ROCHESTER, Minn. — A Mayo Clinic physician and two other pediatric experts say that parental perceptions pose a major barrier to acceptance of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination — and that many of those perceptions are wrong. Their comments are published in Expert Review of Clinical Immunology, in an editorial on why HPV vaccination rates remain poor.

"The greatest misperception of parents is that the HPV vaccine isn't needed," says Mayo Clinic's Robert Jacobson, M.D., pediatrician in the Mayo Clinic Children's Center and lead author of the editorial. "Not only is that wrong, it's a dangerous idea to be spreading around. Recent figures show that at least 12,000 unvaccinated women develop cervical cancer from HPV every year." Other incorrect perceptions: The HPV vaccines are not safe, and they are given to children when they are too young.

Dr. Jacobson's co-authors are James Roberts, M.D., M.P.H., Medical University of South Carolina, and Paul Darden, M.D., University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

What should healthcare providers do?

Overcoming these parental perceptions will take more than what physicians are doing now, the authors say. Traditional attempts to provide information are not enough. Clinicians must engage parents in conversations to learn what the parents' concerns are, share with the parents how the clinicians have learned what they know, summarize the science addressing the parental concerns, and passionately communicate their recommendations based on that engagement, their professional standing, and the science. Clinicians also will need to find ways to reach out to the parents of adolescents outside of the exam room because many of their patients that age rarely make visits to the office. Social media may very well play an important role in the future of HPV vaccination programs.

Facts backed by research

Currently available vaccines include Gardasil (Merck & Co.) and Cervarix (GlaxoSmithKline). The vaccines prevent cancers caused by the virus HPV. In the United States, about 21,000 individuals develop such cancers each year, including cancer of the cervix. Despite universal recommendations for use since 2006, rates in 13- to 17-year-old females in the U.S. for completing the three-dose series hovered around 35 percent for 2011 and 2012.

More than half of individuals living in the U.S. will otherwise become infected with HPV, a disease transmitted by sexual contact. Most clear the infection over a two-year period, but those who do not develop precancerous and cancerous cells leading to the 21,000 cancers a year.

The authors point out that HPV vaccines were found safe before they were licensed for production, and follow-up studies since conducted in hundreds of thousands of recipients continue to support that finding. Furthermore, the vaccines require three doses to be given over three months. While the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends the vaccines for 11- to 12-year-olds, that committee gives permission to clinicians to begin vaccinating at age 9. The vaccines give long-lasting immunity, and the younger children have a better response to the vaccine than older adolescents or young adults. Vaccinating when the adolescents are young completes the series long before exposure and takes advantage of their better immune response.

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As Halloween approaches, trick-or-treaters excitedly anticipate all the candy they will gather. While brushing twice a day and visiting the dentist every six months are preventive measures, children's teeth also benefit by limiting the candy they consume. This Halloween the Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA) encourages children to donate some of their candy to the Halloween Candy Buyback Program.

Participating dentists "buy" unopened Halloween candy from neighborhood kids at a scheduled event. They purchase candy with cash, coupons, toothbrushes and other goody bags. Once the candy is collected, it is shipped to a non-profit organization called Operation Gratitude, based in California. From there, volunteers fill care packages, address each with an individual soldier's name and send them to our troops overseas.

Each year, the number and size of care packages increases with the growing interest and participation in the program. In the program's 10th year, it is projected that Operation Gratitude will send 60,000 care packages.

"This is our first year participating in the Candy Buyback program and we are so very excited," says Dr. Sara Gotwalt, a PDA member from Lititz. Her office will be collecting donations on November 4 from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m., in exchange for a monetary compensation of $1/lb and a ticket for a prize drawing.   

Dr. Gotwalt says, "If a child can gain the knowledge that this isn't about candy—though let's face it, candy makes everyone happy—but about gratitude and letting someone know that they are thought about and appreciated for what they do for us, then we as a dental practice and as people have accomplished what we wanted."

Currently, global sugar consumption for kids is at 50 million tons per year. Sugar is the fuel that causes tooth decay, which is the most common chronic disease in children. The good news is that tooth decay is preventable. PDA encourages parents to be mindful of the amount of candy their children consume and be aware of the damage too much candy can do to young teeth.

PDA member Dr. Jeffrey Eby of Akron, said last year they were not fully prepared as first time participants in the program. This year they strategized and got the word out early to encourage more community members to partake in their Candy Buyback on November 1 – 8 during normal business hours.

The benefit to children and their parents is clear. The program provides an outlet to get rid of excess candy in an enjoyable way while benefiting others in the process. 

