Psychological considerations when attending for mammography screening

The pandemic led to a pause in routine breast screening in the UK, with up to one million not being offered appointments (Breast Cancer Now, Almost one million women in UK miss vital breast screening due to COVID-19, 2022). However, according to a Nuffield report, even before this, breast cancer screening in the UK had yet to reach its 'optimal performance standard of 80%' (Nuffield, Cancer screening-quality watch, 2022). In usual times, this has meant that with screening rates in excess of 70%, over two million women have been screened annually in the UK. However, breast cancer is also the most common cancer in women in the UK (Office for National Statistics, Cancer registration statistics, 2017), with 85% survival 5 years after diagnosis (Office for National Statistics, Cancer survival in England - adults diagnosed 2019) and it remains clear that screening can help reduce breast cancer mortality (Office for National Statistics, Cancer registration statistics, 2017). So why would 25% or more fail to accept an invitation for a routine mammogram which may ultimately help save their lives? This chapter considers a range of psychological factors relevant to understanding this phenomenon and hopefully bring about a positive change. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2015, 2022. All rights reserved.

In different worlds: The contributions of polarization and platforms to partisan (mis)perceptions

Partisanship, polarization, and platforms are foundational to how people perceive contentious issues. Using a probability sample (n = 825), we examine these factors in tandem across four political claims concerning US presidential elections and the COVID-19 pandemic. We find Democrats and Republicans differ in their belief in true and false claims, with each party believing more in pro-attitudinal claims than in counter-attitudinal claims. These results are especially pronounced for affectively polarized partisans. We also find interactions between partisanship and platform use where Republicans who use Google or Twitter are more likely to believe in false claims about COVID-19 than Republicans who do not use these platforms. Our findings highlight that Americans' beliefs in political claims are associated with their political identity through both partisanship and polarization, and the use of search and social platforms appears critical to these relationships. These findings have implications for understanding why realities are malleable to voter preferences in liberal democracies. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of New Media & Society is the property of Sage Publications, Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Moral Judgments Impact Perceived Risks From COVID-19 Exposure

The COVID-19 pandemic created enormously difficult decisions for individuals trying to navigate both the risks of the pandemic and the demands of everyday life. Good decision making in such scenarios can have life and death consequences. For this reason, it is important to understand what drives risk assessments during a pandemic, and to investigate the ways that these assessments might deviate from ideal risk assessments. In a preregistered online study of U.S. residents (N = 841) using two blocks of vignettes about potential COVID exposure scenarios, we investigated the effects of moral judgment, importance, and intentionality on COVID infection risk assessments. Results demonstrate that risk judgments are sensitive to factors unrelated to the objective risks of infection. Specifically, activities that are morally justified are perceived as safer while those that might subject people to blame or culpability, are seen as riskier, even when holding objective risk fixed. Similarly, unintentional COVID exposures are judged as safer than intentional COVID exposures. While the effect sizes are small, these findings may have implications for public health and risk communications, particularly if public health officials are themselves subject to these biases.

Health beliefs and compliance to health behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic: A survey among Indian adults

In the current chapter, we have detailed the course and results of our research to evaluate the five constructs of Health Behaviour Model (HBM) as well as the degree of compliance to preventive measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 among the Indian citizens. Additionally, we also examined the degree of association of the HBM constructs with the compliance. Finally, we investigated whether these constructs differed across various socio-demographic group. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

COVID-19 Vaccination Hesitancy Among 5-11-year-old Iranian Children's Parents: What Are Underlying Beliefs?

Background: Of all teenage deaths caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), 47% occurred in children aged 0-9. Like many other infectious diseases, reducing mortality in children requires widespread vaccination. Despite the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine, a large percentage of children have not received the vaccine. Objective(s): This survey aimed to study parents' reluctance to receive the COVID-19 vaccine for their children in Shiraz, Iran. Method(s): An online questionnaire was sent to parents whose 5 to 11-year-old children had received no COVID-9 vaccine through the health educators of primary schools in Shiraz, Iran. The questionnaire contained demographic questions and 16 beliefs about COVID-19 vaccination that were answered as yes/no. Result(s): We assessed 1093 respondents, including 49.5% (n = 542) male and 50.5% female students' parents. The mean number of wrong beliefs was 7.21 +/- 2.80 in parents who had boys and 7.78 +/- 2.95 in girls' parents. Also, 78.6% of participants had at least five wrong beliefs or excuses for not vaccinating their children. Notably, 82.8% of mothers and 84.3% of fathers were vaccinated with 2-3 doses against COVID-19. The most common wrong beliefs were probable vaccines' side effects in the future, the undesirable effect of vaccination on children's growth, and the awful effect of the vaccine on fertility, with a prevalence of 82.7%, 81.2%, and 76.7%, respectively. Conclusion(s): This study identified that most participants believed that COVID-19 vaccines have side effects for their children and unfavorable effects on children's growth and infertility.Copyright © 2023, Author(s).

