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A consumer guide for marketing medical services: one institution's experience.

This paper describes the Cleveland Clinic Foundation's experience with the development and implementation of a 20-page quality indicator consumer guide for patients with or at risk of developing coronary artery disease. The guide, which provides six "quality indicators," was designed to enable patients to evaluate and compare quality-related information when choosing a provider. Design elements for the guide included a user-friendly format to offset the amount of information consumers are asked to absorb. Data on inquiries showed that the majority were women (53%) and adults under the age of 65 years (57%). Although the media criticized the guide as a marketing tool, it represents an effort to educate consumers about the importance of research when choosing a provider.

Choice Behavior↗

Calcium needs in children.

Adequate calcium intake and physical activity during childhood and adolescence may be an important factor in bone acquisition and primary prevention of osteoporosis. Inadequate calcium intake during the pubertal growth spurt, in particular, may compromise an individual's volumetric bone density and predispose children to bone fragility fractures. In addition, it may compromise an individual's ability to reach his or her genetic potential in bone mass acquisition, or peak bone mass. National standards have been set for optimal calcium intake for childhood and adolescence. Most children and teenagers do not meet these requirements; therefore, there is a strong need to influence their behavior to consume foods rich in calcium.

Adolescent↗

The dissatisfied medical patient: predictors of intent to change doctors.

A favorable patient-doctor relationship is critical for the maintenance of a stable and productive practice. Most adults are likely to have had experiences in physician's offices that have caused upset or dissatisfaction. Many of these experiences will have resulted in changing doctors. The likelihood of changing doctors is more often related to the physician's behavior than to his or her actual competence or efficacy.

Consumer Behavior↗

A comparative study of nonparaphilic sexual addictions and paraphilias in men.

BACKGROUND: A definition of nonparaphilic sexual addiction (NPSA) is offered and the literature suggesting comorbidity between NPSA and paraphilias (PAs) is reviewed. We describe a study to clarify the relationship between NPSA and PA. METHOD: Thirty consecutive male respondents to an advertisement (PA: N = 15; NPSA: N = 15) were evaluated. The frequency of sexual behaviors, total sexual outlet, intensity of sexual desire, time spent in unconventional sexual behaviors, and a total sexual interest ratio were measured. Group differences were statistically examined using the Fisher's exact probability test (one-tailed). Concomitant psychological, social, work, financial, legal, and medical sequelae were ascertained. RESULTS: The most prevalent lifetime sexual behaviors in both groups were NPSAs, especially compulsive masturbation, ego-dystonic promiscuity, and dependence on pornography. Mean total sexual outlet in both groups was approximately three times that of a comparable "normal" male sample. Components of total sexual outlet were reported in a nonnormative distribution pattern, and NPSA/PA sexual behaviors eclipsed conventional sexual activities in all measures. Group differences in measures of sexual behavior frequency, intensity, and time consumed by these behaviors were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The cormorbid presence of multiple NPSAs in 93% of the paraphilic men accompanied by comparable sexual and psychosocial sequelae suggests that NPSAs may represent a culturally adapted form of psychopathology that can also be manifested as PAs. A definition of hypersexual desire is offered, and a relationship between hypersexual desire and unconventional sexual outlet is suggested.

Behavior, Addictive↗

Knowledge and beliefs about cancer in a socioeconomically disadvantaged population.

Americans living in poverty experience a higher incidence of and greater mortality from cancer than the nonpoor. At least 50% of the difference in mortality is believed to be due to delay in diagnosis, although risk-promoting lifestyles and behaviors also contribute to decreased survival. A potential exacerbating factor among the poor is inadequate information and knowledge about cancer and its treatment. Interviews were conducted with 128 cancer patients from a socioeconomically disadvantaged population to assess knowledge of cancer and its treatment and to evaluate care-seeking behaviors. Results indicated that although patients relied primarily on their physicians for information about their disease and treatment, a number of misconceptions regarding cancer existed in this population. Notably, nearly 50% of the patients surveyed either denied or did not know that smoking was related to the development of cancer. Additionally, patients frequently reported inappropriate care-seeking behaviors when asked to respond to a series of common disease-related signs or symptoms. These findings suggest that misinformation and misconceptions regarding cancer and its treatment among patients in this sample may contribute to inappropriate care-seeking behaviors.

Consumer Behavior↗

Preparing radiology staff to meet service goals: a training model.

This article describes a model used to train radiology staff in customer service relations at a large southeastern medical center. Information about the needs of the radiology department and staff was acquired through quantitative and qualitative assessments. The primary goal of the training was twofold: 1) to develop employee awareness of customer expectations and 2) to develop problem-solving skills to respond to customer service related issues. Instructional methods compatible with adult learning were used and training results were assessed. Positive changes in employee attitudes and behaviors are described and recommendations for training development and implementation are discussed.

