Shivani Gaiha

All Publications

• Does virtual versus in-person e-cigarette education have a differential impact? HEALTH EDUCATION JOURNAL Gaiha, S., Warnock, A., Kile, S., Brake, K., do Rosario, C., Oates, G. R., Halpern-Felsher, B., Walley, S. 2022

  View details for DOI 10.1177/00178969221119287

  View details for Web of Science ID 000847836600001

• Adolescents, Young Adults, and Adults Continue to Use E-Cigarette Devices and Flavors Two Years after FDA Discretionary Enforcement. International journal of environmental research and public health McCauley, D. M., Gaiha, S. M., Lempert, L. K., Halpern-Felsher, B. 2022; 19 (14)

  Abstract

  This study assesses the use of e-cigarette devices and flavors using a large, cross-sectional survey of adolescents, young adults, and adults (N = 6131; ages 13-40 years old; Mage = 21.9) conducted from November to December 2021, 22 months after the FDA announced its prioritized enforcement policy against some flavored pod/cartridge-based e-cigarettes. We analyzed the patterns of use by age group: adolescents and young adults (AYAs) under 21 (minimum age of e-cigarette sales), young adults (21-24 years old), and adults (25-40 years old). The participants reported using e-cigarettes ever (44.2% < 21; 67.1% 21-24; 58.0% > 24), in the past 30 days (29.8% < 21; 52.6% 21-24; 43.3% > 24), and in the past 7 days (24.5% < 21; 43.9% 21-24; 36.5% > 24). Disposables were the most used e-cigarette device type across age groups (39.1% < 21; 36.9% 21-24; 34.5% > 24). Fruit, sweet, mint, and menthol flavors were popular across age groups; however, chi-squared tests for trends in proportions revealed age-related trends in past 30-day flavor use by device type. Findings suggest current AYA e-cigarette use may be higher than recorded by the NYTS 2021. The FDA, states, and localities should adopt more comprehensive restrictions on flavored e-cigarette products in order to reduce adolescent and young adult e-cigarette use.

  View details for DOI 10.3390/ijerph19148747

  View details for PubMedID 35886599

• Nicotine Dependence from Different E-Cigarette Devices and Combustible Cigarettes among US Adolescent and Young Adult Users. International journal of environmental research and public health Lin, C., Gaiha, S. M., Halpern-Felsher, B. 2022; 19 (10)

  Abstract

  E-cigarettes, the most popular tobacco product among adolescents, vary widely in design and nicotine composition; thus, different devices may have different addictive potential. However, few studies examine levels of nicotine dependence across devices among adolescent and young adult (AYA) e-cigarette users. To assess the extent of nicotine dependence among US AYA (ages 13-24) by e-cigarette device type, we conducted a large, national, cross-sectional survey (n = 4351) and used the Hooked on Nicotine Checklist (HONC) to assess levels of nicotine dependence among those who had used disposable, pod-based, and/or mods/other e-cigarette devices in the past 30 days. We also examined HONC scores among those who had used combustible cigarettes in the past 30 days, whether with or without using e-cigarettes. Patterns of nicotine dependence were comparable across those who had used a combustible cigarette and/or e-cigarette in the past 30 days, with 91.4% of combustible cigarette users, 80.7% of disposable e-cigarette users, 83.1% of pod-based e-cigarette users, and 82.5% of mods/other e-cigarette users showing signs of nicotine dependence, as measured by endorsing at least one HONC symptom. This pattern persisted when analyses were restricted to e-cigarette only users, with more than 70% of all e-cigarette only past-30-day users endorsing at least one HONC symptom, across all types of devices. A thorough understanding of the extent and presentation of nicotine dependence among AYA will help researchers, public health officials, and clinicians recognize and manage AYA nicotine dependence.

  View details for DOI 10.3390/ijerph19105846

  View details for PubMedID 35627381

• School-based programs to prevent adolescent e-cigarette use: A report card. Current problems in pediatric and adolescent health care Liu, J., Gaiha, S. M., Halpern-Felsher, B. 2022: 101204

  Abstract

  Given high rates and known health consequences of adolescent e-cigarette use as well as adolescents' susceptibility to nicotine addiction, school-based efforts to prevent and reduce adolescent e-cigarette use should continue to be developed, implemented, disseminated, and evaluated. This paper elaborates on best practices for developing and implementing prevention programs, including the importance of grounding programs in theories and frameworks that empower adolescents, including normative and interactive education, and having programs that are easily accessible and free of cost. Programs should also address key factors driving adolescent e-cigarette use, including discussing misperceptions, flavors, nicotine content, addiction, and the role that marketing plays in appealing to adolescents. The paper also discusses the gap areas of currently available prevention programs and highlights the need for evidence-based approaches and the importance of rigorous evaluation of programs.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cppeds.2022.101204

  View details for PubMedID 35534403

• Use Patterns, Flavors, Brands, and Ingredients of Nonnicotine e-Cigarettes Among Adolescents, Young Adults, and Adults in the United States. JAMA network open Gaiha, S. M., Lin, C., Lempert, L. K., Halpern-Felsher, B. 2022; 5 (5): e2216194

