bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Caring for older people: a gendered practice
Authors: Paoletti Isabella
Published: July 2003

This article discusses how ethnomethodology and conversation analysis can contribute to the feminist study of caregiving. Interviews with caregivers of older relatives with disabilities were analyzed using a detailed conversation and membership categorization analysis within an ethnomethodological framework. The interviews were treated analytically as interactional encounters, useful to document instances of identity production and moral versions of oneself as a caregiver. The study describes some instances of the moral and relational universe in which caring practices are embedded, exploring the discursive construction of caring. Caring duties were shown to be bound to kin relationships, but significant gendering was evident in the attribution of caring responsibilities.
Competing discourses in the classroom: a Post-structuralist Discourse Analysis of girls' and boys' speech in public contexts
Authors: Baxter Judith
Published: July 2003

This article responds to Billig's (2000) call for new forms of writing that might challenge the `linguistic orthodoxies' of the critical paradigm. It also responds to Van Dijk's appeal in this journal for more examination of the differences between Conversational Analysis and Critical Discourse Analysis. It argues that Post-structuralist Discourse Analysis (PDA) 1 offers an alternative account of spoken interactions to those of CA and CDA, in that it explores how fluctuating power relations between speakers are continuously reconstructed through competing discourses. This approach is exemplified by a comparative analysis of girls' and boys' talk in a secondary English class, which was being assessed for its effectiveness in public contexts. The study reveals a link between the more powerful discursive positioning of boys, and the extent to which they were adjudged more `effective' than girls as public speakers. However, a post-structuralist analysis shows that because girls are multiply located in discourse and not constituted as victims, they can be taught to resist certain dominant classroom practices.
Blending the Roles of Home Care Nursing and Cardiovascular Specialties: A Model for Nursing Practice in the Community
Authors: Guthaus Margaret A. , White Diane
Published: July 2003

Changes in reimbursement and advances in technology have resulted in a decreased hospital stay for patients undergoing cardiac surgery. These patients are being discharged into the community setting earlier, resulting in an increased demand for transitional specialty home care. This article relates the experience of a Midwest home care agency charged with the development of specialty home care for these complex patients. It offers a new practice model for professional nursing staff delivering this level of care. This model challenges traditional beliefs that cardiac specialty home care can best be provided by nurses with critical care or acute care cardiology background. This agency was successfully able to use the specialty roles of generalist home care as a foundation for advanced cardiovascular practice in the home care setting due to the agency’s commitment to support this process with an on-site advanced practice nurse skilled in both cardiovascular nursing and home health care.
Tennant Model for Home Health Care Teams
Authors: Tennant Julie , Ayer Theresa S.
Published: July 2003

The experience of one regional team within a large home health agency demonstrates that it is possible to provide comprehensive, patient-specific integrated care successfully under prospective pay and under managed care. This article describes the need-driven concept of a multidisciplinary care team model and follows its development over 3 years. It demonstrates that this approach can be fiscally successful with excellent outcomes for the patients, the clinicians, and the organization. The description takes the reader through the 3 years of development of this integrated care delivery model named for its originator.
Oral Medication Management among Clients with Type 2 Diabetes: Outcome and Assessment Information Set (Oasis) Impact
Authors: Corbett Cynthia F. , Adams Carolyn E. , Setter Stephen M.
Published: July 2003

This study’s purpose was to determine the impact of OASIS implementation on documented assessments, interventions, and client outcomes for oral medication management. The sample consisted of 100 clients with Type 2 diabetes: 50 clients who received services in 1997 and 50 clients who received services in 2000. Assessments and interventions for oral medication management were more frequently documented in the 2000 cohort versus the 1997 cohort, but there were no differences in clients’ oral medication management outcomes. Study findings supported the potential utility of the Outcome and Assessment Information Set for improving care processes and outcomes yet cautioned that outcome goals need to be individualized.
Simplify Your Staff Evaluation Process
Authors: McIntyre Elizabeth
Published: July 2003

Have you ever felt the weight of the evaluation process upon your shoulders? Have you ever felt the stress of the unknown when being evaluated by your employer? This approach addresses both of these feelings and recognizes that efficient and quality performance appraisals are an important part of an organization’s processes and operations. It becomes increasingly difficult to write accurate and timely evaluations. This article provides a model for an interactive evaluation process that encompasses peer evaluation, self-evaluation, management evaluation, and collaboration. Decrease the stress for the evaluator and the employee being evaluated with this simple, direct, and encompassing approach to the evaluation process in which everyone wins.
CHAP Accreditation: The “Other” Home Care Accrediting Body
Authors: Ayer Theresa S.
Published: July 2003

