CONTEMPORARY ECONOMIC POLICY, Issue 2 2001
C Czart
Smoking among youths and young adults rose throughout the 1990s. Numerous policies were enacted to try to reverse this trend. However, little is known about the impact these policies have on the smoking behavior of young adults. This article uses a dichotomous indicator of daily smoking participation in the past 30 days, an ordered measure representing the frequency of cigarette consumption, and a quasi-continuous measure of the number of cigarettes smoked per day on average to examine the impact of cigarette prices, clean indoor air laws, and campus-level smoking policies on the smoking behaviors of a 1997 cross section of college students. The results of the analysis indicate that higher cigarette prices are associated with lower smoking participation and lower levels of use among college student smokers. Local- and state-level clean indoor air restrictions have a cumulative impact on the level of smoking by current smokers. Complete smoking bans on college campuses are associated with lower levels of smoking among current smokers but have no significant impact on smoking participation. Bans on cigarette advertising on campus as well as bans on the sale of cigarettes on campus have no significant effect on the smoking behavior of college students. [source]

HAVE EFFORTS TO REDUCE SMOKING REALLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBESITY EPIDEMIC?

ECONOMIC INQUIRY, Issue 2 2009
JAMES NONNEMAKER
Two of the most notable trends in public health over the past 30 yr are the reductions in smoking rates and the rapid rise in obesity rates. Several studies have investigated the relationship between these trends but have drawn different conclusions. In this article, we revisit this issue, attempting to clarify the prior discrepant results. Overall, we find no support for the claim that rising cigarette taxes have significantly contributed to rising obesity rates. Instead, we find only a moderately sized effect among former smokers. (JEL I12) [source]

RESPONSES TO SMOKING CUES ARE RELEVANT TO SMOKING AND RELAPSE

ADDICTION, Issue 10 2009
SAUL SHIFFMAN
No abstract is available for this article. [source]

[Commentary] WITH YOUTH SMOKING AT HISTORICAL LOWS, HOW INFLUENTIAL IS MOVIE SMOKING ON UPTAKE?

ADDICTION, Issue 5 2009
SIMON CHAPMAN
No abstract is available for this article. [source]

[Commentary] EVIDENCE-BASED POLICY: AN R-RATING FOR MOVIES WITH SMOKING

ADDICTION, Issue 5 2009
JAMES D. SARGENT
No abstract is available for this article. [source]

IMPROVING UNDERSTANDING OF SIBLING EFFECTS ON ADOLESCENT SMOKING: RESPONSE TO THE COMMENTARIES

ADDICTION, Issue 4 2005
RICHARD RENDE
No abstract is available for this article. [source]

THE EFFECTS OF HOT SMOKING ON THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND SHELF LIFE OF MEDITERRANEAN MUSSEL (MYTILUS GALLOPROVINCIALIS L. 1819) UNDER CHILLED STORAGE

JOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION, Issue 6 2008
HÜLYA TURAN
ABSTRACT In this study, effects of boiling and hot smoking on proximate composition and shelf life of mussels stored at 4 ± 1C were investigated. Dry matter, crude protein, crude fat and crude ash levels were determined as 13.94, 10.30, 1.14 and 0.95% in fresh mussels 20.75, 13.83, 2.11, 0.77% after boiling and 39.57, 22.22, 10.04%, 6.02% after hot smoking, respectively. Trimethylamine nitrogen values in fresh, boiled and hot smoked mussels were determined as 1.13, 1.01 and 1.07 mg/100 g, respectively, and increased to 24.35 mg/100 g at 18th day of the storage period. pH value in hot smoked mussels ranged between 4.85 and 4.51 during the chilled storage. According to the results, mussels smoked by hot smoking and stored at refrigerator temperature (4 ± 1C) for 12 days can be consumed. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS In many countries, smoking is used to obtain products that are popular for their texture and flavor. Mussels, scallops and oysters are some of the important mollusk species that are smoked and eaten in different parts of the world. In this research, the effects of hot smoking process (for 30 min at 82C) on proximate composition and shelf life of Mediterranean mussel stored at 4C was investigated. [source]

