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The characteristics of suicide attempts based on the suicidal intent scale scores.

The aim of the work was to present the characteristics of suicide attempts, distinguished on the basis of the scores in the Suicidal Intent Scale questionnaire (SIS), created by Aaron Beck, professor of psychiatry from Philadelphia. The group examined comprised 238 patients (63 males and 175 females) hospitalised in the Department of Clinical Toxicology CMUJ in Kraków in the years 2000-2001, after a suicidal self-intoxication with xenobiotics. The examination was conducted by means of the Suicidal Intent Scale (SIS)--a psychological test created by Aaron Beck. In the case of about 65% of the patients examined, their suicide attempts most frequently were acts of impulsive behaviour, rarely planned for longer than three hours before the realization and usually made in another person's presence or in a situation in which another person's intervention was highly probable. Such attempts had the character of "a cry for help", and were aimed at effecting some change or at manipulating the environment. Nevertheless, the patients acted in a conviction that their act was a serious attempt at ending life, and, most frequently, they maintained such opinions during the examination. On the other hand, they rarely expressed further suicidal intents, and more frequently accepted the fact that their lives had been saved. By contrast, the remaining 35% of the patients examined had attempted suicide with the evident intention to kill themselves; they had taken full precautions against being discovered and had planned suicide carefully to eliminate the smallest possibility of intervention. In the majority of cases, they still maintained the wish to die after the attempt. As the results of the examination indicate, the Suicidal Intent Scale, and, especially, the Precautions subscale, point at the important aspect of suicidal intentions, which, being of vital importance for the diagnostic purposes and suicide prevention, requires further investigation.

Adult↗

[Determining factors of intention to actual use of charged long-term care services for the aged].

OBJECTIVES: To help develop strategies to cope with the changes arising from the rapid aging process by predicting the determining factors of intention to actual use of the charged long-term care services for elderly as perceived by the middle aged who play the major role of supports. METHODS: Subjects were the parents (men 177, women 507) in their 40s of the students selected from a university of Busan city. A questionnaire survey was conducted for 4 weeks in October 2003 about the knowledge for long-term care service, the intention of actual use, and the preferences about the type of service suppliers. Data analysis was performed with frequency, chi-square test, and t-test using SPSS program (ver 10.0K), along with data mining using decision tree of Enterprise Miner V8.2 by SAS. RESULTS: About half of the subjects (53.7%) had the actual experiences of elderly supports. Intentions to use the charged services were relatively high in home visiting nursing care service (40.1%) and long-term care facilities service (40.4%), and were influenced by previous knowledge about the services. The intentions were stronger in women, those with higher education, and those with greater income levels. Actual elderly supports were mc (80%) done by women, and the perceived burdens for supports were bigger in women and those of lower s economic level. Desired charges were about 10,000 for the bath service, 20,000 won for the rests services day, and about 500,000 won for the long-term care facil service per month. From the result of decision analysis, the job professionalism was the most impol determining factor of intention to actual use of the serv with validation as 63-71%. Health and welfare mixed facilities were preferred, and the most impor consideration was the level of professionalism. CONCLUSIONS: Intention to actual use of the chad services was largely determined by the aspects of time cost. Polices to increase the number of service supp and to decrease the burdens perceived by ac supporters were strongly recommended.

