Open Access Articles - Health Behavior and Policy Review

Systematic Review of College-based Bystander Interventions to Reduce Sexual Violence

A Fast Track article published in the Health Behavior and Policy Review Journal.
The full article is available for subscribers, subscribe here.

Authors:

Kelsey Banton
Ronald D Williams
Keff M Housman

Objective:

Up to 20% of female students experience some form of sexual violence while attending college. Bystander intervention programs to reduce sexual violence among university students are increasingly common, yet their effectiveness is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of literature on issues of sexual violence on college campuses, as well as the role of bystander intervention programs and bystander behavior.

Methods:

Using PRISMA guidelines, database and reference list reviews generated a total of 530 resources from 1972 to 2020.

Results:

Screenings resulted in a total of 106 resources including peer-reviewed articles, governmental reports, and other scholarly references.

Conclusions:

Research into campus-based sexual violence has documented the increasing popularity of bystander intervention programs. Although these bystander programs are popular, literature highlights their limited effectiveness in reducing campus based sexual violence. Future research should explore methods to increase understanding of how bystander intervention programs impact immediate and long-term behavior. Research also should explore motivations to intervene during lower risk situations on the sexual violence continuum which could help explain motivations to intervene during higher-risk situations.

Source: Health Behavior and Policy Review
Publisher: Paris Scholar Publishing Ltd.
Article Link: https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/psp/hbpr/pre-prints/content-psp_hbpr_10_2_2

Steven Rowe2023-05-22T14:50:52-06:00May 22nd, 2023|College Health, Sexual Health, Women's Health|

A Mixed-methods Social-ecological Approach to Assess Perceptions of Staff and Students

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A Fast Track Open Access article published in the Health Behavior and Policy Review Journal.

Authors:

Ross Shegog
Michelle Zhao
Jamila Raja
Evan Shegog
Elizabeth Leass
Aisha Siddiqui

Objective:

The objective of this study was to explore the perceived social-ecological impacts of school-based art mural installations that represented the immigrant and refugee experience in a major urban center in southeast Texas.

Methods:

We adapted surveys (ixia and National School Climate Center) to assess 4 theory-based individual- and community-level constructs with school personnel (N = 9) and students (N = 23) in 3 ethnically diverse inner-city schools in Houston, Texas. Focus groups and interviews captured their perceptions and experiences with the art murals in their own voice.

Results:

Most participants (> 90%) agreed that the art murals were socially valuable to the school community, neighborhood, and interpersonal relationships, in addition to providing increased economic value (p < .01). Participants responded that there were better relationships between the school communities and their neighborhoods and increased school pride. Student reflections and behaviors were commensurate with the murals’ inspirational messages.

Conclusions:

Findings contribute to understanding the benefits of public art in predominantly minority school settings that reflect the immigrant and refugee experience and aspirations for improving health within a community.

Source: Health Behavior and Policy Review
Publisher: Paris Scholar Publishing Ltd.
Article Link: https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/psp/hbpr/pre-prints/content-psp_hbpr_10_2_1

Steven Rowe2023-05-22T14:42:26-06:00May 22nd, 2023|Community Health, Immigration Health|

Facilitators of a Campus Tobacco-free Policy: Navigating the Politics

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An Open Access article published in the Health Behavior and Policy Review Journal.
The full article is available for subscribers, subscribe here.

Authors:

Maxim Gakh, JD, MPH
Timothy J. Grigsby, PhD
Courtney Coughenour, PhD
Malcolm Ahlo, MPA
Kacie Washburn, BS
Shawn Gerstenberger, PhD

Objective:

In this paper, we discuss prioritization, formulation, and adoption of a comprehensive campus tobacco-free policy on a large, diverse campus at a public university in the United States.

Methods:

We examined the comprehensive campus tobacco-free policy experience through Kindgon’s Multiple Streams Framework, which stipulates that policy change can happen when problem, policy, and politics align. We focus on the factors that led the political stream to align with the problem and policy streams to create a “window of opportunity” for adopting this policy.

Results:

The campus experience with COVID-19 helped spur policy adoption. Support from leadership, a committed faculty-administration team, engagement with stakeholders and community partners, knowledge of the policy adoption process, and sustained advocacy all contributed to policy adoption.

Conclusions:

Campus tobacco-free policy advocates can navigate the politics of prioritizing, formulating, and adopting a campus smoke-free policy by knowing the context and process, being comfortable with policy work, engaging with tobacco prevention stakeholders, sustaining their efforts and advocating in multiple ways, and considering implementation and evaluation early.

