Interest In Additional Information Research Articles

A Cross-National Survey of People Living with Hemophilia: Impact on Daily Living and Patient Education in Central Europe.

BackgroundInformation about the impact of hemophilia on daily living and information preferences for patients and their caregivers in Central Europe has been limited.MethodsThis cross-national survey was conducted between April 1 and October 15, 2020 and utilized a self-administered questionnaire to collect data (Typeform™) from people living with hemophilia in Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia. The questionnaire included 22 questions regarding difficulties in daily life and preferences for receiving hemophilia-related information. Respondents were stratified into two main groups, people with hemophilia (PwH) or their caregivers (CPwH). Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics.ResultsOf the 364 respondents, 232 were PwH (63.7%) and 132 were CPwH (36.3%). In total, 70.3% of hemophilia patients/caregivers responded that they are kept sufficiently informed about life with hemophilia, with 68.0%, 59.1% and 56.3% of respondents obtaining information from their physicians, patient associations and via digital media (internet and social media), respectively. However, 97.8% of respondents expressed an interest in additional information, particularly new hemophilia treatment options (62.1%), which in contrast to other topics was indicated most frequently by both patients and caregivers in all six countries. Most frequent difficulties in everyday life with hemophilia were identified as mobility problems (41.8%), unexpected bleeding (38.5%), pain (35.4%), and uncertainty with what they can or cannot do (25.0%). During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, 52.5% of respondents reported that they did not experience any major change in daily living with hemophilia.ConclusionBased on our Central European survey, hemophilia mostly affects peoples’ lives by causing mobility difficulties, unexpected bleeding, pain and uncertainty in daily activities. Although the majority of respondents reported being educated about hemophilia, most PwH and CPwH respondents sought additional information, highlighting the need for continuous personalized patient education to cope with present challenges.

Impact of FDA Updates on Public Interest in Breast Implant-associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma.

SummaryIn the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of drugs, biological products, and medical devices. In that role, FDA releases timely updates with regard to medical devices and their possible adverse effects. However, the impact of such FDA updates on public interest has not been studied. The timing of multiple FDA updates regarding Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) was noted from September 2014 to September 2019. Impact on Public interest related to ALCL was measured using Google Trends and the number of YouTube video uploads. These objective markers were used to compare the public interest during FDA updates versus weeks with no FDA updates. Five major updates were released by FDA regarding BIA-ALCL during the past 5 years. Google Trends demonstrated a significant increase in public interest regarding ALCL during the week of FDA release, with a mean score of 69 ± 20.82 when compared with a mean score of 10.68 ± 4.71 (P < 0.001) during weeks with no FDA release. The mean number of YouTube videos uploaded during the period of FDA release was 11.8 ± 9.42, which was significantly higher than the mean of 2.42 ± 1.31 videos (P < 0.001) during the period of no FDA updates. FDA updates correlates with temporal increase in public interest. Plastic surgeons should be aware of FDA information releases on BIA-ALCL and anticipate an increased interest in additional information from patients and the public.

Communicating infectious disease prevalence through graphics: Results from an international survey

BackgroundGraphics are increasingly used to represent the spread of infectious diseases (e.g., influenza, Zika, Ebola); however, the impact of using graphics to adequately inform the general population is unknown. ObjectiveTo examine whether three ways of visually presenting data (heat map, dot map, or picto-trendline)—all depicting the same information regarding the spread of a hypothetical outbreak of influenza—influence intent to vaccinate, risk perception, and knowledge. DesignSurvey with participants randomized to receive a simulated news article accompanied by one of the three graphics that communicated prevalence of influenza and number of influenza-related deaths. SettingInternational online survey. Participants16,510 adults living in 11 countries selected using stratified random sampling based on age and gender. MeasurementsAfter reading the article and viewing the presented graphic, participants completed a survey that measured interest in vaccination, perceived risk of contracting disease, knowledge gained, interest in additional information about the disease, and perception of the graphic. ResultsHeat maps and picto-trendlines were evaluated more positively than dot maps. Heat maps were more effective than picto-trendlines and no different from dot maps at increasing interest in vaccination, perceived risk of contracting disease, and interest in additional information about the disease. Heat maps and picto-trendlines were more successful at conveying knowledge than dot maps. Overall, heat maps were the only graphic to be superior in every outcome. LimitationsResults are based on a hypothetical scenario. ConclusionHeat maps are a viable option to promote interest in and concern about infectious diseases.

