A longitudinal examination of the interrelationship of multiple health behaviors

Co-action and changes in alcohol use during a smoking cessation attempt

AIMS

Three smoking cessation studies (CARE, Break Free, Por Nuestra Salud [PNS]) were used to measure changes in average alcohol consumption, binge drinking and alcohol-related problems during a smoking cessation attempt and to explore co-action with smoking abstinence.

DESIGN

CARE and PNS were longitudinal cohort cessation studies; Break Free was a two-arm randomized clinical trial.

SETTING

Texas, USA.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants were current smokers who were recruited from the community and received smoking cessation interventions. All participants received nicotine replacement therapy and smoking cessation counseling. CARE included 424 smokers (1/3 White, 1/3 African American and 1/3 Latino); Break Free included 399 African American smokers; PNS included 199 Spanish-speaking Mexican-American smokers.

MEASUREMENTS

Weekly alcohol consumption was collected multiple times pre and post-quit, and binge drinking and alcohol-related problems were collected at baseline and 26 weeks post-quit. Analyses included only those who indicated current alcohol use.

FINDINGS

Average alcohol consumption decreased from baseline to 26 weeks post-quit in CARE (F = 17.09, P < 0.001), Break Free (F = 12.08, P < 0.001) and PNS (F = 10.21, P < 0.001). Binge drinking decreased from baseline to 26 weeks post-quit in CARE (F = 3.94, P = 0.04) and Break Free (F = 10.41, P < 0.001) but not PNS. Alcohol-related problems decreased from baseline to 26 weeks post-quit in CARE (Chi-sq = 6.41, P = 0.010) and Break Free (Chi sq = 14.44, P = 0.001), but not PNS.

CONCLUSIONS

Among current drinkers, alcohol use/problems appear to decrease during a smoking cessation attempt and remain low through 26 weeks after the quit attempt. Little evidence was found for co-action, with smoking abstainers and relapsers showing similar change in alcohol use/problems.

Engagement with Preventive Health Behaviors and Safe Firearm Storage Practices Using the 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

PURPOSE

"Behavioral bundling" is a theory that explains how some health behaviors reinforce one another. This study aims to investigate the relationship between preventive health behaviors (PHBs) and safe firearm storage.

DESIGN

This study used a cross-sectional design using 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey data.

SETTING

Survey participants resided in California, Idaho, Kansas, Oregon, Texas, and Utah.

SUBJECTS

There were 12,817 people living in households with a firearm included in this study.

MEASURES

We classified individuals' engagement in 5 PHBs: cholesterol screening, influenza immunization, physical activity, primary care, and seatbelt use. We defined safe firearm storage as storing a firearm unloaded, or loaded but locked.

ANALYSIS

Using Poisson regression models, we calculated adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) to estimate the association between engagement in the five PHBs with safe firearm storage.

RESULTS

Most firearm owners reported safe firearm storage (80.3%). The prevalence of safe firearm storage was 3% higher for each additional PHB engaged in (aPR = 1.03 [1.01, 1.05]). There was a higher prevalence of safe firearm storage among those who always wore a seatbelt while driving or riding in a car compared to those who did not (aPR = 1.12 [1.05, 1.18]).

CONCLUSION

This study found preliminary evidence to suggest that engagement in seatbelt usage may be bundled with safe firearm storage, though we are not able to determine causality.

Healthcare providers' perspectives on implementing a brief physical activity and diet intervention within a primary care smoking cessation program: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Post-smoking-cessation weight gain can be a major barrier to quitting smoking; however, adding behavior change interventions for physical activity (PA) and diet may adversely affect smoking cessation outcomes. The "Picking up the PACE (Promoting and Accelerating Change through Empowerment)" study assessed change in PA, fruit/vegetable consumption, and smoking cessation by providing a clinical decision support system for healthcare providers to utilize at the intake appointment, and found no significant change in PA, fruits/vegetable consumption, or smoking cessation. The objective of this qualitative study was to explore the factors affecting the implementation of the intervention and contextualize the quantitative results.

METHODS

Twenty-five semi-structured interviews were conducted with healthcare providers, using questions based on the National Implementation Research Network's Hexagon Tool. The data were analyzed using the framework's standard analysis approach.

RESULTS

Most healthcare providers reported a need to address PA and fruit/vegetable consumption in patients trying to quit smoking, and several acknowledged that the intervention was a good fit since exercise and diet could improve smoking cessation outcomes. However, many healthcare providers mentioned the need to explain the fit to the patients. Social determinants of health (e.g., low income, food insecurity) were brought up as barriers to the implementation of the intervention by a majority of healthcare providers. Most healthcare providers recognized training as a facilitator to the implementation, but time was mentioned as a barrier by many of healthcare providers. Majority of healthcare providers mentioned allied health professionals (e.g., dieticians, physiotherapists) supported the implementation of the PACE intervention. However, most healthcare providers reported a need for individualized approach and adaptation of the intervention based on the patients' needs when implementing the intervention. The COVID-19 pandemic was found to impact the implementation of the PACE intervention based on the Hexagon Tool indicators.

CONCLUSION

There appears to be a need to utilize a flexible approach when addressing PA and fruit/vegetable consumption within a smoking cessation program, based on the context of clinic, the patients' it is serving, and their life circumstances. Healthcare providers need support and external resources to implement this particular intervention.

NAME OF THE REGISTRY

Clinicaltrials.gov.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04223336.

DATE OF REGISTRATION

7 January 2020 Retrospectively registered. URL OF TRIAL REGISTRY RECORD: https://classic.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov/ct2/show/NCT04223336 .

Longitudinal health behaviour patterns among adults aged ≥50 years in China and their associations with trajectories of depressive symptoms

OBJECTIVES

Against the background of the growing recognition of the need for a holistic perspective on health behaviour, we aim to identify longitudinal patterns of multiple health behaviours, and to assess associations of such patterns with depressive symptoms among older people in China.

METHODS

Using three waves of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study data (n = 8439), we performed latent class growth analyses (LCGAs) to identify longitudinal patterns of multiple health behaviours. Random-effects models were estimated to assess associations between health behaviour patterns and depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

The best fitting LCGA model had seven classes: (1) connected active non-smokers (average posterior probability: 21.8%), (2) isolated active non-smokers (24.7%), (3) isolated inactive non-smokers (17.0%), (4) isolated active smokers (14.5%), (5) connected active smokers (12.2%), (6) increasingly connected and active non-smokers (5.4%), and (7) moderately connected inactive smokers (4.4%). Depressive symptoms were highest in the four classes with lower probabilities of social participation across waves. No evidence was found of change over time in depressive symptomatology gaps between people with different health behaviour trajectories.

CONCLUSION

Health behaviour patterns characterized by consistently low social participation were associated with raised depressive symptomatology, suggesting that focusing on social participation may benefit later-life mental health promotion strategies.

