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PubMedDate not supplied

Rural parents' perceptions of risks associated with their children's exposure to radon.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the level of awareness of radon issues, correlates of elective testing behaviors, and the accuracy of risk perception for radon exposures among rural residents receiving public health services. DESIGN: A cross-sectional design was used in which questionnaire data and household analytic data for radon levels were collected from a nonprobabilistic sample of rural households. SAMPLE: Thirty-one rural households with 71 adults and 60 children participated in the study. Primary household respondents were female (100%), Caucasian (97%), and primarily (94%) between 21 and 40 years of age. MEASUREMENT: Questionnaire data consisted of knowledge and risk perception items about radon and all homes were tested for the presence of radon. RESULTS: The prevalence of high airborne radon (defined as> or=4 pCi/l) was 32%. More than a third of the sample underestimated the seriousness of health effects of radon exposure, 39% disagreed that being around less radon would improve the long-term health of their children, and 52% were unsure whether radon could cause health problems. After adjusting for chance, only 21% of the subjects correctly understood their risk status. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides preliminary evidence that low-income rural citizens do not understand their risk of radon exposure or the deleterious consequences of exposure.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Quality of life and risk perception among predominantly heterosexual, minority individuals with HIV/AIDS.

The objective of this study was to examine the quality-of-life concerns of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals and to assess their perceptions of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and the need for safer sex, in light of treatment advances. Respondents were recruited from seven AIDS service organizations in New York City, and the total sample consisted of 196 HIV-infected individuals. The sample consisted largely of heterosexual, African Americans, and Latinos. Respondents completed a self-administered questionnaire that was made available in English or Spanish. Three-quarters of the sample were receiving protease inhibitor combination therapies. Overall, respondents reported a high level of life satisfaction as well as trust in their medical providers. Health worries and financial worries were the main areas of concern. A significant minority of respondents indicated reduced concern about AIDS and the need for continued safer sex practices, because of the latest treatments. Respondents with greater quality-of-life concerns were more likely to believe that AIDS was less severe now and that safer sex was less important.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Attitudes, knowledge, risk perceptions and decision-making among women with breast and/or ovarian cancer considering testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 and their spouses.

A limited number of studies have examined the involvement of spouses in the decision-making process for genetic testing as well as impact of the actual testing. This report presents data from 40 women with a personal history of breast and/or ovarian cancer who were considering genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 and their spouses. We examined knowledge and attitudes regarding genetic testing for breast cancer susceptibility, perceptions of the likelihood that their wives (the women) had a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, pros and cons of genetic testing, spouses' satisfaction with their involvement in the decision-making process and additional resources they would find helpful. Knowledge about cancer genetics and genetic testing for BRCA1 and BCA2 was limited among both women and their spouses. Up to one-third of spouses indicated that they would like to avail themselves of additional sources of information about BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing. Most spouses indicated that they thought their wives had a mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 and that their wives' breast cancers would recur. Pros of genetic testing were emphasized more than cons among both parties. Overall, spouses were satisfied with their role in the decision-making process. Future interventions to improve the decision-making process regarding genetic testing for breast cancer susceptibility should be undertaken.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Mem↗
PubMed2004

Risk perceptions regarding ticks and Lyme disease: a national survey.

BACKGROUND: Lyme disease (LD) is caused by the tickborne bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and, in 2000, accounted for >90% of all reported cases of vectorborne illness in the United States. Aside from anecdotal and indirect evidence, little empirical evidence exists regarding what the U.S. public knows, says, or does about preventing LD. OBJECTIVES: To examine knowledge, perceptions, and practices regarding prevention of tick bites and LD. METHODS: In 1998, a random-digit-dial frame was used to collect a cross-sectional sample (n =1500) from the 48 coterminous states plus the District of Columbia, and an over-sample (n =250) from six states with the highest incidence of LD. RESULTS: Forty percent of respondents reported doing something to avoid being bitten by ticks. Less than half (41%) used insect repellent. Ninety-two percent of those who had heard about LD stated their likelihood of ever getting the disease was </=50 on a 100-point scale (mean=29; standard deviation, 23.5). Being somewhat to very concerned about being bitten by ticks was strongly associated with taking preventive measures (odds ratio, 8.34; 95% confidence interval, 6.29-11.06). CONCLUSIONS: Having seen ticks, being concerned about being bitten, perceiving insect repellent to be effective, having heard about LD, and knowing someone who had LD are the factors most predictive of specific tick-bite preventive behaviors (p <0.001). However, greater efforts are needed in promoting the effectiveness and safety of DEET-containing insect repellents.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Anxiety and perception of risk of HIV and hepatitis B infection among health-care workers reporting accidental exposures to blood and other body fluids.