Source: Health Behavior and Policy Review
Publisher: Paris Scholar Publishing Ltd.
Source: Health Behavior and Policy Review, Volume 10, Number 1, February 2023, pp. 1165-1172(8)
Article Link: https://doi.org/10.14485/HBPR.10.1.3

Steven Rowe2023-04-22T15:43:33-06:00March 19th, 2023|College Health, Tobacco|

Examining Flavor Appeal (Liking), Emotions and Openness to Use in Adults Who Do Not Use E-cigarettes

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An Open Access article published in the Health Behavior and Policy Review Journal.
The full article is available as a PDF download.

Authors:

Ban Majeed, MBChB, PhD
Hailey Treadaway, MS
Mishma Ahmad Farsi, BS
Christos Hatzigeorgiou, DO, MPH, FACP
Kate O’Connor, PharmD, BCACP, BC-ADM
Vahe Heboyan, PhD
Thomas Eissenberg, PhD

Objective:

In this study, we examined emotional profiles, the pattern of intensities of evoked emotions, and the associations between emotions and openness in the use flavored e-cigarettes among adults who do not currently use e-cigarettes – younger/never smoked and older/currently smoked.

Methods:

We conducted an Internet experiment in women (N = 141) who do not currently use e-cigarettes. Experiment stimuli appeared as flavor names (classic tobacco, cool mint, fresh strawberry, top-shelf bourbon) and were randomly presented to participants who rated their evoked emotions using the EsSense^TM Profile. Overall liking and openness to use were assessed per flavor. Seemingly unrelated regression models were constructed to determine factors associated with openness.

Results:

All flavors evoked greater intensities of negative emotions (disgusted, worried, and guilty) in younger/never smoked adults. The majority of the ratings on positive emotions (enthusiastic, interested, and satisfied) were positively and significantly correlated with flavor liking, whereas disgusted, was negatively correlated with flavor liking. Perceived harm was high whereas overall liking and openness were low. Flavor liking was significantly greater for “classic tobacco” in older/currently smoked (p < .001).

Conclusions:

Low intensities of positive emotions to flavor names suggest disinterest in e-cigarettes as a class product irrespective of flavor.

Source: Health Behavior and Policy Review
Publisher: Paris Scholar Publishing Ltd.
Source: Health Behavior and Policy Review, Volume 10, Number 1, February 2023, pp. 1153-1164(12)
Article Link: https://doi.org/10.14485/HBPR.10.1.2

Steven Rowe2023-04-22T15:51:44-06:00February 27th, 2023|Tobacco, Women's Health|

Indoor Carbon Monoxide Levels of Hookah Lounges

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An Open Access article published in the Health Behavior and Policy Review Journal.
The full article is available as a PDF download.

Authors:

Mary Martinasek PhD, RRT
Allison Calvanese, BS
Frederic B. Montz, BS
Nicole Tosto, BS
Kimberly Dobrinski, PhD, MLS (ASCP)

Objective:

Waterpipe tobacco smoking results in the inhalation of carcinogens, bacteria and heavy metals; however, despite the negative health effects, waterpipe tobacco smoking or hookah smoking continues to be a favored social smoking behavior for young adults. High levels of carbon monoxide can impair normal brain function and put individuals at increased health risk. The purpose of this study was to measure the carbon monoxide levels in the ambient air of 10 hookah lounges surrounding college campuses in the metropolitan area of Tampa, Florida.

Methods:

The study consisted of repeated measurements of ambient air carbon monoxide inside the hookah lounges over 4 hours during peak times of use.

Results:

Of the 10 hookah bars, 7 had levels above what is considered harmful to human health. These data provide evidence of high levels of CO produced in indoor hookah lounges that varied and were not predictable based on cigarette smoking allowed, ventilation systems, and whether doors were opened or closed.

Conclusions:

Stricter regulation is needed in hookah lounges to avoid toxic exposures by patrons.

Source: Health Behavior and Policy Review, Volume 9, Number 6, November 2022, pp. 1103-1110(8)
Publisher: Paris Scholar Publishing Ltd.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14485/HBPR.9.6.3

Steven Rowe2023-01-18T11:22:38-07:00January 18th, 2023|Tobacco|

Increasing and Retaining Tween Knowledge of Proper Medicine Use

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An Open Access article published in the Health Behavior and Policy Review Journal.
The full article is available as a PDF download.

