The requirement for prior consent to participate on survey response rates: a population-based survey in Grampian

Background  

A survey was carried out in the Grampian region of Scotland with a random sample of 10,000 adults registered with a General Practitioner in Grampian. The study complied with new legislation requiring a two-stage approach to identify and recruit participants, and examined the implications of this for response rates, non-response bias and speed of response.     

Death by suicide in Grampian 1991-1999: comparison with a previous study

OBJECTIVES: To review the changes in suicide and undetermined death rates in Grampian between 1991-1999 and to make comparisons with a previous study on the same population. DESIGN: All suicide and undetermined deaths in Grampian recorded by the General Register Office for Scotland were included and linked with the psychiatric case records from Grampian Health Board. RESULTS: The high suicide and undetermined death rates in Grampian are accounted for by the excess of deaths in males. In males there has been a change in the method used to commit suicide with hanging now being the commonest method used. Firearm deaths have reduced dramatically since legislation was introduced in 1997 (RR = 021,95% CI [0.05,0.91). For those with previous psychiatric contact, a greater proportion were drug users than in 1974-1990 (OR = 3.75,95%CI [2.7, 5.2]). A higher percentage of suicides have a history of more than one previous attempt at suicide than in 1974-990. In Grampian there is a lower percentage of inpatient suicide than the rest of Scotland. CONCLUSION: There have been changes in suicide trends in Grampian and these are similar to elsewhere in Scotland Strategies to address this are discussed.     

The effect of the national demonstration project Healthy Respect on teenage sexual health behaviour

BACKGROUND: As part of the independent evaluation of Healthy Respect (a national demonstration project to improve teenage sexual health in Scotland) this study examined the effect of the school-based sexual health education intervention comprising multiprofessional classroom delivery and alongside drop-in clinics on teenage sexual behaviour outcomes. METHODS: Before-and-after cross-sectional surveys of secondary school pupils (average age 14 years and 6 months) were used in 10 Healthy Respect intervention schools in Lothian region and 5 comparison schools without intervention in Grampian region (2001 and 2003). RESULTS: By 2003, the proportion of pupils in Lothian feeling confident about getting condoms and using condoms properly significantly increased, more Lothian pupils (particularly boys) showed improved knowledge about condoms being protective against sexually transmitted infections. No further evidence of improved knowledge, attitudes, or intentions was evident after the intervention. Pupils in Lothian remained more likely to think using a condom would be embarrassing (especially girls), would reduce sexual enjoyment (especially boys), and intentions about condom use (as closer predictors of actual behaviour change) showed no significant improvement. More Lothian ( approximately 24%) than Grampian ( approximately 19%) pupils report having had sexual intercourse at age <16 years, both before and after the intervention, with no evidence of a significant reduction in Lothian by 2003. Overall differences in attitudes to condom use by gender were noted. Findings remain consistent in both unadjusted and adjusted comparisons. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate limited impact on sexual health behaviour outcomes, and raise questions about the likely and achievable sexual health gains for teenagers from school-based interventions.     

北京市高中生吸烟行为现状及家庭因素与吸烟关联的性别差异研究

目的 了解北京市高中生吸烟行为及家庭因素与吸烟关联的性别差异,为相关干预提供理论依据.方法 于2014年4-5月,采取分层整群随机抽样的方法,对北京市16669名高中生进行问卷调查.分性别采用x2检验和多因素Logistic回归法分析家庭因素与吸烟行为的关联.结果 北京市高中男女生尝试吸烟率分别为40.7％和20.6％...     

常州市青少年吸烟现状及影响因素分析

目的 了解常州市青少年吸烟状况、对烟草的认知情况及影响吸烟行为的因素,为制定控烟策略提供依据.方法 采用分层整群抽样方法,使用“江苏省青少年与烟草调查问卷”,对常州市小学、中学、中专学生共1 050名进行调查.结果 常州市青少年尝试吸烟率为14.48％,男生为22.94％,女生为8.15％,差异有统计学意义(x2=45.39,P＜0.05);现在吸烟率为3.05％,其中男生为5.12％,女生为1.50％,差异有统计学意义(x2=11.43,P＜0.05).半数以上学生对烟草与健康相关知识和态度较好.大部分学生认同被动吸烟有害健康,但是对被动吸烟损害与主动吸烟损害的认知差异有统计学意义(x2=37.10,P＜0.05).学生周围与烟草有关的信息不同,其尝试吸烟率也不同.结论 常州市青少年尝试吸烟年龄较小,中等职业学校是控制吸烟行为的重点.应针对不同年龄青少年开展健康教育活动,教师和家长也应从自身做起,给学生、孩子做好榜样.     

