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P Sheeran

Publications and source records attributed to P Sheeran.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Psychosocial correlates of heterosexual condom use: a meta-analysis.

Despite increasing incidence of HIV/AIDS, there has been no systematic review of correlates of condom use among heterosexual samples. To rectify this, the present study used meta-analysis to quantify the relationship between psychosocial variables and self-reported condom use. Six hundred sixty correlations distributed across 44 variables were derived from 121 empirical studies. Variables were organized in terms of the labeling, commitment, and enactment stages of the AIDS Risk Reduction Model (Catania, Kegeles, & Coates, 1990). Findings showed that demographic, personality, and labeling stage variables had small average correlations with condom use. Commitment and enactment stage variables fared better, with attitudes toward condoms, behavioral intentions, and communication about condoms being the most important predictors. Overall, findings support a social psychological model of condom use highlighting the importance of behavior-specific cognitions, social interaction, and preparatory behaviors rather than knowledge and beliefs about the threat of infection.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1999

Elevated cytokine concentrations in the nasopharyngeal and tracheal secretions of children with respiratory syncytial virus disease.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of lower respiratory tract disease in infants. The role of inflammatory mediators in the pathogenesis of RSV disease is not well-understood. The present study was designed (1) to determine whether RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and presumably secreted), macrophage-inflammatory protein-1-alpha (MIP-1-alpha), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and IL-10 can be detected in respiratory secretions of children with RSV infection and (2) to assess whether the concentrations of these cytokines in respiratory secretions correlate with white blood cell (WBC) counts and RSV concentrations and with disease severity. METHODS: During the 1996 to 1997 RSV season, we studied prospectively 14 intubated and 14 nonintubated children hospitalized with RSV disease. Nasal wash (NW) and tracheal aspirate (TA) samples were obtained from intubated patients on Hospital Days 1, 3 and 5. NW samples were obtained from nonintubated patients on hospital days 1 and 3. Seven healthy children undergoing elective surgery served as controls. All samples were analyzed for: (1) WBC and differential counts; (2) concentrations of RANTES, MIP-1-alpha, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10; and (3) quantitative RSV cultures, except in control patients. RESULTS: RANTES, MIP-1-alpha, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 were detected in NW and TA samples from all children with RSV infection. The concentrations of these cytokines in samples obtained from children with RSV infection were significantly greater than those in samples obtained from control children. NW WBC counts significantly correlated with NW RANTES, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 concentrations, whereas TA WBC counts significantly correlated with TA IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and MIP-1-alpha concentrations. NW RSV concentrations correlated with NW WBC counts and with NW cytokine concentrations. Among children with RSV infection nonintubated patients had greater NW WBC counts and NW RANTES concentrations than intubated patients. TA RANTES, IL-8 and IL-10 concentrations inversely correlated with clinical markers of RSV disease severity. CONCLUSION: The presence of cytokines in NW and TA samples of children with RSV infection suggests that they have a role in mediating the respiratory tract inflammation induced by RSV. These observations could have implications for designing new therapeutic strategies directed at immunomodulation of RSV disease.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1998

'Inclined abstainers': a problem for predicting health-related behaviour.

A longitudinal test of the association between motivation to undertake a precautionary health action and subsequent behaviour was conducted on women's uptake of the cervical screening test. A sample of never-screened women (N = 166) completed measures derived from protection-motivation theory (PMT; Rogers, 1983). One year later, screening uptake was reliably determined from medical records. While regression analyses demonstrated that PMT variables predicted both motivation to undergo cervical screening and screening uptake, there was, nonetheless, a good deal of inconsistency between protection motivation and screening behaviour. Fifty-seven per cent of those who indicated they were willing to undergo the test did not do so within a one-year period. Discriminant analysis was therefore used to test the ability of cognitions specified by PMT to distinguish four patterns of association between motivation and behaviour: inclined actors, inclined abstainers, disinclined actors and disinclined abstainers. While PMT variables could successfully classify the four groups, it was not possible to derive a reliable discriminant function which distinguished between inclined actors and inclined abstainers. The results suggest that PMT provides a useful account of choice motivation but does not address the psychological processes by which intention is translated into action. Recent calls for the development of a social psychology of volition are discussed in the light of these findings.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Do intentions predict condom use? Meta-analysis and examination of six moderator variables.

