The use of Arts-Based Research in Chronic Pain: A Scoping Review.

Background: As an emerging approach, arts-based research holds potential to advance understanding of the complex and multidimensional experiences of chronic pain and means of communicating this experiential evidence. This scoping review aimed to map and explore the extent of arts-based research in chronic non-cancer pain, understand the rationale behind using arts-based research methods, and identify directions for future research. Methods: Databases PsycINFO, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL were searched for eligible English-language articles from inception to November 2022. Out of 1321 article titles and abstracts screened for eligibility, 18 articles underwent full-text screening, with 14 ultimately meeting all inclusion criteria. We conducted a narrative synthesis of data extracted from the 14 reviewed articles. Results: The review articles focused on a wide range of chronic non-cancer pain conditions, with 12/14 employing qualitative methods (86%), one repeated measures experimental design, and another a multiphase, multimethod design. Seven articles described the use of drawing, painting, or mixed-media artwork; four used photography; two used body mapping; and one used e-book creation. The rationale for arts-based research included exploring and better understanding patients' experiences with chronic non-cancer pain, constructing an intervention, and investigating or validating a clinical tool. Nine articles reported that their arts-based research methods produced unintended therapeutic benefits for participants. Recommendations for future research included using arts-based research to better understand and communicate with patients and providers, exploring convergence with art therapy, and designing creative and flexible multiphased studies involving collaboration across disciplines. Conclusions: Despite the wide variation in sample and art modalities across reviewed articles, arts-based methods were considered suitable and highly effective for investigating chronic non-cancer pain.

Contexte: La neuromodulation par radiofréquence pulsée (NRFP) du nerf grand occipital (NGO) est envisagée chez les patients souffrant de céphalées qui ne parviennent pas à obtenir un bénéfice analgésique durable à partir des blocages nerveux à l'aide d'un anesthésique local et de stéroïdes. Cependant, les données probantes à l'appui de cette pratique ne sont pas claires.Objectifs: Cette revue systématique narrative vise à explorer l'efficacité et la sécurité de la NRFP du NGO sur les maux de tête.Méthodes: Des bases de données ont été consultées pour trouver des études, publiées jusqu'au 1er février 2024, portant sur la NRFP du NGO chez des adultes souffrant de céphalées. Les résumés et les affiches ont été exclus. Le critère principal était le changement dans l'intensité des maux de tête. Les critères secondaires comprenaient l'effet sur la fréquence mensuelle des céphalées, la santé mentale et physique, l'humeur, le sommeil, la consommation d'analgésiques et les effets secondaires. Deux examinateurs ont évalué et extrait les données.Résultats: Vingt-deux articles (2 essais contrôlés randomisés, 11 cohortes et 9 rapports de cas/séries) portant sur 608 patients ont été recensés. Une hétérogénéité considérable a été observée en termes de devis de l'étude, de diagnostic des céphalées, de la cible et des paramètres de la FRP et de l'orientation de l'image. Les réglages de la NRFP variaient (38-42°C, 40-60 V, et 150-400 Ohms). Les études ont démontré que la NRFP procurait une analgésie significative et réduisait la fréquence des céphalées dans la migraine chronique de trois à six mois, et un soulagement significatif de la douleur pour la névralgie occipitale pendant six à dix mois. Des effets indésirables légers ont été signalés dans 3,1 % des participants de la cohorte. Une minorité d'études ont fait état de résultats secondaires. La qualité des données probantes était faible.Conclusion: Les données probantes de faible qualité indiquent un bénéfice analgésique de la NRFP du NGO pour la névralgie occipitale et la migraine chronique, mais son rôle pour d'autres types de céphalées doit être davantage étudié. La cible et les paramètres optimaux de la NRFP restent floues. Des essais contrôlés randomisés de haute qualité sont nécessaires pour explorer davantage le rôle de cette intervention.

Development and cross-validation of simple HPLC-fluorescence and UPLC-MS-UV methods for rapid determination of oleuropein in olive leaves.

