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AbstractBackgroundMethodsResultsConclusionsThe assessment of drug craving is common in survey studies, including those using real-time data collection methods, such as Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA). However, few studies investigate how participants with chronic pain interpret the word ‘craving’ and how interpretations impact survey responses.We conducted a mixed-methods study among 12 individuals with chronic pain who were using prescription opioids and cannabis. Participants completed baseline surveys, cognitive interviews, and 14-day smartphone-based EMA data collection. Analyses included deductive and inductive coding of interviews and t-tests of EMA self-reports of opioid and cannabis craving.Four participants had negative reactions to the word ‘craving’, including mentions that these questions offended them. The remaining eight participants mentioned no negative connotation. EMA data showed that participants without negative reactions reported a greater range (opioids), higher standard deviation (opioids), and higher maximum (opioids, cannabis) on Likert-type EMA craving items, compared to those with a negative reaction.Some individuals with chronic pain may have a negative reaction to the word ‘craving’ related to opioid and cannabis use and this reaction may impact survey responses. Alternative wording of survey items is recommended, for example focused on ‘wanting’ or ‘needing’. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One factor potentially driving healthcare and hospital worker (HHW)'s declining mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic is feeling betrayed by institutional leaders, coworkers, and/or others' pandemic-related responses and behaviors. We investigated whether HHWs' betrayal-based moral injury was associated with greater mental distress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms related to COVID-19. We also examined if these associations varied between clinical and non-clinical staff. From July 2020 to January 2021, cross-sectional online survey data were collected from 1,066 HHWs serving COVID-19 patients in a large urban US healthcare system. We measured betrayal-based moral injury in three groups: institutional leaders, coworkers/colleagues, and people outside of healthcare. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate whether betrayal-based moral injury was associated with mental distress and PTSD symptoms. Approximately one-third of HHWs reported feeling betrayed by institutional leaders, and/or people outside healthcare. Clinical staff were more likely to report feelings of betrayal than non-clinical staff. For all respondents, 49.5% reported mental distress and 38.2% reported PTSD symptoms. Having any feelings of betrayal increased the odds of mental distress and PTSD symptoms by 2.9 and 3.3 times, respectively. These associations were not significantly different between clinical and non-clinical staff. As health systems seek to enhance support of HHWs, they need to carefully examine institutional structures, accountability, communication, and decision-making patterns that can result in staff feelings of betrayal. Building trust and repairing ruptures with HHWs could prevent potential mental health problems, increase retention, and reduce burnout, while likely improving patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opioid misuse has become an epidemic in the United States. In the present study, we examine potential malleable early childhood predictors of opioid misuse including whether childhood achievement, aggressive behavior, attention problems, and peer social preference/likability in first grade predicted opioid misuse and whether these relationships differed depending on participant sex. Data are drawn from three cohorts of participants (N = 1,585; 46.7% male) recruited in first grade as part of a series of elementary school-based, universal preventive interventions conducted in a Mid-Atlantic region of the US. In first grade, participants completed standardized achievement tests, teachers reported on attention problems, and peers nominated their classmates with respect to their aggressive behavior and social preference/likability. At approximately age 20, participants reported on their misuse of opioids defined as lifetime use of heroin or misuse of prescription opioids. Higher levels of peer nominations for aggressive behavior in first grade predicted a greater likelihood of opioid misuse. An interaction between participant sex and attention problems was observed such that females higher in attention problems were more likely to misuse opioids, particularly prescription opioids, than females lower in attention problems. An interaction was also found between participant sex and peer likability such that males lower in peer-nominated likability were more likely to misuse opioids relative to males higher in likability. Given the malleable nature of attention problems, aggression, and social skills in early childhood, prevention programs that target these behaviors during this developmental period may attenuate risk for opioid misuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Latinos/as – the largest minority group in the U.S. – are avid Facebook users, making this an opportune tool to educate on the uptake of cancer prevention and screening behaviors. However, there is a dearth in scholarship exploring how Latinos/as engage with and act upon health content encountered on social media, which may be influenced by cultural values. This qualitatively-driven, mixed-methods study explores how Latinos/as engage with and act upon cancer prevention and screening information (CPSI) on Facebook. During one-on-one, in-depth interviews, participants (n = 20) logged onto their Facebook account alongside the researcher and discussed cancer-related posts they engaged with during the past 12 months. Interview questions included the reasons for engagement, and whether