Jodi L. Cornell

Perceptions of smoking-related risks and benefits as predictors of adolescent smoking initiation.

OBJECTIVES The predictive value of perceptions of smoking-related risks and benefits with regard to adolescent smoking initiation has not been adequately established. We used prospective, longitudinal data to directly test whether smoking-related perceptions predict smoking initiation among adolescents. METHODS We administered surveys assessing perceptions of smoking-related risks and benefits to 395 high school students, beginning at the start of their ninth-grade year. We conducted follow-up assessments every 6 months until the end of 10th grade, obtaining 4 waves of data. RESULTS Adolescents who held the lowest perceptions of long-term smoking-related risks were 3.64 times more likely to start smoking than were adolescents who held the highest perceptions of risk. Adolescents who held the lowest perceptions of short-term smoking-related risks were 2.68 times more likely to initiate. Adolescents who held the highest perceptions of smoking-related benefits were 3.31 times more likely to initiate. CONCLUSIONS Findings from this study provide one of the first sets of empirical evidence to show that smoking initiation is directly related to smoking-related perceptions of risks and benefits. Thus, efforts to reduce adolescent smoking should continue to communicate the health risks of smoking and counteract perceptions of benefits associated with smoking.

Effective Strategies for Recruiting Families Ascertained Through Alcoholic Probands

BACKGROUND Recruiting a large number of participants meeting strict inclusion criteria can be challenging, particularly when selecting for a condition associated with a social stigma such as alcoholism, when participation involves collection of medical specimens and sensitive information, and when the participation of family members or other collaterals is required. Developing and implementing a successful recruitment plan depends upon identifying the most effective recruitment strategies given the available resources. METHODS Several strategies for recruiting subjects for a large family study on the genetics of alcoholism were evaluated over a two-year period with regard to participant yield, time and cost expenditure. RESULTS Overall effectiveness of a recruitment strategy was determined based on a composite of yield, cost and time expenditure. The most effective recruitment strategies were direct mail, press release, the Internet and treatment center collaborations. CONCLUSION Results provide insight into successful strategies for recruiting large numbers of participants and their family members selected for a condition associated with a social stigma.