Children's awareness of cigarette brand sponsorship of sports and games in the UK

This study explores children's awareness of cigarette brandsponsorship of sporting events in the UK. Individual interviewswere conducted with 726 children aged between 6 and 17 in Glasgow,UK. The findings indicate that the majority of children havesome understanding of the meaning of ‘sponsorship’by the late primary/early secondary years. About a third ofthe 10-and 11-year-olds and more than half of the secondaryschool children were able to name cigarette brands and sponsoredsports. The brands and sports most frequently mentioned wereJohn Player Special and motor racing, Embassay and snooker,Benson and Hedges and snooker, Marlboro and motor racing. Only9% of the primary school children named Marlboro or John PlayerSpecial as sponsoring motor racing. Nevertheless, 47% of thempointed to advertisements for these brands (which did not referto motor racing) as being liked by ‘someone who likesexcitement and fast racing cars’. This suggests that associationsbetween brand names (or their visual cues) and exciting sportscan be elicited by simple advertisements. That such associationscan be elicited even in children of primary school age is acause for concern. There were no significant differences betweensmokers and non-smokers in their awareness of brand sponsorship.This probably reflects the all-pervasive nature of cigarettesponsorship of sports and games.     

Who gets what: politics, evidence, and health promotion

Science journal, starting with its July 2005 issue, presentsits readers with 125 questions and problems yet to be resolvedby the scientific community. These range from the deceptivelysimple (‘what is the structure of water?’), theobvious (‘what triggers puberty?’ or ‘whatare the roots of human culture?’), to the amazingly esoteric(‘do mathematically interesting zero-value solutions ofthe Riemann zeta function all have the form of a+bi?’). More than half of these issues have     

The Denominator for Audit in General Practice

Fleming D M (Birmingham Research Unit of the RCGP, LordswoodHouse, 54 Lordswood Road, Harborne, Birmingham B17 9DB). Thedenominator for audit in general practice. Family Practice 1985;2: 76–81. Different denominators for morbidity studies were compared fromtwo large studies in Britain. From the second national morbiditysurvey, data from 24 single-handed doctors showed a close correlationbetween the denominators ‘persons consulting’ and‘list size’ (r > 0.9) in both years of the survey,but a weaker correlation between ‘consultations’and ‘list size’ (r=0.6). However, when examiningrank order statistics for visiting and out-patient referralrates, it was immaterial for most doctors which denominatorwas chosen. Only for recorders with a consultation rate at theextremes of the range was the choice of denominator criticalto the interpretation of the data. In the practice activity analysis study, based on 47 doctorsand a mean of 284 consultations in two weeks, the correlationbetween ‘persons consulting’ and ‘total consultations’was 0.99. Thus the number consultations provided a satisfactoryproxy for persons consulting in a two-week study. These results justify the use of ‘consultations’over two weeks as a denominator in general practice audit incircumstances where rank order is appropriate for the interpretationof data.     

The impact of the COSHH regulations on workers with occupational asthma

In the UK, the COSHH Regulations give specific guidance thatemployers have duties to inform, instruct and train their employeesabout occupational risks and provide them with suitable healthsurveillance. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impactof the Regulations on employees with occupational asthma. Onehundred consecutive patients attending an occupational lungdisease clinic completed a questionnaire assessing the implementationof the COSHH Regulations in their workplace. Twenty-eight percent had a pre-employment inquiry about asthma, 31% had regularhealth surveillance by questionnaires and 19% had regular lungfunction assessment at work. Pre-employment spirometry was carriedout in 44% of the workers who were exposed to one of the originalseven prescribed agents, significantly more than those who wereexposed to other agents (19%) (p < 0.05). Moreover, figuresfor spirometry during employment were 31% and 8% respectively(p < 0.05). The patients who worked after ‘COSHH’but before ‘MS25’ had a tendency to be providedwith health surveillance more than those who worked after both‘COSHH’ and ‘MS25’. Ninety-one per centof the patients had never been informed about the risks of gettingasthma at work and 73% had never seen the safety data sheets.The workers who (1) worked after ‘COSHH’ introduction;(2) worked in larger firms and (3) were exposed to one of theoriginal seven prescribed agents, had a tendency to be informed,instructed and trained more than the rest. However, there wereonly significant statistical differences (p<0.05) in termsof the safety data sheet provision between the cases who workedbefore the time of the legislation and those employed afterwards.     

