Health risk appraisal modifies cigarette smoking behavior among college students

To assess whether Health Risk Appraisal (HRA), a computer-scored lifestyle analysis questionnaire, can result in significant changes in health behavior, a controlled clinical trial with one-year follow-up was conducted among entering freshmen at an urban state university. Three hundred fifty entering freshmen were each assigned to one of four groups: HRA with feedback, HRA without feedback, initial control, and final control. Twenty-two per cent of the nonsmokers in the no-feedback group, as compared with 5% in the feedback group, acquired the habit of cigarette smoking (p<0.001). Furthermore, 26% of the smokers in the feedback group, as compared with 6% in the no-feedback group, were able to quit smoking (p<0.05). Among those unable to quit smoking, 59% in the feedback group, as compared with 19% in the no-feedback group, were able to reduce their cigarette consumption by more than six cigarettes per day (p<0.01). Health Risk Appraisal, when accompanied by feedback counseling, was an effective health promotion tool to help prevent nonsmokers from acquiring the habit and to modify cigarette smoking behavior among college freshmen. Presented in part at the seventh annual meeting of the Society for Research and Education in Primary Care Internal Medicine, Washington, DC, May 1984. Supported by a grant from Metropolitan Foundation, New York, NY.     

Intention to quit smoking according to smoking preferences and perceptions of electronic cigarettes among university students in South Korea

This study aimed to alleviate unhealthy smoking habits among university students and provide the basic data necessary for public health-oriented approaches such as developing regulations and policies on electronic cigarettes by analyzing the relationship between university students’ smoking preferences, perceptions of electronic cigarettes, and intention to quit smoking.This study involved 567 college students and conducted frequency and chi-squared analyses of the general characteristics, smoking preferences, and perceptions of electronic cigarettes. This study also performed logistic regression analysis to analyze the relationship between intention to quit smoking stratified by smoking preferences and the perceptions about electronic cigarettes. SPSS version 25.0 was used for data analysis.This study showed that electronic cigarette smokers were approximately 6.4 to 10.8 times more likely to think that electronic cigarettes positively affect smoking cessation attitude than nonsmokers. This study showed that regular cigarette smokers were approximately 1.7 to 2.2 times and other smoker 3.3 to 3.9 times more likely to think that electronic cigarettes positively affect smoking cessation attitude than nonsmokers. Those who perceived harmless to the human body, capable of reducing the frequency of smoking, and less harmful than tobacco were approximately 2.6 to 2.9, 11.6 to 12.8, and 3.3 to 3.7 times more likely have intention to quit smoking, respectively.Regular health education, advertising awareness of health hazards, and public health science-oriented approaches and policies for smoking cessation support services are needed to create awareness on electronic cigarettes among university students.     

Genetic and environmental etiology of drinking motives in college students

Background

Drinking motives are robust proximal predictors of alcohol use behaviors and may mediate distinct etiological pathways in the development of alcohol misuse. However, little is known about the genetic and environmental etiology of drinking motives themselves and their potential utility as endophenotypes.

Methods

Here, we leverage a longitudinal study of college students from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds (phenotypic N = 9889, genotypic N = 4855) to investigate the temporal stability and demographic and environmental predictors of four types of drinking motives (enhancement, social, coping, and conformity). Using genome-wide association study (GWAS) and in silico tools, we characterize their associated genes and genetic variants (single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs).

Results

Drinking motives were stable across four years of college (ICC >0.74). Some robust environmental predictors of alcohol misuse (parental autonomy granting and peer deviance) were broadly associated with multiple types of drinking motives, while others (e.g., trauma exposure) were type specific. Genome-wide analyses indicated modest SNP-based heritability (14–22%, n.s.) and several suggestive genomic loci that corroborate findings from previous molecular genetic studies (e.g., PECR and SIRT4 genes), indicating possible differences in the genetic etiology of positive versus negative reinforcement drinking motives that align with an internalizing/externalizing typology of alcohol misuse. Coping motives were significantly genetically correlated with alcohol use disorder diagnoses (r_g = 0.71, p = 0.001). However, results from the genetic analyses were largely underpowered to detect significant associations.

Conclusions

Drinking motives show promise as endophenotypes but require further investigation in larger samples to further our understanding of the etiology of alcohol misuse.     

