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PubMed1986

[Food and nutrition knowledge of students graduating from basic education in the metropolitan area of Santiago, Chile].

The aim of this study was to evaluate the degree of knowledge on food and nutrition in students graduating from Basic Education in the Metropolitan Area of Santiago, Chile. A random sample of 249 students of both sexes (1:1) from public and non-public schools (1:1) and from high, medium and low socioeconomic level (SEL), was selected. SEL was measured through the Graffar Modified Scale, and the degree of knowledge on food and nutrition was evaluated through a standardized test of 29 multiple choice items, based on the objectives of the curriculum program. The test was divided in two areas: Area 1, which contemplated Food and Requirements and Area 2, Food, Personal and Environmental Hygiene. Data were analyzed by chi-square procedure, comparing students who obtained sufficient knowledge (greater than or equal to 50% of correct answers) with those who obtained insufficient knowledge (less than 50% of correct answers). Results of the study indicated that 39.8% of students registered sufficient knowledge, 31.3% and 65.9% in Area 1 and 2, respectively. According to SEL, 62.1% and 12.3% of students from high and low SEL, respectively, registered sufficient knowledge (p less than 0.001), and the same effect was observed in Areas 1 and 2. In relation to sex, 46.3% of females and 33.3% of males registered sufficient knowledge (p less than 0.05), fact which was confirmed in both areas of the test. No significant differences were registered in the degree of knowledge on food and nutrition of students from public and non-public schools. It is therefore concluded that the degree of knowledge on food and nutrition in students graduating from Basic Education differs significantly according to SEL and, sex. This study represents a basic contribution to the better understanding of factors affecting the degree of knowledge on food and nutrition in students graduating from Basic Education in Santiago, Chile, and may serve as base-line for further studies on the subject.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

An inductive algorithm approach to knowledge acquisition for expert system development. A pilot study.

Knowledge acquisition, which consists of knowledge elicitation and knowledge representation, often is considered the weakest link in the design of expert systems. Systems frequently are built on the knowledge of one expert and require extensive use of knowledge engineering techniques to elicit this knowledge from the expert. Inductive algorithms are a potential alternative method of knowledge acquisition for expert system development. The aim of this pilot study was to examine the feasibility of applying machine learning techniques, specifically, inductive algorithms, to an existing research database as a method for knowledge elicitation and knowledge representation for expert system development. Two inductive algorithms (C4 and Classification and Regression Trees [CART]) that generate decision trees were selected for the analysis using a data set of 201 patients hospitalized for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Neither C4 nor CART produced trees with an accuracy that was significantly better than the baseline accuracy (71.3%) for prediction of outcome in the data set. The mean accuracy of the C4 decision trees was below baseline and the mean accuracy of CART decision trees was 74.6%. The experts found both algorithms comprehensible, but not adequate, and identified important missing predictor variables. The study findings suggest that additional research is needed to examine the appropriate use of inductive algorithms in the transformation of nursing data and information into nursing knowledge.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1993

Toward an interim standard for patient-centered knowledge-access.

Most care-giver "knowledge" needs arise at the point of care and are "patient-centered." Many of these knowledge needs can be met using existing on-line knowledge sources, but the process is too time-consuming, currently, for even the computer-proficient. We are developing a set of public domain standards aimed at bringing potentially relevant knowledge to the point of care in a straight-forward and timely fashion. The standards will a) make use of selected items from a Computer-based Patient Record (CPR), e.g., a diagnosis and measure of severity, b) anticipate certain care-giver knowledge needs, e.g., "therapy," "protocols," "complications," and c) try to satisfy those needs from available knowledge sources, e.g., knowledge-bases, citation databases, practice guidelines, and on-line textbooks. The standards will use templates, i.e., fill-in-the-blank structures, to anticipate knowledge needs and UMLS Metathesaurus enhancements to represent the content of knowledge sources. Together, the standards will form the specification for a "Knowledge-Server" (KS) designed to be accessed from any CPR system. Plans are in place to test an interim version of this specification in the context of medical oncology. We are accumulating anecdotal evidence that a KS operating in conjunction with a CPR is much more compelling to users than either a CPR or a KS operating alone.

