NNTPP LISTSERV
NNTPP is a program of the Health Education Council
Friday August 13, 2004
In this edition:
1) Smoking Behavior and Interest in
Quitting among Homeless Smokers
2)
A Survey of Pregnant Smokers'
Interest in Different Types of Smoking Cessation Support
3) Article in JACC: Disparities in
Cardiac Care
4)
People Will Listen to Their
Doctors on Smoking Cessation
5) New RWJF Call for
Proposals
6) Upcoming
Events
1) Smoking Behavior and Interest in
Quitting among Homeless Smokers
Arnsten JH, Reid K, Bierer
M, Rigotti N.
Addict Behav. 2004 Aug;29(6):1155-61.
OBJECTIVES: To examine smoking behavior in homeless persons,
including the impact of self-reported tobacco-related health problems and drug
and alcohol abuse on readiness to quit and interest in smoking cessation
counseling. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey of outpatients and inpatients on
the homeless service at Massachusetts General Hospital. RESULTS: Among 98 homeless smokers
with a mean age of 44 years, tobacco-related medical diagnoses and symptoms and
psychiatric illnesses were common, as were drug and alcohol abuse. One third of
the smokers in this sample intended to quit smoking within the next 6 months,
including 19% who planned to quit in the next 1 month. Forty-four percent of
the participants were somewhat or very interested in smoking cessation counseling.
In multivariate analyses, significant (P < .05) predictors of readiness to
quit smoking were greater confidence in one's ability to quit (self-efficacy)
and more social support for quitting. Multivariate predictors of interest in
smoking cessation counseling were smoking-related symptoms and higher
self-efficacy for quitting. CONCLUSIONS: Homeless smokers recruited from the
inpatient and outpatient services of a large, urban teaching hospital reported
interest in both stopping tobacco use and receiving assistance to quit smoking.
Having an illness that a smoker believes is tobacco-related, having greater
confidence in the ability to quit, and having more social support for quitting
were associated with greater readiness to quit and more interest in smoking
cessation counseling. Alcohol and drug abuse were not associated with reduced
interest in quitting smoking. These findings suggest that homeless smokers may
benefit from smoking cessation programs that are colocated in medical or drug
treatment settings.
2) A Survey of Pregnant Smokers'
Interest in Different Types of Smoking Cessation Support
Ussher M, West R, Hibbs N.
Patient Educ Couns. 2004 Jul;54(1):67-72.
The aim of this study was to survey pregnant smokers'
interest in different types of smoking cessation support. Interest in cessation
support was assessed via telephone interviews with women identified as smokers
at their first antenatal visit. Of 206 pregnant smokers interviewed, 87%
(179/206) reported wanting to stop smoking, of whom 69% (124/179) expressed an
interest in receiving help with stopping. Interest was highest for behavioral
support (82%, 102/124) and self-help materials (77%, 95/124). There was a
significant preference for individual versus group appointments, for 'buddying'
among those not in professional/managerial occupations versus those in
professional/managerial occupations, and for behavioral support among
non-Caucasians versus Caucasians. These findings highlight the high level of
interest expressed in support with stopping smoking among pregnant smokers.
Smoking cessation services may benefit through offering a range of
interventions for pregnant smokers, through considering ethnic and occupational
status, and through routinely offering individual appointments.
3) Article in JACC: Disparities in
Cardiac Care
The Aug. 4
issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology includes
"Disparities
in Cardiac Care: Rising to the Challenge of Healthy People 2010," an
article examining the evidence on racial/ethnic disparities in medical care,
with a specific focus on cardiac care. The review of the evidence summarizes
findings from a report prepared by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and
the American College of Cardiology Foundation. The
report was one part of a national initiative to raise physician awareness about
racial and ethnic disparities in medical care, undertaken by the Kaiser Family
Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the nation's leading heart
organizations, and 10 other national medical organizations. While the evidence is compelling, a
nationally representative survey of physicians reveals that the majority of
physicians still do not believe that a patient's racial/ethnic background is a
factor in obtaining health care.
Increasing physicians' awareness of the evidence on racial/ethnic
disparities in care is important because most doctors are in a good position to
directly and indirectly affect changes in clinical practice and patient
behavior.
To obtain a
reprint of the article, please contact Kinite Holt at kholt@kff.org. More information about disparities in cardiac
care is available at http://www.kff.org/whythedifference
..
4) People Will Listen to Their
Doctors on Smoking Cessation
International Conference on Head and Neck Cancer 7th August 2004
The physician is the healthcare provider people take
most notice of when it comes to giving up smoking, according to a new study.
Nearly 70 per cent of patients who smoke are seen by their physician each year.
This can be a good opportunity to discuss smoking cessation. In a study from
the University of Pittsburgh, it was revealed that a three minute
intervention by the doctor led to a 30 per cent increase in smoking cessation.
And a ten minute intervention led to a 60 per cent increase.
Among different healthcare providers, doctors were
more effective than nurses or counselors at giving smoking cessation advice.
And smoking patients whose doctor initiated a discussion on cessation were more
satisfied with the doctor, whatever their decision on giving up.
The researchers conclude that the
physician should capitalize on the smoker's willingness to listen. The topic of
smoking cessation could be raised each time the doctor sees the smoking
patient.
5) New RWJF Call for Proposals
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the nation's
largest private foundation devoted to improving health and health care, has an upcoming
grant opportunity in support of community and state tobacco policy
advocacy. The call for proposals has
just been released at <http://www.rwjf.org/tobaccopolicychange>
www.rwjf.org/tobaccopolicychange. There will be no printed version of the
CFP. Electronic applications will be
accepted through 3:00 p.m. E.D.T. on September
1, 2004 at www.rwjf.org/tobaccopolicychange.
Approximately $12 million will be available to support
professional staff and other infrastructure, public education, advocacy,
outreach, and technical assistance for tobacco policy change initiatives at
either the regional, state or community level. The program seeks to support
diverse partnerships in communities and states, with a particular emphasis on
the populations most affected by tobacco use and secondhand smoke
exposure. Applicant organizations are
required to have significant experience in policy advocacy; however, prior
experience in tobacco prevention and cessation is not required to be eligible
for RWJF funding.
It is anticipated that there will be 3 competitive grant
application cycles -- 1 per year for 3 years -- under this program. Applicants that request more than $50,000
will need to demonstrate other funding sources for each dollar requested above
$50,000. Grants will be 12 months in
duration.
6) Upcoming Events
Centerforce 5th Annual Inside/Out Summit
“Models for Change – Delivering Services to
Those Affected by Incarceration”
San Francisco Airport Marriott, Burlingame, CA
September 11-15,
2004
Pre-summit course for Clinicians: September 11-12,
2004
Proven Strategies to Reduce Smoking among Youth:
Putting Research into Action in Rural Schools and Communities
Morgantown, West Virginia
Sept. 13 and 14, 2004
http://www.hsc.wvu.edu/odais/conference.htm
LCAT (National
Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco Prevention 3rd Annual National
Conference
“Tobacco Prevention:
Reducing the Impact of Chronic Diseases”
Sheraton Old Town, Albuquerque, NM
September 23 & 24, 2004
Ending Health Disparities Conference
Winston-Salem, NC
September 27-29,
2004
-Speaker proposals are due June 11,
2004
For more information please contact Ruth Cole Burcaw at
(336) 945-9288 or hdconference@quantumevents..com
132nd
American Public Health Association Conference
November 6-10, 2004 - Washington, DC