Trajectories of smoking among freshmen college students with prior smoking history and risk for future smoking: data from the University Project Tobacco Etiology Research Network (UpTERN) study

AIMS: Little is known about smoking during the transition to college. The current study examined trajectories of smoking among college freshmen, how trajectories predicted later smoking and the social context of smoking. DESIGN: Weekly assessments of daily smoking were collected via the web during the first year of college for a large cohort with a previous history of smoking. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: A total of 193 college freshmen from a large public university with a previous history of smoking who smoked frequently enough to be included in trajectory analysis. MEASUREMENTS: Measures included weekly reports of daily smoking, family smoking, perceived peer attitudes and smoking, social norms and social smoking environment. FINDINGS: Seven trajectories were identified: one of low-level sporadic smoking, one of low-level smoking with a small increase during the year, two classes with a substantial decrease during the year, two classes with relatively small decreases and one class with a substantial increase in smoking. Trajectories of smoking in the freshman year predicted levels of sophomore year smoking, and some social context variables tended to change as smoking increased or decreased for a given trajectory class. CONCLUSIONS: The transition into college is marked by changes in smoking, with smoking escalating for some students and continuing into the sophomore year. Shifts in social context that support smoking were associated with trajectories of smoking. Despite the focus of developmental models on smoking in early adolescence, the transition into college warrants further investigation as a dynamic period for smoking.     

Anaemia and cigarette smoking

Cigarette smoking causes numerous diseases that are associated with anaemia but the resulting low haemoglobin levels may be counterbalanced by increased red blood cell production caused by chronic exposure to carbon monoxide from cigarette smoke. Diverse mechanisms are involved in influencing the development or the course of anaemic disease in smokers. This article presents an evaluation of the current literature on the impact of cigarette smoking on various forms of anaemia.     

在校大学生贫血及诸多因素分析

目的：探讨河南省大学生贫血状况及原因,为开展健康教育提供科学依据。方法：在河南某高校随机抽取406名在校生,采用迈瑞全自动血细胞分析仪（BC-2800）进行血常规检查及问卷调查,并运用Excel,SAS9．13软件进行统计分析。结果：调查对象中,贫血发生率为20．7％,女生贫血发生率22．5％（58／258）高于男生17．6％（26／148）。结论：河南在校大学生贫血发病率高于全国平均水平。大学生的饮食结构不合理和女生月经,是发生贫血的主要原因。     

大学生蠕形螨感染状况调查

采用透明胶纸粘贴法对济宁医学院1 598名大学生面部蠕形螨感染情况进行了调查,总感染率为26.78%,男性感染率（32.65%）高于女性（22.90%）;单纯毛囊蠕形螨、单纯皮脂蠕形螨与混合感染均存在,以单纯毛囊蠕形螨感染为主。蠕形螨的感染有聚集分布现象。     

Stroop effect in smartphone addiction among college students

Smartphone addiction (SPA) affects an increasing number of college students, but it remains poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the psychological mechanism of the decrease in cognitive control ability from cognitive psychology in students with SPA.The smartphone addition tendency scale (MPATS) was used to identify 64 undergraduates with SPA (MPATS > 45) and 64 sex- and age-matched controls (MPATS < 30).The 2 groups were well matched for age and sex distribution. The RT of the SPA group under the conflict state was 628.2±59.2 ms vs 549.4 ± 44.2 ms under the consistent state (P < .005). The RT of the control group under the conflict state was 707.5 ± 66.4 vs 582.0 ± 39.4 ms under the consistent state (P < .005). Under the conflict state, errors made by the SPA group were 8.7 ± 5.4, and that of the control group was 6.6 ± 3.7 (P < .05). The reaction delay of the SPA group was 25.6 ± 49.2 vs 110.0 ± 41.8 ms (P < .05).Correlation analysis showed a clear positive correlation between SPA and the number of mistakes in the conflict state of the Stroop task.     

珠海市大学生肺结核124例临床分析

目的探讨珠海市大学生肺结核患者临床情况。方法对我所1999～2012年登记的124名珠海市在校大学生肺结核患者的病历、登记卡进行分析。结果 124例大学生肺结核患者中,急症住院诊治89例,占71.7%,门诊诊治35例,占28.2%。肺部病变超过2个肺野81例,占65.3%,有空洞者14例,占11.2%,菌阳64例,菌阳检出率51.6%,43例患者合并其他部位结核。结论珠海市大学生肺结核患者病情重、痰菌阳性率高、延误诊治,但经规则治疗预后好。     

Cigarette smoking status alters dysbiotic gut microbes in hypertensive patients

Smoking not only is one of the most important risk factors of hypertension (HTN), but also alters the composition of gut microbiota (GM) in previous studies. Although dysbiosis of GM has been implicated in HTN, how GM alters in patients with HTN under smoking status is still not clear. This study aimed to explore the difference in intestinal microflora among smokers with HTN (S‐HTN), nonsmokers with HTN (NS‐HTN), and smokers without HTN (S‐CTR) and identify whether cigarette smoking led to disordered intestinal microbiota in patients with HTN. Metagenomic sequencing analysis of fecal specimens was conducted in nonsmokers without HTN (NS‐CTR, n = 9), S‐CTR (n = 9), NS‐HTN (n = 18), and S‐HTN (n = 23). Compared with S‐CTR or NS‐HTN, the GM in S‐HTN was disordered, with lower microbial α‐diversity and significant difference of β‐diversity on axes as compared to S‐CTR at genus and species level. The microbial enterotype in S‐HTN was inclined to Prevotella‐dominant type. Dramatic changes in the intestinal genera and species composition were observed in S‐HTN, including reduced enrichment of Phycisphaera and Clostridium asparagiforme. Moreover, the intestinal function altered in S‐HTN. Therefore, the findings of the present study revealed GM disorders in S‐HTN and clarified the role of smoking in impairing the intestinal microbiome in HTN. Tobacco control is particularly important for improving GM in patients with HTN, and might be beneficial in preventing future cardiovascular events.     

