Unveiling rural and Appalachian disparities in cigarette smoking through the social vulnerability index and other county-level characteristics.

Purpose: Mitigating tobacco-related disparities in the Appalachian region and rural areas is crucial. This study seeks to gauge cigarette smoking prevalence in Virginia counties, uncover rurality and Appalachian-linked disparities, and explore local drivers of these gaps.

Method: A 2011-2019 Virginia BRFSS data were used to estimate county-level cigarette smoking rates in adults aged 18 or older.

Identifying Patterns of Smoking Cessation App Feature Use That Predict Successful Quitting: Secondary Analysis of Experimental Data Leveraging Machine Learning.

Background: Leveraging free smartphone apps can help expand the availability and use of evidence-based smoking cessation interventions. However, there is a need for additional research investigating how the use of different features within such apps impacts their effectiveness.

Objective: We used observational data collected from an experiment of a publicly available smoking cessation app to develop supervised machine learning (SML) algorithms intended to distinguish the app features that promote successful smoking cessation.

Tobacco Quitline utilization compared with cigarette smoking prevalence in Virginia across rurality and Appalachian Status, 2011-2019.

Introduction: While cigarette smoking rates have declined, rural and Appalachian populations in the United States have not seen similar decreases. Quitline programs are promising strategies in reducing disparities in these areas, but research on their usage is limited.

Methods: We employed Small Area Estimation on the Virginia Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2011-2019) to estimate county-level smoking prevalence and utilized The Quit Now Virginia Quitline data (2011-2019) to estimate Quitline users.

Developing a Text Messaging Intervention to Prevent Binge and Heavy Drinking in a Military Population: Mixed Methods Development Study.

Background: Alcohol misuse is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and a significant problem in the US military. Brief alcohol interventions can reduce negative alcohol outcomes in civilian and military populations, but additional scalable interventions are needed to reduce binge and heavy drinking. SMS text messaging interventions could address this need, but to date, no programs exist for military populations.

Testing the feasibility of the QuitAid smoking cessation intervention in a randomized factorial design in an independent, rural community pharmacy.

Background: Adult smoking rates in the USA are highest in economically depressed rural Appalachia. Pharmacist-delivered tobacco cessation support that incorporates medication therapy management (such as the QuitAid intervention) is a promising approach to address this need.

Methods: Twenty-four adult smokers recruited between September and November 2021 through an independent pharmacy in rural Appalachia were randomized in a non-blinded 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design to (1) pharmacist delivered QuitAid intervention (yes vs.

Characterizing perceived usability and its correlation with smoking cessation: An analysis of user assessments of the smoking cessation app quitSTART.

Background: As smartphone ownership has become common in all demographic groups in the United States, smartphone applications (apps) for smoking cessation have grown in popularity due to their potential for supporting the diverse populations in the United States who are attempting to quit smoking. Usability is commonly assessed in mobile health (mHealth) technology as an important aspect of the user experience that could influence users' adherence to a health app and health outcomes. However, the variation of perceived usability across demographic groups, and the implications of that variation for app success, have not been well studied.

Decreasing alcohol use among young adults presenting for service in the U.S. Air Force: An epidemiological surveillance study.

U.S. surveys demonstrate recent decreases in the prevalence of alcohol use and binge drinking among young adults.

Reengagement for Long-Term Smoking-Cessation In Military Personnel, Retirees, Family Members (TRICARE): A Randomized Trial.

Introduction: We sought to determine what type of treatment reengagement after smoking relapse would increase long-term cessation.

Aims And Methods: Participants were military personnel, retirees, and family members (TRICARE beneficiaries) recruited across the United States from August 2015 through June 2020. At baseline, consented participants (n = 614) received a validated, four-session, telephonic tobacco-cessation intervention with free nicotine replacement therapy.

Data envelopment analysis to evaluate the efficiency of tobacco treatment programs in the NCI Moonshot Cancer Center Cessation Initiative.

Background: The Cancer Center Cessation Initiative (C3I) is a National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cancer Moonshot Program that supports NCI-designated cancer centers developing tobacco treatment programs for oncology patients who smoke. C3I-funded centers implement evidence-based programs that offer various smoking cessation treatment components (e.g.

Tobacco quitline performance: Comparing the impacts of early cessation and proactive re-engagement on callers' smoking status at follow-up at 12 months.

Introduction: While tobacco Quitlines are effective in the promotion of smoking cessation, the majority of callers who wish to quit still fail to do so. The aim of this study was to determine if 12-month tobacco Quitline smoking cessation rates could be improved with re-engagement of callers whose first Quitline treatment failed to establish abstinence.

Methods: In an adaptive trial, 614 adult smokers, who were active duty, retired, and family of military personnel with TRICARE insurance who called a tobacco Quitline, received a previously evaluated and efficacious four-session tobacco cessation intervention with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).

Predictors of Re-Engagement after Relapse in a Tobacco Quit Line Intervention: Secondary Analysis from a Randomized Clinical Trial.

People who smoke often make several quit attempts before successfully maintaining abstinence. Therefore, incorporating re-engagement for people who fail to initially quit could increase quit attempts and ultimately increase cessation rates. Within the context of quit line-based interventions, it remains unknown what characteristics are associated with re-engagement.

