Search

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has played a major role in promoting behavioral medicine research over the past 40 years through funding, review, and priority-setting activities and programs including scientific conferences, meetings, workgroups, intramural research, and training opportunities. In this review of NIH activities in support of behavioral medicine over the past four decades, we highlight key events, programs, projects, and milestones that demonstrate the many ways in which the NIH has supported behavioral and social sciences research and advanced the public health while contributing to the evolution of behavioral medicine as a scientific field., Author(s): Susan M. Czajkowski [sup.1], William T. Riley [sup.2], Catherine M. Stoney [sup.3], William M. P. Klein [sup.1], Robert T. Croyle [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) 0000 0001 2297 5165, grid.94365.3d, [...]

A study that examines how well people remember their own health indicators is discussed by taking up cholesterol screening among them.

In August 2002, the Sub-committee on Cessation of the Interagency Committee on Smoking and Health (ICSH) was charged with developing recommendations to substantially increase rates of tobacco cessation in the United States. The subcommittee's report, A National Action Plan for Tobacco Cessation, outlines 10 recommendations for reducing premature morbidity and mortality by helping millions of Americans stop using tobacco. The plan includes both evidence-based, population-wide strategies designed to promote cessation (e.g., a national quitline network) and a Smokers' Health Fund to finance the programs (through a $2 per pack excise tax increase). The subcommittee report was presented to the ICSH (February 11, 2003), which unanimously endorsed sending it to Secretary Thompson for his consideration. In this article, we summarize the national action plan.

Objectives. This article synthesizes information about cancer in 9 populations of minority women: Mexican American, Puerto Rican, Cuban American, African American, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, American Samoan, American Indian, and Alaska Native. Methods, Cancer registry data, social indicators, government sources, and published articles were searched for information on the background and cancer experience of these 9 racial/ethnic groups. Results. Approximately 35 million women in these racial/ethnic groups live in the United States, and their numbers are increasing rapidly. Since 1992, incidence rates for major cancer sites have slowed or decreased among these groups, but declines in mortality have not occurred or have been smaller than for Whites. Gaps in early detection have narrowed, but minority women still lag behind Whites. Smoking and obesity remain common in these populations. Conclusions. More culturally appropriate interventions and research are needed, and these efforts must involve the community and raise the quality of health services.

As the number of genes associated with inherited disease continues to grow, researchers and practitioners in behavioral medicine will encounter complex psychological issues faced by individuals at risk for these diseases. A review of the literature concerning prenatal, carrier, and predictive genetic testing suggests that the severity of psychological risks posed by research-based genetic testing is not great. However, subgroups of individuals with particular psychological traits may be more vulnerable to adverse effects. Available data do not provide evidence that genetic testing promotes changes in health-related behaviors. Thus, although there may be less of a role for mental health professionals in the psychological counseling of genetic testing participants, there is a need for research and practice to facilitate health protective behaviors in response to genetic risk information.

Research indicates that individuals will underachieve if a likable peer fails, but will not underachieve if their likable peer's average performance reduced their social concerns. Individuals will also not underachieve if a peer is unlikable. These findings are discussed in relation to understanding and overcoming academic obstacles for minorities.

In previous research (T. L. Newton & R. J. Contrada, 1992), social context was found to moderate exaggerated physiological reactivity among individuals identified as using a repressive coping style. In this experiment, 119 undergraduates were classified into low-anxious, high-anxious, repressor, and defensive high-anxious coping categories. All participants completed a stressful speech task under either a public or private social context condition. The experimental social context was related to physiological reactivity and self-reported affect but did not moderate reactivity among repressive copers. Additionally, reactivity among repressive copers was not attributable to high defensiveness alone. Consistent with a theory of emotional inhibition, nonspecific skin conductance responses, but not heart rate, discriminated between repressors and nonrepressors.

This study examined public interest regarding genetic testing for colon cancer susceptibility. Survey data were collected from 383 adults in Utah. Respondents were very (47.3%) or somewhat (36.6%) interested in taking this genetic test. Nearly 95% reported that they would share their results with others. Individuals with higher income and with a perceived risk of getting colon cancer were the most interested in testing. Individuals without health insurance and widowed individuals were the least likely to share their test results. If respondents were told that they carried a gene for colon cancer, most would be concerned with how to reduce their risk of getting the disease. (Am J Public Health. 1995;85:1435-1438), Most adults would likely be interested in a taking genetic screening test for susceptibility to colon cancer if informed about the availability of such a test and the effects f the disease. Researchers surveyed 383 randomly selected adult Utah residents about their attitudes toward a genetic screening test for colon cancer. Only 16% reported they would not be interested in taking such a test. Interest in the test was higher among respondents with higher income and those who thought they were at high risk. If the test were positive, 94% would share the results with others, generally their doctor and their spouse. Those with insurance would be somewhat more likely to tell their doctor. Half would want to know about how to reduce the risk of cancer, one-quarter would worry about themselves, and 13% would worry about the risk to family members, especially their children. Few worried about the effect on health insurance coverage or employment, which suggests that the public is generally unaware of the potential implications of being identified as at-risk for cancer.

Diet, or more specifically, dietary fat intake is a major focus of cancer and heart disease prevention trials, such as the Women's Health Trial and the Minnesota Heart Health Project. [...]

In a laboratory experiment, undergraduate subjects tested positive for an enzyme deficiency they believed to be a risk factor for pancreatic disorders. All Ss were tested with a confederate who received a positive or negative test result. For half the Ss, the confederate expressed a minimizing appraisal of the deficiency's seriousness. Although Ss' concern about the test result was significantly reduced by what the confederate said, behavioral intentions were determined by the confederate's diagnostic status. The effect of the confederate's diagnostic status on intentions was mediated by Ss' perceptions of the deficiency's prevalence. The results support Leventhal's self-regulation theory and demonstrate that the opinions and health characteristics of comparison others have differential effects on cognitive, emotional, and behavioral aspects of coping with a health threat.

Transdisciplinary research on smoking initiation and cessation has grown over the years to include research in the fields of genomics, genetics, and policy studies. There is room for improvement in creating effective strategies for smoking prevention and cessation and the National Cancer Institute together with its partners are expanding the breadth of disciplines in tobacco use research.

A comparison of physiological reactions, affect and interpersonal responses between siblings with different combinations of BRCA1/BRCA2 test outcomes is presented. Results showed that mixed pairs reported more anger, noted less friendly general support actions, and regarded their sibling to be more dominant and less friendly. The interpersonal strain between siblings with differen test results is investigated.

Ten years ago, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) launched the national 5 A Day Program, a unique public-private partnership with the fruit and vegetable industry. The program has continued to evolve and expand, and a broad evaluation of the program was completed last year. The program has increased awareness of the 5 A Day recommendations, and controlled trials of behavior change interventions have been funded as part of the initiative have demonstrated efficacy. Planning for the second phase of the program is underway in close collaboration with an expanded partnership that now includes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the American Cancer Society, and many others. Although the effect of the national program on behavior is difficult to assess, its collaborative infrastructure provide a foundation for broader national and local efforts for chronic disease prevention.