INTRODUCTION: Olive leaves, abundant by-products of the olive oil industry, are a rich source of oleuropein, an important polyphenol in olive leaves. So far, no published methods have been validated using matrix standards for oleuropein quantification in olive leaves. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to develop an HPLC method for oleuropein determination in olive leaves using spiked matrix standards prepared from a blank olive leaf matrix, to validate the method with respect to aqueous standards, and cross-validate the HPLC method with UPLC-MS and UPLC-UV techniques. METHODOLOGY: Oleuropein was extracted into methanol and analysed by HPLC with fluorescence detection (FLD; excitation and emission wavelengths 281 and 316 nm, respectively) and by UPLC-MS-UV. For validation, calibration curves of spiked matrix standards (0.4 to 4.8 mg/g) were analysed by the three methods over several days. Oleuropein was then analysed in French olive varieties. RESULTS: For the HPLC-FLD method, repeatability and intermediate precision were less than 5% RSD and linearity was demonstrated by the Fischer test. Differences in results of the spiked placebos by the three methods were non-significant, as confirmed by ANOVA. Extraction recovery was >90%, and there was a strong linear relationship between authentic and spiked matrix standards. The determination of oleuropein in French olive varieties is reported, including analysis in "Olivière" cultivar for the first time, leaves of which contained twice the amount of oleuropein compared with "Picholine". CONCLUSION: Accurate quantification of oleuropein is possible using aqueous standards. Cross-validation indicates that selective analysis can equally be carried out by HPLC or by UPLC-MS techniques.

Occupational and Financial Setbacks in Caregivers of People with Colorectal Cancer: Considerations for Caregiver-Reported Outcomes.

Family caregivers of patients with cancer provide substantial physical, emotional, and functional care throughout the cancer trajectory. While caregiving can create employment and financial challenges, there is insufficient evidence to inform the development of caregiver-reported outcomes (CROs) that assess these experiences. The study purpose was to describe the occupational and financial consequences that were important to family caregivers of a patient with colorectal cancer (CRC) in the context of public health care, which represent potential considerations for CROs. In this qualitative Interpretive Description study, we analyzed interview data from 78 participants (25 caregivers, 37 patients, and 16 healthcare providers). Our findings point to temporary and long-term occupational and financial setbacks in the context of CRC. Caregiving for a person with CRC involved managing occupational implications, including (1) revamping employment arrangements, and (2) juggling work, family, and household demands. Caregiver financial struggles included (1) responding to financial demands at various stages of life, and (2) facing the spectre of lifelong expenses. Study findings offer novel insight into the cancer-related occupational and financial challenges facing caregivers, despite government-funded universal health care. Further research is warranted to develop CRO measures that assess the multifaceted nature of these challenges.

To share or not to share: communication of caregiver-reported outcomes when a patient has colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The importance of patient-centered measurement in cancer care has led to recognition of the potential for caregiver-reported outcomes to improve caregiver, patient and healthcare system outcomes. Yet, there is limited evidence to inform caregiver-reported outcome implementation. Our purpose was to generate evidence to inform the meaningful and constructive integration of caregiver-reported outcomes into cancer care to benefit caregivers, including exploration of the question of the extent to which these assessments should be shared with patients. We focused on caregivers of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) because CRC is common, and associated caregiving can be complex. RESULTS: From our Interpretive Description analysis of qualitative interview data from 78 participants (25 caregivers, 37 patients, and 16 healthcare providers [HCPs]), we identified contrasting perspectives about the sharing of caregiver-reported outcome assessments with patients with CRC. Those who preferred open communication with both the patient and caregiver present considered this essential for supporting the caregiver. The participants who preferred private communication without the patient, cited concern about caregiver- and patient-burden and guilt. Recognizing these perspectives, HCPs described strategies used to navigate sensitivities inherent in preferences for open versus private communication. CONCLUSIONS: The integration of caregiver-reported outcomes into cancer care will require careful consideration of caregiver and patient preferences regarding the communication of caregiver assessments to prevent additional burden.

Potential of Olive Oil Mill Wastewater as a Source of Polyphenols for the Treatment of Skin Disorders: A Review.

