Thomas Kirchner
Thomas Kirchner
Scroll
Associate Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences
-
Professional overview
-
Dr. Thomas Kirchner is a clinical-health psychologist and methodologist interested in the analysis and graphical representation of longitudinal and geographic data, including methodologies that link individual behavior to the real-time context in which it occurs. Dr. Kirchner’s research targets momentary influences on the maintenance of health-related behavior utilizing both field-based (ecological momentary assessment) and laboratory-based paradigms. These geographic information systems and analytical methods can then inform public health, research, and policy.
As the Director and Principal Investigator of the mHealth (mobile health) Lab, Dr. Kirchner uses GIS to understand health-related behavior and decision-making in real time (e.g., how people make decisions about what they eat and drink, the places they go to exercise in their neighborhoods, the amount of time they spend outdoors, and whether they smoke cigarettes and/or marijuana). In the Lab, students apply mHealth tools to explore geospatial systems, technology, research, and community advocacy. Students learn how to leverage the power of their cell phones to collect data about neighborhoods and experiences.
-
Education
-
MS, Clinical and Biological/Health Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PAPhD, Clinical and Biological/Health Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
-
Areas of research and study
-
Behavioral Determinants of HealthGeographic Information Science (GIS)Geographically-explicit EMALongitudinal Data AnalysisSocial BehaviorsUrban InformaticsUrban Science
-
Publications
Publications
A randomized trial comparing the effect of nicotine versus placebo electronic cigarettes on smoking reduction among young adult smokers
AbstractTseng, T. Y., Ostroff, J. S., Campo, A., Gerard, M., Kirchner, T., Rotrosen, J., & Shelley, D. (n.d.).Publication year
2016Journal title
Nicotine and Tobacco ResearchVolume
18Issue
10Page(s)
1937-1943AbstractIntroduction: Electronic cigarette (EC) use is growing dramatically with use highest among young adults and current smokers. One of the most common reasons for using ECs is interest in quitting or reducing cigarettes per day (CPD); however there are few randomized controlled trials (RCT) on the effect of ECs on smoking abstinence and reduction. Methods: We conducted a two-arm; double-blind RCT. Subjects were randomized to receive 3-weeks of either disposable 4.5% nicotine EC (intervention) or placebo EC. The primary outcome was self-reported reduction of at least 50% in the number of CPDs smoked at week 3 (end of treatment) compared to baseline. Study subjects (n = 99) were young adult (21-35), current smokers (smoked ≥ 10 CPDs) living in NYC. Results: Compared with baseline, a significant reduction in CPDs was observed at both study time periods (1 and 3 weeks) for intervention (P < .001) and placebo (P < .001) groups. Between-group analyses showed significantly fewer CPDs in the intervention group compared to the placebo group at week 3 (P = .03), but not at any other follow-up periods. The logistic regression analysis showed that using a greater number of ECs, treatment condition and higher baseline readiness to quit were significantly associated with achieving at least 50% reduction in CPDs at the end of treatment. Conclusion: A diverse young adult sample of current everyday smokers, who were not ready to quit, was able to reduce smoking with the help of ECs. Further study is needed to establish the role of both placebo and nicotine containing ECs in increasing both reduction and subsequent cessation. Implications: Despite the critical need for well-designed clinical trials on the effect of ECs on cessation and cigarette reduction, the majority of studies have been observational or noncomparative intervention designs. Only three RCTs studying ECs as a cessation or reduction intervention have been published, and none were conducted in the United States. The current study adds knowledge to current literature on the feasibility of using ECs to aid smoking reduction among young smokers in US urban populations.Acceptability of ecological momentary assessment among young men who have sex with men
AbstractDuncan, D. T., Kapadia, F., Kirchner, T., Goedel, W. C., Brady, W. J., & Halkitis, P. N. (n.d.).Publication year
2017Journal title
Journal of LGBT YouthVolume
14Issue
4Page(s)
436-444AbstractThe study evaluated the acceptability of text message– and voice-based ecological momentary assessment (EMA) methods among a sample (N = 74) of young men who have sex with men (MSM). We assessed the acceptability of text message– and voice-based EMA methods. Almost all participants (96%) reported that they would be willing to accept texts on their smartphone to answer questions about their current mood, surroundings, or feelings. A large majority (89%) also reported being willing to accept phone calls to answer these questions. This work suggests that different EMA methods are acceptable for use among young MSM.Adolescent Marijuana Use, Marijuana-Related Perceptions, and Use of Other Substances Before and After Initiation of Retail Marijuana Sales in Colorado (2013–2015)
AbstractKirchner, T., Brooks-Russell, A., Ma, M., Levinson, A. H., Kattari, L., Kirchner, T., Anderson Goodell, E. M., & Johnson, R. M. (n.d.).Publication year
2019Journal title
Prevention ScienceVolume
20Issue
2Page(s)
