|
Upcoming Events
Oct 25-27
Oct 27-31
Nov 1-2
Nov 28-Dec 1
Feb 4-5, 2013
Feb 20-23, 2013
Feb 26-28, 2013
| |
|
Connect with Us
Visit our Blog and Listen to our Podcasts
Follow us on Twitter
Like us on Facebook
|
|
|
|
Partnership Pulse | Sept/Oct 2012 |
|
National Chlamydia Coalition Releases Commentary on New Rapid Chlamydia Test | |
The National Chlamydia Coalition's Research Translation  Committee released a new Expert Commentary by Charlotte Gaydos, Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Gaydos discusses a recent article that examines the cost-effectiveness of a rapid point-of-care (POC) test to detect chlamydial infection among women in a clinical setting. The POC test was compared to a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT). The brief also includes characteristics that would make the POC test more cost-effective than NAAT testing. The National Chlamydia Coalition is convened and managed by Partnership for Prevention. Visit www.prevent.org/ncc to learn more about the coalition. |
|
| |
David Zauche, Partnership's Interim Director, mod erated a session at the 2012 Conference on Tobacco or Health that focused on the critical role of hospitals in tobacco cessation. His session featured three experts in this area. ActionToQuit has released a new report on Medicaid coverage for tobacco cessation. It highlights six exemplary states that provide comprehensive coverage to Medicaid beneficiaries and provides coverage information for all 50 states. Project UNIFORM was interviewed by ActionToQuit about the high rate of tobacco use among service members and veterans. Read the interview with Colleen Haydon here. Visit www.actiontoquit.org for more information about Partnership's tobacco cessation initiative. |
|
CDC Study Shows Teen Tobacco Use Remains High | | Results from The National Youth Tobacco Survey show that the rapid reductions previously seen in teen tobacco use have slowed and tobacco use among teens remains high. Tobacco use among high school students was essentially the same from 2009 to 2011 and dropped by about one percentage point among middle school students. Only Hispanic students saw a significant decline in cigarette smoking (19.2% in 2009 to 15.8% in 2011). Cuts to state tobacco control programs are blamed for the slowing decline, despite states receiving billions from the tobacco settlement. |
|
Strong State Junk Food Laws May Prevent Student Weight Gain | | A new study showed that limiting children's exposure to junk food in schools may slow weight gain. Researchers examined state laws on what foods and beverages could be sold in schools outside of the federal school meal program (called competitive foods). Laws were classified as "strong" or "weak". Children living in states with strong laws gained less weight over the 3-year study period than children living in states with weak or no laws on competitive foods. Most schools sell competitive foods in vending machines, school stores, or a la carte in the cafeteria. These foods are usually low in nutrients and high in fat, sugar, salt, and/or calories. |
|
Court Rules Against Large Graphic Warning Labels | | In September 2012, packs of cigarettes were set to feature new large graphic warning labels intended to reduce smoking rates by displaying the physical effects of smoking. That has not happened because a U.S. Court of Appeals upheld a previous decision against the use of such labels. The court ruled that the warning labels violated free speech under the First Amendment and would cause the manufacturer of a product to undermine its own economic interest. Public health advocates are urging the government to appeal. A separate lawsuit also filed by tobacco companies ruled in favor of the warning labels. The Supreme Court may settle the matter given the conflicting rulings. Learn more here. |
|
New Prevention Recommendations | |
The Community Preventive Services Task Force recently published five new recommendations that address reducing alcohol consumption and drunk driving (electronic screening and brief interventions and publicized sobriety checkpoint programs), preventing skin cancer (interventions in primary and middle school), improving emergency preparedness (school dismissals to reduce pandemic flu transmission), and increasing mental health insurance coverage (mental health benefits legislation).
The CDC issued an expanded recommendation for Hepatitis C. It now recommends that all baby boomers (those born between 1945 and 1965) get tested for the virus. Most people with Hepatitis C were born during this time period and many do not know they are infected. The CDC estimates one-time Hep C testing of all baby boomers would uncover 800,000 undiagnosed cases and prevent more than 120,000 deaths.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recently issued three final recommendation statements. The USPSTF found insufficient evidence to recommend routine screening for hearing loss in asymptomatic older adults and routine screening for chronic kidney disease in asymptomatic adults. It recommends against screening women for ovarian cancer. The USPSTF also released a draft recommendation statement for screening and behavioral counseling interventions to reduce alcohol misuse, which is available for public comment until October 22.
|
|
New Tool to Improve Community Health | | What Works for Health is a searchable tool to help communities find and implement effective programs and policies to improve health. Each program or policy contains a rating for its strength of evidence of effectiveness, implementation examples, and available resources to assist with implementation. What Works for Health was released by the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, an initiative funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. |
Vast Inefficiencies and Waste in U.S. Healthcare System, Says IOM | |
An Institute of Medicine's (IOM) report shows that our healthcare system has much room for improvement. Best Care at Lower Cost: The Path to Continuously Learning Health Care in America is the IOM's latest installment on the challenges faced by our healthcare system. The IOM's study uncovered inefficiencies and excess costs that total over $750 billion each year. This excess cost comes from unnecessary services, inefficiently delivered services, excess administrative costs, high prices, missed prevention opportunities, and fraud. The report lays out recommendations and the IOM's vision for a healthcare system that uses information and knowledge to learn and provide better patient-centered care. |
Get Ready for Food Day 2012 | |
Food movement leaders are gearing up for the second annual Food Day on Wednesday, October 24, 2012. Food Day is the nationwide celebration of healthy, affordable, and sustainably produced food. More than 2,300 events in all 50 states took place on the first Food Day, and organizers intend for Food Day 2012 to represent an even bigger grassroots campaign for improved food policies. To help make Food Day a great success and get involved, go to www.FoodDay.org. |
|
Partnership for Prevention was founded in 1991 by leaders dedicated to making disease prevention and health promotion a national priority and America a healthier nation. Partnership seeks to increase understanding and use of clinical preventive services and population-based prevention to improve health. |
|
|