Current trends toward naturally occurring compounds of therapeutic interest have contributed to an increasing number of studies on olive oil phenolics in the treatment of diseases with oxidative and inflammatory origins. Recent focus has been on olive oil wastewater, which is richer in phenolic compounds than olive oil itself. In this review, we present findings demonstrating the potential use of olive mill wastewater in dermatology. Particular attention is given to compounds with proven benefits in topical pharmacology: caffeic and ferulic acids, tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol, verbascoside, and oleuropein. The review is divided into different sections: inflammatory skin diseases, microbial effects, wound healing in addition to the antimelanoma properties of olive mill waste phenolics, and their potential in sun protection agents. There is strong evidence to support further studies into the valorization of this abundant and sustainable source of phenolic compounds for use in dermatology and dermo-cosmetic preparations.

Screening Older Adult Men for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: A Scoping Review.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a potentially fatal condition predominantly affecting older adult men (60 years or over). Based on evidence, preventative health-care guidelines recommend screening older males for AAA using ultrasound. In attempts to reduce AAA mortality among men, screening has been utilized for early detection in some Western countries including the UK and Sweden. The current scoping review includes 19 empirical studies focusing on AAA screening in men. The findings from these studies highlight benefits and potential harms of male AAA screening. The benefits of AAA screening for men include decreased incidence of AAA rupture, decreased AAA mortality, increased effectiveness of elective AAA repair surgery, and cost-effectiveness. The potential harms of AAA screening included lack of AAA mortality reduction, negative impacts on quality of life, and inconsistent screening eligibility criteria being applied by primary care practitioners. The current scoping review findings are discussed to suggest changes to AAA screening guidelines and improve policy and practice.

The Effect of a Complementary Therapy Education Seminar on Support Persons of Individuals with Cancer.

Objectives: Complementary therapy (CT) use is prevalent among individuals living with cancer, who often consult family and friends (i.e., support persons) in making decisions about CT. This study examines the effect of an education seminar for adult cancer patients and support persons on the support persons' use, knowledge, and decision-making processes related to CT. Design: A patient education seminar that included support persons was developed and evaluated as part of a CT decision support research program. Survey data were collected before and after the education seminar to examine its impact on support persons' knowledge and use of CT, as well as their engagement in the CT decision-making process. Setting: The study was conducted in Western Canada. Subjects: 62 adult support persons. Interventions: Participants attended a 4-h CT education seminar at one in four provincial cancer centers. The seminar provided recommendations regarding how to make informed decisions about CT, where to find credible information, and key issues to consider to avoid potential risks of CT use. The evidence related to popular CT was also reviewed. Outcome Measures: The primary outcome was support persons' CT knowledge. Secondary outcomes included CT use, information-seeking behavior, decision self-efficacy, decision conflict, and distress. Results: A significant increase in support persons' CT knowledge was observed, as well as improved confidence in CT decision making. There was no significant difference in participants' CT use following the education seminar. Most indicated they would continue to locate information about CT using the Internet. A significant decrease in support persons' decisional conflict was reported; however, there were no significant change in distress related to CT decision making. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the importance of including support persons in patient education related to CT and the positive impact on their knowledge and treatment decision-making processes. No significant change in CT use, information seeking behavior and distress related to CT decisions, however, was observed in the study.

Facing the unknown: uncertain fertility in young adult survivors of childhood cancer.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to describe the challenges young adult childhood cancer survivors (ACCS) experience of living with an unknown fertility status. METHODS: In this qualitative study, we analyzed data from in-depth interviews with 25 ACCS (15 females, 10 males) using content-driven inductive thematic analysis and constant comparative techniques. RESULTS: Three themes provide insight into ACCS' experiences of living with an uncertain fertility status. (1) The marked psychological burden, which included fear, worry, anxiety, and sadness, was ubiquitous. (2) Romantic relationships were negatively affected and entailed fear of disappointing one's partner, the difficulty of discussing fertility issues, and shying away from romantic relationships. (3) Communication challenges with healthcare providers were apparent across the cancer trajectory, made worse by provider knowledge gaps and dismissal of fertility concerns. (4) Well-known gender stereotypes about pregnancy and childrearing were replicated, while the emotional and life impacts that uncertain fertility could exert on males were minimized. CONCLUSION: This study provides beginning insights into the experiences of young ACCS as they navigate an unknown fertility status and highlights existing gaps in fertility-related healthcare services. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Uncertain fertility has implications for survivors' wellbeing that remain poorly addressed by the existing structure of cancer survivor and fertility services. Assessing and addressing the fertility-related needs of ACCS will continue to be a vital component of patient-centered care in the future, and research to develop comprehensive support, resources, and processes of care are vital to meet this priority need.