"The candy is just one part of extensive care packages sent to our troops to help lift morale and show our thanks for their service," said Dr. Eby. "Children benefit by learning about and improving their dental health, by participating in a charitable event and by having fun and earning cash!"

The Halloween Candy Buyback Program teaches children about service and giving back. Our men and women in uniform especially enjoy receiving packages from home during the holidays. 2012 proved to be another record-breaking year as 127.5 tons of candy were collected. Halloween candy is a visible reminder of home. They realize that children back home are thoughtful enough to donate candy to show their support.   

To add a special touch to the care packages, Dr. Gotwalt is asking children to write a short note to accompany their donations.

Participants in the program are encouraged to contribute additional items for the care packages other than candy, such as toothbrushes, floss and toothpaste. As a continuation from last year, participants are asked to join the challenge and contribute in helping to collect a total of 100,000 toothbrushes to send to the troops. Operation Gratitude welcomes extra items such as commercially-sealed lip balm, energy or protein bars, small packages of beef jerky, DVDs and CDs, hand-knit scarves and hats, dark colored socks and small stuffed animals.

To locate participating offices in your area, visit www.halloweencandybuyback.com. For more information on Operation Gratitude, visit www.operationgratitude.com.

About the Pennsylvania Dental Association

Founded in 1868, the Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA) is comprised of approximately 6,000 member dentists. It is a constituency of the American Dental Association (ADA), the largest and oldest national dental society in the world. PDA's mission is to improve the public health, promote the art and science of dentistry and represent the interests of its member dentists and their patients. PDA is the voice of dentistry in Pennsylvania. For more information on PDA, visit our website at www.padental.org.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Dental Association

In observance of International Infection Prevention Week this week, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) is offering a free webinar on World Health Organization's First Global Patient Safety Challenge Clean Care is Safer Care.

The hour-long webinar is Tuesday, October 22, 2013 at 11 a.m. EDT, 10 a.m. CDT, 9 a.m. MDT, 8 a.m. PDT. Click here for further information and to register. The Webinar is available live and on demand.

Flu season is just around the corner and the American Red Cross wants everyone to know that the best way to be protected against influenza is to get a flu vaccine. It takes approximately two weeks for the vaccine to offer maximum protection, so get your vaccine early. To learn more, click here. 

MELVILLE, N.Y./PRNewswire/ -- Henry Schein, Inc. and E4D Technologies today announced a new agreement that will bring the latest in CAD CAM technology to select Aspen Dental practices across the United States. Under the new agreement, the E4D Restorative System will help enhance the care that Aspen Dental providers deliver to patients.

The E4D system, created by E4D Technologies and exclusively distributed by Henry Schein, will provide the dentists who own and operate these Aspen Dental practices the ability to scan, design, and mill restorations right in the office with exceptional precision, speed and patient comfort.

"CAD CAM technology is an integral component in today's dental practice, and we believe the E4D System will excel at helping the dental practitioners at these Aspen practices deliver the highest quality patient care," said Dr. Arwinder Judge, Vice President, Clinical Support, Aspen Dental Management, Inc. (ADMI). "We have partnered with Henry Schein for years to provide the dentists of Aspen Dental with the broadest selection of products and services, and believe they offer the best choices in technology-driven solutions, as well as the comprehensive support needed to optimize this technology in Aspen offices throughout the country."

"The addition of E4D will help ensure that the patients who depend on these Aspen Dental practices for high quality oral health care will receive it even more conveniently, comfortably and efficiently," said Hal Muller, President, Henry Schein Dental's Special Markets Division. "The E4D Restorative System provides Aspen Dental practitioners with powerful new tools in scanning, designing and milling, helping them to streamline the restorative process and enhance the patient experience."    

"We are gratified that Aspen Dental chose the E4D system with our new NEVO scanning technology, intuitive design software, and proven robust milling," said Gary Severance, DDS, Chief Marketing Officer, E4D Technologies. "NEVO is the first scanner to use Blue Laser technology, which provides exceptional quality of data capture, 3-D video streaming and ease of use. We look forward to partnering with Aspen and Henry Schein in implementing this new capability in additional Aspen offices for many years to come." 

CHICAGO—Oral Health America's (OHA) annual Fall for Smiles® campaign encourages all Americans to keep their mouths healthy through daily brushing and flossing, regular dental visits, eating a healthy diet, and avoiding tobacco, and thanks to the support of Atlantic Precious Metal Refining, this year's campaign includes oral health tips specifically for children and older adults.

