Susan Abughosh

The Social Norms and Beliefs of Teenage Male Electronic Cigarette Use

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are novel, battery-operated inhalation devices that provide warm, vaporized nicotine, and often propylene glycol, to users without the inclusion of tobacco smoke. Because men, in general, are more likely to use cigarettes and illicit drugs than women, a qualitative study was undertaken to investigate the beliefs and perceived social norms regarding this issue among 47 teenage boys who self-identified themselves as current e-cigarette smokers. The majority of respondents reported that they used e-cigarettes because of expeditious consumption and concealment. Furthermore, the most common places respondents self-reported using e-cigarettes were everywhere, in school bathrooms, at home, and in school staircases. Interestingly, respondents stated that e-cigarettes are popular because they are accessible, healthier than tobacco cigarettes, and more aesthetically pleasing. Because of the growing popularity and uncertainty regarding the social and physical consequences of e-cigarettes, this study shows a need for additional research discovery.

Ethnicity and waterpipe smoking among US students

OBJECTIVES To examine the effect of ethnicity on waterpipe smoking among college students. DESIGN A cross-sectional study utilized data from University of Houston students through an online survey (n = 2334) from March to April 2011. The survey included questions on demographic characteristics (sex, age, race/ethnicity), tobacco use experience, risk perception, social acceptability and popularity. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine predictors of waterpipe use with three outcomes: ever-use vs. no use, past-year use vs. no use and past-month use vs. no use. RESULTS Half of the sample had previously smoked tobacco using a waterpipe, approximately a third in the past year and 12.5% in the past month. Significant predictors included Middle Eastern ethnicity, Middle Eastern friend, past cigarette or cigar use. Perception of harm was associated with less use in the ever-use model, while perceived addictiveness, social acceptability and popularity of waterpipes were predictors in all models. CONCLUSION Our findings underscore the importance of developing culturally appropriate interventions to control waterpipe smoking among Middle Eastern Americans and those of Indian/Pakistani descent to curb further spread in US society, and highlight the importance of developing interventions that target the perceived addictiveness, social acceptability and popularity of waterpipe smoking.

A Pharmacist Telephone Intervention to Identify Adherence Barriers and Improve Adherence Among Nonadherent Patients with Comorbid Hypertension and Diabetes in a Medicare Advantage Plan

BACKGROUND Patients with comorbid hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are at a high risk of developing macrovascular and microvascular complications of DM. Controlling high blood pressure can greatly reduce these complications. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are recommended for patients with both DM and HTN by the American Diabetes Association guidelines, and their benefit and efficacy in reducing macrovascular and microvascular complications of DM have been well documented. Poor adherence, however, remains a significant barrier to achieving full effectiveness and optimal outcomes. OBJECTIVE To examine the effect of a brief pharmacist telephone intervention in identifying adherence barriers and improving adherence to ACEI/ARB medications among nonadherent patients with comorbid HTN and DM who are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. METHODS Cigna-HealthSprings medical claims data was used to identify patients with HTN and DM diagnoses by using ICD-9-CM codes 401 and 250, and at least 2 fills for ACEIs or ARBs between January 2013 and October 2013. Patients who failed to refill their medication for more than 1 day and had a proportion of days covered (PDC) < 0.8 were considered nonadherent and were contacted by a pharmacist by phone to identify adherence barriers. Two outcome variables were evaluated: The first was adherence to ACEIs/ARBs, defined as PDC during the 6 months following the phone call intervention. The second outcome variable was a categorical outcome of discontinuation versus continuation. Discontinuation was defined as not using ACEIs/ARBs during the 6-month post-intervention period. Patients who disenrolled from the plan in 2014 or were switched to another medication commonly used for treating DM and HTN were excluded from further analysis. Descriptive statistics were conducted to assess the frequency distribution of sample demographic characteristics at baseline. Multiple linear regression was conducted to assess the intervention effect on adherence during the 6 months post-intervention using the first outcome of post-intervention PDC, adjusting for baseline PDC and other covariates. Logistic regression was performed to assess the association between medication discontinuation and other baseline characteristics using the second outcome of discontinuation. Other control variables in the models included demographics (age, sex, language), physician specialty (primary care vs. specialist), health plan (low-income subsidy vs. other), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid risk score, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and number of distinct medications. RESULTS In total, 186 hypertensive diabetic patients, nonadherent to ACEIs/ARBs (PDC < 0.8), were included in the study. Of the 186 patients, 87 received the pharmacist phone call intervention. Among these patients, forgetfulness (25.29%) and doctor issues, such as having difficulty scheduling appointments (16.79%), were the most commonly reported barriers. After excluding those who switched from ACEIs/ARBs to another medication, 157 patients were included in the logistic regression model. Of those, 131 had continued using ACEIs/ARBs and were included in the linear regression model. The mean (±SD) post-intervention PDC for the intervention group was 0.58 (±0.26) and for the control group 0.29 (±0.17). Intervention was a significant predictor of better adherence in the linear regression model after adjusting all the other baseline covariates (β = 0.3182, 95% CI = 0.19-0.38, P < 0.001). Other covariates were not significantly associated with better adherence. In the logistic regression model (discontinuation: 26 [yes]/131 [no]) for predicting medication discontinuation, patients who received intervention were more likely to continue using ACEIs/ARBs (OR = 3.56, 95% CI = 1.06-11.86), and those with a higher comorbidity index were less likely to continue using them (OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.53-0.99). CONCLUSIONS The brief pharmacist telephone intervention resulted in significantly better PDCs during the 6 months following the intervention as well as lower discontinuation rates among a group of nonadherent patients with comorbid HTN and DM. The overall PDC rates in both the intervention and control groups were still lower than the recommended 80%. Improving adherence to clinically meaningful values may require more than a brief pharmacist phone call. Incorporating motivational interviewing techniques with follow-up calls to address adherence barriers may be more influential in forming sustainable behavioral change and enhancing medication adherence.

