Suchergebnisse

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Public willingness to collect personal family health history (FHH) assessments is integral to implement population screening to identify those at high cancer risk who could benefit most from lifesaving interventions. Yet, surprisingly little consideration has been given to factors associated with the public's perceived importance of FHH in the context of cancer. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Using data from the 2013 Health Information National Trends survey, we assessed the association of intrapersonal (e.g., cancer worry), sociodemographic (e.g., education), and interpersonal-level factors (e.g., family trust) associated with <i>not</i> perceiving FHH assessment to be very important for personal health. Associations were tested with bivariate analyses and hierarchical logistic regression. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Of the 3,007 respondents, 32.7% reported perceiving FHH as <i>not</i> very important to their health. Whites (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001), males (<i>p</i> = 0.003), and those born in the United States (<i>p</i> = 0.004) were most likely to perceive FHH as not very important. Those who were least worried about cancer and perceived that cancer risk could not be lowered also viewed FHH as not very important (<i>p</i> = 0.002, <i>p</i> = 0.018, respectively). In hierarchical regression analyses, the association of low cancer worry remained significant after accounting for sociodemographic and interpersonal factors. The addition of sociodemographic factors modestly improved the model; the addition of interpersonal factors did not improve the model. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> A sizable proportion of the public does not perceive FHH to be very important, may be hard to reach, and impede implementation of population screening guidelines for inherited cancers. Campaigns to increase the perceived value of FHH assessment may need to be tailored to demographic subgroups, emphasize cancer prevention, and encourage family communication.

This study examined (a) differences between alcohol-only users and alcohol–marijuana co-users and (b) motives for use in relation to alcohol and marijuana use and problem use. Spring 2016 data among 1,870 past 4-month alcohol users (63.6% female, 69.1% White) from seven Georgia colleges/universities were analyzed cross-sectionally and with regard to problem use measured 4 months later. Correlates of co-use ( n = 345; vs. alcohol-only use, n = 1,525) included greater alcohol and marijuana use frequency, problem drinking and marijuana use, and alcohol use motives ( p's < .05). Controlling for covariates, alcohol use frequency correlated with greater marijuana use frequency and Coping and Self-enhancement alcohol use motives, but lower Conformity alcohol use motives ( p's < .001); greater Coping and Self-enhancement alcohol use motives ( p's < .01) predicted problem alcohol use. Marijuana use frequency correlated with greater Coping and Expansion marijuana use motives ( p's < .05); greater Expansion marijuana use motives ( p = .005) predicted problem marijuana use. College-based substance use interventions should target Coping and Self-enhancement alcohol use motives and Expansion marijuana use motives.

Purpose To explore whether school poverty level and funding modified the effectiveness of an evidence-based Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program called Health Empowers You! implemented in elementary schools in Georgia. Design Secondary data analysis of a multi-level, cluster-randomized controlled trial. Setting 40 elementary schools in Georgia in 2018-2019. Subjects 4th grade students in Georgia. Measures Intervention schools implemented the Health Empowers You! program to increase school-day physical activity. The outcome was average daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, school free-reduced price lunch (FRPL) percentage and per pupil expenditures were effect modifiers. Analysis Separate linear mixed regression models estimated the effect of the intervention on average daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, with interaction terms between intervention status and (1) school FRPL percentage or (2) per pupil expenditures. Results The effect of the intervention was significantly higher in schools with higher FRPL percentage (intervention*school % FRPL β (95% CI): .06 (.01, .12)), and was modestly, but not statistically significantly, higher in schools with lower per pupil expenditures. Conclusion Findings support the use of the Health Empowers You! intervention, which was effective in lower income schools, and may potentially reduce disparities in students' physical activity levels.

Research has shown that microenvironments such as homes and neighborhoods are associated with dietary and physical activity behaviors. This study examines self-reports of home and neighborhood environments of adult dyads living in the same household ( n = 83 dyads) and explores correlates of discrepant perceptions. Food and exercise equipment in the home and access to neighborhood recreational facilities were assessed. Agreement between pairs varied across measures, with dyads having less disagreement in reporting their physical activity environment compared with their food environment. Discrepancy indices were .20 for exercise equipment, .29 for neighborhood facilities, .25 for fruits, .26 for drinks, and .28 for vegetables and snacks/other foods. Differences in education, food shopping behavior, fat intake, BMI, and physical activity were associated with discordance in reporting among dyads. Results suggest that co-dwelling adults perceive their home and neighborhood environments differently. This has implications for how microenvironments are measured and how data are interpreted.

Limited public health research has used psychographic profiling to segment young adults and examine their substance use behaviors. We aimed to conduct market research to identify young adult market segments at risk for alternative tobacco products (ATPs), alcohol, and marijuana use. Substance use; psychographics per the Values, Attitudes, and Lifestyle Scale (VALS); and other key variables were assessed at baseline in a longitudinal study of 3,418 students aged 18–25 from seven colleges/universities in the state of Georgia. Cluster analysis was conducted on VALS factors to identify distinct segments. Regression examined segments in relation to substance use risk. Past 30-day use prevalence for each substance was as follows: cigarettes, 13.3%; little cigars/cigarillos (LCCs), 11.2%; smokeless tobacco (SLT), 3.6%; e-cigarettes, 10.9%; hookah, 12.2%; alcohol, 63.1%; and marijuana, 19.0%. Five segments were identified, created, and named: Conventionals, Simple Lifes, Open Minds, Confident Novelty-seekers, and Stoic Individualists. Controlling for sociodemographics, Open Minds, Confident Novelty-seekers, and Stoic Individualists (vs. Conventionals [referent]) were more likely to smoke cigarettes. Confident Novelty-seekers were more likely to use LCCs. Simple Lifes were less likely to use SLT. Open Minds and Confident Novelty-seekers were more likely to use e-cigarettes. Open Minds were more likely and Simple Lifes were less likely to use hookah. Open Minds were more likely to use alcohol; Simple Lifes and Stoic Individualists were less likely to use alcohol. Open Minds were more likely to use marijuana. Market research is an effective strategy for identifying young adults at risk for using distinct ATPs and can inform targeted health campaigns and cessation interventions.

Garnering support for smoke-free policies is critical for their successful adoption, particularly in countries with high smoking prevalence, such as Armenia and Georgia. In 2018, we surveyed 1456 residents (ages 18–64) of 28 cities in Armenia (n = 705) and Georgia (n = 751). We examined support for cigarette and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS)/heated tobacco product (HTP) smoke-free policies in various locations and persuasiveness of pro- and anti-policy messaging. Participants were an average age of 43.35, 60.5% female, and 27.3% current smokers. Nonsmokers versus smokers indicated greater policy support for cigarette and ENDS/HTP and greater persuasiveness of pro-policy messaging. Armenians versus Georgians generally perceived pro- and anti-policy messaging more persuasive. In multilevel linear regression, sociodemographics (e.g., female) and tobacco use characteristics (e.g., smoking less frequently, higher quitting importance) correlated with more policy support. Greatest policy support was for healthcare, religious, government, and workplace settings; public transport; schools; and vehicles carrying children. Least policy support was for bar/restaurant outdoor areas. The most compelling pro-policy message focused on the right to clean air; the most compelling anti-policy message focused on using nonsmoking sections. Specific settings may present challenges for advancing smoke-free policies. Messaging focusing on individual rights to clean air and health may garner support.