scholarly journals Tobacco Use Changes and Perceived Health Risks among Current Tobacco Users during the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1795
Author(s):  
Jessica M. Yingst ◽  
Nicolle M. Krebs ◽  
Candace R. Bordner ◽  
Andrea L. Hobkirk ◽  
Sophia I. Allen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Cigarette Use ◽  
User Research ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
State College ◽  
Quit Attempt ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Penn State ◽  
Penn State College ◽  
Current Tobacco

COVID-19 has become a global pandemic, with over 81 million cases worldwide. To assess changes in tobacco use as a result of the pandemic, we surveyed a convenience sample of current tobacco users between April and June 2020. The sample was taken from a tobacco user research registry (n = 3396) from the Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA. Participants who responded to the survey and were eligible for this study (n = 291) were 25.6% male, 93% white, and had a mean age of 47.3 (SD = 11.6) years. There were no reports of participants testing positive for COVID-19, but 21.7% reported experiencing symptoms associated with the virus. Most participants (67%) believed that their risk of contracting COVID-19 was the same as non-tobacco users, but 57.7% believed that their risk of serious complications, if infected, was greater compared to non-tobacco users. A total of 28% reported increasing their cigarette use during the pandemic. The most common reasons for increased use were increased stress, more time at home, and boredom while quarantined. Nearly 15% reported decreasing their tobacco use. The most common reasons for reduced use were health concerns and more time around non-smokers (including children). A total of 71 (24.5%) users reported making a quit attempt. Characterizing these pandemic-related changes in tobacco use may be important to understanding the full scope of subsequent health outcomes resulting from the pandemic. Tobacco cessation resources should be tailored to allow for safe, appropriate access for those interested in quitting.

scholarly journals Exploring the gateway hypothesis of e-cigarettes and tobacco: a prospective replication study among adolescents in the Netherlands and Flanders

2021 ◽  
pp. tobaccocontrol-2021-056528
Author(s):  
Thomas Martinelli ◽  
Math J J M Candel ◽  
Hein de Vries ◽  
Reinskje Talhout ◽  
Vera Knapen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Tobacco Smoking ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Cigarette Use ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Frequent Use ◽  
Never Smokers

BackgroundStudies demonstrated that adolescent e-cigarette use is associated with subsequent tobacco smoking, commonly referred to as the gateway effect. However, most studies only investigated gateways from e-cigarettes to tobacco smoking. This study replicates a cornerstone study revealing a positive association between both adolescent e-cigarette use and subsequent tobacco use; and tobacco and subsequent e-cigarette use in the Netherlands and Flanders.DesignThe longitudinal design included baseline (n=2839) and 6-month (n=1276) and 12-month (n=1025) follow-up surveys among a school-based cohort (mean age: 13.62). Ten high schools were recruited as a convenience sample. The analyses involved (1) associations of baseline e-cigarette use and subsequent tobacco smoking among never smokers; (2) associations of e-cigarette use frequency at baseline and tobacco smoking frequency at follow-up; and (3) the association of baseline tobacco smoking and subsequent e-cigarette use among non-users of e-cigarettes.FindingsConsistent with prior findings, baseline e-cigarette use was associated with higher odds of tobacco smoking at 6-month (OR=1.89; 95% CI 1.05 to 3.37) and 12-month (OR=5.63; 95% CI 3.04 to 10.42) follow-ups. More frequent use of e-cigarettes at baseline was associated with more frequent smoking at follow-ups. Baseline tobacco smoking was associated with subsequent e-cigarette use (OR=3.10; 95% CI 1.58 to 6.06 at both follow-ups).ConclusionOur study replicated the positive relation between e-cigarette use and tobacco smoking in both directions for adolescents. This may mean that the gateway works in two directions, that e-cigarette and tobacco use share common risk factors, or that both mechanisms apply.

scholarly journals Development of a Wellness Curriculum at a New Regional Campus: A Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katelyn Edel ◽  
Michael Flanagan ◽  
Juan Qiu ◽  
Jacqueline Gardner
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Tai Chi ◽  
Medical Schools ◽  
The United States ◽  
Wellness Program ◽  
State College ◽  
Regional Campus ◽  
Penn State ◽  
Penn State College ◽  
Wellness Curriculum