Correlates of soft drink and fruit juice consumption among Swedish adolescents

The aim of the study was to investigate how soft drink and fruit juice consumption in teenagers is associated with life-style, other food choices, eating behaviour and maternal characteristics. A cross-sectional study of 16-year-old girls (n 275) and boys (n 199) and their mothers was undertaken. Questionnaires were used to assess habitual dietary intake, eating behaviour, physical activity, smoking and educational level. Weight and height were measured. It was found that eating breakfast less than five times per week was independently associated with a high soft drink consumption in both girls and boys. A low intake of cooked meals and milk and a high intake of salty snacks were associated with soft drinks in boys only, and a low intake of fruits in girls only. A high maternal juice intake, low milk and high fruit consumption were independent correlates of fruit juice intake in both girls and boys. In girls, being a smoker, having a smoking mother, a high soft drink intake, scoring low on emotional eating and high on cognitive restraint were also associated with fruit juice intake. A low intake of soft drinks and cooked meals was associated with fruit juice intake in boys only. Neither soft drinks nor fruit juice was associated with BMI. In conclusion, a high intake of both fruit juice and soft drinks were associated with a lower intake of foods such as milk and cooked meals. It might be possible to influence fruit juice intake among teenagers by aiming at their mothers, whereas the adolescents themselves should be targeted when the aim is to reduce soft drink consumption.     

Prevalence of respiratory symptoms in Parisian teenagers according to smoking habits.

The relationship between respiratory symptoms and smoking habits, according to sex, was studied in 2266 teenagers attending secondary school in Paris. Among smokers, the prevalence of usual cough or phlegm, or both, was higher in girls than in boys, whereas such was not the case among non-smokers. That prevalence, as well as the proportion of people with wheezing, were more closely associated with the total number of cigarettes ever smoked by girls than by boys. Moreover, there was a weak but significant association between the total number of cigarettes smoked and respiratory function--FEV1/Ht3 in girls only.     

Smoking amongst UK Bangladeshi adolescents aged 14-15

This paper reports on an investigation into smoking amongst 14- to 15-year-old Bangladeshis living in an UK inner city locality. A survey using self-completion questionnaires was undertaken in conjunction with focus group discussions. The survey of 316 Bangladeshi adolescents was conducted to determine smoking prevalence. Regular smoking was more common amongst Bangladeshi males (39%) than amongst Bangladeshi females (11%). Thirty-one people (17 females and 14 males) took part in seven focus groups (four female and three male) which were conducted in schools (six) and youth clubs (one). Focus group discussions were conducted to examine what smoking means to Bangladeshi teenagers and factors which influence why they do or do not smoke. Differences between what smoking means to Bangladeshi females and males are identified which arise from perceived social norms and cultural values, and greatly influence smoking uptake. However, many of the reasons why Bangladeshi adolescents continue to smoke, stop smoking or never smoke appear similar to those identified in other studies with largely white adolescents. Factors underpinning adolescent choices together with the implications of the study findings for the development of smoking prevention initiatives for inner city Bangladeshi teenagers are discussed.     

Health problems in teenage daily smokers versus nonsmokers, Norway, 1995-1997: the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study

Increased morbidity among teenage smokers has been reported, but specific current health problems and medication use other than of alcohol and narcotics have received less attention. The aim of this study was to examine the association between health problems and daily smoking in teenagers. Ninety percent of all teenagers attending junior high or high schools participated in a cross-sectional study conducted in Nord-Tr?ndelag County, Norway, 1995-1997; included were 8,040 students aged 13-18 years. Information on smoking habits, health problems, medication use, and use of health services was obtained in schools by self-administered questionnaire and by interview. Fifty-five percent of boys and 57% of girls had tried smoking, and 9% and 11%, respectively, reported current daily smoking. When compared with boys and girls who had never smoked, daily smoking among both sexes and all age groups was associated with significantly poorer perceived health, respiratory symptoms, headache, neck and shoulder pain, stomachache, nausea, frequent heartbeats, nervousness/restlessness, and sleep problems. Daily smokers used more medications and health services. Daily smoking by adolescents is already associated with multiple somatic health problems. Whether or not the association is causal, daily smoking identifies a group of adolescents with health problems for whom preventive strategies should also include medical and social support.     