The effect of a multi-component behavior change technique intervention on medication adherence among individuals on primary prevention statin therapy: a dose-finding protocol

BACKGROUND

In the USA, the primary cause of death and morbidity continues to be cardiovascular disease (CVD). Numerous trials have shown that statin medication reduces the likelihood of CVD events; it is a cornerstone of CVD prevention. However, studies have also indicated that up to 60% of the estimated 26.8 million Americans prescribed primary prevention statin treatment are nonadherent during the first year. Multi-component behavioral change technique (BCT) therapies have shown moderate promise in improving medication adherence as well as other positive health behaviors (such as physical activity). However, no research has looked at the duration of multi-component BCT intervention needed to result in a clinically significant improvement in statin adherence behaviors. This study aims to determine the necessary dose of a multi-component BCT intervention (defined as duration in weeks) to promote adherence to statin medication among those on primary prevention statin treatment by utilizing the modified time-to-event continuous reassessment method (TiTE-CRM).

METHODS AND DESIGN

The study will utilize the modified TiTE-CRM in 42 participants, recruited in 14 cohorts of 3 participants each. The goal of this analysis is to identify the minimum effective dose (MED) of a multi-behavior change technique (BCT) intervention required to increase adherence to statins by 20% between baseline and follow-up periods. Using the TiTE-CRM method, the dose of the behavior intervention in weeks will be assigned to each cohort based on the performance of the prior cohort. At the end of the study, the intervention dose that has been found to be associated with a 20% increase in statin adherence among 80% of participants assigned to that dose will be identified as the MED.

DISCUSSION

If successful, the current trial will provide additional guidance to researchers and clinicians seeking to increase statin medication adherence using a BCT intervention by identifying the dose (i.e., the duration) of an intervention required to meaningfully increase adherence.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05273736. Registered on March 10, 2022. https://www.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov/ct2/show/NCT05273736.

Impact of a Clinical Decision Support System for Addressing Physical Activity and/or Healthy Eating during Smoking Cessation Treatment: Hybrid Type I Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

Background

People who smoke have other risk factors for chronic diseases, such as low levels of physical activity and poor diet. Clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) might help health care practitioners integrate interventions for diet and physical activity into their smoking cessation programming but could worsen quit rates.

Objective

The aims of this study are to assess the effects of the addition of a CDSS for physical activity and diet on smoking cessation outcomes and to assess the implementation of the study.

Methods

We conducted a pragmatic hybrid type I effectiveness-implementation trial with 232 team-based primary care practices in Ontario, Canada, from November 2019 to May 2021. We used a 2-arm randomized controlled trial comparing a CDSS addressing physical activity and diet to treatment as usual and used the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance framework to measure implementation outcomes. The primary outcome was self-reported 7-day tobacco abstinence at 6 months.

Results

We enrolled 5331 participants in the study. Of these, 2732 (51.2%) were randomized to the intervention group and 2599 (48.8%) to the control group. At the 6-month follow-up, 29.7% (634/2137) of respondents in the intervention arm and 27.3% (552/2020) in the control arm reported abstinence from tobacco. After multiple imputation, the absolute group difference was 2.1% (95% CI −0.5 to 4.6; F_1,1000.42=2.43; P=.12). Mean exercise minutes changed from 32 (SD 44.7) to 110 (SD 196.1) in the intervention arm and from 32 (SD 45.1) to 113 (SD 195.1) in the control arm (group effect: B=−3.7 minutes; 95% CI −17.8 to 10.4; P=.61). Servings of fruit and vegetables changed from 2.64 servings to 2.42 servings in the intervention group and from 2.52 servings to 2.45 servings in the control group (incidence rate ratio for intervention group=0.98; 95% CI 0.93-1.02; P=.35).

Conclusions

A CDSS for physical activity and diet may be added to a smoking cessation program without affecting the outcomes. Further research is needed to improve the impact of integrated health promotion interventions in primary care smoking cessation programs.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04223336 https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04223336

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

RR2-10.2196/19157

Longitudinal Associations Between Changes in Cigarette Smoking and Alcohol Use, Eating Behavior, Perceived Stress, and Self-Rated Health in a Cohort of Low-Income Black Adults

BACKGROUND

Black adults in the U.S. experience significant health disparities related to tobacco use and obesity. Conducting observational studies of the associations between smoking and other health behaviors and indicators among Black adults may contribute to the development of tailored interventions.

PURPOSE

We examined associations between change in cigarette smoking and alcohol use, body mass index, eating behavior, perceived stress, and self-rated health in a cohort of Black adults who resided in low-income urban neighborhoods and participated in an ongoing longitudinal study.

METHODS

Interviews were conducted in 2011, 2014, and 2018; participants (N = 904) provided at least two waves of data. We fit linear and logistic mixed-effects models to evaluate how changes in smoking status from the previous wave to the subsequent wave were related to each outcome at that subsequent wave.

RESULTS

Compared to repeated smoking (smoking at previous and subsequent wave), repeated nonsmoking (nonsmoking at previous and subsequent wave) was associated with greater likelihood of recent dieting (OR = 1.59, 95% CI [1.13, 2.23], p = .007) and future intention (OR = 2.19, 95% CI [1.61, 2.98], p < .001) and self-efficacy (OR = 1.64, 95% CI [1.21, 2.23], p = .002) to eat low calorie foods, and greater odds of excellent or very good self-rated health (OR = 2.47, 95% CI [1.53, 3.99], p < .001). Transitioning from smoking to nonsmoking was associated with greater self-efficacy to eat low calorie foods (OR = 1.89, 95% CI [1.1, 3.26], p = .021), and lower perceived stress (β = -0.69, 95% CI [-1.34, -0.05], p = .036).

CONCLUSIONS

We found significant longitudinal associations between smoking behavior and eating behavior, perceived stress, and self-rated health. These findings have implications for the development of multiple behavior change programs and community-level interventions and policies.

Clustering of Unhealthy Behaviors: Protocol for a Multiple Behavior Analysis of Data From the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

BACKGROUND

Health behaviors such as physical inactivity, unhealthy eating, smoking tobacco, and alcohol use are leading risk factors for noncommunicable chronic diseases and play a central role in limiting health and life satisfaction. To date, however, health behaviors tend to be considered separately from one another, resulting in guidelines and interventions for healthy aging siloed by specific behaviors and often focused only on a given health behavior without considering the co-occurrence of family, social, work, and other behaviors of everyday life.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to understand how behaviors cluster and how such clusters are associated with physical and mental health, life satisfaction, and health care utilization may provide opportunities to leverage this co-occurrence to develop and evaluate interventions to promote multiple health behavior changes.

