Laura Rosen

Parental Smoking Cessation to Protect Young Children:A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Young children can be protected from much of the harm from tobacco smoke exposure if their parents quit smoking. Some researchers encourage parents to quit for their childrens benefit, but the evidence for effectiveness of such approaches is mixed. OBJECTIVE: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to quantify the effects of interventions that encourage parental cessation. METHODS: We searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and PsycINFO. Controlled trials published before April 2011 that targeted smoking parents of infants or young children, encouraged parents to quit smoking for their childrens benefit, and measured parental quit rates were included. Study quality was assessed. Relative risks and risk differences were calculated by using the DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model. RESULTS: Eighteen trials were included. Interventions took place in hospitals, pediatric clinical settings, well-baby clinics, and family homes. Quit rates averaged 23.1% in the intervention group and 18.4% in the control group. The interventions successfully increased the parental quit rate. Subgroups with significant intervention benefits were children aged 4 to 17 years, interventions whose primary goal was cessation, interventions that offered medications, and interventions with high follow-up rates (>80%). CONCLUSIONS: Interventions to achieve cessation among parents, for the sake of the children, provide a worthwhile addition to the arsenal of cessation approaches, and can help protect vulnerable children from harm due to tobacco smoke exposure. However, most parents do not quit, and additional strategies to protect children are needed.

In Defense of the Randomized Controlled Trial for Health Promotion Research

The overwhelming evidence about the role lifestyle plays in mortality, morbidity, and quality of life has pushed the young field of modern health promotion to center stage. The field is beset with intense debate about appropriate evaluation methodologies. Increasingly, randomized designs are considered inappropriate for health promotion research. We have reviewed criticisms against randomized trials that raise philosophical and practical issues, and we will show how most of these criticisms can be overcome with minor design modifications. By providing rebuttal to arguments against randomized trials, our work contributes to building a sound methodological base for health promotion research.

Smoking status and long-term survival after first acute myocardial infarction a population-based cohort study.

OBJECTIVES We compared long-term survival after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) of never-smokers, pre-AMI quitters, post-AMI quitters, and persistent smokers and assessed whether cigarette reduction among persistent smokers is associated with lower mortality. BACKGROUND Quitting smoking has been shown to improve outcome after AMI. However, longitudinal cohort data with repeated assessments of smoking and information on multiple confounders are lacking. Moreover, little is known about the importance, if any, of reductions in the amount smoked. METHODS Consecutive patients < or = 65 years of age, discharged from 8 hospitals in central Israel after first AMI in 1992 to 1993, were followed through 2005. Extensive data, including self-reported smoking habits, were obtained at baseline and 4 times during follow-up. Cox proportional hazards regressions were used to assess the hazard ratios (HRs) for death associated with smoking categories modeled as time-dependent variables. RESULTS At baseline, smokers were younger, more likely to be male, and had a lower prevalence of hypertension and diabetes than nonsmokers. Over a median follow-up of 13.2 years, 427 deaths occurred in 1,521 patients. The multivariable-adjusted HRs for mortality were 0.57 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.43 to 0.76) for never-smokers, 0.50 (95% CI: 0.36 to 0.68) for pre-AMI quitters, and 0.63 (95% CI: 0.48 to 0.82) for post-AMI quitters, compared with persistent smokers. Among persistent smokers, upon multivariable adjustment including pre-AMI intensity, each reduction of 5 cigarettes smoked daily after AMI was associated with an 18% decline in mortality risk (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Smoking cessation either before or after AMI is associated with improved survival. Among persistent smokers, reducing intensity after AMI appears to be beneficial.

Meta-analysis of Parental Protection of Children From Tobacco Smoke Exposure

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Worldwide, roughly 40% of children are exposed to the damaging and sometimes deadly effects of tobacco smoke. Interventions aimed at reducing child tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) have shown mixed results. The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to quantify effects of interventions aimed at decreasing child TSE. METHODS: Data sources included Medline, PubMed, Web of Science, PsycNet, and Embase. Controlled trials that included parents of young children were selected. Two reviewers extracted TSE data, as assessed by parentally-reported exposure or protection (PREP) and biomarkers. Risk ratios and differences were calculated by using the DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model. Exploratory subgroup analyses were performed. RESULTS: Thirty studies were included. Improvements were observed from baseline to follow-up for parentally-reported and biomarker data in most intervention and control groups. Interventions demonstrated evidence of small benefit to intervention participants at follow-up (PREP: 17 studies, n = 6820, relative risk 1.12, confidence interval [CI] 1.07 to 1.18], P < .0001). Seven percent more children were protected in intervention groups relative to control groups. Intervention parents smoked fewer cigarettes around children at follow-up than did control parents (P = .03). Biomarkers (13 studies, n = 2601) at follow-up suggested lower child exposure among intervention participants (RD −0.05, CI −0.13 to 0.03, P = .20). CONCLUSIONS: Interventions to prevent child TSE are moderately beneficial at the individual level. Widespread child TSE suggests potential for significant population impact. More research is needed to improve intervention effectiveness and child TSE measurement.

