Beliefs, knowledge, and self-efficacy of nursing students regarding tobacco cessation

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

This survey questionnaire of baccalaureate nursing students examines their training in tobacco addiction and cessation and their attitudes towards cessation counselling. Students who smoke, or occasionally smoke were less likely to view cessation counselling as one of their professional duties, compared to students who do not smoke. Undergraduate nursing programs should address these attitudes.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2008.09.004

Comment: You often hear about the need to change public attitudes towards to tobacco use. Apparently we need to address these attitudes within the health care profession as well, to ensure that everyone is getting (or performing) cessation interventions.

Are artificial tans the new cigarette? : how plaintiffs can use the lessons of tobacco litigation in bringing claims against the indoor tanning indust

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Analyzes successful cases against the tobacco industry in order to identify legal arguments for future litigation against indoor tanning manufacturers and salons. Plaintiffs can greatly increase their chances of success by using arguments and principles from successful tobacco litigation. Highlights similarities between the indoor tanning and tobacco industries.

http://www.michiganlawreview.org/archive/107/2/loh.pdf
Comment: Recently a tanning industry spokesperson argued that scientific evidence linking indoor tanning with melanoma was "junk science". Does this sound familiar?

Cigarette package health warnings : international status report

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

International overview ranking 140 countries based on the size of warnings for cigarette packages; lists those countries that have finalized requirements for picture-based warnings. Australia, New Zealand and the Cook Islands have the largest warnings in the world at 30% at front of the package, 90% at back. Canada has 50% at front, 50% at back.

http://www.fctc.org/dmdocuments/warnings-intl%20status%20report%20Oct%202008.pdf


Comment: The content of text and graphic warnings is often vivid and gruesome, and emphasizes the harsh health realities of smoking.

Cough, dyspnea, and reticulonodular opacities in a 58-year-old smoker

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

This medical case presents the diagnosis of a 58-year-old woman with pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH). Her symptoms, her pack a day smoking consumption and 40 pack-year history of tobacco use factored into the diagnosis, due to the links between PLCH and tobacco use.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1378/chest.06-2595

Comment: So often articles about the adverse health effects of tobacco use are generalized and apply to an entire population. This article deals with one woman, her symptoms, her medical diagnosis, and this makes it seem more personal.

Campaign for a Smoke-free Ride

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

On November 20, 2008, the Ontario Lung Association launched the Campaign for a Smoke-free Ride, a program that urges parents not to smoke in their car when children are passengers. This website is designed to give parents who smoke the information and support they need to give their children a healthy, smoke-free ride.

http://www.smokefreeride.ca

Comment: On January 21, 2009, also known as Weedless Wednesday, Ontario will become the third province in Canada to enact legislation that will ban smoking in vehicles with children.

The development of Philip Morris's position on environmental tobacco smoke for its website : report

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Introduction – History – Managing secondhand smoke, our commitments and actions to reduce unwanted ETS – ETS, lung cancer and heart disease – Young children and ETS – Reasonable public smoking restrictions – Discussion/Conclusion – References.

http://www.who.int/entity/tobacco/surveillance/ti_monitoring/ets_pm_.pdf

Comment: It's always interesting to see industry spin unspun.

So you want to quit smoking : have you tried a mobile phone?

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Explores the impact of mobile phone ownership on tobacco consumption. Using panel data from 2,100 households in 135 communities of the Philippines collected in 2003 and 2006, this study finds that mobile phone ownership leads to a 20% decline in monthly tobacco consumption.

http://go.worldbank.org/31W93KXFO0

Comment: Mobile phones present an important but as yet largely unused medium to deliver interventions inexpensively and anonymously.

Nicotine and carcinogen exposure with smoking of progressively reduced nicotine content cigarette

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

This 10-week longitudinal study examines the effect of smoking research cigarettes with decreasing nicotine content on smoking behaviour and chemical biomarkers of exposure. Researchers found that there was little smoking compensation when nicotine was reduced, and suggest that gradual reduction of nicotine content could be a viable way to reduce nicotine dependence and tobacco use.

http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/full/16/11/2479

Comment: Interesting research into a possible way to reduce nicotine addiction in those who smoke, and prevent it altogether in youth who experiment with cigarettes.

