Credible Sources Of Information Research Articles

Promoting physical activity among children and adolescents: the strengths and limitations of school-based approaches

Paediatric overweight and obesity is recognised as one of Australia's most significant health problems and effective approaches to increasing physical activity and reducing energy consumption are being sought urgently. Every potential approach and setting should be subjected to critical review in an attempt to maximise the impact of policy and program initiatives. This paper identifies the strengths and limitations of schools as a setting for promoting physical activity. The strengths are: most children and adolescents attend school; most young people are likely to see teachers as credible sources of information; schools provide access to the facilities, infrastructure and support required for physical activity; and schools are the workplace of skilled educators. Potential limitations are: those students who like school the least are the most likely to engage in health-compromising behaviours and the least likely to be influenced by school-based programs; there are about 20 more hours per week available for physical activity outside schools hours than during school hours; enormous demands are already being made on schools; many primary school teachers have low levels of perceived competence in teaching physical education and fundamental movement skills; and opportunities for being active at school may not be consistent with how and when students prefer to be active.

Arizona Permittee and Land Management Agency Employee Attitudes Toward Rangeland Monitoring by Permittees

Ongoing conflicts over the management of western rangelands can be attributed in part to the lack of reliable information about current ecological conditions and their causes due, in turn, to insufficient monitoring. To meet the monitoring shortfall, land management agencies increasingly are enlisting permittees to monitor their grazing allotments. We surveyed grazing permittees in 5 Arizona counties and land management agency employees throughout Arizona to compare their attitudes toward permittee monitoring on public rangelands, the role of government in rangeland management, rangeland conditions in Arizona, and the credibility of information sources about rangelands. Permittees and agency employees differed in most of the attitudes measured by our survey. However, both populations agreed that permittees should participate in monitoring their allotments, and many respondents agreed with making permittee monitoring mandatory. Many respondents in both groups also agreed that collaboration can be beneficial. Joint monitoring, which can be considered a type of ‘‘joint fact-finding,’’ may help improve agency-permittee relationships and bridge the gap in attitudes and underlying values. Permittee-monitoring programs deserve careful evaluation to determine their impacts on social relationships, management decisions, and ecological conditions

Evidence-Based Guidelines As a Foundation For Performance Incentives

Clinical guidelines, which increasingly build upon impartial analysis of evidence from well-designed studies, have become highly credible sources of information about what forms of care are effective. Consequently, they are attractive as foundations for performance incentives. Unfortunately, they are often complex, and frequently it is infeasible to gather the information required to assess compliance with guidelines at reasonable cost. I discuss the problems in implementing evidence-based guidelines and steps that could be taken to make them more useful as a basis for performance measurement.

Pharma Goes to the Laundry: Public Relations and the Business of Medical Education

What's the difference between medical education and pharmaceutical public relations? Not much, according to the people who do it. (T)he broad distinction between healthcare PR and medical education is becoming obsolete, writes Neil Kendle, chief executive officer of Lowe Fusion Healthcare, in a recent issue of Pharmaceutical Marketing magazine. So slender is the difference between education and PR than that Kendle cannot even say for certain which business he is in. I describe Lowe Fusion as a 'PR consultancy', sometimes as a 'healthcare agency'. Sometimes I just cop out and list the things we do. (1) Here's how the business works. The pharmaceutical industry puts up the money, usually in the form of an unrestricted The grant goes to a for-profit medical education and/or company (MECC), which, in consultation with its pharma sponsor, puts together an educational program. (2) The company and the MECC recruit academic physicians to deliver the in return for a small cut of the grant. If the MECC is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, it can offer the on its own. If not, it must go through the CME office of a medical school, which--again for a cut of the grant--accredits the and certifies it free of commercial bias. Then doctors, nurses and other health care workers attend the educational program that pharma has funded in order to satisfy the CME requirements of their professional organizations. It is, as the corporate manuals like to say, a win-win situation. The doctors and nurses get CME credits; universities get a new revenue stream; academic physicians get some extra pocket money; MECCs get a lucrative market niche (over a billion dollars a year, according to The Lancet), and the pharmaceutical industry gets to shape the minds of medical America. (3) By laundering its message through the MECCS, pharma gives up some control, but the pay-off is even better: advertisements with the appearance of objectivity. PR practitioners call this a third-party strategy. As Kendle puts it, Third party sources of information, as long as they are perceived to have expertise in the area they are talking about, are much more credible sources of information than the pharmaceutical company itself. Pharma now funds over 60 percent of continuing medical education in the United States. (4) Not bothered that your doctor's education comes from pharma? Have a look, then, at the communications arm of this lucrative business. Here the results are scientific articles, often in peer-reviewed medical journals. The money is laundered in much the same way. Pharma pays the MECC; the MECC puts together the articles; academic physicians are paid to sign onto the articles, and the MECC places the articles in medical journals. Some academics simply sign ghostwritten articles, while others work from a draft supplied by the company. Sticklers for honesty merely take the money and write the articles themselves. Fees vary. Some academics have signed on for as little as $1,000 or $1,500 per article, including-the two faculty members at the Medical University of South Carolina who recently authored a ghostwritten article on Ritalin for Novartis. (5) Others command much higher fees. When the debate over second-hand smoke was heating up in the early 1990s, the tobacco industry paid a biostatistician $10,000 to write a single letter to the Journal of the American Medical Association. (6) Warner Lambert, the maker of Neurontin, a seizure drug, gave a professor at the University of Minnesota over $300,000 to write a textbook on epilepsy. (7) None of this is exactly new. What is new is the magnitude of the phenomenon, which has only become evident through recent litigation. For years, nobody really knew how much of the medical literature was ghostwritten, or even how much had originated from pharma. …

