Maria Paola Caria

Effects of a School-Based Prevention Program on European Adolescents' Patterns of Alcohol Use

PURPOSE School-based substance abuse prevention programs are widespread but are rarely evaluated in Europe. We aimed to evaluate the effect of a new school-based prevention program against substance use on the frequency of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problem behaviors among European students. METHODS During the school year 2004-2005, a total of 7,079 students aged 12-14 years from 143 schools in seven European countries participated in this cluster randomized controlled trial. Schools were randomly assigned to either control (65 schools, 3,532 students) or to a 12-session standardized program based on the comprehensive social influence model (78 schools, 3,547 students). Alcohol use and frequency of alcohol-related problem behaviors were investigated through a self-completed anonymous questionnaire at baseline and 18 months thereafter. The association between intervention and changes in alcohol-related outcomes was expressed as odds ratio (OR), estimated by multilevel regression model. RESULTS The preventive program was associated with a decreased risk of reporting alcohol-related problems (OR = .78, 95% confidence intervals [CI] = .63-.98), although this reduction was not statistically significant in the subgroup of 743 current drinkers at baseline. The risk for alcohol consumption was not modified by exposure to the program (OR = .93, 95% CI = .79-1.09). In the intervention group, nondrinkers and occasional drinkers at baseline progressed toward frequent drinking less often than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS School curricula based on the comprehensive social-influence model can delay progression to frequent drinking and reduce occurrence of alcohol-related behavioral problems in European students. These results, albeit moderate, have potentially useful implications at the population level.

The effect of Teflon coating on the resistance to sliding of orthodontic archwires

Teflon is an anti-adherent and aesthetic material. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in vitro, the influence of Teflon coating on the resistance to sliding (RS) of orthodontic archwires. For this purpose, Teflon-coated archwires were examined using frictional resistance tests by means of a universal testing machine and compared with conventional uncoated wires. Twelve types of archwires with round and rectangular sections (0.014, 0.018, and 0.018 × 0.025 inches) and of different materials (stainless steel and nickel-titanium) were tested with two passive self-ligating brackets (SmartClip™ and Opal(®)) and one active self-ligating bracket (Quick(®)). Each archwire-bracket combination was tested 10 times under 8 simulated clinical scenarios. Statistical comparisons were conducted between the uncoated and Teflon-coated archwires using Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests, and linear regression analysis. For all bracket-archwire combinations, Teflon-coated archwires resulted lower friction than the corresponding uncoated archwires (P < 0.01). The results showed that Teflon coating has the potential to reduce RS of orthodontic archwires.

The influence of socioeconomic environment on the effectiveness of alcohol prevention among European students: a cluster randomized controlled trial

BackgroundAlthough social environments may influence alcohol-related behaviours in youth, the relationship between neighbourhood socioeconomic context and effectiveness of school-based prevention against underage drinking has been insufficiently investigated. We study whether the social environment affects the impact of a new school-based prevention programme on alcohol use among European students.MethodsDuring the school year 2004-2005, 7079 students 12-14 years of age from 143 schools in nine European centres participated in this cluster randomised controlled trial. Schools were randomly assigned to either control or a 12-session standardised curriculum based on the comprehensive social influence model. Randomisation was blocked within socioeconomic levels of the school environment. Alcohol use and alcohol-related problem behaviours were investigated through a self-completed anonymous questionnaire at baseline and 18 months thereafter. Data were analysed using multilevel models, separately by socioeconomic level.ResultsAt baseline, adolescents in schools of low socioeconomic level were more likely to report problem drinking than other students. Participation in the programme was associated in this group with a decreased odds of reporting episodes of drunkenness (OR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.44-0.83), intention to get drunk (OR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.45-0.79), and marginally alcohol-related problem behaviours (OR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.46-1.06). No significant programmes effects emerged for students in schools of medium or high socioeconomic level. Effects on frequency of alcohol consumption were also stronger among students in disadvantaged schools, although the estimates did not attain statistical significance in any subgroup.ConclusionsIt is plausible that comprehensive social influence programmes have a more favourable effect on problematic drinking among students in underprivileged social environments.Trial registrationISRCTN: ISRCTN18092805

Predictors of erroneous perception of being overweight among adolescents.

Objective: Adolescents’ perception of overweight often disagrees with objective measurements; if factors explaining this discrepancy are potentially modifiable is unclear. Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional data from a cohort of 2,001 Swedish adolescents (1,026 females, 975 males) at the age of 15 years in 2003. Erroneous perception of overweight was defined as the perception of being overweight in relation to normal or lower than normal BMI (kg/m2). BMI measured by the school nurse at 11 years, school-based education on nutrition/physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and healthy/unhealthy eating were examined as potential predictors/correlates of overweight misperception in multivariate logistic regression models. Results: At the age of 15 years, 32% of girls and 10% of boys misclassified themselves as overweight. Overweight at 11 years predicted misperception of overweight 4 years later (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 2.3, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 1.4–3.6 in boys; OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.3–2.8 in girls). Among girls, smoking was associated with a higher probability of misperception (adjusted OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.2–2.2). Among boys, physical activity (>6 h/ week) was associated with a lower probability of misperception (OR = 0.4, 95% CI = 0.2–0.7). No association was observed with school-based education on nutrition and physical activity. Conclusion: Preventing overweight in pre-adolescence may be a way to avoid later unjustified weight concerns in adolescence.