This study used meta-analysis to quantify the relationship between intentions and behaviour in prospective studies of condom use. The effects of six moderator variables were also examined: sexual orientation, gender, sample age, time interval, intention versus expectation and condom use with 'steady' versus 'casual' partners. Literature searches revealed 28 hypotheses based on a total sample of 2532 which could be included in the review. Overall, there was a medium to strong sample-weighted average correlation between intentions and condom use (r+ = .44), and this correlation was similar to the effect sizes obtained in previous reviews. There were too few studies of gay men to permit meaningful comparison of effect sizes between homosexual versus heterosexual samples. Gender and measurement of intention did not moderate the intention-behaviour relationship. However, shorter time intervals, older samples and condom use with 'steady' rather than 'casual' partners were each associated with stronger correlations between intentions and condom use. Factors which might explain the significant effects of moderator variables are discussed and implications of the study for future research on intention-behaviour consistency are outlined.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Can social cognitive models contribute to the effectiveness of HIV-preventive behavioural interventions? A brief review of the literature and a reply to Joffe (1996; 1997) and Fife-Schaw (1997)

A recent debate in the British Journal of Medical Psychology has considered the role of social cognitive models, such as the theory of reasoned action and the theory of planned behaviour, in understanding HIV-preventive behaviour. In this paper we clarify some of the assumptions involved in applications of social cognitive models. We briefly review available evidence on the capacity of such models to predict HIV-preventive sexual behaviour and outline a number of criteria for judging their predictive success. The importance of behavioural prediction for the development of effective HIV-preventive behavioural interventions is discussed and recent evaluations of interventions based on these models are reviewed. We conclude that the models are effective in predicting HIV-preventive behaviours and provide empirically supported theoretical guidance on psychological changes likely to result in HIV-preventive behaviour change. In addition we argue that, to date, evaluations of theoretically specified interventions are encouraging. Further development and rigorous testing of HIV/AIDS interventions based on social cognitive models is recommended.

Cognition↗
PubMed1997

Effects of clonidine on the pituitary hormonal response to pelvic surgery.

We have investigated the effects of the central alpha 2 adrenoreceptor agonist, clonidine, given i.v. before induction of anaesthesia, on the haemodynamic and endocrine responses to pelvic surgery. Twenty patients were allocated randomly to receive either clonidine 3 micrograms kg-1 or an equivalent volume of 0.9% sodium chloride solution. Arterial pressure, heart rate, and circulating concentrations of cortisol, growth hormone, glucose and lactate were measured during and in the 24 h after total abdominal hysterectomy. Arterial pressure and heart rate decreased significantly in the clonidine group during surgery and in the early postoperative period. There were no differences between groups in serum cortisol or growth hormone concentrations throughout the study. Despite an effective decrease in the cardiovascular response to surgery, clonidine 3 micrograms kg-1 i.v. had no significant effect on pituitary hormone secretion.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗
PubMed1997

Cytokines in anaesthesia.

The scope of cytokine biology is fascinating with widespread applications anticipated in many areas of medical science. We have emphasized the fundamental roles that cytokines play in the control of normal immunological functions, defence mechanisms and normal cell growth, and how major surgery and trauma can affect these processes. It remains to be determined if morbidity and mortality may be improved after major illness and surgery by altering cytokine production and function.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗
PubMed1997

Adrenocortical disorders.

Preoperative preparation for the patient with adrenal disorders is directed toward restoring the intravascular volume and the electrolyte concentrations to normal. Hypertension and hypokalemia may be controlled by restricting sodium intake and administration of the aldosterone antagonist spironolactone. Patients taking steroids preoperatively must be adequately replaced throughout the perioperative phase at times of maximum stress.

Adrenal Cortex Diseases↗
PubMed1997

An evaluation of short-term group therapy for people with aphasia.