Sources and credibility of nutrition information among black urban South African women, with a focus on messages related to obesity.

(1) To identify the major sources of nutrition information, and the perceived credibility thereof, among urban black South African women; and (2) to determine the level of knowledge regarding nutrition, particularly regarding the topic of obesity. A cross-sectional descriptive study that was both qualitative (focus groups) and quantitative (individual questionnaires). Three hundred and ninety-four black women aged 17-49 years were conveniently sampled from the Western Cape and Gauteng provinces in South Africa. Four focus groups were held with 39 women to identify common themes relating to nutrition knowledge. Based on these data, a questionnaire instrument was developed and administered to 394 women by trained fieldworkers. The most frequently encountered source of nutrition information was the media, particularly the radio and TV (73.4% and 72.1% of subjects, respectively, obtained information from this source in the past year), followed by family/friends (64.6%). Despite only 48.5% of subjects having received nutrition information from a health professional, this was the most highly credible information source. Factors being most influential in choice of foods were taste, preferences of the rest of the family, and price. A lack of knowledge on certain aspects of nutrition was identified, as well as misconceptions regarding diet and obesity. To improve nutrition knowledge and the effectiveness of nutrition education activities in South Africa, it is recommended that health and nutrition educators become more actively involved with the training of health professionals, particularly those engaged in delivery of services at primary care level, and in turn encourage health professionals to engage more with media sources. Nutrition messages delivered from health professionals via the media will enable public exposure to nutrition information which is not only easily accessible but also perceived to be highly credible.

Trusted online sources of health information: differences in demographics, health beliefs, and health-information orientation.

BackgroundThe recent surge in online health information and consumer use of such information has led to expert speculations and prescriptions about the credibility of health information on the World Wide Web. In spite of the growing concern over online health information sources, existing research reveals a lacuna in the realm of consumer evaluations of trustworthiness of different health information sources on the Internet.ObjectiveThis study examines consumer evaluation of sources of health information on the World Wide Web, comparing the demographic, attitudinal, and cognitive differences between individuals that most trust a particular source of information and individuals that do not trust the specific source of health information. Comparisons are made across a variety of sources.MethodsThe Porter Novelli HealthStyles database, collected annually since 1995, is based on the results of nationally-representative postal-mail surveys. In 1999, 2636 respondents provided usable data for the HealthStyles database. Independent sample t tests were conducted to compare the respondents in the realm of demographic, attitudinal, and cognitive variables.ResultsThe most trusted sources of online health information included the personal doctor, medical university, and federal government. The results demonstrated significant differences in demographic and health-oriented variables when respondents who trusted a particular online source were compared with respondents that did not trust the source, suggesting the need for a segmented approach to research and application. Individuals trusting the local doctor were younger ( t 2634= 4.02, P< .001) and held stronger health beliefs (F 1= 5.65, P= .018); individuals trusting the local hospital were less educated ( t 2634= 3.83, P< .001), low health information oriented (F 1= 6.41, P= .011), and held weaker health beliefs (F 1= 5.56, P= .018). Respondents with greater trust in health insurance companies as online health information sources were less educated ( t 2634= 1.90, P= .05) and less health information oriented (F 1= 4.30, P= .04). Trust in medical universities was positively associated with education ( t 2634= 11.83, P< .001), income ( t 2634= 10.19, P< .001), and health information orientation (F 1= 10.32, P<.001). Similar results were observed in the realm of federal information credibility, with individuals with greater trust in federal sources being more educated ( t 2634= 7.45, P< .001) and health information oriented (F 1= 4.45, P= .04) than their counterparts.ConclusionsThe results suggest systematic differences in the consumer segment based on the different sources of health information trusted by the consumer. While certain sources such as the local hospital and the health insurance company might serve as credible sources of health information for the lower socioeconomic and less health-oriented consumer segment, sources such as medical universities and federal Web sites might serve as trustworthy sources for the higher socioeconomic and more health-oriented groups.

