Mohammad R. Torabi

REDUCED ADMISSIONS FOR ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION ASSOCIATED WITH A PUBLIC SMOKING BAN: MATCHED CONTROLLED STUDY

There has been no research linking implementation of a public smoking ban and reduced incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) among nonsmoking patients. An ex post facto matched control group study was conducted to determine whether there was a change in hospital admissions for AMI among nonsmoking patients after a public smoking ban was implemented in Monroe County compared with Delaware County, Indiana without such a ban. Poisson analysis was conducted for 44 months of hospital admissions. A significant drop occurred in the number of admissions among nonsmoking patients in Monroe County after the ban whereas a non-significant decrease in the number of admissions occurred in Delaware County. The changes in the number of smoking-patient admissions before and after the ban were not significant.

National Study of Behavioral and Life Changes Since September 11

Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 (9-11), terrorism poses a continuous threat to those living in the United States. A substantial number of people may have experienced behavioral and life changes since the attacks, with possible implications for public health. This study investigated behavioral and life changes American people have experienced since the attacks. Using random-digit dialing that included unpublished numbers and new listings, a nationally representative cross-sectional sample of 807 U.S. adults ages 18 or older was interviewed. Logistic regression analyses indicated that gender, age, race/ethnicity, and employment status were significant predictors for experiencing different outcome variables. The qualitative data obtained from an open-ended question regarding life changes were analyzed and synthesized. The 9-11 events have considerably affected Americans’ lifestyles and behavior, which may have various implications for public health policy makers and educators.

The impact of in-vehicle cell-phone use on accidents or near-accidents among college students.

With in-vehicle use of cell phones rapidly increasing, the safety of young drivers, who represent 14% of licensed drivers but 26% of drivers involved in fatal crashes, may be disproportionately threatened. The authors used a questionnaire to examine the association between in-vehicle cell-phone use and accidents or near-accidents among 1,291 conveniently recruited college students in 4 states. Of the 1,185 respondents who were drivers, 87% had a cell phone, and 86% of the cell-phone owners reported talking while driving at least occasionally. Of the 762 reported accidents or near-accidents, 21% (n = 159) involved at least 1 of the drivers talking while driving. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses showed that the frequency, not the duration, of drivers talking while driving was related to experiencing accidents or near-accidents. Differences between drivers who used cell phones and nonusers in unsafe driving behaviors and attitudes were also examined, and target groups for intervention efforts against talking on a cell phone while driving are suggested.

Correlates of college students' physical activity: cross-cultural differences.

This study examined cross-cultural differences in personal and behavioral determinants of vigorous-intensity and moderate-intensity physical activity (PA) among college students living in distinctly different cultures, that is, the United States, Costa Rica, India, and South Korea. Participants of this study were recruited from randomly chosen public universities in the 4 countries during the 2006-2007 academic year. A total of 4685 students participated in the study (response rate 90%). Vigorous-intensity PA was measured by asking on how many of the past 7 days the participants participated in PA for at least 20 minutes that made them sweat or breathe hard. For moderate-intensity PA, participants were asked on how many of the past 7 days they participated in PA for at least 30 minutes that did not make them sweat or breathe hard. Findings indicate that whereas perceived overweight and fruit and vegetable consumption are relatively culture-free predictors of PA, gender and TV/video watching are culture-specific predictors. Binge drinking was not predictive of meeting the vigorous-intensity and moderate-intensity PA guidelines in any of the 4 countries.

Pharmacists' concerns and suggestions related to the sale of tobacco and alcohol in pharmacies.

A random sample of Pharmacists in Indiana was selected and surveyed regarding their thoughts and comments on the sale of tobacco and alcoholic products by pharmacies. A total of 212 pharmacists provided written responses to an open-ended question. The replies were then synthesized into major themes. The majority of comments categorized revealed strong opposition to pharmacies selling tobacco and alcohol products. The most frequently occurring message regarding the sale of these products by pharmacies was that it goes against the pharmacists role as a professional health care provider and may harm their image. For some pharmacists, this issue posed a moral dilemma between caring for patient safety and the economic incentives provided by the sale of tobacco and alcohol. Based on these findings, a follow-up phone survey was conducted to solicit suggestions from pharmacists on how to advocate against the sale of tobacco and alcohol by pharmacies. The majority of pharmacists strongly recommended that they need to do more among themselves and within their store environment, rather than have regulations imposed on pharmacies when it comes to limiting the sale of these products.

Alcohol use, related problems and psychological health in college students

Abstract This study examined the prevalence of alcohol use, alcohol-related problems, psychological distress, anxiety and depression mood and the relationship between these variables in a sample of 534 college students in the USA. In college men, 91% were current alcohol users (those who use alcohol at least once a month) and in college women 80% were current alcohol users (p<0.01). Current users were further divided into two groups, moderate and heavy, considering the amount and frequency of alcohol use. Beer was more popular among moderate users than heavy users in both sexes. Over 90% of both moderate and heavy users in both men and women had used hard liquor in the 30-day period preceding the survey. College men had more alcohol-related problems than did college women. Blackouts, getting into fights and not being able to meet school responsibilities were the common alcohol-related adverse outcomes reported by the participants. No associations were found between alcohol use and distress and between alcohol use and depressive mood. Mean values of the anxiety scores, however, were higher in moderate users in the male sample compared to that of the female sample. The findings have implications for theories of alcohol-related psychological health in college students.