This paper reports an evaluation of a group therapy intervention conducted with aphasic people (n = 6). The intervention comprised 10 sessions of approximately 90 min duration and included two participants with stuttering difficulties. The therapy programme consisted of communication activities within the group which encouraged sharing of personal experiences, videotaping of role-play activities for self- and group-evaluation and practice tasks completed outside the group. Measures of functional communicative ability, attitudes to communication and psychological adjustment were obtained before and after the intervention. Findings showed significant improvements in communicative competence and attitudes to communication over the course of the intervention. Before the intervention self-esteem and communicative competence were highly intercorrelated. By the end of the therapy sessions the correlation between self-esteem and communicative competence was significantly smaller and was non-significant. This indicates that communicative function was not related to feelings of self-worth by the end of the intervention. Improvements in attitude to communication, greater attendance and completion of assignments were each predictive of reduced levels of depression. There was also evidence that stronger beliefs about the role of personal effort in improving speech were predictive of improvements in communication attitudes. A measure of satisfaction showed extremely positive evaluation of the intervention by participants. It is concluded that shortterm group therapy can produce improvements in communicative abilities and attitudes, and have psychological benefits for participants. Several suggestions for future research are outlined.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1996

Religiosity, gender, and the double standard.

Scottish teenagers (N = 690) participated in a survey concerning the relationship between religiosity, gender, and social judgments of sexual activity. Respondents estimated the number of sexual partners of 20-year old men and women and made evaluative judgments of sexually active men and women on positive and negative dimensions. On both tasks, evidence was obtained for the operation of a double standard. Women were expected to have fewer sexual partners than men, and their sexual activity was judged more negatively on evaluatively negative dimensions. Contrary to findings of previous studies in this area, gender differences in endorsement of the double standard were not found. Only moderate support was found for the view that religiosity contributes to different standards of sexual behavior for men and women, although religiosity had significantly greater influence on judgments made by women than on judgments made by men.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Health care workers and HIV/AIDS: a critical review of the literature.

This paper reviews the extensive literature which looks at the impact of HIV/AIDS on health care workers (HCWs). The knowledge and attitudes of HCWs toward people with HIV/AIDS and other relevant attitudes, for example those regarding male homosexuality have been widely studied whereas attitudes to intravenous drug use are perhaps under-investigated. Three major themes of the literature are examined. These are fear of infection, beliefs about the right to refuse care and the stresses associated with caring for HIV positive people. A number of educational interventions which attempt to change HCWs attitudes and beliefs are reviewed. Some notable gaps in the literature are identified. Neglected areas include attitudes to women, people of colour and consideration of the organizational and societal factors mediating the impact of HIV upon healthcare workers. Limitations of the research techniques used are identified and future implications for health care workers are considered.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1994

Modelling and modifying young heterosexuals' HIV-preventive behaviour; a review of theories, findings and educational implications.

Studies applying social cognitive frameworks such as the health belief model and the theory of reasoned action to HIV-prevention are reviewed. These models suggest that appropriate beliefs, attitudes, social norms, intentions and perceived self-efficacy are sufficient psychological conditions for safer sexual behaviour. Limitations inherent in these accounts are identified and additional factors which need to be incorporated in psychological models and health education programmes are highlighted. These include, the motivational complexity of sexual behaviour, the emotional and arousal states in which it is enacted, the difficulties of planning what is regarded as spontaneous interaction and contextual factors which can undermine HIV-preventive intentions. Health education interventions aimed at individual, group and community levels are examined in light of this theoretical review and action-focused, empowering interventions grounded in youth culture are recommended.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Measurement of condom use in 72 studies of HIV-preventive behaviour: a critical review.

Ninety-four distinct measures of condom use were identified in a review of 72 psychosocial studies of HIV-prevention. A coding scheme was developed which characterised each measure in terms of: (1) type of measure (e.g. frequency of use, use at last intercourse), (2) response alternatives (e.g. Likert scale), (3) recall period (e.g. lifetime, last month), (4) partner specification (e.g. 'new' partner), and (5) activity specification (e.g. vaginal or anal intercourse). Results show a great deal of inconsistency in measurements of condom use across studies. Single-item frequency or consistency measures were most common. Several difficulties with measures employed to date were identified. These included indeterminate reliability and validity of measures, lack of attention to the epidemiological significance of different types of use and terminological and self-presentational problems with items assessing use. Implications of extant measurement approaches for the accumulated knowledge base on predictors of 'safer' sex and suggestions for future research in this area are outlined.

Condoms↗
PubMed1993

Invasive Haemophilus influenzae infections in older children and adults in Seattle.

