What physicians can do to reduce occupational and incidental pesticide exposure: a guide to best practices.

Residents of rural areas trust their physicians to provide them with accurate, unbiased information about pesticides and the effect they can have on health. Educating patients about using pesticides safely and avoiding contact with them need not be difficult or time-consuming and can be based on universal precautions that are already being practiced in the health care industry. This article discusses the prevalence of pesticide use in the United States, the ways people can be exposed, and several best practices for helping patients reduce their chance of exposure to pesticides that can cause illness.

The TEAM project: the effectiveness of smoking cessation intervention with hospital patients.

Background: This study evaluated the effectiveness of three smoking cessation interventions for this population: (1) modified usual care (UC); (2) brief advice (A); and (3) brief advice plus more extended counseling during and after hospitalization (A + C).

Methods: Smokers (2,095) who were in-patients in four hospitals were randomly assigned to condition. Smoking status was ascertained via phone interview 7 days and 12 months post-discharge.

Unrecognized torture affects the health of refugees.

Recognizing the symptoms and signs of torture and documenting their cause may be key to providing effective health care for refugees from countries where torture is known to have occurred. Generalist or primary care physicians are in a unique position to establish a trust relationship with patients, to identify potential signs and symptoms of torture, and encourage patients to talk about their experiences. With knowledge about, understanding of, and sensitivity toward torture survivors, physicians can help these patients regain their health and a sense of well-being.