published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

Objectives: Menthol is an organic compound synthesized or naturally obtained from peppermint or other mint oils and once added to cigarettes, is believed to have caused extra adverse health consequences (Kolawole S. Okuyemi 2004) compared with non-menthol cigarettes. This review has multi-purposes: First, to review and summarize the causes of African Americans’ high preference over menthol cigarettes; Second, to review smoking cessation studies and determine the association between menthol cigarettes and reduced quitting rates for African American smokers; Third, to gather information of evidence-based interventions for menthol cigarette smoking cessation. Methods: This article reviewed 16 journal articles through PubMed search using the following key words: menthol cigarette, smoking cessation, African American. And only one Chinese article was found by searching the key word “薄荷?” in CNKI Chinese database. Further search was done by using Google search engine and got 11 electronic articles or webpages for this topic. According to the objectives of this article, 3 journal papers were reviewed for examining the causes of African American smokers’ high preference over menthol cigarettes; 8 journal papers were reviewed for determining the association between menthol cigarettes and reduced quitting rates for African American smokers. In this section, the inclusion criteria include: age (18-65); gender (male, female); study design (cohort, cross-sectional, RCT). At last, 5 journal papers and 5 electronic resources including news were reviewed to gain an up-to-date insight for possible interventions of menthol cigarette smoking. Results: The leading causes for African American smokers’ high preference over menthol cigarettes include: like the minty/cool flavor; perceive menthol cigarette as having medicinal effects; menthol smokers’ influences from one’s social network; tobacco companies’ tailored marketing strategies. Overall, there were lower quitting rates for menthol cigarette smokers compared to non-menthol cigarette smokers at least among African American smokers. For menthol cigarettes and smoking cessation among African American smokers, 4 studies got significant results. For menthol cigarette and non-menthol cigarette smoking cessation among African American smokers: study 1 (TABLE 2), 6 weeks abstinence rate 28.3% vs. 41.5%, p=0.006; study 2 (TABLE 2), 4 weeks abstinence OR=0.32, 95% CI [0.16, 0.62], p<0.05, 6 months abstinence OR=0.48, 95% CI [0.25, 0.9], p<0.05; study 3 (TABLE 2), 6 months abstinence OR=0.23, 95% CI [0.17, 0.31], p<0.05. Study 4 (TABLE 2) compared African menthol cigarette smokers to Whites non-menthol cigarette smokers, OR=0.72, 95% CI [0.53, 0.97], p=0.031. For another 4 studies, they got non-significant results but still revealed such an association. Conclusions: Causes for African American smokers’ high preference over menthol cigarettes were identified as: tailored marketing strategies; physical properties of menthol cigarette (taste, smell); and demographic/social/psychological/cultural/attitudinal causes. There were significantly lower quitting rates for menthol cigarette smokers compared to non-menthol cigarette smokers at least among African American smokers. For menthol cigarette smoking cessation interventions, whether or not a ban on menthol would be implemented or not, comprehensive programs that include educational program, clinical menthol cigarette smoking cessation aids, taxation for price control, and smoke free and related regulations are needed. At last, China should learn experiences from the US regarding analysis of preference and possible clinical, educational, and policy interventions for menthol cigarette smoking cessation and prevention. / published_or_final_version / Medicine / Master / Master of Public Health

