Journal of Medical Internet Research - International Scientific Journal for Medical Research, Information and Communication on the Internet

Objective: Assess the feasibility and acceptability of a culturally- and linguistically-adapted smoking cessation text messaging intervention for Latino smokers. Methods: Using a community-based strategy, 50 Latino smokers were recruited to participate in a smoking cessation pilot study. Participants received a 12-week text messaging intervention and were offered Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) at no cost. We assessed biochemically verified abstinence at 12 weeks, text messaging interactivity with the program, NRT utilization, self-efficacy, therapeutic alliance, and satisfaction. Results: Participants were 44.8 years old on average (SD 9.80), and they were primarily male (66%) and had no health insurance (78%). Most of the participants were born in Mexico (82%) and were light smokers (1–10 CPD) (68%). All participants requested the first order of NRT, and 66% requested a refill. Participants sent an average of 39.7 text messages during the 12-week intervention (SD 82.70). At 12 weeks, 30% of participants were biochemically verified abstinent (88% follow-up rate) and working alliance mean value was 79.2 (SD 9.04). Self-efficacy mean score increased from 33.98 (SD 10.36) at baseline to 40.05 (SD 17.65) at follow-up (p = 0.04). The majority of participants (90.9%, 40/44) reported being very or extremely satisfied with the program. Conclusion: A culturally- and linguistically-adapted smoking cessation text messaging intervention for Latinos offers a promising strategy to increase the use of NRT, generated high satisfaction and frequent interactivity, significantly increased self-efficacy, produced high therapeutic alliance, and resulted in noteworthy cessation rates at the end of treatment. Additional testing as a formal randomized clinical trial is warranted.

School feeding programs (SFPs) are an important effort to address food insecurity, improve nutritional education, and ultimately improve health outcomes. The objective of this research was to describe the nutritional, cultural, food safety, and agro-family participation of SFPs in different countries and observe the SFP in low-middle and high-income countries to establish disparities. The study followed documentary research of SFP official online resources complemented by a literature review. The programs were assessed in four criteria: (1) nutritional aspects, (2) cultural aspects, (3) food safety, and (4) agro-family participation. Out of 192 countries registered, 117 countries (60.93%) have an SFP, and only 8 (4.16%) do not have SFPs. A total of 67 countries (34.89%) did not have an official online resource and did not respond to follow-up emails. Out of the 117 countries with SFP, all of them had a detailed description of their nutritional aspects, cultural aspects (11.96%), food safety (16.23%), and agro-family participation (23.93%). Europe and Central Asia were the continents with the most comprehensive SFP. While most countries incorporate nutritional aspects and healthy food, cultural, food safety, and agro-family participation must be incorporated in their SPF to optimize children and adolescent development. Moreover, the study identified disparities across countries where the SFPs were identified in low-middle countries compared to middle- and high-income countries.

Journal of Medical Internet Research - International Scientific Journal for Medical Research, Information and Communication on the Internet #Preprint #PeerReviewMe: Warning: This is a unreviewed preprint. Readers are warned that the document has not been peer-reviewed by expert/patient reviewers or an academic editor, may contain misleading claims, and is likely to undergo changes before final publication, if accepted, or may have been rejected/withdrawn. Readers with interest and expertise are encouraged to sign up as peer-reviewer, if the paper is within an open peer-review period. Please cite this preprint only for review purposes or for grant applications and CVs (if you are the author). Background: Of the 14.3 million Mexicans who smoke, only a minority take advantage of evidence-based approaches to smoking cessation. Mobile health interventions have the potential to increase the reach of effective cessation interventions in Mexico and other Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). Objective: To assess an innovative, personalized, and interactive mobile intervention developed for Mexican smokers. Methods: We recruited 40 Mexican smokers to participate in Vive sin Tabaco… ¡Decídete!, a smoking cessation program that uses a tablet-based decision-support software to drive a 12-week text messaging smoking cessation program and pharmacotherapy support. Outcome measures included participant text messaging interactivity with the program, participant satisfaction, and 12-week end-of-treatment abstinence. Results: Average age of participants was 36 years old, primarily male (65%), with at least an undergraduate degree (62.5%). Most participants (95%) smoked daily and were interested in quitting in the next 7 days. As an indicator of participant interactivity, participants sent an average of 21 text messages during the 12-week intervention (SD=17.62). Of the 843 messages that participants sent to the program, only 96 messages (11.3%) used keywords. At 12 weeks, 16 (40%) participants were biochemically verified abstinent using intent-to-treat analysis (87.5% follow-up rate). The majority of participants (84.4%) reported being very satisfied or extremely satisfied with the program. Conclusions: The Vive sin Tabaco… ¡Decídete! smoking cessation mobile intervention was accepted by participants, generated high satisfaction and high text messaging interactivity, and resulted in noteworthy cessation rates at end-of-treatment. This intervention is a promising strategy for smoking cessation in LMICs. Additional testing as a formal randomized clinical trial appears warranted.

Although motivational interviewing (MI) has been shown to be effective in changing health behaviors, its effects on smoking cessation have been mixed. The purpose of the present study is to assess factors of motivation and self-efficacy as they mediate the relationship between MI and smoking cessation. This is a secondary analysis of an MI based smoking cessation randomized trial. MI counseling was associated with change in smoking behaviors during a 12 months intervention but was not related to autonomous motivation, controlled motivation, or self-efficacy at baseline and 6 months, the hypothesized mediators. This study confirmed the pathway to quit smoking through increase in self-efficacy.