Handbook of Cultural Psychiatry

Handbook of Cultural Psychiatry

Paul between Synagogue and State: Christians, Jews, and Civic Authorities in 1 Thessalonians, Romans, and Philippians

Paul between Synagogue and State: Christians, Jews, and Civic Authorities in 1 Thessalonians, Romans, and Philippians, by Mikael Tellbe. ConBNT 34. Stockholm: Ahnqvist & Wiksell, 2001. Pp. xii + 340. euro30.00 (paper). This thoroughly researched and well-presented doctoral dissertation (Lund University) warrants careful reading. Tellbe examines tripartite relationships between Christians, Jews, and civic authorities at three major urban centers: Thessalonica, Rome, and Philippi. The common link among three is, of course, Paul. Tellbe maintains that using Paul's letters to each of these communities, along with supplementary material from Acts, allows one to take note of interactions and tensions among major entities in each city. Doing so allows him to determine interactions in this tripartite relation shaped self-understanding and identity of Christian of 1 Thessalonians, Romans, and Philippians (p. 4). In particular, it reveals how need for political legitimacy shaped Christian identity as early as mid-first century C.E. The first chapter lays out need for this study within matrix of previous biblical scholarship on Paul and his communities. Tellbe's primary analysis is historical, with a detailed textual analysis of Paul's letters, although he also draws upon sociological and rhetorical methods. While few would question use of these letters as authentic Pauline letters (which for Tellbe are without interpolation), Tellbe is to take much of detailed material of Acts as a credible source of information in task of reconstructing setting of Pauline communities (p. 18). His decision to do so is under-defended and, given his reliance on Acts for critical information, his choice not to defend this more thoroughly is unfortunate. Those less inclined than he to place much reliance on Acts will find that some of his assumptions about composition of Pauline and urban interactions of Jews, Christians, and civic authorities rest on a somewhat unstable foundation. Chapter 2 sets stage for remainder of book by undertaking an analysis of the legal status of Diaspora under Roman rule, focusing primarily on information provided by Josephus and Philo, although with some reference to Roman writers. Jewish were treated by Romans much like other foreign cults and voluntary associations-left to their own religious activities as long as they did not disrupt public order, but brought under control if perceived to be unruly. Although Tellbe agrees with recent arguments against a special Jewish designation ofpolituema, he does note a number of unusual concessions granted only to Jews (p. 42): Judaism in first century CK was thus granted a legal standing in Roman society that in practice seems to have been more specific than what is actually conveyed by more general Roman expression collegium licitum (p. 59). Nevertheless, Jews in particular cities were not immune from periods of opposition by local authorities (p. 63). Chapter 3 gives attention to specific situation at Thessalonica, beginning with a description of city itself and Roman, Jewish, and Christian populations therein. Tellbe correctly surmises that Roman imperial ideology and propaganda played a large part in civic affairs. However, he is on less secure ground in asserting that there was an influential group of Jews in city. Here he relies only on Acts 17:1-9,1 Thess 2:13-16 (considered by many to be an interpolation), and either late or questionable epigraphic evidence. Although he acknowledges the apparent tension between Luke and Paul concerning composition of Thessalonian church Tellbe claims that it is important not to overplay these differences (p. 93). This seems to be understated in light of Tellbe's reliance on elimination of tension in order for his thesis to hold. …

The role of knowledge and information in innovation: the case of genetic engineering

Knowledge and information play key roles in the perception and acceptance of innovations, particularly when innovations are associated with risks. In an empirical study, we studied these aspects with regard to innovations based on genetic engineering. In particular, we focused on aspects of information behaviour such as interest in information and credibility of information sources. Genetic engineering is a technology that is controversially discussed and several representative studies have shown that consumers have little knowledge about the technology, are sceptical regarding genetic engineering experts and are not likely to buy the respective products. Using a higher education sample (270 students), we found that even a lower percentage rated their knowledge on science and genetic engineering as being good, interest in various aspects of genetic engineering was not dependent on the self-assessed knowledge of the respondents, and information sources were rated differently with regard to their credibility.

