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PubMed1988

Level of knowledge among adolescent girls regarding effective treatment for dysmenorrhea.

Are adolescent women aware of the relatively specific pharmacologic intervention now available for dysmenorrhea? A multiple-choice questionnaire was administered to 182 adolescent women, ages 14-18 years, to assess the prevalence of dysmenorrhea, the morbidity associated with dysmenorrhea, and the level of knowledge regarding available treatment. Of the study group, 72.7% reported "pain or discomfort" during their period, 58.9% reported decreased activity, and 45.6% reported school or work absenteeism. Of the dysmenorrheic sample, only 15.5% had used a prescription medication and only 14.7% could name any nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agent, except aspirin, as potentially effective in relieving dysmenorrhea. These data suggest that there is substantial ignorance or misinformation among adolescent females regarding effective treatment for dysmenorrhea. The prevalence of school and work absenteeism provides evidence for the continuing importance of dysmenorrhea as a public health problem of this age group. Discussion of effective therapeutic options for dysmenorrhea should be part of routine health care visits for adolescent women.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1988

Helping gay and lesbian adolescents and their families. A mother's perspective.

Gay and lesbian youths confront a number of difficult problems, including telling their parents about their sexual orientation and helping their families adjust to the news. Ineffective communication, poor self-esteem, and unresolved grief and anger often complicate the adolescent's telling his or her parents. Frequently, misinformation about homosexuality, religious beliefs, and homophobia adversely influence parental reactions. Impediments to the relationship between parents and sexual-minority youth are discussed, and strategies to promote positive family adjustment are presented.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1988

Understanding adolescent mothers' feelings about breast-feeding. A study of perceived benefits and barriers.

This study was designed to assess the benefits and barriers accruing to breast-feeding as perceived by pregnant adolescents, and to establish whether these perceptions distinguished between adolescent mothers who chose to breast versus bottle feed. Surveys were completed by 254 young women attending prenatal clinics. Overall, 19.3% indicated their intent to breast-feed. When categorized by intended method of infant feeding (breast versus bottle), breast-feeding mothers cited more benefits and fewer barriers associated with that method of infant feeding. Overall, perceived benefits were more successful than perceived barriers in distinguishing between the groups of respondents. For those interested in promoting breast-feeding among adolescent mothers, our data support an emphasis on the diverse benefits of this method of infant feeding. Our results also suggest the usefulness of peer role models in correcting misinformation and encouraging breast-feeding among adolescent mothers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Assessment of reproductive knowledge in an inner-city clinic.

A number of studies have shown that misinformation and lack of information about the menstrual cycle contributes to unwanted fertility, particularly among black women. A short, self-administered questionnaire was developed and tested in an inner-city, prenatal clinic serving a primarily low-income undereducated, black clientele. Data were gathered concerning numbers of pregnancies and abortions, knowledge of the menstrual cycle, past contraceptive use, including dissatisfaction and discontinuance, and planned future use of contraception. Results showed that the majority of women had had at least one unwanted pregnancy. Their knowledge base about female reproductive function and their poor use of contraception contributed to these unwanted pregnancies. It is concluded that a few key questions can help identify the woman with special informational needs, enabling the health professional to gear educational efforts to the individual patient.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

The health of adolescents: beliefs and behaviour.

Adolescence is a period of transition from childhood to adulthood in which interlocking changes in the body, mind and social relationship take place. Healthy development depends on both a propitious environment and the action of adolescents themselves. A stable family, peace, material conditions for physical health, and educational, social and vocational opportunities with a chance to make use of them before marriage, are necessary environment conditions. However, within this context the adolescent must experiment with new behaviours and relationships inevitably courting some risks. Adolescent health is especially linked to behaviour. If the environment is inadequate or dangerous and the adolescent lacks self-esteem, behaviours dangerous to health are more likely to occur. These include: precocious and unprotected sexual behaviour sometimes resulting in too early or unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases; the use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs; injuries arising accidentally from risk taking behaviours especially when combined with alcohol or drugs; intentional injury whether self-inflicted or inflicted by others; and poor eating and habits of hygiene leading to obesity, or emaciation, acne and poor teeth and gums. Adolescent behaviour is often governed by their beliefs about what others think. Two way communication in a trusting atmosphere will reduce myths and misinformation and encourage healthy behaviour. The promotion of health, the prevention of problems, and their treatment and rehabilitation when they arise can best be accomplished with the active co-operation of young people.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Prediction of attitudes towards restrictive AIDS policies: a structural equation modelling approach.

