Terrell Stevenson

All Publications

• Attitudes Toward Smoking Cessation Among Sheltered Homeless Parents JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY HEALTH Stewart, H. C., Stevenson, T. N., Bruce, J. S., Greenberg, B., Chamberlain, L. J. 2015; 40 (6): 1140-1148

  Abstract

  The prevalence of smoking among homeless adults is approximately 70 %. Cessation programs designed for family shelters should be a high priority given the dangers cigarette smoke poses to children. However, the unique nature of smoking in the family shelter setting remains unstudied. We aimed to assess attitudes toward smoking cessation, and unique barriers and motivators among homeless parents living in family shelters in Northern California. Six focus groups and one interview were conducted (N = 33, ages 23-54). The focus groups and interviews were audiorecorded, transcribed verbatim, and a representative team performed qualitative theme analysis. Eight males and 25 females participated. The following major themes emerged: (1) Most participants intended to quit eventually, citing concern for their children as their primary motivation. (2) Significant barriers to quitting included the ubiquity of cigarette smoking, its central role in social interactions in the family shelter setting, and its importance as a coping mechanism. (3) Participants expressed interest in quitting "cold turkey" and in e-cigarettes, but were skeptical of the patch and pharmacotherapy. (4) Feelings were mixed regarding whether individual, group or family counseling would be most effective. Homeless parents may be uniquely motivated to quit because of their children, but still face significant shelter-based social and environmental barriers to quitting. Successful cessation programs in family shelters must be designed with the unique motivations and barriers of this population in mind.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s10900-015-0040-2

  View details for Web of Science ID 000363978000012

  View details for PubMedID 25980523

• Long-term outcome following pediatric liver transplantation for metabolic disorders PEDIATRIC TRANSPLANTATION Stevenson, T., Millan, M. T., Wayman, K., Berquist, W. E., Sarwal, M., Johnston, E. E., Esquivel, C. O., Enns, G. M. 2010; 14 (2): 268-275

  Abstract

  In order to determine long-term outcome, including survival, growth and development, following liver transplantation in children with metabolic disorders, we retrospectively reviewed charts of 54 children with metabolic disorders evaluated from 1989-2005 for presenting symptoms, transplantation timing and indications, survival, metabolic parameters, growth, and development. Thirty-three patients underwent liver transplantation (12 received combined liver-kidney transplants) at a median age of 21 months. At a median follow-up of 3.6 yr, patient survival was 100%, and liver and kidney allograft survival was 92%, and 100%, respectively. For the group as a whole, weight Z scores improved and body mass index at follow-up was in the normal range. Two yr post-transplantation, psychomotor development improved significantly (p < 0.01), but mental skills did not; however, both indices were in the low-normal range of development. When compared to patients with biliary atresia, children with metabolic disorders showed significantly lower mental developmental scores at one and two yr post-transplantation (p < 0.05), but psychomotor developmental scores were not significantly different. We conclude that, in patients with metabolic disorders meeting indications for transplantation, liver transplantation or combined liver-kidney transplantation (for those with accompanying renal failure) is associated with excellent long-term survival, improved growth, and improved psychomotor development.

  View details for DOI 10.1111/j.1399-3046.2009.01228.x

  View details for Web of Science ID 000274389600020

  View details for PubMedID 19671092

• The power of language in medicine. Case study: mongolism. The Pharos of Alpha Omega Alpha-Honor Medical Society. Alpha Omega Alpha Stevenson, T. N. 2009; 72 (4): 4-9

  View details for PubMedID 19938258

• The secret and soul of Marlboro: Phillip Morris and the origins, spread, and denial of nicotine freebasing AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH Stevenson, T., Proctor, R. N. 2008; 98 (7): 1184-1194

  Abstract

  Philip Morris and other tobacco companies have been using ammonia in their manufacturing for more than half a century, and for a variety of purposes: to highlight certain flavors, to expand or "puff up" the volume of tobacco, to prepare reconstituted tobacco sheet ("recon"), to denicotinize (reduce the amount of nicotine in) tobacco, and to remove carcinogens. By the early 1960s, however, Philip Morris had also begun using ammonia to "freebase" the nicotine in cigarette smoke, creating low-yield (reduced-tar or -nicotine) cigarettes that still had the nicotine kick necessary to keep customers "satisfied" (i.e., addicted). We show that Philip Morris discovered the virtues of freebasing while analyzing the impact of the ammoniated recon used in Marlboro cigarettes. We also show how Marlboro's commercial success catalyzed efforts by the rest of the tobacco industry to discover its "secret," eventually identified as ammonia technology, and how Philip Morris later exploited the myriad uses of ammonia (e.g., for flavoring and expanding tobacco volume) to defend itself against charges of manipulating the nicotine deliveries of its cigarettes.

  View details for DOI 10.2105/AJPH.2007.21657

  View details for Web of Science ID 000257202700012

  View details for PubMedID 18511721