We noticed considerable variation in anxiety among staff reporting blood exposure incidents and therefore undertook a study to investigate this. We studied 100 consecutive staff reporting blood or other body fluid exposures to the Occupational Health Unit. The nurse seeing the staff member administered a questionnaire about worries related to the incident, knowledge of HIV and hepatitis B transmission risks, perception of risk from the particular incident and predicted reaction of others that would be told. Level of anxiety was recorded on a visual analogue scale. Staff were then given information and counselling as usual, and asked to re-attend after a week, when the questionnaire was repeated. We found that the initial level of anxiety was not related to knowledge of HIV or hepatitis B transmission risks, but was related to perception of risk from the incident and to predicted reaction of others that would be told. The eight staff involved in exposures to known HIV-infected blood were not more anxious than the remainder. There was a reduction in anxiety between visits, which was significantly greater in women, in those who had a non-parental exposure and in those where the source patient was known. Knowledge of transmission risks also improved significantly between visits. This study underlines the importance of adequate counselling of staff who have suffered blood exposures.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Prevalence of family history of kidney disease and perception of risk for kidney disease: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: A family history of kidney disease is associated with an increased risk for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, it is unclear whether blacks are more likely to have a family history of ESRD than other groups independently of kidney disease risk factors. Moreover, their risk perception for kidney disease is unknown. METHODS: The association of race with family history of ESRD and perception of risk for kidney disease was examined in a representative random sample of 402 Georgia residents who completed a telephone interview. Logistic regression analysis was used to derive adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the association between race and family history of ESRD, controlling for age, sex, education level, being a Georgia native, diabetes, hypertension, and personal history of kidney disease. A multinomial logit model was used to derive adjusted estimates for the association between race and perception of risk for kidney disease. RESULTS: Mean age was 43.2 years, 41.0% of respondents were men, 20.1% were black, 6.6% had diabetes, 21.4% had hypertension, 1.6% had a personal history of kidney disease, and 3.7% reported a family member with ESRD. Although blacks were more likely to report a family history of ESRD (odds ratio, 6.43; 95% confidence interval, 2.02 to 20.43), their perception of risk was not greater. CONCLUSION: Although blacks are approximately 6 times as likely to report a family history of ESRD independently of a personal history of kidney disease, diabetes, or hypertension, they do not perceive themselves as more vulnerable for kidney disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Perception of risk and credibility at toxic sites.

This study integrates previous research methodologies to compare the risk perceptions and responses to risk messages of agency personnel and neighbors of Superfund sites in Michigan. The integration attempted and the focus on risk messages are shaped by a critical review of the social amplification conceptual framework. The study involved all four agency groups and three groups of site neighbors actively involved in Superfund planning across the state. The first part of the study utilized the psychometric techniques of hazard rating and hazard profiles that had not previously been used in studies involving stakeholders. While agency personnel responded similarly to experts in previous studies, the responses of individuals in the neighbor groups reflected experience with toxic sites and were dissimilar to previous ratings by the general public. The second part of the study consisted of a hypothetical toxic site scenario that focused on specific risk messages at different times in the site history. Results indicate that the difference in perception of risk occurs after the first testing at a site, and that dramatic differences arise between agency and resident groups regarding the credibility of information sources and the need for independent testing. A general lack of trust in the Superfund program was demonstrated by all groups. The results indicate that problems of institutional credibility and program adequacy cannot be addressed by better risk communication.