HPV Vaccine and College-Age Men: A Scoping Review.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) potentially affects every sexually active man in the United States and Canada. In 2017, the vaccine became publicly funded in Canada for males ages 9-26, and was integrated into school vaccination programs. In 2019, HPV vaccination was recommended as routine for all U.S.-based males and females ages 9 through 26, and a shared decision for adults >26 years; however, since the approval of the vaccine in 2006 for females only, the age and dosing recommendations for males have followed a complicated and changing trajectory. Current adherence rates are low among college and university age males (18-26 years); therefore, understanding and addressing the barriers and facilitators for men's HPV vaccination is critically important. The purpose of the current scoping review is to provide a synthesis of recent literature pertaining to HPV in college and university age men, as a means to guiding health-care providers (HCPs). Drawing from 15 published articles, three thematic findings were inductively derived. Theme one, lack of awareness, was underpinned by men's knowledge deficits about their eligibility for, and the availability of HPV vaccines. Theme two, underestimating and embodying risk, included men's engagement in sexual activities while misinformed or denying the risk for contracting HPV. The third theme, strategies for increasing men's awareness, summarizes messaging strategies used to lobby young men to vaccinate. The review findings indicate gender-sensitive interventions targeting college-age men, including early, frequent, and consistent messaging on HPV are key.

Bridging Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening in Transgender Men: A Scoping Review.

Estimates of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and susceptibility to HPV-related cancer in transgender men (TM) are comparable to prevalence rates found in cisgender women. Regular and thorough screening for cervical cancer is equally as crucial for TM as for cisgender women; however, despite continued risk for cervical cancer in TM and associated recommendations for screening, studies indicate disparities in rates of cervical cancer screening (CCS) in TM compared to cisgender women. The current scoping review explores TM's knowledge and experiences of CCS and barriers to screening uptake in this population. A range of barriers were identified including the need for health-care services to provide care for TM within the context of a nonbinary approach to gender identity and health. Findings synthesized from relevant research studies (n = 15; published 2008-2019) are presented, and recommendations are drawn from these findings to inform primary health-care providers' clinical practice and care of TM.

Varietal Effect on the Concentration and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Hydroxytyrosol in French Olive Oils.

Numerous studies have been carried out on the bioactive properties of hydroxytyrosol (HT) in olive oils (OOs), although there are few reports comparing anti-inflammatory activity among different olive varieties or regions of production. The purpose of this study was to investigate the in vitro inflammatory action of HT in extracts of four OO varieties in the Languedoc region of the French Mediterranean. Factors other than cultivar were eliminated, which enabled unambiguous varietal differences to be identified. Purified extracts of OO were obtained using an optimized solid-phase extraction procedure by which only polar compounds were recovered. High performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detection-tandem mass spectrometry was used to identify and quantify HT and oleacein in the extracts. The total polyphenol concentration ranged from 93.00 mg gallic acid equivalent/kg OO for Picholine to 27 mg gallic acid equivalent for Verdale OOs. The concentrations of HT in Picholine, Olivère, and Lucques varieties were 25.3, 18.8 and 12.1 mg/kg, respectively, whereas the concentration of HT in Verdale OOs was less, 1 mg/kg. The in vitro anti-inflammatory response of purified OO extracts, evaluated by the inhibition of nitric oxide release in lipopolysaccharide-induced interferon-γ activated J774.A1 macrophages, strongly correlated with total polyphenol content (R2 > 0.995). The effect increased asymptotically between the equivalent of 2 and 37 mg of OO, reaching, at the maximum tested concentration, 90%, 75%, 62%, and 30% activity for Picholine, Olivière, Lucques, and Verdale, respectively. The results presented here clearly show that, by comparison with authentic standards, the activity of HT in OO extracts was enhanced in a concentration-dependent manner, varying from 3-fold at the highest extract concentration to over 6.5-fold at the lowest extract concentration. Therefore, the anti-inflammatory activity of OOs should be rationalized on the basis of whole extracts rather than solely on the concentration of HT or other bioactive compounds in OO.

