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PubMed2000

Not innocent: relationships between knowers and knowledge.

Discussions about nursing knowledge have tended to focus on determining what kinds of knowledge are the most appropriate or most useful kinds for nursing. Should our methods be primarily empirical? What is the place of interpretive work? What kind of knowledge should have ascendancy in nursing? Framed in this way, these questions seem unanswerable. However, if we shift the terms of the discussion from appropriate kinds of knowledge and consider instead the relationship between knowledge and knowers, we can reflect on how we, as knowers, are related to what we think we know. Considering the relationship between knowers and knowledge foregrounds the situation of the knower, and questions about appropriate nursing knowledge can be seen to also always be questions of ethics and politics, value and power.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Knowledge and attitude of college students in Kerala towards HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases and sexuality.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge about the spread of HIV and safe sexual practices has a critical impact on the prevention of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). We assessed the knowledge of and attitude towards AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and sexuality among college students in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala. METHODS: We performed a community-based, cross-sectional survey of 625 randomly selected undergraduate college students (164 boys, 461 girls, age 18-22 years). We administered a pretested, structured questionnaire to assess the knowledge and attitude of the students towards AIDS, STDs and sexuality. We generated knowledge and attitude scores from the student responses, and used multivariable linear regression to study the association of these scores with select predictor variables (notably gender and place of residence). RESULTS: All the students in our sample had heard about AIDS. However, only 45% knew that AIDS is not curable at present. Only 34% were aware of the symptoms of STDs, and 47% knew that STDs are associated with an increased risk of AIDS. In multivariable analyses, male students (p < 0.001), and urban residents (p = 0.006) demonstrated a higher knowledge of AIDS and STDs. Students from urban areas (p = 0.014) and those practising the Christian religion (p = 0.042) demonstrated more favourable attitudes towards AIDS. CONCLUSIONS: Our study identified substantial lacunae in the knowledge of and attitude towards AIDS, STDs and sexuality among college students in Kerala. The gap in knowledge between boys and girls, and between rural and urban students suggests the need for targeting girls and rural areas in the national AIDS education and awareness campaigns.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2000

Asthma education: how much does it improve knowledge of childhood asthma amongst medical students and paramedics?

The objective of this study was to measure the knowledge of childhood asthma among medical students and paramedics. A previously validated questionnaire about childhood asthma was completed by 281 of 314, third and fifth year medical students at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. Their knowledge of asthma was assessed during the first and last weeks of their paediatric rotation. A similar questionnaire was completed by 23 of 60 paramedics from various medical disciplines in Hospital Kuala Lumpur. They had attended a two-day seminar on respiratory diseases and their knowledge was assessed prior to and six weeks after the seminar. On the initial assessment the mean score for the final year medical students was 24.5, third year medical students 20.9 and paramedics 18.3. After intervention their mean scores increased significantly to 26.3 (p < 0.0001), 24.6 (p < 0.0001) and 21.3 (p < 0.0001). After intervention, the final year medical students improved significantly in all questions except in the management of acute asthma. Post intervention, third year medical students showed a significant increase in knowledge pertaining to symptomatology, pathophysiology, trigger factors and prophylactic drugs used in asthma management. Although the knowledge of paramedics improved post intervention, they had major deficiencies in knowledge about pathophysiology, trigger factors, preventive and acute asthma therapy, side effects of asthma treatment as well as clinical scenarios. Improvement after intervention was only seen in six of the 31 questions. This study demonstrated an increase in knowledge about childhood asthma among medical students and paramedics after a short intervention.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Health insurance knowledge among Medicare beneficiaries.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of new consumer information materials about the Medicare program on beneficiary knowledge of their health care coverage under the Medicare system. DATA SOURCE: A telephone survey of 2,107 Medicare beneficiaries in the 10-county Kansas City metropolitan statistical area. STUDY DESIGN: Beneficiaries were randomly assigned to a control group and three treatment groups each receiving a different set of Medicare informational materials. The "handbook-only" group received the Health Care Financing Administration's new Medicare & You 1999 handbook. The "bulletin" group received an abbreviated version of the handbook, and the "handbook + CAHPS" group received the Medicare & You handbook plus the Consumer Assessment of Health Plans (CAHPS) survey report comparing the quality of health care provided by Medicare HMOs. Beneficiaries interested in receiving information were oversampled. DATA COLLECTION METHODS: Data were collected during two separate telephone surveys of Medicare beneficiaries: one survey of new beneficiaries and another survey of experienced beneficiaries. The intervention materials were mailed to sample members in advance of the interviews. Knowledge for the treatment groups was measured shortly after beneficiaries received the intervention materials. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Respondents' knowledge was measured using a psychometrically valid and reliable 15-item measure. Beneficiaries who received the intervention materials answered significantly more questions correctly than control group members. The effect on beneficiary knowledge of providing the information was modest for all intervention groups but varied for experienced beneficiaries only, depending on the intervention they received. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that all of the new materials had a positive effect on beneficiary knowledge about Medicare and the Medicare + Choice program. While the absolute gain in knowledge was modest, it was greater than increases in knowledge associated with traditional Medicare information sources.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

