Tracey E Barnett

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Verified

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• PhD
• Chair at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Background Electronic nicotine delivery systems (“e-cigarettes”) are the nicotine product most commonly used by adolescents. Research, treatment, and policy could benefit from measures of adolescent e-cigarette beliefs about outcomes of use (ie, expectancies). In the current study, we developed and tested an adolescent electronic nicotine vaping ex...

Blunt use (co-use of tobacco and marijuana) is a growing phenomenon among youth and disproportionately affects minority populations. LGBT+ populations are significantly more likely to use marijuana and tobacco, but this relationship has yet to be examined among LGBT+ adolescents. This analysis aimed to investigate past-year blunt use among a nation...

Objective: Electronic cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco products by young adults. Measures of beliefs about outcomes of use (i.e., expectancies) can be helpful in predicting use, as well as informing and evaluating interventions to impact use. Methods: We surveyed young adult students (N = 2296, Mean age=20.0, SD=1.8, 64 % female, 34...

Distracted driving, the act of focusing on something else while operating a vehicle, is a significant health problem among adolescents. Although some studies have reported on prevalence among adolescents in the United States, limited studies have examined differences by sexual identity status. The purpose of the present study was to examine past 30...

We conducted a narrative literature review to examine contributing factors of disparities in tobacco usage and outcomes affecting Black Americans. We propose potential solutions that can be used to effectively address these disparities. We identified historical factors; socioeconomic factors; targeted marketing/advertising; the influence of racism/...

Objective This study aims to: (1) examine gender differences for weight conscious drinking among college students accounting for the broader phenomenon (e.g. including the Alcohol Effects dimension); and (2) longitudinally examine the effect of weight conscious drinking behaviors on body mass index (BMI). Participants: United States freshmen studen...

Revised U.S. guidelines for cervical cancer screening provide the option of primary human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, Pap testing, or co-testing. Primary HPV testing has not yet been an option for American women, and women may be reluctant to change screening methods. The purpose of this study was to assess correlates of women’s preferences for p...

Objective In the United States, guidelines indicate all pregnant women should be screened for and counseled on alcohol use to prevent adverse perinatal outcomes due to alcohol consumption. The objective of this study was to describe sociodemographic factors associated with receipt of prenatal alcohol counseling and perinatal alcohol use among US wo...

Objective: This study is the first to examine the influence of e-cigarette emission phrasing on perceived harm of secondhand exposure, and whether harm perception was associated with support for a tobacco-free campus policy. Participants: In the fall 2018 and spring 2019 semesters, 52 sections of a college English course (N = 791 students) were cl...

Background: We aimed to estimate the effects of smoking cessation on survival among people diagnosed with cancer. Methods: We used data from a Comprehensive Community Cancer Program that is part of a large urban safety-net hospital system. Eligible patients were diagnosed with primary invasive solid tumors between 2013 and 2015, and were current...

Background Electronic cigarette (ECIG) use has increased dramatically in recent years. Negative ECIG-related acute health effects have included explosion/burn injuries from battery failure and child ingestion/poisoning of liquid nicotine. However, there is an urgent need for continued surveillance of ECIG health effects to determine whether these o...

Purpose On September 22, 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's national ban on flavored cigarette products went into effect, barring the sale of flavored cigarettes with the exception of menthol. Flavored cigarettes largely appeal to and were disproportionately used by youth (under age 18 years). However, little research has evaluated the e...

Background: Five-year survival for pancreatic cancer remains low at 8%. While pancreatic cancer health disparities exist among different racial groups, these disparities have not been well investigated in the State of Florida. We aimed to investigate these disparities and hypothesized that cancer cachexia may play a role. Methods: A retrospective r...

Background: Several cancer organizations have emphasized the need for etiologic and prognostic research targeting underserved populations. Most studies have operationalized the term underserved as uninsured or impoverished, but unknown is whether these characteristics sufficiently represent the underserved. Therefore, we aimed to assess whether con...

Objectives: E-cigarette explosions have resulted in severe injuries and fatalities. To date, only 2 studies have systematically estimated the prevalence of these injuries. This study updates these national estimates and describes the context of these explosion injuries. Methods: We conducted analyses on cross-sectional data from the US Consumer Pro...

Introduction: The purpose of this study is to assess risk factors, including other substance use, for nonmedical prescription opioid use among U.S. adolescents. Methods: A secondary data analysis of the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey was conducted (n=10,175) in 2018. The outcome was nonmedical prescription opioid use. Predictor variables includ...

