Patient and caregiver preferences and prioritized outcomes for cardiac surgery: A scoping review and consultation workshop.

OBJECTIVE(S): In light of the absence of patient and caregiver input in Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Cardiac Surgery guideline development, we conducted a scoping review to identify patient and caregiver preferences and prioritized outcomes related to perioperative care in cardiac surgery and its lifelong impact. METHODS: Five electronic databases were searched to retrieve studies investigating patient or caregiver preferences and prioritized outcomes. Information was charted in duplicate and analyzed using descriptive statistics or thematic analysis. A patient and caregiver consultation workshop validated scoping review findings and solicited novel preferences and outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 5292 articles retrieved, 43 met inclusion criteria. Most were from Europe (n = 19, 44%) or North America (n = 15, 35%) and qualitative and quantitative designs were represented in equal proportions. Fifty-two methods were used to obtain stakeholder preferences and prioritized outcomes, the majority being qualitative in nature (n = 32, 61%). Based on the collective preferences of 3772 patients and caregivers from the review and 17 from the consultation workshop, a total of 108 patient preferences, 32 caregiver preferences, and 19 prioritized outcomes were identified. The most commonly identified theme was "information and education." Improved quality of life was the most common patient-prioritized outcome, and all caregiver-prioritized outcomes were derived from the consultation workshop. CONCLUSIONS: Patient and caregiver preferences overlap with Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Cardiac Surgery recommendations targeting preoperative risk reduction strategies, prehabilitation, patient engagement technology, and intra- and postoperative strategies to reduce discomfort. To support clinical practice, future research should investigate associations with key surgical outcomes.

Access Denied: Nurses' Perspectives of Access to Oncology Care Among Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

Inequitable access to oncology care is a significant issue among Indigenous Peoples in Canada; however, the perspectives of oncology nurses have not been explored. Guided by an interpretive descriptive methodology, we explored nurses' perspectives on access to oncology care among Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Nurses described the health care system as "broken" and barriers to accessing oncology care as layered and compounding. Lack of culturally safe care was articulated as a significant issue impacting equitable access, while biomedical discourses were pervasive and competed with nurses' attempts at providing culturally safe and trauma- and violence-informed care by discounting the relational work of nurses.

Use of a mobile health application by adult non-congenital cardiac surgery patients: A feasibility study.

Mobile Health (mHealth) technologies are becoming integral to our healthcare system. This study evaluated the feasibility (compliance, usability and user satisfaction) of a mHealth application (app) for delivering Enhanced Recovery Protocols (ERPs) information to Cardiac Surgery (CS) patients peri-operatively. This single centre, prospective cohort study involved patients undergoing CS. Patients received a mHealth app developed for the study at consent and for 6-8 weeks post-surgery. Patients completed system usability, patient satisfaction and quality of life surveys pre- and post-surgery. A total of 65 patients participated in the study (mean age of 64 years). The app achieved an overall utilization rate of 75% (68% vs 81% for <65 and ≥65 years respectively). Pre-surgery, the majority of patients found the app easy to use (94%), user-friendly (89%), and felt confident using the app (92%). The majority also found the app's educational information useful (90%) and easy to find (88%). 75% of patients reported that they would like to use the app frequently. This percentage decreased to 57% in the post-discharge survey. A lower percentage of patients ≥65 years indicated their preference for the app over printed information (51% vs 87%) and their recommendation for the app (84% vs 100% for >65 and <65 years respectively) in the post-surgery survey. MHealth technology is feasible for peri-operative CS patient education, including older adult patients. The majority of patients were satisfied with the app and would recommend using it over the use of printed materials.

Putting patient value first: Using a modified nominal group technique for the implementation of enhanced recovery after cardiac surgery recommendations.

