Fifty shades of grain - Increasing whole grain consumption through daily messages

Despite numerous health benefits, the majority of consumers, in particular young adults, show low levels of whole grain consumption behaviour (WGCB). In order to increase WGCB, this pre-registered experimental study investigates the effect of a two weeks message intervention. Participants (n = 329) received either information about health benefits, recipe suggestions, a combination of both, or about a control topic. We evaluated WGCB at three time points: prior to, immediately after (post), and one month after the intervention (follow-up). Our findings show that participants read the message on most of the days and on average, evaluate the health-only message most positively. Furthermore, we found that health messages, but not recipe suggestions significantly increase WGCB at the follow-up measure. This effect was serially mediated by attitudes and behavioural intentions at the post-intervention measure, with more positive attitudes and higher intentions leading to more WGCB. Although health messages are an effective tool to influence WGCB, the effect is small in magnitude and consumption levels remain rather low. We discuss implications for future research and for the communication of whole grain related health benefits among different stakeholders in the health sector.

Exploring culturally-preferred communication approaches for increased uptake of voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) services in rural Malawi

BACKGROUND

In 2007 WHO and UNAIDS recommended communication interventions as a key strategy for creating demand for Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) in Southern Africa. In Malawi, VMMC communication interventions, implemented by health communication agencies, have effectively raised awareness of services. However, high awareness of VMMC has not resulted in increased uptake. Consequently, Malawi has achieved the lowest number of circumcisions in Southern Africa.

METHODS

These researchers carried out a study among the traditionally circumcising Yaos of Mangochi in Southern Region and the non-circumcising Chewas in Central Region. Data were collected using FGDs, KIIs, IDIs, Life Histories and Participatory Rural Appraisal methods. Data were analyzed thematically.

RESULTS

This study demonstrates two lessons. First, Laswell's Theory, which has traditionally been used in politics, is relevant to the health sector where the message delivery continuum also needs to be clear on source, message, audience, channel and intended effects. Secondly, according to informants, allowing communities to give feedback to the VMMC messages delivered by health promoters is fundamental. Therefore, failure by Laswell Theory to emphasize on feedback compromises its efficacy. It weakens its ability to foster a common vision between the source and the audience which is prerequisite for behavioral change.

CONCLUSION

The study concluded that community engagement and interpersonal communication which provide room for real-time feedback in any communicative event are the most preferred communication interventions for VMMC services among Yaos and Chewas.

parents

Campaigns to improve beverage consumption typically focus on discouraging unhealthy beverages (e.g., soda), encouraging healthy beverages (e.g., water), or both. It remains unclear which of these strategies is most effective. We recruited a national convenience sample of U.S. parents of children ages 2-12 (n = 1078, 48% Latino[a]) to complete an online survey in 2019. We randomly assigned participants to view: 1) a control message, 2) a soda discouragement message, 3) a water encouragement message, or 4) both soda discouragement and water encouragement messages shown side-by-side in random arrangement. Intervention messages mimicked New York City's "Pouring on the Pounds" campaign. Participants rated messages on perceived effectiveness for discouraging soda consumption and encouraging water consumption (1-5 response scales) and reported feelings and intentions about drinking soda and water (1-7 scales). Compared to those with no exposure, participants who viewed the soda discouragement message reported higher perceived discouragement from drinking soda (Average Differential Effect [ADE] = 1.18), more negative feelings toward drinking soda (ADE = 0.83) and stronger intentions to avoid drinking soda (ADE = 0.45) (ps < 0.001). The soda discouragement message also exerted beneficial effects on perceived effectiveness, feelings, and intentions related to water consumption (ADEs = 0.33-0.68; ps < 0.001). Exposure to the water encouragement message had beneficial effects on outcomes related to water consumption (ADEs = 0.28-0.81, ps < 0.001), but limited impact on outcomes related to soda consumption. Across outcomes, results indicated diminishing returns from exposure to both message types. Messaging campaigns discouraging unhealthy beverages may be more promising for improving beverage consumption than messages only promoting healthier beverages.

Exposure to mass media family planning messages and associated factors among youth men in Ethiopia

Background

Family planning programs usually focus information and messaging on women and girls. However, they may not be the primary decision-makers about their own contraceptive choice and utilization. Hence, this study aimed to assess youth men's exposure to family planning messages and associated factors in Ethiopia.

Method

The study used data for analysis from the 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey data set. A total of 7,639 youth men have been included in this analysis. Statistical package for social science version 20 has been used for data analysis. We have used multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify the association of independent variables with the outcome variable. Adjusted odds ratio with 95 % confidence interval was used to declare significant statistical association.

Result

The mean age of participants was 19.02 years with a standard deviation of ±2.83. The proportion of youths who have exposure to family planning messages was 34.7 % (33.7%, 35.7%). Owning mobile phone (AOR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.12–1.97, using internet (AOR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.33–2.73), knowing where to obtain family planning (AOR = 4.28, 95% CI:3.08–5.95), educational status of primary (AOR = 1.98, 95% CI:1.36–2.86) secondary (AOR = 3.01,95% CI:1.94–4.67) and higher (AOR = 6.01,95% CI:3.24–11.16) were the factors associated with the outcome variable. Also, the odds of exposure of youths who agree contraception is women's business was lower (AOR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.35–0.85).

