Measurement of the helicity asymmetry E for the reaction γ p → π 0 p : The CBELSA/TAPS Collaboration.

A measurement of the double-polarization observable E for the reaction γ p → π 0 p is reported. The data were taken with the CBELSA/TAPS experiment at the ELSA facility in Bonn using the Bonn frozen-spin butanol (C 4 H 9 OH) target, which provided longitudinally-polarized protons. Circularly-polarized photons were produced via bremsstrahlung of longitudinally-polarized electrons. The data cover the photon energy range from E γ = 600 to 2310 MeV and nearly the complete angular range. The results are compared to and have been included in recent partial wave analyses.

Exploring socio-economic inequalities in the use of medicines: is the relation mediated by health status?

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated mediating effects of the health status on the association between socio-economic status (SES) and medicine use. It was hypothesized that more privileged people show a reduced use of medicines, as compared with the underprivileged, because of their superior health status. It was further hypothesized that people may apply medication based on their type of health complaint (ill physical versus mental status). STUDY DESIGN: Data were taken from the 2012 German Epidemiological Survey of Substance Abuse, a nationally representative cross-sectional study of n = 9084 individuals of the German general population aged 18-64 years. METHODS: Direct and indirect effects of SES on weekly use of analgesics and sedatives/hypnotics were examined by applying generalized structural equation modeling. Self-rated physical and mental health statuses were considered as potential mediators. SES was measured by using educational level as a proxy. All analyses were gender-stratified. RESULTS: Among men, both physical and mental health mediated the path from SES to the use of analgesics and sedatives/hypnotics, respectively, with a stronger effect of physical health on analgesic use and mental health on sedative/hypnotic use. These effects were only partially found among women. CONCLUSIONS: Social inequalities in health seem to have substantial impact on the prevalence of medicine use. Identification and elimination of the reasons for poor health among people of low SES may, therefore, not only help to reduce health inequalities directly. A decline in the use of medicines would also result in less side-effects and a reduced number of people with medicine-related misuse and addiction.

[Quitting Attempts and Utilisation of Smoking Cessation Aids among Smokers in Germany: Results from the 2012 Epidemiological Survey of Substance Abuse]. / Ausstiegsversuche und Hilfsmittelnutzung unter Rauchern in Deutschland: Ergebnisse aus dem Epidemiologischen Suchtsurvey 2012.

Aim: This study presents current data on smoking cessation and usage of smoking cessation aids among smokers in a representative sample of German smokers. Data of 2012 will be compared with data of the year 2000. Methods: The sample of the 2012 Epidemiological Survey of Substance Abuse (ESA) was randomly drawn from population registers and consisted of 9 084 individuals aged 18-64 years. A mixed-mode design including questionnaires, telephone and Internet interviews was applied. The response rate was 53,6%. Number of smoking cessation attempts and usage of smoking cessation aids were assessed among actual and former smokers. Results: Of the 4 261 persons who had smoked in their lifetime 54,1% are actual and 45,9% former smokers. Among actual smokers 64,5% have tried to quit smoking at least once; 24,3% within the last 12 months. Quit attempts were mostly undertaken without formal help (53,7%). Users of smoking cessation aids report that they used social support (22,6%), self-help material (13,3%), nicotine replacement products (11,3%) and E-cigarettes (8,4%). Conclusions: Compared to the year 2000 the number of former smokers has increased. While the number of smoking cessation attempts among smokers is unchanged, more smokers use smoking cessation aids. Using E-cigarettes for smoking cessation is becoming more important.

Three-body nature of N(*) and Δ(*) resonances from sequential decay chains.

The Nπ^{0}π^{0} decays of positive-parity N^{*} and Δ^{*} resonances at about 2 GeV are studied at ELSA by photoproduction of two neutral pions off protons. The data reveal clear evidence for several intermediate resonances: Δ(1232), N(1520)3/2^{-}, and N(1680)5/2^{+}, with spin parities J^{P}=3/2^{+}, 3/2^{-}, and 5/2^{+}. The partial wave analysis (within the Bonn-Gatchina approach) identifies N(1440)1/2^{+} and the N(ππ)_{S wave} (abbreviated as Nσ here) as further isobars and assigns the final states to the formation of nucleon and Δ resonances and to nonresonant contributions. We observe the known Δ(1232)π decays of Δ(1910)1/2^{+}, Δ(1920)3/2^{+}, Δ(1905)5/2^{+}, Δ(1950)7/2^{+}, and of the corresponding spin-parity series in the nucleon sector, N(1880)1/2^{+}, N(1900)3/2^{+}, N(2000)5/2^{+}, and N(1990)7/2^{+}. For the nucleon resonances, these decay modes are reported here for the first time. Further new decay modes proceed via N(1440)1/2^{+}π, N(1520)3/2^{-}π, N(1680)5/2^{+}π, and Nσ. The latter decay modes are observed in the decay of N^{*} resonances and at most weakly in Δ^{*} decays. It is argued that these decay modes provide evidence for a 3-quark nature of N^{*} resonances rather than a quark-diquark structure.

