Robust image analysis with sparse representation on quantized visual features

10.1109/TIP.2012.2219543IEEE Transactions on Image Processing223860-871IIPR

Concern about passive smoking and tobacco control policies in European countries: An ecological study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Because of the magnitude of the global tobacco epidemic, the World Health Organisation developed the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), an international legally binding treaty to control tobacco use. Adoption and implementation of specific tobacco control measures within FCTC is an outcome of a political process, where social norms and public opinion play important roles. The objective of our study was to examine how a country’s level of tobacco control is associated with smoking prevalence, two markers of denormalisation of smoking (social disapproval of smoking and concern about passive smoking), and societal support for tobacco control.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>An ecological study was conducted, using data from two sources. The first source was the Tobacco Control Scale (TCS) from 2011, which quantifies the implementation of tobacco control policies in European Union (EU) countries. Data on smoking prevalence, societal disapproval of smoking, concern about passive smoking, and societal support for policy measures were taken from the Eurobarometer survey of 2009. Data from Eurobarometer surveys were aggregated to country level. Data from the 27 European Union member states were used.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Smoking prevalence rates in 2009 were negatively associated with a country’s TCS 2011 score, although not statistically significant (r = −.25; p = .21). Experience of societal disapproval was positively associated with higher TCS scores, though not significantly (r = .14; p = .48). The same was true for societal support for tobacco control (r = .27; p = .18). The TCS score in 2011 was significantly correlated with concern about passive smoking (r = .42; p =.03). Support for tobacco control measures was also strongly correlated with concern about passive smoking (r = .52, p = .006).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Smokers in countries with a higher TCS score were more concerned about whether their smoke harms others. Further, support for tobacco control measures is higher in countries that have more of these concerned smokers. Concerns about passive smoking seem central in the implementation of tobacco control measures, stressing the importance of continuing to educate the public about the harm from passive smoking.</p

Effectiveness of a web platform on university students’ motivation to quit smoking

Objetivo: conhecer a dependência da nicotina e a motivação para parar de fumar em estudantes de Enfermagem e Fisioterapia de uma universidade no sul da Espanha e avaliar o impacto de uma intervenção baseada no uso de tecnologias da informação na motivação para parar de fumar. Método: estudo piloto em duas fases: a primeira transversal e a segunda de intervenção antes-depois. A motivação para parar de fumar foi avaliada usando o questionário Richmond, a dependência da nicotina através do questionário de Fagerström e uma intervenção baseada no uso de uma plataforma online foi realizada para aumentar a motivação para parar de fumar. Estatística descritiva e inferencial foram aplicadas. Resultados: a prevalência de consumo de tabaco foi de 4,33% (n=29). 3,45% dos participantes tinham alta dependência e 6,90%, alta motivação. O nível de motivação não foi alterado após a intervenção (p=0,10). Conclusão: a maioria dos estudantes tem baixo nível de motivação para parar de fumar e dependência física à nicotina. O nível de motivação para parar de fumar não é diferente após a realização da intervenção.Objetivo: conocer la dependencia a la nicotina y la motivación para el cese tabáquico en estudiantes de Enfermería y Fisioterapia de una universidad del sur de España y evaluar el efecto de una intervención basada en el uso de tecnologías de la información en la motivación para el cese tabáquico. Método: estudio piloto de dos fases: la primera transversal y la segunda de intervención antes-después. Se valoró la motivación para dejar de fumar mediante el cuestionario Richmond, la dependencia a la nicotina a través del cuestionario Fagerström, y se llevó a cabo una intervención basada en el uso de una plataforma web para incrementar la motivación del cese tabáquico. Se aplicó estadística descriptiva e inferencial. Resultados: la prevalencia de consumo de tabaco fue del 4.33% (n=29). El 3.45% de los participantes presentó alta dependencia, y el 6.90%, alta motivación. El nivel de motivación no se vio alterado tras la intervención (p=0.10). Conclusión: la mayor parte de los estudiantes tiene un nivel bajo de motivación para dejar de fumar y de dependencia física a la nicotina. El nivel de motivación para el cese tabáquico no es diferente tras realizar la intervención.Objective: to know the dependence on nicotine and the motivation to quit smoking in Nursing and Physiotherapy students of a university in the South of Spain, and to evaluate the impact of an intervention based on the use of information technologies on the motivation to quit smoking. Method: a pilot study in two phases: the first being cross-sectional and the second, a before-and-after intervention. The motivation to quit smoking was assessed by means of the Richmond questionnaire, and the dependence on nicotine through the Fagerström questionnaire; additionally, an intervention was performed based on the use of a web platform to increase motivation to quit smoking. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied. Results: the prevalence in the use of tobacco was 4.33% (n=29). 3.45% of the participants had a high level of dependence; and 6.90%, a high level of motivation. The level of motivation did not change after the intervention (p=0.10). Conclusion: most of the students have low levels of motivation to quit smoking and of physical dependence to nicotine. The level of motivation to quit smoking does not change after performing the intervention