published_or_final_version / Nursing Studies / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Nursing Studies / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and is the cause of nearly 1 in 5 deaths in the United States. The prevalence of smoking has had a leveling off effect after many years of significant decline. Certain subgroups of the population, such as those with low income and certain illnesses, continue to smoke at disproportionately high rates. Reasons for these disparities in smoking rates are complex. Developing a better understanding of the issues related to persistent smoking particularly for those with medical illness and limited access to cessation resources can help focus interventions to help these high risk smokers quit. This dissertation includes a systematic review of the literature associated with hardcore smoking; an analysis of the reliability and validity of a self-efficacy instrument in a sample of low-SES, medically ill smokers; and the results of a cross-sectional, non-experimental study exploring the relationship between smoking-related factors and planning to quit in a sample of medically ill smokers. A sample of 70 current and recent smokers was surveyed at a free clinic. Quitting self-efficacy was measured using an instrument not previously tested in a rural, medically ill sample. Modifications to the survey were made based on qualitative interviews with smokers and a single question measuring self-efficacy was also tested. There was a high correlation among the self-efficacy measures (Spearman’s rho .99, p < .001) and between the longer instrument and the single question (Spearman’s rho .65, p < .001). Each measure demonstrated acceptable reliability and validity. In the study exploring potential factors associated with planning to quit, the number of prior quit attempts and confidence to quit explained 43% of the variance in those planning versus not planning to quit. Providing interventions focused on increasing confidence and experience with quit attempts can be effective in promoting a plan to quit in this group of smokers who, because of their medical illness, can benefit significantly from cessation. Research is needed to explore cessation outcomes when employing these targeted interventions with medically ill smokers in rural areas.

Bakgrunn: Røyking blir fortsatt betraktet som den viktigste forebyggbare årsak til død i ge land. Praktiserende leger er nøkkelpersoner innen tobakksforebygging. Enkel rådgiving, som minimal intervensjon, gitt av allmennleger øker andelen røykfrie pasienter signifikant. Kan en oppsøkende intervensjon gjennomført av en likemann være en egnet metode for å få leger til å ta opp tobakksbruk oftere og på en bedre måte, og kan denne undersøkelsen påvise dette? Hensikt: Hensikten med denne studien er: 1) Vurdere om primærlegene i Agder har endret praksis i perioden 2001-2004 med hensyn til hvor ofte og hvordan de tar opp tobakksbruk med sine pasienter og eventuelle hindringer for dette. 2) Undersøke om oppsøkende intervensjon er en egnet metode for å få leger til å endre praksis ved at de bidrar mer og bedre med individuell røykeintervensjon. Metode: Randomisert kontrollert studie for å undersøke om oppsøkende intervensjon er en egnet metode for å få leger til å endre praksis. Denne studien er sett i lys av en sammenliknende analyse av legenes røykeintervensjon og hindringer for dette i perioden 2001-2004. Resultat: Allmennlegene i Agder har endret praksis i perioden 2001 til 2004. Legene tar oftere opp tobakksbruk uten av pasientene har røykerelaterte symptomer, og det er færre hindringer både for å spørre om røykevaner og for å tilby hjelp til røykeslutt. Studien kan ikke bekrefte at oppsøkende intervensjonen er en egnet metode for å få leger til endre praksis ved at de bidrar mer og bedre med individuell røykeintervensjon. Konklusjon: I perioden 2001-2004 har det vært en signifikant endring i legenes røykeintervensjon og hindringer for dette. Studien kan ikke påvise at legene som fikk opplæringen ”Røykeslutt i praksis” bidrar mer med individuell røykeintervensjon enn kontrollgruppen, og det er heller ikke signifikante forkjeller på hindringer for en slik intervensjon / Background: Cigarette smoking is still considered the leading preventable cause of death in the western world. Physicians constitutes a key personnel in tobacco prevention. Brief advising, such as minimal intervention, performed by general practitioners, GPs, increases the number of smoke free patients significantly. The potential effect of outreach visits performed by a peer educator is a question to be studied. Objective: The objective of this study is: 1) Assesswhether the primary physicians in Agder, during the period 2001 to 2004, have changed their professional practice as tohow often and in which way they discuss smoking habits with their patients and possible barriers to stop them. 2) The study also