Examining Young Recreational Sportswomen's Intentions to Engage in Sun-Protective Behavior: The Role of Group and Image Norms

Researchers examined the sun-protective intentions and behavior of young, Caucasian, Australian sportswomen aged between 17 and 35 years (N?=?100). The study adopted a 2 x 2 experimental design, comparing group norms (supportive vs. non-supportive) and image norms (tanned vs. pale) related to sun protection and taking into account group identification with friends and peers in the sport. While no significant findings emerged involving image norms, regression analyses revealed a significant two-way interaction for group norm x identification on recreational sportswomen's intentions to engage in sun protection in the next fortnight. Participants identifying strongly with their group had stronger intentions to engage in sun protection when exposed to a norm reflecting fellow recreational sportswomen engaging in sun-protective actions in comparison to those exposed to a non-supportive group. In addition, while prior intentions to engage in sun protection were not significantly related to sun-protection behavior, post-manipulation intentions after exposure to the sun-protective information that was provided were significantly related to follow-up behavior. Overall, the findings supported the importance of group-based social influences, rather than tanned media images, on sun-protective decisions among young recreational sportswomen and provided a targeted source for intervention strategies encouraging sun safety among this at-risk group for repeated sun exposure.     

A Convenient Method for Measuring Blood Ascorbate Concentrations in Patients Receiving High-Dose Intravenous Ascorbate

Objective: A simple method of using fingerstick blood glucose (FSBG) monitors to estimate blood ascorbate values after high-dose intravenous (IV) ascorbate infusion is evaluated as a substitution for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) measurement.

Methods: In 33 participants, readings from FSBG monitors were taken before and after IV ascorbate infusions at various time points, with the postinfusion FSBG readings subtracted from the baseline glucose readings. The results of the subtractions (AA_FSBG) were correlated with ascorbate concentrations detected by HPLC (AA_HPLC).

Results: A linear regression was found between ascorbate concentrations detected by the fingerstick method (AA_FSBG) and by HPLC (AA_HPLC). The linear correlations were identical in healthy subjects, diabetic subjects, and cancer patients. Analysis of variance obtained an AA_FSBG/AA_HPLC ratio of 0.90, with a 90% confidence interval of (0.69, 1.20). The corrections of AA_FSBG improved similarity to AA_HPLC but did not significantly differ from the uncorrected values.

Conclusion: The FSBG method can be used as an approximate estimation of high blood ascorbate concentration after IV ascorbate (>50 mg/dL, or 2.8 mM) without correction. However, this measurement is not accurate in detecting lower or baseline blood ascorbate. It is also important to highlight that in regard to glucose monitoring, FSBG readings will be erroneously elevated following IV ascorbate use and insulin should not be administered to patients based on these readings.     

Cigarettes and health: Historical controversies and constraints‐part II

This paper reports on an experimental study that examines the relative effect of price and personal referral cues on the consumers' perception of dental services. The results of the study show that price and personal referral do effect the perceived competence of the dentist as well as consumer purchase probability.     

Emotional and sexual sequelae following hysterectomy

This article explores the literature pertinent to emotional and sexual sequelae following hysterectomy. The relationship between the incidence of psychiatric depression and the response to a lost body part is described. Sexual facts and fallacies that abound in the literature are also discussed. Finally, nursing measures to alleviate the defined difficulties experienced by the hysterectomy patient are discussed.     

Elderly women's attitudes toward sexual activity among their peers

This study investigated the attitudes of elderly (60–90 years old) women toward sexually active older adults. Sex, marital status, and living site were systematically varied in eight versions of a vignette depicting a sexually active older adult. Subjects (N = 120) were systematically assigned to one of eight versions of the vignette, yielding equal numbers (15) for each of the experimental cells. A semantic differential scale was used for subjects to rate the person in the vignette alternately as friend, family member, and church member.

Analysis of variance revealed no difference in relation to sex. Marital status of the person in the vignette did have an effect. Subjects’ attitudes were more positive toward married sexually active older adults than those who were widowed. In addition, subjects’ attitudes were more positive toward married sexually active older adults and widowed sexually active older adults living in an apartment than widowed sexually active older adults residing in a nursing home. In general, attitudes were positive toward sexual activity in older adults in all of the social relationships identified.     

Changes in maternal attitudes as a function of participation in childbirth preparation classes

With the increasing popularity of childbirth education classes, a number of studies have attempted to determine what effect, if any, such classes have on the gravida's attitudes toward her pregnancy and the upcoming delivery experience. Results have been conflicting, perhaps due to the methodological differences between studies. In the present study, 74 primiparas were administered the Pregnancy Research Questionnaire at two stages of their pregnancy. When demographically matched subsamples of Lamaze and non‐Lamaze‐trained women were compared, the Lamaze classes did not appear to have a significant effect on the maternal attitudes assessed.     

Eskimo women and a menstrual cycle study: Some ethnographic notes

This article examines ethnographic data collected from indigenous Alaskan women who participated in a menstrual cycle study conducted by The Tremin Trust Research Program, initially known as the Menstruation and Reproductive History Program (MRH). In the 1960s, the MRH program was expanded to Alaska to study non‐Caucasian women's menstrual cycles. In addition, an ethnographer collected data through participation observation from some 345 women who participated in the MRH study. These data were recorded in field notebooks during site visits to Alaskan villages. Major themes and contextual information were identified in the data that described the daily lives of the women and their experiences as research participants. Eskimo women described the cultural conflicts that arose during the conduct of the menstrual studies and problems encountered when the investigators failed to account for the traditional gender roles in Eskimo society. Cultural differences were apparent when the women described the culturally inappropriate health education provided by the research team. The goals of the menstrual cycle study emphasized research progress rather than the health needs of the research participants; this emphasis accentuated the severity of health problems and the lack of health services experienced by Eskimo women.     

Collaborative approaches using traditional and nontraditional providers of women's health care in the Philippines

Unequal distribution of professional health personnel and scarce resources plague third world countries. The means by which this two‐pronged problem is tackled vary from country to country.

The Philippines, however, should not suffer from this same problem because there are more than enough health professionals graduating every year. Government priorities however, preclude the opening of more jobs for the rural areas, leading to the out‐migration and depletion in the hinterlands. In order to remedy this imperfection, lay women are trained to help solve some of the major problems in health. Full‐time outreach workers, barrio supply point officers, and school teachers are recruited to decrease high fertility and population growth. Nutrition scholars work on the problem of rampant malnutrition especially among children and pregnant and lactating women, while general morbidity is tackled by volunteer health workers. Pharmacy aides dispense the most essential drugs. All these are lay women, but the academe take it upon themselves to innovate teaching strategies to train these volunteers at minimal cost.

Some progress has been achieved. What has been planned as stopgap measures may yet prove to be solutions in the long run. Filipino women are demonstrating that they themselves can solve the problems that beset them and their families.