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PubMed2006

[Changes in the perception of risk factors for stroke in the German population between 1995-1996 and 2000-2001. Results of two representative EMNID surveys].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Stroke is one of the leading causes for death and disability worldwide. A better understanding of the perception of modifiable stroke risk factors in the population is the first step to initiate effective prevention strategies on population level. Changes over 5 years in the risk perception in the general population were investigated by two representative surveys in Germany. METHODS: Nationwide programs to screen voluntary participants for stroke risk were undertaken in 1995-1996 and 2000-2001 by the German Stroke Foundation, in cooperation with the health insurance company BARMER and the Sanofi-Synthelabo Company. As part of these programmes two surveys were performed by TNS-EMNID to collect data on population knowledge. A representative sample of the German population was selected and asked to categorize their perception of stroke risk for common vascular risk factors. RESULTS: A total of 8193 participants were interviewed (4081 in 1995-1996 and 4112 in 2000-2001); 43.5% were (3) 50 years of age and 52.5% were female. Hypertension was rated by 68.3% to be in the highest risk category for stroke, followed by smoking (52.3%), hypercholesterolemia (48.0%), overweight (48.0%), excessive alcohol consumption (32.9%) and diabetes (26.6%). The proportion of participants who graded these factors to be important for stroke occurrence was persistently higher in 2000-2001 than in 1995-1996. CONCLUSION: Perception of modifiable risk factors for stroke increased over a 5-year time period in two representative surveys in Germany. The importance of diabetes mellitus as a risk factor for stroke is especially underestimated in the general population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Assessing parents' perception of children's risk for recreational water illnesses.

Understanding people's risk perceptions and motivations to adopt preventive behavior is important in preventing the spread of recreational water illnesses (RWI) and other emerging infectious diseases. We developed a comprehensive scale measuring parents' perceived risk of their children contracting RWI. Parents (N = 263) completed a self-administered questionnaire with scale items based on 4 constructs of the Protection Motivation Theory: perceived vulnerability, perceived severity, response efficacy, and self-efficacy. Exploratory factor analysis identified 7 underlying factors, indicating 7 subscales of perceived risk for RWI. Cronbach alpha ranged from 0.60 to 0.81. The Precaution Adoption Process Model supported scale construct validity. This study provides the first perceived risk scale for exploring psychosocial factors that may predict or mediate the adoption of behaviors that prevent the spread of infectious diseases contracted by children while swimming. Findings from this study also provide implications for encouraging preventive behavior against other emerging infectious diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Demographic, psychosocial, and objective risk factors related to perceived risk of skin cancer.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: The present study examined the ways in which demographic, psychosocial, and objective risk factors were related to perceived risk of skin cancer among 384 hospital employees who participated in a screening program. It was hypothesized that pyschosocial risk factors would account for a significant portion of the variance in risk perception beyond that accounted for by the other risk factors. RESULTS: The risk factors accounted for approximately 44% of the variance in risk perception. Psychosocial risk factors accounted for a statistically significant portion of the variance in risk perception beyond that accounted for by other risk factors. Worry, family history of skin cancer, and race/ethnicity were most strongly related to perceived risk. CONCLUSIONS: Results are discussed in terms of the need for educational programs that emphasize the relationship between level of risk and skin cancer and provide specific information regarding steps that can be taken to prevent skin cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Risk: from perception to social representation.

This paper is concerned with how people make meaning of the risks they face. It explores certain assumptions of the risk perception approaches, which dominate the area. It argues that despite changes currently taking place in the field, such models still focus on static, intrapersonal processes, with many viewing human thinking as analogous to erroneous information processing. In the place of an individual 'deficit' focus, the paper proposes a more intersubjective theory of the response to risk. Social representations theory is evaluated and its validity assessed by highlighting empirical work on representations of biotechnological and health risks. The review reveals that the response to risk is a highly social, emotive and symbolic entity. Therefore a theory and methods appropriate to such qualities are proposed, to produce a valid psychology of risk.

Emotions↗
PubMed1994

Public perceptions of the potential hazards associated with food production and food consumption: an empirical study.

Although public perceptions of food-related hazards receive much media comment and debate, the research literature on such perceptions is sparse and piecemeal. In the reported study, 216 people completed a questionnaire relating to their perceptions of the "risk characteristics" of potential hazards associated with various aspects of food production and food consumption. Responses were examined via principal-components analysis to obtain a structural representation of risk perception of the kind provided by Fischhoff, Slovic, and their colleagues in their seminal psychometric work. A three-component solution accounting for 87% of the variance was obtained, with the dimensions labeled as "severity," "unknown," and "number of people exposed." The findings also yielded information pointing to evidence of the phenomenon of unrealistic optimism. We conclude that our findings offer a useful base upon which further in-depth research integrating different perspectives on risk perception with respect to food-related hazards may be developed.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2005

Do parents' perceptions of risks protect children engaged in farm work?

