RESUMO
(1) Background: In the treatment of colorectal cancer, it is important to consider different psychosocial factors. Our first objective was to measure the levels of perceived stress in subjects diagnosed with colorectal cancer awaiting potentially curative surgery. Also, we aimed to analyse what coping styles these patients used, how they perceived their illness, and the subsequent influence of these factors on their levels of stress. (2) Methods: Stress, coping styles and illness perception were assessed in a sample of 107 patients. The instruments used were the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14), the Stress Coping Questionnaire (SCQ) and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ-R). (3) Results: Patients using active coping styles have lower levels of perceived stress (p = 0.000; p = 0.002) than patients making use of passive coping styles (p = 0.000; p = 0.032; p = 0.001). A multi-linear regression model found that the perception of illness and the use of the negative approach coping style (p = 0.000; p = 0.001) influence an increase in perceived stress, and that a decrease in stress levels was influenced by the problem solving coping style (p = 0.001). (4) Conclusions: Based on our results, we recommend preventive interventions in care patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: All-terrain vehicle (ATV)-related injuries remain a large public health problem in the United States and disproportionately affect American youth. Although children account for only 14-18% of ATV riders, they comprise 37-57% of those injured in ATV-related accidents. Since the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission began collecting data in 1982, 23% of ATV-related deaths have occurred in children. OBJECTIVE: With this review, we outline the major risk factors for injuries among young ATV riders in the United States and suggest research-based interventions to successfully modify such risk factors. DISCUSSION: We reviewed data from 16 published reviews regarding epidemiology and risk factors among ATV-related injuries in American children. All data pointed to young driver age and lack of appropriate safety equipment as major risk factors for such injuries. Although these risk factors are modifiable, legislation and programs designed to mitigate such risks have been unsuccessful. Among adults, the brief intervention model has become widely used among trauma patients exhibiting risky behaviors. Additionally, peer-to-peer interventions have demonstrated success with respect to drug and alcohol use in school-aged children. Both the brief and peer-to-peer interventions are promising avenues for decreasing risky ATV-related behavior in youths but have not been studied in this field. CONCLUSIONS: ATV-related injuries disproportionately affect American youths. Although risk factors for such injuries are modifiable, current methods for intervention (mainly legislation) have not been successfully implemented. The brief intervention and peer-to-peer interventions have shown promise in other fields and should be studied with respect to pediatric ATV use.