The oldest home care accrediting body is the Community Health Accreditation Program, Inc. (CHAP). It was established as a joint venture between the American Public Health Association and the National League for Nursing (NLN). The founders decided that it would function as part of the NLN. CHAP began accrediting home health agencies in 1965 and has continued to do so since then. In 1987, it became a subsidiary of NLN, separately incorporated with the new CHAP name. Over time, the NLN and CHAP organizations evolved to have differing missions and goals. In consequence of their changing needs, in 2001 CHAP became a totally separate nonprofit corporation.
Home Health Care for the Kidney and Kidney-Pancreas Transplant Recipient
Authors: Hicks Leslie C.
Published: July 2003

Kidney transplantation has been a part of the world medical scene for more than 45 years and simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantation for more than 20 years. Improvements in medical techniques, immunosuppressive therapy, and expansion of patient eligibility have led to a population more in need of home health services than ever before. The home health needs of the population range from typical chronic health care needs to issues specifically associated with immunosuppression.
A Study of Current Practice in Liaison Between Primary and Secondary Schools in Physical Education
Authors: Capel Susan , Zwozdiak-Myers Paula , Lawrence Julia
Published: July 2003

The purpose of this study was to investigate current practice in liaison between primary and secondary schools to promote continuity and progression in physical education during the transfer of pupils from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3 and to identify constraints to engaging in liaison activities. A questionnaire was completed by the head of the physical education department in secondary schools in five local education authorities in England that received pupils from primary schools in year 7 ( n = 80) and by the physical education coordinator of the primary feeder schools of those secondary schools that responded to the questionnaire ( n = 299). Results showed that 32 (43.8%) secondary teachers and 157 (53.4%) primary teachers identified that they had established contacts with their primary feeder schools or associated secondary schools respectively; and 49 (64.5%) secondary teachers but 114 (39.6%) primary teachers identified that currently they were engaged in liaison activities. There was a discrepancy between the percentages of teachers who indicated they had contacts with their primary feeder schools or associated secondary schools respectively, and who indicated they were engaged in liaison activities with them. These results suggested that contacts with and/or engagement in liaison activities between primary and secondary schools were not consistent across schools. A range of constraints for developing effective contacts/liaison activities were identified, with time being identified as the major constraint by both primary and secondary teachers. A range of suggestions for overcoming the constraints were also identified. These results are discussed in relation to findings from studies looking at liaison in other subjects and also in relation to the implications for schools.
OFSTED Revisited: Re-living the Experience of an Initial Teacher Training PE Inspection
Authors: Cale Lorraine , Harris Jo
Published: July 2003

The Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) inspects the quality of all Initial Teacher Training (ITT) provision in England on behalf of the Teacher Training Agency. This paper represents a sequel to an earlier paper which was published by colleagues following the first OFSTED inspection of secondary Physical Education Initial Teacher Training (ITT) at Loughborough University in 1996/97. Fired by dismay and frustration for the practices OFSTED demonstrated, Hardy and Evans (2000: 58) commented `we write... in fear that recent legislation will ensure that, in the future, we may receive more of the same'. This paper considers the extent to which `more of the same' was received during a second inspection in 1999/2000. It presents a commentary on staff experiences and reflections of the process and highlights the key issues encountered. The authors conclude that while `more of the same' was not experienced in terms of `outcomes' in 1999/2000, it was with respect to `process'. Given the many limitations of ITT inspection, they suggest that the credibility of the process remains questionable.
Conceptualizing `Fair Play': A Review of the Literature
Authors: Sheridan Heather
Published: July 2003

The notion of `fair play' is generally understood to be important in sport and in life yet it is not clear what precisely it refers to, why it is valued, what ethical principles, if any, it is grounded upon, and what kind of good it involves. The product of this confusion is a lack of consensus in conceptualizing `fair play', which is reflected in a wide range of conceptions offered in the sport philosophical literature. In this paper I offer a critical review of the `fair play' literature in sports philosophy and the mainstream ethical theories that underpin them in order to formulate and present a preferable conception of `fair play'. First, I consider the historical roots of the concept in sports contexts. Second, I present six competing conceptions of `fair play': (i) formalism, (ii) `fair play' as play, (iii) `fair play' as `respect', (iv) `fair play' as a contract or agreement, (v) `fair play' as a system of rational norms and (vi) `fair play' as virtue. I argue that all these accounts are lacking since they fail, in varying degrees, to consider the ethos of games that is partly generative of a richer concept of `fair play' which I articulate and defend.
Integrated Curriculum Models and their Effects on Teachers' Pedagogy Practices
Authors: Thorburn Malcolm , Collins Dave
Published: July 2003