METHODS

Using cross-sectional baseline data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, we will perform a predefined set of exploratory and hypothesis-generating analyses to examine the co-occurrence of health and everyday life behaviors. We will use agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis to cluster individuals based on their behavioral tendencies. Multinomial logistic regression will then be used to model the relationships between clusters and demographic indicators, health care utilization, and general health and life satisfaction, and assess whether sex and age moderate these relationships. In addition, we will conduct network community detection analysis using the clique percolation algorithm to detect overlapping communities of behaviors based on the strength of relationships between variables.

RESULTS

Baseline data for the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging were collected from 51,338 participants aged between 45 and 85 years. Data were collected between 2010 and 2015. Secondary data analysis for this project was approved by the Ottawa Health Science Network Research Ethics Board (protocol ID #20190506-01H).

CONCLUSIONS

This study will help to inform the development of interventions tailored to subpopulations of adults (eg, physically inactive smokers) defined by the multiple behaviors that describe their everyday life experiences.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/24887.

Multiple Health Risk Behaviors in Young Adult Smokers: Stages of Change and Stability over Time

BACKGROUND

Health risk behaviors (HRBs) are common, yet not well understood in young adult smokers.

PURPOSE

We examined HRB profiles over 12 months in young adult smokers participating in a Facebook smoking cessation intervention clinical trial.

METHODS

Participants (N = 500; age M = 20.9 years; 54.6% women) were recruited online and randomized to receive either a 3-month Facebook smoking cessation intervention or referral to Smokefree.gov (control). A Health Risk Assessment determined risk for 10 behaviors at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months. Latent class analysis (LCA) and latent transition analysis (LTA) were used to identify patterns of HRBs and changes over time.

RESULTS

At baseline, participants reported an average of 5.4 (standard deviation [SD] = 1.7) risk behaviors, including smoking (100%), high-fat diet (84.8%), poor sleep hygiene (71.6%), and low fruit and vegetable intake (69.4%). A 3-class model fit the data best at baseline and all follow-up time points: low risk (28.8% at baseline) with low likelihood of risk on all behaviors except smoking, substance use risk (14.0% at baseline) characterized by heavy episodic drinking, cannabis use, and other illicit drug use, and metabolic risk (57.2% at baseline), with a high percentage of members at risk for a low fruit and vegetable intake, high-fat diet, inactivity, stress, and poor sleep hygiene. Classes were very stable at 3, 6, and 12 months, with few participants transitioning between classes.

CONCLUSIONS

Most young adult smokers engaged in multiple risk behaviors, with meaningful clustering of behaviors, and demonstrated stability over a year's time. In addition to smoking, targets for intervention are co-occurring substance use and metabolic risk behaviors.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION

NCT02207036.

[A joint study of the multidimensional factors associated with the overall quality of adult diets in Canada]

BACKGROUND

With 26% of Canadians suffering from obesity, significant steps are needed to reduce the social and economic costs entailed by their condition. Given its major contribution to this phenomenon, the quality of diet has been at the heart of numerous previous studies. The objective of the study is to analyze, based on recent data, the association between the quality of the diet of Canadian adults (18 years old and over), and their individual characteristics as well as those of their living environment, including several new elements (prices of fruits and vegetables, food security status).

METHODS

Using data from the 2015 CCHS-Nutrition Survey and information from the 2007 Canadian Food Guide, a diet quality score (also called healthy eating index) was first calculated and then associated with different factors (identified in a literature review) through multiple linear regressions.

RESULTS

In addition to confirming its association with age, gender, overall well-being and other socio-economic factors, this study reveals that quality of adult diets is negatively correlated with the evolution of people's food insecurity status and the increase of vegetable prices in the Canadian provinces since 2002. The positive link between diabetes and the quality of diet could reflect healthier eating behaviors due to the constraints generated by this disease. While city dwellers generally have access to a more diversified food supply, they nevertheless do not have a better diet than the rural population. Finally, non-North American immigrants appear to have a better diet than non-autochthonous Canadians.

CONCLUSION

Paying more attention to food insecurity and to the affordability of vegetables are avenues to explore in view of improving the quality of nourishment in Canada. In any event, longitudinal studies shall be required to confirm the role and to measure the actual influence of these variables on the quality of individual adult diets.

Impact of a Web-Based Clinical Decision Support System to Assist Practitioners in Addressing Physical Activity and/or Healthy Eating for Smoking Cessation Treatment: Protocol for a Hybrid Type I Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Modifiable risk factors such as tobacco use, physical inactivity, and poor diet account for a significant proportion of the preventable deaths in Canada. These factors are also known to cluster together, thereby compounding the risks of morbidity and mortality. Given this association, smoking cessation programs appear to be well-suited for integration of health promotion activities for other modifiable risk factors. The Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients (STOP) program is a province-wide smoking cessation program that currently encourages practitioners to deliver Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to treatment for patients who are experiencing depressive symptoms or consume excessive amounts of alcohol via a web-enabled clinical decision support system. However, there is no available clinical decision support system for physical inactivity and poor diet, which are among the leading modifiable risk factors for chronic diseases.

Objective

The aim of this study is to assess whether adding a computerized/web-enabled clinical decision support system for physical activity and diet to a smoking cessation program affects smoking cessation outcomes.

Methods

This study is designed as a hybrid type 1 effectiveness/implementation randomized controlled trial to evaluate a web-enabled clinical decision support system for supporting practitioners in addressing patients’ physical activity and diet as part of smoking cessation treatment in a primary care setting. This design was chosen as it allows for simultaneous testing of the intervention, its delivery in target settings, and the potential for implementation in real-world situations. Intervention effectiveness will be measured using a two-arm randomized controlled trial. Health care practitioners will be unblinded to their patients’ treatment allocation; however, patients will be blinded to whether their practitioner receives the clinical decision support system for physical activity and/or fruit/vegetable consumption. The evaluation of implementation will be guided by the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework.

Results

Recruitment for the primary outcome of this study is ongoing and will be completed in November 2020. Results will be reported in March 2021.

Conclusions

The findings of the study will provide much needed insight into whether adding a computerized/web-enabled clinical decision support system for physical activity and diet to a smoking cessation program affects smoking cessation outcome. Furthermore, the implementation evaluation would provide insight into the feasibility of online-based interventions for physical activity and diet in a smoking cessation program. Addressing these risk factors simultaneously could have significant positive effects on chronic disease and cancer prevention.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04223336; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04223336

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/19157

Physical Activity Guidelines Compliance and Its Relationship With Preventative Health Behaviors and Risky Health Behaviors

BACKGROUND

People who are physically active enjoy a multitude of health benefits across their lifespan compared with people who are not physically active. However, little research has sought to determine whether those who meet the physical activity (PA) guidelines also engage in other healthy behaviors. The purpose of this study was to compare healthy behaviors of people who met the PA guidelines set forth by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to those who did not meet the guidelines.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey conducted in 2017. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed using chi-square tests. Odds and adjusted odds ratios were calculated using multiple logistic regressions.

