Biomedical subjects

L J Solomon

Publications and source records attributed to L J Solomon.

62 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Predictors of state legislators' intentions to vote for cigarette tax increases.

BACKGROUND: This study analyzed influences on state legislators' decisions about cigarette tax increase votes using a research strategy based on political science and social-psychological models. METHODS: Legislators from three states representing a spectrum of tobacco interests participated in personal interviews concerned with tobacco control legislation (n = 444). Measures of potential predictors of voting intention were based on the consensus model of legislative decision-making and the theory of planned behavior. Multiple logistic regression methods were used to identify social-psychological and other predictors of intention to vote for cigarette tax increases. RESULTS: General attitudes and norms concerning cigarette tax increases predicted legislators' intention to vote for cigarette tax increases. More specific predictors included perceptions of public health impact and retail sales impact of cigarette tax increases. Constituent pressure was the strongest perceived social influence. Political party and state also were strong predictors of intention. Results were consistent with related research based on political science models. CONCLUSIONS: Legislators' votes on cigarette tax increases may be influenced by their perceptions of positive and negative outcomes of a cigarette tax increase and by perceived constituent pressures. This research model provides useful insights for theory and practice and should be refined in future tobacco control research.

Female↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Three-year prospective adherence to three breast cancer screening modalities.

BACKGROUND: This study prospectively examined rates of adherence to mammography, clinical breast examination (CBE), and breast self-examination (BSE) in a cohort of women over 3 years to determine whether participation in BSE influenced participation in the other two screening modalities. METHODS: Women ages 51 and older (n = 450) who attended a small group educational session to learn BSE and to hear about CBE and mammography guidelines were assessed annually by telephone for 3 consecutive years to determine their subsequent breast cancer screening behavior. RESULTS: Annual CBE and mammography screening are highly positively associated. Regular performance of BSE has a modest positive association with both CBE and mammography adherence over time. CONCLUSIONS: Women who perform BSE regularly over time may be more likely to adhere to the other breast cancer screening guidelines.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Barriers to fecal occult blood testing and sigmoidoscopy among older Chinese-American women.

PURPOSE: This study examined factors associated with fecal occult blood test (FOBT) and sigmoidoscopy screening use among Chinese-American women age 60 years and older. DESCRIPTION OF STUDY: One hundred women were recruited from senior centers in two metropolitan areas on the east coast of the United States. Participants completed a questionnaire that included sections on demographics, health history, health insurance coverage, FOBT and sigmoidoscopy use, common and cultural barriers to colorectal cancer screening, and acculturation. RESULTS: Logistic regression models found greater acculturation to be a significant predictor of having had a FOBT at least once, and found both greater acculturation and physician recommendation to be significant predictors of having had a sigmoidoscopy at least once. No significant predictors were found for regular adherence to colorectal screening guidelines, which include having undergone an FOBT in the past year and sigmoidoscopy in the past 5 years. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: This study found that older Chinese-American women underuse FOBT and sigmoidoscopy screening, as is recommended by the American Cancer Society colorectal cancer screening guidelines. These findings suggest that cultural factors may influence the initiation of colorectal cancer screening for Chinese-American women but are not predictive of adherence to screening over time. Outreach efforts to promote colorectal cancer screening in this population might target women who are less acculturated to facilitate an initial entry into the Western healthcare system to obtain screening.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Predictors of condom use and human immunodeficiency virus test seeking among women living in inner-city public housing developments.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To examine prevalence and predictors of condom use and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) test seeking among women living in inner-city housing developments. STUDY DESIGN: Between April and June 1994, 671 women living in low-income housing developments in five cities in the United States completed an anonymous self-report questionnaire eliciting information on acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) risk behavior and characteristics indicative of risk. RESULTS: Most participants were women of color who were economically disadvantaged. Fifteen percent reported multiple sex partners, and 30% of women with one sex partner believed he had sex with someone else in the past year. Predictors of condom use included increased rates of safe-sex negotiation, stronger risk reduction intentions, absence of condom barrier beliefs, and multiple sex partners. Women tested for HIV in the past year were younger, perceived themselves to be at risk for HIV infection, reported more conversations with other women about AIDS concerns, and had condoms readily available. CONCLUSIONS: HIV public health prevention interventions are urgently needed for women who live in low-income urban housing developments.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Psychosocial differences between recently HIV tested and non-tested gay men who reside in smaller US cities.