Conclusion

Only one-third of youths have exposure to family planning messages. Educational status, owning a mobile phone, knowing where to obtain family planning methods, use of the internet, and considering family planning as a women's business were the factors that have an association with the outcome variable. So it is important to improve the education level of youths, to inform youths about different outlets through which family planning messages will be transmitted, and avert youth's misconception towards contraception.

[Truth-seeking and innovation for the academic excellence]

The Chinese Journal of Hepatology has a 2020 core impact factor of 1.807, which position it first among the periodicals of gastroenterology. The China Association for Science and Technology classified it as T1 grade and included in the catalogue of high-level scientific and technological periodicals. Since 2021, it has received the special publishing fund of the Chongqing Municipal Bureau of Press and Publications, the High-quality Scientific and Technological Periodicals Funding Project of Chongqing Association for Science and Technology, and the Industry-university-research Cooperation and Collaborative Education Project of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China and won many awards such as "Sichuan-Chongqing First-class Scientific and Technological Periodical" and "Chongqing High-quality Scientific and Technological Periodical", thereby ensuring the development of both qualitative and quantitative effects. Therefore, in 2022, we will work on attracting high-impact research reports, disseminate the academic results timely, efficiently and accurately, highlight the role of digital communication, and pave the way for the establishment of it as a first-class academic journal.

Evaluation of driver performance with a prototype cyber physical mid-block crossing advanced warning system

INTRODUCTION

Using connected vehicle technologies, pedestrian to vehicle (P2V) communication applications can be installed on smart devices allowing pedestrians to communicate with drivers by broadcasting discrete safety messages, received by drivers in-vehicle, as an alternative to expensive fixed-location physical safety infrastructure.

METHOD

This study consists of designing, developing, and deploying an entirely cyber-physical P2V communication system within the cellular vehicle to everything (C-V2X) environment at a mid-block crosswalk to analyze drivers' reactions to in-vehicle advanced warning messages, the impacts of the advanced warning messages on driver awareness, and drivers' acceptance of this technology.

RESULTS

In testing human subjects with, and without, advanced warning messages upon approaching a mid-block crosswalk, driver reaction, acceptance, speed, eye tracking data, and demographic data were collected. Through an odds ratio comparison, it was found that drivers were at least 2.44 times more likely to stop for the pedestrian with the warning than without during the day, and at least 1.79 times more likely during the night. Furthermore, through binary logistic regression analysis, it was found that driver age, time of the day, and the presence of the advanced warning message all had strong, significant impacts with a confidence value of at least 98% (p < 0.02) on the rate at which drivers stopped for the pedestrian.

CONCLUSIONS

The results from this study indicate that the advanced warning message sent within the C-V2X had a strong, positive impact on driver behavior and understanding of pedestrian intent. Practical Applications: Pedestrian crashes and fatality rates at mid-block crossings continue to increase over the years. Connected vehicle technology utilizing smart devices can be used as a means for communications between pedestrians and drivers to deliver safety messages. State and local city planners should consider geofencing designated mid-block crossings at which this technology operates to increase pedestrian safety and driver awareness.

[How-to case report]

Case reports are often the first step of innovations and new techniques in science and thus are fundamental for some later established procedures. In addition, they have a great educational effect and offer young scientists the opportunity to gain their first experiences in writing manuscripts. In addition to an interesting detail (e.g. figure), a clear message is essential for a good case report.

Palliative care in its own discourse: a focused ethnography of professional messaging in palliative care

Background

Despite 50 years of modern palliative care (PC), a misunderstanding of its purpose persists. The original message that PC is focused on total care, helping to live until the person dies, is being replaced and linked to feelings of fear, anxiety and death, instead of compassion, support or appropriate care. Society is still afraid to speak its name, and specialized units are identified as “places of death” as opposed to “places of life” meant to treat suffering. This issue is prohibitive to the implementation and development of PC policies worldwide. It is imperative to identify what message PC professionals are relaying to patients and other health care specialists and how that message may condition understandings of the right to access PC.

Methods

A qualitative study, employing focused ethnography and participant observation (PO) of the daily interaction of PC professionals with patients and family members in three different PC services. Two researchers independently conducted a thematic analysis, followed by member checking with participants.

Results

A total of 242 h of participant observation revealed the following messages sent by PC professionals in their daily interaction with patients and families: i) We are focused on your wellbeing; ii) You matter: we want to get to know you; iii) Your family is important to us.

Conclusion

The complexity of PC discourses contributes to the difficulty of identifying a clear universal message between PC professionals, patients and families. The PC professionals observed transmit a simple message focused on their actions rather than their identity, which may perpetuate some social/cultural misunderstandings of PC. It seems there is a common culture, based on the same values and attitudes, within the messages that PC professionals transmit to patients and their families. PC teams are characterised by their availability.