RESULTS

Those who met the PA guidelines were more likely to get a flu shot, have a medical checkup, take human immunodeficiency virus tests, wear seatbelts, and binge drink more frequently, compared with those who did not meet the guidelines. This group is also less likely to be smokers and be overweight or obese in comparison to their inactive counterparts.

CONCLUSION

The positive association between PA and other healthy behaviors represents synergistic health activities, with healthy behaviors supporting others.

Examining the Association Between Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior and Sport Participation With E-Cigarette Use and Smoking Status in a Large Sample of Canadian Youth

INTRODUCTION

Youth e-cigarette use is common worldwide, but the profile of e-cigarette users compared with tobacco users is unclear. This study examines how sport participation and activity levels among youth differ between e-cigarette users and smokers.

METHODS

Using Canadian data from 38977 grade 9 to 12 students who participated in Year 3 (2014-15) of the COMPASS study, logistic regression models were used to examine the likelihood of sport participation and activity level based on e-cigarette use and smoking status. Pearson's chi-square tests were used to examine subgroup differences by gender.

RESULTS

E-cigarette users are more likely to participate in intramural, competitive, and team sports compared to non-users. Current and former smokers are less likely to participate in those sports than non-smokers. Youth e-cigarette users are more likely than non-users to meet the physical activity guidelines. Current smokers are more likely than non-smokers to undertake physical activity at least 60 min daily but less likely than non-smokers to tone at least 3 times per week. Youth e-cigarette users are less likely than non-users to be sedentary less than 2 h daily. Gender differences among males and females show that male e-cigarettes users drive the general relationship.

CONCLUSION

Results suggest that e-cigarette users are more likely to engage in physical activity compared to non e-cigarette users. Youth e-cigarette users are more likely to be physically active while the opposite is true for smokers. Although e-cigarettes may be less harmful to health compared to cigarette smoking, the increased uptake among youth of differing profiles should be considered in prevention efforts.

IMPLICATIONS

These results highlight the importance of addressing e-cigarette use in youth who undertake health promoting behaviors. Prevention efforts should not focus only on youth who may undertake riskier health habits; e-cigarette prevention programs should go beyond the domain of tobacco control.

A gender-stratified, multilevel latent class assessment of chronic disease risk behaviours' association with Body Mass Index among youth in the COMPASS study

This paper sought to examine chronic disease risk behaviour latent classes and their association with Body Mass Index (BMI), assessing for gender differences. Participants were youth (n = 116,086; grades 9-12) enrolled in the COMPASS study (Ontario, Canada) during 2013, 2014, 2015. Multilevel latent class analysis was used to identify underlying, homogenous classes of youths' engagement in physical activity, smoking, binge drinking and marijuana use. Adjusted multilevel models regressed BMI on the latent classes controlling for ethnicity and grade. Three latent classes were identified: active experimenters (ACE), inactive clean youth (INC) and inactive substance users (INSU). This study found that gender differences are apparent in chronic disease risk behaviour latent classes and their association with BMI. INC males (OR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.78, 0.93) were associated with a lower odds of overweight/obesity relative to active males who experimented with substance use. As for females, the class with the highest proportion of youth using substances were associated with higher odds (Females: OR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.1, 1.4) of overweight/obesity relative to their active experimenting peers. As such, youth in latent classes with substance use are associated with higher BMI and weight status. Successful interventions may include school policies/programs that limit screen time use, as they were seen to have a positive effect on PA engagement and including social-influences approaches for substance use. Future research and interventions should be gender-specific as our results show that different latent classes are associated with obesity across genders.

Changing multiple health risk behaviors in CHOICES

Multiple health behavior change (MHBC) intervention trials to date have only considered behaviors that were directly targeted. Research has yet to consider how untargeted behaviors can affect change in behaviors directly targeted by an intervention or how changes in targeted behaviors might lead to changes in other, untargeted behaviors. This study addresses these gaps with a secondary analysis of change in risk drinking (targeted behavior) and smoking (behavior that was not addressed) in the efficacy trial of CHOICES, an intervention for the prevention of alcohol-exposed pregnancies. Measures included the Timeline Followback for daily alcohol consumption and questions about smoking behavior. Participants were women of childbearing age who were at risk of alcohol-exposed pregnancy at baseline. Baseline smokers were less likely to change their drinking behavior than baseline non-smokers at nine months (n = 579) with Odds Ratio (OR) of 0.681 (95% CI = 0.471–0.985); 41.1% of smokers vs 50.6% of non-smokers reduced drinking to below risk levels (<5 drinks/day and < 8 drinks per week). Meanwhile, smokers who had changed their drinking behavior were more likely than smokers who had not changed their drinking behavior to have also quit smoking at nine months (OR = 2.769; 95% CI = 1.533–5.000); 19.5% vs. 8.1%, respectively. Together, these findings suggest a natural tendency towards change of multiple related behaviors and indicate that while the presence of unaddressed risk behaviors may make a targeted behavior change more difficult, change in one behavior may facilitate change in related behaviors, even when they are not addressed.

Health behaviours as a predictor of quitting hazardous alcohol use in the Stockholm Public Health Cohort

Background

Adopting healthy behaviours may facilitate the transition from hazardous to non-hazardous use of alcohol, yet, longitudinal studies of health behaviours in relation to the cessation of hazardous alcohol use are rare. We addressed this question using data from a large population-based cohort of adults in Sweden (Stockholm Public Health Cohort).

Methods

Participants from two sub-cohorts (inception in 2002 and 2010), with follow-up until the year 2014 were included. Health behaviours (tobacco use, diet and physical activity) and alcohol use were self-reported in questionnaire-based surveys. Hazardous alcohol use was defined as either usual weekly consumption (2002 sub-cohort) or heavy occasional alcohol consumption (2010 sub-cohort). Baseline hazardous drinkers with complete data constituted the analytical sample (n = 8946). Logistic regression was used to calculate the Odds Ratios and their 95% confidence intervals of quitting hazardous alcohol use, with tobacco use, diet and physical activity as predictors of change.

Results

In the 2002 sub-cohort, 28% reported non-hazardous use sustained through two consecutive follow-up points. In the 2010 sub-cohort, 36% of the participants reported non-hazardous use of alcohol at follow-up. Favourable health behaviours at baseline (e.g. no tobacco use, sufficient fruit intake and physical activity) were associated with a 19% to 75% higher of odds quitting hazardous alcohol use. Further, favourable changes in diet and tobacco cessation were associated with non-hazardous alcohol use at follow-up.

Conclusions

As many as one-third of hazardous alcohol users may quit this drinking pattern in a medium-long term. Holding or achieving a healthy lifestyle may facilitate this transition.

