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At least 1,045 records · Page 58Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

Risk awareness, exposure to oral health information, oral health related beliefs and behaviours among students attending higher learning institutions in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of exposure to information about oral health from local sources, risk awareness, oral health beliefs and behaviours among male and female students attending higher learning institutions in Dar es Salaam. DESIGN: A cross sectional survey. SETTING: Government recognised higher education institutions in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in 1999. SUBJECTS: The study population comprised of 1123 university students in Dar es Salaam. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Level of risk awareness, exposure to oral health information, oral health beliefs and behaviour among students. RESULTS: Despite apparent misconceptions, the level of risk awareness was generally high and did not differ between male and female students. Univariate analysis of variance revealed that female students were exposed to more oral health information, had stronger oral beliefs and performed preventive behaviours more frequently than did their male counterparts. In multiple linear regression analysis, beliefs about the importance of preventive behaviours were significantly related to the frequency with which such habits occurred (beta = 0.19, p < 0.001) across gender and students status. This relationship was significantly stronger among females (beta = 0.33, p < 0.001) than among males (beta = 0.11 p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that strengthening beliefs in the presence of accurate knowledge might successfully promote students' oral health enhancing behaviour.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Reducing the self-stimulatory behavior of a profoundly retarded female through sensory awareness training.

Sensory awareness training procedures were used to reduce the self-stimulatory behavior of a profoundly retarded female. Self-stimulatory behaviors were directly observed and recorded using a 15-second momentary time sample procedure for 10-minute recording periods. An alternating treatment design was used to compare the effects of treatment and nontreatment. Tactile, olfactory, and gustatory materials were used to stimulate the person's senses. Generalization was assessed across noncompliant behaviors. The results indicate that sensory awareness training reduced self-stimulatory behaviors, but that these behaviors were still being emitted at a high rate. Suggestions for further research are made, and the use of "traditional" sensory awareness training procedures is questioned.

Awareness↗
PubMed1987

Continued construct validation of the St. Marys CVA Evaluation: Bilateral Awareness Scale.

Previous research suggested that scores on the Schenkenberg Line Bisection Test of unilateral neglect should correlate significantly with bilateral awareness ratings on the St. Marys CVA Evaluation, but that scores on both of these instruments should not correlate with St. Marys perceptual scores. To test this hypothesis, occupational therapists at St. Marys Hospital Medical Center administered the Schenkenberg test and St. Marys CVA Evaluation to 26 cerebral vascular accident (CVA) patients. Spearman rho coefficients were computed. As hypothesized, the correlation between the Schenkenberg test scores and St. Marys bilateral awareness ratings reached statistical significance, and no significant relationship was found between Schenkenberg scores and St. Marys perceptual scores. However, there was a significant relationship between the St. Marys bilateral awareness ratings and perceptual scores. This result may indicate that clinical observations are not adequate to discriminate between unilateral neglect and perceptual impairments. The results further the construct validation process of the St. Marys CVA Evaluation. The data also support the position that unilateral neglect is not primarily a perceptual phenomenon.

Awareness↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Raising research awareness: a strategy for nurses.

Strategies for promoting research awareness should be tailored to individual nursing needs. A survey was used to help develop a strategy for the promotion of nursing research in the gynaecology unit at Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham. After a brief description of the background associated with research awareness among nurses, the survey design, implementation and results are discussed. The survey led to the development of a strategy to raise research awareness, which is also described.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1996

How aware are employees of their benefits? Findings from two companies.

This study examines benefit awareness of employees in two companies. Contrary to previous research, the results show that employees are generally accurate in their perceptions of the benefits available to them. However, the results also show a lack of awareness of unemployment insurance and disability insurance as benefits. In addition, employees were somewhat uncertain regarding costs of benefits to employers. These findings suggest that employers should monitor employee awareness of benefits and target communications to specific problem areas.

Attitude↗
PubMed1997

Addressing information security training and awareness within the European healthcare community.

