The Effectiveness of universal school-based programs for the prevention of violent and aggressive behavior: a report on recommendations of the Task Force on Community Preventive Services

"Universal school-based programs to reduce or prevent violent behavior are delivered to all children in classrooms in a grade or in a school. Similarly, programs targeted to schools in high-risk areas (defined by low socioeconomic status or high crime rates) are delivered to all children in a grade or school in those high-risk areas. During 2004-2006, the Task Force on Community Preventive Services (Task Force) conducted a systematic review of published scientific evidence concerning the effectiveness of these programs. The results of this review provide strong evidence that universal school-based programs decrease rates of violence and aggressive behavior among school-aged children. Program effects were demonstrated at all grade levels. An independent meta-analysis of school-based programs confirmed and supplemented these findings. On the basis of strong evidence of effectiveness, the Task Force recommends the use of universal school-based programs to prevent or reduce violent behavior." - p. 1prepared by Robert Hahn, Dawna Fuqua-Whitley, Holly Wethington, Jessica Lowy, Akiva Liberman, Alex Crosby, Mindy Fullilove, Robert Johnson, Eve Moscicki, LeShawndra Price, Susan R. Snyder, Farris Tuma, Stella Cory, Glenda Stone, Kaushik Mukhopadhaya, Sajal Chattopadhyay, Linda Dahlberg."August 10, 2007."Cover title."The material in this report originated in the National Center for Health Marketing, Jay M. Bernhardt, PhD, Director; and the Division of Health Communication and Marketing, Cynthia E. Baur, PhD, Director. " - p. 1Also available via the World Wide Web.Includes bibliographical references (p. 8-11)

Strategies for reducing exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, increasing tobacco-use cessation, and reducing initiation in communities and health-care systems: a report on recommendations of the Task Force on Community Preventive Services

Reducing tobacco-related morbidity and death is an ongoing challenge for health-care providers, health-care systems, and public health programs. Interventions are available that a) reduce exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, b) reduce tobacco-use initiation, and c) increase tobacco-use cessation. The Task Force on Community Preventive Services has conducted systematic reviews on 14 selected interventions, which are appropriate for communities and health-care systems, and has made recommendations regarding use of these interventions. This report summarizes the recommendations, identifies sources that offer full reviews of the interventions and details about applying the interventions locally, and provides an updateBackground -- Introduction -- Methods -- Results -- Use of the recommendations in communities and health-care systems -- Additional information about the community guide -- References.November 10, 2000.The following CDC staff members prepared this report: David P. Hopkins, Peter A. Briss, Jeffrey R. Harris, Connie J. Ricard, Niels Rosenquist,Includes bibliographical references (p. 10-11)

Improving influenza, pneumococcal polysaccharide, and hepatitis B vaccination coverage among adults aged <65 years at high risk: a report on recommendations of the Task Force on Community Preventive Services

The Task Force on Community Preventive Services conducted systematic reviews to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to improve targeted vaccination coverage (i.e., coverage with vaccines recommended for some but not all persons in an age range on the basis of risk for exposure or disease) among adults aged <65 years at high risk when implemented alone (single-component interventions) and in combination with other interventions (multicomponent interventions). A 1999 report by the Task Force examined the effectiveness of interventions to increase coverage with universally recommended vaccinations (i.e., vaccines recommended for all persons in particular age groups). Three targeted vaccinations recommended for populations at risk are addressed in this review: influenza, pneumococcal polysaccharide, and hepatitis B. The Task Force identified evidence that certain combinations of interventions have improved vaccination coverage. To increase targeted vaccination coverage, the Task Force recommends a combination of interventions that include selected interventions from two or three categories of interventions (i.e., increasing community demand for vaccinations, enhancing access to vaccination services, and provider- or system-based interventions). The Task Force also recommends provider reminders, when implemented alone, to improve targeted vaccination coverage. This report provides additional information about population-based interventions to improve the coverage of influenza, pneumococcal polysaccharide, and hepatitis B vaccines among populations at risk, briefly describes how the reviews were conducted, and provides information that can help in applying the interventions locally.prepared by Bayo C. Willis, Serigne M. Ndiaye, David P. Hopkins, Abigail Shefer.April 1, 2005The material in this report was prepared by the Epidemiology Program Office, Division of Prevention and Research and Analytic Methods.Includes bibliographical references (p.9-11)

Therapeutic foster care for prevention of violence: a report on recommendations of the Task Force on Community Preventive Services

