Which outcome expectancies are important in determining young adults intentions to use condoms with casual sexual partners?: A cross-sectional study

Background: The prevalence of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection amongst young adults represents an important public health problem in the UK. Individuals attitude towards the use of condoms has been identified as an important determinant of behavioural intentions and action. The Theory of Planned Behaviour has been widely used to explain and predict health behaviour. This posits that the degree to which an individual positively or negatively values a behaviour (termed direct attitude) is based upon consideration of the likelihood of a number of outcomes occurring (outcome expectancy) weighted by the perceived desirability of those outcomes (outcome evaluation). Outcome expectancy and outcome evaluation when multiplied form indirect attitude. The study aimed to assess whether positive outcome expectancies of unprotected sex were more important for young adults with lower safe sex intentions, than those with safer sex intentions, and to isolate optimal outcomes for targeting through health promotion campaigns. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was used. Data was collected from 1051 school and university students aged 16-24 years. Measures of intention, direct attitude and indirect attitude were taken. Participants were asked to select outcome expectancies which were most important in determining whether they would use condoms with casual sexual partners. Results: People with lower safe sex intentions were more likely than those with safer sex intentions to select all positive outcome expectancies for unprotected sex as salient, and less likely to select all negative outcome expectancies as salient. Outcome expectancies for which the greatest proportion of participants in the less safe sex group held an unfavourable position were: showing that I am a caring person, making sexual experiences less enjoyable, and protecting against pregnancy. Conclusions: The findings point to ways in which the attitudes of those with less safe sex intentions could be altered in order to motivate positive behavioural change. They suggest that it would be advantageous to highlight the potential for condom use to demonstrate a caring attitude, to challenge the potential for protected sex to reduce sexual pleasure, and to target young adults risk appraisals for pregnancy as a consequence of unprotected sex with casual sexual partners

Association between Impaired Lung Function and Cardiovascular Disease. Cause, Effect, or Force of Circumstance?

No abstract available

Calcific Aortic Stenosis A Disease of the Valve and the Myocardium

Although aortic stenosis is a common condition associated with major morbidity, mortality, and health economic costs, there are currently no medical interventions capable of delaying or halting its progression. Re-evaluation of the underlying pathophysiology is therefore required so that novel therapeutic strategies can be developed. Aortic stenosis is characterized by progressive aortic valve narrowing and secondary left ventricular hypertrophy. Both processes are important because in combination they drive the development of symptoms and adverse events that characterize the latter stages of the disease. In this review, the authors examine the pathophysiology of aortic stenosis with respect to both the valve and the myocardium. In particular, the authors focus on the role of inflammation, fibrosis, and calcification in progressive valve narrowing and then examine the development of left ventricular hypertrophy, its subsequent decompensation, and the transition to heart failure. Finally the authors discuss potential therapeutic strategies on the basis of similarities aortic stenosis shares with other pathological conditions