185-193AbstractDue to the recentness of changes to marijuana policies in a number of states, the effect on adolescent use and perceptions is not yet well understood. This study examines change in adolescent marijuana use and related perceptions in Colorado, before and after the implementation of legal commercial sale of recreational marijuana for adults starting on January 1, 2014. The data are from a repeated cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of Colorado high school students, with separately drawn samples surveyed in fall 2013 (prior to implementation) and fall 2015 (18 months after implementation). We examined change in the prevalence of adolescent marijuana use, measured by lifetime use, past 30-day use, frequent use, and use on school property. To consider the possibility of heterogeneity in the change in marijuana use, we examined change in past 30-day marijuana use by demographic characteristics (sex, grade, race/ethnicity), school characteristics (poverty, percent minority), urbanicity of the school district, and whether the city or county permitted retail marijuana stores. There was an absence of significant effects for change in lifetime or past 30-day marijuana use. Among those reporting past 30-day use, frequent use and use on school property declined. There was a significant decline in the perceived harm associated with marijuana use, but we did not find a significant effect for perceived wrongfulness, perceived ease of access, or perceived parental disapproval. We did not find significant variability in past 30-day use by demographic characteristics or by school and community factors from 2013 to 2015. We did not find a significant effect associated with the introduction of legal sales of recreational marijuana to adults in Colorado on adolescent (illegal) use, but ongoing monitoring is warranted, including consideration of heterogeneity in the effects of marijuana policies.Alcohol and Group Formation : A Multimodal Investigation of the Effects of Alcohol on Emotion and Social Bonding
AbstractSayette, M. A., Creswell, K. G., Dimoff, J. D., Fairbairn, C. E., Cohn, J. F., Heckman, B. W., Kirchner, T., Levine, J. M., & Moreland, R. L. (n.d.).Publication year
2012Journal title
Psychological ScienceVolume
23Issue
8Page(s)
869-878AbstractWe integrated research on emotion and on small groups to address a fundamental and enduring question facing alcohol researchers: What are the specific mechanisms that underlie the reinforcing effects of drinking? In one of the largest alcohol-administration studies yet conducted, we employed a novel group-formation paradigm to evaluate the socioemotional effects of alcohol. Seven hundred twenty social drinkers (360 male, 360 female) were assembled into groups of 3 unacquainted persons each and given a moderate dose of an alcoholic, placebo, or control beverage, which they consumed over 36 min. These groups' social interactions were video recorded, and the duration and sequence of interaction partners' facial and speech behaviors were systematically coded (e.g., using the Facial Action Coding System). Alcohol consumption enhanced individual- and group-level behaviors associated with positive affect, reduced individual-level behaviors associated with negative affect, and elevated self-reported bonding. Our results indicate that alcohol facilitates bonding during group formation. Assessing nonverbal responses in social contexts offers new directions for evaluating the effects of alcohol.American spirit pack descriptors and perceptions of harm : A crowdsourced comparison of modified packs
AbstractPearson, J. L., Richardson, A., Feirman, S. P., Villanti, A. C., Cantrell, J., Cohn, A., Tacelosky, M., & Kirchner, T. (n.d.).Publication year
2016Journal title
Nicotine and Tobacco ResearchVolume
18Issue
8Page(s)
1749-1756AbstractIntroduction: In 2015, the Food and Drug Administration issued warnings to three tobacco manufacturers who label their cigarettes as "additive-free" and/or "natural" on the grounds that they make unauthorized reduced risk claims. The goal of this study was to examine US adults' perceptions of three American Spirit (AS) pack descriptors ("Made with Organic Tobacco," "100% Additive-Free," and "100% US Grown Tobacco") to assess if they communicate reduced risk. Methods: In September 2012, three cross-sectional surveys were posted on Amazon Mechanical Turk. Adult participants evaluated the relative harm of a Marlboro Red pack versus three different AS packs with the descriptors "Made with Organic Tobacco," "100% Additive-Free," or "100% US Grown Tobacco" (Survey 1; n = 461); a Marlboro Red pack versus these AS packs modified to exclude descriptors (Survey 2; n = 857); and unmodified versus modified AS pack images (Survey 3; n = 1001). Results: The majority of Survey 1 participants rated the unmodified AS packs as less harmful than the Marlboro Red pack; 35.4%-58.8% of Survey 2 participants also rated the modified (no claims) packs as less harmful than Marlboro Red. In these surveys, prior use of AS cigarettes was associated with reduced perceptions of risk (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.59-2.40). "Made with Organic Tobacco" and "100% Additive-Free" were associated with reduced perceptions of risk when comparing the modified versus the unmodified AS packs (Survey 3). Conclusions: Data suggest that these AS pack descriptors communicate reduced harm messages to consumers. Findings have implications for regulatory actions related to product labeling and packaging. Implications: These findings provide additional evidence that the "Made with Organic Tobacco," "100% Additive-Free," and "100% US Grown" descriptors, as well as other aspects of the AS pack design, communicate reduced harm to non-, current, and former smokers. Additionally, they provide support for the importance of FDA's 2015 warning to Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company on "100% Additive Free" as an unauthorized modified risk claim.An African-specific haplotype in MRGPRX4 is associated with menthol cigarette smoking
