public health

In 2021, opioid overdose deaths exceeded 80 000 in the US.1 Naloxone, a competitive opioid receptor antagonist that reverses symptoms of opioid intoxication and overdose by displacing opioids from μ-opioid receptors, is a safe and effective medication for preventing opioid overdose death. Naloxone meets US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) criteria for approval without a prescription: its benefits outweigh risks, it treats a condition that can be identified by people in the community, it has a low potential for misuse, and it can be labeled to facilitate correct administration.

Author/s:

Jessica L Taylor, Karen E Lasser

Suicide Prevention in Primary Care: A Toolkit for Primary Care Clinicians and Leaders

Aubrey Delammermore — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Date Added:

November 19, 2022

Journal/Publication:

Association of Clinicians for the Underserved

Publisher:

Centene Corporation

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Article

Keywords

evidence-based medicine

MeSH

primary health care

Suicide

Vulnerable Populations

risk assessment

communication

A suicide prevention toolkit developed for primary care practices recommended by the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Suicide prevention has been named a national priority and much work has been done to review existing evidence and identify gaps in how our nation’s mental health and health care systems address this public health challenge. A national task force that was part of the effort to update the national suicide prevention strategy reviewed research and best practices from the field and
concluded that suicide prevention could be improved in health care. The task force found three common characteristics among successful suicide prevention programs in health care settings. Health care staff in these organizations:
Believed that suicide can be prevented in the population they serve through improvements in service access and quality, and through systems of continuous improvement;
Created a culture that finds suicide unacceptable and sets and monitors ambitious goals to prevent suicide; and
Employed evidence-based clinical care practice, including standardized risk stratification, evidence-based interventions, and patient engagement approaches1.

The task force’s recommendations formed the foundation of the Zero Suicide Approach for health care organizations. The recommendations contained in this guide are based on those offered in the comprehensive Zero Suicide in Health and Behavioral Health Care Toolkit [http://zerosuicide.sprc.org/toolkit]. Here they have been adapted specifically for primary care organizations and clinicians who care for underserved populations.
The guide focuses on two core components:
1. Screening and assessment
2. Care management and referral processes
The final section contains some additional information on administrative and legal issues providers and leaders may find helpful to support integration of safer suicide care in practice. Many providers and clinical leaders erroneously assume if they discuss suicide with a patient they open up themselves to liability. Utilizing a patient safety approach, primary care organizations can
establish safer suicide care practices that deliver high quality care to patients and reduce risk to the organization.
In each section of this guide you will find:
Information summarized for providers, including some helpful provider communication tips.
A list of recommended trainings and resources to learn more.
Leadership actions organizations may wish to undertake to help providers reduce suicide in their organization’s
patient population, and
Relevant tools, templates and case studies.
This toolkit begins with a brief background on the impact of suicide and offers a case study illustrating how one federally qualified health center adopted a safer suicide care model.

Author/s:

Institute of Family Health, Little, V.

Understanding Suicide Risk And Prevention

Devin Evans — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Date Added:

March 19, 2021

Journal/Publication:

Health Affairs

Publication Date:

January 29, 2021

URL:

Understanding Suicide Risk And Prevention

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Web Page

DOI (1):

10.1377/hpb20201228.198475

Keywords

MeSH

Self-Injurious Behavior

A review of suicide risk and prevention by a psychologist who works with primary care practices. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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KEY POINTS:

Suicide rates have been rising during the past several years, but suicide is preventable.
There are many known risk factors for suicide, but the predictive utility of any single risk factor is low, requiring a focus on population-level rather than individual-level prevention.
There are proven processes for identifying suicide risk and intervening in health care, criminal justice, and education settings.
There is also a need for an enhanced data infrastructure to support suicide and self-harm surveillance systems.
Additional policy intervention is needed to scale and spread successful prevention approaches and to identify others. For example, policies should support removal of lethal means, increased funding for help lines and school-based programs, and integration of mental health care into routine health care.

Author/s:

Miller, Benjamin F., Coffey, M. J.

