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Biomedical subjects

Ivana T Croghan

Publications and source records attributed to Ivana T Croghan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Randomized clinical trial of an Internet-based versus brief office intervention for adolescent smoking cessation.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of novel treatment delivery methods, such as the Internet are notably absent from the adolescent smoking treatment literature. METHODS: Adolescent smokers ages 11-18 years were randomized to a clinic-based, brief office intervention (BOI; N=69) consisting of four individual counseling sessions; or to Stomp Out Smokes (SOS), an Internet, home-based intervention (N=70). Adolescents in SOS had access to the SOS site for 24 weeks. RESULTS: The 30-day, point-prevalence smoking abstinence rates for BOI and SOS were 12% versus 6% at week 24 and 13% versus 6% at week 36, with no significant treatment differences. Among participants who continued to smoke, SOS was associated with a significantly greater reduction in average number of days smoked than BOI (P=0.006). The BOI was found to be feasible with high session attendance rates. SOS participants accessed the site a mean+/-S.D. of 6.8+/-7.1 days. SOS use dropped to less than one-third of participants by week 3. CONCLUSION: Additional research is needed to tap the potential capabilities of the Internet for adolescent smoking cessation using proactive, personalized, patient-education components. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Augmenting the SOS type of intervention with more structured, personal and proactive patient-education components delivered in-person or by telephone or electronic mail is recommended.

Adolescent↗

Characteristics of six-month tobacco use outcomes of Black patients seeking smoking cessation intervention.

Although Blacks experience disproportionately greater morbidity and mortality attributable to smoking than other racially-classified social groups, few studies have examined the impact of clinical interventions for nicotine dependence within this population. The main objective of this study was to examine 6-month outcomes among 146 self-identified adult Black patients who received an individually-tailored nicotine dependence intervention in an academic medical setting. Measures included a baseline demographic questionnaire and telephone follow-up to obtain self-reported 6-month tobacco use status. Univariate analysis was performed to assess the association of baseline patient characteristics with tobacco abstinence at 6 months following the clinic intervention. Of the 146 patients, 83% were seen in an outpatient clinic setting, while 17% were seen as inpatients in the hospital. At baseline, 53% reported smoking an average of 20 or more cigarettes per day, 32% were highly nicotine dependent, and 53% were in the preparation or action stage of change. Six months following the intervention, the 7-day point-prevalence tobacco abstinence rate was 43/146 (29%; 95% C.I. 22% to 37%). An individualized nicotine dependence intervention conducted in an academic medical setting yielded encouraging abstinence rates for Black smokers.

Academic Medical Centers↗

The prevalence of weight concerns in a smoking abstinence clinical trial.

Recent research has demonstrated there is a high prevalence of weight concerns in smokers and that smokers with weight concerns may respond poorly to treatment for tobacco dependence. Most studies have focused only on females or have consisted of small samples. In this study of a 12-week randomized trial of nicotine inhaler, bupropion or both for smoking cessation, 50% of the 1012 female smokers and 26% of the 680 male smokers, at study entry, were weight concerned. In examining the impact of weight concerns on the 12-week point-prevalence smoking abstinence, 26% of non-weight-concerned smokers quit smoking compared to 22% of weight-concerned smokers (p=0.06). This study, which includes a large sample of both genders, provides further evidence that approximately half of females who are seeking smoking cessation treatment are weight concerned and that one quarter of male smokers are weight concerned. Additionally, being weight concerned may impact the short-term success rates of stopping smoking using pharmacotherapy.