The purpose of the study was to test a prehypothesized structural equation model of predictors of attitudes towards restrictive AIDS policies. It was assumed that such attitudes ae under influence of both cognitive processes and more general attitudinal structures. The hypothesized model was tested against empirical data from a nation-wide survey of Norwegian adults, including 543 males and 577 females. The proposed model fit the data reasonably well. As expressed by total effect education was the most important predictor of AIS policy attitudes. However, the most notable findings appeared to be the strong direct effect exerted by attitudes towards minorities. Misinformation about AIDS transmission and sexual attitudes also exerted significant direct effects upon AIDS policy attitudes. The results clearly demonstrate that AIDS policy attitudes are not cognitively based alone but also reflect more general attitudinal structures. Thus choosing a strategy which is primarily based on increasing the flow of factual AIDS information in order to remedy casual contact beliefs, will not be sufficient to prevent stigmatized and negative AIDS attitudes. This is more evident in that beliefs about modes of AIDS transmission, as reported in this study, seem themselves to have a symbolic component. A perspective which includes the idea of the value expressive functions of AIDS related attitudes seem relevant. Consequently, educational strategies which directly address prejudiced attitudes towards minority groups may prove particularly appropriate in the prevention of stigmatized and restrictive AIDS attitudes.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1993

The prevalence of oestrogen replacement therapy in South Australia.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the prevalence of the use of oestrogen replacement therapy in the South Australian community. DESIGN AND SETTING. Data was collected as part of the South Australian Health Omnibus Survey which involved a clustered, self-weighting, multi-stage, systematic representative area sample of 4608 households in metropolitan and country South Australia. One-thousand and forty-seven women over the age of 40 were personally interviewed by trained data collectors. OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic characteristics, prevalence of current or past oestrogen use, type of oestrogen used, period of use and reasons for using, stopping or never using therapy. RESULTS: Current use of oestrogen replacement therapy is 13.6% and ever use was 24.3%. The highest prevalence of use was in the age group 45-54 years. Use of oestrogen replacement therapy associated with women born in the UK or Ireland, middle income earners, intermediate education, recent visits to a general practitioner, a current relationship, previous hysterectomy and smoking. The commonest period of use for current users was 1-5 years and the longest 30 years. In contrast many past users had stopped within 6 months, usually because of side effects. The commonest reasons for oestrogen use were to alleviate symptoms, 'following hysterectomy' and to prevent osteoporosis. Only 4.3% took oestrogen to reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke. Reasons for not taking therapy were often due to the woman being premenopausal, having no symptoms or ignorance of the therapy. CONCLUSION: Nearly one quarter of women over the age of 40 have used oestrogen replacement therapy. In general there is a perception only of the short term benefits amongst the current users and there is misinformation amongst the non-users. Therapy is often stopped after a very short time because of minor side effects.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Ethical issues in pain management.

Dr Albert Schweitzer is reported to have stated, "We must all die. But that I can save ... [someone] from days of torture, that is what I feel is my great and ever new privilege". If, in spite of their anecdotal texture, the reflections in this article challenge my clinical colleagues to further hard reflection, comparison, or contrast with their own professional experience, they will have been worthwhile. If our collective experiences view pain management as a clinical-ethical issue, then no patient should ever have to bear pain due to the ignorance or apathy of well-intentioned but misinformed caregivers. I conclude with the words of Judith Spross, an oncology nurse: Pain is an emergency for the person who experiences it regardless of the urgency of the underlying pathology. I believe we must apply the science and art of pain relief as though life depended upon it. Certainly the quality of life does.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1992

Pain and addiction: an urgent need for change in nursing education.

Lack of education of health care professionals, including nurses, is frequently cited as a major reason for undertreatment of patients with pain. A reason for undertreatment of pain with opioid analgesics is the irrational fear of creating opioid addiction. To characterize the information nurses receive in their basic education that could contribute to misinformation about this issue, the authors reviewed 14 nursing textbooks, published since 1985, including 8 pharmacology texts and 6 medical surgical texts. An analysis of content revealed that only one textbook correctly stated the definition of opioid addiction and its likelihood following use of opioid analgesics for pain control. Almost all of the texts used confusing terminology, and some erroneously promoted the fear of addiction when opioids are used for pain relief. A simple solution to this problem is to encourage nursing educators to use the American Pain Society publication "Guidelines for Analgesic Use" until textbooks have the opportunity to incorporate correct information.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1996

Government regulatory influences on opioid prescribing and their impact on the treatment of pain of nonmalignant origin.

