Effectiveness of a Social Marketing Campaign Promoting Use of a Sexual Health Text Service by Teens

Sexual health text message services are becoming an increasingly popular way to provide adolescents with accurate sexual health information, but promotion of such services is often limited. This study uses three quantitative methods (service use data, a text message–based questionnaire, and an in-school online survey) to assess the effectiveness of an in-school social marketing campaign promoting a sexual health text message service that connects teens directly with a health educator. The 3-month campaign was associated with increased service use, but use was still relatively low. Follow-up qualitative work that included focus groups and interviews found a number of barriers to use. Teens indicated they did not have sexual health questions, did not think of the service, or were unsure how to use it. Teens also brought up additional barriers such as concern over parents seeing the messages. Implications for text message service providers and health educators are discussed.     

An outpatient clinic for memory disorders; initial experiences]

The department of neurology of the Academisch Medisch Centrum started an outpatient memory clinic in 1987 for patients aged 65 and older. Its specific aims are: assessment of elderly patients with memory problems, treatment where appropriate, and advice; clinical research; teaching and training. The clinic has run full-time since 1990. The approach is multidisciplinary. We describe our findings in the first 75 patients who were referred by their general practitioners because of forgetfulness or possible dementia: 72 of them had a complete investigation; 30 patients were not demented; three could be reassured because their performance was within normal limits. Four patients were depressed and they improved on therapy. Forty-two patients were demented. All had a CT scan and comprehensive blood tests but a curable cause for the dementia syndrome was never identified. This result was expected on account of the probably low frequency of 'reversible' causes and patient selection. Secondary prevention was important when a vascular component contributed to the pathogenesis of the mental deterioration (n = 6). Even when no curable condition was found, clarity about diagnosis and prognosis was important not only to the relatives but also to the general practitioner in planning the future management of the patient. Fifty-five of the 72 patients were older than 65 years which means that we do see the patients we are particularly interested in. The clinic offers facilities for clinical research. In the project 'Diagnostiek bij dementiesyndroom' (Diagnostics in dementia syndrome) we investigate the utility of ancillary investigations in relation to the outcome in demented patients.     

Routine laboratory tests unnecessary for children referred for recurrent wheezing and/or asthma

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the usefulness of laboratory testing and thorax radiography in children, referred to the paediatrician for evaluation of recurrent wheezing. DESIGN: Retrospective. METHODS: In this study, 158 children referred for recurrent wheezing to a specialized child outpatient clinic of the Medisch Centrum Leeuwarden, the Netherlands, in the period 1 January 1994-31 December 1996, were evaluated according to a routine protocol including haemoglobin, ESR, leucocytes, immunoglobulins, sweat chloride levels and allergy testing and chest roentgenograms. It was determined whether these investigations had yielded abnormal results and whether these test results aided in confirming/rejecting the diagnosis of asthma or were helpful in clinical management. RESULTS: In 144 of the 158 (91%) children the diagnosis 'asthma' or 'recurrent wheezing' was made. Although numerous test results were abnormal they were not helpful in establishing the diagnosis. In only one child an abnormal chest radiograph was helpful (the radiograph showed infiltrative abnormalities). Tests for aero-allergy were rarely positive in children younger than 2 years; in children older than 6 years aero-allergy was found frequently, notably to dust mite (41/144). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that--except for allergy testing--routine laboratory testing and chest roentgenograms are not indicated in children referred for evaluation of wheezing disorders. Aero-allergy testing may help to decide on preventive measures.     

Reminders of existing vaccine mandates increase support for a COVID-19 vaccine mandate: Evidence from a survey experiment

BackgroundGovernments are trying various strategies to boost COVID-19 vaccination rates, including vaccine mandates. Popular support for such mandates, however, is in flux in many countries, including the United States. The objective of this study is to evaluate if the wording of public health messages could increase popular support for COVID-19 vaccine mandates.MethodsWe conducted a survey experiment on a sample of 573 registered voters in South Dakota, United States. Participants in the control group (n = 271) read a short message about mandatory COVID-19 vaccination. Respondents in the treatment group (n = 278) read the same message but they were reminded that a variety of vaccine mandates for measles, mumps, rubella, and polio have long been required. Afterwards, both groups were asked about their support for COVID-19 vaccine mandate.ResultsA multivariate ordinary least squares regression analysis revealed that the experimental treatment had a positive and statistically significant impact on support for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination (p < 0.001). We also found that COVID-19 vaccination status, religious identity, and political affiliation have a statistically significant effect.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that a simple intervention—reminding the public of the existing vaccine mandates—increases support for COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Public health authorities who seek to boost COVID-19 vaccination rates could utilize this approach.     

Two cultures--one voice? Problems in broadcaster/health educator co-operation

This article reports on some collaborative work between healtheducators and broadcasters in a health education project whichused a radio drama serial as a means of message dissemination.The aim of the drama, which was produced by a BBC local radiostation, was to draw listeners' attention to certain healthissues which were being addressed in other health promotionactivities in the project. The research focused on the processof collaboration in order to establish general principles aboutthe problems and potential of broadcaster/health educator co-operation.The research findings show that collaboration can lead to aclash between the cultures of the health educator and the broad-caster.While on the surface the two may enjoy a harmony of interests,there may be conflict over the substance of the health messagescommunicated. At the centre of the conflict are definitionsof ‘professionalism’. For the BBC, in a rapidlychanging and increasingly competitive broadcasting environment,the notion of professionalism takes on renewed significance.As a consequence, the BBC is less willing to venture into areasof broadcasting which, for a variety of reasons, may be ‘controversial’.The likely result is that health communicators will find theirhealth message compromised.     

'Trigger thumb' in 38 children: good short-term and long-term results from surgery

OBJECTIVE: To determine the direct and long-term effectivity of incision of the pulley in a trigger thumb (tendovaginitis stenosans). DESIGN: Retrospective study with follow-up. METHODS: In the period 1984-1995, 38 children (24 boys and 14 girls) were diagnosed and operated on 45 trigger thumbs in the Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis (Amsterdam) and Medisch Centrum Alkmaar, the Netherlands. Data were obtained from notes, operation reports and review in follow-up, at least 2 years after the operation. RESULTS: The mean age of the children at the moment of surgery was 3 years and 2 months (range: 11 months-10.33 years). 39 out of 45 thumbs were reviewed. Four thumbs had limited postoperative function. Two of these had a revision operation. There was 1 thumb with a postoperative superficial infection. At follow-up all thumbs had maximal function. The nodule in the tendon, which was palpable in 43 out of 45 thumbs preoperatively, had (almost) disappeared in all 39 thumbs at follow-up. There was a family history of trigger thumb in 33% of the 33 patients with follow up. 18% had bilateral involvement of the thumbs. The 6 digits not included in follow-up had a normal function according to the last notes. CONCLUSION: The results of surgery in the short term are good, in the long term excellent. Few complications occur. Based on the findings, it seems advisable to operate on children with a trigger thumb if there is no spontaneous recovery within half a year. Trigger thumb is the result of a congenital tight pulley.     

Heeding the message? Determinants of risk behaviours for West Nile virus

OBJECTIVES: West Nile virus (WNv) emerged in North America in 1999, with the first incursion causing an outbreak of meningoencephalitis in the New York City area which resulted in seven deaths. In the face of WNv, public health professionals recommend various personal protective behaviours (PPBs) that either reduce the risk of mosquito bites (e.g., wearing protective clothing and/or insect repellent when outside at dusk or dawn) or eliminate mosquito breeding sites (e.g., preventing opportunities for standing water to stagnate; cleaning out eavestroughs regularly). This paper evaluates the uptake of the public health message in a WNv hot spot (2002) in order to assess the determinants of the likelihood of undertaking personal protective behaviours to reduce the risk of illness from WNv. METHODS: A telephone survey was administered to a random sample of adults (n=1650) living in the L6L and L6K Forward Sortation Areas of Oakville, Ontario, Canada. RESULTS: While close to 100% of survey respondents were aware of WNv and approximately 80% recalled receiving information from the public health department regarding the virus, levels of reported personal protective behaviours were relatively low. Through a multivariable modeling process, a range of determinants emerged to explain outcome levels. DISCUSSION: The message about public education in the face of emerging health threats is clear; that is, that public education is key. But we cannot end the public health presence there--public health researchers must evaluate the uptake of the message.     