This paper discusses the need to promote information security issues within modern healthcare establishments and the consequent need for appropriate training and awareness initiatives. Security is an area of extreme significance in healthcare information systems but, whilst the need is generally recognised, many personnel are not familiar with even basic concepts and procedures. As such, adequate promotion of security through training and awareness initiatives is viewed as a vital first step. The paper highlights a series of basic factors that healthcare establishments (HCEs) should consider in setting up a training and awareness framework. The discussion then examines a number of ways in which relevant information may be disseminated to staff, including security guidelines, training seminars and world-wide web based services. The paper is largely based upon work that is currently being conducted as part of the Health Telematics ISHTAR (Implementing Secure Healthcare Telematics Applications in euRope) project.

Awareness↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Awareness, attitudes and behaviour of teenagers to sunlight.

Most campaigns for the prevention of skin cancer have detected more new cases and decreased the number of advanced cancers. Since the incidence of skin cancer continues to increase, however, we believe that primary prevention is the best way to control it. It must be kept in mind that sunlight exposure is the main changeable risk factor for skin cancer and that this exposure is most significant in childhood and adolescence. Our aim in this study was to evaluate the need for a campaign and design one if necessary. We therefore proposed to determine the level of awareness and the behaviour of students with respect to sunlight exposure. We surveyed 628 teenage students from 9 high schools in the city of Granada (Spain). The questions were grouped into four sections: 1. Relationship Sun and Skin, 2. Relationship Sun and Environment, 3. Relationship Sun and Health, 4. Evaluation of Attitudes and Behaviour. More than 60% of the students gave satisfactory answers with regard to awareness, in contrast to the responses for attitudes and behaviour. Prevention campaigns for students are definitely necessary, keeping in mind in their design that a high level of awareness does not translate into healthy habits with regard to sunlight. Intervention to change behaviour patterns should be the main goal of primary prevention campaigns.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Awareness status and prevalence of hypertension in a group of urban Haitians: findings of a population-based survey.

PURPOSE: The primary purpose of this project was to evaluate knowledge and awareness status about hypertension among a group of Haitian adults in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and also to assess treatment status among hypertensive persons within this group. METHODS: Adults (> or =18 yrs) accompanying a sick person to a private clinic or a health center were asked to participate in a cross-sectional survey. Face-to-face questionnaires were administered to volunteers. Blood pressure measurements, weight, and height were obtained on site. RESULTS: A total of 382 subjects enrolled. Two hundred and eighty-nine subjects (approximately 76%) were normotensives. Among hypertensives: thirty-nine (10%) had borderline hypertension with systolic pressure > or =140<160 mm Hg and diastolic pressure > or =90<95 mm Hg, while fifty-four (14%) had blood pressure levels > or =160/95 mm Hg. Among subjects classified as hypertensive, fifty-seven (61%) were unaware of their high blood pressure and its risk. Only 3 of those aware (8%) reported receiving regular therapy. Thirty percent (30%) of participants believed hypertension was not a serious problem. CONCLUSION: These results highlight the need for information about awareness, prevalence, and control of hypertension in Haiti's population. This information could be used as the baseline in the planning of a cost-effective national primary prevention strategy.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Awareness of the Info-Sante CLSC telephone service by users of urgent care services].

BACKGROUND: The CLSC's Info-Santé telephone service is one of the Quebec health network's reorganization measures aimed at decreasing the number of visits to hospital emergency rooms for non-urgent health problems. This study analyzes the awareness of this service among users of hospital emergency services and walk-in medical clinics. METHODS: In all, 850 patients were interviewed. Logistic regressions were performed. RESULTS: The results revealed that 75.5% (CI .95 = 0.73-0.78) of the participants were indeed aware of the CLSC's Info-Santé telephone service. Awareness was found to be dependent on age, sex, income, the use of walk-in CLSC medical services, the availability of a regular source of health care and the perception of one's health status. INTERPRETATION: Further strategies should be developed in order to increase the use of this service, thus helping to guide patients to more appropriate sources of health care.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Reactions to awareness of activated protein C resistance carriership: a descriptive study of 270 women.

