We show that a higher incidence of campylobacteriosis is found in young children (age, <5 years) living in rural, compared with urban, areas. Association of this difference with particular animal sources was evaluated using multilocus sequence typing. This evaluation was achieved by comparing Campylobacter isolates originating from these children, retail poultry, and a range of animal sources by use of source attribution and phylogenetic analysis methods. The results indicate that chicken is a major source of infection in young urban children, although not in their rural counterparts, for which ruminant and other avian sources are more important.

In May 2000 a scout camp was held on an agricultural showground in New Deer, Aberdeenshire. There were 337 campers at the event, comprising 233 cubs, scouts, and venture scouts, and 104 adults. The event was abandoned early because of heavy rainfall. Twenty campers who became ill between 28 May and 3 June were confirmed as having E. coli O157 infection. Preliminary investigation did not suggest a food vehicle but did indicate environmental exposure at the camp as a risk factor. Subsequent investigations supported the hypothesis that transmission of E. coli O157 was from the environment to cases by contaminated hands, either directly from hand to mouth, or via food. As a result of the investigation the Aberdeenshire Council and the Scout Association jointly prepared interim guidelines to reduce the risk of E. coli O157 infection at scout camps.

Objectives. This study was designed to assess changes in perceived risk, cognitive intrusions and distress in women undergoing counselling for familial risk of developing breast cancer. Design. A longitudinal design in which 90 consecutive women attending a family history clinic were asked to indicate their concerns before counselling and then again 3 and 6 months post‐counselling. Method. Questionnaires included measures of thought content and intrusiveness, cancer specific distress (Cockburn, De Luise, Hurley, & Clover, 1992), a Visual Analogue scale (VAS) of perceived risk, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale (Zigmond & Snaith, 1983). Results. Sixty‐nine women agreed to take part in the study, with 49 completing all three sets of questionnaires. Before counselling, thought intrusiveness and HAD depression scores accounted for 69% of the variance in the measure of cancer specific distress. Women who dropped out of the study before the post‐counselling assessments reported higher levels of intrusiveness at baseline than those who completed the study. Perceived risk was only moderately related to actual risk post‐counselling and increases/ decreases in thought intrusiveness correlated positively with increases/decreases in both perceived risk and distress. Conclusions. Psychological distress is related to levels of perceived risk, a relationship which may be mediated by thought intrusiveness. It could be more appropriate for genetic counselling services to provide strategies for managing intrusiveness of worries rather than attempting to modify risk perceptions.

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Growing learners' motivation to study through the use of learning model is relevant to the challenges for professional educators. Jigsaw II cooperative learning model was the result of developing Jigsaw cooperative learning pioneered by Aronson. Learning model was a model whose one of the goals is to improve motivation and learning achievements in depth through understanding of lecture matter to study with to be made in more specifically. The effectiveness of jigsaw II cooperative learning model in college was already investigated and analyzed by using a qualitative method. The focus of this research was the effectiveness of Jigsaw II cooperative learning model in improving students' understanding on course materials. The results of the analysis showed that Jigsaw II cooperative learning model was one of the models which was more effective in improving students' understanding on course material of citizenship education in higher education.

To describe an epidemiological investigation of an outbreak of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection among injecting drug users in Aberdeen, Scotland. A case-control study to determine whether transmission was facilitated by poor personal hygiene or through sharing injecting equipment. Cases were more likely to report not washing their hands after using the toilet [odds ratio (OR) = 12.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.58-105.89] or before preparing food (OR = 4.0, 95% CI = 1.01-15.8), and less likely to have washed their hands prior to preparing drugs (OR = 10.67, 95% CI = 2.14-53.07). Cases were also more likely to report recipient sharing of needles/syringes (OR = 8.27, 95% CI = 1.68-40.57), and to have had injecting contact with someone who was jaundiced (OR = 29.4, 95% CI = 3.18-271.44). The results indicate that the lack of hygiene within the context of individuals gathering to prepare and inject drugs provides ample opportunity for the transmission of HAV. Although the promotion of good hygiene and the avoidance of sharing injecting equipment are important measures in preventing HAV transmission, they are unlikely to effect major behavioural change. Such measures should, therefore, be reinforced by routinely offering HAV vaccine to injectors.

Summary

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