Communication↗
PubMed1993

Perception of risk of HIV infection from regular attenders to an industrial dental service.

The advent of the HIV pandemic has necessitated the introduction of consistent cross-infection procedures for dentistry. Suprisingly little is known of patient reactions to some of these changes. A structured questionnaire was administered (in 1988/9, n = 613) to regular-attending patients of an industrial dental service to assess their views towards cross-infection procedures. Approximately a third of the study sample believed that there was a slight risk or more of contracting HIV infection at the dentist. This risk perception attenuated with further visits to the dentist. Some patients (13%) claimed to be aware from the media of someone having been cross-infected with the HIV virus from a dental visit. The majority of patients prefer the dentist to adopt the barrier methods of mask and glove wearing. Over 60% of patients would like their dentist to wear a mask when in fact a mask had not been worn. Accuracy of recall by patients for mask wearing was only 70% and for glove wearing 88%. The possibility that drawing the patient's attention to cross-infection control may be reassuring for the patient was not supported with some evidence to suggest that in instances where the dentist provided treatment, the patient's perception of risk was increased.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Perception of blood transfusion risk.

Perceptions of risk ultimately drive the responses of individuals and society to risk issues, and transfusion risk is no exception. Surveys of lay people over the past decade indicate that public concern about transfusion safety has remained prevalent, dominated by the ongoing fear of contracting HIV infection. Such perceptions persist despite the acknowledgment that blood transfusion is safer now than in years past. Judgements by the lay public that may, at first glance, seem irrational can often be understood when the heuristics, biases, and models of human judgements of risk are considered. Risk perception research suggests that how lay people perceive risk has less to do with the unidimensional view of risk as a probabilistic expression and more to do with a complex multidimensional construct in which affect, reason, worldviews, trust, and other factors are intertwined. This review summarizes some of the principles of risk perception as applicable to transfusion medicine.

Blood Transfusion↗
PubMed1999

Urban anglers' perception of risk from contaminated fish.

The Newark Bay Complex includes the Newark Bay, tidal portions of the Hackensack River, Passaic River, Arthur Kill, and Kill van Kull. It is a highly industrialized urban area including five counties and more than 20 local governments with a large racially-mixed population of more than 3 million people. In 1982, research conducted by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) showed elevated levels of chemical contaminants in five species of fish and one type of crab in the Newark Bay Complex. Subsequently, the State of New Jersey adopted advisories to guide citizens on safe consumption practices for fish and crabs. Since then, fish consumption advisories have been issued primarily through the Fish and Game Digest, a publication distributed by the state to licensed anglers. However, anglers in the Complex are not required to have a fishing license because the waters are marine. Therefore, most anglers in this area do not receive advisory information. To gain greater insight into the information sources and risk perceptions of urban anglers, a survey was conducted of 300 anglers at 26 fishing and crabbing locations in the Newark Bay Complex during the summer and early fall of 1995. The objectives of the study were to learn anglers': (1) knowledge of fish consumption advisories; (2) belief in the advisories; (3) perception of how safe fish are to eat; (4) sources for information about fish and fishing; and (5) sources for information on fish consumption advisories. The study concluded that while 60% had heard about advisories, they either did not believe or were unconcerned about health effects from eating contaminated species. In addition, the most used source for information about fish and fishing was other fishermen, while newspapers were selected as a source for information about community news, health, and food safety.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Perception of risk of vaccine adverse events: a historical perspective.