Prevalence of tobacco smoking and its socioeconomic determinants: Tobacco smoking and its determinants

IntroductionThe epidemic tobacco use is a public health concern worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of tobacco use and its socioeconomic determinants in the city of Shiraz, Iran.MethodsIn total, 5873 adults aged 20 and older were included in this study from the city of Shiraz, Iran, from June to October 2015. The sampling was conducted using the stratified random sampling method. Active cigarette, hookah, and second‐hand smokers were labeled as tobacco users in this study. Past smokers and non‐smokers were labeled as non‐tobacco users. The participants'' socioeconomic status (SES) was determined based on their self‐reported level of education, occupation, income, and residence.ResultsIn this study, 35.4% of the participants were tobacco users. The prevalence of active cigarette, active hookah, dual‐users, and secondhand smokers was 13.3%, 8.3%, 0.4%, and 13.4%, respectively. The prevalence of tobacco use was highest among individuals with primary education level (40.9%), manual jobs (46.4%), lowest income level (38.1%), and those living in the suburban areas (36.4%). In multivariate analysis, the most socioeconomic factors related to tobacco usage were lack of academic education, manual job, and low‐income level.ConclusionsTobacco control efforts should be more focused on vulnerable groups of cigarette and hookah users in the southwest of Iran. Moreover, SES and reduction of health‐related disparities and inequality should be considered a crucial concern in this regard.     

Training physicians about smoking cessation

Study objective:To test the hypotheses that physicians in private practice who receive a continuing education program (entitled “Quit for Life”) about how to counsel smokers to quit would counsel smokers more effectively and have higher rates of long-term smoking cessation among their patients. Design:Randomized trial with blinded assessment of principal outcomes. Setting:Private practices of internal medicine and family practice. Subjects:Forty-four physicians randomly assigned to receive training (24) or serve as controls (20) and consecutive samples of smokers visiting each physician (19.6 patients per experimental and 22.3 per control physician). Interventions:Physicians received three hours of training about how to help smokers quit. Physicians and their office staffs were also given self-help booklets to distribute to smokers and were urged to use a system of stickers on charts as reminders to counsel smokers about quitting. Measurements and main results:Based on telephone interviews with patients, physicians in the experimental group were more likely to discuss smoking with patients who smoked (64% vs. 44%), spent more time counseling smokers about quitting (7.5 vs. 5.2 minutes), helped more smokers set dates to quit smoking (29% vs. 5% of smokers), gave out more self-help booklets (37% vs. 9%), and were more likely to make a follow-up appointment about quitting smoking (19% vs. 11% of those counseled) than physicians in the control group. One year later, the rates of biochemically confirmed, long-term (≥9 months) abstinence from smoking were similar among patients in the experimental (3.2%) and control (2.5%) groups (95% confidence interval for the 0.7% difference: −1.7 to +3.1%). Conclusions:The authors conclude that this continuing education program substantially changed the way physicians counseled smokers, but had little or no impact on rates of long-term smoking cessation among their patients. There is a need for more effective strategies to help physicians help their patients to quit smoking. Supported by Grant # CA38337 from the National Cancer Institute and by the Henry J. Kaiser Foundation Faculty Fellowship in General Internal Medicine (SRC).     

German medical students lack knowledge of how to treat smoking and problem drinking

Aim To assess the extent of undergraduate medical training on alcohol use disorders (AUD) and smoking, and medical students' perceived knowledge regarding consequences of, and treatment options for, these disorders compared with other chronic conditions. Design Cross‐sectional survey assessing teaching and perceived knowledge of health consequences and treatment options for AUD and smoking compared with diabetes and hypertension. Setting Medical schools in Germany. Participants Twenty‐five of 36 medical school offices (response rate 69.4%) and 19 526 of 39 358 students from 27 medical schools (response rate 49.6%). Measurement Medical schools were asked to provide information on curricular coverage of the four conditions. Students reported their year of study and perceived knowledge about the consequences of all four disorders and perceived knowledge of treatment options. Findings Courses time‐tabled approximately half as many teaching hours on AUD and tobacco as on diabetes or hypertension. Final‐year students reported high levels of knowledge of consequences of all four conditions and how to treat diabetes and hypertension, but only 20% believed they knew how to treat alcohol use disorders or smoking. Conclusions Curriculum coverage in German medical schools of alcohol use disorders and smoking is half that of diabetes and hypertension, and in the final year of their undergraduate training most students reported inadequate knowledge of how to intervene to address them.