MOTIVATIONS FOR PRODUCT CONSUMPTION: APPLICATION OF A PROBABILISTIC MODEL TO ADOLESCENT SMOKING

JOURNAL OF SENSORY STUDIES, Issue 2 2004
DANIEL M. ENNIS
ABSTRACT This paper describes a method that can be used to investigate consumers' reported reasons for using a particular product. This method is applied to ratings of degree of agreement with statements about reasons for product use. The method is illustrated using data on self-reported reasons for smoking among adolescents. The approach used is based on a probabilistic model of similarity (Ennis et al. 1988) and provides a display of the density of respondents' individual motivations concurrent with their perceptions of the statements. Factor analysis and its derived factor scores provide complementary information which is used to understand the interdependence of smoking motivations with the age of respondents and their degree of smoking. The probabilistic similarity model has many applications in studying consumer motivations such as those involved in the consumption of particular food and personal care products. [source]

Smoking preceded pulmonary involvement in adults with Langerhans cell histiocytosis diagnosed in childhood

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 11 2000
C Bernstrand
ABSTRACT. Two patients with childhood Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) (aged 2 and 6 y at diagnosis) in whom pulmonary involvement was diagnosed in adulthood, 23 and 12 y later, respectively, are presented. In each patient, smoking preceded the diagnosis of pulmonary involvement by 3 y, providing further evidence that smoking is a risk factor in the development of pulmonary LCH. ,Langerhans cell histiocytosis, lungs, smoking [source]

THE IMPACT OF PRICES AND CONTROL POLICIES ON CIGARETTE SMOKING AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS

Validation of the World Health Organization Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST): report of results from the Australian site

DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, Issue 3 2005
DAVID A. L. NEWCOMBE
Abstract The concurrent, construct, discriminative and predictive validity of the World Health Organization's Alcohol Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) were examined in an Australian sample. One hundred and fifty participants, recruited from drug treatment (n = 50) and primary health care (PHC) settings (n = 100), were administered a battery of instruments at baseline and a modified battery at 3 months. Measures included the ASSIST; the Addiction Severity Index-Lite (ASI-Lite); the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS); the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI-Plus); the Rating of Injection Site Condition (RISC); the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST); the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT); the Revised Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire (RTQ); and the Maudsely Addiction Profile (MAP). Concurrent validity was demonstrated by significant correlations between ASSIST scores and scores from the ASI-lite, SDS, AUDIT and DAST; and significantly greater ASSIST scores for those with diagnoses of abuse or dependence. Construct validity was established by significant correlations between ASSIST scores and measures of risk factors for the development of drug and alcohol problems. Participants diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder or antisocial personality disorder had significantly higher ASSIST scores than those not diagnosed as such. Discriminative validity was established by the capacity of the ASSIST to discriminate between substance use, abuse and dependence. ROC analysis was able to establish cut-off scores for an Australian sample, with suitable specificities and sensitivities for most substances. Predictive validity was demonstrated by similarity in ASSIST scores obtained at baseline and at follow-up. The findings demonstrated that the ASSIST is a valid screening test for psychoactive substance use in individuals who use a number of substances and have varying degrees of substance use. [source]

A qualitative study of young people's sources of cigarettes and attempts to circumvent underage sales laws

ADDICTION, Issue 10 2010
Jude Robinson
ABSTRACT Aims To explore how young people continue to access cigarettes following an increase of the age of sale to 18 years and the implications for future smoking prevention policy and practice. Design Qualitative study using 14 focus groups. Setting Schools and community projects in disadvantaged areas of Birmingham, UK. Participants Eighty-five smokers and non-smokers aged 12,15 years. Measurements Focus group topic guides. Findings While young people did use social sources to access cigarettes, most obtained cigarettes from small local shops. Smoking and non-smoking participants knew which shops sold to underage children and what strategies to employ, suggesting a widespread acceptance of underage sales in some communities. Some young people bought directly from retailers, reporting that the retailers did not ask for identification. Some young people reported that retailers were complicit, knowingly selling to underage smokers. Young people waited outside shops and asked strangers to buy them cigarettes (proxy sales). Young people expressed cynicism about some shopkeepers' motives, who they believed knew that they were selling to under-18s, but did not care as long as they made a profit. Conclusions The ban in selling cigarettes to those under 18 in the United Kingdom appears to be easily circumvented, and one important route appears to be ,proxy sales' in which young people approach strangers outside retailers and ask them to purchase cigarettes on their behalf. [source]

