Development of an online animated sexting prevention module based on the prototype willingness model to reduce intention and willingness to sexting among diploma students

INTRODUCTION

Sexting refers to the act of sending and receiving sexually explicit content in the form of in the form of texts, photos, or videos via the Internet and mobile phones. This behaviour is associated with many negative health consequences among young people. However, there is a lack of intervention studies to curb this behaviour. We have developed a new sexting prevention module and tested it using a randomised controlled field trial. This paper reported the phase one of the study i.e., the development of an animated sexting prevention module using the prototype willingness model (PWM) to reduce the intention and willingness to sext amongst diploma students in Malaysia.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

The initial phase involved a review of previous interventions, validation from field experts, and the process of developing video. Then the module pilot was tested among 30 diploma students from a public university. They were given access to the newly developed videos posted on a private YouTube channel and asked to evaluate the videos quantitatively and qualitatively by using the acceptability of the intervention module (AIM), intervention appropriateness measure (IAM) and feasibility of the intervention measure (FIM). The minimum and maximum scores of each measure were 12 and 24 respectively whereby a higher score indicated greater acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility.

RESULTS

The intervention consisted of five sections addressing the constructs of PWM, namely attitude, perceived norm, prototype perception, as well as intention and willingness of sexting. The contents were then converted into five videos with a total duration of 23 minutes. Based on the pilot test, the scores of AIM, IAM and FIM were not normally distributed and their median and the interquartile range values were 20 (4), 21 (4) and 22 (4) respectively. Most of the respondents gave favourable opinions on the intervention besides providing some input for improvement.

CONCLUSION

This animated sexting intervention module based on PWM to reduce the intention and willingness was novel. The module was acceptable, appropriate and feasible to be implemented among undergraduate students. Further evaluation of this intervention module can be performed to provide more comprehensive evidence of its effectiveness.

Effectiveness of an independent physical activity programme in improving physical activity amongst breast and colorectal cancer survivors: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Previous research has documented the benefits of physical activity (PA) for cancer survivors which include improved quality of life, physical, physiological, emotional and social functioning, reduced relapse of cancer and the mitigation of cancer mortality. This study aims to evaluate the effects of an independent PA programme based on PA level, quality of life, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, reinforcement, behavioural capability and observational learning amongst registered National Cancer Society Malaysia's (NCSM) cancer survivors.

METHODS

A two-armed, parallel, double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial, intervention and wait-list control groups will be conducted amongst 106 NCSM's cancer survivors. The programme is developed based on a Social Cognitive Theory that combines both psychoeducation and social media approaches to behavioural intervention. The duration of intervention will be 2 months, in which data will be collected at baseline, 2- month (immediately post-intervention) and 4-month. The primary outcome of the study is to determine the PA level of the participant which will be measured as METminutes/ week of PA using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). There are four measurements of PA that are measured which are moderate and vigorous PA (MVPA) MET-minutes/week, light PA MET-minutes/week, moderate PA MET-minutes/week and vigorous PA METminutes/ week. A Generalised Estimating Equation (GEE) analysis will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention, adjusted for baseline covariates on both continuous and categorical outcomes. This study will utilize a significance level of 0.05 with a confidence interval of 95% for means estimation in rejecting null hypothesis. The trial registered to the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials (ANZCTR) with the Registration Number, ACTRN12620000039987.

CONCLUSION

The programme will be useful as a supplementary prescription to assist policy makers to strengthen non-pharmacological cancer management options and to empower cancer survivors to be self-reliant and self-sufficient to include PA as part of their recovery process.

The Malay version of smartphone addiction scale: Development, factor structure and validation of a short form for Malaysian adolescents

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to validate the Malay version of the short form Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS-M-SF) and to examine its psychometric properties in a cohort of pre-university adolescents.

METHODS

We obtained the validity and reliability evidence for the SAS-M-SF using a group of 307 pre-university students in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia with a mean age of 18.4±0.2 years (70.4% female and 29.6% male). A questionnaire containing the Malay version of Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS-M), the Malay version of the short form Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS-M-SF), and the Malay version of the Internet Addiction Test (IAT-M) was administered on the adolescents.

RESULTS

The SAS-M-SF displayed good internal consistency (Cronbach's α=0.80). Using principle component analysis, we identified a 4-factor SAS-M-SF model. A significant correlation between the SAS-M-SF and the IAT-M was found, lending support for concurrent validity. The prevalence of smartphone addiction was 54.5% based on cut-off score of ≥36 with a sensitivity of 70.2% and a specificity of 72.5%.

CONCLUSIONS

The 10-item SAS-M-SF is a valid and reliable screening tool for smartphone addiction among adolescents. The scale can help clinicians or educators design appropriate intervention and prevention programs targeting smartphone addiction in adolescents at clinical or school settings.

Induction of tolerance via the respiratory mucosa

Immunological tolerance is defined as a state of specific non-responsiveness to a particular antigen induced by previous exposure to that same antigen. The mucosal surfaces comprise the upper and lower respiratory tracts, the gastrointestinal tract and the urogenitary tract, and are a major site of antigenic challenge. The immune system associated with the mucosa has the extraordinary potential to discriminate between antigens that are harmless (e.g. inhaled and dietary antigens) and those that are associated with pathogens. Normally soluble proteins delivered through the mucosal surfaces do not elicit a strong systemic immune response but instead induce a transient local immune response that is replaced by long-term peripheral unresponsiveness this is termed mucosal tolerance. The phenomenon of oral tolerance is well established and considerable attention has focussed on defining the underlying mechanisms. However, only comparatively recently was the induction of tolerance via the respiratory mucosa described, and it is this form of mucosal tolerance which forms the basis of this review.

Clustered intramammary microcalcifications not associated with a mass

Over a period of two and a half years, 36 biopsies performed for clustered microcalcifications not associated with a mass revealed 30 benign and 6 malignant lesions. Of the 30 benign cases, 4 showed histological features which are thought to be associated with an increased risk of developing carcinoma. As similarities can exist in the mammographic appearances between benign and malignant microcalcifications, clusters of microcalcifications showing overlapping features or increasing in number over time require histopathologic study as there is no radiologic means at present of predicting which cluster will be malignant. We observe that our Chinese female population has a tendency towards dense breast parenchyma often associated with microcalcifications, both scattered and clustered. The presence of these clustered microcalcifications prompts biopsy even though the yield for malignancy is anticipated to be low.

Percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty--the Singapore General Hospital experience

Percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty was performed in ten children aged 4 months to 9 years (mean age = 3.9 years). Their weights ranged from 5.6 to 38 kg (mean = 16.1 kg). Seven had typical pulmonary valve stenosis, two had pulmonary atresia and previous surgical valvotomy and one had dysplastic pulmonary valve. In patients with typical pulmonary valve stenosis, significant reductions in the right ventricular systolic pressure and pulmonary systolic pressure gradients were observed immediately after balloon dilatation. Follow-up evaluation by Doppler echocardiography at six months to two years showed further reduction in pulmonary gradients in five, and in the other two, the gradients remained low. Reduction in right ventricular pressure was less in patients with pulmonary atresia and previous surgical valvotomy and patients with dysplastic pulmonary valve. Balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty is a safe and effective procedure for the relief of typical pulmonary valve stenosis. In patients with pulmonary atresia and previous surgical valvotomy, balloon valvuloplasty can be an effective palliation for decompressing the right ventricle and improving pulmonary blood flow.