Public health reports
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Public health reports · Jan 2014
A public health economic assessment of hospitals' cost to screen newborns for critical congenital heart disease.
Critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) was recently added to the U.S. Recommended Uniform Screening Panel for newborns. This evaluation aimed to estimate screening time and hospital cost per newborn screened for CCHD using pulse oximetry as part of a public health economic assessment of CCHD screening. ⋯ This federal agency-state health department collaborative assessment is the first state-level analysis of time and hospital costs for CCHD screening using pulse oximetry conducted in the U.S. Hospitals' cost per newborn screened for CCHD with pulse oximetry is comparable with cost estimates of existing newborn screening tests. Hospitals' equipment costs varied substantially based on the pulse oximetry technology employed, with lower costs among hospitals that used reusable screening sensors. In combination with estimates of screening accuracy, effectiveness, and avoided costs, information from this evaluation suggests that CCHD screening is cost-effective.
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Public health reports · Nov 2013
Fatalities of pedestrians, bicycle riders, and motorists due to distracted driving motor vehicle crashes in the U.S., 2005-2010.
Distracted driving is an increasingly deadly threat to road safety. This study documents trends in and characteristics of pedestrian, bicycle rider, and other victim deaths caused by distracted drivers on U.S. public roads. ⋯ Distracted drivers are the cause of an increasing share of fatalities found among pedestrians and bicycle riders. Policies are needed to protect pedestrians and bicycle riders as they cross intersections or travel on roadways.
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Public health reports · May 2013
Comparative StudyRisk of substance abuse and dependence among young adult sexual minority groups using a multidimensional measure of sexual orientation.
We examined associations between two definitions of sexual minority status (SMS) and substance abuse and/or dependence among young adults in a national population. ⋯ Young adult female sexual minority groups, regardless of how defined, are at a higher risk than their heterosexual peers of developing alcohol, drug, or tobacco abuse and dependence.
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Public health reports · May 2013
Comparative StudyEstimates of smoking before and during pregnancy, and smoking cessation during pregnancy: comparing two population-based data sources.
We compared three measures of maternal smoking status--prepregnancy, during pregnancy, and smoking cessation during pregnancy-between the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) questionnaire and the 2003 revised birth certificate (BC). ⋯ PRAMS captured more women who smoked before and during the last trimester than the revised BC. States implementing PRAMS and the revised BC should consider information from both sources when developing population-based estimates of smoking before pregnancy and during the last trimester of pregnancy.