The role of health education versus safety regulations in generating skin cancer preventive behavior among outdoor workers in Israel: an exploratory photosurvey

The present photosurvey corroborated with our 1995–1997evaluation study of a multifaceted skin cancer control programamong outdoor workers of Mekorot—Israel National WaterCompany (Shani et al., 1998, Final Research Report presentedto the Committee for Research and Prevention in OccupationalSafety and Health). While the survey's primary purpose was toinvestigate the impact of health education versus sun-protectionregulations (issued when the project ended) on workers' skincancer preventive behavior (SCPB), it also experimented with‘objective’ tools of data collection. Visiting workingsites and mother-base, 118 workers were approached. Of these,51 former program-involved workers (‘education’group) and 50 former non-participants (technical barriers),and newly recruited ones (‘regulation’ group) whofilled out a one-page questionnaire, had their photographs takenand were measured (spectrophotometer) for melanin presence,were included in the present study. Findings indicated thatparticipants in the ‘regulation’ group had a significantlylower mean years of seniority and a higher number of workersin semi-skilled occupations. Both groups were identical in age,ethnic origin and reported skin type. Consistent and significantbetween-group differences were observed in the SCPB and melaninpresence mean scores, suggesting better SCPB habits among the‘education’ group employees in comparison to theircounterparts. The multiple regression analysis indicated thatformer program-involved participants and older workers weresignificantly more likely than others to comply with desiredSCPB practices. Combined, our previous and present findingssuggest that the educational approach was indispensable forgenerating and sustaining long-term skin cancer control practicesand was preferable to the use of regulations, per se. Thoughno final conclusions could be drawn regarding the validity ofthe spectrophotometer- and camera-related procedures, and bothare limited with regard to uncovering the motivational factorsof behavioral outcomes, it should be recognized that the camerais a low-cost and easily available tool for capturing ‘reality’while overcoming management's claims on workers' time. Resultsare also discussed in terms of practical implications.     

Parental influence on food selection in young children and its relationships to childhood obesity

This investigation evaluated the impact of parental influences on children's food selections and the impact of childhood obesity on these food choices. Subjects were 53 young children of various weight status. Foods ranging widely in nutritional values were offered to each child for lunch. The children were again offered foods but were told that their mothers would be monitoring their selections. Finally, mothers were allowed to modify their children's last food choices. Results indicated that parental influences have a marked effect on food selection; both the threat of parental monitoring and actual parental monitoring lowered the number of nonnutritious foods chosen and total caloric content of the meal. The obesity status of the mothers and children had no impact on these results. The implication of these results for future intervention efforts are discussed.     

Promoting school health education: examining the role of a statewide conference for school and community leaders

Improving the delivery of school health education may well belinked to the inclusion of and commitment from high-rankingdecision makers from schools and youth organizations. This studyexamined the role of a statewide school health summit in promotinghealth education among representatives from state and communityorganizations. We conducted the study in two phases: (1) developmentand testing of a measuring instrument, and (2) role examinationvia conference assessment. Overall, the measurement instrumenthelped us investigate two areas: the inclination of an individualleader of a health organization to promote organizational changesto assist school health education and the background of a participantin school health education, which affects his/her likelihoodto take action. Three factors (‘Participant Awarenessand Compatibility’, ‘Draft Plan Development’and ‘Summit Experiences and Satisfaction’) werefound to be important predictors of leaders’ ‘FutureAction’ and ‘Advocate Impact’ (P < 0.01).Future interventions targeted to influence health, educationand social service professionals’ support and adoptionof school health education should be structured to reinforcethese three variables.     

Value recognition and eating patterns of Kimchi in female middle school students and their mothers

This study analyzed Kimchi eating culture in 178 households with female middle school children located in Incheon and Seosan areas, investigated the Kimchi eating patterns of female middle school students, and also analyzed the differences in value recognition for Kimchi between mothers and their female middle school students. Results showed that 23.0% of subject households answered eat Kimchi at every meal and the main reason for eating Kimchi in most households was good for taste. Most households made their own Kimchi, and only 12.3% of households bought Kimchi. Subject households preferred hot and spicy taste (34.8%) and pleasing taste (20.2%), and 44.4% of middle school children answered as eating Kimchi at every meal, and the source for information on Kimchi was home in 51.6% and mass media in 33.7%, suggesting the lack of school education. Both mothers and their female middle school students placed high value on Kimchi for its nutritional aspect and on Kimchi from the market for its convenience. Mothers showed significantly higher value (p<0.05) on the storage aspect of Kimchi compared to their middle school students, and female middle school students showed significantly higher value (p<0.05) on the value recognition for Kimchi as an international food compared to their mothers. Also, the value for hot pepper powder was high among other additional ingredients, and both mothers and middle school students had high values for Kimchi stew among other food dishes using Kimchi, and middle school students showed higher values (p<0.001) on foreign dishes using Kimchi such as Kimchi pizza and Kimchi spaghetti compared to the mothers group. Therefore, based on these results, the development of educational programs on Kimchi is needed not only at home but also at schools, by re-emphasizing the importance of value recognition for KImchi in our food culture.     

