Behavioural Changes (behavioural + change)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Medical Sciences


Selected Abstracts


Altered Thyroid Hormones and Behavioural Change in a Sub-Population of Rats Following Chronic Constriction Injury

JOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 8 2010
E. Kilburn-Watt
Hypothyroidism is associated with a disturbance of behaviour and mood. There are also individuals, not classified as hypothyroid, with low to ,low normal' thyroid hormone levels and normal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels who have mood and behavioural changes. As the peripheral thyroid hormones decrease, TSH is expected to increase. However, there are a number of physiological mechanisms known to suppress TSH. In the present study, we report on thyroid hormone regulation in a rat model of neuropathic pain and altered social behaviour that is usually transient, but is persistent in a sub-group of the population. Following ligation of the sciatic nerve, male Sprague-Dawley rats were assessed for social dominance towards an intruder: 20% showed persistently decreased social dominance. Plasma levels of thyroid hormones, TSH and corticosterone were measured before and on days 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 after injury in 21 rats. The mean plasma thyroxine (T4), free thyroxine (fT4) and triiodothyronine (T3) levels decreased significantly post-injury in rats with persistently changed behaviour compared to rats with unchanged behaviour (P , 0.002). There was no significant difference between groups for mean change in free triiodothyronine (fT3) or TSH. There was a correlation between decreased dominance behaviour and decrease in both T4 (r = 0.62, P = 0.009) and fT4 (r = 0.71, P = 0.001), but no correlation with TSH. In a sub-population of rats, decreased thyroid hormones did not result in the expected increased levels of TSH to restore pre-injury levels, nor did they show increased hypothalamic thyrotrophin-releasing hormone mRNA expression, indicating altered hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis regulation. Because T3 availability to the brain is dependent on both circulating T3 and T4, decreased peripheral thyroid hormones may result in changed neural function, as expressed in altered complex behaviours in this sub-population of rats. [source]


Behavioural changes in Schistocerca gregaria following infection with a fungal pathogen: implications for susceptibility to predation

ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 3 2001
Steven Arthurs
Summary 1. Field observations have indicated that infection of locusts and grasshoppers by the fungal entomopathogen Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum may result in a substantial increase in the host's susceptibility to predation, before death is caused directly by the disease. 2. Laboratory experiments were conducted to examine how the behaviour of the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria Forskål changes following infection by M. anisopliae var. acridum to explore some potential mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. 3. In the first experiment, which involved monitoring general locust activity in small cages throughout the disease incubation period, infected locusts were observed to increase locomotion and bodily movement from 3 days after infection until death (average survival time of 11 days). There was some evidence of reduced feeding and mating behaviour following infection. 4. In a second experiment, locusts were exposed individually to a simulated predator attack and the initiation and strength of any escape responses were measured. Infected locusts were observed to have a reduced escape capability (both the propensity to escape and the strength of the response). In contrast to the relatively early changes in general activity observed in the first experiment, this was only apparent at the late stages of infection shortly before death. 5. Both an increase in movement and general apparency early in the infection process, and reduced escape capability late on, suggest mechanisms whereby the susceptibility of locusts and grasshoppers to predation might be enhanced following infection with M. anisopliae var. acridum. [source]


Patient versus informant reported quality of life in the earliest phases of Alzheimer's disease

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 12 2006
Asmus Vogel
Abstract Objectives The study investigated if patient and informant reported Quality of Life (QoL) differed in early Alzheimer's disease (AD). In addition, we examined whether anosognosia had an impact on the agreement between patient and informant ratings of QoL and whether anosognosia, dementia severity, depression and behavioural symptoms were significantly correlated to QoL in early AD. Methods From a prospective research program including newly referred patients (age >60 years and MMSE,,,20), 48 patients with very early AD were included. QoL was assessed using the QoL-AD and EQ-5D scales. Anosognosia was rated on a categorical scale by an examiner. MMSE, Geriatric Depression Scale, Danish Adult Reading Test and Frontal Behavioural Inventory were also administered. Results On most QoL measures patients rated their QoL higher than their informants. Anosognosia was not associated with QoL but significantly with an inverse impact on the agreement between patient and informant ratings of QoL. Self-reported QoL was significantly correlated to depression but not to age, dementia severity, behavioural symptoms or memory impairment. Informant ratings of QoL were significantly correlated to behavioural symptoms and informant ratings on the EQ-5D Visual Analogue Scale were significantly correlated to patient reported depression. Conclusion Patients with early AD generally reported higher QoL than their informants. This disagreement was associated with the presence of anosognosia. Self-reported QoL did not correlate with the MMSE score. Behavioural changes and depressive symptoms may be associated with low QoL. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Tufted ducks Aythya fuligula do not control buoyancy during diving

JOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2005
Lewis G. Halsey
Work against buoyancy during submergence is a large component of the energy costs for shallow diving ducks. For penguins, buoyancy is less of a problem, however they still seem to trade-off levels of oxygen stores against the costs and benefits of buoyant force during descent and ascent. This trade-off is presumably achieved by increasing air sac volume and hence pre-dive buoyancy (Bpre) when diving deeper. Tufted ducks, Aythya fuligula, almost always dive with nearly full oxygen stores so these cannot be increased. However, the high natural buoyancy of tufted ducks guarantees a passive ascent, so they might be expected to decrease Bpre before particularly deep, long dives to reduce the energy costs of diving. Body heat lost to the water can also be a cause of substantial energy expenditure during a dive, both through dissipation to the ambient environment and through the heating of ingested food and water. Thus dive depth (dd), duration and food type can influence how much heat energy is lost during a dive. The present study investigated the relationship between certain physiological and behavioural adjustments by tufted ducks to dd and food type. Changes in Bpre, deep body temperature (Tb) and dive time budgeting of four ducks were measured when diving to two different depths (1.5 and 5.7 m), and for two types of food (mussels and mealworms). The hypothesis was that in tufted ducks, Bpre decreases as dd increases. The ducks did not change Bpre in response to different diving depths, and thus the hypothesis was rejected. Tb was largely unaffected by dives to either depth. However, diving behaviour changed at the greater dd, including an increase in dive duration and vertical descent speed. Behaviour also changed depending on the food type, including an increase in foraging duration and vertical descent speed when mussels were present. Behavioural changes seem to represent the major adjustment made by tufted ducks in response to changes in their diving environment. [source]


Modulation of aggressive behaviour by fighting experience: mechanisms and contest outcomes

BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS, Issue 1 2006
Yuying Hsu
ABSTRACT Experience in aggressive contests often affects behaviour during, and the outcome of, later contests. This review discusses evidence for, variations in, and consequences of such effects. Generally, prior winning experiences increase, and prior losing experiences decrease, the probability of winning in later contests, reflecting modifications of expected fighting ability. We examine differences in the methodologies used to study experience effects, and the relative importance and persistence of winning and losing experiences within and across taxa. We review the voluminous, but somewhat disconnected, literature on the neuroendocrine mechanisms that mediate experience effects. Most studies focus on only one of a number of possible mechanisms without providing a comprehensive view of how these mechanisms are integrated into overt behaviour. More carefully controlled work on the mechanisms underlying experience effects is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn. Behavioural changes during contests that relate to prior experience fall into two general categories. Losing experiences decrease willingness to engage in a contest while winning experiences increase willingness to escalate a contest. As expected from the sequential assessment model of contest behaviour, experiences become less important to outcomes of contests that escalate to physical fighting. A limited number of studies indicate that integration of multiple experiences can influence current contest behaviour. Details of multiple experience integration for any species are virtually unknown. We propose a simple additive model for this integration of multiple experiences into an individual's expected fighting ability. The model accounts for different magnitudes of experience effects and the possible decline in experience effects over time. Predicting contest outcomes based on prior experiences requires an algorithm that translates experience differences into contest outcomes. We propose two general types of model, one based solely on individual differences in integrated multiple experiences and the other based on the probability contests reach the escalated phase. The difference models include four algorithms reflecting possible decision rules that convert the perceived fighting abilities of two rivals into their probabilities of winning. The second type of algorithm focuses on how experience influences the probability that a subsequent contest will escalate and the fact that escalated contests may not be influenced by prior experience. Neither type of algorithm has been systematically investigated. Finally, we review models for the formation of dominance hierarchies that assume that prior experience influences contest outcome. Numerous models have reached varied conclusions depending on which factors examined in this review are included. We know relatively little about the importance of and variation in experience effects in nature and how they influence the dynamics of aggressive interactions in social groups and random assemblages of individuals. Researchers should be very active in this area in the next decade. The role of experience must be integrated with other influences on contest outcome, such as prior residency, to arrive at a more complete picture of variations in contest outcomes. We expect that this integrated view will be important in understanding other types of interactions between individuals, such as mating and predator-prey interactions, that also are affected significantly by prior experiences. [source]


