Isabella Abraham

Background: In the United States and worldwide, chronic pain affects a vast number of people and is one of the leading reasons adults seek medical care. In the United States, 24.3% of adults reported experiencing chronic pain in the prior 3 months in 2023. Chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts ≥3 months, significantly disrupting one’s daily functioning and quality of life. Chronic pain can also be accompanied by other conditions, including anxiety and depression. Health care providers should be aware of several limitations in their current treatment modalities. Although opioid analgesics are used for moderate to severe pain management, they cause many serious adverse effects, including sedation, respiratory depression, constipation, and a high risk of dependence and addiction. Other pain medications, such as nonopioid analgesics, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, adjuvant analgesics, and corticosteroids, also cause a range of side effects and organ toxicity. Objective: We conducted a single-arm exploratory pilot study to explore the potential role of a noninvasive, transdermal, audio-based therapeutic system among 24 police professionals aged 21 to 65 years with chronic pain and/or associated conditions, including migraine, sleep disorders, stress, anxiety, and conventional headaches. Methods: In this STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology)–guided pilot study, we explored the feasibility and perceived effectiveness of a self-administered intervention based on the Transdermal Acoustic Pain Suppression (TAPS) system among police personnel in West Palm Beach, Florida. Participants completed a flexible 30-day protocol integrated into their work schedules, with data collection spanning 5 months due to operational constraints. We used percentages as measures of effect and the chi-square test and Fisher exact test for significance testing. All P values were 2-sided, with a level of significance of .05. Results: In this small pilot study, following TAPS therapy, more than one-third (n=9, 37.5%) of participants experienced improvement in their condition, and half (n=12, 50%) reported reduced symptoms, including notable pain reduction. Conclusions: Although the findings from this small pilot study are preliminary, we believe they support the rationale for larger analytic studies designed a priori to test the hypothesis.

BACKGROUND In the United States (US) and worldwide, chronic pain affects a vast number of people and is one of the leading reasons adults seek medical care. In the US, 24.3% of adults reported chronic pain in the past three months in 2023. Chronic pain is defined as lasting three months or longer, significantly disrupting one’s daily functioning and quality of life. Chronic pain can also be accompanied by other conditions, including anxiety and depression. Health care providers should be aware of several limitations in their array of current treatment modalities. While opioid analgesics are used for moderate to severe pain management, they cause many serious adverse effects, including sedation, respiratory depression, and constipation, and a high risk of dependence and addiction. Other pain medications, such as non-opioid analgesics including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, adjuvant analgesics, and corticosteroids, similarly cause a range of side effects and organ toxicity. OBJECTIVE We conducted a pilot study to explore the potential role of a non-invasive and safe transdermal audio-based therapeutic system among 24 police professionals aged 21 to 65 years old with chronic pain, and/or associated conditions of migraine, sleep disorders, stress/anxiety, and conventional headaches. METHODS This STROBE-guided pilot study evaluated the feasibility and perceived effectiveness of a self-administered Transdermal Acoustic Pain Suppression (TAPS) intervention among police personnel in West Palm Beach, Florida. Participants completed a flexible 30-day protocol integrated into their work schedules, with data collection spanning five months due to operational constraints. Descriptive and non-parametric analyses indicated patterns of symptom reduction, perceived pain relief, and user satisfaction, supporting the usability of TAPS in this occupational setting. RESULTS Our pilot study findings showed that following therapy, more than one-third of participants (37.5%) experienced condition improvement and half reported reduced symptoms, including notable pain reduction. CONCLUSIONS The findings from this small pilot study support the rationale for larger analytic studies, designed a priori to test the hypothesis. CLINICALTRIAL Not applicable

Background: Tobacco smoke exposure in the home remains common among U.S. families and has been increasingly associated with adverse mental health outcomes, including anxiety and depression, among children and adolescents. Rising rates of youth anxiety and depression, coupled with evidence that secondhand smoke and related psychosocial stressors may disrupt emotional development, underscore the importance of examining household smoking exposures as a modifiable risk factor for youth mental health. This study examines associations between exposure to smoke in households and the likelihood of caregiver-reported anxiety and depression in US children and adolescents aged 6–17 years, using data from the 2022–2023 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH). Methods: A retrospective analysis of NSCH data for two age cohorts, children (6–11 years) and adolescents (12–17 years), for the years 2022–2023 was conducted. Descriptive statistics were generated for the selected sample by frequencies and counts for each of the dependent and independent variables, followed by binary logistic regressions for each measured mental health variable based on current diagnosis, severity levels (not severe, mild, moderate, severe) and household tobacco use. Results: This study found significant associations between parental smoking and increased odds of caregiver-reported anxiety and depression in both children and adolescents. Specifically, children living with parents who smoke had 1.55 times the odds of severe anxiety, while adolescents had 1.38 times the odds of currently experiencing anxiety and 1.31 times the odds of currently experiencing depression. Smoking inside the household was not significantly associated with caregiver-reported anxiety or depression. These findings suggest that parental smoking serves as a marker for broader psychosocial and environmental stressors that contribute to youth mental health outcomes. Conclusions: Parental smoking is a significant, modifiable risk factor for anxiety and depression among US children and adolescents. These results emphasize the need for targeted, evidence-based interventions to reduce parental smoking, improve awareness of associated mental health risks, and address social determinants of health. Policies promoting smoke-free households, integrated cessation support, and culturally tailored education programs are essential to mitigate the impact of parental smoking on child and adolescent mental health.

Background: This study on US adult cancer risk perceptions aims to explore the relationship between an individual’s perceived risk of developing cancer and the extent to which they engage in preventative behaviors, such as nutrition and physical activity. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2025 Health Information National Trends Survey 7 (HINTS 7). Descriptive statistics were generated to explore participants’ sociodemographic characteristics and cancer risk perceptions. Multinomial regression analysis was used to examine associations between cancer beliefs and consumption of alcohol, fruit, and vegetables. Results: Using multinomial logistic regression, significant associations (p < 0.001) were reported across all cancer beliefs and daily intake of 1–5 drinks per day, as well as ≥6 drinks per day. Significant associations (p < 0.001) were also reported across all cancer beliefs and daily intake of fruits and vegetables, which was further broken down into <½ cup per day to 1 cup, 1 to <2 cups, 2 to <4 cups, and greater than 4 cups. Conclusions: Our findings support the need for greater cancer knowledge dissemination and awareness in communities.