PERCEPTIONS OF DRINKERS AND ABSTAINERS IN A SAMPLE OF SCOTTISH ADULTS

Following Davies and Stacey's investigation (1972, Teenagersand Alcohol, HMSO, London) into perceptions of drinking andabstaining among Scottish teenagers, this study extended theirgeneral method to an investigation of the perceptions of 239Scottish adults. Results showed that the stereotypes of theheavy drinker as ‘tough and rebellious’ and theabstainer as ‘weak and cissy’ persist into adulthood.Heavy drinkers were seen as low on ‘sociability’and ‘sexual attractiveness’ and abstainers wereseen as less ‘sociable’ than moderate drinkers.There was also some evidence of a ‘double standard’in perceptions of male and female drinking roles. Other findingsconcerning the effects on perceptions of subjects sex and drinkingbehaviour are compared to those reported in the earlier studyand implications for the treatment of alcohol problems are discussed.It is concluded that the dimensions described by Davies andStacey represent a relatively stable structure within futureresearch where fresh initiatives in alcohol education may belocated.     

erratum

JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE, 24, 87 and88. Table I and Table II were transposed. 81, the first sentenceunder Treatment with.Calcium Gel should have read: ‘Klauderet al. (1955) reported the successful treatment of a late hydrofluoricacid burn by topical 5 per cent calcium gluconate in wool fatcombined with calcium gluconate intravenously’. 84, column1, line 8, ‘articles’ should have read article.     

ERRATUM

In the article by A. L. Morgan ‘Cholinesterase Problemsarising in a Plant Manufacturing Tri-aryl Phosphates’(Journal of the Society of Occupational Medicine 31, 119–122)on p. 120, the first sentence of Case 1 should read ‘Thisindividual had three split blood samples examined.’     

Prevention of mushroom poisoning of children: effectiveness of a community-based school education programme

A community-based multi-method mushroom poisoning preventionprogramme for young school children was implemented and evaluatedin the Krakow region of Poland in the summer of 1992. The aimof the programme was to increase children's ability to identifypoisonous mushrooms, to correct misconceptions about the toxicityof mushrooms, and to increase children's intentions not to eatwild mushrooms in situations of uncertainty about their originand edibility. The programme included a school training packagefor young school children and a mass-media campaign targetingchildren and their parents. In a pre-test-post-test design,a sample of 693 children from six schools (two from the cityof Krakow, two from towns and two from villages in the vicinity)was involved in the study. After the implementation of the programme,knowledge was strongly increased regarding the characteristicsof the most poisonous mushroom (Amanita phalloides) as wellas the risk of eating this kind of (laminar) mushroom. The strongestincrease in knowledge was found in the youngest age group (6–7years old) from the villages and towns, and the oldest age group(10–11 years old) from the city. Also a substantial reductionwas observed in intentions to eat wild mushrooms in situationsof uncertainty about their origin and edibility.     

ERRATUM

The title of the editorial in the Journal of the Society forOccupational Medicine, 25, p. 1 should have been ‘ A HopefulProspect ’. Page 34, line 6 in the paragraph ‘ ScientificMeetings ’ should have read ‘ The Provincial Meetingwas held in York ’.     

Testing a conceptual model related to weight perceptions, physical activity and smoking in adolescents

The purpose of this study was to test a conceptual model basedon theoretical and empirically supported relationships relatedto the influences of weight perceptions, weight concerns, desiresto change weight, friends, age and location in relation to physicalactivity (PA) and smoking in adolescents. A total of 1242 malesand 1446 females (mean age = 15.6 ± 1.3) were recruitedfrom rural and urban Canadian schools. Study respondents providedself-reports of PA, ‘smoking’, ‘perceivedbody weight’, ‘desire to change weight’, ‘concernabout weight gain’ and ‘friends' smoking and PAbehaviors’. Results revealed an acceptable fitting model² (40) = 155.63, P < 0.05, root mean square error of approximation= 0.047 and comparative fit index = 0.98. Large effect sizesfor both genders were observed between friends' and adolescents'smoking behavior, and between perceived body weight and desireto change weight. Further, significant differences were identifiedbetween the male and female models [² difference (24) = 65.28,P < 0.05]. Several findings of this study point to the needto design programs to motivate adolescent females to adopt healthyweight-control practices and to target young peoples' socialnetworks to promote health behaviors, especially with regardto smoking. Received on December 22, 2005; accepted on June 15, 2006     

What do mothers feed their children and why?