ON THE GREEN: CONSUMER PERCEPTIONS OF RETURNING TO GOLF SPECTATORSHIP AMID THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the sport industry has contended with stoppages of play and interrupted revenue streams. With sport beginning to "return to normal,” there is uncertainty about the safe return of spectatorship and how live-event attendees perceive safety and precautionary measures amid a serious health emergency. The purpose of this study was to assess golf consumers' perceptions of following COVID-19 preventative measures at a small-scale professional golf event in Canada, and how these perceptions may influence their future event attendance. The results from a multiple linear regression analysis indicated that perceived benefits of COVID-19 vaccination and self-efficacy of following preventative measures significantly and positively influenced golf spectator's consideration of attending an event where these measures are enforced, while the perceived barriers of mask wearing significantly and negatively influenced attendance consideration. This has several practical implications for event management practitioners planning and hosting an event amid the COVID-19 pandemic. © Copyright 2023 Cognizant, LLC.

When do data visualizations persuade? The impact of prior attitudes on learning about correlations from scatterplot visualizations

Data visualizations are vital to scientific communication on critical issues such as public health, climate change, and socioeconomic policy. They are often designed not just to inform, but to persuade people to make consequential decisions (e.g., to get vaccinated). Are such visualizations persuasive, especially when audiences have beliefs and attitudes that the data contradict? In this paper we examine the impact of existing attitudes (e.g., positive or negative attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination) on changes in beliefs about statistical correlations when viewing scatterplot visualizations with different representations of statistical uncertainty. We find that strong prior attitudes are associated with smaller belief changes when presented with data that contradicts existing views, and that visual uncertainty representations may amplify this effect. Finally, even when participants' beliefs about correlations shifted their attitudes remained unchanged, highlighting the need for further research on whether data visualizations can drive longer-term changes in views and behavior. © 2023 ACM.

Dangerous beliefs, effective signals

Some collective irrationalities, like epistemically and pragmatically reckless Covid skepticism, are especially dangerous. While we normally have incentives to avoid dangerous beliefs, there are cases in which the danger of a belief is valuable. This is not captured by most accounts of motivated reasoning. I argue that Covid skepticism can function as a costly signal (handicap) so as to more effectively communicate social identity and commitment.

Public sector's misinformation debunking during the public health campaign: a case of Hong Kong.

For a public health campaign to succeed, the public sector is expected to debunk the misinformation transparently and vividly and guide the citizens. The present study focuses on COVID-19 vaccine misinformation in Hong Kong, a non-Western society with a developed economy and sufficient vaccine supply but high vaccine hesitancy. Inspired by the Health Belief Model (HBM) and research on source transparency and the use of visuals in the debunking, the present study examines the COVID-19 vaccine misinformation debunking messages published by the official social media and online channels of the public sector of Hong Kong (n = 126) over 18 months (1 November 2020 to 20 April 2022) during the COVID-19 vaccination campaign. Results showed that the most frequently occurring misinformation themes were misleading claims about the risks and side effects of vaccination, followed by (non-)effectiveness of the vaccines and the (un)-necessity of vaccination. Among the HBM constructs, barriers and benefits of vaccination were mentioned the most, while self-efficacy was the least addressed. Compared with the early stage of the vaccination campaign, an increasing number of posts contained susceptibility, severity or cues to action. Most debunking statements did not disclose any external sources. The public sector actively used illustrations, with affective illustrations outnumbering cognitive ones. Suggestions for improving the quality of misinformation debunking during public health campaigns are discussed.

Narratives and mental health in the Covid-19 Pandemic.

The rise in the flow of narratives is directly associated with technological advances in communication. In pandemic times, the narratives have produced profound consequences in many dimensions of human life, such as individuals' belief systems. Narratives operate as a background of the self's functioning and present substantial importance to personality development. On the other side, narratives can influence the functioning of the self's disorders. It occurs when narratives do not respect a hierarchical belief system in the individuals. The disrespect to the central beliefs that operate in the individuals' personalities often fosters a psychosomatic process that distances them from authentic contact with themselves. Consequently, it enhances mental suffering and psychic illness. The current paper aimed to discuss some intersections between narratives and states of psychic suffering.

