The social norms and beliefs of teenage male electronic cigarette use.

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are novel, battery-operated inhalation devices that provide warm, vaporized nicotine, and often propylene glycol, to users without the inclusion of tobacco smoke. Because men, in general, are more likely to use cigarettes and illicit drugs than women, a qualitative study was undertaken to investigate the beliefs and perceived social norms regarding this issue among 47 teenage boys who self-identified themselves as current e-cigarette smokers. The majority of respondents reported that they used e-cigarettes because of expeditious consumption and concealment.

Cigarette smoking topography among alternative school youth: why African American youth smoke less but are at higher long-term risk.

A paradox exists in health disparities research where African-American cigarette smokers consume fewer cigarettes per day, yet experience higher rates of tobacco-related disease compared to White American smokers. In this study we conducted focus group interviews among alternative high school youth (N = 78; age 18-19 years old) in an urban area in Southwest Texas to investigate if African-American youth smoke cigarettes differently than their White-American and Hispanic-American counterparts. The majority of African-American participants reported inhaling deeper and smoking their cigarettes "to the filter" because of their concern over wasting any part of an expensive cigarette.

Beliefs and perceived norms concerning smoking cessation program recruitment among African American teen smokers: what appeals to youth and what turns them away.

A qualitative approach was used to investigate the beliefs and perceived norms about participation in smoking cessation programs among a sample of African American alternative school students (N = 53), aged 14 to 18 years old, in the United States who were current smokers. The authors found that the majority of participants felt that smoking cessation programs were not effective, caused smoking, or lacked activities. Both boys and girls believed that communication sources that provided direct messages in real situations were the best motivators or incentives for African American youth recruitment into smoking cessation programs.

The association of drug use and post-traumatic stress reactions due to Hurricane Ike among Fifth Ward Houstonian youth.

This study shows the important link between higher drug use and self-medication among youth with higher reported posttraumatic stress reactions after natural disasters. The study offers secondary analysis of cross-sectional data collected on 170 predominately African American males through the Fifth Ward Enrichment program (FWEP) in Houston, Texas, between November and December 2009. Men who stated that in the last week they tried to keep from thinking or talking about the hurricane or things that remind them of what happen were significantly more likely to use alcohol (p < .

Smoking cessation counseling practices of Texas pharmacists.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine pharmacists' awareness and education about smoking cessation and their communication with patients about smoking cessation. A survey was mailed to East Texas pharmacists practicing in the areas of hospital or clinical, retail or community, managed care, consultant, or academic pharmacy. Outcome measurements included: measures of the awareness of the 5 A's and 5 R's of smoking cessation, training received in smoking cessation, and communication practices regarding smoking cessation.

Smoking cessation recruitment among African American youth: what youth think will help them attend.

Data on the perceived sources of cessation information and the reasons why alternative school students would attend a smoking cessation program were collected from 302 students at an alternative high school who were surveyed through the Safer Decisions Program in Houston, Texas. Data collection took place between September 2006 and January 2007. Logistic regression identified that non-smokers were more likely to believe it was important to receive cessation information from doctors (4.

Alprazolam (Xanax) use among southern youth: beliefs and social norms concerning dangerous rides on "handlebars".

While the epidemiologic trends concerning alprazolam (Xanax) are unknown, the use of benzodiazepines, in general, has increased in popularity among youth within recent years. To shed light on the drug problem, the current pilot study used a qualitative approach to investigate relevant beliefs, norms, and perceived addiction associated with alprazolam initiation among 46 youth who were attending an inpatient drug treatment program during the spring of 2004. Overwhelmingly, most participants stated that addiction to alprazolam occurs as early as initial consumption.

Influence of educational status and other variables on human immunodeficiency virus risk perception among military personnel: a large cohort finding.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk perception remains an effective determinant of HIV transmission. Although higher educational attainment has been associated with increased HIV risk perception, this predictor remains to be assessed among Nigerian military personnel (NMP). In a prospective cohort of 2,213 NMP, the effects of education and other factors on HIV risk perception were assessed at baseline by using the X2 statistic and unconditional logistic regression.

The impact of immigration status on tobacco use among Chinese-American adults in Texas.

Objectives: This study analyzed the impact of immigration status on current tobacco use among adult Chinese-Americans living in Texas.

Methods: A survey was administered in Chinese and English in 2004 to assess tobacco use among Chinese-American adults using a stratified probability sample from two large metropolitan areas in Texas. Data were adjusted for unequal probability of selection and weighted to provide state-wide estimates for Chinese-Americans in Texas.

Beliefs and social norms about sildenafil citrate (Viagra) misuse and perceived consequences among Houstonian teenage males.

In the current study, a qualitative approach was used to investigate relevant beliefs and norms associated with sildenafil citrate (Viagra) consumption, initiation, and perceived consequences. Focus groups were conducted with 43 young men aged 18 and 19 years who identified themselves as lifetime sildenafil citrate users. The majority of focus group participants believed that "curiosity" and "peer pressure" contributed to their initial use.

The relationship between sexual abuse and drug use: a view of African-American college students in Texas.