Estimating how extra calories from alcohol consumption are likely an overlooked contributor to youth obesity

INTRODUCTION

Youth obesity rates in Canada continue to rise. In this study, we produced conservative estimates of the potential excess calories from alcohol use across different alcohol consumption patterns common among Canadian youth to assess whether alcohol use should be considered in future obesity prevention strategies.

METHODS

Using data from 10 144 Grade 12 students participating in the COMPASS study (2013/14), we estimated the number of calories consumed per year from alcohol consumption. Our estimates were based on three different generic types of alcoholic beverages, which were grouped according to average calorie content (vodka coolers; beer [5%]; and beer [4%], wine and liquor) across different frequencies of alcohol use and binge drinking.

RESULTS

Results indicated high potential caloric intake for students who binge drank, as well as high variability in the estimates for calories consumed based on common consumption patterns for the different beverage types. For instance, 27.2% of students binge drank once per month, meaning they consumed between 6000 and 13 200 calories in one year (equivalent to 0.78 - 1.71 kg of fat). For the 4.9% of students who binge drank twice per week, the total calories in one year would range from 52 000 to 114 400 (equivalent to 6.74 - 14.83 kg of fat).

CONCLUSION

Current recommendations for preventing youth obesity do not generally include any consideration of alcohol use. The high prevalence of frequent alcohol consumption and binge drinking by youth in this study and the substantial number of calories contained in alcoholic beverages suggest alcohol use among youth may warrant consideration in relation to youth obesity prevention.

The effects of interventions targeting multiple health behaviors on smoking cessation outcomes: a rapid realist review protocol

BACKGROUND

Health behaviors directly impact the health of individuals, and populations. Since individuals tend to engage in multiple unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, excessive alcohol use, physical inactivity, and eating an unhealthy diet simultaneously, many large community-based interventions have been implemented to reduce the burden of disease through the modification of multiple health behaviors. Smoking cessation can be particularly challenging as the odds of becoming dependent on nicotine increase with every unhealthy behavior a smoker exhibits. This paper presents a protocol for a rapid realist review which aims to identify factors associated with effectively changing tobacco use and target two or more additional unhealthy behaviors.

METHODS

An electronic literature search will be conducted using the following bibliographic databases: MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), The Cochrane Library, Social Science Abstracts, Social Work Abstracts, and Web of Science. Two reviewers will screen titles and abstracts for relevant research, and the selected full papers will be used to extract data and assess the quality of evidence. Throughout this process, the rapid realist approach proposed by Saul et al., 2013 will be used to refine our initial program theory and identify contextual factors and mechanisms that are associated with successful multiple health behavior change.

DISCUSSION

This review will provide evidence-based research on the context and mechanisms that may drive the success or failure of interventions designed to support multiple health behavior change. This information will be used to guide curriculum and program development for a government funded project on improving smoking cessation by addressing multiple health behaviors in people in Canada.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42017064430.

I Can Stand Learning: A Controlled Pilot Intervention Study on the Effects of Increased Standing Time on Cognitive Function in Primary School Children

Sedentarism is considered an independent cardiovascular risk factor. Thus, the present study investigated the effects of employing standing desks in classrooms on cognitive function. The intervention class (IG; n = 19) was supplied with standing desks and balance pads for 11 weeks. The control class (CG; n = 19) received lessons as usual. Standing time was assessed objectively (accelerometers) and subjectively (self-report sheets, external classroom observers). The impact of standing on the digit span task and Eriksen flanker task was analysed. The standing time of the IG was higher during the school day in comparison to the CG (lesson: p = 0.004; break: p = 0.003). The intra-class correlation coefficient between self-reports and external observation was high (ICC = 0.94). The IG improved slightly on the Digit Span Task compared to CG. Employing standing desks for at least 1 h per school day serves as a feasible and effective opportunity to improve cognitive function.

Behavioural patterns only predict concurrent BMI status and not BMI trajectories in a sample of youth in Ontario, Canada

Background

Youth are engaging in multiple risky behaviours, increasing their risk of overweight, obesity, and related chronic diseases. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of engaging in unique clusters of unhealthy behaviours on youths’ body mass index (BMI) trajectories.

Methods

This study used a linked-longitudinal sample of Grades 9 and 10 students (13 to 17 years of age) participating in the COMPASS host study. Students reported obesity-related and other risky behaviours at baseline and height and weight (to derive BMI) at baseline (2012/2013) and annually for 2 years post-baseline (2013/14 and 2014/15). Students were grouped into behavioural clusters based on response probabilities. Linear mixed effects models, using BMI as a continuous outcome measure, were used to examine the effect of engaging in clusters of risky behaviours on BMI trajectories.

Results

There were significant differences in BMI of the four behavioural clusters at baseline that remained consistent over time. Higher BMI values were found among youth classified at baseline to be Typical High School Athletes (β = 0.232 kg/m², [confidence interval (CI): 0.03–0.50]), Inactive High Screen-User (β = 0.348 kg/m², CI: 0.11–0.59) and Moderately Active Substance Users (β = 0.759 kg/m², CI: 0.36–1.15) compared to students classified as Health Conscious. Despite these baseline differences, BMI appeared to increase across all behavioural clusters annually by the same amount (β = 0.6097 kg/m², (CI) = 0.57–0.64).

Conclusions

Although annual increases in BMI did not differ by behavioural clusters, membership in a particular behavioural cluster was associated with baseline BMI, and these differences remained consistent over time. Results indicate that intervening and modifying unhealthy behaviours earlier might have a greater impact than during adolescence. Health promotion strategies targeting the highest risk youth as they enter secondary school might be promising means to prevent or delay the onset of obesity.

Trajectories of Maintenance and Resilience in Healthful Eating and Exercise Behaviors in Older Adults

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to describe behavioral change trajectories for healthful eating and exercise in a group of community-dwelling older adults. A secondary aim was to determine predictors of maintenance and resilience.

METHOD

Subjects were participants in the Study of Exercise and Nutrition in Older Rhode Islanders (SENIOR) I study who had achieved postaction stage of change for at least one behavior by its end. They were recruited for SENIOR II, a 48-month study with annual assessments on demographic, anthropometric, cognitive, psychosocial, and behavioral variables.

RESULTS

Maintainers generally had higher levels of healthy behaviors and better cognitive function. Resilient older adults were similar to maintainers but were older and had greater functional limitations.

DISCUSSION

Findings suggest that both physical health and psychological capital provide important resources upon which to draw as older adults grow even older. The trajectory model can provide useful information for developing resilience interventions for older adults.

Multiple health behaviour change interventions for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in primary care: systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

It is uncertain whether multiple health behaviour change (MHBC) interventions are effective for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in primary care. A systematic review and a meta-analysis were performed to evaluate the effectiveness of MHBC interventions on CVD risk and CVD risk factors; the study also evaluated associations of theoretical frameworks and intervention components with intervention effectiveness.