Health education interventions aimed at changing children's diets often target their mothers. However, little is known about what factors influence mothers' food choice for themselves and how this is related to their choice of food for their children. The present study aimed to examine the types of foods mothers eat themselves and their motivations for doing so in comparison with their choices for their primary school age children. In addition, the study aimed to assess whether the mother's dieting behaviour affected these differences. A questionnaire was completed by 218 (response rate 52%) mothers of children aged between 5 and 11 asking them about their behaviour and motivations for themselves and on behalf of their children. The results showed that mothers tend to feed their children in a less healthy way than they feed themselves. Specifically, they feed their children more sweet products, and more unhealthy breads and dairy products. However, whereas they are motivated more by practicality (e.g. availability, cost) and calories when choosing food for themselves, they state that health (e.g. nutritional value, long-term health) is more important when choosing for their children. In terms of the role of the mothers' dieting behaviour, dieters appeared to be more self-prioritizing than non-dieters in their differentiation between themselves and their children. The results are discussed in terms of the role of knowledge and cognitions in explaining the gaps between motivations and behaviour and the mothers' decisions for themselves and for their children. In addition, the implications for interventions are considered. In particular, it is suggested that changing a mother's own motivations and behaviour may not necessarily result in an improvement in their child's diet. Further, encouraging mothers to diet may be detrimental to their children's long-term health.     

Australian parents' views on their 5-6-year-old children's food choices

The home food environment is central to the development of healthy eating behaviours, but associations between the home food environment and children's food choices are not yet fully understood. The aims of this study were to explore parents' views regarding factors that influence children's food choices and parents' decision-making regarding the food they provide to their children. In-depth one-on-one interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview schedule. Key concepts and themes were coded independently by two investigators. Participants include seventeen parents (16 mothers and 1 father) of children in their first year of formal schooling (aged 5-6 years). Five main themes emerged from the interviews: food marketing, food availability/food exposure, feeding strategies, modelling of eating and opportunities for food involvement. Parents believed that food marketing influenced their child's food preferences but differed in the ways they managed these influences. The food made available to children was also seen to influence what a child ate. Yet, although some parents believed it was the parents' role to determine what foods were made available to their child, others offered food on the basis of the child's tastes or preferences. The use of food as a reward was a feeding strategy employed by many parents. Family mealtimes were seen as an important opportunity for modelling of eating behaviour by parents. Peers were also seen to influence children's food preferences and eating behaviour. Finally, many parents believed that involving children in the preparation of food had a positive impact on children's food choices. Associations between the home food environment and children's food choices are complex and involve multiple mediators. Parents' views on the promoters and reinforcers of their decision-making regarding food and their child's food choices provide useful insights into these mediating factors. Increased understanding of these relationships is likely to enhance obesity prevention efforts.     

Value of the Diagnostic Sodium Calcium Edetate Mobilization Test as a Criterion of Lead Absorption

Among the laboratory tests available for the follow-up of lead-exposedworkers, the EDTA mobilization test is presently underestimatedin the diagnosis of lead intoxication. The authors present theresults of regression comparison between the urinary lead excretion3 h (PbU 3) or 6 h (PbU 6) after EDTA injection and blood lead(PbB), urinary aminolaevulinic acid (ALAU) and urinary lead(PbU). The results were collected from 133 medical examinationsof workers exposed to lead, who put in a claim for compensationto the ‘Fund of Occupational Diseases’ in Belgium.On the basis of the regression curves, PbU 3 and PbU 6 limitvalues are calculated for different cut-off values of PbB inexcessive lead absorption and lead intoxication. For each ofthese values the ‘sensitivity’, ‘specificity’and ‘validity’ are calculated. As a result the authorsstill consider the EDTA mobilization test as a valuable parameterin the diagnosis of lead absorption. Requests for reprints should be addressed to: Dr D. Lahaye, Fund of Occupational Diseases, Sterrenkundelaan 1, 1030, Brussels, Belgium     

Social-environmental influences on children's diets: results from focus groups with African-, Euro- and Mexican-American children and their parents

Children's fruit, juice and vegetable (FJV) and fat intakes do not meet recommended guidelines. Since personal factors account for only a small percentage of the variability in children's FJV consumption, social and environmental influences were explored via focus group discussions with Grade 4-6 African-, Euro- and Mexican-American students and parents. Questions included the effects of social influences, availability and accessibility on children's FJV and low-fat food choices. Few ethnic differences were noted. A variety of low-fat items and fresh FJV (not cut-up) were available at home; older children were expected to prepare their own. Eating out occurred at least twice a week; FJV were not usual restaurant choices. Students reported some modeling by parents (more mothers) and friends (usually at lunch). Negative peer responses for eating vegetables were reported. Parents were concerned with children eating too much junk food and not enough FJV, recognized the outside influences their children received about food, and reported several methods to encourage children to eat FJV. Recommendations for future interventions are proposed.