Background “Expectancies,” or beliefs about outcomes, robustly correlate with and predict several behaviors including electronic nicotine delivery system (“e-cigarette”) use. However, there is limited qualitative research available regarding relevant e-cigarette vaping expectancies. Objectives The present study used a qualitative approach to deriv...

Objective: To examine the effect of weight-conscious drinking and compensatory behavior temporality on binge drinking frequency of college freshmen. Participants: Freshmen (n = 1149) from eight US universities, Fall 2015. Methods: Participants completed the Compensatory Eating Behaviors in Response to Alcohol Consumption Scale and Alcohol Use Diso...

Rising college hookah use, in the absence of cigarettes, suggests attitudinal differences among both forms of tobacco consumption. This study examines which smoking attitudes/beliefs are most distinguishing across current non-smokers, cigarette smokers, hookah smokers, and dual (cigarette and hookah-only) smokers at a Florida university. Self- admi...

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is characterized by racial/ethnic disparities and the debilitating muscle‐wasting condition, cancer cachexia. Florida ranks second in the number of PC deaths and has a large and understudied minority population. We examined the primary hypothesis that PC incidence and mortality rates may be highest among Black Floridians and...

This study assessed food choice priorities (FCP) and associations with consumption of fruits and vegetables (FV), fiber, added sugars from non-beverage sources, and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) among college students. Freshmen from eight U.S. universities (N = 1149) completed the Food Choice Priorities Survey, designed for college students to pr...

Background: The benefit of smoking cessation on mortality after cancer diagnosis is unclear, particularly given ethical restrictions of randomizing patients who are smokers to a smoking cessation intervention or continued smoking. We thus aimed to assess the effect of a hypothetical smoking cessation intervention on mortality among patients diagnos...

Understanding factors that influence food choice may help improve diet quality. Factors that commonly affect adults’ food choices have been described, but measures that identify and assess food choice factors specific to college students are lacking. This study developed and tested the Food Choice Priorities Survey (FCPS) among college students. Th...

Objectives: To examine the association between Colorado's legalization of recreational cannabis use and opioid-related deaths. Methods: We used an interrupted time-series design (2000-2015) to compare changes in level and slope of monthly opioid-related deaths before and after Colorado stores began selling recreational cannabis. We also describe...

The present review examined the evidence base for current popular diets, as listed in the 2016 U.S. News & World Report, on short-term (≤six months) and long-term (≥one year) weight loss outcomes in overweight and obese adults. For the present review, all diets in the 2016 U.S. News & World Report Rankings for “Best Weight-Loss Diets”, which did no...

Background: Few studies have examined the context in which drinkers underestimate their breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) in natural drinking environments. This study examined factors associated with bar patrons' self-estimated BrAC in high-risk college town settings. Methods: Guided interview and BrAC data were collected from 510 participants...

Background Hookah use is prevalent among adolescent and young adult populations. The study assessed how positive cognitions toward cigarettes moderate the impact of positive hookah cognitions on past 30 day hookah use among a representative sample of youth. Understanding cognitions about products can contribute to effective interventions. Methods D...

Objective: In 2006, food industry self-regulatory efforts aimed to balance the mix of food advertisements to limit children's exposure to unhealthy food products. An update to these efforts proposed to eliminate all unhealthy advertisements during peak child viewing times and implement uniform nutrition criteria by December, 2013. Marketing techni...

Background: This study explores the differences among smokers of waterpipe tobacco in a college population to better inform campaigns to curb waterpipe use. Methods: Participants included undergraduate and graduate students attending a liberal arts university in Florida. E-mail-based, cross-sectional surveys were collected in 2 sequential years....

Introduction: Adolescent use of hookah continues to increase in the U.S., even in states that have reported decreases in traditional cigarette use among youth. Hookah use typically involves smoking a moistened, loose, sweetened tobacco product with charcoal as the heat source. Methods: Data from the 2011-2014 Florida Youth Tobacco Survey were an...

Introduction: Patterns of waterpipe smoking and associated other tobacco use were assessed among U.S. young adults (aged 18-24 years). Methods: A descriptive analysis of baseline data (2013-2014) from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study was conducted in 2016. Results: The study included 9,119 young adults-44% ever and 11% pas...

Purpose: To assess current cigarette, hookah, and electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use among high school students with and without asthma. Beliefs and use of tobacco products by a household member were also examined. Methods: The 2014 Florida Youth Tobacco Survey was administered to high school students to assess current use of cigarettes, hoo...