Adult↗

Nicotine dependence treatment: perceived health status improvement with 1-year continuous smoking abstinence.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated change in health status as a function of change in smoking status among patients treated clinically for nicotine dependence by comparing overall perceived health status of patients who abstained from cigarettes for 1 year versus those who smoked continuously for 1 year. METHODS: Patients from the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center completed a quality-of-life questionnaire (SF-36) following their consultation for nicotine dependence (baseline). At 1 year post-intervention, patients were mailed a follow-up survey that included the SF-36 and items assessing interval smoking history. Study patients included those who self-reported continuous smoking (n=60) and those reporting continuous smoking abstinence for the entire follow-up year (n=146). Data from SF-36 scales at 1 year were analysed using analysis of covariance with baseline scale scores serving as covariates along with baseline characteristics that differed significantly between groups. RESULTS: Compared with those who continued to smoke, patients who were continuously abstinent from smoking for the entire year had more improvement in perceived health status for the SF-36 mental composite scale (P=0.009) and for the SF-36 subscales for role limitations (P<0.001 and P=0.017 for emotional and physical role limitations, respectively), social functioning (P=0.010) and general health (P=0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Smokers treated for nicotine dependence who stop smoking for a year report more improvement in-quality-of-life compared with those who continue to smoke.

Adult↗

Expressive writing intervention for young adult cigarette smokers.

This investigation examined the feasibility and magnitude of the effect of a stress management intervention involving expressive writing as an adjunct to brief office smoking cessation intervention for young adults. Participants aged 18-21 years were randomized to brief office intervention (N=30) or expressive writing plus brief office intervention (N=30). Biochemically confirmed 30-day point-prevalence tobacco abstinence, smoking reduction, perceived stress, negative affect, and treatment compliance were assessed at 4, 12, and 24 weeks post randomization. The expressive writing adjunct was not found to be effective. The 30-day smoking abstinence rates were 0% versus 0% ( p=1.000) at week 4, 20% versus 3% ( p=0.103) at week 12, and 20% versus 10% ( p=0.472) at week 24 for the brief office intervention only versus expressive writing plus brief office intervention groups, respectively. Participants stated they benefited most from the support and structure associated with the brief office intervention. Enthusiasm was lacking for the expressive writing treatment adjunct.

Adolescent↗

Development and preliminary evaluation of a measure of support provided to a smoker among young adults.

Most studies indicate a positive association between social support and smoking cessation. However, clinic-based interventions to increase support for stopping smoking have had limited success. Prior research has emphasized the smoker's perceptions of support received for smoking cessation while less attention has focused on support persons' reports of supportive behaviors provided to a smoker. This study examined select psychometric properties of the Support Provided Measure (SPM), a self-report questionnaire designed by the investigative team to assess supportive behaviors provided to a smoker. The SPM was administered to a college sample (N=771; 67% female) of young adults, aged 18 to 24 years, who reported knowing a smoker whom they thought should quit smoking. Results indicate that, in this sample, the SPM has a two-factor structure with good internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha=0.77) and appears to assess a wide range of individual differences in the provision of support. Demographic correlates associated with SPM scores are described and suggestions for future research are offered.

Adolescent↗

Revision of the Self-Administered Alcoholism Screening Test (SAAST-R): a pilot study.

The original Self-Administered Alcoholism Screening Test (SAAST; Swenson and Morse, 1975) is a self-report alcoholism screening measure intended for use with adult medical patients. However, the SAAST does not indicate the recency of alcohol use-related problems, not all items use the appropriate verb tense for assessing lifetime experience of alcohol use-related problems, many of the items contain out-dated language, and the diagnostic criteria for alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse are not fully represented. The SAAST was revised to address these issues. This paper describes the rationale for revision and the process through which the SAAST was revised. Preliminary information about comparability of the original SAAST and the revised version (SAAST-R) was obtained. Data are presented from two intervention trials for smokers in which both the SAAST and SAAST-R were administered. One sample was comprised of participants in recovery from alcoholism (N = 60; 82% male) and the other sample consisted of participants not meeting criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence within the previous year (N = 98; 45% male). The results suggest that the SAAST-R is highly correlated with the original SAAST, has a similar factor structure, good internal consistency, and correctly identifies those in recovery from alcoholism. Areas for refinement in the format and items of the SAAST-R were identified and suggestions for further validation studies are presented.

Adult↗

Treating nondepressed smokers with alcohol dependence in sustained full remission: nicotine patch therapy tailored to baseline serum cotinine.

