Anna Pérez

Cannabis consumption initiation among adolescents: a longitudinal study.

This study aimed to investigate factors related to initiation of cannabis consumption among adolescents. A questionnaire was administered to 2043 14-15-year-olds from Barcelona who were followed-up and re-interviewed after 15 months. A bivariate analysis was performed to identify the factors associated with consumption, and multivariate logistic regression was carried out to model cannabis initiation. Among matched students, 23.7% of non-users at baseline had started to consume 15 months later (23.0% boys and 24.2% girls). Among those who had reported occasional cannabis use, 30.3% reported consumption during the previous month at the follow-up survey. Factors associated with cannabis initiation among boys and girls were smoking, risky alcohol use and intention to consume cannabis. Among boys, other associated factors were frequenting bars or discotheques and not having organized activities in leisure time. Among girls, another risk factor for initiation was having cannabis-using friends. Cannabis initiation was facilitated by legal drug use, favorable attitudes and context-related variables. These results highlight the role of behavioral and contextual variables and support the importance of reinforcing social skills in preventive programs.

Consumo de cannabis en los estudiantes de secundaria de Barcelona: inicio en el consumo, efectos experimentados y expectativas

Objetivos: Describir las circunstancias del inicio del consumo, las razones para hacerlo, los efectos experimentados y las expectativas relacionadas con el consumo de cannabis en adolescentes de Barcelona. Metodos: Encuesta transversal realizada a una muestra de escolares de 3.o de ESO en 2005. El cuestionario era confidencial y autocumplimentado. Se dispone de datos de 2.043 alumnos de 47 centros escolares de Barcelona. Resultados: El 37,5% de los escolares declaro haber probado el cannabis, de los cuales un 10% lo hizo en el ultimo mes. El consumo fue superior en centros publicos que en concertados-privados (p < 0,001). El 60,3% probo el cannabis en el parque o en la calle. El 88,4% lo obtuvo de un companero o amigo, y el 92,3% lo consiguio sin pagar. La principal razon para iniciar el consumo fue la curiosidad, y para continuarlo sentirse mejor y olvidar problemas. Los efectos experimentados mas frecuentes fueron perdida de memoria, tristeza y dificultades para estudiar o trabajar. El consumo de cannabis se relaciono positivamente con las expectativas de que relaja y facilita las relaciones sociales y sexuales, y negativamente con las creencias de que puede producir alteraciones intelectuales y del comportamiento, y tener efectos negativos para la salud. Conclusiones: El cannabis fue muy accesible: 9 de cada 10 escolares lo obtuvo de un companero o amigo y sin pagar. Dos de cada 3 adolescentes reconocieron presentar efectos negativos debidos a su consumo. El conocimiento de las expectativas podria ayudar a explicar y prevenir el consumo de cannabis en adolescentes.

An outbreak of 400 cases of lipoatrophia semicircularis in Barcelona: effectiveness of control measures.

Objective: From February 2007 to October 2008, 1137 cases of lipoatrophia semicircularis were registered in distinct workplaces (WPs) in Barcelona. A protocol to establish control measures was designed. This study pretends to evaluate the effectiveness of these measures. Methods: In this case study, the outbreak course in relation to the implemented measures (relative humidity >50%, ground-mass electrical discharge, and avoidance of sharp-ended table edges) was analyzed. The study population consisted of 417 workers from four different WPs diagnosed between February 2007 and October 2008. Results: Cumulative incidences were 61.6% (WP1), 24.1% (WP2), 8.8% (WP4), and 5.5% (WP3). Based on discharges confirmed by medical services, healing rate was highest in WP1 (93%), followed by WP2 (82%), WP4 (62%), and WP3 (22%). Conclusions: When the three basic measures were promptly and jointly applied, 90% of the cases were resolved within 6 months.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs among adolescents: The role of urban and rural environments

This study aimed to describe driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUIAD) and riding in a vehicle with a driver under the influence of alcohol or drugs (RDUIAD) and their associated factors among rural and urban adolescents in Spain. We performed a cross-sectional study including 2067 students from Barcelona and a rural area 60 km north of this city. The prevalences of ever DUIAD and RDUIAD were 17% and 41% among 17-18 year-old adolescents. DUIAD was more common in boys. Living in the rural area was independently associated with these behaviours. Exposure to these behaviours is common among Spanish adolescents, especially in rural areas.

Consumo de tabaco de los adolescentes en Barcelona y tendencias a lo largo de 20 años

OBJECTIVES Smoking is a preventable cause of early death and the habit starts in adolescence. The aim of this study was to describe tobacco consumption in secondary school students in 2008 and trends in the last 20 years in Barcelona. MATERIAL AND METHODS We analyzed the trend in tobacco consumption by comparing data from 8 surveys carried out between 1987 and 2008 in the 8th (2nd year of Compulsory Secondary Education), 10th (4th year of Compulsory Secondary Education) and 12th (2nd year of Compulsory Secondary Education) years of secondary school. The FRESC questionnaire was used. Data on regular and daily consumption and associated factors in 2008 were gathered and compared with those corresponding to the previous studies. Percentages of annual change were calculated with Joinpoint regression and data were stratified by sex and year of education. RESULTS In 2008, 6.1% of boys and 4.5% of girls in the 8th year, 15.8% and 20.4% of those in the 10th year, respectively, and 26.1% and 33.1% of those in the 12th year, respectively, were regular smokers. A strong association was noted between regular smoking and cannabis consumption in three school years, as well as with having friends who were smokers and poor school performance. At 15-16 years old, the average annual decrease from 1996 to 2008 was 6.8% in girls and 6.1% in boys. CONCLUSIONS Adolescent smoking has been decreasing in the last few years in Barcelona. There is a strong association between tobacco use and cannabis consumption.