How to make a condo complex smokefree

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)


Fact sheet answers common questions about how condominium owners can make their entire complex, including individual units, smokefree.

http://talc.phlpnet.org/pdf_files/0091.pdf

Comment: In Canada, smoke-free new-construction buildings have popped up in Vancouver, Victoria and Winnipeg, where condo units have sold out quickly.

Civil disobedience and tobacco control : the case of BUGA UP

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

The author discusses the history of the group BUGA UP (Billboard Utilising Graffitists Against Unhealthy Promotions) who defaced or "re-faced" tobacco billboard advertisements in Australia from approximately 1978-1994. The new messages emphasized the adverse health effects of tobacco and/or the way the tobacco industry profits from addiction.

http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/cgi/reprint/5/3/179.pdf


Comment: This article goes nicely with the previous powerpoint presentation. It also includes images, and a good history of BUGA UP.

Civil disobediance & tobacco control : BUGA UP in Australia [slideshow]

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Contains pictures of billboards advertising tobacco products that were defaced by BUGA UP (Billboard Utilizing Graffitists Against Unhealthy Promotions) and created by MOP UP (Movement Opposed to Unhealthy Promotions) in Australia from 1979-1986. The messages highlight that smoking causes adverse health effects and that the tobacco industry is profiting from addiction to their products.

http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/vol11/issue3/images/data/DC1/Civilzip.ZIP

Comment: The images of defaced billboards in this powerpoint presentation are worth a look!

Philip Morris's health information web site appears responsible but undermines public health

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

In 1999, Philip Morris launched its new website and encouraged consumers to obtain information about tobacco and health issues there. However, internal industry documents reveal that the website was a public relations effort intended to help the company avoid punishment and regulation.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1446.2008.00743.x

Comment: It is still astounding to read the lengths the tobacco industry will go to avoid being reprimanded.

Why combating tobacco smuggling is a priority

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Presents figures highlighting the serious effects of tobacco smuggling - around 21% of all tobacco smoked in the United Kingdom is smuggled into the country. Urges the UK government to set out comprehensive measures and clear targets for border protection and enforcement, and to support negotiations, currently underway, for a strong international treaty to tackle cigarette smuggling.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.a1933

Comment: To date, the Canadian government's response to tobacco smuggling has been weak. Is it not time to act?

Out of the ashes : the life, death, and rebirth of the "safer" cigarette in the United States

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

The endorsement of, followed by the reconsideration of reduced-harm cigarettes is explored in this article. Harm reduction products raise a point of debate: will efforts to minimize the harms from smoking prevent the acceptance of a product that is not completely safe, but of one that may be safer than cigarettes?

http://www.ajph.org/cgi/content/full/94/2/192

Comment: An interesting (and lengthy) article about harm-reduced cigarettes, manipulation by the tobacco industry, and the dilemma that public health and tobacco control professionals face regarding harm reduction.

Cannabis use and risk of lung cancer : a case–control study

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

This New Zealand case-control study reveals lung cancer risk increased 8% for each joint year of marijuana use, after adjusting for confounding variables along with tobacco use, and increased 7% for each pack year of tobacco use, after adjusting for confounding variables including marijuana use. Findings suggest lasting use of marijuana increases the probability of lung cancer among young adults.

http://erj.ersjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/31/2/280


Comment: This is an issue that doesn't generally occur to most people, nice to see it brought to the foreground.

Smoking cessation and weight gain : a common challenge and a unique opportunity

(Disponible en anglais et en français.)

Discusses post-cessation weight management, its relationship to gender, and implications for the treatment of adolescents. Includes simple, practical strategies to prevent post-cessation weight gain.

http://www.smokingcessationrounds.ca/crus/smokingceseng_04_08.pdf


Comment: Maintain a healthy lifestyle, watch your diet, exercise regularly and - never take another puff!

The waterpipe : time for action

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

The author outlines many factors behind the growing popularity of waterpipe (hookah, shisha, narghile) smoking. He calls for a public health response to this to dispel myths that it is safer than smoking cigarettes. As the waterpipe is gaining popularity amongst youth, swift action is required to contain its use.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2008.02327.x

Comment: When we look back, 5 years from now, will we say that we responded appropriately to the problem and contained waterpipe use from spreading, or will we wish we had done more?

