Videogame Preferences among Adults Interested in Quitting Smoking Cigarettes (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caitlyn R. Upton ◽  
Jessica A. Nastasi ◽  
Bethany R. Raiff
Keyword(s):  
Serious Games ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The United States ◽  
Treatment Seeking ◽  
Quit Smoking ◽  
Game Features ◽  
Quitting Smoking ◽  
Game Intervention ◽  
Genre Preferences ◽  
Screening Survey

UNSTRUCTURED Background: Smoking is the number one preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Although most smokers express a desire to quit smoking, only a small percentage are successful. Serious games have become popular in health sectors as a potential avenue for delivering a scalable treatment that is both accessible and engaging for this population. Objective: Several smoking cessation games have already been developed 1–6, but these games feature a broad range of gameplay elements and are not necessarily driven by existing videogame preferences. The current study evaluated videogame genre preferences among treatment seeking smokers (N = 473). Methods: Participants responded to a screening survey distributed to enroll participants in a serious game intervention for smoking. During this survey, participants were asked to disclose their favorite videogames and reported 338 unique titles. These titles were coded for genre category based on publisher listing and game features. The genres were then analyzed for frequency of reporting overall and across age groups. Results: Action, Roleplaying, and Action-Adventure were the most reported genres among adults 34 and under, whereas Logic and Action were the most reported genres in adults 45 and older. Among adults aged 35 to 44 this shift is observed, with Action, Action-Adventure and Logic being most reported. These data indicate that treatment-seeking smokers have different game preferences across age groups, and provides novel information to inform the development of future serious games targeting smokers that are tailored to the preferences of their age group.

scholarly journals Using Serious Games for Antismoking Health Campaigns: Experimental Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jihyun Kim ◽  
Hayeon Song ◽  
Kelly Merrill Jr ◽  
Younbo Jung ◽  
Remi Junghuem Kwon
Keyword(s):  
Serious Games ◽  
Computer Game ◽  
The United States ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
Fear Appeals ◽  
Intention To Quit ◽  
Fear Appeal ◽  
Health Campaign ◽  
Quit Smoking ◽  
Significant Difference

BACKGROUND Serious games for health have been gaining in popularity among scholars and practitioners. However, there remain a few questions to be addressed. OBJECTIVE This study tests the effects of a serious game and fear appeals on smoking-related outcomes. More specifically, this research aims to understand how serious games function as a more effective vehicle for a health campaign than a traditional medium, such as a print-based pamphlet. Further, while serious games utilize a variety of persuasive strategies in the game’s content, it is not clear whether fear appeals, which are widely used persuasive-message strategies for health, can be an effective strategy in serious games. Thus, we are testing the effect of fear appeals in a serious game. METHODS We created a computer game and a print brochure to educate participants about the risks of smoking. More specifically, a flash-based single-player game was developed in which players were asked to avoid cigarettes in the gameplay context. We also developed an online brochure based on existing smoking-related brochures at a university health center; antismoking messages on the computer game and in the brochure were comparable. Then, an experiment using a 2 (media type: game vs. print) x 2 (fearful image: fear vs. no-fear) between-subjects design was conducted. The study recruitment was announced to undergraduate students enrolled in a large, public Midwestern university in the United States. After a screening test, a total of 72 smokers, who reported smoking in the past 30 days, participated in the experiment. RESULTS Overall, gameplay, when compared to print-based pamphlets, had greater impacts on attitudes toward smoking and the intention to quit smoking. Further, the game’s persuasive effects were especially pronounced when messages contained fear appeals. When fearful images were presented, participants in the game condition reported significantly more negative attitudes toward social smoking than those in the print condition [<i>F</i>(1,67)=7.28; <i>P</i>=.009; <i>η</i><sub>p<sup>2</sup></sub>=0.10]. However, in the no-fear condition, there was no significant difference between the conditions [<i>F</i>(1,67)=0.25; <i>P</i>=.620]. Similarly, the intention to quit smoking [<i>F</i>(1,67)=4.64; <i>P</i>=.035; <i>η</i><sub>p<sup>2</sup></sub>=0.07] and susceptibility [<i>F</i>(1,67)=6.92; <i>P</i>=.011; <i>η</i><sub>p<sup>2</sup></sub>=0.09] were also significantly different between the conditions, but only when fear appeals were used. CONCLUSIONS This study extends fear appeal research by investigating the effects of different media types. It offers empirical evidence that a serious game can be an effective vehicle for fear appeals.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Flavored e-Cigarette Use Among Subpopulations of Adults in the United States