We recently saw two unusual manifestations of Haemophilus influenzae infection in adults in the Seattle area: fulminant sepsis in an otherwise-healthy man and three episodes of bacteremia in a woman with chronic liver disease. We retrospectively identified 79 bacteremic and 40 non-bacteremic cases of invasive H. influenzae infection developing in patients > or = 9 years of age between 1 January 1980 and 31 December 1990. The most common clinical presentations among patients with bacteremia included pneumonia (52%), septicemia (27%), meningitis (8%), gynecologic infection (5%), and epiglottitis (5%). Underlying illnesses were common in these patients, and overall mortality was 35.5%. Factors associated with mortality included underlying neurological disease, polymicrobial bacteremia, and advanced age. The clinical presentations of the 40 patients without bacteremia included soft-tissue abscesses (45%), lung abscesses (18%), peritonitis (13%), meningitis (8%), gynecologic infection (8%), epididymitis (5%), mastoiditis (3%), and osteomyelitis (3%). Thus H. influenzae disease has a variety of presentations and is associated with significant mortality in older children and adults. Further study is required to determine whether widespread administration of H. influenzae type b conjugate vaccine to infants will alter the development of subsequent disease in later life.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

In search of a psychology of safer-sex promotion; beyond beliefs and texts.

Belief and attitudinal change are important to the promotion of safer sexual behaviour. However, the individual decision-making psychology implicit in belief-change models provides only a partial picture of the determinants of sexual behaviour. A broader psychological understanding emphasizing the complex social skills involved in regulating sexual interaction is advocated. A discourse analysis critique of the viability of characterizing individuals' psychology on the basis of verbal responses is discussed and it is noted that psychological models linking such responses to underlying beliefs and cognitions must be based on measures which accurately predict health behaviour. It is concluded that an interactive model incorporating personal, interpersonal and situational constraints on sexual behaviour could be used to design effective programmes addressing barriers to HIV protection. Such interventions would promote communication and sexual negotiating skills and could be included in school curricula. This would have radical implications for sex education, shifting its theoretical basis from biology to social psychology and its methods from information-giving to participation and practice.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Health beliefs and promotion of HIV-preventive intentions among teenagers: a Scottish perspective.

Beliefs concerning the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and preventive behaviors were examined in a sample of 351 sexually active Scottish teenagers. A postal questionnaire, including measures of variables specified by the health belief model (HBM) and preventive intentions, was employed. The relation between HBM measures and reported endorsement of HIV-preventive intentions was investigated. Results indicated that, in general, respondents intended to use condoms with new sexual partners. The majority also intended to carry condoms if they thought they might have sex with a new partner and to ask potential partners about their previous sexual history. Multiple-regression analyses showed that measures of health beliefs, gender, age, sexual experience, and previous condom use accounted for 17.8% to 24.3% of the variance in reported preventive intentions. Perceived barriers to preventive behaviors were found to be important predictors. However, the overall pattern of results raised questions concerning the adequacy of the HBM as a model of the determinants of HIV-preventive intentions, and the need for an extended model is discussed. Separate analyses were conducted for men and women and for 16- and 18-year-olds, and the implications for modeling intention formation in these subgroups are considered. The relevance of these findings to HIV-preventive campaigns is also discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Context and content: the impact of school-leaving and school-based health education on AIDS-relevant cognitions.

A survey examined health beliefs and intentions among 690 16-18 year-olds in Dundee. Respondents in the younger cohort (n = 363) were classified according to their educational situation (at school vs left) and self-reports of having received AIDS/HIV-relevant health education. Both remaining in school and receiving AIDS/HIV-relevant health education had independent beneficial effects, but the effects of leaving school also interacted with sex of respondent and with amount of relevant education received prior to leaving. Males' and females' reliance on mass media and other information sources diverged once they left school, indicating that males who leave school early are most likely to disregard useful or important information regarding AIDS. Consistent with this finding, leaving school reduced the difference between males' and females' intention to use condoms with a new partner. The beneficial impact of having previously received AIDS/HIV-relevant education on beliefs concerning the controllability of the epidemic and on feeling worried about everyday contact with a person with HIV/AIDS, was most marked among those who had left school. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for health education strategies.

Adolescent↗