  Abstract

  Importance: Nonnicotine e-cigarettes contain chemicals, flavorants, and solvents that have known health harms and/or have not been proven safe for inhalation.Objective: To evaluate nonnicotine e-cigarette use patterns, including common flavors, brands, and ingredients.Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study included a convenience sample of US residents aged 13 to 40 years who completed an online survey in November and December 2021. Quota sampling was used for an equal proportion of participants aged 13 to 17 years, 18 to 20 years, and 21 to 40 years, balanced for sex, race, and ethnicity per the latest US Census.Main Outcomes and Measures: Nonnicotine e-cigarette use (ever, past 30- and past 7-day, number of times used, time taken to finish); co-use with nicotine e-cigarettes; age at first try; and flavors, brands, and ingredients used.Results: Overall, 6131 participants (mean [SD] age, 21.9 [6.8] years; range, 13-40 years; 3454 [56.3%] identifying as female) completed the survey (55.1% completion rate). Among all participants, 1590 (25.9%) had ever used a nonnicotine e-cigarette, 1021 (16.7%) used one in the past 30 days, and 760 (12.4%) used one in the past 7 days. By age group, 227 of 1630 participants aged 13 to 17 years (13.9%), 497 of 2033 participants aged 18 to 20 years (24.4%), 399 of 1041 participants aged 21 to 24 years (38.3%), and 467 of 1427 participants aged 25 to 40 years (32.7%) had ever used nonnicotine e-cigarettes. Among 1590 participants who had ever used a nonnicotine e-cigarette, 549 (34.5%) had used one more than 10 times; 1017 (63.9%) finished 1 nonnicotine e-cigarette in less than 1 week. Co-use of nonnicotine with nicotine e-cigarettes was reported by 1155 participants (18.8%), 1363 (22.2%) exclusively used nicotine e-cigarettes, and 431 (7.0%) exclusively used nonnicotine e-cigarettes. Most-used flavors were sweet, dessert, or candy (578 [36.3%]); fruit (532 [33.4%]); and mint or menthol (321 [20.2%]); similar flavor patterns were observed for the top 2 flavors among those who used nonnicotine e-cigarettes in the past 30 days, followed by combinations of coffee, alcohol, flower, plant, and mint or menthol flavors by age group. Participants most reported using tetrahydrocannabinol (587 [36.9%]), cannabidiol (537 [33.7%]), melatonin (438 [27.5%]), caffeine (428 [26.9%]), and essential oils (364 [22.9%]) in their nonnicotine e-cigarettes.Conclusions and Relevance: In this study of adolescents, young adults, and adults, a sizeable proportion reported having used nonnicotine e-cigarettes and co-using them with nicotine e-cigarettes. Surveillance studies should further assess nonnicotine e-cigarette use patterns and regulations, and prevention should be developed to address youth appeal, unsubstantiated health claims, and possible health harms.

  View details for DOI 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.16194

  View details for PubMedID 35612852

• ADOLESCENT PERCEPTIONS OF DIFFERENT E-CIGARETTE MARKETING CHARACTERISTICS IN RETAIL, ONLINE AND SOCIAL MEDIA Gaiha, S., Halpern-Felsher, B. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2022: S67

  View details for Web of Science ID 000768696700124

• EVALUATION OF AN ARTS-BASED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM TO REDUCE MENTAL-HEALTH-RELATED STIGMA AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN INDIA Gaiha, S., Salisbury, T. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2022: S66-S67

  View details for Web of Science ID 000768696700123

• ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ADOLESCENTS' PAST-30 DAY USE OF DIFFERENT SUBSTANCES AND DEPRESSION Gaiha, S., Halpern-Felsher, B. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2022: S67

  View details for Web of Science ID 000768696700125

• Youth Perceptions of E-Cigarette-Related Risk of Lung Issues and Association With E-Cigarette Use HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY Gaiha, S. M., Epperson, A. E., Halpern-Felsher, B. 2022

  Abstract

  E-cigarette use is associated with increased risk of negative health outcomes, including respiratory problems such as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Nevertheless, adolescents and young adults (AYAs) continue to use e-cigarettes at alarming rates. We examined AYA's perceptions of the health harms of e-cigarettes in relation to respiratory problems and the associations between these perceptions and e-cigarette use.In May 2020, we conducted an online, national cross-sectional survey of AYAs aged 13 to 24 years old (N = 4,315; 65% female; 50% ever-users, 50% never-users) to assess e-cigarette use and perceptions of the risk of respiratory problems, COVID-19, and severe lung disease for AYAs with different levels of e-cigarette use.In comparisons between AYAs with different levels of e-cigarette use, e-cigarette-related health risk perceptions were lower among ever-users compared to never-users and among ever-users who used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days compared to ever-users who did not use in the past 30 days. After controlling for demographics, AYAs were less likely to have used in the past 30 days if they agreed that young people are at risk of respiratory problems due to e-cigarette use (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = .68, 95% confidence interval [CI; .59, .78]) and e-cigarettes are harmful for their health (aOR = .52, 95% CI [.30, .90]). AYAs were more likely to have used in the past 30 days if they believed that there is no hard evidence that e-cigarette use with nicotine increases risk of severe lung disease (aOR = 1.61, 95% CI [1.42, 1.82]) and that e-cigarette use is safer than smoking cigarettes (aOR = 1.26, 95% CI [1.11, 1.42]).Among AYAs who had ever used e-cigarettes, those who did not believe that e-cigarette use increases the risks of respiratory problems were more likely to have used e-cigarettes in the past month. To bridge the gap between youth perceptions and emerging scientific evidence on e-cigarette-related health risks, prevention messaging should seek to explain how e-cigarette use is linked to respiratory problems and could affect COVID-19 outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

  View details for DOI 10.1037/hea0001146

  View details for Web of Science ID 000754044600001

  View details for PubMedID 35157478

• Sociodemographic Factors Associated with Adolescents' and Young Adults' Susceptibility, Use, and Intended Future Use of Different E-Cigarette Devices. International journal of environmental research and public health Gaiha, S. M., Rao, P., Halpern-Felsher, B. 2022; 19 (4)

  Abstract

  Numerous studies have identified sociodemographic factors associated with susceptibility, ever-use and past-30-day use of e-cigarettes, including JUUL. However, it remains unknown which sociodemographic factors are associated with adolescents' and young adults' (AYA) use of the entire spectrum of different types of e-cigarette devices (e.g., disposables, pod/cartridge-based, and other e-cigarettes, like mods or tanks). The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between sociodemographic factors and use, future use intent and susceptibility to use different e-cigarette device types. We conducted a national online survey using a convenience sample of 13-24-year-olds, 50:50 e-cigarette ever- to never-users and sex and race/ethnicity balanced per the U.S. Census (n = 4351). Sociodemographic factors were not associated with ever use of disposables among AYAs or generally with intent to use e-cigarette devices in the future. However, sociodemographic factors were related to the use of pod/cartridge-based and other e-cigarette devices. LGBTQ+ AYAs were more likely to use pod/cartridge-based devices and to be susceptible to using all device types compared to other AYAs. Young adults, males, and other/multiracial non-Hispanic AYAs were more likely to report past-30-day-use of all devices and AA/Black non-Hispanic AYAs were more likely to report past-30-day use of pod/cartridge-based and other devices compared to former users. AA/Black non-Hispanic AYAs were more likely to be susceptible to using all devices and other/multiracial non-Hispanic AYAs were susceptible to using other devices (compared to White non-Hispanic AYAs). AYAs under 21 who were former users were more likely to intend using other devices in the future compared to AYAs 21 years or above. These findings may inform targeted prevention efforts to curb the growing popularity of different devices among AYAs.

