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Orom H, Ramer NE, Allard NC, McQueen A, Waters EA, Kiviniemi MT, Hay JL. Colorectal cancer information avoidance is associated with screening adherence. J Behav Med 2024; 47:504-514. [PMID: 38460064 DOI: 10.1007/s10865-024-00482-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth most common cancer among U.S. men and women and the second deadliest. Effective screening modalities can either prevent CRC or find it earlier, but fewer than two thirds of U.S. adults are adherent to CRC screening guidelines. We tested whether people who defensively avoid CRC information have lower adherence to CRC screening recommendations and weaker intentions for being screened and whether CRC information avoidance adds predictive ability beyond known determinants of screening. Participants, aged 45-75 years, completed a survey about known structural determinants of CRC screening (healthcare coverage, healthcare use, provider recommendation), CRC information avoidance tendencies, and screening behavior (n = 887) and intentions (n = 425). Models were tested with multivariable regression and structural equation modeling (SEM). To the extent that participants avoided CRC information, they had lower odds of being adherent to CRC screening guidelines (OR = 0.55) and if non-adherent, less likely to intend to be screened (b=-0.50). In the SEM model, avoidance was negatively associated with each known structural determinant of screening and with lower screening adherence (ps < 0.01). Fit was significantly worse for nested SEM models when avoidance was not included, (i.e., the paths to avoidance were fixed to zero). Information avoidance was associated with screening behavior and other known structural determinants of screening adherence, potentially compounding its influence. Novel strategies are needed to reach avoiders, including health communication messaging that disrupts avoidance and interventions external to the healthcare system, with which avoiders are less engaged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Orom
- Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
| | - Nolan E Ramer
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Natasha C Allard
- Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Amy McQueen
- School of Medicine, Division of General Medical Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Erika A Waters
- School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Division of Public Health Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Marc T Kiviniemi
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, University of Kentucky, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Jennifer L Hay
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
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McKeever R, Sundstrom B, Rhodes ME, Ritter E, McKeever BW. "A Victim of Our Own Success:" Testing Jenny's First Sleepover's Dark Satire to Improve Attitudes Toward Childhood Vaccination. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2024:1-9. [PMID: 38514995 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2024.2330121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in substantially lower uptake of childhood vaccinations in the U.S. As vaccination rates struggle to rebound, childhood vaccine hesitancy continues to grow. Addressing vaccine disinformation and increasing catch-up vaccination is an urgent public health priority. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of "Jenny's First Sleepover," a darkly humorous satirical book about childhood vaccinations, to influence attitudes of vaccine hesitant parents. This study implemented a randomized pretest - posttest experimental design using a web-based survey with one intervention and one control. "Jenny's First Sleepover" improved attitudes toward vaccination among vaccine hesitant parents. Negative emotions were an important mediator of attitudes toward vaccinations. Findings identify mechanisms that increase effectiveness of satirical approaches, including the presentation of novel information about serious vaccine-preventable diseases with a dark narrative twist. Health communicators may consider a darkly humorous satirical approach to improve attitudes toward childhood vaccination among vaccine hesitant parents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert McKeever
- Department of Advertising and Public Relations, University of Alabama
| | | | | | | | - Brooke W McKeever
- Department of Advertising and Public Relations, University of Alabama
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Skurka C, Lee Cunningham JJ. Seeing the funny side: Humor in pro-environmental communication. Curr Opin Psychol 2023; 53:101668. [PMID: 37572549 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
Our review, drawing from various fields such as communication, psychology, marketing, and environmental studies, delves into the potential for humor in pro-environmental messaging to mobilize social change. The review examines different forms of humor, including satire, stand-up comedy, and scripted entertainment programming, and their impact on audience responses. We also highlight the possible drawbacks of using humor and factors that moderate its effects. Overall, the evidence paints a mixed picture whereby pro-environmental humor is largely successful in influencing proximal cognitive outcomes (attention, perceptions) but has more limited influence on distal outcomes (behavior) with the greatest benefits seen among low-interest groups. The need for more diverse samples and robust experimental designs is emphasized to fully comprehend the efficacy of humor in effecting environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Skurka
- Pennsylvania State University, Department of Media Studies, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, Penn State University, 222 Carnegie, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
| | - Julia J Lee Cunningham
- University of Michigan, Stephen M. Ross School of Business, Management & Organizations, University of Michigan, 701 Tappen Avenue, R5312, AnnArbor, MI, 48104, USA
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Ma X, Zhang H, Xu T. Whether ambulatory electroencephalogram and visual tracking system could be the new strategy for pain assessment? Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1122614. [PMID: 36733334 PMCID: PMC9887010 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1122614] [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: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The human pain experience is a complex multi-faceted symptom. Effective pain management begins with a comprehensive assessment. However, a plethora of existing assessment tools for pain assessment focus more on self-report of pain intensity but lack of multi-dimensional impersonal assessment. These unidimensional scales, which capture self-reported levels of pain intensity, not only underestimate the complexity of the pain experience, but also lack stability and objectivity in their own assessments of pain intensity. Therefore, we propose a hypothesis that using scientific and technological means, such as visual tracking and surveillance system, ambulatory electroencephalogram and other techniques, combined with psychological assessment pictures and existing scales, to comprehensively evaluate pain may provide a new method for more effective clinical treatment of pain, especially chronic severe pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaqing Ma
