Customization of Avatars in a HPV Digital Gaming Intervention for College-Age Males: An Experimental Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 515-537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabrielle Darville ◽  
Charkarra Anderson – Lewis ◽  
Michael Stellefson ◽  
Yu-Hao Lee ◽  
Jann MacInnes ◽  
...  

Background.Digital games are increasingly popular among college age men and present themselves as an ideal platform to deliver HPV interventions. Customizing avatars in role playing games encourage intrinsic motivation in the learning process because of self-representation. Proteus Effect research suggests that the representations people make are an adaption of their actual/ ideal self and dictate how one conforms to the expectations and identity cues of their avatar. Objective/Purpose: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a digital gaming intervention aimed at increasing HPV risk perceptions, self- efficacy and behavioral intention to receive the HPV vaccine among college age men (18 - 26). Methods. This randomized control trial employed a 2 X 2 fully-crossed between subjects and tested the effects of avatar characters (assigned/customized) and perception of self (ideal/actual) on HPV risk perception, HPV vaccine self-efficacy and behavioral intent to receive the HPV vaccine. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four conditions. Results. A Factorial ANOVA with repeated measures and a between subjects’ factor (split plot) was used to test for the differences between the means of the outcome variables. Despite having no main or interaction effect our analysis did report a significant main effect of using a pre-post design with the experiment as a stimulus. Discussion/Conclusion. For experimental data, customizing an avatar to look like one’s actual self increases risk perception for the HPV virus and self – efficacy for the HPV vaccine whereas customizing an avatar to look like one’s ideal self increases one’s intent to receive the HPV vaccine.

Author(s):  
Kaijing Xue ◽  
Shili Guo ◽  
Yi Liu ◽  
Shaoquan Liu ◽  
Dingde Xu

Individual perception of disaster risk is not only the product of individual factors, but also the product of social interactions. However, few studies have empirically explored the correlations between rural residents’ flat social networks, trust in pyramidal channels, and disaster-risk perceptions. Taking Sichuan Province—a typical disaster-prone province in China—as an example and using data from 327 rural households in mountainous areas threatened by multiple disasters, this paper measured the level of participants’ disaster-risk perception in the four dimensions of possibility, threat, self-efficacy, and response efficacy. Then, the ordinary least squares method was applied to probe the correlations between social networks, trust, and residents’ disaster-risk perception. The results revealed four main findings. (1) Compared with scores relating to comprehensive disaster-risk perception, participants had lower perception scores relating to possibility and threat, and higher perception scores relating to self-efficacy and response efficacy. (2) The carrier characteristics of their social networks significantly affected rural residents’ perceived levels of disaster risk, while the background characteristics did not. (3) Different dimensions of trust had distinct effects on rural residents’ disaster-risk perceptions. (4) Compared with social network variables, trust was more closely related to the perceived level of disaster risks, which was especially reflected in the impact on self-efficacy, response efficacy, and comprehensive perception. The findings of this study deepen understanding of the relationship between social networks, trust, and disaster-risk perceptions of rural residents in mountainous areas threatened by multiple disasters, providing enlightenment for building resilient disaster-prevention systems in the community.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahmoud Abdel Hameed Shahin ◽  
Rasha Mohammed Hussien

Abstract Background People’s perceptions of pandemic-associated risk are key factors contributing to increased public participation in disease preventive measures. The aim of the study was to investigate risk perceptions regarding the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, among the general population. A descriptive, cross-sectional design was used with a convenience sample of 723 participants, recruited from the general population of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan. Data collection was performed using a standardized risk perception assessment questionnaire, in April 2020. Results The mean score for the perception of COVID-19 seriousness was significantly higher and the mean scores for the perception of disease susceptibility and extent of anxiety were also higher among Saudi Arabian participants than participants from Egypt and Jordan. Participants from Egypt had significantly lower mean scores for the perception of efficacy and self-efficacy to cope with COVID-19, and significantly lower intention to comply with COVID-19 precautionary measures than the other populations. A significant positive correlation was detected between the perception of COVID-19 seriousness and self-efficacy to handle COVID-19, for the entire sample. The primary reasons reported by participants driving their willingness to perform certain preventive measures against COVID-19 was a feeling of responsibility toward their own health, followed by preventing transmission to other people and the feeling that COVID-19 can be serious. Most of the study sample reported a desire to receive information about COVID-19 treatment, ways to prevent disease contraction, and the incubation period for the novel coronavirus. Also, most of the study sample reported that they prefer receiving COVID-19 updates from national authorities. Conclusions During the COVID-19 pandemic, communications designed to promote the adoption of preventive behaviors should focus on increasing the perception of seriousness, the risk perception, self-efficacy to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, and the effectiveness of the adopted behavioral measures for reducing risk. Health education programs that are tailored to various sociodemographic categories, to improve public awareness, perceptions, and attitudes, are vital for increasing the adoption of outbreak preventive measures.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leila Jahangiry ◽  
Fatemeh Bakhtari ◽  
Zahara Sohrabi ◽  
Parvin Reihani ◽  
Sirous Samei ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged as a major global public health challenge. This study aimed to investigate how people perceived the COVID-19 outbreak using the components of the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM) and to find out how this might contribute to possible behavioral responses to the prevention and control of the disease.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted online in Iran in March and April 2020. The Data were collected using an electronic questionnaire via Porsline. Participants were recruited using online applications and posts on a number of platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram asking people to take part in the study. To collect data a self-designed questionnaire based on the EPPM was used in order to measure the risk perception (efficacy, defensive responses, perceived treat) related to the COVID-19. Descriptive statics, chi-square, t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA), were used to explore the data.Results: A total of 3,727 individuals with a mean age (SD) of 37.0 (11.1) years participated in the study. The results revealed significant progressive increases in efficacy, defensive responses and perceived treat particularly among those aged 60 and over. Women had significantly higher scores than men on some aspects such as self-efficacy, reactance, and avoidance but men had higher perceived susceptibility scores for COVID-19 than women. Overall 56.4% of participants were engaged in danger control (preventive behavior) while the remaining 43.6% were engaged in fear control (non-preventive behavior) process.Conclusion: More than half of all participants motivated by danger control. This indicated that more than half of participants had high perceived efficacy (i.e., self-efficacy and response efficacy). Self-efficacy scores were significantly higher among participants who were older, female, single, lived in rural areas, and had good economic status. The results suggest that socioeconomic and demographic factors are the main determinants of risk perceptions for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 327-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie L. Demuth ◽  
Rebecca E. Morss ◽  
Jeffrey K. Lazo ◽  
Craig Trumbo