"We're thrilled to be participating in this year's Fall for Smiles campaign and we're so happy that our sponsorship is helping to provide important oral health tips for two vulnerable populations," said Josh Daab, Vice President of Sales at Atlantic Precious Metal Refining.

The tip sheets, available on the Fall for Smiles webpage at www.oralhealthamerica.org/fallforsmiles, include tips for teaching kids the proper way to brush, when they should visit the dentist, and how to make flossing easy for little hands. For older adults, the tip sheets include suggestions for making brushing and flossing easier for those with mobility issues, caring for dental appliances, and what older adults should bring to dental appointments.

In addition to the tip sheets, the Fall for Smiles webpage also features a downloadable kid's activity book full of fun experiments and activities to encourage kids of all ages to learn about oral health and why they should take care of their teeth.

To learn more about the Fall for Smiles campaign, visit www.oralhealthamerica.org/fallforsmiles.

MELVILLE, N.Y. /PRNewswire/ -- Henry Schein, Inc., the world's largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, animal health and medical practitioners, once again helped raise awareness of the importance of early breast cancer detection and donated funds to support expanded access to cancer care. Since the inception of Henry Schein's "Think Pink, Practice Pink" program in 2005, the Company has raised more than $850,000 in support of the American Cancer Society (the "Society") and other cancer-related causes. Starting with an initial focus on breast cancer, the program has expanded over the years to support a broader portfolio of cancer-related causes, including pediatric and oral cancers.

The Henry Schein "Think Pink, Practice Pink" program offers a wide selection of pink products—ranging from health care consumables and practice supplies to apparel—to its Dental, Dental Laboratory, Medical and Special Markets customers. Through the end of December, a portion of the sales of these special products will be donated to the Society and other cancer-related causes through the Henry Schein Cares Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization that supports and promotes dental, medical and animal health by helping to increase access to care globally.

As part of this program, Team Schein Members at the Company's headquarters and other Company locations wore pink on October 15, and were provided with essential information about breast cancer detection. In addition, Team Schein Members donated their own funds, with matching funds provided by the Company. Click on Think Pink, Practice Pink 2013 to view photos from Henry Schein's "Think Pink" Day.

"As the second most common cause of death in the United States, cancer touches the lives of all of our Team Schein Members in some way," said Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Henry Schein, Inc. "Henry Schein is proud to raise awareness of the importance of early breast cancer detection and raise funds to support expanded access to cancer care. Through the generosity of our Team Schein Members, supplier partners and customers, Henry Schein's 'Think Pink, Practice Pink' program has touched the lives of countless numbers of patients and their families over the past eight years."

According to the Society, cancer accounts for nearly one of every four deaths in the United States.  Approximately 1,660,290 new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in 2013.

In addition to the "Think Pink, Practice Pink" program, Henry Schein is once again partnering with the Society to support care for cancer patients provided through Hope Lodge, a network of free temporary housing services throughout the country for cancer patients and their loved ones. For the fifth consecutive year, the Company provided 1,500 Henry Schein Cares Welcome Kits to guests at Hope Lodge to help make their stay at Hope Lodge more comfortable and less stressful. The Henry Schein Cares Foundation dedicated the Henry Schein Cares Welcome Center at the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge Jerome L. Greene Family Center in New York City in 2010.

About Henry Schein Cares and the Henry Schein Cares Foundation

Henry Schein Cares, Henry Schein's global corporate social responsibility program, stands on four pillars: engaging Team Schein Members to reach their potential, ensuring accountability by extending ethical business practices to all levels within Henry Schein, promoting environmental sustainability, and expanding access to health care for underserved and at-risk communities around the world. Health care activities supported by Henry Schein Cares focus on three main areas: advancing wellness, building capacity in the delivery of health care services, and assisting in emergency preparedness and relief. Firmly rooted in a deep commitment to social responsibility and the concept of enlightened self-interest championed by Benjamin Franklin, the philosophy behind Henry Schein Cares is a vision of "doing well by doing good." Through the work of Henry Schein Cares to enhance access to care for those in need, the Company believes that it is furthering its long-term success.

Established in 2008, Henry Schein Cares Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization, works to foster, support, and promote dental, medical, and animal health by helping to increase access to care for communities around the world. 

The Henry Schein Cares Foundation carries out its mission through financial and health care product donations that support health care professionals and community-based programs focused on prevention, wellness, and treatment; disaster preparedness and relief; and capacity building of health institutions that provide training and care. To learn more about the Henry Schein Cares Foundation, please visit: www.hscaresfoundation.org.