Survey of the general public to determine perceptions and precautions taken when choosing personal service establishments

&#x0D; Objective: Personal service establishments (PSEs) include tattoo parlors, piercing shops, and beauty salons. Many of the services provided have potential to spread diseases due to the invasive nature and possibility of cross contamination if sanitation procedures are not followed. Potential infections such as nontuberculosis mycobacterium, staphylococcus aureus and blood borne infections such as Hepatitis and HIV are possible. There is concern among Environmental Health Officers (EHOs), and professionals in the industry regarding the lack of regulations and training of employees within the industry. This study investigated the criteria and safety measures the public takes when determining which personal service establishment they receive treatments from. Methods: A questionnaire was administered online through social media and Google Docs. Inferential statistical analyses determined if there were associations between certain demographic information and the responses given from participants. Results: There were six associations that were found when comparing demographic groups (age, gender and education) with the survey questions. A p value of 0.021008 was found in the association between age and perceived level of regulation of the industry, a p value of 0.014407 was found in the association between education and asking about sanitation procedures before an appointment, and a p value of 0.008668 was found in the association of education and if participant asks for references. In addition, p values of 0.028151 and 0.011739 with associations of gender and education, respectively, and the participants perceived ability to recognize bad practices during a procedure. Finally, a p value of 0.029766 was found in the association of gender and participants interest in additional information about how to choose an establishment. Conclusions: There were six hypotheses that resulted in statistically significant associations between a demographic and the survey question. Over 30 year olds chose PSEs were minimally regulated, while higher education groups were more likely to ask about sanitation and for references before a procedure. Females and people with some post secondary education felt they were more able to recognize bad practices during a procedure. Finally, females were most interested in additional information about PSEs.&#x0D;

The Effect of Increased Audit Disclosure on Financial Statement Users’ Perceptions of Management, Auditors, and Financial Reporting: An Experimental Investigation

Regulators worldwide have recently proposed expanding the auditor’s report in a number of ways, with investors showing particular interest in additional information surrounding management estimates. This study uses an experiment to examine the effects of auditor-provided estimate disclosures on financial statement users’ perceptions of auditor independence, management credibility, reporting quality, and investment decisions. I manipulate auditor agreement with management’s estimates and whether the estimates are incentive-consistent for management. I find that estimate disclosures are value-relevant for users’ investment decisions. Additionally, given an unqualified opinion, users view auditors as more (less) independent when auditors agree (disagree) with management and management as less (more) credible when estimates are incentive consistent (inconsistent). In turn, independence and credibility perceptions influence perceived misstatement probability, financial reporting quality, and investment. The findings empirically support investors’ arguments that auditor disclosures regarding management estimates increase the transparency and value-relevance of the audit report.

Teaching Medical Students About Disability: The Use of Standardized Patients

Standardized patients (SPs), now a mainstay of the undergraduate medical education experience, are beginning to play larger roles in helping students build competencies to better serve patients who have disabilities, in educating students about the lived experiences of persons with disabilities, and in testing students' understanding of disability-related issues. In this article, the authors discuss several U.S. training programs that involve SPs who have disabilities or SPs who do not have disabilities but who portray patients who do. The authors review the goals of each program (e.g., to provide students with opportunities to gain experience with patients with disabilities), describe their commonalities (enhancing students' interview skills) and differences (some programs are educational; some are evaluative), and summarize the evaluative data of each. The authors also explore the benefits and challenges of working with SPs with disabilities and of working with SPs without disabilities. Finally, they consider the practical issues (e.g., recruiting SPs) of developing and implementing such programs.

Does How I Feel About It Matter? The Role of Affect in Cognitive and Behavioral Reactions to an Illness Diagnosis

Individuals often have low rates of compliance with treatment recommendations. We examined the role that experienced affect at the time of illness diagnosis might play in influencing thoughts and feelings relating treatment compliance. Participants were randomly assigned to receive a positive, neutral, or negative affect induction after imagining they were diagnosed with kidney cancer. They then reported on thoughts and feelings about the illness and the treatment regimen. Participants also reported interest in additional information about the illness and behavioral intentions for complying with the treatment regimen. Affect significantly influenced interest in information and behavioral intentions. Both effects were mediated by the influence of affect on participants' self‐efficacy beliefs. These mediational findings support a mood‐as‐resource interpretation of the role of affect in treatment compliance.

Using a Different Standard: The Impact of Applicant's Expression of Spiritual Values on Rater Interest in Additional Information

To test the impact of applicant spiritual-materialistic values on the types of information raters a rater would inquire about in subsequent decisions, a network sample of raters were provided with a packet of information about a job applicant, the company to which he was applying, and the number of qualified applicants in the region. Values of the job applicant were manipulated by showing the rater one of four spiritual-materialistic cover letters in which the applicant expressed a materialistic orientation, a spiritual orientation, a combined materialist-spiritual orientation or a no-information control. Number of qualified applicants was manipulated as part of a brief set of bullet points that provided raters mock information about the company and position. Results show that depending on market conditions, the expression of spiritual values, either by itself or in combination with materialistic values, create a need for additional information about the applicant. The results are discussed in relationship to values and ethics issues in future research.