Farmers personal and farm enterprise characteristics and their adoption of improved cassava production technologies in Imo State, Nigeria

The relationship between farmers personal and farm enterprise characteristics and their adoption of improved cassava production technologies in Imo State, Nigeria was examined in this study. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain data from 450 cassava farmers who were selected through stratified sampling technique from 6 autonomous communities in Imo State. Findings showed that adoption of improved cassava production technologies among farmers was generally low. Education level, Annual farm income, attitude towards change in agriculture, farm size, Social participation, usefulness of information, and credibility of information source were positively and significantly related to adoption of improved cassava production technologies, while age was negatively but significantly related to adoption of improved cassava production technologies. (Journal of Agriculture and Social Research: 2003 3(1): 90-104)

Resolving public conflict in site selection process—a risk communication approach

In Japan, conflicts regarding the siting of waste disposal facilities occur frequently. In particular, siting of incinerators and landfills has become increasingly difficult because the public is highly concerned about the dioxin issues. Inefficient siting of waste disposal facilities causes several social problems, such as the shortage of waste treatment and disposal facilities, the rising of waste management costs and an increase in the consumption of resources. While dealing with a similar situation, the Chemical Society of Japan adopted a risk communication technique successfully. Hence, the pragmatic use of a risk communication technique is proposed to avoid conflicts and for a smooth information exchange to seek cooperation in waste management. In order to achieve this, a study was conducted to resolve conflicts between residents and the municipality for the selection of site for a solid waste treatment and disposal facility. This study aims to discuss the subject of risk communication for the waste disposal system in Japan. This study is performed through personal interviews and a questionnaire covering opposing parties in the town. As a result of the survey, a risk communication approach for a waste treatment and disposal system is presented in the paper addressing issues such as building of social trust, pragmatic use of the communication process, installation of credible information sources, and environmental education and awareness.

V. Adopting Healthful Lifestyle Habits to Lower LDL Cholesterol andReduce CHD Risk

V. Adopting Healthful Lifestyle Habits to Lower LDL Cholesterol andReduce CHD Risk

Indoor Air Health Risk Perceptions in Australia

A survey of 1,462 people was carried out in Perth, West ern Australia to develop an understanding of the public perception and attitude towards the risk posed by indoor air pollutants. It was found that the public had a limited awareness of the issues involving the health risk posed by indoor air pollutants. The risk was perceived to be low, and a high proportion of the population (90.5%) indicated that they found the risk to be worse but accept able. The sample population indicated that they were not prepared to reduce the risk they perceived by spending money. Whilst the population perceived the health risk of indoor air pollutants to be low, they exhibited a high lev el of concern over the health risks of three specific indoor air pollutants, i.e. asbestos, pesticides and environmen tal tobacco smoke. The public perceived universities and research institutes to be the most credible sources of health-related information although the media was seen as the most important source of information on the health risks of indoor air pollutants.

Information consumerism on the World Wide Web: implications for dermatologists and patients.

The World Wide Web (WWW) is continuing to grow exponentially both in terms of numbers of users and numbers of web pages. There is a trend toward the increasing use of the WWW for medical educational purposes, both among physicians and patients alike. The multimedia capabilities of this evolving medium are particularly relevant to visual medical specialties such as dermatology. The origins of information consumerism on the WWW are examined, and the public health issues surrounding dermatologic information and misinformation, and how consumers navigate through the WWW are reviewed. The economic realities of medical information as a "capital good," and the impact this has on dermatologic information sources on the WWW are also discussed.Finally, strategies for guiding consumers and ourselves toward credible medical information sources on the WWW are outlined.

Use of complementary/alternative therapies by women with advanced-stage breast cancer.

BackgroundThis study sought to describe the pattern of complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) use among a group of patients with advanced breast cancer, to examine the main reasons for their CAM use, to identify patient's information sources and their communication pattern with their physicians.MethodsFace-to-face structured interviews of patients with advanced-stage breast cancer at a comprehensive oncology center.ResultsSeventy three percent of patients used CAM; relaxation/meditative techniques and herbal medicine were the most common. The most commonly cited primary reason for CAM use was to boost the immune system, the second, to treat cancer; however these reasons varied depending on specific CAM therapy. Friends or family members and mass media were common primary information source's about CAM.ConclusionsA high proportion of advanced-stage breast cancer patients used CAM. Discussion with doctors was high for ingested products. Mass media was a prominent source of patient information. Credible sources of CAM information for patients and physicians are needed.

Perceived Beneficiary of Employee Development Activity: A Three-Dimensional Social Exchange Model

We present a model of employee decision making and behavior in which employees may sometimes decide to pursue learning and development activities, depending on personal values, leader-member exchange, perceived organizational support, self-efficacy for development, and credibility of information source. Within a three-dimensional “perceived beneficiary” system, employees may perceive these activities to benefit not only themselves but also (or alternatively) a supervisor and/or the organization. We show connections involving prosocial organizational behavior and organizational citizenship behavior and offer five propositions.

