American journal of preventive medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Influenza vaccination concerns among older blacks: a randomized controlled trial.
Vaccination can decrease the morbidity and mortality caused by influenza, yet vaccination rates remain low, especially among minority groups. Previous studies have found that important barriers to vaccination include the fear of adverse reactions and concern that the vaccine causes influenza. ⋯ The VSM affected beliefs about vaccine safety and effectiveness to a greater degree than did the VIS. These findings show that VSM are effective in changing beliefs empirically linked with influenza vaccination and vaccination disparities. The dissemination of VSM to older blacks may increase vaccination rates and reduce vaccination disparities.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Quitting by gradual smoking reduction using nicotine gum: a randomized controlled trial.
Many smokers express a desire to quit smoking by gradually reducing the number of cigarettes they smoke until they stop completely. This study tested the efficacy of nicotine gum in facilitating cessation through gradual reduction. ⋯ These findings demonstrate that smokers who wish to quit smoking by gradual reduction can increase their success by using nicotine gum to facilitate reduction and cessation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Computerized counseling for folate knowledge and use: a randomized controlled trial.
Periconception folate supplementation significantly reduces the risk of neural-tube defects, but few U.S. women start folate supplementation before pregnancy, and the amount of clinician time available to counsel patients about folate is limited. This study evaluated whether computer-assisted counseling and the provision of free folate tablets increases women's knowledge and use of folate supplements. ⋯ A one-time, brief, computerized counseling session about folate with the provision of free folate tablets increased the knowledge and use of folate supplements among women > or =6 months later.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Weight loss during the intensive intervention phase of the weight-loss maintenance trial.
To improve methods for long-term weight management, the Weight Loss Maintenance (WLM) trial, a four-center randomized trial, was conducted to compare alternative strategies for maintaining weight loss over a 30-month period. This paper describes methods and results for the initial 6-month weight-loss program (Phase I). ⋯ The WLM behavioral intervention successfully achieved clinically significant short-term weight loss in a diverse population of high-risk patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Clinical skills and self-efficacy after a curriculum on care for the underserved.
Despite calls for medical school curricula that address care for the underserved, published evaluations of such curricula are few and often do not assess clinical skills. This study assesses the changes in self-efficacy and clinical skills resulting from faculty-led or web-based curricula on care for the underserved. ⋯ Web-based and faculty-led curricula improve medical student self-efficacy and clinical skills. Results from specific self-efficacy and skill items facilitate targeted curricular improvement.