Adolescents and young adults ’ perceptions of electronic cigarettes as a gateway to smoking: a qualitative study in Switzerland
AbstractElectronic cigarettes (ECs) acting as a gateway to smoking traditional cigarettes (TCs) is a growing public health concern of EC use among youths. To gather the opinions and perceptions of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) on whether and how EC can act as a gateway to smoking TC among youths. A qualitative method included 42 AYAs. Participants identified a significant risk of EC acting as a gateway to TC use, several factors contributing to this phenomenon such as a facilitated transition to smoking or its perception as a harmless toy. Participants considered an even greater gateway threat regarding very young ad...
Source: Health Education Research - August 2, 2017 Category: Research Source Type: research
Evaluation of a sexual abuse prevention education program for school-age children in China: a comparison of teachers and parents as instructors
AbstractThe aim of this present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a child sexual abuse (CSA) prevention curriculum toward children and to compare the knowledge gains between children who were taught by teachers and their parents. Four hundred and eighty-four school-age children recruited from one primary school in Beijing, China, were randomly assigned to a CSA prevention program administered by teachers or their parents or to a wait-list control group. The findings reveal that children in the teacher education group demonstrated the highest level of CSA prevention knowledge and skills, followed by the parent educ...
Source: Health Education Research - August 2, 2017 Category: Research Source Type: research
Planning community-based assessments of HIV educational intervention programs in sub-Saharan Africa
In this study, we investigate the degree of correlation among individuals within communities and regions using samples of sixth-grade adolescents from 609 local area district communities and 122 regions in 15 sub-Saharan African nations. We develop nation-specific and international summaries of these correlations using variance partitioning coefficients from multilevel models and subsequently assess the extent to which different types of background variables delineate key sources of these correlations. The results suggest persistent differences among communities and regions and that the degree of correlation among individu...
Source: Health Education Research - August 2, 2017 Category: Research Source Type: research
Feasibility and acceptability of a web-based HIV/STD prevention program for adolescent girls targeting sexual communication skills
This study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of this new program and examined if perceived acceptability varied according to participant ethnicity, sexual orientation or sexual activity status. Participants were part of a randomized controlled trial of 222 10th-grade girls (Mage = 15.26). The current analyses included those in the intervention condition (n= 107; 36% white, 27% black and 29% Hispanic). HEART took approximately 45 min to complete and was feasible to administer in a school-based setting. Participants found the program highly acceptable: 95% liked the program and learned from the program, 88% would re...
Source: Health Education Research - August 2, 2017 Category: Research Source Type: research
University students ’ perceived risk of and intention to use waterpipe tobacco
AbstractEmerging tobacco product use is increasing. We evaluated factors associated with perceived risk of and intention to use waterpipe tobacco by surveying students at a large university in the southeastern U.S. (N= 667). Proportional odds modeling assessed whether demographic characteristics and social acceptability are associated with perceived risk of waterpipe tobacco use; and if these factors and perceived risk are related to intention to use waterpipe tobacco. Participants who perceived waterpipe tobacco to be more socially acceptable had lower odds of perceiving it as risky (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.50 –0...
Source: Health Education Research - August 2, 2017 Category: Research Source Type: research
Effectiveness of a web-based intervention to reduce alcohol consumption among French hazardous drinkers: a randomized controlled trial
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a web-based intervention to reduce alcohol consumption among hazardous drinkers. A two-group parallel randomized controlled trial was conducted among adults identified as hazardous drinkers according to the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. The intervention delivers personalized normative feedback and some general information about alcohol. Participants can review their motivations and fears regarding reducing their alcohol intake, set individual goals and monitor their progress via a consumption diary and other tools. Within the control group, participants were pro...
Source: Health Education Research - July 11, 2017 Category: Research Source Type: research
Linking smokers to a quitline: randomized controlled effectiveness trial of a support person intervention that targets non-smokers
AbstractEvidence-based treatments (e.g. quitlines) are greatly underutilized by smokers limiting their public health impact. A three-session phone intervention for nonsmoking family members and friends (i.e. support persons) was successful for increasing smoker quitline enrollment. To enhance the intervention ’s potential translatability, in this study, we delivered treatment for the non-smoker within ongoing quitline services and compared the efficacy of the three-call intervention to a streamlined version (one call). A total of 704 adult non-smokers (85% female, 95% White) wanting to help a smoker qu it and recruited s...
Source: Health Education Research - July 11, 2017 Category: Research Source Type: research
Involving mosques in health promotion programmes: a qualitative exploration of the MCLASS intervention on smoking in the home
AbstractSecond-hand smoke (SHS) exposure is high among UK Bangladeshi and Pakistani populations, reflecting higher male smoking prevalence and fewer home smoking restrictions than the general population. The Muslim Communities Learning About Second-hand Smoke (MCLASS) study explored the feasibility and acceptability of implementing SHS education in 14 UK mosques. Religious teachers (RTs) in seven intervention mosques were trained and provided with a culturally appropriate educational package. After the intervention, mosque leaders, RTs and congregants ’ experiences and perceptions of the intervention were explored throug...