In therapeutic foster care programs, youths who cannot live at home are placed in homes with foster parents who have been trained to provide a structured environment that supports their learning social and emotional skills. To assess the effectiveness of such programs in preventing violent behavior among participating youths, the Task Force on Community Preventive Services conducted a systematic review of the scientific literature regarding these programs. Reported and observed violence, including violent crime, were direct measures. Proxy measures were externalizing behavior (i.e., behavior in which psychological problems are acted out), conduct disorder, and arrests, convictions, or delinquency, as ascertained from official records, for acts that might have included violence. Reviewed studies assessed two similar interventions, distinguished by the ages and underlying problems of the target populations. Therapeutic foster care for reduction of violence by children with severe emotional disturbance (hereafter referred to as cluster therapeutic foster care) involved programs (average duration: 18 months) in which clusters of foster-parent families cooperated in the care of children (aged 5-13 years) with severe emotional disturbance. The Task Force found insufficient evidence to determine the effectiveness of this intervention in preventing violence. Therapeutic foster care for the reduction of violence by chronically delinquent adolescents (hereafter referred to as program-intensive therapeutic foster care) involved short-term programs (average duration: 6-7 months) in which program personnel collaborated closely and daily with foster families caring for adolescents (aged 12-18 years) with a history of chronic delinquency. On the basis of sufficient evidence of effectiveness, the Task Force recommends this intervention for prevention of violence among adolescents with a history of chronic delinquency. This report briefly describes how the reviews were conducted, provides additional information about the findings, and provides information that might help communities in applying the intervention locally.Introduction -- Methods -- Results -- Research concerns -- Use of the recommendation in states and communities -- Additional information about the Community Guide -- Referencesprepared by Robert A. Hahn, Jessica Lowy, Oleg Bilukha, Susan Snyder, Peter Briss, Alex Crosby, Mindy T. Fullilove, Farris Tuma, Eve K. Moscicki, Akiva Liberman, Amanda Schofield, Phaedra S. Corso.January 16, 2004.The material in this report originated in the National Center for Environmental Health; the Office of Genomics and Disease Prevention; the Division of Laboratory Sciences, the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental and the Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities; the National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, the Division of AIDS, STD, and TB Laboratory Research; and the Public Health Practice Program Office, and the Division of Laboratory Systems.Includes bibliographical references and index (p. 7-8)

Increasing physical activity: a report on recommendations of the Task Force on Community Preventive Services

The Task Force on Community Preventive Services (the Task Force) has conducted systematic reviews of community interventions to increase physical activity. The Task Force either strongly recommends or recommends six interventions: two informational approaches (i.e., communitywide campaigns and point-of-decision prompts to encourage use of stairs); three behavioral and social approaches (i.e., school-based physical education, social support interventions in community settings [e.g., setting up a buddy system or contracting with another person to complete specified levels of physical activity], and individually adapted health behavior change programs); and one intervention to increase physical activity by using environmental and policy approaches (i.e., creation of or enhanced access to places for physical activity, combined with informational outreach activities). The Task Force found insufficient evidence on which to base recommendations for classroom-based health education focused on information provision, behavioral skills, and social support interventions in family settings because of inconsistent findings; mass media campaigns, college-age physical education, and health education because of an insufficient number of studies; and classroom-based health education focusing on reducing television viewing and video game playing because of the lack of a demonstrated link between reduced time spent watching television or playing video games and increased physical activity. This report provides additional information regarding the recommendations, briefly describes how the reviews were conducted, and provides information that can help in applying the interventions locally.Background -- Introduction -- Methods -- Results -- Using the recommendations in communities -- Additional information regarding the Community Guide -- References.October 26, 2001.The following CDC staff members prepared this report: Emily B. Kahn, Leigh Taylor Ramsey, Division of Prevention Research and Analytic Methods, Epidemiology Program Office; Gregory W. Heath, Elizabeth H. Howze, Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.Includes bibliographical references (p. 33-42)

Community interventions to promote healthy social environments: : early childhood development and family housing : a report on recommendations of the Task Force on Community Preventive Services

"The sociocultural environment exerts a fundamental influence on health. Interventions to improve education, housing, employment, and access to health care contribute to healthy and safe environments and improved community health. The Task Force on Community Preventive Services (the Task Force) has conducted systematic reviews of early childhood development interventions and family housing interventions. The topics selected provide a unique, albeit small, beginning of the review of evidence that interventions do effectively address sociocultural factors that influence health. Based on these reviews, the Task Force strongly recommends publicly funded, center-based, comprehensive early childhood development programs for low-income children aged 3-5 years. The basis for the recommendation is evidence of effectiveness in preventing developmental delay, assessed by improvements in grade retention and placement in special education. The Task Force also recommends housing subsidy programs for low-income families, which provide rental vouchers for use in the private housing market and allow families choice in residential location. This recommendation is based on outcomes of improved neighborhood safety and families' reduced exposure to violence. The Task Force concludes that insufficient evidence is available on which to base a recommendation for or against creation of mixed-income housing developments that provide safe and affordable housing in neighborhoods with adequate goods and services. This report provides additional information regarding these recommendations, briefly describes how the reviews were conducted, and discusses implications for applying the interventions locally." - p. 1prepared by Laurie M. Anderson, Carolynne Shinn, Joseph St. Charles, Division of Prevention Research and Analytic Methods, Epidemiology Program Office ; in collaboration with Mindy T. Fullilove [et al.]Includes bibliographical references (p. 8)

Interventions for preventing dental caries, oral and pharyngeal cancers, and sports-related craniofacial injuries

