Factors Associated with Smokeless Tobacco Use and Dual Use among Blue Collar Workers

Objectives To examine demographic and substance use factors associated with exclusive smokeless tobacco use ( SLT ) and dual use of both cigarettes and SLT among blue‐collar workers. Design and Sample This cross‐sectional study used data from the United States 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The sample ( n  = 5,392) was restricted to respondents who were classified as blue collar workers by self‐report primary job title. Measures Various demographic variables, tobacco use and other substance use variables were examined. Results Respondents in this blue collar sample were 87% male and 64% Non‐Hispanic White. An estimated 9.5% ( SE  = 0.6) of respondents were current SLT users; 5.3% ( SE  = 0.4) were current exclusive SLT users, and 4.2% ( SE  = 0.4) were current dual users of both SLT and cigarettes. Factors related to exclusive SLT use were gender, marital status, age, race/ethnicity, type of blue‐collar occupation, current binge drinking, and current marijuana use. Significant factors related to dual use were gender, marital status, age, race/ethnicity, type of blue‐collar occupation, current cigar smoking, current binge drinking, and current illicit drug use. Conclusions Rates of SLT use and dual use are high among U.S. blue‐collar workers, indicating a need for targeted, workplace cessation interventions. These interventions may also serve as a gateway for addressing other substance use behaviors in this population.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/102204/1/phn12095.pd

Nurses Communicating Risk: Strategies from the Literature

Risk communication interventions can provide benefits at both the individual and population level, however, there is a paucity of research that explores the effectiveness of risk communication strategies by nurses. A literature search yielded twelve studies that investigated the components and effectiveness of risk communication by nurses. This article presents some of the key theories used in risk communication, current nursing science exploring risk communication strategies, and recommendations for future research and practice

Smoking behavior and social contexts associated with smoking among dual‐smoker couples

ObjectivesTo examine smoking behavior and social contexts related to smoking among dual‐smoker couples.DesignCross‐sectional online survey study.SampleA convenience sample of 183 dual‐smoker couples.MeasurementsInvestigator‐developed survey on smoking and related social contexts.ResultsParticipants smoked 16.0 cigarettes daily for 14.2 years; 48.4% shared more than half of their smoking time with their spouse. More than half made quit attempts in the past year individually (M = 5.3) and jointly (M = 2.5). Couples sharing more smoking time were more likely to be motivated to quit (p = .002), make quit attempts (p < .0001), and be interested in cessation interventions (p = .002); but less likely to implement home smoking bans (p < .001). Among those who reported quit attempts, 41% quit by themselves and 15.3% sought professional assistance. Most common reasons for relapse were chronic stress and crisis, 63.6%, however, were interested in smoking cessation services, preferably technology‐based interventions.ConclusionsWe found smoking interdependence within dual‐smoker couples. Despite high levels of motivation to quit, most did not utilize professional help, leading to low successful quit rates. Technology‐based smoking cessation interventions incorporating spousal support and addressing stress/crisis may best assist dual‐smoker couples.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154359/1/phn12686.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154359/2/phn12686_am.pd

Protocol of a randomized controlled trial of the Tobacco Tactics website for operating engineers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Recent research indicates that 35 percent of blue-collar workers in the US currently smoke while only 20 percent of white-collar workers smoke. Over the last year, we have been working with heavy equipment operators, specifically the Local 324 Training Center of the International Union of Operating Engineers, to study the epidemiology of smoking, which is 29% compared to 21% among the general population. For the current study funded by the National Cancer Institute (1R21CA152247-01A1), we have developed the Tobacco Tactics website which will be compared to the state supported 1-800-QUIT-NOW telephone line. Outcome evaluation will compare those randomized to the Tobacco Tactics web-based intervention to those randomized to the 1-800-QUIT-NOW control condition on: a) 30-day and 6-month quit rates; b) cotinine levels; c) cigarettes smoked/day; d) number of quit attempts; and e) nicotine addiction. Process evaluation will compare the two groups on the: a) contacts with intervention; b) medications used; c) helpfulness of the nurse/coach; and d) willingness to recommend the intervention to others.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>This will be a randomized controlled trial (N = 184). Both interventions will be offered during regularly scheduled safety training at Local 324 Training Center of the International Union of Operating Engineers and both will include optional provision of over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapy and the same number of telephone contacts. However, the Tobacco Tactics website has graphics tailored to Operating Engineers, tailored cessation feedback from the website, and follow up nurse counseling offered by multimedia options including phone and/or email, and/or e-community. Primary Analysis of Aim 1 will be conducted by using logistic regression to compare smoking habits (e.g., quit rates) of those in the intervention arm to those in the control arm. Primary analyses for Aim 2 will compare process measures (e.g., medications used) between the two groups by linear, logistic, and Poisson regression.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Dissemination of an efficacious work-site, web-based smoking cessation intervention has the potential to substantially impact cancer rates among this population. Based on the outcome of this smaller study, wider scale testing in conjunction with the International Environment Technology Testing Center which services Operating Engineers across North America (including US, Mexico, and Canada) will be conducted.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>NCT01124110</p