[Development of a Checklist to Assess School Smoking Policy]. / Entwicklung einer Checkliste zur Erfassung der schulischen Tabakpolitik.

The school system is an established setting for behavioural and environmental tobacco prevention activities. Most research on the effectiveness of tobacco prevention has been conducted with regard to behavioural approaches, knowledge about school smoking policy is lacking. This research project aimed at developing a psychometrically sound instrument to assess school smoking policy. The checklist presented here contains five scales with a total of 15 items. Its reliability was tested with 42 Bavarian schools and 607 schools from Hesse. The checklist allows to measure school smoking policy in a reliable and action-oriented manner.

[Evaluation of a none sequential smoking cessation programme in rehabilitation centres]. / Überprüfung eines nicht sequenziell aufgebauten Tabakentwöhnungsprogramms in Rehabilitationskliniken.

AIMS: The present study aims at developing and evaluating a non-sequential smoking cessa-ti-on programme for in-patient rehabilitation centres. The new programme challenges the standard phased approach with the stages motivation, quit day, stabilisation. METHODS: A prospective multi-centre study is conducted with quasi experimental control group design. The newly developed smoking cessation programme (intervention group, IG) is compared against the treatment-as-usual (control group, CG) of participating rehabilitation centres. Data from 850 smokers in 19 in-patient rehabilitation centres are analysed. RESULTS: The process evaluation of the non-sequential programme shows good acceptance among trainers and patients and easy implementation in the rehabilitation setting. Abstinence rates at the end of treatment are comparable for the IG (19.1%) and the CG (17.9%). The amount of cigarettes smoked among remaining smokers also reduced to a comparable degree in both groups. Patients in the IG showed significant improvement with regard to stages of change and self-efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: The non-sequential smoking cessation programme is accepted and can be implemented in an in-patient rehabilitation setting. With regard to major outcome criteria, the programme is comparable to treatment-as-usual. Secondary outcome criteria and satisfaction ratings favour the new programme. Due to a low-threshold access to smoking cessation, the non-sequential approach offers a structural advantage.

First measurement of the helicity asymmetry for γp → pπ0 in the resonance region.

The first measurement of the helicity dependence of the photoproduction cross section of single neutral pions off protons is reported for photon energies from 600 to 2300 MeV, covering nearly the full solid angle. The data are compared to predictions from the SAID, MAID, and BnGa partial wave analyses. Strikingly large differences between data and predictions are observed, which are traced to differences in the helicity amplitudes of well-known and established resonances. Precise values for the helicity amplitudes of several resonances are reported.

Social contexts in adolescent smoking: does school policy matter?

According to an ecological perspective in psychology and in line with social cognitive theory, smoking behaviour is determined by different social contexts (for example, peers, family and school) providing adolescents with important role models. This paper investigates the effects of personal characteristics as well as family, peer and school context variables on youth smoking behaviour. We hypothesize that school smoking policy variables predict adolescents' smoking in addition to other context variables. Data were obtained from a self-report survey administered to 3364 students in 40 secondary schools in Bavaria, Germany. For both younger (10-15 years) and older (16-21 years) students, strong associations were found between smoking behaviour and (i) smoking best friends and friends in general, (ii) other substance use and (iii) school performance. In the younger age group, the non-existence of smoking bans for students was associated with an increased risk of being smoker. For the older students, a positive association was found between the presence of smoking teachers on school grounds and smoking behaviour. Results are discussed considering methodological aspects and public health concerns.

[Proportion of smokers, stages of preparedness to change and utilisation of a smoking cessation intervention in mother-child rehabilitation]. / Anteil von Raucherinnen, Stadien der Veränderungsbereitschaft und Inanspruchnahme von Tabakentwöhnung in der Mutter-Kind-Rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND: Smoking mothers put their own health as well as that of their children at risk. Mother-child inpatient rehabilitation centres can be a suitable setting for reaching this target group and providing support for smoking cessation. AIM: The aim of the study is to describe for the first time the smoking prevalence and motivation to change of patients in German mother-child inpatient rehabilitation centres and to investigate the actual utilisation of an offered smoking cessation programme. METHOD: In a cross-sectional field study with a consecutive sample from 22 mother-child inpatient rehabilitation centres (N=4329 mothers) smoking prevalence, stage of preparedness to change according to the transtheoretical model and consideration to seek help for cessation were assessed via a questionnaire. In addition, the number of smokers who can be reached by the offer of a quit-smoking programme was assessed by means of reports of the course instructors. RESULTS: 29.2% of patients in mother-child rehabilitation are smokers. Compared to the female general population, a higher proportion of the women were in an advanced stage of preparedness to change (19.4% are in preparation) and the majority of smokers are willing to seek help to quit smoking. 37.6% of smoking mothers participated in the offered smoking cessation intervention. CONCLUSION: There is a high proportion of smokers and a high readiness to change in German mother-child rehabilitation centres. The actual participation rate in an offered smoking cessation programme is quite remarkable, but nevertheless has to be enhanced further. One possible approach is measures to enhance smoking mothers' motivation to quit.