Minimally-invasive parathyroidectomy: a good operative procedure for primary hyperparathyroidism even without the use of intraoperative parathyroid-hormone assessment or a gamma probe

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of minimally-invasive parathyroidectomy without the use of intraoperative parathyroid-hormone assessment or a gamma probe. DESIGN: Retrospective. METHODS: In 2 community hospitals in the Netherlands, 49 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism in whom preoperative investigations had shown a solitary adenoma underwent minimally-invasive surgery by the lateral neck approach. In total 9 men and 40 women with an average age of 58 years (limits: 25-84) underwent this procedure. More extensive preoperative investigations were carried out at the Mesos Medisch Centrum (n = 29) including neck CT in 76% of patients as well as ultrasonography, and scintigraphy. At the Diakonessenhuis (n = 20) scintigraphy was the preferred method of adenoma localisation. Intraoperative parathyroidhormone assessment and a gamma probe were not used in the operative procedure. At the Diakonessenhuis intraoperative frozen-section investigations were done. RESULTS: In 44 of the 49 patients (90%) minimally-invasive parathyroidectomy resulted in normocalcaemia. In the remaining 5 patients a second procedure was necessary--a conventional neck exploration and also resulted in normocalcaemia. In 2 of these patients the adenomas had been missed during first procedure by the surgeon, while in 3 other patients preoperative examinations were falsely positive in the sense that the adenoma proved to be present but in an area other than that indicated by preoperative imaging. Permanent recurrent laryngeal-nerve paralysis complicated the postoperative course in 2 patients. The success rate of the minimally-invasive operation was the same for both groups. CONCLUSION: Without the use of intraoperative parathyroid-hormone assessment or a gamma probe minimally-invasive parathyroidectomy was successful in 90% of patients.     

Reduced Harm or Another Gateway to Smoking? Source,Message, and Information Characteristics of E-Cigarette Videos on YouTube

E-cigarettes are widely promoted on the Internet, but little is known about what kinds of information about them are available online. This study examines message, source, and health information characteristics of e-cigarette videos on the popular online video-sharing platform YouTube. A content analysis of 365 e-cigarette videos indicates that 85% of the videos were sponsored by marketers. These videos highlight e-cigarettes' economic and social benefits, featuring a low level of fear appeal and negative message valence and a high level of marketing information about e-cigarette products. They also convey certain health claims that have been proscribed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the prevalence of which warrants ongoing monitoring and regulatory guidelines for online e-cigarette marketing.     

Invasive pneumococcal infection in 5 newborns, 1996-2004

At the Máxima Medisch Centrum in Veldhoven, The Netherlands, neonatal sepsis caused by invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae infection was diagnosed in 5 neonates between 1996 and 2004. This infection is relatively rare and its clinical features are variable, but often particularly severe and fulminant as was the case in 2 of the 5 children, one of whom died and the other was left with serious psychomotor retardation. The other 3 recovered fully. The child who died and one of the children who recovered are described in some detail. They were both prematurely born neonates, a girl and a boy, who presented almost immediately after birth with an early-onset sepsis caused by S. pneumoniae. In both cases neonatal cultures as well as maternal vaginal swabs were positive for S. pneumoniae growth. 2 different patients had other risk factors for peripartal infection. Neonatal pneumococcal infections are most likely transmitted trough the maternal vaginal tract. Maternal vaginal colonization is rare (0.11%), but associated with a high risk of transmission to the newborn. Asymptomatic neonatal colonization was not observed. In light of the likelihood of a high rate of transmission and subsequent infection, peripartal prophylactic antibiotic treatment is advised for all mothers with proven vaginal S. pneumoniae colonization. If this is not given or is not effective, then in contrast with the policy on patients with group B streptococcal colonization, prophylactic antibiotic treatment is advocated for all neonates born to colonized mothers. Amoxicillin is the preferred treatment. In areas of increasing macrolide resistance, erythromycin should only be advised in cases of penicillin allergy.     

