scholarly journals Conceptualization of college students’ COVID-19 related mask-wearing behaviors using the Multi-Theory Model of health behavior change

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 194-201
Author(s):  
Robert E. Davis ◽  
Manoj Sharma ◽  
Kayla E. Simon ◽  
Amanda H. Wilkerson

Background: Recommendations and policies, regarding the use of face coverings, have been instituted to control transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Understanding of psychosocial factors related to the use of face coverings within the context of COVID-19 is needed. This study aimed to conceptualize mask-wearing behavior among students using the Multi-theory Model (MTM) of behavior change. Methods: In October 2020, students (n = 595) enrolled in a large public southeastern US university were recruited to participate in a cross-sectional survey, using a valid and reliable instrument. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate techniques described mask-wearing behavior and differentiated theoretical drivers of mask-wearing between individuals compliant and non-compliant with guidelines. Results: Compliant individuals reported significantly higher scores (P<0.05) for initiation and sustenance of mask-wearing, participatory dialogue, behavioral confidence, emotional transformation, practice for change, changes in the social environment, and significantly lower scores for disadvantage. Among multivariable models, all theoretical predictors exhibited significant relationships to their respective outcomes (initiation and sustenance). Specifically, MTM constructs explained approximately 35% of variance in initiation (R2 = 0.346, F(3,526) = 94.32, P<0.001) and 33% of variance in sustenance of mask wearing (R2 = 0.328, F(3,529) = 87.71, P<0.001) for compliant individuals. Behavioral confidence and emotional transformation exhibited the strongest relationships to initiation (ß = 0.403, P<0.001) and sustenance (ß = 0.450, P<0.001), respectively. Conclusion: Findings suggest a need to design educational programming based on the MTM to promote mask-wearing behavior among laggards who defy face mask guidelines, recommendations, and mandates.

Author(s):  
Vinayak K. Nahar ◽  
Julia K. Wells ◽  
Robert E. Davis ◽  
Elizabeth C. Johnson ◽  
Jason W. Johnson ◽  
...  

Veterinary students across the United States face the challenge of stress during school every day. When managed improperly, stress can become chronic and manifest in physical and emotional consequences. The purpose of this study was to examine the utility of the multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change in predicting the initiation and sustenance of stress management behaviors among veterinary students. A cross-sectional design was used to study the efficacy of the MTM in predicting initiation and sustenance of stress management behaviors among veterinary students at a private College of Veterinary Medicine in the Southeast United States. Researchers collected data using a 54-item valid and reliable survey. Only students who did not already engage in daily stress management behaviors were included in the study. After recruitment and exclusion, a total of 140 students remained and participated in the study. Hierarchical multiple regression revealed that, for initiation of stress management behaviors, 49.5% of the variance was explained by depression, academic classification, and behavioral confidence. Regarding sustenance of stress management behaviors, 50.4% of the variance was explained by perceived stress, depression, academic classification, and emotional transformation. MTM serves as a promising framework for predicting initiation and sustenance of health behavior change. Based on the results of this study, interventions aimed to promote stress management behaviors in veterinary students should focus on the MTM constructs of behavioral confidence and emotional transformation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 1179173X1984352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinayak K Nahar ◽  
Amanda H Wilkerson ◽  
Falguni C Patel ◽  
Richard W Kim ◽  
Philip M Stephens ◽  
...  

Background: Smoking is a risk factor for lung cancers, and a myriad of other acute and chronic ailments. The purpose of this study was to predict initiation and sustenance of smoking cessation among smokers using a fourth-generation behavioral framework, multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change. Methods: A convenience sample of smokers from a shopping mall in rural, Appalachian Kentucky county was invited to participate in this cross-sectional study. A 38-item, face and content validated, MTM-based survey instrument was administered to the participants. Results: A total of 148 participants completed the study. The mean age of the participants was 35.53 (SD = 14.52) years. Most were male (58.1%) and Caucasian (95.9%). Participants reported smoking for an average of 16.45 (SD = 13.12) years. Participatory dialogue (β = 0.235, P = .003) and behavioral confidence (β = 0.305, P = .005) were significant predictors of intention for initiation for smoking cessation behavior. Emotional transformation (β = 0.319, P = .001) was a significant predictor of intention for sustenance for smoking cessation behavior. Discussion: Two of the MTM constructs for initiation and one of the MTM constructs for sustenance of change accounted for a moderate amount of variance in initiation and sustenance of smoking cessation behavior among community members in a rural, Kentucky county. MTM has utility for predicting both initiation and sustenance of smoking cessation behavior. Future interventions using MTM constructs should be developed for smoking cessation behavior change.