Objective: In 2019, the Society for Enhanced Recovery After Cardiac Surgery (ERAS-CS) published perioperative guidelines to optimize the care of patients undergoing cardiac surgery. For centers with limited capacity, a sequential approach to the implementation of the full guidelines may be more feasible. Therefore, we aimed to explore the priority of implementation of the ERAS-CS guideline recommendations from a patient and caregiver perspective. Methods: Using a modified nominal group technique, individuals who previously underwent cardiac surgery and their caregivers ranked ERAS-CS recommendations within 3 time points (ie, preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative) and across 2 to 3 voting rounds. Final round rankings (median, mean and first quartile) were used to determine relative priorities. Results: Seven individuals (5 patients and 2 caregivers) participated in the study. Patient engagement tools (2, 2.29, and 1.50), surgical site infection reduction (2, 1.67, and 1.25), and postoperative systematic delirium screening (1, 2.43, and 1.00) were the top-ranked ERAS-CS recommendations in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative time points, respectively. Conclusions: Exploration of patient and caregiver priorities may provide important insights to guide the healthcare team with clinical pathway development and implementation. Further study is needed to understand the impact of the integration of patient and caregiver values on effective and sustainable clinical pathway implementation.

A critical exploration of nurses' perceptions of access to oncology care among Indigenous peoples: Results of a national survey.

Inequities in access to oncology care among Indigenous peoples in Canada are well documented. Access to oncology care is mediated by a range of factors; however, emerging evidence suggests that healthcare providers, including nurses, play a significant role in shaping healthcare access. The purpose of this study was to critically examine access to oncology care among Indigenous peoples in Canada from the perspective of oncology nurses. Guided by postcolonial theoretical perspectives, interpretive descriptive and critical discourse analysis methodologies informed study design and data analysis. Oncology nurses were recruited from across Canada to complete an online survey (n = 78). Nurses identified a range of barriers experienced by Indigenous peoples when accessing oncology care, yet located these barriers primarily at the individual and systems levels. Nurses perceived themselves as mediators of access to oncology care; however, their efforts to facilitate access to care were constrained by the dominance of biomedicine within healthcare. Nurses' constructions of access to oncology care highlight the embedded narrative of individualism within nursing practice and the relative invisibility of racism as a determinant of equitable access to care among Indigenous peoples. This suggests a need for oncology nurses to better understand and incorporate structural determinants of health perspectives.

Expanding enhanced recovery protocols for cardiac surgery to include the patient voice: a scoping review protocol.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac surgery is becoming increasingly common in older, more vulnerable adults. A focus on timely and complete medical and functional recovery has led to the development of enhanced recovery protocols (ERPs) for a number of surgical procedures and subspecialties, including cardiac surgery (ERAS® Cardiac). An element that is often overlooked in the development and implementation of ERPs is the involvement of key stakeholder groups, including surgery patients and caregivers (e.g., family and/or friends). The aim of this study is to describe a protocol for a scoping review of cardiac patient and caregiver preferences and outcomes relevant to cardiac surgery ERPs. METHODS: Using Arksey and O'Malley's et al six-stage framework for scoping review methodologies with adaptions from Levac et al. (Represent Interv: 1-18, 2012), a scoping review of existing literature describing patient- and caregiver-identified preferences and outcomes as they relate to care received in the perioperative period of cardiac surgery will be undertaken. The search for relevant articles will be conducted using electronic databases (i.e., the Cochrane Library, Medline, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Embase), as well as through a search of the grey literature (e.g., CPG Infobase, Heart and Stroke Foundation, ProQuest Theses and Dissertations, Google Advanced, and Prospero). Published and unpublished full-text articles written in English, published after the year 2000, and that relate to the research question will be included. Central to the design of this scoping review is our collaboration with two patient partners who possess lived experience as cardiac surgery patients. DISCUSSION: This review will identify strategies that can be integrated into ERPs for cardiac surgery which align with patient- and caregiver-defined values. Broadly, it is our goal to demonstrate the added value of patient engagement in research to aid in the success of system change processes.