  View details for DOI 10.3390/ijerph19041941

  View details for PubMedID 35206132

• Self-reported changes in cannabis vaping among US adolescents and young adults early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Preventive medicine reports Nguyen, N., Mathur Gaiha, S., Halpern-Felsher, B. 1800; 24: 101654

  Abstract

  Cannabis vaping may increase susceptibility toCOVID-19 infection and related outcomes; however, little is known about the impact of the pandemic on cannabis vaping among US young populations. This study examined self-reported changes in cannabis vaping since the pandemic and factors associated with changes. A national, cross-sectional survey was conducted among 4,351 US adolescents and young adults (13-24years old) in May 2020. Of those, 1,553 participants who reported ever vaping cannabis were included in the analytic sample. Binary outcome was self-reported increase in cannabis vaping (more hours/times of vaping in a day) vs. no change/quitting/reducing/switching. Weighted logistic regression examined associations between independent variables (i.e., risk perceptions of vaping, cannabis dependence, and stress/anxiety) and the outcome, controlling for sociodemographic factors. Overall, 6.8% reported increasing cannabis vaping since the pandemic, 37.0% quitting or reducing vaping in general, and 42.3% no change. Participants were more likely to report increased cannabis vaping if they perceived "Vaping is safer than smoking cigarettes" (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR]=3.66; 95%CI=1.43-9.38), reported more dependence on cannabis vaping (AOR=1.59; 95%CI=1.11-2.27), and were female (AOR=2.80; 95%CI=1.23-6.36). Those perceiving "Vaping cannabis can cause lung injuries" were less likely to increase cannabis vaping (AOR=0.37; 95%CI=0.18-0.76). Findings indicate that adolescent and young adult ever-cannabis vapers were more likely to report decreasing vaping generally than increasing cannabis vaping and most did not change use during the early pandemic. Educational campaigns should address potential health risks of cannabis vaping and focus on lung health to reduce use among young people during and following the pandemic.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101654

  View details for PubMedID 34976701

• E-cigarette devices, brands, and flavors attract youth: Informing FDA's policies and priorities to close critical gaps. Addictive behaviors Gaiha, S. M., Lempert, L. K., McKelvey, K., Halpern-Felsher, B. 2021; 126: 107179

  Abstract

  PURPOSE: Identify e-cigarette devices, brands, and flavor types used by adolescents and young adults soon after the enactment of flavor restrictions, youth access laws, FDA's enforcement prioritization against some flavored pod/cartridge-based e-cigarettes, and during COVID-19 pandemic-related school closures.METHODS: National cross-sectional online survey (N=4,351) in May 2020 assessed popularity, ever- and past-30-day use of e-cigarette device types (pod/cartridge-based, disposables, others), brands, flavor types and flavor-enhancers, by age group (under age 21 and 21 and over).RESULTS: While pod/cartridge-based e-cigarettes had the highest ever-use (82.7% <21; 69.8% ≥21) and were most often-used (41.9% <21; 41.4% ≥21), most past 30-day-users (50.8% <21; 61.9% ≥21) and 7-day-users (36.0% <21; 56.7% ≥21) used disposables. Mint/menthol was the most-used flavor type (pod/cartridge-based: 48.2% <21, 48.1% ≥21; disposables: 51.6% <21, 56.4% ≥21), followed by fruit (pod/cartridge-based: 37.4% <21, 35.5%≥ 21; disposables: 51.6% >21, 46.2% ≥ 21), and sweet/dessert/candy flavor types (pod/cartridge-based: 24.4% <21, 24.7% ≥21; disposables: 29.7% <21, 33.8% ≥21). Participants reported using add-on e-cigarette flavor-enhancers (pod/cartridge-based: 24.6%; disposables: 31.3%).CONCLUSION: Soon after FDA's January 2020 announcement of prioritized enforcement against flavored pod/cartridge-based e-cigarettes and during the pandemic lockdown, adolescents' and young adults' past 30-day use included mostly flavored disposables rather than pod/cartridge-based e-cigarettes, mint/menthol flavors, and some used add-on flavor enhancers. To reduce youth use, comprehensive regulation of e-cigarette devices and flavors should be enacted and enforced at federal, state, and local levels.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107179

  View details for PubMedID 34861522

• JUUL and other e-cigarettes: Socio-demographic factors associated with use and susceptibility in California. Preventive medicine reports Mathur Gaiha, S., Halpern-Felsher, B., Feld, A. L., Gaber, J., Rogers, T., Henriksen, L. 2021; 23: 101457

  Abstract

  This study examined which socio-demographic factors are associated with susceptibility (lack of commitment to avoid future use), past-12-month and past-30-day use of JUUL and other e-cigarettes, and reasons for and against using JUUL. An online survey of 3,075 Californians ages 15-29, including 24.3% who identified as LGBTQ, were recruited via social media in January-March 2019. Multi-level weighted logistic regression models suggest that LGBTQ participants were more likely to be susceptible to JUUL [AOR=2.11 (1.60, 2.79) (parentheses include 95% Confidence Intervals)] and other e-cigarettes [AOR=2.31 (1.75, 3.05)], and more likely to use JUUL [AOR=1.27 (1.02, 1.58)] and other e-cigarettes [AOR=1.66 (1.35, 2.05)] in the past 12months. Susceptibility to using JUUL was more likely among adolescents (ages 15-17) [AOR=1.72 (1.30, 2.28)] and young adults (ages 18-20) [AOR=1.26 (1.00,1.58)] than adults (ages 21-29). At the community level, living in jurisdictions with higher median household income was associated with a higher likelihood of being susceptible to using JUUL and other e-cigarettes. Compared to non-Hispanic Whites, Asian/Pacific Islanders were less likely to use JUUL [AOR=0.68 (0.54, 0.86)] and other e-cigarettes [AOR=0.60 (0.48, 0.76)] in the past 12months. Past-30-day JUUL use was more likely among males than females [AOR=1.44 (1.11, 1.88)]. Common reasons for using JUUL were: friends' use, flavors, "safer" than cigarettes, no one will notice, and nicotine rush is greater than other devices. Common reasons against using JUUL were: harmful to self/others, contains nicotine and is addictive. E-cigarette prevention and cessation efforts should include tailored messaging for people who identify as LGBTQ and reinforce reasons for not vaping nicotine.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101457

