Jennifer Cantrell - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Jennifer Cantrell

Research paper thumbnail of Direct-to-Consumer Marketing of Cigar Products in the United States

Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 2015

Although cigar use and sales have increased in the United States over the past decade, little is ... more Although cigar use and sales have increased in the United States over the past decade, little is known about how these products are promoted. Direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising is a common method used to promote tobacco products and may be a potential channel through which cigars are advertised. Comperemedia (Mintel) was used to acquire opt-in direct mail and email advertising for the top 10 cigar brands in the United States between January 2013 and July 2014. The advertisement and corresponding data on brand, advertising spend, and mail volume were downloaded and summarized. Promotions such as coupons, giveaways, and sweepstakes were also examined. A total of 92 unique advertisements met the search criteria and included two brands: Black & Mild (n = 77) and Swisher Sweets (n = 15). Expenditures on direct mail advertising during this period totaled $12 809 630. Black & Mild encompassed 80% of total direct mail volume and 78% of direct mail advertising expenditures. Almost all advertisements contained at least one promotion (88%) and included a URL to the product website (85%). The results suggest that Black & Mild and Swisher Sweets are the primary cigar brands using DTC advertising. Promotional offers were nearly ubiquitous among the advertisements, which may appeal to price-sensitive populations. Future studies should continue to examine cigar advertising via direct mail and email, in addition to other channels, such as the point-of-sale. Although cigar use and sales have increased in the United States over the past decade, there is limited data on cigar advertising. This article provides a snapshot of expenditures, volume, and promotional content of DTC cigar advertising in the United States between January 2013 and July 2014.

Research paper thumbnail of Rapid increase in e-cigarette advertising spending as Altria's MarkTen enters the marketplace

Research paper thumbnail of Implementation of a Multimodal Mobile System for Point-of-Sale Surveillance: Lessons Learned From Case Studies in Washington, DC, and New York City

JMIR Public Health and Surveillance, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Exploring Smoking Cessation Attitudes, Beliefs, and Practices in Occupational Health Nursing

Workplace Health & Safety, 2015

The purpose of this study was to explore occupational health nurses&a... more The purpose of this study was to explore occupational health nurses' attitudes, beliefs, and practices regarding the delivery of smoking cessation services to workers. The study included 707 members of the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN) who completed a one-time survey during the fall of 2012. Results indicated that occupational health nurses believed that evidence-based treatments are at least somewhat effective and that they should provide smoking cessation services to their workers; however, a majority of occupational health nurses reported that they did not have appropriate smoking cessation training or guidelines in their workplaces. Occupational health nurses would benefit from training in the use of smoking cessation guidelines and evidence-based smoking cessation interventions, which could be used in their clinical practice. Employers should ensure that workplace policies, such as providing coverage for cessation services, facilitate smokers' efforts to quit. Employers can benefit from many of these policies through cost savings via reduced health care costs and absenteeism.

Research paper thumbnail of Consort 2010 Flow Diagram

Research paper thumbnail of Behavior: Results From the 2000 National Youth Tobacco Survey Physician and Dentist Tobacco Use Counseling and Adolescent Smoking

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of a smoking cessation intervention in a sheltered homeless population: A pilot study

Homeless people are three to four times more likely to smoke and have twice the death rates from ... more Homeless people are three to four times more likely to smoke and have twice the death rates from tobacco-related disease compared to the general population. Despite strong links between homelessness, poor health and smoking, research addressing tobacco treatment remains sparse. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the effect of a motivational interviewing plus cognitive behavioral therapy (MI+CBT) intervention coupled with pharmacotherapy on smoking cessation outcomes among a sheltered homeless population living in New York City. A quasi-experimental design was used, with the intervention group (n=57) participating in a 12-week group MI+CBT counseling program plus pharmacotherapy and the comparison group (n=28) receiving usual care (brief advice to quit plus access to pharmacotherapy). Surveys were conducted at baseline and 12 weeks to assess abstinence, quit attempts and cigarettes smoked per day (CPD). Intervention clients were followed up at 24 weeks to assess continued ab...