"November 30, 2001."Cover title.The following CDC staff members prepared this report:: Benedict I. Truman, Barbara F. Gooch, Iddrisu Sulemana.Includes bibliographical references (p. 12-13)

Counseling to prevent skin cancer : recommendations and rationale of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

Preventing skin cancer : findings of the Task Force on Community Preventive Services on Reducing Exposure to Ultraviolet Light. Rates of skin cancer, the most common cancer in the United States, are increasing. The most preventable risk factor for skin cancer is unprotected ultraviolet (UV) exposure. Seeking to identify effective approaches to reducing the incidence of skin cancer by improving individual and community efforts to reduce unprotected UV exposure, the Task Force on Community Preventive Services conducted systematic reviews of community interventions to reduce exposure to ultraviolet light and increase protective behaviors. The Task Force found sufficient evidence to recommend two interventions that are based on improvements in sun protective or "covering-up" behavior (wearing protective clothing including long-sleeved clothing or hats): educational and policy approaches in two settings--primary schools and recreational or tourism sites. They found insufficient evidence to determine the effectiveness of a range of other population-based interventions and recommended additional research in these areas: educational and policy approaches in child care centers, secondary schools and colleges, recreational or tourism sites for children, and workplaces; interventions conducted in health-care settings and targeted to both providers and children's parents or caregivers; media campaigns alone; and community wide multicomponent interventions. This report also presents additional information regarding the recommended community interventions, briefly describes how the reviews were conducted, provides resources for further information, and provides information that can help in applying the interventions locally. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force conducted a systematic review of counseling by primary care clinicians to prevent skin cancer (CDC. Counseling to prevent skin cancer: recommendation and rationale of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. MMWR 2003;52[No. RR-15]:13-17), which is also included in this issue, the first jointly released findings from the Task Force on Community Preventive Services and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.Counseling to prevent skin cancer : recommendations and rationale of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. This statement summarizes the current U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation on counseling to prevent skin cancer and the supporting scientific evidence, and updates the 1996 recommendation contained in the Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, Second Edition (U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for skin cancer. In: Guide to clinical preventive services, 2nd ed. Washington DC: US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 1996:141-52). The USPSTF finds insufficient evidence to recommend for or against routine counseling by primary care clinicians to prevent skin cancer. Although counseling parents may increase children's use of sunscreen, the USPSTF found little evidence to determine the effects of counseling on the sun protection behaviors of adults. These behaviors include wearing protective clothing, reducing excessive sun exposure, avoiding sun lamps and tanning beds, or practicing skin self-examination. The USPSTF, an independent panel of private sector experts in primary care and prevention, systematically reviews the evidence of effectiveness of a wide range of clinical preventive services, including screening tests, counseling, and chemoprevention. Members of the USPSTF represent the fields of family medicine, gerontology, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, nursing, and prevention research.Preventing skin cancer : findings of the Task Force on Community Preventive Services on Reducing Exposure to Ultraviolet Light / prepared by Mona Saraiya, Karen Glanz, Peter Briss, Phyllis Nichols, Cornelia White, Debjani Das -- Counseling to prevent skin cancer : recommendations and rationale of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force."October 17, 2003."Includes bibliographical references.Chronic DiseasePrevention and ControlRetirednot in validation spreadsheetnot in validation spreadshee

Private provider participation in statewide immunization registries

BACKGROUND: Population-based registries have been promoted as an effective method to improve childhood immunization rates, yet rates of registry participation in the private sector are low. We sought to describe, through a national overview, the perspectives of childhood immunization providers in private practice regarding factors associated with participation or non-participation in immunization registries. METHODS: Two mailed surveys, one for 264 private practices identified as registry non-participants and the other for 971 identified as registry participants, from 15 of the 31 states with population-based statewide immunization registries. Frequency distributions were calculated separately for non-participants and participants regarding the physician-reported factors that influenced decisions related to registry participation. Pearson chi-square tests of independence were used to assess associations among categorical variables. RESULTS: Overall response rate was 62% (N = 756). Among non-participants, easy access to records of vaccines provided at other sites (N = 101, 68%) and printable immunization records (N = 82, 55%) were most often cited as "very important" potential benefits of a registry, while the most commonly cited barriers to participation were too much cost/staff time (N = 36, 38%) and that the practice has its own system for recording and monitoring immunizations (N = 35, 37%). Among registry participants, most reported using the registry to input data on vaccines administered (N = 326, 87%) and to review immunization records of individual patients (N = 302, 81%). A minority reported using it to assess their practice's immunization coverage (N = 110, 29%) or generate reminder/recall notices (N = 54, 14%). Few participants reported experiencing "significant" problems with the registry; the most often cited was cost/staff time to use the registry (N = 71, 20%). CONCLUSION: Most registry participants report active participation with few problems. The problems they report are generally consistent with the barriers anticipated by non-participants, but did not impede participation. Recruitment efforts should focus on demonstrating the benefits of the registry to providers. In addition, many participants are not utilizing the full range of registry features; further study is needed to determine how best to increase use of these features