Source: Health Education Research - July 11, 2017 Category: Research Source Type: research
A randomized controlled trial to evaluate outcomes of a workplace self-management intervention and an intensive monitoring intervention
This study provided additional support for worksite-based health promotion programs to promote healthy lifestyles and improve health status, and documented effectiveness of both methods, with superior performance and greater scalability for the WSM program. (Source: Health Education Research)
Source: Health Education Research - May 9, 2017 Category: Research Source Type: research
Mediating alcohol use in Eastern Nigeria: a qualitative study exploring the role of popular media in young people's recreational drinking
AbstractNigeria has high levels of alcohol consumption, and little or no regulation of the alcohol industry. There is a dearth of studies exploring young adults ’ drinking in a Nigerian context with only a few predominantly quantitative surveys. These do not explore the social meanings attached to drinking practices nor do they shed light on potential gender differences and how these are mediated by popular media. This qualitative study addresses this gap with semi-structured interviews involving 31 undergraduate students. It identifies that media consumption shapes drinking behaviour in ways which are highly patterned a...
Source: Health Education Research - May 7, 2017 Category: Research Source Type: research
Underage drinking, group identity and access to alcohol: a qualitative study of Chinese youths
This study explored the nature of alcohol access by Chinese adolescents and how their own perceptions around alcohol availability influence them to source alcohol in particular ways. This res earch involved focus groups with 111 young people aged 14–17 in Hong Kong, China. A grounded theory analysis was conducted using NVivo 10. While participants perceived ease of obtaining alcohol from retail outlets, proxy purchasing through friendship group members was reported as routine experienc e primarily to avoid potential embarrassment of being turned away. Convincing vendors that they were of legal drinking age was the conven...
Source: Health Education Research - May 7, 2017 Category: Research Source Type: research
Long Live Love+: evaluation of the implementation of an online school-based sexuality education program in the Netherlands
AbstractSchools are a common setting for adolescents to receive health education, but implementation of these programs with high levels of completeness and fidelity is not self-evident. Programs that are only partially implemented (completeness) or not implemented as instructed (fidelity) are unlikely to be effective. Therefore, it is important to identify which determinants affect completeness and fidelity of program implementation. As part of the launch of Long Live Love+ (LLL+), an online school-based sexuality education program for adolescents aged 15 –17, we performed a process evaluation among teachers and students...
Source: Health Education Research - May 6, 2017 Category: Research Source Type: research
Gay-Straight Alliances as settings to discuss health topics: individual and group factors associated with substance use, mental health, and sexual health discussions
AbstractSexual minority (e.g. lesbian, gay, bisexual, questioning; LGBQ) and gender minority (e.g. transgender) youth experience myriad health risks. Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) are school-based settings where they may have opportunities to discuss substance use, mental health, and sexual health issues in ways that are safe and tailored to their experiences. Attention to these topics in GSAs could aid in developing programming for these settings. Among 295 youth from 33 Massachusetts high-school GSAs (69% LGBQ, 68% cisgender female, 68% White,Mage = 16.06), we examined how often youth discussed these topics within their ...
Source: Health Education Research - May 3, 2017 Category: Research Source Type: research
Randomized controlled trial of abstinence and safer sex intervention for adolescents in Singapore: 6-month follow-up
AbstractWe assessed the efficacy of an individual-based behavioral intervention on sexually transmitted infections ’ (STI) risk-reduction behaviors in Singapore. A randomized controlled trial of a behavioral intervention compared to usual care was conducted on sexually active heterosexual adolescents aged 16–19 years attending the only public STI clinic. The intervention included two on-site skills-based ses sions targeting individual, relational and environmental influences on sexual behaviors, followed by online support. Participants were assessed at baseline and 6-month follow-up. Primary outcomes were self-reported...
Source: Health Education Research - May 3, 2017 Category: Research Source Type: research
Factors associated with the implementation of a vegetable and fruit program in a population of Australian elementary schools
This study aimed to identify, using a theoretical framework, factors associated with implementation of a school vegetable and fruit program; that provides a time in class for children to consume a piece of vegetable or fruit they have brought from home. Three hundred and three randomly selected school principals across the state of New South Wales, Australia responded to a 25-min telephone survey. Principals were asked if their school had implemented a vegetable and fruit program, and which of 12 factors from Damschroder’s consolidated framework for implementation research had facilitated or impeded implementation. Multi...
Source: Health Education Research - March 28, 2017 Category: Research Source Type: research
