Breast self-examination: longitudinal predictors of intention and subsequent behaviour

Breast self-examination: longitudinal predictors of intention and subsequent behaviour. Lechner L, De Nooijer J, De Vries H. School of Psychology, Open University of the Netherlands, PO Box 2960, 6401 DL Heerlen, The Netherlands. [email protected] This study analysed in a longitudinal design the relationship between past breast self-examination (BSE) behaviour, determinants, intention and future BSE behaviour in a population of adult Dutch women. Past behaviour and psychosocial determinants were assessed at T1, followed 6 weeks later (T2) with the assessment of the intention to perform BSE monthly. Half a year after the first measurement the current BSE behaviour was assessed by means of a telephone survey (T3) (total end response 78%, n=364). The questionnaires included BSE behaviour, intention, attitude (pros and cons of BSE, anticipated regret, moral obligation), social influence (support, modelling) and self-efficacy. Other background variables assessed were past BSE behaviour, and demographics. Although 81% of the women stated that they performed BSE, only 41% of the women performed BSE correctly. Women who performed BSE correctly differed from women who did not on all psychosocial determinants assessed a half year earlier, with the exception of anticipated regret. Stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that the psychosocial determinants explained 51% of the variance in intention to perform BSE, assessed 6 weeks later; past behaviour accounted for 2% of extra explained variance. Logistic regression analyses showed that past behaviour, the psychosocial determinants and intention were significant predictors of correct BSE behaviour a half year later (Nagelkerke's total explained variance was 47%). It was concluded that misperceptions of correct BSE behaviour was highly prevalent. Both the psychosocial determinants as well as past behaviour were important predictors of intention to perform BSE and subsequent BSE behaviour

Gezondheidsvoorlichting en gedragsverandering: een planmatige aanpak

Savjetodavni rad jedna je od temeljnih odrednica radne uloge školskog pedagoga i kao takav je tema vrijedna istraživanja. S obzirom na sve veću potrebu za savjetovanjem i usmjeravanjem u suvremenom svijetu prepunom raznih distraktora, važno je sagledati narav i kvalitetu savjetodavnog rada koji se u školama provodi s mladim ljudima. Tako je svrha ovoga istraživanja bila ispitati stavove o savjetodavnoj ulozi školskog pedagoga iz perspektive tražitelja i primatelja savjeta, odnosno učenika završnih razreda srednje škole kao iskusnih poznavatelja načina na koji odgojno-obrazovni sustav funkcionira. U sklopu ovoga istraživanja provedeno je 12 polustrukturiranih intervjua s učenicima trećih i četvrtih razreda strukovnih srednjih škola, umjetničkih srednjih škola i gimnazija na području grada Zagreba, pri čemu su se učenici osvrnuli na svoje osnovnoškolsko i srednjoškolsko iskustvo s pedagoškim savjetovanjem. Rezultati istraživanja pokazali su da se većina učenika, njih jedanaestero, tijekom svog školovanja nikada nije obratila školskom pedagogu u svrhu savjetovanja, no pritom njih desetero, unatoč izrazito rijetkom kontaktu sa školskim pedagozima, iskazuje povjerenje u školskog pedagoga te tvrdi da bi mu se po potrebi obratili za pomoć. Rezultati ovoga istraživanja ukazuju na potrebu za promjenama u praksi, kao što je omogućavanje češćeg i prisnijeg kontakta školskog pedagoga i učenika te upoznavanje svih učenika škole sa savjetodavnom ulogom školskog pedagoga.Counseling is one of the key determinants of the professional role of the school counselor, and as such is a topic worth exploring. Considering the ever-growing need of counseling and guidance in a modern world filled with various distractors, it is important to take into consideration the nature and quality of counseling that is taking place with the youth in schools. The purpose of this research was to examine attitudes towards the counseling role of a school counselor from the point of view of those who seek and receive advice, that is, the students of the last two grades in secondary school, who very well know the way in which the education system works. For the purpose of this research 12 half-structured interviews were conducted with the students of third and fourth grade vocational schools, art schools and gymnasiums in Zagreb city. The students were asked to provide answers based on both their primary school and secondary school experience with school counseling. The research showed that most of the participants, eleven of them, have never sought advice from a school counselor during their education. Also, despite the extremely rare contact with school counselors, most of the participants, ten of them, claim that they trust the school counselor and say that they would seek advice from them if needed. The findings of this research indicate the need for change in practice, such as enabling a more frequent and more intimate contact of the school counselor with the students, as well as familiarizing all students with the counseling role of the school counselor

Systematic development of Online Pestkoppenstoppen, an intervention for cyberbully victims

Abstract. The ‘Online Pestkoppenstoppen’ (Stop Bullies Online) program is a theory- and evidencebased, fully automated web-based tailored advice for cyberbullyvictims (12-15 years), developed with the Intervention Mapping protocol. This article gives an integrative insight into the development of the program, the program goals, relevant determinants and the intervention content

Short- and long-term effects of tailored information versus general information on determinants and intentions related to early detection of cancer

Short- and long-term effects of tailored information versus general information on determinants and intentions related to early detection of cancer. de Nooijer J, Lechner L, Candel M, de Vries H. Department of Health Promotion and Health Education, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. [email protected] BACKGROUND: Since it is widely accepted that the earlier cancer is detected, the better the chances of treatment and survival, people should be encouraged to create positive intentions toward early detection of several types of cancer, for instance, skin cancer, breast cancer, and colon cancer. This can be done by being alert to the warning signs of cancer and seeking help once a cancer symptom is detected. METHODS: A randomized controlled study (n = 1,500) assessed the effects of computer-tailored information and general information on determinants and intentions to engage in early detection behaviors (i.e., passive detection and help seeking) compared with those in a control group. Possible negative side effects, like increased chronic fear of cancer and more fatalistic attitudes toward cancer, were studied as well. RESULTS: Shortly after the intervention, differences between the study groups were found in intention, several social psychological determinants, and knowledge. Six months after the intervention, there were still differences between the tailored information group and the control group in intentions toward help seeking. Neither of the interventions resulted in increased chronic fear nor more fatalistic attitudes toward cancer. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that there were positive effects of the tailored intervention on determinants, passive detection, and help-seeking intentions in the short-term, but additional research is needed to assess ways of maintaining these effects in the long-ter