  View details for PubMedID 34194963

• Development and Reach of the Stanford Tobacco Prevention Toolkit: Implementation of a Community-Based Participatory Approach. The Journal of school health Gaiha, S. M., Zorrilla, M., Sachnoff, I., Smuin, S., Lazaro, A., Ceballos, R. D., Razo, A., Halpern-Felsher, B. 2021

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND: We developed the Tobacco Prevention Toolkit (Toolkit) to enhance the impact of school-based tobacco education. This study describes the process of developing the Toolkit, its contents, and reach.METHODS: Qualitative community-based participatory research (CBPR), including focus group discussions (N=152) and working groups with parents, educators, researchers, and youth (N=87) were used to develop the Toolkit and design its implementation. Toolkit reach was assessed through number of trained educators using the Toolkit, estimated number of youth recipients of the Toolkit resources, and using Google Analytics for online engagement.RESULTS: The Toolkit is a free, online resource aimed at preventing tobacco use by middle and high school students. Toolkit content addresses varied forms of tobacco including electronic cigarettes, hookah, smokeless tobacco, and cigarettes; addiction; and positive youth development; and is available in multiple interactive formats such as real-time quizzes, factsheets, activities, and presentations. The Toolkit is mainly delivered by trained educators, who adapt its content and duration to tailor their drug prevention teaching to student needs. As of April 2020, when data for this paper were collected, 4,750 educators have reached an estimated 1.3 million youth. The Toolkit website has 186,116 users and 802,602 page views, growing steadily since 2016. As of August 2021, additional students have been reached, for now a total of 1.85 million students reached.CONCLUSION: The Toolkit resources are evidence-based, comprehensive, responsive, interactive, easily accessible, and flexible. Applying CBPR was instrumental in developing the Toolkit and expanding its reach.

  View details for DOI 10.1111/josh.13074

  View details for PubMedID 34426975

• Effectiveness of arts interventions to reduce mental-health-related stigma among youth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC psychiatry Gaiha, S. M., Salisbury, T. T., Usmani, S., Koschorke, M., Raman, U., Petticrew, M. 2021; 21 (1): 364

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Educational interventions engage youth usingvisual, literary and performing arts to combat stigma associated with mental health problems. However, it remains unknown whether arts interventions are effective in reducing mental-health-related stigma among youth and if so, then which specific art forms, duration and stigma-related components in content are successful.METHODS: We searched 13 databases, including PubMed, Medline, Global Health, EMBASE, ADOLEC, Social Policy and Practice, Database of Promoting Health Effectiveness Reviews (DoPHER), Trials Register of Promoting Health Interventions (TRoPHI), EPPI-Centre database of health promotion research (Bibliomap), Web of Science, PsycINFO, Cochrane and Scopus for studies involving arts interventions aimed at reducing any or all components of mental-health-related stigma among youth (10-24-year-olds). Risk of bias was assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies. Data were extracted into tables and analysed using RevMan 5.3.5.RESULTS: Fifty-seven studies met our inclusion criteria (n=41,621). Interventions using multiple art forms are effective in improving behaviour towards people with mental health problems to a small effect (effect size=0.28, 95%CI 0.08-0.48; p=0.007) No studies reported negative outcomes or unintended harms. Among studies using specific art forms, we observed high heterogeneity among intervention studies using theatre, multiple art forms, film and role play. Data in this review are inconclusive about the use of single versus multiple sessions and whether including all stigma components of knowledge, attitude and behaviour as intervention content are more effective relative to studies focused on thesestigma components, individually. Common challenges faced by school-basedarts interventions included lack of buy-in from school administrators and low engagement. No studies were reported from low- and middle-income countries.CONCLUSION: Arts interventions are effective in reducing mental-health-related stigma to a small effect. Interventions that employ multiple art forms together compared to studies employing film, theatre or role play are likely more effective in reducing mental-health-related stigma.

  View details for DOI 10.1186/s12888-021-03350-8

  View details for PubMedID 34294067

• Development and implementation of a novel Web-based gaming application to enhance emergency medical technician knowledge in low- and middle-income countries. AEM education and training Lindquist, B., Gaiha, S. M., Vasudevan, A., Dooher, S., Leggio, W., Mulkerin, W., Zozula, A., Strehlow, M., Sebok-Syer, S. S., Mahadevan, S. V. 2021; 5 (3): e10602

  Abstract

  Background: Increasing access to high-quality emergency and prehospital care is an important priority in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, ensuring that emergency medical technicians (EMTs) maintain their clinical knowledge and proficiency with procedural skills is challenging, as continuing education requirements are still being introduced, and clinical instructional efforts need strengthening. We describe the development and implementation of an innovative asynchronous learning tool for EMTs in the form of a Web-based trivia game.Methods: Over 500 case-based multiple-choice questions (covering 10 essential prehospital content areas) were created by experts in prehospital education, piloted with EMT educators from LMICs, and delivered to EMTs through a Web-based quiz game platform over a 12-week period. We enrolled 252 participants from nine countries.Results: Thirty-two participants (12.7%) completed the entire 12-week game. Participants who completed the game were administered a survey with a 100% response rate. Ninety-three percent of participants used their mobile phone to access the game. Overall, participants reported that the interface was easy to use (93.8% agreed or strongly agreed), the game improved their knowledge (100% agreed or strongly agreed), and they felt better prepared for their jobs (100% agreed or strongly agreed). The primary motivators for participation were improving patient care (37.5%) and being recognized on the game's leaderboard (31.3%). All participants reported that they would engage in the game again (43.8% agreed and 56.3% strongly agreed) and would recommend the game to their colleagues (34.4% agreed and 65.6% strongly agreed).Conclusions: In conclusion, a quiz game targeting EMT learners from LMICs was viewed as accessible and effective by participants. Future efforts should focus on increasing retention and trialing languages in addition to English.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/aet2.10602

  View details for PubMedID 34124530

• Stemming the tide of youth E-cigarette use: Promising progress in the development and evaluation of E-cigarette prevention and cessation programs. Addictive behaviors Gaiha, S. M., Halpern-Felsher, B. 2021; 120: 106960

