Code Blue: Can We Save the Health Care System? Transcript of the Symposium

Code Blue: Can We Save the Health Care System? A Dialogue Featuring: Claudia M. Fegan, M.D., associate chief medical officer, Cook County Health and Hospital System and former president of Physicians for a National Health Program. Devon Herrick, Ph.D., senior fellow, National Center for Policy Analysis. Moderated by Allan D. Sobel, director of the Arlin M. Adams Center for Law and Society. Presented Thursday, March 26, 2008 Degenstein Center Theate

Smoking prevalence among lesbian, bisexual and queer women in Sydney remains high: analysis of trends and correlates

Introduction and Aims: To investigate smoking prevalence trends and correlates among lesbian, bisexual and queer-identifying (LBQ) women in Sydney, Australia. Design and Methods – Data from 5007 respondents to a repeated cross-sectional community survey were used to examine smoking trends between 2004 and 2014. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine smoking correlates. Results – 30% of respondents were current smokers including 48% of 16-24 year olds. A slight decrease in all-ages smoking over time was not reflected in the youngest age group. LBQ women who smoke have fewer economic, social and psychological resources than both women who never smoke and ex-smokers. High levels of alcohol and illicit drug use are also correlated with current smoking. Discussion and conclusions – Population-wide interventions have failed to address the persistently high prevalence of smoking among this sample of LBQ women. Tailored interventions may find utility focusing on personal resilience to deal with general and sexuality-specific stressors, as well as attending to poly-substance use. Acknowledgment of LBQ women as a priority group for tobacco reduction is urgently needed. We call on tobacco control agencies to consider sexuality and gender orientation in policy and partner with LGBT community organisations to develop culturally appropriate interventions.SWASH has run since 1996 with no direct government funding through community enthusiasm, the goodwill of volunteers, in-kind support from the University of Sydney and University of New South Wales and limited financial from the National Centre in HIV Social Research and the School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales. SWASH owes a deep debt of gratitude to ACON Health, particularly the CEOs and staff, for continued practical support. While several researchers have been part of the SWASH journey, Juliet Richters and Garrett Prestage demand specific acknowledgment for their initial efforts to SWASH set up and commitment to keep it running (until handing it to the authors in 2009). This unique community-based project could not have happened without the commitment, enthusiasm and networks of all involved