Public opinion analysis regarding the uses of master settlement agreement (MSA) funds.

OBJECTIVES: In the present research, we assessed the relationship between characteristics of the residents of Long Beach, California, a typical city in America, and their opinions regarding the uses of master settlement agreement (MSA) funds. METHODS: The statistical analyses used in the present research included univariate frequency distributions, cross-tabulations, and classification and regression trees. RESULTS: The results indicate that the majority of Long Beach residents share the opinion that the MSA funds should be allocated to health programmes. They do not, however, feel that these funds need to be earmarked solely for smoking prevention or cessation. CONCLUSIONS: Due to state budget deficits, legislators may strongly advocate for the MSA funds to be used for non-health purposes. Our findings provide support for community advocates who wish to bring the current uses of MSA funds and tobacco taxes to the forefront of national and international public debate.

Contingency contracting and systematic desensitization for heroin addicts in methadone maintenance programs.

The use and effectiveness of contingency contracting and systematic desensitization with heroin addicts being treated in methadone maintenance programs are discussed. Both behavior therapies can be practically implemented in methadone maintenance programs to supplement methadone pharmacotherapy. Contingency contracting has been effectively employed to reduce illicit drug use and to manage patients in the clinic. Systematic desensitization has less effect on actual heroin usage yet effectively reduces the fear of withdrawal and general anxiety, while improving self-image, assertiveness, and adjustment in the community. A clinic protocol that incorporates all three therapies-methadone maintenance, contingency contracting, and systematic desensitization-is proposed.

Hypertension in community-dwelling elders from a statewide study: implications for nonpharmacologic therapy.

This study used multivariate analysis to determine the sociodemographic variables that predict whether hypertensive elders who are aware of their disease deliberately make lifestyle modifications aimed at controlling their hypertension. The data are from the 1990 Panel Study of Older South Carolinians (n = 6,473). The researchers performed five separate logistic regressions, each to predict the odds that the elders made specific lifestyle changes to reduce their hypertension. The dependent variable in the first regression was 1 = quite smoking to reduce hypertension and 0 = did not quite smoking to reduce hypertension. Changing diet, exercising, taking medication, and using stress management techniques were the dependent variables in the second, third, fourth, and fifth regressions, respectively. Significant determinants included age, gender, marital status, socioeconomic status, previous medical history, and social participation. This paper discussed implications for prevention programs.

Learning style preferences of public health students.

OBJECTIVES: The learning style preferences of public health students are investigated. Learning styles, as defined by Kolb, refer to the four distinct manners of processing information. METHODS: Students' learning styles are analyzed for associations by gender, occupation, and public health program. The value of learning styles to predict students' preference for oral presentation versus written exams, performance on different types of exams, and course grade are studied. RESULTS: Learning styles of the students sampled were neither predominantly of one learning style nor evenly distributed. Learning style preferences did not vary significantly according to gender, occupation, or public health program. Learning styles also did not predict the students' choice of oral presentation or written exam. Assimilators, however, scored significantly higher than the other three learning styles on the theoretical exam and in their course grade. DISCUSSION: The authors suggest that public health instructors employ a variety of teaching methods and evaluative opportunities when class composition is initially assessed as having diverse learning styles. This "instructional pluralism' is necessary to facilitate learning, maximize participation, and permit multiple pathways for students to demonstrate educational performance.

Using interactive videodisc to test advanced airway management skills.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Actronics Interactive Learning System to teach the psychomotor skills of advanced airway management compared to the traditional method of lecture/demonstration. METHODS: The study was a nonrandomized, nonequivalent comparison group design of a convenience sample of 86 American Heart Association (AHA), advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) students, who obtained instruction in airway management by the interactive videodisc (IVD) learning system (n = 41), or by the traditional method of demonstration/return demonstration (n = 45). The evaluation criteria for the students were based on the number of attempts required to perform successfully endotracheal (ET) intubation and esophageal obturator airway (EOA) insertion. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in the performance of ET insertion between the IVD and the traditional method of instruction could be demonstrated. However, initial certifiers for ACLS learning EOA insertion by the IVD method had a treatment effect (p = 0.004) compared to ACLS students learning by the traditional method. This treatment effect was not noted with ET intubation and EOA insertion for students seeking recertification. In a post-test satisfaction questionnaire, 34 IVD students reported satisfaction with learning airway management using this instructional method, but also expressed a preference to have an ACLS instructor available. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the role of IVD in teaching the complex skills of advanced airway management.

A comparison of the effect of a hypertension education program among black and white participants.

Black Americans face a higher risk of hypertension than other Americans. Because of the differences in risk status and environmental or genetic factors that may contribute to hypertension, it is important to compare the effectiveness of hypertension intervention for blacks and for whites. While a diminished effect of intervention among blacks might be expected due to such factors as lower socioeconomic status, high stress, and salt-sensitivity, a comparison between black and white participants in a six-session hypertension education series showed no significant differences in outcome. Overall, the program was successful in improving knowledge gained regarding control of blood pressure; encouraging positive behavior changes; and in reducing by 68 percent the number of participants whose blood pressure was elevated by the end of the program. However, program attendance was less frequent in black communities than in white communities. Marketing strategies to attract more black participants, and adherence strategies to retain those who are recruited, are discussed.