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BackgroundIn tobacco control and other fields, point-of-sale surveillance of the retail environment is critical for understanding industry marketing of products and informing public health practice. Innovations in mobile technology can improve existing, paper-based surveillance methods, yet few studies describe in detail how to operationalize the use of technology in public health surveillance. ObjectiveThe aims of this paper are to share implementation strategies and lessons learned from 2 tobacco, point-of-sale surveillance projects to inform and prepare public health researchers and practitioners to implement new mobile technologies in retail point-of-sale surveillance systems. MethodsFrom 2011 to 2013, 2 point-of-sale surveillance pilot projects were conducted in Washington, DC, and New York, New York, to capture information about the tobacco retail environment and test the feasibility of a multimodal mobile data collection system, which included capabilities for audio or video recording data, electronic photographs, electronic location data, and a centralized back-end server and dashboard. We established a preimplementation field testing process for both projects, which involved a series of rapid and iterative tests to inform decisions and establish protocols around key components of the project. ResultsImportant components of field testing included choosing a mobile phone that met project criteria, establishing an efficient workflow and accessible user interfaces for each component of the system, training and providing technical support to fieldworkers, and developing processes to integrate data from multiple sources into back-end systems that can be utilized in real-time. ConclusionsA well-planned implementation process is critical for successful use and performance of multimodal mobile surveillance systems. Guidelines for implementation include (1) the need to establish and allow time for an iterative testing framework for resolving technical and logistical challenges; (2) developing a streamlined workflow and user-friendly interfaces for data collection; (3) allowing for ongoing communication, feedback, and technology-related skill-building among all staff; and (4) supporting infrastructure for back-end data systems. Although mobile technologies are evolving rapidly, lessons learned from these case studies are essential for ensuring that the many benefits of new mobile systems for rapid point-of-sale surveillance are fully realized.

Objectives. Previous attempts at obtaining population estimates of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) seroprevalence have been beset by problems of cooperation bias. As part of the fourth round of study with an urban African-American community cohort, the following investigation was aimed at assessing HIV-1 prevalence and the relative importance of sex and drug injection as risk factors in infection. Methods. Personal interviews were conducted in the home with 364 respondents, followed by voluntary blood sample collection from 287 of these individuals. Results. Blood assays showed a point prevalence of 8.4% HIV-1 seropositivity in this community cross section, with a higher female-to-male ratio than appears among acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) case reports. Most infected persons were unaware and unsuspecting of their infection. Conclusions. First, findings underscore the need to focus on risk behaviors rather than on risk groups. Second, the smaller than 2:1 ratio of infected men to women suggests that current AIDS case reports seriously underestimate HIV-1 infection among certain cohorts of African-American women. Finally, widespread ignorance of own infected status and inaccurate risk assessment signal the substantial task for community health educators in reaching inner-city African-American men and women at risk., A research study aimed at obtaining population estimates of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) seroprevalence in an African-American urban community revealed the need to focus on risk behaviors instead of risk groups. Problems of cooperation bias have encumbered prior attempts at obtaining this information. This investigation was part of the fourth round of study with an urban African-American community cohort. The objective was to assess HIV-1 prevalence and the relative significance of sex and drug injection as risk factors in infection. A ratio of less than 2:1 of infected men to women indicates the present AIDS case reports severely underestimate HIV-1 infection among specific cohorts of African-American women. Broadly based ignorance of their own infected status and undependable assessment of risk call attention to the huge task facing community health educators in reaching inner-city African-American men and women at risk.

The article presents a study on the point-of-sale advertising of electronic-cigarette (e-cigarette) on retail stores in Central Harlem, New York City. The study surveyed the advertising and availability of e-cigarette on stores as well as the advertisement photos on the interior and exterior of the retail environment. Result showed that prevalence of e-cigarette advertising in Central Harlem. Moreover, African-Americans are more aware of e-cigarettes compared to other racial or ethnic groups.