Abstrak: Purpose: To describe change in Minnesota's QUITPLAN helpline operations following provision of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to multisession counseling enrollees.

Methods: NRT access began September 2002. Call volume is reported from September 2001 to May 2003 (pre-NRT = 2734, post-NRT = 12,536). A survey administered at 2 weeks assesses self-reported connection to services (response rate 80%, n = 538/670, pre-NRT vs. 67%, n = 400/595, post-NRT, p < .001).

Results: Provision of NRT was followed by an increase in call volume (439 +/- 229 calls/month January through May pre-NRT vs. 1292 +/- 308 calls/month January through May post-NRT, p = .001). Enrollment in multisession counseling increased (17.4% pre-NRT vs. 75.3% post-NRT, p < .001). Among survey respondents, connection to services was not changed (83.8% pre-NRT vs. 88.0% post-NRT, p = .072). At 2 weeks, more respondents who enrolled in multisession counseling reported having a follow-up call scheduled (43.9% pre-NRT vs. 64.1% post-NRT, p = .001).

Conclusions: This is an observational study. Providing NRT as part of a statewide helpline may increase recruitment and encourage callers to enroll in multisession counseling.

Abstrak: Background: Obesity prevalence is higher among those who live in impoverished environments. This investigation identified obesogenic factors in urban neighborhoods surrounding public housing developments (HDs).

Design: Cross-sectional quantitative survey data from 14 HD neighborhoods and qualitative interviews of the HD managers.

Setting: Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri.

Subjects: Environmental data were collected from HDs and surrounding neighborhoods, an area enclosed by an 800-m radius line drawn from the HD centroid. Qualitative data were collected from all 14 HD managers.

Measures: HDs were rated by a brief environmental audit. HD managers were assessed in a structured 45- to 60-minute interview about neighborhood factors influencing resident obesity.

Results: The properties were typically modern and well maintained; however, there were few physical activity (PA) resources and food sources on site. Most HD managers cited the availability of PA resources near the HD; however, there was wide variability in the type and accessibility of the resources. Only two HDs had a store that sold groceries within one block. Interviews identified fast food restaurants as common food sources, with few other food sources available.

Discussion: Data suggested that although strides have been made to increase safety and comfort in public housing, there remains poor access to PA resources and healthful food sources. Interventions and policies should consider access to PA resources and food sources.

Abstrak: Purpose: Research examining the relationship between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related risk behavior and negative affective states has netted mixed findings. The present study examined the potential moderating role of gender and sexual orientation on negative affect and HIV-related risk behavior.

Design: Measures of depression, anxiety, and HIV-related risk behavior were collected from participants at the time of pretest counseling. Analysis of variance was used to examine HIV-related risk behavior as a function of negative affect levels and gender and behavioral sexual orientation.

Setting: The study was conducted through a community-based, anonymous HIV counseling and testing site.

Subjects: Participants included 185 consecutively recruited men and women presenting for HIV testing.

Measures: Participants completed a structured interview regarding HIV-related risk behavior, the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depressed Mood Scale, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory.

Results: Greater HlV-related risk behavior was associated with high levels of anxiety and moderate or high levels of depression for bisexual women. Greater HIV-related risk behavior was also associated with low levels of anxiety and mild to moderate levels of depression for bisexual men.

Conclusions: The relationship between negative affective states and HIV-related risk behavior may vary as a function of gender and behavioral sexual orientation. Better understanding of the relationship between negative affect and risk behavior may be achieved through consideration of these sources of variation.

Abstrak: Purpose: Public-private partnerships may help to promote healthy diets. We assessed customers' exposure to and the acceptability of a Dutch public-private healthy diet campaign in butcher's shops and investigated the effects on the purchase of lean meat and the use of liquid cooking margarine and potential behavioral determinants.

Methods: The pretest-posttest control group design included 486 customers (242 experimental and 244 control) of butcher shops representing 64% of the original sample. Campaign exposure, acceptability, and behavioral effects were measured by a questionnaire.

Results: Seventy-one percent of the customers noticed the campaign. Scores on the acceptability were positive to very positive. Regression analysis revealed that customers in the experimental condition evaluated the campaign better (B = .415; p < .05) and felt more encouraged to buy lean meat (B = .252; p < .05) than customers in the control condition. No effects on behavior were found.

Discussion: Study design limitations included possible campaign exposure of control group participants. The study shows the feasibility and acceptability of a joint health-promoting activity through a public-private partnership, but there were no effects on behavior.

Abstrak: Purpose: To assess the status of U.S. military retirees and their spouses 38 to 64 years of age relative to select Healthy People 2010 objectives and to identify sociodemographic characteristics associated with select health behaviors.

Design: Cross-sectional analyses with self-reported standardized measures from the U.S. Department of Defense Population Health Survey, 2003.