AbstractKozlitina, J., Risso, D., Lansu, K., Olsen, R. H., Sainz, E., Luiselli, D., Barik, A., Frigerio-Domingues, C., Pagani, L., Wooding, S., Kirchner, T., Niaura, R., Roth, B., & Drayna, D. (n.d.).Publication year
2019Journal title
PLoS geneticsVolume
15Issue
2AbstractIn the U.S., more than 80% of African-American smokers use mentholated cigarettes, compared to less than 30% of Caucasian smokers. The reasons for these differences are not well understood. To determine if genetic variation contributes to mentholated cigarette smoking, we performed an exome-wide association analysis in a multiethnic population-based sample from Dallas, TX (N = 561). Findings were replicated in an independent cohort of African Americans from Washington, DC (N = 741). We identified a haplotype of MRGPRX4 (composed of rs7102322[G], encoding N245S, and rs61733596[G], T43T), that was associated with a 5-to-8 fold increase in the odds of menthol cigarette smoking. The variants are present solely in persons of African ancestry. Functional studies indicated that the variant G protein-coupled receptor encoded by MRGPRX4 displays reduced agonism in both arrestin-based and G protein-based assays, and alteration of agonism by menthol. These data indicate that genetic variation in MRGPRX4 contributes to inter-individual and inter-ethnic differences in the preference for mentholated cigarettes, and that the existence of genetic factors predisposing vulnerable populations to mentholated cigarette smoking can inform tobacco control and public health policies.An ecological momentary assessment of cigarette and cigar dual use among African American Young Adults
AbstractMead, E. L., Chen, J. C., Kirchner, T., Butler, J., & Feldman, R. H. (n.d.).Publication year
2018Journal title
Nicotine and Tobacco ResearchVolume
20Page(s)
S12-S21AbstractIntroduction The dual use of cigarettes and cigars among African American young adults is a significant public health issue. Patterns of and reasons for dual use are difficult to capture using traditional self-report methods. This study used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to characterize patterns of dual smoking and examine the personal and environmental predictors of cigarette and cigar smoking among African American young adult dual users (ages 18-29) in real-time. Methods For 14 days, 64 participants smoked ad libitum and were prompted four times daily to record their smoking, craving, emotions, social smoking, and environment via text message on their mobile phones. The odds of single product and dual use were examined using adjusted generalized estimating equations. Results Participants smoked an average of 7.9 cigarettes and 4.2 cigars per day. Cigarettes and cigars were smoked as frequently during periods of dual use as they were during periods of single product use. Cigarette craving was positively associated with cigarette-only smoking (OR: 1.07), whereas cigar craving was positively associated with cigar-only smoking (OR: 1.43) and dual use (OR: 1.08). Cigars had the greatest odds of dual use when with others (OR: 4.69) and in others' homes (OR: 4.33). Cigarettes had the greatest odds of being smoked while alone (OR: 1.57). Conclusions EMA was useful for capturing variable smoking patterns and predictors. In this study population, cigarettes and cigars appeared to be smoked additively, and cigars smoked socially. These findings can inform future interventions addressing dual use in this high priority population. Implications This is the first study to use EMA to examine naturalistic patterns and predictors of multiple tobacco use in real-time. African American young adults smoked cigarettes and cigars during periods of dual use as frequently as during periods of single product use. This suggests that most use was additive (one product smoked in addition to another) and less often as substitution (one product smoked instead of another). Social smoking and craving were strongly associated with cigar smoking in single and dual use periods. This study suggests the need for cessation messaging specifically targeted to reduce dual use in this population.Analyzing Trajectories of Acute Cigarette Reduction Post-Introduction of an E-Cigarette Using Ecological Momentary Assessment Data
AbstractGuttentag, A., Tseng, T. Y., Shelley, D., & Kirchner, T. (n.d.).Publication year
2022Journal title
International journal of environmental research and public healthVolume
19Issue