Authors:

Leslie Bloom, MS
Leily Saadat-Lajevardi, MSEd, MBA
Andrew Myers, MD
Mary Kathryn Malone, MEd, MBA
Brenda Zimmerman, MS

Objective:

OTC Medicine Safety, a free, easily accessible, in-classroom educational program available through Young Minds Inspired (https://ymiclassroom.com/lesson-plans/otcmedsafety), was developed to improve adolescents’ knowledge of safe use of medicines. In a proof-of-concept study, students increased knowledge about safe, appropriate use of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines. In this study, we assessed whether the OTC Medicine Safety program effectively increased students’ knowledge and if students retained this knowledge over time.

Methods:

We measured student knowledge before implementation (baseline, Quiz 1) immediately after implementation (Quiz 2), and 10 weeks after baseline (Quiz 3) in 3 test schools. We measured knowledge at similar intervals in 3 control schools (no program implementation).

Results:

Baseline knowledge was low (average 39.3% of 36 questions answered correctly). Among intervention schools, scores significantly improved immediately (average correct 62.9%) after implementation and were retained at 10 weeks (59.8%) (p < .001). Change in score from baseline among intervention schools immediately after the lesson implementation was significantly higher than corresponding changes from baseline among control schools (intervention: +23.0 vs control: -3.2) and at 10 weeks (intervention: +19.9 vs control: -2.9), p < .001.

Conclusions:

The OTC Medicine Safety Program effectively improved students’ knowledge of safe medicine-taking practices and students retained this knowledge at 10 weeks.

Source: Health Behavior and Policy Review, Volume 9, Number 6, November 2022, pp. 1128-1139(12)
Publisher: Paris Scholar Publishing Ltd.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14485/HBPR.9.6.5

Steven Rowe2023-01-18T11:21:19-07:00January 18th, 2023|Adolescents, School Health|

Smoking Intervention Practices in Texas Healthcare Centers with Sexual and Gender Minority Patients

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An Open Access article published in the Health Behavior and Policy Review Journal.
The full article is available as a PDF download.

Authors:

Matthew Taing, BS and Kathy Le, BA, Authors contributed equally
Maggie Britton, PhD
Tzuan A. Chen, PhD
Michael C. Parent, PhD
Irene Tamí-Maury, DrPH, DMD, MSc Isabel Martinez Leal, PhD
Anastasia Rogova, PhD
Bryce Kyburz, MA
Teresa Williams, MS
Mayuri Patel, MPH
Lorraine R. Reitzel, PhD, FAAHB, FSRNT

Objective:

We evaluated the use of evidence-based practices (EBPs) for smoking cessation in centers providing behavioral healthcare for patient populations that included some proportion of sexual and gender minorities (SGMs).

Methods:

Healthcare providers from 75 healthcare centers across Texas serving SGMs with behavioral health needs participated in a survey assessing their center’s tobacco control policies and practices.

Results:

Nearly half (N = 36) of participating centers had a comprehensive tobacco-free workplace policy, 30.67% employed ≥ 1 tobacco treatment specialist, 73.91% employed ≥ 1 prescriber, 80.82% mandated screening for patient tobacco use at intake, and 57.53% provided a template for tobacco use assessments. Overall, 70.67% of providers asked patients about smoking status, 69.33% advised patients to quit, 64.00% assessed patients’ interest in quitting, 58.67% assisted patients with quit attempts, and 36.00% arranged follow-up. Providers’ ability to tailor interventions for special populations like SGMs ranged from very low/0 to very high/10 (M = 4.63 + 2.59).

Conclusions:

There are opportunities to improve policy implementation, standardization and usage of evidence-based interventions, and intervention tailoring within settings providing care to SGM patients in Texas to address their tobacco use inequities.

Source: Health Behavior and Policy Review, Volume 9, Number 6, November 2022, pp. 1074-1088(15)
Publisher: Paris Scholar Publishing Ltd.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14485/HBPR.9.6.1

Steven Rowe2023-01-18T11:19:59-07:00January 18th, 2023|Tobacco|

Rural Cancer and the Opioid Epidemic: Are Screening Disparities Further Exacerbated?

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An Open Access article published in the Health Behavior and Policy Review Journal.
The full article is available as a PDF download.

Authors:

Minjee Lee, PhD, MPH
Georgia Mueller-Luckey, PhD, MS
Yamile Molina, PhD, MPH
Jennifer K. Rose, MD
Rebecca Bolinski, MA
Brent Van Ham, MS, RN, CRC, CADC
Eric Adjei Boakye, PhD, MA
Wiley D. Jenkins, PhD, MPH

Objective:

Rural areas experience significant disparities in cancer incidence and mortality and are also disproportionately impacted by the drug use epidemic. People who use drugs (PWUDs) frequently experience healthcare-associated stigma sufficient to cause avoidance of all non-urgent care. Research associated with cancer risk and screening utilization among rural PWUDs is nearly nonexistent.