Foodborne illness source attribution estimates for 2018 for Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157, Listeria monocytogenes, and Campylobacter using multi-year outbreak surveillance data, United States

Devin Evans — Wed, 24 Feb 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Date Added:

February 24, 2021

Journal/Publication:

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Publication Date:

December 1, 2020

URL:

Foodborne illness source attribution estimates for 2018 for Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157, Listeria monocytogenes, and Campylobacter using multi-year outbreak surveillance data, United States

Type:

Public Health Announcements

Format:

Article

Keywords

Foodborne Diseases

Food Safety

Salmonella

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

MeSH

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

centers for disease control and prevention (U.S.)

Campylobacter

Salmonella

CDC report on the food sources of common food-born illnesses in the U.S. The Executive Summary is on page 2. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Each year in the United States an estimated 9 million people get sick, 56,000 are hospitalized, and 1,300 die of foodborne disease caused by known pathogens. These estimates help us understand the scope of this public health problem. However, to develop effective prevention measures, we need to understand the types of foods contributing to the problem. The Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration (IFSAC) is a tri-agency group created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS). IFSAC developed a method to estimate the percentages of foodborne illness attributed to certain sources using outbreak data from 1998 through the most recent year for four priority pathogens: Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157, Listeria monocytogenes, and Campylobacter. IFSAC described this method and the estimates for 2012 in a report, peer-reviewed journal article, and at a public meeting. IFSAC derived the estimates for 2018 using the same method used for the 2012 estimates, with some modifications. The data came from 1,459 foodborne disease outbreaks that occurred from 1998 through 2018 and for which each confirmed or suspected implicated food was assigned to a single food category. The method relies most heavily on the most recent five years of outbreak data (2014 – 2018). Foods are categorized using a scheme IFSAC created that classifies foods into 17 categories that closely align with the U.S. food regulatory agencies’ classification needs

Health Policy Brief: Understanding Suicide Risk and Prevention

Devin Evans — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Date Added:

February 3, 2021

Publisher:

Health Affairs

Publication Date:

January 29, 2021

URL:

Health Policy Brief: Understanding Suicide Risk and Prevention

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Web Page

DOI (1):

10.1377/hpb20201228.198475

Keywords

MeSH

A summary of what we know about prevention of suicide written by someone who has been working hard to integrate primary and mental health care for years. James WE. Mold, MD, MPH

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Suicide rates have been rising during the past several years, but suicide is preventable.
There are many known risk factors for suicide, but the predictive utility of any single risk factor is low, requiring a focus on population-level rather than individual-level prevention.
There are proven processes for identifying suicide risk and intervening in health care, criminal justice, and education settings.
There is also a need for an enhanced data infrastructure to support suicide and self-harm surveillance systems.
Additional policy intervention is needed to scale and spread successful prevention approaches and to identify others. For example, policies should support removal of lethal means, increased funding for help lines and school-based programs, and integration of mental health care into routine health care.

Author/s:

Miller, Benjamin F., Coffery, M. J.

RNA vaccines: a novel technology to prevent and treat disease

Brian Desmarais — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 20:47:39 +0000

Date Added:

November 16, 2020

Journal/Publication:

Science in the News Blog

Publisher:

Harvard University

Publication Date:

May 1, 2015

URL:

RNA vaccines: a novel technology to prevent and treat disease

Type:

Patient Education Materials

Keywords

An explanation of how mRNA vaccines work including their advantages and disadvantages. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Not available.

Author/s:

Hubaud, A.

Cancer-Specific Mortality, All-Cause Mortality, and Overdiagnosis in Lung Cancer Screening Trials: A Meta-Analysis

Brian Desmarais — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 16:45:00 +0000

Date Added:

November 12, 2020

Journal/Publication:

Annals of Family Medicine

Publication Date:

November 1, 2020

Issue:

Volume:

Pages:

545-552

URL:

Cancer-Specific Mortality, All-Cause Mortality, and Overdiagnosis in Lung Cancer Screening Trials: A Meta-Analysis

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.2582

Keywords

cancer screening

health services

low-dose computed tomography

An unbiased meta-analysis documenting that screening with low-dose CT reduces lung cancer mortality with a 20% rate of overdiagnoses. The number needed to screen to prevent one lung cancer death is 294. However, there is as yet no conclusive evidence that it reduces all-cause mortality. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Abstract

Purpose: Benefit of lung cancer screening using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in reducing lung cancer-specific and all-cause mortality is unclear. We undertook a meta-analysis to assess its associations with outcomes.

