Predictive validity of the attitudes toward medical help-seeking scale.

OBJECTIVE: This study examines the predictive validity of the action/intention subscale of the attitudes toward seeking medical help scale in a college sample. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 51 female undergraduates recruited from psychology classes. Data were collected at two time points between January and April, 2011. METHODS: Students completed the attitudes subscale and a measure of medical contacts twice, over a two month interval. RESULTS: Internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the measure were supported. Correlations between time one attitudes and medical contacts/intentions at time two provide evidence for predictive validity of the measure. CONCLUSION: This relatively brief, psychometrically sound measure of attitudes toward medical help seeking can be used to identify individuals who may be reluctant to seek health care and to assess the effectiveness of health education programs.

Education in the responsible conduct of research in psychology: methods and scope.

In this mixed-method study of education in the responsible conduct of research (RCR) in psychology, phase one survey respondents (n = 141) reported that faculty and students were familiar with RCR standards and procedures to educate them were believed to be adequate. However, educational methods varied widely. In phase two, seven survey respondents completed in-depth interviews assessing RCR training and education and research review procedures. Educational methods through which RCR content was presented included the following ones: traditional (lectures), technical (web-based), and experiential (internships), but RCR was often minimally considered in the formal curriculum. Our results suggest that psychology training programs might benefit from more formal consideration of RCR education and training in the curriculum.

A qualitative analysis of acute skin toxicity among breast cancer radiotherapy patients.

OBJECTIVES: One of the most common acute side effects of breast cancer radiotherapy is treatment-induced skin changes, referred to as skin toxicity. Yet no research to date has focused expressly on skin toxicity-related quality of life (QOL) in breast cancer radiotherapy patients. Therefore, our aim was to use qualitative approaches to better understand the impact of skin toxicity on QOL. METHODS: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 20 women (Stage 0-III breast cancer), during their last week of external beam radiotherapy. Each interview was transcribed verbatim, and thematic analysis was performed. RESULTS: Three themes were identified based on the interview responses: First, skin changes affect multiple dimensions of QOL. They cause physical discomfort, body image disturbance, emotional distress, and impair both day-to-day functioning and satisfaction with radiation treatment. Second, individual differences affect women's experiences. Generally African American women, younger women, women who are not currently in a relationship, women who are being treated during the summer, and women who are more invested in their appearance are more distressed by skin toxicity. Third, women use a variety of symptom management strategies including self-medication, complementary/alternative medicine approaches, and psychological strategies. CONCLUSIONS: Implications of results are as follows: (1) skin toxicity affects numerous dimensions of QOL, and assessment approaches and psychosocial interventions should address this; (2) individual differences may affect the experience of skin toxicity and should be considered in treatment and education approaches; and (3) participants' own creativity and problem-solving should be used to improve the treatment experience.

Quality of life in MS: does aging enhance perceptions of mental health?

PURPOSE: This study was designed to examine the relationship between age and quality of life in middle aged and older adults with MS. METHOD: Individuals with MS, recruited through a Comprehensive Care Centre and local registries of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, completed a telephone interview which incorporated several scales of the MS Quality of Life Inventory. Participants were divided into three age groups reflective of developmental transitions in adulthood, from midlife transition to late adulthood. RESULTS: Between group comparisons controlling for physical functioning and duration of MS revealed that the oldest age group (age 65 and above) reported significantly better mental health than the middle age group (age 50-64), but not the youngest age group (age 35-49). Differences between the middle and youngest age group were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that perhaps the process of getting older, or factors related to being older, enhance perceptions of mental health in individuals with MS. Results are discussed within the context of social comparison theory, which might be an adaptive strategy that could underlie response shift in older individuals with MS.

A qualitative investigation of adaptation in older individuals with multiple sclerosis.

PURPOSE: This qualitative investigation was designed to identify themes that underlie adaptation in older individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHOD: Thirteen individuals (age 60 and above) with MS were recruited from an MS Comprehensive Care Centre and local chapters of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Participants completed The Perceptions of Aging Interview by telephone. This open-ended interview was developed to explore two lines of inquiry: MS: Perceptions of Aging, which was based on the literature on adaptation in MS, and Life Strengths, which was adapted from Kivnick's Life Strengths Inventory. RESULTS: The majority of participants reported having adapted to MS and aging. They described several themes and subthemes that seemed to influence their levels of adaptation: Social comparisons, mobility/independence, integration of MS into self-identity, acceptance, pacing and planning, finding meaning/cognitive reframing, social support, religion/spirituality and generativity. CONCLUSIONS: The themes identified in this investigation are generally supported by the literatures on adaptation to MS and adaptation to aging. However, this is the first study to examine these factors in an older MS sample. Moreover, many of these themes are potentially modifiable through clinical intervention, and should be examined in future research with this population.

RESPONSE EXPECTANCIES AND IRRATIONAL BELIEFS PREDICT EXAM-RELATED DISTRESS.

Individual differences in cognitive factors such as response expectancies and irrational beliefs (IBs) have been shown to contribute to variability in distress associated with stressful situations. However, their independent influence on distress when examined within the same study has not been established, nor has the potential of mediational relationships. The purpose of this study was to investigate the contribution of response expectancies and IBs (both general and exam-specific) to exam-related distress in a prospective study. Results revealed that both response expectancies and general IBs separately predicted exam-related distress (p's <.05; N = 105). Observed effects of general IBs were perfectly mediated by, and observed effects of exam-specific IBs were partially mediated by, response expectancies using the Baron and Kenny approach. These data support the view that cognitive factors contribute to psychological distress and are consistent with response expectancy and rational emotive behavior theories. The results suggest that interventions focused on response expectancies and IBs might be an effective means to reduce psychological distress associated with real life stressors such as exams. Future research is needed to determine whether this effect generalizes to other stressful situations.

Perceived risk and worry about prostate cancer: a proposed conceptual model.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer among American men, and worry about the disease has psychological, behavioral, and biological consequences. To better understand prostate cancer-specific worry, the authors tested a model of the interrelationships among family history of prostate cancer; perceived risk of and worry about prostate cancer; and perceived risk of and worry about other diseases. Men who attended prostate cancer-screening appointments at a general urology practice (n=209) were given a brief anonymous self-report measure. Structural equation modeling (LISREL) results indicated: (1) perceived risk of prostate cancer mediated the relationship between family history of prostate cancer and prostate cancer worry; (2) perceived risk of other diseases increased perceived risk of prostate cancer; and (3) prostate cancer worry and increased other disease worry.

A model of disease-specific worry in heritable disease: the influence of family history, perceived risk and worry about other illnesses.

Disease-related worry is associated with family history and perceived risk of that disease; however, the influences of general risk perceptions and tendencies to worry about diseases have been neglected in the literature. This study investigates a model of disease-specific worry which includes family history, disease-specific perceived risk, and perceived risk for and worry about other diseases. Participants completed a survey assessing these variables in relation to several heritable diseases. Structural equation modeling found that family history predicted disease-specific perceived risk but not perceived risk for other diseases. Disease-specific perceived risk predicted disease-specific worry and worry about other diseases. Perceived risk for other diseases predicted worry about other diseases and disease-specific perceived risk but not disease-specific worry. Disease-specific worry predicted worry about other diseases. This model was supported across several diseases and indicates that disease-specific and general considerations of risk influence worry about a disease and should be considered in interventions.