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Biomedical subjects

D J Ossip-Klein

Publications and source records attributed to D J Ossip-Klein.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

Self-help interventions for older smokers.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relative effectiveness of two self-help smoking interventions as adjuncts to a self-help manual and telephone support service (hotline) for older smokers. DESIGN: Subjects were stratified on baseline variables and randomised to one of two treatment conditions in a methods development study. SUBJECTS: 177 community-dwelling smokers aged 60 years and older. INTERVENTIONS: All subjects received a self-help manual and access to a smokers' telephone hotline. Subjects also received either mailings (Letters condition) or counselling telephone calls (Proactive condition) at four and eight weeks after enrollment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Use of the hotline and prevalence of abstinence lasting at least 48 hours (verified by a "significant other") were assessed at three and six months for the full sample. Seven-day abstinence was calculated for comparison with previous research. A subsample of 91 subjects was followed up at 12 months. RESULTS: Overall abstinence rates for the two conditions were in the range of typical self-help interventions. Men were more likely to be abstinent than women at follow up at three and six months. A significant gender x treatment interaction was found, with abstinence rates higher for men in the Letters condition, and women in the Proactive condition. Hotline use was high, with nearly half of subjects calling by 12 months. CONCLUSION: Both interventions appear promising for older smokers, but may be differentially effective for men and women. Older smokers will use a hotline; whether Letters and Proactive interventions can improve on manual and hotline effectiveness rates alone is being tested in a subsequent controlled trial.

Aged

Telephone counseling for smoking cessation: rationales and meta-analytic review of evidence.

We review the various ways in which telephone counseling has been used in smoking cessation programs. Reactive approaches--help lines or crisis lines--attract only a small percentage of eligible smokers but are sensitive to promotional campaigns. While difficult to evaluate, they appear to be efficacious and useful as a public intervention for large populations. Proactive phone counseling has been used in a variety of ways. In 13 randomized trials, most showed significant short-term (3-6 month) effects, and four found substantial long-term differences between intervention and control conditions. A meta-analysis of proactive studies using a best-evidence synthesis confirmed a significant increase in cessation rates compared with control conditions [pooled odds ratios of 1.34 (1.19-1.51) and 1.20 (1.06-1.37) at short- and long-term follow-up, respectively]. Proactive phone counseling appeared most effective when used as the sole intervention modality or when augmenting programs initiated in hospital settings. Suggestions for further research and utilization are offered.

Hotlines

Effects of a smoker's hotline: results of a 10-county self-help trial.

The effect of a smokers' hotline as an adjunct to self-help manuals was examined. Subjects were 1,813 smokers recruited from a 10-county rural and small urban area. Counties were matched on demographic characteristics and assigned to a manual only or manual plus hotline condition. Subjects were followed over an 18-month period. Hotline services included taped messages and access to paraprofessional counselors. Results show a consistent, significant hotline effect across outcome measures and follow-up periods. This effect emerged either as a main effect for the hotline or as an interaction with enrollment method such that a significant hotline effect emerged for subjects who enrolled through face-to-face methods. These findings indicate the effectiveness of the hotline in enhancing self-help quit rates.

Adult

Effects of running or weight lifting on self-concept in clinically depressed women.

Forty clinically depressed women were randomized to a running, weight lifting, or delayed treatment condition. Self-concept was assessed at baseline, pre-, mid-, and posttreatment for all subjects and at 1, 7, and 12 months for exercise groups. Significant improvements in self-concept were found for exercise groups relative to control groups. No significant differences between exercise groups were found, and improvements were reasonably well-maintained over time. Differential changes on dimensions of self-concept were not demonstrated. These results suggest that both running and weight lifting exercise programs improve self-concept in clinically depressed women.

Adult

Bronchial provocation tests before and after cessation of smoking.

