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Background: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is a top ongoing concern of breast cancer (BC) survivors and thus the focus of recent intervention development. The Self-Regulation Model of FCR (Lee-Jones C, Humphris G, Dixon R, Hatcher MB. Fear of cancer recurrence-a literature review and proposed cognitive formulation to explain exacerbation of recurrence fears. Psychooncology. 1997;6:95-105.) states that everyday cancer-related events trigger FCR, which, in turn, leads to specific behavioral responses, including checking the body for signs or symptoms of cancer. Links between triggering events, FCR, and checking behavior have not yet been studied in the context of daily life or at the within-person level.Purpose: The goal of this study was to examine whether FCR has a within-person link with daily checking behavior and whether FCR mediates the link between triggering events and checking behavior.Methods: Seventy-two early-stage BC survivors completed daily diaries over a 21-day period approximately 5 months after BC surgery. FCR, checking behavior, and triggering events were assessed each evening.Results: Multilevel modeling results indicated that FCR predicted greater odds of same-day, but not next-day, checking behavior. We found that daily FCR significantly mediated the same-day effect of triggering events on checking behavior. These average within-person effects varied substantially between patients and were not explained by momentary negative affect.Conclusions: Findings support the within-person relationship between triggering events, FCR, and checking behavior posited by guiding theory, and can inform FCR intervention development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The effect of reassurance in managing distress among children who receive procedures of a less aversive nature has not been fully investigated. Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between reassurance by dental staff and distress behavior of preschool children receiving preventive procedures in a community setting. Methods: Nurse-child interactions ( n = 270) during fluoride varnish application were video recorded and coded. Multilevel logistic regression modeled the probability of the occurrence of child distress behavior as a function of reassurance provision, controlling for child-level and nurse-level variables. Results: Child distress behavior was positively related to nurse verbal reassurance but negatively linked to the time that this reassurance occurred. Both child initial anxiety and nurse nonprocedural training increased the probability of observable distress behavior. Conclusions: The use of verbal reassurance to promote reception of mild invasive procedures was counterindicated, especially when offered early in the intervention ( number: NCT00881790). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A negative diabetes screening test may unintentionally provide reassurance, resulting in reduced incentive to follow a healthy lifestyle. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess negative test result effects on lifestyle and risk perception at 4 years follow-up. Methods: Risk perception and changes in smoking, physical activity, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference were compared between 706 high-risk participants with a negative test result and 706 high-risk participants not offered screening (controls) in a randomized controlled trial of diabetes screening. Results: Negative-screened individuals experienced a small but significant increase in BMI and waist circumference, but there was no significant difference with controls. The negative-screened group had significantly higher perception of risk of developing diabetes ( p = 0.009) than controls, but no differences were observed in perceived personal control, worry, and optimistic bias. Conclusion: Screening negative for diabetes did not lead to overt long-term changes in lifestyle, despite a high perception of risk of developing diabetes. (ISRCTN75983009.) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]