Adult↗

Primary closure vs second-intention treatment of skin punch biopsy sites: a randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if healing of punch biopsy wounds by second intention is equivalent to healing with primary closure. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, method comparison equivalence study. SETTING: Tertiary academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Study volunteers were recruited from the general population and enrolled between January 7, 2002, and August 20, 2002. Patients with immunodeficiency, peripheral vascular disease, or history of keloid formation and those receiving anticoagulation therapy or systemic corticosteroids were excluded. Intervention Study volunteers had two 4-mm or two 8-mm punch biopsies performed on the upper outer arms, midlateral aspect of the thighs, or upper back. One biopsy site was closed with interrupted 4-0 nylon suture, and the contralateral biopsy site was allowed to heal by second intention. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: At 9 months, scar appearance was evaluated blindly and independently by 3 physicians using a visual analog scale (0 indicating poor and 100 indicating best). RESULTS: Seventy-seven of 82 enrolled volunteers completed the study. Mean (SD) visual analog scale score was 57.1 (19.5) for biopsy sites allowed to heal by second intention and 58.9 (19.7) for biopsy sites that healed with primary closure. The median surface area of the biopsy scars at 9 months was 32 mm(2) for second intention and 33 mm(2) for primary closure. For the 8-mm biopsies, the volunteers preferred the appearance of the sites that healed with primary closure; however, for the 4-mm biopsies, volunteers had no significant preference for either biopsy method. Costs were lower for second intention, and complications were equivalent. CONCLUSIONS: Punch biopsy sites allowed to heal by second intention appear at least as good as biopsy sites closed primarily with suture. Although volunteers preferred suturing at larger biopsy sites, elimination of suturing of punch biopsy wounds would result in personnel efficiency and economic savings for both patients and medical institutions.

Adult↗

Intentional injury surveillance in a primary care pediatric setting.

OBJECTIVE: To describe intentional injuries identified by primary care providers caring for children and adolescents, as reported through a prospective surveillance system. SETTING: Pediatric departments at four sites affiliated with a large health maintenance organization in eastern Massachusetts. DESIGN: Primary care providers completed brief injury encounter reports for patients aged 3 to 18 years treated for an intentional injury during a 20-month study period. For comparison purposes, a convenience sample of medical record was reviewed. RESULTS: Two hundred eleven injury encounter reports were received, representing a reported rate of 4.1 intentional injuries per 1000 panel members per year. These injuries ranged from contusions and lacerations to sexual assault and homicide. The median age of children at the time of injury was 14 years (interquartile range, 12 to 16 years), older than the population median age of 10 years (interquartile range, 6 to 14 years) (P<.001, Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test). Boys had a relative risk 1.5 times that of girls (P<.05, binomial test). Almost half of the injuries to adolescent girls resulted from encounters with other girls; 10% were the result of dating violence. In most cases, the patient and his or her assailant were friends or acquaintances (56%). This prospective surveillance detected, at most, 67% of intentional injuries seen, while medical record review detected 59% of the total identified injuries. CONCLUSIONS: Primary care pediatricians can identify and treat children and adolescents for intentional injuries. As these patients may form an appropriate group for interventions directed at reducing the risk of future intentional injuries, more effective public health surveillance must be developed.

Adolescent↗

Mortality from intentional and unintentional injury among infants of young mothers in Colorado, 1986 to 1992.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between maternal age and other risk factors and infant injury deaths in the state of Colorado from 1986 to 1992. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort design was used to compare rates of unintentional and intentional infant injury mortality by maternal age group. A case-control design explored the importance of various risk factors, particularly maternal age, using multivariate logistic regression. PARTICIPANTS: The 2 case groups comprised all unintentional and intentional injury deaths in the first year of life. The control group was a random sample of both survivors and noninjury deaths selected from the entire birth cohort. RESULTS: The infant injury mortality rate for the 322766 live births in Colorado from 1986 to 1992 was 3.1 per 10000. Intentional injury death rates were highest for infants of teenaged mothers, peaking at 10.5 per 10000 live births for mothers aged 16 years. Unintentional injury death rates were highest for infants of mothers aged 20 to 24 years, peaking at 3.7 per 10000 live births for 22-year-old mothers. For intentional injury death, maternal marital status had a significant impact on maternal age; compared with the baseline group of married mothers older than 24 years, significantly higher risks were observed for infants of teenagers who were married (odds ratio [OR] = 32.0; 95% confidence interval[CI], 9.9-104.0) but also in infants of older mothers who were unmarried (OR = 3.6; 95% CI, 1.0-13.0 for unmarried mothers aged 20-24 years and (OR = 7.7; 95% CI, 2.4-25.0 for those > 24 years). Black race (OR = 3.5; 95% CI, 1.4-9.4) was also associated with intentional injury death. For unintentional injury death, the highest risk was for infants of mothers aged 20 to 24 years and unmarried (OR = 3.9; 95% CI, 1.7-9.3). Risk was also elevated for infants of married teenaged mothers (OR = 3.5; 95% CI, 0.7-17.8) but was not significantly different from the baseline group for unmarried teenagers, married 20- to 24-year-old mothers, or unmarried mothers aged 25 years or older. Risk was increased by the presence of older siblings (OR = 1.5 per sibling; 95% CI, 1.2-2.0). CONCLUSIONS: Maternal age and marital status significantly affect the rate of both unintentional and intentional infant injury mortality. These results suggest that child abuse prevention strategies should be targeted to teenaged mothers, and that strategies designed to prevent unintentional injuries should focus particularly on parents or caretakers of infants born to unmarried mothers in their early 20s as well as married teenagers.

