HSERV 556
Integrative Seminar on Health Disparities: The Case of Tobacco
Spring 2013 Syllabus
Instructor:
Abigail Halperin MD, MPH
(206) 616-4482
abigail@u.washington.edu
TA:
Libby Brockman MPHc
lbrock@uw.ed
Course website:
All course materials, including readings, syllabus, videos, slides, and assignment drop box, are
available on the course website: https://catalyst.uw.edu/workspace/sjs37/9436/
Course description:
This seminar series will introduce multiple disciplinary perspectives on, potential explanations
of, and interventions for health disparities applied to the case of tobacco use and tobacco
related disease. This course is dually relevant for scholars interested in health disparities and
for those specifically interested in tobacco-related disparities.
Why focus on health disparities in the context of tobacco use and prevention? Cigarette
smoking is the single most preventable cause of disease and death in the nation and in
Washington (WA) State. Some demographic groups have higher smoking rates than others, and
other groups have lower overall smoking rates but suffer disproportionately from tobacco
related morbidity and mortality. Demographic groups suffering from tobacco related health
disparities include those defined by socioeconomic position, race or ethnicity, disability,
geographic location, sexual orientation or gender identity and age. Despite the attention given
to tobacco related outcomes, health disparities scholars should not be dissuaded from taking
this course as much of the literature covered is directly relevant to understanding other forms
of health related disparities.
Local and nationally known scholars will present their work throughout the course.
Course expectations and requirements:
Graduate students from all disciplines may choose to take the course for either one or two
credits. To earn credit, students must view nine video seminars, complete all associated
readings, and submit all required assignments.
1-credit assignments:
Students must complete nine of the 12 course sessions (lecture and readings). For each of
the nine course sessions the student chooses to complete, they must submit, via the
course website, a brief (one-paragraph – no more than half a page, double spaced)
discussion of a fact or insight they gained from that session.
2-credit assignment:
Students must complete 10 of the 12 course sessions (lecture and readings). For each of
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the ten course sessions the student chooses to complete, they must submit, via the
course website -- https://catalyst.uw.edu/workspace/sjs37/9436/ -- a one-page (double
spaced) discussion statement.
Discussion statements should include insightful and pertinent reflections on the course
material. Please make every effort not to summarize the readings or lectures as you prepare
your statement. Do not quote from the articles. Rather, share what you found interesting,
surprising, or perplexing. If you find yourself summarizing what the authors or presenter said,
take a step back and formulate an original statement about the articles or subject. To get
started, you might ask yourself, What data or aspect of the session was most interesting and
why? How did the materials change my understanding of the topic or issue? How do the
readings and lecture relate with one another?
In general, you are welcome to work at your own pace throughout the quarter, although we
encourage you to turn in your assignments in a timely manner and have three deadlines for
completing them. The first three (four if taking for 2-credits) written assignments need to be
received on Friday, April 26th, by 5:00 pm, the next three are due on Friday, May 10th by 5:00
pm, and the last three need to be completed and turned in by Friday, June 7th, at 5:00 pm. If
you need an extension on any of these deadlines, please email us at least 24 hours before the
due dates to make other arrangements.
This course is administered exclusively online. Students are expected to access the course
website in order to complete all sessions and corresponding assignments. To complete a
session, students must read assigned journal articles, watch the session’s video, view
corresponding slides, and submit a one to two paragraph discussion statement. Students are
required to complete at least nine out of the twelve available sessions and may choose which
sessions they prefer to complete. Instructors are available via email throughout the quarter.
Instructions for submitting discussion statements:
1.
Go to https://catalyst.uw.edu/workspace/sjs37/9436/
(consider bookmarking this page for easy reference)
2.
Log in with your UW Net ID (your UW email prefix) and password
3.
Click on “Drop Box” on the left menu
4.
Once in the course drop box, click on the session corresponding to the assignment
5.
Once you have created and saved a word document of your issue/question
statement, upload it by clicking “browse” under “Submit a file for this
assignment”
6.
Locate your word document, select it, then click “Open”
7.