seeks to determine whether outreach visits constitute an effective method to make GPs change their professional practice by contributing more and better to individual smoking cessation. Method: Randomised controlled study to determine whether outreach visits constitute an effective method to make GPs change their practice. This study is also viewed in the light of a comparative analysis of doctors’ attitude to tobacco prevention over the period 2001-2004. Result: During the period 2001-2004 the GPs in Agder have changed their professional practice. They discuss more frequently tobacco use with patients without smoke-related symptoms, and there are fewer barriers that keep them from asking about smoking habits and from offering assistance with smoking cessation. The effect of outreach visits in improving professional practice cannot be ascertained through this study. Conclusion: During the period 2001-2004 there has been a significant change in the GPs intervention work and fewer barriers to stop them. The GPs who received training through the program “Røykeslutt i praksis” do not contribute to individual smoke intervention any more than the control group. We were unable to detect any significant differences regarding barriers to such intervention / <p>ISBN 91-7997-153-9</p>

The purpose of this study was to examine the genetic and environmental influences on lifetime quit attempt in three US adolescent and young adult twin samples (N total = 6,322). The study utilized a common-contingent-causal (CCC) model to estimate these factors for lifetime quit attempts, after accounting for the factors for lifetime cigarette use and cigarettes per day. The study also examined age and sex differences, as well as the degree of relationship between these smoking phenotypes. The results demonstrated significant genetic influences for lifetime quit attempts in adolescents and young adults. No sex differences were observed for the contributions of genetic and environmental factors for lifetime quit attempts. Furthermore, separate liabilities for lifetime quit attempts and lifetime cigarette use were found for most age groups. Study findings have important implications for promoting quit attempts in adolescents and young adults.

Background: Tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) is unequivocally harmful to children's health, yet up to 48% of children who visit the pediatric emergency department (PED) and urgent care setting are exposed to tobacco smoke. The incorporation of clinical decision support systems (CDSS) into the electronic health records (EHR) of PED patients may improve the rates of screening and brief TSE intervention of caregivers and result in decreased TSE in children. Objective: We propose a study that will be the first to develop and evaluate the integration of a CDSS for Registered Nurses (RNs) into the EHR of pediatric patients to facilitate the identification of caregivers who smoke and the delivery of TSE interventions to caregivers in the urgent care setting. Methods: We will conduct a two-phase project to develop, refine, and integrate an evidence-based CDSS into the pediatric urgent care setting. RNs will provide input on program content, function, and design. In Phase I, we will develop a CDSS with prompts to: (1) ASK about child TSE and caregiver smoking, (2) use a software program, Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap), to ADVISE caregivers to reduce their child's TSE via total smoking home and car bans and quitting smoking, and (3) ASSESS their interest in quitting and ASSIST caregivers to quit by directly connecting them to their choice of free cessation resources (eg, Quitline, SmokefreeTXT, or SmokefreeGOV) during the urgent care visit. We will create reports to provide feedback to RNs on their TSE counseling behaviors. In Phase II, we will conduct a 3-month feasibility trial to test the results of implementing our CDSS on changes in RNs' TSE-related behaviors, and child and caregiver outcomes. Results: This trial is currently underway with funding support from the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute. We have completed Phase I. The CDSS has been developed with input from our advisory panel and RNs, and pilot tested. We are nearing completion of Phase II, in which we are conducting the feasibility trial, analyzing data, and disseminating results. Conclusions: This project will develop, iteratively refine, integrate, and pilot test the use of an innovative CDSS to prompt RNs to provide TSE reduction and smoking cessation counseling to caregivers who smoke. If successful, this approach will create a sustainable and disseminable model for prompting pediatric practitioners to apply tobacco-related guideline recommendations. This systems-based approach has the potential to reach at least 12 million smokers a year and significantly reduce TSE-related pediatric illnesses and related costs.