Predictive ability and stability of adolescents' pregnancy intentions in a predominantly Latino community

Using data from a prospective cohort of 555 adolescent girls and boys from a predominantly Latino neighborhood of San Francisco, we examined how well four survey questionnaire items measuring pregnancy intentions predicted the incidence of pregnancy. We also compared consistency of responses among items and assessed how intentions fluctuated over time. Girls experienced 72 pregnancies over two years (six-month cumulative incidence = 8 percent), and boys reported being responsible for 50 pregnancies (six-month cumulative incidence = 10 percent). Although the probability of becoming pregnant generally increased with higher intention to do so, the risk of becoming pregnant was elevated only at the highest response categories for each item. Most pregnancies occurred among teenagers reporting the lowest levels of intention: for instance, 73 percent of pregnancies occurred among girls who reported that they definitely did not want to become pregnant. Considerable change in respondents' intentions were found over short periods of time: 18 percent and 41 percent of responses to the wantedness and happiness items, respectively, changed between six-month survey visits. The development of appropriate strategies to reduce pregnancy among adolescents would benefit from a more nuanced understanding of how teenagers view the prospect of pregnancy and what determines whether they actively protect themselves from unintended pregnancy.     

A survey of smoking behavior among junior high school students and smoking prevention education developed using the survey results]

In June 1996 and 1997, a self-administered anonymous questionnaire survey of smoking behavior was conducted on students (118 boys and 135 girls) of two junior high schools in Kami-gun, Kochi Prefecture. Following the surveys, smoking prevention education classes were held using the survey results as material for education. The survey results were as follows; 1. The percentage of ever-smokers was higher in boys than in girls, 37.9% and 22.8% respectively. The percentage of those who smoked at least one cigarette during the past one month was 2.9%, and the rate increased with school grade. 2. Most commonly, first experience of smoking was between the 4th to 6th grades in elementary school, and the main motive for first smoking was curiosity. 3. The association between smoking and lung cancer was the most widely known, and that between smoking and intrauterine growth retardation was relatively well-known among students. More than 90% of students clearly understood the harmfulness of passive smoking. 4. The results of logistic regression analyses revealed that friends' and parents' smoking were significant correlates of smoking experience in boys. Among girls no significant relationship was found. The content of smoking prevention education class consisted of quizzes about smoking, an explanation of the survey results, an exhibition of a cross-sectional model of the lung, an experiment of smoking using a small doll, an analysis of expired air carbon monoxide concentration, and an explanation of the harmfulness of smoking. The reports of the students after the class showed that not only the explanation of the harmfulness of smoking, but also the experiment or explanation of the survey results appeared to be effective educational content.     

DRUG USE AMONG SYDNEY TEENAGERS IN 1985 AND 1986

To investigate adolescent drug use behaviour, a random community sample of Sydney teenagers aged 14 to 19 years was interviewed at home in 1985 (N=996) and again in 1986 (N=756). Respondents were asked about current use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, other illicit drugs, medications and inhalants. Drug use was common: 16 per cent of respondents were heavy drinkers, 28 per cent smoked tobacco, 10 per cent used marijuana and 4 per cent used drugs other than alcohol, tobacco or marijuana. Seventeen per cent were multiple drug users. Drug use was more common among boys than girls, except for tobacco smoking, and increased with age: older males had particularly high prevalences of heavy drinking, tobacco and marijuana use. The prevalence of heavy drinking, tobacco and marijuana use increased by 2–3 percent over the one year follow-up period. About half of the heavy drinkers and marijuana users, and 80 per cent of tobacco smokers had not changed one year later, which indicates the stability of these behaviours. One-third of eligible teenagers contacted at the first interview declined to participate: it is likely that this study underestimates the prevalence of drug use in the community. Heavy drinking, tobacco smoking and marijuana use remain important target behaviours for adolescent drug use prevention programs.     