Consumer Behavior↗

Qualitative assessment of participant utilization and satisfaction with the Seattle Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Pilot Program.

INTRODUCTION: The Seattle Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Pilot Program delivered fresh fruits and vegetables to homebound seniors in King County, Washington, from June through October 2001. A primary objective of the program was to increase participants' intake of fruits and vegetables. A qualitative study was conducted to examine the impact of the program on participating homebound seniors. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were performed with 27 participants in their homes to identify benefits and barriers they encountered and to measure their use and sense of satisfaction with the program. RESULTS: Analysis of the transcribed interviews revealed several common themes: Participants appreciated the variety and quality of the fresh fruits and vegetables. Some participants would not have had access to fresh fruits and vegetables without the program. Home-delivered baskets of fresh fruits and vegetables brought participants joy, stimulated interest in healthy foods, and improved quality of life. The program newsletter supported consumption of fresh produce. CONCLUSION: Program success was rooted in the multiple ways the program addressed potential barriers and reinforced behavioral intent.

Aged↗

Contraceptive choice in Vigevano, Italy, 1983-1993.

The authors, after general consideration of family planning programs, present a study of 22714 women, who, in the decade 1983-1993, required contraceptive protection from the Family Planning Centers in the region of Vigevano (Italy). The authors underline the importance of a protocol used before beginning treatment to help prevent women receiving methods carrying too great a health risk. The results show a very high prevalence of oral contraception, increasing in recent years with the introduction of triphasic pills, while use of intrauterine contraception seems to be declining. Other conventional methods, such as barrier (diaphragm and condom) and 'natural' methods, had a low incidence in the sample studied. The reasons for these behaviors are analyzed and the relative trends discussed.

Adolescent↗

Help-giving in self-help groups.

A longitudinal survey of members of self-help groups for families of the mentally ill in Pittsburgh examined members' perceptions about the types of help-giving activities that took place in the groups and the relationship between those activities and members' degree of satisfaction with the group. The activities that occurred most frequently, such as catharsis, explanation, and normalization, were related to nondirective, nonthreatening aspects of social support. The least frequent activities, such as confrontation or reference to group norms, were those that were more threatening and focused on behavioral change. The nondirective, nonthreatening activities were moderately correlated with members' satisfaction with the group.

Adult↗

Older widow's expectations of home care nurses.

The concept of expectations has been integral to research on home care satisfaction, but little is known about expectations of home care. The aim of this longitudinal phenomenological study was to describe part of the personal-social context of older widows' experience of home care-that of holding expectations of home care nurses. Data were drawn from interviews over three years with the 11 women who had home care nurses. The context of the home care experience was featured by leaning on helpers more at this stage and by expecting the nurse to do what the nurse is supposed to do, with its five parts including expecting the nurse to know how to do what needs to be done. Findings exemplified conceptual overlap among standard realms of expectations, such as behaviors and outcomes, and revealed the relevance of such data in appraisals of home care quality.

Aged, 80 and over↗

Rural hospitals' experience with the National Practitioner Data Bank.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined hospital administrators' experiences with the National Practitioner Data Bank. METHODS: One hundred forty-nine rural hospital administrators completed questionnaires assessing their perceptions of the data bank. RESULTS: Nearly 90% of respondents rated the data bank as an important source of information for credentialing. Three percent indicated it had directly affected privileging decisions; 43% and 34%, respectively, believed the costs exceeded or equaled the benefits. Twenty percent reported changes that could decrease disciplinary action reports to the data bank. CONCLUSIONS: While the National Practitioner Data Bank is an important source of information to rural hospitals, it may, affect few credentialing decisions and motivate behavioral changes that could have a paradoxical effect on quality assurance.

Consumer Behavior↗

Preventive healthcare in physicians and attorneys.

Physicians make recommendations to their patients on a daily basis regarding tests and procedures. However, no research has evaluated physicians use of similar tests for their own health and well-being. This article reviews a comparison between 55 male physicians and 55 male attorneys of similar age regarding their use of the annual physical examination and routine screening tests. In several areas, the results indicate that physicians do not participate in routine tests and procedures as well as do their legal counterparts. Possible explanations for this physician behavior are included in the discussion segment of the article.

Adult↗

Variables influencing food perception reviewed for consumer-oriented product development.

