The effects of a home-based intervention for young children with intellectual disabilities in Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to examine the impact of a 1-year intervention for children with intellectual disabilities (ID) in Vietnam. METHOD: Subjects were 30 preschool-aged children with ID (ages 3 to 6 years). Sixteen were assigned to an intervention group and 14 to a control group. Based on the Portage Curriculum (CESA 5 2003), the intervention trained parents to work with their children through modelling and coaching by teachers during weekly home visits. RESULTS: Comparison of pre-, mid- and post-intervention assessments of the children based on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (Sparrow et al. 1984a) indicated that the intervention was promising: children in the intervention group improved significantly in most domains of adaptive behaviours, and also performed significantly better than the control group in the areas of personal care and motor skills. CONCLUSIONS: The results from the Vietnam programme are discussed in terms of its implications and strategies for developing programmes for children with disabilities in developing countries.

Parenting stress of mothers and fathers of young children with cognitive delays in Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: This research examined the effects of child and family variables on stress experienced by mothers and fathers of young children with cognitive delays in Vietnam. METHODS: The mothers (n = 106) and fathers (n = 93) whose children (age range = 3-6 years) were identified as having cognitive delays participated in the interview survey. The survey consisted of a set of the standardized questionnaires that were translated into Vietnamese and assessed for the content validity in the Vietnamese context. RESULTS: Mothers experienced more stress than fathers. Path analyses were conducted for mothers and fathers separately. Mothers with female children, those with children of lower intellectual functioning, and those whose husbands had health conditions experienced more stress than the other mothers. Fathers with lower economic status and a smaller social support network were more stressed than the other fathers. Both mothers and fathers were more stressed when they experienced stronger stigma, although the effects were not significant when other variables were considered together in path analyses. CONCLUSIONS: The findings revealed traditional gender roles. Mothers were more affected by the child's characteristics and the spouse's functioning; they anticipated future problems related to the child's functioning more than fathers did. Fathers were more affected by concerns about the family's connection to the wider world such as economic issues and the social support network. Longitudinal studies of how social support and stigma affect families would be valuable.

Examining the effectiveness of a community-based self-help program to increase women's readiness for smoking cessation.

This study investigated the effectiveness of two components of a smoking cessation intervention: a reading manual and a series of televised programs. Female smokers in the Chicago metropolitan area with a high school education or less were interviewed at 4 different times: baseline, immediate postintervention, and 6 and 12 months. We examined the effects of several baseline measures (race, age, number of cigarettes smoked, and stage of readiness to change) and exposure to the intervention components on subsequent stage of change. Race, baseline smoking rate, baseline stage, and exposure to both intervention components had direct effects on stage at immediate postintervention, with both intervention components increasing readiness to quit. Furthermore, exposure to the manual interacted with baseline stage, such that the manual benefited women at earlier stages more than women at later stages. Effects of both components were sustained at 6 months, and the effects of the manual were sustained at 12 months.

The effect of a structured smoking cessation program, independent of exposure to existing interventions.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the effectiveness of a smoking cessation program for women in public health clinics, controlling for reported exposures to 4 common intervention components (provider advice, booklet, video segment, posters) among smokers in the control group. METHODS: After a baseline control period, 10 pair-matched clinics were randomly assigned to study groups. A total of 1042 smokers in the combined baseline and control groups and 454 smokers in the intervention group completed a preintervention questionnaire and a postintervention telephone interview 5 to 8 weeks later. Eight smoking outcomes, including quitting, were analyzed for the effect of reported exposure to intervention components, experimental program, and clinic service. RESULTS: Greater exposure to intervention components, being in the experimental program, and being seen in prenatal clinics independently improved smoking outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The number of interventions reported by smokers in the control group ranged from none to 4 and varied across clinic services. The experimental program we tested produced better outcomes than the minimal smoking cessation interventions already existing in the control clinics, after we controlled for whether smokers were or were not exposed to these interventions.

Minimal smoking cessation interventions in prenatal, family planning, and well-child public health clinics.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the prevalence and effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions for women of childbearing age in public health clinics. METHODS: Smokers in prenatal, family planning, and well-child services in 10 public health clinics (n = 1021) were interviewed 5 to 8 weeks after a medical visit to assess their exposure to smoking cessation interventions and smoking cessation outcomes. RESULTS: Depending on clinic service and intervention component (poster, video segment, provider advice, booklet), 16% to 63% of women reported exposure to an intervention component during their visit. Women in prenatal services received more interventions and had better outcomes than those in the other services. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to more interventions increased readiness and motivation to quit and the number of actions taken toward quitting.

Evaluation of a motivational smoking cessation intervention for women in public health clinics.