Randomised controlled trial protocol for the PROTECT-CS Study: PROTein to Enhance outComes of (pre)frail paTients undergoing Cardiac Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: In the past 20 years, the increasing burden of heart disease in an ageing population has resulted in cardiac surgery (CS) being offered to more frail and older patients with multiple comorbidities. Frailty and malnutrition are key geriatric syndromes that impact postoperative outcomes, including morbidity, mortality and prolonged hospital length of stay. Enhanced recovery protocols (ERPs), such as prehabilitation, have been associated with a reduction in complications after CS in vulnerable patients. The use of nutritional ERPs may enhance short-term and long-term recovery and mitigate frailty progression while improving patient-reported outcomes. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This trial is a two-centre, double-blinded, placebo, randomised controlled trial with blinded endpoint assessment and intention-to-treat analysis. One-hundred and fifty CS patients will be randomised to receive either a leucine-rich protein supplement or a placebo with no supplemented protein. Patients will consume their assigned supplement two times per day for approximately 2 weeks pre-procedure, during in-hospital postoperative recovery and for 8 weeks following discharge. The primary outcome will be the Short Physical Performance Battery score. Data collection will occur at four time points including baseline, in-hospital (pre-discharge), 2-month and 6-month time points post-surgery. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The University of Manitoba Biomedical Research Ethics Board (20 March 2018) and the St Boniface Hospital Research Review Committee (28 June 2019) approved the trial protocol for the primary site in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The second site's (Montreal, Quebec) ethics has been submitted and pending approval from the Research Ethics and New Technology Development Committee for the Montreal Heart Institute (December 2020). Recruitment for the primary site started February 2020 and the second site will begin January 2021. Data gathered from the PROTein to Enhance outComes of (pre)frail paTients undergoing Cardiac Surgery Study will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences. Knowledge translation strategies will be created to share findings with stakeholders who are positioned to implement evidence-informed change. POTENTIAL STUDY IMPACT: Malnutrition and frailty play a crucial role in post-CS recovery. Nutritional ERPs are increasingly being recognised as a clinically relevant aspect of perioperative care. As such, this trial is to determine if leucine-rich protein supplementation at key intervals can mitigate frailty progression and facilitate enhanced postoperative recovery. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT04038294).

A Scoping Review of Foci, Trends, and Gaps in Reviews of Tobacco Control Research.

INTRODUCTION: The burden of disease associated with tobacco use has prompted a substantial increase in tobacco-related research, but the breadth of this literature has not been comprehensively examined. This review examines the nature of the research addressing the action areas in World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the populations targeted and how equity-related concepts are integrated. METHOD: A scoping review of published reviews addressing tobacco control within the primary prevention domain. We searched PubMed, Scopus, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane Library, Educational Resources Information Centre, and PsycInfo from 2004 to 2018. RESULTS: The scoping review of reviews offered a "birds-eye-view" of the tobacco control literature. Within the 681 reviews meeting inclusion criteria, there was a strong focus on smoking cessation targeting individuals; less attention has been given to product regulation, packaging, and labeling or sales to minors. Equity-related concepts were addressed in 167/681 (24.5%); few were focused on addressing inequity through structural and systemic root causes. CONCLUSION: This analysis of foci, trends, and gaps in the research pursuant to the FCTC illustrated the particular action areas and populations most frequently addressed in tobacco control research. Further research is needed to address: (1) underlying social influences, (2) particular action areas and with specific populations, and (3) sustained tobacco use through the influence of novel marketing and product innovations by tobacco industry. IMPLICATIONS: This scoping review of the breadth of tobacco control research reviews enables a better understanding of which action areas and target populations have been addressed in the research. Our findings alongside recommendations from other reviews suggest prioritizing further research to support policymaking and considering the role of the tobacco industry in circumventing tobacco control efforts. The large amount of research targeting individual cessation would suggest there is a need to move beyond a focus on individual choice and decontextualized behaviors. Also, given the majority of reviews that simply recognize or describe disparity, further research that integrates equity and targets various forms of social exclusion and discrimination is needed and may benefit from working in collaboration with communities where programs can be tailored to need and context.

Cancer incidence, stage at diagnosis and outcomes among Manitoba First Nations people living on and off reserve: a retrospective population-based analysis.

