Objectives: Health warning messages could be an effective means of communicating the health risks associated with waterpipe (WP) smoking. The objective of this study was to select a message that conveyed the risks associated with WP smoking. Methods: A mixed-methods approach
was used to explore the effectiveness of the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) mandated message, and others, among young adults using focus groups and surveys. Two focus group studies and one convenience survey were conducted to examine the FDA's mandated message and 11 other WP warning
messages. The final study, conducted with a random sample of first-year university students, examined the effectiveness and reactance of the chosen message using previously validated items (scored on a 1-5 scale). Results: The FDA's mandated message did not resonate well with focus
group participants. In the random sample of students, the top message (WARNING: Hookah smoke contains poisons that cause lung and oral) had high effectiveness (M = 4.49) and a low reactance (M = 2.12). Conclusions: Our studies suggest that other messages are more effective for
communicating the risks associated with WP smoking than the FDA's message for WP tobacco.
Background Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that may affect the genitalia in up to 60% of patients. This is a significant concern to patients; however, they may be too embarrassed to report genital involvement or seek help for it spontaneously. Information on preferred language that would put patients more at ease discussing disease in sensitive areas is lacking. Objective To address language as a barrier to care in patients with psoriasis by identifying preferred terminology when discussing genital involvement of the disease with physicians. Methods A qualitative study was performed that consisted of one-on-one interviews with patients with psoriasis; thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Results Themes included (1) personal experience with genital psoriasis; (2) timespan between genital psoriasis symptom onset and diagnosis; (3) patient–provider communication; (4) patient–provider preference, and (5) patient terminology preference. Conclusion Our study highlights providers’ failure to ask psoriasis patients about genital involvement of the disease and variation in patient response on preferred language when discussing sensitive topics. Dermatologists may need to be cognizant of the patient’s comfort level using verbal and nonverbal communication and tailor their approach to the individual.
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