American journal of preventive medicine
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Weight and smoking cessation among low-income African Americans.
Concerns about weight gain have been a commonly cited barrier to cessation among white, affluent, female populations, but less is known about this relationship among minority smokers and those with low incomes. Although smoking cessation is strongly encouraged for this population, it often leads to weight gain. Cultural differences in weight standards and the high prevalence of weight-related health conditions (e.g., hypertension and diabetes) may influence concerns about smoking cessation-related weight gain. ⋯ Because post-cessation weight gain may be a serious health threat for this population, but weight gain was not a concern for these smokers, smoking-cessation interventions for low-income African-American smokers may need to incorporate weight-gain education and prevention.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effects of a mammography decision-making intervention at 12 and 24 months.
Most women are not getting regular mammograms, and there is confusion about several mammography-related issues, including the age at which women should begin screening. Numerous groups have called for informed decision making about mammography, but few programs have resulted. Our research is intended to fill this gap. ⋯ Decision-making interventions, comprised of two tailored print interventions (booklet and newsletter), delivered a year apart, with or without two tailored telephone calls, significantly increased knowledge and accuracy of perceived breast cancer risk at 12 and 24 months post-intervention. The effect on mammography use was significant in bivariate relationships but had a much more modest impact in multivariate analyses.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Primary care interventions to reduce television viewing in African-American children.
Data are lacking on primary care interventions to reduce children's television viewing. Low-income African-American children watch greater amounts of television than their peers. ⋯ This small pilot and feasibility study evaluated two promising primary care-based interventions to reduce television, videotape, and video game use among low-income African-American children. The effects on physical activity suggest that the behavioral intervention may be more effective.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
The use of nicotine-replacement therapy by hospitalized smokers.
No-smoking policies are mandatory in U.S. hospitals. Consequently, smokers who are hospitalized must temporarily stop smoking. Nicotine-replacement therapy (NRT) could help hospitalized smokers relieve nicotine withdrawal symptoms, comply with no-smoking policies, and sustain tobacco abstinence after discharge. The extent of NRT use in the hospital setting is unknown. We describe the prevalence and patterns of NRT use in hospitalized smokers. ⋯ NRT was rarely used in this hospital, even among those who could have benefited from it to treat nicotine-withdrawal symptoms. When NRT was used, relief of nicotine withdrawal, rather than assistance with smoking cessation, appeared to be the primary goal. Greater use of NRT could benefit the estimated 6.5 million smokers who are hospitalized annually by reducing nicotine withdrawal, encouraging smoking cessation, and ensuring compliance with hospital no-smoking policies.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Recruiting African-American older adults for a community-based health promotion intervention: which strategies are effective?
The purpose of this article is to examine the effectiveness of recruitment strategies used to recruit African-American older adults for a senior center-based health promotion trial with a 6-month exercise component. ⋯ Our results support employing a multifaceted recruitment approach and demonstrate the importance of strong linkages between the research team and community leaders in conducting health promotion research in minority communities. An innovative approach, the phonathon, may be a potentially important recruitment strategy.