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Chang L, Li W, Xin X, Wang J. Strategies for Assessing Health Information Credibility Among Older Social Media Users in China: A Qualitative Study. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2024; 39:2767-2778. [PMID: 38016925 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2023.2288372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
The fact that social media gives users easy access to online health information raises the question of what information evaluation strategies older adults use to distinguish trustworthy from unreliable health information. Identifying how older adults assess the credibility of health information that they acquire on social media is an important step toward understanding and reducing their susceptibility to health misinformation. In this study, we investigated the credibility assessment strategies used by older WeChat users in China. Following a qualitative approach, we conducted in-depth interviews with 40 WeChat users 65-85 years old (M = 71.75, SD = 6.65) in China who had acquired health information on WeChat. Results of theoretical thematic analysis revealed five source-based and content-based evaluative strategies: (1) determining the communicative orientation of the source, (2) assessing source reputation, (3) confirming content based on life experiences, (4) checking for exaggeration in claimed effects, and (5) assessing the consistency of content across sources. Older WeChat users' reliance on certain heuristic cues and their self-reliant approach to assessing information credibility provide contextual explanations for the link between heuristic processing and susceptibility to health misinformation. The findings have implications for anti-misinformation interventions targeting the older population in China and potentially beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leanne Chang
- Department of Communication Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University
| | - Wenshu Li
- Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong
| | - Xin Xin
- Department of Communication Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University
| | - Jingyuan Wang
- Department of Communication Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University
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Wang W, Zhang H. Behavior patterns and influencing factors: Health information acquisition behavior of Chinese senior adults on WeChat. Heliyon 2023; 9:e16431. [PMID: 37303534 PMCID: PMC10248094 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the gradual adoption of WeChat by older adults in China and their interest in health information, Chinese older people started to acquire health information through WeChat. We explored the specific patterns and influencing factors of the elderly's health information acquisition behavior senior adults. The cross-sectional study collected self-reported data with survey (N = 336) in the southeast of China, Zhejiang province. The findings of this study extend the previous research by suggesting that elderly adults' health information acquisition behavior has three patterns (actively seeking, passively browsing, and long-term collecting). These findings contribute to a better understanding of digital literacy, three dimensions of health literacy and their relationship with three specific patterns of health acquisition behavior. This study also provides practical insights related to narrow the technological gap of the older adults, improve their e-Health literacy of the elderly, and purify the health information environment in the network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- School of Media and Law, NingboTech University, China
| | - Hongyan Zhang
- Library, Zhejiang A&F University, China
- Institute of Ecological Civilization, Zhejiang A&F University, China
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Ke Y, Cheng I, Tan GSH, Fok RWY, Chan JJ, Loh KWJ, Chan A. Development and pilot testing of a decision aid for navigating breast cancer survivorship care. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2022; 22:330. [PMID: 36522635 PMCID: PMC9753367 DOI: 10.1186/s12911-022-02056-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The predominant oncologist-led model in many countries is unsustainable to meet the needs of a growing cohort of breast cancer survivors (BCS). Despite available alternative models, adoption rates have been poor. To help BCS navigate survivorship care, we aimed to systematically develop a decision aid (DA) to guide their choice of follow-up care model and evaluate its acceptability and usability among BCS and health care providers (HCPs). METHODS We recruited BCS aged ≥ 21 years who have completed primary treatment and understand English. BCS receiving palliative care or with cognitive impairment were excluded. HCPs who routinely discussed post-treatment care with BCS were purposively sampled based on disciplines. Each participant reviewed the DA during a semi-structured interview using the 'think aloud' approach and completed an acceptability questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and directed content analysis were used. RESULTS We conducted three rounds of alpha testing with 15 BCS and 8 HCPs. All BCS found the final DA prototype easy to navigate with sufficient interactivity. The information imbalance favouring the shared care option perceived by 60% of BCS in early rounds was rectified. The length of DA was