We studied the effect of smoking cessation on airway reactivity. We recruited cigarette smokers who were attempting to stop smoking. Entry criteria required each subject to be smoking at least 10 cigarettes each day and report a chronic cough. Exclusion criteria included significant airflow obstruction or the presence of any medical condition contraindicating challenge testing. Carbachol challenge was performed to assess airway reactivity according to a standardized method. Baseline measurements of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), specific airway conductance (SGaw) and the provocative dose of carbachol causing a 35% reduction in SGaw (PD35), and a 20% reduction in FEV1 (PD20) were established on entry while each subject was still smoking. Thereafter, repeat measurements were performed after 2 and 6 months of smoking cessation. Adherence to smoking cessation was checked by self-report and verified by measurement of alveolar carbon monoxide levels at each session. Of the 34 subjects who gave consent, 13 relapsed prior to the 2nd month and an additional 8 relapsed before the 6th month. Thirteen of the 34 remained abstinent throughout the 6-month study. All 13 subjects had complete resolution of their cough. The difference in reactivity on entry to that at the 2nd and 6th month was not significant. We conclude that (1) the symptom of chronic cough resolved completely after 2 months of smoking cessation, and (2) airway reactivity remained unchanged at 2 and 6 months of smoking cessation.

Adult

Increasing attendance at alcohol aftercare using calendar prompts and home based contracting.

The effect of an appointment-keeping intervention on attendance at aftercare was examined for 50 male participants in an inpatient alcohol treatment program. Subjects received either a calendar prompt and home-based attendance contract intervention (Experimental group, N = 25) or standard aftercare treatment arrangements (Control group, N = 25). Participants were followed for eight aftercare sessions over a 6-month period. Results showed significant attendance differences between groups for the first seven aftercare sessions, with nearly twice as many experimental subjects as control subjects attending aftercare sessions. Further, significantly fewer experimental than control subjects (24% fewer) were dropped from the alcohol program for three consecutive nonattendances. The present study provides an effective technology for increasing aftercare attendance and thus potentially increasing the probability of long term maintenance of alcohol treatment effects.

Adult

Assessment of smoking topography generalization across laboratory, clinical, and naturalistic settings.

A three-study series was conducted to examine smoking topography across clinical, laboratory, and naturalistic settings for 24 smokers who were patients in an alcohol treatment program. Experiments 1 and 2 included surreptitious observation of smoking in group therapy sessions (naturalistic), and obtrusive observation of smoking in a smoking clinic setting. The third study added a laboratory smoking condition to the clinic and group conditions. Puffing patterns in clinical and laboratory settings tended to be similar, and both differed from smoking in the naturalistic setting. Subjects generally took more puffs, longer puffs, and had shorter cigarette durations in clinical and laboratory settings than in the naturalistic setting. The implications of these findings for assessment of intake and health risk are discussed.

Adult

Smoking attitudes, beliefs, and readiness to change among acute and long term care inpatients with psychiatric diagnoses.

The present study represents an initial assessment of barriers and motives for quitting, health risk knowledge, and readiness to change in a hospitalized acute and long term care population with psychiatric diagnoses, and dual diagnoses of substance abuse and psychiatric disorders. Ninety-two patients residing in admissions, long term care, and mentally impaired/chemically addicted (MICA) units of a VA Medical Center were interviewed by nursing staff. Among the 78% of patients who smoke (smokers), 68% believed smoking was harmful and quitting would benefit their health. The majority of smokers were in Precontemplation (53%) or Contemplation (24%). Smokers in the MICA unit were more similar to the general population in smoking related beliefs and were more likely than other smokers to be in Preparation. These results indicate a need for educational and motivational enhancement interventions for the majority of smokers hospitalized for psychiatric disorders.

Acute Disease

Perceived helpfulness of messages on a community-based telephone support service for ex-smokers.

Callers to a community-based telephone support service for ex-smokers evaluated the perceived helpfulness of six categories of taped messages. These categories were: behavioral coping, cognitive coping, negative health, positive health, informational, and supportive. Supportive messages were rated as significantly more helpful than negative health, informational, and behavioral coping. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological