Perception Items Research Articles

Tourists' Perception and Attitude to Grassland Tourism Landscape: A Case Study of Grassland in the Central Section of Inner Mongolia

Landscape perception, attitude and its impact on humans are the topics of modern geography study. Taking the grassland of central Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region as an example, the perception and attitude of grassland tourism landscape and their relations are analyzed by components analysis and multiple regression analysis. It is revealed that tourists perceive grassland landscape from three dimensions: national culture, tourism hospitality and natural landscape. All of the tourists' assessment for the perception and attitude to grassland tourism landscape are positive. The analysis of the relationship between tourists landscape perception and attitude showed that only seven out of twenty landscape perception items influence tourists' landscape image, satisfaction, recommendation intention and the willingness to revisit. The article verified that selectiveness was one of the most important characteristic of tourism landscape perception. Thus the advantage and disadvantage factors in the development of tourism destination could be distinguished according to the assessment of the landscape perception. As a result of the research, the demand of the tourism market has been made so clearer that it will provide a useful reference to the healthy development of grassland tourism industry.

Service quality in healthcare institutions: establishing the gaps for policy action

The authors seek to examine two key issues: to assess patients' hospital service quality perceptions and expectation using SERVQUAL; and to outline the distinct concepts used to assess patient perceptions. Questionnaires were administered to 250 patients on admission and follow-up visits. The 22 paired SERVQUAL expectation and perception items were adopted. Repeated t-measures and factor analysis with Varimax rotation were used to analyse data. Results showed that patient expectations were not being met during medical treatment. Perceived service quality was rated lower than expectations for all variables. The mean difference between perceptions and expectations was statistically significant. Contrary to the SERVQUAL five-factor model, four service-quality factors were identified in the study. Findings have practical implications for hospital managers who should consider stepping up staffing levels backed by client-centred training programmes to help clinicians deliver care to patients' expectations. Limited studies are tailored towards patients' service-quality perception and expectation in Ghanaian hospitals. The findings therefore provide valuable information for policy and practice.

The prognostic value of rapid screening tests (RST) in geriatric assessment of patients with cancer over 70.

9554 Background: Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) may help to evaluate the functional status of elderly patients, but, because time-consuming, RST have been proposed. However, whether these instruments may predict survival is still unclear. The aim of this study was to correlate overall survival (OS) with the results of 3 rapid tests: G8 (1), VES-13 (2, aCGA (3) in patients over 70. Methods: From April 2009 to April 2012, 530 unelected outpatients over 70, 263 males and 267 females, were evaluated. During the first oncologic visit, they were homogeneously assessed by a trained oncogeriatric team using a dedicated, expressly developed web-based software (www: oncoger.ro.it) including all of the 3 rapid tests. Survival curves were drawn using Kaplan-Meier method and compared with log rank test; multivariate analysis was performed according to Cox regression method. Results: The tests identified frail patients as follows: VES-13 69%, aCGA 50%, G8 68.5%. Frailty was significantly associated with poor OS, with different hazard ratios (HR) for each test. HRs for death of frail vs non-frail pts were for aCGA 1.45 (95%CI 1.09-1.89, p=0.008), for VES-13 1.55 (95%CI 1.12-2.00, p=0.005) and for G8 2.57 (95%CI 1.66-2.93, p<0.0001). In the multivariate analysis including the 8 items of the G8 test, appetite loss (HR 1.44, p=0.002), weight loss (HR 1.28, p=0.003), and personal perception of poor health (HR 1.58, p=0.002) were significantly associated with a higher risk of death. Conclusions: i) Frailty, as identified by RST (VES-13, aCGA, G8), is statistically associated with poor OS; ii) G8 presents the most meaningful HR for OS; iii) appetite loss, weight loss and personal perception of poor health are significantly associated with lower OS.Our data show that RST and in particular G8 represent a useful prognostic tool for the assessment of geriatric patients with cancer.

The Kramer problem: Micro-macro resolution with a Danish pool

In a seminal paper, Kramer (1983) posed his “problem” for the study of economic voting with election surveys: the items administered can measure neither individual nor national economic wellbeing accurately. Instead these items of economic perception are laden with erroneous judgment and partisan bias. Thus, the investigation of economics and elections should not be a survey research enterprise. Here we show, through varied analyses in an extensive, well-gathered Danish election pool, that these fears are unfounded. The presence of strong sociotropic voting effects from surveys can be established, and reconciled with the observed effects of national fluctuations in the macro economy. Indeed, the micro- and macro- processes mirror each other, so resolving the Kramer problem.

Destination risk perceptions among U.S. residents for London as the host city of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games

Risks associated with the Olympic Games have been studied; however, there is lack of research that examines prospective tourists' perceptions of a host city in terms of destination risk. To examine prospective tourists' destination risk perceptions for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, a survey of 4000 American residents was conducted. Overall, U.S. residents perceived the host city to be safe. Hierarchical regression revealed that demographic factors were drivers of the intention to travel to an Olympic Games host city. While controlling for demographics, past experience traveling to a host city and attending an Olympic Games affected the likelihood to travel. Three destination risk perception items were drivers of the intention to travel to a host city, when controlling for demographics and past experience. Lastly, when controlling for all the independent variables, travel risk type index was a driver of the intention to travel to an Olympic Games host city.

When do people feel more risk? The effect of ambiguity tolerance and message source on purchasing intention of earthquake insurance

The present study explored the impact of message source and ambiguity tolerance (AT) on risk perception and purchasing intention of earthquake insurance. Two months after Wenchuan earthquake, adult residents exposed to seismic hazard (n = 108) were first asked to finish the AT scale and five items of risk perception. After being provided with a risk message from ‘news media’ (publicity) or ‘peers’ (word-of-mouth), they were instructed to report their intention to purchase the seismic insurance. All sociodemographic data were also collected. Results indicated an interaction of message source and AT on intention of buying earthquake insurance with risk perception as a mediator. Specifically, people with higher AT felt more risk and were more willing to buy earthquake insurance when the risk message is from publicity than that from word-of-mouth; while people with lower AT demonstrated nearly the same risk perception and intention of buying insurance under both types of information conditions. The results were interpreted in relation to heuristic systematic model of persuasion, and were discussed in terms of theoretical and practical implications.

Examining the Relationship Between Latinas’ Perceptions About What Constitutes Domestic Violence and Domestic Violence Victimization

Domestic violence is a serious issue for U.S. Latinas. Better understanding of the potential risk or protection that cultural perceptions about what constitutes domestic violence may convey can help strengthen interventions. Therefore, a convenience sample of 93 Latinas was surveyed about their current levels of domestic violence victimization, acculturation, and demographics, as well as about whether 5 behavioral scenarios constituted domestic violence. Hierarchical multiple regressions were performed to examine the relationships between the 5 perception items and domestic violence victimization. After adjusting for established risk factors, only viewing male partner stalking and female verbal aggression as domestic violence were significantly associated with decreased domestic violence victimization. Findings can be integrated into the development and implementation of culturally competent interventions targeting Latinas.

Measuring Pain Impact Versus Pain Severity Using a Numeric Rating Scale

Routine assessments of pain using an intensity numeric rating scale (NRS) have improved documentation, but have not improved clinical outcomes. This may be, in part, due to the failure of the NRS to adequately predict patients' preferences for additional treatment. To examine whether patients' illness perceptions have a stronger association with patient treatment preferences than the pain intensity NRS. Single face-to-face interview. Outpatients with chronic, noncancer, musculoskeletal pain. Experience of pain was measured using 18 illness perception items. Factor analysis of these items found that five factors accounted for 67.1% of the variance; 38% of the variance was accounted for by a single factor labeled "pain impact." Generalized linear models were used to examine how NRS scores and physical function compare with pain impact in predicting preferences for highly effective/high-risk treatment. Two hundred forty-nine subjects agreed to participate. Neither NRS nor functioning predicted patient preference (NRS: χ2 = 1.92, df = 1, p = 0.16, physical functioning: χ2 = 2.48, df = 1, p = 0.11). In contrast, pain impact was significantly associated with the preference for a riskier/more effective treatment after adjusting for age, comorbidity, efficacy of current medications and numeracy (χ2 = 4.40, df = 1, p = 0.04). Tools that measure the impact of pain may be a more valuable screening instrument than the NRS. Further research is now needed to determine if measuring the impact of pain in clinical practice is more effective at triggering appropriate management than more restricted measures of pain such as the NRS.