optimized to be 'just right'. Key revisions made included (1) presenting care options side-by-side to improve perceived information balance, (2) creating dedicated sections explaining HCPs' care roles to address gaps in health system contextual knowledge, and (3) employing a multicriteria decision analysis method for preference clarification exercise to reflect the user's openness towards shared care. Most BCS (73%) found the DA useful for decision-making, and 93% were willing to discuss the DA with their HCPs. Most HCPs (88%) agreed that the DA was a reliable tool and would be easily integrated into routine care. CONCLUSIONS Our experience highlighted the need to provide contextual information on the health care system for decisions related to care delivery. Developers should address potential variability within the care model and clarify inherent biases, such as low confidence levels in primary care. Future work could expand on the developed DA's informational structure to apply to other care models and leverage artificial intelligence to optimize information delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Ke
- grid.4280.e0000 0001 2180 6431Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ivy Cheng
- grid.410724.40000 0004 0620 9745Department of Pharmacy, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Gretchen Ser Hua Tan
- grid.4280.e0000 0001 2180 6431Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Rose Wai Yee Fok
- grid.410724.40000 0004 0620 9745Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jack Junjie Chan
- grid.410724.40000 0004 0620 9745Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kiley Wei-Jen Loh
- grid.410724.40000 0004 0620 9745Division of Supportive and Palliative Care, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Alexandre Chan
- grid.410724.40000 0004 0620 9745Department of Pharmacy, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore ,grid.428397.30000 0004 0385 0924Duke-NUS Medical School Singapore, Singapore, Singapore ,grid.266093.80000 0001 0668 7243Department of Clinical Pharmacy Practice, University of California Irvine, 515 Bison Modular 147B, Irvine, CA 92697 USA
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Zhao YC, Zhao M, Song S. Online Health Information Seeking Behaviors Among Older Adults: Systematic Scoping Review. J Med Internet Res 2022; 24:e34790. [PMID: 35171099 PMCID: PMC8892316 DOI: 10.2196/34790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background With the world’s population aging, more health-conscious older adults are seeking health information to make better-informed health decisions. The rapid growth of the internet has empowered older adults to access web-based health information sources. However, research explicitly exploring older adults’ online health information seeking (OHIS) behavior is still underway. Objective This systematic scoping review aims to understand older adults’ OHIS and answer four research questions: (1) What types of health information do older adults seek and where do they seek health information on the internet? (2) What are the factors that influence older adults’ OHIS? (3) What are the barriers to older adults’ OHIS? (4) How can we intervene and support older adults’ OHIS? Methods A comprehensive literature search was performed in November 2020, involving the following academic databases: Web of Science; Cochrane Library database; PubMed; MEDLINE; CINAHL Plus; APA PsycINFO; Library and Information Science Source; Library, Information Science and Technology Abstracts; Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection; Communication & Mass Media Complete; ABI/INFORM; and ACM Digital Library. The initial search identified 8047 publications through database search strategies. After the removal of duplicates, a data set consisting of 5949 publications was obtained for screening. Among these, 75 articles met the inclusion criteria. Qualitative content analysis was performed to identify themes related to the research questions. Results The results suggest that older adults seek 10 types of health information from 6 types of internet-based information sources and that 2 main categories of influencing factors, individual-related and source-related, impact older adults’ OHIS. Moreover, the results reveal that in their OHIS, older adults confront 3 types of barriers, namely individual, social, and those related to information and communication technologies. Some intervention programs based on educational training workshops have been created to intervene and support older adults’ OHIS. Conclusions Although OHIS has become increasingly common among older adults, the review reveals that older adults’ OHIS behavior is not adequately investigated. The findings suggest that more studies are needed to understand older adults’ OHIS behaviors and better support their medical and health decisions in OHIS. Based on the results, the review proposes multiple objectives for future studies, including (1) more investigations on the OHIS behavior of older adults above 85 years; (2) conducting more longitudinal, action research, and mixed methods studies; (3) elaboration of the mobile context and cross-platform scenario of older adults’ OHIS; (4) facilitating older adults’ OHIS by explicating technology affordance; and (5) promoting and measuring the performance of OHIS interventions for older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxiang Chris Zhao
- School of Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, China