The file will automatically upload
Seminar topics and assigned readings:
All readings are available on the course website at
https://catalyst.uw.edu/workspace/sjs37/9436/. Session 1 has five readings—the first three
articles are required reading for all students in HServ 556, regardless of whether they choose to
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complete Session 1 for credit (see Session 1 notes for more information). Otherwise, there are
generally two readings assigned per session.
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Session 1: Tobacco Use and Ethnic Minorities: Cancer Prevention for Latinos
Beti Thompson PhD, Cancer Prevention Clinic, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Background Readings (all are required, see below**):
Link, B.G. & Phelan, J.C. (1995). Social Conditions as Fundamental Causes of Disease. Journal of
Health and Social Behavior, 35, 80-94.
Moolchan, E. T., Fagan, P., Fernander, A. F., Velicer, W. F., Hayward, M. D., King, G., et al.
(2007). Addressing tobacco-related health disparities. Addiction, 102 (S2), 30-42.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fact Sheet: Health Disparities in Cigarette Smoking.
2011.
Session Readings:
Eschback, K., Ostir, G.V., Kushang, P.V., Kyriakos, M.S., & Goodwin, J. (2004). Neighborhood
Context and Mortality among Older Mexican Americans: Is there a Barrio Advantage? American
Journal of Public Health, 94(10), 1807-12.
Perez-Stable, E.J., Ramirez, A., Villareal, R., Talavera, G.A., Trapido, E., Suarez, L., Marti, J., et al.
(2001). Cigarette Smoking Behavior Among US Latino Men and Women From Different
Countries of Origin. American Journal of Public Health 91(9): 1424-30.
** Please note that the first three readings for Session 1 are background readings for the entire course; they
provide a general introduction to tobacco-related health disparities and are required of all Hserv 556 students. The
last two readings (which are relatively short) are specifically for Session 1.
Although students are not required to include Session 1 in the 9-10 sessions they complete, all Hserv 556 students
are required to read these first 3 background readings (two articles and the fact sheet). It is highly recommend that
students do include this session, as it focuses on an important population (Hispanic/Latino) that is adversely
affected by tobacco.
Session 2: Low Income Smokers and their Workplaces: Opportunities for Research and
Evaluation
Peggy Hannon PhD, Health Promotions Research Center, University of Washington
Harris, J.R., Cross, J., Hannon, P.A., Mahoney, E., & Ross-Viles, S. (2008). Employer adoption of
evidence-based chronic disease prevention practices: a pilot study. Preventing Chronic Disease,
5(3), 1-9.
Sorenson, G., Barbeau, E., Hunt, M.K., & Emmons, K. (2004). Reducing Social Disparities in
Tobacco Use: A Social Contextual Model for Reducing Tobacco Use among Blue-Collar Workers.
American Journal of Public Health, 94(2), 230-32.
Session 3: Counter-Marketing Strategies for Marginalized Populations
Cheryl Healton DrPH, American Legacy Foundation
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Niederdeppe, J., Kuang, X., Crock, B., & Skelton, A. (2008). Media Campaigns to promote
smoking cessation among socioeconomically disadvantaged populations: What do we know,
what do we need to learn, and what should we do now? Social Science and Medicine, 67, 134355.
Vishwanath K. (2006). Appendix G. Public Communications and Its Role in Reducing and
Eliminating Health Disparities. In Examining the Health Disparities Research Plan of the National
Institutes of Health: Unfinished Business.
Session 4: Health Disparities and the Impact of Tobacco Use among African Americans
Phillip Gardiner, DrPH, Tobacco Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP), University of
California
Gardiner, P.S. (2004). The African Americanization of menthol cigarette use in the United
States. Nicotine Tobacco Research, 6(S1), S55-65.
Webb, M.S. (2007). Health disparities and culturally specific treatment: perspective and
expectancies of African American Smokers. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 63(12), 1247-1263.
Session 5: Preventing Tobacco Use and Related Health Risk Behaviors in Early Adolescence:
Results from the Community Youth Development Study
David Hawkins PhD, Social Development Research Group (SDRG)
Hawkins J.D., Catalano, R.F., Arthur, M.W., Egan, E., Brown, E.C. Abbott, R.D., & Murray, D.M.