Background: Even though a series of restrictions aimed at protecting dwellers from being addicted to tobacco are implemented in Hong Kong, the loopholes utilized by tobacco industry can still promote tobacco marketing by various strategies such as sponsorship in movies and charity activities. Therefore, it is still quite necessary to monitor the associations of intention to smoke with exposure to anti-smoking media messages and pro-smoking media messages among adolescents in Hong Kong. Objectives: Objectives of this study were to investigate exposure to pro- smoking media messages and pro-smoking media messages and their association with intention to smoke among adolescents in Hong Kong. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study based on secondary data collected from Smoking and Health Survey among Hong Kong Students 2010/11. Data from 61,810 secondary school students were analyzed. Exposure to anti- and pro- smoking media messages among adolescents in Hong Kong was assessed. Logistic regression was conducted to examine the association of intention to smoke with exposure to anti- and prosmoking media messages separately, and then examine the association of intention to smoke with exposure to anti- and pro- smoking media messages with taking exposure to anti- and pro- smoking media messages as a whole. Sub group analysis splitting the sample into never smokers and ever smokers were made throughout logistic regression models above. Results: In terms of prevalence of exposure to media, higher possibilities of exposure to prosmoking media messages and of exposure to anti-smoking media messages was found among females relative to males (39.9% versus 37.1% and 69.5% versus 68.1% respectively, both p<0.001). Besides, significant higher possibilities of exposure to pro-smoking media messages and of exposure to anti-smoking media messages than those without were detected (43.9% versus 34.4% and 71.9% versus 65.7% respectively, both p<0.001). Statistically significant positive associations were found between exposure to pro-smoking media messages and intention to smoke both among never smokers (OR=1.39, 95% CI: 1.26-1.52, p<0.001) and ever smokers (OR=1.35, 95% CI: 1.24-1.46, p<0.001). And, statistically significant negative associations were observed between exposure to anti-smoking media messages and intention to smoke among never smokers (OR=0.58, 95% CI: 0.53-0.63, p<0.001) and among ever smokers (OR=0.82, 95% CI: 0.76-0.89, p<0.001). In logistic regression models for both anti- and pro- smoking media messages, among never smokers, we found the lowest odd ratio was 0.56 (95% CI: 0.51-0.63, p<0.001), for category with exposure to anti-smoking media messages and no exposure to pro-smoking media messages. And the highest odds ratio was 1.33 (95% CI: 1.11-1.56, p=0.001), for the category with exposure to pro-smoking media messages and no exposure to antismoking media messages. For ever smokers, the lowest odds ratio was 0.82 (95% CI:0.75-0.89, p<0.001), for category with exposure to anti-smoking media messages and no exposure to pro-smoking media messages. And, the hightest odds ratio was 1.35 (95% CI: 1.10-1.66, p=0.004), for the category with exposure to pro-smoking media messages and no exposure to anti-smoking media messages. Conclusions: In both ever and never smokers, positive associations of intention to smoke with exposure to pro-smoking media messages were observed. However, a negative association of intention to smoke with exposure to anti-smoking media messages was only found for sub group of never smokers. For both never smokers and ever smokers, the group with exposure to pro-smoking media messages and no exposure to anti-smoking media messages had positively higher increase in the odds of intention to smoke relative to the group with exposure both to anti- and pro smoking media messages. / published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

Low life satisfaction and substance use in adolescence are causes for concern as each problem is known to be associated with many concurrent and later negative outcomes. To date, only four studies have examined links between these variables in youth. This study added to the literature by examining adolescents' life satisfaction in relation to their frequency of use of a variety of substance types, using an understudied population (i.e., a predominantly Hispanic sample of 130 high school students). Results included significant, inverse bivariate links between adolescent life satisfaction and use of alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana. When examined simultaneously, adolescents' use of any of the three substance types accounted for a significant but small proportion (6%) of variance in global life satisfaction scores. Other notable results include that gender (but not ethnicity) moderated the relationship between life satisfaction and one type of substance use; specifically, adolescent males who drank alcohol in the past year did not experience diminished life satisfaction. Contrary to hypotheses, high life satisfaction did not protect students who experienced increased risk factors (e.g., poor academic achievement, conduct problems, emotional problems) from actual use of substances. Implications of these findings for future research and practice are outlined and discussed.