There is increasing interest in how philosophy or overarching aims are articulated through the various planning stages to eventual teaching methodology. Accordingly, this paper analyses the interrelationship between teaching, learning and assessment through tracking the decision-making chain from teachers' intentions to the assessment of student outcomes. The context employs an integrated curriculum model, which attempts to link improving performance within activities with the development of an underpinning knowledge about performance-related concepts. The paper reports findings from 40 semi-structured and small group interviews with PE teachers and students in a purposeful sample of secondary schools in Scotland, all following a centrally defined integrated curriculum. Results highlight profound disparities in the pedagogy practices teachers adopt in attempting to translate a dictated `practical experiential' rationale into performance-led practice. Consequently, this paper provides discussion points for the further review of policy and related methodologies.
Freedom, Responsibility and Power: Contrasting Approaches to Health Psychology
Authors: Marks David F.
Published: July 2003

In Health Psychology in Context it was argued that, if we are to make any sense of it, the subject matter of health psychology must be understood in the context of social, political and economic forces. That theme is continued here with a brief examination of how freedom, responsibility and power enter into the generation of conflicts, including the recent outbreak of war. The interplay of commercial and state interests in academic and health research settings is then discussed. The assumptions, values and meanings of work in health psychology are examined in that light. These are divided between four evolving approaches in health psychology: clinical, public, community and critical health psychology. A framework is presented for positioning these approaches within a system for the production of health and social care.
The Intelligent Body and its Discontents
Authors: Hyland Michael E.
Published: July 2003

The traditional view is that mind is intelligent and the body is stupid. Recent research suggests that the whole body, and not just the brain, acts as a complex parallel processing system. If the whole body is intelligent, then intelligent processes normally attributed to psychology may occur in the non-brain body. This article shows how self-organizing learning error in a brain-body system creates the potential for a new type of pathology, network pathology, that is distributed across over the whole body. The intelligent body concept is illustrated with four examples: chemical sensitivity, asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome and obesity. Network pathology develops when normally adaptive self-organizational processes malfunction so that control system parameters are altered in a way that creates suboptimal self-regulation. Subtle therapies are needed, in addition to the conventional robust therapies to correct network pathology.
Expanding the Theory of Planned Behaviour: The Role of Social Norms and Group Identification
Authors: Fekadu Zelalem , Kraft Pål
Published: July 2003

The purposes of the study were twofold. First, to explore the predictive power of the descriptive and group norms, when the effect of subjective norm had already been accounted for. Second, to investigate to what extent perceived group norm of a behaviourally relevant reference group would predict the intention to use contraception among those who identified strongly with the relevant reference group. The empirical data were generated from a sample of 354 sexually active female adolescents living in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The results revealed that subjective (injunctive) norm was the most important predictor of contraceptive intentions (β = .33, p<.001). In addition, descriptive norms (β = .20, p <.001) and (unexpectedly) group norm (β = .11, p <.035) exerted significant main effects upon intention. The study indicated that contraceptive intentions in Ethiopian adolescent girls were influenced more by ‘social’ (injunctive, descriptive) than ‘personal’ considerations (attitudes: β = .20, p <.001, and; PBC: β = .17, p<.001). However, none of the interaction terms between group identification and social influence variables were significant. Furthermore, collective-self did not emerge to have either a direct effect upon intention, or a moderation effect upon the social norms-intention relationships (as expected).
Values and Sexual Behaviour in Central and Eastern Europe
Authors: Goodwin Robin , Realo Anu , Kwiatkowska Anna , Kozlova Alexandra , Luu Lan Anh Nguyen , Nizharadze George
Published: July 2003

Despite the profusion of social cognitive models for the prediction of sexual behaviour, we have only limited knowledge as to the role of individual values in predicting risky sexual activity. This study assessed the relationship between a recently developed value structure and sexual behaviour in the context of rising HIV infection in central and eastern Europe. Five hundred and three respondents (business people, doctors and nurses) from Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Poland and Russia completed Schwartz’s Portrait Values Questionnaire and reported their condom use, partnership history and record of sexual disease. Results indicated that values had a moderate but consistent relationship with sexual behaviour, with riskier sexual activity reported by those high on Openness to Change, Hedonism and Self-Enhancement. These findings are discussed in the context of the need for culturally sensitive interventions in order to tackle the growing HIV epidemic in this region.
The Social Organization of Surrogacy: Relinquishing a Baby and the Role of Payment in the Psychological Detachment Process
Authors: Baslington Hazel
Published: July 2003

This article presents the ‘maternal-foetal detachment’ theory providing a framework for understanding how some women relinquish a baby in the context of paid surrogacy. It is postulated that attitude towards payment becomes part of a psychological detachment process in which surrogate mothers emotionally distance themselves from the growing foetus. Important are the subcultural influences engendered by the social organization of surrogacy. Some surrogate mothers appear to learn not to attach to the unborn child or, if feelings emerge, they deal with these by deflecting emotions towards the couple. The discussion considers what can be learned about the concepts of maternal-foetal attachment and maternal instinct. The surrogacy case offers conflicting evidence in favour of, and in opposition to, the concept of maternal instinct.
The Motivational Implications of Characteristics of Exercise Bouts
Authors: Rodgers Wendy M. , Blanchard Chris M. , Sullivan Michael J.L. , Bell Gordon J. , Wilson Phil M. , Gesell Joanne G.
Published: July 2003