Interpretation of regulations establishing standards for prescribing opioids by government regulatory boards and drug-enforcement agencies is more restrictive for treatment of nonmalignant pain than for malignant pain. Authority to regulate opioids is provided by health practice acts enacted by state governments, and controlled substances acts, enacted by both state and federal governments. The methods used by boards/agencies to determine standards of practice for opioid use result in interpreting the language in these regulations based on myths, prejudices, and misinformation about opioids, and the unexamined belief that mere exposure of patients to these drugs causes psychological dependence (addiction) on them to all patients in all instances. Interpretation is also strongly influenced by a failure of regulatory and enforcement bodies to recognize their coequal obligation of making opioids readily available to those who need them for legitimate medical purposes, while simultaneously policing their diversion to illegitimate uses. Emphasis on the police function of preventing diversion is paramount. Disciplining practitioners using standards based on myths, prejudices, etc., reinforces physicians' fears of prescribing opioids for nonmalignant pain. Patients with nonmalignant pain who are not relieved if opioids are not provided will continue to suffer until regulatory boards/drug enforcement agencies define the standards of practice for opioid use for nonmalignant pain in clear and unequivocal terms. It is unlikely these standards will be developed until there is a consensus among pain specialists about opioid use for nonmalignant pain because boards/agencies have no consistent, reliable source of expert information. Pain specialists should initiate efforts to develop this consensus.

Analgesics, Opioid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

AIDS knowledge and attitudes of primary grade teachers and students.

This study was conducted to assess knowledge of and attitudes toward AIDS in primary grade teachers and students before the implementation of a mandated AIDS curriculum. Teachers and children completed questionnaires. Although both the teachers and the children were knowledgeable about some aspects of AIDS, both groups revealed misconceptions and misinformation. A high percentage of the children reported a fear of getting AIDS even though they constitute a very low-risk group. Deficiencies in knowledge and fear of AIDS underscore the importance of the provision of accurate information to both teachers and elementary school children. Implications for school nurses and other health care providers are discussed.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1993

Undergraduate education about cancer. A survey of clinical oncologists and clinicians responsible for cancer teaching in Australian medical schools.

Undergraduate cancer education in Australian medical schools is not integrated and there is little evidence of change in content or structure in recent years in spite of major changes in knowledge about cancer epidemiology and cancer biology, and in cancer management. A recent survey of graduating students/interns from all Australian medical schools revealed a disturbing variability in experience and lack of important knowledge. There was evidence of substantial differences in knowledge of, and rating of teaching between the different disciplines involved in cancer control and cancer management. To examine possible reasons for this, we surveyed cancer clinicians and teachers of oncology in the undergraduate curriculum at Australian medical schools. We asked them the same questions of knowledge as the students, and also to comment on the type and emphasis of teaching desirable in the medical students' cancer curriculum. The results indicate not only that the survey instrument was seen to be relevant, but also that some of the bias and misinformation detected in the student experiences may be attributed to attitude, knowledge and differences of opinion of the teachers. The results highlight the need for an integrated cancer curriculum to inform graduates about an illness which will be diagnosed in more than a quarter of the Australian population.

Australia↗
PubMed2005

Adolescents and media literacy.

In the face of media industry consolidation, fewer people control media content which makes it harder for parents and citizens to know the research about media-related issues, such as video game violence, nutrition, and sexual risk-taking. Media literacy offers a popular and potentially successful way to counter the misinformation that is spread by Big Media public relations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Bacterially speaking.

Bacteria use a variety of means to communicate with one another and with their eukaryotic hosts. In some cases, social interactions allow bacteria to synchronize the behavior of all of the members of the group and thereby act like multicellular organisms. By contrast, some bacterial social engagements promote individuality among members within the group and thereby foster diversity. Here we explore the molecular mechanisms underpinning some recently discovered bacterial communication systems. These include long- and short-range chemical signaling channels; one-way, two-way, and multi-way communication; contact-mediated and contact-inhibited signaling; and the use and spread of misinformation or, more dramatically, even deadly information.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Media outreach for child psychiatrists.