| | - Mengyuan Zhao
- School of Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, China
| | - Shijie Song
- Business School, Hohai University, Nanjing, China
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Karkhah S, Maroufizadeh S, Hakimi E, Ghazanfari MJ, Osuji J, Javadi-Pashaki N. Information Seeking Behavior on COVID-19 Among Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study in Northern Iran. Gerontol Geriatr Med 2022; 8:23337214221120746. [PMID: 36090317 PMCID: PMC9452812 DOI: 10.1177/23337214221120746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to assess the information-seeking behavior about COVID-19 among older adults in northern Iran. Two hundred-fifty three older adults living in Rasht, northern Iran, were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Most older adults obtained information about COVID-19 from television, friends, and acquaintances. They relied less on special patient associations and the Ministry of Health telephone system. The use of social networks, the Ministry of Health telephone system, the Ministry of Health text message system, and friends and acquaintances for obtaining information about COVID-19 were significantly higher in people aged 60 to 70 years than in people aged >70 years. The use of newspapers/magazines to get information about COVID-19 was significantly higher in men than women. The use of websites, social networks, physicians, other health care workers, friends and acquaintances, newspapers/magazines, and special patients' associations for obtaining information about COVID-19 was significantly higher in people with tertiary education than in others. Older adults were more satisfied receiving information about COVID-19 from nurses and physicians. Therefore, it is recommended that policymakers and health managers pay special attention to developing health programs and social media programing to educate older adults about COVID-19 and access to the right media for accurate information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samad Karkhah
- Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Saman Maroufizadeh
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Health, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Elham Hakimi
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center (SDHRC), Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Mohammad Javad Ghazanfari
- Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Joseph Osuji
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health, Community, and Education, Mount Royal University, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Nazila Javadi-Pashaki
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center (SDHRC), Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.,Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
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Evaluation of a multidisciplinary care model to improve quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis: a randomised controlled trial. Qual Life Res 2021; 31:1749-1759. [PMID: 34741249 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-021-03029-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Health-Related Quality of Life (HR-QOL) is an important patient-reported domain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The uptake of multidisciplinary team (MDT) care in RA is generally low, due to initial high demand for resources. We hypothesised that whilst pharmacological treatments are effective in controlling disease activity, a multipronged intervention in an MDT may have a positive impact on HR-QOL. METHODS This was a single-centre randomized parallel group, single-blind controlled trial of MDT vs. usual care in an established RA clinic. Data were collected through face-to-face questionnaires, medical records review, and joint counts by a blinded assessor at 0, 3 and 6 months. Adult RA patients were randomly assigned in a single visit to a 6-member MDT (rheumatologist, nurse, social worker, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, and podiatrist) or usual care. MDT providers prescribed medications and counselled patients on managing flares, medication adherence, coping, joint protection, exercise, footwear. The primary outcome was minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in HR-QOL (increase in European QOL-5-Dimension-3-Level, EQ-5D-3L by 0.1) at six months. RESULTS 140 patients (86.3% female, 53.4% Chinese, median (IQR) age 56.6 (46.7, 62.4) years); 70 were randomized to each arm. Median (IQR) disease duration was 5.5 (2.4, 11.0) years and disease activity in 28 joints (DAS28) was 2.87 (2.08, 3.66). 123 patients completed the study. Twenty-six (40.6%) MDT vs. 23 (34.3%) usual care patients achieved an MCID in EQ-5D-3L, OR 1.3 (0.6, 2.7). In multivariable logistic regression, baseline EQ-5D-3L was the only predictor of achieving MCID. There was more disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug escalation in MDT (34.4% vs. 19.4%). Patients with high disease activity were more likely to achieve MCID in the MDT arm. CONCLUSIONS A single visit by stable patients with low disease activity to an MDT failed to achieve MCID in the EQ-5D-3L; however, did achieve small but significant improvements in the EQ-5D-3L, DAS28, pain, coping and self-efficacy. To be sustainable, MDT care should be targeted at patients with high disease activity or those with a new diagnosis of RA. TRIAL REGISTRATION The study is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT03099668.
