Katharina Wolff

Affective and cognitive attitudes, uncertainty avoidance and intention to obtain genetic testing : An extension of the Theory of Planned Behaviour

To ensure successful implementation of genetic screening and counselling according to patients best interests, the attitudes and motives of the public are important to consider. The aim of this study was to apply a theoretical framework in order to investigate which individual and disease characteristics might facilitate the uptake of genetic testing. A questionnaire using an extended version of the Theory of Planned Behaviour was developed to assess the predictive value of affective and cognitive expected outcomes, subjective norms, perceived control and uncertainty avoidance on the intention to undergo genetic testing. In addition to these individual characteristics, the predictive power of two disease characteristics was investigated by systematically varying the diseases fatality and penetrance (i.e. the probability of getting ill in case one is a mutation carrier). This resulted in four versions of the questionnaire which was mailed to a random sample of 2400 Norwegians. Results showed genetic test interest to be quite high, and to vary depending on the characteristics of the disease, with participants preferring tests for highly penetrant diseases. The most important individual predictor was uncertainty avoidance.

Confidentiality versus duty to inform—An empirical study on attitudes towards the handling of genetic information†

We set out to investigate whether potential relatives want to be informed about the existence of hereditary conditions within their family and under which conditions they want healthcare providers to breach confidentiality to inform them. We hypothesized that the willingness to be informed about a hereditary condition in the family would be influenced by characteristics of the disease and by individual characteristics. Surveys were administered to a Norwegian random sample (N = 2,400) to a Swedish random sample (N = 1,200), and to a Norwegian student sample (n = 607). Eight different disease scenarios were constructed, systematically varying three disease characteristics: fatality, penetrance, and availability of treatment. Results show that a majority of participants wished to be informed about the existence of a hereditary disease within their family. The desire to be informed and the acceptability of breaches of confidentiality were predicted by the treatability of the disease, uncertainty avoidance, and age, but not by self‐efficacy or worry.

Tourist Worries after Terrorist Attacks: Report from a Field Experiment

The current study reports the results of a field experiment measuring tourist worries assessed by the Tourist Worry Scale (TWS) before and after the terror bombings in London during the summer of 2005. As part of a larger study on tourist experiences, tourists on vacation to Mallorca, Spain, were asked to fill in a questionnaire prior to the bombings. A follow up study was administered about seven weeks after the terror attacks. The results showed sum scores on the TWS to remain stable over the test period, but ratings regarding worry about terrorism and acts of war significantly increased at the post terror measurement. The results support both the stability and sensitivity of the TWS in a situation of international turmoil.

How to Handle Genetic Information : A Comparison of Attitudes among Patients and the General Population

Background: So far there are no studies comparing the attitudes of patients with hereditary conditions to the attitudes of the general public on how to handle genetic risk information which mutation carriers refuse to disclose to relevant family members. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether such patients and members of the general public want to be informed about the existence of hereditary conditions within their family, and under which conditions they want healthcare providers to breach confidentiality. Methods: It was hypothesized that the desire to be informed would be influenced by characteristics of both the disease and the individual. Systematically varying 3 disease characteristics (fatality, penetrance and treatment availability) yielded 8 versions of a questionnaire, which was administered to general population samples in Norway and Sweden (N = 3,207) and to patient samples in both countries (N = 822). Individual differences in uncertainty avoidance, coping style and consideration for future consequences were also assessed. Results and Conclusion: A majority of both patients and the general public want to be informed about the existence of hereditary conditions within their family. However, patients are more positive towards being informed, both with and without the relative’s consent, than the general public. The main predictor of the desire to be informed was uncertainty avoidance in both samples.

A Taxonomy of Terror - About the Effect of Different Kinds of Terror on Risk Perceptions

ABSTRACT Terrorism is an increasing problem; still, research systematically investigating the impact of varying kinds of terrorism is scarce. The present investigation uses hypothetical scenarios to look at effects of diverging sorts of terrorism on risk perceptions in a student- and a tourist sample. Two characteristics of terrorism were varied systematically: frequency (whether terrorism hits a destination where terrorism is frequent or infrequent) and degree of organization (whether terrorism is committed by an organization or by an isolated perpetrator). Results show that both variables affect the level of perceived risk. Results are also in line with prospect theorys [Kahneman, D., & Tversky, A. (1979). Prospect theory: An analysis of decision under risk. Econometrica, 47 (2), 263–291] predictions regarding changes in risk perceptions. Findings thus provide a taxonomy of how terror characteristics affect level of and changes in perceived risk. This taxonomy might possibly be useful for predicting tourists travel decisions and behaviour.

Comparison between own and others’ travel motives: A research note

This study examines the assumption that tendencies to dissociate oneself from other tourists relate to the desire to position own characteristics (using travel motives as an example) in a positive light. Results suggest that tourists tend to perceive themselves to be different to other tourists (referred as typical or average tourists) concerning most measured travel motives; yet, the direction of perceived differences between oneself and other tourists was not systematically related to levels of desirability associated with each motive. Implications for studying tourist experiences are being discussed whilst methodological limitations of the present study are acknowledged.