Adult↗

Imaging the intentional stance in a competitive game.

The "intentional stance" is the disposition to treat an entity as a rational agent, possessing particular beliefs, desires, and intentions, in order to interpret and predict it's behavior. The intentional stance is a component of a broader social cognitive function, mentalizing. Here we report a study that investigates the neural substrates of "on-line" mentalizing, using PET, by asking volunteers to second-guess an opponent. In order to identify brain activity specifically associated with adoption of an intentional stance, we used a paradigm that allowed tight control of other cognitive demands. Volunteers played a computerised version of the children's game "stone, paper, scissors." In the mentalizing condition volunteers believed they were playing against the experimenter. In the comparison condition, volunteers believed they were playing against a computer. In fact, during the actual scanning, the "opponent" produced a random sequence in both conditions. The only difference was the attitude, or stance, adopted by the volunteer. Only one region was more active when volunteers adopted the intentional stance. This was in anterior paracingulate cortex (bilaterally). This region has been activated in a number of previous studies involving mentalizing. However, this is the first study suggesting a specific link between activity in this brain region and the adoption of an intentional stance.

Adult↗

Cigarette smoking and the intention to quit among pregnant smokers.

Research has demonstrated that smoking during pregnancy has deleterious effects on the health of the unborn child as well as the mother. The present study examined whether pregnant smokers would have a greater intention to quit smoking, whether the stage of pregnancy would influence the intention to quit, and whether variables which have predicted cessation among pregnant smokers would also predict intention to quit. The results indicated that pregnant women did not have a significantly greater intention to quit smoking compared to nonpregnant smokers, despite the health risks to their child. Women who were further along in their pregnancy and women who smoked more cigarettes on a daily basis demonstrated the least intention to quit. Notably, women in the first trimester showed the greatest intention to quit, suggesting that pregnant women may be most receptive to quitting during their first trimester.

Adolescent↗

Hopelessness and low-intent in parasuicide.

Parasuicide is usually associated with low suicidal intent and research data show that rising rates remain a challenging clinical and research problem. Hopelessness, a core characteristic of depression, appears to be the link between depression and suicidal behavior in high-risk patients. Previous research in this regard focused largely on hopelessness as a correlate of suicide, attempted suicide, serious suicidal intent, and as a predictor of eventual suicide among serious suicidal ideators in the absence of a recent suicide attempt. The present study was designed to investigate the relationship between hopelessness and low suicidal intent in a cohort of 337 hospitalized adult parasuicide patients referred to a general hospital psychiatric unit. Within 24-48 hours after admission, all patients, once alert, underwent an individual detailed clinical interview and one of three assessments, viz., they were rated on the Beck Hopelessness Scale, The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale or, DSM III criteria for depression. Results support the positive relationship between hopelessness and suicidal behavior in low-intent patients, previously demonstrated in high-intent patients. The need to also address hopelessness in low-intent patients as part of an effective therapeutic intervention strategy is discussed.

Adult↗

Longitudinal stability and predictability of sexual perceptions, intentions, and behaviors among early adolescent African-Americans.