Psychiatrists have mixed feelings about working with the mass media. There are many reasons to respond to reporters or proactively reach out to the media, including reducing stigma and other barriers to seeking and complying with treatment and counteracting media misinformation and distortion. This article addresses ways to increase positive outcomes when psychiatrists respond to calls from reporters, make proactive efforts to influence behaviors or policies, or take advantage of breaking news to educate reporters and the public. The article also reviews examples of planned media campaigns.

Child↗
PubMed2004

Concerns about contraceptive side effects among young Latinas: a focus-group approach.

To identify perceptions and attitudes about contraceptive side effects in young, low-income Latina adolescents through focus-group conversations. We conducted seven focus-group discussions with Latino females in an outpatient clinic and community setting. Qualitative methodology was used to analyze data. Participants were recruited from the outpatient gynecology clinic at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and from the Easter Seals Day Care Center. Women were recruited if they were Latino and between the ages of 18 and 26 years (N = 40). Participants cited both perceptions of side effects as well as personal experience with side effects as reasons for not using or discontinuing the use of contraception. Women also demonstrated incorrect knowledge about contraception, and tended to value anecdotal information over information from health professionals. These factors led to reliance on less-effective methods of contraception, placing participants at risk for unintended pregnancy. Concern about side effects, fear of health consequences and misinformation were identified as barriers to effective contraceptive use in young, low-income Latinas. Providers caring for this population should address potential concerns about side effects of contraception as well as assess patients' understanding in light of cultural and language barriers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Preferences between injectable contraceptive methods among South African women.

OBJECTIVE: To examine South African women's preferences between depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) and norethisterone enanthate (NET-EN), as well as the reasons for and correlates of these preferences. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study among women attending 26 primary health care clinics across the Western Cape Province. RESULTS: Of 893 women participating in the survey, 57% (n=511) and 45% (n=399) had ever used DMPA and NET-EN, respectively. Among women who knew of both injectables, 46% stated a preference for DMPA (n=365) and 37% stated a preference for NET-EN (n=297). Most women who preferred DMPA thought that it was more effective in preventing pregnancy, while women who preferred NET-EN stated that it was preferable for women who wanted children in the future. Preferences for NET-EN were independently associated with younger age, higher education and living in an urban area. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that there are significant misperceptions among women regarding the differences between DMPA and NET-EN, which may have important resource implications for contraceptive services. It is likely that these misperceptions arise from popular discourse and individual user experiences, as well as poor communication with and counseling of women on the part of providers. Interventions aimed at both users and providers are required to dispel the myths and misinformation regarding progestogen-only injectable methods.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Perceptions of tuberculosis and health seeking behaviour in rural Inner Mongolia, China.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore perceptions of TB, and health care seeking pathways, among poor rural communities in Inner Mongolia. METHODOLOGY: Twenty focus group discussions (FGDs) were held and 105 farmers were included. Six hundred and fourteen randomly selected respondents were surveyed through interview questionnaire, in three poor rural counties with a high TB prevalence. MAIN FINDINGS: A substantial proportion of community members were unclear or misinformed as to how TB was transmitted. Sixty percent of respondents identified prolonged cough as a main symptom of TB, while only 40% perceived TB to be caused by 'close interaction with TB patient'. In addition, 70% could not afford TB treatment and fell into debt as a result of having to seek medical care. Social stigma associated with TB influenced marriage prospects and impeded important social interactions within the community. Respondents' perceptions of TB were associated with their socio-economic status. Women, young people, low-income groups and those with less education tended to be less knowledgeable about TB. All farmers in the study reported only seeking health care after they failed to treat themselves; and most of them then sought care from less qualified village level health care providers. Less educated people, low-income groups and old people were identified as less likely to seek care, or more likely to seek care at village level where it is cheaper. Both financial and structural barriers were found to stop farmers seeking health care. CONCLUSIONS AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS: Perceptions of TB and social stigma associated with the disease, together with socio-economic factors, shape the health seeking behaviour of poor farmers. Accessibility and affordability of TB health care issues should be dealt with through a multi-pronged approach, including health promotion in addition to expansion of the DOTS strategy and rural health insurance schemes.

Adolescent↗