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Biomedical subjects

J M Moskowitz

Publications and source records attributed to J M Moskowitz.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Interim assessment of a community intervention to improve breast and cervical cancer screening among Korean American women.

Breast and cervical cancer screening practices are suboptimal among Korean American women. A community intervention program was launched in 1996 to improve breast and cervical cancer screening among Korean American women in Alameda County, California. After 18 months, interim program assessment revealed that mammograms improved, but Pap smears, breast self-examinations, and clinical breast examinations did not change significantly. However, results were similar for the control county probably because the program was not implemented fully. Several strategies for improving program implementation are discussed including recommendations for researchers planning community intervention projects.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

The impact of workplace smoking ordinances in California on smoking cessation.

OBJECTIVES: The effect of local workplace smoking laws in California was assessed to determine whether such laws increase smoking cessation. METHODS: Workplace smoking ordinance data from 1990 were appended to 1990 California Tobacco Survey data from 4680 adult indoor workers who were current cigarette smokers or reported smoking in the 6 months before the survey. Ordinance effects on cigarette smoking and worksite policy were estimated by using multiple logistic regression controlling for sociodemographic variables. RESULTS: Smokers who worked in localities with a strong workplace ordinance (compared with no workplace ordinance) were more likely to report the existence of a worksite smoking policy (odds ratio [OR] = 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.2, 2.2) and to report quitting smoking in the prior 6 months (OR = 1.5; 95% CI = 1.1, 1.7). In communities with strong ordinances, an estimated 26.4% of smokers quit smoking within 6 months of the survey and were abstinent at the time of the survey, compared with an estimated 19.1% in communities with no ordinance. CONCLUSIONS: Workplace smoking ordinances increased smoking cessation among employed smokers, indicating that these laws may benefit smokers as well as nonsmokers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Rates and independent correlates of Pap smear testing among Korean-American women.

OBJECTIVES: This study reports population estimates of Pap smear testing among Korean-American women and evaluates correlates of testing. METHODS: Korean Americans in 2 California counties were surveyed by telephone. Frequencies were age-adjusted to the 1990 census to produce population estimates of testing. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate independent correlates of testing RESULTS: Only 50% of the Korean-American women surveyed had a Pap test in the previous 2 years. The strongest independent correlate was having had a regular check-up in the previous 2 years (odds ratio 7.2, 95% confidence interval 4.2, 12.1). CONCLUSIONS: Rates of Pap testing among Korean-American women are well below national objectives. Collaboration and community-sensitive research are essential to collect data and design programs to improve the health of ethnic minority communities.

Asian↗
PubMed1989

The primary prevention of alcohol problems: a critical review of the research literature.

The research evaluating the effects of programs and policies in reducing the incidence of alcohol problems is critically reviewed. Four types of preventive interventions are examined including: (1) policies affecting the physical, economic and social availability of alcohol (e.g., minimum legal drinking age, price and advertising of alcohol), (2) formal social controls on alcohol-related behavior (e.g., drinking-driving laws), (3) primary prevention programs (e.g., school-based alcohol education), and (4) environmental safety measures (e.g., automobile airbags). The research generally supports the efficacy of three alcohol-specific policies: raising the minimum legal drinking age to 21, increasing alcohol taxes and increasing the enforcement of drinking-driving laws. Also, research suggests that various environmental safety measures reduce the incidence of alcohol-related trauma. In contrast, little evidence currently exists to support the efficacy of primary prevention programs. However, a systems perspective of prevention suggests that prevention programs may become more efficacious after widespread adoption of prevention policies that lead to shifts in social norms regarding use of beverage alcohol.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1989

Marketing smokeless tobacco in California communities: implications for health education.

In the first phase of a 5-year research project aimed at curtailing smokeless tobacco use among youth, we examined the marketing of smokeless tobacco within California. Observational data were collected from almost 200 retail stores located near high schools and colleges in 14 California counties. Interviews were conducted with over 100 school personnel and youth leaders in 13 counties and with seven retailers from 4 counties. Overall, 81% of the stores in the sample carried smokeless tobacco, and even in urban areas most stores (71%) had these products for sale. Urban stores were more likely to have materials promoting them (e.g., posters, displays, coupon offers). Almost all (98%) stores that carried smokeless tobacco sold moist snuff. Most (78%) school personnel and youth leaders, especially in urban areas, were aware of advertisements for it, particularly on television and in magazines. Rogers' theory regarding the diffusion of innovations was the basis of the discussion of our results. The implications of marketing for the development of health education programs are examined.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Alcohol and drug problems in the schools: results of a national survey of school administrators.

A mail survey of public high-school administrators in the United States was conducted to gather information about the nature and extent of school problems with student alcohol and drug use. Of the 728 schools selected for the national metropolitan probability sample, 543 (75%) returned a completed questionnaire. The results indicated that from 1980 to 1985, about one in six students attended schools that reported a serious problem with student alcohol use. In contrast, the proportion of students attending schools with a serious drug problem decreased from about one in four in 1980-81 to about one in seven in 1984-85. The most common explanation provided for a decreasing student alcohol or drug problem was changes in the school's discipline policy or increased enforcement of the existing policy. Few respondents attributed a reduction in student alcohol or drug problems to prevention or treatment programs. Limitations of the survey data are discussed as well as directions for future research.

Administrative Personnel↗
PubMed1984

Teacher training in affective education for the primary prevention of adolescent drug abuse.

Students in the experimental school were exposed over 3 years to teachers trained in a "generic" primary prevention program designed to deal with the affective needs of students. Students were expected to benefit from this exposure by adopting more positive attitudes, behaviors, and norms with regard to themselves, peers, teachers, and school. Ninth graders in the experimental school were compared with 9th graders in a control school; both groups were pretested during the first year of this study and posttested at the end of the third year. For boys, although there was a pattern of negative treatment effects, these were probably artifacts of the research design. For girls, there was no evidence of treatment effects. Analyses within the experimental school revealed a pattern of effects favoring students having the fewest classes with trained teachers. The results are discussed in terms of problems inherent in this type of strategy for the prevention of adolescent substance abuse.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Evaluation of a substance abuse prevention program for junior high school students.

Seventh-grade students in the experimental school received two primary prevention strategies. One strategy, Effective Classroom Management, was an unstructured affective approach provided by the students' classroom teachers. The other strategy was Drug Education, a mini-course taught directly to students by a specialist. The seventh-grade students from another school served as a comparison group. Both process and outcome evaluation data were collected. Results indicated positive program effects for females on drug knowledge, cigarette smoking, and perceptions of their peers' attitudes toward and use of drugs. No effects attributable to the intervention were found for males. The discussion is in terms of problems inherent in unstructured affective strategies and the need for further research on drug education.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Evaluation of a junior high school primary prevention program.

A two-year primary prevention program for junior high school students was evaluated. The program consisted of drug education, "alternatives," and affective in- service training for the students' teachers. Students in one junior high school received the intervention and students in another school served as a no-treatment control group. The students were pretested at the beginning of 7th grade and posttested at the end of 8th grade. Positive effects were found for females on several drug-related variables; few effects were found for males. The findings are discussed with regard to the individual prevention strategies.

Achievement↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mammography and clinical breast examination among Korean American women in two California counties.

BACKGROUND: Mammography and clinical breast examination (CBE) are underutilized, especially by women from some racial/ethnic minorities. Few published studies of screening practices or correlates for these subgroups exist. METHODS: A population-based telephone survey of 1,090 Korean Americans living in two California counties was conducted. To produce population estimates of mammography and CBE testing, we adjusted frequencies to account for different selection probabilities. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine independent correlates of testing. RESULTS: Only 34% [95% confidence intervals (CI) 30%, 39%] of Korean American women age 50 and older were estimated to have had a mammogram in the past 2 years. Only 32% (95% CI 28%, 37%) had had a CBE in the past 2 years. The strongest independent correlate of testing was having a regular medical checkup [odds ratio (OR) for mammogram = 9.21, 95% CI 3.98, 21.35; OR for CBE = 11.58, 95% CI 4.71, 28.46]. CONCLUSIONS: These estimates are lower than the Healthy People 2000 objectives as well as published estimates for other populations in the United States. Planning and implementing tailored programs to improve screening are best done using a community-sensitive approach, which, because racial/ethnic subgroups are growing, will assume increasing public health importance.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of seven school-based prevention programs: a final report on the Napa project.