Impacts of Efficacy and Exemplification in an Online Message About Weight Loss on Weight Management Self-Efficacy,Satisfaction, and Personal Importance

Health information search is among the most popular Internet activities, requiring health campaigns to attract attention in a context of unprecedented competition with alternative content. The present study reconstructs a similar context that allows selective avoidance and exposure in order to examine which health message characteristics foster particular message impacts. Drawing on social cognitive theory, a 3-session study examined short-term and delayed impacts of efficacy and exemplification as characteristics of a weight loss online message, offered for selective reading among other content, on weight management self-efficacy, satisfaction, and personal importance. Short-term impacts and impacts 2 weeks after exposure reflect that the high-efficacy exemplar version increased self-efficacy and satisfaction, while the high-efficacy base-rate version lowered them. However, the exemplar and base-rate versions of the low-efficacy message increased importance of body weight management.     

Written Messages Improve Edible Food Waste Behaviors in a University Dining Facility

BackgroundSustainability and going green have become popular trends among foodservice organizations. Despite this interest, foodservice operations still produce large amounts of edible food waste and contribute significantly to waste management problems.ObjectiveThe purpose of this operational study was to determine how to introduce food waste behavior change into a dining facility using a simple message-type intervention that requires little sustained administrative support and can provide optimum effect.DesignThe population for this study was 540 university students living in residence halls and participating in a meal plan. This study assessed whether simple prompt-type message interventions had an influence or if the addition of more personally relevant feedback-based data elicited greater change in student beliefs and food waste behaviors. A written questionnaire and individual student tray waste tracking were used to gather data. Simple print-format messages were evaluated, allowing the effect of an affordable message campaign to be determined.ResultsStudents had a higher-than-neutral level of belief, but did not indicate a strong conviction toward environmental sustainability or food waste. The edible food items disposed of on 19,046 trays in this all-you-care-to-eat university dining operation were evaluated. On average, more than 57 g edible food was disposed of per tray, accumulating to >1.5 tons of food waste during the 6-week study. The simple to-the-point prompt-type message stimulated a 15% reduction in food waste. The addition of a more personalized feedback-based message did not stimulate an additional change beyond that of the prompt message.ConclusionsThese findings indicate that simply making university students aware of the topic of food waste may be useful in improving their behaviors and the sustainability of the foodservice facility.     

Optimizing the Presentation of Mental Health Information in Social Media: The Effects of Health Testimonials and Platform on Source Perceptions,Message Processing,and Health Outcomes

Using social media for the purpose of disseminating mental health information is a critical area of scientific inquiry for health communication professionals. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the presence of a first-person testimonial in educational mental health information placed in Facebook and Twitter messages influenced college students’ (N = 257) source perceptions, information processing, cognitive elaboration, health information recall, beliefs, and behavioral intentions. Results show that exposure to social media messages that featured mental health information embedded with a testimonial predicted less source homophily and more critical thoughts about the social media source, less systematic message processing, and less cognitive elaboration. Health information recall was significantly impacted by both the social media platform and message content such that participants in the testimonial condition on Facebook were more likely to recall the health facts in those messages whereas participants who viewed the testimonial in Twitter were less likely to recall the facts in those tweets. Compared to those who read Facebook messages, participants who read Twitter messages reported higher levels of systematic message processing. These findings suggest that the integration of health testimonials into social media messages might inadvertently provoke psychological resistance to mental health information, thereby reducing the persuasive impact of those messages.     