Research paper thumbnail of Contextual Influences and Campaign Awareness Among Young Adults: Evidence from the National truth® Campaign

Behavioral Medicine, 2015

Mass media campaigns have been found to shape the public'... more Mass media campaigns have been found to shape the public's knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behavior around tobacco. This study examines the influence of contextual factors with respect to awareness of the national truth® campaign, a mass media, branded tobacco use prevention campaign, among a sample of young adults (n = 2,804) aged 24-34 years old; these respondents were within the age range for both the primary and secondary targets of the campaign during the period (2000-2007) when the campaign was airing television advertising at consistently high levels. Mulitvariable models reveal lower educational attainment and Hispanic ethnicity as significant contextual factors predictive of lower campaign awareness, controlling for media use. In contrast, gender, state tobacco control policy, sensation-seeking, current smoking status, and community-level SES variables were not significantly associated with campaign awareness. Further research is needed to identify the mechanisms through which public education campaigns operate, particularly among disadvantaged communities.

Research paper thumbnail of National Enforcement of the FSPTCA at Point-of-Sale

Tobacco Regulatory Science, 2015

Objective: To describe patterns in the enforcement of the US Food and Drug Administration's curre... more Objective: To describe patterns in the enforcement of the US Food and Drug Administration's current compliance check program. Methods: Data on retail violation rates (RVR) resulting from compliance checks were analyzed. Novel methods were developed to quantify violations and unify data on retail location and violation type. Results: As of July 2013, 42 states and 3 US territories conducted compliance checks. Ninety-six percent of warning letters and 100% of Civil Monetary Penalties addressed sales to minors. RVRs varied significantly over time (OR = 1.15) and between states (ICC = 0.18). Conclusions: The compliance checks database makes it possible to examine how retail enforcement is unfolding over time and place. Results reveal an emphasis on youth access violations, presenting opportunities for research on regulations designed to reduce youth access.

Research paper thumbnail of How Are Electronic Cigarettes Promoted? Data on TV, Radio, Print and Online Advertisements

Theoretical Background and research questions/hypothesis: Since electronic cigarettes (e-cigarett... more Theoretical Background and research questions/hypothesis: Since electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are not currently regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the promotion of these products is virtually unrestricted. Advertisements for e-cigarettes can be found across a variety of channels, including television, which has not featured advertisements for tobacco products for over 30 years. Despite the rapid growth of e-cigarettes, little is known about how and to what extent these products are promoted in the marketplace. This study addresses the gap in the literature by providing surveillance data on e-cigarette advertising over a one year period. Methods: A full-service advertising firm was used to collect all TV, online, print and radio advertisements occurring in the USA between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013. The advertisement and associated meta-data on brand, date range observed and spend were downloaded and summarized. Characteristics and themes of advert...

Research paper thumbnail of Tobacco Retail Outlet Density and Young Adult Tobacco Initiation

Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, Jan 8, 2015

A growing body of evidence indicates that the density of tobacco retail outlets around the home r... more A growing body of evidence indicates that the density of tobacco retail outlets around the home residence may influence tobacco use among youth and adults. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of neighborhood tobacco retail outlet density on young adult initiation of different tobacco product types. Cross-sectional data from a 2013 nationally representative sample of young adults aged 18-34 was examined in relation to a 2012 geocoded listing of all outlets likely to sell tobacco in the United States. Separate multivariable logistic regression analyses examined associations between neighborhood outlet density and past 6 months first use of cigarettes, non-cigarette combustible products, and noncombustible products among adults aged 18-24 and 25-34. Outlet density was significantly associated with recent initiation of cigarettes and other combustibles, but this impact varied for younger and older groups. Increased density was significantly associated with a higher likel...

