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Biomedical subjects

D F Duncan

Publications and source records attributed to D F Duncan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Assessing sexuality attitudes and behaviors and correlates of alcohol and drugs.

The association between sexual abstinence and use of alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana was examined in data from questionnaires completed by 874 students in Grades 6 through 8 at six urban schools. These students participated in a program that implemented and evaluated an educational program on abstinence sexuality. It focused on raising self-esteem, improving communication skills, and learning to set life goals. The evaluation instrument contained items assessing sexuality and attitudes toward behaviors related to drug use. Use of each drug (alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana) was significantly (p < .00001) and positively associated with self-report of having experienced sexual intercourse and expectation of having intercourse during the next year.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Chronic drinking, binge drinking, and drunk driving II.

Data from the Rhode Island Behavioral Risk Factor Survey on self-reported alcohol consumption and drunk driving were examined. Driving while intoxicated was significantly associated with both binge drinking and chronic drinking, but the measures of drinking were not significantly associated.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1999

Sexuality attitudes and behaviors of self-described very religious urban students in middle school.

Data from a survey of 869 students aged 11 to 15 years and attending six urban middle schools were analyzed to identify differences in sex attitudes and behaviors between self-reported very religious students and their less religious peers. The two groups were demographically similar. They differed on only two attitude items, one suggesting that intercourse was a normal part of teenage dating and the other suggesting intercourse was alright if the two people were in love. The groups did not differ in their estimation of their peers' sexual activity or attitude or in terms of their own intercourse behavior or future intentions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Stressful life events and loss of hair among adult women, a case-control study.

A case-control design was used to compare stress (as measured with the Social Readjustment Rating Scale) in the lives of 25 women who had experienced recent, unexplained hair loss with that of 25 women with no hair loss. High stress was reported by 22 of the women experiencing hair loss and 10 not experiencing hair loss. An odds ratio of 11 suggests that women who experience high stress are 11 times more likely to experience hair loss. Replication is encouraged.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Dutch drug policy: a model for America?

While debates over drug policy in America have focused on choices between demand reduction and supply reduction, the Dutch have pioneered the alternative strategy of harm reduction. The Dutch have built their policy around the principles of separation of markets, low threshold treatment, and normalization of treatment. These policies are worthy of examination as a possible model for drug policy reform in America.

Crime↗
PubMed1997

Chronic drinking, binge drinking and drunk driving.

Data from the Brief Risk Factor Surveillance System on 47 states were examined in an ecological analysis of the relationship between rates of binge drinking, chronic drinking, and driving while intoxicated (DWI). DWI rates were significantly associated with rates of binge drinking but not with chronic heavy drinking. This finding has implications for the nature and targets of efforts toward prevention.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1997

An exploration of attitudes on sexuality at a northeastern urban university.

This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of scores on homophobia among 104 college students at a northeastern urban university. Participants reported their attitudes regarding homosexuals and homosexual behavior on Hudson and Rickett's Index of Homophobia. The 33 men indicated more negative attitudes about homosexuals and homosexual situations than the 71 women.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Assessing variability of HIV transmission attitudes and behaviors at an urban northeastern university.

Teenagers in the United States are one of the populations whose HIV infection rates are increasing most rapidly. This study was designed to measure college students' knowledge of HIV transmission methods using Kittleson and Venglarcik's HIV Transmission Survey. Participants (N= 167) were divided into two groups, 99 students from a rural background and 68 students from an urban background. Students from an urban background were significantly more knowledgeable about documented HIV transmission modes than students from a rural background. Men were significantly less aware of documented HIV transmission modes than women. These results suggest that education about AIDS needs to be improved. The current educational procedures do not properly inform students in a fashion which exhibits the true risk of infection and those behaviors which increase risk. Fifteen years after the discovery of the HIV virus students are still largely unaware that they are at risk for contracting a fatal disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Alcohol use and reported physician visits in older adults.

BACKGROUND: In general, older adults use a greater proportion of health care services than other age segments of the population. Alcohol abusers also use a greater proportion of health care services than alcohol nonabusers. Therefore we expected that among older adults, alcohol consumption would be positively related to health service use. In a sample of older adults, this study examined the relationship between alcohol consumption and an indicator of health service use--the self-reported number of physician visits. METHODS: Data obtained on adult participants in the 1990 National Health Interview Survey, age 60 and older (n = 10,522), were examined. The number of physician visits was regressed on health status and alcohol consumption measures. RESULTS: Counter to a priori expectations, alcohol consumption was negatively associated with physician visits. This finding was obtained after adjusting for respondent sex and health status measures. CONCLUSIONS: Other research suggests that the rates of alcohol-related hospital admissions among older adults are on par with those of myocardial infarctions--an indication that harmful use of alcohol in older adults is going undetected. We found heavier alcohol consumption associated with fewer physician visits. This underscores the need for a better understanding of the role alcohol serves in the health perceptions of older adults. Broadening our knowledge in this area would be of benefit not only to the well-being of individuals also for health services policy considerations.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Health practices and mental health revisited.

The relationships of seven health practices with a measure of mental well-being were explored in a sample of 490 university students. Mental well-being was associated with moderate exercise and regular sleep.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Harm reduction: an emerging new paradigm for drug education.

Harm reduction is a new paradigm now emerging in the field of drug education. This strategy recognizes that people always have and always will use drugs and, therefore, attempts to minimize the potential hazards associated with drug use rather than the use itself. The rationale for a harm reduction strategy is presented, followed by an example of the kind of needs assessment which may be needed for planning a harm reduction strategy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Drug law enforcement expenditures and drug-induced deaths.

The association between federal expenditures for drug law enforcement and the number of drug-induced deaths in the USA from 1981 through 1991 was examined. Significant positive associations were found for both numbers of deaths and death rates.

Budgets↗
PubMed1993

Is smoking associated with height and weight?

The reported relationship between height and smoking was tested using data from a representative sample of the U.S. population (N = 41,014). Both height and weight were associated with smoking. A further analysis for males and females separately showed that the initial results were a result of confounding of the variables with gender.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Drugs and sex: 'a survey of college students' beliefs.

71 university students were surveyed regarding the effects of five drugs on human sexuality. Most of the myths examined were believed by a number of the 71 students surveyed. Users of alcohol (n = 62) and cocaine (n = 22) were more accurate in identifying effects than were nonusers.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Who does have a test for AIDS?

Of 184 persons (18 to 78 yr.) presenting at one site for HIV testing, 112 were men, 173 were white, and 179 were HIV-. Principal risk groups identified were 53 gay/bisexual males, 46 with multiple heterosexual sex partners, and 33 transfusion recipients.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