Biomedical subjects

L J Solomon

Publications and source records attributed to L J Solomon.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1997

State legislators' intentions to vote and subsequent votes on tobacco control legislation.

The predictive validity of state legislators' behavioral intentions in relation to their votes on tobacco control legislation was assessed by using the theory of planned behavior (I. Ajzen, 1991). Intentions to vote for cigarette tax increases were measured through interviews in the summer of 1994. A bill containing cigarette tax increases was considered about 8 months later. Votes were compared with intentions and were found to be consistent for 78% of these legislators (N = 120). Multiple logistic regression analyses showed a strong independent relationship between intentions and voting and a similar effect of political party; results suggested but did not confirm that votes were predicted by interactions between intentions and perceived control. Legislator surveys that use this conceptual model can provide results relevant to understanding tobacco policy development.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

State legislators' perceptions of lobbyists and lobbying on tobacco control issues.

OBJECTIVE: To determine state legislators' perceptions about health and tobacco lobbyists, their frequency of contact with these lobbyists, and the amount of campaign contributions from health professional organisations and the tobacco industry. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS: State legislators from North Carolina, Texas, and Vermont (USA), serving in 1994. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Perceptions about lobbyists representing the tobacco industry, non-profit health organisations, and state medical societies with respect to their credibility, importance as sources of information, and persuasiveness; extent of lobbying activities; campaign contributions from health professional organisations and the tobacco industry. RESULTS: Almost all legislators reported that medical society and non-profit health organisation lobbyists are credible on tobacco issues and just over half believed that these lobbyists are important sources of information. More legislators said they could be persuaded by medical and health lobbyists than by tobacco lobbyists. Although health professional Political Action Committees (PACs) gave campaign contributions to more state legislators, and gave higher amounts on average, than tobacco PACs, legislators reported less contact with medical society lobbyists than tobacco lobbyists about tobacco issues. CONCLUSIONS: State legislators have positive attitudes toward lobbyists for non-profit health organisations and state medical societies regarding tobacco issues. These groups may be an underused resource for educating legislators about tobacco control measures.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗

PubMed1997

Modeling smoking cessation: exploring the use of a videotape to help pregnant women quit smoking.

This exploratory study examined the acceptability and efficacy of a videotape modeling smoking cessation as an adjunct to smoking cessation advice delivered during prenatal care. In a randomized controlled trial involving 60 women, we compared the delivery of brief smoking cessation advice and a tipsheet to the same advice and tipsheet plus provision of the videotape. Outcomes included opinions about content and acceptability of the videotape, and smoking behavior change during pregnancy. The most highly endorsed features of the videotape were seeing other women quitting smoking (77%), dealing with stress and bad feelings (69%), talking about what to do with urges to smoke (69%), and discussing ways to get support from families and friends (54%). The reported quit rate in the last month of pregnancy, validated by exhaled carbon monoxide levels, and including women lost to follow-up as smokers, was 19.2% in the intervention group and 0% in the comparison group (p = .02). This study suggests that the use of videotapes modeling smoking behavior change may increase the effectiveness of the assistance in quitting smoking that is generally available in obstetric and family practices or public maternity clinics.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

State legislators' attitudes and voting intentions toward tobacco control legislation.

OBJECTIVES: This study describes state legislators' knowledge, attitudes, and voting intentions with regard to tobacco-related issues. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of state legislators was conducted in North Carolina, Texas, and Vermont in 1994. RESULTS: Most legislators agreed that secondhand smoke can cause lung cancer in nonsmokers, and a majority believed that smokers are addicted to nicotine. More than 75% stated that they would support a measure to enforce laws preventing tobacco sales to youth. A majority of Texas and Vermont legislators supported an increase in the state cigarette excise tax; 43% of North Carolina legislators would support an increase if revenues were directed toward tobacco farmer diversification. CONCLUSIONS: State legislators believe tobacco to be addictive, and they support policies to protect youth from tobacco. Support for other legislative measures differs significantly across states.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗

PubMed1996

Stages of change in smoking during pregnancy in low-income women.

This study examined the effects of a smoking cessation intervention on stages of change in 349 low-income, pregnant women. At first prenatal visit, women were randomized into experimental or usual care condition and classified by stage of change: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, or action. For each stage of change at the first prenatal visit, the stage distributions of the experimental and usual care groups were compared at the second and 36-week prenatal visits. Kruskal-Wallis tests revealed significant differences at the second visit in the stage distributions by condition for subjects who were initially in precontemplation or in preparation. In each case, a greater proportion of experimental than usual care subjects advanced through the stages. The shift was not maintained at the 36-week visit.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Using mass media to prevent cigarette smoking among adolescent girls.

This article describes the development of a mass media smoking prevention intervention targeted primarily toward adolescent girls at increased risk for smoking and assesses its outcomes. A cohort of 5,458 students was surveyed at baseline in Grades 4-6 and annually for 4 years. Through diagnostic and formative research, media messages were created to appeal especially to girls. Students beginning in Grades 5-7 received the 4-year media intervention and a school program in two communities, while students in two matched communities received the school program alone. Media targeting techniques resulted in high levels of message appeal and exposure consistent with effects on mediating variables and 40% lower weekly smoking at Grades 8-10 for girls receiving the media and school interventions compared to school alone. Smoking behavior effects were maintained at Grades 10-12. These results indicate that mass media interventions targeting specific audience segments can reduce substance use behavior for those segments.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

HIV risk behaviors among women living in low-income, inner-city housing developments.

