Tobacco Product Use Among Youths With and Without Lifetime Asthma - Florida, 2016.

The increasing availability of diverse tobacco products has led to complex tobacco product use patterns among youths (1). Use by youths of products containing nicotine in any form is unsafe (2); among young persons with asthma, use of combustible tobacco products, particularly cigarettes, is associated with worsening symptoms, poor asthma control, and an increased need for medical management (3,4). Studies suggest that youths with asthma adopt health risk behaviors, including tobacco product use, at rates similar to or higher than those of youths without asthma (3-7); however, these studies are often limited to a partial list of tobacco product types among high school students.

Hookah Use Among Florida High School Students, 2011-2014.

Introduction: Adolescent use of hookah continues to increase in the U.S., even in states that have reported decreases in traditional cigarette use among youth.

Developing Asthma-Friendly Childcare Centers with Online Training and Evaluation.

In 2011, the Florida Asthma Coalition (FAC) began offering its Asthma-Friendly Childcare Center (AFCC) training online. This course teaches childcare center employees the fundamentals of effective asthma management. It covers basic asthma physiology, ways to recognize asthma attacks, techniques to help children experiencing attacks, and strategies to create healthy environments for asthmatics.

Asthma 101 for Schools: Successes and Challenges in Transitioning to Online Delivery.

Florida Asthma Program staff worked with evaluators from the Florida State University College of Medicine to assess participation and quality of the American Lung Association's Asthma 101 asthma management education program for school faculty and staff between 2011 and 2014. This included transitioning the program to an online training format for the 2013-2014 school year. Asthma 101 helps school personnel master the basics of asthma physiology and management, with content tailored specifically for elementary and secondary educational settings.

Adolescent Electronic Cigarette Use: Associations With Conventional Cigarette and Hookah Smoking.

Introduction: The emerging trends and rapid growth of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) among adolescents are being monitored closely. The trends are critical as policy to prevent uptake among adolescents is considered. The purpose of this study is to describe the prevalence of e-cigarette use and potential correlates for use.

Evaluating Emergency Department Asthma Management Practices in Florida Hospitals.

Objective: To assess gaps in emergency department (ED) asthma management at Florida hospitals.

Design: Survey instrument with open- and closed-ended questions. Topics included availability of specific asthma management modalities, compliance with national guidelines, employment of specialized asthma care personnel, and efforts toward performance improvement.

A multiyear assessment of hookah use prevalence among Florida high school students.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of hookah use among Florida high school students over time. Alternative tobacco products, including hookah, pose a public health threat to tobacco prevention efforts, especially among adolescents.

Methods: Florida Youth Tobacco Survey data, representing all public high school students in the state, were analyzed to assess the prevalence of lifetime and current hookah use and were compared by demographic groups.