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Purpose of Review: Through a systematic search of English language peer-reviewed studies, we assess how health professionals and the public, worldwide, perceive the health implications of climate change., Recent Findings: Among health professionals, perception that climate change is harming health appears to be high, although self-assessed knowledge is low, and perceived need to learn more is high. Among the public, few North Americans can list any health impacts of climate change, or who is at risk, but appear to view climate change as harmful to health. Among vulnerable publics in Asia and Africa, awareness of increasing health harms due to specific changing climatic conditions is high. Americans across the political and climate change opinion spectra appear receptive to information about the health aspects of climate change, although findings are mixed. Health professionals feel the need to learn more, and the public appears open to learning more, about the health consequences of climate change.

Objective: Alcohol use typologies have previously focused on chronic alcohol abusers and alcohol-dependent populations. This empirical typology was created to profile lifestyle patterns associated with nonclinical patterns of alcohol use. Method: This study used two surveys sent to a commercial mailback panel, sampled to construct a study population demographically representative of the general U.S. population (N = 2,910). A K-means cluster analysis of alcohol use predictor variables and alcohol use generated the typology. Results: The results suggest five distinct psychobehavioral clusters, referred to by the modal patterns of alcohol use for each cluster: nondrinkers, light drinkers, moderate drinkers, episodic drinkers and regular heavy drinkers. These clusters were found to have predictive validity using related health behaviors, psychosocial variables, personality self-descriptors, and media use as criteria. In particular, moderate drinkers had double the income of any other cluster and showed consistently healthy exercise, cigarette use, and diet patterns as well as a relatively high ranking of health as a personal value. Episodic drinkers had the highest levels of sensation-seeking and drug use and were not health oriented in values and behaviors, although their total weekly consumption was only marginally greater than the moderate drinkers. Conclusions: The profile of the moderate drinker cluster is consistent with concerns about lifestyle confounds in the relationship between moderate alcohol consumption and cardiovascular health. The episodic drinker profile is consistent with relatively high risk behaviors; this cluster may be a good target for harm-reduction education and intervention efforts. (J. Stud. Alcohol 60: 667-674, 1999), VARIOUS TYPOLOGIES characterizing alcohol abusers have been developed and their implications for clinical interventions explored (Annis and Graham, 1995; Epstein et al., 1995; Morey et al., 1984; Snowden et al., [...]

Obesity has taken center stage as one of the biggest threats to the health and welfare of adults and children alike, not only in the United States but also on a global scale. Consequently, the energy and resources of the public health community are being focused on the issue of obesity prevention and control. In order to plan effective programs and interventions, more information about specific target audience segments is needed. This presentation reports on work to identify distinct consumer audience segments for obesity prevention and to describe each segment according to their attitudes and behaviors around nutrition, eating, and weight. Using data from Porter Novelli's 2003 Styles (C) database, a set of linked market research surveys, a cluster analysis was performed. For this analysis, variables were chosen according to Social Cognitive Theory and included physical activity and eating behaviors known to influence weight, as well as internal personal and external social and environmental factors that impact physical activity and eating practices (eg, enjoyment of regular physical activity and social support for weight loss or physical activity). The cluster analysis resulted in 5 distinct, motivationally coherent segments. This presentation will provide an in-depth description of each cluster, focusing on their attitudes, behaviors, internal and external factors around nutrition, eating behavior, and weight. The results from this audience segmentation and profiling activity provide a valuable planning tool for health and nutrition educators working in the field of obesity prevention.

Objectives. We identified the mass media channels that reach the most cigarette smokers in an attempt to more effectively target smoking cessation messages. Methods. Reach estimates and index scores for smokers were taken from 2002-2003 ConsumerStyles and HealthStyles national surveys of adults (N = 11660) to estimate overall and demographic-specific exposure measures for television, radio, newspapers, and magazines. Results. Smokers viewed more television, listened to more radio, and read fewer magazines and newspapers than did nonsmokers. Nearly one third of smokers were regular daytime or late-night television viewers. Selected cable television networks (USA, Lifetime, and Discovery Channel) and selected radio genres, such as classic rock and country, had high reach and were cost-efficient channels for targeting smokers. Conclusions. Certain mass media channels offer efficient opportunities to target smoking cessation messages so they reach relatively large audiences of smokers at relatively low cost. The approach used in this study can be applied to other types of health risk factors to improve health communication planning and increase efficiency of program media expenditures. (Am J Public Health. 2008;98:536-542. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2006.090340) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines self-efficacy in pediatric resuscitation. Methods used highlighted; Results of study focused; Conclusions.