Sex-Specific Aggression and Antipredator Behaviour in Young Brown Trout

ETHOLOGY, Issue 7 2001
Jörgen I. Johnsson
Sex differences in adult behaviour are often interpreted as consequences of sexual selection and/or different reproductive roles in males and females. Sex-specific juvenile behaviour, however, has received less attention. Adult brown trout males are more aggressive than females during spawning and juvenile aggression may be genetically correlated with adult aggression in fish. We therefore tested the prediction that immature brown trout males are more aggressive and bolder than immature females. Because previous work has suggested that precocious maturation increases dominance in salmonids, we included precocious males in the study to test the prediction that early sexual maturation increase male aggression and boldness. Aggression and dominance relations were estimated in dyadic contests, whereas boldness was measured as a response to simulated predation risk using a model heron. Independent of maturity state, males initiated more than twice as many agonistic interactions as females in intersexual contests. However, males were not significantly more likely to win these contests than females. The response to a first predator attack did not differ between sex categories, but males reacted less to a second predator attack than females. Sexual maturity did not affect the antipredator response in males. Since there is no evidence from field studies that stream-living immature male and female salmonids differ in growth rate, it appears unlikely that the sex differences demonstrated are behavioural consequences of sex-specific investment in growth. It seems more likely that sex-specific behaviour arises as a correlated response to sexually selected gene actions promoting differential behaviour in adult males and females during reproduction. Alternatively, sex differences may develop gradually during juvenile life, because a gradual developmental program should be less costly than a sudden behavioural change at the onset of sexual maturity. [source]


Effects of routine education on people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes

EUROPEAN DIABETES NURSING, Issue 3 2009
A Clarke SRN, PhD Health Promotion & Research Manager
Abstract Background: In Ireland, there is limited knowledge about the perceptions or behaviours of people newly diagnosed with diabetes and, due to the lack of a national register, poor knowledge of their demographic profile. Aim: To add to the body of knowledge about diabetes, to obtain perceptions of people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who attend group diabetes education, and to examine their relationships with the adoption of diabetes self-management behaviours. Method: A correlational study was conducted among people attending routine group diabetes education at three diabetes clinics during 2006/7, from which a convenience sample of 168 (38%) participants were recruited. Results: Men newly diagnosed with diabetes were younger, waited less time to attend group diabetes education, had a more positive diabetes attitude and perceived themselves to have more social support than women. Women had better diabetes self-management dietary and medication adherence behaviours prior to attending group diabetes education than the men. Conclusion: People newly diagnosed with diabetes differ in their attitude, perceived support and self-efficacy to adopt dietary and exercise behaviours and have different behaviour change needs at diagnosis. Post-attendance at diabetes education, they adopt behaviours at variable rates and may not sustain the change. The study findings indicate that healthcare professionals should monitor continually the need for behavioural change, in particular physical exercise behaviours in women and dietary and medication adherence in men. They should also continuously assess the maintenance of diabetes self-management behaviours of all people with diabetes, while promoting confidence in achieving desired outcomes. Copyright © 2009 FEND [source]


The impact of a motivational assessment interview on initial response to treatment in adolescent anorexia nervosa

EUROPEAN EATING DISORDERS REVIEW, Issue 2 2004
S. G. Gowers
Abstract This study was a pilot for a larger study to evaluate a time-limited outpatient programme for adolescent anorexia nervosa, to explore the ability of an assessment interview to change self-reported motivation and ascertain the extent to which this predicted engagement with treatment and early behavioural change. Forty-two adolescents with anorexia nervosa rated their motivation for change before and after attending a new-style assessment interview. Initial (6 week) effectiveness of the programme was evaluated by measuring engagement with treatment, weight change, clinician (HoNOSCA) and self-rated (EDI, MFQ, HoNOSCA-SR) outcome measures, overall and in relation to motivational status. The assessment interview significantly improved motivation. Motivational category after interview was unrelated to physical status, cognition or general functioning but predicted engagement with treatment. Whilst for the whole sample, treatment produced physical, cognitive and general improvements at 6 weeks, motivational status was a powerful predictor of weight gain. A client-centred assessment interview engaged 80% in an outpatient programme based on CBT. Motivational enhancement may improve engagement and specifically result in behavioural change and early weight gain. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association. [source]


Mast cells and their role in the neuro-immune-endocrine axis

EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 9 2004
J. Bienenstock
It has become clear that the immune and nervous systems communicate constantly to maintain homeostasis and a coordinated and continuing adaptive response to an ever-changing environment. Evidence from mast cell nerve communication, as an example of this interaction, has been obtained in a variety of tissues and circumstances, most especially in the intestine and skin. Bidirectional communication has been shown in vivo, ex vivo, in vitro and in coculture experiments involving the two cell types. Examples will be given of these various situations and involve normal physiological situations and those involved in response to infection and inflammation as well as in response to ultraviolet light. More recent examples of the importance of mast cells in the regulation of central nervous activity including the secretion of hormones by the pituitary gland, and thereby the regulation of the HPA axis as well as involvement in behavioural change will be addressed. Through its potential communication with the nervous system, the mast cell can be regarded as a sentinel cell or receptor, especially located at surfaces exposed to the environment, which specifically and non-specifically react to molecules and substances, foreign to the organism, so as to help orchestrate the complex and integrated responses required to maintain homeostasis. [source]


