Archeota, Fall 2018

This is the Fall 2018 issue of Archeota, the official publication of the SJSU SAASChttps://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/saasc_archeota/1008/thumbnail.jp

Recruiting pregnant smokers for a placebo-randomised controlled trial of nicotine replacement therapy

BACKGROUND: Smoking in pregnancy is a public health problem and effective methods for reducing this are required. Although nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is effective for smoking cessation in non-pregnant people, there is no direct evidence concerning its effectiveness in pregnancy. Despite this, clinical guidelines recommend the cautious use of NRT during pregnancy. Randomised controlled trials are needed to determine the safety and efficacy of NRT when used by pregnant women for smoking cessation, but the feasibility of recruiting women to such trials is unknown. Consequently, in this study we aimed to determine i) the feasibility of recruiting women to a RCT of NRT in pregnancy as they attend hospital antenatal ultrasound examinations, ii) the proportion of such women who are eligible for and interested in trial enrollment and iii) research staff perceptions of how one method of trial recruitment could be improved.METHODS: During a one month period, all women attending for antenatal ultrasound examination in an English teaching hospital were asked to complete a questionnaire which determined their eligibility to enroll in a proposed placebo controlled randomised trial investigating the effectiveness of NRT in pregnancy. Women who were eligible to participate were asked whether they would do so and those who accepted enrollment were offered an appointment with a smoking cessation advisor.RESULTS: Over 99% (851/858) of women agreed to complete a questionnaire about smoking habits whilst waiting for ultrasound examinations. 10.3% (88/851) of women attending for antenatal ultrasound fitted eligibility criteria for a proposed RCT of NRT in pregnancy, but only 3.6% [(31/851), 95% CI, 2.4 to 4.9%] indicated on the questionnaire that they would like to take part in a study involving randomisation to placebo or active patches. Researchers offered trial enrollment to 26 of these 31 women and 96% (25) accepted. Staff recruiting women believed that trial recruitment would be maximised if women attending the ultrasound department knew about trial recruitment before attending and greater staff resources were made available for this. It was also perceived that women generally under-reported the amount they smoked on questionnaires completed whilst waiting in ultrasound department areas.CONCLUSIONS: It is feasible to recruit women for a trial of NRT in pregnancy as they wait for antenatal ultrasound examinations. Using similar recruitment methods, researchers can expect to recruit between 24 and 49 women per 1000 approached.</p

Archeota, Spring 2019

This is the Spring 2019 issue of Archeota, the official publication of SJSU SAASC. Archeota is a platform for students to contribute to the archival conversation. It is written BY students, FOR students. It provides substantive content on archival concerns and issues, and promotes career development in the field of archival studies. Archeota upholds the core values of the archival profession. It is a semiannual publication of the Student Chapter of the Society of American Archivists at the San Jose State University School of Information.https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/saasc_archeota/1009/thumbnail.jp

Sharing Success: Expansion of a Tutor-Run Assessment Method to Multiple Courses and Colleges

Objectives: In 2014, data were presented on a successful pilot program using quizzes written by tutors in a single course at Wegmans School of Pharmacy. The objective of this study was to use the methods from the pilot to expand the program to other pharmacology courses at Wegmans School of Pharmacy as well as the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy. Methods: Methods from the previous study were replicated, whereby tutors wrote weekly quizzes administered using ExamSoft®. The optional quizzes were openly accessible to students in preparation for course exams. Performance data were collected from students in one course at each institution and compared to the pilot study. Performance data collected included quiz and course exam scores. All students that utilized quizzes, as well as tutors, were surveyed to assess perceptions of the method. Results: The use and impact of quizzes was similar to the results in the pilot study. However, the magnitude of improvements was slightly lower than what was observed initially. Exam scores were significantly higher than quiz scores on 6/10 exams measured, compared to 5/5 exams in the pilot. Students who utilized the quizzes performed significantly better than those that did not on 3/10 exams (3/5 in the pilot), and earned significantly higher course averages. Student (n=155) and peer instructor (n=13) feedback remained positive after expansion of the program. Implications: This method is a tool that can be translated to different courses and different institutions with a valuable impact on student performance

Variation in supermarket exposure to energy-dense snack foods by socio-economic position

AbstractObjectiveThe present study aimed to examine the availability of energy-dense, nutrient-poor snack foods (and fruits and vegetables) in supermarkets located in socio-economically advantaged and disadvantaged neighbourhoods.DesignCross-sectional supermarket audit.SettingMelbourne, Australia. Measures included product shelf space and number of varieties for soft drinks, crisps, chocolate, confectionery and fruits and vegetables, as well as store size.SubjectsThirty-five supermarkets (response 83 %) from neighbourhoods in the lowest and highest quintile of socio-economic disadvantage.ResultsShelf space allocated to soft drinks (23·6 mv. 17·7 m,P= 0·006), crisps (16·5 mv. 13·0 m,P= 0·016), chocolate (12·2 mv. 10·1 m,P= 0·022) and confectionery (6·7 mv. 5·1 m,P= 0·003) was greater in stores from socio-economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods. After adjustment for store size (stores in disadvantaged areas being larger), shelf space for confectionery (6·3 mv. 5·6 m,P= 0·024) and combined shelf space for all energy-dense foods and drinks (55·0 mv. 48·9 m,P= 0·017) remained greater in stores from socio-economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods. The ratio of shelf space allocated to fruits and vegetables to that for energy-dense snack foods also varied by socio-economic disadvantage after adjustment for store size (most disadvantagedv. least disadvantaged: 1·7v. 2·1,P= 0·025). Varieties of fruits and vegetables and chocolate bars were more numerous in less disadvantaged areas (P&lt; 0·05).ConclusionsExposure to energy-dense snack foods and soft drinks in supermarkets was greater in socio-economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods. This may impact purchasing, consumption and cultural norms related to eating behaviours and may therefore work against elimination of the known socio-economic gradient in obesity levels. Reform of supermarket stocking practices may represent an effective means of obesity prevention.</jats:sec

Importing Prison Labor Products from the People\u27s Republic of China: Re-examining U.S. Enforcement of Section 307 of the Trade and Tariff Act of 1930

Since 1989, the United States has engaged in a heated debate with the People\u27s Republic of China over products manufactured in Chinese prisons which enter U.S. markets. Human rights advocates argue that conditions in China\u27s prisons violate human rights principles, and therefore, the United States should not extend Most Favored Nation trade status to China. Others argue that human rights conditions will only improve if the United States continues to extend MFN privileges. Forgotten is section 307 of the Trade and Tariff Act of 1930, which prohibits imports of products made from prison labor. To effectively address the prison labor issue with China, the United States should remove the issue from the human rights debate and focus on improved enforcement of section 307