长沙市12~17岁儿童青少年血压水平的调查分析

【目的】 了解长沙市儿童青少年儿童血压水平及高血压的流行现状,为预防儿童青少年高血压提供依据。 【方法】 采用随机整群抽样方法,随机抽取长沙市18所中学生,对其初一至高二的全部学生进行血压和体格测量,并进行血压和营养状况的评价。 【结果】 1)18 922名12~17岁儿童青少年中,检出患高血压者1 276人,占6.7%;临界高血压者1 127人,占6.0%;2)儿童收缩压(systolic blood pressure, SBP)和舒张压(diatolic blood pressure, DBP)随年龄增长而增加,12岁女生的SBP和DBP高于男生,但男生逐渐追赶,16岁时超过女生水平;3)就高血压发生率而言,男生高于女生,随年龄增长发生率增高,但女生、较低年龄组临界高血压发生率较高;4)肥胖组的高血压和临界高血压发生率最高,其次为超重组,正常体重组的发生率最低,差异有统计学意义(χ²=69.348,P=0.000)。 【结论】 长沙市12~17岁儿童青少年高血压发生率处于中等水平,男生血压增长速度较快,儿童高血压发生率与肥胖呈正相关。     

A survey of community pharmacists on prevention of HIV and hepatitis B and C: current practice and attitudes in Grampian

BACKGROUND: Prevention of infection with the blood-borne pathogens (BBPs) HIV and hepatitis B and C remains a major public health challenge. The aim of this study was to assess the activity, knowledge and attitudes of community pharmacists in Grampian in prevention of HIV and hepatitis B and C. METHOD: A questionnaire survey of community pharmacies was carried out in Grampian, a mixed urban-rural Health Board area in NE Scotland with a population of 532,432. RESULTS: Ninety-nine out of 128 (77 per cent) community pharmacies responded. Many pharmacies were providing services for drug misusers. Nearly all pharmacies stocked condoms, 57 pharmacists stated that they stocked extra-strong condoms, and two stocked dental dams. Two-thirds had leaflets relating to safer sex, HIV or hepatitis. Less than half stated that they had lists of local agencies dealing with drug-related or sexual health problems. Knowledge of the BBPs, and confidence in giving advice, were greater for HIV than for hepatitis B and C. Few were aware of recommendatons for hepatitis B vaccination. The majority felt that in the future pharmacists could have a greater role in prevention of these infections. Principal barriers to preventive activity were described as time pressure, lack of a private area and lack of training. CONCLUSIONS: There is untapped potential for community pharmacists to be a focus for advice and information relating to prevention of HIV and hepatitis B and C; however, resources are needed to address the current barriers identified field.     

Smoking,physical activity and breakfast consumption among secondary school students in a southwestern Ontario community

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of smoking, low levels of physical activity, and missing breakfast among students (n=318) in grades 9 through 12 in three schools in southwestern Ontario; to see if these behaviours were associated; and, whether there were gender differences. METHODS: A self-administered survey was conducted in grade 10 English classes. RESULTS: The response rate was 87.1%. The prevalence of smoking was 36.2%; there was no gender difference. Only 42.8% of students ate breakfast daily; 48.8% of boys and 36.1% of girls (chi2 = 5.2; p<0.05). A higher proportion of boys (77.1%) were active for at least 30 minutes > or = 3 times/week compared to girls (66.0%) (chi2 = 4.8; p<0.05). Students who were active > or = 3 times/week were more likely to eat breakfast daily and, among boys, 60.4% of non-smokers ate breakfast daily compared to 31.9% of those currently smoking (chi2 = 13.3; p<0.001). There were no differences among girls. More girls (63.9%) were concerned about gaining weight compared to boys (36.1%) (chi2 = 37.7; p<0.001). Among girls, a higher proportion of those who were concerned about gaining weight were less likely to engage in physical activity or smoke, and more likely to skip breakfast compared to those who were not concerned. DISCUSSION: Weight concern was not associated with frequency of physical activity, smoking, or breakfast consumption among boys. The high prevalence rates for these behaviours suggests that interventions in high schools should include daily physical activity, promotion of breakfast eating (either at home or in the school), and encouragement to quit smoking.     