[Survey of knowledge, attitude and behavior regarding safe injection among health practitioners in Shandong, China].

PURPOSE: To assess the knowledge, attitude and behavior of health practitioners (HPs) about safe injection in Shandong, China and to clarify risk factors related to unsafe injection and improper handling of used disposable syringes. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 497 HPs in three-levels of health units (village clinic, township health center, and county hospital) in two areas of Shandong, China was carried out using a questionnaire. RESULTS: 468 HPs returned completed questionnaires. The proportion that did not receive formal medical education in the village (21.5%) was higher than in the township (9.9%) and in the county (2.5%). Proportions of HPs who only used disposable syringes were 97.0% in the county, 81.1% in the township and 69.0% in the village. Scores for safe injection knowledge among village HPs were significantly lower than those with township and county HPs (P < 0.001). Rate of unsafe injection practice was 6.2%, rate of improper handling of used disposable syringes was 7.6%, and both of which were significantly greater at the village level. Four factors were found to be significantly related to unsafe injection practice (P < 0.05): lower than middle level professional grade; knowledge scores of < 15 (full score 18); thinking that AIDS is not a terrible disease; and thinking that patients would accept the practice of sharing the same syringe for different persons. Four factors were found to be significantly related to improper handling of used disposable syringes (P < 0.05): working in the village; knowledge scores of < 15; thinking that patients would accept the practice of sharing the same syringe for different persons; and unwillingness to properly handle used disposable syringes. CONCLUSIONS: HPs working in village clinics had comparatively high rates of unsafe injection practice and improper handling of used disposable syringes, and a lower level of knowledge about safe injection. Lack of knowledge about safe injection was a risk factor for both unsafe injection and improper handling of used disposable syringe. Therefore, interventions should focus on this insufficient level of safe injection knowledge.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Patients' knowledge about their own medication--does verbal information help? A blind, randomized study].

Patient's knowledge about their own medicine is often insufficient, and this is possibly a contributory factor for noncompliance. We interviewed 65 patients (median age 61 years) from an out-patient clinic with free access and 86 patients (median age 68 years) from a hospital outpatient clinic. In both groups, knowledge about the dosage and the adverse effects of the drugs was poor. Old age and polypharmacy were associated with poor knowledge; there were no differences as regards knowledge between the two out-patient clinics. The 86 patients from the hospitals out-patient clinic were randomised to either 30 minutes of extended verbal information or to the standard information of the department. At the subsequent visit eight weeks later, a repeated interview indicated, that the informed group had generally improved knowledge about their own medication, while this was not the case in the control group. A statistically significant difference between the groups was, however, only found for medication knowledge about side effects. It is concluded that out-patients knowledge about their own medication is often poor, but can be improved by verbal information.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

The effect of different dental health programmes on young adult individuals. A longitudinal evaluation of knowledge and behaviour including cost aspects.

