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Biomedical subjects

Manel Nebot

Publications and source records attributed to Manel Nebot.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Age and sex differences in factors associated with the onset of cannabis use: a cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate age and sex differences in factors associated with the onset of cannabis use among adolescents. METHODS: A representative sample of schoolchildren from secondary schools in Barcelona (n=1056) was selected and followed-up from the first to the fourth year of secondary education (7-10th grades). The participants completed a self-administered lifestyle questionnaire each year. Multilevel logistic regression models were used for each year and sex to analyse predictors of cannabis use; the second level was adjusted by school. RESULTS: Onset of cannabis use during follow-up was associated with a prior history of tobacco smoking [odds ratio (OR)=7.7 in boys; OR=3.8 in girls], alcohol consumption (OR=6.4 in boys; OR=3.2 in girls), antisocial behavior (OR=2.8 in boys; OR=2.2 in girls), intention to use drugs (OR=3.5 in boys; OR=4.2 in girls), drug use among friends (OR=2.5 in boys; OR=3.7 in girls) and spending leisure time in bars or discos (OR=2.1 in boys; OR=3.8 in girls). Moreover, among girls, attending state schools (OR=2.9), low academic performance (OR=5.7) and living in a single-parent family (OR=2.0) also independently predicted cannabis use. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals a wide array of predictive factors in cannabis use onset that largely differed by age and sex. The results support the role of tobacco and alcohol, as well as the influence of drug use among friends, and the importance of leisure time patterns as facilitators of cannabis use.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

[Estimation of the excess of lung cancer mortality risk associated to environmental tobacco smoke exposure of hospitality workers].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To estimate the excess lung cancer mortality risk associated with environmental tobacco (ETS) smoke exposure among hospitality workers. The estimation was done using objective measures in several hospitality settings in Barcelona. METHOD: Vapour phase nicotine was measured in several hospitality settings. These measurements were used to estimate the excess lung cancer mortality risk associated with ETS exposure for a 40 year working life, using the formula developed by Repace and Lowrey. RESULTS: Excess lung cancer mortality risk associated with ETS exposure was higher than 145 deaths per 100,000 workers in all places studied, except for cafeterias in hospitals, where excess lung cancer mortality risk was 22 per 100,000. In discoteques, for comparison, excess lung cancer mortality risk is 1,733 deaths per 100,000 workers. CONCLUSION: Hospitality workers are exposed to ETS levels related to a very high excess lung cancer mortality risk. These data confirm that ETS control measures are needed to protect hospital workers.

Humans↗
PubMed2006

Social class, education, and smoking cessation: Long-term follow-up of patients treated at a smoking cessation unit.

Our objective was to examine social class and educational differences in long-term smoking cessation success among a cohort of smokers attending a specialized smoking clinic. We studied sustained abstinence after cessation among 1,516 smokers (895 men and 621 women) treated for smoking cessation between 1995 and 2001 at a university teaching hospital in the metropolitan area of Barcelona, Spain. We calculated 1-year and long-term (up to 8-year) abstinence probabilities by means of Kaplan-Meier curves and the hazard ratio of relapse by means of Cox regression, after adjusting for other predictors of relapse. Overall abstinence probability was .277 (95% CI = .254-.301). Men and women in social classes IV-V had significant hazard ratios of relapse after long-term follow-up (men: 1.36, 95% CI = 1.07-1.72; women: 1.60, 95% CI = 1.24-2.06), as compared with patients in social classes I-II. The same independent effect was observed for education: Men and women with primary or less than primary studies had higher hazard ratios of relapse (men: 1.75, 95% CI = 1.35-2.25; women: 1.92, 95% CI = 1.51-2.46), as compared with patients with a university degree. Similar estimates were obtained after adjustment for stage of change, Fagerström score for nicotine dependence, and type of treatment. Patients of lower socioeconomic status are at higher risk of relapse, and this association is independent of other well-known predictors of relapse. Social differences have to be taken into account in the clinical setting when tailoring specific actions to treat smoking dependence.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Behaviour evaluation for risk-taking adolescents (BERTA): an easy to use and assess instrument to detect adolescent risky behaviours in a clinical setting.

