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PubMed1999

Risk perception: unrealistic optimism or realistic expectancy.

The current study investigated risk perception and Unrealistic Optimism as a function of involvement in risk. 74 undergraduate students were asked to rate how likely they were to encounter various negative consequences relative to various comparison targets (child, peer, and parent) and specified their actual involvement in risk-taking. Over-all, 37 High and 37 Low Risk-takers rated harmful events similarly, adding support for disputing the hypothesis that risk-takers consider themselves to be invulnerable. When these older adolescents compared themselves with children, they rated their personal risk of engaging in the health threatening behaviors as higher. Adolescents can realistically appraise the differences between themselves and children and view themselves as more likely to encounter the negative outcomes of risk-taking behaviors. Implications are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Risk perception is affected by modes of risk presentation among Singaporeans.

INTRODUCTION: Not much is known about how Singaporeans perceive and react to risk presentation. There is no consensus on whether the European Union guidelines for describing the risk of side effects are valid. This study investigated the effect of different modes of risk presentation on how Singaporeans perceive and react to medical risk. Furthermore, we investigated the practical usage of qualitative phrases, the European Union's adjectives in particular, in describing levels of risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A hypothetical situation about the risk of side effects of an influenza vaccine was presented in either a probability format (i.e., 5%; n = 42) or a frequency format (i.e., 1 out of 20; n = 43). The 2 versions of questionnaire were handed out in an alternate order to a convenience sample of 47 healthcare professionals and 38 university students. RESULTS: Respondents presented with a "5% risk" were more likely to describe the risk as "uncommon" or "rare", as compared to respondents presented with a risk of "one out of twenty" (P <0.01). Furthermore, the former showed more willingness to accept the influenza vaccine described in the hypothetical situation than in the latter, but this was not statistically different (67% versus 54%; P >0.1). CONCLUSIONS: Modes of risk presentation affect how people perceive risk, even among people who are highly educated.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Relapse and risk perception among members of a smoking cessation clinic.

Assessed perceptions of the health risks associated with smoking in comparison with not smoking among members of smoking cessation clinics. We measured these perceptions at three different time periods during the clinic, and then again at a 6-month follow-up. Results indicated that members who were abstinent at the follow-up had lowered their perceptions of the likelihood of contracting smoking-related illnesses (e.g., emphysema) if they were not smoking. In contrast, those who had relapsed lowered their perceptions of the health risks associated with smoking, but not their perceptions of nonsmoking disease vulnerability. The implications of these changes in risk perception for therapy involvement are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

HIV-related knowledge, attitudes and risk perception amongst nurses, doctors and other healthcare workers in rural India.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: People with HIV in India frequently encounter discrimination while seeking and receiving healthcare services. The knowledge and attitudes of healthcare workers (HCWs) influences the willingness and ability of people with HIV to access care, and the quality of the care they receive. Previous studies of HIV-related knowledge and attitudes amongst Indian HCWs have been conducted primarily in large urban hospitals. The objective of this study was to asses HIV-related knowledge, attitudes and risk perception among a group of rural north Indian HCWs, and to identify predictors of willingness to provide care for patients with HIV infection. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 266 HCWs (78% female) from seven rural north Indian health settings was undertaken in late 2002. A self-administered written questionnaire was made available in English and Hindi, and the response rate was 87 per cent. Information was gathered regarding demographic details (age, sex, duration of employment, job category); HIV-related knowledge and attitudes; risk perception; and previous experience caring for HIV-positive patients. Logistic regression modelling was undertaken to identify factors associated with willingness to care for patients with HIV. RESULTS: The HCWs in this study generally had a positive attitude to caring for people with HIV. However, this was tempered by substantial concerns about providing care, and the risk of occupational infection with HIV was perceived by most HCWs to be high. After controlling for confounding, HCWs willingness to provide care for patients with HIV was strongly associated with having previously cared for patients with HIV (P = 0.001). Knowledge of HIV transmission and perception of risk were not associated with willingness to provide care. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION: The findings of this study showed a general willingness of HCWs to provide care for patients with HIV, tempered by concerns regarding provision of such care. Strategies to address HCWs concerns are likely to ameliorate the discrimination experienced by people with HIV when accessing healthcare services. These include the development of programmes to promote occupational safety of HCWs and involving people with HIV in awareness training of HCWs.