Background: Burnout is a critical issue that is increasingly prevalent among healthcare professionals. Several studies suggest that the decline in mental health and wellness begins in medical school. As such, medical schools across the United States have started to develop proactive approaches to medical student wellness, often in the form of an organized curriculum focused on resilience, mindfulness, and stress-reduction. There is little research describing the implementation and refinement of a wellness curriculum at a small regional campus of an academic medical center. A regional campus represents a unique opportunity to develop a comprehensive wellness program, because of the flexibility of the curriculum and the small number of students. The Penn State College of Medicine University Park Campus sought to develop a wellness program specific to first year medical students (MS1s) and to create a companion program of inter-professional wellness exercises open to all teaching faculty and learners at our regional campus. Methods: The study was reviewed by the Penn State College of Medicine Institutional Review Board (STUDY00011390) and was granted “Exempt” status. Three components of the wellness curriculum were developed: a mandatory, semester-long curriculum for MS1s focused on professional development, a 10-session Tai Chi class accessible to faculty, staff and students, and a series of watercolor painting workshops accessible to faculty and students. Participants completed pre- and post-surveys to assess these interventions. Results: The participation rate for the optional Tai Chi and watercolor workshops was relatively low, with 20% of students attending. Most participants felt that medical schools should be responsible for offering wellness programs for students. The majority of students wanted optional wellness activities to be available, rather than mandatory sessions. Discussion: The information gathered from this pilot study will be used to develop a formal curriculum that is accessible, helpful, and convenient for all members of the regional campus community. In the future, it will be helpful to conduct a needs assessment to ascertain what kind of wellness offerings will be most successful among students, faculty, and staff of a regional medical campus. Conflicts of Interest: None.

scholarly journals Factors Influencing In-State Retention Rates of Graduating Residents From Penn State College of Medicine Compared to National Average Retention Rates

Cureus ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie Patterson ◽  
Lisa Ho ◽  
Daniella Mikhail ◽  
Kevin Chiang ◽  
David R Hallan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
National Average ◽  
Retention Rates ◽  
State College ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Penn State ◽  
Penn State College

scholarly journals Penn State College of Medicine

2020 ◽  
Vol 95 (9S) ◽  
pp. S434-S438
Author(s):  
Britta M. Thompson ◽  
Eileen M. Moser ◽  
Jed D. Gonzalo ◽  
Daniel R. Wolpaw ◽  
Tomi D. Dreibelbis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
State College ◽  
Penn State ◽  
Penn State College

scholarly journals Exploring the Bi-Directional Association between Tobacco and E-Cigarette Use among Youth in Canada

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (21) ◽  
pp. 4256
Author(s):  
Aleyan ◽  
Gohari ◽  
Cole ◽  
Leatherdale
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Students ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Complex Relationship ◽  
Cigarette Use ◽  
Reciprocal Relationships ◽  
Longitudinal Sample ◽  
Canadian Youth ◽  
Student Questionnaire ◽  
Current Tobacco ◽  
Relevant Covariates

Research has demonstrated associations between e-cigarette use and tobacco use among youth. However, few studies have examined whether reciprocal relationships exist between e-cigarette and tobacco use. The objective of this study was to examine whether bi-directional associations exist between e-cigarette and tobacco use in a large longitudinal sample of Canadian youth. A longitudinal sample of secondary students (n = 6729) attending 87 schools in Ontario and Alberta, Canada, who completed the COMPASS student questionnaire across three waves (from 2014–2015 to 2016–2017) was identified. Using cross-lagged models, we explored bi-directional associations between current tobacco and e-cigarette use, adjusting for relevant covariates. Our findings showed that current e-cigarette use predicted subsequent tobacco use between Wave 1 (W1) and Wave 2 (W2) of the study (W1–2: OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.37–1.74). Similarly, current tobacco use predicted e-cigarette use during earlier waves of the study (W1–2: OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.30–1.58). However, these relationships dissipated in later waves, when tobacco use no longer predicted e-cigarette use (W2–3: OR = 1.07, 95 % CI = 0.99–1.16). This study extends prior work that focused mainly on the association between e-cigarette and subsequent tobacco use. Specifically, our findings portray a more complex relationship, where e-cigarette use may influence and be influenced by tobacco use.

scholarly journals Tobacco Use and Subsequent Cessation Among Hospitalized Patients in Mumbai, India: A Longitudinal Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 363-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gina R Kruse ◽  
Vaibhav Thawal ◽  
Himanshu A Gupte ◽  
Leni Chaudhuri ◽  
Sultan Pradhan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hospital Discharge ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Post Discharge ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Quit Attempt ◽  
Cessation Treatment ◽  
Continuous Abstinence ◽  
Treatment Use ◽  
Current Tobacco

