Evaluation of Early and Late High School Student Science Research and Mentorship Programs: Virtual Gateway to Science Curricula and Mentorship During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

People from racial and ethnic minoritized groups, those with disabilities, and those from low-income backgrounds are underrepresented in biomedical careers. Increasing diversity in the biomedical workforce, particularly health care providers, is imperative to address the disparities faced by minoritized patients. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted disparities experienced by minoritized populations and emphasized the need for a more diverse biomedical workforce. Science internship, mentorship, and research programs, which have historically been conducted in person, have been shown to increase interest in biomedical fields for minoritized students. During the pandemic, many science internship programs pivoted to virtual programming. This evaluation focuses on two such programs for both early and late high school students and evaluates change in scientific identity and scientific tasks pre- and post-program. Additionally, early high school students were interviewed to obtain more in-depth information on the program experiences and effects. Early and late high school students reported increased scientific identity and comfort with scientific tasks compared pre- to post-program in several domains. Desire to pursue biomedical careers was maintained pre- to post-program for both groups. These results highlight the importance and acceptance of developing curricula for online platforms to help boost interest in biomedical fields and desire for biomedical careers.

What Does It Meme? A Qualitative Analysis of Adolescents' Perceptions of Tobacco and Marijuana Messaging.

OBJECTIVES: With the increasing popularity of electronic cigarettes and legalization of recreational marijuana, messaging from websites and social media is shaping product perceptions and use. Quantitative research on the aesthetic appeal of these advertisements from the adolescent and young adult perspective is lacking. We evaluated (1) how adolescents and young adults perceived tobacco and marijuana messaging online and through social media platforms and (2) interactive behaviors related to these messages. METHODS: We interviewed 24 participants from the Tobacco Perceptions Study, a longitudinal study of adolescents' and young adults' (aged 17-21) tobacco-related perceptions and tobacco use. We collected qualitative data from October 2017 through February 2018, through individual semi-structured interviews, on participants' experiences and interactions with online tobacco and marijuana advertisements and the advertisements' appeal. Two analysts recorded, transcribed, and coded interviews. RESULTS: Themes that emerged from the interviews focused on the direct appeal of online messaging to adolescents and young adults; the value of trusting the source; the role of general attitudes and personal decision-making related to using tobacco and/or marijuana; the appeal of messaging that includes colors, interesting packaging, and appealing flavors; and the preference of messages communicated by young people and influencers rather than by industry. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest the need for increased regulation of social media messaging and marketing of tobacco and marijuana, with a particular focus on regulating social media, paid influencers, and marketing that appeals to adolescents and young adults. The findings also suggest the importance of prevention programs addressing the role of social media in influencing the use of tobacco and marijuana.

The NIDDK High School Short-Term Research Experience for Underrepresented Persons.

Background: Increasing the pipeline of aspiring minority biomedical/health professionals is a crucial component to diversifying the health science workforce. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) created the High School Short-Term Research Experience for Underrepresented Persons (HS-STEP-UP) to provide introductory biomedical/biobehavioral research experiences to promising high school students, who are traditionally underrepresented in the biomedical/biobehavioral sciences. The program reaches out to African American and Lationo/Hispanic students, as well as Native American students and students from the United States Territories. Methods: HS-STEP-UP provides a stimulating, rigorous 8- to 10-week summer research experience for a national cohort of ~100 high school students each year; the experience is organized through four National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded coordinating centers. Typically, the program receives about 300 applications a year and about 100 students are accepted. Applicants are reviewed and selected based upon their online application that includes: a high school transcript, list of classes and extracurricular activities, two recommendation letters and a personal statement. The program culminates with a symposium at the NIH where students present their research and attend workshops and seminars. Results: For the 2017 and 2018 HS-STEP-UP programs, the classes included 193 students; 67% were females and 82% were underrepresented minorities. Forty eight percent of students reported a family income <$37,000/year, and 23% were from first generation college families. Ninety percent were very satisfied or satisfied with their research topic and 94% rated the end of the year symposium at NIH as excellent or very good. Only 65% were very satisfied or satisfied with their mentor matching, and 21% stated they were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with their mentor. All the students successfully completed their summer research projects and presented their research abstracts at the symposium. All participating seniors reported attending college. Conclusion: HS-STEP-UP has been highly successful in recruiting traditionally underrepresented students and supporting underrepresented HS students with a rewarding introductory experience to research. Students are overall satisfied with the program, but mentor matching needs more attention. Longer-term follow-up is needed to determine how participating in STEP UP impacts their decisions to participate in the biomedical workforce in the future.

Youth say ads for flavored e-liquids are for them.

INTRODUCTION: E-cigarettes are the most popular tobacco product among adolescents and young adults ("AYA") and are available in many flavors. The e-cigarette industry argues that flavors are not meant to appeal to youth, yet no study has asked youth what age group they think ads for flavored e-liquids are targeting. We asked AYA which age group they thought ads for flavored e-liquids targeted. METHODS: In 2016 as part of a larger survey, a random sample of 255 youth from across California (62.4% female, mean age = 17.5, SD = 1.7) viewed eight ads, presented in randomized order, for fruit-, dessert-, alcohol-, and coffee-flavored e-liquids and indicated the age group they thought the ads targeted: younger, same age, a little older, or much older than them. Population means and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using bootstrapping (100,000 replicate samples). RESULTS: Most participants (93.7%) indicated the cupcake man flavor ad targeted an audience of people younger than they. Over half felt ads for smoothy (68.2%), cherry (63.9%), vanilla cupcake (58%), and caramel cappuccino (50.4%) targeted their age and for no flavor ad did most feel the primary target age group was much older. CONCLUSIONS: Youth believe ads for flavored e-liquids target individuals about their age, not older adults. Findings support the need to regulate flavored e-liquids and associated ads to reduce youth appeal, which ultimately could reduce youth use of e-cigarettes.

Point prevalence of diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidaemia, hypertension and smoking in outpatients on clozapine.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with schizophrenia are known to be at higher risk than the general population of cardiovascular disease. Clozapine has been associated in the literature with high levels of cardiovascular risk factors such as weight gain, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia and hypertension. We set out to determine the prevalence of these risk factors in a population of Irish psychiatric patients. METHOD: In February 2006 we measured body mass index, fasting blood glucose, haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), lipid levels, mean blood pressure and smoking rates among all outpatients prescribed clozapine attending an urban, community based mental health service. RESULTS: There were 50 outpatients (33 male; 17 female) on clozapine and they had been taking it for a mean of 5.4 years (mean daily dose 428.8mg). The mean body mass index was 28.3. Patients had gained a mean of 8kg since commencing clozapine. One patient had been diagnosed with diabetes. Of the other 49 none met diagnostic criteria for diabetes. The mean fasting blood glucose was 5.5mmol/l and the mean HbA1c was 5.7%. One patient was on treatment for hyperlipidaemia. The mean fasting cholesterol among the other 49 patients was 5.4mmol/l, while the mean fasting triglycerides was 2.1 mmol/l. Thirty (61.2%) had a fasting cholesterol greater than 5.0mmol/l, while 18 (36.7%) had triglycerides of greater than 2.0mmol/l. Three patients were on treatment for hypertension. Thirty-six of the 50 (72%) smoked (mean 13 cigarettes per day). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia and hypertension in this population was high but lower than might have been expected from US studies. It is important that cardiovascular risk factors are closely monitored and actively addressed in this at risk population.