Artificial Intelligence↗
PubMed1994

AIDS knowledge and condom use in a birth cohort of 16 year olds.

AIMS: The aims of this study were to examine levels of AIDS knowledge and contraceptive practices in a birth cohort of 16 year old Christchurch born children. METHODS: The study was based on the birth cohort of young people participating in the Christchurch Health and Development Study. At age 16 years 953 subjects were questioned about: (a) levels of AIDS knowledge using a 16 item AIDS knowledge questionnaire; (b) rates of sexual activity; (c) patterns of contraceptive use. RESULTS: Members of this cohort had a generally very high knowledge of AIDS with 92% of the sample responding correctly to 14 or more of the 16 AIDS knowledge questions. Just over a quarter of this sample were sexually active during their 16th year and it was estimated that condoms were used in 59% of all sexual acts reported by sample members. There was a clear tendency for rates of condom use to decline with increasing sexual experience with this decline being due to the fact that as teenagers become more sexually experienced condoms were progressively replaced by other contraceptive methods. Those with high levels of AIDS knowledge used condoms at a higher rate of those with low levels of AIDS knowledge even when due allowance was made for the frequency of sexual activity and other potentially confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that publicity and education about AIDS has been successful in producing high levels of knowledge about this condition in this cohort. However, this knowledge was not directly translated into high levels of condom use largely as a result of the fact that as teenagers became increasingly sexually experienced there was a tendency for condom use to be replaced by other methods of contraception and notably the contraceptive pill.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

The knowledge and use of screening tests for colorectal and prostate cancer: data from the 1987 National Health Interview Survey.

Data based on the 1987 National Health Interview Survey are presented depicting factors associated with the knowledge and use of three tests for the early detection of colorectal and prostate cancer: digital rectal examination, fecal occult blood tests, and flexible sigmoidoscopy. The percentage of the at risk adult population who have ever heard of or had these tests is reported. The association of demographic, personal resource, and health system factors with knowledge of these tests is explored using multivariate logistic regression. Health system factors are most consistently associated with use of the tests and with knowledge. Family income, family size, education, knowledge of cancer early warning signs, and measures of encounters with the health care system are associated both with knowledge of and, independent of knowledge, with use of the tests. Residency in the non-South, being white or female, and having an optimistic attitude about cancer prevention are all factors associated with greater knowledge of the tests, but not greater use among those aware of the tests. Membership in a health maintenance organization is more strongly associated with knowledge and use of fecal occult blood tests than the other tests. No association was found between current smoking status and knowledge of or use of any of the tests.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

A measure of knowledge and confidence in relation to HIV and AIDS: reliability and validity.

Knowledge of HIV and AIDS is widely seen as an important determinant of anxiety about such infection in health care workers. However, existing measures of this knowledge suffer from a number of methodological problems and few demonstrate adequate reliability and validity. This paper documents the development of a new measure detailing its reliability and validity. Knowledge, and also confidence in knowledge, were assessed across seven domains of relevant information (e.g. epidemiology, personal risk, symptomatology) in one non-expert group (non-medical undergraduate psychologist) and in three groups with greater expertise (nursing students and third year and final year medical students). The measure was shown to be reliable and to discriminate between the four groups in a manner consistent with the level of education received by each group and in terms of both the scale scores for the seven domains and the individual items. In general, final year medical students were shown to be more knowledgeable, and more confident in their knowledge, than the other groups. The non-medical undergraduates showed the lowest level of knowledge. In general, the groups appeared under-confident in their knowledge about HIV/AIDS. This was interpreted in terms of members of these groups exhibiting caution and the perceived fluctuating nature of the HIV knowledge base. Implications for the training of health care workers in relation to HIV/AIDS are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Validation of an asthma knowledge questionnaire.

