Youths' exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS): associations with health beliefs and social pressure.

Youths' exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is a significant public health problem in the United States. This study examined the associations between health beliefs, social pressure, and exposure to ETS among high school youth. Data were collected in 65 schools in 18 California counties during the 1996-1997 school year as part of the Independent Evaluation of the California Tobacco Control, Prevention, and Education Program.

Independent evaluation of the California Tobacco Control Program: relationships between program exposure and outcomes, 1996-1998.

Objectives: This study sought to determine the effects of the California Tobacco Control Program on tobacco-related attitudes and behaviors.

Methods: In 1996 and 1998, a telephone survey was conducted among adults in randomly selected households in 18 California counties. Tenth-grade youths in 84 randomly selected high schools completed a written survey.

Chewing tobacco: who uses and who quits? Findings from NHANES III, 1988-1994. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III.

Objectives: This study identified mutually exclusive groups of men at high and low risk for use of chewing tobacco and for quitting.

Methods: Analyses used a national sample of 1340 non-Hispanic Black, 1358 Mexican American, and 1673 non-Hispanic White men, aged 25 to 64, who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III from 1988 to 1994. Signal detection analysis was used to delineate high- and low-risk subgroups; survival analysis was used to estimate hazard curves for comparing age at onset for chewing tobacco use with that for smoking.

Generalizability of findings from a chewing tobacco cessation clinical trial.

This study examined selection bias by comparing characteristics of a general population sample of tobacco chewers, participants in a chewing tobacco cessation trial, and non-participants in the trial. A population-based sample of chewers (n = 155) was surveyed by telephone to assess demographics, tobacco-use patterns, and quitting history. Six months later, chewers from this same population were recruited for a cessation trial (n = 401 participants and 68 non-participants).

What factors are associated with local enforcement of laws banning illegal tobacco sales to minors? A study of 182 law enforcement agencies in California.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to understand the attitudes of local law enforcement staff regarding policies to reduce youth access to tobacco, to determine what proportion of these agencies have conducted unannounced compliance checks in the past year, and to examine factors associated with conducting compliance checks.

Methods: A written questionnaire was completed by 182 law enforcement officials representing 200 cities and counties in California (some officials represented multiple jurisdictions). Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with conducting compliance checks.

Peer influences and susceptibility to smoking among California adolescents.

Using data from a diverse statewide sample of 10th-grade adolescents in California, in 1996-97, this study investigated the associations between peer influence variables and susceptibility to smoking. Peer influence variables included attitudes about the social consequences of smoking and subjective norms, as described by the Theory of Reasoned Action. Among never-smokers (N=2681) and ever-smokers (N=4248), attitudes about social consequences of smoking and subjective norms each were associated with an increased risk of susceptibility to smoking.

The relationship between home smoking bans and exposure to state tobacco control efforts and smoking behaviors.

Purpose: To examine the relationship between home smoking bans and adult smokers' exposure to the statewide California Tobacco Control Program (TCP) and their cigarette smoking behavior.

Design: Cross-sectional survey that was part of the statewide Independent Evaluation of the California Tobacco Control, Prevention and Education Program.

Setting: Random telephone interviews within 18 California counties.

Opinion leaders' support for tobacco control policies and participation in tobacco control activities.

Objectives: Because opinion leaders hold positions from which they may influence tobacco control efforts, this study examined their support for tobacco control policies and their involvement in tobacco control activities.

Methods: A telephone survey was administered to 712 California opinion leaders who were randomly selected from constructed lists representing 8 types of organizations: health, education, law enforcement, media, government, business, ethnic, and youth. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to identify predictors of support for and participation in tobacco control activities.

Quitting chew: results from a randomized trial using nicotine patches.

