Colleen Dilorio

A social cognitive-based model for condom use among college students.

BACKGROUND Social cognitive theory has been used extensively to explain health behaviors. Although the influence of one construct in this model-self-efficacy-has been well established, the role of other social cognitive constructs has not received as much attention in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention research. More complete understanding of how social cognitive constructs operate together to explain condom use behaviors would be useful in developing HIV and sexually transmitted disease (STD) prevention programs for college students. OBJECTIVE The primary aim of this study was to test a social cognitive-based model of condom use behaviors among college students. METHODS Data were collected from a sample of college students attending six different colleges and universities. Participants were 18 to 25 years of age, single, and sexually active. For the sample of 1,380 participants, the mean age was 20.6 years (SD = 1.76). Most participants reported having had vaginal intercourse (95.8%) and oral sex (86.5%); 16% reported anal sex. FINDINGS Self-efficacy was related directly to condom use behaviors and indirectly through its effect on outcome expectancies. As predicted, self-efficacy was related to anxiety, but anxiety was not related to condom use. Substance use during sexual encounters was related to outcome expectancies but not to condom use as predicted. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the findings lend support to a condom use model based on social cognitive theory and provide implications for HIV interventions. Interventions that focus on self-efficacy are more likely to reduce anxiety related to condom use, increase positive perceptions about condoms, and increase the likelihood of adopting condom use behaviors.

The Development and Testing of an Instrument to Measure Self-Efficacy in Individuals with Epilepsy

The purpose of this study was to develop and test an instrument to measure self-efficacy in persons with epilepsy. With Banduras self-efficacy theory serving as the conceptual basis for instrument development, the study was divided into two phases, an instrument development phase and a reliability and validity assessment phase. In phase one, self-efficacy and epilepsy literature along with discussions with epilepsy patients served as sources for item derivation. A panel of experts reviewed the instrument for content validity. In phase two, testing of the instrument for reliability and validity was done using different groups of epilepsy patients. Reliability coefficients ranged from .81 for test-retest reliability to .93 for internal consistency. A strong positive correlation between self-efficacy and social support (r = .48, p less than .001) and between self-efficacy and self-management (r = .50, p less than .001) provided evidence to support the construct validity of the instrument.

THE EFFECTS OF ETHNICITY AND PERCEIVED POWER ON WOMEN'S SEXUAL BEHAVIOR

To aid development of programs to prevent HIV transmission in women, differences in sexual attitudes and behavior were examined among women who described themselves as dominant in their relationship with a male partner, sharing dominance equally with a male partner, or being dominated by a male partner. Ethnic differences were also examined among these three groups. Results indicated that perceived dominance was a significant predictor of womens personal empowerment (self-efficacy and outcome expectancies) with regard to sexual decisionmaking in their current relationship and safer sex behaviors. Ethnic differences were found between African American and White women in personal empowerment and safer sex behavior. Perceived dominance did not appear to affect African American and White women differently.

Focus groups: an interview method for nursing research.

Focus groups present an ideal way for nurse researchers to collect preliminary information about an area of research interest. The information obtained can lead to greater understanding of phenomena or can be used to develop more extensive quantitative studies. Following the recommendations for conducting a focus group as described in this article and focus group manuals can lead to a worthwhile and enjoyable experience for all involved.

Self-management in persons with epilepsy.

&NA; The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which people with epilepsy use recommended self‐management strategies. Questionnaires on epilepsy self‐man‐agement were mailed to 450 persons with epilepsy as part of a larger study on epilepsy self‐management. One hundred ninety five people returned completed questionnaires and met the study criteria. The respondents were on average 35.8 years old and had experienced seizures for a mean of 18.5 years. In general, the respondents reported compliance with medications but less adherence to other recommended practices such as safety and lifestyle behaviors. The results of this study offer some suggestions for nursing practice including an increased awareness of the teaching needs of persons with epilepsy.

Getting an Early Start: Communication about Sexuality among Mothers and Children 6-10 Years Old.

Abstract Little information exists on communication about sexuality between parents and préadolescent children. This study collected qualitative data on family sexuality communication from 3 focus groups conducted with African American mothers of 6-10 year old children. Two broad themes emerged from the data: “Beyond the Birds and the Bees” and “Lets Talk about Sex. But How?” These themes are discussed in terms of previous literature and implications for sexuality education and research.

Detecting and explicating interactions in categorical data.

Detecting and explicating interactions in categorical data analyses using cross tabulation and the [chi]2 statistic can provide salient tests of hypotheses concerning the relationship between two variables measured at the nominal or ordinal levels. For example, researchers usually employ categorical analysis when they are interested in whether members of one group (e.g., males vs. females) differ in the proportion falling into two or more levels of a dependent variable (e.g., in favor of or opposed to sex education in public schools). In this case, the data can be expressed as a two-way table and hypotheses tested with the [chi]2 statistic. Interpretation of this simplest of two-way tables is straightforward. However, research questions are often more complex than this simple example both in the number of predictor variables and the number of levels of each variable. Researchers typically include other predictor variables (e.g., race, academic status, marital status) to gain a better understanding of more complex relationships among predictors and outcomes. In addition, researchers often employ measures that have more than two levels (e.g., income, race, treatment type, academic status), and they often choose to combine levels in one or more variables to simplify the analyses, meet assumptions, or clarify the results.

Preventing Substance Use in High Risk Youth: Evaluation Challenges and Solutions

Programs to prevent substance use among high risk youth can pose numerous challenges for program evaluators including FEASIBILITY ISSUES such as Participant Recruitment and Retention, Identifying High Risk Youth, and Obtaining a Control/Comparison Group; MEASUREMENT ISSUES such as Social Desirability Bias and Instrument Reliability; METHODOLOGIC ISSUES such as Attrition (both selective and differential), Inadequate Implementation and Variable Dose, Low Statistical Power, Contamination of Comparison Groups, and Low Literacy Skills of Participants. For each of these challenges specific solutions are offered for researchers and practitioners. In general the solutions relate to three themes; 1) incorporate evaluation early into program design; 2) develop a strong partnership with program staff; and 3) be flexible. Also addressed are the need to acknowledge possible bias toward documenting positive outcomes as well as the need to customize evaluation designs for different settings and populations.

An analysis of trends in neuroscience nursing research: 1960-1988.

&NA; This study examined trends in neuroscience nursing research from 1960 to 1988. The review was an extension of a study analyzing trends in cardiovascular nursing from 1960 to 1985 Four questions (similar to those developed by Yarcheski regarding elements essential to development of a scientific base) framed the present analysis of neuroscience nursing research studies. The sampling frame for the study consisted of four journals: Nursing Research 1960–1988; Western Journal of Nursing Research, 1979–1988. Research in Nursing and Health, 1978–1988; Journal of Neurosurgical Nursing, 1969–1985; and Journal of Neuroscience Nursing,* 1986–1988. These journals were canvassed for studies meeting specified criteria as neuroscience nursing research studies. A total of 71 studies meeting the stated criteria were included in the final sample and reviewed in a systematic manner to identily such characteristics as variables measured, type of approach to theory development, type of research design, number and type of subjects, data analysis procedures, interpretation and conclusions of the study. Findings of the study indicate there has been a substantial increase in the number of neuroscience studies conducted and reported by nurses and an increase in the number of principal authors with advanced degrees The orientation of studies has shifted from chronic care or rehabilitation to acute care research. An absence of studies about prevention of head and spinal cord injury was noted Although a trend toward the theory‐then‐research approach was detected, the research‐then‐theory approach has been and continues to be the primary strategy for the development of a body of scientific knowledge. It is possible that clinical nurses are using research more frequently to solve problems. Finally the scientific methods employed in this group of studies have become more complex and varied over time. *The Journal of Neurosurgical Nursing became the Journal of Neuroscience Nursing in 1986.

HIV Prevention Knowledge, Attitudes, and Sexual Practices of Asian College Students

Abstract While Asian Americans remain one of the ethnic groups least affected by AIDS, recent data suggests that this may be changing. The incidence of AIDS in the Asian community is increasing. The purpose of this study was to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and sexual practices of a sample of Asian college students. Data were collected from students enrolled at six colleges and universities in a southeastern metropolitan area (n = 2,044). For this analysis, respondents who reported that they were of Asian background and unmarried were included (n = 128). Twenty percent of the subsample (n = 26) indicated they had grown up outside the United States. Descriptive analyses were done by gender and country of early development (U.S. vs. foreign-reared). Results indicated that males were more sexually active, more likely to use condoms and had less positive attitudes toward abstinence than females. U.S.-reared students initiated intercourse at a younger age and had higher knowledge scores than foreign-reared...