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam M Leventhal ◽  
Hongying Dai
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Status ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cigarette Use ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Quit Smoking ◽  
Prevalence Estimates ◽  
Quitting Smoking ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Never Smokers

Abstract Background Evidence of US adult flavored e-cigarette use prevalence stratified by age, smoking status, and purpose for vaping (ie, quitting smoking, to use when or where smoking is not allowed) can inform policies that reduce the tobacco-related cancer burden. Methods Current flavored e-cigarette use (use 1 or more nontobacco flavors) prevalence estimates were compared across subpopulation groups using 2-sided statistical significance tests in the July 2018 Current Population Survey Tobacco Use Supplement, a nationally representative cross-sectional adult survey (n = 46 759). Results Current flavored e-cigarette use was reported by 1.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.47% to 1.69%) of all respondents. Among current vapers, the percentage of those who used flavored e-cigarettes was higher for adults aged 18-24 years (89.6%), 25-34 years (86.7%), and 35-44 years (76.0%) than for adults aged 45 years and older (60.4%, Ps &lt; .001); was higher in never smokers (89.8%) than current (72.9%), long-term former (73.9%), and recent former (80.4%) smokers (Ps ≤ .009); was higher in smokers who reportedly did (78.9%) vs did not (71.1%) use e-cigarettes to vape where or when smoking is not allowed (P = .005); and did not differ between smokers who reportedly did (75.0%) vs did not (73.9%) vape to quit smoking (P = .71). Individuals who vaped to quit smoking and currently used flavored e-cigarettes constituted 0.9% (95% CI = 0.82% to 0.99%) of all adults (weighted N = 2 251 000, 95% CI = 2 046 000 to 2 476 000) and 57.2% of current flavored e-cigarette users. Conclusions Flavored e-cigarette use prevalence was low among US adults overall but common for current vapers. Flavored e-cigarette use was disproportionately prevalent among never smokers and other subpopulations that might experience harm from vaping.

scholarly journals Using Serious Games for Antismoking Health Campaigns: Experimental Study

10.2196/18528 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. e18528
Author(s):  
Jihyun Kim ◽  
Hayeon Song ◽  
Kelly Merrill Jr ◽  
Younbo Jung ◽  
Remi Junghuem Kwon
Keyword(s):  
Serious Games ◽  
Computer Game ◽  
The United States ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
Fear Appeals ◽  
Intention To Quit ◽  
Fear Appeal ◽  
Health Campaign ◽  
Quit Smoking ◽  
Significant Difference

Background Serious games for health have been gaining in popularity among scholars and practitioners. However, there remain a few questions to be addressed. Objective This study tests the effects of a serious game and fear appeals on smoking-related outcomes. More specifically, this research aims to understand how serious games function as a more effective vehicle for a health campaign than a traditional medium, such as a print-based pamphlet. Further, while serious games utilize a variety of persuasive strategies in the game’s content, it is not clear whether fear appeals, which are widely used persuasive-message strategies for health, can be an effective strategy in serious games. Thus, we are testing the effect of fear appeals in a serious game. Methods We created a computer game and a print brochure to educate participants about the risks of smoking. More specifically, a flash-based single-player game was developed in which players were asked to avoid cigarettes in the gameplay context. We also developed an online brochure based on existing smoking-related brochures at a university health center; antismoking messages on the computer game and in the brochure were comparable. Then, an experiment using a 2 (media type: game vs. print) x 2 (fearful image: fear vs. no-fear) between-subjects design was conducted. The study recruitment was announced to undergraduate students enrolled in a large, public Midwestern university in the United States. After a screening test, a total of 72 smokers, who reported smoking in the past 30 days, participated in the experiment. Results Overall, gameplay, when compared to print-based pamphlets, had greater impacts on attitudes toward smoking and the intention to quit smoking. Further, the game’s persuasive effects were especially pronounced when messages contained fear appeals. When fearful images were presented, participants in the game condition reported significantly more negative attitudes toward social smoking than those in the print condition [F(1,67)=7.28; P=.009; ηp2=0.10]. However, in the no-fear condition, there was no significant difference between the conditions [F(1,67)=0.25; P=.620]. Similarly, the intention to quit smoking [F(1,67)=4.64; P=.035; ηp2=0.07] and susceptibility [F(1,67)=6.92; P=.011; ηp2=0.09] were also significantly different between the conditions, but only when fear appeals were used. Conclusions This study extends fear appeal research by investigating the effects of different media types. It offers empirical evidence that a serious game can be an effective vehicle for fear appeals.