Waterpipe smoking among students in one US university: predictors of an intention to quit.

Abstract Objective: To examine the intention to quit waterpipe smoking among college students. Participants: A total of 276 University of Houston students identified through an online survey administered in February 2011. Participants indicated they had smoked a waterpipe in the month prior to the survey. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Questions included demographics, tobacco use, perceived risk of waterpipe smoking, and social acceptability. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine predictors of an intention to quit. Results: Most of the sample participants (n = 227; 83%) reported that they had no intention to quit. Students believing that waterpipe smoking was harmful were more likely to have an intention to quit (odd ratio [OR] = 2.38, 95% confidence interval [CI; 1.05, 5.36]). Those who smoked for more than 60 minutes were less likely to have a desire to quit (OR = 0.29, 95% CI [0.12, 0.73]). Conclusions: The low level of a desire to quit demonstrated underscores the urgent need to develop interventions that educate users about expected harms of continued use.

Comparison of persistence rates of acetylcholine-esterase inhibitors in a state Medicaid program.

Objective To compare levels of persistency between cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) among a Medicaid patient population of older adults. Methods Survival analysis was used to assess differences in discontinuation between ChEIs (donepezil versus rivastigmine and galantamine), and for difference in patient gender, age, race, and care setting. Results Rates of discontinuation increased from 42.7% (95% CI = 39.9–45.5) at 12 months to 84.8% (95% CI = 82.3–87.3) at 24 months. In multivariate models, no significant difference in discontinuation existed prior to 365 days. However, patients dispensed donepezil were less likely to discontinue as compared with users of the other two ChEIs after the first year (RR = 0.70; CI = 0.499–0.983; p < 0.04). Patients of white race were less likely to discontinue (RR = 0.549; 95% CI = 0.43–0.82; p = 0.0015), while gender, care setting, and age were not associated with discontinuation. Conclusions One-year persistence rates were similar between different ChEIs. Among patients persisting with ChEI medication for at least 12 months, users of donepezil were slightly more likely to continue to persist at 24 months. Nearly half of patients failed to persist with ChEI therapy for at least 12 months. Our findings underscore the limitations of the ChEI medications and the urgent need for effective and tolerable therapeutic options for patients having dementia.

Does combination pharmacological intervention for smoking cessation prevent post-cessation weight gain? A systemic review

BACKGROUND Most smokers who quit smoking gain weight. There are some interventions designed to limit weight gain following smoking cessation. OBJECTIVE To conduct a systematic review to evaluate if combination pharmacological therapy interventions for smoking cessation are effective in reducing post-cessation weight gain. METHODS The following databases were researched: Medline, PubMed, PsycINFO, CENTRAL and EMBASE. Detailed inclusion and exclusion criteria were specified a priori before conducting abstract and full text screening. Included studies were required to: (1) report data on combination pharmacotherapy including at least one FDA-approved smoking cessation medication; (2) report outcome measure of weight change from baseline to the end of follow up; (3) incorporate a minimum of 2-week follow-up; (4) recruit adult smokers. Studies were excluded if they had (1) behavioral interventions; (2) sample size of <30; (3) switching medications; or (4) they were not written in English. Abstracts and the full texts were reviewed independently by two investigators. Inclusion of studies was decided by a third independent investigator in case of disagreement between the two primary investigators. RESULTS Out of 1873 studies identified, 1083 studies were included for abstract screening. Finally, 12 studies met the eligibility criteria after full text screening of 242 studies. Seven studies showed that participants in the combined therapy group had less post-cessation weight gain than those in the group of individual drugs or placebo. Four studies did not report differential weight gain measures by treatment groups. Only one study showed that post-treatment weight gain in the combined therapy group was more than the monotherapy group, although the result was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Seven out of twelve studies indicated that combination smoking cessation medications had less post-cessation weight gain than monotherapy or placebo in short term. Long term weight gain was not well documented by most of the studies and future research is warranted.

Predictors of frequency of condom use and attitudes among sexually active female military personnel in Nigeria.

