Publications by authors named "Erika L Bloom"

Background: Gamification and deposit contracts (a financial incentive in which participants pledge their own money) can enhance effectiveness of mobile behavior change interventions. However, to assess their potential for improving population health, research should investigate implementation of gamified deposit contracts outside the research setting. Therefore, we analyzed data from StepBet, a smartphone application originally developed by WayBetter, Inc.

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Although studies have suggested that mindfulness-based interventions might be effective in enhancing military readiness and resilience, this has not been rigorously evaluated. This study presents results from a systematic review and meta-analyses of research examining how mindfulness meditation affects 13 performance-related outcomes of interest to the U.S.

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Smoking prevalence among individuals in substance use treatment remains higher than in the general population. Given that many smokers in substance use treatment are reluctant to quit smoking, it is important to understand the factors that impede smokers' readiness to quit. The current study used baseline data from a randomized controlled trial involving 60 adult smokers receiving substance use treatment to investigate relations between the severity of substance use problems (SSUP), perceived stress (PS), concerns about relapse (i.

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Unlabelled: Cigarette smoking disproportionately affects individuals with mood disorders, but smoking cessation interventions have modest effects in this population. Home mindfulness practice during abstinence incentivized via contingency management (CM) may help those in affective distress quit smoking.

Method: Adult smokers receiving outpatient psychiatric treatment for mood disorders were randomized to receive a smartphone-assisted mindfulness-based smoking cessation intervention with contingency management (SMI-CM, = 25) or enhanced standard treatment (EST, = 24) with noncontingent rewards.

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Contingency management is an effective treatment for cigarette smoking cessation but feasibility and acceptability concerns have been barriers to implementation. We conducted a pilot test of QuitBet, a commercial, digital (smartphone) social game for smoking cessation during which participants earned financial incentives for abstinence. QuitBet included a social feed for posting messages and entirely participant-funded incentives in the form of a deposit contract (the "bet").

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Article Synopsis
  • Smoking among individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) is a significant public health issue, and hospital stays may present a unique chance to assist with quitting.
  • The Helping HAND 3 study assessed the effectiveness of a multicomponent smoking cessation program (SusC) compared to usual care for SMI patients in a psychiatric inpatient setting in Austin, Texas, from 2015 to 2019.
  • The SusC intervention included motivational counseling, free nicotine patches, access to quitline services, and follow-up support, with the primary outcome being smoking abstinence verified at 6 months post-discharge.
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Importance: Telehealth services, which allow patients to communicate with a remotely located clinician, are increasingly available; however, prevalence of telehealth use, including videoconferencing visits, remains unclear.

Objective: To measure the use of and willingness to use telehealth modalities across the US population.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This survey study, conducted between February 2019 and April 2019, asked participants about their use of different telehealth modalities, reasons for not using videoconferencing visits, and willingness to use videoconferencing visits.

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Introduction: The majority of women who smoke cigarettes report that concern about weight gain is a barrier to quitting. We developed an intervention incorporating distress tolerance, appetite awareness, and mindful eating skills to target concerns about post-cessation weight gain and emotional eating (DT-W). In the current study, we conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial of DT-W versus a smoking health education (HE) intervention.

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Many women who smoke cigarettes report that concern about weight gain is a barrier to quitting. Indeed, most quitters gain weight and some attribute relapses to weight gain concern. Contingency management (CM), which refers to reinforcing a target behavior with financial incentives, has been demonstrated effective for promoting smoking abstinence and weight management independently.

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Background: Individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) smoke at disproportionately higher rates than those without SMI, have lifespans 25-32 years shorter, and thus bear an especially large burden of tobacco-related morbidity and mortality. Several recent studies demonstrate that smokers with SMI can successfully quit smoking with adequate support. Further evidence shows that using technology to deliver sustained care interventions to hospitalized smokers can lead to smoking cessation up to 6 months after discharge.

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Weight control is a common motive for cigarette smoking.  Some individuals also report using electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) for weight control.  This study tested the hypothesis that the tendency to use combustible cigarettes for weight/appetite control would be associated with higher odds of current e-cigarette use among adult daily combustible cigarette smokers.

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Introduction: Clinical practice guidelines recommend comprehensive treatment for tobacco dependence including pharmacotherapies and behavioral interventions. Group counseling may deliver unique treatment aspects not available with other modalities. This manuscript provides a narrative review of group treatment outcomes from real-world practice settings and complements recent meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

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Objectives: The US Affordable Care Act (ACA) now requires almost all health insurance plans to cover tobacco use treatment (TUT), but TUT remains underutilized.

Methods: We conducted an anonymous online survey of US TUT providers in 2016 regarding their billing practices.

Results: Participants (n = 131) provided services primarily in medical and behavioral health settings and were from a variety of professions.

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We previously developed a distress tolerance (DT)-based treatment that showed promising results for smokers with a history of early lapse. In the current study, we conducted a randomized controlled trial of this DT treatment for a general population of smokers not limited to those with a history of early lapse. We randomized 116 participants (41% female) to DT or standard treatment (ST).

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Purpose: Smoking behaviors and intent to quit have not been well studied among adolescent psychiatric patients. The current study examined the relationships between smoking-related variables (smoking status/heaviness and intent to quit), psychiatric diagnoses and symptomatology, and substance use among adolescents receiving psychiatric inpatient care.

Methods: Baseline data from a randomized controlled trial, testing the effect of a brief intervention on substance use, with 151 psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents with comorbid psychiatric and substance use disorders (diagnosed using semi-structured interviews) were examined for this study.

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Introduction: The Smoking and Weight Eating Episodes Test (SWEET; Adams et al. 2011) is a self-report measure designed to assess multiple reasons why and when smokers use cigarettes for appetite, weight, and shape management, that was initially developed and validated in young female smokers.

Purpose: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the factor structure and psychometric properties of the SWEET measure among both male and female daily cigarette smokers.

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Background: Although individuals with psychiatric disorders are disproportionately affected by cigarette smoking, few outpatient mental health treatment facilities offer smoking cessation services. In this paper, we describe the development of a smartphone-assisted mindfulness smoking cessation intervention with contingency management (SMI-CM), as well as the design and methods of an ongoing pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) targeting smokers receiving outpatient psychiatric treatment. We also report the results of an open-label pilot feasibility study.

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Background And Objectives: The majority of individuals in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment also smoke cigarettes; yet, the availability of smoking cessation services in SUD treatment remains limited. In this study, we developed and piloted a brief intervention for smokers in SUD treatment intended to motivate engagement in tobacco quitline treatment (TIME-TQ).

Methods: First, we interviewed 19 smokers in SUD treatment to inform the development of TIME-TQ (Phase 1).

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Quitting smoking and aerobic exercise each improve health. Although smokers may be concerned that quitting smoking will reduce their quality of life (QOL), recent research has shown that cessation is associated with QOL benefits. Elements of smoking cessation interventions, such as exercise, may contribute to changes in QOL.

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Fear of gaining weight after quitting cigarette smoking is a major barrier to smoking cessation among women. Distress tolerance, which refers to one's ability and willingness to tolerate physical and emotional discomfort, predicts successful behavior change. Novel interventions rooted in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) have emerged that aim to increase distress tolerance and engagement in values-oriented behavior.

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Substance use among adolescents with one or more psychiatric disorders is a significant public health concern. In this study, 151 psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents, ages 13-17 with comorbid psychiatric and substance use disorders, were randomized to a two-session Motivational Interviewing intervention to reduce substance use plus treatment as usual (MI) vs. treatment as usual only (TAU).

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