PURPOSE: To assess the stability and predictability of perceptions, intentions, and behaviors regarding intended sexual intercourse and condom use. METHODS: One hundred and nineteen African-American youth aged 9-15 years living in urban public housing provided information at baseline and 6 months later using a theory-based and culturally- and developmentally-tailored instrument assessing perceptions, intentions, and sexual behaviors. RESULTS: Over the 6-month study interval, individual behaviors, intentions, and perceptions demonstrated considerable stability. Intentions regarding sexual intercourse in the next half-year were predictive of subsequent coitus among the entire cohort and among the subset who were virgins at baseline. Youth who thought it likely that they would be sexually-active in the next 6 months were at significantly elevated risk of doing so, compared to youth who were uncertain or thought coitus unlikely. However, intentions regarding future coitus among the subset of youth who were sexually-experienced at baseline were not predictive of future coital behavior. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that social cognitive behavioral models that incorporate intentions and perceptions are appropriate as the theoretical basis for interventions targeting these young adolescents.

Adolescent↗

Intention to test for prostate cancer.

The aim of this study was to assess intention among men to take a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, when this test was: (i) offered by a doctor or (ii) based on the men's own initiative. A further aim was to use the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to predict the most important determinants for taking a PSA test. In addition, the intention to take a PSA test among men who had the opportunity to read a PSA leaflet published by the Swedish Cancer Society was compared with men who had not read the leaflet. A total of 1000 men, age range 40-70 years, were selected randomly from a population database. The TPB model was used to measure attitudes about PSA testing. The constructed questionnaire was posted to the selected sample. Half of the sample received only the TPB questionnaire and the other half also received a PSA leaflet. The response rate was approximately 63%. The results showed that men would be less likely to request a PSA test if their doctor did not suggest the test (mean approximately 3.8 (range 1-7 from not likely to very likely)). However, if they were offered the test, most would take it (mean approximately 6.0 (range 1-7)). The positive "Attitude factor" towards the test was the most salient predictor of both behaviours. In addition, the probability of requesting a test was higher among those who had already taken a PSA test. The men who did not receive the PSA leaflet reported a higher intention to take the test than those who had received it. Overall, 47% of the variance was explained concerning men's intention to take a PSA test when offered by a doctor and 25% of men's intention to request the PSA test themselves. In conclusion, the majority of men in this study had a positive attitude towards PSA testing. The results indicate that most men could be expected to accept screening. The intention to take the PSA test was lower among the men who had received the PSA leaflet.

Adult↗

Attitudes and intentions in relation to skin checks for early signs of skin cancer.

BACKGROUND: Screening for melanoma by whole-body clinical skin examination or skin self-examination may improve early diagnosis of melanoma. As part of the first phase of a community-based randomised controlled trial of screening for melanoma, this study examined the prevalence of skin screening intentions and associated factors in a population at high risk for skin cancer. METHODS: A telephone survey stratified by gender reached 3,110 participants > or = 30 years representative for the population. RESULTS: Overall, 45% intended to have a clinical skin check, and 72% intended to examine their own skin within the next 12 months. In multivariate analysis, a history of a clinical skin examination was most strongly related to intention to screen. Concern about skin cancer or a personal history of skin cancer and high susceptibility towards skin cancer were further important determinants of screening intention. Men were less likely than women to intend participation. CONCLUSIONS: Given that skin screening is not recommended by health authorities in absence of scientific evidence of benefit, the intention to participate in screening for melanoma in this Australian sample was high. Except for the lower intention among men, screening intention appears to be highest in those at highest risk of melanoma.