BACKGROUND: The purpose was to describe farm parents' perceptions of risks on their farms and determine if these perceptions were associated with (1) using of the North American Guidelines for Children's Agricultural Tasks (NAGCAT) and (2) making NAGCAT-recommended changes to enhance the safety of farm work for their children. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of data collected by telephone interview during a randomized trial that involved 450 farms in the United States and Canada. RESULTS: While 81% of farm parents perceived farming to be more dangerous than other occupations, only 66% of those parents felt that it was more dangerous for children to work on a farm than at other work. Furthermore, risk perception scores were only weakly associated with parents' use of NAGCAT and making NAGCAT-recommended safety changes. CONCLUSION: Even with voluntary safety guidelines in hand and the general perception of farming as a dangerous occupation, many farm parents were not actively using NAGCAT to reduce the exposure of their children to hazardous farm work. Together with the continuing morbidity and mortality among farm children, this suggests that voluntary guidelines alone may not be sufficient to protect children working on farms.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1998

RESEARCH: Perceptions of Risk Associated with Use of Farm Chemicals: Implications for Conservation Initiatives

/ Data were collected from 245 farmers within the Darby Creek hydrologic unit in central Ohio to assess perceptions of risk associated with use of farm chemicals. Farmers were asked to evaluate the level of risk associated with use of agricultural chemicals for water quality, food safety, food quality, health of applicator, health of farm animals, wildlife, beneficial plants, beneficial insects, and human health. Study findings revealed that respondents perceived use of farm chemicals posed little or no threat to any of the assessed items. A composite index was formulated from the responses to the nine items and was titled Perceived Risk. Variance in the Perceived Risk index was regressed against social learning variables. The findings revealed that approximately 32% of the variance was explained by the predictive variables included in the model. It was concluded that the theoretical perspective was somewhat useful for understanding perceptions held about agricultural chemical use at the farm level. The findings are discussed in the context of future conservation and educational-information programs within the study region.KEY WORDS: Risk perception; Risk assessment; Groundwater; Pesticide contamination; Food safety; Environmental quality

Journal Article↗
PubMed1993

Perceptions of risk for AIDS among women in drug treatment.

In this article factors associated with the self-perceived risk for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) were examined using data obtained from a cross-sectional survey of 155 current and former drug-using women in methadone maintenance. Results suggest that drug-involved women are realistic in their self-perceptions of AIDS risk with respect to intravenous (IV) drug-using behavior but underestimate their risk from sexual activity. Perceived risk was associated with current IV drug use, duration of sexual relationship, and partner's nonsupportiveness. Partner's serostatus or history of IV drug use was unrelated to risk perception, as were multiple partners, anal sex, prostitution, and the nonuse of condoms. Implications of these findings for designing interventions for drug-involved women are considered.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1993

Gender differences in perception of risk associated with alcohol and drug use among college students.

Gender differences in perception of risk associated with use of alcohol and other drugs were assessed among a sample of 1,244 undergraduates at a major Pacific Northwest university. Reexamination of data from a self-administered questionnaire revealed that females were more likely than males to perceive greater risk with use of alcohol and other drugs. In particular, female perceptions of risk were significantly different from males (P < .001) for most levels of alcohol use and for perception of risk for occasional use of psychedelics, heroin, and diet pills. Our findings suggest the need for continued gender-specific research (and health education) in substance abuse prevention.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Actual and perceived risk for chronic illness in rural older women.

Little is known regarding the risk perceptions of older women for the chronic illnesses for which they are at highest risk. The purpose of this study was to explore the actual and perceived risk for six chronic illnesses: coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease (stroke), breast and colorectal cancer, osteoporosis, and depression. In addition, the relationship of demographic characteristics of the women and their perceived and functional health status to actual risk factors and risk perception was studied. A convenience sample of 102 rural women aged 65-91 answered a questionnaire on their actual and perceived risk for the chronic illnesses. As in younger samples, these older women generally underestimated their risk of disease. There was no relationship between demographics and risk perception, but there was a significant correlation between perceived health and functional status and risk perception. Only those actual risk factors associated with life experience were associated with increased perceived risk, supporting earlier findings that life experience has more influence on risk perception than the presence of actual risk factors per se. Based on the results of this study, clinicians should assume that older women patients are likely to underestimate their risk for common health problems. Clinicians are advised, therefore, in addition to regular evaluation of actual risk based on epidemiologic data, to probe their patients for information regarding their perception of risk and the basis of that perception. Combining information regarding perceived risk with actual risk data, the clinician can work with the patient to develop and implement an effective personalized risk management program.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed1999

In the queue for coronary artery bypass grafting: patients' perceptions of risk and 'maximal acceptable waiting time'.

