Adolescents Who Viewed R-Rated Films Were More Likely to Try Alcohol, Tobacco
A study of 4,544 students aged 10 to 14 found that 18 percent had tried smoking and 23 percent tried alcohol. After controlling for age, personality, parenting and peer factors, students completely restricted from viewing R-rated movies were three times less likely to have tried either cigarettes or alcohol than students with no restrictions ("Relationship between Parental Restrictions on Movies and Adolescent Use of Tobacco and Alcohol," p. 1). An editorial says the movie rating system should consider whether characters smoke ("Rate Movies with Smoking 'R'," p. 31). The interim editors discuss the controversy in an editorial, "Smoke-Free Movies: Sense or Censorship?," on p. 29. (NOTE TO EDITOR: An ACP-ASIM video news release will be available on Mon., Feb. 18, to be held for release until 5 p.m. ET. Coordinates below.*) (Separate news release also available from ACP-ASIM.)
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Popular With Health Plan Members
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among health plan members is increasing but does not seem to substitute for conventional preventive health care. A survey of 4,044 members of a health plan found 42 percent had used at least one CAM therapy. CAM users and nonusers were equally likely to use conventional preventive services and to be satisfied with their health plan. The survey adjusted for demographics and health factors ("Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use among Health Plan Members," p. 17).
Scrutiny of Medical Records May Uncover Unrecognized Diabetes
A review of administrative, laboratory and selected chart data from patients in a large managed care organization found that 9 to 18 percent of patients had blood tests suggestive of diabetes but no evidence that their physician recognized the abnormality. The author feels that automated feedback of all laboratory results to the primary care provider could alleviate this problem, but more research is needed. While most studies of medical errors have focused on hospitalized patients, unrecognized abnormal laboratory tests and undiagnosed disease are examples of medical errors in the outpatient setting ("Outpatient Diagnostic Errors: Unrecognized Hyperglycemia," p. 11).