Help-seeking and treatment delivery preferences for women experiencing perinatal anxiety symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety is common during the perinatal period and despite effective treatments being available, many women with perinatal anxiety disorders experience barriers when accessing treatment. AIMS: The aims of the current study were to explore women's perceived barriers to treatment uptake; cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) treatment delivery preferences; and the utility of the Health Belief Model (HBM) in predicting intention to seek psychological help for women with perinatal anxiety symptoms. METHOD: This study employed a cross-sectional design consisting of women with self-reported anxiety in the perinatal period. A total of 216 women (Mage=28.53 years; SD=4.97) participated in the study by completing a battery of online self-report measures. RESULTS: The results indicated that the most salient barriers to accessing care were: (1) the cost of treatment, (2) wanting to solve the problem on their own, and (3) thinking the problem would go away without treatment. Group-delivered CBT was the least acceptable treatment method, while face-to-face individual CBT was the most acceptable treatment method. The HBM variables predicted approximately 35% of the variance in help-seeking intention. DISCUSSION: This study has important implications for the delivery of psychological care in the perinatal period and may be used to improve treatment uptake.

The Psychometric Properties of Intention to Receive the COVID-19 Vaccine Scale Based on the Health Belief Model.

Acceptance of the SARS-CoV-2) COVID-19( vaccine is a very important factor to keep health workers safe. The study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine using a health belief model among health workers in Iran The study was a tools design study that was conducted in the period from February to March 2020, Iran Questionnaire items were designed using text review. The sampling method was multi-stage. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis at a 95% confidence level using SPSS software version 16. The designed questionnaire had an appropriate content validity and internal consistency. Also, the exploratory factor analysis showed that a 5-factor structure was extracted and confirmatory factor analyses revealed that the conceptual five-factor structure of the measure had good fit indices. Reliability was evaluated using internal consistency. Cronbach Alpha coefficient was .82 and the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was .9. It can be concluded that the instrument designed in the preliminary stage of psychometrics properties had good validity and reliability indicators. Also, the constructs of the health belief model well explain the determinants of the intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the individual level.

Predictors of intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine using the theory of planned behavior and the health belief model among the health ambassadors of Kashan City in 2021

Aims: The purpose of the study was to examine the intention of the health ambassadors to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, and investigate predictors of intention using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and health belief model (HBM). Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive study conducted on 500 health ambassadors. Simple randomized sampling was applied to select the participants. We called the participants and asked them to fill out our 28-item questionnaire. Univariate analyses were used to examine relationships between dependent and independent variables. We used the independent t-test to measure the relationship between quantitatively independent variables and the Chi-square or Fisher's exact test to measure the relationship between qualitative independent variables. Finally, significant independent variables were entered into a hierarchical logistic regression model and the results were interpreted. Results: Overall, 44.8% (224) of participants reported that they have the intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The significant demographic predictors include age, having a chronic disease, Having COVID-19 in the last year, and perceived health status. According to the HBM, the dimensions of perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits, and cues to action. According to the TPB, the dimensions of the subject norm, perceived behavior control, and self-efficacy were significant predictors of vaccination. Conclusion: According to the low rate of COVID-19 vaccination, health educational programs together with encouraging/reinforcing programs may change perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits, perceived behavioral control, and intention. It is better to use various kinds of sources to implement the educational program.

Understanding the role of social media usage and health self-efficacy in the processing of COVID-19 rumors: A SOR perspective.