12AbstractElectronic cigarettes (ECs) may hold great potential for helping smokers transition off combustible cigarettes (CCs); however, little is known about the patterns that smokers follow when using an EC as a CC-substitute in order to ultimately reduce and quit smoking. Our primary aim in this study was to evaluate whether common patterns of CC use exist amongst individuals asked to substitute an EC for at least half of the CCs they would normally smoke. These patterns may eluci-date the immediate switching and reduction behaviors of individuals using ECs as a reduction/ces-sation tool. This analysis uses data from a randomized controlled trial of 84 adult smokers assigned to receive either 4.5% nicotine or placebo (0% nicotine) EC. Participants were advised to use the EC to help them reach a 50% reduction in cigarettes-per-day (CPD) within 3 weeks. Longitudinal trajectory analysis was used to identify CPD reduction classes amongst the sample; participants clus-tered into four distinct, linear trajectories based on daily CC use during the 3-week intervention. Higher readiness to quit smoking, prior successful quit attempts, and lower baseline CC consumption were associated with assignment into “more successful” CC reduction classes. ECs may be a useful mechanism to promote CC reduction. This study demonstrates that a fine-grained trajectory approach can be applied to examine switching patterns in the critical first weeks of an attempt.Association of TAS2R38 haplotypes and menthol cigarette preference in an African American cohort
AbstractRisso, D., Sainz, E., Gutierrez, J., Kirchner, T., Niaura, R. S., & Drayna, D. (n.d.).Publication year
2017Journal title
Nicotine and Tobacco ResearchVolume
19Issue
4Page(s)
493-494Abstract~Beyond blunts : reasons for cigarette and cigar use among African American young adult dual users
AbstractMead, E. L., Lindstrom Johnson, S., Siddiqui, J., Butler, J., Kirchner, T., & Feldman, R. H. (n.d.).Publication year
2018Journal title
Addiction Research and TheoryVolume
26Issue
5Page(s)
349-360AbstractBackground: African American young adults are at high risk for dual use of cigarettes and cigars. Limited work has explored and characterized the reasons for use in this population and their relative importance for initiation and current smoking of these products. Method: Reasons for cigarette and cigar use were systematically explored and categorized using a mixed methods participatory approach called concept mapping. A series of in-person group sessions were held with 30 African American young adult (ages 18–29) current smokers of both cigarettes and cigars in Prince George’s County, MD and Washington, DC. Participants brainstormed, sorted, rated, and interpreted their reasons for initiation and past 30-day use of cigarettes and cigars. A cluster map was generated using multi-dimensional scaling, and t-tests were used to explore differences in ratings by background characteristics. Results: Participants generated 64 reasons for smoking cigarettes and cigars, and categorized these reasons into six groups: emotions, urges, access, product characteristics, lifestyle, and outside pressure. Emotions and urges were the most important motivations for initiation and current smoking of both products. Product characteristics were significantly more important for cigar initiation and smoking than for cigarettes, and outside pressure was more important for current smoking of cigars than cigarettes. Ratings differed by gender, socioeconomic status, and smoking characteristics. Conclusions: Cigarette and cigar smoking have several overlapping motivations, but key differences were also found, most notably for product characteristics. The FDA’s regulation of cigars and cigarettes should focus on addressing key characteristics appealing to young adults to curb dual use.Brain vasopressin and sodium appetite
AbstractFlynn, F. W., Kirchner, T., & Clinton, M. E. (n.d.).Publication year
2002Journal title
American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative PhysiologyVolume
282Issue
4Page(s)
R1236-44AbstractIntraventricular injections of vasopressin (VP) and antagonists with varying degrees of specificity for the VP receptors were used to identify the action of endogenous brain VP on 0.3 M NaCl intake by sodium-deficient rats. Lateral ventricular injections of 100 ng and 1 microg VP caused barrel rotations and a dramatic decrease in NaCl intake by sodium-deficient rats and suppressed sucrose intake. Intraventricular injection of the V(1)/V(2) receptor antagonist [d(CH(2))(5)(1),O-Et-Tyr(2),Val(4), Arg(8)]VP and the V(1) receptor antagonist [d(CH(2))(5)(1),O-Me-Tyr(2),Arg(8)]VP (MeT-AVP) significantly suppressed NaCl intake by sodium-deficient rats without causing motor disturbances. MeT-AVP had no effect on sucrose intake (0.1 M). In contrast, the selective V(2) receptor antagonist had no significant effect on NaCl intake. Last, injections of 100 ng MeT-AVP decreased mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), whereas 100 ng VP elevated MAP and pretreatment with MeT-AVP blocked the pressor effect of VP. These results indicate that the effects produced by 100 ng MeT-AVP represent receptor antagonistic activity. These findings suggest that the effect of exogenous VP on salt intake is secondary to motor disruptions and that endogenous brain VP neurotransmission acting at V(1) receptors plays a role in the arousal of salt appetite.Cameras for public health surveillance : A methods protocol for crowdsourced annotation of point-of-sale photographs
AbstractIlakkuvan, V., Tacelosky, M., Ivey, K. C., Pearson, J. L., Cantrell, J., Vallone, D. M., Abrams, D. B., & Kirchner, T. (n.d.).Publication year
2014Journal title
JMIR Research ProtocolsVolume
3Issue
