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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2008.06.004 Byline: Jane Adams (a), Lynne Parkinson (a), Rob W. Sanson-Fisher (a), Raoul A. Walsh (a)(b) Keywords: Smoking; Adolescence; Bogus pipeline; Carbon monoxide; Anonymity Abstract: Adolescent smoking prevalence is usually assessed via self-complete questionnaires. However, concern has been expressed about the validity of such self-report. One approach to increase validity involves the threat of biological validation, known as the bogus pipeline method (BPL).This study aimed to assess the effects of BPL, using an expired air carbon monoxide monitor, and of questionnaire anonymity on student smoking self-report data. High school students (n =801) were randomly allocated to one of four conditions: anonymous questionnaire+BPL, named questionnaire+BPL, anonymous questionnaire without BPL and named questionnaire without BPL. Overall, 37% of students agreed that questionnaires were a good way to obtain honest answers. In a logistic regression analysis, students in the BPL condition had significantly higher odds of reporting weekly smoking (OR=1.83 95% CI 1.27-2.65) and monthly smoking (OR=1.66 95% CI 1.21-2.28) but not of lifetime smoking compared with non-BPL students. Students in the named questionnaire condition had a significantly higher odds of reporting lifetime smoking (OR=1.49 95% CI 1.08-2.04) compared with anonymous students. Studies assessing current smoking patterns in adolescents should consider incorporating a BPL method. Author Affiliation: (a) Discipline of Health Behaviour Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308, Australia (b) Centre for Health Research & Psycho-oncology (CHeRP), The Cancer Council NSW/University of Newcastle, Longworth Avenue, Wallsend NSW 2287, Australia

Research is presented concerning the specificity and sensitivity of self-reported smoking compared with biochemical indicators in 7,405 pregnant women. The influence of passive exposure to smoking is discussed.

Midwives' self-reports of smoking status of pregnant women are inaccurate, as they either misclassify or fail to identify a significant proportion of smokers. Midwife-identified nonsmokers who can be reclassified as smokers with research questionnaire and urinalysis methods, are 7.4% using the conservative estimate, 15.2% using the worst-case estimate, and 8.8% using the medium estimate. Findings suggest the need to improve the measures used to classify individuals.

Background: Only 1%–7% of adult smokers use quitlines annually. Active telephone recruitment may increase utilization and enroll new groups of quitline users. Purpose: This study aimed to (1) determine the proportion of adult daily smokers actively recruited by telephone to quitline support; (2) calculate the cost per smoker recruited; and (3) compare the characteristics of participants to smokers in the New South Wales (NSW, Australia) general population. Methods: Between September 2005 and April 2007, 1562 adult daily smokers randomly selected from the electronic NSW telephone directory were recruited into an RCT. The proportion of smokers and the cost per smoker recruited were examined. Participants were compared to NSW adult daily smokers from the NSW Population Health Survey and the Centre for Health Research & Psycho-oncology Smoking Community Survey. Analysis was completed in 2008. Results: More than half (52%) of eligible smokers contacted by telephone were recruited into cessation support. The cost per smoker recruited was AU$71 (US$59). Active telephone recruitment successfully enrolled smokers who are currently under-represented among quitline users. For instance, more than two thirds (68%) of participants were not intending to quit within 1 month. Compared with NSW adult daily smokers, participants were significantly more likely to be older; more highly educated; married/living with partner or divorced/separated; a nonmetropolitan resident; more nicotine dependent; more ready to quit; and have fewer household members. Participants were significantly less likely to live with a smoker than were NSW adult daily smokers. Conclusions: Active telephone recruitment has the potential to substantially increase the proportion of smokers using quitline services at a reasonable cost. This method also engages smokers currently under-represented in quitline populations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Relatively little attention has been given to the retail availability of tobacco products despite the likelihood that ubiquitous supply may represent a primary form of tobacco promotion in Australia. This study aimed to explore the number and distribution of tobacco outlets, smokers’ perceptions about the availability of tobacco and the role availability may play in tobacco consumption and quitting attempts in Australia. The study comprised two parts: Part A involved mapping retail tobacco outlets in the Hunter Region of NSW, Australia. Part B involved a statewide telephone survey of 539 current smokers aged 18 years and over in NSW. Part A identified 1270 retail tobacco outlets, giving a density of one outlet per 384 persons aged over 15 years, or one outlet per 77 smokers. Associations between socioeconomic status of areas and retail availability of tobacco were not found. Of the survey respondents in Part B, 87.5% indicated that they would be within walking distance of a retail tobacco outlet during their daily activities. Those who were younger, male and single were more likely to purchase tobacco at convenience-type outlets. We therefore conclude that some groups of smokers appear vulnerable to the availability of tobacco and a reduction in the availability of tobacco is likely to benefit smokers who wish to quit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]