Anxiety and specific distress in women at intermediate and high risk of breast cancer before and after surveillance by magnetic resonance imaging and mammography versus standard mammography

Intensive surveillance in women at intermediate and high breast cancer risk is currently investigated in a French prospective, non-randomized, multicentre study. Two surveillance modalities, standard imaging-mammography ± ultrasound ('Mx')-or standard imaging with magnetic resonance imaging ('MRI'), provided according to the level of breast cancer risk, are compared on psychological distress. A total of 1561 women were invited to complete the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Impact of Event Scale (IES) Intrusion and Avoidance subscales and breast cancer-risk perception items at T0 (before examination) and T2 (1 to 3 months later) and the STAI-State anxiety at T1 (just after examination). Multiple regression analyses were performed. Baseline compliance was high (>91%). Between surveillance modalities, women differed significantly for age, education level, breast cancer-risk objective estimates and subjective perception. Mean STAI-State anxiety scores reflected low to moderate distress in both surveillance modalities. At baseline, MRI was associated with lower STAI-State anxiety (p ≤ 0.001) and Avoidance scores (p = 0.02), but at T1 and T2, no difference between surveillance modalities was observed on psychological outcomes. Abnormal surveillance result was associated with a higher STAI-State anxiety (p ≤ 0.01) and IES-Intrusion (p ≤ 0.01) scores; a personal history of breast cancer and higher risk perception was associated with higher psychological distress at T1 and T2. Standard breast imaging including MRI does not seem to convey more harmful psychological effects than standard imaging alone. Higher psychological distress observed in the case of history of breast cancer or higher breast cancer-risk perception evidences women with needs for specific support and information.

Perception of care and experience of examination in women at risk of breast cancer undergoing intensive surveillance by standard imaging with or without MRI

ObjectiveIntensive surveillance in women at breast cancer risk is currently investigated in a French prospective, non-randomized, multicenter study, in which standard imaging – mammography±ultrasound (‘Mx’) and standard imaging combined with magnetic resonance imaging (‘MRI’) are compared with regard to perception of care and examination experience. Methods1561 women were invited to complete the STAI-State Anxiety Inventory and breast cancer risk perception items at baseline (T0), and MGQ (MammoGraphy Questionnaire) and MRI discomfort items within 2 days after examinations (T1). ResultsBaseline compliance was high (>91%). Women from the ‘MRI’ group were significantly younger and displayed higher education level and risk perception. MRI discomfort related to the duration, immobility, prone position or noise was experienced by more than 20% of women. In multivariate analyses, ‘MRI’ was associated with more favorable examination psychological experience (p≤.001), especially in women younger than 50; baseline STAI-State anxiety was associated with lower MGQ scores (p≤.001) and higher MRI discomfort (p≤.001). ConclusionIn spite of the discomfort experienced with MRI, perception of care and experience with this surveillance procedure was more positive than with standard imaging. Practice implicationsInformation and support may assuage some of the adverse effects of an uncomfortable examination technique.

Temporal Change in Resident Perceptions of a Mega-event: The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

This study investigated the influences of temporal effects on local residents’ impact perceptions of hosting the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, utilizing data collected during the first week of the games and after the games from local residents of Beijing. Findings suggested that thirteen of the 30 impact items examined were significantly different between the assessment of impacts during and after the games. While changes in two of those impact perception items indicated that residents’ perceptions changed for the better after the games, eleven of them suggested that during the first week of the games residents had high expectations about the benefits, though they were aware that such benefits would not be cost-free. However, they later realized that the benefits generated were lower than they had anticipated and the costs associated were higher than they expected.

Passing years, changing fears? Conceptualizing and measuring risk perceptions for chronic disease in younger and middle-aged women

As is true for many behavioral theory constructs, no consensus exists on how best to measure perceived risk; therefore, it is unclear whether different measures of disease risk perception are conceptually equivalent and whether such measures are equally appropriate for people with different objective disease risk. To investigate these issues, we used four commonly utilized risk perception items (measuring beliefs about personal risk, others' risk, disease prevalence, and mortality) to assess susceptibility to cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, and lung cancer among 454 younger (ages 18-25) and 169 middle-aged (40-64) women. We examined age- and ethnicity-related differences in participants' responses to the items. We also used structural equation modeling to test whether these items reflect a multidimensional, disease-specific latent construct of risk perception; and to test whether consistency exists in participants' disease-specific risk perceptions. Despite differences in responses to individual items, hypothesized models of perceived risk fit both age groups, suggesting that risk perception can be conceptualized in younger and middle-aged women as a multidimensional construct that is specific to disease yet reflective of global risk-related beliefs.