HIV Infections↗
PubMed2005

Sleep-related car crashes: risk perception and decision-making processes in young drivers.

The aim of the present study is to analyse factors affecting worries, coping strategies and decisions of young drivers regarding the risk of sleep-related car crashes. Furthermore, the study also analyses whether framing the same information about sleepiness in two different linguistic forms influences: (1) the evaluation of the level of risk associated to a specific level of drowsiness (Attribute Framing problem); (2) the willingness to enact strategies to "prevent" sleepiness before night-time driving (Goal Framing problem); (3) the choice between two different ways, both of equal expected efficacy, of lowering drowsiness (Risky decision-making Framing problem). Six hundred and ninety-five young drivers [(57.6% females, 42.4% males); mean age 20.85 years (S.D.=1.2)] answered questions on drive risk perception and sleepiness, on nocturnal driving experience and on the strategies to deal with driver sleepiness, responding to one of the two different versions of the framed problems. A sub-sample of 130 participants completed the framed problems in both versions. The results show that experiences of sleep attacks and nocturnal driving frequency in the past 6 months affect both risk perception and the preventive strategies adopted. Furthermore, the manipulation on two out of the three problems (attribute and risky decision-making frames) significantly affected the respondents' evaluation.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Risk perception and cigar smoking behavior.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the cigar smoking perceptions and behaviors of US adults. METHODS: A national sample of 1,012 adults was interviewed by telephone. RESULTS: Current cigar smokers differed from nonsmokers in perceptions of personal risk for cancer and views about cigar smoking as a cancer cause. Both groups showed substantial acceptance of the glamorized image of cigarsmokers. CONCLUSION: Although recognizing smoking as a cancer cause in general, cigar smokers tended to show a self-exempting "optimistic bias" with regard to perceptions of their own risks.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

The influence of flight experience on midair collision risk perception.

Although successful collision avoidance is presumed a learned skill, midair collision accidents typically involve highly experienced pilots. It is hypothesized that pilot complacency, arising from a history of incident-free flights, plays a role in the midair collision process. Pilot risk perception is explored using Laplace's Law of Succession, and the resulting perceived collision probability compared to reality. The two converge at around 5,000 hours of flight experience.

Accidents, Aviation↗
PubMed2002

Risk perception and new age beliefs.

This is a study of risk perception in relation to New Age (NA) beliefs, including traditional folk superstition and belief in paranormal phenomena, as well as use of alternative healing practices. Data were also obtained on trust dimensions and on personality and psychopathology variables, as well as religious involvement. It was found that four factors accounted for the investigated NA beliefs, which were termed higher consciousness beliefs, denial of analytic knowledge, traditional superstition, and belief in the physical reality of the soul. NA beliefs were strongly and positively related to religious involvement, and negatively to educational level. These beliefs were also positively related to maladjustment and to concerns over tampering with nature. In regression analyses, it was found that NA beliefs explained about 15% of the variance of perceived risk, and that the most powerful explanatory factors were higher consciousness beliefs and beliefs in paranormal phenomena. Traditional superstition and use of healing practices did not contribute to explaining perceived risk.

Complementary Therapies↗
PubMed2003

Personal theories of inheritance, coping strategies, risk perception and engagement in hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer families offered genetic testing.

From the geneticist's (or 'genetic counsellor's') perspective, lay models of inheritance can be perceived as problematic because they might interfere with understanding and acceptance of the explanation of inheritance provided in genetic counselling. The work presented here forms part of a larger qualitative grounded-theory study where the aim was to develop theory that could explain variations in adjustment to genetic testing for hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC). Ten of the 29 individuals interviewed who were at 50% or 25% risk used a 'personal theory of inheritance' to justify or explain a belief that they did, or did not, carry the family mutation. Two others indicated that, as a coping strategy, they chose to believe themselves to be carriers. This article presents part of the theory of engagement that was constructed using this data, relating to the process of development of risk perception. The theory suggests that for some individuals, these beliefs can form part of a process of coping and coming to terms with risk. An exploration of these processes may help practitioners to better understand the complexity of risk perception in individuals at genetic risk for cancer, particularly those preparing for predictive test results. Further development and testing of the theory is discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1997

Mortality risk perceptions: a Bayesian reassessment.

