Biomedical subjects

Lilian Lechner

Publications and source records attributed to Lilian Lechner.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

The Dutch cancer information helpline: more critical patients after 10 years.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to assess the impact and evaluation of the Dutch national cancer information helpline and to assess differences in evaluation and impact with a comparable study conducted in 1994. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among all callers from the target groups patients, friends/relatives and the general public who contacted the information helpline from December 2003 until March 2004 (response 59%; N=665). RESULTS: All characteristics of the helpline (provided information, educator's communication skills, and telephone aspects) were evaluated positively by a large majority of the respondents. All groups evaluated the impact of the helpline on overall satisfaction, anxiety, and meeting expectations positively. However, the three target groups showed different predictors for the outcome measures. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that 10 years after the first study, callers are still very positive in their evaluation. However, the different characteristics of the helpline are nowadays slightly more negatively judged, particularly by patients. The installation of the voice response system (VRS) as well as the fact that people have more easily access to information about their disease might account for these differences in evaluation. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: To maintain the positive evaluations helpline educators as well as the VRS need to attune more to the different needs and problems of the target groups and provide tailored information.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Predicting older adults' maintenance in exercise participation using an integrated social psychological model.

Little is known about the predictors of maintenance in organized exercise programmes. The aim of this study was to investigate the behavioral predictors of maintenance of exercise participation in older adults, using an integrated social psychological model. To this end, we carried out a prospective cohort study (n = 1,725; age 50 years or older) involving 10 different types of exercise programmes, with measurements at baseline and after 6 months. Predictors of intention to continue participating and the actual maintenance of exercise participation in the exercise programme were assessed using a step-wise logistic regression model. Significant odds ratios (ORs) predicting the intention to continue with the exercise programme were found for female sex, younger age, being married, being a non-smoker, being in paid employment, having a positive attitude towards exercise and having a high self-efficacy at baseline. Significant ORs predicting actual maintenance of exercise participation were short lapses, absence of lapses, high intention at baseline, high perceived quality of the programme, positive attitude at baseline and few risk situations at baseline. In order to promote maintenance of exercise participation for older adults, effort should be taken to prevent lapses, to help people cope with risk situations for lapses, to improve the attitude towards exercise participation and to improve the quality of the programme.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Dropout from exercise programs for seniors: a prospective cohort study.

This study examines dropout incidence, moment of dropout, and switching behavior in organized exercise programs for seniors in the Netherlands, as determined in a prospective cohort study (with baseline measurements at the start of the exercise program and follow-up after 6 months; N = 1,725, response rate 73%). Participants were community-living individuals 50+ who participated in different forms of organized exercise programs. The average dropout incidence was 0.15 per 6 months, which is lower than that for the general population. The dropout incidence and the timing of dropout differed substantially between the exercise programs. In total, 31% of people who dropped out of one type of exercise program switched to another type of exercise. The type of program and exercise had a strong effect on differences in this switching behavior. It is recommended that switching behavior be monitored in future studies.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2004

Short- and long-term effects of tailored information versus general information on determinants and intentions related to early detection of cancer.

BACKGROUND: Since it is widely accepted that the earlier cancer is detected, the better the chances of treatment and survival, people should be encouraged to create positive intentions toward early detection of several types of cancer, for instance, skin cancer, breast cancer, and colon cancer. This can be done by being alert to the warning signs of cancer and seeking help once a cancer symptom is detected. METHODS: A randomized controlled study (n = 1,500) assessed the effects of computer-tailored information and general information on determinants and intentions to engage in early detection behaviors (i.e., passive detection and help seeking) compared with those in a control group. Possible negative side effects, like increased chronic fear of cancer and more fatalistic attitudes toward cancer, were studied as well. RESULTS: Shortly after the intervention, differences between the study groups were found in intention, several social psychological determinants, and knowledge. Six months after the intervention, there were still differences between the tailored information group and the control group in intentions toward help seeking. Neither of the interventions resulted in increased chronic fear nor more fatalistic attitudes toward cancer. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that there were positive effects of the tailored intervention on determinants, passive detection, and help-seeking intentions in the short-term, but additional research is needed to assess ways of maintaining these effects in the long-term.

Attitude to Health↗

PubMed2003

Social psychological correlates of paying attention to cancer symptoms and seeking medical help.

