Hand Washing and Related Cognitions Following a Brief Behavior Change Intervention During the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Pre-Post Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Effective hand washing (for at least 20 s, with water and soap) is one of the health behaviors protecting against infection transmissions. Behavior change interventions supporting the initiation and maintenance of hand washing are crucial to prevent infection transmissions. Based on the Health Action Process Approach, the aim of this research was to conduct a pre-post analysis of hand washing and related cognitions (i.e., intention, self-efficacy, self-monitoring), measured up to 100 days following an intervention. METHODS: A convenience sample of N = 123 participants (age: M = 23.96 years; SD = 5.82; 80% women) received a brief intervention (key behavior change techniques: information about health consequences of hand washing; action planning) and responded to daily diaries and questionnaires up to a 100-day follow-up. Two-level models were used to analyze data of n = 89 participants who provided longitudinal data. RESULTS: Hand washing and self-monitoring increased, whereas intention and self-efficacy decreased over time. Only self-monitoring was a consistent positive correlate of hand washing on a between-person level. CONCLUSIONS: Hand washing and self-monitoring considerably increased over several weeks following the intervention. Future research testing the intervention against a control condition is needed to rule out that changes in behavior and cognitions might have been prompted by completing the daily diaries. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register;  https://www.drks.de ; registration number: DRKS00022067.

The Recognition-Response Gap in Acute Stroke: Examining the Relationship between Stroke Recognition and Response in a General Population Survey.

BACKGROUND: Benefits of reperfusion therapies in acute ischemic stroke are highly time-dependent. It is crucial that people who witness the onset of symptoms call emergency medical services (EMS) immediately. The aim of this study was to examine whether there is a gap between recognition of stroke and responding correctly by calling EMS using a scenario-based measure. METHODS: Population-based survey of 1406 individuals from Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, examining stroke recognition and response knowledge using 12 scenario-based vignettes. The response rate was 32% out of 5000 contacted individuals. In total, 16,574 responses to scenarios were examined to investigate whether respondents would recognise stroke symptoms and indicate to call EMS immediately. RESULTS: In 16% of cases people recognised stroke but did not correctly respond by indicating to call EMS. In 49% of responses people recognised stroke and would respond correctly, while in 31% of cases people both failed to correctly recognise and failed to identify the correct response to the stroke scenario. In 5% of cases stroke was not identified but a correct response was indicated. When stroke was recognised, in 25% of responses people indicated that they would not call EMS. Recognition self-efficacy and response self-efficacy were associated with correct response. CONCLUSIONS: A recognition-response gap was identified among UK adults in hypothetical scenarios concerning stroke. Both recognition and translation to adequate EMS response should be explicitly addressed in interventions aiming to improve witness response to stroke. Self-efficacy may be a promising target to close the recognition-response gap.

Emotional intelligence and dyadic satisfaction buffer the negative effect of stress on prenatal anxiety and depressive symptoms in Chinese women who are pregnant with twins.

Background: Pregnancy-related stress in women who are pregnant with twins, may increase the risk of adverse emotional outcomes such as depressive symptoms and anxiety. Possible protective coping resources of pregnant women could be their socio-economic background, their marital relationship quality (dyadic satisfaction), or their emotional intelligence. Objectives: The study aims at exploring the mechanisms by which protective factors are associated with pregnancy-related stress and adverse emotional outcomes such as depression and anxiety. Methods and Design: Hospitals in Beijing, China, provided questionnaire data from 134 women who were pregnant with twins. Pregnancy-related stress, anxiety, depression, and three resource factors (socio-economic status, emotional intelligence, and dyadic marital satisfaction) were measured. Results: The experience of pregnancy-related stress mediated between resource factors and adverse consequences. While some socio-economic background variables had a main effect, personal and social resources exerted a buffer effect: emotional intelligence as well as dyadic satisfaction buffered the negative effects of stress on prenatal anxiety and depressive symptoms, respectively. Conclusions: A unique mechanism was identified that may explain how protective coping resources are associated with psychosocial stress and adverse outcomes in pregnant at-risk women. Future studies should substantiate this finding using longitudinal research designs.