Adult↗

Adolescents' intentions to smoke as a predictor of smoking.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents' intentions to smoke are generally regarded as a valid and reliable predictor of subsequent smoking. This association is largely based on research with adults and needs a more detailed analysis for adolescents. METHODS: Data on intentions and smoking status were collected as part of a longitudinal, birth-cohort study when the study members were 9, 11, 13, 15, 18, and 21 years of age. RESULTS: The results showed that intention to smoke only had an important predictive power in the subgroup of previous nonsmokers. Among those already smoking (on a monthly basis or greater), previous level of smoking was a more important predictor of future behavior than intention to smoke. In addition, the effect of positive intention to smoke was nonlinear over age and had the greatest effect at age 15. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that in adolescence, measurement of intentions to smoke or not smoke cannot be assumed to be a general predictor of behavior at a later age for all groups of adolescents.

Adolescent↗

African-American men and intention to adhere to recommended follow-up for an abnormal prostate cancer early detection examination result.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the intention of African-American men to have the recommended follow-up in the event of an abnormal prostate cancer early detection examination and to identify the variables that help to explain adherence intention. METHODS: In the spring of 1995, we selected a random sample of 548 African-American men who were patients at the University of Chicago Health Service. The sample included men who were 40 to 70 years of age, did not have a personal history of prostate cancer, and had a working telephone number. A total of 413 men who completed the telephone survey received an invitation to consider undergoing a prostate cancer early detection examination. The survey provided data on personal background characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs related to prostate cancer and early detection. Respondents were asked whether they would choose to have the recommended follow-up in the event of an abnormal early detection examination result. Univariate and multivariate analyses of intention to have follow-up were performed. RESULTS: An intention to have the recommended follow-up was reported by 77% of the survey respondents. The results of multivariate analyses revealed that the intention to have the follow-up was positively associated with education beyond high school (odds ratio [OR] 1.9); perceived self-efficacy related to prostate cancer screening (OR 2.1); the belief that prostate cancer can be cured (OR 3.3); the belief that prostate cancer screening should be done in the absence of prostate problems (OR 2.3); and physician support for prostate cancer screening (OR 2.1). CONCLUSIONS: African-American men who have a high school education or less may be at risk of nonadherence to recommended follow-up. Adherence also may be low among men who do not have favorable views of early detection or do not perceive strong physician support for early detection. Research is needed to determine whether intention and other factors predict actual adherence to follow-up in this population group.

Adult↗

Protective role of health values in adolescents' future intentions to use condoms.

PURPOSE: To examine the protective role of health values in adolescents' intentions to use condoms. METHODS: Two hundred thirty-six sexually active adolescents who were attending a municipal sexually transmitted diseases clinic were interviewed, using standardized and constructed instruments, regarding their previous condom use, health values, condom attitudes, social norms regarding condoms, self-efficacy regarding condoms, and intentions to use condoms in the future. Correlations and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the direct and indirect effects of health values on intentions to use condoms. RESULTS: Health values were significantly correlated with intentions to use condoms with main and casual sexual partners, and accounted for a significant amount of variance in intentions to use condoms with casual sexual partners, after controlling for demographic variables, past condom use, and constructs from the Theory of Planned Behavior. Health values were also found to moderate the relationship between condom attitudes and intentions to use condoms with casual partners. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to include health values as a protective factor in health behavior theory and risk-reduction interventions are warranted.

Adolescent↗

Health beliefs and intention to get immunized for HIV.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of health beliefs to intention to accept human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccination. METHODS: Respondents were 81 female and 44 male college students who completed self-administered questionnaires. Questionnaires included items assessing intention to get vaccinated for HIV and the following health beliefs: perceived susceptibility to HIV infection, severity of AIDS, benefits of HIV immunization, pragmatic obstacles to vaccination, conditional nonmembership in a risk group, fear of the vaccine, and fear of needles. RESULTS: Nearly 30% of the subjects were uncertain about or opposed to getting immunized for HIV. Susceptibility, severity, pragmatic obstacles, conditional nonmembership in a risk group, and fear of the vaccine were significantly correlated with intent to get vaccinated. Fear of needles, gender, and race were not associated with intent to get an HIV vaccine. Multiple regression analysis identified susceptibility, benefits, pragmatic obstacles, nonmembership in risk group, and fear of the vaccine as significant independent predictors of intent to vaccinate. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary survey findings demonstrate that intention to accept HIV immunization is not universal and that health beliefs may influence HIV vaccine acceptance. They suggest that it may be important to consider the effects of psychological factors in future research on HIV vaccine acceptance and in the ultimate implementation of HIV immunization programs.