This study offers cross-sectional analysis of data collected from the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Awareness and Use Study (ASAAUS). Data collection took place in October 2003 via a self-administered survey. Students who reported sexual abuse history in or around campus were 4 times more likely to report current amphetamine, cocaine, hallucinogen, opiate, or designer drug use compared to students with no sexual abuse history.

Beliefs and social norms about smoking onset and addictions among urban adolescent cigarette smokers.

Cigarette smoking is a behavior which is most often developed during adolescence. The association between smoking onset and nicotine addiction has not been clearly established among ethic minorities. To better understand this relationship, this study used a qualitative approach to investigate relevant beliefs and norms associated with cigarette smoking initiation and development of nicotine addiction among 52 high school students who identified themselves as current smokers.

Use of interactive health communication to affect smoking intentions in middle school students: a pilot test of the "Headbutt" risk assessment program.

Purpose: Developing and disseminating innovative and effective approaches for smoking prevention among middle school children remains a public health priority. This pilot study evaluates the use of a Web-based tobacco prevention program, Headbutt, to change intentions of middle school children to smoke tobacco.

Methods: Headbutt was implemented with the use of a single-group pretest-posttest study design in sixth grade classes of nine middle schools in Texas (student n = 2227).

Beliefs and social norms about cigarettes or marijuana sticks laced with embalming fluid and phencyclidine (PCP): why youth use "fry".

Recent drug-use monitoring among Houston adolescents has detected a concoction of cigarettes or marijuana sticks laced with embalming fluid and PCP ("fry"). To shed light on this mixture, the current pilot study used a qualitative approach to investigate relevant beliefs and norms associated with fry initiation and perceived addiction among 38 youth who were attending outpatient and inpatient drug-user treatment programs in the spring of 2003. Respondents perceived that addiction to fry could occur as early as initial consumption, and the majority of participants indicated that their second fry event occurred either the same day as their initial use or the next day.

Strategies to prevent HIV transmission among heterosexual African-American women.

BACKGROUND: African-American women are disproportionately affected by HIV, accounting for 60% of all cases among women in the United States. Although their race is not a precursor for HIV, the socioeconomic and cultural disparities associated with being African American may increase their risk of infection. Prior research has shown that interventions designed to reduce HIV infection among African-American women must address the life demands and social problems they encounter.

Strategies to prevent HIV transmission among heterosexual African-American men.

Background: As part of qualitative research for developing a culturally sensitive and developmentally appropriate videotape-based HIV prevention intervention for heterosexual African- American men, six focus groups were conducted with thirty African-American men to determine their perceptions of AIDS as a threat to the African-American community, characteristics of past situations that have placed African Americans at risk for HIV infection, their personal high risk behaviors, and suggestions on how HIV intervention videotapes could be produced to achieve maximum levels of interest among African-American men in HIV training programs.

Methods: The groups took place at a low-income housing project in Houston, Texas, a major epicenter for HIV/AIDS. Each group was audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed using theme and domain analysis.

Media and community campaign effects on adult tobacco use in Texas.

The present study reports on the effects on adult tobacco cessation of a comprehensive tobacco-use prevention and cessation program in the state of Texas. Differences in cessation rates across treatment conditions were measured by following a panel of 622 daily smokers, recruited from the original cross-sectional sample, from baseline to follow-up. The adult media campaign combined television, radio, newspaper and billboard advertisements featuring messages and outreach programs to help adults avoid or quit using tobacco products.

Primary source of income is associated with differences in HIV risk behaviors in street-recruited samples.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between primary source of income and HIV risk behaviors and the racial/ethnic differences in risk behavior profiles among disadvantaged populations have not been fully explored. This is unusual given that the phenomenon of higher risk in more disadvantaged populations is well-known but the mechanisms remain unclear. We examined the relationship between primary source of income and differences in HIV risk behaviors among four racial/ethnic groups in the southern United States.

Physicians' views and practice of smoking cessation.

To assess recent smoking cessation practices of physicians in East Texas and to determine whether physicians' practices meet current standards, a 43-item questionnaire was mailed in May 2000 to 1955 physicians in East Texas. The 406 physicians who finished and returned the survey were included in this study. The questionnaire covered a wide range of sociodemographic variables, and physicians' attitudes and activities related to patients' smoking cessation.

Misperceptions about HIV transmission among heterosexual African-American and Latino men and women.

This research was conducted to identify myths and misperceptions about HIV/AIDS and barriers to risk reduction among heterosexual African-American and Latino-American men and women in Houston, Texas. Sixty four Latino-American and 69 African-American men and women, aged 13 to 59 years, participated in 10 and 11 focus groups, respectively. Each group was audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed using theme and domain analysis.

Sociodemographic differences in exposure to health information.

Objective: Baseline data from the Heart Attack REACT Study provided the opportunity to explore population subgroup differences in exposure to health information in an ethnically diverse sample from 5 regions across the United States.

Methods: During the 4-month baseline period of the REACT study, some 1,200 residents from the 20 study communities were surveyed using random digit dial telephone methods. Respondents were asked to recall health messages seen and/or heard recently, and the sources of these messages.