Gatekeeping in cancer clinical trials in Canada: The ethics of recruiting the "ideal" patient.

BACKGROUND: Perspectives of clinical trial (CT) personnel on accrual to oncology CTs are relatively absent from the literature. This study explores CT personnel's experience recruiting patients to oncology CTs. METHODS: A qualitative study design was utilized. In-depth, individual interviews with 12 oncology CT personnel were conducted, including six CT nurses and six physician-investigators. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were subjected to thematic and ethical analysis to identify key concepts and themes. RESULTS: CT personnel reported considering two ethical commitments in CT recruitment: maintaining trial integrity and ensuring patient autonomy through obtaining informed consent. The process of gatekeeping emerged as a way to navigate these ethical commitments during CT accrual. Gatekeeping was influenced by: (a) perceptions of patients' personal suitability for a trial, and (b) healthcare resources and infrastructure. CT personnel's discernment of personal suitability was influenced by patients' cognitive and mental health status, language and cultural background, geographic location, family support, and disease status. Three structural factors impacted gatekeeping: complexity of CTs, consent process, and time limitations in the healthcare system. CT personnel experienced most factors as constraints to accrual and gaining patients' informed consent. CONCLUSION: CT personnel discussed navigating ethical challenges in CT recruitment by offering enrollment to specific patient populations, exacerbating other ethical tensions. Systems-level strategies are needed to address barriers to ethical CT recruitment. Future research should investigate the role of policies and/or tools (eg, decision aids) to support patients and CT personnel's discussions about CT participation, promote more ethical recruitment, and potentially increase accrual.

Men's health literacy: a review and recommendations.

Although men's health promotion efforts have attracted programmatic and evaluative research, conspicuously absent are gendered insights to men's health literacy. The current scoping review article shares the findings drawn from 12 published articles addressing men's health literacy in a range of health and illness contexts. Evident was consensus that approaches tailored to men's everyday language and delivered in familiar community-based spaces were central to advancing men's health literacy, and, by extension, the effectiveness of men's health promotion programs. However, most men's health literacy studies focussed on medical knowledge of disease contexts including prostate and colon cancers, while diversity was evident regards conceptual frameworks and/or methods and measures for evaluating men's health literacy. Despite evidence that low levels of health literacy fuel stigma and men's reticence for health help-seeking, and that tailoring programs to health literacy levels is requisite to effective men's health promotion efforts, the field of men's health literacy remains underdeveloped. Based on the scoping review findings, recommendations for future research include integrating men's health literacy research as a needs analysis to more effectively design and evaluate targeted men's health promotion programs.

Depression and Prostate Cancer: Examining Comorbidity and Male-Specific Symptoms.

Depression in men with prostate cancer is a significant and complex issue that can challenge clinicians' diagnostic efforts. The objective of the current study was to evaluate prototypic and male-specific depression symptoms and suicidal ideation in men with a diagnosis of prostate cancer relative to those with and without comorbidity. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Male Depression Risk Scale-22 (MDRS-22) were completed online along with demographic and background variables by 100 men with a diagnosis of prostate cancer ( n = 54 prostatectomy, n = 33 receiving active treatment). Hierarchical logistic regression was used to examine recent (past 2 weeks) suicide ideation. Over one-third of the sample (38%) reported a comorbidity, and this group had significantly higher total depression scores on the PHQ-9 (Cohen's d = 0.65), MDRS-22 emotion suppression ( d = 0.35), and drug use subscales ( d = 0.38) compared to respondents without comorbidity. A total of 14% reported recent suicidal ideation, of which 71.4% of cases were identified by the PHQ-9 "moderate" cut-off, and 85.7% of cases were identified by the MDRS-22 "elevated" cut-off. After control variables, MDRS-22 subscales accounted for 45.1% of variance in recent suicidal ideation. While limited by the exclusive use of self-report data, findings point to the potential benefits of evaluating male-specific symptoms as part of depression and suicide risk screening in men with prostate cancer and the need to be mindful of the heightened risk for depression among men with prostate cancer who have comorbidity.