Methods: We searched the literature and previous systematic reviews to identify randomized controlled trials comparing LDCT screening with usual care or chest radiography. We performed meta-analysis using a random effects model. The primary outcomes were lung cancer-specific mortality, all-cause mortality, and the cumulative incidence ratio of lung cancer between screened and unscreened groups as a measure of overdiagnosis.

Results: Meta-analysis was based on 8 trials with 90,475 patients that had a low risk of bias. There was a significant reduction in lung cancer-specific mortality with LDCT screening (relative risk = 0.81; 95% CI, 0.74-0.89); the estimated absolute risk reduction was 0.4% (number needed to screen = 250). The reduction in all-cause mortality was not statistically significant (relative risk = 0.96; 95% CI, 0.92-1.01), but the absolute reduction was consistent with that for lung cancer-specific mortality (0.34%; number needed to screen = 294). In the studies with the longest duration of follow-up, the incidence of lung cancer was 25% higher in the screened group, corresponding to a 20% rate of overdiagnosis.

Conclusions: This meta-analysis showing a significant reduction in lung cancer-specific mortality, albeit with a tradeoff of likely overdiagnosis, supports recommendations to screen individuals at elevated risk for lung cancer with LDCT.

Keywords: cancer screening; health services; low-dose computed tomography; lung cancer; mass screening; overdiagnosis; preventive medicine; public health.

Author/s:

Ebell, M.H., Bentivegna, M., Hulme, C.

Influenza Vaccine

Brian Desmarais — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 13:45:14 +0000

Date Added:

September 1, 2020

Publisher:

Journal of the American Medical Association

Publication Date:

August 28, 2020

URL:

Influenza Vaccine

Type:

Patient Education Materials

Format:

Web Page

DOI (1):

10.1001/jama.2020.16846

Keywords

MeSH

Concise information for patients about on the influenza vaccine. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Not available.

Author/s:

Walter, Kristin

Candida auris: A Drug-resistant Germ That Spreads in Healthcare Facilities

John Bayhi — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 21:22:14 +0000

Date Added:

July 25, 2019

Journal/Publication:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Website

Publisher:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Publication Date:

December 21, 2018

URL:

Fact Sheet: Candida auris: A Drug-resistant Germ That Spreads in Healthcare Facilities

Type:

Public Health Announcements

Format:

Web Page

Keywords

I thought everyone should be aware of this new fungal pathogen, which has been identified in at least three states so far. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Candida auris (also called C. auris) is a fungus that causes serious infections. Patients with C. auris infection, their family members and other close contacts, public health officials, laboratory staff, and healthcare personnel can all help stop it from spreading.

Preventing Firearm-Related Death and Injury

Brian Desmarais — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 19:32:12 +0000

Date Added:

June 5, 2019

Journal/Publication:

Annals of Internal Medicine

Publisher:

American College of Physicians

Publication Date:

June 4, 2019

Issue:

Volume:

170

URL:

Preventing Firearm-Related Death and Injury

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.7326/AITC201906040

Keywords

MeSH

A comprehensive summary of what we know about firearm-associated injuries and firearm safety to support physician-initiated patient education. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Deaths and injuries from firearms are significant public health problems, and clinicians are in a unique position to identify risk among their patients and discuss the importance of safe firearm practices. Although clinicians may be ill-prepared to engage in such discussions, an adequate body of evidence is available for support, and patients are generally receptive to this type of discussion with their physician. Here, we provide an overview of existing research and recommended strategies for counseling and intervention to reduce firearm-related death and injury.

Author/s:

Pallin, R., Spitzer, S.A., Ranney, M.L., Betz, M.E., Wintemute, G.J.