Smoking-based selection and influence in gender-segregated friendship networks: a social network analysis of adolescent smoking

ADDICTION, Issue 7 2010
Liesbeth Mercken
ABSTRACT Aims The main goal of this study was to examine differences between adolescent male and female friendship networks regarding smoking-based selection and influence processes using newly developed social network analysis methods that allow the current state of continuously changing friendship networks to act as a dynamic constraint for changes in smoking behaviour, while allowing current smoking behaviour to be simultaneously a dynamic constraint for changes in friendship networks. Design Longitudinal design with four measurements. Setting Nine junior high schools in Finland. Participants A total of 1163 adolescents (mean age = 13.6 years) who participated in the control group of the ESFA (European Smoking prevention Framework Approach) study, including 605 males and 558 females. Measurements Smoking behaviour of adolescents, parents, siblings and friendship ties. Findings Smoking-based selection of friends was found in male as well as female networks. However, support for influence among friends was found only in female networks. Furthermore, females and males were both influenced by parental smoking behaviour. Conclusions In Finnish adolescents, both male and female smokers tend to select other smokers as friends but it appears that only females are influenced to smoke by their peer group. This suggests that prevention campaigns targeting resisting peer pressure may be more effective in adolescent girls than boys. [source]

Smoking out tobacco: A vital preventive role for emergency departments

EMERGENCY MEDICINE AUSTRALASIA, Issue 4 2010
Mike Daube
No abstract is available for this article. [source]

Effects of alcoholism severity and smoking on executive neurocognitive function

ADDICTION, Issue 1 2009
Jennifer M. Glass
ABSTRACT Aims Neurocognitive deficits in chronic alcoholic men are well documented. Impairments include memory, visual,spatial processing, problem solving and executive function. The cause of impairment could include direct effects of alcohol toxicity, pre-existing cognitive deficits that predispose towards substance abuse, comorbid psychiatric disorders and abuse of substances other than alcohol. Cigarette smoking occurs at higher rates in alcoholism and has been linked to poor cognitive performance, yet the effects of smoking on cognitive function in alcoholism are often ignored. We examined whether chronic alcoholism and chronic smoking have effects on executive function. Methods Alcoholism and smoking were examined in a community-recruited sample of alcoholic and non-alcoholic men (n = 240) using standard neuropsychological and reaction-time measures of executive function. Alcoholism was measured as the average level of alcoholism diagnoses across the study duration (12 years). Smoking was measured in pack-years. Results Both alcoholism and smoking were correlated negatively with a composite executive function score. For component measures, alcoholism was correlated negatively with a broad range of measures, whereas smoking was correlated negatively with measures that emphasize response speed. In regression analyses, both smoking and alcoholism were significant predictors of executive function composite. However, when IQ is included in the regression analyses, alcoholism severity is no longer significant. Conclusions Both smoking and alcoholism were related to executive function. However, the effect of alcoholism was not independent of IQ, suggesting a generalized effect, perhaps affecting a wide range of cognitive abilities of which executive function is a component. On the other hand, the effect of smoking on measures relying on response speed were independent of IQ, suggesting a more specific processing speed deficit associated with chronic smoking. [source]

Smoking, nicotine dependence and mental health among young adults: a 13-year population-based longitudinal study