Research paper thumbnail of A multilevel analysis of gender, Latino immigrant enclaves, and tobacco use behavior

Journal of urban health : bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine, 2014

Research suggests that immigrant enclaves positively influence health behaviors such as tobacco u... more Research suggests that immigrant enclaves positively influence health behaviors such as tobacco use through supportive social networks and informal social control mechanisms that promote healthy behavioral norms. Yet, the influence of social cohesion and control on tobacco use may depend on smoking-related norms, which can vary by gender. This study examines the influence of neighborhood Latino immigrant enclave status on smoking and cessation among Hispanic men and women. Data from the Los Angeles Family and Neighborhood Survey was combined with census data to assess the relationship between immigrant enclaves, gender, and smoking using multilevel regression. The effect of the Hispanic enclave environment on smoking differed by gender. Living in an enclave had a harmful effect on tobacco use among Hispanic men, marginally increasing the likelihood of smoking and significantly reducing cessation. This effect was independent of neighborhood socioeconomic status, nativity, and other i...

Research paper thumbnail of Tobacco retail outlet advertising practices and proximity to schools, parks and public housing affect Synar underage sales violations in Washington, DC

Tobacco control, 2015

To examine the cross-sectional association between illicit sales of tobacco to minors, Washington... more To examine the cross-sectional association between illicit sales of tobacco to minors, Washington DC tobacco outlet advertising practices, retail store type, the demographic make-up of the area surrounding each outlet, and the proximity of each outlet to high schools, recreational parks and public housing. Seven hundred and fifty tobacco outlets in the DC area, n=347 of which were randomly selected for inspection by the Synar Inspection Program in 2009-2010. The presence of tobacco advertisements on the interior and exterior of each outlet, and illicit tobacco sales to Synar Inspection Program youth volunteers. The presence of tobacco advertisements on the exterior of gas stations was much greater than on other retail store types (OR=6.68; 95% CI 4.05 to 11.01), as was the absence of any advertisements at bars or restaurants that sold tobacco (OR=0.33; 95% CI 0.22 to 0.52). Exterior tobacco advertisements were also more likely in predominantly African-American areas of the city (OR=...

Research paper thumbnail of Purchasing patterns and smoking behaviors after a large tobacco tax increase: a study of Chinese Americans living in New York City

Public health reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974)

Tobacco taxes are one of the most effective policy interventions to reduce tobacco use. Tax avoid... more Tobacco taxes are one of the most effective policy interventions to reduce tobacco use. Tax avoidance, however, lessens the public health benefits of higher-priced cigarettes. Few studies examine responses to cigarette tax policies, particularly among high-risk minority populations. This study examined the prevalence and correlates of tax avoidance and changes in smoking behaviors among Chinese American smokers in New York City after a large tax increase. We conducted a cross-sectional study with data for 614 male smokers from in-person and telephone interviews using a comprehensive household-based survey of 2,537 adults aged 18-74 years. Interviews were conducted in multiple Chinese dialects. A total of 54.7% of respondents reported engaging in at least one low- or no-tax strategy after the New York City and New York State tax increases. The more common strategies for tax avoidance were purchasing cigarettes from a private supplier/importer and purchasing duty free/overseas. Higher...

Research paper thumbnail of Physician and dentist tobacco use counseling and adolescent smoking behavior: results from the 2000 National Youth Tobacco Survey

Pediatrics, 2005

The present study describes patterns of tobacco use counseling among physicians and dentists as r... more The present study describes patterns of tobacco use counseling among physicians and dentists as reported by adolescents and determines the association between provider advice to quit and cessation activities among current smokers. Data were analyzed from the 2000 National Youth Tobacco Survey, an anonymous, self-administered, school-based survey. The National Youth Tobacco Survey was administered to a nationally representative sample of 35828 students in grades 6 to 12 in 324 schools. Thirty-three percent of adolescents who visited a physician or a dentist in the past year reported that a physician counseled them about the dangers of tobacco use, and 20% reported that a dentist provided a similar message. Among students who smoked in the past year, 16.4% received advice to quit from a physician and 11.6% received advice to quit from a dentist. Physician or dentist advice to quit was correlated with 1 or more quit attempts in the past 12 months. On the basis of adolescent reports, ph...