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Xie L, Xu W, Zhou Y. Spillover effects of adult children's schooling on parents' smoking cessation: evidence from China's compulsory schooling reform. J Epidemiol Community Health 2021; 75:1104-1110. [PMID: 33893183 DOI: 10.1136/jech-2020-215326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE As elderly parents today will share a longer life with their children than ever before, the spillover effects of children's human capital on parents' well-being become increasingly important. This study investigated whether children's schooling leads parents to give up smoking and whether the effects were moderated by their education or child-parent contact frequency. METHODS Using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, we conducted an instrumental variable (IV) analysis using China's compulsory schooling reform in the 1980s as a natural experiment. RESULTS The IV estimates suggest that elderly parents of more highly educated children are more likely to quit smoking. Moreover, the effects are more significant among parents who had not finished primary school and also slightly stronger among parents who live close to their children or meet their children frequently. DISCUSSION Our findings add to current evidence regarding spillover effects of education on smoking cessation. A child's education may exert an impact through the spillover of health knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyang Xie
- Health Policy Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Wei Xu
- School of Finance, Central University of Finance and Economics, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Zhou
- Center for Social Research and Guanghua School of Management, Peking University, Beijing, China
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Doughty H, Oliver K, Veríssimo D, Lee JSH, Milner‐Gulland EJ. Using theory and evidence to design behaviour change interventions for reducing unsustainable wildlife consumption. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hunter Doughty
- Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
- Oxford Martin Programme on the Illegal Wildlife Trade University of Oxford Oxford UK
| | - Kathryn Oliver
- Faculty of Public Health and PolicyLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine London UK
| | - Diogo Veríssimo
- Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
- Oxford Martin Programme on the Illegal Wildlife Trade University of Oxford Oxford UK
- Institute for Conservation ResearchSan Diego Zoo Escondido CA USA
| | - Janice Ser Huay Lee
- Asian School of the EnvironmentEarth Observatory SingaporeNanyang Technological University of Singapore Singapore Singapore
| | - E. J. Milner‐Gulland
- Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
- Oxford Martin Programme on the Illegal Wildlife Trade University of Oxford Oxford UK
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Seah B, Espnes GA, Ang ENK, Lim JY, Kowitlawakul Y, Wang W. Supporting the mobilization of health assets among older community dwellers residing in senior-only households in Singapore: a qualitative study. BMC Geriatr 2020; 20:411. [PMID: 33076833 PMCID: PMC7574307 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-020-01810-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Care activities provided by community health practitioners for older adults primarily focused on disease prevention and management. However, healthy longevity can go beyond disease prevention and management and promote greater well-being by tapping into the accrual of resources that older adults possess using the salutogenic approach. This study explored how health resources are used among older adults who are residing in senior-only households to promote and maintain health, with the intent of providing insights into how community health practitioners can support these older adults via asset-based strategies. METHODS We adopted a descriptive qualitative study design using focus group discussions. Twenty-seven older adults who either lived alone or with their spouses were purposively sampled from an elderly populated residential estate in Singapore. Six focus group discussions, conducted from December 2016 to May 2017, were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS The themes that emerged were 'tapping on internal self-care repository', 'maintaining and preserving informal social support', and 'enabling self by using environmental aids', and an eco-map of aging assets was used to capture an overview of internal and external resources. With the repository of personal strengths, knowledge, and experiences, these older adults were generally resourceful in navigating around their resource-rich environments to cope with everyday life stressors and promote health. However, they were occasionally limited by individual factors that affected their comprehension, access, maintenance, and utilization of resources. CONCLUSION The eco-map of aging assets can be used as an assessment framework by community health practitioners to recognize, consider, and build a repertoire of resources among these older adults. It serves as a gentle reminder to adopt an ecological approach in considering and tapping into older adults' wide-ranging personal, social, and environmental resources. Community health practitioners can support resource integration as resource facilitators via cognitive, behavioral, and motivational salutogenic pathways to overcome resource mobilization barriers faced by older adults. Such an approach helps older adults to find their internal capabilities and abilities to know who, where, what, and how to seek external resources to identify solutions, creating the intrinsic value to sustain their actions on resource utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betsy Seah
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Clinical Research Centre, Block MD11, Level 2, 10 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117597, Singapore.