Active and passive smoking and depression among Japanese workers

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

The authors examine the relationship between exposure to secondhand smoke in the workplace and depressive symptoms among those who do and do not smoke in Japan. Current smoking and workplace exposure were linked with higher levels of depressive symptoms. Gender was not a modifying factor.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2008.01.024

Comment: I've read about the links between depression and tobacco use before, but this is the first time I've seen links between exposure to secondhand smoke and depression.

Nicotine and alcohol dependence in patients with comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Research has demonstrated that ADHD can be a major risk factor for initiating and developing an addiction. Findings from this investigation show many patients with ADHD have an alcohol addiction, and even more are severely addicted to nicotine. These findings stress the significance of early and sufficient diagnosis and treatment of ADHD to stop the harm of an addictive disease.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agm069

Comment: Co-morbidity is an emerging important issue. We see it more often studied with schizophrenia; it's interesting to note the expansion into other mental health issues.

Forever cool : the influence of smoking imagery on young people

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Table of Contents:
Introduction - Smoking trends - Why do young people smoke? - Smoking imagery - The way forward - Recommendations - Appendix 1: UK legislation on tobacco advertising and promotion - Appendix 2: The effect of different marketing strategies on smoking behaviour - References.

http://www.bma.org.uk/ap.nsf.AttachmentsByTitle/PDFforevercool/$FILE/forevercool.pdf

Comment: Will the Conservative Party of Canada fulfill its 2008 election promise to ban tobacco advertising and promotion to youth?

Second-hand smoke and hookah pipes

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Water pipe smoking has been gaining popularity in recent years in Canada, especially among young adults. It is seen as a social exotic activity that is safer and less addictive than cigarette smoking. Hookah lounge owners in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver, have successfully sought smoking bylaw exemptions.

http://www.nsra-adnf.ca/cms/file/pdf/Hookah_pipes_March_2008.pdf

Comment: Although the tobacco used in hookahs is mellower and less carcinogenic than that associated with cigarettes, hookah tobacco is still tobacco and the health risks remain.

Mongoven, Biscoe & Duchin : destroying tobacco control activism from the inside

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Mongoven, Biscoe & Duchin is a specialist PR firm that works with tobacco companies. This report presents evidence of the measures that MBD, and other firms like it, take in order to damage tobacco control efforts. The facts that are presented help support an image of the tobacco industry as threatened by tobacco control.

http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/11/2/112

Comment: This article is from 2002, but it pays to be vigilant. Watch out for these trouble makers!

Tobacco industry success in preventing regulation of secondhand smoke in Latin America : the "Latin Project"

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Tobacco industry documents revealed that Philip Morris International and British American Tobacco used a law firm to create relationships with scientists and physicians to advocate against smoke-free bans in workplaces and public areas. The actions of the industry have been victorious in impeding development of public health programs on secondhand smoke.

http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/11/4/305

Comment: Industry sponsored research and researchers, well-placed articles to influence public opinion, and all organized by a law firm to disguise the industry backing. Sneaky, and interesting as to the lengths the industry will go to.

Lorillard's "Candy Box" ad for Newport cigarettes : is she pregnant?

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

This cover essay discusses the 1985 Newport Lights ad "Candy Box" in which the model appears to be pregnant. Lorillard insisted that photo cropping and the blouse were to blame, and that the model was not pregnant. The FTC investigation cleared Lorillard, but their true intent with the ad remains suspect.

http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/9/suppl_3/iii3

Comment: Make sure you look at the "Candy Box" ad they're discussing. The intention to make the model look pregnant is evident. This is low, even for the tobacco industry.

Almond consumption reduces oxidative DNA damage and lipid peroxidation in male smokers

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Almonds are a source of antioxidant nutrients. Results of this randomized, crossover clinical trial demonstrate that almond consumption can decrease biomarkers of oxidative stress and increase antioxidant defenses in healthy young males who smoke.

http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/abstract/137/12/2717

Comment: More proof of the power of almonds. Hopefully this isn't interpreted as a reason to continue smoking...

Glass fiber contamination of cigarette filters : an additional health risk to the smoker?