engagement triggered further action. Interviews were analyzed thematically. In parallel, a content analysis of the CPSI posts identified during the interviews was conducted. The majority of CPSI posts participants engaged with contained food-related content and visual imagery. Engagement was most common when individuals had personal relationships to the poster, when posts included videos/images, and when posts contained content promoting the curative properties of popular Latin American foods. Engagement often led to information-seeking and sharing, discussing content with others, and/or changing health behaviors. Findings highlight the importance of adequately contextualizing how cultural values influence the ways in which Latinos/as engage with and act upon CPSI on Facebook, which may lead individuals to bypass evidence-based procedures. Multi-pronged efforts are necessary to adequately leverage social media to empower Latinos/as to partake in behaviors that effectively reduce cancer health disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cannabis legalization threatens to undermine clean indoor air norms. We investigated the prevalence and nature of tobacco and cannabis use rules in Airbnb venues in Denver, Colorado, where recreational cannabis was legalized in 2014. The study used publicly available Inside Airbnb data for all Denver listings (N = 4,511) collected on 06/29/2019. We analyzed reported tobacco smoking and cannabis use house rules. Tobacco smoking with or without conditions was allowed in 9.7% of venues. Of all venues, 23.7% included details about cannabis use. Of these, 75.9% allowed cannabis use without or with conditions. Of the venues that allowed cannabis use, 30.5% also allowed tobacco smoking. Of the venues that did not allow cannabis use, 0.4% allowed tobacco smoking. Additional multilevel regression models revealed that venues in higher income neighborhoods were less likely to allow cannabis and tobacco use. A substantial number of Airbnb listings in Denver, Colorado permit cannabis use and venues permitting cannabis use may be more likely to also permit tobacco smoking. Findings support the idea that cannabis legalization threatens clean indoor air norms. Airbnb should consider including cannabis use in house rules in jurisdictions that have legalized cannabis to help guests identify spaces with clean air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The goal ofOrientationWeek is to help new students adjust to university life.However, it is a period whenmany new students engage in excessive alcohol consumption and where problematic drinking patterns may be established. Objective: The objective is to determine whether returning students drink in a similarmanner to students in their first-year of classes and whether OrientationWeek drinking predicts semester drinking more strongly for first-year than returning students. Methods: We tested 552 students (18 to 25 years old) in their first, second, or third class year of university. Students reported their OrientationWeek drinking and then completed daily drinking diaries for 13 consecutive days during the academic year. Results: Orientation Week drinking was similar across class years and also predicted academic year drinking for students in all class years. Conclusion/Importance: Drinking during Orientation Week is not just a first-year problem and prevention efforts should focus on all students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Among young adults, cigarette smoking is strongly associated with alcohol and marijuana use. The present study compared self-reported co-use of cigarettes and alcohol versus cigarettes and marijuana among young adults using cross-sectional survey data. Methods:Participants were young adult cigarette smokers (age 18 to 25) who also reported past month alcohol or marijuana use enrolled in a randomized trial testing a smoking cessation intervention on Facebook. Participants self-reported extent of cigarette smoking under the influence of alcohol or marijuana and differences in perceived pleasure from cigarette smoking when drinking alcohol compared to using marijuana. Results:Among cigarette smokers who drank alcohol and used marijuana in the past month (n = 200), a similar percentage of cigarettes were smoked under the influence of alcohol (42.4% ± 31.2%) and marijuana (43.1%  ± 30.0%). Among alcohol + marijuana users, perceived pleasure from smoking cigarettes was significantly greater when drinking alcohol versus when using marijuana (t(199) = 7.05,p < .001). There was, on average, an increase in perceived pleasure from smoking cigarettes when drinking alcohol, though perceived pleasure did not differ by binge drinking frequency. In contrast, there was on average no change in perceived pleasure from smoking cigarettes when using marijuana. Results from the cigarette smokers who used alcohol + marijuana were similar to cigarette smokers who only used alcohol (n = 158) or only used marijuana (n = 54). Conclusion:Findings highlight greater perceived reward from smoking cigarettes when drinking alcohol compared to when using marijuana, informing smoking cessation interventions that target users of multiple substances. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective:Binge drinking (also called heavy episodic drinking, risky single-occasion drinking etc.) is a major public health problem. This paper provides an overview of recently published evidence concerning the definition and measurement, prevalence rates, health impact, demographic and psychosocial correlates of, and interventions for, binge drinking. Design:Narrative review. Results:Mostly occurring among young people at weekends, binge drinking increases the risk of both acute (e.g. injuries) and long-term negative consequences (e.g. alcohol disorders). Binge drinkers tend to be extrovert, impulsive and sensation-seeking. Stress, anxiety, traumatic events and depression are also related to binge drinking. Both alcohol-related behaviour of parents and general parenting (e.g. parenting styles, monitoring) are also important. Other major risk factors for binge drinking are frequently spending time with friends who drink, and the drinking norms observed in the wider social environment (e.g. school, community, culture). Emergency departments, birthday parties, fraternities and the workplace serve as settings for interventions; these are increasingly delivered via digital and mobile technology. There is evidence of small-sized effects across approaches (brief interventions, personalised normative feedback, protective behavioural strategies etc.) and populations. Conclusion:A more consistent terminology, investigating multi-level influences and identifying the most effective intervention components are challenges for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Young adults underutilize current evidence-based smoking cessation strategies; yet social media are widely used and accepted among this population. A better understanding of whether and how young adults try to quit smoking in the context of a social media smoking cessation intervention could inform future intervention improvements. Objectives: We examined frequency, strategies used, and predictors of self-initiated 24-hour quit attempts among young adults participating in a Facebook intervention. Methods: A total of 79 young adult smokers (mean age = 20.8; 20.3% female) were recruited on Facebook for a feasibility trial. Participants joined motivationally tailored private Facebook groups and received daily posts over 12 weeks. Assessments were completed at baseline, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up. Results: In 12 months, 52 participants (65.5%) completed 215 quit attempts (mean = 4.1; median = 4; range 1-14); 75.4% of attempts were undertaken with the Facebook intervention alone, 17.7% used an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette), 7.4% used nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), and 3.7% used additional professional advice. Non-daily smokers, those who smoked fewer cigarettes, and those in an advanced stage of change at baseline were more likely to make a quit attempt. E-cigarette use to aide a quit attempt during the study period was associated with reporting a past year quit attempt at baseline. No baseline characteristics predicted NRT use. Conclusions: After participating in a Facebook smoking cessation intervention, young adults predominantly tried to quit without additional assistance. E-cigarettes are used more frequently as cessation aid than NRT. The use of evidence-based smoking cessation strategies should be improved in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information the report on the use of social media to promote justice in locating and tracking research participants. Topics discussed to make the decision on whether to use social media to improve the practice of locating and tracking individuals; mentions the individuals risk and disadvantages as a result of participating in research; and highlights the internet based platforms that facilitate communication with other users.

Light and intermittent smoking has become a prevalent pattern of use among young adults. Little is known about which factors differentiate light and intermittent smokers (LITS) from heavy smokers (HS) in young adulthood. In this study, we compare young adult LITS with HS with regard to demographic- and smoking-related variables, self-control abilities, and concrete strategies of smoking restraint. The data were collected as part of an Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) study with 137 German young adult smokers (M Age = 21.1 years, 46.0% female; 76 HS [≥10 cigarettes/day] and 61 LITS [≤5 cigarettes/day]). Participants were recruited over the Internet and completed a baseline questionnaire online. Several variables differentiated LITS and HS in a multiple logistic regression analysis: LITS reported fewer smoking friends (p < .001) and a higher self-efficacy to resist smoking (p < .01). Further, LITS smoking status was associated with reporting a past quit attempt (p < .05) and the use of smoking restraint strategies (counting, limiting, and purposefully not smoking cigarettes; p < .05). Notably, nicotine dependence and trait self-control abilities did not differentiate between LITS and HS. Our results point to the role of smoking restraint strategies and self-monitoring of smoking to limit the daily number of cigarettes smoked. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aims: The objective of this study was to evaluate the preventive effect of a clinic-based, emotionally arousing, negative information giving intervention on adolescents' protective and risk factors of smoking. Methods: Data of 563 students (18 schools) from a cluster randomized controlled trial conducted in Heidelberg, Germany (2010-2011) were analysed. The intervention included a presentation about the risks of smoking, a live video session of a pulmonary endoscopy and a testimonial interview with a lung cancer patient. A prevention booklet served as the control condition. Students' reaction to the intervention was assessed after 2 weeks, risk and protective factors of smoking and smoking status were assessed after 2.5 months. Findings: The clinic intervention received significantly better ratings of credibility, personal relevance and emotional arousal than the booklet. Differences between clinic and booklet groups failed to reach significance on smoking-related threat appraisal, coping appraisal, protection motivation, behavioural intention and smoking status. Conclusions: Although the clinic intervention generated a significant immediate reaction, there were no significant preventive effects at follow-up. These results are in line with previous research and add further evidence for the ineffectiveness of emotionally arousing negative information giving in smoking prevention with adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]