BACKGROUND: A multicomponent motivational smoking cessation intervention was evaluated in 33 prenatal, family planning, and pediatric services in 12 public health clinics. Clinic-based intervention components were implemented by clinic personnel as part of routine medical visits. METHODS: The evaluation design included pre- and postintervention measurements of multiple study outcomes in a baseline (all clinics prior to the start of the intervention) and an experimental period (matchedpair random assignment of clinics to intervention or control conditions). Subjects were 683 (baseline) and 1,064 (experimental) smokers with measurements of smoking outcomes at both times. Mixed-effects regressions analyzed individual outcomes clustered within clinics and services. RESULTS: Control and intervention clinics had similar outcomes in the baseline period. In the experiment, outcomes improved in the intervention but not in the control clinics. Compared to controls, smokers exposed to the intervention were more likely to have quit (14.5 versus 7.7%) or take actions toward quitting and had higher mean action, stage of readiness, and motivation to quit scores. These positive effects persisted when clustering within clinics and services was controlled. CONCLUSIONS: This intervention, implemented by clinic personnel as part of routine medical visits, was effective under these natural conditions across different types of clinic service.

Measuring readiness and motivation to quit smoking among women in public health clinics: predictive validity.

We conducted an independent pilot test of the internal consistency, stability, and predictive validity of the instrument presented by Crittenden, Manfredi, Lacey, Warnecke, and Parsons (1994) using a two-wave panel of female smokers in 12 public health clinics. This instrument subdivides the precontemplation stage proposed by Prochaska and DiClemente into three more distinct stages: not contemplating quitting or cutting down, not contemplating quitting, and not contemplating quitting within 6 months. Findings confirm that the instrument is useful for evaluating movement toward quitting for populations that are largely concentrated in the precontemplative stage. The concurrent and predictive validity of the elaborated stages and the reliability and stability of smoking motivation and confidence indicate that the instrument is sensitive enough to track changes in readiness and motivation across the full readiness continuum.

Psychosocial factors and smoking cessation behaviors among smokers who have and have not ever tried to quit.

Relationships between smoking cessation behaviors and demographic characteristics and attitudes were analyzed among two groups of smokers, those who had and had not ever tried to quit. Telephone interviews were completed with 1501 smokers at baseline and at a 3 month follow-up. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors that were associated with planning to quit, attempting to quit and quitting smoking within the two groups of smokers. Different patterns of correlates were found across groups and within the three outcome measures, indicating the potential importance of targeting interventions according to whether or not smokers have made a prior quit attempt. These findings also support the value of using multiple outcome measures in the smoking cessation process.

Social support and depression among elderly Korean immigrants in the United States.

Based on the integrative concept of social support, we investigated the effects of quantitative, structural, and functional aspects of social relationships on the level of depressive symptoms among elderly Korean immigrants, taking into account their level of acculturation and life stress. Korean elders having more close persons and more frequent contacts with them exhibited fewer depressive symptoms. Networks providing instrumental support consisted mainly of family ties; networks for emotional support included diverse relationships as well as family members. Emotional support was found to moderate the harmful effect of life stress, and thus to be more relevant than instrumental support to the mental health of Korean elderly.

Age and smoking cessation behaviors.

BACKGROUND: Predictors of smoking cessation behaviors during a 3-month period were examined among smokers in three age groups: 18 to 29, 30 to 49, and 50 years or older. METHODS: Using random-digit dialing, telephone interviews were completed with 1,644 smokers in the Chicago metropolitan area at baseline and at a 3-month follow-up. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify factors that predicted trying to quit smoking and quitting smoking within each age group and by stage of readiness to quit smoking. RESULTS: There were no significant differences by age in trying to quit smoking or in quitting smoking among smokers in the contemplation or preparation stages. However, there were important age differences in the factors that predicted those behaviors. In general, different factors predicted smoking cessation behaviors in each age group at each of three stages of the smoking cessation process (contemplation, preparation, and action). Also, within each age group, different factors predicted the behavior at each stage. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that smokers of all ages are equally appropriate targets for smoking cessation interventions. Moreover, there are important age-related differences among smokers over the course of their smoking careers that should be considered when planning and implementing smoking cessation interventions.

Attitudes and practices for smoking cessation counseling by provider type and patient age.

