Aaron J. Diehr

Using the Elaboration Likelihood Model to Address Drunkorexia among College Students

ABSTRACT Background: The many consequences related to alcohol consumption among college students are well documented. Drunkorexia, a relatively new term and area of research, is characterized by skipping meals to reduce caloric intake and/or exercising excessively in attempt to compensate for calories associated with high volume drinking. Objective: The objective of this study was to use the Elaboration Likelihood Model to compare the impact of central and peripheral prevention messages on alcohol consumption and drunkorexic behavior. Methods: Researchers employed a quasi-experimental design, collecting pre- or post-test data from 172 college students living in residence halls at a large Midwestern university, to assess the impact of the prevention messages. Participants in the treatment groups received the message in person (flyer), through email, and via a text message in weekly increments. Results: Results showed that participants exposed to the peripherally framed message decreased the frequency of their alcohol consumption over a 30-day period (p =.003), the number of drinks they consumed the last time they drank (p =.029), the frequency they had more than five drinks over a 30-day period (p =.019), as well as the maximum number of drinks they had on any occasion in the past 30 days (p =.014). Conclusions/Importance: While more research is needed in this area, the findings from this study indicate that researchers and practitioners should design peripheral (short and succinct), rather than central (complex and detailed), messages to prevent drunkorexia and its associated behaviors.

Mindful Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus and AIDS

Complementary techniques are useful in treating adverse symptoms of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and AIDS, and in preventing disease spread by encouraging screening. This study indicates that HIV diagnosis rates are higher in states where behavioral medicine is practiced; participation in such activities may influence the extent to which someone might closely monitor personal health. A strong evidence-base exists for the recommendation of mindfulness practices that improve rates of primary preventive practices and self-reported quality of life for participants living with chronic conditions such as HIV and AIDS. Access to such programs is an area for future research and practice.

State Minority Health Officers’ Perceptions of their Successes and Barriers to Reducing Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

BackgroundMinimal research has been conducted to examine the impact and reach of state offices of minority health (SOMH) and their role in reducing racial and ethnic health disparities within their states. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to describe the shared experiences of SOMH officers to provide context for why these individuals believe that state organizational efforts have not yielded much success in reducing racial and ethnic health disparity gaps.MethodsUsing a telephone interview guide, the investigators conducted telephone interviews with SOMH officers. Data were analyzed thematically based on emergent patterns in participant responses. A total of 47 of 50 state officers (94%) completed the interview.ResultsThough many officers were encouraged by increased awareness regarding health disparities, nearly every officer listed inadequate resources as the most impactful barrier impeding the success of their offices’ missions.ConclusionSOMH continue to be severely underfunded and are concerned about their potential for success, leaving them with minimal ability to engage in activities beyond educational awareness campaigns. For SOMH officers to be successful in eliminating disparities, legislators must provide them with adequate funding so they can engage in wider-reaching interventions targeting the social determinants of health.

Primary versus secondary prevention messages: College students' perceptions of effectiveness by marijuana user status

Abstract Objective: With medical and recreational marijuana legislation expanding throughout the country, the need to educate high-risk populations is evident. The purpose of this study was to assess college students’ perceptions of health communication messages comparing primary and secondary prevention messages concerning marijuana. Participants: Participants (n = 487) included college students, ages 18–25, enrolled in a Midwestern University. Methods: Participants assessed messages based on likeability, creativity, believability, persuasiveness, relevance, and usefulness using an online questionnaire that also included open-end comments. Results: Rasch analyses indicate that nonmarijuana users rated primary prevention messages higher than secondary prevention messages, whereas marijuana users ranked secondary prevention messages more favorably than primary prevention messages. Conclusion: Interventions designed to address marijuana use among college students may be more effective if tailored toward user status. Specifically, primary prevention materials should be designed for abstainers, while secondary prevention messages that focus on harm reduction strategies should be used with marijuana users.