Prevalence of cigarette smoking among Australian secondary school students in 1993

Abstract: The prevalence of cigarette smoking in Australian secondary school students in 1993 was estimated from a survey of 22 696 12- to 17-year-old students from 332 secondary schools (and feeder schools) in all states and the Northern Territory. Self-administered questionnaires were answered anonymously by groups of up to 20 students selected randomly from school rolls, a method that replicated previous surveys in 1984, 1987 and 1990. Current smoking (smoking at least one cigarette in the week preceding the survey) at 12 years of age was 8 per cent in boys and 7 per cent in girls, but in those 17 years of age the prevalence was much higher (28 per cent of boys, 31 per cent of girls). Age was also associated with the mean number of cigarettes smoked per week by current smokers (8.6 in boys and 7.0 in girls at age 12 and 43.8 in boys and 32.0 in girls at age 17). After controlling for sex, age, school type and state of residence, the percentage of 12- to 15-year-olds who were current smokers rose from 15.7 per cent to 17.5 per cent between 1990 and 1993, an effect that was more pronounced in boys. On the other hand, the mean number of cigarettes smoked by 12- to 15-year-old current smokers dropped from 23 per week to 19.5, and the reduced consumption was greatest in boys. Furthermore, there was no increase in the proportion of students who smoked on three or more days per week, which suggests the increase was limited to occasional, casual or social smoking.     

兰州市某大学毕业生吸烟及其认知现状

目的了解大学毕业生离校时的吸烟及其对吸烟的认识现状。为学校开展控烟健康教育工作提供依据方法采用个别访谈和随机抽样的方法。抽取兰州某大学毕业生365名进行问卷调查。结果尝试吸烟率男生为87.63%,女生为79.52%;现吸烟率男、女生分别为65.60%和23.17%。绝大多数学生70.21%知道吸烟有害健康,但知道吸烟与消化性溃疡、膀胱癌疾病有关的仅有36.43%、18.90%。结论大学毕业生吸烟率高,少数毕业生对吸烟与健康关系的认知不足,态度消极。大学校园开设戒烟干预是必要和紧迫的。     

Smoking and weight control in teenagers

In a Cancer Research Campaign-funded survey of smoking habits and opinions of 16,000students aged 9–19 years in northern England in December 1982, the respondents were asked if they thought that smoking keeps the weight down.The heaviest regular smokers (42·2%) were the most likely to agree that smokingcontrols weight, whilst those who had never smoked were least likely to agree (16·6%). Agreement increased with increasing smoking. More girls than boys agreed. The most significant differences between smokers' and non-smokers' opinions occurred in 13-, 14- and 16-year-old girls. In this age group more girls than boys reported regular smoking. Up to the age of 12 years, smokers were extremely unlikely to agree that smoking keeps the weight down.It is suggested that the intention of weight control might be influential in causing the high incidence of smoking in teenage girls.     

江苏省青少年烟草广告暴露情况与吸烟易感性分析

了解江苏省2013年青少年烟草广告暴露情况及其与吸烟易感性的关系,为更有效地禁止青少年过早养成吸烟习惯提供基础数据.方法 2013年9-11月,采用多阶段分层整群随机抽样方法在江苏省14个监测点抽取5 697名初中在校学生进行自填问卷调查,对烟草广告暴露情况进行加权分析估计率及其95%CI,非吸烟学生易感性与烟草广告之间的关系采用多因素非条件Logistic回归分析.结果 过去30 d内,青少年烟草广告暴露率为46.7%(95% CI=44.0% ~49.3%),男生(48.5%)大于女生(44.4%)(x2=9.63,P=0.04).烟草广告渠道暴露前3位的分别为电视(19.3%)、户外广告牌(19.1%)和烟草零售店(17.4%).在非吸烟青少年中,暴露于烟草广告者烟草易感性(10.4%)高于未暴露者(4.9%)(x2=54.6,P<0.01).暴露的烟草广告媒介越多,吸烟易感性就越高,暴露于4种以上广告渠道者未来烟草易感的OR值为3.67(95%CI=2.65~5.09).结论 青少年广泛暴露于烟草广告中,烟草广告暴露会增加不吸烟青少年的吸烟易感性.