ADDICTION, Issue 1 2009
Willy Pedersen
ABSTRACT Aims To investigate prospectively the associations between daily smoking and nicotine dependence and anxiety, depression and suicide attempts. Methods Data were from the Young in Norway Longitudinal Study. A population-based sample (n = 1501) was followed for 13 years from ages 13,27 years. Data were gathered on smoking patterns and nicotine dependence; and depression, anxiety and parasuicide. Extensive information on socio-demographic factors, parental and family conditions, parental rearing practices, educational career, conduct problems, alcohol problems and use of illegal substances was also collected. Results Young adults who were nicotine-dependent had clearly elevated rates of anxiety, depression and parasuicide. These rates declined after controlling for a previous history of mental health problems and potential confounding factors. After adjustment, nicotine dependence was still associated with anxiety, depression and parasuicide. There was also a significant association with later depression in the group of non-dependent daily smokers. Measures of reduced mental health did not predict later smoking initiation or the development of nicotine dependence. Conclusions Mental health was reduced more seriously in nicotine-dependent smokers than in non-dependent smokers. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that smoking, in particular nicotine dependence, influences mental health. [source]

Validation of the alcohol, smoking and substance involvement screening test (ASSIST)

ADDICTION, Issue 6 2008
Rachel Humeniuk
ABSTRACT Aim The concurrent, construct and discriminative validity of the World Health Organization's Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) were examined in a multi-site international study. Participants One thousand and 47 participants, recruited from drug treatment (n = 350) and primary health care (PHC) settings (n = 697), were administered a battery of instruments. Measurements Measures included the ASSIST; the Addiction Severity Index-Lite (ASI-Lite); the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS); the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI-Plus); the Rating of Injection Site Condition (RISC); the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST); the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT); the Revised Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire (RTQ); and the Maudsley Addiction Profile (MAP). Findings Concurrent validity was demonstrated by significant correlations between ASSIST scores and scores from the ASI-Lite (r = 0.76,0.88), SDS (r = 0.59), AUDIT (r = 0.82) and RTQ (r = 0.78); and significantly greater ASSIST scores for those with MINI-Plus diagnoses of abuse or dependence (P < 0.001). Construct validity was established by significant correlations between ASSIST scores and measures of risk factors for the development of drug and alcohol problems (r = 0.48,0.76). Discriminative validity was established by the capacity of the ASSIST to discriminate between substance use, abuse and dependence. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to establish cut-off scores with suitable specificities (50,96%) and sensitivities (54,97%) for most substances. Conclusions The findings demonstrated that the ASSIST is a valid screening test for identifying psychoactive substance use in individuals who use a number of substances and have varying degrees of substance use. [source]

Childhood social disadvantage and smoking in adulthood: results of a 25-year longitudinal study

ADDICTION, Issue 3 2007
David M. Fergusson
ABSTRACT Aim To examine the associations between exposure to socio-economic disadvantage in childhood and smoking in adulthood. Design A 25-year longitudinal study of the health, development and adjustment of a birth cohort of 1265 New Zealand children. Measurements Assessments of childhood socio-economic disadvantage, smoking in adulthood and potential mediating pathways, including: parental education, family socio-economic status, family living standards and family income; smoking frequency and nicotine dependence at age 25 years; child IQ, educational achievement by age 18 years, conduct problems ages 14,16 years, parental smoking 0,16 years and peer smoking at 16 years. Findings Smoking at age 25 was correlated significantly (P < 0.0001) with increasing childhood socio-economic disadvantage. Further, indicators of childhood socio-economic disadvantage were correlated significantly (P < 0.0001) with the intervening variables of childhood intelligence, school achievement, conduct problems and exposure to parental and peer smoking; which in turn were correlated significantly (P < 0.0001) with measures of smoking at age 25. Structural equation modelling suggested that the linkages between the latent factor of childhood disadvantage and later smoking were explained largely by a series of pathways involving cognitive/educational factors, adolescent behavioural adjustment and exposure to parental and peer smoking. Conclusions The current study suggested that smoking in adulthood is influenced by childhood socio-economic disadvantage via the mediating pathways of cognitive/educational factors, adolescent behaviour and parental and peer smoking. [source]

Smoking Cessation a Byproduct of EEG Telemetry Monitoring

EPILEPSIA, Issue 4 2005
Syed Nizamuddin Ahmed
Summary:, Smoking is a common problem in epilepsy patients. The inpatient video-EEG monitoring (VEEG) unit provides a unique and conducive environment for epilepsy patients to participate actively in a smoking-cessation program. The restrictions and confinement to the telemetry bed impose a forced abstinence from smoking. It has been suggested that patients who are hospitalized may be more receptive to smoking-cessation advice. We report two patients who were successfully able to quit smoking after admission for VEEG. [source]