Methods:

We searched PubMed for articles describing rural healthcare access and cancer disparities, and drug use and healthcare-associated stigma.

Results:

Rural populations frequently experience increased rates of circumstances and behaviors associated with increased cancer risk, morbidity, and mortality, but also lesser access to and use of healthcare. Rural areas have been disproportionately impacted by many types of drug use, and the stigma PWUDs frequently encounter leads to deferred care and poorer health outcomes. The limited data suggest that PWUDs experience at least equal cancer risk as their non-PWUD peers but obtain screening less often. Whereas interventions to increase medical care engagement among PWUDs have succeeded, none has explored cancer risk and screening.

Conclusions:

Although there are mechanisms to increase cancer screening in rural areas, and methods to increase healthcare engagement for PWUDs, re- search should combine these evidence-based practices to explore implementation in this population with distinct risk profiles.

Source: Health Behavior and Policy Review, Volume 9, Number 5, September 2022, pp. 1037-1043(7)
Publisher: Paris Scholar Publishing Ltd.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14485/HBPR.9.5.3

Steven Rowe2022-11-11T16:02:16-07:00November 11th, 2022|Cancer, Substance Use|

Engaging the Houston Community in Research: An Early Case Study of a Community Engagement Core in the University of Houston’s HEALTH Center for Addictions Research and Cancer Prevention

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An Open Access article published in the Health Behavior and Policy Review Journal.
The full article is available as a PDF download.

Authors:

Brian J. Carter, JD
Lorraine R. Reitzel, PhD
Tzuan A. Chen, PhD
LeChauncy Woodard, MD
Ezemenari M. Obasi, PhD

Objective:

The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities-funded U54 Research Center at the University of Houston addresses disparate racial/ethnic health outcomes related to cancer and substance abuse. Of its 4 cores, the Community Engagement Core involves the impacted community in affiliated research. Strategies include implementing community advisory boards, assisting with study design and execution, maintaining a social media presence, and publishing health-related videos for the community. We examine the early effectiveness of these strategies.

Methods:

Data collection included surveying investigators and community advisory board members and monitoring traffic to videos and social media posts.

Results:

On a Likert scale survey of investigators (4 = “agree” and 5 = “strongly agree”), the mean rating for a prompt expressing satis- faction with services received was 4.67 (SD = 0.52; N = 6). On a Likert scale survey of community advisory board members, the mean rating for a prompt expressing belief that feedback was taken seriously was 5.00 (SD = 0.00; N = 9).

Conclusions:

The Community Engagement Core is build- ing trusting relationships between researchers and community members. We discuss lessons learned that may inform both our growth and others’ efforts to implement community-engaged research.

Source: Health Behavior and Policy Review, Volume 9, Number 5, September 2022, pp. 1017-1036(20)
Publisher: Paris Scholar Publishing Ltd.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14485/HBPR.9.5.2

Steven Rowe2022-11-11T15:54:28-07:00November 11th, 2022|Community Engagement, Community Health|

Taking Back the Narrative in Science and Public Health – The Challenge is Enormous (and Necessary)

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An Open Access article published in the Health Behavior and Policy Review Journal.
The full article is available as a PDF download.

Authors:

Robert J. McDermott, PhD, FASHA, FAAHB

Objective:

My objective in this essay is to explore how scientists and non-scientists might better align their views, and thereby decrease the divide that separates these groups in the advancement, dissemination, and acceptance of knowledge.

Methods:

Various points of disagreement between scientists and the general public are presented, including how political affiliation and education level may influence beliefs.

Results:

Evidence is presented of a deepening gap between scientists and the general public on several key issues. Evidence is presented of a decline in science aspirations among youth and in educational achievement in general in the United States. If these events are accurate, they are ones that may widen the divide further.

Conclusions:

Some examples for improving the communication of science are presented. However, other views are invited so that the dialogue can be raised in both the science and general public communities.

Please see Special Call For Papers “Taking Back The Narrative in Science and Public Health”

Source: Health Behavior and Policy Review, Volume 9, Number 5, September 2022, pp. 1009-1016(8)
Publisher: Paris Scholar Publishing Ltd.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14485/HBPR.9.5.1

Steven Rowe2022-11-11T15:54:48-07:00November 11th, 2022|Commentaries, Science|

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