The authors examined the efficacy of transdermal nicotine replacement for cessation in 410 adult nonsmoking chewing tobacco users. Participants were randomly assigned to 6 weeks of 15-mg nicotine patch plus behavioral treatment or placebo patch plus behavioral treatment. All participants received the same behavioral treatment of 2 pharmacy visits, 2 support calls, and self-help materials.

Smoking bans in the home and car: Do those who really need them have them?

Background: This paper addresses the question of whether individuals who are most in need of household and car smoking bans, such as individuals with children living at home or who have many friends who smoke, are the ones who have them.

Method: A representative sample of 6985 California adults ages 18 and older participated in telephone interviews.

Results: Overall, 76% of adults report having home smoking bans and 66% have car smoking bans.

Which adults do underaged youth ask for cigarettes?

Objectives: This study identified adults' demographic and smoking behavior characteristics that are related to being asked to provide tobacco to a minor.

Methods: Telephone interviews were conducted with 6352 California adults. Predictors included age, sex, household income, and smoking status.

The Stanford Nutrition Action Program: a dietary fat intervention for low-literacy adults.

Objectives: This study was undertaken to test the effectiveness of the Stanford Nutrition Action Program, an experimental trial to reduce dietary fat intake among low-literacy, low-income adults.

Methods: Twenty-four paired adult education classes (351 participants, 85% women, mean age = 31 years) were randomly assigned to receive a newly developed dietary fat curriculum (the Stanford Nutrition Action Program) or an existing general nutrition curriculum. Food frequency and nutrition-related data, body mass index, and capillary blood cholesterol were collected at baseline and at two postintervention follow-ups.

Predicting achievement of a low-fat diet: a nutrition intervention for adults with low literacy skills.

Background: This paper identifies factors that predict achievement of a low-fat diet among 242 California adults with low literacy skills, following their participation in the Stanford Nutrition Action Program (SNAP), a randomized classroom-based nutrition intervention trial (1993-1994).

Methods: The intervention classes received a newly developed curriculum that focuses on reducing dietary fat intake (SNAP); the control classes received an existing general nutrition (GN) curriculum. Data were collected at baseline and 3 months postintervention.

Hispanic/white differences in dietary fat intake among low educated adults and children.

Background: This comparative study tests for ethnic differences in dietary fat consumption in a community-based sample of Hispanic and white adults with low educational attainment (< 12 years of schooling) and a separate sample of their children.

Methods: Data are presented for adults (age 20-64, n = 886) and youths (age 12-19, n = 170) from four California cities who participated in one of four sequential cross-sectional surveys (1981-1990).

Results: After adjustment for age, sex, city of residence, and time of survey, white adults were significantly (P < 0.

Obstacles to and future goals of ten comprehensive community health promotion projects.

Over 100 project staff, community coalition members, and other representatives from 10 comprehensive community health promotion projects in the western United States were surveyed two years into a three year funding cycle about: (1) the problems or obstacles they judged as preventing successful completion of their current goals and objectives, and (2) future goals and objectives they envisioned for their projects. The key issues confronting respondents were diverse, although issues around the process of implementing community health promotion programs were cited more frequently than issues related to the content of health promotion. When respondents were asked to prioritize Future Goals in the second survey, consensus across communities was obtained despite broad differences in the type of community surveyed and the health problem targeted.

Responsible alcohol service: a study of server, manager, and environmental impact.

A responsible alcohol-service training program was evaluated for its impact on changing beliefs, knowledge, and behavior in 97 servers and 43 managers and on changing establishment policies that encourage safer drinking environments. The training program had a significant impact on changing the beliefs and knowledge of both servers and managers. Observation 4 to 6 weeks after training showed no effects on server behavior, but there was a tendency toward more establishment policies compared with controls.

Community impact of a localized smoking cessation contest.

The present study assessed the effectiveness of a localized community contest timed to coincide with a statewide smoking cessation contest. Follow-up interviews were conducted with 218 local contest participants and 198 participants from the statewide contest. Overall cessation impact (participation rate x abstinence) was 0.