Probabilities of alcohol high-risk drinking, abuse or dependence estimated on grounds of tobacco smoking and nicotine dependence

ADDICTION, Issue 6 2003
Ulrich John
ABSTRACT Aims, To estimate probabilities of alcohol high-risk drinking, alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence on grounds of smoking-behaviour related variables and single nicotine dependence criteria. Design, Cross-sectional population-based study. Setting, Adult population of a region in north Germany. Participants, Cigarette smokers (n = 2437) among a random sample of 4075 females and males aged 18,64, drawn in 1996. Measurement, Smoking, nicotine dependence according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Psychiatric Disorders (DSM-IV) and the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND); increasing alcohol-related harm (ARH): high-risk drinking, DSM-IV alcohol abuse, remitted and current alcohol dependence diagnosed by the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). Findings, Having smoked 30 cigarettes or more per day, onset of smoking at the age of 17 or younger, nicotine dependence and single nicotine dependence criteria revealed odds ratios higher than 4.0 for alcohol dependence. For alcohol dependence, a logistic regression model showed an increased odds ratios for male gender, smoking for 25 years or more, no attempt to quit or cut down, continuation of smoking despite problems, craving for nicotine, withdrawal experience 1 day or longer, smoking first cigarette in the morning 5 minutes or less after waking. The probability of increasing ARH was more likely in males, smokers for 25 years or more, no attempt to quit or cut down, continuation of smoking despite problems and smoking first cigarette in the morning 5 minutes or less after waking. Conclusions, Gender and single nicotine dependence criteria show particularly high probabilities of alcohol dependence and increasing ARH. Interventions need to take these connections into account. [source]

Genetic influence in antithrombotic actions of atorvastatin in hypercholesterolaemia

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 1 2008
L. Puccetti
ABSTRACT Background, Recent data indicate that statins could offer coronary artery disease (CAD) benefit even by mechanisms beyond lipid lowering. Genetic influence has been shown for some antithrombotic actions of statins via oxidized-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (ox-LDL) receptors and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity modulation. The present study was designed to evaluate the influence of ox-LDL lectin-like receptor-1 (LOX-1) and NOS polymorphisms in the incidence of cardiovascular events in pure hypercholesterolaemic subjects during statin treatment. Materials and methods, A prospective 4-year study involving 1039 event-free subjects (643 males, 396 females) treated with atorvastatin (10,40 mg day,1) to reach the appropriate Adult Treatment Panel-III LDL target of 3·36 mmol L,1. Enrolled subjects were evaluated every 6 months or at a clinical event. LOX-1 3,UTR/T-C and NOS G894T polymorphisms were detected by allelic discrimination assays (polymerase chain reaction), lipid profile by enzymatic-colorimetric method, ox-LDL by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, platelet activation by P-selectin (P-sel) expression (FACScan), NOS activity (by intracellular citrullin recovery) and homocysteine (high performance liquid chromatography), C-reactive protein (CRP) by sensitive nephelometric technique. Results, LOX-1 3,UTR/T showed the strongest association with events in the whole cohort with respect to each other variable including LDL reduction and NOS G894T (OR 4·90, 95% CI 3·19,6·98, P < 0·00001). Smoking influenced events in LDL-targeted subjects (P < 0·0001). Ox-LDL and P-sel were better indicators than LDL or other variables according to 3,UTR/C genotype regardless of the magnitude of LDL reduction (OR 4·21, 95% CI 2·29,6·70 P < 0·0001). Conclusions, LOX-1 polymorphisms could influence statin effectiveness in CAD prevention by induction of sensitivity to antithrombotic mechanisms such as antiplatelet activity. [source]

Smoking and Parkinson's disease

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 3 2002
M. F. Allam
No abstract is available for this article. [source]

