Positive attitudes and failed queries: an exploration of the conundrums of consumer health information retrieval

Several studies have found that consumers report a high level of satisfaction with the Internet as a health information resource. Belied by this positive attitude, however, are other studies reporting that consumers were often unsuccessful in searching for health information. In this paper, we present an interview and observation study in which we asked health consumers to search for health information on the Internet after first stating their search goals. Upon the conclusion of the session they were asked to evaluate their searches. We found that many consumers were unable to find satisfactory information when performing a specific query, while in general the group viewed health information retrieval (HIR) on the Internet in a positive light. We analyzed the observed search sessions to determine what factors accounted for the failure of specific searches and positive attitudes, and also discussed potential informatics solutions.     

Consumer citizenship: acting to minimise environmental health risks related to the food system

Public health practitioners interested in supporting consumers to make healthy, sustainable food choices need to understand consumer motivations to reduce food system risk. Increasingly food technologies that have enhanced access to food supply are being recognised as also impacting on the sustainability of the food system. This study explored the actions taken by Australian participants in response to their concerns about perceived food related threats to health and environment. Variance in willingness to act is analysed within the context of environmental and ecological citizenship, and a continuum describes the range of positions held. From the outset some participants self-identified as environmentally concerned and proactive, while others indicated a secondary interest in the environment. The catalyst for action for the majority was the priority of individual health and such self-interest can be a powerful motivator for change. Others related health to the environment and described efforts to minimise individual impact. Equally important for action to occur is being at a stage in life where other demands do not compete for the time and energy necessary to take citizenship actions. These results provide insight into the support that public health practitioners can offer to consumers who wish to make sustainable food choices.     

Evaluation of occupational health service in the wood processing industry--determination of employee satisfaction

In order to define priorities for improvement of the occupationalhealth service (OHS) in one primary health care unit, employees'satisfaction was evaluated with a postal questionnaire. Thequestionnaire covered items on service reservation, personalhealth education received, quality of the OHS, and use of theOHS within six months by the employees. This evaluation wasone step of the quality system that was planned in accordancewith the ISO 9004-2 standard for continuous quality improvementof OHS. The study population was all of 1,050 employees workingfor five employers; 546 (52%) employees responded to the inquiry.However, only 377 of them had made use of the OHS within thelast six months before the inquiry. The mean age of the responderswas 42 years (SD=9 years) and 76%of the respondents were men.The percentages of employees with a high degree of satisfactionwith the quality of the OHS and personal health education inthe OHS were 76% and 69%, respectively. However, concerningthe quality of the OHS, the proportion of highly satisfied employeeswas 27% higher (95% Cl=19–35%) among those who had usedOHS within six months compared to the others. Furthermore, whenthe oldest (>48 years) and the youngest (<35 years) agegroups were compared, the difference between the proportionsof highly satisfied employees was 21% (95% Cl=11–31%).In conclusion, the high differences suggest a close linkagebetween the employee's satisfaction with the OHS, the use ofthe OHS and ageing.     

Review on skin and mucous-membrane irritation tests and their application

The history and present state of routine testing for skin and eye irritation are reviewed. Various changes to the traditional Draize test have been proposed by a number of workers, and it is concluded that the adoption of the modified Draize test should be the first decisive step to be taken in the search for new methods in irritation testing. Other new methods, such as testing using organ and cell cultures, and determination of the relationship between physico-chemical properties and irritative potential, have been reported. Although at present these techniques require further validation, some of them show considerable promise of reliably predicting the irritative effects of substances on humans.     

设计与欲望

探讨了消费欲望产生和发展机制及特征，说明了勒温（场论）学说中个体（Ｐ）和环境（Ｅ）在研究消费欲望及设计中的重要作用，指出了消费欲望能量积聚和释放的必然性，提出了从“欲望”角度评价设计的标准。     

Potential exposure of German consumers to engineered nanoparticles in cosmetics and personal care products

Abstract

The rapid increase in the number of consumer products containing engineered nanoparticles (ENP) raises concerns about an appropriate risk assessment of these products. Along with toxicological data, exposure estimates are essential for assessing risk. Currently, cosmetics and personal care products (C&PCP) represent the largest ENP-containing consumer product class on the market. We analyzed factors influencing the likelihood that ENP-containing products are available to consumers. We modelled potential external exposure of German consumers, assuming a maximum possible case where only ENP-containing products are used. The distribution of exposure levels within the population due to different behavior patterns was included by using data from an extensive database on consumer behavior. Exposure levels were found to vary significantly between products and between consumers showing different behavior patterns. The assessment scheme developed here represents a basis for refined exposure modelling as soon as more specific information about ENPs in C&PCP becomes available.     

Categorization framework to aid exposure assessment of nanomaterials in consumer products

Exposure assessment is crucial for risk assessment for nanomaterials. We propose a framework to aid exposure assessment in consumer products. We determined the location of the nanomaterials and the chemical identify of the 580 products listed in the inventory maintained by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, of which 37% used nanoparticles suspended in liquids, whereas <1% contained "free airborne nanoparticles". C(60) is currently only used as suspended nanoparticles in liquids and nanosilver is used more as surface bound nanoparticles than as particles suspended in liquids. Based on the location of the nanostructure we were able to further group the products into categories of: (1) expected, (2) possible, and (3) no expected exposure. Most products fall into the category of expected exposure, but we were not able to complete a quantitative exposure assessment mainly due to the lack of information on the concentration of the nanomaterial in the products--a problem that regulators and industry will have to address if we are to have realistic exposure assessment in the future. To illustrate the workability of our procedure, we applied it to four product scenarios using the best estimates available and/or worst-case assumptions. Using the best estimates available and/or worst-case assumptions we estimated the consumer exposure to be 26, 15, and 44 microg kg(-1) bw year(-1) for a facial lotion, a fluid product, and a spray product containing nanoparticles, respectively. The application of sun lotion containing 2% nanoparticles result in an exposure of 56.7 mg kg(-1) bw d(-1) for a 2-year-old child, if the amounts applied correspond to the European Commission recommendations on use of sunscreen.     

How do we measure shortages of dental hygienists and dental assistants?: Evidence from California: 1997–2005

BACKGROUND: The authors examined the labor market for registered dental hygienists (RDHs) and dental assistants (DAs) in California from 1997 to 2005 to determine whether there was a shortage in either market. METHODS: This analysis used economic indicators interpreted within an economic framework to investigate trends in labor force numbers and market-determined wages for RDHs and DAs. Rising inflation-adjusted mean wages indicated a labor shortage, while declining inflation-adjusted mean wages indicated a labor surplus. RESULTS: From 1999 to 2002, the wages for RDHs increased 48 percent and then stabilized, indicating a shortage had occurred, after which the market achieved equilibrium. Wages for DAs increased 13.9 percent from 1997 to 2001, but then declined from 2001 to 2005, indicating a shortage that then became a surplus. The market for DAs may not have stabilized. CONCLUSIONS: Wages increased for RDHs and DAs, suggesting that labor shortages occurred in both markets. The large supply response in the market for DAs resulted in wages declining after their initial rise. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Tracking the local labor markets for RDHs and DAs will enable dental professionals to respond more efficiently to market signals.