Setting: The continental United States.

Subjects: U.S. military retirees and their spouses 38 to 64 years of age.

Measures: Data for this study were self-reported responses to the Population Health Survey. Dichotomous variables were created to indicate whether each Healthy People 2010 objective had been met. Each objective was measurable with the survey by using the definitions set forth in Healthy People 2010. These objectives included healthy weight and obesity based on body mass index (height and weight); daily fruit, vegetable, and grain-product consumption; physical inactivity, moderate physical activity, and vigorous physical activity; binge drinking; cigarette use; and smoking-cessation attempts.

Results: The study population did not meet any of the Healthy People 2010 objectives included in this study. Sociodemographic characteristics that were associated with this result included being male, not having a college degree, and a less-than-excellent self-reported general health status.

Conclusion: Health-promotion interventions are needed to improve the health status of this population and to achieve the goals set forth in Healthy People 2010.

Abstrak: Purpose: To examine the application of the transtheoretical model (TTM) to fruit and vegetable consumption among economically disadvantaged African-American adolescents.

Methods: Scales for measuring decisional balance, situational self-efficacy, and processes of change for fruit and vegetable consumption were developed and pretested with 57 economically disadvantaged African-American adolescents. The scales and measures for assessing stages of change, demographic variables, and fruit and vegetable consumption were administered to a separate sample of 262 participants. t-tests for independent samples and analysis of variance were used to examine differences in TTM variables and fruit and vegetable consumption across stages of change.

Results: Two-factor solutions for decisional balance and processes of change and a three-factor solution for situational self-efficacy provided the best fit to the data. Alpha coefficients of reliability for the scales ranged from .77 (experiential change processes) to .91 (pros). Participants in action-maintenance stages evidenced higher pros, self-efficacy, and fruit and vegetable consumption and significantly lower cons than did participants in precontemplation and contemplation-preparation stages. Also, participants in action-maintenance stages used processes of change more frequently than did those in precontemplation-contemplation-preparation stages. The use of experiential and behavioral processes within these stages did not differ significantly, as posited.

Discussion: Observed differences in TTM variables and fruit and vegetable consumption by stage of change in this sample of economically disadvantaged African-American adolescents were consistent with theory and previous applications of the model to fruit and vegetable consumption in adults. With replication studies, the TTM may be appropriate for designing interventions to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among this population.

Abstrak: A tailored health promotion program was developed and applied to reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors among middle-aged and advanced-age bus drivers. The participants were 248 bus drivers from 2 transportation companies, in whom the authors surveyed health behaviors (physical activity, diet, smoking habit, and alcohol consumption), health status (body mass index, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein), and job stress. The tailored health promotion program consisted of exercise, diet, temperance, and smoking cessation education; the program was developed to reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors and was administered for 6 months. After the program, health behaviors, such as physical activity, dietary habits, smoking habits, and alcohol consumption, and health status indicators, such as blood pressure, had significantly improved (P < .05). The authors did not find an association between job stress and health behavior and status. This suggests that a tailored health promotion program for middle-aged and advanced-age bus drivers was effective.

Abstrak: This study investigated the relationship between leisure-time physical activity and physical fitness (cardiovascular fitness, body fat percentage, flexibility, muscle strength, and endurance) of 10th-grade male students in Oman. Data were collected from 330 students. All participants completed a descriptive questionnaire, a 1 mile walk/run test; a skinfold analysis of the chest, abdomen, and thigh; a sit and reach test; a hand grip test; and a 1-minute sit-up test. Students spent an average of 19.20 ± 6.77 hours on sedentary activities, 3.46 ± 2.11 hours on sports activities, and 11.22 ± 9.24 hours working per week. The students had an average body fat percentage of 6.38% ± 4.67%, muscle strength 38.04 ± 7.55 kg, flexibility 38.01 ± 7.41 cm, abdominal muscle endurance 38.85 ± 8.15 times/min, and cardiovascular endurance 8.10 ± 1.65 minutes.

Abstrak: This study aimed to determine the predictors of contraceptive use among married female youths and their husbands using the behavioral theory of the Health Belief Model (HBM). A community-based survey was conducted in a rural area of Myanmar in 2008. A total of 444 respondents (222 couples) were interviewed separately using a pretested, structured questionnaire. Significant predictors of contraceptive use were determined by univariate and multivariate analysis. Wife's HBM perception was a highly significant predictor of contraceptive use in married youths (adjusted odds ratio = 10; 95% confidence interval = 2.7, 37.6). Wives aged 20 to 24 years and having their own income, experience of spousal communication, and shorter distance from home to health center were also significant predictors of contraceptive use. A poor agreement on HBM perception between wife and husband was noted. This study highlights the importance of HBM perceptions, wife's income, spousal communication, and geographic barriers in contraceptive use among married youths in rural Myanmar.