"This study uses data on perceived and actual mortality risks to test several alternative Bayesian models of the factors influencing risk beliefs. The analysis...indicates that while the hazard rate for the individual age group is an influential factor, the overall population death rate and the discounted expected number of life years lost due to the cause of death are also influential in affecting risk perceptions.... The predictive power of a linear perception model increases with the level of the risk and is least accurate for very small risks."

Behavior↗
PubMed2006

A comparison of quality of life, disease impact and risk perception in women with invasive breast cancer and ductal carcinoma in situ.

We compared the health-related quality of life, impact of the disease, risk perception of recurrence and dying of breast cancer, and understanding of diagnosis of patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and invasive breast cancer 2-3 years after treatment. We included all women (N=211) diagnosed with DCIS or invasive breast cancer TNM stage I (T1, N0, and M0) in three community hospitals in the southern part of The Netherlands in the period 2002-2003. After verifying the medical files, 180 disease free patients proved eligible for study entry, 47 of whom had DCIS and 133 stage I invasive breast cancer. One-hundred and thirty-five patients returned a completed questionnaire (75% response). No significant differences were found between women with DCIS and invasive breast cancer on the physical and mental component scale of the RAND SF-36, nor on the WHO-5, which assesses well-being. In contrast, women with DCIS reportedly had a better physical health, better sex life and better relationships with friends/acquaintances than women with invasive breast cancer. Despite their better prognosis, the DCIS-group had comparable perceptions of the risk of recurrence and dying of breast cancer as women with invasive breast cancer. However, this did not appear to affect their well-being significantly.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Breast cancer risk assessment and risk perception on nurses and midwives in Bornova Health District in Turkey.

Risk perception is a significant component of awareness of breast cancer risks. It can be helpful to reduce deaths of breast cancer via increasing awareness risk level. This study aimed to discuss the level of perceived and calculated breast cancer risk and to provide data on the practice of breast self-examination and use of mammography among 215 nurses and midwives working in the 23 primary healthcare centers in Turkey. Participants were asked to assess their personal lifetime breast cancer risk by a 4-item Likert scale ("no risk," "usual," "moderate," and "strong" risk), which determined "perceived breast cancer risk." Gail model was used to assess the "calculated breast cancer risk," which was calculated by the tool provided by the National Cancer Institute, version 7. Perceived and calculated risk levels were compared. The relation between sociodemographic and risk factors with "perceived risk" was examined. In addition, the influence of perceived risk on breast cancer screening practice was also assessed. The level of perceived risk of nurses and midwives was higher than that of calculated risk. Considering the fact that participants were healthcare professionals, the use of breast self-examination and mammography practices as a preventive behavior by nurses and midwives was lower than expected. Implications are discussed with regard to breast cancer risk and preventive behavior.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Patient risk perceptions for carotid endarterectomy: which patients are strongly averse to surgery?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patient risk perception for surgery may be central to their willingness to undergo surgery. This study examined potential factors associated with patient aversion of surgery. METHODS: This is a secondary data analysis of a prospective cohort study that examined patients referred for evaluation of carotid artery stenosis at five Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. The study collected demographic, clinical, and psychosocial information related to surgery. This analysis focused on patient response to a question assessing their aversion to surgery. RESULTS: Among the 1065 individuals, at the time of evaluation for carotid endarterectomy (CEA), 66% of patients had no symptoms, 16% had a transient ischemic attack, and 18% had stroke. Twelve percent of patients referred for CEA evaluation were averse to surgery. In adjusted analyses, increased age, black race, no previous surgery, lower level of chance locus of control, less trust of physicians, and less social support were significantly related to greater likelihood of surgery aversion among individuals referred for CEA evaluation. Patient degree of medical comorbidity and a validated measure of preoperative risk score were not associated with increased aversion to surgery. CONCLUSIONS: In previous work, aversion to CEA was associated with lack of receipt of CEA even after accounting for patient clinical appropriateness for surgery. We identified important patient characteristics associated with aversion to CEA. Interventions designed to assist patient decision making should focus on these more complex factors related to CEA aversion rather than the simple explanation of clinical usefulness.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Politics and scientific expertise: scientists, risk perception, and nuclear waste policy.