BACKGROUND: Substantial cancer-related disparities exist between First Nations and non-Indigenous Canadians. The objectives of this study were to compare cancer incidence, stage at diagnosis and mortality outcomes between Status First Nations people living on reserve and off reserve in Manitoba. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of population-level administrative health databases in Manitoba. Cancers diagnosed between Apr. 1, 2004, and Mar. 31, 2011, were linked with the Indian Registry System and 5 provincial databases. We compared differences in baseline characteristics, cancer incidence, site and stage at diagnosis between Status First Nations patients living on and off reserve. Linear regression models examined trends in annual cancer incidence. Cox proportional hazard regression models examined mortality. RESULTS: There were 1524 newly diagnosed cancers among Status First Nations people in Manitoba between Apr. 1, 2004, and Mar. 31, 2011. First Nations people living on reserve were significantly older than those living off reserve (p < 0.001) and had higher Charlson Comorbidity Index scores at diagnosis (p = 0.01). A lower proportion of on-reserve patients than off-reserve patients were diagnosed with stage I cancers (21.7% v. 26.9%, p = 0.02). There were no differences in annual cancer incidence between groups. The adjusted incidence of cancer over the combined study years was higher in the off-reserve group than in the on-reserve group (287.9 v. 247.9 per 100 000, p = 0.02). No significant differences in mortality were found. INTERPRETATION: The lower proportion of on-reserve patients diagnosed with cancer at stage I is concerning, as it suggests less access to screening services or delays in diagnosis. Further research is needed to understand patterns in diagnosis and differences in cancer site and overall cancer incidence between First Nations people living on and off reserve.

Comparing cancer incidence, stage at diagnosis and outcomes of First Nations and all other Manitobans: a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: Globally, epidemiological evidence suggests cancer incidence and outcomes among Indigenous peoples are a growing concern. Although historically cancer among First Nations (FN) peoples in Canada was relatively unknown, recent epidemiological evidence reveals a widening of cancer related disparities. However evidence at the population level is limited. The aim of this study was to explore cancer incidence, stage at diagnosis, and outcomes among status FN peoples in comparison with all other Manitobans (AOM). METHODS: All cancers diagnosed between April 1, 2004 and March 31, 2011 were linked with the Indian Registry System and five provincial healthcare databases to compare differences in characteristics, cancer incidence, and stage at diagnosis and mortality of the FN and AOM cohorts. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to examine mortality. RESULTS: The FN cohort was significantly younger, with higher comorbidities than AOM. A higher proportion of FN people were diagnosed with cancer at stages III (18.7% vs. 15.4%) and IV (22.4% vs. 19.9%). Cancer incidence was significantly lower in the FN cohort, however, there were no significant differences between the two cohorts after adjusting for age, sex, income and area of residence. No significant trends in cancer incidence were identified in either cohort over time. Mortality was generally higher in the FN cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Despite similar cancer incidence, FN peoples in Manitoba experience poorer survival. The underlying causes of these disparities are not yet understood, particularly in relation to the impact of colonization and other determinants of health.

Access to cancer care among Indigenous peoples in Canada: A scoping review.

The inequities in access to healthcare documented and experienced by Indigenous peoples in Canada are startling given Canada's publicly funded and 'equally accessible' healthcare system, however little is known about access to cancer care, and barriers to accessing cancer care in particular. We conducted a scoping review to identify what is known about barriers to accessing cancer care among Indigenous peoples in Canada (including barriers to accessing cancer services, and barriers to receiving optimal care once those services were accessed), and to identify where along the cancer continuum (screening, diagnosis, treatment, etc.) these barriers are located. We searched SCOPUS, EBSCOhost, Google Scholar, Ovid MEDLINE and Ovid EMBASE for studies published between 1996 and 2019 that examined access to cancer care for Indigenous peoples in Canada; 36 studies were included in our analysis. Our review indicates that Indigenous peoples face barriers to accessing care at the individual level (factors at the level of the individual patient or healthcare provider (HCP) that impede access to cancer care), at the systems level (factors stemming from the healthcare system and its structure), and at the structural level (factors that are embedded within and systematically produced political, historical, social or economic structures). While barriers to accessing cancer care were found throughout the trajectory, there remains a disproportionate focus on access to cancer screening. Moreover, some barriers to accessing cancer care, such as racism, discrimination and lack of culturally safe care, although rooted in structural factors, were inconsistently framed as individual and/or systems factors. This suggests that while there is growing awareness of the impact that racism and discrimination have on access to cancer care at the individual level for example, there remains a lack of understanding of how these issues are linked with systemic and structural issues.