Asthma is responsible for much morbidity and mortality, which might be decreased by increasing parental and patient knowledge about asthma. This report describes the development and validation of an asthma knowledge questionnaire for use in the assessment of asthma knowledge. Two groups of respondents were examined. One group was designated 'high knowledge' and the other 'low knowledge'. The questionnaire had a maximum possible score of 31. The mean score of 69 'high' knowledge parents was 25.3 (median 25, range 18-31). By contrast, the mean score of 69 'low' knowledge parents was 13.0 (median 13, range 0-21). The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P less than 0.0001). The questionnaire results were reproducible (tau = 0.94, P less than 0.01). Demographic characteristics such as education and socio-economic status were not important confounding variables. Face and content validity of the questionnaire were based on reference to published experience. Concurrent validity was demonstrated by the ability of the questionnaire to distinguish low from high knowledge parents. The questionnaire should prove to be a valuable research tool for the assessment of asthma knowledge either as part of an educational intervention or in a clinical situation.

Asthma↗
PubMed2026

Knowledge on the Haemophilia Care Among Healthcare Providers in Tanzania: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Haemophilia is a rare inherited bleeding disorder associated with recurrent bleeding, disability, and mortality when diagnosis and management are delayed. In low- and middle-income countries, limited diagnostic capacity, access to treatment and gaps in Healthcare Providers' (HCPs') knowledge are major contributors to morbidity and mortality. In Tanzania, the recent improvement in haemophilia services highlights the need for systematic evaluation of HCPs' knowledge and clinical practices. OBJECTIVE: The study assessed the knowledge of haemophilia care among healthcare providers in Tanzania. METHODS: A multicenter hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among HCPs in tertiary and regional hospitals in Tanzania. A structured self-administered questionnaire assessed knowledge on haemophilia, including the pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and complications. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS statistics version 27. RESULTS: Among 799 HCPs assessed (50.9%) aged 20-29 and (59.2%) males. Nurses were the majority (31.8%), and 75.2% had &#x2264;5 years' experience. Overall haemophilia knowledge was high (median 83.3%, IQR: 75.9-88.9), strongest performance in general knowledge and weakest in treatment (68.2%, IQR: 54.5-77.3). Most respondents identified haemophilia as inherited (95.6%), non-infectious (93.7%), and recognized prolonged bleeding after injury or circumcision as key-symptoms (>90%). Knowledge varied by cadre, department, and experience (p<0.05); physicians and specialists scored higher than nurses, while health attendants scored lower. CONCLUSION: Healthcare providers demonstrated fairly adequate general knowledge of haemophilia. However, gaps remain in understanding genetic inheritance, acquired haemophilia, and modern treatment strategies, with knowledge variation by cadre, department, and experience, highlighting the need for targeted education across all HCPs groups.

Tanzania↗
PubMed1991

University students and AIDS: knowledge, attitudes and behavioral adjustment.

This study addresses the relations between AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes, and behavior change among university students. A questionnaire covering such issues and personal background variables was administered to 750 students at the University of Zagreb. Over-all, 62.7% of the knowledge items were answered correctly, while functional, self-protective aspects of knowledge proved to be much better than general knowledge. On the average, attitudinal responses were moderately liberal. Both self-reported change in risk-reduction behavior and personal concern due to the appearance of AIDS were very small. Correlations of risk-reducing behavior with permissive (.15) and restrictive (.14) attitude orientations and with general and functional knowledge (.08) were modest. The level of personal concern correlated neither with permissive attitudes nor with functional knowledge, while it correlated negatively with restrictive attitudes (-.20) and with general knowledge (-.08). Substantial association was only established between functional knowledge and permissive (.51) and restrictive attitude orientations (-.23). It is concluded that, in addition to knowledge and attitudes, a number of factors which restrain desired behavioral adjustment should be considered in anti-AIDS campaigns, such as perceived level of exposure to HIV in a particular environment, young age-specific illusion of invulnerability, peer norms, and others.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1992

[Pregnant women's knowledge about HIV and AIDS].

