This study examines the knowledge gap hypothesis in the United States and Singapore in the context of nanotechnology. This study proposes that academic discipline serves as a better indicator than ...education levels in predicting nanotechnology knowledge gaps. To reflect the contemporary media landscape, this study examines how attention to online media and documentaries alongside traditional news outlets affect individuals’ nanotechnology knowledge. In both countries, online media and documentaries, as well as traditional news outlets, were related to nanotechnology knowledge to various extents. While the knowledge gap hypothesis was not observed in Singapore, results revealed that increased media attention and interpersonal discussion widened knowledge gaps between individuals from science and non-science disciplines in the United States. Education levels failed to reveal a consistent moderation effect. Taken together, the interaction analyses revealed that academic discipline predicted nanotechnology knowledge gaps more consistently than education levels in the United States. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Despite a growing recognition of songs as a useful HIV/AIDS campaign strategy, little research has investigated their potential and/or actual impact. In this study, through a theory-based content ...analysis, we have assessed the prevention domains covered and the health-relevant constructs promoted by 23 AIDS songs widely used to aid prevention efforts in Ethiopia. To identify the health-relevant constructs and reveal their potential to facilitate or inhibit positive changes, the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM) has been used. The findings revealed that the songs cover most of the prevention domains that constitute the current agenda of behavior change communication in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, although all the EPPM variables have been found in almost every song, there were significantly more efficacy messages than threat messages. This suggests that although the songs may lead to positive changes in HIV/AIDS-related outcomes among audiences who have already perceived the threat posed by HIV/AIDS, they are less likely to motivate and thereby generate responses from audiences who have less or no threat perceptions. It is argued that given their potential as a culturally appropriate strategy in Sub-Saharan Africa where oral channels of communication play significant roles, songs could be harnessed for better outcomes through a theory-based design.
It is known that HIV-related stigma hinders prevention efforts. Previous studies have documented that HIV-related stigma may be associated with socioeconomic and socioecological factors. Mass media ...use may moderate this association, but there is limited research addressing that possibility. In this study, based on cross-sectional data pooled from the 2006-2011 Demographic and Health Surveys of 11 sub-Saharan African countries (N = 204,343), we investigated the moderating effects of exposure to mass media on HIV-related stigma. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that HIV-related stigma tends to be higher among rural residents and individuals with low levels of education and HIV knowledge, as well as those who do not know people living with HIV. Media use was generally associated with low levels of HIV-related stigma, and attenuated the gap between individuals with high and low educational levels. However, the effect of mass media was found to be stronger among urbanites rather than among rural residents, which could lead to a widening gap between the two groups in endorsement of HIV-related stigma. The implication of this study regarding the effect of media use on HIV-related stigma in sub-Saharan Africa is twofold: 1) mass media may have the potential to minimize the gap in HIV-related stigma between individuals with high and low educational levels, and hence future efforts of reducing HIV-related stigma in the region may benefit from utilizing media; 2) due perhaps to low media penetration to rural sub-Saharan Africa, mass media could have the unintended effect of widening the urban-rural gap further unless other more customized and rural-focused communication interventions are put in place.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background. Improper utilization of antibiotics harms the patient, the public, and the economy. The overuse of injections is one of the key factors in the irrational use of medicines. However, little ...is known about intravenous (IV) to peroral (PO) conversion practice in the Ethiopian healthcare setting, specifically in the Northwest part of Ethiopia. Objective. To assess antibiotics IV to PO conversion practice and its associated factors at the internal medicine ward of the University of Gondar Comprehensive and Specialized Hospital (UOGCSH). Method. A prospective observational study was conducted on 324 study participants who were admitted to the University of Gondar Specialized Hospital from October 3 to November 14, 2021. A systematic random sampling technique was employed to select the study participants. Stata version 14.2 was used for the analysis. Descriptive statistics result was presented using mean and standard deviation. Logistic regression analysis was done to determine the association between independent variables and dependent variables. The association between independent variables and dependent variables was tested at 95% CI and P value≤ 0.05 was considered statistical significance. Result. A total of 324 study participants were included in the study, and the mean age of the patients was 41.4 ± 18.6. Of the 324 study participants, 63.3% were male. The most frequently prescribed antibiotics used for empiric treatment were ceftriaxone (45.4%), followed by metronidazole (33.2%), and cloxacillin (11.4%). A total of 34.5.57% of patients who took antibiotics were converted to PO antibiotics. The most frequently converted type of conversion practice was sequential (23.1%), followed by the switch type of conversion (7.4%). Tachypnea, unavailability of medication, higher temperature, hospital stay greater than 10.78-days, and the presence of comorbidity were predictors of IV medications not being converted to PO medications. Conclusion. Intravenous to peroral conversion practice was infrequent. The most frequently applied conversion practice was sequential type conversion practice, followed by switch type of conversion practice. IV to PO conversion practice was significantly associated with tachypnea, unavailability of medication, higher temperature, hospital stay greater than 10.78-days, and comorbidity. Awareness of IV to PO conversion practice and short-term training for healthcare teams is vital for better antibiotic conversion practice.