The psychology of risk perception puts the emotive evaluation of the risks associated with vaccination incorrectly into a high risk category. This causes a wariness of taking vaccines that has its roots in the deep history of people. Humans do not seek to disturb the status quo by which they live. So the introduction of a vaccinal material into a healthy baby requires courage and an educated anticipation that some important benefit will accrue to this act at some future date. This situation encourages the emergence of a resistance to vaccines and the establishment of propagandists and movements to promote such ideas. The origin and development of such movements and the arguments which they prefer are the subject of this paper. These are based on religion in the first instance and then they widen to include the practical and technical problems which the early vaccinators experienced. The making of vaccination against smallpox compulsory at law in the UK in (effectively) 1867, inspired a most active and able opposition to vaccination. The concerns which such movements raise and ways in which they may be addressed are dealt with in the final sections.

Databases as Topic↗
PubMed2004

Understanding perceptions of HIV risk among adolescents in KwaZulu-Natal.

Risk perception has been theorized to be an important antecedent for adopting protective behavior. It is a key construct of research applying the Health Belief Model and other behavior change models. In relation to HIV, risk perception is an indicator of perceived susceptibility to infection, a measure for one's understanding of AIDS transmission as well as willingness to consider behavioral changes. However, there remains much we do not know about what drives risk perception, especially among youth. This study identifies factors that influence the calculation of HIV-risk perception among a group of adolescents in South Africa. Data, collected in 1999 from 2,716 adolescents aged 14-22, are used to explore factors predicting risk perception. Logistic regression models suggest connectedness to parents and community for males and females, self-efficacy to use a condom among males, and living in a household with a chronically ill member for females are associated with HIV risk perception. We conclude that a greater understanding of the connection of adolescents to their communities and adults in their lives is needed, and ways in which programs can alter the environments in which adolescents form opinions, make choices, and act should be incorporated into program design.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Public perceptions of risk to forest biodiversity.

This study examines the perceived risks to forest biodiversity and perceived effectiveness of biodiversity conservation strategies among the general public. It tests the hypotheses that perceived risk to forest biodiversity is influenced by cognitive factors (value orientation and knowledge) and social-cultural factors (such as gender and environmental membership) and that risk perceptions influence other cognitive constructs such as support for natural resource policy and management. Data were collected from a sample of the general public (n= 596) in British Columbia, Canada by mail survey in 2001. Results show that insects and disease were perceived as the greatest risk. Educating the public and industry about biodiversity issues was perceived as a more effective conservation strategy than restricting human uses of the forest. Value orientation was a better predictor of perceptions of risk and perceived effectiveness of conservation strategies than knowledge indicators or social-cultural variables. Examining the indirect effects of social-cultural variables, however, revealed that value orientation may amplify the effect of these variables and suggests that alternative paths of influence should be included. Perceived risk showed an inconsistent association with perceived effectiveness of conservation strategies.

Biodiversity↗
PubMed2000

Perceptions of danger, risk taking, and outcomes in a remote community.

On the surface, the severity of the Antarctic environment is sufficient to account for the injury rates that might occur there. However, it is argued that injury occurrence is the outcome of multiple factors. A number of such factors, both in the nature of work in the Antarctic and in the characteristics of the human beings who work there are reviewed. An area that has received little attention is individual risk perceptions. It is contended that risk perceptions need to be taken into account when assessing the contributing factors to individual risk taking, as measured by accidents that occur. The literature on risk perceptions is reviewed as a precursor to an empirical study of risk perceptions and injuries at an Antarctic station. The referent for expeditioner practice and home comparisons is Australia.

Accidents↗
PubMed1994

Perception of risks from electromagnetic fields: a psychometric evaluation of a risk-communication approach.

Potential health risks from exposure to power-frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) have become an issue of significant public concern. This study evaluates a brochure designed to communicate EMF health risks from a scientific perspective. The study utilized a pretest-posttest design in which respondents judged various sources of EMF (and other) health and safety risks, both before reading the brochure and after. Respondents assessed risks on dimensions similar to those utilized in previous studies of risk perception. In addition, detailed ratings were made that probed respondents' beliefs about the possible causal effects of EMF exposure. The findings suggest that naive beliefs about the potential of EMF exposure to cause harm were highly influenced by specific content elements of the brochure. The implications for using risk-communication approaches based on communicating scientific uncertainty are discussed.

Attitude to Health↗