AIDS Vaccines↗

Young drivers' health attitudes and intentions to drink and drive.

PURPOSE: To evaluate young drivers' intentions to drink and drive in the context of a health attitude model, the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT). METHODS: Licensed drivers attending college and ranging from 17 to 20 years of age (n = 304) completed questionnaires assessing PMT variables in the context of drinking and driving. More than half the sample consisted of females (62%) and most were white (89%). The drivers rated the extent to which they found drinking and driving to be personally rewarding, their perceived vulnerability to the risks of drinking and driving, the severity of the risks, the response efficacy of alternative adaptive responses to drinking and driving, their self-efficacy for implementing alternative responses, and the response costs associated with the responses. The relationship between PMT variables and drivers' intention to drink and drive was tested using hierarchical multiple regression analyses with attitudes concerning drinking and driving (rewards, vulnerability, and severity) entered in the regression equation first, followed by attitudes concerning alternative adaptive responses (response efficacy, self-efficacy, and response costs). RESULTS: The PMT model was found to predict intentions to drink and drive. Young drivers who perceived rewards for drinking and driving and who felt vulnerable to the risks of drinking and driving were significantly more likely to report intentions to drink and drive. Attitudes about alternative adaptive responses to drinking and driving, including perceiving low self-efficacy for implementing alternative responses and perceiving personal costs for engaging in alternative options, also contributed to drivers' intentions to drink and drive. CONCLUSIONS: Although teenaged drivers are well informed of the dangers of drinking and driving, they still put themselves and others at risk by driving after consuming alcohol. Health professionals promoting safer alternatives might consider how young drivers' attitudes about both drinking and driving and alternative adaptive responses contribute to their intentions to drink and drive.

Adolescent↗

Discerning intentions in dynamic human action.

When we observe others in motion, we usually care little about the surface behaviors they exhibit. What matters are their underlying intentions. Judgments about intentions and intentionality dictate how we understand and remember others' actions, how we respond, and what we predict about their future action. A generative knowledge system underlies our skill at discerning intentions, enabling us to comprehend intentions even when action is novel and unfolds in complex ways over time. Recent work spanning many disciplines illuminates some of the processes involved in intention detection. We review these developments and articulate a set of questions cutting across current theoretical dividing lines.

Journal Article↗

Applying theory of planned behavior to predict nurses' intention and volunteering to care for SARS patients in southern Taiwan.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) spread worldwide after an outbreak in Guangdong Province, China, in mid-November 2002. Health care workers were at highest risk of infection. The purpose of this study, which was based on Ajzen's theory of planned behavior (TPB), was to determine the extent to which personal attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived control influence nurses' intention and volunteering to care for SARS patients. After the SARS outbreak, a total of 750 staff nurses (response rate 90%) at one hospital completed a questionnaire assessing their intention to provide care to SARS patients. Overall, 42.7% of nurses had a positive intention to provide care to SARS patients, and 25.4% of nurses would volunteer to care for SARS patients. Four factors explaining 35% of the variance in nurses' intention to care for SARS patients were self-efficacy (beta = 0.39, p < 0.001), attitude (beta = 0.25, p < 0.001), years of working in the study hospital (beta = -0.15, p < 0.001), and receiving resources from the hospital (beta = 0.13, p < 0.001). Two factors explaining 15% of the variance in nurses' volunteering to care for SARS patients were intention (beta = 0.31, p < 0.001) and attitude (beta = 0.15, p < 0.001). The final model shows that the variables of the TPB contributed significantly to the explanation of a portion of variance in nurses' intention and volunteering to care for SARS patients. The results are helpful for human resources managers facing a new contagious disease.

Adult↗