While a number of studies have examined behavioural and psychosocial correlates of HIV test seeking, most of this research has relied on samples of urban gay men. Less is known about HIV testing rates and factors associated with testing among gay and bisexual men who live in smaller cities. The present research administered surveys to 3969 non-exclusively partnered gay and bisexual men attending gay bars in small American cities to determine (a) rates of HIV test seeking, and (b) how tested and non-tested men differed on a battery of psychosocial indices. A total of 68% of men had been tested for antibodies to HIV--50% in the past year. Men tested for HIV in the past year, compared to men never tested for HIV, knew more people who were HIV positive or were diagnosed with AIDS, had a closer relationship with someone who had died of AIDS, were more likely to be ethnic minorities, reported more conversations with friends about safer sex, and had stronger intentions to use condoms during their next intercourse occasion. Our results indicate that HIV counselling and testing programmes comprise an important component of HIV prevention efforts assisting gay men residing in smaller USA cities.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Smoking relapse prevention counseling during prenatal and early postnatal care.

Our objective was to examine the efficacy of the added effect of individualized smoking relapse prevention counseling on obstetricians' and nurse midwives' usual advice during prenatal care. One hundred and seventy-five pregnant women who were smoking early in their pregnancy, but had quit by first prenatal visit, were randomly assigned to receive the usual advice from their obstetrician or nurse midwife, or usual advice plus individual relapse prevention counseling. Smoking status was measured by self-report, by urinary cotinine/creatinine ratio at the 36-week visit, and by self-report at long-term postpartum follow-up. We found that a smaller percentage of women in the intervention group (8.8%) reported smoking at the thirty-sixth-week visit than those in the usual care group (16.9%), a nonsignificant difference. No significant difference in relapse rates during pregnancy was observed based on urinary cotinine/creatinine ratios, but these rates, 29.5% and 27.9% respectively, were substantially higher than those based on self-report. The average number of days abstinent reported by women in the intervention group was significantly longer than that in the usual care group, 199 days versus 166 days respectively (P < .01). Logistic regression analysis indicated that longest time abstaining before first visit, level of belief in smoking's harm to the fetus, and motivation to smoke were independently related to the probability of relapsing to smoking by the 36-week visit. Long-term relapse rates were not significantly different: intervention group, 50.9%, usual care group, 50.0%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cotinine↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Multiple partners, risky partners and HIV risk among low-income urban women.

A sample of 671 predominantly single, young black women living in 10 low-income housing developments in five cities completed an anonymous questionnaire assessing factors related to their risk of contracting the human immunodeficiency virus, including their sexual behavior and condom use, and their partners' risk-related behaviors. In the two months before the 1994 survey, 17% of the women had sex with multiple partners and 22% had an exclusive partner who either had had other sexual partners in the past year or had a history of injection drug use; 40% had an exclusive partner who they believed had not engaged in these risky behaviors. During the same interval, 26% of women who had multiple partners received treatment for a sexually transmitted disease, compared with 9-11% of those who had an exclusive relationship. Condom use at last intercourse and communications about condom use were less frequent among women with an exclusive, risky partner than among those with multiple partners; attitudinal barriers to condom use did not vary, however, by the characteristics of women's relationships.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Helping women quit smoking: baseline observations for a community health education project.

INTRODUCTION: Our objectives were (1) to examine the relationship between women's intention of stopping smoking in the next month and a broad range of mediating variables and (2) to assess the implications of these relationships for intervention components of a comprehensive community-wide health education program to help women quit smoking. METHODS: In preparation for the community-wide program to help women quit smoking, baseline data were collected through a random digit dialing telephone survey of 6,324 adult women, 18-64 years of age. RESULTS: At baseline, smoking prevalence, defined as smoking an average of one or more cigarettes per day, was 25.8% and showed clear relationships with age and income, but most strikingly with education, indicating the need for programs for women of childbearing age with low incomes and fewer years of schooling. Among female smokers, knowledge of the health effects of smoking; motivations toward quitting; confidence in controlling weight, or handling stress, anger or boredom; number of strategies named to cope when upset of angry; number of community smoking cessation resources named; perceptions of support for quitting; and perceptions of norms concerning women smoking varied significantly with level of intention to quit smoking in the next month. CONCLUSIONS: These relationships provided support for the broad range of health behavior change strategies proposed for this community-based program to help women quit smoking.

Adaptation, Psychological↗