DARIEN, IL – Three new studies show just how critical it is for adults to seek treatment for a sleep illness and aim for seven to nine hours of sleep each night in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

One study of 2,240 adults is the first to examine the link between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and mortality in Asians. Results show that all-cause mortality risk was 2.5 times higher and cardiovascular mortality risk was more than 4 times higher among people with severe OSA. The results are consistent with previous studies in the U.S. and other countries.

Another study of 2,673 patients in Australia found that untreated OSA is associated with an increased risk of motor vehicle crashes in very sleepy men as well as near-misses in men and women. Participants with untreated OSA reported crashes at a rate three times higher than the general community.

That last study examined the relationship between sleep duration and self-rated health in Korean adults. Results show that short sleep duration of 5 hours or less per day and long sleep duration of 9 hours or more per day was associated with poor self-rated health. The results add weight to recent data emphasizing the importance of adequate sleep in physical and mental health.

All three of the studies are in the Oct. 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, which is published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

The AASM reports that at least 12 to 18 million adults in the U.S. have untreated obstructive sleep apnea, which involves the repetitive collapse of the upper airway during sleep. OSA is a serious sleep illness that is associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, depression and stroke. The most effective treatment option for OSA is CPAP therapy, which helps keep the airway open by providing a stream of air through a mask that is worn during sleep. 

[Editor's note: Inside Dental Assisting will have an article on obstructive sleep apnea treatments in the upcoming November/December issue.] 

Most adults need about seven to eight hours of nightly sleep to feel alert and well rested. However, 30 percent of adults in the U.S. regularly get insufficient sleep.

Help for people who have OSA or another sleep problem is available from board certified sleep medicine physicians at more than 2,500 AASM accredited sleep disorders centers.

To request a copy of the studies, "Mortality of Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Korea"; "Excessive Daytime Sleepiness Increases the Risk of Motor Vehicle Crash in Obstructive Sleep Apnea"; "The Association between Sleep Duration and Self-Rated Health in the Korean General Population" or to arrange an interview with an AASM spokesperson, please contact Communications Coordinator Lynn Celmer at 630-737-9700, ext. 9364, or lcelmer@aasmnet.org.

The monthly, peer-reviewed Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine is the official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, a professional membership society that improves sleep health and promotes high quality patient centered care through advocacy, education, strategic research, and practice standards.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine considers sleep disorders to be illnesses that have reached epidemic proportions. Board-certified sleep medicine physicians in an AASM-accredited sleep center provide effective treatment. AASM encourages patients to talk to their doctor about sleep problems or visit https://www.sleepeducation.com for a searchable directory of sleep centers. 

Chicago—The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research has released the results of a major new survey exploring the views of older Americans about their plans for work and retirement. It provides in-depth information about a rapidly growing segment of the population that by choice or circumstance is working longer. The Great Recession has had a marked impact on retirement plans.

"The survey illuminates an important shift in Americans' attitudes toward work, aging, and retirement," said Trevor Tompson, director of the AP-NORC Center. "Retirement is not only coming later in life, it no longer represents a complete exit from the workforce. The data in this survey reveal strikingly different views of retirement among older workers today than those held by the prior generation."

With funding provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research conducted a national survey of 1,024 adults ages 50 and over. It is a segment of the population that is not only growing rapidly in numbers, but is also becoming substantially healthier. Projections show that the U.S. population age 65 and over will increase to 19 percent of the population by 2030, up from 13 percent in 2010, an estimated 72 million people. At the same time, people age 55 and over comprise the fastest growing segment of the workforce. By 2020, approximately one fourth of American workers will be 55 or older.

Key findings of the survey include:

--The Great Recession has had a marked impact on retirement planning. The average age of those who report retiring before the recession was 57 while the average for those who retired afterward is 62.

--The line between working and retirement is shifting, with 82 percent of Americans age 50 and older who are working but not yet retired saying it is likely or very likely that they will do some work for pay during their retirement.

--Of those who are currently working, 47 percent now plan to retire at a later age than they expected when they were 40. Financial need, health and the need for benefits were cited as the most important factors in the retirement decision. 

--Older workers have a clear view about solutions to ensuring the long term health of Social Security. Sixty-one percent of them favor raising the cap on income subject to Social Security taxes and 41 percent favor reducing Social Security benefits for those with higher incomes. In contrast, 29 percent favor gradually raising the minimum Social Security age and 21 percent favor changing the way benefits are calculated so that cost of living increases are smaller.

--Thirty-nine percent of workers age 50 and older report having $100,000 or less saved for retirement, not including pensions or homes; and 24 percent have less than $10,000.

--Among those who are retired, one third report that they did not have a choice in the matter. That figure increases to 54 percent for retirees under age 65.

