Biomedical subjects

Lise Renaud

Publications and source records attributed to Lise Renaud.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Scene perception, gaze behavior, and perceptual learning in virtual environments.

More and more immersive environments are developed to provide support for learning or training purposes. Ecological validity of such environments is usually based on learning performance comparisons between virtual environments and their genuine counterparts. Little is known about learning processes occurring in immersive environments. A new technique is proposed for testing perceptual learning during virtual immersion. This methodology relies upon eye-tracking technologies to analyze gaze behavior recorded in relation to virtual objects' features and tasks' requirements. It is proposed that perceptual learning mechanisms engaged could be detected through eye movements. In this study, nine subjects performed perceptual learning tasks in virtual immersion. Results obtained indicated that perceptual learning influences gaze behavior dynamics. More precisely, analysis revealed that fixation number and variability in fixation duration varied with perceptual learning level. Such findings could contribute in shedding light on learning mechanisms as well as providing additional support for validating virtual learning environments.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Role of pharmacological aids and social supports in smoking cessation associated with Quebec's 2000 Quit and Win campaign.

BACKGROUND: This evaluation of the 2000 Quit and Win campaign in the province of Quebec, Canada, assessed the use and effectiveness of pharmacological aids, social support, and support resources (clinic program, support groups, books, telephone support) among contest participants. The reach of the contest was 1.3% of adult smokers: 20,400 participants. METHODS: Six months after the contest ended, 3,033 randomly selected participants completed telephone interviews about their smoking status and their use of nonform aids, social support, support resources, and pharmacological aids during their cessation attempt. Those who were abstinent from smoking were then reinterviewed 6 months later, that is, 12 months after the contest. RESULTS: Cessation rates were 66% at contest end, 36% at 6 months, and 22% at 12 months. Heavier smokers were somewhat more likely to have quit. Overall, 41% of respondents used any form of aid (support resources and pharmacological aids) in the first 6 months; among these, 42% used bupropion and 38% used nicotine patches. Those using bupropion were more likely to successfully quit smoking. Successful quitters rated the social support received from their buddy as more useful than did relapsers, and social support was unrelated to the use of pharmacological aids. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that adequate investment in population-wide Quit and Win programs that provide a variety of appropriate aids to smokers, including social support and pharmacological products, can improve the reach of smokers.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Media treatment of messages on weight loss products by the Association for Public Health of Quebec and its reception].

BACKGROUND: The results of a study on weight loss products and services were released during a press conference organized by the Association pour la santé publique du Québec (ASPQ). The media widely covered this press conference. The purpose of this article is to answer the question: "How are messages emitted by public health institutions transmitted by the media and received by the population?" METHOD: The transcripts of the press conference, the press release as well as 43 documents from the print and broadcast media were evaluated according to a press analysis method. The analysis of these documents was based on the concept of the information unit. The compilation of these information units was used to produce charts which include data such as the frequency, partiality, weight tendency ("poids-tendance") and tendency-impact ("tendance-impact"). Furthermore, two focus groups of persons using weight loss products and services were conducted. RESULTS: In this article, we compare the emitted message with the one transmitted. The analysis of the message emitted by the ASPQ and that conveyed by the media revealed that for almost all subjects dealt with during the press conference, the media have been more partial than the ASPQ. The media not only expanded on the emitted message but also gave a negative image of weight loss products and services. Furthermore, the message transmitted by the media was very similar to the initial message. The focus groups on how the message was received by persons using weight loss products and services also revealed that the message was lost in the flow of information on weight loss products and services. CONCLUSION: This analysis of the emitted, transmitted and received messages has given us some indications on how to readjust the initial message and on what to emphasize in future press conferences.

Focus Groups↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A model of mechanisms underlying the influence of media on health behaviour norms.

Media-based interventions are common in health promotion, yet their conceptual underpinnings tend to be based on a simple linear model of direct influence on individuals' health behaviour. Recent studies have suggested that the processes through which media influence health behaviours are actually far more complex. This paper presents a conceptual model of how the medias influence the emergence and maintenance of the social norms that can contribute to shaping health behaviours. Through positive (amplifying) and negative (dampening) loops, a total of six potential influence pathways are proposed, and the role of opinion leaders and specialists is specified. Future directions for empirical tests of the model are identified.

Attitude to Health↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Critical analysis on best practices in health literacy.

From a holistic perspective, health literacy is a requirement for the well-being of entire populations. It moves beyond the focus on individuals to consider the role of organizations and systems. This perspective offers a context for discussing best practices in health literacy, and implications for research and policy development. This paper offers an overview of the best practices that were presented at the Second Canadian Conference on Literacy and Health. It discusses clear writing in some detail because it was emphasized at the conference. It also considers practices that were addressed less emphatically, such as oral communication between patients and health care professionals, training for health care professionals, non-written means of communication (such as video), and building capacity through action-research. The paper critiques some practices. It also notes the lack of research on the links between health literacy and oral understanding, on the impact of verbal and non-written interventions, and on the effectiveness of these practices on the health outcomes of the population. It briefly discusses policy issues and suggests some future directions.

Benchmarking↗