OBJECTIVES: This study describes the prevalence and predictors of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behaviors among women living in low-income, inner-city housing developments. METHODS: Anonymous questionnaires were administered to 671 women living in 10 inner-city, low-income housing developments in five US cities to determine their levels of HIV risk behavior and predictors of HIV risk practices. RESULTS: Approximately one third of women were at high risk for HIV because of the risk behavior of their sexual partners. HIV risk was highest among women who accurately perceived themselves to be at increased HIV risk, held strong beliefs about barriers to condom use, and reported weak behavioral intentions to reduce risk. Women at higher risk were also younger and reported higher rates of alcohol and substance use. CONCLUSIONS: HIV prevention efforts are needed for inner-city women. Interventions should focus on overcoming women's barriers to condom use, strengthening their intentions to change behaviors, and managing the risk related to their use of substances.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Factors predicting continued high-risk behavior among gay men in small cities: psychological, behavioral, and demographic characteristics related to unsafe sex.

Nearly 6,000 men entering gay bars in 16 small American cities were anonymously surveyed to assess their sexual behavior and to determine predictors of risky sexual practices. Excluding individuals in long-term exclusive relationships, 27% of the men reported engaging in unprotected anal intercourse in the past 2 months. Factors strongly predictive of risk included having a large number of different male partners, estimating oneself to be at greater risk, having weak intentions to use condoms at next intercourse, believing that safer sex is not an expected norm within one's peer reference group, being of younger age, and having less education. These findings indicate that HIV prevention efforts are urgently needed for gay men in smaller cities, with efforts particularly focused on young and less educated men sexually active with multiple partners. Prevention should focus on strengthening intentions to change behavior and on changing social norms to foster safer sex.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1995

An investigation of self-efficacy, partner support and daily stresses as predictors of relapse to smoking in self-quitters.

Six hundred and thirty smokers who intended to quit smoking themselves completed pre-cessation measures of self-efficacy, partner support, daily stresses and demographics. Subjects were contacted at 2, 7, 14, 30, 90 and 180 days post-cessation to determine smoking status and to re-administer the measures at 7, 14 and 30 days post-cessation. A series of logistic regression examined which prospective factors best predicted relapse between 0-2 days, 3-7 days, 8-14 days, 15-30 days, 31-90 days and 91-180 days. Relapse was predicted by different variables at different times; however, self-efficacy was a consistent predictor of relapse over time.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Barriers to condom use among heterosexual male and female college students.

The authors used a questionnaire to assess gender differences in barriers to condom use among 198 female and 89 male heterosexual undergraduate college students. Participants were divided into three groups--consistent users, inconsistent users, and nonusers--based on their reported condom use. Factor analyses on each gender revealed similar barrier factor structures, but the barriers explained more of the variance in condom use among women than among men. Of the 9 or 10 predictors assessed, the low perceived need barrier was the most powerful predictor of condom use for both genders. Male and female participants who were nonusers, in a current monogamous relationship, and using oral contraceptives were more likely to report a low perceived need to use condoms. Implications for future research are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

HIV antibody testing of gay men in smaller US cities.

The incidence of new AIDS diagnoses among gay males indicates that risk reduction in smaller communities may be lagging behind that reported in larger cities. Contradictory evidence exists, largely from urban areas, concerning the utility of HIV testing as a means of promoting behavioural change. This study examined the relationship between HIV antibody testing and subsequent high-risk sexual behaviours among gay men in cities of 180,000 or fewer inhabitants. In February and March of 1992, male gay bar patrons in sixteen small US cities were administered an anonymous questionnaire concerning recent sexual behaviour and HIV testing history. Of the 1820 respondents, 28.1% had recently engaged in unprotected anal intercourse and 60.7% had been tested for HIV antibodies. Those who had been tested were more sexually active and reported more protected and safer sexual activities. Analyses at the individual and city levels converged to demonstrate that communities as well as individuals evidence increased self-protection in association with HIV antibody testing.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Barriers to condom use among women attending planned parenthood clinics.

Assessed condom use, barriers to condom use, oral contraceptive use, partnership status and STD history in 457 15-30 year-old women attending four family planning clinics. Subjects were classified into three condom use groups: Non Users (37%); Current Users (33%); and Past Users (30%). Factor analysis revealed five barriers to condom use: Partner's Perception, Peer's Perception, Pleasure/Intimacy, Communication, and Low Perceived Need. Multivariate analyses revealed significant group differences on only two barrier factors: Pleasure/Intimacy and Low Perceived Need. Low Perceived Need accounted for 13.5% of the variance in condom use. Women with low perceived need to use condoms were more likely to use oral contraceptives.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Differences in HIV risk characteristics between bisexual and exclusively gay men.

