Predictors of obesity in school‐aged Jordanian adolescents

Manal Ibrahim A‐K, Mousa Ali A‐H, Erika Sivarajan F. International Journal of Nursing Practice 2010; 16 : 397–405
Predictors of obesity in school‐aged Jordanian adolescents This cross‐sectional study aimed to estimate the frequency of overweight and obesity in adolescents as defined by the International Obesity Task Force, and to estimate the effect of sociodemographic and health behaviours (eating habits and physical activity) that predict obesity. A stratified (by gender) random sample of 518 adolescents, aged 15 or 16 years was obtained from eight public schools in Amman. In this sample 17.5% were overweight and 9.6% were obese. The predictors of obesity and overweight (excess weight) were: (i) fathers attained primary and secondary education; (ii) total monthly family income ≥ 300 (JD); (iii) working mothers; (iv) family size ≤ 6; and (v) having obese parents. Eating a low quality diet (chips, candy) was a significant dietary predictor of excess weight. The family variables found to be important predictors along with a low quality diet suggest that family interventions would be necessary in the control of adolescent excess weight.     

A comparison of self-reported alcohol use measures by early adolescents: Questionnaires versus diary

To examine the reliability of self-reports on prevalence, frequency and quantity of drinking in early adolescents by comparing questionnaires with diary reports. Retrospective data were obtained with a questionnaire after conducting a 1-month daily diary on alcohol use in a sample of 78 early adolescents. Sensitivity, specificity, positive, negative predictive values and correlations were calculated to test whether questionnaire reports corresponded with diary reports. Adolescents reported higher prevalence of drinking in diary reports than questionnaire reports. The sensitivity and negative predicted value of drinking prevalence were low, whereas the specificity and positive predicted value were high. Frequency of drinking reported in diary reports were highly correlated with questionnaire reports, whereas for the quantity of drinking only a moderate correlation was found. No significant differences were found for the average frequency and quantity of drinking between questionnaire and diary reports. Questionnaire reports tend to underestimate the prevalence of drinking in early adolescents compared to diary reports, whereas for frequency and quantity of drinking questionnaire reports proved to be reliable.     

Predictors of 1-, 6- and 12-month smoking cessation among a community-recruited sample of adult smokers in the United States

Baseline socio-demographics, substance use and smoking history characteristics, as well as intra-treatment indicators (i.e. nicotine patch adherence and tobacco use during patch treatment) of smoking cessation were examined among 65 community-based adult male smokers recruited from a metropolitan area within the United States. All participants were recruited between 2009 and 2010 and were enrolled in an 8-week smoking cessation programme involving nicotine patch treatment and adjunctive counselling. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were performed to examine unique predictors of smoking status at 1-, 6- and 12-month follow-up. Abstinence rates at 1-, 6- and 12-month follow-up periods were 34%, 18% and 17%, respectively. Results indicated that less smoking during patch treatment, and particularly during weeks 1 through 3, was the most robust predictor of successful abstinence, and this predicted smoking status at all follow-up periods. These results underscore the importance of total abstinence during the cessation process, especially at the outset of treatment, which is paramount to ultimate cessation success. Study limitations and clinical implications are discussed.     

学校情景下儿童青少年身体活动与学校健康促进服务：WHO政策架构与内容分析

目的 对学校情景下儿童青少年身体活动和健康促进学校相关政策进行系统分析,促进在学校情景下发展综合健康服务,融合身体活动。方法 基于世界卫生组织(WHO)健康服务体系6大构成要素的理论,运用政策研究和内容分析的方法,具体分析学校情景下儿童身体活动与健康促进综合服务相关的政策架构和核心内容。在身体活动领域,WHO发布的核心文件主要涉及《2018-2030年促进身体活动全球行动计划：加强身体活动,造就健康世界》《WHO关于身体活动和久坐行为的指南》《一项促进身体活动的技术包》和《世卫组织欧洲区域的体育活动战略》。健康促进学校领域的政策文件包括《WHO关于学校健康服务指南》《让每一所学校都成为健康促进学校的全球标准与指标》和《让每一所学校都成为健康促进学校的实施指南》。在学校情景下促进身体活动的政策文件包括《通过学校促进体育活动：政策简介》和《通过学校促进身体活动：一个工具包》。结果 在学校情景下,通过建设健康促进学校方法将身体活动融入学校健康服务,旨在将身体活动作为健康和发展战略,用教育和体育相结合的干预手段加快达成儿童青少年健康目标,帮助儿童青少年获得更多健康效益。在领导力和治理领域,需要...     