Social psychological correlates of two main aspects of the process of cancer detection, viz. passive detection (i.e., paying attention to cancer symptoms) and help-seeking intention, were studied among a-symptomatic Dutch adults. Two written questionnaires, with a six-week interval, identified correlates of both variables, using a determinant model based on the theory of planned behavior. Knowledge, advantages, self-efficacy, being female and being more highly educated were associated with passive detection. Knowledge, advantages, moral obligation, anticipated regret, social norm, and self-efficacy were correlated with the intention to seek help. We suggest that educational programs need to address the two variables separately and also need to tailor their content to the various social psychological correlates of these two aspects.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Early detection of cancer: knowledge and behavior among Dutch adults.

This paper reports on knowledge and behavior among Dutch adults (n = 1530) regarding early detection of cancer (passive detection, active detection and help-seeking behavior). Written questionnaires assessed knowledge of detection methods and cancer symptoms, symptom recognition, detection behaviors, and help-seeking behaviors. Respondents did not have much general knowledge of detection methods and cancer symptoms, but recognized most cancer symptoms. More women than men paid attention to cancer symptoms. For most symptoms, medical help would be sought within the appropriate time by the majority of the respondents. Principal component analyses revealed relations between symptoms pertaining to the 'interior' body and those pertaining to the 'exterior' body. Correlations between symptom recognition, detection behavior and help-seeking behavior were low. Differences in demographic groups and differences in knowledge and behavior require adaptation of future health education on early detection of cancer to different groups.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Testicular self-examination (TSE) among Dutch young men aged 15-19: determinants of the intention to practice TSE.

The present study analyzed what determinants are important to describe and explain the intention of testicular self-examination (TSE) for young men aged 15-19 attending senior high school (response rate 80%, n = 274). The questionnaire assessed determinants, including knowledge, attitude (positive and negative consequences, anticipated regret, and moral obligation), social influence (social norm, social support and modeling) and self-efficacy. Knowledge of testicular cancer and TSE was very low. Only 2% of the subjects reported regularly performing TSE. After hearing of TSE (through the questionnaire), 41% of all young men had a positive intention to start performing TSE regularly. The various intention groups (positive, neutral and negative) differed significantly on almost all of the determinants. Multiple regression analysis showed that young men who where anxious about TSE and those who were not anxious had different determinants explaining the variance in the intention to perform TSE regularly (R2 = 41-57%). Differences in determinants of intention between young men who are anxious about TSE and young men who are not can be used to design health education interventions that may therefore be more effective for these different subgroups.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Tailored versus general information on early detection of cancer: a comparison of the reactions of Dutch adults and the impact on attitudes and behaviors.

This article describes the process evaluation of two interventions (tailored or general information) to encourage people to behave in a manner conducive to the early detection of cancer. A total of 1040 Dutch adults participated in the study. Tailored information is adapted to the characteristics, needs and interests of the individual, and hence has more personal relevance and contains less redundant information. It was therefore hypothesized that tailored information would be evaluated better than general information, does not increase worries, influences attitude and behavior change, and that no differences in subgroups would be found in the reactions to the tailored information. The results showed that both kinds of information were read by a large majority of the participants. Recipients of the tailored information saved and discussed the information with others more often, and they were more appreciative of its format and content. Tailored information resulted significantly more often in changes in attitudes and behavior after the intervention. It is concluded that information adapted to individuals' characteristics is an accepted method of health education in early detection of cancer.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

A randomized controlled study of short-term and long-term effects of tailored information versus general information on intention and behavior related to early detection of cancer.

The effects of computer-tailored information and general information on passive detection (i.e., being alert to cancer symptoms) and help-seeking intention (i.e., consulting a physician with possible cancer symptoms within an appropriate time) were assessed and compared with those in a control group, in a randomized controlled study with a pretest and two posttests. Shortly after the intervention, significant differences between the study groups were found in passive detection and help-seeking intention. Six months after the intervention, there were still differences between the tailored information group and the control group in passive detection and help-seeking intention. We conclude that there were very positive effects of the tailored intervention on passive detection and help-seeking intentions and behaviors in the short term, but additional research is needed to assess ways of maintaining these effects in the long term.

Adult↗