The purpose of this research was to examine the psychological adaptations to two different exercise prescriptions. The dependent variables were three types of self-efficacy: task (for elemental aspects of the behavior); coping (for exercising under challenging circumstances); and scheduling (for arranging one’s time commitments to exercise regularly). Participants were randomly assigned to one of two 12-week exercise prescriptions: a higher-intensity, shorter-duration condition (about 70 percent VO2max, n = 21) and a lower-intensity, longer-duration condition (about 50 percent VO2max, n = 23). The two conditions were equated for total work output (by manipulation of duration) in megajoules. The two exercise conditions produced similar aerobic fitness gains. Thus, the results regarding self-efficacy are not confounded by differential physical effects of the exercise prescriptions. Both groups were found to increase in task self-efficacy. The higher-intensity, shorter-duration group, however, showed an overall advantage in terms of coping ( F[1,41] = 10.48, p< .002), and a group by time interaction was found for scheduling self-efficacy ( F[2,39] = 3.81, p< .03) in favor of the higher-intensity, shorter-duration group. The motivational implications of the exercise prescriptions are discussed in terms of self-efficacy theory. It is concluded that it is important to consider not only the physical fitness implications of exercise prescription, but also the motivational implications. It is suggested that characteristics of the exercise bouts may influence motivation for subsequent physical activity involvement.
The Impact of a Media Campaign on Cervical Screening Knowledge and Self-efficacy
Authors: Fernbach Madeline
Published: July 2003

A three-phase cross-sectional face-to-face interview study ( n= 1571) was conducted to investigate the impact of the PapScreen Victoria media campaign conducted in English, and the extent to which a media campaign can influence women’s perceived self-efficacy associated with having a Pap test. In total, 1571 women aged between 25 and 69 years were interviewed about prompted and unprompted recall of media messages, intention to have a Pap test and perceived self-efficacy associated with having Pap tests, and barriers to cervical screening. Chi-square and logistic regression analyses revealed that women’s awareness of Pap testing messages and priority of this health issue was greater at the first follow-up, and was maintained at the second. Multivariate analyses of variance indicated that it was perceived as more difficult to choose a practitioner and ring for results at the first follow-up, and perceived self-efficacy was lower then than at baseline. Results suggest that the cognitive processes at work are more complex than previously thought.
Participation in Cervical Screening as a Function of Perceived Risk, Barriers and need for Cognitive Closure
Authors: Eiser J. Richard , Cole Nicola
Published: July 2003

Questionnaires concerning cervical screening behaviour and attitudes were completed by a convenience sample of 70 female students aged 20-25 years. Based on the Prochaska-DiClemente definitions of ‘stages of change’, participants were classified into precontemplation, contemplation, action and maintenance groups according to their previous and intended screening behaviour. On average, participants rated their relative risk of personally contracting cervical cancer in the future to be below average, an apparent example of optimistic bias (p > .001). This was unrelated to their knowledge of behavioural risk factors or to their previous or intended screening behaviour. Linear trends were observed across the four groups in terms of perceived barriers to screening (precontemplators perceiving most barriers, p > .001) and on the Webster-Kruglanski measure of need for cognitive closure (precontemplators reporting lowest need, p > .01). The relationship between need for closure and stages of change appeared to be mediated by perceived barriers. It is argued that an understanding of psychological factors in screening should attend to differences in the extent to which individuals wish to reduce uncertainty about their own risk status, and their expectations concerning the screening processes.
Measuring Depression in African American Cancer Survivors: The Reliability and Validity of the Center for Epidemiologic Study—Depression (CES-D) Scale
Authors: Conerly Rhonda C. , Baker Frank , Dye Joseph , Douglas Charlene Y. , Zabora James
Published: July 2003

The Center for Epidemiologic Study—Depression (CES-D) Scale has been used to assess levels of depressive symptomatology in cancer survivors but has not been validated in African American cancer survivors. The current study assessed the reliability and validity of the CES-D in 216 African American cancer survivors. A Cronbach alpha was calculated to determine internal consistency reliability, and correlations were computed between the CES-D and other measure of mood states (Profile of Mood States—Short Form and Bradburn Positive and Negative Affect Scales) to assess concurrent validity. The CES-D demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (= .90), and the concurrent validity was supported by significant correlations with other measures of mood states. These analyses indicate that the CES-D is a reliable and valid measure for use with African American cancer survivors. The mean CES-D score ( M = 15.7, SD = 11.89) further suggests that this sample of African American cancer survivors exhibit significant levels of depressive symptomatology.
Issues for a Psychology of Men’s Health
Authors: Lee Christina , Owens R. Glynn
Published: July 2003

