Biomedical subjects

K Vail-Smith

Publications and source records attributed to K Vail-Smith.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1999

What date/acquaintance rape victims tell others: a study of college student recipients of disclosure.

The authors surveyed 828 college students and found that approximately one third (n = 282) of the respondents reported that one or more women had told them that they had been raped by their dates or acquaintances. The 282 respondents who knew 1 or more victims of date/acquaintance rape reported on a total of 396 victims. The number of victims identified by respondents ranged from 1 to 3 or more (1 = 73%; 2 = 19%, 3 = 5%, > or = 4 = 3%). Reactions to disclosure offered by these respondents were generally supportive of the victim. The respondents' reactions suggested that there is a continuing need to educate students about the incidence and risks associated with date/acquaintance rape and the possibility of disclosure, particularly by friends or dating partners, and brought out some possible helpful and some counterproductive reactions to such disclosures.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

A brief screening instrument for assessing parental alcoholism in college student populations.

The Children of Alcoholics Short Screening Instrument (CASSI), a four-item Likert-type scale, was developed to fulfill the need for a screening instrument to identify children of alcoholics (COAs) in college student populations. A sample of 369 college students was surveyed to assess the psychometric properties of the CASSI; the scale had a Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient of .94 and a 4-week test-retest reliability of .81. The CASSI correlated significantly with the Children of Alcoholics Screening Test (CAST), which supported its concurrent validity. The CASSI appears to be a promising research tool for identifying COAs, particularly among college student populations.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

Sunbathing: college students' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of risks.

This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of college students regarding intentional sun exposure (sunbathing). Results are based on responses of 296 Caucasian students to the Sun and Skin Inventory. Frequent sunbathers were more likely than infrequent sunbathers to be women and to report fewer self-perceived risk factors, and were less likely to use sunscreen. They were also more likely to believe that they look better with a tan, that suntanned skin is more attractive, and that suntans look healthy. Forty-three percent of the female respondents and 61% of the men rarely, if ever, used sunscreens, and only 9% of all respondents reported they used sunscreens with every intentional sun exposure of 30 minutes or longer. These results suggest that concern with attractiveness appears to be a major motivation for frequent intentional sun exposure. Consequently, educational strategies that stress health outcomes only may be less effective than those that also stress photoaging, the detrimental cumulative effect to appearance of suntanning.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

An educational test of health behavior models in relation to emergency helping.

This study used a true experimental design to evaluate the quality and occurrence of emergency helping behavior among university first-aid students in response to a supplemental educational unit designed to improve bystander helping. The educational unit addressed the inhibitors of emergency helping behavior within the framework of bystander behavior models and was delivered using several behavior modification strategies. Using chi-square analysis, it was found that the 43 treatment students exposed to the supplemental unit responded appropriately to a simulated emergency more often than 41 similar control students not exposed to the unit (32.6% vs. 7.3%, p = .004) and that the effect was confined primarily to women (p = .001). Future emergency care education incorporating similar theory-based educational strategies might improve trained bystander responsiveness and thus enhance the efficiency of prehospital care. Theoretical and future research implications are discussed.

Curriculum↗

PubMed1992

Risk level, knowledge, and preventive behavior for human papillomaviruses among sexually active college women.

During the past decade, there has been mounting scientific evidence linking human papillomavirus (HPV) with cervical cancer and, at the same time, a great increase in physician consultations for HPV infections. HPV infection risk factors include multiple sex partners, early age at first intercourse, history of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and smoking. This study surveyed 263 sexually active college women and concluded that (1) they are at considerable risk for contracting HPV, (2) they lack awareness of HPV, and (3) they are not practicing preventive behaviors that could reduce their risk of HPV and its serious consequences.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Children of alcoholics in the classroom: a survey of teacher perceptions and training needs.

Children of alcoholics (COAs) represent a population at risk for alcoholism as well as other physical, emotional, and social problems. This survey explored perceptions of North Carolina elementary and middle school teachers regarding roles and responsibilities in assisting COAs, their need for additional training specific to COAs, and their perceptions of school-based resources for helping COAs. Survey findings teachers generally are willing to assist COAs but need training regarding these children. Training is particularly appropriate for teachers who perceive a low incidence of COAs in their classrooms since these individuals' responses suggest the existence of barriers to effective COA assistance.

Adolescent↗