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At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Barriers to timely mammography.

A survey of 399 women between 50 and 59 years of age was conducted to learn how we could improve their compliance with mammography screening guidelines. Our results showed that 78% of the women surveyed believed their physician would tell them if they needed a mammogram. Women who had not had a mammogram were more likely to be misinformed about indications for mammography than women who had had a mammogram. Women who had not had a mammogram were less likely to visit a health center than were women who had had a mammogram. A multifaceted approach including patient education to correct misinformation, reminder systems for women not seen regularly in health centers, and physician reminders may have the most impact.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed2001

Urinary incontinence knowledge and attitudes in São Paulo.

Urinary incontinence is a social and hygienic problem that affects 15% to 35% of individuals aged 60 years or older, with an estimated annual cost in the United States of $16 billion. To better understand the effects of misinformation and underestimation of the problem, a study to identify knowledge and attitudes related to urinary incontinence was conducted among 400 community-dwelling residents (55 years of age or older). The instrument covered four knowledge/attitude subject areas: treatment and effects, causes, the relationship between aging and urinary incontinence, and physician/patient discussion regarding urinary incontinence. Interviews were conducted in waiting rooms, shopping centers, subways, and hospital/clinic waiting rooms. One hundred, forty-two people (43% women and 23% men) reported current or previous bladder problems. Only two of the 14 knowledge statements elicited a correct response from the majority (60%) of participants. The percentage of correct answers to the other 12 statements ranged from 23% to 43%. Most people believed that urinary incontinence is an inevitable consequence of aging, and the majority of treatment responses (58%) indicated a lack of knowledge about available treatments. Differences in the percentage of correct responses related to the treatment and causes of urinary incontinence were observed between respondents with varying educational levels (P = 0.001) and between Caucasian and African American respondents (P = 0.001). The results confirm that misinformation about urinary incontinence is common in the general population and that educational interventions are needed if the prevalence of uncontrolled urinary incontinence is to be solved.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2003

An ethical imperative: genetics education for physicians and patients.

The Human Genome project will result in a rapid increase in information about genetically based disease and possible genetically based therapies and cures. In light of this, radical changes in medical education may be necessary. Patients rely on physicians for medical advice about genetic ills and treatments and yet there is mounting evidence that physicians are not well informed about genetics and indeed that they are misinformed. There is also evidence that informed consent is not always honored in the context of genetic testing and indeed that coercion to test and even to act on test information is a practice. Misinformation and the mishandling of genetic information can cause physical, psychological and social harm to persons and intentional and non-intentional violations of informed consent, confidentiality, and privacy are causes for alarm. It is an ethical imperative that genetic literacy and education for physicians be fully and quickly addressed.

Education, Medical↗
PubMed2006

Massachusetts fluoridation update 2006.

Massachusetts has a long history of activity with community water fluoridation. Although the state has 3.8 million people living in 137 fluoridated communities, there are more than 2 million people who do not have these benefits. The Bay State is ranked 35th in the country regarding the percent of people on public water supplies with fluoridation. We can do better than that. We have more than 60 years of experience receiving the health and economic benefits of fluoridation in our country; however, there is still a lot of misinformation about fluoridation, and the unreliable nature of information posted on the Internet exacerbates much of this misinformation. Dental professionals, their patients, and decision-makers must be continuously educated about the safety, health, and economic benefits of community water fluoridation. Patients from 6 months to 16 years of age living in nonfluoridated communities should be prescribed supplemental fluoride. Dental professionals in nonfluoridated communities should assist them to become fluoridated. All dental professionals need to become more involved in the leadership of their communities.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Hirschsprung's disease in adolescents. Misadventures in diagnosis and management.