Drunkorexia: A new term and diagnostic criteria

Abstract Individuals who restrict their caloric intake and/or exercise excessively to mitigate the calories from alcohol consumption may suffer from an eating disorder, substance abuse disorder, or both. While the term “drunkorexia” has been used in both academic articles and popular culture, issues persist with respect to diagnosing and treating this condition. Classifying the behavior as a subcategory of Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorders (OSFED) would provide patients with an increased likelihood of receiving insurance coverage for this condition. A consistent definition of this behavior and a more medically accurate/appropriate term—such as “alcoholimia”—are both needed to advance treatment and prevention efforts.

A Social Marketing Intervention to Prevent Drowning Among Inner-City Youth:

Background. Water-related injuries and fatalities pose serious public health issues, especially to African American youth, a demographic group that drowns at disproportionately high rates. Aim. The purpose of this study was to determine if a social marketing intervention targeting the parents and guardians of inner-city youth (U.S. Midwest) could positively influence their perceptions concerning water safety. Method. Researchers employed a quasi-experimental design using matched pairs to evaluate the intervention. Participants consisted of parents who enrolled their children in a six-session survival-swimming course. Guided by the Health Belief Model, the researchers disseminated six prevention messages using six different channels (brochure, e-mail, SMS text message, postcard, Facebook, and window cling). Results. The findings from a two-way analysis of covariance revealed that treatment group participants’ knowledge and perceptions of water-related threat all changed favorably. Additionally, all participants planned to reenroll their children in swim lessons. Discussion. A social marketing campaign using the Health Belief Model improved inner-city parents’ knowledge regarding water safety and enhanced their self-efficacy. Conclusion. This study provides practitioners with feasible strategies (prevention messages) to supplement swim lessons, with the ultimate goal of preventing drowning among at-risk youth.

Marijuana and College Students: A Critical Review of the Literature.

ABSTRACT Background: Marijuana represents the most widely used illicit drug on college campuses. Repeated use can impair students’ academic, emotional, and physical success and can lead to chronic diseases. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate existing literature on the associated effects of marijuana use on U.S. college students’ academic success, including conduct/legal issues, negative outcomes, normative perceptions, and physical/mental health. Method: A critical review was conducted in January 2015 using the PubMed, Academic Search Complete, Electronic Journal Center, ProQuest, and Google Scholar databases. Studies were included if they focused on epidemiological outcomes of marijuana use on U.S. undergraduate college students aged 17–24. Results: Overall, studies lacked scientific rigor. In several studies, researchers relied on convenience samples, used small sample sizes, did not report response rates, or did not report the psychometrics of the instrument. The majority of the studies were conducted at single institutions, limiting external validity. Conclusion: More rigorous and methodically sound research is necessary. Specifically, researchers should employ randomized sampling methods, collect representative response rates, and assess reliability and validity appropriately. Translation to Health Education Practice: Practitioners should design, implement, and evaluate programs that focus on social norms, acute and chronic health issues, and academic outcomes.

Disparities in first-to-second dose measles-containing vaccination coverage: A comparative analysis of the predictive power of three economic indices

Abstract While overall mortality from measles has decreased, it is still associated with significant global infant deaths. Studies indicate that a second dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV) is necessary to produce sufficient immunity to measles, yet several developing countries are deficient of a two-dose schedule. This study examined the efficacy of three economic indices—the Human Development Index (HDI), the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI), and the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)—in predicting first-to-second MCV dosage disparities. Country-level data for MCV coverage were downloaded from the World Health Organization (WHO). Briggsian logarithmic regression models of MCV dosage disparities were calculated to compare the predictive power of the HDI, IHDI, and MPI. The MPI explained the most variance in dosage disparities, F (1, 54) = 41.835, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.437, b = 0.938, followed by the IDHI (R2 = 0.361, b = −0.935) and HDI (R2 = 0.354, b = −1.023). We suggest the MPI explained the greatest variance because it uses multiple indicators to determine poverty across three dimensions of human development. The MPI predicted larger disparities in more developing countries. Future efforts should be directed toward discovering and reducing barriers to second dose MCV administration in these countries.