Attitudes and self-reported practices for smoking cessation counseling among 145 providers at a health maintenance organization were compared among two provider groups, physicians/nurse practitioners and registered/licensed practical nurses, and across three patient age groups, < 50, 50-64, and > or = 65. Smoking cessation attitudes did not differ by provider type but they did differ by patient age, especially among the registered/licensed practical nurses, whose attitudes were least favorable for the oldest smokers (> or = 65). While smoking cessation practices did not differ by patient age, they did differ by provider type. Self-reported performance of the 4 As of smoking cessation practice (Ask, Advise, Assist, Arrange) was more frequent among the physicians/nurse practitioners than among the registered/licensed practical nurses. However, among both groups, asking and advising practices were reported more often than were assisting and arranging. In all cases, different attitudes were correlated with different practice behaviors for the two provider groups. Also, there were more significant correlations between age-specific attitudes and practices among the registered/licensed practical nurses than among the physicians/nurse practitioners. This was true especially regarding the oldest patients. The findings suggest a need for provider education, especially among registered/licensed practical nurses, about the benefits of smoking cessation for patients of all ages and the potential effectiveness of provider-based intervention strategies that are targeted toward specific age groups. The findings also suggest that assisting and arranging practices in particular need improvement among all types of providers.

Readiness of older adults to stop smoking in a televised intervention.

Smokers aged 60 and older who enrolled in a televised smoking cessation program were compared with older smokers in the target population, using data from telephone interviews. Multiple logistic regressions identified factors that differentiated older smokers at various stages of readiness to quit. Within the target population, smokers planning to quit someday (N = 238) were more likely to have had greater concern about health effects of smoking and perceived a stronger desire by others for them to quit than smokers with no such plan (N = 127). Compared with older smokers in the target population who were planning to quit someday, program registrants (N = 95) perceived greater severity of lung cancer, had greater concern about the health effects of smoking, perceived greater reduction of lung cancer risk from quitting, and had more determination to quit. These findings indicate important factors according to the stage in the smoking cessation process that must be considered when intervening with older smokers.

Measuring readiness and motivation to quit smoking among women in public health clinics.

We conducted a pilot test of an instrument to assess stage of readiness and level of motivation to change smoking behavior among 495 women smokers in public health clinics. The stages of readiness were based on those proposed by Prochaska and DiClemente but with finer discrimination within the precontemplation stage, where a substantial minority (41%) of the target smokers were situated. Subdividing this earliest group, we found that 8% of the total sample planned no change in smoking ever; 8% were seriously thinking of cutting down; and 25% were seriously thinking of quitting but not within 6 months. Scales in the questionnaire included general motivation to change smoking behavior and confidence in one's ability to do so. The women's scores differed on these scales and on action toward quitting across the five stages of readiness, except that the lowest two groups did not differ on confidence. Pregnancy enhanced readiness to quit. The instrument accommodates the brevity and low literacy requirements for use in these applied settings and is suitable for use in either self-administered questionnaire or interview format.

Age and readiness to quit smoking.

The relationship between planning to quit smoking within the next 3 months and demographic characteristics, smoking history, attitudes and beliefs about smoking cessation, and motivation was analyzed among smokers in three age groups: 18 to 29, 30 to 49, and 50 years or older. Using random-digit dialing, telephone interviews were completed with 2,353 smokers before initiating a self-help, minimal-contact intervention in the Chicago metropolitan area. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify factors that predicted planning to quit within the next 3 months. The two youngest age groups were most likely to have attitudes favorable to being ready to try to quit smoking (they were more concerned about health effects of smoking, perceived a greater reduction in the likelihood of getting lung cancer, were more determined to quit, and were more confident in their ability to quit). Among all three age groups, one-fourth or less planned to quit within the next 3 months, and desire to quit was the strongest predictor in each group. Among smokers who planned to quit someday, the oldest were most likely to plan to quit within the next 3 months. The findings show that there are important age-related differences in readiness to quit smoking that should be considered when planning and evaluating smoking cessation interventions.

Use and effectiveness of buddy support in a self-help smoking cessation program.

Purpose. This study assesses buddy support in a community-based, minimal-contact smoking cessation program. Design. Telephone interviews with participants (n=641, response=74%) before and after (end-of-program, n=1,023, response=83%; three months n=757, response=74%; six months, n=859, response=84%; and 12 months, n=713, response=70%) intervention provided the data to be analyzed. Setting. The Chicago metropolitan area was the setting. Subjects. Subjects were a random sample of registrants for the intervention program. Intervention. A self-help smoking cessation program was used, which included a manual and complementary televised segments. Engaging a buddy was optional. Measures. Background and psychosocial characteristics of participants, characteristics of buddies, program compliance, and smoking behavior were the measures used. Results. Almost one third (30.3%) engaged a buddy. Those most likely to engage a buddy were female (33.4%), younger than 30 (37.2%), educated beyond high school (33.4%), highly determined to quit (41.8%), and more likely to need help from others (39.8%). More than half of the buddies were from outside the participant's household (55.1%), and more than half were nonsmokers (60.9%). Having a buddy was associated positively with manual use (gamma=.38), viewing televised segments (gamma=.23), recalling manual segments (gamma=.33), and recalling televised segments (gamma=.26). Among those who read the manual least, having a buddy was associated with viewing televised segments (gamma=.26, p less than .05) and with end-of-program quitting (16.8% vs. 9.8%, p less than .05). Having a buddy also was associated with higher abstinence through 12 months (5.8% vs. 2.7%, p=.013). Among those with lower determination, the end-of-program quit rate was more than three times greater (p=.013) for those with a buddy (16.1%) than without a buddy (5.2%). Participants whose buddy was their spouse or partner were more likely to quit at end-of-program (29.1% vs. 18.4%, p=.031). Conclusions. Buddy support should be promoted as an adjunct to minimal-contact smoking cessation programs. Impact of buddy support might be improved by guiding participants in choosing a buddy.