Three male adolescents, ages 13, 15, and 17 years, presented with complications of their Hirschsprung's disease, including acute enterocolitis with sepsis, chronic enterocolitis with anemia and leukocytosis, and severe fecal impaction. All had experienced delay in diagnosis resulting from either physician error in diagnosis or physician misinformation concerning the surgical treatment of the disease. These three patients illustrate some of the pitfalls in the diagnosis and surgical management of patients with Hirschsprung's disease. Misinformation concerning the surgical correction of this disease still exists, and these patients emphasize the necessity of continued, updated information in the diagnosis, management, and outcome of patients with Hirschsprung's disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and adolescents: knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors.

Adolescents are a group at high risk for exposure to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Results of a random-sample survey of 860 adolescents 16 to 19 years of age, in Massachusetts indicate that many adolescents are still misinformed or confused about AIDS and AIDS transmission. Of the adolescent respondents, 70% said they were sexually active (having sexual intercourse or other sexual contact) but only 15% of them reported changing their sexual behavior because of concern about contracting AIDS, and only 20% of those who changed their behavior used effective methods. Of both sexually active and nonactive adolescents, 8% did not know that AIDS is transmitted by heterosexual sexual intercourse. Psychoactive drugs other than alcohol and marijuana had been used by 13% of those responding, and 1% reported injecting drugs. Of those psychoactive drug users, 8% did not know that AIDS can be transmitted by injecting drugs. There was no significant difference in knowledge between the sexually active and nonactive adolescents concerning sexual behavior and AIDS transmission or between the drug users and nonusers concerning drug use and AIDS transmission. The majority of respondents knew a relationship exists between AIDS and blood, and other body fluids, but knowledge of the mode of transmission was limited. Hence, many adolescents, including those in the highest risk subgroups of sexually active or psychoactive drug users, did not know what sexual and drug precautions are needed to prevent transmission of the virus. School systems and health care providers should systematically educate this population about AIDS to counter the current misinformation and confusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1987

Is the smoking decision an 'informed choice'? Effect of smoking risk factors on smoking beliefs.

The argument that people freely choose to smoke assumes that individuals at the point of initiation of smoking (often in adolescence) hold accurate beliefs about smoking. Smoking beliefs and the presence of known smoking risk factors were assessed in interviews with a sample of 895 urban young people. The respondents greatly overestimated the prevalence of adult and peer smoking, negative attitudes of their peers were greatly underestimated, a large proportion believed that they would be less likely than other people to contract a smoking-related illness if they became smokers, and there was a general lack of understanding of the adverse consequences experienced upon smoking cessation. These misperceptions were more common among youngsters who were smokers, who intended to smoke, or who had friends or family members who smoked. Because misinformation among young people is widespread and those at greatest risk for smoking are the most misinformed, the tobacco industry's argument that the decision to smoke reflects an "informed choice" is without merit.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Limited patient knowledge as a reproductive risk factor.

A study was designed to obtain information on the concerns, attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge that women have about reproduction in order to determine how these factors affect their ability to plan pregnancies. A clinical population was studied and in general found to be uninformed and misinformed about basic physiological facts relating to reproduction. Their lack of information or their misinformation about the menstrual cycle, safe time for intercourse, and contraception contributed to unwated pregnancies. They did not know enough to prevent pregnancy. The patients were aware of some deficits in their knowledge about reproduction and expressed a desire to learn more. This study suggests that individualized education may be necessary to break the pattern of unwanted pregnancies and the feelings of apathy and fatalism so common among low-income patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Failure of interpolated tests in inducing memory impairment with final modified tests: evidence unfavorable to the blocking hypothesis.

Whether interpolated recall or recognition tests will enhance the impairing influence of postevent misinformation on a final modified recognition test of original event information was examined in two experiments. Both used short retention intervals. Postevent information led to differences between control and misled conditions on interpolated tests, but no differences were found on modified tests. Arguments are presented that discredit the blocking hypothesis as a potential mechanism responsible for impairment found with postevent misinformation experiments that use short retention intervals. Instead, various rejection mechanisms are favorably assessed.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A survey of general dentists in Ontario, Part I: Sealant use and knowledge.