The goal of this study was to report the long-term effect of different dental health programmes on young adult individuals' knowledge and behaviour relative to oral health. Over a 3 years period, the effect of three different dental health programmes on caries, gingivitis/periodontitis, and knowledge and behaviour concerning oral health in 400 Swedish young adults was evaluated. During the following 2 years, additional prophylactic measures--now based on the individual's symptoms and the prophylaxis previously received--were conducted and evaluated. Five years later still one follow-up was made. The evaluations were based on clinical and radiographic examinations and on a questionnaire survey whose purpose was to study the short- and long-term effects of the different preventive measures, including cost aspects. At the end of the 3 years period, the three test groups exhibited better knowledge and significantly improved behaviour compared with the control group concerning approximal cleaning, from approximately 50% of the individuals at the baseline examination to approximately 90% at the end of the period. Improvement was observed as early as the first year. There were no differences between the test groups. The intensified, individual-related prophylaxis carried out in the following 2 years did not significantly increase knowledge in the test groups; a significant increase in approximal cleaning, however, was found in the control group during this time. At the 10-year follow-up, the individuals' knowledge was undiminished while behaviour concerning approximal cleaning had sunk from 90% to approximately 70% of the individuals. A slight behavioural change concerning number of snacks was found in the course of the study with a shift towards fewer snacks per day. In conclusion, it can be said that simple prophylactic models have an effect on and maintain young adult individuals' knowledge and behaviour concerning oral health and that new knowledge is remembered for long periods of time while changes in behaviour are maintained less well. Moreover, it was found that the scope of the prophylactic programme measured in time and cost had little effect on the long-term result.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Violence against women: knowledge and attitudes of the the medical staff at the Mexican Institute of Social Security, Morelos, Mexico].

OBJECTIVE: To asses the affective, cognitive, and behavioral attitudes of healthcare providers at the Mexican Institute of Social Security (MISS) in Morelos, Mexico; to identify the institutional and medical practice barriers that hinder screening and reference of battered women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between September and December 1999. A self-administered questionnaire was applied to 269 general practitioners, specialists, and pre- and postdoctoral students working in 30 primary and secondary level of healthcare units in Morelos State. The data collection instrument was designed to assess healthcare providers' knowledge of and attitudes towards domestic violence during medical office visits. A knowledge index was constructed and analyzed using multivariate regression methods. RESULTS: Ninety percent of healthcare providers had never received training on violence against women. Healthcare providers' affective and cognitive attitudes after receiving training on the subject matter were more favorable compared to those with no training. Favorable attitudes were directly related to the number of training sessions. Most participants (63%) showed a moderate degree of knowledge on the subject, whereas 21% were slightly knowledgeable and 16% were highly knowledgeable. Medical personnel with a moderate or high level of knowledge were 2.1 and 6 times more likely, respectively, to have favorable attitudes than those with a low degree of knowledge. Female physicians showed more favorable attitudes towards identifying and referring battered women. Medical personnel interested in further training on the subject of violence against women were 7.6 times more likely to show favorable attitudes than personnel not interested on the subject. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare providers were not sufficiently able to assess and manage battered women. General and family practitioners were more interested in being trained, as compared with specialist physicians. Training on violence against women should be included in graduate medical, nursing, social service, psychology, and other public health areas. The English version of this paper is available at:http://www.insp.mx/salud/index.html.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes about hearing loss and hearing protection among racial/ethnically diverse young adults.