2AbstractBackground: Photographs are an effective way to collect detailed and objective information about the environment, particularly for public health surveillance. However, accurately and reliably annotating (ie, extracting information from) photographs remains difficult, a critical bottleneck inhibiting the use of photographs for systematic surveillance. The advent of distributed human computation (ie, crowdsourcing) platforms represents a veritable breakthrough, making it possible for the first time to accurately, quickly, and repeatedly annotate photos at relatively low cost. Objective: This paper describes a methods protocol, using photographs from point-of-sale surveillance studies in the field of tobacco control to demonstrate the development and testing of custom-built tools that can greatly enhance the quality of crowdsourced annotation. Methods: Enhancing the quality of crowdsourced photo annotation requires a number of approaches and tools. The crowdsourced photo annotation process is greatly simplified by decomposing the overall process into smaller tasks, which improves accuracy and speed and enables adaptive processing, in which irrelevant data is filtered out and more difficult targets receive increased scrutiny. Additionally, zoom tools enable users to see details within photographs and crop tools highlight where within an image a specific object of interest is found, generating a set of photographs that answer specific questions. Beyond such tools, optimizing the number of raters (ie, crowd size) for accuracy and reliability is an important facet of crowdsourced photo annotation. This can be determined in a systematic manner based on the difficulty of the task and the desired level of accuracy, using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses. Usability tests of the zoom and crop tool suggest that these tools significantly improve annotation accuracy. The tests asked raters to extract data from photographs, not for the purposes of assessing the quality of that data, but rather to assess the usefulness of the tool. The proportion of individuals accurately identifying the presence of a specific advertisement was higher when provided with pictures of the product's logo and an example of the ad, and even higher when also provided the zoom tool (χ2 2=155.7, PCantrell et al. Respond
AbstractCantrell, J., Kreslake, J., Ganz, O., Pearson, J. L., Vallone, D. M., Anesetti-Rothermel, A., Xiao, H., & Kirchner, T. (n.d.).Publication year
2014Journal title
American journal of public healthVolume
104Issue
4Page(s)
e1-e2Abstract~Cigarette price variation around high schools : Evidence from Washington DC
AbstractCantrell, J., Ganz, O., Anesetti-Rothermel, A., Harrell, P., Kreslake, J. M., Xiao, H., Pearson, J. L., Vallone, D., & Kirchner, T. (n.d.).Publication year
2015Journal title
Health and PlaceVolume
31Page(s)
193-198AbstractThis study examines lowest cigarette prices in all tobacco retail outlets in Washington D.C. (. n=750) in relation to the type and number of high schools nearby, controlling for confounders. The lowest overall and Newport menthol prices were significantly lower at outlets near public non-charter and charter schools compared with outlets near private schools. Given higher smoking prevalence and more price-sensitive youth subgroups in U.S. public schools, exposure to low prices may contribute to tobacco-related health disparities in minority and low-income populations. Tobacco taxes combined with policies to minimize the increasing use of price as a marketing tool are critical.Cigarette smoking, e-cigarette use, and sociodemographic correlates of mental health and tobacco-related disease risk in the All of Us Research Program
AbstractKirchner, T., Tian, D., Li, J., Srivastava, P., & Zheng, Y. (n.d.).Publication year
2024Journal title
Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIAVolume
31Issue
12Page(s)
2829-2836AbstractSIGNIFICANCE: Research on the conditions under which electronic cigarette (EC) use produces a net reduction in the population harm attributable to combusted cigarette (CC) use requires the triangulation of information from cohort(s) of smokers, non-smokers, EC users, and dual-users of all varieties. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This project utilizes data from the All of Us Research Program to contrast a panel of wellness and disease-risk indicators across a range of self-reported tobacco-use profiles, including smokers, current, and former EC users. This article focuses on the tobacco use history and current tobacco use status among All of Us participants enrolled between May 2017 and February 2023 (Registered Controlled Tier Curated Data Repository [CDR] v7). RESULTS: The present analytic sample included an unweighted total of N = 412 211 individuals with information on ever-use of both CC and EC. Among them, 155 901 individuals have a history of CC use, with 65 206 identified as current smokers. EC usage is reported by 64 002 individuals, with 16 619 being current users. Model predicted analyses identified distinct patterns in CC and EC usage across demographic and socioeconomic variables, with younger ages favoring ECs. DISCUSSION: Age was observed to significantly affect EC usage, and gender differences reveal that males were significantly more likely to use CC and/or EC than females or African Americans of any gender. Higher educational achievement and income were associated with lower use of both CC and EC, while lower levels of mental health were observed to increase the likelihood of using CC and EC products. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest the potential for the All of Us Research Program for investigation of causal factors driving both behavioral use transitions and cessation outcomes.Cigarette-by-Cigarette Satisfaction During Ad Libitum Smoking
AbstractShiffman, S., & Kirchner, T. (n.d.).Publication year
