Perceptions of Tobacco Control Media Campaigns Among Smokers With Lower Socioeconomic Status.

People with low socioeconomic status (SES) in the United States have disparately high rates of smoking and experience disproportionately high burdens of smoking-related disease. Tobacco control media campaigns are a critical strategy for reducing tobacco use prevalence, but evidence is mixed about the optimal use of mass media to reach and promote tobacco use cessation among people with low SES. Improved understanding of the factors influencing how low-SES tobacco users evaluate tobacco control media campaigns may inform development of more effective messages and strategies.

Evaluation of Community-Based Cessation Programs: How Do Smokers with Behavioral Health Conditions Fare?

Though persons with behavioral health conditions experience large disparities in tobacco use, questions about the efficacy of evidence-based tobacco use treatment remain understudied in community health settings. This evaluation examined outcomes from eight community-based tobacco cessation programs for participants with and without behavioral health conditions (n = 974 participants). The majority (64.

"The Job Has Become Advocating for the Job": Threats to Funding Dramatically Influence Program Outcomes.

As public health funding is increasingly threatened, a better understanding is needed about how periods of funding uncertainty impact program staff, activities, and outcomes. In North Carolina, 2 years of uncertainty and threats of funding cuts for a statewide youth tobacco prevention initiative contributed to reduced grantee morale and confidence about achieving program goals, displaced focus from core program activities, and caused premature loss of personnel, resulting in substantially reduced program activities and outcomes. The range of negative impacts of funding uncertainty and threats highlights the need for programs to create an infrastructure to support ongoing sustainability planning and activities.

Assessment Following Distal Radius Fractures: A Comparison of 4 Scoring Systems, Visual Numerical Scales, and Objective Measurements.

Purpose: To compare 4 recognized upper-limb scoring systems that are regularly used to assess wrist function after injury.

Methods: We reviewed 116 patients 6 months after volar locking plate fixation for distal radius fractures. Two purely subjective and 2 composite scoring systems composed of both subjective and objective components were compared along with visual numerical scores for pain and function and objective measures of function.

North Carolina health professionals' communication with adolescents about smoking.

Background: The middle school and high school years are a time when adolescents are at high risk for initiation of smoking and progression to nicotine addiction. This research examines the prevalence with which North Carolina students receive smoking-related communication from health professionals and how such communication relates to smoking behaviors.

Methods: Data are from the 2009 North Carolina Youth Tobacco Survey (NCYTS), a biennial public and charter school-based survey of students in grades 6-12.

Support among middle school and high school students for smoke-free policies, North Carolina, 2009.

Introduction: In the United States, little is known about youth attitudes toward smoke-free policies. Our research measures North Carolina middle school and high school students' opinions about smoke-free policies in indoor and outdoor public places as well as private places such as vehicles, homes, and work environments.

Methods: Data come from the 2009 North Carolina Youth Tobacco Survey.

Successful implementation of a wellness and tobacco cessation curriculum in psychosocial rehabilitation clubhouses.

Background: Tobacco remains a seemingly intractable problem for individuals living with severe and persistent mental illness. This study evaluated the implementation, technical assistance, and perceived impact of a model curriculum ("Learning About Healthy Living") to promote wellness and motivation to quit tobacco use in psychosocial rehabilitation clubhouses.

Methods: We used semi-structured interviews (n = 9) with clubhouse staff (n = 12) and a survey of participating clubhouse members (n = 271) in nine clubhouses.

High tobacco use among lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations in West Virginian bars and community festivals.

With no information on tobacco use for lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) populations in West Virginia (WV), it is unclear if nationally-identified LGB tobacco disparities also exist in this State. To address this data gap, we conducted a community tobacco survey in bars and events associated with the WV Pride Parade and Festival. Trained community surveyors used electronic and paper survey instruments in bars (n = 6) in three WV cities and community events associated with the WV Pride Parade and Festival.

State adoption of 100% smoke-free acute non federal hospital campus policies.

To assess the number and percentage of acute care hospitals in the U.S. that have adopted smoke-free hospital campus (SFHC) policies, researchers conducted an assessment from January 2008 to May 2008 of available data on SFHC policy adoption in each state.

Smoking as a vital sign: prompts to ask and assess increase cessation counseling.

Background: Strategies to improve smoking cessation counseling in clinical settings are critical to supporting smokers' attempts to quit. This study evaluates the impact of adding 2 smoking-related vital sign questions in an electronic medical records system on identification, assessment, and counseling for patients who smoke: "Current smoker?" and "Plan to quit?"

Methods: Baseline data and data after intervention were collected through record review of 899 randomly selected patient visits across 3 outpatient clinics.

Results: From before to after intervention, identification of smokers increased 18% (from 71% to 84%; P<.

Achieving fire-safe cigarette legislation through coalition-based legislative advocacy.

Advocates who work for tobacco control legislation through coalition-based policy advocacy have access to a broad base of support and resources that are critical to overcoming the tobacco industry lobby. This article provides an example of how a coalition-based advocacy strategy that engaged a diverse group of stakeholders and was supported by a national coordinating movement achieved state level fire-safe cigarette legislation in a tobacco-producing and manufacturing state.