Over 11 million individuals exhibit some degree of permanent noise induced hearing loss (NIHL). Despite such data, there remains a paucity of empirical evidence on the knowledge of noise exposure and hearing protection devices (HPDs) for young adults, particularly those of diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds. This lack of research is unfortunate, as prior research suggests that the incidence of NIHL can be reduced through educational programs, such as hearing conservation programs (HCPs). Moreover, research also indicates that such educational programs are more beneficial when developed for specific age and/or ethnic/racial groups. The primary aim of this investigation was to determine the knowledge base of 200 college-aged young adults aged 18-29, concerning the auditory mechanism, NIHL, and the use of HPDs. The second aim of this study was to identify race and ethnicity differences or similarities in knowledge of these areas among African-American and caucasian young adults. Overall, in many instances, a majority of the young adults in our study demonstrated a high degree of knowledge concerning factors associated with exposure to excessive noise and the risk of hearing loss. Yet, the results also revealed significant racial/ethnic differences in knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes about the use of HPDs. Recent estimates suggest that more than 11 million individuals in the United States exhibit some degree of NIHL. Moreover, 40 million individuals work in environments that contain potentially harmful noise levels, and over 50 million Americans routinely use firearms--a common cause of noise-induced hearing impairment. A specific hallmark manifestation of NIHL is a permanent decrease in hearing sensitivity from 3,000-6,000 Hz, with a characteristic notch at 4,000 Hz. Additional effects of exposure to high noise levels include physiological changes in heart rate and blood pressure, decrease in work productivity, and an interference with communication that results from the masking of speech. With these considerations in mind, the purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes of a young-adult population in the United States concerning the factors that contribute to NIHL and the use of hearing protection. Additionally, this study was interested in whether there were racial/ethnic differences or similarities in knowledge of hearing loss and the use of HPDs among African-American and caucasian young adults.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Reproductive health: knowledge and opinions of university students in Erzurum, Turkey.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess knowledge of reproductive health and the opinions of university students towards reproductive health education and family planning services. METHODS: A questionnaire about reproductive health knowledge and the opinions of students was submitted to 673 systematically and randomly selected students at Ataturk University. A set of 39 questions was used to determine the level of knowledge of reproductive health. RESULTS: The level of reproductive health knowledge was below the theoretical mean value. An association was found between gender, residential area, parents' education and sibling number with the reproductive health knowledge score. Most of the students approved of formal reproductive health education (88.4%). Approval of family planning services was lower than that of reproductive health education (71.6%). The percentage of men who support family planning services and reproductive health education was lower than that of women. Students who had graduated from Islamic religious schools had more negative opinions towards family planning services. CONCLUSIONS: University students lack knowledge about reproductive health and most of them agree that reproductive health education should be given in schools. Knowledge about reproductive health differs significantly depending on some sociodemographic variables. Some students have negative opinions towards family planning services and reproductive health education.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

[Randomized controlled trial on effectiveness of the community re-entry program to inpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder, centering around acquisition of illness self-management knowledge].