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Tobacco in the Eclipse cigarette is heated rather than burned. The authors discuss the glass fibres, fragments and particles that were observed in and around the filter of the Eclipse. The exposure and suspected inhalation of glass fibres may negate the reduced risk Eclipse cigarettes purport to have.

http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/cgi/reprint/7/11/967.pdf

Comment: When I think of all the horrible things in cigarettes, I can't say glass fibres has ever come to mind. Scary.

Are low income countries targets of the tobacco industry?

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Low income countries are viewed by the tobacco industry as an emerging market. The author uses the example of tobacco industry marketing in Turkey after the market was opened in 1984, in the hopes that it will inform low income countries and prevent them from becoming industry targets.

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iuatld/ijtld/1999/00000003/00000002/art00006

Comment: An interesting read about what happened in Turkey when the tobacco market was opened to multinationals.

Public understanding of the illnesses caused by cigarette smoking

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Among adult and adolescent smoking and non-smoking survey participants, more than half could only name lung cancer as an effect of smoking while only half could specify emphysema. Even fewer could identify other effects of smoking, and they had little comprehension as to the effects of these diseases.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14622200410001676459

Comment: Education is key. If people don't know the adverse health effects that smoking can cause, they have few reasons to quit.

A balanced tobacco control policy

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Taxation is a popular method of tobacco control, as an increase in price can decrease the amount a smoker may consume, and discourage someone to start. This report focuses on the success of taxation for discouraging adolescent smoking uptake. The report also emphasizes the importance of using taxation in connection with other tobacco control methods.

http://www.ajph.org/cgi/content/full/93/3/416

Comment: The author questions whether taxation discourages youth uptake, or merely delays it until they are adults, and no longer the subject of prevention campaigns. An interesting take on the issue.

Improving the self reporting of tobacco use : results of a factorial experiment

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Self-reporting of tobacco use has often been considered a legitimate way to estimate tobacco use. When a surveyor announces the topic of their survey, this may influence a person's response. In reaction to this problem, a study was conducted to help determine which questions may lead a person to deny their tobacco use, and why.

http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/12/2/178

Comment: An interesting comparison between the self-reported tobacco use rates in two studies in California, and how question introduction, wording and placement can influence responses.

Reasons for not using smoking cessation aids

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Participants who never used smoking cessation aids (SCA) and who made a quit attempt within the last year completed questionnaires to evaluate reasons for non-usage. The major reasons for not using SCA are thinking that they can quit on their own (55.2%), that smoking is not a problem (36.5%), and that these aids are not necessary to quit smoking (40.1%).

http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-8-129

Comment: The concept of cessation being a test of willpower needs to be challenged. Using cessation aids does not reflect weakness. It's proven that they help increase the odds of successful cessation!

One year later : are MPAA’s tobacco labels protecting movie audiences?

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

In May 2007, the Major Picture Association of America (MPAA) announced that it would take into account smoking in its movie ratings. This report assesses whether or not the MPAA has adhered to its policy.

http://repositories.cdlib.org/ctcre/tcpmus/MPAA2008/

Comment: A very interesting report. The media should continue to address that smoking in movies is influential in youth smoking initiation.

British American Tobacco ghost-wrote reports on tobacco advertising bans by the International Advertising Association and J J Boddewyn

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

This article outlines how the document "Tobacco advertising bans and consumption in 16 countries", that criticized advertising bans was not edited by J. J. Boddewyn and the International Advertising Association, but in fact ghost-written by Paul Bingham from British American Tobacco.

http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/17/3/211

Comment: Somehow this shocks me, and yet doesn't surprise me at all.

Discovery health : calculators : cost of smoking

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

This tool can help a smoker see how much they are spending on cigarettes on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis. It also shows them how much they could save if they quit smoking.

http://health.discovery.com/tools/calculators/smoke/smoke.html

Comment: If the health related issues with tobacco use aren't enough to scare those who smoke, calculating how much money they spend on cigarettes in a year will!

Churches, tobacco farmers, and community sustainability : insights from the tobacco south

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Presents an overview of the dilemma so-called "tobacco churches" face. These churches are found in tobacco growing regions, and often the congregation and the church itself are financially dependent on tobacco farming. Churches are conflicted over taking a strong stance against tobacco, due to the financial toll it would take on the community.

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/70000746/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0

Comment: This article is an interesting read, demonstrating how communities can be so dependent on tobacco, and the challenge that can present to public health.