Employee perceptions and their influence on training effectiveness

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT JOURNAL, Issue 1 2003
Amalia Santos
Studies of the benefits of human resource development (HRD) for organisations have assumed a direct connection between training strategy and a hierarchy of performance outcomes: learning, behavioural change and performance improvement. The influence of workplace practices and employees' experiences on training effectiveness has received little attention. This study investigates evaluation strategies designed to elicit greater training effectiveness, and explores the influence of trainees' perceptions and work environment factors on this. Drawing on detailed case study findings, the authors highlight the importance of management practices, trainees' perceptions of the work environment and systems of reward in explaining behaviour change after training. [source]


Regional voices talk theatre: audience development for the performing arts

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NONPROFIT & VOLUNTARY SECTOR MARKETING, Issue 1 2008
Rebecca ScollenArticle first published online: 6 MAR 200
Audience development is somewhat of a ,buzz word' within the Australian performing arts sector at present. However, rather than actually engaging with audiences and with non-attenders to discover how to best serve the community, most of the performing arts organisations approach audience development from a product-centred viewpoint. In direct contrast to this, the Talking Theatre project (2004,2006) was implemented in regional Queensland and in the Northern Territory in Australia as an audience development initiative focused on the consumer. The project sought to assist performing arts centres (PACs) to better engage with their local communities and to build new audiences for the future. In particular, the research aimed to understand non-attenders, their reasons for non-attendance and their reactions to a range of live performances they experienced under study conditions. The Talking Theatre project provided the vehicle for introduction, communication and relationship building to occur to assist in attitudinal and behavioural change. The non-attenders enjoyed their experiences at the PACs and have begun attending performances outside of study conditions. Limited awareness of the performing arts' relevance to their lives combined with a lack of positive peer influence to attend, were the chief deterrents to attendance for the participants in the study. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Identifying attitudes, beliefs and reported practices of nurses and doctors as immunization providers

JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 7 2010
Karen L. Pielak
pielak k.l., mcintyre c.c., tu a.w., remple v.p., halperin b. & buxton j.a. (2010) Identifying attitudes, beliefs and reported practices of nurses and doctors as immunization providers. Journal of Advanced Nursing,66(7), 1602,1611. Abstract Title.,Identifying attitudes, beliefs and reported practices of nurses and doctors as immunization providers. Aim., This paper is a report of a study conducted to examine the attitudes, beliefs, behavioural intentions and self-reported behaviour of nurses and physicians relating to key immunization behaviours and compare the findings for nurses and physicians. Background., Immunization is an important and effective public health intervention. Understanding immunization providers' attitudes and beliefs toward immunization has the potential to improve educational efforts and lead to behavioural change. Method., A postal survey was conducted with all immunization providers in British Columbia, Canada, in 2005. The survey elicited data on demographics, practice characteristics, attitudes, perceived social norms and perceived behavioural control related to key immunization behaviours. Results., Responses were received from 344 nurses and 349 physicians. The response rate was 67% for nurses and 22% for physicians. More nurses than physicians thought that administering all recommended vaccines at one visit was important (89·2% vs. 63·2%P < 0·001); nurses felt more pressure from parents to administer all recommended vaccines (82·4% vs. 48·7%P < 0·001), and nurses were also more likely to intend to give all recommended vaccines at one visit (98·8% vs. 73·8%P < 0·001). Both nurses and physicians thought that their own receipt of influenza vaccine each year was important (88·9%, 87·1% respectively P = 0·65). Conclusion., The foundational work done to develop the survey tool can be used to modify it so that survey findings can be validated according to the Theory of Planned Behaviour. The results could inform the development of behavioural change interventions targeting the identified determinants of immunization provider behaviour. [source]


Stages of Change , Continuous Measure (URICA-E2): psychometrics of a Norwegian version

JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 1 2009
Anners Lerdal
Abstract Title.,Stages of Change , Continuous Measure (URICA-E2): psychometrics of a Norwegian version. Aim., This paper is a report of research to translate the English version of the Stages of Change continuous measure questionnaire (URICA-E2) into Norwegian and to test the validity of the questionnaire and its usefulness in predicting behavioural change. Background., While the psychometric properties of the Stages of Change categorical measure have been tested extensively, evaluation of the psychometric properties of the continuous questionnaire has not been described elsewhere in the literature. Method., Cross-sectional data were collected with a convenience sample of 198 undergraduate nursing students in 2005 and 2006. The English version of URICA-E2 was translated into Norwegian according to standardized procedures. Findings., Principal components analysis clearly confirmed five of the dimensions of readiness to change (Precontemplation Non-Believers, Precontemplation Believers, Contemplation, Preparation and Maintenance), while the sixth dimension, Action, showed the lowest Eigenvalue (0·93). Findings from the cluster analysis indicate distinct profiles among the respondents in terms of readiness to change their exercise behaviour. Conclusion., The URICA-E2 was for the most part replicated from Reed's original work. The result of the cluster analysis of the items associated with the factor ,Action' suggests that these do not adequately measure the factor. [source]


Improving glycaemic control self-efficacy and glycaemic control behaviour in Chinese patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus: randomised controlled trial

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 3-4 2010
Qifang Shi
Aims and objectives., To examine the effect of a hospital-based clinic intervention on glycaemic control self-efficacy and glycaemic control behaviour of Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Background., Self-efficacy expectations are related to self-management of diabetes and, in conjunction with environmental support, are better predictors of behaviour than are knowledge and skills. Enhancing self-efficacy in patients with DM has been shown to have a positive effect on behavioural change and positively influence long-term glycaemic control. Design., A randomised controlled trial study consisting of two-group pretest-post-test. Methods., One hundred and fifty-seven patients with type 2 DM were randomly divided into two groups: (1) the experimental group (77 patients) receiving one-month hospital-based clinic intervention and (2) the control group (80 patients) receiving usual care. Data collection instruments used in this study were Diabetes Management Self-Efficacy Scale and Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities Measure. Outcomes were determined by changes in glycaemic control self-efficacy and glycaemic control behaviour of patients with type 2 DM. Results., The findings revealed that the experimental group showed statistically significant improvement in glycaemic control self-efficacy and glycaemic control behaviour immediately and four months after the intervention (F = 26·888, df = 1, 155, p < 0·05 and F = 18·619, df = 1, 155, p < 0·05, respectively). Conclusions., One-month hospital-based clinic intervention could be useful in improving glycaemic control self-efficacy and glycaemic control behaviour. Relevance to clinical practice., Nurses can learn and use the sources of self-efficacy to enhance patients' self-efficacy on their glycaemic control in clinical care. The health education is most important in nursing care and should be considered while organising the hospital-based clinic intervention. [source]


Co-variation between the intensity of behavioural manipulation and parasite development time in an acanthocephalan,amphipod system

JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 10 2010
N. FRANCESCHI
Abstract Pomphorhynchus laevis, a fish acanthocephalan parasite, manipulates the behaviour of its gammarid intermediate host to increase its trophic transmission to the definitive host. However, the intensity of behavioural manipulation is variable between individual gammarids and between parasite populations. To elucidate causes of this variability, we compared the level of phototaxis alteration induced by different parasite sibships from one population, using experimental infections of Gammarus pulex by P. laevis. We used a naive gammarid population, and we carried out our experiments in two steps, during spring and winter. Moreover, we also investigated co-variation between phototaxis (at different stages of infection, ,young' and ,old cystacanth stage') and two other fitness-related traits, infectivity and development time. Three main parameters could explain the parasite intra-population variation in behavioural manipulation. The genetic variation, suggested by the differences between parasite families, was lower than the variation owing to an (unidentified) environmental factor. Moreover, a correlation was found between development rate and the intensity of behavioural change, the fastest growing parasites being unable to induce rapid phototaxis reversal. This suggests that parasites cannot optimize at the same time these two important parameters of their fitness, and this could explain a part of the variation observed in the wild. [source]


Environmental Justice Imperatives for an Era of Climate Change

JOURNAL OF LAW AND SOCIETY, Issue 1 2009
Mark Stallworthy
This paper is about intra- and inter-generational equity, connecting environmental justice discourse with necessary responses to climate change. It offers a review of the role of globalization in this pervasive context, contrasting the disaggregated nature of localized impacts, and seeks to address the potential for adjusting law-policy frameworks as a key part of the search for solutions. It argues that environmental justice approaches can incorporate values into law-policy processes based upon vital aspects of the integrity and functioning of communities, distributional fairness, and capacities for wider engagement and participation in the search for necessary behavioural change. The conclusion is that the ultimate success of the urgent process of addressing climate-related threats, through a meaningful degree of mitigation and adaptation, and multiple levels of decision-making and response, must be informed by the precepts of environmental justice. [source]