Nurses’ knowledge and risk perception towards seasonal influenza and vaccination and their vaccination behaviours: A cross-sectional survey

Background Seasonal influenza has become a serious public health problem worldwide and vaccination is recognized as the most effective preventative measure. Healthcare workers can be the vectors of influenza outbreaks. Data suggest that nurses’ vaccination remains suboptimal worldwide. Objectives To explore the relationship among nurses’ knowledge, risk perception and their vaccination behaviours and the reasons for vaccination uptake. Design A cross-sectional survey. Setting Participants were recruited from the nurses enrolled on continuing professional education courses at a large university in London. Participants A sample of 522 nurses returned completed questionnaires (response rate 77.7%). Most of the respondents were women, worked in hospitals and had direct patient contact. The mean years qualified as a nurse were 11.9 ± 8.75 years. Methods The survey instrument examined nurses’ knowledge about influenza and vaccination, risk perception towards influenza and pandemics, vaccination behaviours and reasons for vaccination acceptance or refusal. The survey also collected data regarding gender, age, highest educational qualification, work place, clinical specialty, qualified years as a nurse, and whether they had direct patient contact. Results The influenza vaccination rate among the respondents was 36% with about 41% never vaccinated. Nurses with a high knowledge level were more likely to get vaccinated compared to those with a low knowledge level ( p < 0.001). Vaccination rates between the high risk perception and low risk perception groups were different ( p = 0.019). Sentinel knowledge items were associated with nurses’ vaccination status. Several risk perception items including personal vulnerability to influenza or H1N1, mortality risk of H1N1, and the likelihood of transmitting influenza to patients were also predictors of vaccination uptake. Vaccinated nurses were more likely to recommend vaccination to their patients ( p < 0.001). The most frequent reason for vaccination refusal was concern about the side-effects of the vaccination while self-protection was the most frequent reason for vaccination uptake. Conclusions This study confirmed a relationship between knowledge, risk perception and vaccination behaviours among nurses. The identified sentinel items of knowledge and risk perception could inform future vaccination campaigns. The clinical specialty of nurses and the importance of accessibility to vaccination as predictors of vaccine uptake require further exploration.

Statistical Literacy: Performance And Per-ceptions Of Accounting Students

Statistical literacy is critical for business professionals in terms of their research consumption role and their ability to interpret and apply statistics. Students enrolled in five sections of Intermediate Accounting (n = 132) completed a 17-item survey that included statistics calculation items, identification of appropriate statistical tests, interpretation of statistical outcomes, and perception items. There were no statistically significant gender differences in performance on any of the items. Overall, the statistical literacy of accounting students was poor as measured by their performance on the various items.

SERVQUAL in Malaysian universities: perspectives of international students

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assess the service quality perceptions and expectations of international postgraduate students studying in selected Malaysian universities.Design/methodology/approachA gap analysis based on a modified SERVQUAL instrument was used on 522 international postgraduate students who were selected based on stratified sampling of the top five public universities. The analysis started with descriptive analysis followed by factor and reliability analyses. Single mean t‐tests were conducted to assess the significance of the gap analysis based on three methods: item‐by‐item analysis; construct‐by‐construct analysis; and computation of a single measure of service quality.FindingsFive factors in the form of professionalism, reliability, hospitality, tangibles, and commitment were uncovered. The single mean t‐tests for the three methods of gap analysis indicated that all the items of perception were perceived as significantly negative as compared to expectations.Practical implicationsThe university senior management would benefit by knowing which gaps should receive the greatest attention in order to gain competitive and comparative advantages. Also, the findings from the study will assist in designing a quality system that involves not just the employees, but also the students.Originality/valueIronically, most studies on service quality at institutions of higher education tend to concentrate on the undergraduate students and/or the education providers. As the international postgraduate segment is more lucrative, this research is timely and is expected to present significantly different results from those found in most literature.

Construct Validity of the Three Motor-Reduced Subscales of the Developmental Test of Visual Perception — Adolescent and Adult (DTVP-A): A Rasch Analysis Model Evaluation

Background: The Developmental Test of Visual Perception — Adolescent and Adult (DTVP-A) is a test used by therapists even though its construct validity has not been thoroughly assessed. Purpose: This study evaluated the scalability/interval level measurement, unidimensionality, lack of differential item functioning (DIF) and hierarchical ordering of the items of the three motor-free subscales (Figure-Ground, Form Constancy and Visual Closure) of the DTVP-A. Method: The motor-free visual perceptual performance scores from a sample of 221 participants aged 20+ years (49 adults with and 172 adults without neurological impairment) were used to complete a Rasch analysis of the DTVP-A's three motor-free subscales. Results: On the DTVP-A Figure-Ground (FG) subscale, items FG2 and FG6 demonstrated Rasch model misfit, while no item exhibited DIF. On the Form Constancy (FC) subscale, items FC1, FC2, FC4 and FC6 were misfitting, while items FC3 and FC11 exhibited DIF based on gender. Visual Closure (VC) subscale items VC2, VC3, VC13 and VC15 exhibited misfit with the Rasch model requirements, while VC1 and VC5 demonstrated DIF. When all three subscales were analysed together as one Total Motor-Reduced Visual Perception Scale, items FC2, FC1, FC4, VC12, VC15, FC17 and FG6 demonstrated Rasch model misfit, while items VC1, VC2, VC5 and FC11 exhibited DIF based on gender. Conclusion: The construct validity, scalability, hierarchical ordering and lack of DIF requirements were met by the majority of the motor-free DTVP-A items. However, items FG6, FC1, FC2, FC4 and FC11 appeared to be particularly problematic. Given the fact that a number of items exhibited Rasch analysis model misfit or DIF, clinicians need to take this into consideration when using the three motor-free DTVP-A subscales individually or collectively to assess clients.