Alternate forms of tobacco use

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Reviews the scientific literature on alternate forms of tobacco, their use and the dangers of these products. Narghile (water pipe), bidis, kreteks, oral tobacco and potentially reduced exposure products (PREPs), are considered. Concludes that there is no such thing as a safe tobacco product.

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iuatld/ijtld/2008/00000012/00000007/art00006


Comment: Consumers erroneously believe that alternate tobacco products are safer, or will help them quit smoking.

Short-term clinical exposure evaluation of a second-generation electrically heated cigarette smoking system

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Eight biomarkers of tobacco smoke exposure were evaluated in 100 adults who smoke in this randomized control trial. These baseline measurements were then compared with measurements taken after eight days of second-generation electrically heated cigarette smoking system (EHCSS) use. Results demonstrate that smoking with an EHCSS reduces biomarker exposure.

http://jcp.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/47/4/518

Comment: I was really excited by this study, until I realized it was conducted by good ole Philip Morris.

Effects of an advocacy intervention to reduce smoking among teenagers

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

This participation-based tobacco prevention program conducted in schools, demonstrated a considerable decrease (3.8%) in regular smokers, versus an increase (1.5%) in those at schools that utilized an information-based drug abuse prevention program. After a six month period, the number of regular smokers decreased from 25.1% to 20.3%, among students in the advocacy program.

http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/158/3/269

Comment: Student involvement in advocacy activities is key for the prevention of tobacco use.

Photos cigarillos

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Collection of 11 colour photographs depicting cigarillos, cigarillo advertising, and cigarillo packaging. The Coalition explicitly gives permission for others to use these photos.

http://www.cqct.qc.ca/Communiques_docs/2008/PRSS_08_04_08_PhotosCigarillos.htm


Comment: It is quite astonishing to see the package design of these cigarillos; they look quite similar to candy.

Hooked from the first cigarette

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Presents new findings on the speed with which teenagers can get hooked on cigarettes. It is the manner in which the brain reacts to nicotine, rather than personality, that is most important to determining whether an adolescent will become hooked on nicotine from cigarettes.

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=hooked-from-the-first-cigarette

Comment: One cigarette is all it takes to get hooked!

How much downside? : quantifying the relative harm from tobacco taxation

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

The estimated loss of life expectancy due to tobacco tax varied from 0.005 to 0.027 years and increased for people living in poor neighbourhoods. However, the loss of life expectancy accredited to tobacco taxation was 42 to 257 times less than that accredited to smoking. Overall, tobacco taxation’s benefits outweigh its harms.

http://jech.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/58/6/451

Comment: Often the "harm" discussed with regards to tobacco taxes is lost revenues due to contraband. This article is interesting because it focuses on the estimated loss of life expectancy that higher tobacco taxes could cause.

Smoke the fish not the kids! [poster]

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

One of three humorous posters promoting smokefree cars with the message "smoke the fish not the kids!". This poster features a woman holding a fish, standing outside a car with a child inside.

http://www.tbdhu.com/NR/rdonlyres/D5E71AEE-A8D8-4898-821D-971B8699FE11/0/TBDHUIvankaverticalposter.pdf

Comment: Sometimes humour can be a better way to convey a message versus scare tactics.

JT environmental report : 2003

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

This document explores how Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) is doing its part to limit the harm to the environment. Also addressing tobacco-related issues and initiatives, the report states how JT is trying to meet smokers' demands for cigarettes with less smell and smoke, attempting to develop biodegradable filters, and address youth smoking.

http://www.jti.co.jp/JTI_E/environ/03/report.pdf

Comment: While this document is pure industry propaganda, I find it an interesting read to see what environmentally friendly measures JT is taking to improve packaging etc.

A pleasure among friends : how narghile (waterpipe) smoking differs from cigarette smoking in Syria

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Interviews were conducted with both adults who smoke cigarettes and who smoke narghile to investigate the different views, attitudes, and experiences on quit attempts, initiation, and smoker behaviour. Findings imply that differences do exist between the two groups. For example, individuals who smoke narghile believe it to be less dangerous to their own health and to others compared to cigarettes.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/tc.2007.020529

Comment: The social aspects of narghile need to be addressed by interventions and incorrect health beliefs that narghile is safer than smoking cigarettes desperately need to be changed.