An interim analysis of a cohort study on the preoperative anxiety and postoperative behavioural changes in children having repeat anaesthetics

PEDIATRIC ANESTHESIA, Issue 9 2002
A. Watson
Introduction Anxiety in the preoperative period and at induction of anaesthesia in children is associated with disturbances in postoperative behaviour (1,4). There is little work looking at the effects of repeat anaesthetic procedures on anxiety and subsequent postoperative behaviour disturbances. The aim of this study was to see if the effect of repeat anaesthetics was cumulative on postoperative behavioural problems and whether repeated anaesthetics provoke increasing anxiety. We investigated factors that may identify children who are susceptible to behavioural changes following repeat anaesthetics. We present an interim analysis of data on 8 patients as part of a long-term cohort study on 40 children with retinoblastoma who have required repeat anaesthetics for assessment and treatment of their condition. Method Approval for this study was granted by the East London and City Health Authority ethics committee. 40 patients are being recruited and being followed over a two year period. All children have retinoblastoma and are between the ages of 18 months to 4 years. The anaesthetic technique was not standardised but details of it were collected. Data collected were demographic details of child (age, sex, weight, ASA grade, siblings, stressful events in the last 3 months, recent immunisations, number of previous anaesthetics, problems with previous general anaesthetics, medical history of children, temperament of child using the EASI scoring system (4); demographic data of parents (age, parental education, family members affected, baseline measure of parental anxiety using State trait anxiety inventory (STAI). Anxiety on entry into the anaesthetic room and at induction was measured by the modified Yale preoperative anxiety scale (mYPAS), cooperation of the child at induction was measured by the Induction compliance checklist (ICC). Anxiety of the parent after induction was measured by the STAI score. Behaviour was measured at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month and 4 months after each procedure by means of the post hospital behaviour score (PHBQ) (5). A comparison with preoperative behaviour was made and data is presented of the percentage of children with new negative behavioural problems. A detailed analysis of the types of behaviour change was noted. anova for repeat measures with multiple dependent measures was used to analyse data on child anxiety and postoperative behavioural problems. Results Eight patients have had 3 separate anaesthetics over one and a half years. These have been at 4 monthly intervals. There was no significant increase in anxiety levels with repeat anaesthetics. The median mYPAS score at induction were 100 for all 3 anaesthetics. (P = 0.41). The type of behavioural change was variable and demonstrated no trend. No patient was identified as being prone to behavioural changes after every anaesthetic. Patients who displayed new negative behavioural problems would have them after any anaesthetic with no obvious cumulative effect with each repeat anaesthetic. Conclusions Our patients had maximum anxiety scores at induction, so the mYPAS scoring system is not sensitive enough to show that repeat anaesthetics provoke increasing anxiety. There is a very random pattern to behavioural disturbances after repeat anaesthetics with no evidence that negative behavioural changes are compounded with repeated anaesthetics. Collection of complete data from the remaining 32 patients may yield some trends regarding behavioural disturbances but our use of the mYPAS to measure anxiety in this very anxious population is unlikely to be helpful. [source]


Translating health care messages into beneficial behavioural change

PRACTICAL DIABETES INTERNATIONAL (INCORPORATING CARDIABETES), Issue 3 2006
Letters on any aspects of diabetes care are welcomed, should be addressed to the editor
No abstract is available for this article. [source]


What should we do about the obesity epidemic?

PRACTICAL DIABETES INTERNATIONAL (INCORPORATING CARDIABETES), Issue 4 2002
Dr Julian H. Barth MD
The current increase in obesity is occurring despite increasing awareness by the population at large of the benefits of healthy eating and exercise. Although weight gain is the direct result of a mismatch in energy balance, it is important to realise that there is a complex interplay between the environment and individual biology and behaviour. Management of obesity whether in a primary or secondary care setting requires a multi-disciplinary team to produce an individualised approach to embrace food, exercise and behavioural change. The prevention of obesity requires a three-level approach. First, there needs to be a co-ordinated public health policy at national level to create an environment where it is easy to make healthy choices for physical activity and food. Second, there needs to be a policy that targets those individuals who are at risk of becoming obese and those who have lost weight to help prevent weight regain. Finally, there needs to be a systematic uptake of the established protocols for the management of individuals with obesity and its co-morbidities. The challenge in the UK is to build imaginative networks that integrate all available resources both within the NHS and without, such as sports centres, fitness clubs and slimming clubs. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Possible contemporary evolution in an endangered species, the Santa Cruz Island fox