Abstract Individuals’ past experiences with a hazard can encompass many different aspects, which can influence how they judge and respond to a future hurricane risk. This study, which utilizes survey data from coastal residents who are at risk from hurricanes, adds to understanding of past hazard experience in two ways. First, it examines six different aspects of people’s past hurricane experiences and the relationships among them. Then, it draws on risk theories of behavioral responses to explore how these different experiences influence people’s evacuation intentions for a hypothetical hurricane as mediated through multiple dimensions of risk perception (cognitive, negative affective) and efficacy beliefs (self efficacy, response efficacy). The results suggest that people can experience emotional or otherwise severe impacts from a hurricane even if they do not have experiences with evacuation, property damage, or financial loss. The results also reveal that different past hurricane experiences operated through different combinations of mediating variables to influence evacuation intentions. Some of these processes enhanced intentions; for instance, experience with evacuation, financial loss, or emotional impacts heightened negative affective risk perceptions, which increased evacuation intentions. Other processes dampened evacuation intentions; for instance, people with past hurricane-related emotional impacts had lower self efficacy, which decreased evacuation intentions. In some cases, these enhancing and dampening processes competed. Exploring people’s different past weather experiences and the mechanisms by which they can influence future behaviors is important for more deeply understanding populations at risk and how they respond to weather threats.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leila Jahangiry ◽  
Fatemeh Bakhtari ◽  
Zahara Sohrabi ◽  
Parvin Reihani ◽  
Sirous Samei ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged as a major global public health challenge. This study aimed to investigate how people perceived the COVID-19 outbreak using the components of the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM) and to find out how this might contribute to possible behavioral responses to the prevention and control of the disease.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted online in Iran in March and April 2020. The Data were collected using an electronic questionnaire via Porsline. Participants were recruited using online applications and posts on a number of platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram asking people to take part in the study. To collect data a self-designed questionnaire based on the EPPM was used in order to measure the risk perception (efficacy, defensive responses, perceived treat) related to the COVID-19. Descriptive statics, chi-square, t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA), were used to explore the data.Results: A total of 3,727 individuals with a mean age (SD) of 37.0 (11.1) years participated in the study. The results revealed significant progressive increases in efficacy, defensive responses and perceived treat particularly among those aged 60 and over. Women had significantly higher scores than men on some aspects such as self-efficacy, reactance, and avoidance but men had higher perceived susceptibility scores for COVID-19 than women. Overall 56.4% of participants were engaged in danger control (preventive behavior) while the remaining 43.6% were engaged in fear control (non-preventive behavior) process.Conclusion: More than half of all participants motivated by danger control. This indicated that more than half of participants had high perceived efficacy (i.e., self-efficacy and response efficacy). Self-efficacy scores were significantly higher among participants who were older, female, single, lived in rural areas, and had good economic status. The results suggest that socioeconomic and demographic factors are the main determinants of risk perceptions for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic.


2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-141
Author(s):  
Kyung Ah Nam ◽  
Young Eun Lee

Purpose: To provide basic data for the development of a nursing intervention program in order to improve intention to receive human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination intention of mothers of elementary school girls by confirming the mediating effect of self-efficacy in the relationship between knowledge of HPV vaccine, attitude towards vaccination, subjective norm, and intention to receive vaccination.Methods: The subjects of this study are 171 mothers of elementary school students in grades 5–6 in Yangsan city. The health teacher delivered the questionnaire to the mothers via the female elementary school students in the classroom, the mothers filled out the questionnaire by self-filling, and the questionnaires were collected through the health teacher.Results: The fully mediating effect of self-efficacy in the relationship between the knowledge of the HPV vaccine and the intention of the mothers of female elementary school students to receive vaccination. The partial mediating effect of self-efficacy was confirmed in the relationship between attitude towards HPV vaccination and the intention to receive vaccination. The partial mediating effect of self-efficacy was confirmed in the relationship between the subjective norm for HPV vaccination and the intention to receive vaccination.Conclusion: It is necessary to develop an HPV vaccine vaccination promotion program that can enhance the level of knowledge, attitudes towards vaccination, and subjective norm of HPV vaccine for female elementary school mothers and to strengthen their sense of self-efficacy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 1187-1195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madison E. Stout ◽  
Shannon M. Christy ◽  
Joseph G. Winger ◽  
Susan T. Vadaparampil ◽  
Catherine E. Mosher

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