To aim these objectives, it was developed a self report inventory based on cognitive, affective, and personality theories. 441 women that have being involved in a violent relationship and that look for governmental support programs answered the inventory. Their ages were from 18 to 62 years old. The Socioeconomic and educative levels were from low to middle. The responses were grouped into 6 dimensions: Strength for coping with the violent situation, Feelings of harassment or fear, Anticipation of consequences, Emotional dependency, Self efficacy, and Self confidence. These show elements of cognitive structure in women that suffer violence as a result of the social and cultural variables an o the violence experience. In the next research phase, it will be to identify the dimensions that show which dimensions produce differences between women that stay in the relationship and women that are out of it. These results will help to develop programs to support them. Background: Road traffic accidents (RTA) are an usual traumatic event. In case of serious accidents, behind physical injuries, victims can develop psychological symptoms and problems s (e.g. Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) and PTSD) that interfere with quality of life. Literature shows recent discussion on predictors of ASD and PTSD in these victims. Methods: 124 RTA victims (34 women and 90 male) were evaluated 6 days (T1) and 4 months (T2) after the accident. At T1 participants filled a demographic questionnaire that asked about risk perception, Standford Acute Stress Reaction Questionnaire , Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire. At T2 participants filled a 17 items PTSD scale. Findings: At T1 64,5% had ASD. At T2 58,9% had PTSD and 21% had partial PTSD . PTSD symptoms were positively correlated with risk perception (rsp=.266, p<.01), dissociative experiences (rsp = .407, p <.01) and acute stress symptoms (rsp=.460, p<.01). In a regression analysis gender, risk perception, dissociative experiences and ASD symptoms accounted for 27,6% of PTSD symptoms variance. Women report more ASD symptoms and PTSD symptoms than men. Discussion: The participants in this study were victims all of victims of serious accident, and the number of subjects with PTSD is unusually high, suggesting the need for psychological evaluation and intervention. The predictors could be use to identify the ones that will be more disturbed after these events. Rapid urbanization has led to increasing violence, psychosocial and psychiatric morbidity, particularly in low income/poor communities. Such emerging violence amidst rising prosperity in Malaysia is posing serious challenges to behavioural medicine and healthcare. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 25 purposively sampled young respondents from 12 low-cost housing neighbourhoods within Kuala Lumpur to explore their perceptions and experiences of violence, and health impact. The 25 multi-ethnic respondents, (12 men and 13 women) aged between 18-25 years, were residents of public low-cost high density housing where neighbourhood violence, viz. vandalism, street fights, robbery, drug dealing and homicide, was common. Perceptions of violence were varied and gender differentiated. Men tended to perceive crime as violence and serious violence to involve bleeding, hospitalization or death. Women regarded fights, injuring others and crime as violence and ranked murder and rape to be serious violence. Women and men were reluctant to intervene in domestic violence because they perceived it as a private matter although several respondents felt that a husband has no right to beat his wife. Men, more than women, had direct experience with violence. Some men had been robbed, threatened and beaten. Several men had perpetrated violence: selling drugs during teen years, involved in illegal motorcycle racing, and assaulting a neighbour. A couple of women had been robbed. None had suffered any physical injuries/disability due to violence or reported symptoms of severe psychological consequences viz. disturbed sleep, appetite and moods. Yet, women were more affected by high anxiety and pervasive fear of being victims of crime. Men were more concerned about safety of their families, especially female members. Girl child kidnapping, rape and murder happening in and around the neighbourhoods had created secondary traumatisation and strong sense of vulnerability to such violence among women. Women particularly experienced chronic stress in coping with the daily crime and violence in their neighbourhoods. Gendered experiences and impact of violence with regards to secondary traumatisation and chronic stress point to more sensitive and specific interventions, considering both behavioural and social factors, among low income/poor urban communities. Introduction: Usually, at the end of a lifestyle intervention trial, investigators present the predefined intervention strategy as well as the study Results: In practice, the intervention may not have been performed as intended. In the Health under Construction Study, 27 occupational health professionals (counselors) performed a six-month motivational interviewing-based lifestyle intervention for construction workers. The intervention was aimed at changing dietary, physical activity, and smoking behavior, and thereby lowering cardiovascular disease risk. The purpose of this process evaluation was to evaluate the counselors' adherence to the intervention protocol, their competence, and the associations