To study the homogeneity and influences on scientists' perspectives of environmental risks, we have examined similarities and differences in risk perceptions, particularly regarding nuclear wastes, and policy preferences among 1011 scientists and engineers. We found significant differences (p < 0.05) in the patterns of beliefs among scientists from different fields of research. In contrast to physicists, chemists, and engineers, life scientists tend to: (a) perceive the greatest risks from nuclear energy and nuclear waste management; (b) perceive higher levels of overall environmental risk; (c) strongly oppose imposing risks on unconsenting individuals; and (d) prefer stronger requirements for environmental management. On some issues related to priorities among public problems and calls for government action, there are significant variations among life scientists or physical scientists. We also found that--independently of field of research--perceptions of risk and its correlates are significantly associated with the type of institution in which the scientist is employed. Scientists in universities or state and local governments tend to see the risks of nuclear energy and wastes as greater than scientists who work as business consultants, for federal organizations, or for private research laboratories. Significant differences also are found in priority given to environmental risks, the perceived proximity of environmental disaster, willingness to impose risks on an unconsenting population, and the necessity of accepting risks and sacrifices.

Attitude↗
PubMed2005

Applying risk perception theory to public health workforce preparedness training.

Since 9/11, public health has seen a progressive culture change toward a 24/7 emergency response organizational model. This transition entails new expectations for public health workers, including (1) a readiness and willingness to report to duty in emergencies and (2) an ability to effectively communicate risk to an anxious public about terrorism or naturally occurring disasters. To date, however, research on readiness education for health department workers has focused little attention upon the risk perceptions that may influence their willingness to report to duty during disasters, as well as their ability to provide effective emergency risk communication to the public. Here, we apply risk perception factors to explore the potential barriers and remedies to effective public health workforce emergency response.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed2006

Drunk, drowsy, doped: skiers' and snowboarders' injury risk perceptions regarding alcohol, fatigue and recreational drug use.

The objective was to investigate perceptions of snowfield resort visitors about injury risk regarding alcohol, fatigue and recreational drug use. Visitors to a resort village in a large Australian snowfield region completed a brief survey about fatigue, alcohol and recreational drug use and injury risk perception. Participants stated their ability to ski or snowboard and drive safely following a lack of sleep, alcohol and recreational drug use. Intoxicated snowfield resort visitors were compared with non-intoxicated visitors. Safety beliefs across snow sport and transport were compared. Participants reported that they generally slept less than usual and 30% reported both drinking alcohol and using drugs more than usual while visiting the snowfields. Participants perceived driving as a greater injury risk than skiing/snowboarding (p < 0.001). Fatigue was perceived as a relatively weak injury risk factor, particularly whilst skiing and snowboarding. Awareness needs to be raised among snowfield resort visitors about the contribution of alcohol, fatigue and recreational drug use to snow sport and transport-related injury risk.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

HIV-related risk behaviors, perceptions of risk, HIV testing, and exposure to prevention messages and methods among urban American Indians and Alaska Natives.

The goal of this study was to describe HIV risk behaviors, perceptions, testing, and prevention exposure among urban American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). Interviewers administered a questionnaire to participants recruited through anonymous peer-referral sampling. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression were used to compare HIV testing by perception of risk and risk behavior status. Of 218 respondents with seronegative or unknown HIV status, 156 (72%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 66-78%) reported some HIV risk behavior: 57 (26%, 95% CI: 20-32%) high-risk behavior, and 99 (45%, 95% CI: 39-52%), potentially high-risk. Among respondents reporting high-risk behavior, 44% rated themselves at no or low risk for HIV infection. Overall, 180 respondents (83%, 95% CI: 78-88%) had ever received an HIV test, 79 (36%, 95% CI: 31-57%) in the past year. HIV risk behaviors and perception of risk were independently associated with recent HIV testing after adjustment for gender, income, and homelessness (odds ratio [OR] = 3.6; 95% CI: 1.5-9.0 for high-risk behavior vs. no reported risk behavior, and OR: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.3-7.6, for high vs. no perceived risk). Addressing inaccurate perception of risk may be a key to improving uptake of HIV testing among high-risk urban AI/AN.

Adult↗