Identification and characteristics of vaccine refusers.

Background: This study evaluated the utility of immunization registries in identifying vaccine refusals among children. Among refusers, we studied their socioeconomic characteristics and health care utilization patterns.

Methods: Medical records were reviewed to validate refusal status in the immunization registries of two health plans.

Smoking and cessation behaviors among young adults of various educational backgrounds.

Objectives: We sought to determine whether the educational backgrounds of young adult smokers (aged 18 to 24 years) affect their cessation attitudes or behaviors in ways that could be used to improve smoking interventions.

Methods: We surveyed 5580 members of the HealthPartners health plan and conducted a follow-up survey 12 months later of current and former smokers. Respondents were divided into subgroups according to educational level.

Automated inter-rater reliability assessment and electronic data collection in a multi-center breast cancer study.

Background: The choice between paper data collection methods and electronic data collection (EDC) methods has become a key question for clinical researchers. There remains a need to examine potential benefits, efficiencies, and innovations associated with an EDC system in a multi-center medical record review study.

Methods: A computer-based automated menu-driven system with 658 data fields was developed for a cohort study of women aged 65 years or older, diagnosed with invasive histologically confirmed primary breast cancer (N = 1859), at 6 Cancer Research Network sites.

The TEAM project: the effectiveness of smoking cessation intervention with hospital patients.

Background: This study evaluated the effectiveness of three smoking cessation interventions for this population: (1) modified usual care (UC); (2) brief advice (A); and (3) brief advice plus more extended counseling during and after hospitalization (A + C).

Methods: Smokers (2,095) who were in-patients in four hospitals were randomly assigned to condition. Smoking status was ascertained via phone interview 7 days and 12 months post-discharge.

Parental, family, and home characteristics associated with cigarette smoking among adolescents.

Purpose: This study examines the relationship between smoking-related parental, family, and home factors with adolescents' cigarette use.

Design: Cross-sectional surveys of adolescents, via a self-administered questionnaire in classrooms, and their parents, via a telephone interview, were conducted.

Setting: Fifteen suburban and rural communities within Minnesota.