The fact that skin cancer is relatively prevalent, preventable and often curable represents a special opportunity for health communication and health campaign interventions. A key feature of health communication aimed at preventing skin cancer and reducing avoidable deaths involves influencing individuals' perceptions of their skin cancer risks. The current study explores the effects of absolute and comparative skin cancer risk information, and their interactions with perceived severity on individuals' safety ratings, affective responses and behavioral intentions. The effects are examined across a range of different risk levels. A convenient sample of college students (N=563) was used in the experimental survey. The non-linear logarithmic relationships between absolute risk and individuals' safety ratings, affective responses (disturbance and worry), and behavioral intentions were confirmed by the data. Absolute risk information had detectable effects at low levels of risk, but the effects did not change appreciably at the highest absolute risk levels. Linear relationships also fit the data, but, R2s (the amount of explained by the absolute risk) and F values (statistical significance or likelihood of rejecting the null hypotheses) of the linear models for individuals' safety ratings, feelings of worry, and preventive intentions were generally smaller than those of non-linear models. Regarding comparative risk information, the data did not support the hypothesis that it influences individuals' safety ratings, feelings of disturbance and worry, and preventive intentions. A possible explanation for different results from the previous research is that the present study used smaller risk ratio (1 to .6) than the Klein's (1997) study (1 to .33). In the tests of interactions among absolute risk, comparative risk, and perceived severity, no interaction effects hypothesized were supported by the data. One of the explanations is that the variance of perceived severity of skin cancer might not big enough to interact with absolute risk information (Weinstein, 2000). In the present study examining the specific health issue of skin cancer, the mean of perceived severity was 8.04 (s.d = 1.55) out of 10 and the median was 8.20. Even the low severity group had relatively high perceived severity on the scale. In the present study, the non-linear effect of absolute risk information was confirmed while the linear effect of absolute risk information also fit the data. The overall patterns described with means of dependent variables showed that the effects of absolute risk information stay at the same level even though absolute risk increases at high risk levels. The study also found that comparative risk information was not a significant predictor of dependent variables. In designing risk messages for college students (young adults), comparative risk (being at above average risk) will not help alter individuals' skin cancer-related feelings of safety, affective responses (disturbance and worry), and intentions of preventive behaviors. No interactions among absolute risk, comparative risk, and perceived severity were found. Thus, the effects of absolute and comparative risk information were not different between high and low perceived severity levels. Future research may use a sample with wider age groups who are more responsive and relevant to skin cancer risk. The different sample might show the effects of comparative risk and interactions among absolute risk perception, comparative risk perception, and severity on individuals' safety ratings, feelings of disturbance and worry, and preventive intentions. / A Dissertation submitted to the School of Communication In Partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Degree Awarded: Fall Semester, 2010. / Date of Defense: October 25, 2010. / Health, Risk, Health Communication, Skin Cancer / Includes bibliographical references. / Gary Heald, Professor Directing Dissertation; Michael Hartline, University Representative; Jay Rayburn, Committee Member; Stephen McDowell, Committee Member; John Mayo, Committee Member.

This study examines specific speech forms that comprise physicians' language use, and motives for use. A coding system combining work on verbal immediacy and conversational involvement was used to assess the language of 19 physicians during 58 videotaped interactions with patients. Physicians were found to use more nonimmediate than immediate speech. Information-giving was positively related to use of nonimmediate speech. Use of implicit nonimmediacy was positively related to physicians' perceptions of the medical community's consensus regarding a patient's condition and recommendations for treatment. Experience was positively related to use of spatial nonimmediacy and automatic phrases. Gender and experience interact to predict use of temporal, implicit, and qualified nonimmediacy. Inexperienced males used the least of these forms of speech, while experienced males used the most. No relationship was found between use of nonimmediate speech and patients' understanding, satisfaction, or met expectations. Implicit nonimmediacy was directly related to patients' behavioral intent to comply. Findings are reviewed for implications to both Communication and Medicine.

M.A. (Communication) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Thesis (M.A. (Communication Studies))--Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, 2002.

Thesis (M.A.)--Ball State University, 2009. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Nov. 30, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 100-104).