Attitudes of aging Athenians to andropenia and its consequences, and to potential hormone substitution therapy

This population-based study has attempted to chart and characterize aging men's perception of andropenia and its clinical consequences and their attitudes towards possible hormone replacement therapy in a fashion similar to that of postmenopausal women. To this end, a total of 160 men, aged 50–75 years, selected randomly from a population of 366 860 men of this age range, living in the Greater Athens area, were personally interviewed. The sets of questions asked were graded from 1 to 5 and were related to present and past general mood, physical fitness, mental condition, sexual activity and presence of symptoms of andropenia.A marked reduction in the mean scores for general mood, concentration, physical fitness, sexual mood and ability to initiate or maintain an erection and an increase in the incidence of hot flushes were observed in the subjects studied when their present condition was self-compared to their condition during their early forties. Moreover, significant correlations were observed between the scores for each of these parameters and advancing age in this sample. Questions related to the cause of the problems described, awareness of their possible relationship to andropenia and its long-term consequences, interest in additional information, need for expert advice and to the men's attitudes towards replacement therapy revealed low public awareness, acceptance of the symptoms as an inevitable part of the aging process, an interest in impersonal channels of information and severe apprehension about replacement therapy because of fear of side-effects.These results provide a suitable platform to formulate appropriate communication strategies and to launch efforts to educate this age section of the population about their age-specific problems and the possible therapies for relief.

Adolescents, young adults and AIDS: A study of actual knowledge vs. perceived need for additional information

Adolescents and young adults today are increasingly knowledgeable about AIDS and HIV transmission. However, in several studies substantial confusion is observed especially concerning how HIV is not transmitted and the prophylaxis against AIDS. Additional efforts to answer specific knowledge lacks are still useful. There is, however, no evidence that the actual knowledge level influences the interest in additional information. The aim of this study was to obtain a detailed investigation of the AIDS- and HIV-related knowledge level and the perceived need for additional information and to assess the (absence of an) association between both. Results of factor analysis and canonical correlation analysis confirmed the hypothesized incongruence between actual knowledge and need for additional information. Although respondents indicated that they had received sufficient information or that they were rather indifferent with regard to additional information, answers on knowledge questions showed important misconceptions. Moreover, associations between a specific knowledge scale and a specific information need factor were weak and not significant. The results contradict the importance of a detailed assessment of specific needs for additional information as an explanation for this incongruence and leave the possible role of an overestimation of one's own knowledge level. This study could not answer the question about the failure of traditional school-based sex education to provide youngsters with the information they need. However, a possible explanation for the overestimation of one's knowledge level could be the use of unreliable information sources—such as peers—in combination with a feeling of indifference towards traditional school-based sex education.

AIDS: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Risk Characteristics of Teens

Although teenagers are not among the highest-risk groups for contracting acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or for exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), their sexual behavior and possible experimentation with drug use place them at risk. A survey of 207 sexually active teenagers attending a family planning clinic was made to assess knowledge, attitudes, and risk characteristics of this group. Results indicated that respondents were aware of the major modes of HIV transmission, but they had some misconceptions about the risk associated with casual contact. Nine percent of respondents reported engaging in behavior placing them at risk for HIV infection. A high level of interest in additional information on AIDS was reported. Education on AIDS should be provided to teenagers and family planning clinic patients, focusing on heterosexual transmission, the role of intravenous (IV) drug use, and risks associated with multiple sexual partners, along with methods of reducing risk of HIV infection.

Social comparison after success and failure: Biased search for information consistent with a self-serving conclusion

Based on the traditional and attributional perspectives on social comparison, it was hypothesized that the search for social comparison information after performance outcomes is biased so as to provide evidence consistent with a favorable self-evaluation. In Experiment 1, subjects were led to believe that they obtained 16 or 8 out of 20 items correct on a bogus social sensitivity test and were then led to expect that most other students performed either well or poorly on the test. They were then given the opportunity to inspect up to 50 scored answer sheets from previous subjects. Consistent with the hypothesis, failure subjects requested more information when they expected it to reveal that most students performed poorly than when they expected it to reveal that most students performed well; success subjects showed little interest in this additional information, regardless of their expectancies as to what it would reveal. Experiment 2 employed a different approach to manipulating performance outcomes and led subjects to expect that most other subjects performed better, the same, or worse than themselves. Regardless of their own performance, subjects showed the least interest in additional information in the higher score expectancy condition and the most interest in additional information in the lower score expectancy condition. The role that this information search bias may play in producing self-serving attributions for success and failure and maintaining positive self-evaluations was discussed.