BACKGROUND: Around 25 million Caucasian women are carriers of the FV Leiden mutation that causes activated protein C (APC) resistance. This is a heritable condition with a lifelong increased risk of venous thromboembolism. We performed this study to investigate women's reactions to their awareness of being APC-resistant and the consequences of this awareness. METHODS: All APC-resistant women (n = 270) included in a prior study on APC resistance and pregnancy (n = 2480) were invited by written questionnaire to describe their reactions to having APC resistance, how this had changed their lives, and how they experienced our information. Answers were obtained from 215 of the 270 women (80%). RESULTS: More than 94% of the APC-resistant women were satisfied with knowing themselves to be APC-resistant and pleased that they had enrolled in the study. Of the women on combined oral contraceptives (COC), 84% changed their method of contraception, but 16% continued on COC. One-third of the women reported becoming more worried or afraid of getting pregnant again as a result of their awareness of being APC-resistant. The proportion of women who sought legal abortions during a 2-year period after receiving this information was similar in both subgroups: 4.4% (12/270) vs. 4.3% (94/2210), p = 0.9. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that most APC-resistant women were pleased to learn of their APC resistance status, that there was not an increased incidence of legal abortions, but almost one-third reported being more worried or afraid of getting pregnant again.

Activated Protein C Resistance↗
PubMed1992

Young children's awareness, knowledge, and beliefs about AIDS: observations from a pretest.

Starting from the assumption that AIDS education can be most effective when initiated prior to the age when AIDS risk behaviors emerge, a number of researchers and public health officials have advocated AIDS education for preadolescents. Yet there have been few published reports assessing children's awareness, knowledge, and attitudes about AIDS and persons with AIDS. In this paper, basic data are presented for each of these dimensions broken down by race, gender, and grade. The data suggest that, although many students are aware of AIDS by the first grade, it is not until the fifth grade that nearly all students are aware of the existence of the disease. Over all, nearly 44% of the students who know about the disease believe that they or someone they know will get it. Students in the fifth grade have a higher level of AIDS knowledge than those in the first grade, but even the former are relatively uniformed and have a number of misconceptions about the disease and persons with it. Children's attitudes reflect confusion and some anxiety over AIDS and the treatment of persons with it. Some significant race and gender differentials are noted.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence, correlates, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in a middle-aged urban population in Kerala.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is an important cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 314 middle-aged subjects (163 men; age range 40-60 years, mean 49 years) in urban Thiruvananthapuram City. Kerala, to estimate the prevalence of hypertension, examine its correlates, and assess the degree of awareness, treatment, and control of high blood pressure. Blood pressure was measured by a nurse graduate using a mercury column sphygmomanometer and a standardized technique. We used multivariable analyses to examine the sociodemographic and clinical correlates of hypertension. The overall prevalence of hypertension in our sample was 54.5% (men 56.3%, women 52.3%). The factors associated with an increased prevalence of hypertension were higher body-mass index (odds ratio for a value in the top tertile of 2.33, 95% confidence interval: 1.2-4.4), and older age (odds ratio for the age group 55-60 years of 2.65, 95% confidence interval: 1.3-5.6). An occupation involving moderate or greater physical activity was inversely associated with the prevalence of hypertension (odds ratio 0.35, 95% confidence interval 0.13-0.94). Among hypertensives, 39% were aware of the condition, while 29% were treated with blood pressure-lowering medications. Adequate control of elevated blood pressure was achieved in only 30.6% of treated hypertensives. In our community-based sample, over half of all middle-aged individuals were hypertensive, but less than a third were under treatment. Adequate control of hypertension was achieved in less than a third of the treated individuals. CONCLUSIONS: These observations re-emphasize the need for hypertension awareness programs targeting the general public and the increased use of opportunistic blood pressure screening, and underscore the importance of measures to increase the knowledge of current guidelines for the detection and treatment of hypertension among healthcare providers.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Use of a web site to increase knowledge and awareness of hunger-related issues.

