ABSTRACT
Electronic nicotine products remain popular among college students. These products contain heavy metals, carcinogens and the addictive substance nicotine. By understanding where students are in their behavior change can help to determine and focus messages and campaigns. The aim of this study was to assess predictors of the Transtheoretical model in college-aged vaping. This study consisted of an online/Ipad delivery of a voluntary survey to 1249 young adults/college students at 5 universities (International and within the U.S.). Data was analyzed using Stata. Regression analysis was performed to assess predictors of the stages in the Transtheoretical Model of behavior change. Our study found that women tended to be further along in the stages of change as compared to their male counterparts. Additionally, the older students were more likely to be in maintenance stage as compared to the younger students. The students who vaped longer tended to not have advance into any of the stages of change besides precontemplation. Understanding where students are in the stages of change can help to inform behavioral message campaigns enabling more focused targeting of messages and efforts to reduce consumption. Electronic nicotine products are highly prevalent on college campuses, both nationally and internationally. The nicotine is addictive and may result in less of a desire or ability to quit as young adults age.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Adverse childhood experiences contribute to both short- and long-term health issues and negative health behaviors that affect the individual as well as families and communities. Exposure to ≥4 of the 11 adverse childhood experiences (high adverse childhood experiences) compounds the problems in later life. This study assesses the associations among tobacco use, adverse childhood experiences, mental health, and community health. METHODS: This study was a secondary data analysis utilizing a large 2019 data set from a Community Health Needs Assessment in Florida (N=14,056). Investigators utilized inferential statistics to determine adverse childhood experiences as a predictor of tobacco use (vaping and cigarette use). In addition, they examined whether a shorter, 2-question adverse childhood experience scale was equivalent to the full scale when predicting tobacco use. RESULTS: The results indicated that parental divorce was the most common household stressor, followed by mental illness and alcoholism. High adverse childhood experiences were found to be most prominent in marginalized individuals. For those individuals experiencing ≥4 adverse childhood experiences, parental divorce continued to rank high, followed by mental illness. Household stressors included emotional and physical abuse as the most prevalent in the ≥4 adverse childhood experience group. High adverse childhood experiences were associated with current cigarette smoking (AOR=1.56) after controlling for individual mental health and social/community health variables. High adverse childhood experiences were also associated with E-cigarette use (AOR=1.81) but not dual cigarette/E-cigarette use. Social and community health was inversely associated with tobacco use. A 2-item adverse childhood experiences measure was sufficient in identifying tobacco users. CONCLUSIONS: Including adverse childhood experiences in community needs assessments provides important information for tobacco control efforts and prevention of chronic disease.
Subject(s)
Adverse Childhood Experiences , Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems , Tobacco Products , Vaping , Florida , HumansABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Waterpipe (also known as hookah) smokers are exposed to several toxicants, heavy metals, and carcinogens. This study assessed physiologic data from hookah bar participants in an urban area in Florida. We hypothesized that hookah lounge patrons would have a decreased [Formula: see text] and perfusion index, as well as an increased heart rate and exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) levels upon exiting the bars. METHODS: Exhaled CO levels, heart rate, pulse oximetry for carboxyhemoglobin, and perfusion index were obtained immediately before entering the hookah lounges and after exiting hookah lounges on a sample size of 200 patrons attending hookah lounges. Averages were then used for Wilcoxon signed-rank tests to assess differences across means. RESULTS: Combining data from both hookah smokers and concurrent smokers, the mean CO measurements went from 5.7 ppm prior to lounge entry to 66.5 ppm after the lounge visit (P < .001). Conversion to carboxyhemoglobin for all hookah smokers represents an increase from 1.5% to 10.6% (P < .001). Carboxyhemoglobin mean values as measured with pulse oximetry increased from 1.4% prior to the lounge visit to 7.2% after the lounge visit (P < .001). The mean heart rate for the subjects also increased from 90.3 beats/min to 94.2 beats/min (P < .001). [Formula: see text] levels decreased from 98.4% to 97.8% (P < .001). Similarly, the mean perfusion index decreased from 3.1% to 2.7% (P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: Hookah lounge smokers in the United States are exposed to high levels of CO that have the potential for detrimental health effects, as evidenced by rapid negative changes in physiological parameters. Respiratory therapists should be aware of potential cardiovascular changes in hookah lounge patrons who enter emergency rooms and health facilities due to recent exposures.