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.106960

  View details for PubMedID 33940340

• Sources of flavoured e-cigarettes among California youth and young adults: associations with local flavoured tobacco sales restrictions. Tobacco control Gaiha, S. M., Henriksen, L., Halpern-Felsher, B., Rogers, T., Feld, A. L., Gaber, J., Andersen-Rodgers, E. 2021

  Abstract

  PURPOSE: This study compares access to flavoured JUUL and other e-cigarettes from retail, online and social sources among underage and young adult e-cigarette users who live in California jurisdictions that restrict sales of flavoured tobacco with the rest of the state.METHODS: An online survey used social media advertisements to recruit participants (n=3075, ages 15-29) who lived in one of nine jurisdictions that restrict sales (n=1539) or in the rest of state, and oversampled flavoured tobacco users. Focusing on past-month e-cigarette users (n=908), multilevel models tested whether access to flavoured JUUL and other e-cigarettes from retail, online and social sources differed by local law (yes/no) and age group (15-20 or older), controlling for other individual characteristics.RESULTS: The percent of underage users who obtained flavoured JUUL and other e-cigarettes in the past month was 33.6% and 31.2% from retail, 11.6% and 12.7% online, and 76.0% and 70.9% from social sources, respectively. Compared with underage and young adult users in the rest of California, those in localities that restrict the sales of flavoured tobacco were less likely to obtain flavoured JUUL from retail sources (Adjusted OR=0.54, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.80), but more likely to obtain it from social sources (Adjusted OR=1.55, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.35). The same pattern was observed for other brands of flavoured e-cigarettes.CONCLUSION: Although local laws may reduce access to flavoured e-cigarettes from retail sources, more comprehensive state or federal restrictions are recommended to close the loopholes for online sources. Dedicated efforts to curtail access from social sources are needed.

  View details for DOI 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2020-056455

  View details for PubMedID 33850007

• Corroborating Adolescent Tobacco Use and Sociodemographic Patterns From Multiple National Surveys. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine Gaiha, S. M., Halpern-Felsher, B. 2021; 68 (4): 642–43

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.01.015

  View details for PubMedID 33781469

• Measures of both perceived general and specific risks and benefits differentially predict adolescent and young adult tobacco and marijuana use: findings from a Prospective Cohort Study HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES COMMUNICATIONS McKelvey, K., Gaiha, S., Delucchi, K. L., Halpern-Felsher, B. 2021; 8 (1)

  View details for DOI 10.1057/s41599-021-00765-2

  View details for Web of Science ID 000636350600001

• Measures of both perceived general and specific risks and benefits differentially predict adolescent and young adult tobacco and marijuana use: findings from a Prospective Cohort Study. Humanities & social sciences communications McKelvey, K., Gaiha, S. M., Delucchi, K. L., Halpern-Felsher, B. 2021; 8 (1)

  Abstract

  Health behavior theorists and prevention researchers use a variety of measures of adolescent and young adult (AYA) risk and benefit perceptions to predict tobacco-use and marijuana-use behaviors. However, studies have not examined whether and how perception measures that ask about likelihood of more general outcomes such as "harm" versus ask about specific risk or benefit outcomes compare or whether they differentially predict AYA willingness to use if one of your best friends were to offer it and intentions to use in the next year; and if these measures have differential ability to predict actual use of tobacco and marijuana. We used data from a prospective cohort of California AYAs to create and test new scales to measure perceptions of specific health and social outcomes related to risks (e.g., smell bad) and benefits (e.g., look cool) related to tobacco and marijuana, and then addressed three questions: (1) Whether and how measures of perceptions of specific social and health risks and benefits (for our purposes "specific measures") and measures of perceived general harm are differentially associated with measures of willingness, social norms, and intentions to use? (2) Are specific versus general measures differentially associated with and predictive of tobacco and cannabis use behavior? (3) Are specific perceptions measures differentially predictive of behavior compared to measures of willingness, social norms, and behavioral intentions? Our results demonstrate that to better predict AYA tobacco and marijuana use, measures that address general outcomes, such as harmfulness, as well as willingness and behavioral intention should be used. We also found that measures of specific perceived risks (short-term, long-term, social) and benefits were unrelated and correlated differently with different products. For example, adolescents perceived both risks and benefits from using products like e-cigarettes, and perceived greater risk from smokeless tobacco compared to combustible cigarettes. These findings indicate that measures of specific perceived social and health outcomes can be useful to discern nuanced differences in motivation for using different substances. Study implications are important for survey dimension-reduction and assessing relationships among perceptions, motivations, and use of tobacco and marijuana products.

  View details for DOI 10.1057/s41599-021-00765-2

  View details for PubMedID 34435190

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC8382238

• YOUTH PERCEPTIONS ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN E-CIGARETTE USE AND COVID-19 Gaiha, S., Epperson, A., Halpern-Felsher, B. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2021: S57

  View details for Web of Science ID 000616262000109

• ADOLESCENT E-CIGARETTE USE AND ACCESS BEFORE AND DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC Gaiha, S., Lempert, L., McKelvey, K., Halpern-Felsher, B. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2021: S57

  View details for Web of Science ID 000616262000110

• Underage Youth and Young Adult e-Cigarette Use and Access Before and During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic. JAMA network open Gaiha, S. M., Lempert, L. K., Halpern-Felsher, B. 2020; 3 (12): e2027572