Factors associated with nonparticipation among registrants for a self-help, community-based smoking cessation intervention.

Smokers (n = 96) who registered for but did not participate in a televised smoking cessation intervention based on the American Lung Association's self-help manual, Freedom From Smoking in 20 Days, were compared with participants (n = 1,035). Nonparticipants were more likely to be male, employed, and have a higher annual household income. At preintervention, nonparticipants expressed weaker desire to quit smoking, less confidence in their ability to quit, and less determination to quit. At post-program, 92% of nonparticipants smoked, but 93% planned to quit someday, with 82% planning to quit within the next 12 months. Additionally, nonparticipants were asked about their impressions of the manual, reasons for not reading the manual, and reasons for not watching the televised segments. Nonparticipants expressed positive initial impressions of the manual and mentioned time demands and conflicts with other commitments most often as reasons for not reading the manual and not watching the televised segments. Besides motivating smokers to try to quit, smoking cessation programs should help smokers to prepare to act. Also, nonparticipants are good candidates for recycling into subsequent programs.

Characteristics of participants in a televised smoking cessation intervention.

Participants in various components of a televised self-help smoking cessation program, based on the American Lung Association's Freedom From Smoking in 20 Days, are compared with a sample of the population of smokers to whom the intervention was addressed. Over 325,000 smokers in the target population were exposed to the program at some level. Most watched televised segments. Approximately 75,000 manuals were distributed and about 55,000 were used. Comparisons between participants and the targeted smoking population indicate that the intervention attracted those in the smoking population who are expected to be the majority of smokers by the Year 2000-blacks, females, and those with incomes under $13,000 per year. Participants with these characteristics were most likely to view the televised segments. Heavy smokers, females, and those with the most education were most likely to refer to the manual at least twice a week during the intervention. Older, nonblack participants and those with incomes of $13,000 or more per year were most likely to attend group support sessions outside the home. Overall, the patterns of association indicate that although a televised smoking cessation program can attract individuals similar to those projected to be smokers in 2000, participation in various components of the intervention will vary by demographic characteristics.

Psychosocial factors and enrollment in a televised smoking cessation program.

Registrants for a smoking cessation program on the evening television news in the Chicago metropolitan area were compared with other smokers in the population to identify psychosocial factors that distinguished registrants. Telephone interviews were conducted before the intervention with random samples of 641 registrants and 2,398 smokers who regularly viewed the evening news. A nested series of three contrasts compared registrants with (1) smokers who regularly viewed the evening television news on any channel, (2) smokers who were regular viewers of the evening news on the intervention channel, and (3) smokers who were regular viewers of the evening news on the intervention channel and were planning to quit smoking. Registration was associated with a smoker's cognitive appraisal of the quitting process, with registrants distinguished by (1) recognition of a need to act (perceived severity of and susceptibility to lung cancer), (2) high outcome expectancies for quitting as an effective means for health promotion, (3) realistic expectations about the effort required to quit, (4) concern about the burden of lung cancer on significant others and related social influence factors, and (5) motivation to quit smoking. The findings suggest that the effectiveness of minimal-contact intervention programs may be enhanced by targeting smokers according to their psychosocial characteristics and by cognitively preparing smokers to attempt to quit.

Towards culture- and population-specific norms for self-reported depressive symptomatology.

This paper: (1) reviewed and integrated the small body of cross-cultural literature on Zung SDS scores among college students and (2) reported new SDS data on students in four countries. Its purpose was to facilitate the development of population- and culture-specific norms for the measurement of depression and to identify patterns in the data available at this time. The results indicated considerable culture and gender specificity. Females had higher SDS scores in all but one group. There was a slight tendency for scores to increase over time. The pattern of mean scores across cultural groups was somewhat inconsistent. Korean and Philippine students had the highest scores, Caucasian Americans the lowest. There was moderate concordance of ranked symptoms across eleven samples. This concordance increased within cultural groups and especially within nations. Finally, two specific methodological problems were discussed. First, nine of ten of the highest ranked symptoms were stated in negative form, which suggests that negative wording biases symptom means. Second, there appear to be additional problems in the specific wording of the libido and diurnal variation items as applied to college students.