This investigation is based upon information from 820 pregnant women who replied to a questionnaire about AIDS during the period 17.4.1989-14.7.1989. The questions included sources of information, knowledge about routes of infection and risk groups and the extent of spread of infection and disease in the population. 95% agreed to participate. Knowledge had been obtained primarily via the electronic media, while the health services had limited significance. The employment of sources of information depended on age and occupation. Apart from knowledge about the risk involved in breast feeding, the women were, in general, well informed about routes of infection. Knowledge about risk groups and the current extent of spread of infection was, on the the other hand, deficient. Defective knowledge was concentrated in groups which may be characterized by age (less than 24 years) and occupation (trained and untrained workers and the group of "other occupations"). Information obtained from health staff was connected with better knowledge about the extent of spread of infection. The majority of women desired routine information about AIDS in connection with antenatal control. Prophylactic measures should be based, among other things, on knowledge about development in the knowledge in the population and its employment of sources of information, so that specific information may be directed to certain groups of the population by using the most frequently employed and most effective routes of information. The knowledge of population groups, the attitudes and behaviour should be followed continuously.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pennsylvania dental hygienists' knowledge, attitudes, and infection control practices in relation to AIDS and AIDS patients.

PURPOSE: Limited documentation is found on dental hygienists' attitudes toward acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients and their knowledge and practice of clinical infection control to prevent disease transmission to themselves and their patients. The purpose of this paper was to survey practicing Pennsylvania dental hygienists to document 1) their infection control practices; 2) their attitudes towards AIDS patients; and 3) their knowledge of clinical infection control practices. METHODS: A self-administered survey questionnaire, with fixed-alternative responses, was mailed in January 1991 to a random sample (N = 300) of licensed, practicing Pennsylvania dental hygienists. The questionnaire comprised eight multiple-choice questions for demographic purposes and 89 Likert-type questions eliciting information in five areas: AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes toward AIDS patients, knowledge of recommended Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) infection control measures, individual infection control measures, and individual laboratory infection control measures. Means and modes for individual questions and for specific categories were determined and analyzed utilizing Spearman rho correlation coefficients (p < .05). Mean scores were also tabulated for actual operator/laboratory infection control practices for both a routine patient and an AIDS patient. Those scores were analyzed utilizing the Wilcoxen signed-ranks test. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty questionnaires were returned for a 73.3% initial response rate. One hundred fifty-four of those returned were usable, for a 64% response rate. Results indicated that 94.2% of surveyed dental hygienists had comprehensive knowledge about AIDS and 92% had comprehensive knowledge of CDC-recommended infection control procedures. Eighty-five percent of respondents possessed a moderate or high feeling of worry concerning treatment of AIDS patients. The majority of surveyed dental hygienists routinely practiced the use of glasses, masks, and gloves; the use of disposable items; and surface disinfection of light handles, instrument bracket trays, and patient chair switches. Knowledge of recommended infection control procedures for dentistry was found to be associated (r = .22) with adherence to recommended infection control practices. Accurate knowledge about AIDS showed a weak (r = -.088) and nonsignificant relationship with dental hygienists' attitudes toward AIDS patients. Use of recommended infection control practices was found to be associated (r = -.20) with less fear concerning the treatment of AIDS patients. In addition, dental hygienists' infection control practices varied according to their perception of patient HIV status. CONCLUSIONS: Since Pennsylvania dental hygienists, within the limitations of this study, appear not to follow CDC guidelines on proper and responsible operatory/laboratory aseptic techniques stringently, and to differentiate infection control procedures based on perceived patient HIV status, recommendations are that 1) the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania should mandate that all Pennsylvania-licensed dental hygienists take at least one state-approved course on operatory/laboratory infection control every two years to qualify for relicensure; 2) all dental and dental hygiene education institutions and professional organizations should place more emphasis on strict adherence to the various agency recommended clinical guidelines for infection control; and 3) all dental hygienists should continually strive to update their own knowledge of current infection control practices.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Increasing disparity in knowledge of cardiovascular disease risk factors and risk-reduction strategies by socioeconomic status: implications for policymakers.