The purpose of this study was to determine the current level of knowledge and awareness of hunger-related issues among a convenience sample of Delawareans. We also assessed whether raising knowledge and awareness of the hunger problem through the FBD's newly designed web site would encourage participation in antihunger activities. Via e-mail, 1,719 individuals were invited to participate in a three-phase, online survey, and 392 agreed. Phase-I questions were answered prior to viewing the web site, phase II (n=217) immediately afterward, and phase III (n=61) six weeks later. Responses indicated a high level of awareness about general hunger issues but specific knowledge proved to be at a lower level. No statistically significant differences were noted when data were collapsed across gender, age, educational level, or work setting. In a six-week post-survey, 41% of subjects were motivated by the web site to engage in an antihunger activity; 34% had told others about the web site and indicated it may be a useful tool in antihunger outreach efforts for the FBD.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Involuntary smoking in a workplace situation--discomfort of nonsmokers and interpersonal awareness of smokers].

A questionnaire survey was conducted to examine the socio-behavioral interaction between smokers and nonsmokers in a workplace situation. A socio-behavioral interaction is hypothesized to be centered around the subjective discomfort such as 'bothered feelings' towards involuntary smoking among nonsmokers. Study subjects were 1,134 nonsmokers and 1,457 smokers working in 21 small-scale production companies in Japan. Among nonsmokers, a combined 93.3% reported 'perceived exposure to smoking', 'always', 'often', or 'sometimes' compared to 6.6% reporting 'never'. Similarly, 74.6% experienced 'bothered feelings' 'sometimes', 'always', or 'often' compared to 25.3% reporting 'never'. A combined total of 39.4% expressed their discomfort to smokers 'sometimes', 'often', and 'always' compared to 60.6% who 'never' did. In contrast, 59.1% of smokers responded that they smoked with consideration of nonsmokers' presence (interpersonal awareness) 'sometimes', 'often', and 'always' compared to 41.0% for 'never'. 'Bothered feelings' among nonsmokers was significantly lower among those with past smoking history and correlated positively with 'perceived exposure to smoking' (rs = 0.22, p less than 0.001) and with 'expression of discomfort among both male (rs = 0.32, p less than 0.001) and female nonsmokers (rs = 0.34, p less than 0.001). Among male smokers 'interpersonal awareness' was significantly higher for those with less cigarette consumption and with past history of smoking cessation. A regression analysis was performed using mean scores calculated for smokers and nonsmokers of each workplace. Lower 'bothered feelings' of nonsmokers significantly correlated with higher 'interpersonal awareness' of smokers (r = -0.59, p less than 0.005). These finding imply the presence of socio-behavioral interactions between smokers and nonsmokers and thus suggest the significance of workplace education on involuntary smoking.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Chest physicians' and microbiologists' awareness and demand for drug monitoring in the treatment of TB.

There is a role for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) to achieve the optimum therapeutic concentration of anti-tuberculous drugs. This work aimed to determine the current awareness of TDM in TB control among chest physicians and to estimate the demand for this service. Responses from a sample of chest physicians in the West Midlands revealed that 60% were aware of TDM and 33% had used it. Responses were received from half of a UK group of microbiologists who reported a median of nine requests in the past year. It appeared that more was known about services for rifampicin and streptomycin than other first-line drugs. There appears to be a need for both increased awareness among potential service users and for coordination of assay services.