Background: Involuntary exposure to secondhand smoke (SHSe) is an important cause of morbidity in children who present to the pediatric emergency department (PED) and urgent care (UC). SHSe interventions delivered in the PED and UC would benefit both the smoker and child, but there have been no large trials testing the efficacy of such interventions. The Healthy Families program is the first randomized controlled trial to test whether a screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) intervention delivered in the PED and UC will be effective in decreasing SHSe in children and increasing cessation in smokers. Methods/design: This trial uses a randomized, two-group design in which caregiver-smokers of children 0-17 years old are recruited from the PED and UC. Eligible caregiver-smokers are randomized to either the: 1) SBIRT Condition with face-to-face, tailored counseling that focuses on the child's illness, the importance of reducing child SHSe, caregiver smoking cessation, and the option to receive nicotine replacement therapy; or 2) Healthy Habits Control Condition which includes face-to-face, tailored attention control "5-2-1-0" counseling that focuses on improving the child's health. Dyadic assessments are conducted in-person at baseline, and via email, phone, or in-person at 6-weeks and 6-months. The primary outcomes are biochemically-verified, 7-day point prevalence and prolonged smoking abstinence. Secondary outcomes are cigarettes smoked per week, 24 h quit attempts, and biochemically validated child SHSe at each time point. The costs of this intervention will also be analyzed. Discussion: This study will test an innovative, multilevel intervention designed to reduce child SHSe and increase smoking cessation in caregivers. If effective and routinely used, this SBIRT model could reach at least one million smokers a year in the U.S., resulting in significant reductions in caregivers' tobacco use, SHSe-related pediatric illness, and healthcare costs in this population of children.

Embora o tabagismo seja o maior fator de risco na prevalência, extensão e severidade das doenças periodontais, existem poucos estudos intervencionais sobre os benefícios do abandono do fumo sobre as condições periodontais. O objetivo deste estudo prospectivo de 12 meses foi avaliar o efeito do abandono do tabagismo no tratamento periodontal não-cirúrgico de pacientes com periodontite crônica severa. Materiais e Métodos: Dos 201 pacientes triados, 93 foram considerados elegíveis e receberam tratamento periodontal não-cirúrgico e tratamento para cessação do tabagismo simultâneamente. Foram realizados controle e manutenção periodontal a cada três meses, após o término do tratamento periodontal. Um único examinador calibrado e cego para a condição de fumante realizou exame periodontal completo em seis sítios por dente, no início, 3, 6 e 12 meses após o tratamento não-cirúrgico periodontal. Outro examinador aferiu a concentração de monóxido de carbono expirado e realizou entrevista com base em um questionário estruturado, a fim de coletar dados demográficos e de hábitos tabágicos, nos mesmos períodos. Resultados: Dos 93 indivíduos incluídos, 52 permaneceram no estudo até 12 meses de acompanhamento. Destes, 17 pararam de fumar e 35 continuaram fumando ou oscilaram. Após um ano, somente os que pararam de fumar apresentaram ganho clinico de inserção significante (p = 0,04). No entanto, não houve diferenças entre os grupos de pacientes que pararam de fumar e não pararam de fumar ou que oscilaram em relação ao nível de inserção clínica, profundidade de sondagem, sangramento à sondagem e índice de placa após um ano (p > 0,05). Conclusão: Indivíduos que pararam de fumar apresentaram ganho clinico de inserção significante após um ano de acompanhamento. / Although smoking is the major risk factor in the prevalence, extent and severity of periodontal diseases, there are few data from intervention studies regarding the benefits of quitting smoking on periodontal conditions. The aim of this 12-month prospective study was to assess the adjunctive effect of smoking cessation in nonsurgical periodontal therapy of subjects with severe chronic periodontitis. Materials and Methods: Of the 201 enrolled subjects, 93 were eligible and received non-surgical periodontal treatment and concurrent smoking cessation treatment. Periodontal maintenance was performed every three months. Full-mouth periodontal examination in six sites per tooth was performed by a calibrated examiner, blinded to smoking status, at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months after non-surgical periodontal treatment. Furthermore, expired air carbon monoxide concentration measurements and interviews based on a structured questionnaire were performed in order to collect demographic and smoking data. Results: Of the 93 eligible subjects, 52 remained in the study after one year. Of these, 17 quit smoking and 35 continued smoking or oscillated. After one year, only quitters presented significant clinical attachment gain (p=0.04). However, there were no differences between subjects who quit smoking or who did not regarding clinical attachment level, probing depth, bleeding on probing and plaque index after one year (p>0.05). Conclusion: Quitters presented significant clinical attachment gain after one year of follow-up.

Embora o tabagismo seja um importante fator de risco para as doenças periodontais, ainda não existem estudos a longo prazo que demonstrem o benefício do abandono do fumo sobre as condições periodontais. O objetivo deste estudo prospectivo de 24 meses foi avaliar o efeito do abandono do tabagismo no tratamento periodontal não cirúrgico de pacientes com periodontite crônica severa. Materiais e Métodos: Dos 286 pacientes triados, 116 foram considerados elegíveis e receberam tratamento periodontal não cirúrgico e tratamento para cessação do tabagismo simultaneamente. Foram realizados controle e manutenção periodontal a cada três meses, após o término do tratamento periodontal. Um único examinador calibrado e cego para a condição de fumante realizou exame periodontal completo em seis sítios por dente, no início, 3, 12 e 24 meses após o tratamento periodontal não cirúrgico. Outro examinador aferiu a concentração de monóxido de carbono expirado e realizou entrevista por meio de um questionário estruturado, a fim de coletar dados demográficos e hábitos tabágicos, nos mesmos períodos. Resultados: Dos 116 sujeitos incluídos, 61 permaneceram no estudo por 24 meses de acompanhamento. Destes, 18 pararam de fumar (NF), 32 continuaram fumando (F) e 11 oscilaram (O). Ao longo de 24 meses todos os grupos apresentaram redução significativa no número de cigarros fumados. Os grupos NF e F apresentaram redução significativa no índice de placa e o grupo NF redução significativa no sangramento à sondagem. Quando comparado com F, aos 24 meses, NF apresentou redução significativa na concentração de monóxido de carbono exalado, na porcentagem de sítios com nível clinico de inserção maior igual a 3mm, na profundidade de sondagem de todos os sítios e daqueles inicialmente doentes e ganho de inserção significativo para sítios inicialmente doentes (p> 0,05). Conclusão: Parar de fumar promoveu benefício adicional ao tratamento periodontal não cirúrgico de pacientes com periodontite crônica severa, após 24meses de acompanhamento. / Although smoking is an important risk factor for periodontal diseases, there are no long term studies that demonstrate the benefit of smoking cessation on periodontal conditions. The aim of this 24-month prospective study was to assess the effect of smoking cessation on non-surgical periodontal therapy of subjects with severe chronic periodontitis. Materials and Methods: Of the 286 screened subjects, 116 were eligible and received non-surgical periodontal treatment and concurrent smoking cessation treatment. Periodontal maintenance was performed every three months. Full-mouth periodontal examination in six sites per tooth was performed by a calibrated examiner, blinded to smoking status, at baseline, 3, 12 and 24 months after non-surgical periodontal treatment. Furthermore, expired air carbon monoxide concentration measurements and interviews based on a structured questionnaire were performed in order to collect demographic and smoking data. Results: Of the 116 subjects enrolled, 61 remained in the study up to 24 months of follow-up. Of these, 18 quit smoking (Q), 32 continued smoking (NQ) and 11 oscillated (O). Over the 24 months, all groups showed significant reduction in the number of consumed cigarettes. Q and NQ groups showed significant reduction in plaque index and Q presented significant reduction in bleeding index. When compared with NQ at 24 months, Q showed a significant reduction in the concentration of exhaled carbon monoxide, in the percentage of sites with CAL 3 mm, in probing depth for all sites and for initially diseased sites and greater attachment gain for initially diseased sites (p> 0.05). Conclusion: Smoking cessation promotes adjunctive benefits in non-surgical periodontal therapy of subjects with severe chronic periodontitis.