  Abstract

  Importance: Understanding patterns of e-cigarette use and access during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is important because e-cigarettes may put users at risk for more severe respiratory effects and other health problems.Objective: To examine whether underage youth and young adults who ever used e-cigarettes self-reported changes in access and use of e-cigarettes since the COVID-19 pandemic began.Design, Setting, and Participants: A national, cross-sectional online survey study was conducted from May 6 to May 14, 2020. This sample of 4351 participants aged 13 to 24 years across the US included 2167 e-cigarette ever-users. Quota sampling was used to balance for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and 50% having ever used e-cigarettes.Main Outcomes and Measures: Change in e-cigarette use (increase, decrease, quit, no change, and switch to another product) and access to e-cigarettes (easier or harder, and change in point-of-purchase) before and after the COVID-19 pandemic began, reasons for change, number of times e-cigarettes were used, nicotine dependence, and sociodemographic data.Results: This study focused on 2167 e-cigarette ever-users among 4351 participants who completed the survey. Among 2167 e-cigarette users, a total of 1442 were younger than 21 years and 725 were aged 21 years or older; 1397 were female (64.5%) and 438 identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (20.2%). The survey completion rate was 40%. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, 1198 of 2125 e-cigarette users (56.4%) changed their use: 388 individuals (32.4%) quit, 422 individuals (35.3%) reduced the amount of nicotine, 211 individuals (17.6%) increased nicotine use, 94 individuals (7.8%) increased cannabis use, and 82 individuals (6.9%) switched to other products. Participants reported that not being able to go to vape shops and product unavailability were the reasons accessing e-cigarettes was difficult after the pandemic began. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, individuals reported purchasing from alternative retail stores (disposables, 150 of 632 [23.7%]; pod-based, 144 of 797 [18.1%]; and other e-cigarette, 125 of 560 [22.3%], ie, between 18.1% and 23.7%), purchasing online instead of retail (disposables, 115 of 632 [18.2%]; pod-based, 156 of 797 [19.6%]; and other e-cigarette, 111 of 560 [19.8%], ie, between 18.2% to 19.8%), and shifted to retail instead of online (disposables, 11 of 632 [1.7%]; pod-based, 17 of 797 [2.0%]; and other e-cigarette, 13 of 560 [2.3%], ie, between 1.7%-2.3%). Other individuals reported no change: from retail stores (disposables 262 of 632 [41.5%]; pod-based 344 of 797 [43.2%]; and other e-cigarette, 223 of 560 [39.8%], ie, between 39.8% and 43.2%) and online (disposables 94 of 632 [14.9%]; pod-based 136 of 797 [17.1%]; and other e-cigarette, 88 of 560 [15.8%], ie, between 14.9% and 17.1%). Underage youth reported e-cigarette deliveries from vape shops and/or dealers or friends who received such deliveries, and 63 of 229 (27.5%) self-reported accessing e-cigarettes without age verification. e-Cigarette users were 52% less likely to quit or reduce their use if they previously used e-cigarettes between 11 and 99 times (adjusted odds ratio, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.30-0.78), 68% less likely to quit if they previously used e-cigarettes more than 100 times (adjusted odds ratio, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.20-0.51), and 51% were less likely to quit if they were nicotine dependent (adjusted odds ratio, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.35-0.70).Conclusions and Relevance: During the COVID-19 pandemic, youth e-cigarette users reported changes in e-cigarette use, point-of-purchase, and ability to purchase e-cigarettes without age verification. The US Food and Drug Administration and local policy makers may find these data useful to inform policies to prevent e-cigarette sales to underage youth.

  View details for DOI 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.27572

  View details for PubMedID 33270127

• Stigma associated with mental health problems among young people in India: a systematic review of magnitude, manifestations and recommendations. BMC psychiatry Gaiha, S. M., Taylor Salisbury, T., Koschorke, M., Raman, U., Petticrew, M. 2020; 20 (1): 538

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Globally, 20% of young people experience mental disorders. In India, only 7.3% of its 365 million youth report such problems. Although public stigma associated with mental health problems particularly affects help-seeking among young people, the extent of stigma among young people in India is unknown. Describing and characterizing public stigma among young people will inform targeted interventions to address such stigma in India, and globally. Thus, we examined the magnitude and manifestations of public stigma, and synthesised evidence of recommendations to reduce mental-health-related stigma among young people in India.METHOD: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies was conducted. Nine electronic databases were searched and 30 studies (n=6767) met inclusion criteria.RESULTS: Most studies (66%) focused on youth training to become health professionals. One-third of young people display poor knowledge of mental health problems and negative attitudes towards people with mental health problemsand one in five had actual/intended stigmatizing behavior (I2>=95%). Young people are unable to recognize causes and symptoms of mental health problems and believe that recovery is unlikely. People with mental health problems are perceived as dangerous and irresponsible, likely due to misinformation and misunderstanding of mental health problems as being solely comprised of severe mental disorders (e.g. schizophrenia). However, psychiatric labels are not commonly used/understood.CONCLUSION: Public education may use symptomatic vignettes (through relatable language and visuals) instead of psychiatric labels to improve young people's understanding of the range of mental health problems. Recommended strategies to reduce public stigma include awareness campaigns integrated with educational institutions and content relevant to culture and age-appropriate social roles.

  View details for DOI 10.1186/s12888-020-02937-x

  View details for PubMedID 33198678

• A Breath of Knowledge: Overview of Current Adolescent E-cigarette Prevention and Cessation Programs. Current addiction reports Liu, J., Gaiha, S. M., Halpern-Felsher, B. 2020: 1–13

  Abstract

  Purpose: Adolescent use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) has risen rapidly, which is concerning given the health effects of e-cigarettes and youth susceptibility to nicotine addiction. It is critical that efforts to educate, prevent, and reduce adolescent use of e-cigarettes are developed and evaluated. The purpose of this paper is to review available current prevention and cessation programs.Findings: A web-based search of currently available e-cigarette prevention and cessation/treatment programs was conducted using Google in May of 2020. Programs were then reviewed on whether they included theory- and evidence-based practices of effective adolescent prevention and cessation programs. Eight prevention programs, seven cessation programs, and one program that addressed both prevention and cessation were identified and included in this review. Most prevention programs included the importance of understanding flavored e-cigarette products, addressed industry-targeted marketing, included social learning activities to develop refusal skills, delivered free-of-cost, available online, and explicitly stated their incorporation of theory. Five prevention programs and two cessation programs had empirically evaluated their e-cigarette-related components.Conclusions: Although the programs reviewed largely incorporated theory and included key components known to be effective, there are some gaps in the programs' overall ability to prevent and stop adolescents from using e-cigarettes, such as lack of dedicated e-cigarette materials. More evidence-based tools, resources, and evaluations are needed to best inform adolescent e-cigarette cessation. Addressing the gaps that existing prevention and cessation programs present requires intervening at multiple systematic levels, conducting more rigorous program evaluations, and bolstering the availability of cessation programs.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s40429-020-00345-5

  View details for PubMedID 33204602

• Pilot Community Mental Health Awareness Campaign Improves Service Coverage in India. Community mental health journal Gaiha, S. M., Gulfam, F. R., Siddiqui, I., Kishore, R., Krishnan, S. 2020