Research paper thumbnail of The impact of the tobacco retail outlet environment on adult cessation and differences by neighborhood poverty

Addiction, 2014

This study examined the impact of tobacco retail outlets on cessation outcomes over time among no... more This study examined the impact of tobacco retail outlets on cessation outcomes over time among non-treatment-seeking smokers and assessed differences by neighborhood poverty and individual factors. Observational longitudinal cohort study using geospatial data. We used generalized estimating equations to examine cessation outcomes in relation to the proximity and density of tobacco retail outlets near the home. Eight large Designated Media Areas across the United States. A total of 2377 baseline smokers followed over three waves from 2008 to 2010. Outlet addresses were identified through North American Industry Classification System codes and proximity and density measures were constructed for each participant at each wave. Outcomes included past 30-day abstinence and pro-cessation attitudes. Smokers in high poverty census tracts living between 500 m and 1.9 km from an outlet were over two times more likely to be abstinent than those living fewer than 500 m from an outlet (P < 0.05). Density within 500 m of home was associated with reduced abstinence [odds ratio (OR) = 0.94; confidence interval (CI) = 0.90, 0.98) and lower pro-cessation attitudes (Coeff = -0.07, CI = -0.10, -0.03) only in high poverty areas. In low poverty areas, density within 500 m was associated with greater pro-cessation attitudes (OR = 0.06; CI = 0.01, 0.12). Gender, education and heaviness of smoking did not moderate the impact of outlet proximity and density on cessation outcomes. In the United States, density of tobacco outlets within 500 m of the home residence appears to be negatively associated with smoking abstinence and pro-cessation attitudes only in poor areas.

Research paper thumbnail of Cameras for Public Health Surveillance: A Methods Protocol for Crowdsourced Annotation of Point-of-Sale Photographs

JMIR Research Protocols, 2014

Photographs are an effective way to collect detailed and objective information about the environm... more Photographs are an effective way to collect detailed and objective information about the environment, particularly for public health surveillance. However, accurately and reliably annotating (ie, extracting information from) photographs remains difficult, a critical bottleneck inhibiting the use of photographs for systematic surveillance. The advent of distributed human computation (ie, crowdsourcing) platforms represents a veritable breakthrough, making it possible for the first time to accurately, quickly, and repeatedly annotate photos at relatively low cost.

Research paper thumbnail of Individual mobility patterns and real-time geo-spatial exposure to point-of-sale tobacco marketing

Proceedings of the conference on Wireless Health - WH '12, 2012

Health-related behaviors occur as part of a broad socio-ecological context that unfolds dynamical... more Health-related behaviors occur as part of a broad socio-ecological context that unfolds dynamically over time. Yet systematic quantification of the way individuals come into contact with health-related features in their local environment remains a difficult challenge. Doing so requires a multi-tiered approach that integrates both individual geo-location data and comprehensive community-level information about health-related features in the local built environment.

Research paper thumbnail of Electronic cigarette advertising at the point-of-sale: a gap in tobacco control research

Research paper thumbnail of Patterns of combustible tobacco use in U.S. young adults and potential response to graphic cigarette health warning labels

Addictive behaviors, 2015

In the evolving landscape of tobacco use, it remains unclear how tobacco control efforts should b... more In the evolving landscape of tobacco use, it remains unclear how tobacco control efforts should be designed and promoted for maximum impact. The current study links the identification of latent classes of young adult combustible tobacco users with anticipated responses to graphic health warning labels (HWLs). Data were collected in January 2012 using an online address-based panel as part of the Legacy Young Adult Cohort Study, and analyses were conducted in 2013. Latent class analyses identified five groups of tobacco users in a national sample of 4,236 young adults aged 18-34years: (1) little cigar/cigarillo/bidi (LCC) and hookah users (4%); (2) nonusers, open to smoking (3%); (3) daily smokers who self-identify as "smokers" (11%); (4) nondaily, light smokers who self-identify as "social or occasional smokers" (9%); and (5) nonusers closed to smoking (73%). Of the nonusers closed to smoking, 23% may be better characterized as at risk for tobacco initiation. Resu...