METHODS

The search included randomised controlled trials of MHBC interventions aimed at reducing CVD risk in primary prevention population up to 2017. Theoretical frameworks and intervention components were evaluated using standardised methods. Meta-analysis with stratification and meta-regression were used to evaluate intervention effects.

RESULTS

We identified 31 trials (36 484 participants) with a minimum duration of 12 months follow-up. Pooled net change in systolic blood pressure (16 trials) was -1.86 (95% CI -3.17 to -0.55; p=0.01) mm Hg; diastolic blood pressure (15 trials), -1.53 (-2.43 to -0.62; p=0.001) mm Hg; body mass index (14 trials), -0.13 (-0.26 to -0.01; p=0.04) kg/m²; serum total cholesterol (14 trials), -0.13 (-0.19 to -0.07; p<0.001) mmol/L. There was no significant association between interventions with a reported theoretical basis and improved intervention outcomes. No association was observed between intervention intensity (number of sessions and intervention duration) and intervention outcomes. There was significant heterogeneity for some risk factor analyses, leading to uncertain validity of some pooled net changes.

CONCLUSIONS

MHBC interventions delivered to CVD-free participants in primary care did not appear to have quantitatively important effects on CVD risk factors. Better reporting of interventions' rationale, content and delivery is essential to understanding their effectiveness.

Combined treatment for at-risk drinking and smoking cessation among Puerto Ricans: A randomized clinical trial

Tobacco and alcohol use are linked behaviors that individually and synergistically increase the risk for negative health consequences. This study was a two-group, randomized clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of a behavioral intervention, "Motivation And Problem Solving Plus" (MAPS+), designed to concurrently address smoking cessation and the reduction of at-risk drinking. Targeted interventions may promote coaction, the likelihood that changing one behavior (smoking) increases the probability of changing another behavior (alcohol use). Puerto Ricans (N=202) who were smokers and at-risk drinkers were randomized to standard MAPS treatment focused exclusively on smoking cessation (S-MAPS), or MAPS+, focused on cessation and at-risk drinking reduction. Drinking outcomes included: number of at-risk drinking behaviors, heavy drinking, binge drinking, and drinking and driving. MAPS+ did not have a significant main effect on reducing at-risk drinking relative to S-MAPS. Among individuals who quit smoking, MAPS+ reduced the number of drinking behaviors, the likelihood of meeting criteria for heavy drinking relative to S-MAPS, and appeared promising for reducing binge drinking. MAPS+ did not improve drinking outcomes among individuals who were unsuccessful at quitting smoking. MAPS+ showed promise in reducing at-risk drinking among Puerto Rican smokers who successfully quit smoking, consistent with treatment enhanced coaction. Integrating an alcohol intervention into cessation treatment did not reduce engagement in treatment, or hinder cessation outcomes, and positively impacted at-risk drinking among individuals who quit smoking. Findings of coaction between smoking and drinking speak to the promise of multiple health behavior change interventions for substance use treatment and chronic disease prevention.

Prevalence, co-occurrence, and clustering of health-risk behaviors among people with different socio-economic trajectories: A population-based study

Only a few previously published studies have investigated the co-occurrence and clustering of health-risk behaviors in people with different socio-economic trajectories from childhood to adulthood. This study was based on data collected through the Stockholm County Council's public health surveys. We selected the 24,241 participants aged 30 to 65years, who responded to a postal questionnaire in 2010. Information on parents' and participants' educational levels was used for classification of four socio-economic trajectories, from childhood to adulthood: the 'stable high', the 'upwardly mobile', the 'downwardly mobile', and the 'stable low'. Information on daily smoking, risky drinking, physical inactivity, and poor diet was used for assessment of health-risk behaviors: their prevalence, co-occurrence, and clustering. We found all health-risk behaviors to be more prevalent among women and men with a downwardly mobile or stable low socio-economic trajectory. Accordingly, having three or four co-occurring health-risk behaviors were much more likely (up to 4 times, in terms of odds ratios) in these groups as compared to the women and men with an upwardly mobile or a stable high socio-economic trajectory. However, clustering of the health-risk behaviors was not found to be stronger in those with a downwardly mobile or stable low socio-economic trajectory. Thus, the fact that women and men with a disadvantageous socio-economic career were found to have co-occurring health-risk behaviors more often than people with an advantageous socio-economic career seemed to be generated by differences in prevalence of the health-risk behaviors, not by differences in clustering of the behaviors.

Factors Associated With Current Smoking Among Off-Reserve First Nations and Métis Youth: Results From the 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Survey

First Nations and Métis, two of Canada's constitutionally recognized Indigenous groups, suffer from poorer overall health than non-Indigenous Canadians. Current smoking, a known predictor of chronic health conditions, is close to twice as prevalent among Indigenous youth as it is among non-Indigenous Canadian youth. However, little population-level research has examined the correlates of current smoking among this population. Guided by a health framework centered on Indigenous-specific determinants, we used data from the 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Survey to examine the correlates of current smoking among First Nations and Métis youth aged 15-17 years living outside of First Nations reserves. Using binary logistic regression, we investigated how culturally specific factors, namely knowledge of an Indigenous language, participation in traditional activities, and family members' attendance at residential schools, were correlated with current smoking. We also considered demographic, geographic, socioeconomic and health-related correlates. Overall, an estimated 20.6% of First Nations and Métis youth reported current smoking. We found no significant associations between culturally specific activities and current smoking in the multivariate analyses, although those who spoke an Indigenous language were more likely to smoke. Those who participated in sports more often were less likely to smoke, and respondents who reported heavy drinking and who were from families with lower income were more likely to smoke. Gender, body mass index, urban/rural geography and regional geography, and mother's highest level of education were not significantly correlated with smoking. The results of our study support prior research that has found a disturbingly high prevalence of current smoking among Indigenous youth, compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts. Our results highlight the importance of considering sports participation, co-occurring health-risk behaviours and socioeconomic factors when developing interventions aimed at reducing the prevalence of smoking among First Nations and Métis youth.