Consumer awareness and attitudes related to new potential reduced-exposure tobacco products

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

The tobacco industry has been marketing potential reduced exposure products, or PREPs, claiming that they have reduced toxins and carcinogens, and that they are less harmful too smokers. This study assessed consumer awareness of PREPs, and interest in trying PREPs. With 77.3% of adult smokers interested in trying PREPs, the need for concrete scientific evidence on the potential health impact of these products is critical.

http://www.atypon-link.com/doi/abs/10.5555/ajhb.2008.32.4.431

Comment: There is an urgent need to regulate the promotion, advertising and labeling of PREP tobacco products.

Poor smokers

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Examines the effect of increasing tobacco excise taxes. The focus of the book is on the problem that occurs because people in lower income situations are the ones who are affected most strongly. The study addresses a major dilemma in smoking control: the ways in which tobacco taxation may increase poverty amongst low income families.

http://www.psi.org.uk/publications/publication.asp?publication_id=150

Comment: This same dilemma is also applicable to people who smoke in Canada. A discussion worth having in the tobacco control community.

College smoking-cessation using cell phone text messaging

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

College students who were habitual smokers participated in a web and cell phone cessation intervention. At 6-week follow-up, 43% had made at least one 24-hour quit attempt and 22% had quit according to a 7-day measure. Text messaging may be an effective cessation intervention for college students.


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15495883

Comment: Embracing new technology is a great way to reach youth.

Smoking in the nursing home : a case report and literature review

(Disponible en anglais seulement).

An elderly nursing home resident with dementia sustained second-and third-degree burns while smoking in her room. This case report highlights the potential dangers of smoking by patients in long-term care settings and the need to address smoking reform in the long-term care system.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2007.09.02

Comment: How to resolve this complex issue involving resident rights, addictions, social practices, safety and health?

Longitudinal study of viewing smoking in movies and initiation of smoking by children

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

This longitudinal study assessed the influence of movie smoking exposure on smoking initiation among children ages 9-12. Results demonstrate that exposure to movie smoking predicted smoking initiation, and that overall, movie smoking may be responsible for at least one third of initiation among this age group.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2007-0051

Comment: I find it shocking that 80% of this exposure was from movies rated G, PG or PG-13. Aren't these ratings supposed to mean that the content is appropriate, and thus safe, for children?

Thinking the "unthinkable" : why Philip Morris considered quitting

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

This research paper is a study on the effectiveness of tobacco control methods in denormalizing the tobacco industry. As evidenced by Philip Morris’ debate regarding quitting the industry, it is clear that ongoing efforts aimed at denormalizing the tobacco industry do have an effect.

http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/12/2/208

Comment: Proof (from a tobacco company, of all places) that denormalization works!

Adolescent same-sex and both-sex romantic attractions and relationships : implications for smoking

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health supports previous research that youth who reported an attraction or a relationship with either sexes or the same sex were more likely to smoke. In addition, findings also illustrate a higher risk for smoking among bisexual youth. Prevention programs aimed specifically at bisexual youth are suggested.


http://dx.doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2006.097980

Comment: This is the first time I've seen programming recommended specifically for bisexuals.

Exposure to smoking in internationally distributed American movies and youth smoking in Germany : a cross-cultural cohort study

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

This longitudinal study of 2711 German never-smokers aged 10-16 years estimated their exposure to smoking in movies from the United States. Tobacco use was present in 74% of the movies examined, and this study found that increased exposure to movie smoking increased the incidence of trying smoking.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2007-1201

Comment: Proof that portraying tobacco use in media, especially movies, can influence youth tobacco use, and this influence can have international implications.

Acute exercise effects on smoking withdrawal symptoms and desire to smoke are not related to expectation

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Those who smoke (n=45) undergoing an 11-15hr overnight smoking abstinence read a positive, negative or neutral statement about the effects of exercise on smoking withdrawal symptoms. After ten minutes on a stationary bicycle, participants in all groups felt a reduction in their withdrawal symptoms, regardless of their previous expectation.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00213-007-0889-6

Comment: Exercise can help with withdrawal symptoms and help prevent weight gain during cessation, combating two barriers to quitting. Get the word out!