2009Journal title
Journal of abnormal psychologyVolume
118Issue
2Page(s)
348-359AbstractSmoking is thought to produce immediate reinforcement, and subjective satisfaction with smoking is thought to influence subsequent smoking. The authors used ecological momentary assessment (A. A. Stone & S. Shiffman, 1994) to assess cigarette-by-cigarette smoking satisfaction in 394 heavy smokers who subsequently attempted to quit. Across 14,882 cigarettes rated, satisfaction averaged 7.06 (0-10 scale), but with considerable variation across cigarettes and individuals. Women and African American smokers reported higher satisfaction. More satisfied smokers were more likely to lapse after quitting (HR = 1.1, p < .03), whereas less satisfied smokers derived greater benefit from patch treatment to help them achieve abstinence (HR = 1.23, p < .001). Cigarettes smoked in positive moods were more satisfying, correcting for mood at the time of rating. The best predictor of subsequent smoking satisfaction was the intensity of craving prior to smoking. Understanding subjective smoking satisfaction provides insight into sources of reinforcement for smoking.Crowdsourcing applications for public health
AbstractBrabham, D. C., Ribisl, K. M., Kirchner, T., & Bernhardt, J. M. (n.d.).Publication year
2014Journal title
American journal of preventive medicineVolume
46Issue
2Page(s)
179-187AbstractCrowdsourcing is an online, distributed, problem-solving, and production model that uses the collective intelligence of networked communities for specific purposes. Although its use has benefited many sectors of society, it has yet to be fully realized as a method for improving public health. This paper defines the core components of crowdsourcing and proposes a framework for understanding the potential utility of crowdsourcing in the domain of public health. Four discrete crowdsourcing approaches are described (knowledge discovery and management; distributed human intelligence tasking; broadcast search; and peer-vetted creative production types) and a number of potential applications for crowdsourcing for public health science and practice are enumerated.Crowdsourcing for food purchase receipt annotation via amazon mechanical turk : A feasibility study
AbstractLu, W., Guttentag, A., Elbel, B., Kiszko, K., Abrams, C., & Kirchner, T. (n.d.).Publication year
2019Journal title
Journal of medical Internet researchVolume
21Issue
4AbstractBackground: The decisions that individuals make about the food and beverage products they purchase and consume directly influence their energy intake and dietary quality and may lead to excess weight gain and obesity. However, gathering and interpreting data on food and beverage purchase patterns can be difficult. Leveraging novel sources of data on food and beverage purchase behavior can provide us with a more objective understanding of food consumption behaviors. Objective: Food and beverage purchase receipts often include time-stamped location information, which, when associated with product purchase details, can provide a useful behavioral measurement tool. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility, reliability, and validity of processing data from fast-food restaurant receipts using crowdsourcing via Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk). Methods: Between 2013 and 2014, receipts (N=12,165) from consumer purchases were collected at 60 different locations of five fast-food restaurant chains in New Jersey and New York City, USA (ie, Burger King, KFC, McDonald's, Subway, and Wendy's). Data containing the restaurant name, location, receipt ID, food items purchased, price, and other information were manually entered into an MS Access database and checked for accuracy by a second reviewer; this was considered the gold standard. To assess the feasibility of coding receipt data via MTurk, a prototype set of receipts (N=196) was selected. For each receipt, 5 turkers were asked to (1) identify the receipt identifier and the name of the restaurant and (2) indicate whether a beverage was listed in the receipt; if yes, they were to categorize the beverage as cold (eg, soda or energy drink) or hot (eg, coffee or tea). Interturker agreement for specific questions (eg, restaurant name and beverage inclusion) and agreement between turker consensus responses and the gold standard values in the manually entered dataset were calculated. Results: Among the 196 receipts completed by turkers, the interturker agreement was 100% (196/196) for restaurant names (eg, Burger King, McDonald's, and Subway), 98.5% (193/196) for beverage inclusion (ie, hot, cold, or none), 92.3% (181/196) for types of hot beverage (eg, hot coffee or hot tea), and 87.2% (171/196) for types of cold beverage (eg, Coke or bottled water). When compared with the gold standard data, the agreement level was 100% (196/196) for restaurant name, 99.5% (195/196) for beverage inclusion, and 99.5% (195/196) for beverage types. Conclusions: Our findings indicated high interrater agreement for questions across difficulty levels (eg, single- vs binary- vs multiple-choice items). Compared with traditional methods for coding receipt data, MTurk can produce excellent-quality data in a lower-cost, more time-efficient manner.Cue reactivity in converted and native intermittent smokers
AbstractShiffman, S., Dunbar, M. S., Kirchner, T., Li, X., Tindle, H. A., Anderson, S. J., Scholl, S. M., & Ferguson, S. G. (n.d.).Publication year
2015Journal title
Nicotine and Tobacco ResearchVolume
17Issue
1Page(s)
