How useful are the stages of change for targeting interventions? randomized test of a brief intervention to reduce smoking

Objectives. To see whether the stages of change are useful for targeting a brief intervention to reduce smoking based on implementation intentions. A second objective was to rule out demand characteristics as an alternative explanation for the findings of intervention studies based on the transtheoretical model and implementation intentions. Design. Participants (N = 350) were randomized to a passive control condition (questionnaire only), active control condition (questionnaire-plus-instruction to plan to quit) or experimental condition (questionnaire, plan to quit, form an implementation intention). Their behavior and psychosocial orientation to quit were measured at baseline and 2-month follow-up. Main Outcome Measures. Theory of planned behavior variables, nicotine dependence and quitting. Results. Significantly more people quit smoking in the experimental condition than in the control conditions, and the planning instructions changed intention to quit and perceived control over quitting, but not behavior. Stage of change moderated these effects such that implementation intentions worked best for individuals who were in the preparation stage at baseline. Conclusion. Harnessing both motivational and volitional processes seems to enhance the effectiveness of smoking cessation programs, although further work is required to clarify inconsistencies in the literature using the stages of change.</p

Parol Evidence in Washington: The Use of Extrinsic Evidence to Address the Integration and Interpretation of Documents

Washington judicial treatment of these related concerns, the integration and interpretation of written contracts, constitutes the focus of this comment. Part One will distinguish integration from interpretation and highlight factors which bear on the choices between conflicting approaches to extrinsic evidence. Part Two will examine the rules governing the ascertainment of integration, by which courts decide whether the parties embodied their transaction in a written memorial, rendering it subject to the parol evidence rule. Part Three will analyze the analogous rules governing the extent to which a court interpreting the parties\u27 language may look to the circumstances surrounding the document\u27s execution. Finally, a suggestion will be made to improve Washington\u27s approach to extrinsic evidence and to resolve current inconsistencies in the law

BJHP- continuing to increase the profile of health psychology research

Editoria

Enhancing the Effectiveness of Alcohol Warning Labels With a Self-Affirming Implementation Intention

Objective. Excess alcohol consumption extorts significant social and economic costs that are increasing despite the presence of mandatory warning labels on packaged alcoholic beverages. We used a novel approach by adding a brief statement based on self-affirmation theory (Steele, 1988) to alcohol warning labels. Method. In two studies (N = 85; N = 58), we randomized regular wine drinkers recruited from University campuses to complete a wine pouring task with bottles that had standard labelling, or bottles that added a self-affirming implementation intention to the standard labeling. Alcohol consumption, behavioral intention and self-efficacy were measured pre-manipulation; message acceptance was measured post-manipulation; and alcohol consumption, behavioral intention and self-efficacy were measured again at follow-up. Results. In both studies, the self-affirming implementation intention significantly reduced subsequent alcohol consumption (ds = 0.70 and 0.91, respectively). However, message acceptance, behavioral intention, and self-efficacy did not significantly mediate the observed effects. Conclusions. Self-affirming implementation intentions augmented the effect of alcohol warning labels to reduce subsequent alcohol consumption, but – consistent with the broader self-affirmation literature – it was not clear what mediated the effects. Further research is required to examine whether self-affirming implementation intentions could augment the effects of other kinds of public health-related labelling

Commentary on taguchi's parameter design with dynamic characteristics

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/93684/1/4680120203_ftp.pd

Hemoglobinometry as a Method for Measuring Blood Meal Sizes of Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae)

A standardized clinical method for measuring hemoglobin has been applied to the measurement of the quantity of blood ingested by Aedes aegypti feeding on a vertebrate host. The midgut of a blood-fed mosquito is added to a reagent which converts all hemoglobin to hemiglobincyanide (HiCN) which can be read spectrophotometrically. A sample of the host's blood is required as a standard. We established the validity of this method by comparing hemoglobin determinations with the size of blood meals measured by weight as well as with blood meals administered as enemas. The method is independent of urination and digestion by the mosquito for at least 12 h after feeding (at 27°C) and can be applied to females feeding on an unrestrained host during crepuscular or dark periods. A disadvantage of this method is that females must be killed in order to determine the volume of blood they ingest. Once converted to hemiglobincyanide, the blood meal can be frozen and stored for later analysi