  Abstract

  PURPOSE: Low community awareness of mental health problems negatively impacts treatment-seeking for such problems. Despite a shortage of mental health providers, there is scope to improve coverage of mental health services in India. In this study, we examined the impact of a multi-statecommunity-based awareness campaign on knowledge, attitude, treatment-seeking behavior and acceptability.METHODS: Campaign activities included educational materials, public meetings, musical announcements, quizzes, and street plays, followed by a mental health screening camp. A rapid, real-world evaluation was conductedusing post-intervention surveys (n=693), field notes and telephonic interviews in five states.RESULTS: The campaign, implemented as a public-private partnership between government service providers and community-based organizations, reached~3000 people in 20 new locations across five states. As a result of the campaign, 1,176 persons sought treatment servicesfor mental disorders and 66% received a preliminary diagnosis. Collectively, campaign activities were the first time that~75% of participants reported learning about mental health problems. Participants expressed knowledge that mental disorders are treatable, listed common symptoms and location of available mental health services and attitudes supporting people with mental health problems.CONCLUSION: The campaign enabled improved coverage for mental health services, potentially by enhancing knowledge, attitude and treatment-seeking behavior. Future research may develop a quasi-experimental evaluation of the current campaign methodology.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s10597-020-00714-4

  View details for PubMedID 33052548

• Actor-doctor partnership for theatre-based public health education HEALTH EDUCATION JOURNAL Sharma, K., Gaiha, S., Pati, S., Sarabhai, M. 2020

  View details for DOI 10.1177/0017896920949604

  View details for Web of Science ID 000564347700001

• Association Between Youth Smoking, Electronic Cigarette Use, and Coronavirus Disease 2019. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine Gaiha, S. M., Cheng, J., Halpern-Felsher, B. 2020

  Abstract

  PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess whether youth cigarette and electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use are associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms, testing, and diagnosis.METHODS: An online national survey of adolescents and young adults (n= 4,351) aged 13-24 years was conducted in May 2020. Multivariable logistic regression assessed relationships among COVID-19-related symptoms, testing, and diagnosis and cigarettes only, e-cigarettes only and dual use, sociodemographic factors, obesity, and complying with shelter-in-place.RESULTS: COVID-19 diagnosis was five times more likely among ever-users of e-cigarettes only (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.82-13.96), seven times more likely among ever-dual-users (95% CI: 1.98-24.55), and 6.8 times more likely among past 30-day dual-users (95% CI: 2.40-19.55). Testing was nine times more likely among past 30-day dual-users (95% CI: 5.43-15.47) and 2.6 times more likely among past 30-day e-cigarette only users (95% CI: 1.33-4.87). Symptoms were 4.7 times more likely among past 30-day dual-users (95% CI: 3.07-7.16).CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 is associated with youth use of e-cigarettes only and dual use of e-cigarettes and cigarettes, suggesting the need for screening and education.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.07.002

  View details for PubMedID 32798097

• School-based e-cigarette education in Alabama: Impact on knowledge of e-cigarettes, perceptions and intent to try. Addictive behaviors Gaiha, S. M., Duemler, A., Silverwood, L., Razo, A., Halpern-Felsher, B., Walley, S. C. 2020; 112: 106519

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Educational programs are needed to combat the sharp rise in adolescent e-cigarette use. We assessed adolescent knowledge about e-cigarettes, perceptions of harmfulness and addictiveness and intent to try e-cigarettes before and after an e-cigarette educational session.METHODS: We conducted a one-group pre- and post-test study among middle and high school students in Alabama in 2019. The intervention included a 30-minute educational session based on the Stanford Tobacco Prevention Toolkit on e-cigarette types, contents, marketing and advertising, health effects and nicotine addiction. McNemar tests of paired proportions and multi-level, mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to analyze intervention effects.RESULTS: Surveys were completed by 2,889 middle and high school students. The intervention was associated with significantly increased knowledge about e-cigarettes and perceptions that e-cigarettes are harmful and addictive, and with significantly lower intent to try e-cigarettes. At pre-test, middle school students had lower knowledge, believed that e-cigarettes were not as addictive and showed higher intent to try both e-cigarettes and cigarettes compared to high school students. Groups that were associated with lower perceived harmfulness and addictiveness were: ever-users of e-cigarettes, ever-users of both e-cigarettes and cigarettes and prior users of mint/menthol flavored e-cigarettes.CONCLUSIONS: A school-based educational session was significantly associated with improved adolescent knowledge about e-cigarettes, increased the perceived harmfulness and addictiveness of e-cigarettes, and reduced intent to try e-cigarettes. E-cigarette education should be prioritized for middle school students due to lower levels of knowledge and higher intent to try tobacco compared to high school students.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106519

  View details for PubMedID 32890911

• Public Health Considerations for Adolescent Initiation of Electronic Cigarettes. Pediatrics Gaiha, S. M., Halpern-Felsher, B. 2020; 145 (Suppl 2): S175–S180

  Abstract

  Adolescent use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) has increased dramatically, with younger and nicotine-naive adolescents starting to use these devices and use them more frequently than combustible cigarettes. In emerging evidence, it is shown that e-cigarettes are not effective in helping adult smokers quit and that youth using e-cigarettes are at risk for becoming nicotine dependent and continuing to use as adults. Important gaps in our knowledge remain regarding the long-term health impact of e-cigarettes, effective strategies to prevent and reduce adolescent e-cigarette use, and the impact of provider screening and counseling to address this new method of nicotine use.

  View details for DOI 10.1542/peds.2019-2056E

  View details for PubMedID 32358208

• Escalating Safety Concerns Are Not Changing Adolescent E-Cigarette Use Patterns: The Possible Role of Adolescent Mental Health. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine Gaiha, S. M., Halpern-Felsher, B. 2020; 66 (1): 3–5

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2019.10.008

  View details for PubMedID 31866056

• 'No time for health:' exploring couples' health promotion in Indian slums. Health promotion international Gaiha, S. M., Gillander Gådin, K. 2018

  Abstract

  Joint involvement of couples is an effective strategy to increase contraceptive use and improve reproductive health of women. However, engaging couples to understand how their gender attitudes affect their personal and family health is an idea in search of practice. This mixed-methods study explores opportunities and barriers to couples' participation in health promotion in three slums of Delhi. For each couple, surveys and semi-structured interviews were conducted with husbands and wives individually to contrast self and spousal work, time, interest in health, sources of information related to health and depth of knowledge (n = 62). Urban poverty forces men to work long hours and women to enter part-time work in the informal sector. Paid work induces lack of availability at home, lack of interest in health information and in performing household chores and a self-perception of being healthy among men. These factors inhibit men's' participation in community-based health promotion activities. Women's unpaid work in the household remains unnoticed. Women were expected to be interested in and to make time to attend community-based health-related activities. Men recalled significantly less sources of health information than their spouse. Men and their wives showed similar depth of health-related knowledge, likely due to their spousal communication, with women acting as gatekeepers. Health promotion planners must recognize time constraints, reliance on informal interpersonal communication as a source of health information and the need to portray positive masculinities that address asymmetric gender relations. Innovative, continuous and collaborative approaches may support couples to proactively care about health in low-resource settings.