This article argues for a gendered psychology of men’s health. We argue that capitalism and patriarchy, through their reliance on a restrictive definition of masculinity, limit men’s choices and impact on their health. A psychology of men’s health situates men in their social, cultural and political contexts, addressing the social construction of masculinities and the effects of beliefs about appropriate behaviour on men’s health. At the individual level, gender roles can explain men’s reluctance to seek help; avoidance of emotional expression; unsafe sexual behaviours; and risk-taking including drug use, crime and dangerous sports. At a social level, identification of the self with paid work, and avoidance of family activities, are problematic. Dominant social discourses position these as freely chosen behaviours, implicitly blaming individual men for risky or antisocial choices; there is little awareness of the role of social constructions in men’s choices. A gendered psychology of men’s health uses of a variety of epistemologies, focuses on health in its broadest sense, considers the context and is sensitive to cultural diversity.
Gender and Ethnic Differences in Health Beliefs and Behaviors
Authors: Courtenay Will H. , Mccreary Donald R. , Merighi Joseph R.
Published: July 2003

This study explored the extent to which college men and women of various racial and ethnic groups differ in their health beliefs and behaviors. Exploratory factor analyses of survey responses from a diverse sample of 1816 undergraduate students identified 21 items in six cohesive domains: Diet; Anger and Stress; Preventive Care; Medical Compliance; Substance Use; and Beliefs about Masculinity. Analyses of variance explored group differences across these domains. Findings revealed consistent gender differences, with men engaging in riskier behaviors and holding riskier beliefs than women. Main effects for ethnicity were also observed, but only for the diet domain was a gender by ethnicity interaction found. Implications for establishing gender- and ethnicity-based health promotion and disease prevention interventions are discussed.
Men’s Perceived Health Needs
Authors: Fletcher Richard J. , Higginbotham Nick , Dobson Annette
Published: July 2003

Cross-sectional survey data describing health priorities and needs perceived by men and women living in Newcastle, Australia are compared and contrasted with national health policies. The highest prevalence of felt needs for men were stress (13 percent), cost of medical care (10 percent) and money problems (9 percent); while stress (16 percent), overweight (16 percent) and money problems (15 percent) were highest for women. These contrast with the 2000 National Health Priorities of cancer, mental health, injury, cardiovascular health, diabetes and asthma. We conclude that men’s perceived unmet health needs are similar to those of women; while sharing some commonalities, they also differ from health professional priorities. Incorporating felt needs into health service planning and delivery is a critical unmet challenge for government planners.
Preventive Care in the Context of Men’s Health
Authors: Aoun Samar , Donovan Robert J. , Johnson Lyn , Egger Garry
Published: July 2003

This study assessed the effectiveness of a health intervention, in diabetes education and risk assessment, to motivate men to take positive action, within the framework of the Health Belief Model. The worksite-based intervention targeted 525 men aged between 40 and 65 years from 27 organizations in the south-west of Western Australia in 1999/2000. Men identified as high risk were referred to their general practitioner. The adopted strategy had a number of strengths, namely that the health risk assessment was topic-specific, personalized, conducted on the worksite and combined with an educational component and a medical follow-up. The focus groups component of the study gave further understanding as to why the adopted strategy had been appropriate for men’s needs.
‘My Wife Ordered Me to Come!’: A Discursive Analysis of Doctors’ and Nurses’ Accounts of Men’s Use of General Practitioners
Authors: Seymour-Smith Sarah , Wetherell Margaret , Phoenix Ann
Published: July 2003

This study used a discursive approach to analysing doctors’ and nurses’ accounts of men’s health in the context of general practice. The analysis worked intensively with interview material from a small sample of general practitioners and their nursing colleagues. We examine the contradictory discursive framework through which this sample made sense of their male patients. The ‘interpretative repertoires’ through which doctors and nurses constructed their representations of male patients and the ‘subject positions’ these afforded men are outlined in detail. We describe how hegemonic masculinity is both critiqued for its detrimental consequences for health and paradoxically also indulged and protected. These constructions reflect a series of ideological dilemmas for men and health professionals between the maintenance of hegemonic masculine identities and negotiating adequate health care. Men who step outside ‘typical’ gender constructions tended to be marked as deviant or rendered invisible as a consequence.
‘The Problem with Men’: Working-class Men Making Sense of Men’s Health on Television
Authors: Hodgetts Darrin , Chamberlain Kerry
Published: July 2003