Background: Despite the dangers associated with hookah tobacco smoking, use and popularity in the United States among young adults continue to increase. While quantitative studies have assessed users' attitudes toward hookah, qualitative research can provide a more in-depth description of positive and negative attitudes and beliefs associated with...

The role of social influences on rural women's food choice is not well understood. Rural adults experience high rates of obesity and poor diet quality prompting exploration of how social factors influence food choice in this population. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 20 women in rural north central Florida. Women were pu...

Background: Waterpipe smoking (WPS) is a social custom common in many Middle Eastern, North African, and Asian countries and has become increasingly popular in the US, especially among youth; however, WPS smoking may be increasing in the US adult population as well. There is a common belief among waterpipe (WP) smokers that WPS is less harmful tha...

Numerous epidemiological accounts suggest that waterpipe smoking (aka hookah, shisha, narghile) has become a global phenomenon, especially among youth. The alarming spread of waterpipe and accumulating evidence of its addictive and harmful effects represent a new threat in the global fight to limit tobacco-related morbidity and mortality. In respon...

Objective: Although the prevalence of adolescent smoking has declined over the past two decades, the rate of decline has slowed. Electronic videogames show promise as an effective tool for health behavior change; however, the current state of tobacco prevention and cessation games has not been previously reviewed or evaluated. Methods and materia...

Objectives: This study aims to examine current hookah users' perceptions, attitudes, and normative beliefs regarding hookah smoking to further elucidate the rise in hookah smoking prevalence among young adults (aged 18-24 years) and reveal why hookah smoking is perceived as less harmful than other forms of tobacco consumption. Study design: Qual...

Introduction: Waterpipe tobacco smoking, also known as hookah and shisha, has surged in popularity among young people in the United States. Waterpipe is also increasingly becoming the first tobacco product that young people try. Given the limited access to and limited portability of waterpipes, waterpipe smokers who become more nicotine dependent...

Aims: In recent years, studies have indicated that consumers of alcohol mixed with energy drink (AmED) are more likely to drink heavily and experience more negative consequences than consumers who avoid these beverages. Although researchers have identified a number of plausible hypotheses that explain how alcohol-energy drink co-ingestion could ca...

Objective: Colonoscopy is a complex procedure that requires bowel preparation, sedation, and has the potential for substantial risk. Given this, we investigated colonoscopy patients' perceived and actual understanding of the procedure. Methods: Consecutive colonoscopy patients were enrolled and surveyed, with their caregivers, immediately prior...

Background:Smoking is a leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in the United States. Some evidence-based findings have indicated approximately 80% of smokers gain 6 to 8 pounds after quitting and some gain over 20 pounds. Knowledge of potential adverse health effects associated with post-cessation weight gain or fear of weight gain ca...

Hookah tobacco smoking has grown steadily in popularity among young adults in the United States. Little attention has been given to the relationship between hookah smoking and another behavior that is common among young adults - alcohol use. The purpose of this study was to examine hookah and alcohol use among young adults. Forty young adult hookah...

Scant research has examined event-level risk factors for impaired driving in natural drinking settings. This study assessed driving self-efficacy among intoxicated individuals to better understand decision-making about alcohol-impaired driving at night after exiting on-premise drinking establishments. Interview and breath test data were collected f...

Previous research has shown the use of electronic video games as an effective method for increasing content knowledge about the risks of drugs and alcohol use for adolescents. Although best practice suggests that theory, health communication strategies, and game appeal are important characteristics for developing games, no instruments are currently...

Researchers in tobacco control are concerned about the increasing prevalence of waterpipe smoking in the United States, which may pose similar risks as cigarette smoking. This review explores the prevalence of waterpipe smoking in the United States as well as the shortcomings of current U.S. policy for waterpipe control and regulation. Researchers...

The emerging trends and rapid growth of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) among adolescents are being monitored closely. The trends are critical as policy to prevent uptake among adolescents is considered. The purpose of this study is to describe the prevalence of e-cigarette use and potential correlates for use. Associations between e-cigarette...

Assess differences in perceived health status among individuals receiving colonoscopy screening based on smoking status. Cross-sectional data were collected as part of a larger study investigating whether verbal and non-verbal communication and behaviors of gastroenterologists and nurses. Data for this study were collected between 2011 and 2013 amo...

Objectives: We aimed to highlight sociodemographic differences in how patients access colonoscopy. Methods: We invited all eligible patients (n = 2500) from 2 academy-affiliated colonoscopy centers in Alachua County, Florida (1 free standing, 1 hospital based), to participate in a precolonoscopy survey (September 2011-October 2013); patients agr...