Research paper thumbnail of Direct-to-Consumer Marketing of Cigar Products in the United States

Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 2015

Although cigar use and sales have increased in the United States over the past decade, little is ... more Although cigar use and sales have increased in the United States over the past decade, little is known about how these products are promoted. Direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising is a common method used to promote tobacco products and may be a potential channel through which cigars are advertised. Comperemedia (Mintel) was used to acquire opt-in direct mail and email advertising for the top 10 cigar brands in the United States between January 2013 and July 2014. The advertisement and corresponding data on brand, advertising spend, and mail volume were downloaded and summarized. Promotions such as coupons, giveaways, and sweepstakes were also examined. A total of 92 unique advertisements met the search criteria and included two brands: Black & Mild (n = 77) and Swisher Sweets (n = 15). Expenditures on direct mail advertising during this period totaled $12 809 630. Black & Mild encompassed 80% of total direct mail volume and 78% of direct mail advertising expenditures. Almost all advertisements contained at least one promotion (88%) and included a URL to the product website (85%). The results suggest that Black & Mild and Swisher Sweets are the primary cigar brands using DTC advertising. Promotional offers were nearly ubiquitous among the advertisements, which may appeal to price-sensitive populations. Future studies should continue to examine cigar advertising via direct mail and email, in addition to other channels, such as the point-of-sale. Although cigar use and sales have increased in the United States over the past decade, there is limited data on cigar advertising. This article provides a snapshot of expenditures, volume, and promotional content of DTC cigar advertising in the United States between January 2013 and July 2014.

Research paper thumbnail of Rapid increase in e-cigarette advertising spending as Altria's MarkTen enters the marketplace

Research paper thumbnail of Implementation of a Multimodal Mobile System for Point-of-Sale Surveillance: Lessons Learned From Case Studies in Washington, DC, and New York City

JMIR Public Health and Surveillance, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Exploring Smoking Cessation Attitudes, Beliefs, and Practices in Occupational Health Nursing

Workplace Health & Safety, 2015

The purpose of this study was to explore occupational health nurses&a... more The purpose of this study was to explore occupational health nurses' attitudes, beliefs, and practices regarding the delivery of smoking cessation services to workers. The study included 707 members of the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN) who completed a one-time survey during the fall of 2012. Results indicated that occupational health nurses believed that evidence-based treatments are at least somewhat effective and that they should provide smoking cessation services to their workers; however, a majority of occupational health nurses reported that they did not have appropriate smoking cessation training or guidelines in their workplaces. Occupational health nurses would benefit from training in the use of smoking cessation guidelines and evidence-based smoking cessation interventions, which could be used in their clinical practice. Employers should ensure that workplace policies, such as providing coverage for cessation services, facilitate smokers' efforts to quit. Employers can benefit from many of these policies through cost savings via reduced health care costs and absenteeism.

Research paper thumbnail of Consort 2010 Flow Diagram

Research paper thumbnail of Behavior: Results From the 2000 National Youth Tobacco Survey Physician and Dentist Tobacco Use Counseling and Adolescent Smoking

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of a smoking cessation intervention in a sheltered homeless population: A pilot study

Homeless people are three to four times more likely to smoke and have twice the death rates from ... more Homeless people are three to four times more likely to smoke and have twice the death rates from tobacco-related disease compared to the general population. Despite strong links between homelessness, poor health and smoking, research addressing tobacco treatment remains sparse. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the effect of a motivational interviewing plus cognitive behavioral therapy (MI+CBT) intervention coupled with pharmacotherapy on smoking cessation outcomes among a sheltered homeless population living in New York City. A quasi-experimental design was used, with the intervention group (n=57) participating in a 12-week group MI+CBT counseling program plus pharmacotherapy and the comparison group (n=28) receiving usual care (brief advice to quit plus access to pharmacotherapy). Surveys were conducted at baseline and 12 weeks to assess abstinence, quit attempts and cigarettes smoked per day (CPD). Intervention clients were followed up at 24 weeks to assess continued ab...