Tobacco-Nicotine Education and Training for Health-Care Professional Students and Practitioners: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: The objective of this systematic review was to investigate what education and training characteristics prepares and supports health-care professionals (HCPs) in the delivery of competent and effective care to clients who use tobacco-nicotine. Aims and Methods: A search of eight bibliographic databases for English-language peer-reviewed publications from January 2006 to March 2015. Studies were included if they met the a priori inclusion criteria, which consisted of: (1) quantitative study design and (2) focus on tobacco-nicotine education or training for HCP students and practitioners. All studies were independently screened for inclusion by two reviewers. Data from included studies were extracted for study characteristics and key outcomes then critically appraised for methodological quality. Results: Fifty-nine studies were included for narrative synthesis. Two categories emerged: (1) curriculum characteristics (n = 10) and (2) education and training interventions (n = 49). Included curriculum studies identified the following themes: content, intensity, competencies evaluation, and barriers. Study findings about education and training interventions were grouped by level of education (prelicensure, post-licensure, and faculty training), teaching modality, health discipline, and the associated HCP and client outcomes. Conclusions: This comprehensive review suggests that there is a lack of consistency in HCP tobacco-nicotine education and training characteristics. This paper provides valuable categorization of the most frequently utilized components of academic curriculum and discusses the interventions in relation to HCP and client outcomes. Gaps in the literature are highlighted, and the need for standardization of tobacco-nicotine training competencies and evaluation is discussed. Future research investigating the most effective approaches to training is needed. Implications: This systematic review summarizes existing tobacco-related curriculum components (content, intensity, competency evaluation, and barriers) and training interventions for health-care professionals worldwide and demonstrates that they are associated with positive health-care professional outcomes (knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and skills) and client outcomes (quit attempts and smoking abstinence).

Systematic review of preoperative physical activity and its impact on postcardiac surgical outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this systematic review was to study the impact of preoperative physical activity levels on adult cardiac surgical patients' postoperative: (1) major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs), (2) adverse events within 30 days, (3) hospital length of stay (HLOS), (4) intensive care unit length of stay (ICU LOS), (5) activities of daily living (ADLs), (6) quality of life, (7) cardiac rehabilitation attendance and (8) physical activity behaviour. METHODS: A systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, AgeLine and Cochrane library for cohort studies was conducted. RESULTS: Eleven studies (n=5733 patients) met the inclusion criteria. Only self-reported physical activity tools were used. Few studies used multivariate analyses to compare active versus inactive patients prior to surgery. When comparing patients who were active versus inactive preoperatively, there were mixed findings for MACCE, 30 day adverse events, HLOS and ICU LOS. Of the studies that adjusted for confounding variables, five studies found a protective, independent association between physical activity and MACCE (n=1), 30-day postoperative events (n=2), HLOS (n=1) and ICU LOS (n=1), but two studies found no protective association for 30-day postoperative events (n=1) and postoperative ADLs (n=1). No studies investigated if activity status before surgery impacted quality of life or cardiac rehabilitation attendance postoperatively. Three studies found that active patients prior to surgery were more likely to be inactive postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Due to the mixed findings, the literature does not presently support that self-reported preoperative physical activity behaviour is associated with postoperative cardiac surgical outcomes. Future studies should objectively measure physical activity, clearly define outcomes and adjust for clinically relevant variables. REGISTRATION: Trial registration number NCT02219815. PROSPERO number CRD42015023606.

Educating smokers about the risk of blindness - insights to improve tobacco product health warning labels.