Although smart speaker technology is poised to help improve the health and well-being of older adults by offering services such as music, medication reminders, and connection to others, more research ...is needed to determine how older adults from lower socioeconomic position (SEP) accept and use this technology.
This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of using smart speakers to improve the health and well-being of low-SEP older adults.
A total of 39 adults aged between 65 and 85 years who lived in a subsidized housing community were recruited to participate in a 3-month study. The participants had a smart speaker at their home and were given a brief orientation on its use. Over the course of the study, participants were given weekly check-in calls to help assist with any problems and newsletters with tips on how to use the speaker. Participants received a pretest and posttest to gauge comfort with technology, well-being, and perceptions and use of the speaker. The study staff also maintained detailed process notes of interactions with the participants over the course of the study, including a log of all issues reported.
At the end of the study period, 38% (15/39) of the participants indicated using the speaker daily, and 38% (15/39) of the participants reported using it several times per week. In addition, 72% (28/39) of the participants indicated that they wanted to continue using the speaker after the end of the study. Most participants (24/39, 62%) indicated that the speaker was useful, and approximately half of the participants felt that the speaker gave them another voice to talk to (19/39, 49%) and connected them with the outside world (18/39, 46%). Although common uses were using the speaker for weather, music, and news, fewer participants reported using it for health-related questions. Despite the initial challenges participants experienced with framing questions to the speaker, additional explanations by the study staff addressed these issues in the early weeks of the study.
The results of this study indicate that there is promise for smart speaker technology for low-SEP older adults, particularly to connect them to music, news, and reminders. Future studies will need to provide more upfront training on query formation as well as develop and promote more specific options for older adults, particularly in the area of health and well-being.
This study assessed the relative advantages of gain- versus loss-framed messages for promoting HIV testing among a sample of urban and rural residents in northwest Ethiopia. The authors randomly ...assigned 394 participants to read gain-framed (n = 196) or loss-framed (n = 198) HIV testing message prepared in a form of brochure. Experience with HIV testing, concern about and information needs on HIV/AIDS, and urbanity versus rurality significantly moderated the effects of framing on intention to test for HIV. A gain-frame advantage was found among urbanites, participants with high experience with HIV testing, and those with high concern about and information needs on HIV/AIDS, suggesting a more likely construal of HIV testing as a prevention behavior among these individuals. In contrast, a loss-frame advantage was found among ruralites and participants with low concern about and information needs on HIV/AIDS, suggesting a more likely construal of HIV testing as a detection behavior among such individuals. Moreover, gain- and loss-framing led to similar outcomes among individuals with low levels of experience with HIV testing, with a slight advantage for the loss-framed message. All of the framing effects obtained were of small to medium size.
