Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Fagerstrom Test For Nicotine Dependence Vs Heavy Smoking Index In A General Population Survey, M. Pérez-Ríos, M. I. Santiago-Pérez, B. Alonso, A. Malvar, X. Hervada, Jose De Leon

Psychiatry Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) is used for assessing nicotine dependence. A shorter test derived from the FTND used for the general population is the Heavy Smoking Index (HSI) (six questions vs. two). The objective of this study is to compare the validity of the HSI versus the FTND.

METHODS: A survey of tobacco use in the general population was carried out in the northern Spanish region of Galicia using both the FTND and the HSI to study a representative sample of 1655 daily smokers. The HSI was compared with the FTND, considered the gold standard. Measures …

Are There Differences In The Smoking Identities Of Adolescents Boys And Girls?, Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli, Iris Torchalla, Pamela A. Ratner, Joy L. Johnson

Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli

Purpose:

To assess sex-disaggregated differences in youth characterizations of their own smoking behaviour

Background:

•Smoking identities represent psychosocial constructions of how adolescents who smoke perceive themselves in relation to their smoking behaviour (e.g, ex-smoker, social smoker, occasional smoker, e.t.c.)

•These smoking identities converge (or diverge) with established taxonomies used to describe youth smoking behaviour

•Few quantitative studies have examined differences in smoking identity between boys and girls

Is Exposure To Peer And Family Smoking Associated With Youths' Initial Smoking Experiences?, Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli, Chris G. Richardson, Joy L. Johnson

Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli

Background:

- Peers and family member’s smoking is associated with adolescent smoking.

- Sensitivity to the initial smoking experience, determined by positive (for e.g., feeling relaxed, high, and good) and/or negative (for e.g., feeling nervous, sick, coughing) symptoms upon initial smoking experimentation, is also associated with youth smoking.

- However, the effect of peer and family member’s smoking on the initial smoking experiences of adolescents has not been previously studied.

- We present the findings of a cross-sectional analysis assessing the association between exposure to smoking from peers and family members on the symptoms of the initial smoking experience of …

Smoking Cessation And Drug Treatment: Identifying Gaps, Milan Khara, Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli, Ric M. Procyshyn, Joy Johnson, Alasdair Barr, Lorraine Greaves

Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli

BACKGROUND: An estimated 70% - 90% of individuals in drug treatment con-currently smoke cigarettes. Although individuals in drug treatment settings are motivated and can succeed in smoking cessation, there is still a lack of systematic knowledge regarding the long-term abstinence, methods employed for successful cessation, and the barriers to smoking cessation in this population.

OBJECTIVES: To: a) describe types of smoking cessation interventions (i.e., cognitive-behavioral and/or pharmacotherapy) employed in drug treatment settings, b) determine the effectiveness of such interventions, and c) identify gaps in knowledge regarding smoking cessation interventions among the drug treatment populations

METHODS: A comprehensive review of the …

Are Adolescents Smoking Identities Valid Descriptors Of Their Smoking Behaviour?, Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli, Chris G. Richardson, Pamela A. Ratner, Joy L. Johnson

Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli

Background: Studies have raised concerns regarding mismatches between researchers’ and adolescents’ characterizations of youth smoking behaviour; which may impede tobacco use prevention and cessation programs to reach their intended youth audience. Understanding how youth’s characterize their own smoking behaviour is an important factor for designing tailored interventions.

Objective: To address observations that youths’ smoking identities are valid descriptors of their smoking behaviour we examined the relationships between youths’ self-reported smoking identities, their perceived levels of addiction, and established taxonomies of smoking behaviour.

Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected on demographics, perceived extent of addiction to tobacco, smoking history, and self-reported smoking …

Life Expectancy And Years Of Life Lost In Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Findings From The Nhanes Iii Follow-Up Study, Robert M. Shavelle, David R. Paculdo, Scott J. Kush, David M. Mannino, David J. Strauss

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

RATIONALE: Previous studies have demonstrated that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) causes increased mortality in the general population. But life expectancy and the years of life lost have not been reported.

OBJECTIVES: To quantify mortality, examine how it varies with age, sex, and other risk factors, and determine how life expectancy is affected.

METHODS: We constructed mortality models using the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, adjusting for age, sex, race, and major medical conditions. We used these to compute life expectancy and the years of life lost.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Pulmonary function testing classified patients as having …

Smoking Among Single Mothers: Results From Tobacco Use Supplement To Current Population Survey 2006-2007, Lava R. Timsina Mph, Mohammad Siahpush Phd, Pamela R. Jones Phd

Lava R Timsina MPH

Background: There is a paucity of research that examines the smoking behaviors of single mothers with dependent children in the United States. The objective of this study was to examine the association of smoking and single motherhood in the United States.

Methods: Cross-sectional data from the 2006-2007 Tobacco Use Supplement to Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) were used. Analysis was limited to self-respondent women over 18 years of age (n=96,007). Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to estimate the association of current smoking status and single motherhood after adjusting for socioeconomic indicators, race/ethnicity, and age.

Results: Results indicated significant disparities in smoking …