(2008). Testing communities that care: The rationale, design, and behavioral baseline
equivalente of the Youth Development Study, Prevention Science, 9, 178-190.
Hawkins, J.D. (2006). Science, social work, prevention: Finding the intersections, Social Work
Research, 30(3), 137-152.
Session 6: Smoking and Socioeconomic Status: What Explains the Relationship?
Jennifer Stuber PhD, School of Social Work, University of Washington
Stuber, J., Galea, S., & Link, B.G. (2008). Smoking and the emergence of a stigmatized social
status. Social Science and Medicine, 67, 420-430.
Harwood, G.A., Salsberry, P., Ferketich, A.K., & Wewer, M.E. (2007). Cigarette smoking,
socioeconomic status, and psychosocial factors: Examining a conceptual framework, Public
Health Nursing, 24(4), 361-371.
Session 7: The Epidemiology of Tobacco Use and Related Health Disparities
Gary Giovino PhD, Department of Health Behavior and Department of Social and Preventive
Medicine, University of Buffalo School of Public Health Professions
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Giovino, G.A. (2007). The tobacco epidemic in the United States. American Journal of
Preventative Medicine, 33(S6), S318-26.
Fagan, P., King, G., Lawrence, D., Petrucci, S.A., Robinson, R.G., Banks, D., Marable, S., & Grana,
R. (2004). Eliminating tobacco-related health disparities: directions for future research.
American Journal of Public Health, (2), 221-217.
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Session 8: GLBT Communities, Social Stress and Tobacco Use
Kimberly Balsam PhD, School of Social Work, University of Washington
Lee, J.G.L., Griffin, G.K., Melvin, C.L. (2009). Tobacco use among sexual minorities, USA, 19872007 (May): A systematic review. Tobacco Control, 18, 275-282.
Meyer, I.H. (1995). Minority Stress and Mental Health in Gay Men. Journal of Health and Social
Behavior, 36(1), 38-56.
Session 9: Mental Illness and Smoking
Andrew Saxon MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of
Washington
Saxon A.J. et al. (2003). Smoking Cessation Treatment Among Dually Diagnosed Individuals:
Preliminary Evaluation of Different Pharmocotherapies. Nicotine and Tobacco Research, 5(4),
589-96.
Williams, J. M., & Ziedonis, D. (2004). Addressing tobacco among individuals with a mental
illness or an addiction. Addictive Behaviors, 29(6), 1067-1083.
Session 10: Cultural Tailoring of Tobacco Interventions for Racial/Ethnic and LGBT Populations
Karin Riggs MSW, Group Health Research Institute
Fagan P, Moolchan ET, Lawrence D, Fernander A, Ponder PK. Identifying health disparities
across the tobacco continuum. Addiction. 2007;102(S2):5-29. doi:10.1111/j.13600443.2007.01952.x
Resnicow K, Soler R, Braithwaite R, Ahluwalia JS, Butler J. Cultural sensitivity in substance use
prevention. J of Comm Psych. 2000;28(30):271-90.
Session 11: Tobacco Use and Multiple Risk Factors: Opportunities for Concurrent Behavior
Change
Jennifer McClure PhD, Group Health Research Institute
Williams JM, Ziedonis D. Addressing tobacco use among individuals with a mental illness or an
addiction. Addictive Behaviors. 2004;29:1067-1083.
Prochaska JJ, Prochaska JM. Multiple risk behavior change: What most individuals need. In:
Shumaker SA, Ockene JK, Riekert KA, eds. The Handbook of Health Behavior Change, 3rd
edition. New York, NY: Springer Publishing.
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Session 12: The Growing Global Tobacco Epidemic and the International Response
Ross Hammond
Glynn T, Seffrin JR, Brawley OW, Grey N, Ross H. The Globalization of Tobacco Use: 21
Challenges for the 21st Century. CA Cancer J Clin. 2010;60:50–61.
World Health Organization. Tobacco and Poverty: A Vicious Circle. 2004;1-13.
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