Access to abstract permanently restricted to Ball State community only / Access to thesis permanently restricted to Ball State community only / Department of Communication Studies

Thesis (M.A. (Communication Studies))--Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, 2002.

Thesis (M.A. (Communication Studies))--Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, 2002.

The unique nutritional needs of dancers generate a considerable challenge for health professionals. Currently, there is a gap in knowledge about the hydration status and fluid replacement behaviors in the dancer population. The aims of this research were to gather preliminary data to describe the current knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding fluid replacement in a population of collegiate dancers, as well as to determine if, and to what extent, those parameters change in response to a brief, individualized hydration education intervention. Eighteen healthy dance majors from The Florida State University School of Dance participated in this 5 week study and were randomly assigned to one of two groups (group A, n = 10; group B, n = 8). During weeks 1, 3 and 5, all participants completed hydration surveys and physiological measurements (changes in body weight and water bottle weight during dance classes) were taken. During weeks 2 (group A) and 4 (group B), participants received brief, individualized hydration education, which incorporated visual aids and goal setting, and a group seminar session at the end of the week, which addressed barriers to behavior changes. Hydration survey scores improved significantly in each section of the hydration survey (knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and total score) for each group over time (P ≤ 0.05), only following education. No significant differences were found for either group for the physiological measurements over time. Furthermore, there were no significant correlations between changes in body weight, fluid intake, and hydration survey scores. The findings suggest that dancers are deficient in hydration knowledge, attitudes, and reported behaviors, and confirm that an educational intervention effectively improves these parameters. However, the intervention did not seem to influence the observed physiological measurements. Future research is warranted in this area to help develop a more complete understanding of the hydration status of dancers, as well as to continue documenting outcomes regarding educational interventions with dancers. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Fall Semester, 2010. / October 25, 2010. / Hydration, Fluid Replacement, Dancers, Education / Includes bibliographical references. / Jenice Rankins, Professor Directing Thesis; Jodee Dorsey, Committee Member; Tom Welsh, Outside Committee Member.

Inequalities exist between the health statuses of the general population compared with minority sub-groups in the United States. Researchers suggest one environmental factor potentially effecting such inequalities is the uneven coverage of health information in the media. The following study is a content analysis of the health articles available in three popular women's magazines, which target audiences across sub-populations. The magazines used in this study are Self, targeting U.S. women in the general population, Essence, targeting U.S black/African-American women, and Vanidades, a Spanish-language magazine targeting Latina/Hispanic women. A total of 934 articles across a sample of 64 magazines were content analyzed. Articles featuring health-related information within the sample of 64 magazines were selected and coded for their coverage and emphasis of 13 serious health risks. Following the data collection, analyses were used to answer a series of research questions. The results indicate that health information in both Self and Vanidades is strongly correlated with the prevalence of the 13 serious health risks, while the correlation for Essence is weaker. Although the relationship between prevalence and coverage is generally high, all three of these magazines devote less than 5% of magazine space to the 13 serious health risks. However, despite their race or ethnicity, women will discover a greater number of stories, and a greater amount of space devoted to those stories, when they consult Self magazine. This study offers valuable information regarding the availability of health information in these three women's magazines. The study also identifies the diseases that the three magazines should focus on if they want to address the high-risk causes of morbidity and mortality among their target audience. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Communication in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master’S of Arts. / Summer Semester, 2008. / July 1, 2008. / Women's Health, Colorectal Cance, r Cervical Cancer, Breast Cancer, Cancer, Lung Cancer, Stroke, Cirrhosis, Liver Disease, Infant Mortality, Serious Health Risks, Minority Populations, Health Communication, Communication Theory, Communication, Women's Magazines, Magazines, Content Analysis, Essence, Self, Vanidades, HIV/AIDS, Diabetes, Colon Cancer, Heart Disease, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, African American, Blacks, Hispanics, Latinos Latinas, African-American, African Americans, Health Status, Health Gaps, Inequalities / Includes bibliographical references. / Gary R. Heald, Professor Directing Thesis; Juliann Cortese, Committee Member; Stephen D. McDowell, Committee Member.