A Qualitative Study on Chinese Canadian Male Immigrants' Perspectives on Stopping Smoking: Implications for Tobacco Control in China.

China has the largest number of smokers in the world; more than half of adult men smoke. Chinese immigrants smoke at lower rates than the mainstream population and other immigrant groups do. This qualitative study was to explore the influence of denormalization in Canada on male Chinese immigrant smoking after migration. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 22 male Chinese Canadian immigrants who were currently smoking or had quit smoking in the past 5 years. The study identified that, while becoming a prospective/father prompted the Chinese smokers to quit or reduce their smoking due to concern of the impacts of their smoking on the health of their young children, changes in smoking were also associated with the smoking environment. Four facilitators were identified which were related to the denomormalized smoking environment in Canada: (a) the stigma related to being a smoker in Canada, (b) conformity with Canadian smoking bans in public places, (c) the reduced social function of smoking in Canadian culture, and (d) the impact of graphic health messages on cigarette packs. Denormalization of tobacco in Canada in combination with collectivist values among Chinese smokers appeared to contribute to participants' reducing and quitting smoking. Although findings of the study cannot be claimed as generalizable to the wider population of Chinese Canadian immigrants due to the small number of the participants, this study provides lessons for the development of tobacco control measures in China to reverse the current prosmoking social environment.

Smoke-Free Men: Competing and Connecting to Quit.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore gender-related factors that motivate and support men's smoking reduction and cessation to inform effective men-centered interventions. Approach or Design: Focus group design using a semi-structured interview guide. SETTING: Three communities in British Columbia, Canada. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 56 men who currently smoked and were interested in reducing or quitting or had quit. INTERVENTION: N/A. METHODS: Data collected in 6 focus group discussions were transcribed and analyzed in accord with principles of thematic qualitative methods. RESULTS: We report the results across 4 interconnected themes: (1) the fight to quit takes several rounds, (2) the motivation of supportive competition, (3) challenges and benefits of connecting with smoke-free peers, and (4) playing up the physical and financial gains. CONCLUSIONS: Masculine-based perspectives positioned quitting alongside fighting for self-control, competing, connecting, physical prowess, and having extra cash as motivating components of programs to engage men in efforts to be smoke-free. It may be worthwhile to consider the inclusion of gain-framed and benefit-focused messaging in programs that support men's tobacco cessation.

Chinese immigrant men smokers' sources of cigarettes in Canada: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Immigrants often experience economic hardship in their host country and tend to belong to economically disadvantaged groups. Individuals of lower socioeconomic status tend to be more sensitive to cigarette price changes. This study explores the cigarette purchasing patterns among Chinese Canadian male immigrants. METHODS: Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 22 Chinese Canadian immigrants who were smoking or had quit smoking in the last five years. RESULTS: Because of financial pressures experienced by participants, the high price of Canadian cigarettes posed a significant challenge to their continued smoking. While some immigrants bought fully-taxed cigarettes from licensed retailers, more often they sought low-cost cigarettes from a variety of sources. The two most important sources were cigarettes imported during travels to China and online purchases of Chinese cigarettes. The cigarettes obtained through online transactions were imported by smoking or non-smoking Chinese immigrants and visitors, suggesting the Chinese community were involved or complicit in sustaining this form of purchasing behavior. Other less common sources included Canada-USA cross border purchasing, roll your-own pouch tobacco, and buying cigarettes available on First Nations reserves. CONCLUSIONS: Chinese Canadian immigrant men used various means to obtain cheap cigarettes. Future research studies could explore more detailed features of access to expose gaps in policy and improve tobacco regulatory frameworks.

"If I Were Nick": Men's Responses to an Interactive Video Drama Series to Support Smoking Cessation.

