Creating Persuasive Health Messages: Consideration of Future Consequences and Intention to Pursue Vaccination Against Human Papillomavirus

The present study examined the responses of traditional aged college women to health messages about human papillomavirus (HPV) and the new preventative HPV vaccine, Gardasil. These health messages were temporally framed and it was hypothesized that response (i.e. intention to get vaccinated, information-seeking, and thoughts following the message) would be connected with a woman's level of consideration of future consequences (CFC) and the type of temporal frame to which she was exposed. The possible role of attitude, social norms, and perceived behavioral control, as defined by the Theory of Planned Behavior and Reasoned Action, as mediating factors between CFC and intention to get vaccinated was also examined. The temporal frame of a message was not found to moderate the effect of CFC on the dependent variables. While attitude, social norms, and perceived behavioral control did not mediate between CFC and intention to get vaccinated, these variables did significantly contribute to intention, providing support for the Theory of Planned Behavior and Reasoned Action as a useful model for predicting college women's response to health messages about the HPV vaccine. Additional analyses concerning demographic information, risk factors, knowledge about HPV and the vaccine, and responses to qualitative questions were also conducted

Factors Contributing to the Development of Posttraumatic Growth in Spouses of Breast Cancer Survivors

Factors related to the posttraumatic growth experiences of spouses of breast cancer survivors, including optimism, self-mastery, coping styles, marital satisfaction, and social support, were examined. Results indicated the existence of a positive relationship between posttraumatic growth and optimism, social support, and several coping styles, including problem-solving, reframing, seeking support, and New Directions. Posttraumatic growth was negatively related to avoidance coping. A curvilinear relationship existed between self-mastery and posttraumatic growth. The New Directions coping style and the interaction between social support and time since wife's diagnosis were also found to significantly predict posttraumatic growth. These findings contribute to a growing body of knowledge about positive growth after trauma and may have implications for future research and practice

Earnings Momentum Shifts and Stock Price Movements for Flyer Fund Stocks

Earnings momentum is often considered a key factor in stock price movements. In this study we look at changes in the compound quarterly growth rates over periods of four and eight quarters, and relate these to the price movements of 30 stocks from the Flyer Fund Portfolio. The period of an analyses covers two years from 8-31-11 to 8-31-13. Using cross sectional regression analyses, we identified the statistical relationship between sector price movements and variations in the compound manual growth rate in earnings period. We test the hypothesis that the slop coefficient of the univariate regressions are positive (i.e. b\u3e0). The regressions are carried out separately for the eight quarter and four quarter CAGRs on stock price movements. A separate independent variable, the ratio of the four quarter CAGR to the eight quarter CAGR for each stock is also regressed on sector price movements. Meaningful R2s and statistically significant slope coefficients would suggest that CAGRs for short/intermediate time periods can be used as a selection factor in buying or selling stocks for the Flyer Fund Portfolio.https://ecommons.udayton.edu/stander_posters/1432/thumbnail.jp

Hospital mealtimes: action research for change

Poor nutritional care within the hospital setting continues despite decades of work chronicling--and measuring the problems. To address the problem changes in practice have been attempted--to improve the patients experience of mealtimes. In order to implement patient-centred mealtimes for older patients by changing the focus from institutional convenience to one that focuses on the requirements of the patients, an action research approach has been used that focuses on action and change, and thus appears to have much to offer those who seek to change practice. The present paper focuses on the first two phases in a three-phase approach. In phase--one the nature of everyday mealtime care and the wider context are explored using focus groups, interviews and observations. The data fall into three main themes that all impact on patients experiences of mealtimes: institutional and organisational constraints; mealtime care and nursing priorities; eating environment. Following feedback of phase 1 findings to staff and identification of areas of concern a model of practice development was selected to guide the change process of the second phase. Changes to mealtime nursing practice and the ward environment have been made, indicating that action research has the potential to improve the mealtime care of patients.Peer reviewe

Effect of weeding management on the performance of local maize populations

One of the most important stress factors in maize (Zea mays L.) fields is weed competition, which reduces the crop yield. Weeds chiefly interfere with maize and establish considerable competition for light, water and nutrients. To avoid these harmful effects, there are different agronomic measures and factors among which, the most relevant are the interactions between crop and weed, weed management practices and type of germplasm. This study attempts to evaluate maize germplasm for tolerance to weed competition in order to achieve competitive ability and suitability for farming. Ten genotypes of maize, classified into two groups, i.e. improved populations and traditional cultivars, were grown under four types of weed management practices (mechanical harrowing control, chemical control, combination of harrowing and chemical control and untreated control as check) for three years (from 2009 to 2011) in Zaragoza (Spain). We found that the effect of weed management practices was not significantly different, whereas the genotype effect was highly significant, with genotype EZS34 (mean yield of 7.7 Mg ha-1) showing the highest yield. Other traits, such as earliness, displayed a good behaviour under weed competition. On the other hand, harrowing management proved to be the most effective method of weed control although it did not show a significant response. The best results are associated with some maize genotypes that have a specific adaptation to local conditions, according to their genetic background

New rules of the game

This article briefly outlines the Howard Government's changes to the Integrity Act by considering the inclusiveness of the electoral roll; the impact of early roll closure and why it wasn't as early as expected; whether unusually low admission rates of provisional votes cost Labor seats and affected the Senate result; how important individual incumbency was, buttressed as it was by expanded allowances for sitting members; why little can yet be said about the new funding and disclosure regime; and why this regime needs to be reformed