Abstract Introduction: Smoking is the single most preventable cause of morbidity and mortality, accountable for one out of every five fatalities in the United States annually. Fifty million Americans (22%) suffer from some form of disability, with evidence suggesting that smoking rates within the disabled community are double that of the general...

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how"binge drinking" may inefficiently identify college students who are in need of alcohol-related services. Methods: Using data collected from the 2010 National College Health Assessment II (NCHA-II), the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of bi...

Purpose: Extreme weight control behaviors (EWCB), such as using laxatives and diet pills, skipping meals, and self-induced vomiting, are predictors of disordered eating among adolescents and have been linked to depression, substance abuse, and cigarette use. It appears that there is also a connection between EWCB and risky sexual behaviors (RSB), a...

Introduction: Rural populations experience high rates of obesity and maintain poor adherence to dietary recommendations based on national data. While limited access to healthy food is one potential obstacle to choosing nutritious food, the purpose of this study is to identify additional factors of a rural food environment that influence food choice...

Purpose: Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 15-19. Research has established a clear association across numerous risk factors and suicide, including depression, substance abuse, bullying victimization, and feelings of alienation. However, the connection between disordered eating as manifested in extreme weight control behav...

Hookah tobacco smoking continues to increase in popularity among young adults in the United States. Researchers have reported hookah smoking at higher rates than cigarette smoking among some samples. As hookah use gains popularity, alcohol use also remains highly prevalent among young adults. Given the known connections between traditional forms of...

Background People with disabilities (PWD) are at greatest risk for tobacco use compared to people without disabilities. However, little is known about the use of multiple types of tobacco by PWD. Objective/Hypothesis The purpose of this study was to examine nicotine dependence among a sample of PWD who use multiple types tobacco products. We hypot...

Women with spinal cord injury may have questions regarding sexuality, fertility, and intimate relationships. As spinal cord injury more commonly affects men, many areas of female sexuality are often overlooked. This article highlights the ways life care plans, health care services, and health care providers for women with SCI may be impacted by soc...

Introduction: Waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) is an increasingly prevalent form of tobacco use in the United States. Its appeal may stem from its social, ritualistic, and aesthetic nature. Our aim in this study was to understand WTS as a social ritual with the goal of informing prevention efforts. Methods: We conducted a covert observational stu...

The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of hookah use among Florida high school students over time. Alternative tobacco products, including hookah, pose a public health threat to tobacco prevention efforts, especially among adolescents. Florida Youth Tobacco Survey data, representing all public high school students in the state, were...

Objectives: Students affiliated with Greek fraternities/sororities are at greater risk for experiencing negative alcohol-related consequences. Protective behavioral strategies (PBS) appear to decrease these consequences; however, these strategies have yet to be examined specifically with US college fraternity/sorority populations. Therefore, the pu...

While cross-sectional studies have shown that hookah tobacco smoking (HTS) is an increasingly popular behavior among university students, little is known about factors associated with initiation. This study sought to determine associations between knowledge, attitudes, and normative beliefs and initiation of HTS among university students. Data were...

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2009 there were approximately 51,000 CRC mortalities. The most common and effective screening technique for CRC is colonoscopy. Although the most effective, colonoscopy procedure has risk...

Although cigarette use is declining among U.S. teens, smokeless tobacco and cigars have shown no decline in over 5 years according to YRBS trends. Alternative products pose negative health risks, and there is a risk for multiple tobacco product use. This study examined multiple tobacco product use among teens. Data were collected from a convenience...

Hookah smoking has emerged as a new form of tobacco use in the U.S., particularly among adolescents and young adults. Previous quantitative research with hookah users has found that this behavior is generally perceived as socially acceptable and looks cool. However, no known studies have qualitatively assessed hookah users' attitudes and beliefs re...

Background: In 2006 food industry self-regulatory efforts aimed to balance the mix of food advertisements to ensure that children do not receive excessive exposure to unhealthy food products. A recent update to industry self-regulation aims to eliminate unhealthy food ads during peak child viewing times by December, 2013. The food industry's pledge...

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Given the benefits of early detection and treatment, the American Cancer Society and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend periodic screening. Anxiety before colorectal screenings may increase the risk of adverse consequences such as a need for...

Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States, with smoking contributing to 443,000 deaths annually. Smoking cessation can greatly reduce health risks and increase quality years of life. Tailored interventions in health care settings are recommended as part of the CDC's best practices for tobacco contro...

Despite evidence confirming the harmfulness of hookah tobacco smoking, this behavior remains popular among young adults. Additionally, young adults often combine hookah smoking with alcohol use. No known study has examined if the combination of these two behaviors results in increased negative effects. Therefore, the purpose of this pilot study was...