Worldwide comparison of survival from childhood leukaemia for 1995–2009, by subtype, age, and sex (CONCORD-2): a population-based study of individual data for 89 828 children from 198 registries in 53 countries

Background Global inequalities in access to health care are reflected in differences in cancer survival. The CONCORD programme was designed to assess worldwide differences and trends in population-based cancer survival. In this population-based study, we aimed to estimate survival inequalities globally for several subtypes of childhood leukaemia. Methods Cancer registries participating in CONCORD were asked to submit tumour registrations for all children aged 0-14 years who were diagnosed with leukaemia between Jan 1, 1995, and Dec 31, 2009, and followed up until Dec 31, 2009. Haematological malignancies were defined by morphology codes in the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, third revision. We excluded data from registries from which the data were judged to be less reliable, or included only lymphomas, and data from countries in which data for fewer than ten children were available for analysis. We also excluded records because of a missing date of birth, diagnosis, or last known vital status. We estimated 5-year net survival (ie, the probability of surviving at least 5 years after diagnosis, after controlling for deaths from other causes [background mortality]) for children by calendar period of diagnosis (1995-99, 2000-04, and 2005-09), sex, and age at diagnosis (< 1, 1-4, 5-9, and 10-14 years, inclusive) using appropriate life tables. We estimated age-standardised net survival for international comparison of survival trends for precursor-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Findings We analysed data from 89 828 children from 198 registries in 53 countries. During 1995-99, 5-year agestandardised net survival for all lymphoid leukaemias combined ranged from 10.6% (95% CI 3.1-18.2) in the Chinese registries to 86.8% (81.6-92.0) in Austria. International differences in 5-year survival for childhood leukaemia were still large as recently as 2005-09, when age-standardised survival for lymphoid leukaemias ranged from 52.4% (95% CI 42.8-61.9) in Cali, Colombia, to 91.6% (89.5-93.6) in the German registries, and for AML ranged from 33.3% (18.9-47.7) in Bulgaria to 78.2% (72.0-84.3) in German registries. Survival from precursor-cell ALL was very close to that of all lymphoid leukaemias combined, with similar variation. In most countries, survival from AML improved more than survival from ALL between 2000-04 and 2005-09. Survival for each type of leukaemia varied markedly with age: survival was highest for children aged 1-4 and 5-9 years, and lowest for infants (younger than 1 year). There was no systematic difference in survival between boys and girls. Interpretation Global inequalities in survival from childhood leukaemia have narrowed with time but remain very wide for both ALL and AML. These results provide useful information for health policy makers on the effectiveness of health-care systems and for cancer policy makers to reduce inequalities in childhood survival

Development of the Tobacco Tactics logo: From thumb prints to press

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to describe the development and evaluation of the image-based Veterans Affairs (VA) Tobacco Tactics program logo and campaign character using principles of social marketing. Methods Four cross-sectional surveys with open- and closed-ended questions were used to gather participant demographic information, smoking behavior, and feedback on the development and evaluation of the Tobacco Tactics program logo and campaign character. The first 3 surveys were conducted with 229 veterans, visitors, and staff to obtain feedback for the final logo and character choice. The fourth survey was conducted with 47 inpatient veteran smokers to evaluate the Tobacco Tactics manual which was illustrated with the logo and campaign character. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses comparing demographic characteristics and tobacco use variables to opinions about the pictures for each round of testing were computed. Results After three rounds of testing to modify the logo and character choices based on participant feedback and survey data, the bulldog logo was chosen to represent the VA Tobacco Tactics program as it was viewed as strong and tough by the majority of participants. About 80% of the participants rated the manual highly on items such as logo, color, and pictures/illustrations. Almost 90% said they would recommend the manual to someone trying to quit smoking. Conclusion Social marketing techniques that include consumer feedback to develop appealing tobacco cessation campaigns can increase consumer engagement and enhance the development of compelling tobacco cessation campaigns to compete with the influential marketing of tobacco companies.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/112481/1/12971_2011_Article_132.pd