Sabemos
An English- Spanish-language communications kit designed to promote awareness of existing positive social norms regarding in-home protection from secondhand smoke.

Br J Cancer. 2008 Mar 25 [Epub ahead of print] Stein L, Urban MI, Weber M, Ruff P, Hale M, Donde B, Patel M, Sitas F. 1MRC/NHLS/Wits Cancer Epidemiology Research Group, National Health Laboratory Service, PO Box 1038, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa. Abstract Demographic and lifestyle information from 9690 black patients diagnosed with cancer or cardiovascular disease was collected in an ongoing case-control study in Johannesburg, South Africa. Compared to never smokers, the odds ratio (OR) for lung cancer among current smokers was 16.3 (95% confidence interval (CI), 9.6-27.6) for men and 6.4 (95% CI, 4.0-10.4) for women. The corresponding OR for other smoking-related cancers was 4.6 (95% CI, 3.7-5.7) among men and 1.9 (95% CI, 1.6-2.2) among women, and for cardiovascular disease, 3.4 (95% CI, 2.1-5.4) among men and 1.5 (95% CI, 1.1-2.1) among women. Risks were higher among smokers than former smokers, and all risk estimates increased with increasing levels of smoking duration and intensity. Non-electric domestic fuel was associated with approximately 60% increase in the risk of smoking-related cancer, but not cardiovascular disease. Risks for cancers of cervix, oesophagus, oral cavity/pharynx, stomach, larynx, pancreas and anogenital region, as well as squamous cell carcinoma of skin were all significantly higher among current than never-smokers, with ORs ranging from 1.5 for cervix (95% CI, 1.2-1.8) to 14.7 for larynx (95% CI, 7.2-30). The risks of tobacco-related disease reported here are similar to that currently observed in Western countries, even though cigarette consumption is relatively low in this population.

For the fifth year in a row, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has produced the National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR) and the National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR). These reports measure trends in effectiveness of care, patient safety, timeliness of care, patient centeredness, and efficiency of care. The reports present, in chart form, the latest available findings on quality of and access to health care.

 

is a new Web site guide for planning, leading, and using community health assessments to better understand and ultimately improve the health of communities. It provides insight to the assessment process drawn from experienced professionals and a variety of proven tools from the health and public health sectors. This is a member-only resource and you will need to be logged in.  Once on the website, select "member log-in" in the upper right and enter your ACHI Web site username and password.

 

Also available on the CDC OSH Web site is the Hispanic/Latino Adult Tobacco Survey Guide. The guide highlights the unique attributes of the Hispanic/Latino Adult Tobacco Survey and provides tips for meeting the unique challenges of conducting a population-based sample survey among the Hispanic population. The survey was designed to measure the tobacco-related behaviors, knowledge, attitudes and opinions of Latinos.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) is making available a community outreach tool kit for parenting tobacco-free Hispanic youth. The new resource is Sabemos: Por respeto – Aquí no se fuma: Community Outreach Tool Kit. The campaign is designed to help community leaders heighten awareness among Hispanic parents who have recently arrived in the United States (less than two years) about secondhand smoke and how it can affect them and their children. In addition, the campaign educates and empowers parents on practical steps they can take to achieve a smoke-free environment for their children. The tool kit and separate parenting materials for the consumer can be ordered or downloaded at no cost.

ABSTRACT: Purpose: The objective of this study was to estimate tobacco use prevalence among the Amish in Holmes County, Ohio, using both self-report and a biochemical marker of nicotine exposure.