Integrating Tobacco Treatment Into Oncology Care: Reach and Effectiveness of Evidence-Based Tobacco Treatment Across National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Centers.

Purpose: Quitting smoking improves patients' clinical outcomes, yet smoking is not commonly addressed as part of cancer care. The Cancer Center Cessation Initiative (C3I) supports National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers to integrate tobacco treatment programs (TTPs) into routine cancer care. C3I centers vary in size, implementation strategies used, and treatment approaches.

Do Beliefs about Alcohol and Cancer Risk Vary by Alcoholic Beverage Type and Heart Disease Risk Beliefs?

Background: Alcohol is a leading risk factor for cancer, yet awareness of the alcohol-cancer link is low. Awareness may be influenced by perceptions of potential health benefits of alcohol consumption or certain alcoholic beverage types. The purpose of this study was to estimate awareness of the alcohol-cancer link by beverage type and to examine the relationship between this awareness and concomitant beliefs about alcohol and heart disease risk.

Evaluating the feasibility of pharmacist-facilitated tobacco cessation interventions in independent community pharmacies in rural Appalachia.

Background: Smoking rates in the United States are the highest in underserved rural regions. Thus, more points of contact are needed to link smokers to evidence-based cessation programs.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to conduct an evaluation to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and interest among rural pharmacists in implementing a pharmacist-facilitated smoking cessation program in independent community pharmacies in rural Appalachian communities in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

Rationale, design, and methods for the development of a youth adapted Brief Tobacco Intervention plus automated text messaging for high school students.

Background: Tobacco use is increasing among youth in the U.S. The current study seeks to develop and pilot test a universal group-based Youth Brief Tobacco Intervention (Y-BTI) plus mobile phone automated text messaging (ATM) for 9th grade students to both prevent initiation among non-users and promote cessation among current users.

User Experiences With an SMS Text Messaging Program for Smoking Cessation: Qualitative Study.

Background: Mobile health strategies for smoking cessation (eg, SMS text messaging-based interventions) have been shown to be effective in helping smokers quit. However, further research is needed to better understand user experiences with these platforms.

Objective: This qualitative study aims to explore the experiences of real-world users of a publicly available smoking cessation program (SmokefreeTXT).

User Engagement With Mood-Related Content on the National Cancer Institute Smokefree.Gov Initiative Cessation Resources.

Aims: This study aimed to examine engagement with mood-related content on the Smokefree.gov Initiative's smoking cessation resources.

Methods: Smokefree.

Efficacy of a group-based brief tobacco intervention among young adults aged 18-20 years in the US Air Force.

Introduction: Most smokers begin using tobacco before the age of 25 years, making it important to reduce tobacco use during adolescence and early adulthood. Rates of use are historically higher among military personnel. While 'Tobacco 21' made it illegal for US retailers to sell tobacco to those aged <21 years, the policy did not address cessation for current youth and young adult tobacco users.

Cancer health self-efficacy improvement in a randomized controlled trial.

Background: eHealth interventions can help cancer survivors self-manage their health outside the clinic. Little is known about how best to engage and assist survivors across the age and cancer treatment spectra.

Methods: The American Cancer Society conducted a randomized controlled trial that assessed efficacy of, and engagement with, Springboard Beyond Cancer, an eHealth self-management program for cancer survivors.

Awareness of Alcohol as a Carcinogen and Support for Alcohol Control Policies.

Introduction: Alcohol use increases cancer risk, yet awareness of this association is low. Alcohol control policies have the potential to reduce alcohol-caused cancer morbidity and mortality. Research outside the U.

Advancing engagement and capacity for rural cancer control: a mixed-methods case study of a Community-Academic Advisory Board in the Appalachia region of Southwest Virginia.

Background: The objectives are to: 1) describe engagement processes used to prioritize and address regional comprehensive cancer control needs among a Community-Academic Advisory Board (CAB) in the medically-underserved, rural Appalachian region, and 2) detail longitudinal CAB evaluation findings.

Methods: This three-year case study (2017-2020) used a convergent parallel, mixed-methods design. The approach was guided by community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles, the Comprehensive Participatory Planning and Evaluation process, and Nine Habits of Successful Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalitions.

Using Digital Technologies to Reach Tobacco Users Who Want to Quit: Evidence From the National Cancer Institute's Smokefree.gov Initiative.

The rapid growth of smartphone ownership and broadband access has created new opportunities to reach smokers with cessation information and support using digital technologies. These technologies can both complement and be integrated with traditional support modalities such as telephone quitlines and 1-on-1 clinical cessation counseling. The National Cancer Institute's Smokefree.

Psychological, Normative, and Environmental Barriers to Tobacco Cessation that Disproportionally Affect Sexual Minority Tobacco Users.

Introduction: Sexual minority populations-particularly gay/lesbian and bisexual women-use tobacco at higher rates than their heterosexual peers. Evidence-based biopsychosocial interventions for tobacco cessation are available; however, research is lacking on the specific barriers to tobacco cessation in these populations. The purpose of this study is to describe the psychological, normative, and environmental barriers to cessation that disproportionally affect sexual minority tobacco users.