青少年学校健康教育研究现状

对青少年学校健康教育的相关政策、开展内容与形式进行阐述,建议学校的健康教育工作与家庭、社会合作,借助新颖信息传播手段传播健康知识和技能,建立科学系统的青少年学校健康教育体系。     

Characteristics and smoking cessation outcomes of patients returning for repeat tobacco dependence treatment

Previous studies of tobacco dependence treatment have reported very low cessation rates among smokers who relapse and return to make a subsequent formal attempt to quit. This retrospective cohort study examined 1745 patients who attended a tobacco dependence clinic between 2001 and 2005, and the characteristics and outcomes of those who relapsed and returned for repeat treatment. Patients who returned for repeat treatment showed higher markers of nicotine dependence and were more likely to have a history of treatment for mental health problems than patients who attended the clinic for only one treatment episode. Among patients who relapsed and returned for repeat treatment, the 26-week abstinence rates were similar for each consecutive quit attempt (23%, 22% and 20%). Clinicians should encourage smokers who relapse after an initial treatment episode to return for treatment, and repeat treatment should focus on addressing high nicotine dependence and potentially co-occurring mental health problems in order to improve cessation outcomes.     

A formative evaluation to develop a school health nursing early intervention model for adolescent substance use

OBJECTIVE: To improve an early intervention (EI) triggered by the Adolescents' Substance Use Measurement (ADSUME) as a method to prevent substance abuse among adolescents. We assessed how ADSUME and EI work in practice and how EI could be improved. DESIGN AND SAMPLE: School health nurses (n=10) tested ADSUME and EI on 14- to 18-year-old adolescents (n=228). Six months later, these nurses and their professional partners were invited to assess EI in focus group interviews. METHODS: Four focus group interviews involving a total of 24 nurses and partners were implemented. Interview data were analyzed with qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: ADSUME concretized assessment, activated profound dialogue, and proved to be an important part of EI. It was important to assess the adolescent's resources in addition to the ADSUME score. EI worked well in confidential dialogues after the adolescent and the PHN reached a consensus on the level of concern about the adolescent's substance use. The recommended EI enabled individual brief intervention in all four stages of substance use, from abstinence or experimental use to hazardous use. CONCLUSIONS: EI was improved practically, and the contents of the intervention were reformulated. It is important to integrate EI with the preventive efforts of the school.     

Impact of waterpipe smoking on blood pressure and heart rate among adolescents: The Irbid-TRY

Tobacco consumption contributes substantially to cardiovascular (CV) diseases, including hypertension. However, the effect of waterpipe (WP) smoking on CV hemodynamics in adolescents is unknown. Thus, the current study investigated the relationship of WP smoking with CV indices in 397 adolescents that included WP only smokers (n = 161) and non-smokers of any other tobacco product (n = 236). CV hemodynamic indices including heart rate (HR), systolic (SBP), and diastolic blood pressures (DBP), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), pulse pressure (PP), and rate pressure product (RPP) were obtained and calculated for 7th–10th grade students in Irbid, Jordan. After controlling for possible confounding factors, HR, DBP, MAP, and RPP were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in adolescent WP smokers versus non-smokers. Additionally, stepwise regression analyses showed that smoking status can predict (p < 0.001) 5.7% of HR, 6.3% of DBP 7.4% of MAP, and 7.0% RPP. The results indicate that HR and blood pressure are lower in adolescent WP smokers versus non-smokers. Future studies are necessary to verify these findings and understand the mechanism of this effect.     

Smoking patterns and preferences for technology assisted smoking cessation interventions among adults with opioid and alcohol use disorders

ABSTRACT

Background: Smoking remains a major public health burden among persons with opioid and/or alcohol use disorder.

Methods: A 49-item semi-structured survey was conducted among urban, inpatient detoxification program patients eliciting demographic and clinical characteristics, smoking profile, technology use patterns, and preferences for adopting technology-based smoking cessation interventions. Multivariate logistic regression models further evaluated the association between participant demographic and clinical characteristics and technology preferences.