Author(s):  
Manoj Sharma ◽  
Kavita Batra ◽  
Tejinder Pal Singh ◽  
Rohini Dua ◽  
Melinda Ickes ◽  
...  

Background Screen-time (ST) is the time spent on digital media. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the daily ST of less than an hour for preschoolers. However, increased ST among preschoolers is becoming a public health concern. Objective This study assessed the multi-theory model (MTM)'s applicability in explaining the ST behavior change among preschoolers through parents. Methods A quota sample of 72 parents was drawn from Northern India. Data were analyzed using multiple regression. Results Behavioral confidence (p < 0.001) and changes in the physical environment (p < 0.001) significantly predicted the initiation of reducing ST. The sustenance of limiting ST was significantly predicted by the emotional transformation (p < 0.001), practice for change (p < 0.001), and changes in the social environment (p = 0.001). Conclusions The study highlights the usability of the MTM model in designing and testing interventions for parents to limit ST among their children.


Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 55
Author(s):  
Manoj Sharma ◽  
Kavita Batra ◽  
Robert E. Davis ◽  
Amanda H. Wilkerson

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, handwashing offers a simple and effective hygienic measure for disease prevention. Reportedly, a significant proportion of college students did not follow handwashing recommendations provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the pre-COVID era. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to explore and explain the handwashing behavior among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic using a contemporary fourth-generation multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change. Data were collected from 713 college students at a large public university in the Southern U.S. in October 2020 using a validated 36-item survey. Statistical analyses included independent samples t-tests, Pearson correlation, and hierarchical regression modeling. Among students not following handwashing recommendations, the constructs of participatory dialogue (β = 0.152; p < 0.05) and behavioral confidence (β = 0.474; p < 0.0001) were statistically significant and accounted for 27.2% of the variance in the likelihood of initiation of the behavior. Additionally, the constructs of emotional transformation (β = 0.330; p < 0.0001), practice for change (β = 0.296; p < 0.0001), and changes in the social environment (β = 0.180; p < 0.05) were statistically significant and accounted for 45.1% of the variance in the likelihood of sustaining handwashing behavior. This study highlights the applicability and usability of the MTM in designing and testing behavior change interventions and media messaging in campaigns targeting college students.


Author(s):  
Romijnders ◽  
Krüsemann ◽  
Boesveldt ◽  
Graaf ◽  
Vries ◽  
...  

Appealing product characteristics, such as flavors, may stimulate e-cigarette use. While switching to e-cigarettes may reduce harm for smokers, concerns exist about e-cigarette use among never-smokers. The role of flavors in the decision to switch to or refrain from vaping is unclear. This study used a bottom–up approach to investigate the relation between flavor preferences and individual factors related to vaping between various user groups. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among never-users (n = 407), smokers (n = 138), dual users (n = 122), and exclusive vapers (n = 61) in the Netherlands. Demographics, attractiveness of product characteristics, flavor preferences, and individual factors related to vaping (knowledge, trust, perceived susceptibility, attitude, social influence, deliberation, and intention) were assessed. The availability of different flavors was the most attractive characteristic of e-cigarettes. Dual users and exclusive vapers had most often used tobacco and menthol/mint flavors when they first started vaping. Compared to dual users, exclusive vapers currently used more fruit and sweet flavors. Never-users who were interested in trying an e-liquid flavor had more knowledge about and a more positive attitude towards e-cigarettes. Smokers who were interested in trying a flavor had a more positive attitude towards e-cigarettes and experienced the social influence towards not using e-cigarettes as less strong than those who did not want to try any flavor. Hence, individual factors related to vaping differed depending on whether never-users and smokers wanted to try an e-liquid flavor. This means that flavors may moderate differences found in individual factors related to vaping, or vice versa.