Research investigating HIV-risk sexual behaviors of men who have sex with men usually combines gay and bisexual men, treating them as a single, homogeneous group. However, gay and bisexual men may differ in their HIV risk behavior and in psychological characteristics indicative of risk. Exclusively gay (N = 1,180) and bisexual men (N = 136) completed anonymous surveys at gay bars. The surveys assessed demographic, psychological, and behavioral data related to sexual behavior and HIV risk. Relative to exclusively gay men, bisexual men had lower intentions to use condoms in their next intercourse occasion, reported a greater frequency of oral sex with men and more oral-sex partners, knew fewer people who were HIV positive, and perceived weaker peer norms favoring safer sex and risk avoidance. One-third of bisexual men reported engaging in unprotected anal intercourse, and 17% of bisexual men had multiple unprotected anal sex partners in the past two months. Interventions tailored to the needs of bisexual men are urgently needed and should focus on increasing intentions to use condoms, increasing HIV-risk sensitization, and fostering norms favoring safer sex and risk avoidance.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Comparisons of the smoking cessation counseling activities of six types of health professionals.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to assess and compare the smoking cessation counseling activities of primary care physicians, dentists, dental hygienists, family planning counselors, WIC counselors, and community mental health counselors in four counties in the northeastern United States for planning appropriate education programs. METHODS: Lists of the health professionals in each of these groups in the four study counties were obtained from state licensing boards, clinic directors, and telephone directories. Surveys were conducted by mail, using a 19-item instrument which could be completed in 2-4 min. RESULTS: Comparisons among these professional groups showed that physicians, family planning counselors, and WIC counselors felt better prepared to provide cessation advice than did mental health counselors, dentists, and dental hygienists. Physicians, family planning counselors, and WIC counselors also were more active in providing smoking cessation advice to women smokers than were the other three groups. Levels of use of specific counseling activities were generally low. Setting a quit date, arranging for follow-up visits, and referral for further assistance were used for only a minority of women smokers. CONCLUSIONS: Opportunities for educational interventions that could increase these health professionals' effectiveness were apparent for each of the groups.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

Individualized smoking cessation counseling during prenatal and early postnatal care.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the efficacy of individualized smoking cessation counseling added to obstetricians' and nurse-midwives' advice. STUDY DESIGN: In a mixed private and publicly supported prenatal clinic 600 pregnant women who smoked were randomly assigned to receive the usual advice from their obstetrician or nurse-midwife or the usual advice plus individualized smoking cessation counseling. Smoking status was measured by self-report and urinary cotinine/creatinine ratios at 36 weeks and by self-report during long-term postpartum follow-up. RESULTS: Quitting rates during pregnancy were not increased by adding individualized smoking cessation counseling to usual care. At the long-term follow-up, reported quitting rates were significantly greater among intervention group women cared for in the publicly supported clinic than among those receiving the usual care, 14.5% versus 2.5%, p < 0.01. CONCLUSION: Although adding individual smoking cessation counseling did not increase quitting rates during pregnancy, it should be considered for women in public maternity clinics because of its potential long-term effectiveness.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

High risk sexual behavior and alcohol consumption among bar-going gay men.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether alcohol use prior to sexual behavior influenced the occurrence of unprotected anal intercourse among bar-going gay men. METHODS: Anonymous AIDS behavioral risk surveys were administered to men entering gay bars in 16 cities on three nights in February 1993 in six states in the United States. RESULTS: Of the 1519 men who completed the survey, 85% were current alcohol drinkers. Men who had unprotected anal intercourse after consuming alcohol drank more and reported more incidents of unprotected anal intercourse than men who had unprotected anal intercourse but not after drinking. Overall, unprotected anal intercourse occurred less frequently after alcohol consumption than without prior consumption. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that heavy alcohol use and frequent high-risk sexual behavior occurred among the same individuals. However, we found no evidence for a causal link between alcohol use and unprotected sexual behavior in this sample of bar-going gay men.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Continuing education in the physician's office: a pilot study for breast exams.

In response to a recent study indicating that primary care physicians were interested in receiving breast-screening education, an office-based training program was developed and delivered to fourteen physicians in Vermont and Florida. A nonphysician trainer and simulated patient provided instruction and feedback in clinical breast examination and in patient instruction in breast self-examination. Measurements of physician palpation skills before and after the training showed substantial skill improvement, and the office-based session was found to be highly acceptable by all participants.

Breast Neoplasms↗

PubMed1992

Clinical breast examination and breast self-examination. Past and present effect on breast cancer survival.

Increasing attention to self-detection of breast masses and clinical breast examination during this century have contributed to a progressive reduction in the size of breast cancers at detection and a progressive improvement in survival. Mammography is more sensitive than breast palpation for the detection of breast cancer, however, mammography does not detect all palpable cancers and additional interval cancers become palpable between screenings. Breast self-examination, clinical breast examination, and mammography are complementary screening modalities. In populations where mammography is not available or is not appropriate as a screening modality, clinical breast examination and breast self-examination are particularly important.

Breast Neoplasms↗