4,953 research outputs found
Informational Video Gaming in the Waiting Room
Get PDFThis study is testing the potential of a gamified method of conveying information and the ability of the game to influence people’s sentiment towards immunization. The most popular way that medical information and awareness is spread is in the form of pamphlets or flyers, even though many people either ignore them or do not retain much information from them. Perhaps a game paired with intermittent quiz questions that influence the overall score will improve overall retention as compared with plain reading. To test this hypothesis, a game was designed to include identical information as a pamphlet commony handed out in an office to see if it is more impactful and persuasive when used by patients in a waiting room
Find cancer early: Evaluation of a community education campaign to increase awareness of cancer signs and symptoms in people in regional Western Australians
Get PDFIntroduction: Cancer outcomes for people living in rural and remote areas are worse than for those living in urban areas. Although access to and quality of cancer treatment are important determinants of outcomes, delayed presentation has been observed in rural patients.
Methods: Formative research with people from rural Western Australia (WA) led to the Find Cancer Early campaign. Find Cancer Early was delivered in three regions of WA, with two other regions acting as controls. Staff delivered the campaign using a community engagement approach, including promotion in local media. Television communications were not used to minimize contamination in the control regions. The campaign evaluation was undertaken at 20 months via a computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) survey comparing campaign and control regions. The primary outcome variable was knowledge of cancer signs and symptoms.
Results: Recognition and recall of Find Cancer Early and symptom knowledge were higher in the campaign regions. More than a quarter of those who were aware of the campaign reported seeing the GP as a result of their exposure.
Conclusion: Despite limited use of mass media, Find Cancer Early successfully improved knowledge of cancer symptoms and possibly led to changes in behavior. Social marketing campaigns using community development can raise awareness and knowledge of a health issue in the absence of television advertising
Field Dependent Specific-Heat of Rare Earth Manganites
Full text linkThe low temperature specific heat C(H) of several rare-earth manganites
(La_(0.7)Sr_(0.3)MnO_(3), Nd_(0.5)Sr_(0.5)MnO_(3), Pr_(0.5)Sr_(0.5)MnO_(3),
La_(0.67)Ca_(0.33)MnO$_(3), La_(0.5)Ca_(0.5)MnO_(3), La_(0.45)Ca_(0.55)MnO_(3)
and La_(0.33)Ca_(0.67)MnO_(3)) was measured as a function of magnetic field. We
observed behaviour consistent with thermodynamic expectations, i.e., C(H)
decreases with field for ferromagnetic metallic compounds by an amount which is
in quantitative agreement with spin wave theory. We also find that C(H)
increases with field in most compounds with a charge-ordered antiferromagnetic
ground state. In compounds which show evidence of a coexistence of
ferromagnetic metallic and antiferromagnetic charge-ordered states, C(H)
displays some unusual non-equilibrium effects presumably associated with the
phase-separation of the two states. We also observe a large anomalous low
temperature specific heat at the doping induced metal-insulator transition (at
x = 0.50) in La_(1-x)Ca_(x)MnO_(3).Comment: 13 pages, LATEX, 7 PDF figure
Near-Term Effects of Perennial Grasses on Soil Carbon and Nitrogen in Eastern Nebraska
Get PDFIncorporating native perennial grasses adjacent to annual row crop systems managed on marginal lands can increase system resiliency by diversifying food and energy production. This study evaluated (1) soil organic C (SOC) and total N stocks (TN) under warm-season grass (WSG) monocultures and a low diversity mixture compared to an adjacent no-till continuous-corn system, and (2) WSG total above-ground biomass (AGB) in response to two levels of N fertilization from 2012 to 2017 in eastern Nebraska, USA. The WSG treatments consisted of (1) switchgrass (SWG), (2) big bluestem (BGB), and (3) low-diversity grass mixture (LDM; big bluestem, Indiangrass, and sideoat grama). Soils were sampled at fixed depth increments (0–120 cm) in the WSG plots and in the adjacent corn experiment in 2012 and 2017. Soil stocks (Mg ha-1) of SOC and TN were calculated on an equivalent soil mass (ESM) basis and compared within the three WSG treatments as well as between experiments (corn compared to the mean of all WSGs). Soil organic C and TN stocks within soil layers and cumulative stocks responded to the main effect of WSG (PWSG \u3c 0.05) but were no different when comparing the WSGs to corn (Pexpt = NS). Both SOC/TN stocks and cumulative stocks were generally greater in the LDM compared to the BGB. Neither SOC nor TN changed over time under either the WSGs or corn. Warm-season grass AGB responded to a three-way interaction of year, N rate, and WSG (p = 0.0007). Decreases in AGB over time were significant across WSGs and N levels except for SWG at 56 kg N ha-1 and LDM at 112 kg N ha-1. Above-ground biomass was generally greater in the LDM after the first harvest year (2013). Results suggest that incorporating WSGs into marginal cropland can maintain SOC and TN stocks while providing a significant source of biomass to be used in energy production or in integrated livestock systems
Public awareness of cancer in Britain: a population-based survey of adults
Get PDF*_Objective:_* To assess public awareness of cancer warning signs, anticipated delay, and perceived barriers to seeking medical advice in the British population. 
Methods: We carried out a population-based survey using face-to-face, computer-assisted interviews to administer the Cancer Awareness Measure (CAM), a newly-developed, validated measure of cancer awareness. The sample included 2216 adults (970 male and 1246 female) recruited as part of the Office for National Statistics Opinions Survey using stratified probability sampling.

*_Results:_* Awareness of cancer warning signs was low when open-ended (recall) questions were used and higher with closed (recognition) questions; but on either measure, awareness was lower in those who were male, younger, and from lower socioeconomic status (SES) groups or ethnic minorities. The most commonly endorsed barriers to help-seeking were difficulty making an appointment, worry about wasting the doctor’s time and worry about what would be found. Emotional barriers were more prominent in lower SES groups and practical barriers (e.g. too busy) more prominent in higher SES groups. Anticipated delay was lower in ethnic minority and lower SES groups. In multivariate analysis, higher symptom awareness was associated with lower anticipated delay, and more barriers with greater anticipated delay.

*_Conclusions:_* A combination of public education about symptoms and empowerment to seek medical advice, as well as support at primary care level, could enhance early presentation and improve cancer outcomes
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