Research paper thumbnail of Contextual Influences and Campaign Awareness Among Young Adults: Evidence from the National truth® Campaign

Behavioral Medicine, 2015

Mass media campaigns have been found to shape the public'... more Mass media campaigns have been found to shape the public's knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behavior around tobacco. This study examines the influence of contextual factors with respect to awareness of the national truth® campaign, a mass media, branded tobacco use prevention campaign, among a sample of young adults (n = 2,804) aged 24-34 years old; these respondents were within the age range for both the primary and secondary targets of the campaign during the period (2000-2007) when the campaign was airing television advertising at consistently high levels. Mulitvariable models reveal lower educational attainment and Hispanic ethnicity as significant contextual factors predictive of lower campaign awareness, controlling for media use. In contrast, gender, state tobacco control policy, sensation-seeking, current smoking status, and community-level SES variables were not significantly associated with campaign awareness. Further research is needed to identify the mechanisms through which public education campaigns operate, particularly among disadvantaged communities.

Research paper thumbnail of National Enforcement of the FSPTCA at Point-of-Sale

Tobacco Regulatory Science, 2015

Objective: To describe patterns in the enforcement of the US Food and Drug Administration's curre... more Objective: To describe patterns in the enforcement of the US Food and Drug Administration's current compliance check program. Methods: Data on retail violation rates (RVR) resulting from compliance checks were analyzed. Novel methods were developed to quantify violations and unify data on retail location and violation type. Results: As of July 2013, 42 states and 3 US territories conducted compliance checks. Ninety-six percent of warning letters and 100% of Civil Monetary Penalties addressed sales to minors. RVRs varied significantly over time (OR = 1.15) and between states (ICC = 0.18). Conclusions: The compliance checks database makes it possible to examine how retail enforcement is unfolding over time and place. Results reveal an emphasis on youth access violations, presenting opportunities for research on regulations designed to reduce youth access.

Research paper thumbnail of How Are Electronic Cigarettes Promoted? Data on TV, Radio, Print and Online Advertisements

Theoretical Background and research questions/hypothesis: Since electronic cigarettes (e-cigarett... more Theoretical Background and research questions/hypothesis: Since electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are not currently regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the promotion of these products is virtually unrestricted. Advertisements for e-cigarettes can be found across a variety of channels, including television, which has not featured advertisements for tobacco products for over 30 years. Despite the rapid growth of e-cigarettes, little is known about how and to what extent these products are promoted in the marketplace. This study addresses the gap in the literature by providing surveillance data on e-cigarette advertising over a one year period. Methods: A full-service advertising firm was used to collect all TV, online, print and radio advertisements occurring in the USA between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013. The advertisement and associated meta-data on brand, date range observed and spend were downloaded and summarized. Characteristics and themes of advert...

Research paper thumbnail of Tobacco Retail Outlet Density and Young Adult Tobacco Initiation

Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, Jan 8, 2015

A growing body of evidence indicates that the density of tobacco retail outlets around the home r... more A growing body of evidence indicates that the density of tobacco retail outlets around the home residence may influence tobacco use among youth and adults. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of neighborhood tobacco retail outlet density on young adult initiation of different tobacco product types. Cross-sectional data from a 2013 nationally representative sample of young adults aged 18-34 was examined in relation to a 2012 geocoded listing of all outlets likely to sell tobacco in the United States. Separate multivariable logistic regression analyses examined associations between neighborhood outlet density and past 6 months first use of cigarettes, non-cigarette combustible products, and noncombustible products among adults aged 18-24 and 25-34. Outlet density was significantly associated with recent initiation of cigarettes and other combustibles, but this impact varied for younger and older groups. Increased density was significantly associated with a higher likel...