During the 1980s extensive local and national cardiovascular health promotion campaigns were implemented to improve knowledge of risk reduction. This study analyzed changes from 1980 to 1990 in knowledge of acquired cardiovascular risk factors (i.e., actual, objective knowledge of adverse lifestyle factors affecting cardiovascular health); perceived knowledge of risk-reduction strategies (i.e., subjective knowledge about how to reduce the likelihood of cardiovascular disease); and interest in risk modification (i.e., interest in changing risk-factor habits) by socioeconomic status using level of education. The study population included 2,455 women and men 25-74 years of age from three population-based cross-sectional surveys in two northern California cities. We found significant differentials in baseline knowledge that widened over the 10-year study period, resulting in larger disparities across educational groups at the final survey in 1990 (P < .05). From 1980 to 1990, individuals with < 12 years of education experienced only slight improvement in their knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors (mean summary score of 4.4 increasing to 5.5, based on a 17-item questionnaire of risk factors); those with > or = 16 years of education experienced twice as much improvement (mean of 8.4 increasing to 11.1) (P < .05). There were similar time-effect disparities in knowledge of risk-reduction strategies (P < .05). In contrast, interest in risk modification was high for all educational groups and remained uniform across time. The continuing and widening disparity in knowledge between socioeconomic groups suggests the need for policymakers to reform existing cardiovascular risk-reduction education campaigns.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

A functional analysis of phonological knowledge and generalization learning in misarticulating children.

It has been suggested that a child's productive phonological knowledge may be one factor that potentially accounts for individual differences in generalization learning observed among phonologically disordered children (Dinnsen & Elbert, 1984; Elbert, Dinnsen, & Powell, 1984). This paper evaluates the hypothesis that productive phonological knowledge influences generalization. Three related studies involving 6 functionally misarticulating children were conducted. In the first study, a description of each child's phonological system was developed using procedures of standard generative analysis. Based upon these descriptions, each child's productive phonological knowledge of his or her own sound system was determined and then ranked on a continuum ranging from "most" to "least" knowledge relative to the adult target. The second study implemented an experimental treatment program based upon each child's productive phonological knowledge, with treatment sounds selected directly from each child's continuum of knowledge. The third study reassessed each child's productive phonological knowledge following treatment. The results of these three studies indicated that a child's productive phonological knowledge of the sound system influenced the overall amount of generalization learning. However, the extent of generalization learning was associated with the point on the knowledge continuum at which treatment was initiated. These findings are discussed with reference to individual differences in generalization learning.

Articulation Disorders↗
PubMed1996

Expert-novice knowledge of computer programming at different levels of abstraction.

Computer programming knowledge can be classified into five levels of abstraction: objective, conceptual, functional, logical, and physical. An experiment was carried out to determine whether the mastering of knowledge at different levels of abstraction changed with the level of skill. Ten experts and ten novices in C computer programming participated in the experiment. The subjects' knowledge at the five levels of abstraction was tested through 20 multiple-choice questions. The experimental results indicated that knowledge differences between experts and novices at an abstract level or a concrete level depended on what abstract or concrete knowledge was implied. Experts had better abstract knowledge than novices at the conceptual and functional levels but not at the objective level. Experts had better concrete knowledge than novices at the physical level but not at the logical level. The classification of computer programming knowledge in levels of abstraction and the experimental results helped in clarifying a general finding from previous studies that experts had better abstract knowledge than novices.

Cognition↗
PubMed1979

Knowledge and belief in nutrition.

In a nutrition questionnaire, subjects have been given the options of answering questions with yes, no, or don't know. From these responses it has been possible to calculate the levels of their "correct knowledge," their "perceived knowledge" (that is the knowledge that each subject believed he had) and the "accuracy of knowledge". Questions about common nutritional problems were given to physicians, medical students, nurses, and theology students. All groups had a high level of "perceived knowledge," generally greater than 80% for the questions asked, but the accuracy of the knowledge was alarmingly low. The highest level was in physicians, in whom 79% of the perceived knowledge was accurate, but in theology students only 36% of the perceived knowledge was accurate. Two thirds of the "knowledge" of nutrition held by theology students was therefore false by current scientific standards. These findings have implications for future nutrition education.