Results: Participants were mostly male (91%), and admitted for detoxification for alcohol (47%), heroin (31%), or both alcohol and heroin (22%). Past 30-day smoking was reported by 78% of the sample. Mobile phone ownership was common (89%); with an average past-year turnover of 3 mobile phones and 3 phone numbers. Computer ownership was low (28%) and one third reported daily internet use (34%). Telephone (41%) and text message-based interventions (40%) were the most popular platforms to facilitate smoking cessation.

Conclusions: Despite concurrent AUD-OUD, most respondents had attempted to quit smoking in the last year and preferred telephone- and text message-based interventions to facilitate smoking cessation. High turnover of mobile phones, phone numbers, and limited access to computers pose barriers to dissemination of technology-based smoking cessation interventions in this vulnerable population.     

The psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the smoking outcome expectation scale and the anti-smoking self-efficacy scale for early adolescents

This study aimed to analyze the validity and reliability of the Smoking Outcome Expectation Scale and Anti-Smoking Self-Efficacy Scale for Early Adolescents in Turkey. The sample of the study included a total of 548 students. The data were collected using a demographic data collection form, the Smoking Outcome Expectation Scale, and the Anti-Smoking Self-Efficacy Scale (ASSES) for Early Adolescents. ASSES consists of 15 items, and SOES consists of six items. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of the ASSES section and its subscales were .93, .94, .89, and .75, respectively. These values were found to be.70, .85, and .91 in the SOES section and its subscales. Both sections’ test–retest correlation coefficients were found to be higher than .25 for all items. The factor loads ranged between .45 and .76 in the ASSES section and between .87 and .95 in the SOES section. The goodness-of-fit indices of both sections were above .90, and their root mean square error of approximation (RMSA) values was <.08. These results indicate that the scale is a valid and reliable tool for use with early adolescents in Turkey.     

Effectiveness of a brief intervention with and without booster session for adolescents hospitalized due to alcohol intoxication

Background: The Hart-am-LimiT (HaLT) project is a brief intervention program for adolescents hospitalized due to alcohol intoxication in Germany.

Objective: To test whether a booster session has an impact on participants’ drinking behavior compared with the standard HaLT program.

Methods: On the morning after their admission due to alcohol intoxication, 411 adolescents in the Federal State of Bavaria were interviewed between October 2008 and January 2010 and socio-demographic data and information on previous drinking behavior were recorded (t1). Eleven to 25 months (M?=?16.4) after their hospital treatment, 106 adolescents completed an online questionnaire (t2).

Results: Subgroup analysis (ANOVA with repeated measurements) indicated that adolescents who took part in the booster session did not increase episodic heavy drinking (EHD; t1: M?=?1.68 EHD d; t2: 1.59 EHD d) in contrast to the non-participating group (t1: M?=?1.08?d EHD; t2: 2.66?d EHD; F?=?4.383, p?=?0.039).

Conclusion: Considering the study’s limitations (e.g. no randomization, low response rate, etc.), the results indicate a positive effect of a booster session following a brief intervention for adolescents who have been treated in hospital due to alcohol intoxication. Adolescents should therefore be motivated and encouraged to participate in booster sessions.     

Use of marketing to disseminate brief alcohol intervention to general practitioners: promoting health care interventions to health promoters

Health research findings are of little benefit to patients or society if they do not reach the audience they are intended to influence. Thus, a dissemination strategy is needed to target new findings at its user group and encourage a process of consideration and adoption or rejection. Social marketing techniques can be utilized to aid successful dissemination of research findings and to speed the process by which new information reaches practice. Principles of social marketing include manipulating the marketing mix of product, price, place and promotion. This paper describes the development of a marketing approach and the outcomes from a trial evaluating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of manipulating promotional strategies to disseminate actively a screening and brief alcohol intervention (SBI) programme to general practitioners (GPs). The promotional strategies consisted of postal marketing, telemarketing and personal marketing. The study took place in general practices across the Northern and Yorkshire Regional Health Authority. Of the 614 GPs eligible for the study, one per practice, 321 (52%) took the programme and of those available to use it for 3 months (315), 128 (41%) actively considered doing so, 73 (23%) actually went on to use it. Analysis of the specific impact of the three different promotional strategies revealed that while personal marketing was the most effective overall dissemination and implementation strategy, telemarketing was more cost-effective. The findings of our work show that using a marketing approach is promising for conveying research findings to GPs and in particular a focus on promotional strategies can facilitate high levels of uptake and consideration in this target group.