Policies to Achieve a Smoke-Free Society: A Research Agenda for 2010-2015

Summarizes key research priorities on tobacco control policies for taxes and prices, product regulation, marketing, public education, clean indoor air laws and restrictions, proven cessation treatments, and accountability and performance

The possibilities and potential of social ecological frameworks to understand health behaviours and outcomes

The health status of individuals and groups is influenced by a wide array of factors. In 2000 a landmark publication, Promoting Human Wellness’ edited by Jamner-Schneider and Stokols, provided compelling evidence of the “complex web of interrelated influences that operate dynamically to determine health and wellness” (p. 1). Thirteen years later, it is timely to revisit this work in light of subsequent changes to our world, and ebb and flow of research trends. Scholarly and societal interest in the multifaceted influences on physical and emotional well-being has stimulated growing interest in social ecological (SE) analyses of health among community and environmental health specialists and other professionals. These professional groups have found SE to be a valuable framework for understanding the multiple levels of influence on human behavior. There is increasing recognition of the value of utilising broader conceptual models for purposes of understanding and managing various intrapersonal, interpersonal, physical environmental and sociocultural influences on health outcomes and health behaviors. This symposium will examine SE models of health and will feature a number of pioneers who have drawn upon SE principles to better understand health behavior, and to develop multi-faceted health promotion interventions ranging from macro-societal to micro-environmental level research. Speakers will discuss their reasons for utilizing a SE framework to effectively understand and influence bi-directional, multi-level processes that either support or hinder an individual’s engagement in health protective behaviours. The symposium presentations also will suggest guidelines for health promotion interventions focusing on multiple environmental levels

So near, yet so far: Tobacco dependence treatment for pregnant women.

Almost one-half million babies in the United States are born yearly to women who report smoking while pregnant. Almost all of these pregnant women have access to prenatal care, through federally financed health clinics, state and county health programs, or private providers. However, many pregnant smokers are unlikely to receive any type of counseling or assistance to help them stop smoking-despite the availability of evidence-based treatment and the considerable return on investment. This article recommends four next steps to ensure that tobacco dependence treatment is available for all pregnant women. These steps are (a) expanding Medicaid coverage for, and promotion of, effective counseling services for pregnant smokers, (b) improving health care systems by building the capacity of prenatal providers and health care systems to deliver effective treatments, (c) encouraging purchasers of private and public health benefit packages to demand coverage for, and promotion of, effective counseling services for pregnant smokers, and (d) redirecting state resources to ensure a statewide system of care for pregnant smokers. Implementation of these steps requires leadership, diligence, and action by the public health community-as well as ongoing monitoring to assess progress in improving coverage, capacity, and coordination

The Guide to Community Preventive Services Review of Interventions to Promote Health Equity in the United States

The optimal approach to eliminating health inequities is through evidence-based interventions. In 2009, the non-federal Community Preventive Services Task Force launched a series of systematic reviews of interventions to promote health equity. Topics to be considered include education, employment, housing, and transportation. Thus far, reviews have focused on educational interventions: center-based early childhood education, full-day kindergarten programs, out-of-school time academic programs, high school completion programs, and school-based health centers. These reviews demonstrate the benefits of diverse educational interventions in advancing health equity. Here, we summarize the strategy of Community Guide health equity reviews, first findings and challenges

Recommendation to Reduce Patients’ Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Medication Costs

The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends reducing patient out-of-pocket costs (ROPC) for medications to control high blood pressure and high cholesterol when combined with additional interventions aimed at improving patient–provider interaction and patient knowledge, such as team-based care with medication counseling, and patient education

Nicotine addiction: principles and management

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