This study assessed the use of pit and fissure sealants by Ontario dentists, as well as variations in the knowledge and practices of this population with respect to certain aspects of the preventive technique. A mail questionnaire on dental practices and knowledge was answered by 1,276 general dentists in Ontario. Most dentists (90 per cent) provided sealants to their patients, and reported using sealants on an average of 45 per cent of their patients between the ages of six and 16 years. While most dentists knew that sealants have been proven effective in preventing caries (90 per cent), many incorrectly believed that sealants are cost-effective to apply to both primary molars and permanent premolars (40 per cent and 68 per cent respectively). Bivariate analyses showed that many of the reported characteristics are statistically significant. The variables that were consistently associated with sealant use include: knowledge of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of sealants; year of graduation from dental school; level of dental hygienist employment; and continuing education participation. Although multivariate analyses identified many of these variables as statistically significant, only a moderate amount of the variation in sealant use for patients aged six to 16 was explained (R2 = 0.22). Due to misinformation about the cost-effectiveness of sealants, some dentists may overuse them in certain instances. Conversely, misinformation about the effectiveness of sealants and the risk of further decay after sealant placement has resulted in some dentists under-utilizing them. Continuing education courses are needed to update dentists' knowledge and beliefs regarding dental sealants. In addition, dentistry's professional bodies should develop clinical practice guidelines to aid dentists in their treatment planning decisions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Between the fear of HIV contamination and the symbolic representations of AIDS: the specter of contemporary despair].

Lack of knowledge and misinformations on HIV/AIDS are predictors of emotional responses as fear of contagion, homophobia, avoidance and excessive precautions. Fear of contagion is an affective stress response to the neurocognitive activity that leads to a perceived threat of AIDS in connection with the symbolic meanings os illness. Focused interviews were conducted with an opportunistic sample of 31 young people to know the affective responses and behaviors after blood screening for HIV antibody testing. The findings confirm the relationship of symbolic representation of illness as mystery, death, punishment and sexuality to fear of contagion and mitic conception of AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Knowledge about AIDS among rural workers].

The objective of the present study was to identify the knowledge rural workers have about AIDS in order to develop a specific educational projects. It was observed that part of the population which spontaneously participated in the study presented characteristics of misinformation and alienation about AIDS, as well as about situations that may pose risks to workers. On the basis of the responses obtained, an educational project about AIDS was elaborated to reach 1300 workers employed at a Sugar and Alcohol Mill.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1995

Reproductive and contraceptive knowledge, contraceptive self-efficacy, and contraceptive behavior among teenage women.

This research utilizes a social learning theory perspective to investigate the relationships among teenage women's Contraceptive Self-Efficacy (CSE), reproductive and contraceptive knowledge (RCK), and contraceptive behavior. It was posited that CSE might influence the way knowledge translates into behavior because individuals who feel they can and should use contraceptives may be more receptive to information. A secondary line of analysis examined the individual responses on the RCK to ascertain common knowledge and myths. The 521 respondents were from two diverse samples of teenage women attending family planning clinics. Although no significant relationships were found between RCK and behavior, the four-factor model of CSE explained 12% and 28% of the variance in RCK in the two samples. Results on the RCK items revealed sample differences and common areas of misinformation that are critical to effective contraceptive and prophylactic use. The findings are used to identify measurement issues that may account for the inconsistent findings regarding the relationship between RCK and behavior, and to recommend content for educational interventions.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Urban adolescent females' views on the implant and contraceptive decision-making: a double paradox.

Focus groups and in-depth interviews were used to explore the decline in popularity of the contraceptive implant in a clinic-based sample of 41 ethnically diverse, urban, sexually active adolescents. While these teenagers' socioeconomic status and patterns of inconsistent contraceptive use made them potentially ideal implant recipients, they were unlikely to select this method. Negative media reports about the method were less influential than social conditions such as peer perspectives and gender relations. Oral networks that propagated misinformation went unchallenged because of the silence of satisfied users. Personal factors such as future orientation, autonomous decision-making and value of control also influenced contraceptive decision-making.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Product-related emphasis of skin disease information online.