Long-term effect of the influenza A/H1N1 pandemic: attitudes and preventive behaviours one year after the pandemic

This study aimed to describe changes in attitudes and behaviours regarding influenza A infection 1 year after the end of the pandemic. A cross-sectional study was performed based on two population-based telephone surveys including 1027 (February, 2010) and 1000 (February, 2011) participants in Spain. The percentages of the respondents who reported that they had adopted preventive measures to avoid Influenza infection declined 1 year after the pandemic. Influenza-related consultations decreased, whereas confidence in vaccination increased. Despite the decrease observed in adopting preventive measures, some behaviours were still being adopted long time after the pandemic in general population.

Cannabis consumption among secondary school pupils of Barcelona [Spain]: initial use, reported effects and expectancies

OBJECTIVES To describe the circumstances of initial use of Cannabis, as well as the reasons for consumption, reported effects and expectations related to cannabis use, among adolescents in Barcelona. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a sample of pupils in the third year of compulsory secondary education in 2005. The questionnaire was confidential and self-completed. Data were gathered from 2,043 secondary school pupils from 47 schools in Barcelona. RESULTS A total of 37.5% of students reported cannabis consumption at some time, and 10.0% of these students had used cannabis in the previous month. Cannabis use was more common in public schools than in subsidized or private schools (p < 0.001). More than half the adolescents (60.3%) smoked cannabis for the first time in parks or on the street. Most (88.4%) of the adolescents obtained cannabis from a classmate or friend and 92.3% did so without paying for it. The main reason for initial consumption was curiosity, and reasons for continuing use were a desire to feel better and to forget problems. The most frequently reported effects were memory loss, sadness and difficulties in studying or working. Cannabis use was positively related to the expectation that the drug induces relaxation and aids social and sexual relations, and negatively to the beliefs that the drug can impair intellect and behavior and has negative effects on health. CONCLUSIONS Cannabis was easily accessible to secondary school pupils and 9 out of 10 obtained the drug from a classmate or friend without paying for it. Two out of 3 adolescents reported negative effects as a consequence of cannabis use. Knowledge of expectations could help to explain and prevent cannabis consumption during adolescence.

La priorización comunitaria en el programa Barcelona Salut als Barris

Prioritizing corresponds to the process of selecting and managing health needs identified after diagnosing the communitys health needs and assets. Recently, the health needs assessment has been reinforced with the community perspective, providing multiple benefits: it sensitizes and empowers the community about their health, encourages mutual support among its members and promotes their importance by making them responsible for the process of improving their own reality. The objective of this paper is to describe the prioritization of Barcelona Salut als Barris, a community health strategy led by the Barcelona Public Health Agency to promote equity in health in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods of the city.

Media devices, family relationships and sleep patterns among adolescents in an urban area

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to describe sleep patterns and to examine the association between short sleep time and family relationships and the availability of media devices among adolescents. METHODS A cross-sectional study based on a self-reported questionnaire was performed among a representative sample of adolescents (13-19 years old) enrolled during the 2011-2012 academic year in high schools in Barcelona, Spain. Adolescents reported sleep patterns and family-related variables such as family relationships, the availability of media devices in the bedroom, and watching television at dinner. Sleep time was then calculated from sleep patterns. Multivariate Poisson regression analyses with robust variance were conducted to determine the association between short sleep time (<8 h/day) and family characteristics. RESULTS A total of 51.3% of the 3492 students were girls (mean age: 15.9 years). Sleep time was shorter than recommended on school days in almost half of the compulsory schooling students and in around 75% of post-compulsory schooling students. More than 80% of adolescents had at least one media device (television, console, or computer) in their bedroom. Adolescents with a computer in their bedroom and with poorer family relationships were more likely to be short sleepers. In boys, frequently watching TV at dinner and living in a disorganized family were also associated with short sleep time. CONCLUSIONS There is a high prevalence of short sleepers. Media availability, media use and family relationships should be considered in multi-component educational interventions addressed to both adolescents and parents to reduce short sleep time.

Adoption of Preventive Measures and Attitudes Toward the H1N1 Influenza Pandemic in Schools

BACKGROUND This study describes the perceived impact of H1N1 influenza and the adoption of the recommended measures to address the pandemic in schools. METHODS A cross-sectional self-reported survey was conducted in 433 schools in Barcelona addressed to the school principal or the H1N1 influenza designated person. A descriptive analysis was performed, stratifying by educational level and type of school. A logistic regression analysis also was conducted. RESULTS Around 70% of the respondents reported that there had been H1N1 influenza cases among students, being this percentage significantly higher among those schools offering primary education (74.4%) (p < .05). The main measures (single-use paper towels, availability of sanitizer solutions and 15 minutes ventilation per day of enclosed spaces) were implemented in most of the centers. However, the correct adoption of the main measures took place in around 30% of the schools, being the percentage lower in those offering only secondary education (Odds ratio [OR]: 0.518; 95% confidence interval [CI]:0.272-0.986) and those located in medium (OR: 0.438, 95% CI: 0.234-0.811) or low socioeconomic status (SES) districts (OR: 0.321, 95% CI: 0.159-0.649). CONCLUSIONS Despite the climate of social alarm, the perceived impact of H1N1 influenza in most schools was moderate. In future potential threats, the educational level and the SES of the school should be considered, especially when measures requiring purchasing any product are recommended but not provided.