The public's health is too important to be left to public health workers

Article Abstract:

Early detection of a disease or condition is often accomplished by medical screening programs or through case-finding. Medical screening programs, generally performed by public heath workers or technicians, identify patients at risk for a specific condition (such as blood pressure readings in shopping malls to screen for hypertension). In case-finding, the physician, during a primary care visit, classifies patients into low and high risk groups. In the recent Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, the US Preventative Services Task Force acknowledged the role of the clinical practitioner in the prevention of disease. The task force suggested that the case-finding method of disease detection is an important approach to disease prevention because the physician is in a unique position to counsel patients in changing behaviors and adjusting lifestyles to reduce risk factors associated with disease. It advocated that health promotion programs and patient education be incorporated into physicians' clinical practice. The guide lists recommended interventions to be used in the prevention of 60 different illnesses and conditions. However, each patient is unique and physicians should not be restricted to these guidelines. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Analysis, Management, Preventive health services, Preventive medicine, Medicine, Preventive

---

Routine vitamin supplementation to prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease: recommendations and rationale

Article Abstract:

This statement summarizes the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations on routine vitamin supplementation to prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease and the supporting scientific evidence. Part of the information on which this statement is based, including evidence tables and references, is available in the accompanying article on vitamins to prevent cardiovascular disease in this issue. More complete information can be found in the summaries of the evidence on vitamins to prevent cancer and vitamins to prevent cardiovascular disease, available on the USPSTF Web site (www.preventiveservices.ahrq.gov) and through the National Guideline Clearinghouse (www.guideline.gov). The summaries of the evidence on these topics and the recommendation statement are also available in print through subscription to the Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, Third Edition: Periodic Updates. A subscription costs $60 U.S. and can be ordered through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Publications Clearinghouse (call 800-358-9295 or e-mail ahrqpubs@ahrq.gov).

United States, Cardiovascular diseases, Prevention, Cancer, Cancer prevention, Nutritional aspects, Author Abstract, Multivitamins

---

Unintended pregnancy among teenagers: important roles for primary care providers

Article Abstract:

Approximately one million teenagers become pregnant in the United States each year. More than 40 percent of them will have abortions. Those who carry the pregnancies to term face tremendous economic burdens. Girls who become mothers almost never match the economic achievements of their peers who delay pregnancy. Nevertheless, contraception seems to be used far less frequently by teenagers, especially in the United States, despite comparable levels of sexual activity among teenagers. A report by the US Preventive Services Task Force of the effectiveness of ways currently employed to avoid unwanted pregnancies suggests that clinicians should take greater responsibility in counseling teenagers about the less desirable aspects of teenage pregnancy and motherhood. Issues of sexuality and birth control should be discussed with all patients by their primary care providers. School-based settings for this discussion and counselling are preferable. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Practice, Teenage pregnancy, Community health aides, editorial

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: The accuracy of portable cholesterol analyzers in public screening programs. Preliminary report: 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin exposure to humans - Seveso, Italy
• Abstracts: The impact of the prospective payment system on the treatment of hip fractures in the elderly. The role of medication noncompliance and adverse drug reactions in hospitalizations of the elderly
• Abstracts: Is the quality cart before the horse? Quality of care
• Abstracts: Adolescents without health insurance. Public long-term care insurance in Japan. Local advocacy for the medically indigent; strategies and accomplishments in one county
• Abstracts: Mucosal dysplasia of the liver and the intraductal variant of peripheral cholangiocarcinoma in hepatholithiasis

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.