To determine associations between positive and negative attitudes and hookah tobacco smoking (HTS) among college students. Among a random sample of university students (N = 852), multivariable logistic regression models assessed associations between positive and negative attitudes toward HTS. Positive attitudes were associated with adjusted odds of...

Background The emergence of hookah is being noted on college campuses and in large U.S. cities and evidence points to an increasing trend for college students. The purpose of this study was to assess hookah use and identify associations with cigarette smoking and demographic factors. Methods An intercept sampling method was used at various locatio...

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how traditional risky drinking indicators, such as binge drinking, are inefficient when identifying college students who are in need of alcohol-related services. Methods: Using data collected from the 2010 National College Health Assessment II (NCHA-II), the sensitivity, specificity, positive...

Background: The popularity of electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes, is rapidly increasing across the United States. While there has been limited research conducted on these new products, a study conducted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found toxic chemicals in the liquid used in e-cigarettes and other research has found that...

Background: Physician processes for delivering diagnostic news are poorly understood, despite the fact they have critical implications for patient follow-up and treatment. The current study assesses how gastroenterologists (GIs) deliver cancer diagnoses following colonoscopy and how patients perceive diagnosis reporting. Methods: 30 GIs (mean age...

Colorectal screenings, used to detect and remove pre-cancerous polyps are usually recommended every 10 years. Overall, 58.6% of adults are up-to-date with their colorectal screening, compared to the Healthy People 2020 target of 70.5%. Screening rates remain lower among some subgroups: immigrants, low income, low education, lacking insurance, and l...

While the initiation of cigarette use as a weight loss strategy has been studied in adolescent populations, there is a paucity of literature examining this weight loss strategy among college females who face unique pressures in the college environment to obtain an ideal body. To examine this population, a secondary analysis of data from the Spring...

Colorectal screenings, used to detect and remove pre-cancerous polyps are usually recommended every 10 years.4 Overall, 58.6% of adults are up-to-date with their colorectal screening, compared to the Healthy People 2020 target of 70.5%. Rates of colorectal screening are lower than they should be; one potential barrier is perceived discrimination re...

Hookah tobacco smoking is increasing among US college students, including those who would not otherwise use tobacco. Part of hookah's appeal is attributed to the perception that hookah is less harmful than cigarettes. The aims of this study were to assess knowledge of harmful exposures associated with hookah smoking relative to cigarette smoking an...

Segmentation of populations may facilitate development of targeted substance abuse prevention programs. The authors aimed to partition a national sample of university students according to profiles based on substance use. The authors used 2008-2009 data from the National College Health Assessment from the American College Health Association. The sa...

Establishments dedicated to hookah tobacco smoking recently have proliferated and helped introduce hookah use to U.S. communities. To conduct a comprehensive, qualitative assessment of websites promoting these establishments. In June 2009, a systematic search process was initiated to access the universe of websites representing major hookah tobacco...

Background: There is a growing trend in the United States for adopting tobacco-free policies in multi-unit dwellings to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke; however, property owners/managers have concerns of the impact of such policies on tenant dissention and market pool availability. The present pilot study assessed tenant support for various tob...

K2 or "spice" has emerged as a popular legal alternative to marijuana among adolescents and young adults. However, no data has been published assessing prevalence of and associations with ever K2 use in any population. This study's aims were to examine prevalence of ever K2 use among a sample of college students, to determine characteristics of per...

Few studies have examined the effects of household change on adolescent development. We study household composition change and its effect on development, as measured by both internalizing symptoms and externalizing behaviors, in a sample of urban African American adolescents. Household change was defined based on the movement in or out of the house...

Individuals who use a hookah (water pipe) as a method of tobacco smoking are exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide (CO). Assessing hookah use in one of the venues of its use (hookah bars) will aid the understanding of the toxins and exposure for the user. In Florida, smoking is prohibited in public places under the Florida Clean Indoor Act but...

People with disabilities (PWD) are 50% more likely to smoke compared with the general population, yet interventions tailored to the needs of PWD remain limited. The authors surveyed directors from a leading disability service organization to assess their delivery of tobacco cessation interventions. Although tobacco cessation was identified as a hig...

Previous research on alcohol mixed with energy drinks (AmED) suffers from measurement problems. Missing from the research literature are studies that assess caffeine-alcohol co-ingestion in natural drinking environments. This field study collected data in a U.S. college bar district from 328 randomly selected patrons. Anonymous data were obtained f...