Risk perceptions and their relation to risk behavior

Brewer, Noel T.; Weinstein, Neil D.; Cuite, Cara L.; Herrington, James E.

doi:10.1207/s15324796abm2702_7

Cited by 692 publications

(686 citation statements)

References 9 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

611

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Media coverage of health-related events has become so important that several surveillance systems now rely on active trolling of internet news media to detect emerging disease threats [7,8]. It is a relatively inexpensive way of exposing the population to information regarding their health [2] and has the potential to reach a large proportion of the population, particularly groups that may be difficult to access through more traditional approaches [5,9,[9][10][11]. For instance, mass media campaigns based on communication for behavioral impact and social change have been shown to be an effective intervention for smoking cessation in adults [12][13][14][15][16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamics of an Infectious Disease Where Media Coverage Influences Transmission

Tchuenche

Bauch

2012

ISRN Biomathematics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

There is significant current interest in the application of media/psychosocial effects to problems in epidemiology. News reporting has the potential to reach and to modify the knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of a large proportion of the community. A susceptible-infected-hospitalized-recovered model with vital dynamics, where media coverage of disease incidence and disease prevalence can influence people to reduce their contact rates is formulated. The media function is incorporated into the model using an exponentially decreasing function. Qualitative analysis of the model reveals that the disease-free equilibrium is locally asymptotically stable when a certain threshold is less than unity. Numerical results show the potential short-term beneficial effect of media coverage.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamics of an Infectious Disease Where Media Coverage Influences Transmission

Tchuenche

Bauch

2012

ISRN Biomathematics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Questions related to MRSA national rate (18%) and risk factors for acquisition (46%) obtained less correct answers as was also observed by Easton et al 9 The perceived risk was influenced by the use of protective and containment measures. Existing prevention measures increased individual situation control perception and reduced risk perception as described by Brewer et al 10 Patient intrinsic risk factors were identified, and patient risk was well perceived by most of the respondents and interviewees.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 79%

Endemic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: Nurses' risk perceptions and attitudes

Pedro

Uva²,

Pina³

2014

American Journal of Infection Control

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Dissemination of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remains one of the most difficult challenges for prevention, control, and treatment of health careeassociated infections. A survey and interviews were conducted on nurses from a hospital center. We found that most nurses' perceived risk of acquiring MRSA related to themselves (72%), other nurses (88.5%), and patients (97.8%). This perception influences attitudes, leading to compliance with the existing recommendations.Copyright Ó 2014 by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.In Portugal, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is endemic in most hospitals, with resistance rates >49% in cerebrospinal fluid and blood samples. 1 Several international organizations have developed guidelines for prevention and control of MRSA, 2-4 namely patient isolation or cohorting, contact precautions, active patient screening at admission, decolonization, and environmental decontamination.Full adoption of guidelines for prevention of cross infection depends on the awareness of the guidelines and risk perception related to the presence of MRSA by health care workers (HCWs). Behavioral theories suggest that a high-risk perception encourages individuals to adopt actions to reduce risk. 5,6 METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study to determine perception and attitudes in relation with risk of exposure to MRSA. The study included nurses from 10 clinical units in a teaching medical center in Lisbon, which is composed of 4 hospital sites, though only 2 were used to conduct the study, in old buildings with wards of 4 beds and very limited isolation facilities. Wards with patients with more risk factors for acquiring MRSA and where surveillance of MRSA has been in place longer were selected.We intended to identify nurses' knowledge about the MRSA chain of transmission and nurses' perception of risks related to acquisition and transmission of MRSA for themselves, other nurses, and patients. We also identified how knowledge and perception are reflected in practices described by HCWs.The study protocol was submitted for approval by the hospital board and ethics committee. Internal consistency was evaluated with the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin test. 7 After factorial analysis the sentence about "MRSA isolation report in discharge and transfer forms" was categorized as "risk perception" for purposes of analysis. Following expert review, the questionnaire and semistructured interview guide were subjected to pilot testing on a sample of the study population and were modified accordingly.The self-assessed anonymous questionnaire was distributed to a sample of nurses from 3 intensive care units and 7 medical wards (MWs). Additionally, an interview was conducted with 1 nurse per unit, selected on a voluntary basis.The questionnaire was composed of 21 items: 6 assessed knowledge, 8 addressed risk perception, and 7 addressed attitudes. Knowledge questions were multiple choice, and risk perce...

show abstract

“…Hivert, Warner, Shrader, Grant, and Meigs (2009) examined previous behavioural efforts and future intentions among at-risk groups with a high and low risk perception, and found no difference between the groups. However, risk perception, in conjunction with positive outcome expectations, is regarded as a prerequisite for adopting protective behaviour (Brewer, Weinstein, & Cuite, 2004;Janz & Becker, 1984;Leventhal, Leventhal, & Cameron, 2001;Schwarzer, 2008;Rogers, 1975). Since type 2 diabetes is highly preventable by lifestyle changes, a correct perception of risk and its relation to behaviour is vitally important (Critchley, Hardie, & Moore, 2012;Grant et al, 2013).…”

Section: *Statement Of Contributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘I saw what the future direction would be…’: Experiences of diabetes risk and physical activity after diabetes screening

Vähäsarja

Kasila

Kettunen

et al. 2014

British J Health Psychol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objectives To improve understanding of how individuals at high risk of type 2 diabetes experience the risk of diabetes and how these experiences relate to the adoption of physical activity as a protective behaviour. Design A qualitative study using semi‐structured interview with individuals identified by screening as at high risk of type 2 diabetes. Methods Fourteen individuals, aged 40–64, were interviewed twice, with a 2‐year interval between. Participants' experiences of their risk of diabetes and physical activity were assessed. The transcribed interview data were analysed using inductive qualitative content analysis. Results Two themes emerged from the data: a threatening risk perception and a rejected risk perception. The threatening risk perception occurred when the risk was unexpected by the participant, but became internalized through the screening procedure. The threatening perception also involved a commitment to increase physical activity to prevent diabetes. However, short‐term anxiety and subsequently emerging hopelessness were also part of this perception. The rejected risk perception involved indifference and scepticism regarding the risk. Here, physical activity behaviour and cognitions appeared to remain unchanged. Rejection also involved difficulties in accepting one's high‐risk identity. The rejecting group lacked motivation for increased physical activity, while the other group showed determination regarding increased physical activity, often leading to success. Conclusion Perceptions of the risk of diabetes emerged as threatening or as rejected. Participants' perceptions reflected varying and intertwining emotional, cognitive, and behavioural mechanisms for coping with the risk, all of which should be recognized in promoting physical activity among high‐risk individuals. What is already known on this subject? Diabetes screening has few adverse psychological effects on screened individuals. Diabetes can be prevented by increased physical activity and modest weight loss among high‐risk individuals. The evidence on the effects of screening on protective behaviour is limited and inconsistent.What does this study add? High‐risk individuals' threatening perception of risk appears encouraging increased physical activity. Individuals having problems in adjusting to high‐risk identification may not be motivated to engage in physical activity for prevention. Failure to achieve the outcomes expected from lifestyle changes may lead people with threatening risk perception to a sense of hopelessness.

show abstract

Risk perceptions and their relation to risk behavior

Cited by 692 publications

References 9 publications

Dynamics of an Infectious Disease Where Media Coverage Influences Transmission

Dynamics of an Infectious Disease Where Media Coverage Influences Transmission

Endemic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: Nurses' risk perceptions and attitudes

‘I saw what the future direction would be…’: Experiences of diabetes risk and physical activity after diabetes screening

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About