Men have higher rates of premature death than women, and may arguably have higher rates of serious illness. One explanation often suggested to account for this is that men are considered to be stoical about illness and reluctant to seek help for it. This article explores the role of media representations in the construction of men’s views about health. We investigate how a small group of lower socio-economic status men make sense of the reluctance to seek help notion through an analysis of texts from three sources: a television health documentary, individual interviews with the men and a focus group discussion in which the men discuss the documentary. The television documentary frames its presentation to promote early detection and help-seeking. We conclude that televised coverage of men’s health is an important site of social discourse through which men’s health is rendered meaningful. However, it is not accepted passively, but negotiated, resisted and interpreted into men’s lives.
Play Hurt, Live Hurt: Living with and Managing Osteoarthritis from the Perspective of Ex-professional Footballers
Authors: Turner Andy , Barlow Julie , Ilbery Brian
Published: July 2003

Personal accounts of living with osteoarthritis (OA) are rare and qualitative research has focused mainly on the experiences of women. As yet no studies have focused solely on the experience of men living with OA. The primary focus of this study was the experience of living with OA from the perspective of ex-professional footballers in the UK using semi-structured interviews with interpretative phenomenological analysis. Participants identified the cause of their OA to be associated with aspects of their playing career. Living with OA involved pain, surgery, medication and restricted mobility. Feelings of frustration were often associated with disruption to work, social and leisure activities. Participants’ experiences and memories of playing professional football were important in helping them manage the threat of the disease. The findings have provided an insight into the experience of ex-professional footballers as they seek to accommodate to a life of pain, disability and functional impairment.
Sexual Dysfunction and the Preservation of Manhood: Experiences of Men with Prostate Cancer
Authors: Fergus Karen D. , Gray Ross E. , Fitch Margaret I.
Published: July 2003

This study explored the experiences of men living with sexual dysfunction as a consequence of having been treated for prostate cancer. An ethnoculturally diverse sample of 18 men (14 heterosexual, and four homosexual) participated in a series of four to five in-depth interviews. These one-on-one interviews were designed to elicit information pertaining to their beliefs, values and performances regarding masculinity vis-a-vis prostate cancer and its treatment. Interview transcripts were analyzed using the grounded theory method. The core category of ‘Preserving Manhood’ incorporated five major themes: enhancing the odds; disrupting a core performance; baring an invisible stigma; effortful-mechanical sex; and working around the loss. We conclude that men’s performances of sexuality and masculinity were highly interwoven; that loss of sexual functioning constituted a focal disruption for participants; and in some instances, posed a significant threat to their masculine identities.
Death of a Partner: Perspectives of Heterosexual and Gay Men
Authors: O’brien John M. , Forrest Linda M. , Austin Ann E.
Published: July 2003

Previous studies have examined how individuals cope with the death of a partner. Most of these studies have focused on the experiences of women or have studied men only in comparison to women. This qualitative study focused only on the experiences of men, both heterosexual and gay men, grieving the untimely death of a partner due to a terminal illness. In-person two-hour interviews were conducted with 12 men. Data were analyzed using the constant comparative method (Lincoln & Guba, 1985). Results identify the similarities and differences of grief in men as influenced by sexual orientation. Recommendations for practitioners providing therapeutic services to grieving men and researchers investigating men’s grief are offered.
The Avalon Gardens Men’s Association: A Community Health Psychology Case Study
Authors: Borg Mark B.
Published: July 2003

This article follows the development and progress of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s ‘Healthy and Safe Communities’ initiative as it was implemented by a community empowerment organization during a four-year community revitalization project in the aftermath of the Los Angeles riots. The author explores practical aspects of Community Health Psychology through assessing the ways in which its organizing principles were manifest in community-wide processes of individual and community change in one low-income housing project in South Central Los Angeles called Avalon Gardens. Specifically highlighted is how a group of African American and Latino men in the community created a group forum that helped foster, support and sustain an empowerment process that supported health promotion, health consciousness and significant health improvement in the community.
‘Does Religion Cause Health?’: Differing Interpretations and Diverse Meanings
Authors: Oman Doug , Thoresen Carl E.
Published: July 2003

The question, ‘Does religion (or spirituality) cause physical health benefits?’ may be given at least four diverging interpretations in terms of causal path diagrams. In common usage, the question may be interpreted to indicate that religion causally influences health by: (1) any mechanism, including well-established factors such as social support and improved health behaviors; (2) additional mechanisms, such as enhanced positive psychological states (e.g. faith, hope, inner peace) acting through psychoneuroimmunologic or psychoneuroendocrinologic pathways; (3) offering psychological strength for acquiring or maintaining positive health behaviors; or (4) causally influencing health by distant healing or intercessory prayer. We review historical confusion between these interpretations, arguing that disentangling them is important for collaborative health care, promotion and research.
A Cross-cultural Investigation of the Factors and Biases Involved in the Allocation of Scarce Medical Resources
Authors: Furnham Adrian F. , Hassomal Amar , Mcclelland Alastair
Published: July 2003