scholarly journals How does the use of flavored nicotine vaping products relate to progression towards quitting smoking? Findings from the 2016 and 2018 ITC 4CV Surveys

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin Li ◽  
Ron Borland ◽  
K Michael Cummings ◽  
Geoffrey T Fong ◽  
Shannon Gravely ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cigarette Smoking ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cigarette Use ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Quit Smoking ◽  
Self Selection ◽  
Quitting Smoking

Abstract Introduction There is limited research on the role of flavors in nicotine vaping products (NVPs) in relation to smoking. We examined patterns of flavor use in NVPs in relation to progression towards quitting. Methods Data come from 886 concurrent users of NVPs (at least weekly) and cigarettes who were first surveyed in 2016 and then successfully recontacted in 2018 as part of the ITC 4CV Surveys conducted in Australia, Canada, England and the United States. Participants were asked about their main vaping flavor categorized as: 1) tobacco or unflavored, 2) menthol/mint flavored, and 3) “sweet” flavors (e.g., fruit/candy). We examined whether flavor was associated with progression towards quitting smoking between survey years. Results Overall, 11.1% of baseline concurrent users quit smoking by 2018. Compared to users of tobacco flavors, those vaping “sweet” flavors were more likely to quit smoking between surveys (13.8% vs. 9.6%; adjusted OR=1.61, 95% CI 1.01-2.58, p&lt;0.05), but those using menthol flavors were no more likely to quit smoking (8.3% vs. 9.6%, aOR=0.87, 95% CI 0.43-1.47, p=0.69). Among those who had quit smoking in 2018, 52.0% were still vaping, which was lower than the 65.8% among continuing smokers (aOR=0.60, 95% CI 0.39-0.92, p=0.02). Sweet flavor users were no more likely to continue vaping compared to tobacco flavor users, either for those continuing smoking or those having quit smoking by 2018. There was a net shift away from tobacco flavor among those who continued to vape at follow-up. Conclusions Use of fruit and other sweet flavored e-liquids is positively related to smokers’ transition away from cigarettes. Implications With multiple jurisdictions considering limiting or banning the sale of flavored NVPs, it is important to consider how such policies may impact smokers using NVPs to transition away from cigarette smoking. Our results indicate that vapers who used sweet flavors were more likely to transition away from cigarette smoking and quit cigarette use, at least in the short term, compared to those who used tobacco or unflavored NVPs. Randomized clinical trials are needed to establish if the observed association between use of flavored e-liquids and smoking cessation is due to self-selection or is truly causal.

scholarly journals Motivational Benefits of Social Support and Behavioural Interventions for Smoking Cessation

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 216-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia N. Soulakova ◽  
Chiung-Ya Tang ◽  
Selena A. Leonardo ◽  
Lindsay A. Taliaferro
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The United States ◽  
Behavioural Interventions ◽  
Quit Attempt ◽  
Quit Smoking ◽  
Western Us ◽  
Intentions To Quit

This study examined the role of social support and behavioural interventions used during the last unsuccessful quit attempt for smokers’ intentions to quit smoking within the next six months, and identified smokers’ attributes associated with the use of social support and behavioural interventions. The analytic sample included 7,195 adult daily smokers who responded to the 2010–2011 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey, conducted in the United States, and indicated having a serious quit attempt in the past 12 months. Smokers who relied on social support from friends and family had higher odds of intending to quit than those who did not (OR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.22:1.58), and smokers who used interventions had higher odds of intending to quit than those who did not (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.07:1.74). These associations were similar for both sexes, all age groups, and nicotine dependence levels. Both, relying on social support and the use of behavioural interventions were more common among smokers who were female, higher educated, residing in the Western US region, and those who used pharmacological aids for smoking cessation. Social support and behavioural interventions are associated with higher intentions to quit among attempters who relapsed and thus, may aid future smoking cessation.