Abstract
Informed by the notion of spillover effects between two phenomena, this study examines how differences in prior attitudes would influence the relationships posited by the influence of ...presumed media influence (IPMI) model. Specifically, this study examines how pre-existing favorable and unfavorable attitudes toward genetically modified (GM) food are associated with audiences’ intention to consume nano-enabled food. The results of a nationally representative survey with 1,000 respondents found general support for the IPMI from media attention to behavioral intentions, through attitude and social norms. Further, a multigroup analysis of the IPMI provided evidence for differences in the IPMI effects between the audiences with favorable and unfavorable pre-existing attitudes toward GM food. These results contribute to a stronger theoretical understanding of the IPMI in terms of how pre-existing attitudes toward a preceding food technology can have a spillover effect on how audiences make decisions regarding a newer food technology.
Despite considerable evidence of an association between mass communication efforts and HIV testing behavior, the mechanisms through which this association may be established have been less ...extensively studied. Drawing on the integrative model of behavioral prediction, this study assessed the relationship between exposure to HIV/AIDS-related media content, individual intention to be tested for HIV, and the psychosocial variables mediating the relationship among 986 urban and rural residents of northwest Ethiopia. Structural equation modeling revealed that the relationship between exposure to HIV/AIDS-related media content and HIV testing intention was partially mediated by the three psychosocial variables associated with the integrative model (attitude, normative, and self-efficacy beliefs). However, whereas exposure to HIV/AIDS media content was found to be associated most substantially with attitudes toward HIV testing, intention to be tested was found mainly to be influenced by normative beliefs, which suggests that there is a possible mismatch between mass media programming and the prevailing psychosocial processes within the study population. The relationship between exposure to HIV/AIDS-related media content and HIV testing intention was also found to be mediated differently across urban and rural groups. Thus, it appears that the two groups may require different types of intervention to promote the desired behavior.
NCI-Designated Cancer Centers provide key cancer research, prevention, and treatment services to members of their catchment area. Characterization of these areas may be complex given the diverse ...needs of the populations within, particularly those from low socioeconomic position (SEP). The purpose of this paper is to describe the characterization of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC) catchment area through using a two-pronged approach.
Participants (
= 1,511) were recruited through (i) an online, probability-based survey (
= 1,013) and (ii) a supplementary, in-person survey from priority groups (African Americans, Latinos, blue-collar workers, low SEP, homeless;
= 498) within Massachusetts. Study staff worked closely with community partners across the state to reach individuals who may not usually be included in online surveys.
There were several differences across samples, with the community-based sample having a higher percentage of low SEP, low education, African Americans, and Latinos compared with the online sample. Differences were also noted in the cancer-related behaviors of the samples, with the community-based sample having higher rates of smoking, particularly within those who were homeless or make less than $20,000 per year. Fewer community-based subgroups were current with cancer screenings, and more showed more indication of potential communication inequalities compared with statewide estimates.
The sampling strategy used to characterization of the DF/HCC catchment area provided broad, statewide estimates and additional focus on vulnerable populations, highlighting several potential areas for intervention.
This study provides data to highlight the value of using multiple sampling strategies when characterizing cancer center catchment areas.
Despite the centrality of information and communication in the fight against HIV/AIDS, little research has investigated the factors associated with HIV/AIDS-related information needs and media use in ...hard-hit Sub-Saharan Africa. This study explored individual-level and socioecological determinants among urban and rural residents in northwest Ethiopia. Urbanity versus rurality, education, direct experience with HIV/AIDS, perceived salience of HIV/AIDS-related information, and personal health concern were tested as predictors. Regression analyses showed that urbanity versus rurality and education are the major determinants of HIV/AIDS-related information needs and media use. Being urbanite and educated were associated with high concern about and information needs on HIV/AIDS and HIV/AIDS-related mass media use. Moreover, urbanity versus rurality and education significantly predicted preferences for specific types of HIV/AIDS-related information. While rurality and low education were associated with a preference for basic HIV transmission and prevention information, urbanity was associated with a preference for information on HIV/AIDS-related care and support. In most cases, urbanity versus rurality emerged as a substantial predictor and also significantly moderated the effects of other variables. Given the evolving nature of the pandemic and its expansion to rural areas, ruralites' low information needs and media use deserve due attention. Equally, communication interventions targeting urban contexts need to move beyond providing only the ABCs of HIV transmission and prevention and should attend to urbanites' progressive information needs, which seem to have now become more on care and support so as to live and deal with the pandemic.
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