BACKGROUND: This study examined the potential for tobacco use and other health risk behavior interventions in the context of an urban sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinic. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of two populations. Adolescents seen at an STD clinic or at the teen clinic of a community health center completed a self-administered computer survey in 1996. Risk behaviors, attitudes, and readiness to stop smoking were analyzed for 225 patients at the STD clinic and 248 patients at the teen clinic. RESULTS: Compared with adolescents in the teen clinic, adolescents in the STD clinic were more likely to have smoked frequently (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1, 3.0), used any illegal drug (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.3, 5.5), recently binged on alcohol (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.0, 2.8), and had more than 10 lifetime sexual partners (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.0, 3.4). Weapon carrying, readiness to stop smoking, and attitudes toward smoking did not differ between sites. CONCLUSIONS: Cigarette smoking and other health risk behaviors are more prevalent among adolescents in an STD clinic than among adolescents in a community health center. STD clinics are potential sites for cigarette, alcohol, and drug use interventions among "hard to reach" adolescents.
BACKGROUND: This study examined the potential for tobacco use and other health risk behavior interventions in the context of an urban sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinic. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of two populations. Adolescents seen at an STD clinic or at the teen clinic of a community health center completed a self-administered computer survey in 1996. Risk behaviors, attitudes, and readiness to stop smoking were analyzed for 225 patients at the STD clinic and 248 patients at the teen clinic. RESULTS: Compared with adolescents in the teen clinic, adolescents in the STD clinic were more likely to have smoked frequently (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1, 3.0), used any illegal drug (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.3, 5.5), recently binged on alcohol (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.0, 2.8), and had more than 10 lifetime sexual partners (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.0, 3.4). Weapon carrying, readiness to stop smoking, and attitudes toward smoking did not differ between sites. CONCLUSIONS: Cigarette smoking and other health risk behaviors are more prevalent among adolescents in an STD clinic than among adolescents in a community health center. STD clinics are potential sites for cigarette, alcohol, and drug use interventions among "hard to reach" adolescents.
Authors: Claudia Holzman; Janet Eyster; Mary Kleyn; Lynne C Messer; Jay S Kaufman; Barbara A Laraia; Patricia O'Campo; Jessica G Burke; Jennifer Culhane; Irma T Elo Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2009-08-20 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Lori A J Scott-Sheldon; Michael P Carey; Peter A Vanable; Theresa E Senn; Patricia Coury-Doniger; Marguerite A Urban Journal: J Stud Alcohol Drugs Date: 2009-09 Impact factor: 2.582