Second-hand smoke levels in Israeli bars, pubs and cafes before and after implementation of smoke-free legislation

BACKGROUND In 2007, Israel passed a law to extend existing restrictions on smoking in public places and to strengthen enforcement. Responsibility for ensuring smoke-free indoor public places was placed on establishment owners. Bars and pubs were included in the law for the first time. This study aimed to assess changes in air quality in popular Israeli bars, pubs and cafes after the implementation of law, and to examine changes in patron numbers, percentage of smoking patrons and venue-seating sections. METHODS Air quality was determined by measuring respirable suspended particles (PM(2.5) μg(-3)) in 33 randomly selected venues in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, including bars, pubs and cafes, before and after law implementation. Numbers of patrons and smoking patrons were recorded. RESULTS Average respirable small particles (RSP) level was 245 μg(-3) prior to implementation and 161 μg(-3) following implementation of the law, representing a decline of 34% (P = 0.0043). RSP levels decreased in bars and pubs and in cafes. Percentage of smoking patrons declined from 19% to 9% (P = 0.0036). The magnitude of the effect decreased over time (P = 0.0039). Non-smoking establishments were more common following the legislation (P = 0.0047). CONCLUSION Indoor air pollution from second-hand smoke in Israeli bars, pubs and cafes in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv declined following the implementation of law. This demonstrates that a law to extend existing restrictions and enforcement policies may help protect workers and patrons from tobacco smoke. However, RSP levels in Israeli bars and pubs, especially in Tel Aviv, remain unacceptably high. Enforced, 100% smoke-free laws are essential for complete protection.

The Effect of a Handwashing Intervention on Preschool Educator Beliefs, Attitudes, Knowledge and Self-Efficacy.

This paper describes the effect of a preschool hygiene intervention program on psychosocial measures of educators regarding handwashing and communicable pediatric disease. A cluster-randomized trial, with randomization at the level of the preschool, was run in 40 Jerusalem preschool classrooms. Eighty preschool educators participated. The program used a multipronged approach which included elements aimed at staff, children, parents, school nurses and the classroom environment. Frontal lectures by medical, epidemiological and educational experts, along with printed materials and experiential learning, were provided to staff. Responses from a validated survey instrument were used to build four scales for each respondent regarding beliefs, attitudes, self-efficacy and knowledge. The scales were built on a Likert-type 1-7 scale (1 = minimum, 7 = maximum). The effect of the intervention was tested using mixed model analysis of variance. Response was received from 92.5% of educators. Educators believed that handwashing could affect health (mean = 5.5, SD = 1.1), had high levels of self-efficacy (mean = 6.1, SD = 0.9) and had positive attitudes toward handwashing (mean = 5.7, SD = 1.2). Knowledge was affected by the intervention (intervention: mean = 6.2, SD = 0.7; control: mean = 5.8, SD = 0.8). The combination of positive attitudes toward handwashing among educators and the programs effectiveness in imparting knowledge helped to create a sustained social norm of handwashing among many children in disparate locations.

Effectiveness of Interventions to Reduce Tobacco Smoke Pollution in Homes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction: Smoke-free homes can help protect children from tobacco smoke exposure (TSE). The objective of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis to quantify effects of interventions on changes in tobacco smoke pollution in the home, as measured by air nicotine and particulate matter (PM). Methods: We searched MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Embase. We included controlled trials of interventions which aimed to help parents protect children from tobacco smoke exposure. Two reviewers identified relevant studies, and three reviewers extracted data. Results: Seven studies were identified. Interventions improved tobacco smoke air pollution in homes as assessed by nicotine or PM. (6 studies, N = 681, p = 0.02). Analyses of air nicotine and PM separately also showed some benefit (Air nicotine: 4 studies, N = 421, p = 0.08; PM: 3 studies, N = 340, p = 0.02). Despite improvements, tobacco smoke pollution was present in homes in all studies at follow-up. Conclusions: Interventions designed to protect children from tobacco smoke are effective in reducing tobacco smoke pollution (as assessed by air nicotine or PM) in homes, but contamination remains. The persistence of significant pollution levels in homes after individual level intervention may signal the need for other population and regulatory measures to help reduce and eliminate childhood tobacco smoke exposure.