Smoking and skin aging in identical twins

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Smoking can prematurely age skin. This observation of a unique twin pair with similar sun exposure examines the effects of smoking on skin aging. The twin who smokes demonstrated more severe skin aging than the twin who does not smoke.

http://archderm.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/143/12/1543

Comment: Appealing to vanity can be a great motivator for quitting smoking.

Web sites selling cigarettes : how many are there in the USA and what are their sales practices?

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

This article concludes that internet cigarette vendors present new regulatory and enforcement challenges for tobacco control advocates because of the difficulty in regulating internet content, and because many vendors are on Indian reservations.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/tc.10.4.352

Comment: It will be interesting to see how this issue unfolds if the tobacco control community decides to take action.

Big Tobacco's guinea pigs : how an unregulated industry experiments on America's kids and consumers

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Executive summary - Introduction - The critical role of product design - New products - Recruiting new users - Creating and sustaining addiction - Discouraging quitting -FDA regulation of tobacco products will protect consumers and save lives - Appendix: glossary of terms.

http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/reports/products/downloads/2008 NewProductsReport.pdf

Comment: Tobacco companies are free to market these new products - flavoured cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, cigars and cigarillos - in a way that encourages kids to start smoking and discourages quitting.

Backgrounder - tobacco smoke concentrations in cars

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Highlights key findings from studies of in-car secondhand smoke (SHS) concentrations that provide clear and compelling evidence of the dangerous consequences of exposing children to second-hand smoke in vehicles. The Ontario Medical Association has recently called for a provincial ban on smoking in cars with children.

http://www.oma.org/Media/news/pr080214b.asp

Comment: More proof that banning smoking in cars with children is a necessary health measure.

Eliminating tobacco use in mental health facilities : patients' rights, public health, and policy issues

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Addresses the issue of tobacco use in mental health hospitals. Explores smoking among patients, the role of smoking in patients and the moral, legal and political dilemmas of implementing smoking restrictions in mental health facilities.

http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/299/5/571

Comment: It won't be easy getting tobacco out of mental health facilities, but it's the right thing to do.

Comparing gain- and loss-framed messages for smoking cessation with sustained-release bupropion : a randomized controlled trial

Participants were randomly assigned to a video and printed messages promoting cessation with either the advantages of quitting smoking (gains) or the disadvantages of continuing to smoke (losses), respectively. They also received bupropion for seven weeks. Of the individuals who completed treatment, those in the gain-framed group were more likely to remain smoke-free compared to the loss-framed group.

http://content.apa.org/journals/adb/21/4/534

Comment: Like everyone else, people who smoke respond better to positive reinforcement.

Cigarette butts

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Cigarette butts and the environment - What are butts made of? - Environmental impact of discarded butts - Cigarette butts and stormwater - The impact of cigarette butts on marine life - Fines for cigarette litter - So what can I do? - References.

http://www.cleanup.org.au/PDF/au/cua-cigarette-butts-fact-sheet.pdf

Comment: Cigarette butts litter our roads, sidewalks, parks, beaches and waterways. So what can we do about it?

Health information and cigarette consumption : supply and spatial considerations

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

This study found that while public health information decreased state-level demand for cigarettes, supply of cigarettes was also weakened via decreases in competition within the tobacco industry.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10663-006-9005-0

Comment: Interesting that contraband was not mentioned.

The association of smoking and the cost of military training

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Recruits who smoke in the US Air Force were found to be associated with $18 million per year in excess training costs. Applied to all service branches, smoking status, which represents a constellation of underlying behaviours and attitudes that can contribute to early discharge, is associated with over $130 million per year in costs.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/tc.10.1.43

Comment: This training cost information was gathered from data on recruits from August 1995 to August 1996. The amount of money surprised me, especially since this is more than 10 years ago.

Preferences among five nicotine treatments based on information versus sampling

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Those who smoke were given information on five nicotine replacement therapies (2 and 4 mg gum; 2 and 4 mg lozenges and inhalers) and ranked them for different variables (ease of use, perceived relief etc.) Subjects then tested each NRT method and ranked them again. Perceptions and preferences of NRT method changed after sampling.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14622200701767837

Comment: Demonstrates that people should have access to both information and product testing to find the NRT that will suit them for successful cessation.