Radio, Politics and Trust in Afghanistan

This article examines the sociohistorical role of radio broadcasting in Afghanistan and analyses the interplay between the radio choices of the audience, political change and conflict. Though never explicitly trusted as a credible information source, the popularity of national radio in Afghanistan was critically weakened following the Communist revolution of 1978 and subsequent abuse of broadcasting under successive Afghan Communist regimes. Analysis highlights how the audience's thirst for unbiased information resulted in a substantial majority turning to the BBC World Service, this international service being perceived as a far more trustworthy and credible alternative. Discussion of the social history of Radio Afghanistan, the Taliban's Voice of Radio Shari'at and the BBC World Service serves to highlight the propagandist media machinery of the Communist era, the radical media policies of the Taliban regime and the value attributed to the BBC's current news reporting. In an example of the global becoming the local, the article concludes by examining how the BBC World Service has become the dominant radio broadcaster in Afghanistan and the extent to which this position is based on the quality of their outputs or their self-promotional discourses concerning impartiality.

SUPPLEMENT AND ERGOGENIC AID USE BY COMPETITIVE MALE AND FEMALE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES

The increasingly competitive nature of high school sports has led athletes to use supplements to gain speed, strength, and endurance. PURPOSE: The use of 21 types of nutritional supplements and ergogenic aids (SEA) by male and female high school athletes was investigated, along with their motivation, influencers of use, and sources of sports nutrition information. METHODS: A questionnaire was completed by 270 athletes competing in a winter or spring sport at four high schools, mean enrollment of 1075, in a population area of 110,000. The sport athletes currently played was indicated, and other sports played during the year noted. RESULTS: Students, 55% girls, 45% boys, age 13–18 (mean = 15.9), mean grade level = 10.3, currently participated in track/cross country 33%, basketball 23%, softball 12%, baseball and soccer 11%, and 70% participated in more than one sport during the year, range 1–4 sports (mean = 1.9). Current or past SEA use for sports enhancement was reported by 22% of athletes; however 58% had used at least one of the 21 SEA survey types and 82% thought SEAs could improve their performance. Boys reported use of all 21 SEA types and girls 19 of 21 types. Multivitamins (46%) and CHO drinks (59%) were used most often. Significantly more boys used creatine (21% vs. 3%), amino acids (8% vs. 1%) and weight gain formulas (10% vs. 2%), while significantly more girls used ephedrine (26% vs. 12%). Boys mainly used SEAs to gain muscle and increase energy and girls to prevent illness and to increase energy. Coaches, doctors and parents were main sources of nutrition and SEA information; parents most often influenced SEA use; and doctors, coaches and dietitians were viewed as the most reliable information sources. CONCLUSION: The majority of high school athletes surveyed used SEAs to enhance athletic performance. Although coaches and professionals were viewed as credible sources of information, they must have up-to-date knowledge on SEA use and safety to proactively guide young athletes and their parents.

An Introduction to Risk Communication for International Agricultural and Extension Educators

Interest in risk communication by Extension has mushroomed in recent years (Hutcheson, 1999). One explanation for this increased interest is the passage of right-toknow laws related to exposures to agricultural and environmental risk agents. Another stems from increased public fear and concern about exposure to agricultural and environmental risk agents and the corresponding demand for risk information. A third reason is the increased number of media reports focused on agricultural and environmental issues. The fourth reason underlies the first three - the loss of trust in government and industry as credible sources of information about agricultural and environmental risks. The purpose of this report is to review the main findings from literature on risk, risk perceptions, and risk communication. The objective is to provide the agricultural and Extension educator with a general outline of the literature on risk communication and to relate this research to specific techniques and approaches that can be put into practice for building international partnerships for sustainable Extension and rural development.

Accountability Forces in Performance Appraisal: Effects of Self-Appraisal Information, Normative Information, and Task Performance

This study investigated the effects of self-appraisal information, normative information, and task performance on performance appraisal ratings. Participants rated a fictitious “subordinate's” performance on a clerical task (which was either very good or moderately poor) subsequent to receiving self-assessment information (high or low) and normative information (present or absent). Self-appraisals affected performance ratings for poor performers but not for good performers, suggesting that judges are more motivated to please ratees than they are merely to adopt the “subordinate's” view of their own performance. Furthermore, objective normative information had greater influence than self-appraisals on performance ratings, suggesting that information source credibility has more influence than felt accountability on performance appraisals. Implications of the findings for organizations were discussed.