UNLABELLED: To create an instrument to be used in an outpatient clinic to detect adolescents prone to risk-taking behaviours. Based on previous research, five identified variables (relationship with parents and teachers, liking going to school, average grades, and level of religiosity) were used to create a screening tool to detect at least one of ten risky behaviours (tobacco, alcohol, cannabis and other illegal drugs use; sexual intercourse and sexual risky behaviour; driving while intoxicated, riding with an intoxicated driver, not always using a seat belt, and not always using a helmet). The instrument was tested using the Barcelona Adolescent Health Survey 1993. A Receiver Operating Characteristics curve was used to find the best cut-off point between high and low risk score. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to detect at least one risky behaviour and for each individual behaviour. In order to assess its predictive value, the analysis was repeated using the Barcelona Adolescent Health Survey 1999. In both cases, analyses were conducted for the whole sample and for younger and older adolescents. Adolescents with a high-risk score were more likely to take at least one risky behaviour both when the whole sample was analysed and by age groups. With very few exceptions, the Behaviour Evaluation for Risk-Taking Adolescents showed significant odds ratios for each individual variable. CONCLUSION: The Behaviour Evaluation for Risk-Taking Adolescents has shown its potential as an easy to use instrument to screen for risk-taking behaviours. Future research must aim towards assessing this instrument's predictive value in the clinical setting and it's application to other populations.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2004

Nicotine and surface of particulates as indicators of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in public places in Austria.

As part of a Europe-wide project the amount of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in public places like schools, restaurants, and public transport facilities was investigated. Three methods were applied: nicotine passive samplers (with a filter treated with sodium bisulphate), the same filters with an active sampling device, and the measurement of fine particles' active surface by unipolar diffusion charging. Settings were selected where either high or low ETS concentrations were expected and where non-smokers would have to stay or at least to pass by. Highest ETS concentrations were found in discos (mean nicotine concentration 154.4 maximum 487.1 microg/m3) and intermediate concentrations in restaurants with no significant difference between smoking (21.3 +/- 6.1 microg/m3) and non-smoking areas (23.3 +/- 15.9 microg/m3) but on average higher values in restaurants with no separation between smoking and non-smoking areas (38.0 +/- 60.6 microg/m3). Concentrations usually below 10 microg/m3 were found in transport facilities (8.9 +/- 8.0 microg/m3, maximum 20.6 in the restaurant section of a railway station's waiting room) and in schools (3.0 +/- 4.6 microg/m3). In hospitals "problem spots" were sought and so concentrations from very low to as high as 45.1 microg/m3 next to a smoking area with no physical barrier or separation and 47.7 microg/m3 inside a smoking room could be documented (21.4 +/- 39.3 microg/m3). The fine particle's surface correlated well with the nicotine concentration (r = 0.8; p < 0.001). Only in one instance (in a pizza restaurant on a busy road with heavy duty diesel traffic and the sampling spot next to the pizza stove) high concentration of fine particles was detected without high nicotine. Tobacco smoke is a key source of indoor fine particles. Health policy must intervene to change the situation found at present in many public places in Austria.

Austria↗
PubMed2003

The European Smoking Prevention Framework Approach (EFSA): an example of integral prevention.

A smoking prevention project in six European countries (European Smoking prevention Framework Approach) was developed, featuring activities for adolescents, schools and parents, including out-of-school activities. Consensus meetings resulted in agreement between the countries on goals, objectives and theoretical methods. Countries' specific objectives were also included. National diversities required country-specific methods to realize the goals and objectives. The community intervention trial was used as the research design. Since interventions took place at the community level, communities or regions were allocated at random to the experimental or control conditions. Complete randomization was achieved in four countries. At baseline, smoking prevalence among 23 125 adolescents at the start of the project was 5.6% for regular smoking and 4.0% for daily smoking. Smoking prevalence rates were higher among girls than boys in all countries as far as weekly smoking was concerned. Process evaluations revealed that the project's ambitions were high, but were limited by various constraints including time and delays in receiving funds. Future smoking prevention projects should aim to identify the effective components within the social influence approach as well as within broader approaches and on reaching sustained effects.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The influence of the social network on mental health in the elderly].