In this study Spanish and English lay participants were given minimal demographic information regarding 16 hypothetical patients, and were required to rank them in order of priority for a kidney dialysis machine. The patients differed in terms of their gender, smoking behaviour, political affiliation and place of birth. These factors were combined factorially, so that each of the 16 patients presented a unique combination of attributes. The English sample showed a preference for local, female, non-smoking patients. The results for the Spanish sample were similar with respect to place of birth and gender, but smoking behaviour was not significant. Neither sample demonstrated a preference on the basis of political affiliation. The results suggest that certain demographic factors may bias the decision making of individuals or committees involved in the allocation of scarce medical resources.
Appraisal of Desire for Control over Healthcare: Structure, Stability, and Relation to Health Locus of Control and to the ‘Big Five’ Personality Traits
Authors: Auerbach Stephen M. , Pegg Phillip O.
Published: July 2003

This study addressed the question of whether the traditional tripartite distinction between cognitive, decisional and behavioral control is meaningful as applied to desire for healthcare control. Subscales of the Krantz Health Opinion Survey and the Autonomy Preference Index were administered to 680 undergraduates along with the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scales and the NEO-FFI Five-Factor Inventory. These measures were readministered to 523 of these subjects approximately seven weeks later. Confirmatory factor analysis of the data indicated that desire for healthcare control is best conceptualized as having three separate components. Desire for information was clearly unrelated to either desire for behavioral or decisional control; however the latter two forms of control, which are indicative of more active engagement by the individual, overlapped to a moderate degree. The three-factor model was stable over time and the component factors (particularly desire for decisional and behavioral control) were also stable. No strong relationships were found between the component factors and measures of health locus of control or the basic personality trait dimensions measured by the NEO, suggesting that the factors represent largely situation-specific traits. Findings were discussed in terms of how they may have been influenced by variability in the instruments that were used to measure the separate desire for healthcare control components, and in terms of the need for criterion-related validational work especially in the crucial area of decisional control.
Does Thinking about Personal Health Risk Increase Anxiety?
Authors: Lister Anne-marie , Rode Sibylle , Farmer Andrew , Salkovskis Paul M.
Published: July 2003

This study aimed to examine the effect on anxiety about health of a self-referent health questionnaire, in which people were asked to respond to questions about personal risk factors. Participants were randomly allocated into one of two experimental conditions (completing a self-referential assessment of their current health, or personality), with dependent variables measured before and after the experimental manipulation. Dependent variables included general and disease-specific (CHD, Stroke and Diabetes) anxiety and need for reassurance. Analysis of covariance suggested that participants who completed the health-focused questionnaire significantly increased in their anxiety ratings about Heart Disease, Stroke and Diabetes relative to those who completed the personality-focused assessment. There was no effect on general anxiety ratings. The results have important implications for measurement procedures commonly employed in health psychology, as they suggest that asking participants to rate factors related to health risk may lead to other psychological changes. It is important that subsequent research identify the duration of such effects.
Perceived HIV-related Stigma and HIV Disclosure to Relationship Partners after Finding Out about the Seropositive Diagnosis
Authors: Derlega Valerian J. , Winstead Barbara A. , Greene Kathryn , Serovich Julianne , Elwood William N.
Published: July 2003

The present study examined how perceived HIV-related stigma (how much HIV-infected persons believe that the public stigmatizes someone with HIV) influences both reasons for and against HIV disclosure and self-reports of HIV disclosure to a friend, intimate partner and a parent. The research participants were 145 men and women living with HIV. They were asked to recall when they first learned about their HIV diagnosis. Then they indicated how much specific reasons might have influenced disclosing or not disclosing about the HIV diagnosis to a friend, intimate partner and a parent. Findings, based on the total sample, indicated that perceived HIV-related stigma was associated with the endorsement of various reasons against disclosing to a friend and a parent, including concerns about self-blame, fear of rejection, communication difficulties and a desire to protect the other person. Perceived HIV-related stigma was not associated with the endorsement of any reasons for disclosing to a friend, intimate partner or a parent, including catharsis, test other’s reactions, duty to inform/educate, similarity and a close/supportive relationship with the other. In addition, perceived HIV-related stigma predicted self-reports of disclosure to a parent but not to a friend or intimate partner. Specific reasons for and against self-disclosure predicted HIV disclosure based on the type of relationship with the potential disclosure recipient. The data analyses were also stratified by gender; these results were, with some exceptions, consistent with the findings with the total sample. The research introduces scales that quantify individuals’ reasons for HIV disclosure and/or nondisclosure.
Eliciting Causal Beliefs about Heart Attacks: A Comparison of Implicit and Explicit Methods
Authors: French David P. , Marteau Theresa M. , Senior Victoria , Weinman John A.
Published: July 2003

Objective

To compare beliefs about the importance of different factors in causing heart attacks, elicited by explicit questionnaire ratings and an implicit vignette task.