119-123AbstractIntroduction: Nondaily, or intermittent smokers (ITS), who constitute a substantial fraction of U.S. smokers, are thought to smoke in response to cues. Previous cue reactivity research showed no difference between ITS and daily smokers in response to cues. This report examines whether "converted" ITS (CITS) with a history of past daily smoking differ from "native" ITS (NITS) in craving and smoking in response to cues. Methods: A total of 146 CITS (who previously smoked daily for at least 6 months) and 73 NITS participated. Participants were exposed to 5 active cues (smoking, alcohol, negative affect, positive affect, and smoking prohibitions) and a control neutral cue, in separate sessions. Changes in craving were assessed pre-post cue exposure. Smoking behavior (smoking [y/n], smoking latency, number of cigarettes, number of puffs, and increase in carbon monoxide [CO]) was observed. Analyses contrasted response to each active cue compared to the neutral cue and controlled for order effects and for time since last cigarette, which differed between groups. Results: Regardless of cues, CITS reported higher craving and greater change in craving, were more likely to smoke, tended to progress faster to smoking, and showed greater increases in CO when they did smoke. NITS and CITS showed similar cue reactivity on most measures, though NITS took more puffs after viewing smoking cues (compared to neutral) than did CITS. Conclusions: Though CITS show some remnants of their history of daily smoking, CITS and NITS demonstrate similar cue reactivity, suggesting that they would not require different behavioral approaches to help them quit.Cue reactivity in non-daily smokers : Effects on craving and on smoking behavior
AbstractShiffman, S., Dunbar, M. S., Kirchner, T., Li, X., Tindle, H. A., Anderson, S. J., Scholl, S. M., & Ferguson, S. G. (n.d.).Publication year
2013Journal title
PsychopharmacologyVolume
226Issue
2Page(s)
321-333AbstractRationale: Non-daily, or intermittent smokers (ITS), are increasingly prevalent. Their smoking may be more situational than that of daily smokers (DS), and thus is hypothesized to be more influenced by cues. Objectives: To assess ITS' response to cues, and compare it to that of DS. Methods: Samples of 239 ITS and 207 DS (previously reported in Shiffman et al. 2012a) were studied in 2,586 laboratory cue-reactivity sessions. Craving (Questionnaire of Smoking Urges) and smoking (probability, latency, puff parameters, and carbon monoxide increases) in response to cues was assessed following exposure to neutral cues and cues related to smoking, alcohol, negative affect, positive affect, and smoking prohibitions. Mixed effects models, generalized estimating equations and random-effects survival analyses were used to assess response to cues and differences between DS and ITS. Results: ITS' craving increased following exposure to smoking and alcohol cues and decreased following positive affect cues, but cues had little effect on smoking behaviors. Cue reactivity was similar in ITS and DS. Among ITS, craving intensity predicted smoking probability, latency, and intensity, and the effects on latency were stronger among ITS than DS. Conclusions: Contrary to hypotheses, ITS were not more responsive to laboratory cues than DS. Results show that ITS do experience craving and craving increases that are then associated with smoking.Do smokers crave cigarettes in some smoking situations more than others? Situational correlates of craving when smoking
AbstractDunbar, M. S., Scharf, D., Kirchner, T., & Shiffman, S. (n.d.).Publication year
2010Journal title
Nicotine and Tobacco ResearchVolume
12Issue
3Page(s)
226-234AbstractIntroduction: Smokers tend to smoke when experiencing craving, but even within smoking occasions, craving may vary. We examine variations in craving when people were smoking in various real-world situations. Methods: Using Ecological Momentary Assessment, 394 smokers recorded smoking, craving, and smoking context in real time on electronic diaries over 2 weeks of ad libitum smoking. Assessments occurred immediately prior to smoking. Mixed modeling was used to analyze associations between craving and situational variables. Results: Craving varied across smoking situations, but the differences were small (Documenting the Impact Potential of a Menthol Cigarette Ban at Point-of-Sale : A Photograph-Based Analysis of the Presence and Placement of Menthol Versus Regular Cigarette Packs on the Shelves of Tobacco Retail Outlets in New York City
AbstractKirchner, T., Guttentag, A., Vantu, A., & Silver, D. R. (n.d.).Publication year
2023Journal title
Nicotine and Tobacco ResearchVolume
25Issue
1Page(s)
28-35AbstractIntroduction: To investigate the absolute and proportionate number of menthol versus regular cigarette packs displayed on the shelves inside tobacco retail outlets (TROs) across New York City (NYC). Aims and Methods: Photographic surveillance methods were used to capture the presence and proportionate amount of all visible cigarette packs on the shelves inside N = 160 TROs. Statistical analyses examined the absolute and proportionate number of menthol packs in each TRO as a function of NYC borough, the local TRO environment, population smoking rates derived from the NYC Community Health Survey, and other demographic indicators from the American Community Survey. Results: The total number of cigarette packs on the shelves of each TRO and the proportion of menthol packs varied significantly across TROs, averaging about one-quarter of all packs displayed (M = 0.274; SD =. 