OBJECTIVE: Studies of the efficacy of nicotine replacement therapy among alcoholic smokers have produced mixed findings. Our objective was to examine the smoking abstinence rate in smokers in sustained full remission from alcoholism (as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition) who are receiving nicotine patch therapy with the dose tailored to the baseline serum cotinine concentration. METHOD: In this pharmacological relapse prevention study for 195 smokers with alcohol dependence in sustained full remission, the primary aim was to determine the 7-day point prevalence smoking abstinence rate at the end of 8 weeks of nicotine patch therapy in doses projected to achieve 100% venous replacement. Nicotine patch dose was based on the baseline serum venous cotinine as follows: (1) participants with < or = 200 ng/ml received a patch dose of 22 mg per day; (2) those with 201-300 ng/ml received a 33-mg dose per day, and (3) those with > 300 ng/ml received a 44-mg dose per day. A second (steady-state) serum cotinine concentration was obtained between weeks 2 and 7 to determine the percentage replacement. RESULTS: The point prevalence smoking abstinence rate at the end of the 8 weeks of nicotine patch treatment was 51% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 45%-58%) which is higher than would be expected, and percent replacement of > 80% was achieved in 49 of 85 (58%) tobacco-abstinent subjects. Higher cigarettes per day (odds ratio [OR] = 1.030, 95% CI: 1.004-1.057, p = .023) and a history of depressed mood on the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (OR = 1.940, 95% CI: 1.044-3.605, p = .036) were found to be multivariate independent predictors of smoking at week 8. However, percentage replacement did not predict smoking abstinence. CONCLUSION: We achieved > 80% replacement in most subjects, and there was no evidence of severe nicotine toxicity associated with the tailored dose of nicotine patch therapy.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

Beliefs and attitudes regarding smoking among young adult Latinos: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco use interventions for young adult Latinos have not yet been developed. This qualitative pilot study employed semistructured interviews to assess beliefs and attitudes regarding tobacco use interventions among young adult Latinos. METHODS: The size of the individual or group interviews ranged from one to four participants each. Participants were 19 Latino adults (37% female), 18-24 years of age. The interviews were videotaped and transcribed for analysis of common themes. RESULTS: Use of tobacco in Latino cultures is most common among men, and most prevalent in social situations. Tobacco use is discouraged by and often hidden from elder family members. Participants acknowledged adverse health effects of tobacco use. Barriers to preventing and stopping tobacco use are its acceptance among peers and its use during social situations. Although some Latinos would like to quit, cultural barriers included lack of knowledge, unwillingness to ask for help, and perceived deficiency of Spanish language resources regarding tobacco dependence interventions. Participants lacked understanding of how research might benefit their cultural community. CONCLUSION: Cultural attitudes toward tobacco and perceived barriers to quitting will be useful in developing tobacco use interventions for Latinos.

Adolescent↗

Body image treatment for weight concerned smokers: a pilot study.

In this pilot project, 41 female weight-concerned smokers were randomly assigned to receive either 12 group sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy for body image concerns or 12 group sessions for weight management. All subjects received open-label bupropion SR, 300 mg daily, exercise instruction, and weekly behavioral counseling for tobacco cessation. At week 12, 7(35%) of the body image participants had 7-day point prevalence smoking abstinence, compared to 5(24%) of the participants in the weight management group (p=0.505).

Adult↗

Tobacco use outcomes among patients with head and neck carcinoma treated for nicotine dependence: a matched-pair analysis.