Antitubercular Agents↗
PubMed2004

Awareness and frequency of potential side effects on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs among the Jordanian patient population.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate patient awareness of the proper use and frequency of side effects in nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) users in Jordan. METHODS: This study was a prospective 8 question interview of subjects purchasing medications, during randomized 4 hour/day pharmacy visits over a one month study period (March 2002). Two hundred and twelve patients were included in this study. Two community pharmacies located in Irbid were chosen. The other 2 were Albashir Hospital Pharmacy and Prince Basma Hospital pharmacy. RESULTS: Overall NSAIDs use during last year was 69%: Diclofenac was the most used NSAID. The majority of patients (58%) reported having side effects upon NSAIDs-use; gastrointestinal upset was the most frequently reported side effect. Patients' awareness regarding proper NSAIDs use was poor, and pharmacist role in counseling was inadequate. However, user ability to discover the most common side effect to the drug seemed not to be affected. CONCLUSION: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use awareness and knowledge of probable serious side effects and how to handle them was not adequate. This probably reflected on high incidence of side effects. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are available on prescription as well as over the counter drugs. Pharmacist involvement in education of patients using them is highly recommended and much needed to help decrease frequency of side effects.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The Pacific Islander Cancer Control Network's role in cancer awareness, research and training.

PURPOSE: The Pacific Islander Cancer Control Network (PICCN) is one of the 18 Special Populations Networks recently established by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to address the cancer control needs of America's medically under-served populations. The PICCN focuses on three Pacific Islander groups: Samoans, Guamanians/Chamorros, and Tongan Americans. The program provides an infrastructure for collaboration between an academic institution, the University of California, Irvine; an NCI designated cancer center, the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center; community-based organizations; and other agencies concerned with the health of Pacific Islanders. METHODS: The PICCN's objectives include improving cancer awareness, enhancing recruitment to clinical trials, increasing the number of cancer control investigators, and encouraging more research among these Pacific Islanders. The activities that increase cancer awareness include assessing existing cancer education materials aimed at Pacific Islanders, working with the NCI's Cancer Information Service to modify existing materials, developing new culturally-sensitive materials, and distributing the materials in a culturally-sensitive manner. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The PICCN enhances recruitment of Pacific Islanders to clinical trials by establishing relationships with cancer centers, making them aware of existing cancer center studies, and developing culturally appropriate recruitment materials when necessary. The network plans to increase the number of Pacific Islander investigators and encourage more research among Pacific Islanders by identifying potential investigators, informing them about existing cancer control training opportunities, developing a new training opportunity, and providing mentors to help with the development of pilot projects and RO1 applications. CONCLUSION: Through these efforts, the PICCN is addressing the goal of eliminating health disparities among ethnic and racial minorities in this country.

Awareness↗
PubMed2004

A study on SARS awareness and health-seeking behaviour - findings from a sampled population attending National Healthcare Group Polyclinics.

INTRODUCTION: The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of massive SARS public education effort on SARS awareness and the conduct of those suspected of having SARS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five hundred and ninety-three respondents attending the National Healthcare Group Polyclinics (NHGP) participated in the survey from 9 to 13 June 2003. Associations between awareness of SARS symptoms and (i) first action to be taken and (ii) mode of transportation used, if the respondent was suspected of having SARS, were analysed using Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests. Logistic regression was performed to adjust for relevant covariates. RESULTS: The majority (92.7%) of the respondents were aware of SARS symptoms. Television (91.6%), newspaper (65.2%) and radio (30.4%) formed the top 3 sources of information on SARS. Slightly more than half (51.6%) of those who suspect themselves of having SARS would choose to visit their primary health care doctors, while 22.7% of the respondents would go to Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH). If they suspected themselves to have SARS, most (84.9%) of the 578 respondents would react appropriately by taking the SARS ambulance or driving themselves to TTSH. However, 60 respondents would nonetheless take public transport to TTSH [by taxi 8.5%, mass rapid transit (MRT) or bus 1.9%]. In particular, the retired with lower educational levels were likely to be oblivious both to the symptoms of SARS and the possible consequences of travelling by inappropriate transport. CONCLUSION: Despite more than 2 months of intensive SARS public education in Singapore, there remain important gaps in knowledge and appropriate behaviour that have to be bridged.

Adolescent↗