BACKGROUND: Health warning labels (HWL) on tobacco products help educate smokers about the health effects from smoking; however, there is a need to improve HWL content including images and text to increase effectiveness. In Canada, a HWL was created that communicates smoking's causal association with "blindness" from age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This study surveyed Canadian optometrists about their opinions regarding the image and text used in the "blindness" HWL. METHODS: An online survey was sent to all 4528 registered Canadian optometrists. Respondents were asked if the HWL conveyed important and believable information, and if the picture was appropriate. Optometrists were invited to make open-ended comments about the label which were analyzed using a qualitative analysis framework suitable for health policy evaluation. Frequency distributions were calculated for closed-ended questions. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 850 respondents (19 %). Most respondents (90 %) reported the message was believable/somewhat believable; while 35 % felt the picture was "too graphic". Some respondents reported in their open-ended comments that they were concerned the HWL was internally inconsistent because it reports there is "no effective treatment in most cases" for AMD but the image depicts someone undergoing surgery. There was concern that this may discourage patients from seeking needed treatment. CONCLUSION: The majority of Canadian optometrist respondents were in agreement that the new, "RISK OF BLINDNESS" pictorial HWL includes important, believable information. Some optometrists had concerns that the HWL included a confusing message or a message that may discourage some patients from pursuing treatment for AMD. Future development of blindness-related HWL should seek practitioner input.

Reframing tobacco dependency management in acute care: A case study.

Effective tobacco dependence treatment within acute care tends to be inadequate. The purpose of the Utilizing best practices to Manage Acute care patients Tobacco Dependency (UMAT) was to implement and evaluate an evidence-based intervention to support healthcare staff to effectively manage nicotine withdrawal symptoms of acute surgical patients. Data collection for this one-year longitudinal case study included: relevant patient experiences and staff reported practice, medication usage, and chart review. Over the year each data source suggested changes in tobacco dependence treatment. Key changes in patient survey responses (N=55) included a decrease in daily smoking and cigarette cravings. Of patients who used nicotine replacement therapy, they reported an increase in symptom relief. Staff (N=45) were surveyed at baseline, mid-point and end of study. Reported rates of assessing smoking status did not change over the year, but assessment of withdrawal symptoms emerged as daily practice and questions about cessation diminished. Also delivery of nicotine replacement therapy products increased over the year. Chart reviews showed a shift in content from documenting smoking behavior to withdrawal symptoms and administration of nicotine replacements; also frequency of comments increased. In summary, the evidence-based intervention influenced unit norms and reframed the culture related to tobacco dependence treatment.

A scoping review protocol to map the research foci trends in tobacco control over the last decade.

INTRODUCTION: Tobacco dependence and smoke exposure have been global epidemics with health consequences recognised by the US Surgeon General since the 1960s and 1970s, respectively. During this period, a vast body of research evidence has emerged including many reviews of primary research studies targeting various tobacco control strategies. Published review studies synthesise primary evidence, providing a rich source for mapping the broad range of topics and research foci along with revealing areas of evidence deficits. In this paper, we outline our scoping review protocol to systematically review published review articles specific to tobacco control and primary prevention over the last 10 years. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Using Arksey and O'Malley's scoping review methodology as a guide, our scoping review of published reviews begins by searching several databases: PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsycInfo and the Educational Resources Information Centre (ERIC). Our multidisciplinary team has formulated search strategies and two reviewers will independently screen eligible studies for final study selection. Bibliographic data and abstract content will be collected and analysed using a tool developed iteratively by the research team. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: A scoping review of published review articles is a novel approach for examining the breadth of literature regarding tobacco control strategies and, as a secondary analysis, does not require ethics approval. We anticipate results will identify research gaps as well as novel ideas for primary prevention research specific to tobacco control strategies concerning intervention, programming and policy. Although this is our first step in establishing a foundation for a research agenda, we will be disseminating results through journals and conferences targeting primary care providers and tobacco control.

Patient tobacco use in optometric practice: a Canada-wide study.