Effects of Exercise on Glycemic Response after Consumption of Monster Energy

Energy drinks have been anecdotally associated with deleterious cardiovascular health outcomes. These drinks contain ingredients, including but not limited to caffeine, which could affect glycemic response to the carbohydrate ingredients in the drink. Exercise alters insulin sensitivity and could be a factor related to the response to acute energy drink response. The aim of this study was to determine if acute exercise would alter the glycemic and physiological response to the consumption of Monster Energy ©. Following an overnight fast, human subjects (age 19.11±1.39; 30 female; 5 male) were randomized to exercise on a stationary bike at 33% of their predicted VO2 max for 10 minutes with a five minute sitting rest after, or sitting (control) for five minutes prior to ingestion of Monster Energy. Blood glucose, heart rate, and blood pressure were measured 0-, 30-, 60- , and 90-minutes postprandially. Data is represented as LSM ± SE with significance analyzed using a t-test, or multiple comparison test. Significance is assumed when P\u3c 0.05. Blood glucose (mg/dL) for control at 0-, 30-, 60-, and 90-minutes 91.58±1.2, 133.7±4.29, 96.3±4.17, and 82.4±1.82 mg/dL, respectively. For those receiving bike exercise prior to ingestion blood glucose was 92.2±1.2, 126.6±3.79, 92.5±2.27, 84.0±1.77 mg/dL. There were no significant blood glucose differences observed between groups across time, within group significance in both groups was observed between 0 and 30, 30 and 60, and 60 and 90, for control only. Heart rate for control at 0-, 30-, 60-, and 90-minutes was 78.0±3.06, 78.2±2.55, 78.6±2.6, and 74.4±1.85 respectively. For those receiving bike exercise prior to ingestion heart rate was 88.7±3.71, 85.5±2.69, 83.1±2.35, and 80.3±2.89. There were no significant heart rate differences observed between groups across time, within group significance in both groups was observed between 0 and 30, 30 and 60, and 60 and 90, for control only. Blood pressure for control at 0-, 30-, 60-, and 90-minutes was 86.8±2.05, 89.2±2.05, 89.2±2.5, and 87.6±2.6. For those receiving bike exercise prior to ingestion blood pressure was 90.6±3.07, 88.98±2.3, 88.2±1.97, and 86.98±2.08. There were no significant blood pressure differences observed between groups across time, within group significance in both groups was observed between 0 and 30, 30 and 60, and 60 and 90, for control only. In conclusion exercise probably does not alter the glycemic and physiological response to energy drinks.https://openriver.winona.edu/urc2019/1092/thumbnail.jp

Inequality of Air Quality?: A Study of Air Quality within Housing Price Brackets in Gettysburg, PA

With the rise of cars and other motorized vehicles has come the rise of air pollution, which tends to have disproportionate environmental and health impacts on low-income and communities of color. This study analyzes car presence and air quality on a transect within Gettysburg, PA to determine if there is a relationship between air pollution and vehicle presence, and if there is a difference in air quality between higher price bracket housing compared to campus, commercial, and lower price bracket housing. To test our research questions, we identified nine sampling locations along a transect where we measured air pollutants, including particulate matter (2.5 um and 10 um), VOCs, and NO2, with Flow by Plume Labs and Atmotube Pro air quality monitors. Our hypotheses that car activity will increase the amount of air pollution in Gettysburg and that there will be a greater environmental justice disparity within lower housing price brackets were not supported. The air quality along the transect was not greatly affected by vehicle presence and was consistent with regional conditions, and while measurements of different pollutants changed with location, there was not one clear trend between these two variables. However, there were consistently higher levels of vehicle traffic in the commercial and low-income areas than in the high-income and campus areas. The main limitations of our study were the lack of functionality and accuracy of our air monitors, which reduced the sample size of our data. These results provide room for further study of racial and child health disparities caused by cars and air pollution, as well as the impact of higher traffic levels on the risk of car and pedestrian accidents