BACKGROUND: Men continue to smoke in greater numbers than women; however, few interventions have been developed and tested to support men's cessation. Men tend to rely on quitting strategies associated with stereotypical manliness, such as willpower, stoicism, and independence, but they may lack the self-efficacy skills required to sustain a quit. In this paper, we describe the development of and reception to an interactive video drama (IVD) series, composed of 7 brief scenarios, to support and strengthen men's smoking cessation efforts. The value of IVD in health promotion is predicated on the evidence that viewers engage with the material when they are presented characters with whom they can personally identify. The video dramatizes the challenges unfolding in the life of the main character, Nick, on the first day of his quit and models the skills necessary to embark upon a sustainable quit. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to describe men's responses to the If I were Nick IVD series as part of a study of QuitNow Men, an innovative smoking cessation website designed for men. Specific objectives were to explore the resonance of the main character of the IVD series with end-users and explore men's perceptions of the effectiveness of the IVD series for supporting their quit self-management. METHODS: Seven brief IVD scenarios were developed, filmed with a professional actor, and uploaded to a new online smoking cessation website, QuitNow Men. A sample of 117 men who smoked were recruited into the study and provided baseline data prior to access to the QuitNow Men website for a 6-month period. During this time, 47 men chose to view the IVDs. Their responses to questions about the IVDs were collected in online surveys at 3-month and 6-month time points and analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: The majority of participants indicated they related to the main character, Nick. Participants who "strongly agreed" they could relate to Nick perceived significantly higher levels of support from the IVDs than the "neutral" and "disagree" groups (P<.001, d=2.0, P<.001, d=3.1). The "agree" and "neutral" groups were significantly higher on rated support from the videos than the "disagree" (P<.001, d=2.2, P=.01, d=1.5). Participants' perception of the main character was independent of participant age, education attainment, or previous quit attempts. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that IVD interventions may be an important addition to men's smoking cessation programs. Given that the use of IVD scenarios in health promotion is in its infancy, the positive outcomes from this study signal the potential for IVD and warrant ongoing evaluation in smoking cessation and, more generally, men's health promotion.

A Motivational, Gender-Sensitive Smoking Cessation Resource for Family Members of Patients With Lung Cancer.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To gather feedback on an innovative gender-sensitive booklet that draws on emotional connections and relationship factors to motivate smoking cessation. RESEARCH APPROACH: Qualitative, descriptive. SETTING: Six provinces in Canada. PARTICIPANTS: 30 family members of patients with lung cancer who were currently smoking or had recently quit. METHODOLOGIC APPROACH: Parallel booklets for women and men were developed using language and images to emphasize family relationships and gender considerations to motivate smoking cessation. Participants were provided with the women's and men's versions of the resource, and they were asked to review the gender-specific version of the booklet that was relevant to them. Semistructured telephone interviews were conducted, and transcriptions were analyzed for themes. FINDINGS: Three themes were evident in the data, including "new perspectives. CONCLUSIONS: A gender-sensitive approach that focuses on relationship factors represents an acceptable way to engage relatives of patients with lung cancer in discussions to support smoking cessation. INTERPRETATION: Approaches to supporting smoking cessation among relatives of patients diagnosed with lung cancer should draw on positive relationship bonds and caring connections to motivate cessation.

A qualitative study of Chinese Canadian fathers' smoking behaviors: intersecting cultures and masculinities.

BACKGROUND: China is home to the largest number of smokers in the world; more than half of the male population smoke. Given the high rates of Chinese immigration to Canada and the USA, researchers have explored the effect of immigration on Chinese smokers. Reduced tobacco use among Chinese immigrants has been reported in the United States; however, little is known about the social factors underlying men's smoking practices in settings where tobacco control measures have denormalized smoking, and in the context of fatherhood. The purpose of this Canada-based study was to explore the smoking-related experiences of immigrant Chinese fathers. METHODS: In this qualitative study, semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 22 Chinese Canadian fathers who smoked or had recently quit smoking, and had at least one child under the age of five years old. RESULTS: The Chinese fathers had dramatically changed their smoking patterns due to concern for their children's health and social norms and restrictions related to smoking in Canada. The facilitators and barriers for men's smoking were intertwined with idealized masculine provider and protector roles, and diverse Canadian Chinese cultural norms related to tobacco use. CONCLUSIONS: The findings have implications for the development of future smoking cessation interventions targeting Chinese Canadian immigrant smokers as well as smokers in China.