This study examines the association of patient-provider communication with access to care, healthcare utilization, and financial burden of care. ⋯ Encouraging effective patient-provider communication is essential for advancing patient-centered care and mitigating health inequities.
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Over 40,000 people die by suicide annually in the U.S., and firearms are the most lethal suicide method. There is limited evidence on the effectiveness of many state-level policies on reducing firearm suicide. The objective of this study was to identify public policies that best predict state-level firearm suicide rates. ⋯ On average, firearm suicide rates were lower in state-years that had each influential policy active. Notably, these analyses were ecological and noncausal. However, this study was able to use a supervised machine learning approach with inherent feature selection and many policy types to make predictions using unseen data (i.e., balancing Lasso and Ridge regularization penalties).
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Since 2020, many types of intoxicating cannabis products have entered the U.S. market. Hemp-derived intoxicating cannabis products, including hexahydrocannabinol and delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, pose concerns regarding their youth-oriented marketing, potency, and health effects. Some states have attempted to ban, restrict, or regulate their sale. However, the effectiveness of these laws and their enforcement is unclear. This study provides insights into the retail landscape of intoxicating cannabis products sold across the U.S. ⋯ Taking licensed dispensaries into consideration, intoxicating cannabis products can be purchased in retail stores located in all 50 states; Washington, District of Columbia; and Puerto Rico. Intoxicating cannabis products are widely available in vape shops, even in most states with relevant bans/restrictions. Enhanced laws, surveillance, and enforcement are needed. The 2024 Farm Bill and state laws should explicitly prohibit hemp-derived intoxicating cannabis products.