  View details for DOI 10.1093/heapro/day101

  View details for PubMedID 30590523

• Physical Activity Among Adolescents in India: A Qualitative Study of Barriers and Enablers HEALTH EDUCATION & BEHAVIOR Satija, A., Khandpur, N., Satija, S., Gaiha, S., Prabhakaran, D., Reddy, K., Arora, M., Narayan, K. 2018; 45 (6): 926–34

  Abstract

  Inadequate physical activity (PA) levels are reported in Indian youth, with lowest levels among adolescents, particularly girls. We aimed to identify barriers to and enablers of PA among school children in New Delhi and examine potential differences by gender and school type (government vs. private). A total of 174 students (private school students = 88, 47% girls; government school students = 86, 48% girls) aged 12 to 16 years from two Delhi schools participated in 16 focus group discussions (FGDs) conducted by bilingual moderators. We conducted FGDs separately for girls and boys, for students in Grades VIII and IX, and for private and government schools. We conducted FGDs among government school students in Hindi and translated the transcriptions to English for analysis. We coded transcriptions using a combination of inductive and deductive approaches, guided by the "youth physical activity promotion model." We identified various personal, social, and environmental barriers and enablers. Personal barriers: Private school girls cited body image-related negative consequences of PA participation. Social barriers: Girls from both schools faced more social censure for participating in PA. Environmental barriers: Reduced opportunity for PA in schools was commonly reported across all participants. Personal enablers: All participants reported perceived health benefits of PA. Social enablers: Several participants mentioned active parents and sports role models as motivators for increasing PA. Few environmental enablers were identified. This study highlights the need for further investment in physical activity within schools and for gender-sensitive policies for encouraging PA participation among adolescents in India.

  View details for DOI 10.1177/1090198118778332

  View details for Web of Science ID 000452478900009

  View details for PubMedID 29969921

• Global treatment costs of breast cancer by stage: A systematic review PLOS ONE Sun, L., Legood, R., dos-Santos-Silva, I., Gaiha, S., Sadique, Z. 2018; 13 (11): e0207993

  Abstract

  Published evidence on treatment costs of breast cancer varies widely in methodology and a global systematic review is lacking.This study aimed to conduct a systematic review to compare treatment costs of breast cancer by stage at diagnosis across countries at different levels of socio-economic development, and to identify key methodological differences in costing approaches.MEDLINE, EMBASE, and NHS Economic Evaluation Database (NHS EED) before April 2018.Studies were eligible if they reported treatment costs of breast cancer by stage at diagnosis using patient level data, in any language.Study characteristics and treatment costs by stage were summarised. Study quality was assessed using the Drummond Checklist, and detailed methodological differences were further compared.Twenty studies were included, 15 from high-income countries and five from low- and middle-income countries. Eleven studies used the FIGO staging system, and the mean treatment costs of breast cancer at Stage II, III and IV were 32%, 95%, and 109% higher than Stage I. Five studies categorised stage as in situ, local, regional and distant. The mean treatment costs of regional and distant breast cancer were 41% and 165% higher than local breast cancer. Overall, the quality of studies ranged from 50% (lowest quality) to 84% (highest). Most studies used regression frameworks but the choice of regression model was rarely justified. Few studies described key methodological issues including skewness, zero values, censored data, missing data, and the inclusion of control groups to estimate disease-attributable costs.Treatment costs of breast cancer generally increased with the advancement of the disease stage at diagnosis. Methodological issues should be better handled and properly described in future costing studies.

  View details for DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0207993

  View details for Web of Science ID 000451325700098

  View details for PubMedID 30475890

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC6258130

• Is India's policy framework geared for effective action on avoidable blindness from diabetes? Indian journal of endocrinology and metabolism Gaiha, S. M., Shukla, R., Gilbert, C. E., Anchala, R., Gudlavalleti, M. V. 2016; 20 (Suppl 1): S42-50

  Abstract

  The growing burden of avoidable blindness caused by diabetic retinopathy (DR) needs an effective and holistic policy that reflects mechanisms for early detection and treatment of DR to reduce the risk of blindness.We performed a comprehensive health policy review to highlight the existing systemic issues that enable policy translation and to assess whether India's policy architecture is geared to address the mounting challenge of DR. We used a keyword-based Internet search for documents available in the last 15 years. Two reviewers independently assessed retrieved policies and extracted contextual and program-oriented information and components delineated in national policy documents. Using a "descriptive analytical" method, the results were collated and summarized as per themes to present status quo, gaps, and recommendations for the future.Lack of focus on building sustainable synergies that require well laid out mechanisms for collaboration within and outside the health sector and poor convergence between national health programs appears to be the weakest links across policy documents.To reasonably address the issues of consistency, comprehensiveness, clarity, context, connectedness, and sustainability, policies will have to rely more strongly on evidence from operational research to support decisions. There is a need to involve multiple stakeholders from multiple sectors, recognize contributions from not-for-profit sector and private health service providers, and finally bring about a nuanced holistic perspective that has a voice with implementable multiple sector actions.

  View details for DOI 10.4103/2230-8210.179773

  View details for PubMedID 27144136

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4847449

• Enhancing mental health literacy in India to reduce stigma: the fountainhead to improve help-seeking behaviour JOURNAL OF PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH Gaiha, S., Sunil, G., Kumar, R., Menon, S. 2014; 13 (3): 146-+

  View details for DOI 10.1108/JPMH-06-2013-0043

  View details for Web of Science ID 000212934700004