Knowledge, beliefs and attitudes, concerning food hygiene, in children and young adults, in south east Wales

Surveillance statistics show that many food poisoning cases occur in the home and surveys have revealed wide spread ignorance of cross-contamination and temperature control. In this work the food preparation practices of children and young adults (n=267) in south East wales were considered. Regular food preparation was found to occur from age 11 and the most common practices were sandwich and snack making. Sources of information about food hygiene were highlighted and the role of schools in the provision of food hygiene information was considered. Ninety eight teachers responded and of these 86% of Primary school teachers and all secondary schoolteachers surveyed claimed they taught food hygiene, with the skill considered most important by the majority of teachers being hand washing. The relationship between food hygiene and psychological precursors of behaviour was investigated. The data regarding food preparation practices was collated and was used to inform the construction of a questionnaire based on the Theory of Reasoned Action. The beliefs used in the construction of the questionnaire were obtained from a sample (n=438) and the most common beliefs about what they could do to keep food safe to eat included 'cook food properly', 'wash hands' and 'check the best before date'. Using self report measures (n=267) a significant correlation was recorded (β=0.42) and further, attitude, subjective norm and intention explained 51% of the variance in behaviour. However, using observations (n=30) the relationship was not found to be significant (β=0.03) and attitude, subjective norm and intention explained only 8% of the variance in behaviour. The implications of this in terms both of food hygiene and the Theory of Reasoned Action were considered

Health behaviours and their facilitation under depletion conditions: The case of snacking

Introduction: Previous research suggests that depletion (the state ensuing from self-control exertion) engenders lapses in health behaviours. The present study tested for that effect in relation to the health behaviour of limiting snacking, and investigated whether health goal-priming might facilitate such health behaviours even under depletion conditions. Method: A laboratory study was conducted involving an analytic sample of 85 undergraduates (mean age = 20.08, SD = 3.96; female: n = 63). Depletion was manipulated by having participants watch a humorous video while suppressing their responses (depletion condition) or remaining natural (non-depletion condition). The activation of participants' health goals was then manipulated by subtly exposing (goal-priming condition) or not exposing (non-priming condition) participants to health-related words in a Scrambled Sentence Task. Finally, snacking was measured using a bogus taste-test. Results and discussion: Controlling for initial hunger, snacking was higher among depleted compared to non-depleted participants. Snacking was lower among primed compared to non-primed participants. The interaction between depletion and goal-priming was not significant. These findings suggest that depletion should be recognised as a risk factor for lapses in health behaviours, and that health goal-priming may be a useful technique for facilitating such behaviours even when individuals are depleted

Communication of a mental health diagnosis: a systematic synthesis and narrative review

Background: There is limited understanding of the mechanisms used to effectively communicate with service-users about their mental health diagnoses. Aims: To conduct a systematic synthesis of studies that present data on the communication of a psychiatric diagnosis. Methods: Comprehensive database and manual searches were conducted resulting in the inclusion of 30 quantitative and qualitative papers. Results: The majority of studies were descriptive. The rate of service-users being informed of their diagnosis has increased over the past decade. Consumer communication preferences were not always satisfactorily addressed in practice. Individual characteristics of service-users and clinicians influenced whether a diagnostic discussion took place. Results from intervention studies aimed at facilitating diagnostic communication reported significant improvements in service-user satisfaction and mood and clinician communication skills. Conclusions: This review highlights a gap in the system of communication between clinicians and service-users. To assist clinicians to talk effectively with individuals about their mental health, communication protocols and training need to be further developed and assessed. Such developments would benefit from well-designed randomised controlled trial protocols, should incorporate service-users’ preferences and address stigma-related concerns

Health-related content in Australian television advertising

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the proportions of health-related content in non-program time on Australian television, and how this relates to channel, product category, program genre and whether it is an advertisement or public service announcement (PSA). Design/methodology/approach – Australian prime time television was recorded across three commercial television stations in Sydney. Non-program content (NPC) was coded according to the channel, program genre, length of content and product advertised. In total, 44 hours of programming was recorded. Findings – Not surprisingly, significant differences were found in the percentage of health-related content between advertisements (22 percent) and PSAs (67 percent). Again unsurprisingly there was also a significant relationship between the product category and health-related content (χ 2=366.601, p=0.000), but also between health-related content and program genre (χ 2=20.594, p=0.024), particularly situation comedies (31 percent) and sport (15 percent). No difference was found in the percentage of health-related content between the channels. Research limitations/implications – Differences existing in the amount of NPC across program genre suggest that viewers of programs with high rates of health-related content in advertising may have higher exposure to product dependant health information. Originality/value – Health information is examined in a general sample without focus on particular demographics or health topics and the role of program genre is investigated

Measuring beliefs about gluten free diet adherence in adult coeliac disease using the theory of planned behaviour

The theory of planned behaviour (TPB) was used to elicit the salient beliefs about gluten free diet (GFD) adherence in adults with coeliac disease (CD) and to design a TPB questionnaire to predict adherence levels. This questionnaire was administered to 265 CD participants with adherence and quality of life (QOL) measures, a GFD knowledge test, and self-reported psychiatric history. Regression analyses were used to test the fit of the TPB in predicting adherence, and to determine the nature of the relationships between adherence, QOL, knowledge, and psychiatric history. The TPB combined with self-reported depression and anxiety, and QOL explained significant variance in intention (41.0%) and adherence (33.7%). Poorer dietary adherence and psychiatric history were also associated with lower QOL. Findings suggest that the TPB provides an adequate model for predicting GFD adherence in CD, and the presence of psychiatric conditions represents a potential intervention target to improve adherence and QOL

Reducing Needle Stick Injuries in Healthcare Occupations: An Integrative Review of the Literature