A pilot comparative study of one-way versus two-way text message program to promote physical activity among people with severe mental illness

BackgroundLow participation in physical activities may contribute to the physical health disparity that has been found between people with severe mental illness (SMI) and the general population.AimsThis study examined the feasibility of a telehealth promotion system in people with SMI and compared the daily step counts and health outcomes between those who received one-way versus two-way text messages.MethodA pilot single-blinded comparative study was used. Participants were randomly assigned to a one-way text message group (n = 8) or a two-way text message group (n = 7). The intervention for both groups lasted for 12 weeks. All participants were asked to wear a digital pedometer every day.ResultsDuring the 12-week intervention, the one-way and two-way text message groups increased their number of daily steps by 331.9 ± 1382.6 and 1245.4 ± 1681.1, on average, respectively. The two-way text message group showed significant improvement in the number of daily steps as compared to the baseline in weeks 6 and 11 (increases of 21% and 32%, respectively, p < 0.05). No significant differences were found between groups or within the one-way text message group.ConclusionsThe feasibility of the telehealth promotion system was demonstrated among people with SMI and may increase daily step counts. People with SMI may improve their physical activity levels with two-way messaging. Future research should address the small sample limitation and better investigate the efficacy of different characteristics of mobile text messaging.     

West Nile virus and the climate

West Nile virus is transmitted by urban-dwelling mosquitoes to birds and other animals, with occasional “spillover” to humans. While the means by which West Nile virus was introduced into the Americas in 1999 remain unknown, the climatic conditions that amplify diseases that cycle among urban mosquitoes, birds, and humans are warm winters and spring droughts. This information can be useful in generating early warning systems and mobilizing timely and the most environmentally friendly public health interventions. The extreme weather conditions accompanying long-term climate change may also be contributing to the spread of West Nile virus in the United States and Europe.     

Predicting Health: The Interplay Between Interpersonal Communication and Health Campaigns

The present study experimentally investigated the interplay between interpersonal communication and health message exposure in relation to alcohol consumption intentions. Participants were 174 students who took part in a study on the effects of an antialcohol message. At baseline, the authors assessed intention to refrain from binge drinking. At the second wave (2 weeks later), participants were assigned to the conditions of a 2 (antialcohol message or no-alcohol message) × 2 (alcohol conversation or control conversation) between-subjects design, after which intention was again assessed. Results showed that when participants talked about alcohol (instead of the control topic) and were not exposed to an antialcohol message, they were less inclined to refrain from binge drinking, an effect that was not visible when participants talked about alcohol after viewing an antialcohol message. These findings suggest that health campaign exposure moderates the influence of interpersonal communication on health variables.     

Visual and Participatory Research Methods for the Development of Health Messages for Underserved Populations

Mass communication health campaign messages play critical roles in public health, yet studies show mixed effectiveness in reaching and impacting underserved populations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the benefits of using visual and participatory research techniques toward health message development targeting older Hispanic women. Demographic information and levels of physical activity were first obtained in a sample of older Mexican women (n = 23; ages 71.9 ± 7.6 years) living in the city of Chicago. Perceptions of physical activity were then assessed using a visual research method known as photo-elicitation. Health message concepts promoting physical activity were developed with a subsample of the target population using a participatory approach. Photo-elicitation helped develop a unique understanding into the many factors impacting physical activity among older Mexican women. Follow-up in-depth interviews provided detailed narratives that (a) built upon visual data and (b) identified characteristic differences between physically active and inactive women. Ultimately, these findings were beneficial in constructing new, culturally tailored message concepts. Findings suggest that this method may be a valuable tool in the development of mass communication health messages, extracting rich and meaningful data from target audiences while fostering a sense of partnership between researchers and community members. Tailoring and improving the message design process around the needs of underserved populations is essential in the effort to eliminate the burden of health disparities. This study uses innovative interdisciplinary research techniques to explore new approaches to public health communication in underserved populations.     

善存片联合健脾理气中药预防肿瘤患者化疗所致口腔溃疡的临床观察

目的观察在全身化疗前应用善存片联合健脾理气中药对肿瘤患者口腔溃疡的预防作用。方法将66例肿瘤患者随机分配为治疗组和对照组，每组33例。在全身静脉化疗前3天开始，治疗组每天口服善存片1片及健脾理气中药1剂，对照组服用维生素B：治疗，两组服药化疗后10天为1个疗程。每周期化疗结束后统计口腔溃疡的发生率，共4周期。结果治疗组口腔溃疡的发生率显著降低（P〈0．01）。结论善存片联合健脾理气中药可有效预防及治疗肿瘤患者化疗所致的口腔溃疡。