BACKGROUND: In 2000, 41 million people searched for medical information online. The quality of that information is unregulated, variable, and not well studied. OBJECTIVE: To quantify and compare the numbers and types of Internet sites matched for 10 diverse skin conditions through different search systems. DESIGN: Search strategies were performed at 6-month intervals via Netscape Navigator, using 3 search engines and 1 directory. Ten skin conditions were chosen to represent common (psoriasis and eczema), cosmetic (wrinkles and cellulite), difficult-to-treat (alopecia, mastocytosis, granuloma annulare, and xanthoma), and uncommon (dermatitis herpetiformis and epidermolysis bullosa) problems. Search strings were designed to generate lists of Web sites that provide educational or product-related information. Results were compared. SETTING: The Saint Louis University information technology server, July 9, 1999, December 16, 1999, and February 5, 2000. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Comparisons of the total number, top 10 ranking, and type (educational vs product-related) of sites that matched through different search systems at 6-month intervals. RESULTS: The total number of matched sites for different skin conditions varied up to 100-fold. This number increased by 30% to 316% between July and December 1999. The largest number of Web sites related to wrinkles, followed by Web sites related to common conditions. Product-related sites outnumbered educational sites, especially for common and cosmetic conditions. Although there were differences in the total number of sites found through different search engines, the ratios of product-related to educational sites were similar. Different search engines yielded different top 10 match lists for the same condition. The top 10 lists included higher proportions of educational sites than the total match lists for all conditions except cellulite. Within the top 10 lists, the rank order of well respected sites varied by search engine used and changed over time. CONCLUSIONS: Patients are increasingly accessing the growing body of data available through the Internet. Most Web sites contain information related to products. Until standards are enacted to govern the distribution of online medical information, consumers are at risk for obtaining misinformation and buying ineffective products. To better guide patients, physicians must become familiar with this ever-changing information.

Female↗
PubMed1999

Oral contraceptives and women's health in Japan.

Japan approved the use of low-dose oral contraceptives (OCs) in June 1999, after more than 35 years of debate. The debate leaves a legacy of misinformation about and various sources of resistance to OCs. Benefits are expected to include greater control for women over their fertility and a reduction in the high rates of unplanned pregnancies and abortions. Successful implementation of the new policy will require a new emphasis on women's health, including the provision of accurate information about OCs and their associated adverse effects, a women-centered approach to gynecological practice, and the promotion of condoms as protection from sexually transmitted diseases, rather than as contraception alone.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed2002

Limitations of direct-to-consumer advertising for clinical genetic testing.

Although direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertisements for pharmaceuticals have been appearing in the mass media for 20 years, DTC advertisements for genetic testing have only recently appeared. Advertisements for genetic testing can provide both consumers and physicians with information about test availability in an expanding market. However, 3 factors limit the value and appropriateness of advertisements: complex information, a complicated social context surrounding genetics, and a lack of consensus about the clinical utility of some tests. Consideration of several advertisements suggests that they overstate the value of genetic testing for consumers' clinical care. Furthermore, advertisements may provide misinformation about genetics, exaggerate consumers' risks, endorse a deterministic relationship between genes and disease, and reinforce associations between diseases and ethnic groups. Advertising motivated by factors other than evidence of the clinical value of genetic tests can manipulate consumers' behavior by exploiting their fears and worries. At this time, DTC advertisements are inappropriate, given the public's limited sophistication regarding genetics and the lack of comprehensive premarket review of tests or oversight of advertisement content. Existing Federal Trade Commission and Food and Drug Administration regulations for other types of health-related advertising should be applied to advertisements for genetic tests.

Advertising↗