2007 ◽  
Vol 35 (7) ◽  
pp. 875-888 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-Min Chuang

The sources, stages, and processes of organizational innovation in some of Taiwan's benchmarking companies in the service industry are discussed. Process-theory-based research methodology was used to analyze the characteristics of the innovation process to achieve a better understanding of how and why innovations emerged, developed, grew, and terminated. The stage/process model was used to investigate organizational innovation (OI) processes and factors which affected processes. Conclusions were obtained chiefly through in-depth field studies and a retrospective cross-sectional survey. Amabile's (1988) model was modified to account for differences between practices and theories. The research resulted in an organizational innovation process model that was divided into five stages, just as in Amabile's model; on the other hand, Amabile's (1988) model was modified to account for differences between practice and theory during this study. The conclusions of this research may serve to broaden various perspectives of debate about individual, organizational, and environmental factors.


Author(s):  
Abdulsalam Nasiru, Kaoje ◽  
Kabir, Nabila ◽  
Sani, Idris ◽  
Jafaru Abdu, Gambarawa ◽  
Lawal Ibrahim Ubandawaki

This paper investigates the effect of Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) on transparency in Government Payroll Administration in Nigerian civil service. A descriptive cross-sectional survey research design was used in form of questionnaire administered to illicit information from the respondents, which provides generalized opinions/statistics from the number of individual cases. The population of the study covers 100 Treasury Staff of the Office of Accountant General of The Federation Working at Federal Pay Office, Sokoto and Federal Pay Office Birnin Kebbi. Census was adopted, and as such sampling represents the population. Data was collected and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 21. The findings from test of hypothesis of this paper revealed a significant moderate positive relationship between IPPIS, Transparency and Accountability. Hence, the null hypothesis which states that there is no significant relationship between IPPIS and transparency in government payroll administration in Federal Civil Service in Nigeria is rejected and the alternate hypothesis is accepted. The paper recommends that Government should strengthened the internal control mechanism of IPPIS so as to continuously detect and block any loopholes that will give room for fraud as well as carrying out routine Audit and Inspection of the program so as to ensure strict compliance with laid down rules and regulations governing the operation of IPPIS, coupled with compliance with the provisions of Financial Regulations and the Civil Service Rules.


Author(s):  
Sreekanth Kumar Mallineni ◽  
Sivakumar Nuvvula ◽  
Jaya Chandra Bhumireddy ◽  
Ahmad Faisal Ismail ◽  
Priya Verma ◽  
...  

Aim: To assess the knowledge and perceptions of COVID-19 among pediatric dentists based on their dependent source of information. Methods: A descriptive-analytical cross-sectional survey using a self-administered questionnaire with 23 questions was sent via Google forms to pediatric dentists. All participants were divided into three groups [postgraduate residents (PGs), private practitioners (PP), and faculty (F)]. The comparison of knowledge and perception scores was made based on occupation, source of information, and descriptive statistics used for the analysis using SPSS 21.0 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). Results: A total of 291 pediatric dentists completed the survey, and the majority of them were females (65%). Overall, good mean scores were obtained for knowledge (9.2 ± 1.07) and perceptions (5.6 ± 1.5). The majority of the participants used health authorities (45%) to obtain updates on COVID-19, while social media (35.1%) and both (19.6%) accounted for the next two. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) was found among different pediatric dentists groups for relying on the source of information. Conclusion: Overall good pediatric dentists showed sufficient knowledge regarding COVID-19. The pediatric dentists’ age, occupation, and source of information influenced knowledge regarding COVID-19, whereas perceptions were influenced by age and gender of the participants. Health authorities successfully educated pediatric dentists than the social media


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