Big Data Driven Clinical Informatics & Surveillance (BDD_CIS) – A Multimodal Database Focused Clinical, Community, and Multi-Omics Surveillance Plan for COVID-19: A study Protocol (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bankole Olatosi ◽  
Jiajia Zhang ◽  
Sharon Weissman ◽  
Zhenlong Li ◽  
Jianjun Hu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
South Carolina ◽  
Data Science ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
The United States ◽  
Data Sources ◽  
Patient Registries ◽  
Multiple Partner ◽  
Multimodal Data

BACKGROUND The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) remains a serious global pandemic. Currently, all age groups are at risk for infection but the elderly and persons with underlying health conditions are at higher risk of severe complications. In the United States (US), the pandemic curve is rapidly changing with over 6,786,352 cases and 199,024 deaths reported. South Carolina (SC) as of 9/21/2020 reported 138,624 cases and 3,212 deaths across the state. OBJECTIVE The growing availability of COVID-19 data provides a basis for deploying Big Data science to leverage multitudinal and multimodal data sources for incremental learning. Doing this requires the acquisition and collation of multiple data sources at the individual and county level. METHODS The population for the comprehensive database comes from statewide COVID-19 testing surveillance data (March 2020- till present) for all SC COVID-19 patients (N≈140,000). This project will 1) connect multiple partner data sources for prediction and intelligence gathering, 2) build a REDCap database that links de-identified multitudinal and multimodal data sources useful for machine learning and deep learning algorithms to enable further studies. Additional data will include hospital based COVID-19 patient registries, Health Sciences South Carolina (HSSC) data, data from the office of Revenue and Fiscal Affairs (RFA), and Area Health Resource Files (AHRF). RESULTS The project was funded as of June 2020 by the National Institutes for Health. CONCLUSIONS The development of such a linked and integrated database will allow for the identification of important predictors of short- and long-term clinical outcomes for SC COVID-19 patients using data science.

Folklore and Folklife of American Age Groups and Aging

2018 ◽  
pp. 844-866
Author(s):  
Mary L. Sellers
Keyword(s):  
Life Course ◽  
Group Identity ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The United States ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Folk Traditions ◽  
Values And Beliefs ◽  
Infancy And Early Childhood ◽  
The Life Course ◽  
Pregnancy And Birth

Folklore occurs at every stage of a person’s life, and this chapter covers the way folklore and folklife across, and of, the life course has been studied. Six divisions in the life course that mark traditions of age groups as well as perceived stages in the United States are pregnancy and birth, infancy and early childhood, childhood and adolescence, adulthood, seniority, and death. Although much of the scholarship of age groups has been on the beginning and end of life, I demonstrate the conditions of aging in adolescence through the senior years that generate folklore and should be studied in relation to formation of age-group identity. This chapter emphasizes the use of folklore as an adaptation to aging. It examines the connection of folk traditions to the role that anxiety plays in the aging process, the formation of self and group identity, and the rites of passage that mark transitions from one stage to another. It shows that the presence of invented and emerging traditions indicates changing values and beliefs across the life course and encourages research in age-based research as a basic component of folklore and folklife studies.

scholarly journals Incidence of Benign Meningiomas in the United States: Current and Future Trends

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonia Bhala ◽  
Douglas R Stewart ◽  
Victoria Kennerley ◽  
Valentina I Petkov ◽  
Philip S Rosenberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Cancer Registries ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
The United States ◽  
Birth Cohorts ◽  
Benign Meningioma ◽  
Case Count ◽  
Future Burden ◽  
Rate Ratios