Method

In two separate studies: (1) 107 adults (aged 40-60 years); and (2) 134 students completed two tasks: (a) a questionnaire in which they explicitly rated the importance of a number of causes of heart attacks; and (b) a vignette task in which they implicitly used risk factor information to estimate a hypothetical man’s likelihood of a heart attack.

Results

In both studies, family history was rated as a significantly less important cause than smoking or stress on the explicit questionnaire; in the implicit task, smoking and family history exerted a much greater influence on estimates of risk than did stress.

Discussion

The causal beliefs elicited by the two methods differ in important respects. The predictive validity of each measure, alone and in combination with other nonquestionnaire-based measures, needs to be determined.
Psychosocial and Health Behavioural Covariates of Cosmetic Surgery: Women’s Health Australia Study
Authors: Schofield Margot , Hussain Rafat , Loxton Debbie , Miller Zoe
Published: July 2003

Current psychosocial and health behavioural covariates of past cosmetic surgery were assessed in a population-based sample ( n = 14,100) aged 45-50 years, from the baseline survey of the Women’s Health Australia study. Seven percent ( n = 982) reported having ever had cosmetic surgery. Multivariate analysis found that self-reported dieting frequency in the past year and body mass index were highly significant covariates of cosmetic surgery; perception about body weight was moderately significant, and satisfaction with body weight was unrelated. A higher likelihood of cosmetic surgery was also found for women who had ever been in a violent relationship, who had been verbally abused recently, smokers, those taking medication for sleep or nerves and those with private hospital insurance. There were moderate associations between cosmetic surgery and state of residence, higher occupational status, alcohol use, higher stress and poorer mental health. Life satisfaction, social support, recent life events, physical health, area of residence, country of birth and marital status, though all significant at the univariate level, were unrelated in multivariate analyses. The psychological and health implications of the findings are discussed.
Self-rated Health by Educational Level in Persons with and without Health Problems
Authors: Martínez-Sánchez Eva , Regidor Enrique
Published: July 2003

The objective of this study was to determine whether differences in self-rated health by educational level vary as a function of the presence or absence of health problems. For this purpose, 12,800 people were studied from the 1995 and 1997 Spanish national health surveys to estimate the percentage of less-than-good and less-than-fair health for each educational level. The association between self-rated health and educational level was stronger in persons without health problems than in those who had health problems. The probable explanation for these results is that persons with different educational levels have different conceptions about what constitutes health.
Genetic Testing for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Predisposition: Cancer Burden and Responsibility
Authors: Foster Claire , Watson Maggie , Moynihan Clare , Ardern-jones Audrey , Eeles Rosalind
Published: July 2003

The purpose of this study was to explore experiences of cancer in the family and motivation for predictive genetic testing among women at increased risk of developing breast and/or ovarian cancer due to their family history. Fifteen women were interviewed prior to receiving their genetic test results. A grounded theory approach was adopted to analyse the interview transcripts. The findings indicated that experiences of cancer in the family play an important role in formulating beliefs about one’s own risk and motivation for predictive genetic testing. A sense of responsibility for one’s own health and the need to take action either to prevent cancer or detect cancer at as early a stage as possible, as well as a feeling of responsibility towards children and other family members was apparent. The findings raise the question of whether there is any real choice available to these women and whether there is a negative impact on family dynamics.
Smokers’ Representations of Their Own Smoking: A Q-Methodological Study
Authors: Collins Patricia , Maguire Moira , O’dell Lindsay
Published: July 2003

Little work has addressed how smokers represent their own smoking rather than smoking in general. Research has identified a huge number of variables that contribute to smoking, yet not much is known about how smokers ‘make sense’ of these and construct explanations of the factors that contribute to their own smoking. This study used Q-methodology to investigate smokers’ own representations of their smoking behaviour. Analysis revealed four main factors: smoking as a social tool; the dual identity smoker; reactionary smoking; and smoking as a social event. We argue that an understanding of the diversity of smokers’ representations and explanations of their own smoking could play a useful role in developing more effective targeted interventions.
Ambivalence in Coping with Dental Fear and Avoidance: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Abrahamsson Kajsa Henning , Berggren Ulf , Hallberg Lillemor R.-M. , Carlsson Sven G.
Published: July 2003

Dental phobia is a widespread problem, which can have significant impact on the individual’s health and daily life. This grounded theory study aims to explore the situation of dental phobic patients: how dental phobia interferes with their normal routines and functioning, social activities and relationships, what factors contribute to the maintenance of dental fear and how they cope with their fear. In the qualitative analysis of thematized in-depth interviews four main categories were developed: threat to self-respect and well-being, avoidance, readiness to act and ambivalence in coping. The results show that several psychological and social factors interact in determining how dental phobic individuals cope with their fear, and demonstrate in what way dental fear affects their daily lives.