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine by randomized controlled trial the effectiveness and safety of the Japanese version of the Community Re-Entry Program, a manualized psycho-educational program with cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques, in discharge preparation for inpatients with schizophrenia. Our hypotheses are that firstly the program is effective for patients in acquiring illness self-management knowledge, that secondly the program shows positive effects on objective behavior and symptoms, and that thirdly the program has no adverse effects on subjective quality of life (QOL). METHOD: The subjects were 32 psychiatric inpatients, 24 male and 8 female, hospitalized in psychiatric rehabilitation wards, who gave written informed consent to participate in this study. The Community Re-Entry Program consists of 16 small-group sessions of one hour each that teach illness self-management knowledge and related skills to prepare patients for discharge from hospital and re-entry to the community with cognitive-behavioral techniques such as demonstration, roleplay, feedback, behavioral modeling and homework assignments. A specialized trainer's manual, demonstration videotape and patient workbook are utilized in the program. The program content includes defining discharge readiness, identifying symptoms and medication effects, assisting with discharge planning, connecting with community care, medication self-management, monitoring relapse warning signs, and preparing for emergencies. Except for considerations of the sex ratio in both groups, subjects were randomly allocated to the program (the program group) or ordinary occupational therapy (the control group). Of 32 patients, 31 were diagnosed with schizophrenia and 1 with schizotypal disorder. For the patients in the program group, we administered the program of 16 sessions as well as introductory and closing sessions, twice a week for 9 successive weeks. Nursing staffs in the wards took the roles of trainers with careful fidelity to the manual and supervision by psychiatrists with extensive experience in cognitive-behavioral therapy. The subjects were assessed concerning psychopathology with PANSS by psychiatrists, objective behavior with REHAB by nurses, subjective QOL with subjects' self-reports on WHO/QOL-26 and illness self-management knowledge also by self-report questionnaire attached to the trainers' manual of the program, before and after the whole program. RESULTS: Before the program, no significant differences were observed between groups concerning age, illness duration, education, length of current hospitalization, amount of antipsychotic medication, psychopathology, objective behavior, subjective QOL and illness self-management knowledge. One patient dropped out of the program because of transient ischemic attack. After the program, the patients in the program group significantly improved in illness self-management knowledge, as well as in speech skills and social activity score, factors of REHAB concerned with objective behavior evaluation, compared with those in the control group. Positive symptoms thus seemed to improve in the patients in the program group compared with those in the control group. No significant changes were observed in other items, including subjective QOL, in the patients of both groups. No patients experienced psychotic relapse in the observation term. DISCUSSION: We consider that the results supported most of our hypotheses, as they showed positive effects of the program in learning illness self-management knowledge, objective behavior and possible positive effect on positive symptoms, and no adverse effects were observed in psychopathology, behavior or subjective QOL. Further study is necessary on illness self-management behavior acquisition and the effects on long-term clinical outcomes. Study on whether the program is effective for younger patients with shorter hospitalization are expected, because the subjects in this study were rather older (45.9 +/- 11.5 years in the program group) and hospitalized longer (37.8 +/- 36.7 months in the program group). CONCLUSION: The Japanese version of the program was effective and relatively safe for schizophrenia spectrum disorder inpatients for learning illness self-management knowledge in preparation for discharge and planning community re-entry.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Prostate cancer knowledge among multiethnic black men.

The purpose of this survey of 528 black men in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, FL, was to assess prostate cancer knowledge among African-American, English-speaking Caribbean, Haitian-American, and African men in America. Knowledge levels were assessed by education, ethnicity, age, income, family history of prostate cancer, and perceived prostate cancer knowledge. Twenty-five barbershops were visited during Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays over a course of five months. The response rate was 99%. As the black men waited to be seen by their barbers, three interviewers asked them to answer the demographic and knowledge questions. SPSS was used to analyze the data. The main findings were that knowledge levels were adequate, with mean correct responses being 68.4%. Approximately 19.1% of respondents answered 80% of questions correctly, and 7.1% answered 100% of questions correctly. There were no statistically significant differences in knowledge among black men of different ethnicities. There were only two factors which were significantly related to prostate cancer knowledge. Men who earned more than dollars 50,000 and those with a family history of prostate cancer scored significantly higher than lower-income men and men with no family history of prostate cancer. As the percentage of Caribbean-American men and African men in the United States continues to increase, especially in metropolitan centers, those men at highest risk need to be targeted vigorously so that the disproportionate burden of prostate cancer on black men can be relieved.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The functional independence of lexical numeric knowledge and the representation of magnitude: evidence from one case].

INTRODUCTION: The ultimate purpose of cognitive neuropsychology is to find out how normal cognitive processes work. To this end, it studies subjects who have suffered brain damage but who, until their accident, were competent in the skills that are later to become the object of study. It is therefore necessary to study patients who have difficulty in processing numbers and in calculating in order to further our knowledge of these processes in the normal population. AIMS: Our aim was to analyse the relationships between the different cognitive processes involved in numeric knowledge. CASE REPORT: We studied the case of a female patient who suffered an ischemic infarct in the perisylvian region, on both a superficial and deep level. She presented predominantly expressive mixed aphasia and predominantly brachial hemiparesis. Numeric processing and calculation were evaluated. The patient still had her lexical numeric knowledge but her quantitative numeric knowledge was impaired. These alterations in the quantitative numeric knowledge are evidenced by the difficulties the patient had in numeric comprehension tasks, as well as the severe impairments displayed in calculation. CONCLUSIONS: These findings allow us to conclude that quantitative numeric knowledge is functionally independent of lexical or non-quantitative numeric knowledge. From this functional autonomy, a possible structural independence can be inferred.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Study of the knowledge, beliefs, and practice of sleep among medical undergraduates of Tamilnadu, India.

CONTEXT: Sleep-related problems are common in young adults who are enrolled in professional colleges due to academic and social pressures, which may subsequently have serious consequences. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to find out whether final-year medical undergraduates possess basic, clinically relevant knowledge (K) regarding sleep and sleep-related problems and to discover their beliefs (B) regarding sleep and sleep hygiene. We also wanted to assess their sleep practices (P) and suggest remedial measures, if necessary. DESIGN AND SETTING: Six hundred fifteen final-year medical undergraduates of both sexes belonging to 6 medical colleges of Tamilnadu state, India, were given a self-administered, anonymous questionnaire to test their basic knowledge (11 items), prevailing beliefs regarding sleep (including sleep hygiene [13 items]), and their sleep practices (6 items). RESULTS: In all 3 domains tested (K, B, and P), there was no significant difference between sex. An appreciable percentage scored < or = 70% marks ("good") only in K and P (63.9% and 79.5% of all participants, respectively), whereas only a very small percentage scored "good" in B (9.1%). There was no difference in K, B, or P in terms of sex or domiciliary status except for a significant difference (P < .012) regarding beliefs between urban and rural groups. There was also no correlation between knowledge and beliefs or between knowledge and practice. CONCLUSION: We conclude that future doctors have insufficient knowledge with more misconceptions (indirectly reflecting inadequate knowledge) regarding sleep. Hence, there is a compelling need to develop an educational strategy to overcome misconceptions and improve knowledge regarding sleep-related problems and proper sleep practices among students.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

The effects of knowledge management on surgeon behavior.

Knowledge management is an important process for health care researchers and administrators. The way we manage and transfer knowledge in an organization can have a substantial impact on behavior and performance. In this article, we examine the behavioral effects of transferring performance-efficiency knowledge to a group of hospital-based surgeons. We observe the way the knowledge transfer impacts their sense of professional accountability and practice patterns for a limited set of diagnoses. We defined performance efficiency for a surgeon as the deviation from expected average length of inpatient hospital stay, and from expected average hospital charges (adjusted for risk and outcomes) for three of the most frequently performed and most costly surgical procedures in our subject hospital. We communicated knowledge of their performance efficiency to the group of hospital-based surgeons, along with benchmarked professional best practices, and included an identification of dimensions where performance could be improved. We then measured and compared their performance efficiency one year later. We did observe differences in performance efficiency, but not in consistent directions, and not in statistically significant magnitudes. Also, surgeons who initially had low levels of efficiency continued to have low levels of efficiency one year later. Within a professional accountability system, transfer of performance-efficiency knowledge alone did not provide sufficient motivation to induce consistent, significant change in practice behaviors among the group of surgeons. We conclude that medical opinion leaders and individualized strategies for surgeon motivation may have greater promise for improving performance efficiency if linked to the knowledge transfer system.

Diagnosis-Related Groups↗
PubMed2005

Development of a brief survey on colon cancer screening knowledge and attitudes among veterans.

INTRODUCTION: Poor knowledge of and negative attitudes toward available screening tests may account in part for colorectal cancer screening rates being the lowest among 17 quality measures reported for the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system, the largest integrated health system in the United States. The purpose of this study was to develop a brief assessment tool to evaluate knowledge and attitudes among veterans toward colorectal cancer screening options. METHODS: A 44-item questionnaire was developed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about colorectal cancer and screening and was then administered as part of an ongoing randomized controlled trial among 388 veterans receiving care in a general medicine clinic. Sixteen candidate items on colorectal cancer knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs were selected for further evaluation using principal components analysis. Two sets of items were then further analyzed. RESULTS: Because the Cronbach alpha for beliefs was low (alpha = 0.06), the beliefs subscale was deleted from further consideration. The final scale consisted of seven items: a four-item attitude subscale (alpha = 0.73) and a three-item knowledge subscale (alpha = 0.59). Twelve-month follow-up data were used to evaluate predictive validity; improved knowledge and attitudes were significantly associated with completion of flexible sigmoidoscopy (P = .004) and completion of either flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy (P = .02). CONCLUSION: The two-factor scale offers a parsimonious and reliable measure of colorectal cancer screening knowledge and attitudes among veterans. This colorectal Cancer Screening Survey (CSS) may especially be useful as an evaluative tool in developing and testing of interventions designed to improve screening rates within this population.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Childhood epilepsy: knowledge and attitude of primary school teachers in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to determine the knowledge of primary school teachers in Port Harcourt metropolis of epilepsy, their knowledge of the management of an attack of epilepsy and the attitude of these teachers towards epilepsy in children. METHODS: This is a questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study of 118 school teachers from five randomly selected primary schools in Port Harcourt metropolis, Nigeria. RESULTS: Ten percent (12) of the 118 teachers were graded "Good", 45% (54) "Fair" and 43% (52) "Poor" in overall knowledge score. Sixty six teachers (56%) accept applying crude oil on the body as useful in stopping epileptic attacks in children. There was no significant association between overall knowledge score and sex, year of experience as a teacher and experience with a child with epilepsy. Only 10% of the teachers studied were classified as having overall good knowledge of epilepsy. Sixty nine teachers (58.5%) were graded as having good knowledge of cause of epilepsy. Only 38 (32%) disagree that the saliva drooled during an epileptic attack is contagious; one hundred (84.8%) and 65 (55.1%) agree that some childhood illnesses can cause epilepsy and that it runs in families respectively. Overall, 54 teachers (45.8%) had a cumulative score of negative attitude towards epilepsy. Eighty three teachers (73.3%) would want all children with epilepsy put in a special school whilst 57 (48%) agree that children with epilepsy should be withdrawn from schools. The longer the teacher's professional experience, the more the likelihood of positive attitude towards epilepsy but the association did not reach statistically significant level (p = 0.076). Attitude was not statistically associated with sex and educational qualification. CONCLUSIONS: The overall knowledge of primary school teachers in Port Harcourt metropolis of epilepsy and the first-aid management of an epileptic attack is poor. The attitude of these teachers towards epilepsy is negative. Education of the primary school teacher and general public on epilepsy is recommended.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

The assessment of diabetes knowledge and self-efficacy in a diverse population using Rasch measurement.

The purpose of this research was to develop survey instruments to evaluate diabetes knowledge and self-efficacy in a diverse population, and investigate the psychometric properties of data obtained with these instruments using Rasch measurement. Two-hundred and fifty-five urban-dwelling participants with diabetes were recruited to complete surveys through independent interviews. To evaluate the association of health literacy on metabolic control, formal literacy and hemoglobin A1c fingerstick testing were performed. Rasch analysis of the data yielded item and person calibrations for self-efficacy and knowledge, with variable maps created to provide both norm and criterion-referenced interpretations. Knowledge scale person separation reliability was 0.50 and item separation reliability was 0.98; while self-efficacy scale person separation reliability was 0.72 with item separation reliability of 0.92. Statistically significant partial correlations were observed between knowledge and health literacy (r = 0.41, p<.001), and self-efficacy and hemoglobin A1c (r = -0.33, p<.001). However, there was no correlation between diabetes knowledge and hemoglobin A1c (r = 0.035, p = 0.29), or health literacy and A1c (r = 0.022, p = 0.36). Diabetes knowledge varied, with non-English speaking individuals having lower measures than English speakers (t(252) = -4.86, p<.001). Non-English speaking individuals also had lower self-efficacy measures than English speakers (t(251) = -2.68, p = .008). Current knowledge deficits and perceptions of self-management may be estimated visually through variable mapping, which may help in individualizing informational needs for people with diabetes.

Adult↗