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Background and Aims: Increasing numbers of school‐based drug surveys are transitioning data collection to electronic tablets from paper‐and‐pencil, which may produce a survey mode effect and consequent discontinuity in time trends for population estimates of drug prevalence. This study tested whether (a) overall, self‐reported drug use prevalence is higher on electronic tablets versus paper‐and‐pencil surveys, (b) socio‐demographics moderate survey mode effects and (c) levels of missing data are lower for electronic tablet versus paper‐and‐pencil modes. Design A randomized controlled experiment. Setting: Results are nationally representative of students in the contiguous United States. Participants: A total of 41 866 8th, 10th and 12th grade students who participated in the 2019 Monitoring the Future school‐based survey administration. Intervention and comparator: Surveys were administered to students in a randomly selected half of schools with electronic tablets (intervention) and with paper‐and‐pencil format (comparator) for the other half. Measurements Primary outcome was the total number of positive drug use responses. Secondary outcomes were the percentage of respondents completing all drug questions, percentage of drug questions unanswered and mean number of missing drug items. Findings The relative risk (RR) for total number of positive drug use responses for electronic tablets versus paper‐and‐pencil surveys were small and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) included the value of one for reporting intervals of life‐time (RR = 1.03; 95% CI, 0.93–1.14), past 12 months (RR = 1.01; 95% CI, 0.91–1.11), past 30 days (RR = 1.05; 95% CI, 0.93–1.20) and for heavy use (RR = 1.10; 95% CI, 0.93–1.29). Multiplicative interaction tests indicated no moderation of these relative risks by race (white versus non‐white), population density, census region, public/private school, year of school participation, survey version or non‐complete drug responses. Levels of missing data were significantly lower for electronic tablets versus paper‐and‐pencil surveys. Conclusions: Adolescent drug prevalence estimates in the United States differed little across electronic tablet versus paper‐and‐pencil survey modes, and showed little to no effect modification by socio‐demographics. Levels of missing data were lower for electronic tablets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aims: To conduct a systematic review and meta‐analysis of studies in order to estimate the effect of US medical marijuana laws (MMLs) on past‐month marijuana use prevalence among adolescents. Methods: A total of 2999 papers from 17 literature sources were screened systematically. Eleven studies, developed from four ongoing large national surveys, were meta‐analyzed. Estimates of MML effects on any past‐month marijuana use prevalence from included studies were obtained from comparisons of pre–post MML changes in MML states to changes in non‐MML states over comparable time‐periods. These estimates were standardized and entered into a meta‐analysis model with fixed‐effects for each study. Heterogeneity among the study estimates by national data survey was tested with an omnibus F‐test. Estimates of effects on additional marijuana outcomes, of MML provisions (e.g. dispensaries) and among demographic subgroups were abstracted and summarized. Key methodological and modeling characteristics were also described. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. Results: None of the 11 studies found significant estimates of pre–post MML changes compared with contemporaneous changes in non‐MML states for marijuana use prevalence among adolescents. The meta‐analysis yielded a non‐significant pooled estimate (standardized mean difference) of −0.003 (95% confidence interval = −0.012, +0.007). Four studies compared MML with non‐MML states on pre‐MML differences and all found higher rates of past‐month marijuana use in MML states pre‐MML passage. Additional tests of specific MML provisions, of MML effects on additional marijuana outcomes and among subgroups generally yielded non‐significant results, although limited heterogeneity may warrant further study. Conclusions: Synthesis of the current evidence does not support the hypothesis that US medical marijuana laws (MMLs) until 2014 have led to increases in adolescent marijuana use prevalence. Limited heterogeneity exists among estimates of effects of MMLs on other patterns of marijuana use, of effects within particular population subgroups and of effects of specific MML provisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The aim of this study was to explore what is known about food literacy programmes targeting adolescents, including identification of the constituents of food literacy addressed, assessment of programme effectiveness, and description of programme design or delivery specific to adolescents. Methods A review of the peer-reviewed literature surrounding adolescent food literacy was conducted using scholarly electronic databases. Programme reports were identified in the grey literature using online searching and cross-referencing to support the research aim. Programmes from 2000 to 2012 targeting adolescents aged 13-17 years were included. Results A total of 19 peer-reviewed papers and four grey literature programmes met the search criteria. Interventions focused on practical cooking and/or food preparation skills and targeted younger adolescent age groups. Programmes were most commonly held in schools and community settings. The majority of programmes (n = 16/23) did not use a theoretical basis for their development. Programme evaluation encompassed the use of pre- and post-intervention questionnaires and focus groups. Only nine studies included a dietary behaviour-based outcome measure. Although 19 of the 23 studies reviewed reported positive changes related to the intervention, these did not include significant changes in diet quality or cooking frequency at home. Conclusions Few existing adolescent food literacy programmes have demonstrated a positive impact on dietary behaviours to date. Adolescent target groups present unique challenges in programme development and delivery. However, the physical, social and emotional health needs of this age group and potential to influence lifelong behaviours highlight the need to design effective and age-appropriate adolescent food literacy programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]