Physician assistant specialty choice: a factor analysis.

The purpose of this study was to identify factors related to physician assistant (PA) graduates' specialty choice. A web-based cross-sectional study of PAs graduating between 2007 and 2009 was conducted (N = 12,128). Factor analysis was performed on 897 useable survey responses. The cohort profile resembles that of recent AAPA census data regarding demographic and specialty choice distribution. Principal component factor analysis of perception items identified five factors that explained 52.6% of the response variance. Factors included personal satisfaction, intellectual challenge, patient care commitment, image of primary care, and professional satisfaction. The influence items analysis yielded five factors, explained 45.2% of the variance, and included practice environment, nature of patient care, lifestyle, employment opportunities, and risk aversion. These factors parallel previous findings of Hauer, et al. Identification of factors affecting specialty choice should provide an enhanced understanding to organizations as they explore strategies to increase recruitment and expansion of the primary care workforce.

Interference effect of acupuncture on language function of children with autism

To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture treatment for infantile autism. After being treated with the needling technique for enhancing wisdom and opening the orifice, 32 cases of sick children were assessed by Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) depending upon their clinical symptoms. After acupuncture treatments, language communication, interpersonal relationships, movements and behavior, and personal ability had all improved. Among them, the remarkable rate of language communication showed a statistical significance in comparison with the other three items (P<0.05). In the comparison of the ATEC scores before and after the treatments, the language items (P<0.01), social relationships, perception and behavior items, showed statistically significant differences (P<0.05). Acupuncture therapy can effectively improve the clinical symptoms of sick children with autism, and the interference effect on language function is especially remarkable.

Migraine and Migraines of Specialists: Perceptions and Management

To describe the perception of migraine by neurologists in France, to compare perceptions between neurologists who did and did not suffer from migraines and to describe treatments used for their own migraines. Patients with migraine are usually undertreated, as treatment guidelines are frequently not followed and, therefore, resulting treatment satisfaction is low. One reason for this may be inappropriate perceptions of physicians concerning the seriousness of the pathology and the need to treat. However, available information on physician perceptions of migraine is limited. This was an observational, epidemiological survey conducted both in hospital- and community-based neurologists in France. Participating neurologists completed an anonymous questionnaire which collected data on demographics, migraine status, and perceptions of migraine. Neurologists who considered themselves migraineurs also provided data on migraine impact, treatment and on treatment satisfaction. Distributions of responses to questions on migraine perceptions were compared between migraineur and nonmigraineur neurologists. The study included 368 neurologists, of whom 179 (48.6%) were migraineurs themselves. Some 92.3% of participants claimed to be very or quite interested in migraine. Migraine was considered a real illness by 96.5% of neurologists and to be very or quite disabling by 96.6%. Around half perceived migraine as a challenging condition to manage with respect to unrealistic patient expectations (46.2%), time-consuming treatment (48.9%), and complications because of anxious or depressive comorbidity (59.9%) or medical nomadism (consulting multiple physicians for the same condition; 47.0%). No significant differences in any perception items were observed between migraineur and nonmigraineur neurologists. In total, 83.1% of neurologists were satisfied with acute headache treatments and 60.4% with prophylactic headache treatments. The most frequently reported treatments for neurologist's own migraines were nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (used by 57.0%) and triptans (50.3%). French neurologists are interested and concerned about migraine but find it challenging to treat. Migraine perceptions do not differ between neurologists who do and do not suffer from migraines themselves. Neurology training needs to prepare medical students adequately for the challenges of migraine treatment in terms of patient communication and psychiatric issues.

Verification of multiple intelligences construct validity in an online instrument

This research aims to verify the construct validity of an online multiple intelligences assessment instrument. It contains 81 perception items and is administered online by random sampling. The Person and Items Distribution Map (PIDM) indicates good reliability attributes. The analysis yields 69 items from which 12 items were dropped. To further ensure the accuracy and consistency of this finding, another study is conducted. The Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) indicates an acceptable fit between the model and the data. The result of the study shows that the good psychometric properties can be used to obtain the multiple intelligences profiles of youths. © 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd.