Smoking Status and Health Beliefs Related to Smoking of Nurses in Working a Cancer Hospital, in Turkey

BACKGROUND Background: To date, in the absence of effective treatment and successful vaccines, the COVID-19 pandemic has become the most important threat to public health. OBJECTIVE Objectives: This study was conducted in Saveh city, of Iran, in 2020. Of interest were how health beliefs (taken from the Health Belief’s Model [HBM]), demographic characteristics, and general health behaviors (e.g., smoking) relate to COVID-19 preventative behaviors (e.g., hand-washing). METHODS Methods: In this descriptive-analytic study, a multi-stage randomized sampling method was used and 486 people (250 males and 236 females) recruited from health centers in Saveh city, Iran, participated. Data were collected through a self-administered multi‑part questionnaire, which included sociodemographic information, health behaviors, and constructs associated with HBM. Data were analyzed using independent t-tests, ANOVA, and multiple regression in SPSS version 21. RESULTS Results: Perceived disease susceptibility (β=0.44, p<0.001), self-efficacy to enact preventative behaviors (β=0.24, p<0.01), education (β=0.20, p<0.001), non-smoking status (β=0.14, p<0.01), marital status (β=0.10, p<0.03), and perceived barriers to disease preventative behaviors (β=-0.10, p<0.04) were important predictors of prevention practices for COVID-19. Perceived susceptibility, self-efficacy, barriers, and socio-demographic constructs (education, smoking, and marital status) accounted for 61.4% (adjusted R2) of the variance associated with preventive behavior for COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS Conclusion: To improve control strategies for the COVID-19 pandemic, public health initiatives are needed to enhance perceived susceptibility to the disease and improve self-efficacy to perform preventative behaviors in spite of perceived barriers.

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Cognitive Appraisals and Smoking Intentions: The Role of Decision Making Competence

The Journal of Smoking Cessation ◽

10.1375/jsc.6.2.144 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 144-151

Author(s):

Kanayo Umeh ◽

Jennifer Barnes

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Health Beliefs ◽

Information Search ◽

Risk Perceptions ◽

Smoking Status ◽

Cognitive Appraisals ◽

Conflict Theory ◽

Decision Makers ◽

Hierarchical Regression ◽

University Undergraduates

AbstractAn important element of smoking cessation programs is the modification of health beliefs about risks and benefits. However, Janis and Mann's (1977) conflict-theory suggests only vigilant decision-makers are motivated by such outcome appraisals. Thus, this study examined the extent to which relations between health beliefs and cigarette smoking are moderated by decision-making competence. Over 150 university undergraduates completed a questionnaire survey assessing health beliefs about smoking (perceptions of susceptibility to and severity of lung cancer, and benefits of not smoking), smoking intentions, and decision-making competence. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed interactions between risk perceptions and competence, whereby perceived susceptibility and severity appraisals better predicted smoking intentions in less proficient decision-makers. However, these interactions disappeared after controlling for smoking status. These findings suggest that risk perceptions are more important in college students averse to information search and appraisal, albeit this is confounded by smoking status.

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Radiography and radio-therapeutics Robert Knox, M.D., Consulting Radiologist, Great Northern Hospital, London; Director, Electrical and Radio-Therapeutic Department, Cancer Hospital, London, etc. Part 2: Radio-Therapeutics. 220 pages with 15 plates and 100 illustrations. , New York

The American Journal of Surgery ◽

10.1016/s0002-9610(19)90050-x ◽

1919 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 76

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Cancer Hospital

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Striae Gravidarum, Vitamin C and Other Related Factors

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831/a000049 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 81 (1) ◽

pp. 43-48 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Rahime Bedir Findik ◽

Nurcihan Karakurt Hascelik ◽

Kadir Okhan Akin ◽

Ayse Nurcan Unluer ◽

Jale Karakaya

Keyword(s):

Family History ◽

Vitamin C ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Smoking Status ◽

Multiple Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

Blood Levels ◽

Significant Relation ◽

Related Factors ◽

Thigh Circumference ◽

Striae Gravidarum

Background: Striae gravidarum, a clinical condition commonly seen in pregnant women, produces serious cosmetic problems and may lead to psychological problems. Aim: The present study investigated whether there was any relation between the presence of striae in primigravid pregnant women and blood vitamin C levels, and factors thought to contribute to the formation of striae such as family history, weight gained during pregnancy, smoking status, abdominal and thigh circumference, and age. Methods: Overall, 69 primigravid women attending routine antenatal follow-up and, using prophylactic iron and vitamin preparations, underwent investigation. All were pregnant 36 or more weeks. Scoring was based on striae examination and whether striae were present. The relation between the presence of striae, vitamin C blood levels, and other factors was investigated. Results and Conclusions: Multiple logistic regression analysis showed a significant relation between the presence of striae and blood vitamin C levels (p = 0.046) and between the presence of striae and family history (p = 0.023). No significant relation was found between the presence of striae and age, weight gained during pregnancy, abdominal and thigh circumference, or smoking status. It was concluded that further, more comprehensive studies on the issue are required.

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