OBJECTIVES: To describe social networks, social support and mental health among non-institutionalized individuals aged 65 years or older of Barcelona (Spain), and to analyze the relationship between mental health and social network and social support in this population by gender and age subgroup. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed. The sample consisted of individuals aged 65 years or more (389 men and 609 women) who took part in the Household Health Survey of Barcelona in 2000. Mental health was screened through the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12). A descriptive analysis, as well as bivariate and multivariate analyses (logistic regression), were performed to analyze the association between mental disorders and social network and social support, adjusted by perceived health status and disabilities. RESULTS: According to the GHQ-12, 21.8% of the women and 9.4% of the men had some mental disorder. Multivariate analysis showed that among men mental disorders were associated with not seeing friends regularly in the subgroup aged 75 years or more (OR = 5.76; 95% CI = 1.77-18.7) and with low social support according to Duke's profile and lack of emotional support in both age groups (65-74 years and 75 years or more). For women, mental disorders were associated with not seeing friends regularly in the subgroup aged 75 years or more and with low social support according to the Duke's profile in both age groups. CONCLUSIONS: Mental health in the elderly population in Barcelona is associated with social network and support. Policies to promote social support could improve mental health in this population.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Measurement of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in education centers, health centers, transport facilities and leisure places].

OBJECTIVES: To describe levels of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in various public places in Barcelona (Spain). MATERIAL AND METHOD: Vapor-phase nicotine was measured with passive samplers containing a sodium bisulfate treated filter with a 37 mm diameter. The places sampled were primary and secondary schools, hospitals, primary care centers, train stations, subways, universities, airports, restaurants and discotheques. RESULTS: Primary and secondary schools and health centers had the lowest levels of ETS exposure, with mean concentrations of less than 1 microg/m3. The mean values found in transport and universities were 2.16 microg/m3 in train stations, 3.30 microg/m3 in subways, 4.30 microg/m3 in airports and 4.97 microg/m3 in universities. The highest concentrations were found in restaurants and discotheques, with mean values of 12.36 microg/m3 in restaurants and 130.65 microg/m3 in discotheques. All samples taken from primary and secondary schools, airports, subways, restaurants and discotheques contained ETS. Likewise, 90% of the samples taken from train stations and 96% of those from universities contained ETS. Seventy-nine percent of the samples from hospitals and 58% of those from primary care centers contained ETS. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm that passive smoking is an important public health problem in Spain and that greater efforts are needed to enforce smoke-free policies in public spaces and workplaces.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The evaluation of effectiveness of scholastic programs in the prevention of consumption of tobacco, alcohol and cannabis: what do meta-analyses tell us?].

Consumption of tobacco, alcohol and illegal drugs is a major public health problem in developed countries. The aim of the study is to describe the impact and associated characteristics of preventive programs addressed at those problems in the school setting. Meta-analysis focusing on evaluations of programs focusing on smoking, alcohol and/or cannabis at the school setting are reviewed. The search was done at Cochrane Library and Medline databases of articles published between 1993 and 1999, and including as keywords programs, education, drugs prevention, prevention, smoking, alcohol, school, adolescence, teenagers, young people, evaluation, health education, effectiveness, review, meta-analysis. We found 5 meta-analysis of programs summarizing the effect of preventive programs, most of them dealing with legal and illegal drugs. However, most of the interventions reporting changes in behavior measured only smoking. More effective interventions addressed social influences, used active methodology and were implemented by teachers or peers. The importance of booster sessions, the quality of implementation and thorough evaluation is stressed. Overall, meta-analysis of evaluated programs shows a small effect, although the population impact may be relevant. Some limitations point to new areas of interest for future research.

Adolescent↗