Waterpipe smoking : construction and validation of the Lebanon Waterpipe Dependence Scale (LWDS-11)

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

The authors constructed and tested the Lebanon Waterpipe Dependence Scale-11 (LWDS-11) to examine nicotine dependence related to waterpipe smoking. The four subscales examine: nicotine dependence, negative reinforcement, psychological craving and positive reinforcement. The scale was able to differentiate between mild, moderate and heavy waterpipe users.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14622200701767753

Comment: Perhaps we'll hear more about the LWDS-11 in future studies.

Exhaled carbon monoxide with waterpipe use in US students

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Twenty-seven students smoked water pipes for an hour on three different evenings; another five students didn't smoke the hookahs but stayed in the room with those who did. Researchers monitored carbon monoxide in the breath of the participants both before and after the experiment. Exhaled carbon monoxide in participants was an average of 42 parts per million, higher than that reported in cigarette smokers (17 parts per million).

http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/299/1/36-a?rss=1

Comment: More research needs to be done on the dangers of waterpipe use due to the increased use of it among young adults, especially in Western countries.

Waking at night to smoke as a marker for tobacco dependence : patient characteristics and relationship to treatment outcome

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Describes the characteristics of treatment-seeking patients who wake at night to smoke, identifies factors that may be associated with nigh smoking, and assesses the association between night smoking and treatment outcome. Suggests that night smoking is indicative of a strong addiction to cigarettes and that night- smokers experience more difficulty quitting than non-night-smokers.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1742-1241.2007.01653.x

Comment: First study to identify the characteristics of night-smokers in a real-world patient population.

Chacteristics of low-level smokers

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Analyzes data from the Community Intervention Trial for Smoking Cessation (COMMIT) to compare individuals who smoke at low-levels and individuals who smoke heavily. The population of people who smoke at low-levels continues to grow. This group also has different health risks, intervention methods, and characteristics to that of people who smoke more heavily.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14622200500125369

Comment: Determining the characteristics of low-level tobacco users will aid in targeting cessation programs to this population.

Powerwalls prey on susceptible

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

The tobacco industry knows the importance of powerwalls in sparking impulse purchases. The eye-catching displays are a powerful temptation to individuals struggling to resist cravings and stay smoke-free. This commentary emphasizes the need to keep up the public health pressure , as the battle is far from over.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.207.02085.x

Comment: This year, in Canada, a complete ban on tobacco displays, or powerwalls, is coming in Ontario and Quebec (May 31st) and in Alberta (July 1st).

Stop that smoking car!

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Wolfville, Nova Scotia has become the first municipality in Canada to ban smoking in any automobile that's carrying a minor. The town's seven councillors voted unanimously in November 2007, to support the bylaw. The new rule will come into effect June 1, 2008.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.071728

Comment: Success! Hopefully this will be the first of many smoking bans in vehicles to come.

Enhanced identification of smoking-related words during the attentional blink in smokers

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Heavy smokers (N = 55) performed an AB task on two occasions, once following 12-h of abstinence and once following ad libitum smoking. These data indicate that, in heavy smokers, smoking-related stimuli are more likely to engage conscious awareness than neutral words under conditions of limited attentional resources.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajim.20538

Comment: Shows just how thoroughly people are addicted.

Pilot study on lower nitrosamine smokeless tobacco products compared with medicinal nicotine

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Investigates the effects of two smokeless tobacco (ST) products (Exalt and Ariva) and a medicinal nicotine lozenge (MNL, Commit) on individuals who quit smoking. While low-nitrosamine ST products could reduce exposure to tobacco chemicals and lower the risk of disease, it is unclear how this product will be promoted to the general public as a harm reduction product.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14622200701704228

Comment: Smokeless tobacco and harm reduction are current and divisive issues in tobacco control. It's encouraging to see that more research is being done in these areas.

Offering free NRT through a tobacco quitline : impact on utilisation and quit rates

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

This study examined the impact on quitline utilization and cessation outcomes of adding free nicotine patches to the existing Ohio quitline program offerings. Offering free NRT can have a significant impact on quitline utilization and smoking cessation rates.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/tc.2007.019919

Comment: NRT can increase quit rates, but can be cost-prohibitive to users. Providing free NRT is a step in the right direction for reducing smoking prevalence.