Abstract Background Benign meningiomas are the most frequently reported central nervous system tumors in the United States (US), with increasing incidence in past decades. However, the future trajectory of this neoplasm remains unclear. Methods We analyzed benign meningioma incidence of cases identified by any means (eg, radiographically with or without microscopic confirmation) in US Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) cancer registries among 35–84-year-olds during 2004–2017 by sex and race/ethnicity using age-period-cohort (APC) models. We employed APC forecasting models to glean insights regarding the etiology, distribution, and anticipated future (2018–2027) public health impact of this neoplasm. Results In all groups, meningioma incidence overall increased through 2010, then stabilized. Temporal declines were statistically significant overall and in most groups. JoinPoint analysis of cohort rate-ratios identified substantial acceleration in White men born after 1963 (from 1.1% to 3.2% per birth year); cohort rate-ratios were stable or increasing in all groups and all birth cohorts. We forecast that meningioma incidence through 2027 will remain stable or decrease among 55–84-year-olds but remain similar to current levels among 35–54-year-olds. Total meningioma burden in 2027 is expected to be approximately 30,470 cases, similar to the expected case count of 27,830 in 2018. Conclusions Between 2004–2017, overall incidence of benign meningioma increased and then stabilized or declined. For 2018–2027, our forecast is incidence will remain generally stable in younger age groups but decrease in older age groups. Nonetheless, the total future burden will remain similar to current levels because the population is aging.

scholarly journals Assessing the Relationships Between COVID-19 Stay-at-Home Orders and Opioid Overdoses in the State of Pennsylvania

2021 ◽  
pp. 002204262110063
Author(s):  
Brian King ◽  
Ruchi Patel ◽  
Andrea Rishworth
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
The United States ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Opioid Overdose ◽  
Policy Recommendations ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Fentanyl Analogs ◽  
Measure Change ◽  
Using Data ◽  
At Home

COVID-19 is compounding opioid use disorder throughout the United States. While recent commentaries provide useful policy recommendations, few studies examine the intersection of COVID-19 policy responses and patterns of opioid overdose. We examine opioid overdoses prior to and following the Pennsylvania stay-at-home order implemented on April 1, 2020. Using data from the Pennsylvania Overdose Information Network, we measure change in monthly incidents of opioid-related overdose pre- versus post-April 1, and the significance of change by gender, age, race, drug class, and naloxone doses administered. Findings demonstrate statistically significant increases in overdose incidents among both men and women, White and Black groups, and several age groups, most notably the 30–39 and 40–49 ranges, following April 1. Significant increases were observed for overdoses involving heroin, fentanyl, fentanyl analogs or other synthetic opioids, pharmaceutical opioids, and carfentanil. The study emphasizes the need for opioid use to be addressed alongside efforts to mitigate and manage COVID-19 infection.

scholarly journals Analyzing Predictors of Control Measures and Psychosocial Problems Associated with COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Eight Countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 106
Author(s):  
Sheikh Saifur Rahman Jony ◽  
Ubydul Haque ◽  
Nathaniel J. Webb ◽  
Emily Spence ◽  
Md. Siddikur Rahman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Health ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Psychosocial Problems ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
The United States ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Primary Determinant

COVID-19 has harshly impacted communities globally. This study provides relevant information for creating equitable policy interventions to combat the spread of COVID-19. This study aims to predict the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of the COVID-19 pandemic at a global level to determine control measures and psychosocial problems. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from July to October 2020 using an online questionnaire. Questionnaires were initially distributed to academicians worldwide. These participants distributed the survey among their social, professional, and personal groups. Responses were collected and analyzed from 67 countries, with a sample size of 3031. Finally, based on the number of respondents, eight countries, including Bangladesh, China, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, the United States, and Zambia were rigorously analyzed. Specifically, questionnaire responses related to COVID-19 accessibility, behavior, knowledge, opinion, psychological health, and susceptibility were collected and analyzed. As per our analysis, age groups were found to be a primary determinant of behavior, knowledge, opinion, psychological health, and susceptibility scores. Gender was the second most influential determinant for all metrics except information about COVID-19 accessibility, for which education was the second most important determinant. Respondent profession was the third most important metric for all scores. Our findings suggest that greater encouragement from government health authorities and the promotion of health education and policies are essential in the dissemination of COVID-19-awareness and increased control of the spread of COVID-19.

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