OBJECTIVES: To elicit patients' maximal acceptable waiting times (MAWT) for non-urgent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and to determine if MAWT is related to prior expectations of waiting times, symptom burden, expected relief, or perceived risks of myocardial infarction while waiting. METHODS: Seventy-two patients on an elective CABG waiting list chose between two hypothetical but plausible options: a 1-month wait with 2% risk of surgical mortality, and a 6-month wait with 1% risk of surgical mortality. Waiting time in the 6-month option was varied up if respondents chose the 6-month/lower risk option, and down if they chose the 1-month/higher risk option, until the MAWT switch point was reached. Patients also reported their expected waiting time, perceived risks of myocardial infarction while waiting, current function, expected functional improvement and the value of that improvement. RESULTS: Only 17 (24%) patients chose the 6-month/1% risk option, while 55 (76%) chose the 1-month/2% risk option. The median MAWT was 2 months; scores ranged from 1 to 12 months (with two outliers). Many perceived high cumulative risks of myocardial infarction if waiting for 1 (upper quartile, > or = 1.45%) or 6 (upper quartile, > or = 10%) months. However, MAWT scores were related only to expected waiting time (r = 0.47; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Most patients reject waiting 6 months for elective CABG, even if offered along with a halving in surgical mortality (from 2% to 1%). Intolerance for further delay seems to be determined primarily by patients' attachment to their scheduled surgical dates. Many also have severely inflated perceptions of their risk of myocardial infarction in the queue. These results suggest a need for interventions to modify patients' inaccurate risk perceptions, particularly if a scheduled surgical date must be deferred.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Effects of group membership on perception of risk for AIDS.

The role of social identity as a moderator for perception of risk for AIDS has not been examined. The purpose of this study was to examine perception of risk for AIDS as a function of membership in an identified risk group. 34 subjects who were homosexual, 58 intravenous drug users (IV), and 34 college students rated a 21-item list of behaviors for perception of AIDS risk. The findings indicate that the IV drug-use group significantly underestimated five risk behaviors, four of which are high probability behaviors of IV drug-users and two of which are exclusively IV drug-use behaviors. The homosexual group significantly underestimated four risk behaviors, all of which are primarily characteristic of that group. The college group was generally more accurate in assessing risk than either of the other two groups. These findings support the hypothesis that membership in a perceived risk group is related to differential perceptual bias associated with the need for positive social identity for one's group.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Communicating breast cancer risk: patient perceptions of provider discussions.

This study investigated the relationship between breast cancer risk communication delivered by providers and patient knowledge, perceptions, and screening practices. Telephone interviews were conducted with 141 African American (n = 71) and white (n = 70) first-degree relatives of breast cancer patients who received medical services at 2 university medical centers in North Carolina during 1994-95. Multiple items assessed subjects' reports of discussions with providers about family history and personal risk, knowledge of breast cancer risk factors, risk perceptions, breast cancer concerns, and screening practices. African American (AA) women were less likely than white women to report being informed of their increased personal risk of breast cancer because of family history. After controlling for education level, AA women aged > or = 50 years were less likely than white women to have ever had a mammogram. Both AA and white women who discussed family history and risk with their providers were significantly more likely to have had a mammogram within the past 2 years. Although these discussions seemed to increase participants' perceived risk of developing breast cancer, they did not promote knowledge of risk factors or increase levels of cancer concern. Study results indicate that provider discussions about family history and personal risk, accompanied by increases in risk perception, promote patient compliance with screening goals. Findings suggest that accurate knowledge about specific breast cancer risk factors may not be necessary to achieve screening compliance. However, additional studies are needed to investigate the relationship between knowledge of breast cancer risk factors and the adoption of behaviors associated with reducing breast cancer risk.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1995

The perception of risk over time as a factor influencing attitudes toward children with physical disabilities.

The impact of perception of risk (a perception of possible psychological harm) on attitudes toward friendship with and offering help to children with physical disabilities was examined, and the stability of the perception in specific contexts, over time, was investigated. Participants were 510 children without physical disabilities between the ages of 8 and 19 years who were assigned to 1 of 12 experimental conditions in a basic 2 x 2 x 3 (Involvement x Interview x Grade) design. Results indicated significantly more favorable attitudes on helping than on friendship. Over time, attitudes toward friendship became more positive, whereas attitudes toward helping became somewhat more negative, but these effects interacted with the age of the participant and the degree of perceived risk.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Speeding in relation to perceptions of risk, utility and driving style by British company car drivers.

