Associations between cannabis use and same-day health and substance use behaviors.

Objective: Cannabis use has increased in the United States as states have legalized/decriminalized recreational and/or medicinal use. The primary aim of this study was to examine daily associations between cannabis use and health (physical activity [PA]) and substance use (alcohol consumption, cigarette use) behaviors.

Method: Data from a 28-day nationwide study that prompted daily ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) were used to assess daily cannabis use, moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), alcohol containing drinks consumed, and cigarettes smoked.

Smartphone-Based Smoking Cessation Intervention (OKquit) for Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline Users: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Tobacco quitlines provide effective resources (eg, nicotine replacement therapy, smoking cessation counseling, and text and web-based support) for those who want to quit smoking in the United States. However, quitlines reach approximately only 1%-3% of people who smoke each year. Novel, smartphone-based, and low-burden interventions that offer 24/7 access to smoking cessation resources that are tailored to current readiness to quit may increase appeal, reach, and effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions.

An Integrated mHealth App for Smoking Cessation in Black Smokers With HIV: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Black adults who smoke and have HIV experience immense stressors (eg, racial discrimination and HIV stigma) that impede smoking cessation success and perpetuate smoking-related health disparities. These stressors also place Black adults who smoke and have HIV at an increased risk of elevated interoceptive stress (eg, anxiety and uncomfortable bodily sensations) and smoking to manage symptoms. In turn, this population is more likely to smoke to manage interoceptive stress, which contributes to worse HIV-related outcomes in this group.

Comparison of the Bluetooth iCOquit, piCO, and Vitalograph for the assessment of breath carbon monoxide among adults initiating smoking cessation and standardized canisters.

Background: The Bluetooth iCOquit enables remote biochemical verification of smoking status, but its validity among adults attempting to quit smoking is unclear. This study 1) compared the iCOquit, piCO, and Vitalograph sensors to identify device-specific bias, 2) assessed the diagnostic accuracy of the iCOquit for the overall sample and within specific subgroups (sex, race, smoking rate, menthol use), and 3) assessed the validity of iCOquit readings against standardized CO canisters.

Methods: iCOquit devices were tested with human breath samples from individuals seeking treatment for combustible tobacco use (N = 93) attending an in-person clinic visit.

The Prevalence and Perceived Utility of Mobile Health Technology Among Recently Incarcerated Homeless Adults.

Mobile technologies can deliver physical and mental health services for recently incarcerated homeless adults (RIHAs). The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and perceived utility of mobile technology to support health behavior change among RIHAs. Participants ( = 324) from an ongoing clinical trial at a homeless shelter in Texas were included in the current descriptive cross-sectional analyses.

A Smartphone-Based Intervention for Anxiety and Depression in Racially and Ethnically Diverse Adults (EASE): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Clear health disparities have emerged in the rates of COVID-19 exposure, hospitalization, and death among Black, Hispanic, and American Indian (BHAI) individuals, relative to non-Hispanic White (NHW) individuals. BHAI populations have been disproportionately affected by lower behavioral health access and heightened negative mental health outcomes during the pandemic.

Objective: This project directly addresses health disparities in access to behavioral health care during the COVID-19 pandemic among BHAI populations via an adaptation of the established, initially validated, low-cost, mobile app Easing Anxiety Sensitivity for Everyone (EASE) among individuals with symptoms of elevated anxiety or depression or both.

The Utilization of a Rapid Agitation Scale and Treatment Protocol for Patient and Staff Safety in an Inpatient Psychiatric Setting.

Agitation is a common and potentially dangerous condition requiring rapid recognition and treatment in acute psychiatric units. Prompt intervention can prevent a patient with agitation from harming themselves, harming others, or needing restraints or seclusion. After the review of numerous guidelines, the Modified Agitation Severity Scale (MASS) agitation treatment protocol was developed to identify and manage agitation in an inpatient adult psychiatric setting.

An Integrated mHealth App for Smoking Cessation in Black Smokers With Anxiety: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Black smokers have greater difficulty in quitting and higher rates of smoking-related diseases and disabilities than the general population. The smoking disparities experienced by this group are, in part, a consequence of multiple chronic life stressors (eg, racial discrimination) that engender increased exposure to interoceptive stress symptoms (eg, anxiety), which can ultimately lead to smoking as a means of immediate emotion regulation.

Objective: This study aimed to culturally adapt and initially test a novel mobile intervention (ie, Mobile Anxiety Sensitivity Program for Smoking [MASP]) that targets anxiety sensitivity (AS; a proxy for difficulty and responsivity to interoceptive stress) among Black smokers.

Conflicting Advice between Spiritual Leaders, Friends and Family, and Mental Health Providers: Impacts on Mental Health Treatment-Seeking Behaviors.

This study aimed to examine the effects of advice from religious/spiritual leaders and friends/family of a religious/spiritual person with mental health struggles on treatment-seeking. A survey was administered to adult patients of a university-affiliated psychiatric clinic in the Midwest. Participants whose friends/family members' advice conflicted with their psychiatrist's advice were six times more likely to delay seeking mental health treatment (OR: 6.

The impact of new guidelines on the prevalence of hypertension in children: A cross-sectional evaluation.

Updated clinical practice guidelines for screening blood pressures in pediatric patients were published in 2017. They differ from the previous guideline, known as the Fourth Report, providing updated population normal values and blood pressure categorization. We hypothesized that the prevalence of abnormal blood pressure in children and adolescents would be higher using the new clinical practice guidelines.

Development and Evaluation of a Nutrition-Centered Lifestyle Medicine Curriculum for Physician Assistant Students.

Background: US medical schools are increasingly integrating lifestyle medicine competencies into their academic programs. Yet, physician assistant (PA) academic programs have been slower to respond.

Methods: We developed, implemented, and evaluated a nutrition-centered lifestyle medicine curriculum for 2nd-year PA students ( = 24).