Adolescents' receptivity to E-cigarette harms messages delivered using text messaging

INTRODUCTION

E-cigarette use among adolescents has dramatically risen since 2011, yet little research has tested e-cigarette harms messages among adolescents. We conducted a pretest-posttest pilot study to examine adolescents' receptivity to e-cigarette health harms messages delivered using text messaging.

METHODS

N = 69 adolescents were enrolled in an 8-day pretest-posttest text messaging study. Participants completed a pretest survey on day one, were texted one of three e-cigarette health harms messages per day on days two through seven, and completed a posttest survey on day eight (88% retention). We assessed message ratings at posttest and knowledge, thoughts, and beliefs about e-cigarette harms at pretest and posttest.

RESULTS

Adolescents rated the three messages favorably, with both the chemical and brain messages scoring higher than the nicotine message on fear arousal and perceived message effectiveness. More than one-third of adolescents showed the messages to others and talked to others about the messages. At posttest, knowledge about the harms of e-cigarettes, thinking about the risks of e-cigarettes, and perceived risks of e-cigarettes were all significantly higher compared to pretest (p < .05). Participants largely adhered to the text messaging protocol and found the study highly acceptable.

CONCLUSIONS

This pilot study suggests that adolescents are receptive to e-cigarette health harms messages and that delivering such messages using text messaging is feasible and acceptable. Future research should systematically develop and test a broad set of e-cigarette health harms messages and examine their impact in a randomized controlled trial.

Believability of new diseases reported in the 2014 Surgeon General's Report on smoking: Experimental results from a national survey of US adults

BACKGROUND

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease and death globally. The 2014 Surgeon General's Report included new diseases linked to smoking, including liver and colon cancer, diabetes and tuberculosis. As more diseases are linked to smoking, which diseases should we communicate to the public and what message source has the most impact?

METHODS

Data were collected through a nationally representative phone survey of US adults (N=5014), conducted from September 2014 through May 2015. We experimentally randomized participants to a 2 (new smoking disease messages - liver and colon cancers compared to diabetes and tuberculosis) by 4 (message sources - CDC, FDA, Surgeon General, and none) experiment. The outcome was message believability.

RESULTS

About half the sample was female (51.5%) and 17.8% were a current smoker. Overall, 56% of participants said the messages were very believable. Cancer messages (liver and colon cancer) were significantly more believable than messages about chronic disease (tuberculosis and diabetes), 61% vs. 52%. Smokers were less likely to report both sets of new disease messages as very believable compared to non-smokers. Significantly more smokers intending to quit (44.5%) found the messages to be very believable compared to smokers not intending to quit (22.6%). Believability did not differ by message source.

CONCLUSION

Important differences exist in believability of disease messages about new tobacco-related information. Messages emphasizing the causal link between smoking and new diseases should be considered for use in mass media campaigns.

Perceived effectiveness of messages promoting hand hygiene

Eighty-six infection control specialists evaluated 24 messages promoting hand hygiene (HH). Brief, simple messages using appeals to social situations and to ego (self-efficacy) were rated as most likely to increase HH compliance.

What makes it likeable? A study on the reactions to messages in a digital social network: the case of Facebook in Farsi

Background

After a piece of information is put into a network, its fate depends on the behaviors of the nodes of the network; nodes that are equipped with the hardware and software of the age of information and are more powerful than any time in the past. This study suggests that a useful research for communication, marketing and advertising would be one that looks for patterns in the reactions of the nodes toward different pieces of information.

Results

This study has used Facebook to see how people have reacted to different types of messages in terms of liking, sharing and commenting. Rather than looking for universal, generalizable patterns we have tried to examine the practicality of the proposed method. The practical aspect of the study comes after a short theoretical discussion on the issue of flow of information in a digital world. The results revealed dozens of significant relations between the examined variables.

Conclusions

This study, its theoretical discussion and results suggest that it would be practical to study the relations between the characteristics of Facebook messages and the type of reactions (liking, sharing and commenting) that they attract.

How much importance do we give to target audiences in article writing?

OBJECTIVES

Writing papers can be used as a means to convey a message. Knowledge transfer is also about conveying the right message to the right target audience. The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of articles that had mentioned a clear message and the target audience in the abstract and the article as a whole, and also to examine their association with different determinant factors.

METHODS

Articles published from 2001 to 2006 that were based on clinical and health system research conducted on Iranian populations and on maternal care, diabetes and tuberculosis were searched systematically in domestic and international databases. Eventually checklists (Additional file 1) were completed for 795 articles.

RESULTS

Overall, 98.5% of articles had a clear message, whereas 12.5% had addressed the direct target audience. Presence of a clear message in formatted abstracts were seen 3.6 times more (CI95%: 1.5-8.7) than in articles without formatted abstracts (p = 0.005). Addressing of the direct target audience was seen twice as much in health system research articles as compared to clinical studies, odds ratio was 2.3 (CI95%: 1.47-3.48, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Creating a format for journal abstracts seems to be an effective intervention for presenting the message in articles.