Results are presented of a questionnaire survey of speed-related risk-taking performed on 572 British company car drivers. Reported risk-taking was examined in relation to risk and utility perceptions as well as perceived control and driver self-perceptions. The data revealed that over half the sample reported often exceeding the motorway speed limit by at least 10 mph (16 km/h). It was found that drivers who more frequently exceeded the speed limit on motorways were less likely to view speeding as an important risk factor and were much more likely to view being on time for appointments as desirable. They were also likely to view themselves as less aware, less sociable and more confident. The importance of the perceived utility of arriving at appointments on time, in relation to speeding over the legal limit, suggests that some organizational measures to reduce perceived time pressure within company vehicle drivers could be beneficial.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Safe working practices and HIV infection: knowledge, attitudes, perception of risk, and policy in hospital.

OBJECTIVES--To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of risk of occupational HIV transmission in hospital in relation to existing guidelines. DESIGN--Cross sectional anonymous questionnaire survey of all occupational groups. SETTING--One large inner city teaching hospital. SUBJECTS--All 1530 staff working in the hospital in October 1991 and 22 managers. MAIN MEASURES--Knowledge of safe working practices and hospital guidelines; attitudes towards patients with AIDS; perception of risk of occupational transmission of HIV; availability of guidelines. RESULTS--The response rate in the questionnaire survey was 63% (958/1530). Although staff across all occupational groups knew of the potential risk of infection from needlestick injury (98%, 904/922), significantly more non-clinical staff (ambulance, catering, and domestic staff) than clinical staff (doctors, nurses, and paramedics) thought HIV could be transmitted by giving blood (38%, 153/404 v 12%, 40/346; chi 2 = 66.1 p < 0.001); one in ten clinical staff believed this. Except for midwives, half of staff in most occupational groups and 19% (17/91) of doctors and 22% (28/125) of nurses thought gloves should be worn in all contacts with people with AIDS. Most staff (62%, 593/958), including 38% (36/94) of doctors and 52% (67/128) of nurses thought patients should be routinely tested on admission, 17% of doctors and 19% of nurses thought they should be isolated in hospital. One in three staff perceived themselves at risk of HIV. Midwives, nurses, and theatre technicians were most aware of guidelines for safe working compared with only half of doctors, ambulance, and paramedical staff and no incinerator staff. CONCLUSIONS--Policy guidelines for safe working practices for patients with HIV infection and AIDS need to be disseminated across all occupational groups to reduce negative staff attitudes, improve knowledge of occupational transmission, establish an appropriate perception of risk, and create a supportive and caring hospital environment for people with HIV. IMPLICATIONS--Managers need to disseminate policy guidelines and information to all staff on an ongoing basis.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2000

The co-occurrence of correct and incorrect HIV transmission knowledge and perceived risk for HIV among women of childbearing age in El Salvador.

This article examines the co-occurrence of correct and incorrect knowledge about documented and undocumented modes of HIV transmission among women of childbearing age in El Salvador, and the relationship between HIV transmission knowledge and perceived risk. Incorrect beliefs about HIV transmission co-occur at high levels with, and are largely independent of, accurate knowledge about documented modes of transmission. The co-occurrence of correct and incorrect HIV transmission knowledge was shown to have important implications for perceived risk. Both correct and incorrect HIV transmission knowledge increased the odds of risk perception; uncertainty about risk was decreased among those with higher levels of correct knowledge and increased among those with higher levels of incorrect knowledge. Among those who considered themselves to be at some risk for HIV, higher levels of correct knowledge reduced uncertainty about the degree of risk, while higher levels of incorrect knowledge increased the degree of risk perceived. High levels of endorsement of the documented modes of HIV transmission do not necessarily indicate accurate or adequate knowledge about HIV transmission in the population. Co-occurring inaccurate beliefs about undocumented modes of transmission reflect cultural understandings of contagion and disease, and influence how individuals make sense of medical-scientific information about transmission. Our results suggest that the co-occurrence of correct and incorrect HIV transmission knowledge shapes individual-level risk perceptions. Given the independence of accurate knowledge and inaccurate beliefs. HIV/AIDS education and prevention programs must seek to directly undermine inaccurate beliefs about HIV transmission as part of their efforts to promote behavior change.

Adult↗