Couple Dynamics of Change-Resistant Smoking: Toward a Family Consultation Model,

FAMILY PROCESS, Issue 1 2001
Michael J. Rohrbaugh Ph.D.
Smoking is North America's leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality. Although effective cessation treatments exist, their overall effect is modest, and they rarely reach the high-risk, health-compromised smokers who need them most. Surprisingly, despite evidence that marital relationship variables predict the success of cessation efforts, family systems ideas have had little impact on current intervention research. We review and critique the cessation literature from a systemic viewpoint, illustrate two couple-interaction patterns relevant to the maintenance of high-risk smoking, and outline a family-consultation (FAMCON) intervention for couples in which at least one partner continues to smoke despite having heart or lung disease. Taking into account ironic processes and symptom-system fit, FAMCON focuses on the immediate social context of smoking, aiming to interrupt well-intentioned "solutions" that ironically feed back to keep smoking going, and to help clients realign important relationships in ways not organized around tobacco usage. Currently in its pilot-testing phase, FAMCON is an adjunctive, complementary approach designed to include collaboration with primary-care physicians and to make smokers more amenable to other, evidence-based cessation strategies. [source]

Analyzing the Relationship Between Smoking and Coronary Heart Disease at the Small Area Level: A Bayesian Approach to Spatial Modeling

GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS, Issue 2 2006
Jane Law
We model the relationship between coronary heart disease and smoking prevalence and deprivation at the small area level using the Poisson log-linear model with and without random effects. Extra-Poisson variability (overdispersion) is handled through the addition of spatially structured and unstructured random effects in a Bayesian framework. In addition, four different measures of smoking prevalence are assessed because the smoking data are obtained from a survey that resulted in quite large differences in the size of the sample across the census tracts. Two of the methods use Bayes adjustments of standardized smoking ratios (local and global adjustments), and one uses a nonparametric spatial averaging technique. A preferred model is identified based on the deviance information criterion. Both smoking and deprivation are found to be statistically significant risk factors, but the effect of the smoking variable is reduced once the confounding effects of deprivation are taken into account. Maps of the spatial variability in relative risk, and the importance of the underlying covariates and random effects terms, are produced. We also identify areas with excess relative risk. [source]

Association between smoking during radiotherapy and prognosis in head and neck cancer: A follow-up study ,

HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 12 2002
George P. Browman MD
Abstract Background. The study objective was to confirm a previous finding that patients with stage III/IV squamous head and neck cancer (SHNC) who smoke during radiotherapy (RT) experience reduced survival. Methods. An observational cohort study. Patients' smoking status was assessed weekly by questionnaire plus blood cotinine. Patients were assessed every 3 to 4 months for survival. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards analyses were used to detect the independent contribution of smoking on survival. Results. Of 148 patients, 113 smoked during RT. Blood cotinine and smoking questionnaire responses were highly correlated (Spearman R = .69; p < .0005). Abstainers and very light smokers experienced better survival than light, moderate, and heavy smokers (median, 42 vs 29 months; p = .07). Tumor and nodal status and years smoked were the most important prognostic factors. Smoking during RT was not an independent predictor of survival, but baseline smoking status was (p = .016). Conclusion. Smoking status should be documented in all future trials of RT in SHNC to allow for pooled analyses with sufficient power to address this question. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 24: 1031,1037, 2002 [source]

Smoking after the age of 65 years: a qualitative exploration of older current and former smokers' views on smoking, stopping smoking, and smoking cessation resources and services

HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY, Issue 6 2006
Susan Kerr BA MSc PhD RN HV
Abstract The aim of this study was to explore older current/former smokers' views on smoking, stopping smoking, and smoking cessation resources and services. Despite the fact that older smokers have been identified as a priority group, there is currently a dearth of age-related smoking cessation research to guide practice. The study adopted a qualitative approach and used the health belief model as a conceptual framework. Twenty current and former smokers aged , 65 years were recruited through general practices and a forum for older adults in the West of Scotland. Data were collected using a semistructured interview schedule. The audio-taped interviews were transcribed and then analysed using content analysis procedures. Current smokers reported many positive associations with smoking, which often prevented a smoking cessation attempt. The majority were aware that smoking had damaged their health; however, some were not convinced of the association. A common view was that ,the damage was done', and therefore, there was little point in attempting to stop smoking. When suggesting a cessation attempt, while some health professionals provided good levels of support, others were reported as providing very little. Some of the participants reported that they had never been advised to stop smoking. Knowledge of local smoking cessation services was generally poor. Finally, concern was voiced regarding the perceived health risks of using nicotine replacement therapy. The main reasons why the former smokers had stopped smoking were health-related. Many had received little help and support from health professionals when attempting to stop smoking. Most of the former smokers believed that stopping smoking in later life had been beneficial to their health. In conclusion, members of the primary care team have a key role to play in encouraging older people to stop smoking. In order to function effectively, it is essential that they take account of older smokers' health beliefs and that issues, such as knowledge of smoking cessation resources, are addressed. [source]

