The Effects of Personalizing Colorectal Cancer Risk Communication on Risk Perceptions and Health Behavior Intentions: a Randomized Trial of Average-Risk Adults

"It's Probably Just Hemorrhoids": A Qualitative Exploration of the Lived Experiences and Perceptions of Long-term Survivors of Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer among adults aged <50 years [early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC)] is projected to be the leading cause of cancer-related death by 2030. Although evidence-based guidelines for colorectal cancer screening now recommend beginning screening at age 45, the needs of many at-risk young adults are potentially being overlooked. Unanswered questions also remain regarding the effects of EOCRC on quality-of-life and psychosocial outcomes. This qualitative study explored the lived experiences and perceptions of a sample of adult EOCRC survivors in the United States through one-on-one interviews.

METHODS

An EOCRC advocate survivor team member led 27 structured virtual interviews using a 10-question interview guide. Data were analyzed using a 9-step inductive approach.

RESULTS

Participants were geographically diverse. Most were women (66.6%) who self-identified as non-Hispanic White (85.2%). The mean age at interview was 40.19 ± 5.99; at diagnosis, 33.93 ± 5.90. Six overarching themes emerged: signs and symptoms, risk factors, system-level factors, quality of life, social support, and reflection.

CONCLUSIONS

The specific needs of individuals in this younger population of patients with colorectal cancer should be considered during treatment and future interventions and throughout survivorship.

IMPACT

While the reasons for the increasing incidence of EOCRC are currently unknown, the lived experiences and perceptions of EOCRC survivors noted in this study highlight specific needs of this population that can inform educational materials, comprehensive care, future research, and policy change.

Impact of vascular screening interventions on perceived threat, efficacy beliefs and behavioural intentions: a systematic narrative review

Health-related behaviours contribute to the global burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Cardiovascular imaging can be used to screen asymptomatic individuals for increased risk of CVD to enable earlier interventions to promote health-related behaviours to prevent or reduce CVD risk. Some theories of behaviour and behaviour change assume that engagement in a given behaviour is a function of individual threat appraisals, beliefs regarding the performance of behaviour, self-efficacy for performing the desired behaviour and/or dispositions to act (e.g. behavioural intentions). To date, little is known about the impact of cardiovascular imaging interventions on these constructs. This article summarises evidence related to perceived threat, efficacy beliefs, and behavioural intentions after CVD screening. We identified 10 studies (2 RCTs and 8 non-randomised studies, n = 2498) through a combination of screening citations from published systematic reviews and meta-analyses and searching electronic databases. Of these, 7 measured behavioural intentions and perceived susceptibility and 3 measured efficacy beliefs. Findings showed largely encouraging effects of screening interventions on bolstering self-efficacy beliefs and strengthening behavioural intentions. Imaging results that suggest the presence of coronary or carotid artery disease also increased perceived susceptibility to CVD. However, the review also identified some gaps in the literature, such as a lack of guiding theoretical frameworks and assessments of critical determinants of health-related behaviours. By carefully considering the key issues highlighted in this review, we can make significant strides towards reducing CVD risks and improving population health.

Effect of WeChat-Based Health Education Combined with Satir Model on Self-Management Behaviors and Social Adaptation in Colorectal Cancer Patients during the Perioperative Period

Objective

To explore the effect of WeChat-based health education combined with the Satir model on self-management behaviors and social adaptation in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients during the perioperative period.

Methods

A total of 100 CRC patients treated in our hospital from April 2018 to April 2020 were selected as the objects for the retrospective study and divided into the observation group and the reference group according to their admission order, with 50 cases each. The patients in both groups accepted health education based on the WeChat platform, and additionally, those in the observation group received the Satir group intervention on self-approval for 3 months to compare the patients' scores on self-management behaviors, social adaptation, and self-care agency before and after the intervention between the two groups.

Results

Between the observation group and the reference group, the patients' general information, including age, gender ratio, and course of the disease, was not statistically different (P > 0.05). After nursing intervention, the scores on patients' self-management behaviors, social adaptation, and self-care agency were significantly higher in the observation group than in the reference group (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Combining the WeChat-based health education with the Satir model can improve the self-management awareness in the CRC patients during the perioperative period, enhance their self-care agency and self-management behaviors, and promote their social adaptation, demonstrating that such a nursing intervention model is worthy of clinical promotion.

Colorectal cancer lifetime risk accuracy and behavior change intentions before and after risk assessment

PURPOSE

This study examined accuracy of perceived lifetime risk of colorectal cancer prior to and following receipt of cancer risk assessment (CRA) feedback among average risk adults. The specific aims were to identify predictors of improved risk perceptions and assess whether improvement in perceived lifetime risk accuracy was associated with changes in behavioral intentions for physical activity, diet, and colorectal cancer screening.

METHODS

Adults with no known history of colorectal cancer (n = 419) were enrolled in a study examining the impact of colorectal cancer risk assessment feedback. Risk perceptions and behavioral intentions were ascertained before and after risk assessment administration.

RESULTS

Accuracy of perceived lifetime risk significantly improved after CRA feedback, often as a result of lowered perceived risk. Those who were White, married, attended some college, and had higher numeracy were more likely to report accurate lifetime risk post-CRA. No differences in behavioral intentions were reported between those with and without improved accuracy.

CONCLUSION

Minorities and those with low numeracy were less likely to report accurate perceptions post-CRA. Although improved accuracy was not associated with increased behavioral intentions as expected, it is reassuring that intentions for health behaviors were not inhibited as perceived risk decreased.

Risk communication in cyberspace: a brief review of the information-processing and mental models approaches

Effective risk communication in cyberspace is critical for users to understand the potential security risks and make secure decisions. Two approaches to risk communication originating from psychology, the human information-processing approach and the mental-models approach, have been widely applied in other research fields of risk communication. The human information-processing approach characterizes the human as a communication system, with risk-communication information from a source delivered to the receiver, who processes the information via various stages. The mental-models approach emphasizes the importance of understanding experts' and non-experts' mental models, comparing these models, and drafting and evaluating risk-communication messages. With an overview of these two approaches and their applications, the goal of this paper is to provide insights for future use of these approaches in cybersecurity.