| | - Geir Arild Espnes
- Center for Health Promotion Research, Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Postbox 8905, N-7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Emily Neo Kim Ang
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Clinical Research Centre, Block MD11, Level 2, 10 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117597, Singapore
| | - Jian Yang Lim
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Clinical Research Centre, Block MD11, Level 2, 10 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117597, Singapore
| | - Yanika Kowitlawakul
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Clinical Research Centre, Block MD11, Level 2, 10 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117597, Singapore
| | - Wenru Wang
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Clinical Research Centre, Block MD11, Level 2, 10 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117597, Singapore
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Doughty H, Wright J, Veríssimo D, Lee JSH, Oliver K, Milner‐Gulland EJ. Strategic advertising of online news articles as an intervention to influence wildlife product consumers. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hunter Doughty
- Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
- Oxford Martin Program on the Illegal Wildlife Trade Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford Oxford UK
| | - Joss Wright
- Oxford Martin Program on the Illegal Wildlife Trade Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford Oxford UK
- Oxford Internet Institute University of Oxford Oxford UK
| | - Diogo Veríssimo
- Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
- Oxford Martin Program on the Illegal Wildlife Trade Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford Oxford UK
- Institute for Conservation Research San Diego Zoo Escondido California USA
| | - Janice S. H. Lee
- Asian School of the Environment Nanyang Technological University of Singapore Singapore
| | - Kathryn Oliver
- Faculty of Public Health and Policy London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine London UK
| | - E. J. Milner‐Gulland
- Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
- Oxford Martin Program on the Illegal Wildlife Trade Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford Oxford UK
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Doughty H, Veríssimo D, Tan RCQ, Lee JSH, Carrasco LR, Oliver K, Milner-Gulland EJ. Saiga horn user characteristics, motivations, and purchasing behaviour in Singapore. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0222038. [PMID: 31504051 PMCID: PMC6736248 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Unsustainable wildlife trade is a pervasive issue affecting wildlife globally. To address this issue, a plethora of demand reduction efforts have been carried out. These necessitate consumer research which provides crucial knowledge for designing and evaluating targeted interventions. We implemented a rigorous consumer survey on saiga (Saiga tatarica) horn use in Singapore, where usage is legal and widely sold. Saiga are Critically Endangered antelopes from Central Asia with horns (often marketed as ling yang) used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Few past studies have assessed saiga horn consumers. This work is the most extensive consumer research to date specifically characterising saiga horn consumers and usage. We conducted 2294 in-person surveys on saiga horn use with Chinese Singaporeans, employing neutral questioning approaches. We found 19% of individuals reported saiga horn as a product they choose most often for themselves and/or others when treating fever and/or heatiness (a TCM state of illness), indicating a minimum estimate of high-frequency usage, not including possible low-frequency users. Overall saiga users were most characterised as middle-aged Buddhists and Taoists. However, saiga users were found in a range of demographic groups. Women preferred saiga shavings (the more traditional form), while men preferred saiga cooling water (the more modern form). About 53% of individuals who used saiga horn themselves also bought it for someone else. Buyers for others were most likely to be female middle-aged Buddhists or Taoists. Key motivating reasons for usage were "it works" and "someone recommended it to me." The top two reported recommenders were family and TCM shopkeepers. Saiga users were more likely than non-saiga users to perceive saiga as a common species in the wild. This research holds significance for interventions targeting saiga horn consumption within Singapore and throughout Asia, by identifying potential target audiences, product types, non-desirable alternatives, and motivations for use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hunter Doughty
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Diogo Veríssimo
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo, Escondido, United States of America
| | | | - Janice Ser Huay Lee
- Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - L Roman Carrasco
- Department of Biological Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kathryn Oliver
- Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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Glassman T, Paprzycki P, Castor T, Wotring A, Wagner-Greene V, Ritzman M, Diehr AJ, Kruger J. Using the Elaboration Likelihood Model to Address Drunkorexia among College Students. Subst Use Misuse 2018; 53:1411-1418. [PMID: 29278957 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2017.1409766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The many consequences related to alcohol consumption among college students are well documented. Drunkorexia, a relatively new term and area of research, is characterized by skipping meals to reduce caloric intake and/or exercising excessively in attempt to compensate for calories associated with high volume drinking. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to use the Elaboration Likelihood Model to compare the impact of central and peripheral prevention messages on alcohol consumption and drunkorexic behavior. METHODS Researchers employed a quasi-experimental design, collecting pre- or post-test data from 172 college students living in residence halls at a large Midwestern university, to assess the impact of the prevention messages. Participants in the treatment groups received the message in person (flyer), through email, and via a text message in weekly increments. RESULTS Results showed that participants exposed to the peripherally framed message decreased the frequency of their alcohol consumption over a 30-day period (p =.003), the number of drinks they consumed the last time they drank (p =.029), the frequency they had more than five drinks over a 30-day period (p =.019), as well as the maximum number of drinks they had on any occasion in the past 30 days (p =.014). Conclusions/Importance: While more research is needed in this area, the findings from this study indicate that researchers and practitioners should design peripheral (short and succinct), rather than central (complex and detailed), messages to prevent drunkorexia and its associated behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tavis Glassman
- a School of Population Health, University of Toledo , Toledo, Ohio , USA
| | - Peter Paprzycki
- b Department of Educational Research , University of Southern Mississippi , Hattiesburg , Mississippi , USA
| | - Thomas Castor
- a School of Population Health, University of Toledo , Toledo, Ohio , USA
| | - Amy Wotring
- a School of Population Health, University of Toledo , Toledo, Ohio , USA
| | | | - Matthew Ritzman
- a School of Population Health, University of Toledo , Toledo, Ohio , USA
| | - Aaron J Diehr
- c Department of Public Health & Recreation Professions , Southern Illinois University , Carbondale , Illinois , USA
| | - Jessica Kruger
- d Department of Community Health & Health Behavior , University at Buffalo , Buffalo, New York , USA
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Chang L, Basnyat I. Exploring Family Support for Older Chinese Singaporean Women in a Confucian Society. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2017; 32:603-611. [PMID: 27331772 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2016.1146568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the functions of family support in older Chinese Singaporean women's daily health management in a Confucian cultural context, wherein family solidarity and women's caregiving responsibilities are emphasized. Thirty-eight interviews were conducted with ethnic Chinese women above the age of 60 in Singapore. Our thematic analysis showed that older women played dual roles as support providers and recipients in the family. Their caregiver identity and intent to preserve tradition resulted in a downward transmission of informational and physical support and their hesitance to accept resources provided by younger family members. The asymmetrical flow of family support generated mixed impacts on the women's daily health management. In their transition between tradition and modernity, older women fulfilled their family responsibilities but did not require their children to do so. Our findings suggested an integration of familial and institutional resources to meet older women's support needs and help them enhance their health behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leanne Chang
- a Department of Communications & New Media , National University of Singapore
| | - Iccha Basnyat
- a Department of Communications & New Media , National University of Singapore
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14
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Chang L, Chiuan Yen C, Xue L, Choo Tai B, Chuan Chan H, Been-Lirn Duh H, Choolani M. Factors associated with mobile health information seeking among Singaporean women. J Women Aging 2016; 29:75-86. [DOI: 10.1080/08952841.2015.1065144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Leanne Chang
- School of International Communications, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, China
| | - Ching Chiuan Yen
- Division of Industrial Design, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lishan Xue
- Design and Specialised Businesses, Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore
| | - Bee Choo Tai
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hock Chuan Chan
- Department of Information Systems, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Henry Been-Lirn Duh
- School of Computing and Information Systems, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Mahesh Choolani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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15
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Chang L, Basnyat I. Negotiating biomedical and traditional Chinese medicine treatments among elderly Chinese Singaporean women. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2015; 25:241-52. [PMID: 25234107 DOI: 10.1177/1049732314551991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
In this article we examine how elderly Chinese Singaporean women navigated between biomedicine and traditional Chinese medicine in their practices of maintaining well-being. We interviewed 36 elderly women to understand their negotiation of medical choices in the interplay of structure, culture, and personal agency. Our findings show that participants made situational decisions under structural and cultural influences, such as family members' changing expectations and interpretations of medical practices, institutional preferences for biomedicine, and the patients' negotiating position between biomedicine and traditional Chinese medicine. Participants demonstrated their capacity to enact agency through their examination of the effects and side effects of each medical system and through their integrative use of different medical treatments, depending on the purpose. Through our findings, we unveil contextual meanings of health among elderly women and the unique coexistence of traditional and modern medical practices within the context of Singapore.
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