--Fully 20 percent of working Americans age 50 and older report that they have personally experienced prejudice or discrimination because of their age in the job market or at work since turning 50. Forty four percent of those who experienced discrimination have looked for a job in the past five years compared with 16 percent who did not report discrimination.

--The nature of a person's work shapes their view of whether age is an asset or a liability. For example, 28 percent of people who work or worked in professional services see age as an asset while only 3 percent in manufacturing hold that view.

--About half of workers age 50 and older say their boss is younger than them. Those with bosses older than them are less likely to report they have cut back on their hours than people with younger bosses (9 percent vs. 23 percent). Those with older bosses are more likely to consider age an asset to their career. (39 percent vs. 20 percent.)

About the Survey

The nationally representative survey was conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research from August 8 through September 10, 2013. This random-digit-dial survey of the 50 states and the District of Columbia was conducted with 1,024 Americans ages 50 or older. Of the total, 815 interviews were done on landlines and 209 on cellphones. The overall margin of error for the survey was +/- 4.1 percentage points, which incorporates a design effect.

Additional information, including the Associated Press stories based on the survey results and the survey's complete topline findings can be found on the AP-NORC Center's website at https://www.apnorc.org.

NORC at the University of Chicago is an independent research organization headquartered in downtown Chicago with additional offices in the University of Chicago campus, the D.C. Metro area, Atlanta, Boston, and San Francisco. NORC also supports a nationwide field staff as well as international research operations. With clients throughout the world, NORC collaborates with government agencies, foundations, education institutions, nonprofit organizations, and businesses to provide data and analysis that support informed decision making in key areas including health, education, crime, justice, energy, security and the environment. NORC's more than 70 years of leadership and experience in data collection, analysis, and dissemination—coupled with deep subject matter expertise—provides the foundation for effective solutions to issues confronting society.

AP (Associated Press) is the essential global news network, delivering fast, unbiased news from every corner of the world to all media platforms and formats. Founded in 1846, AP today is the most trusted source of independent news and information. On any given day, more than half the world's population sees news from AP. 

Washington, DC – To help patients, families, and healthcare professionals understand their role in preventing infections, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) announced a new multiyear education and awareness effort.

The Infection Prevention and You campaign launches in conjunction with International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW), October 20-26.

The centerpiece of the campaign is a new website (www.apic.org/infectionpreventionandyou) with content and resources for both patients and healthcare professionals, designed to simply and clearly convey important infection prevention and patient safety information. The patients and families tab provides tips, tools, and links to reputable sources of information to promote infection prevention in every setting -- healthcare facilities, at work, at school, on vacation, and even at home. The healthcare professionals tab is designed for healthcare workers who are not infection preventionists – providing basic information on how to keep patients safe, regardless of their jobs within healthcare organizations. 

“It’s unfortunate but true that one in 20 patients will develop an infection as a result of their healthcare. As patient safety advocates, APIC wants to empower patients, families, and healthcare professionals to speak up and take action to prevent infections,” said Carol McLay, RN, MPH, DrPH, CIC, chair of APIC’s Communications Committee who helped develop the campaign. 

The campaign also features a one-page infographic illustrating the steps patients can take to support infection prevention efforts in healthcare facilities and help lower their risk of infection. It communicates three main points: what patients and families can do to play an active role in their care; what healthcare-associated infections are, and who the infection preventionist is. The infographic is available on APIC’s website for easy sharing on social media and is being distributed in printed form with the fall edition of APIC’s member magazine Prevention Strategist. 

“Our goal is to disseminate this information on a broad scale. We’d like to see the infographic posted in every patient care area and included in every hospital admission packet,” said Dr. McLay.  “We are asking people to read it, use it, and share it.”

“We are thrilled by the engagement of our APIC chapters at the grassroots level in promoting infection prevention within their communities,” said Katrina Crist, MBA, APIC CEO. “In addition, we welcome the association partners and corporate champions who are broadening the reach of our message through support of International Infection Prevention Week. They are hosting creative activities to promote and encourage patient safety, which helps build momentum and adds tremendous impact to our efforts.”

APIC’s mission is to create a safer world through prevention of infection. The association’s 15,000 members direct infection prevention programs that save lives and improve the bottom line for hospitals and other healthcare facilities. APIC advances its mission through patient safety, implementation science, competencies and certification, advocacy, and data standardization. Visit APIC online at www.apic.org. Follow APIC on Twitter: https://twitter.com/apic and Facebook: www.facebook.com/APICInfectionPreventionandYou. The Twitter hashtag #infectionprevention is being used for the campaign.