http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public.html en-us Copyright 2009 American Academy of Family Physicians http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20091119smoke-stats.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20091119smoke-stats.html The United States likely will fall well short of the Healthy People 2010 objective of reducing the prevalence of cigarette smoking among adults to less than 12 percent. According to a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, or MMWR, article released Nov. 13, the proportion of U.S. adults who were cigarette smokers declined from 24.1 percent in 1998 to 19.8 percent in 2007. However, the figure increased to 20.6 percent in 2008. ann@aafp.org Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:10:00 CST Health of the Public http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20091118breast-ca-recs.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20091118breast-ca-recs.html The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, or USPSTF, has updated its recommendations for breast cancer screening with some significant changes, including a recommendation against routine screening mammography for women ages 40-49 who aren't at increased risk for breast cancer. ann@aafp.org Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:00:00 CST Health of the Public http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20091111chronic-pain.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20091111chronic-pain.html Chronic pain costs the United States more than $100 billion a year in direct medical costs and lost productivity, and it leads to more than 50 million lost workdays annually. That's according to a new report from the Mayday Fund that has been endorsed by the AAFP and more than 30 other professional medical organizations. dmitchell@aafp.org Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:10:00 CST Health of the Public http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20091105fda-tobacc-cmnts.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20091105fda-tobacc-cmnts.html The AAFP has weighed in with numerous suggestions to a July request from the FDA for public input on how the agency should implement its newfound authority to regulate tobacco. ann@aafp.org Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:20:00 CST Health of the Public http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20091103cer-focus-grps.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20091103cer-focus-grps.html Comparative effectiveness research has become a pivotal term in Washington these days, particularly after the federal government passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which authorized $1.1 billion for comparative effectiveness research. Now an analysis of findings from six focus groups commissioned by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, or MedPAC, finds that although physicians think comparative effectiveness research studies are a good idea, their support for such studies depends on a number of factors. jarvantes@aafp.org Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:00:00 CST Health of the Public http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20091028accusure-recall.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20091028accusure-recall.html Qualitest Pharmaceuticals Inc. is recalling millions of its Accusure insulin syringes after receiving complaints that some needles have detached from the syringes. ann@aafp.org Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:10:00 CDT Health of the Public http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20091023metlife-grnt.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20091023metlife-grnt.html High demand for a children's book and DVD developed by the AAFP and distributed free to members beginning earlier this year will lead to a set of new books about physical activity, nutrition and emotional well-being in 2010. ann@aafp.org Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:25:00 CDT Health of the Public http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20091023joint-ltr.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20091023joint-ltr.html The AAFP is again joining with other medical and public health organizations in an effort to emphasize the need for pregnant women to be vaccinated against novel influenza A (H1N1) and the seasonal flu. The Academy; the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, or ACOG; the AMA; and the CDC have issued a joint letter asking physicians to urge their pregnant patients to get vaccinated. dmitchell@aafp.org Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:30:00 CDT Health of the Public http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20091013harvardstudy.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20091013harvardstudy.html As Congress continues to debate health care reform legislation, a new study by researchers at Harvard Medical School suggests that covering the uninsured population is less expensive than initial estimates if certain cost offsets are taken into consideration. jarvantes@aafp.org Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:25:00 CDT Health of the Public http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20091008gentamicin-evnts.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20091008gentamicin-evnts.html FDA and CDC officials announced this week that the agencies have received reports of adverse events associated with the use of gentamicin ophthalmic ointment (0.3%) for prophylaxis against ophthalmia neonatorum, or neonatal conjunctivitis. The product is marketed by Lake Forest, Ill.-based Akorn Inc. as Gentak. ann@aafp.org Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:10:00 CDT Health of the Public http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20091002preg-wmn-flu.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20091002preg-wmn-flu.html Fewer than one-fourth of pregnant women in the United States were vaccinated against seasonal influenza during the 2007-08 flu season, according to the CDC. But with the double whammy of seasonal flu and the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus looming, the AAFP and seven other national organizations with an interest in maternal and infant health are attempting to raise awareness about the risks of influenza during pregnancy and the protection offered by immunizations. ann@aafp.org Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:40:00 CDT Health of the Public http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20090928hib-booster-recall.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20090928hib-booster-recall.html As the nation's supply of Haemophilus influenzae type b, or Hib, vaccine increases thanks to the FDA's August approval of GlaxoSmithKline's Hiberix as a booster dose for children ages 15 months to 4 years, the AAFP has adopted the CDC's recommendation that physicians recall children who have not received a booster dose. ann@aafp.org Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:55:00 CDT Health of the Public http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20090925vacc-matt2.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20090925vacc-matt2.html Almost three-quarters of U.S. adults think they are up-to-date on their immunizations, says a recent AAFP survey. According to CDC statistics, however, only 2 percent of adults received the tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis vaccine, or Tdap, from 2005 through 2007. ann@aafp.org Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:35:00 CDT Health of the Public