Journal of community health
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The use of bicycle helmets to prevent or reduce serious head injuries is well established. However, it is unclear how to effectively promote helmet use, particularly in the context of bicycle-sharing programs. The need to determine rates of helmet use specifically among users of bicycle-sharing programs and understand if certain characteristics, such as time of day, affect helmet use, is imperative if effective promotion and/or legislative efforts addressing helmet use are to be developed. ⋯ Overall, 85.3% (95% CI 82.2, 88.4%) of the cyclists observed did not wear a helmet. Rates of helmet non-use were also consistent whether cyclists were entering or leaving the docking station, among cyclists using the Citi Bikes earlier versus later in the day, and among cyclists using the Citi Bikes on weekends versus weekdays. Improved understanding about factors that facilitate and hinder helmet use is needed to help reduce head injury risk among users of bicycle sharing programs.
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As part of its state-wide "denormalization" campaign, the California Tobacco Control Program has funded local tobacco control projects to secure tobacco retail licenses (TRLs) in their communities. TRL policies generate funding by requiring tobacco retailers within a jurisdiction to obtain a license, which is in addition to the state license that tobacco retailers are legally required to purchase to sell tobacco products. The funding provided by TRLs enables local law enforcement to carry out inspection and enforcement operations. ⋯ Successful campaigns tended to include the following strategies: (1) determining policy readiness; (2) gathering local data; (3) identifying and working with a "champion"; (4) building relationships with local law enforcement agencies and decision makers; and (5) educating community and decision makers. The major challenges faced by local projects included budget cuts and staffing issues, concern about creating an unfavorable environment for business by imposing more regulations and fees, and complaints about using law enforcement resources for tobacco control in light of more "pressing" public safety issues. These challenges proved difficult for local projects to overcome, and also highlight the need for projects to create and carry out strong but flexible tactical plans that incorporate the aforementioned strategies.
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The purpose of this study was to examine the conceptual gap between self-perceived weight and body mass index (BMI), and to assess the knowledge gap between perceived importance of following dietary guidelines and health literacy levels. Adults (n = 131) eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) were interviewed at eleven SNAP regional offices in Maryland. Based on BMI calculated from self-reported height and weight, 65.6% of participants were overweight or obese while 40.5% perceived that they were overweight or obese. ⋯ Following dietary guidelines was perceived as important by a majority of participants, but only 43.5% had adequate health literacy. Conceptual and knowledge gaps between self-perception and objective health status existed in the low-income SNAP-eligible sample. Future studies need to address these gaps because misperceived weight status and insufficient health literacy are critical barriers to inducing behavioral change.