CROSS-CULTURAL STUDY OF SAMPLES OF ADOLESCENTS' ATTITUDES, KNOWLEDGE, AND BEHAVIORS RELATED TO SMOKING '

This study examined the smoking behavior, knowledge, and attitudes of 413 students in Grades 7 and 8 in the United States and 393 such students in the Peoples Republic of China. A survey questionnaire developed by Pederson and Lefcoe was adapted and then translated into Mandarin. There were statistically significant differences between the students of the two countries in knowledge, attitude, and behavior related to smoking. Families played an important role in relation to smoking among this age group.

Cross-cultural Comparison of Lack of Regular Physical Activity among College Students: Universal Versus Transversal

PurposeThis study examined cultural influence on personal and behavioral correlates of lack of regular physical activity (PA) among college students in four countries, i.e., the United States, Costa Rica, India, and South Korea.MethodPublic universities were randomly chosen among the four countries. A total of 4,685 students participated in the study during the 2006–2007 academic year with a response rate of 90.1%. The vast majority of the questions on the instrument were adopted from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System questionnaires. The instrument was translated into Spanish and Korean and then back-translated into English to check accuracy of the translation.ResultsLow fruit consumption was a culture-universal predictor of lack of regular PA. Gender, perceived body weight, vegetable consumption, and cigarette smoking were culture-specific predictors, indicating PA might be a transversal value. Body mass index, binge drinking, and TV/video watching were not associated with lack of regular PA in any of the four countries.ConclusionWhile PA is valued across different segments of many cultures, given the several culture-specific predictors, PA appears to be more transversal than universal. Therefore, culturally sensitive interventions are necessary to promote PA among young adults.

Is waist circumference ≥ 102/88 cm better than body mass index ≥ 30 to predict hypertension and diabetes development regardless of gender, age group, and race/ethnicity? Meta-analysis

Between body mass index (BMI) ≥30 and waist circumference (WC) ≥102/88cm, we investigated which of the two measures is a better predictor of two of the most common chronic diseases - diabetes mellitus and hypertension while also examining differential association by gender, age group, and race/ethnicity. Meta-analysis was conducted for all longitudinal studies with at least 12months of follow-up published up to April 2015. Ratio of relative risk (rRR) and relative risk of diseases were computed and compared by baseline obesity measurement. The final sample included 23 longitudinal observation studies involving 62 study arms with 259,200 individuals. WC≥102/88cm was a better predictor than BMI≥30 for development of diabetes (rRR=0.81, 95% CI=0.68-0.96), but not for hypertension (rRR=0.92, 95% CI=0.80-1.06). Subgroup analyses showed WC≥102/88cm was a better predictor for diabetes in women than men, and for ages 60 and older than other ages. Only WC≥102/88cm, not BMI≥30, predicted development of hypertension among Hispanic/Latinos. Neither BMI≥30 nor WC≥102/88cm were significant predictors of hypertension when age group was controlled. Central obesity may be a more serious risk factor for diabetes development in women and for older ages. The predictive power of BMI≥30 or WC≥102/88cm in hypertension development should not be emphasized as either could mask the effect of age.

Exercise in Young Adulthood with Simultaneous and Future Changes in Fruit and Vegetable Intake

Objectives: Regarding weight management, changes in exercise behavior can also influence nutrition behavior by application of self-regulatory psychological resources across behaviors (transfer effect). This study aimed to determine: (1) if changes in exercise frequency in young adulthood predict simultaneous changes in fruit/vegetable intake (transfer as co-occurrence); and (2) if exercise frequency affects future fruit/vegetable intake (transfer as carry-over). Methods: 6244 respondents of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 were followed at ages 18–22 (Time-1), 23–27 (Time-2), and 27–31 (Time-3). Repeated measures analysis of variance and hierarchical multiple regression determined if the change in exercise frequency between Time-1 and Time-2 was associated with simultaneous and sequential changes in fruit/vegetable intake frequency, controlling for sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, body mass index, and baseline fruit/vegetable intake. Results: Only 9% continued exercising for 30 minutes more than 5 days/week, while 15% transitioned to adequate exercise and another 15% transitioned to inadequate exercise; for both fruits and vegetables, intake of once per day or more increased with age. Males were more likely to exercise adequately and females to consume fruits/vegetables adequately. Exercise frequency transition was linearly associated with concurrent fruit/vegetable intake during Time-1 and Time-2. The highest increase in mean fruit/vegetable intake occurred for participants who transitioned from inadequate to adequate exercise. A significant Time-2 exercise frequency effect on Time-3 fruit/vegetable intake emerged, after accounting for baseline intake. Increase in Time-2 exercise by one day/week resulted in increased Time-3 fruit and vegetable intakes by 0.17 and 0.13 times/week, respectively. Conclusion: Transfer effects, although usually discussed in interventions, may also be applicable to voluntary behavior change processes. Newly engaging in and continuing exercise behavior over time may establish exercise habits that facilitate improved fruit/vegetable consumption. Interventions that facilitate transferring resources across behaviors likely will enhance this effect.