Educational Measurement↗
PubMed1996

An international comparison of knowledge levels of medical students: the Maastricht Progress Test.

The increasing international mobility of medical students has inspired the search for an international assessment format. As one step along this line, kinetics of knowledge acquisition and final cognitive levels of students were compared among one Dutch, one German and four Italian medical faculties. For this comparison, the Maastricht Progress Test (MPT) was used. For four out of the six participating faculties, it was possible to compare the level of knowledge of sixth-year students. These data showed no significant differences on the test as a whole. On the other hand, as judged from cross-sectional data on students from all study years, the kinetics of knowledge acquisition showed different trends. In one school applying problem-based learning, acquisition of knowledge by students occurred almost linearly. In another school, over the first 2 years, acquisition of knowledge occurred only in the basic sciences but not in clinical or public health/behavioural sciences. In two other schools over that same period, students seemed to gain no knowledge at all. In some faculties, a marked boost in knowledge was noted with third- or fourth-year students. These findings may be explained by peculiarities of the respective curricula, selection of students during their studies, and national or local assessment procedures. It is preliminarily concluded that the different educational approaches and assessment systems in medical education in Europe seem to have only limited influence on the final level of knowledge of the graduates. On the other hand, these differences may influence the kinetics of knowledge acquisition, especially in distinct domains like basic or clinical sciences. Therefore, the MPT may not be suitabe to solve the problem of assessment of individual international exchange students, but it may be helpful in identifying corresponding cognitive levels on, for example, basic sciences for students in different curricula.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Attitudes, knowledge and blood glucose control.

The hypothesis that management-related diabetes knowledge and attitudes may be more directly related to diabetic control than general knowledge of or general attitude towards diabetes is examined. Sixty Type 1 diabetic patients were studied using an itemized knowledge questionnaire and an attitude scale measuring a general attitude to diabetes but containing a previously defined subgroup of items concerned with attitudes to management. A significant linear correlation was found between management-related knowledge (r = -0.39; p less than 0.01) and HbA1c. However, knowledge of insulin, diet, footcare, and glucose monitoring were not significantly correlated with HbA1c, poor control being associated with both very low and very high knowledge status. A significant linear correlation was found between management-related attitudes (but not general attitude) and HbA1c (r = -0.47; p less than 0.01). The multiple regression correlation between HbA1c and both management knowledge and attitudes was -0.51. Most (63%) of the association between knowledge and HbA1c was attributable to attitude. This study provides support for education strategies based upon achieving improved patient attitudes and motivation rather than comprehensive knowledge as the most effective way of improving patient diabetic control.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Oral health knowledge and habits of senior elementary school students.

Despite improvements in children's dental health, and significant resource allocation to health education programs, few recent studies have investigated the associations of oral health knowledge, behaviors, and status. This study of 11-year-old children (N = 6,329) in northeastern Ontario used a supervised self-complete questionnaire and a clinical examination to gather baseline data on, and test associations of, caries and periodontal knowledge, self-reported oral health behaviors and source of knowledge, and oral health status. Results show the children had poor knowledge of caries preventive measures such as water fluoridation, dental sealants, and choice of snack foods. Periodontal knowledge was better, but children confused plaque and calculus. Respondents claimed good oral health habits, with 73 percent claiming to brush at least twice daily, 88 percent claiming to use toothpaste, 42 percent claim to floss at least twice weekly, and 84 percent claiming an annual dental visit. Children with the best knowledge claimed dentist and school as the sources. High knowledge was associated with good oral health habits (P less than .001) and low DMFT score (P less than .001). Good habits were not related to DMFT score (P = .1095). Logistic regression showed high knowledge was associated with English cultural status, urban school area, good habits, having a dental sealant, and attending a fluoride-rinse school (P less than .05). Findings suggest a need to reinforce caries preventive teaching, to investigate the effect of cultural status, dental experience, and residence status on oral health knowledge, and to further test the efficacy of different oral health education programs delivered by different sources.

Analysis of Variance↗