Research paper thumbnail of A multilevel analysis of gender, Latino immigrant enclaves, and tobacco use behavior

Journal of urban health : bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine, 2014

Research suggests that immigrant enclaves positively influence health behaviors such as tobacco u... more Research suggests that immigrant enclaves positively influence health behaviors such as tobacco use through supportive social networks and informal social control mechanisms that promote healthy behavioral norms. Yet, the influence of social cohesion and control on tobacco use may depend on smoking-related norms, which can vary by gender. This study examines the influence of neighborhood Latino immigrant enclave status on smoking and cessation among Hispanic men and women. Data from the Los Angeles Family and Neighborhood Survey was combined with census data to assess the relationship between immigrant enclaves, gender, and smoking using multilevel regression. The effect of the Hispanic enclave environment on smoking differed by gender. Living in an enclave had a harmful effect on tobacco use among Hispanic men, marginally increasing the likelihood of smoking and significantly reducing cessation. This effect was independent of neighborhood socioeconomic status, nativity, and other i...

Research paper thumbnail of Tobacco retail outlet advertising practices and proximity to schools, parks and public housing affect Synar underage sales violations in Washington, DC

Tobacco control, 2015

To examine the cross-sectional association between illicit sales of tobacco to minors, Washington... more To examine the cross-sectional association between illicit sales of tobacco to minors, Washington DC tobacco outlet advertising practices, retail store type, the demographic make-up of the area surrounding each outlet, and the proximity of each outlet to high schools, recreational parks and public housing. Seven hundred and fifty tobacco outlets in the DC area, n=347 of which were randomly selected for inspection by the Synar Inspection Program in 2009-2010. The presence of tobacco advertisements on the interior and exterior of each outlet, and illicit tobacco sales to Synar Inspection Program youth volunteers. The presence of tobacco advertisements on the exterior of gas stations was much greater than on other retail store types (OR=6.68; 95% CI 4.05 to 11.01), as was the absence of any advertisements at bars or restaurants that sold tobacco (OR=0.33; 95% CI 0.22 to 0.52). Exterior tobacco advertisements were also more likely in predominantly African-American areas of the city (OR=...

Research paper thumbnail of Purchasing patterns and smoking behaviors after a large tobacco tax increase: a study of Chinese Americans living in New York City

Public health reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974)

Tobacco taxes are one of the most effective policy interventions to reduce tobacco use. Tax avoid... more Tobacco taxes are one of the most effective policy interventions to reduce tobacco use. Tax avoidance, however, lessens the public health benefits of higher-priced cigarettes. Few studies examine responses to cigarette tax policies, particularly among high-risk minority populations. This study examined the prevalence and correlates of tax avoidance and changes in smoking behaviors among Chinese American smokers in New York City after a large tax increase. We conducted a cross-sectional study with data for 614 male smokers from in-person and telephone interviews using a comprehensive household-based survey of 2,537 adults aged 18-74 years. Interviews were conducted in multiple Chinese dialects. A total of 54.7% of respondents reported engaging in at least one low- or no-tax strategy after the New York City and New York State tax increases. The more common strategies for tax avoidance were purchasing cigarettes from a private supplier/importer and purchasing duty free/overseas. Higher...

Research paper thumbnail of Physician and dentist tobacco use counseling and adolescent smoking behavior: results from the 2000 National Youth Tobacco Survey

Pediatrics, 2005

The present study describes patterns of tobacco use counseling among physicians and dentists as r... more The present study describes patterns of tobacco use counseling among physicians and dentists as reported by adolescents and determines the association between provider advice to quit and cessation activities among current smokers. Data were analyzed from the 2000 National Youth Tobacco Survey, an anonymous, self-administered, school-based survey. The National Youth Tobacco Survey was administered to a nationally representative sample of 35828 students in grades 6 to 12 in 324 schools. Thirty-three percent of adolescents who visited a physician or a dentist in the past year reported that a physician counseled them about the dangers of tobacco use, and 20% reported that a dentist provided a similar message. Among students who smoked in the past year, 16.4% received advice to quit from a physician and 11.6% received advice to quit from a dentist. Physician or dentist advice to quit was correlated with 1 or more quit attempts in the past 12 months. On the basis of adolescent reports, ph...