Changes in cardiovascular disease risk and behavioural risk factors before the introduction of a health check programme in England

A population-based programme of health checks was introduced for adults in England in 2011 for the primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and risk factors management. The aim was to evaluate changes in cardiovascular risk and behavioural risk factors in a health check eligible population in England from 1994 to 2013, by using repeated cross-sectional design using seven surveys of the Health Survey for England. Measures included traditional CVD risk factors and behavioural risk factors. Linear trends were estimated allowing for sampling design. The surveys comprised 49,805 adults aged 45 to 74years; 30,639 were free from cardiovascular comorbidity; 16,041 (52%) had complete data for quantitative risk factors. Between 1994 and 2013, systolic blood pressure decreased by 3.1 (95% confidence interval 2.5 to 3.6) mmHg per decade in men and 5.0 (4.5 to 5.5) in women. Total cholesterol decreased by 0.20 (0.16 to 0.24) mmol/l per decade in men; 0.23 (0.19 to 0.26) in women. Smoking declined by 6% (5% to 8%) per decade in men; 7% (6% - 8%) in women. The proportion with CVD-risk ≥20% declined by 6.8% per decade in men; 2.4% in women. Multiple behavioural risk factors were strongly associated with estimated CVD-risk, but improving trends in traditional CVD risk factors were inconsistent with increasing indicators of adiposity. Long-term declines in traditional risk factors contributed to reductions in estimated CVD-risk prior to the introduction of a health check programme. Behaviour change interventions for multiple risk factor exposures remain a key area for future research.

Factors associated with heavy drinking among off-reserve First Nations and Métis youth and adults: Evidence from the 2012 Canadian Aboriginal Peoples Survey

Objective . Aboriginal people in Canada are at higher risk to heavy alcohol consumption than are other Canadians. The objective of this study was to examine a set of culturally specific correlates of heavy drinking among First Nations and Métis youth and adults. Methods . Demographic, geographic, socioeconomic and health-related variables were also considered. Data were used from Statistics Canada's 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Survey to predict heavy drinking among 14,410 First Nations and Métis 15years of age and older. Separate sets of binary sequential logistic regression models were estimated for youth and adults. Results . Among youth, those who had hunted, fished or trapped within the last year were more likely to be heavy drinkers. In addition, current smokers and those who most frequently participated in sports were at higher odds of heavy alcohol consumption. Among adults, respondents who had hunted, fished or trapped within the last year were more likely to drink heavily. On the other hand, those who had made traditional arts or crafts within the last year were less likely to drink heavily. Conclusions . Men, younger adults, smokers, those who were unmarried, those who had higher household incomes, and those who had higher ratings of self-perceived health were more likely to be heavy drinkers. Efforts aimed at reducing the prevalence of heavy drinking among this population may benefit from considering culturally specific factors, in addition to demographic variables and co-occurring health-risk behaviors.

Gender differences in the prevalence and clustering of multiple health risk behaviours in young adults

AIMS

To estimate the sex-stratified prevalence and clustering of 14 behavioural and metabolic health risk factors in emerging adulthood.

BACKGROUND

The high prevalence and the clustering of risk factors multiply health consequences and increase the threat to the future health and quality of life of young adults.

DESIGN

Descriptive cross-sectional study.

METHODS

During November-December 2012, we assessed 14 lifestyle characteristics of 1058 1st year university students' that were classified as: healthy (score = 0), unhealthy (score = 1) and high-risk unhealthy (score = 2). We subsequently created a Multiple Health Risk Behaviours Index by summing the score of each behaviour adjusted to 0-100.

RESULTS

Only 0·3% of the students had one risk behaviour and 21·3% (male: 31·5%; female: 12·6%) had ≥10 of 14. Male students had higher risk index score. In adjusted regression analyses, female students had higher odds of reporting healthier behaviours in oral hygiene (tooth brushing), red meat and junk food consumption, binge drinking, cannabis/hashish/marijuana use and lower number of sexual partners and Body Mass Index. Male students reported higher physical activity. No statistically significant gender differences were noted for screen time/sedentary behaviours, condom use, smoking, sunburns, breakfast and fruit and vegetable consumption.

CONCLUSION

Although health-compromising behaviours are highly prevalent in both men and women, they are gender-related, with males engaging in more health risk behaviours than females. Preventive interventions may need to focus on gender-informed approaches when targeting multiple health risk behaviours.

The period prevalence of risk behavior co-occurrence among Canadians

INTRODUCTION

While the benefits of complying with health recommendations is well documented, a considerable proportion of Canadians engage in multiple modifiable risk behaviors. The purpose of this multi-wave longitudinal study was to identify the individual period prevalence and co-occurrence of multiple modifiable risk behaviors, particularly excessive alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and tobacco use, within a nationally representative sample of Canadians.

METHODS

Secondary data analysis was conducted on the first seven cycles of the National Population Health Survey. This longitudinal sample included 15,167 Canadians aged 12years of age or older. Gender-specific criteria were employed to define excessive alcohol consumption. Individuals expending <3.0kcal/kg/day during their leisure-time and smoking cigarettes (daily or occasionally) met the criteria for physical inactivity and tobacco use, respectively.

RESULTS

The period prevalence of the Canadian general population that participated in multiple risk behaviors was 21.5% in cycle 7. The most common pairwise combination of co-occurring risk behaviors was physical inactivity and smoking. The proportion of Canadians reporting the co-occurrence of all three risk behaviors in cycle 7 was 2.6%.

CONCLUSIONS

Understanding patterns of modifiable risk behaviors is an initial step in developing and implementing public health interventions. The co-occurrence of these three risk behaviors is a viable concern for one in five Canadians. For these individuals, the likelihood of encountering premature morbidity and mortality is escalated. As the majority of Canadians reported being physically inactive, allocating limited resources towards enhancing leisure-time physical activity levels could have significant population-level implications for improving the health of Canadians.

A cross-sectional examination of the correlates of current smoking among off-reserve First Nations and Métis adults: Evidence from the 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Survey

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to examine the correlates of current smoking among off-reserve First Nations and Métis adults, two Aboriginal Canadian groups that are at higher risk to smoke and more likely to suffer from chronic health conditions relative to their non-Aboriginal counterparts. A particular focus was on culturally specific factors and their associations with current smoking.

METHODS

We used data from Statistics Canada's, 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Survey to investigate the correlates of smoking among 12,720 First Nations and Métis adults. Sequential binary logistic regression models were estimated to examine associations between smoking and culturally specific, demographic, geographic, socioeconomic and health-related variables.

RESULTS

Overall, 39.4% were current smokers. Multivariate results found that those who had hunted, fished or trapped within the last year were more likely to be smokers. In addition, respondents who were exposed to an Aboriginal language at home or outside the home were more likely to be smokers. Current smoking was significantly associated with being aged 35 to 49 years, living in a small population center, low income, low education, unemployment, being unmarried, low ratings of self-perceived health, heavy drinking and low body mass index. Respondents aged 65 years and older and those living in British Columbia were less likely to smoke.

DISCUSSION

The results of this study suggest that it may be useful to consider cultural characteristics, particularly language in efforts to reduce the prevalence of manufactured tobacco use among First Nations and Métis adults. Interventions should also consider demographic, geographic and socioeconomic variables, in addition to co-occurring health-risk behaviors.

