Kathleen M. Hanna

The use of photography to explore the meaning of health among adolescents with cancer.

The purpose of this exploratory-descriptive pilot study was to explore the use of photography to examine the meaning of health among adolescents who have been diagnosed with cancer. The sample consisted of 4 adolescents who had been diagnosed with cancer and were attending a weekend retreat. Participants were given Polaroid cameras with instructions to take pictures that illustrated health. The participants were then interviewed to obtain an understanding of how their pictures demonstrated health. The participants produced 22 pictures and 35 descriptive expressions of health, which were content analyzed for common themes and elements. The meaning of health held by these adolescents may have implications for influencing their adherence to cancer treatment regimens as well as other health behaviors that promote or risk their health.

Involvement in Health Behaviors Among Youth With Diabetes

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine involvement in a broad range of health behaviors among adolescents and young adults with diabetes. METHODS The sample consisted of 107 adolescents and young adults (12 to 24 years old) with Type 1 diabetes mellitus. Participants were asked to report involvement in health-enhancing, health-compromising, and diabetes mismanagement behaviors. RESULTS The participants reported low levels of health-compromising behaviors and high levels of health-enhancing behaviors. Females reported significantly higher levels of diabetes mismanagement than males. Males in late adolescence (18 to 24 years) reported significantly higher levels of health-compromising behaviors than males in early (12 to 14 years) and middle (15 to 17 years) adolescence. Females in late adolescence (1 8 to 24 years) reported significantly higher levels of health-compromising behaviors than females in early adolescence (12 to 14 years). CONCLUSIONS Diabetes educators who work with youth may want to assess all of these health behaviors, keeping in mind age and gender differences.

An oral contraceptive perception scale for female adolescents.

This study sought to develop the initial psychometric properties of a female adolescent oral contraceptive perception scale. Based on qualitative data, a 39-item scale of perceived benefits and barriers was developed, reviewed by adolescence experts and adolescents, and voluntarily completed by 407female adolescents enrolled in family planning clinics. After item analysis, 15 items were deleted. Maximum likelihood factor analysis with varimax rotation yielded two barrier (relationship-oriented and oral contraceptive regimen) andfour benefit (relationshiporiented, pregnancy prevention related to self pregnancy prevention related to others, personal responsibility) factors that accounted for 53% of the variance. The scale had acceptable reliability (alpha coefficients rangedfrom 0. 71 to 0.87). The scale should be beneficial tofurther research in this area.

The Context of Condom Nonuse Among Older Adolescents and Young Adults

This exploratory-descriptive study examined the context of condom nonuse among older adolescents and young adults. The convenience sample consisted of 23 freshman university students (18 to 20 years of age) in a rural state. Participants were asked to describe situations when condoms were not used. The responses were content-analyzed using an inductive process. Descriptions (n = 86) were identified and analyzed for common themes. The seven themes were assessment of risks, location and timing of sexual experience, extraneous events, communication about condoms, feelings of the moment, contraceptive responsibility, and relationships between sexual partners. The findings suggest strategies to promote condom use when working with older adolescents and young adults.