BACKGROUND: The current study described tobacco use outcomes among patients with head and neck carcinoma who underwent treatment for nicotine dependence at the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center (NDC; Rochester, MN). METHODS: Using a 1:1 matched-pair design, conditional logistic regression was employed to compare the 6-month tobacco abstinence outcomes of patients with head and neck carcinoma (n = 101) with controls (n = 101) from the general patient population treated for nicotine dependence between 1988 and 2001. The two groups were matched with regard to age, gender, date of treatment, and type of NDC treatment service. RESULTS: Baseline demographics were similar between both groups. However, patients with head and neck carcinoma smoked significantly more cigarettes per day (cpd) than controls (P = 0.003). The self-reported tobacco abstinence rate at the 6-month follow-up was 33% for patients with head and neck carcinoma compared with 26% for matched controls (P = 0.279; after adjusting for baseline cpd and stage of change, P = 0.205). Among patients with head and neck carcinoma, the tobacco abstinence rates were 47%, 22%, and 19%, respectively, for those receiving an NDC consult within 3 months, between 3 months and 5 years, and > 5 years after their diagnosis (P = 0.021). Furthermore, the patients with head and neck carcinoma treated within 3 months of diagnosis who received surgery (with or without radiation therapy) were more likely to be tobacco abstinent than those who received primary radiation therapy (P = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that nicotine dependence treatments were effective among patients with head and neck carcinoma, particularly when delivered shortly after initial diagnosis and for those who received surgery as their primary treatment.

Head and Neck Neoplasms↗

Weight concerns among male smokers.

Many smokers perceive that smoking controls their body weight and that stopping smoking leads to weight gain. This study examined characteristics associated with weight concerns in 72 male smokers enrolled in a controlled trial for smoking cessation. Motivation to quit smoking was found to be significantly lower in those with weight concerns (P < .001). Further investigation is needed to enable the tailoring of interventions for weight-concerned male smokers.

Adult↗

Training support persons to help smokers quit: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of a skills-training intervention for adults interested in helping someone to stop smoking (i.e., support persons). METHODS: Sixty adult support persons (77% female) were directly recruited from the community and randomly assigned to this intervention (manual plus five weekly group-based sessions) or a control condition (one-page leaflet). All intervention and outcome assessments occurred through the support persons. Assessments occurred at weeks 0 (baseline), 6 (end of treatment), 12, and 24. The study was conducted from 1998 to 2001; data collection occurred from 1999 to 2000. Outcomes were ratings of treatment acceptability, recruitment and retention rates, supportive behaviors provided to the smoker, and smoking behavior change in the smoker as reported by the support person. RESULTS: Support persons were recruited in a timely manner and study retention rates were high. Support persons in skills training showed significant increases in their supportive behavior scores compared with control subjects at weeks 6 and 12. Although not statistically significant, the skills-training intervention was associated with more quit attempts, greater improvement in stage of change, and higher 7-day point prevalence abstinence rates in the smokers than the control condition. CONCLUSIONS: A skills training intervention for support persons is feasible and acceptable. Further studies are needed to test the efficacy of this approach for smoking cessation.

Adolescent↗

Focus groups of Y-K Delta Alaska Natives: attitudes toward tobacco use and tobacco dependence interventions.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco dependence interventions developed for Alaska Natives are virtually nonexistent. Alaska Natives residing on the Yukon-Kuskokwim (Y--K) Delta in southwestern Alaska use a unique form of smokeless tobacco (ST) known as Iqmik. This study employed focus group methodology to explore attitudes toward tobacco use and tobacco dependence interventions among Alaska Natives residing on the Y-K Delta. METHODS: Twelve focus groups of former and current tobacco users were conducted in four villages in the Y-K Delta. Participants were 35 adults (83% female) and 22 adolescents (27% female). Participants completed a brief demographic and tobacco use history form. Statements from the focus groups were transcribed for content coding and analysis of the major themes. RESULTS: Use of Iqmik in the villages is thought to be ubiquitous. Y-K Delta Alaska Natives are introduced to Iqmik at a very young age. Iqmik is mostly used and prepared by young Alaska Natives and adult women. There are few perceived adverse health effects of Iqmik or other tobacco use. Although there is interest in stopping, there is a perceived lack of availability of tobacco dependence interventions. The major barriers to preventing the initiation of and stopping tobacco use are the social acceptance and widespread use and availability of tobacco. CONCLUSION: The attitudes toward tobacco and identified barriers to stopping will be useful in developing tobacco dependence interventions for Alaska Natives.