Partnering to Catalyze Comprehensive Community Wellness

Tracy Ashby — Fri, 02 Nov 2018 05:00:00 +0000

Date Added:

November 2, 2018

Publisher:

Public Health Leadership Forum

URL:

Partnering to Catalyze Comprehensive Community Wellness

Type:

Public Health Announcements

Format:

Article

Keywords

MeSH

This may be an opportunity to help bridge the gap between primary care and public health in Oklahoma

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The Public Health Leadership Forum (PHLF) at RESOLVE teamed with the Health Care Transformation Task Force (HCTTF) to develop a framework that supports enhanced collaboration between health care and public health entities. Join a webinar on November 27th at 1pm CST to learn more about essential elements of the framework: Partnering to Catalyze Comprehensive Community Wellness: An Actionable Framework for Health Care and Public Health Collaboration. Register here

Author/s:

Gerd, Dilley, Abby, Katie, Hines, Mason, Heise, Georgia, Im, Ji, Kaiman, Sherry, Levi, Jeffrey, Moerhle, Carole, Pierce-Wrobel, Clare, Schoof, Bellinda, Wiesman, John, Fraser, Michael

Blazing the Trail in Colorado Marijuana and Public Health

Jeffrey Wilson — Wed, 31 Oct 2018 14:50:07 +0000

Date Added:

October 31, 2018

Publisher:

Colorado Department of Health & Environment

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines, Public Health Announcements

Keywords

cannabis

medical marijuana

recreational marijuana

MeSH

A history of Colorado’s experience with legalization of marijuana.

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Outline

Medical Marijuana
- History
- Registry
- Conditions
- Research
Recreational Marijuana
- Public Health
- Health Effects
- Surveillance Findings

Healthy Oklahoma 2020

Jeffrey Wilson — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 23:09:24 +0000

Date Added:

October 2, 2018

Publisher:

The Oklahoma State Department of Health

Publication Date:

February 1, 2015

URL:

Oklahoma Health Improvement Plan (OHIP)

Type:

Public Health Announcements

Format:

Article

Keywords

public health

oklahoma

MeSH

public health

This is Oklahoma’s 2020 Health Improvement Plan. It is (or should be) a compilation of the health improvement plans developed by the counties. Primary care clinicians have an opportunity (and responsibility) to participate in the development of these County Health Improvement Plans. To find out how to have input, contact your county health department, and learn more at www.publichealthok.org.

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A host of organizations in Oklahoma are concerned that the health status of Oklahomans ranks near the bottom of all states in the United States. In a significant effort to improve health status, the Oklahoma State Board of Health convened a broadly based group and charged it with developing a statewide health improvement plan. The Oklahoma State Legislature passed Enrolled Senate Joint Resolution No. 41 on March 11, 2008, requiring the Oklahoma State Board of Health to “prepare and return to the Legislature a health improvement plan for Oklahoma for the general improvement of the physical, social, and mental well-being of all people in Oklahoma through a high functioning public health system.” The five-year health improvement plan was initially issued in 2010 and updated in 2015.

The purpose of the OHIP is to improve the health of Oklahomans. It is understood that the health improvement plan is designed to guide investments, define roles of participating organizations, and identify strategies, all to protect and promote the health of Oklahomans, to prevent disease and injury, and to assure the conditions by which Oklahomans can be healthy.

Author/s:

Neuwald, Sharon, Hadden, Shelagh K.

Confronting Pain Management and the Opioid Epidemic: Balancing Societal and Individual Benefits and Risks of Prescription Opioid Use

Jeffrey Wilson — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 20:04:55 +0000

Date Added:

August 22, 2018

Publisher:

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Publication Date:

July 13, 2017

URL:

Confronting Pain Management and the Opioid Epidemic: Balancing Societal and Individual Benefits and Risks of Prescription Opioid Use

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Article

Keywords

MeSH

This is a consensus study report from the National Academy of Medicine’sCommittee on Pain Management and Regulatory Strategies to Address Prescription Opioid Abuse.

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The ongoing opioid crisis lies at the intersection of two substantial public health challenges—reducing the burden of suffering from pain and containing the rising toll of the harms that can result from the use of opioid medications. In March 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asked the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (the National Academies) to convene an ad hoc committee to

• update the state of the science on pain research, care, and education since publication of the 2011 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report Relieving Pain in America: A Blueprint for Transforming Prevention, Care, Education, and Research, including the evolving role of opioids in pain management;

• characterize the epidemiology of the opioid epidemic and the evidence on strategies for addressing it;

• identify actions the FDA and other organizations can take to respond to the epidemic, with a particular focus on the FDA’s development of a formal method for incorporating individual and societal considerations into its risk-benefit framework for opioid approval and monitoring; and

• identify research questions that need to be addressed to assist the FDA in implementing this framework.

Author/s:

Ford, Morgan A., Phillips, Jonathan K., Bonnie, Richard J.