- Department of Anesthesiology, Suzhou Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Suzhou, Anhui, China,Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tongzhou People’s Hospital, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tao Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Suzhou Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Suzhou, Anhui, China,Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China,Department of Anesthesiology, Tongzhou People’s Hospital, Nantong, Jiangsu, China,*Correspondence: Tao Xu,
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Ittefaq M, Zain A, Bokhari H. Opioids in Satirical News Shows: Exploring Topics, Sentiments, and Engagement in Last Week Tonight on YouTube. JOURNAL OF HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2023; 28:53-63. [PMID: 36755488 DOI: 10.1080/10810730.2023.2176575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Prescription drug misuse and opioid overdose have become one of the most serious health crises in the US health system. In this study, we examined Last Week Tonight as hosted by John Oliver in order to explore topics, sentiments, and reactions by referring to online comments on YouTube. Using an unsupervised machine learning approach, we analyzed 33,741 user generated comments taken from three selected episodes published between 2016 and 2021. Our results revealed 13 topics: the politicization of the opioid crisis, side effects of opioid use, seeking help, legal issues, reactions to the John Oliver show, drug addiction, the US in comparison with other countries, case settlements, the drug business, addiction and pharmaceutical companies, profitability of companies from deaths, drugs and elections, as well as general awareness and education. In addition, we found that opioid side effects, seeking help, and the drug business had received the highest user engagements in terms of likes and replies. Our study suggests that comments with positive sentiments were more likely to cause a more widespread engagement from YouTube users than negative comments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Ittefaq
- School of Communication Studies, James Madison University, Harrisonburg ,Virginia, USA
| | - Ali Zain
- School of Journalism and Mass Communications, College of Information and Communications, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Hasnain Bokhari
- Willy Brandt School of Public Policy, University of Erfurt, Erfurt, Germany
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Greijdanus H, van der Voorn M. Humour Against Binge Drinking During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cartoon-Based Anti-Alcohol Health Campaign Targeting Women-Who-Have-Sex-With-Women. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 8:1-27. [PMID: 35855976 PMCID: PMC9281285 DOI: 10.1007/s41042-022-00068-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This study focuses on the role of humour in health and well-being of women-who-have-sex-with-women (WSW) during COVID-19. This group has been shown to be vulnerable to alcohol abuse, especially as self-medication coping with social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigated the potential usefulness of WSW-inclusive (i.e., depicting a female-female romantic couple) versus hetero-normative (i.e., depicting a male-female romantic couple) humorous cartoons in an anti-alcohol health campaign against excessive drinking among WSW. One-hundred-and-twenty-seven self-categorized WSW of diverse genders (woman, non-binary) and sexual orientations (e.g., lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, queer, heterosexual) participated in a 2 × 2 factorial between-participants design. Data were collected during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic in The Netherlands. Humorous cartoons explicitly referring to lockdown measures systematically varied the humour subject (punchline about excessive drinking versus staying sober) and the couple (male-female, female-female) that were depicted. Although the (very brief) health message did not influence binge drinking determinants, the humorous health campaign depicting a female-female couple was perceived as more inclusive and evoked more amusement and less anger than when the cartoons depicted a male-female couple. High WSW identifiers were less amused about the health campaign text (but not the cartoons), less likely to share campaign materials offline (but not online), and had more positive binge drinking attitudes but lower binge drinking intentions than low identifiers. Implications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hedy Greijdanus
- Heymans Institute for Psychological Research, University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Maaike van der Voorn
- Heymans Institute for Psychological Research, University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, The Netherlands
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Valsecchi M, Codispoti M. Eye tracking applied to tobacco smoking: current directions and future perspectives. J Eye Mov Res 2022; 15:10.16910/jemr.15.1.2. [PMID: 35440972 PMCID: PMC9014256 DOI: 10.16910/jemr.15.1.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the years the general awareness of the health costs associated with tobacco smoking has motivated scientists to apply the measurement of eye movements to this form of addiction. On one hand they have investigated whether smokers attend and look preferentially at smoking related scenes and objects. In parallel, on the other hand eye tracking has been used to test how smokers and nonsmokers interact with the different types of health warning that policymakers have mandated in tobacco advertisements and packages. Here we provide an overview of the main findings from the different lines of research, such as the evidence related to the attentional bias for smoking cues in smokers and the evidence that graphic warning labels and plain packages measurably increase the salience of the warning labels. We point to some open questions, such as the conditions that determine whether heavy smokers exhibit a tendency to actively avoid looking at graphic warning labels. Finally we argue that the research applied to gaze exploration of warning labels would benefit from a more widespread use of the more naturalistic testing conditions (e.g. mobile eye tracking or virtual reality) that have been introduced to study the smokers' attentional bias for tobacco-related objects when freely exploring the surrounding environment.
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