PURPOSE: A national census survey of optometrists in Canada measured knowledge of ocular diseases associated with smoking cigarettes and current practice behaviors related to addressing tobacco use with patients, including prevention and cessation. Optometrists were also asked to identify tools to assist addressing tobacco use with patients. METHODS: An online bilingual (English/French) survey was developed and an e-mail with a link to the survey was sent to all 4528 optometrists registered in Canada. No participation incentives were provided. Frequency data were tabulated for survey items. Logistic regression models were fit to understand respondent characteristics associated with discussing tobacco use prevention and cessation with patients. RESULTS: The response rate was 19% (850 responses). Almost all respondents (98%) believed that smoking cigarettes was a risk factor for developing age-related macular degeneration; approximately half (55%) assessed the smoking status of patients during their initial visit; 7% reported that they discussed the benefits of tobacco use prevention with patients younger than 19 years; and 33% reported that they always or regularly assess their patients' interest in quitting smoking. Respondents who completed the survey in English were more likely (odds ratio, 2.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.01 to 5.65) to deliver prevention messaging, compared with respondents who completed the survey in French. Male respondents were less likely to assess patients' interest in quitting (odds ratio, 0.7; 95% confidence interval, 0.50 to 0.97) than female respondents. Most respondents (90%) were interested in a continuing education program about the impact of smoking on vision and eye health as well as strategies for discussing tobacco cessation and prevention. CONCLUSIONS: Optometrists are aware of the impact of smoking on ocular health; however, most respondents do not systematically engage in tobacco use prevention and cessation practices. Providing optometrists with tools, including continuing education, may help support patient conversations about the risks of tobacco use and improve public health.

Listening to those who are living with HIV and tobacco dependence and exploring their health care context.

The emergence of antiretroviral therapies extends the life span of people diagnosed with HIV and shifts health priorities toward chronic disease management. People living with HIV (PLWH) who smoke cigarettes are more likely than nonsmokers to develop health conditions such as pneumonia, cancer, emphysema, and heart disease. Our mixed methods study utilized semi-structured interviews (n = 29) to explore PLWH perceptions of tobacco and its role in their lives. We also explored HIV health care services and tobacco dependence treatment. Local HIV clinic staff (n = 4) participated in interview and focus group discussions that examined their practices and clinic services concerning tobacco dependence treatment. A brief survey of Canadian AIDS Society members shed light on trends in clinic-based tobacco dependence treatments (n = 24). The following themes emerged: competing health priorities for PLWH; interest in quitting; and disconnect between tobacco use, health, and living.

Effects of household socialization on youth susceptibility to smoke: differences between youth age groups and trends over time.

A Canadian biennial youth survey facilitated repeating investigation of susceptibility to smoke and household socialization. We operationalized susceptibility to smoke by 3 levels on the basis of intention and behavior. Variables consistently predicting greater susceptibility across time and age groups were sibling smoking, household restrictions, and vehicle smoke exposure. Gender was predictive among older youths. Household restrictions and emerging legislation to ban smoking in vehicles with youth passengers provide protection against secondhand smoke exposure and sustained resolve to remain smoke-free.

Impact of smoke-free hospital grounds policies: patient experiences and perceptions.

Implementation of a smoke-free hospital grounds policy changes the health care context for patients. This article examines patient's perspectives, providing insight into the shifting culture of smoking in hospitals and the impact of smoke-free policy during hospitalization. This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews (N=82) to explore patient perspectives of tobacco use, policy compliance, and abstinence support in Canadian hospitals with smoke-free grounds policies. Results indicated general support for smoke-free policies, but also highlighted that the intended goals were not realized; patients reported the policy is routinely violated, second-hand smoke exposure remained common at hospital entrances and assessment and treatment of tobacco dependency was inadequate. Patients provided rationales for policy violation, which included significant concern for personal safety. Health authorities must lend careful consideration to the effects of policy on hospitalization. Study results highlight patient views on tobacco dependence, hospitalization, and treatment expectations, which when adequately addressed could support abstinence, promote healthy recovery and hospital policy compliance.