Research paper thumbnail of The impact of the tobacco retail outlet environment on adult cessation and differences by neighborhood poverty

Addiction, 2014

This study examined the impact of tobacco retail outlets on cessation outcomes over time among no... more This study examined the impact of tobacco retail outlets on cessation outcomes over time among non-treatment-seeking smokers and assessed differences by neighborhood poverty and individual factors. Observational longitudinal cohort study using geospatial data. We used generalized estimating equations to examine cessation outcomes in relation to the proximity and density of tobacco retail outlets near the home. Eight large Designated Media Areas across the United States. A total of 2377 baseline smokers followed over three waves from 2008 to 2010. Outlet addresses were identified through North American Industry Classification System codes and proximity and density measures were constructed for each participant at each wave. Outcomes included past 30-day abstinence and pro-cessation attitudes. Smokers in high poverty census tracts living between 500 m and 1.9 km from an outlet were over two times more likely to be abstinent than those living fewer than 500 m from an outlet (P < 0.05). Density within 500 m of home was associated with reduced abstinence [odds ratio (OR) = 0.94; confidence interval (CI) = 0.90, 0.98) and lower pro-cessation attitudes (Coeff = -0.07, CI = -0.10, -0.03) only in high poverty areas. In low poverty areas, density within 500 m was associated with greater pro-cessation attitudes (OR = 0.06; CI = 0.01, 0.12). Gender, education and heaviness of smoking did not moderate the impact of outlet proximity and density on cessation outcomes. In the United States, density of tobacco outlets within 500 m of the home residence appears to be negatively associated with smoking abstinence and pro-cessation attitudes only in poor areas.

Research paper thumbnail of Cameras for Public Health Surveillance: A Methods Protocol for Crowdsourced Annotation of Point-of-Sale Photographs

JMIR Research Protocols, 2014

Photographs are an effective way to collect detailed and objective information about the environm... more Photographs are an effective way to collect detailed and objective information about the environment, particularly for public health surveillance. However, accurately and reliably annotating (ie, extracting information from) photographs remains difficult, a critical bottleneck inhibiting the use of photographs for systematic surveillance. The advent of distributed human computation (ie, crowdsourcing) platforms represents a veritable breakthrough, making it possible for the first time to accurately, quickly, and repeatedly annotate photos at relatively low cost.

Research paper thumbnail of Individual mobility patterns and real-time geo-spatial exposure to point-of-sale tobacco marketing

Proceedings of the conference on Wireless Health - WH '12, 2012

Health-related behaviors occur as part of a broad socio-ecological context that unfolds dynamical... more Health-related behaviors occur as part of a broad socio-ecological context that unfolds dynamically over time. Yet systematic quantification of the way individuals come into contact with health-related features in their local environment remains a difficult challenge. Doing so requires a multi-tiered approach that integrates both individual geo-location data and comprehensive community-level information about health-related features in the local built environment.

Research paper thumbnail of Electronic cigarette advertising at the point-of-sale: a gap in tobacco control research

Research paper thumbnail of Patterns of combustible tobacco use in U.S. young adults and potential response to graphic cigarette health warning labels

Addictive behaviors, 2015

In the evolving landscape of tobacco use, it remains unclear how tobacco control efforts should b... more In the evolving landscape of tobacco use, it remains unclear how tobacco control efforts should be designed and promoted for maximum impact. The current study links the identification of latent classes of young adult combustible tobacco users with anticipated responses to graphic health warning labels (HWLs). Data were collected in January 2012 using an online address-based panel as part of the Legacy Young Adult Cohort Study, and analyses were conducted in 2013. Latent class analyses identified five groups of tobacco users in a national sample of 4,236 young adults aged 18-34years: (1) little cigar/cigarillo/bidi (LCC) and hookah users (4%); (2) nonusers, open to smoking (3%); (3) daily smokers who self-identify as "smokers" (11%); (4) nondaily, light smokers who self-identify as "social or occasional smokers" (9%); and (5) nonusers closed to smoking (73%). Of the nonusers closed to smoking, 23% may be better characterized as at risk for tobacco initiation. Resu...