Factors Associated with Physician Interventions to Address Adolescent Smoking

HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, Issue 3 2004
Tammy H. Sims
Objective. To determine the percent of adolescent Medicaid patients with medical record documentation about tobacco use status and cessation assistance; and factors associated with providers documenting and intervening with adolescent smokers. Data Source. Secondary analysis of data collected in 1999 from medical records of Wisconsin Medicaid health maintenance organization (HMO) recipients 11 to 21 years old. Study Design. Random reviews and data collection were related to visits from January 1997 to January 1999. Data collected included patient demographics, provider type, number of visits, and whether smoking status and cessation interventions were documented. Data Extraction Methods. Medical charts were reviewed and a database was created using a data abstraction tool developed and approved by a committee to address tobacco use in Medicaid managed care participants. Principal Findings. Among adolescents seen by a physician from 1997 to 1999, tobacco use status was documented in 55 percent of patient charts. Most often tobacco use status was documented on history and physical or prenatal forms. Of identified adolescent smokers, 50 percent were advised to quit, 42 percent assisted, and 16 percent followed for smoking cessation. Pregnant patients were more likely to have tobacco use documented than nonpregnant patients (OR=10.8, 95 percent CI=4.9 to 24). The odds of documentation increased 21 percent for every one-year increase in patient age. Conclusions. Providers miss opportunities to intervene with adolescents who may be using tobacco. Medical record prompts, similar to the tobacco use question on prenatal forms and the tobacco use vital sign stamp, are essential for reminding providers to consistently document and address tobacco use among adolescents. [source]

Chronic Atrophic Gastritis, Intestinal Metaplasia, Helicobacter pylori Virulence, IL1RN Polymorphisms, and Smoking in Dyspeptic Patients from Mozambique and Portugal

HELICOBACTER, Issue 4 2009
Bárbara Peleteiro
No abstract is available for this article. [source]

Critical review of epidemiological studies of the association between smoking and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

HEMATOLOGICAL ONCOLOGY, Issue 2 2001
Hedley G. Peach
Abstract Smoking has been suggested to increase the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) but the results of epidemiological studies have been inconsistent. The aim of this work was to assess whether the findings of individual studies might have arisen by chance, bias or confounding and whether any associations found between smoking and NHL represent cause-and-effect. Reports of the association between smoking and NHL were identified from Medline. Confidence intervals on relative risks and odds ratios, use of multiple comparisons, and information on source, direction, actual existence and size of potential biases and confounding and features of any associations were abstracted. Four out of five cohort studies found no association between current smoking and NHL but three may have been biased against doing so. One found an association with follicular lymphoma but without a convincing exposure,risk gradient. The fifth found a strong association and an exposure,response gradient with ever smoking but excluded living cases from the end-point. Only one study found an association with past smoking which lacked features of causality. Eight out of 14 case,control studies found no association between current and/or past smoking and NHL but five may have been biased against doing so. Of six positive studies, three involved multiple comparisons, the association of one became non-significant after eliminating bias, four did not explore features of causality and one found an association only in heavy smokers, particularly under 45 years old. There are no grounds to reject the null hypothesis but associations should continue to be sought particularly in subgroups of smokers and with NHL subtypes. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Smoking is associated with histological severity in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis,

HEPATOLOGY, Issue 4 2010
Emmanuel A. Tsochatzis M.D.
No abstract is available for this article. [source]