Improving Understanding about Social Influences on Food Choices in College Students: A Pilot Study

<p>The impact of social influences on food choices in college settings is of great importance because students are vulnerable to new forming identities at this time. The purpose of this pilot study is to determine the degree to which social influences impact food choices in a sample of college students. A 22-item survey instrument was created to determine the extent to which students have experienced being influenced by others when making food related purchasing decisions. A total of 257 out of a 323 students invited (80% response rate) in 11 sections of a personal health course responded to the survey. The overwhelming majority of respondents were reportedly comfortable ordering whatever they wanted when in the presence of their friends (n=249; 97%). Students were more likely to feel pressure to make a healthy choice than an unhealthy choice if everyone else was (45.1% vs. 31.5%), but fewer felt this way when asked specifically if their friends were ordering (28.4% vs. 21%). Social influences surrounding food choices are a topic that has gained momentum recently, however more research needs to be conducted to determine the reasons why social influences affect certain college students especially in comparing healthy versus unhealthy food choices.</p>

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mTOR inhibition affects primary liver cancer

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2006.24.18_suppl.14106 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 24 (18_suppl) ◽

pp. 14106-14106 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

M. Rizell ◽

C. Cahlin ◽

M. Olausson ◽

L. Hafstrom ◽

M. Andersson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Liver Cancer ◽

Mtor Inhibitor ◽

Response Rate ◽

Primary Liver Cancer ◽

Liver Tumours ◽

Mtor Inhibition ◽

Underlying Liver Disease ◽

The Impact ◽

Experimental Liver

14106 Background: Due to extent of tumour and underlying liver disease primary liver cancer, hepatocellular(HCC) as well as cholangiocellular(CCC), has extremely poor prognosis. The tyrosinekinase and mTOR inhibitor sirolimus, is registered for preventing allograft rejection. It retard experimental liver tumours in rats, and has antiangiogenic effects as well. Methods: Patients with a nonoperable HCC or CCC, with a Karnofsky >70, and the diagnosis confirmed by biopsy or alfa-fetoprotein (>700ug/ml) were eligible. Ethic committee approved the study and informed consent was signed. The daily Sirolimus dose was adjusted to a 6–10 μg/L through-concentration.Twenty patients were to be enrolled in a nonrandomized study. The primary endpoint was to detect a radiological tumor response rate, defined by RECIST criteria, and secondary endpoint was to study the safety profile. CT or MRI were repeated every third month. The study was approved by the Etic Committee of Göteborg University. Results: Eleven patients with HCC and nine with CCC were included. Overall respone rate was 5%, which ocurred in a patient patient with HCC. The PR lasted for 15 months (RR 9% for HCC). Four patients with HCC had SD for median 7 months (range 5–18). Of the patients with CCC four had SD. Median duration of SD was 4 months (range 1 - 7). Median survival for patients with HCC was 7 months (range 2–20) and CCC 4 months (range 2–24) Discussion: There is low evidence supporting the use of chemotherapy for primary liver cancer. For HCC, one PR and 4 SD in this pilot study indicate that sirolimus might be of interest to study in a phase II trial, since the toxicity of sirolimus was low. In the european SILVER study,the impact of sirolimus for patients transplanted for HCC will be clarified. Experimentally, the antiangiogenetic effects of sirolimus has been boosted by combining with 5-FU and gemcitabine. This might translate to impoved response rate also for liver cancer. Conclusions: This pilot study suggests that sirolimus have a tumour effect in patients with HCC. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

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Ethical and Practical Implications of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among College Students: A Pilot Study

The Journal of Healthcare Ethics & Administration ◽

10.22461/jhea.2.7166 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 38-50

Author(s):

Evangel Sarwar ◽

Eunice Kimunai ◽

Salome Mshigeni

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Summer School ◽

Vaccine Hesitancy ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Science Students ◽

Students Attitudes ◽

Undergraduate Science ◽

The Impact ◽

Practical Implications

According to WHO, one of the most effective ways to protect people against COVID-19 is with the use of vaccines. As academic institutions prepare to fully re-open in the fall of 2021 and COVID-19 vaccines being readily accessible to all ages twelve and older in the U.S., college students are also getting ready to go back to normal campus operations for traditional in-person education. This raises the need to assess students’ attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccines by identifying and addressing reasons for their hesitancy. One major threat to the impact of vaccination in preventing disease and deaths from COVID-19 is low utilization of vaccines by some groups. We conducted a pilot study and interviewed 55 undergraduate science students enrolled in summer school in 2021. The majority of the students were female, younger, Hispanic, or Latino, and at the junior or senior level. More than half of them have been vaccinated (62%) and indicated that it is important to attend classes while vaccinated (75%). While there were a variety of reasons for hesitancy ranging from lack of concern to lack of initiative, 17% of participants stated that religion played a role in their decision. Evidence-based recommendations strategies based on religion, ethical, and social implications are provided.

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Using Facebook and Twitter to Encourage Physical Activity: Are College Students Connecting with Campus Recreation on Social Media? A Pilot Study

Recreational Sports Journal ◽

10.1123/rsj.2014-0046 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 39 (2) ◽

pp. 132-143

Author(s):

Rebecca M. Achen

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

College Students ◽

Social Media ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Marketing Strategy ◽

Future Research ◽

Campus Recreation ◽

Health Course

The purpose of this pilot study was to examine students' use of the campus recreation center and their engagement with the center's social media accounts as a basis for future research. A survey was completed by 257 students in an undergraduate health course. The respondents were 38% female and 61% male, and 29% freshmen, 44% sophomores, 18% juniors, and 7% seniors. Results indicated that while the majority of students use Facebook and Twitter, most of them do not follow the center's accounts. However, students who participated in the least popular activities at the center were more likely to follow and interact with the center's social media. Potentially, students do not want to connect with the recreation center on social media and managers should shift resources to a different marketing strategy, or managers need to engage in a campaign to increase students' awareness of the center's accounts.

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