Abstract Introduction Hospitalization is an important setting to address tobacco use. Little is known about post-discharge cessation and treatment use in low- and middle-income countries. Our objective was to assess tobacco use after hospital discharge among patients in Mumbai, India. Methods Longitudinal observational study of inpatients (≥15 years) admitted at one hospital from November 2015 to October 2016. Patients reporting current tobacco use were surveyed by telephone after discharge. Results Of 2894 inpatients approached, 2776 participated and 15.7% (N = 437) reported current tobacco use, including 5.3% (N = 147) smokers, 9.1% (N = 252) smokeless tobacco (SLT) users, and 1.4% (N = 38) dual users. Excluding dual users, SLT users, compared to smokers, were less likely to report a plan to quit after discharge (42.6% vs. 54.2%, p = .04), a past-year quit attempt (38.1% vs. 52.7%, p = .004), to agree that tobacco has harmed them (57.9% vs. 70.3%, p = .02) or caused their hospitalization (43.4% vs. 61.4%, p < .001). After discharge, 77.6% of smokers and 78.6% of SLT users reported trying to quit (p = .81). Six-month continuous abstinence after discharge was reported by 27.2% of smokers and 24.6% of SLT users (p = .56). Nearly all relapses to tobacco use after discharge occurred within 30 days and did not differ by tobacco type (log-rank p = .08). Use of evidence-based cessation treatment was reported by 6.5% (N = 26). Conclusions Three-quarters of tobacco users in a Mumbai hospital attempted to quit after discharge. One-quarter reported continuous tobacco abstinence for 6 months despite little use of cessation treatment. Increasing post-discharge cessation support could further increase cessation rates and improve patient outcomes. Implications No prior study has measured the patterns of tobacco use and cessation among hospitalized tobacco users in India. Three-quarters of tobacco users admitted to a hospital in Mumbai attempted to quit after discharge, and one-quarter remained tobacco-free for 6 months, indicating that hospitalization may be an opportune time to offer a cessation intervention. Although smokers and SLT users differed in socioeconomic status, perceived risks and interest in quitting, they did not differ in their ability to stay abstinent after hospital discharge.

Predictors of Continued Smoking and Interest in Cessation Among Older Female Smokers

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 624-640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn E. Weaver ◽  
Beverly M. Snively ◽  
Patricia Hogan ◽  
Kathryn Josephs ◽  
Karen C. Johnson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Current Smoking ◽  
Southeast Region ◽  
Health Initiative ◽  
Quit Attempt ◽  
Former Smokers ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
Current Tobacco ◽  
Hispanic White

Objectives: Older female smokers are highly vulnerable, yet little is known about their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors regarding smoking cessation. Methods: Southeast region Women’s Health Initiative participants identified as smokers on at least one prior assessment were surveyed in 2012 regarding current tobacco use. Results: Most of these current and former smokers ( N = 409, 63% response) were non-Hispanic White (81.7%) and had some college (80%), with mean age of 75.1 years. Current smoking was confirmed by 56%, and while 61% of these reported a past-year quit attempt, less than half used quit aids. Of current smokers, 57.5% intended to quit within 6 months (26.6% within 30 days), and 68% were interested in joining a cessation study. Conclusions: Older female smokers were highly motivated to quit, yet profoundly underutilized proven quit aids. Results support high acceptability of cessation interventions for this undertreated population.

scholarly journals CORRELATION OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALISM WITH ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN FINAL YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS

2021 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 333-37
Author(s):  
Badar Murtaza ◽  
Abid Ashar ◽  
Sohail Sabir
Keyword(s):  
Academic Performance ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Medical Professionalism ◽  
Female Ratio ◽  
Medical College ◽  
State College ◽  
Penn State ◽  
Penn State College ◽  
Academic Results

Objective: To assess the correlation of medical professionalism score of final year medical students with theiracademic results of the final professional examination. Study Design: Correlational study. Place and Duration of Study: Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, from Mar to Nov 2019. Methodology: Final year medical students were enrolled by non-probability consecutive sampling. Their medical professionalism score was calculated using the Penn State College of Medicine-Professionalism Questionnaire (PSCOM-PQ). All the aspects of accountability, altruism, excellence, duty, honour/integrity and respect were noted using the questionnaire. Thirty points from the questionnaire were used, calculating the maximum value of 150. After the final professional examination, their academic results were procured. The strength of the relationship between medical professionalism score and academic results of final year professional examination was assessed using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: A total of 75 final year medical students were studied. The age ranged from 22-27 years (23.96 ± 1.16years). The male to female ratio was 2.12:1. The medical professionalism score ranged from 71-150 points (127.28 ± 15.43). The academic results percentages of final year professional examination (MBBS) were not found to be significantly correlated with their professionalism score (r=-0.10, p=0.394). Conclusion: The medical professionalism score of the final year medical students has no statistically significantcorrelation with their academic performance.

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