Consumer wishes have to be translated into product characteristics to implement consumer-oriented product development. Before this step can be made, insight in food-related behavior and perception of consumers is necessary to make the right, useful, and successful translation. Food choice behavior and consumers' perception are studied in many disciplines. Models of food behavior and preferences therefore were studied from a multidisciplinary perspective. Nearly all models structure the determinants related to the person, the food, and the environment. Consequently, the overview of models was used as a basis to structure the variables influencing food perception into a model for consumer-oriented product development. To this new model, referred to as food perception model, other variables like time and place as part of consumption moment were added. These are important variables influencing consumers' perception, and therefore of increasing importance to consumer-oriented product development nowadays. In further research, the presented food perception model is used as a tool to implement successful consumer-oriented product development.

Choice Behavior↗

Innovation-related perception as a key driver of alternative protein acceptance: evidence from an early-stage model for cultivated meat and algae-/microalgae-based alternative protein products in Italy.

Alternative proteins are increasingly considered part of the transition toward more sustainable food systems, yet their diffusion depends critically on consumer acceptance. This study investigates the early-stage acceptance of two alternative protein categories in Italy-cultivated meat and algae-/microalgae-based alternative protein products. Focusing on the first three phases of acceptance, the analysis examines how innovation-related perception (IRP) shapes consumer perceived value (CPV), consumer perceived risk (CPR), and subsequent affective (AFF), cognitive (COG), and conative (CON) responses. Data were collected through an online survey administered to 238 Italian respondents and analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The results show that IRP is the main upstream driver of early-stage acceptance in both product domains: more favourable perceptions strongly increase perceived value and reduce perceived risk. In turn, CPV exerts a much stronger influence than CPR on both affective and cognitive attitudes. A tentative cross-model comparison suggests only a descriptive variation in the final transition toward conative acceptance: affective and cognitive responses were both significant in the two models, with a relatively larger affective coefficient for cultivated meat and more balanced coefficients for algae-/microalgae-based products. Overall, the findings support a process-based interpretation of alternative protein acceptance and highlight the central role of innovation-related perception in shaping early consumer responses. These results provide relevant implications for communication strategies, product positioning, and policy actions aimed at improving the acceptability of alternative proteins in food cultures characterised by strong culinary traditions.

Italy↗

Student voices: perspectives on behavioral health education.

The Annapolis Conference on Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training was convened in September 2001 to address the relevance and quality of efforts to educate those who provide mental health and addiction services. It was essential that students, as the consumers of educational programs, be represented in the dialogue. Four students and one recent graduate joined a diverse group in Annapolis, which included professionals, administrators, educators, consumers of behavioral health services, and family members. The students who attended were drawn from the professions of psychiatry, psychology, social work, and nursing. In a series of personal narratives, these individuals present their views on the conference, on education and training, and on the behavioral health field in general.

Behavioral Sciences↗

Live music is beneficial to preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit environment.

BACKGROUND: Music stimulation has been shown to provide significant benefits to preterm infants. We hypothesized that live music therapy was more beneficial than recorded music and might improve physiological and behavioral parameters of stable preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit. METHODS: Thirty-one stable infants randomly received live music, recorded music, and no music therapy over 3 consecutive days. A control of the environment noise level was imposed. Each therapy was delivered for 30 minutes. Inclusion criteria were postconceptional age > or = 32 weeks, weight > or = 1,500 g, hearing confirmed by distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs), and no active illness or documentation of hyperresponsiveness to the music. Heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and a behavioral assessment were recorded, every 5 minutes, before, during, and after therapy, allowing 30 minutes for each interval. The infant's state was given a numerical score as follows: 1, deep sleep; 2, light sleep; 3, drowsy; 4, quiet awake or alert; 5, actively awake and aroused; 6, highly aroused, upset, or crying; and 7, prolonged respiratory pause > 8 seconds. The volume range of both music therapies was from 55 to 70 dB. Parents and medical personnel completed a brief questionnaire indicating the effect of the three therapies. RESULTS: Live music therapy had no significant effect on physiological and behavioral parameters during the 30-minute therapy; however, at the 30-minute interval after the therapy ended, it significantly reduced heart rate (150 +/- 3.3 beats/min before therapy vs 127 +/- 6.5 beats/min after therapy) and improved the behavioral score (3.1 +/- 0.8 before therapy vs 1.3 +/- 0.6 after therapy, p < 0.001). Recorded music and no music therapies had no significant effect on any of the tested parameters during all intervals. Both medical personnel and parents preferred live music therapy to recorded music and no music therapies; however, parents considered live music therapy significantly more effective than the other therapies. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with recorded music or no music therapy, live music therapy is associated with a reduced heart rate and a deeper sleep at 30 minutes after therapy in stable preterm infants. Both recorded and no music therapies had no significant effect on the tested physiological and behavioral parameters.

Analysis of Variance↗