Automatic and ironic behavior are both mediated by changes in the self-concept

Recent accounts suggest that prime-to-behavior effects are mediated by changes to the active self-concept. Likewise, recent reports of post-suppression behavioral rebound have attributed changes to behavior to changes in the self-concept. According to such accounts, whenever an activated trait or stereotype can be easily incorporated into the active self, behavioral assimilation (i.e., behavior consistent with the activated concept) is likely to ensue. Yet, little evidence has emerged to directly support the mediating role of changes to the self-concept. The present research was designed to examine whether changes to the active self-concept are responsible for changes in behavior following stereotype suppression and priming. Participants who suppressed or were primed with stereotypes of the elderly were more likely to endorse stereotypic traits as self-descriptive and to behave in stereotypic ways. Critically, the former effect significantly mediated the latter. Implications for theories of concept activation and behavior are discussed. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Oral care experiences of palliative care patients, their relatives and healthcare professionals: A qualitative study

Oral symptoms in a growing number of palliative care patients are often neglected. Dental professionals are not always involved in palliative care. Oral care is often inadequately delivered to palliative care patients while oral problems can affect quality of life. A qualitative study was conducted to explore oral care experiences of palliative care patients, their relatives and healthcare professionals (HCPs). Four patients, four relatives and four HCPs were interviewed in a hospice. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis and revealed three themes. Patients who were capable of performing oral care mainly brushed their teeth and looked after their dentures. Other care tended to be carried out by relatives and HCPs; adapted based on a person’s level of consciousness. When describing effects on oral health, relatives and HCPs tended to focus on xerostomia, whereas patients provided detailed accounts denoting the psychological and social impact of oral symptoms. Perceptions of enablers and barriers to oral care differed between groups. Patients reported lack of access to professional dental care and patients' fatigue was the main barrier to oral care. Nevertheless, there is great scope for further research into good oral care practices identified in this study and possible implementation in other settings

A group-based behavioural intervention for weight management (PROGROUP) versus usual care in adults with severe obesity: a feasibility randomised controlled trial protocol

This is the final version. Available on open access from BMC via the DOI in this recordBackground Approximately 15 million people in the UK live with obesity, around 5 million of whom have severe obesity (body mass index (BMI) ≥35kg/m2). Having severe obesity markedly compromises health, well-being and quality of life, and substantially reduces life expectancy. These adverse outcomes are prevented or ameliorated by weight loss, for which sustained behavioural change is the cornerstone of treatment. Although NHS specialist ‘Tier 3’ Weight Management Services (T3WMS) support people with severe obesity, using individual and group-based treatment, the current evidence on optimal intervention design and outcomes is limited. Due to heterogeneity of severe obesity, there is a need to tailor treatment to address individual needs. Despite this heterogeneity, there are good reasons to suspect that a structured group-based behavioural intervention may be more effective and cost-effective for the treatment of severe obesity compared to usual care. The aims of this study are to test the feasibility of establishing and delivering a multi-centre randomised controlled clinical trial to compare a group-based behavioural intervention versus usual care in people with severe obesity. Methods This feasibility randomised controlled study is a partially clustered multi-centre trial of PROGROUP (a novel group-based behavioural intervention) versus usual care. Adults ≥18 years of age who have been newly referred to and accepted by NHS T3WMS will be eligible if they have a BMI ≥40, or ≥35 kg/m2 with comorbidity, are suitable for group-based care and are willing to be randomised. Exclusion criteria are participation in another weight management study, planned bariatric surgery during the trial, and unwillingness or inability to attend group sessions. Outcome assessors will be blinded to treatment allocation and success of blinding will be evaluated. Clinical measures will be collected at baseline, 6 and 12 months post-randomisation. Secondary outcome measures will be self-reported and collected remotely. Process and economic evaluations will be conducted. Discussion This randomised feasibility study has been designed to test all the required research procedures and additionally explore three key issues; the feasibility of implementing a complex trial at participating NHS T3WMS, training the multidisciplinary healthcare teams in a standard intervention, and the acceptability of a group intervention for these particularly complex patients. Trial registration ISRCTN number 22088800

Oral care experiences of palliative care patients, their relatives/carers and healthcare professionals: a qualitative systematic review

Aim: To explore the oral care experiences of palliative care patients and of those who support or deliver oral care to these patients: nurses, doctors, dentists, their relatives and carers. // Data Sources: An electronic search of the databases included: Embase, MEDLINE, DOSS, AMED and PsycINFO was performed. // Data selection: Six articles were included in the final synthesis. // Data extraction: Thematic analysis was applied by two researchers. // Data synthesis: Three themes were identified: ‘performing oral care’, ‘effects on oral health’ and ‘challenges in palliative care’. // Conclusions: Despite similarities of oral care experiences, this review identified some differences, crucially in terms of the wider impact of oral symptoms, namely social interactions with others and challenges to oral care. This confirms the need to investigate these topics further in relation to different stakeholders, such as nurses; and to have consistent guidance to facilitate the provision of effective oral care to palliative care patients