Described is a series of evaluation studies of seven school-based prevention programs, including four generic in-service teacher-training programs, two alternatives programs, and a drug education course. The programs were delivered to elementary or junior high students, and were evaluated individually and in several combinations or sequences, using rigorous research procedures and a comprehensive set of process and outcome measures. Only the drug education course showed any pattern of significant effects, and these were short-term and obtained only for girls. The findings call into question the efficacy of generic prevention programs, at least as such programs are commonly implemented.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The impact of California's smoking ordinances on worksite smoking policy and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.

A subsample of 5776 respondents to the California Tobacco Survey who do not smoke and work indoors outside of their home was analyzed regarding worksite smoking policy and worksite exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. To obtain study results, survey responses were linked to tobacco ordinance data. Nonsmokers who worked in localities with moderate or strong laws were more likely to report worksite smoking policies than nonsmokers in localities without laws. Even in localities with strong laws, 23.5% of respondents reported no worksite policy, and 26.4% reported recent exposure to environmental tobacco smoke at the worksite. Comprehensive laws with minimal exemptions may be necessary to ensure adequate compliance and protection from environmental tobacco smoke.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Correlates of cigarette smoking among Korean American adults in Alameda County, California.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of cigarette smoking and to determine the sociodemographic correlates of smoking among Korean American adults in Alameda County, California, 1994-1995. METHOD: Korean surname-based telephone survey; contingency table and multinomial logistic regression analyses. FINDINGS: Almost 39% of Korean American men and 6% of Korean American women were current smokers. Among Korean American men those who attended religious activities less than monthly had nearly three times the odds of being current smokers, and those who did not speak English well had 2 1/2 times the odds of being current smokers as compared to never smokers. Those 18 to 24 years of age had more than 8 1/2 times the odds, and those who attended religious activities less than monthly had more than 3 1/2 times the odds of being current smokers as compared to former smokers. Among Korean American women those who were not married had more than 3 times the odds of being current smokers, and those who attended religious activities less than monthly had 22 times the odds of being current smokers as compared to never smokers. Those who attended religious activities less than monthly had almost 8 times the odds of being current smokers as compared to former smokers. CONCLUSIONS: This study increases our understanding about the prevalence and correlates of cigarette smoking among Korean Americans and can contribute to the development of effective smoking cessation and prevention strategies in this understudied population.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

"Health is strength": a research collaboration involving Korean Americans in Alameda County.

INTRODUCTION: This is a preliminary report from a research collaboration between Asian Health Services (community health center); Koreans in Alameda County, California; and the University of California at Berkeley School of Public Health. This five-year Centers for Disease Control and Prevention project supports a collaborative community intervention to improve breast and cervical cancer screening behavior among Korean women. METHODS: A Korean Community Advisory Board and Korean-American staff were recruited, and community sensitive research (CSR) and participatory action research (PAR) principles were applied: (1) building community infrastructure for sustainable action, (2) cultural appropriateness, (3) assuring responsiveness to community needs, and (4) a prevention focus that would assist health care providers. We conducted a population-based telephone survey on 676 Korean adults (272 men and 404 women). RESULTS: The collaborative process yielded (1) a high response rate (79%), (2) baseline health information on Korean Americans, (3) broadening of the original research topic, (4) survey responses that will guide intervention design, (5) culturally competent strategies, and (6) expanded Korean-American Community capacity for local action. CONCLUSIONS: Research collaboration between universities, community-based organizations, and ethnic communities can yield high-quality research. CSR and PAR approaches help break through cultural barriers in otherwise "hard to reach" API sub-populations. Determinants of success include sharing common goals; trust, honesty, and integrity; shared decision making; mutual respect of each partner's expertise; cultural sensitivity and cultural competence; flexibility, good communication, and mutual learning; and continuity of partners. Actively engaging members of the study population in the research process builds community capacity, thus laying the foundation for future projects that improve health status.

Adult↗