Associations between fruit and vegetable consumption and depressive symptoms: evidence from a national Canadian longitudinal survey

BACKGROUND

Several cross-sectional studies have demonstrated associations between diet quality, including fruit and vegetable consumption, and mental health. However, research examining these associations longitudinally, while accounting for related lifestyle factors (eg, smoking, physical activity) is scarce.

METHODS

This study used data from the National Population Health Survey (NPHS), a large, national longitudinal survey of Canadians. The sample included 8353 participants aged 18 and older. Every 2 years from 2002/2003 to 2010/2011, participants completed self-reports of daily fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, smoking and symptoms of depression and psychological distress. Using generalised estimating equations, we modelled the associations between fruit and vegetable consumption at each timepoint and depression at the next timepoint, adjusting for relevant covariates.

RESULTS

Fruit and vegetable consumption at each cycle was inversely associated with next-cycle depression (β=-0.03, 95% CI -0.05 to -0.01, p<0.01) and psychological distress (β=-0.03, 95% CI -0.05 to -0.02, p<0.0001). However, once models were adjusted for other health-related factors, these associations were attenuated (β=-0.01, 95% CI -0.04 to 0.02, p=0.55; β=-0.00, 95% CI -0.03 to 0.02, p=0.78 for models predicting depression and distress, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that relations between fruit and vegetable intake, other health-related behaviours and depression are complex. Behaviours such as smoking and physical activity may have a more important impact on depression than fruit and vegetable intake. Randomised control trials of diet are necessary to disentangle the effects of multiple health behaviours on mental health.

The correlates of current smoking among adult Métis: Evidence from the Aboriginal Peoples Survey and Métis Supplement

OBJECTIVE

To examine the correlates of current smoking among Métis aged 18 years and older, with a particular focus on culturally-specific factors. Cultural factors included spirituality, knowledge of an Aboriginal language, membership in a Métis organization and attendance at Métis cultural events. Demographic, geographic, socio-economic and health-related variables were also considered.

METHODS

Data from 6,610 adult Métis aged 18 years and older who responded to the 2006 Aboriginal Peoples Survey and Métis supplement were used to examine the correlates of current smoking using sequential binary logistic regression modelling.

RESULTS

Overall, 39.9% of adult Métis respondents in the sample were current smokers. Adult Métis who reported a high level of spirituality were less likely to be current smokers. Those who spoke an Aboriginal language, or lived in a house where an Aboriginal language was spoken, were more likely to be current smokers. Being a member of a Métis organization and attending cultural events were not independently associated with current smoking. Métis with higher household income, greater education, higher self-perceived health, and greater physical activity participation were less likely to be current smokers, whereas those who reported heavy alcohol consumption were more likely to be current smokers.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study suggest that interventions aimed at reducing smoking among adult Métis might be more successful if they include some connection to spirituality. It is also evident that co-occurring risk behaviours, in addition to demographic and socio-economic factors, are important considerations when developing interventions to reduce smoking among this population.

Exercise and Counseling for Smoking Cessation in Smokers With Depressive Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial

OBJECTIVE

Despite various strategies to help smokers with depressive disorders to quit, the smoking relapse rate remains high. The purpose of this pilot study was to estimate the effects of adding an exercise and counseling intervention to standard smoking cessation treatment for smokers with depressive disorders. We hypothesized that the exercise and counseling intervention would lead to improved abstinence, reduced depressive symptoms, and increased physical activity.

METHODS

Seventy smokers with current depressive disorders were randomly assigned to standard smoking cessation treatment plus exercise and counseling (n = 35) or standard treatment plus a time-to-contact control intervention on health education (n = 35). Both programs involved 10 sessions over 8 weeks. The primary outcome was continuous abstinence since the quit date and was measured at week 8 (end of the intervention) and again at 12-, 24-, and 52-week follow-ups.

RESULTS

Nearly 60% of participants were female (n = 41), 38 (52.3%) were single, 37 (52.9%) had education beyond high school, and 32 (45.7%) met criteria for major depressive disorder or dysthymia. Participants in the two treatment conditions differed at baseline only in marital status (χ(2) = 4.28, df = 1, p =.04); and smoking abstinence self-efficacy, t(66) = -2.04, p =.04). The dropout rate did not differ significantly between groups and participants attended 82% and 75% of the intervention and control sessions, respectively. Intention-to-treat analysis showed that, at 12 weeks after the beginning of the intervention, continuous abstinence did not vary significantly between the intervention and control groups: 48.5% versus 28.5%, respectively, ORadj = 0.40, 95% CI [0.12-1.29], p =.12. There were no group differences in depressive symptoms, but the intervention group did outperform the control group on the 6-minute walking test (Mint = 624.84, SD = 8.17, vs. Mcon = 594.13, SD = 8.96, p =.015) and perceived physical control (Mint = 2.84, SD = 0.16, vs. Mcon = 2.27, SD = 0.18, p =.028). The sample was not large enough to ensure adequate statistical power.

CONCLUSIONS

This finding, while preliminary, suggests that an exercise and counseling intervention may yield better results than health education in improving smoking abstinence. This study is registered at www.clinincaltrials.gov under # NCT01401569.

Prevalence and Correlates of Social Smoking in Young Adults: Comparisons of Behavioral and Self-Identified Definitions

INTRODUCTION

Social smoking is an increasingly common pattern among emerging adults. Although distinct patterns have emerged between social smokers and non-social smokers, there is discrepancy about how to define the construct, with inconsistencies between self-identified social smoking and behavioral social smoking. We report prevalence and correlates of young adult smokers who self-identify and behave as social smokers (SELF + BEH), self-identified non-behavioral social smokers (SELF-ONLY), and non-social smokers (NON-SOCIAL).

METHODS

Young adults age 18-25 years who have smoked at least 1 cigarette in the past 30 days (N = 1,811) were recruited through Facebook for a national anonymous, online survey of tobacco and other substance use. Three social smoking items were used to categorize respondents into 1 of 3 smoking groups. Groups were examined for prevalence and differences on demographics, substance use, motivation to quit smoking and thoughts about tobacco abstinence.

RESULTS

SELF-ONLY (46%) was the largest group, followed by SELF + BEH (27%) and NON-SOCIAL (27%). SELF + BEH smoke less frequently, smoke fewer cigarettes per day, are less addicted to cigarettes, have a higher desire to quit, and perceive a lower quitting difficulty compared with SELF-ONLY. SELF + BEH and SELF-ONLY were more likely to be male, be marijuana users, and be addicted to marijuana than NON-SOCIAL. SELF + BEH exhibited a lower frequency of smoking, less cigarettes per day, were less addicted, and had more days co-using alcohol and cigarettes than NON-SOCIAL.

CONCLUSION

Identifying social smokers based on self-identification in addition to behavioral components appears to be important for designing smoking cessation interventions for emerging adults.