Background Despite awareness of condom efficacy, in protecting against both human immunodeficiency virus/sexually transmitted diseases (HIV/STDs) and unintended pregnancy; some females find it difficult to use or permit condom use consistently because of the power imbalances or other dynamics operating in their relationships with males. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that predict the frequency of condom use and attitudes among sexually active female military personnel in Nigeria. Methods This study used a cross-sectional design in which a total of 346 responses were obtained from consenting female military personnel in two cantonments in Southwestern Nigeria between 2006 and 2008. The study instrument was designed to assess HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) knowledge (HAK), HIV risk behaviors (HRB), alcohol and drug use, condom attitudes and barriers (CAS) condom use self-efficacy (CUS) and social support to condom use (SSC). The sociodemographic characteristics of participants were also captured. Univariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression were used for modeling the predictors of condom use. Results The results showed that 63% of the respondents reported using condoms always, 26% sometimes used condoms and 11% never used condoms during a sexual encounter in the past three months. Univariate analysis revealed that significant associations existed between CAB (P < 0.05), HRB (P < 0.01) and SSC (P < 0.01) with the frequency of condom use. The following sociodemographic variables: age, marital status, number of children, employment status and type of sexual relationship were also significantly (P ≤ 0.05) associated with consistent condom use in the study group. Multivariate analysis indicated that marital status, type of relationship and CAB were the only significant predictors (r2 = 0.37; P ≤ 0.05) of condom use behaviors after adjusting for all other factors in the model. Conclusions Findings indicate that consistent condom use could be enhanced through gender-specific intervention programs that incorporate the predictor variables identified. These are likely to be successful in decreasing sexual risk behaviors in the subpopulation.

Predictors of Persistent Waterpipe Smoking Among University Students in The United States

Background: Waterpipe smoking is an understudied form of tobacco use with growing popularity among college students and a misconception of relative safety. Our objectives were to identify predictors of persistent waterpipe smoking among college students who have tried using a waterpipe to smoke tobacco in the past. The participants of our study included students from the University of Houston (UH) who previously used a waterpipe to smoke tobacco (N=1,141). Methods: Cross-sectional study through an online survey. Survey questions included demographics (gender, age, race /ethnicity), tobacco use, risk perception, social acceptability, and popularity of waterpipe smoking. Two outcome variables were identified in this study: outcome 1: monthly waterpipe smoking or more vs. less than monthly use, outcome 2: weekly waterpipe smoking or more vs. less frequent use. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analyses were used to determine the frequencies and associations of participant characteristics and multivariate logistic regression models were carried out to determine predictors of persistent waterpipe use. Results: Among those who previously used a waterpipe, approximately one fifth reported smoking a waterpipe on a monthly basis or more, and 5% reported smoking on a weekly basis or more. Significant predictors of persistent waterpipe use included: White Middle-Eastern ethnicity, Indian Asian or Pakistani Asian ethnicity, past 30-day cigar use, ownership of a waterpipe, believing waterpipe smoking was cool, and longer than 30 minutes waterpipe smoking sessions. Those who believed that waterpipe smoking was harmful to ones health and those who thought government should evaluate the safety before selling the waterpipes were less likely to become persistent users. Conclusion: Findings of this study highlight the importance of developing interventions that address the predictors identified. Educational programs that explain the potential harms of waterpipe smoking and modify the cool image associated are needed to prevent the spread of this rapidly emerging health hazard.

Predictors of Intention to Quit Waterpipe Smoking: A Survey of Arab Americans in Houston, Texas

Waterpipe smoking has been described as “the second global tobacco epidemic since the cigarette.” Both Middle Eastern ethnicity and having a friend of Middle Eastern ethnicity have been reported as significant predictors of waterpipe smoking. Addressing waterpipe smoking in this ethnic minority is essential to controlling this growing epidemic in the US. We investigated the predictors of an intention to quit waterpipe smoking by surveying 340 Arab American adults in the Houston area. Primary analyses were conducted using stepwise logistic regression. Only 27% of participants reported having an intention to quit waterpipe smoking. Intention to quit waterpipe smoking was significantly higher with history of cigar use, a prior attempt to quit, and not smoking when seriously ill and significantly lower with increasing age, medium cultural acceptability of using waterpipe among family, high cultural acceptability of using waterpipe among friends, longer duration of smoking sessions, and perceiving waterpipe smoking as less harmful than cigarettes. Educational programs that target Arab Americans in general, and specifically older adults, those who smoke waterpipe for more than 60 minutes, those whose family and friends approve waterpipe smoking, and those with no former attempts to quit, may be necessary to increase the intention to quit waterpipe smoking.

Cigarette smoking among Jordanian adults

The objectives were to determine the rate of cigarette smoking and correlates of its use among a sample of Jordanian adults (N = 600). A survey-based, cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenient sample. Logistic regression was used to determine predictors of being a cigarette smoker. Approximately half of the population (45%) had smoked a cigarette in the past month, 40% in the past week, and 36% in past 24 hours. These findings underscore the magnitude of the smoking problem in the Jordanian population and the urgent need for effective interventions. Future research should focus on developing interventions that incorporate the predictors identified.