15). Modeling results indicate that the proportion of menthol packs displayed was significantly greater in areas with elevated population smoking rates (odds ratio [OR] = 1.03, CI: 1.01-1.06) and density of TROs per 1000 residents (OR = 1.23; CI: 1.01-1.49), although these associations varied in complex ways with the proportion living under the federal poverty level and the proportion under age 18 years residing within each zip-code. Conclusions: Results of this study demonstrate the utility of photograph-based TRO audit methods for objective, reliable documentation of the presence and proportionate amount of menthol versus other cigarette pack types on TRO shelves and highlight the need to account for sources of variation between small areas when examining the TRO product landscape and evaluating the effectiveness of regulatory actions against menthol. Implications: This study describes use of a "hands-free"surveillance technique that offers valuable advantages over traditional retailer surveillance techniques. Comprehensive photographic surveillance data collection allows for more objective measurements of, in this case, the retail outlet's tobacco power wall, as multiple coders can review the same images and interrater reliability can be empirically tested.Ecological Momentary Assessment
AbstractKirchner, T., & Shiffman, S. (n.d.).Publication year
2013Page(s)
541-565AbstractThis chapter addresses application of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to substance use research, outlining principles of EMA design and analysis, and illustrates them with examples. It considers the way technological innovations are facilitating the rapid evolution of EMA systems, and provides recommendations on current best practices. The chapter reviews data on methodological issues such as compliance and reactivity. EMA sampling design focuses on the way assessments of individual- and systems-level processes are distributed over time and space. EMA methods reveal substance use patterns not captured by questionnaires or retrospective data, and hold great promise for substance use research and treatment. As EMA methods are further developed and broadly applied, they offer even more detailed insight into substance use and abuse. Further, application of EMA approaches to on-the-spot intervention with substance users holds potential to revolutionize treatment delivery. This edition first published 2013Ecological momentary assessment of various tobacco product use among young adults
AbstractBerg, C. J., Haardörfer, R., Payne, J. B., Getachew, B., Vu, M., Guttentag, A., & Kirchner, T. (n.d.).Publication year
2019Journal title
Addictive BehaviorsVolume
92Page(s)
38-46AbstractIntroduction: Young adults are at high risk for using traditional and novel tobacco products. However, little is known about daily/weekly use patterns or psychosocial triggers for using various tobacco products. Methods: This ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study examined timing, tobacco cravings, affect, social context, and other substance use (alcohol, marijuana) in relation to use of cigarettes, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), and any tobacco product (i.e., cigarettes, ENDS, cigars, hookah), respectively. We also examined interactions between these predictors, sex, and race/ethnicity. From a longitudinal study of 3418 18–25 year-olds from seven Georgia colleges/universities, we recruited 72 reporting current tobacco use to participate in the 21-day EMA study; 43 participated, of which 31 completed ≥66% assessments and were analyzed. Cravings, affect, social context, and substance use were assessed daily across four four-hour windows. Results: Of the 31 participants, average age was 21.10 years (SD = 1.95), 45.2% were female, and 71.0% non-Hispanic White; 71.0% used cigarettes, 58.1% ENDS, 38.7% cigars, and 25.8% hookah (25.6% used one product, 46.5% two, 27.9% ≥ three). Predictors of cigarette use included higher anxiety, greater odds of marijuana and alcohol use, and higher boredom levels among women. Predictors of ENDS use included being non-White and greater odds of marijuana use, as well as higher tobacco cravings among women and higher boredom among men. Predictors of any tobacco product use included being non-White, higher boredom levels, and greater odds of marijuana and alcohol use. Conclusions: Distinct interventions may be needed to address use of differing tobacco products among young adults.Effects of alcohol on controlled and automatic memory processes
AbstractKirchner, T., & Sayette, M. A. (n.d.).Publication year
2003Journal title
Experimental and Clinical PsychopharmacologyVolume
11Issue
2Page(s)
167-175AbstractThe authors used the process-dissociation procedure (L. L. Jacoby, 1998) to examine the effects of alcohol on controlled and automatic influences on memory performance. Participants studied 1 of 2 word lists and subsequently were cued with word stems to recall the words from both lists. Fifty-four men were administered either a moderate dose of alcohol (0.82 g/kg) or placebo prior to studying the word list. Results indicated that alcohol decreased estimates of controlled contributions to performance on the task. In contrast, alcohol did not appear to affect automatic influences on this task. Integrated with recent findings using a different cognitive task, these data suggest that alcohol impairs performance on implicit, conceptually driven tasks but not on implicit, perceptually driven tasks.