Tobacco smoking has been associated with the development, protraction, and exacerbation of chronically painful conditions. Conversely, there is reason to believe that smokers may be motivated to use tobacco as a means of coping with their pain. To date, no controlled, experimental studies have tested for a causal relationship between pain and smoking motivation. The primary aim of the current study was to test the hypothesis that laboratory-induced cold-pressor pain would enhance smoking motivation, as measured by self-reported urge to smoke and observation of immediate smoking behavior. The effect of a smoking cue was also tested. Smokers (n = 132) were randomly assigned to one of four conditions in this 2 (Pain Manipulation) X 2 (Smoking Cue Manipulation) crossed factorial between-subjects design. Results indicated that both pain induction and the presence of smoking cues increased urge ratings, and pain induction also produced a shorter latency to smoke. The relationship between pain and increased urge to smoke was partially mediated by pain-induced negative affect. This study provides the first experimental evidence that situational pain can be a potent motivator of smoking.

This dissertation presents three papers applying health economics to the study of risky behaviors. The first uses data from the 1979 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth to examine the relationship between adverse events and risky behaviors among adolescents. Substance use responses to experiencing either of two adverse events--violent crime victimization or death of a non-family member one felt close to--explain 6.7 percent of first cigarette use, and 14.3 percent of first use of illegal drugs other than marijuana. Analyses of exercise, a positive coping mechanism, find shock-responses consistent with a coping-response, but not with rational, time-inconsistent, or non-rational drivers considered here. I conclude that distressing events lead to risky behaviors, with a coping response contributing to this effect.

The focus of the study was to examine the extent to which pharmacies in Indiana are currently selling cigarettes and alcohol, the current opinions of pharmacists, to compare findings with the previous 1996 Indiana study and to determine pharmacists' familiarity with available public health resources. A survey questionnaire was designed based on previous studies. It was reviewed by a jury of experts and subsequently administered to the randomly selected pharmacies in Indiana. Of those pharmacies that were included in the study, 74.4% were returned. Collected data were analyzed and compared to findings from 1996 using descriptivestatistical methods.Findings revealed that fewer pharmacies sold cigarettes in 2001 (58.1%) than in 1996 (63.7%). Alcohol sales continued at 206 (43.7%) of pharmacies currently selling alcoholic beverages, which is relatively the same level as in 1996, 202 (41.9%) of pharmacies. There is an increasing trend in pharmacists that believe pharmacies should be selling neither cigarettes (+7.2%) nor alcohol (+4.7). Most pharmacists' (64%) agree that they play asignificant role in health promotion/disease prevention to the public, yet only 42.6% involve themselves with publichealth promotion activities. The capability of pharmacists to refer people to outside resources for educational needsis limited. Over three-fourths of pharmacists are either completely unfamiliar with or have no opinion about thethree most well-funded public health programs in the state of Indiana. / Department of Physiology and Health Science

My essay explores the public view on smoking in Sweden over the last few decades. I've studied how changes in social structures through media, laws, studies and education has brought about a change in the opinions about smoking. I found that even though there have always been different opinions on smoking it seems to have become less accepted in the Swedish society, particularly in the past twenty years. I discuss the different reason as to why (and how) the view on smoking might have changed the last decades amongst the Swedish people. To be able to do this I have done interviews on which I have applied narrative analysis.