Apart from the direct health and behavioral influence of the COVID-19 pandemic itself, COVID-19 rumors as an infodemic enormously amplified public anxiety and cause serious outcomes. Although factors influencing such rumors propagation have been widely studied by previous studies, the role of spatial factors (e.g., proximity to the pandemic) on individuals' response regarding COVID-19 rumors remain largely unexplored. Accordingly, this study, drawing on the stimulus-organism-response (SOR) framework, examined how proximity to the pandemic (stimulus) influences anxiety (organism), which in turn determines rumor beliefs and rumor outcomes (response). Further, the contingent role of social media usage and health self-efficacy were tested. The research model was tested using 1246 samples via an online survey during the COVID-19 pandemic in China. The results indicate that: (1)The proximity closer the public is to the pandemic, the higher their perceived anxiety; (2) Anxiety increases rumor beliefs, which is further positively associated rumor outcomes; (3) When the level of social media usage is high, the relationship between proximity to the pandemic and anxiety is strengthened; (4) When the level of health self-efficacy is high, the effect of anxiety on rumor beliefs is strengthened and the effect of rumor beliefs on rumor outcomes is also strengthened. This study provides a better understanding of the underlying mechanism of the propagation of COVID-19 rumors from a SOR perspective. Additionally, this paper is one of the first that proposes and empirically verifies the contingent role of social media usage and health self-efficacy on the SOR framework. The findings of study can assist the pandemic prevention department in to efficiently manage rumors with the aim of alleviating public anxiety and avoiding negative outcomes cause by rumors.

How Media Reports on COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories Impact Consensus Beliefs and Protective Action: A Randomized Controlled Online Trial

This study examines the influence of news coverage on coronavirus disease (COVID)-related conspiracy theories on consensus perceptions regarding the seriousness of COVID-19 and its impact on attitudes and behaviors. In an online experiment, 395 participants either watched a report containing conspiracy theories, scientific facts, or information about a political summit, and they subsequently completed a questionnaire. Viewing reports on conspiracy theories lead to higher assessments of consensus compared with other reports. Perceived consensus correlated positively with attitudes toward COVID, which further correlated positively with behavior. The study shows that news reports can bias assessments of consensus, which has implications for public communication.

Vaccination against COVID-19: the opinion of healthcare professionals

A prerequisite for effective vaccination is the formation of proper collective immunity in society. The attitudes of healthcare professionals towards vaccination directly impact the population's adherence to this method. Objective. To study the attitude of healthcare professionals toward COVID-19 vaccination. Material and methods. The sociological survey method with the author's questionnaire based on GoogleForm was used. In the sur-vey, 450 physicians aged 25 to 70 participated voluntarily. It was a cross-sectional study carried out in the autumn of 2021. Results. Of those surveyed, the majority (86.8%) of physicians and almost all (96.1%) nurses were vaccinated against COVID-19. When studying the motivation for vaccine prophylaxis, a direct average strength of a statistically significant correlation between the adherence to COVID-19 vaccination and the emergence of a sense of safety was established (rxy =0.346;p<0.05). The most common reasons for the refusal of doctors from vaccination were the fear of complications, beliefs about low protection against infection and the subsequent decrease in immunity. According to healthcare professionals, the most effective means of prevention, in descending order, were a healthy lifestyle, the absence of fear of becoming ill, vaccination, drugs that stimulate immunity, the use of barrier measures, and other means. Conclusion. The ambiguous attitude of healthcare professionals towards vaccination against COVID-19 does exist and deserves the closest attention. Considering the issue's complexity, further research on the attitude of healthcare professionals toward vaccination is required.Copyright © 2023, Media Sphera Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Panic buying in the second wave of COVID-19: the moderating effect of past buying experience

PurposeWith the advent of the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic, there is a need to analyse the scenario of panic buying (PB) behaviour of the customers which was evident in the first wave. This paper aims to examine the PB scenario as well as the moderating effect of past buying experience (PBE) on PB in the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on the theories of stimulus-organism-response model and the competitive arousal model. Based on these theories, this paper investigates how panic situation created by external stimuli such as perceived scarcity (PS), perceived risk (PR), news in media (NM) and social learning affect the perceived arousal (PA) among people which in turn influence the PB behaviour of customers. Data were collected from 253 customers from different parts of India. Structural equation modelling is used to analyse the moderating effect of PBE on the PB in the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. FindingsThe results indicate that the PS, PR and NM continue to be strong predictors of a buyer for PA. However, the PB is not reinforced by the moderation effect of PBE. Research limitations/implicationsThis paper investigates the consumers' PB behaviours in the wake of third wave of COVID-19 pandemic which add to the existing literature of COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, this study also examines how previous buying experience can moderate the PB behaviour of the customers in subsequent phases of COVID-19 pandemic. This supports the potential effectiveness of self-regulation as an intervention strategy for reducing PB behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic. Practical implicationsThis study emphasises the impact of external stimuli like PS, PR and media coverage on PB behaviour, marketers and policymakers should manage to avoid triggers. Although PBE may not moderate PB during a pandemic, it can play a significant role in future buying behaviour. Anticipating potential triggers and designing effective marketing strategies that cater to customers' needs can help manage PB behaviour during disasters or pandemics. In addition, promoting conscious consumption awareness and self-regulation practices among customers can help manage PB behaviour, benefit the environment and society and make customers more responsible buyers. Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, this study examines the PB behaviour of customers during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic for the first time. This study also investigates the moderating effect of PBE on the PB behaviour of customers during a pandemic which is new and significant that extends the literature on PB behaviour during a pandemic.