between adherence, competence and body weight at follow up. Methods: The number of sessions and prescribed items discussed in the first counseling session were registered by the counselors. Counselors' competence in listening, supporting, motivating, and informing was rated by both participants and counselors. Adherence to motivational interviewing was determined by expert scoring of 19 audio-taped fragments. Associations between reach, dose, and competence, and body weight at follow-up were determined by linear regression analyses. Results: Two-thirds of all participants attended five or more sessions, and 38.5% attended all seven sessions. In 90.2% of all cases, the counselor discussed all four prescribed items in the first session. Adherence to motivational interviewing was concluded from only one audio-taped fragment. 86.3 percent of all participants agreed with the counselor being competent. Neither counselors' competence, nor number of sessions or items discussed, was significantly associated with body weight loss. Conclusions: Performing five sessions and discussing four prescribed items was feasible for the counselors, whereas adhering to motivational interviewing was not. Still, participants were positive about the counselors' competence and willing to attend the counseling sessions. Investigators are encouraged to report the evaluation of their intervention process, in order to improve future lifestyle interventions in research or in practice. Colorectal cancer is the third leading cancer in incidence and mortality among US adults, and these rates are higher in the African American community than among other subpopulations. Community-based approaches have grown in popularity, in an effort to fight these cancer disparities. Though church-based approaches have been included among these initiatives, few are "spiritually-based" in nature, using spiritual/religious themes and writings to support the core health message. Such an approach may increase the cultural relevance of a health communication, and perhaps even its efficacy. The efficacy of a Community Health Advisor-led intervention to increase awareness and screening for colorectal cancer was examined using a randomized controlled trial, in which a spiritually-based approach was compared against a non-spiritual (e.g., secular) comparison intervention of same structure and content. Trained Community Health Advisors led two educational sessions on colorectal cancer. Study participants (N =358) completed baseline, 1-month, and 12-month follow-up surveys. A 90% retention rate was achieved over the course of the study period. Within group analyses suggest that the spiritually-based intervention resulted in significant increases from baseline to one-month follow-up in colorectal cancer knowledge (p<.001), perceived benefits to screening (p<.001), and significant decreases in perceived barriers to screening (p<.001). Comparisons between the spiritually-based and non-spiritual intervention indicate that the spiritually-based intervention was more efficacious than the non-spiritual for increasing perceived benefits to screening (p<.001), while the non-spiritual was more effective for increasing knowledge (p<.001). Data are also examined among demographic subgroups such as men and women. Screening data at the 12-month followup are also reported. These findings suggest that the spirituallybased and non-spiritual approaches to health communication may have different impacts depending on the outcome and demographic subgroup being examined. Background: Humor in medicine is not a speciality at present but is gaining recognition as a clinical tool. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to review humor in a holistic manner and explore its various angles from its evolution to usage in the field of medicine. Method: A literature search was conducted using PubMed restricting to the statements of "Laughter Therapy" and "Humor and Laughter." Additional articles were sourced from reference list of relevant articles. These were critically analysed to identify use of humor in medicine. Results: This paper provides an overview of the field of humor focusing of what is known and not known about humor in medicine. This information serves as an important ingredient to reinforce the development of formal training in humor. Conclusions: Based on this review we argue that knowledge of humor should be imparted to care givers as a potential therapeutic tool in the field of medicine. Background: Evidence demonstrates self-management programs are an effective approach to assist patients with chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes or cardiac conditions to modify their lifestyle for better managing their conditions. Using information technology (IT) has great potential to support self-management programs and assist patients to fulfill their goals in managing their conditions more efficiently and effectively. Examples of different types of technology used in self-management programs that have limited research support include: text messages, telephone followup, web-based programs, and other internet-assisted education. But little is known about the applicability and feasiability of different forms of technology for patients with chronic diseases such as those with type 2 diabetes and critical cardiac conditions. Furthermore, although there is some evidence of the benefits of using IT in supporting self-management programs, further research on the use of IT in such programs is recommended.