Abstract In my thesis ``Habits of secondary school students{\crqq} (alcohol, drugs, smoking, gambling{\dots}) I dealt with the use of addictive substances by students in the 2nd year of secondary schools. The use of addictive substances by young people has become a topical issue. According to statistical data, the number of users of both legal and illegal substances has been growing every year. It is disturbing that addictive substances, such as alcohol, nicotine or illegal drugs, have been used by ever younger consumers. In the theoretical part I covered the period of adolescence, characteristic features of that period and behavior disorders that may occur. I also reviewed the individual types of drugs and their physical and mental effects on the organism. In the empirical part of the thesis my objective was to map the current situation in drug abuse at selected secondary schools in the towns of Rokycany and Tábor. The researched group consisted of 325 respondents. I used a questionnaire to investigate their family backgrounds, alcohol consumption, cigarette consumption and experience with other drugs, e.g. marihuana, hashish or ecstasy. 2 of the 3 formulated hypotheses were refuted and 1 hypothesis was confirmed. All results are shown in form of tables and diagrams. In the discussion I compared my results with other research papers dealing with the same topic. The biggest issue in the selected group of respondents was the smoking of cigarettes. According to my findings, education is a major factor in the consumption of the individual drugs. The consumption of alcohol, cigarettes and other drugs is higher among apprentices while the consumption among students of comprehensive secondary school is significantly lower.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T15:12:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Texto.pdf: 670987 bytes, checksum: 264fe3069938dd9253b87d19da74b774 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-08-13 / Inorganic constituents found in cigarettes come from the tobacco plant, as it absorbs them from the soil, which can be contaminated by chemical fertilizers and environment factors. Inorganic constituents are necessary for many vital functions of human metabolism, but their lack or excess in human body can lead to biological disorder. Lead and cadmium are particularly toxic. While cobalt, cupper and nickel can be highly toxic if inhaled as carbon composites, and that is what happens as a person smokes. In this work, twenty cigarette brands, commonly available to consumers, were classified using chemometric methods, regarding the concentration of potentially toxic inorganic constituents, as Cd, Co, Cu, Pb and Ni. A method of acid digestion in microwave oven was used for opening the samples that was done in triplicate, using HNO3 65% and H2O2 35% as reagent. Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS) was used as analytical technique for the five inorganic constituents determination in the cigarette brands, which results were expressed in &#956;g g-1. Results points to Cu, Pb and Co, as the main elements in every sample. Ni is an element of intermediate content while Cd presents values under 0,6 &#956;g g-1. PCA and HCA, Chemiometric Methods, were applied, after determination of these inorganic constituents in cigarette samples. PCA from original data in five spatial dimensions inside the three main component plane explains 83,25% of total variance, being verified the formation of four distinct classes. HCA presented the same groups formed by PCA. Therefore this research goal is to verify if popular cigarette brands are potentially toxic inorganic constituents source and to classify them as the concentration of these elements by Chemometric Methods / Os constituintes inorgânicos potencialmente tóxicos presente no cigarro são oriundos da própria planta do tabaco, que os absorve através do solo como conseqüência da utilização dos fertilizantes e fatores ambientais. Para muitas das funções vitais do metabolismo humano os constituintes inorgânicos são necessários, de modo que o excesso ou deficiência podem gerar desordem biológica no organismo. Os elementos chumbo e cádmio são particularmente tóxicos. No caso de cobalto, cobre e níquel, esses podem tornar-se altamente tóxicos se inalados como compostos de carbono, e, é o que ocorre durante o ato de fumar. Neste trabalho, vinte marcas de cigarros, popularmente consumidos no Brasil, foram classificadas de acordo com a concentração de Cd, Co, Cu, Pb e Ni. Para a abertura das amostras foi empregado o método de digestão ácida em forno de microondas. Todas as amostras foram abertas em triplicatas, utilizando como reagentes HNO3 65% e H2O2 35%. A técnica analítica usada para a determinação dos constituintes inorgânicos nas marcas de cigarros foi a Espectrometria de Absorção Atômica em Chama (FAAS), onde os resultados foram expressos em &#956;g g-1. Conforme os resultados obtidos, Cu, Pb, Co, apresentaram teores mais significativos nas amostras analisadas. Ni é um elemento com conteúdo intermediário e o Cd apresenta valores inferiores a 0,6 &#956;g g-1. Após a determinação desses constituintes inorgânicos nas amostras de cigarro, aplicou os Métodos Quimiométricos, Análises Componentes Principais (PCA) e Análise Hierárquica de Agrupamentos (HCA). A PCA, a partir dos dados originais em cinco dimensões espaciais dentro do plano das três primeiras componentes principais, explica 83,25% da variância total e foi verificada a formação de quatro classes distintas. A HCA apresentou os mesmos grupos obtidos na PCA. Portanto, este trabalho teve como finalidade verificar se os cigarros popularmente consumidos no Brasil são fontes de constituintes inorgânicos potencialmente tóxicos e classificá-los quanto a concetraçãos desses elementos pelos Métodos Quimiométricos