Tobacco policy in Israel: 1948-2014 and beyond.

BackgroundTobacco is the only consumer product known to kill half of its users, and is a significant cause of death and disability to exposed nonsmokers. This presents a unique conundrum for modern democracies, which emphasize personal liberty, yet are obligated to protect citizens.In Israel, the death toll in 2014 from smoking is expected to reach 8000 deaths; nearly a fifth of the population smokes, and over two-thirds of the population are exposed to tobacco smoke.AimThis paper provides an overview of tobacco policy in Israel since the inception of the State, presents the development of the National Tobacco Control Plan, and recommends future actions.MethodsSources for this article included the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) and Ministry of Health websites, Health Minister Reports to the Knesset on Smoking, and the scientific literature.ResultsIsrael has an impressive record on tobacco control policy, beginning with taxation in 1952, landmark smoke-free air and marketing legislation in the early 1980’s, tax increases and expansions of smoke-free air and marketing legislation in the ensuing years, and the addition of subsidized smoking cessation technologies in 2010. Until 2011, actions were taken by various organizations without formal coordination; since the passage of the National Tobacco Control Plan in 2011, the Ministry of Health has held responsibility for coordinating tobacco control, with an action plan.The plan has been partially implemented. Smoke-free air laws were expanded, but enforcement is poor. Passage of critical marketing and advertising restrictions is stalled. Requested funds for tobacco control did not materialize.RecommendationsIn order to prevent hundreds of thousands of preventable premature deaths in the coming decades, Israel should considerably strengthen tobacco control policies to include: guaranteed funding for tobacco control; strong curbs on advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco and smoking products; public education; law enforcement; protection of children from exposure to tobacco; regulation of electronic cigarettes and other alternative harm-reducing products; tobacco control research; and systematic monitoring of, and periodic updates to, the National Tobacco Control Plan. Israel should also begin discussions of Endgame scenarios, and consider abolition of tobacco, as it continues its progress towards making smoking history.

Parental risk perceptions of child exposure to tobacco smoke

BackgroundTobacco smoke exposure harms children and adults. Yet, 40% of children worldwide are exposed to tobacco smoke in their homes. Such widespread parental failure to protect children is puzzling, and may be related to risk perceptions. No consensus exists about how to measure parental risk perceptions of tobacco smoke exposure.MethodsThe objective of this research was to study Parental Risk Perceptions of child Exposure to Tobacco Smoke (PRETS) using various dimensions of risk perceptions: likelihood of harm, susceptibility to harm, and severity of harm. We aimed to estimate PRETS and identify correlates of PRETS, and assess the association between PRETS, parental smoking status, and home smoking behaviors. We conducted 132 face-to-face interviews with parents of infants.ResultsParents who smoked regularly believed that infant tobacco smoke exposure was less dangerous than did other parents (p = .0158). Birthplace of parent was significantly associated with risk perception (p = .0019); parents of Russian origin believed the overall risk to be less than did those born elsewhere. Smoking status, ethnicity, and employment status were associated with smoking in the home. The relationship between smoking behavior in the home and risk perceptions was complex, and may have been modified by ethnicity.ConclusionsParental risk perceptions concerning child exposure to tobacco smoke are associated with smoking behavior and ethnicity. Understanding how to measure risk perceptions, and identifying risk perception dimensions which differ between families with and without home smoking bans, may contribute to the development of effective interventions to protect children from the harmful effects of tobacco smoke exposure.

From pills to programs: lessons from medicine for developing effective lifestyle interventions.

OBJECTIVE To propose a scheme for comprehensive development and evaluation of lifestyle interventions. METHODS We adapted the four-phase system used in drug development, the engine of progress in medicine for decades, to construct a system for developing lifestyle intervention programs. RESULTS Phase I: The intervention is constructed and tested with a small number of individuals. Acceptability and feasibility are assessed. Evaluation is primarily qualitative. Phase II: Effectiveness on intermediate endpoints (e.g. behavior) is tested in a real field setting, with a limited number of individuals, using a before-and-after design. An iterative process of testing and refinement may be necessary. Phase III: The effectiveness of the intervention on health-related outcomes is tested, using, where possible, a randomized design. Phase IV: Large-scale implementation and penetration are assessed in other populations. Process variables and local and national health indicators are studied. The development and evaluation of our hygiene intervention, which took place in Jerusalem from 1999 to 2001, is presented as a case study. CONCLUSIONS Adaptation of the phased system of drug development to lifestyle interventions is a conceptually simple approach to building effective, sustainable programs for community-based public health.