Needlestick injuries frequently occur among healthcare workers, introducing high risk of bloodborne pathogen infection for surgeons, assistants, and nurses. This systematic review aims to explore the impact of both educational training and safeguard interventions to reduce needlestick injuries. Several databases were searched including MEDLINE, PsycINFO, SCOPUS, CINAHL and Sciencedirect. Studies were selected if the intervention contained a study group and a control group and were published between 2000 and 2010. Of the fourteen studies reviewed, nine evaluated a double-gloving method, one evaluated the effectiveness of blunt needle, and one evaluated a bloodborne pathogen educational training program. Ten studies reported an overall reduction in glove perforations for the intervention group. In conclusion, this review suggests that both safeguard interventions and educational training programs are effective in reducing the risk of having needlestick injuries. However, more studies using a combination of both safeguards and educational interventions in surgical and nonsurgical settings are needed

A systematic review of the quality, content and context of breakfast consumption

Purpose: Consumption of breakfast is often associated with important health related behaviours. For example, skipping breakfast is related to obesity and eating breakfast is also correlated to cognitive, behavioural, and affective components. This paper attempts to review the breakfast eating literature, and investigate the circumstances under which people consume breakfast, what is actually being consumed, and how much breakfast is eaten therefore Method/Approach: This systematic review summarised the results from 24 studies which focus on who is eating what, where, and with whom. Findings: All 24 of the included studies were of a self report nature, from which nine were analyses from second-hand survey data. Sample sizes varied from 100 to a total of 35119 with a reported participants’ age range from two years old to 70 years of age. Ready-to-eat cereal and dairy foods were the most commonly consumed breakfast items across the studies. Between 1.7 and 30% of participants were found to skip breakfast and approximately one quarter of the studies reported that those with lower socio-economic status, non-whites and females were the groups more likely to omit breakfast. Practical implications and Limitations: The evidence provided in this review suggests that there is still considerable variation in studies into breakfast consumption. This has implications for future research into breakfast eating if interventions are based on these studies. Originality/Value: There are very few systematic reviews detailing the quality, context and content of breakfast consumption and the lack of consistency in the results show the need for further research to be conducted to find a degree of consistency in how breakfast should be defined and measured

Diagnosis telling in people with psychosis

Purpose of review: There are complexities in communicating diagnostic information relating to schizophrenia spectrum disorders. There is a current dearth of research in understanding how clinicians effectively communicate with service users about such diagnostic news. In this review, we aim to synthesize the latest research throughout 2012 and 2013 that presented data relating to the communication of a diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorders, including individuals who had experienced first-episode psychosis or were in at-risk mental states. Comprehensive database and manual searches were conducted which obtained data from both service users and health professional groups. Recent findings: Fourteen quantitative and qualitative studies were found. The majority of studies were descriptive and heterogeneous in content. Key themes included service user preferences towards disclosure and diagnostic terminology, health professional training, stigma-related issues and the use of diagnostic communication models. Summary: Overall, communication models that foster therapeutic relationships and actively encourage the health professional to reduce stigma may be a key to initial diagnostic discussions in clinical practice. Such communication models and intervention require further more rigorous evaluation, as none have been tested through randomized controlled protocols in clinical settings

An application of the theory of planned behavior - A randomized controlled food safety pilot intervention for young adults

Objective: Approximately 48 million Americans are affected by foodborne illness each year. Evidence suggests that the application of health psychology theory to food safety interventions can increase behaviors that reduce the incidence of illness such as adequately keeping hands, surfaces and equipment clean. This aim of this pilot study was to be the first to explore the effectiveness of a food safety intervention based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Methods: Young adult participants (N = 45) were randomly allocated to intervention, general control or mere measurement control conditions. Food safety observations and TPB measures were taken at baseline and at 4-week follow-up. Within and between group differences on target variables were considered and regression analyses were conducted to determine the relationship between condition, behavior and the TPB intention constructs; attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control (PBC). Results: TPB variables at baseline predicted observed food safety behaviors. At follow-up, the intervention led to significant increases in PBC (p = .024) and observed behaviors (p = .001) compared to both control conditions. Furthermore, correlations were found between observed and self-reported behaviors (p = .008). Conclusions: The pilot intervention supports the utility of the TPB as a method of improving food safety behavior. Changes in TPB cognitions appear to be best translated to behavior via behavioral intentions and PBC. Further research should be conducted to increase effectiveness of translating TPB variables to food safety behaviors. The additional finding of a correlation between self-reported and observed behavior also has implications for future research as it provides evidence toward the construct validity of self-reported behavioral measures

A randomised controlled trial of a theory of planned behaviour to increase fruit and vegetable consumption. Fresh Facts

Young adults are less likely than other adults to consume fruit and vegetables. Fresh Facts is a theory of planned behaviour based intervention designed to promote fruit and vegetable consumption. The present study sought to evaluate Fresh Facts using a randomised controlled trial. Australian young adults (n?=?162) were allocated to the Fresh Facts intervention or to the control group in 2011. Intervention participants received automated email messages promoting fruit and vegetable consumption every 3 days over the course of the 1 month intervention. Messages targeted attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioural control. Theory of planned behaviour variables and fruit and vegetable intake were measured at baseline and post-intervention (Day 30). Significant increases in attitude and subjective norm relative to control were found among Fresh Facts participants. However, intention, perceived behavioural control and fruit and vegetable consumption did not change as a result of the intervention. Changes in intention reported by each participant between baseline and follow-up were not correlated with corresponding changes in fruit and vegetable consumption. Fresh Facts was not successful in increasing fruit and vegetable consumption. Current evidence does not support the use of the theory of planned behaviour in the design of interventions to increase fruit and vegetable intake in this population