Adolescent↗

A contest to create media messages aimed at recruiting adolescents for stop smoking programs.

This project engaged adolescents in a contest to create advertising messages aimed at recruiting teens for stop smoking programs. Middle school students were invited to design a media message for television, radio, Web, or print (newspaper or billboard). Of 4,289 students in eight middle schools of Rochester, Minn., 265 (6.2%) developed 172 stop smoking messages. The quality of their work confirmed that teens can design media messages to encourage their smoking adolescent peers to enroll in a program to stop smoking.

Adolescent↗

Nicotine patch therapy based on smoking rate followed by bupropion for prevention of relapse to smoking.

PURPOSE: To determine whether (1) tailored nicotine patch therapy that is based on smoking rate can be carried out in a multisite oncology investigative group practice setting, (2) long-term use of bupropion reduces the rate of relapse to smoking in smokers who stop smoking with nicotine patch therapy, and (3) bupropion can initiate smoking abstinence among smokers who have failed to stop smoking after nicotine patch therapy. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: Fourteen North Central Cancer Treatment Group sites recruited generally healthy adult smokers from the general population for nicotine patch therapy and based the patch dosage on smoking rates. At completion of nicotine patch therapy, nonsmoking participants were eligible to be assigned to bupropion or placebo for 6 months (for relapse prevention). and smoking participants were eligible to be assigned to bupropion or placebo for 8 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: Of 578 subjects, 31% were abstinent from smoking at the end of nicotine patch therapy. Of those subjects not smoking at the end of nicotine patch therapy who entered the relapse prevention phase, 28% and 25% were not smoking at 6 months (the end of the medication phase) for bupropion and placebo, respectively (P =.73). For those still smoking at the end of nicotine patch therapy, 3.1% and 0.0% stopped smoking with bupropion or placebo, respectively (P =.12). CONCLUSION: Tailored nicotine patch therapy for the general population of smokers can be provided in a multisite oncology investigative group setting. Bupropion did not reduce relapse to smoking in smokers who stopped smoking with nicotine patch therapy. Bupropion did not initiate abstinence among smokers who failed to stop smoking with nicotine patch therapy.

Adolescent↗

Depressed versus nondepressed young adult tobacco users: differences in coping style, weight concerns and exercise level.

Undergraduates age 18 to 24 years (n=656) completed questionnaires assessing tobacco use, depressive symptoms, coping responses, weight concerns, and exercise. The majority of participants were female (72%), White/non-Hispanic (95%), and in the 1st or 2nd year of college (80%). Current tobacco users (n=236) had a higher frequency of depression (40%) than never tobacco users (32%; p=.05). Tobacco users classified as depressed (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale [CES-D] score a 16) reported greater weight concerns and more frequent maladaptive coping in response to negative mood than tobacco users classified as nondepressed (CES-D score<16). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that higher maladaptive coping and lower level of exercise were significantly associated with depression among tobacco users.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Comparison of nicotine patch alone versus nicotine nasal spray alone versus a combination for treating smokers: a minimal intervention, randomized multicenter trial in a nonspecialized setting.

This multicenter, randomized, open-label clinical trial was conducted to determine whether the combined use of nicotine patch therapy and a nicotine nasal spray would improve smoking abstinence rates compared to either treatment alone, without behavioral counseling. Data were collected at 15 regional cancer control oncology centers within the North Central Cancer Treatment Group. Of the 1384 smokers randomized to the study, 20% were abstinent from smoking at 6 weeks and 8% were abstinent at 6 months. At 6 weeks, the 7-day point prevalence smoking abstinence rate for the patch alone (21.1%) was superior to the spray (13.6%) but was significantly lower than the rate for combination therapy (27.1%). At 6 months, the 7-day point prevalence abstinence rates were not significantly different among the three groups. Combination nicotine nasal spray and nicotine patches were delivered safely in a nonspecialized outpatient clinical setting and enhanced short-term smoking abstinence rates, but these rates were not sustained at 6 months.

Administration, Cutaneous↗