Predicting the Intentions to Receive Covid-19 Vaccine Using the Health Belief Model: A Cross-Sectional Study among Residents of an Urban Area in Khartoum, Sudan 2021

Intro: To combat the newly emerging pandemic (Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)) different preventive measures are advised. World Health Organization recommended vaccination as an important intervention for ending this pandemic. This study aims to understand the willingness and acceptability to take the vaccine using the health belief model. Method(s): A cross-sectional study was conducted during the period January to February 2021 in an urban area of Khartoum, Sudan. The study reached 580 adult individuals. Chi-squire test was used to test associations, univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression was used to identify the predictors. Finding(s): The Majority of the participants mentioned that they had never been infected by COVID-19 before. (57.4%) believed that they are at risk of infection and most of them did not agree that they are more susceptible to the infection than other people. (83.1%) disagreed that covid-19 complications will be severe for people of their age. (92.6%) of them have heard about the vaccine. (36.9%) of the participants doubted the vaccine effectiveness and (203, 35.0%) believed that it is not safe for them to be vaccinated. (62.9%) of the participants mentioned, they are willing to take the vaccine. Age, perceived susceptibility, being less concerned about getting the disease, perceived vaccine effectiveness and safety, using the vaccine by other people, and doctor advice were significantly predicting the willingness to take the vaccine. Conclusion(s): Though most of the participants were willing to take COVID-19 vaccine, many factors were associated and predicted this willingness. These factors should be considered when setting policies and activities to enhance the uptake of the vaccine.Copyright © 2023

Factors Associated with Parental Intention to Vaccinate Their Primary School- Aged Children in Indonesia

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HIV care during the SARS-COV-2 pandemic for Black people with HIV in the UK

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionally affected black communities but the impact on HIV care in this group remains poorly understood. We evaluated measures of HIV care during the COVID-19 pandemic in the GEN-AFRICA cohort of black people with HIV living in the U.K. Method(s): We evaluated interruptions to HIV care during the COVID-19 pandemic (01/2020-09/2022) in the GENAFRICA cohort at nine UK clinics who provided HIV outcomes for >80% of their participants. We ascertained death, transfers of care, loss to follow up for >12 months, the highest HIV viral load and interruptions to antiretroviral therapy (ART). We evaluated factors associated with the composite outcome of HIV viraemia (viral load >200 c/mL) and/or an ART interruption using logistic regression analysis;factors associated (P<0.1) in univariable analysis were included in the multivariable model. We also summarized reasons for ART interruptions where recorded. Result(s): 2321 participants (mean age 51.3 years;55.8% women;pre-pandemic current/nadir CD4 of 500/204 cells/mm3 and HIV RNA <200 c/mL in 92.3%) were in care on 01/01/2020. Thirty (1.3%) subsequently died, 24 (1.0%) transferred care and 48 (2.1%) became lost to follow up. 523 (22.7%) reported an episode of COVID-19 and 1771 (87.1%) having been vaccinated against SARSCoV- 2. The composite outcome could be evaluated in 2130 (91.8%);259 (11.2%) had a documented HIV VL >200 c/mL, 228 (9.8%) an ART interruption and 325 (14%) had HIV viraemia/ART interruption. In multivariable analysis, older age, a pre-pandemic HIV RNA <200 c/mL and being vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 were associated with reduced odds of HIV viraemia/ART interruption (Table) while sex, CD4 (current/nadir), comorbid status and having had COVID-19 were not associated. Reasons for ART interruption were available for 52 participants;38% cited domestic logistic reasons, 27% issues related to foreign travel, 19% psychological reasons, 12% lockdown or changes to the daily routine and 4% personal choice. Conclusion(s): During the COVID-19 pandemic, one in seven black people with HIV experienced an ART interruption and/or HIV viraemia. Pre-pandemic measures of suboptimal engagement in care, pandemic restrictions, and wider health beliefs as reflected by COVID-vaccination, contributed to these undesirable HIV outcomes. (Table Presented).