Introdução: O tabagismo é um dos hábitos mais difundidos mundialmente, configurando-se em um problema complexo e multifacetado. Enquanto o número de homens fumantes estagnou, o de mulheres está em constante crescimento, estimando-se que cerca de 250 milhões de mulheres fumam diariamente em todo mundo. A maior dificuldade das mulheres em cessarem o tabagismo, e a grande estratégia de marketing da indústria tabagista voltada para esse público, são apontadas como razões para esse fenômeno, somado a isso existe uma escassez de estudos publicados sobre essa questão na literatura brasileira e mundial. Objetivo: Caracterizar o perfil sociodemográfico, clínico e comportamental de mulheres tabagistas atendidas em um Serviço Especializado de Saúde da cidade de São Paulo. Método: Delineada como pesquisa de coorte retrospectivo de abordagem quantitativa, o estudo foi realizado através de busca ativa nos prontuários das pacientes que foram atendidas no serviço especializado para cessação do tabagismo do Estado de São Paulo entre os anos de 2005 e 2010. Para a análise dos prontuários, foi realizado o uso de um questionário, os dados coletados foram armazenados por meio do software SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) e analisados pelo programa RStudio, em que foram realizadas todas as análises. Resultados: A coorte de 655 prontuários caracterizou-se por mulheres com idade média de 49 anos (DP=10,1), solteiras (34%); com segundo grau completo (27,9%), inseridas no mercado de trabalho (54,9%), com nível de dependência a nicotina muito elevado (78,5%) e que apresentavam critérios diagnóstico de depressão (23,6%), ansiedade (24,2%) e hipertensão (21,9%). Como principais razões para o ato de fumar as mulheres tabagistas atribuíam sensação de prazer (50,2%) e propriedades relaxantes (69,3%), e a principal razão alegada para a busca do tratamento foi motivos de saúde (62%). A faixa etária demonstrou associação significativa com a influência de terceiros no início do tabagismo (p=0,05). O tempo de permanência no tratamento mostrou-se positivamente associado ao diagnóstico de depressão (p=0,04) e hipertensão (p<0,01), ao convívio com parentes tabagistas (p<0,01) e procura por tratamento devido a motivos de saúde (p=0,02). O grau de dependência associou-se positivamente com a precocidade do início do tabagismo (p<0,01), ao uso de tranqüilizantes (p=0,02), menor nível educacional, em todas as situações em que fumam (p<0,01), exceto com bebidas alcoólicas. Conclusão: Publicações sobre esse fenômeno são escassas no Brasil e no mundo, o estudo apresenta evidências que podem contribuir para proposição de estratégias na prática clínica da cessação do tabagismo feminino, uma vez que identifica o perfil daquelas mulheres que buscam por tratamento, sugerindo também o perfil daquelas que não estão chegando ao serviço, quer por serem consideradas mais vulneráveis para o tabagismo, e/ou por não estarem sendo sensibilizadas pelas campanhas antitabágicas, o que reflete no não desejo da mulher em abandonar o hábito de fumar. / Introduction: Smoking is one of the most widespread worldwide habits, setting up a complex and multifaceted problem. While the number of male smokers has stalled, the womens number is constantly growing and it is estimated that about 250 million women around the world smoke daily. The greatest difficulty in women cease smoking, and a the great marketing strategies of the cigarette industry facing this audience, are cited as reasons for this phenomenon, added to this there is a paucity of published studies on this issue in the Brazilian and world literature. Objective: The objective is to describe the sociodemographic, clinical and behavioral profile of female smokers attending in a Specialized Health Service located in São Paulo, Brazil. Method: This study is outlined as a retrospective cohort with a quantitative approach that was conducted by active search in the records of patients who were treated for smoking cessation between 2005 and 2010. The analysis of medical records was conducted using a questionnaire, and the data were stored using the SPSS software (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) and all analyzes were performed by RStudio program. Results: A cohort of 655 medical records was characterized by women with an average age of 49 years (SD = 10.1), unmarried (34%); with high school degree (27.9%); in the labor market (54.9%), with high level of nicotine dependence (78.5%) that presented diagnostic criteria for depression (23.6%), anxiety (24.2%) and hypertension (21.9%). The main reason for the act of smoking was attributed to the feeling of pleasure (50.2%) and relaxation (69.3%), and the main reason given for seeking treatment was related to health reasons (62%). The age group showed a significant association with the influence of others people at smoking initiation (p = 0.05). The treatment time was positively associated with depression diagnosis (p = 0.04) and hypertension (p <0.01), living with smoking relatives (p <0.01), and search for treatment due to health reasons (p = 0.02). The degree of dependence is positively associated with the early smoking initiation (p <0.01), use of tranquilizers (p = 0.02), lower educational level, in all situations who smoking (p <0 01) except for alcoholic drinks. Conclusion: The publications related to this phenomenon are scarce in Brazil and worldwide. The study presents evidence that can contribute to propose strategies in clinical practice of female smoking cessation, since it identifies the profile of those women who seek treatment, also suggesting that the profile of those who are not getting the service, due to the more vulnerable to tobacco use, and or they are not being sensitized by anti-smoking campaigns, which reflects the desire of the women does not to leave the smoking habit.