ANIMAL CONSERVATION, Issue 2 2009
H. M. Swarts
Abstract An ability to mount rapid evolutionary responses to environmental change may be necessary for species persistence in a human-dominated world. We present evidence of the possibility of such contemporary evolution in the anti-predator behaviour of the critically endangered Santa Cruz Island fox Urocyon littoralis. In 1994, golden eagles colonized Santa Cruz Island, CA and devastated the predator-naïve, endemic island fox population by 95% within 10 years. In 1992, just before the arrival of golden eagles, foxes showed substantial diurnal activity, but diurnal activity was 37.0% lower in 2003,2007, after golden eagle colonization; concurrently, overall activity declined and nocturnal activity increased. Moreover, on nearby Santa Catalina Island, where golden eagles were absent but where the fox population recently crashed due to a disease epidemic, remaining foxes were significantly more diurnally active than were those on Santa Cruz Island. The weight of evidence suggests that the change in activity pattern was a response to predation, not to low population density, and that this was probably a heritable rather than a learned behavioural trait. This behavioural change may allow for prolonged island fox persistence, but also potentially represents a loss of behavioural diversity in fox populations. [source]


Spousal concordance and reliability of the ,Prudence Score' as a summary of diet and lifestyle

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 4 2009
Sanjoti Parekh
Abstract Objectives: This paper describes a composite ,Prudence Score' summarising self-reported behavioural risk factors for non-communicable diseases. If proved robust, the ,Prudence score' might be used widely to encourage large numbers of individuals to adopt and maintain simple, healthy changes in their lifestyle. Methods: We calculated the ,Prudence Score' based on responses collected in late 2006 to a postal questionnaire sent to 225 adult patients aged 25 to 75 years identified from the records of two general medical practices in Brisbane, Australia. Participants completed the behavioural, dietary and lifestyle items in relation to their spouse as well as themselves. The spouse or partner of each addressee completed their own copy of the study questionnaire. Results: Kappa scores for spousal concordance with probands' reports (n = 45 pairs) on diet-related items varied between 0.35 (for vegetable intake) to 0.77 (for usual type of milk consumed). Spousal concordance values for other behaviours were 0.67 (physical activity), 0.82 (alcohol intake) and 1.0 (smoking habits). Kappa scores for test-retest reliability (n = 53) varied between 0.47 (vegetable intake) and 0.98 (smoking habits). Conclusion: The veracity of self-reported data is a challenge for studies of behavioural change. Our results indicate moderate to substantial agreement from life partners regarding individuals' self-reports for most of the behavioural risk items included in the ,Prudence Score'. This increases confidence that key aspects of diet and lifestyle can be assessed by self-report. Implications: The ,Prudence Score' potentially has wide application as a simple and robust tool for health promotion programs. [source]


Upfrontresearch: Coaching for behavioural change

BUSINESS STRATEGY REVIEW, Issue 3 2003
Marshall Goldsmith
No abstract is available for this article. [source]


Effects of back care education in elementary schoolchildren

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 8 2000
G Cardon
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a back care education programme, consisting of six sessions of 1 h each, in fourth- and fifth-grade elementary schoolchildren. Testing consisted of a practical performance and a back care knowledge test. Forty-two subjects and 36 controls performed a pre-test and were tested within 1 wk after the programme. To monitor effects and follow-up effects on a larger sample, 82 different pupils were tested within 1 wk after the programme and 116 other children 3 mo after. Both larger samples were compared with one group of 129 controls. Interrater reliability for the test items of the practical assessment was high; intraclass correlation coefficients varied from 0.785 to 0.980. In the pre/post design study, interaction between time and condition was significant for the sum score of the practical assessment and for the knowledge test (p < 0.001), with higher scores for the intervention group (15% improvement for the knowledge test score, 31.6% for the practical sum score). Significantly higher sum scores for the knowledge test and for all practical assessment items were found in the intervention groups, tested within 1 wk and 3 mo after the programme, in comparison with the control group (p <0.001). Conclusion: The effectiveness of a primary educational prevention programme on back care principles was demonstrated in this study. Effectiveness, long-term outcomes and behavioural changes need further evaluation to optimize back care prevention programmes for elementary schoolchildren. [source]


Experience-dependent plasticity in hypocretin/orexin neurones: re-setting arousal threshold

ACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 3 2010
X.-B. Gao
Abstract The neuropeptide hypocretin is synthesized exclusively in the lateral hypothalamus and participates in many brain functions critical for animal survival, particularly in the promotion and maintenance of arousal in animals , a core process in animal behaviours. Consistent with its arousal-promoting role in animals, the neurones synthesizing hypocretin receive extensive innervations encoding physiological, psychological and environmental cues and send final outputs to key arousal-promoting brain areas. The activity in hypocretin neurones fluctuates and correlates with the behavioural state of animals and intensive activity has been detected in hypocretin neurones during wakefulness, foraging for food and craving for addictive drugs. Therefore, it is likely that hypocretin neurones undergo experience-dependent changes resulting from intensive activations by stimuli encoding changes in the internal and external environments. This review summarizes the most recent evidence supporting experience-dependent plasticity in hypocretin neurones. Current data suggest that nutritional and behavioural factors lead to synaptic plasticity and re-organization of synaptic architecture in hypocretin neurones. This may be the substrate of enhanced levels of arousal resulting from behavioural changes in animals and may help to explain the mechanisms underlying the changes in arousal levels induced by physiological, psychological and environmental factors. [source]


SPECIAL SECTION: EVALUATION OF THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN CANNABIS INFRINGEMENT NOTICE SCHEME,PHASE 1: Community attitudes towards cannabis law and the proposed Cannabis Infringement Notice scheme in Western Australia

DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, Issue 4 2005
JAMES FETHERSTON
Abstract Western Australia (WA) became the fourth Australian jurisdiction to adopt a prohibition with civil penalties scheme for minor cannabis offences when its Cannabis Infringement Notice (CIN) scheme became law on 22 March 2004. Previous criminological research has demonstrated the importance of public attitudes towards the law in determining the effectiveness of legislation. This survey represents the first phase of a pre-post study that attempted to gauge public attitudes towards the legal status of cannabis, the proposed legislative reforms surrounding the drug and their likely effects. A random telephone survey of 809 members of the WA population was conducted prior to the implementation of the new laws with a view to exploring contemporary views of the existing legal status of cannabis, attitudes to the proposed legislative model and respondent perceptions of its likely effects. Despite cannabis being viewed negatively by large numbers of the sample, criminal penalties for minor cannabis offences were viewed as inappropriate and ineffective. Once explained, the proposed civil penalty scheme was viewed as ,a good idea' by 79% of the sample, despite significant differences due to personal experience of cannabis use, political affiliation, religiosity and age of offspring. Most believed that the legislative change would not result in changes to levels of cannabis use (70%) or ease of obtaining cannabis (59%). These data suggest that prior to its implementation the new legislation was highly acceptable to the majority of the community. These baseline data will be compared with data to be collected at the post-change phase of the study to allow empirical observations of attitudinal and behavioural changes occurring in the community. [source]


Web building flexibility of an orb-web spider in a heterogeneous agricultural landscape

ECOGRAPHY, Issue 5 2008
Dries Bonte
Intensification of land-use in agricultural landscapes is responsible for a decline of biodiversity which provide important ecosystem services like pest-control. Changes in landscape composition may also induce behavioural changes of predators in response to variation in the biotic or abiotic environment. By controlling for environmentally confounding factors, we here demonstrate that the orb web spider Araneus diadematus alters its web building behaviour in response to changes in the composition of agricultural landscapes. Thereby, the species increases its foraging efficiency (i.e. investments in silk and web asymmetry) with an increase of agricultural land-use at intermediate spatial scales. This intensification is also related to a decrease in the abundance of larger prey. A negative effect of landscape properties at similar spatial scales on spider fitness was recorded when controlling for relative investments in capture thread length. This study consequently documents the web building flexibility in response to changes in landscape composition, possibly due to changes in prey availability. [source]


Density-mediated responses of bark beetles to host allelochemicals: a link between individual behaviour and population dynamics

ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 4 2002
Kimberly F. Wallin
Abstract ,1. Bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) accept or reject host conifers based partly on concentrations of phloem monoterpenes. They colonise trees in aggregations, in response to pheromones that attract flying beetles to trees undergoing colonisation. A series of entry and gallery construction assays was conducted to determine whether responses by individual beetles to monoterpenes are altered by pheromones and/or the presence of other beetles. 2. Entry into the amended media by Ips pini and the length of time until entry were not influenced by the presence of aggregation pheromones. 3. Entry into amended media was influenced by the presence of other beetles on the surface of, or constructing galleries in, the substrate. The effects of alpha-pinene and limonene on host entry behaviour were mediated by the density of beetles on the surface of the assay arena, and by the density of beetles constructing galleries within the medium. 4. The percentage of beetles entering medium amended with higher concentrations of monoterpenes increased with increased density of beetles on the surface of the assay arena, until a threshold density of three or four beetles per assay arena, after which entrance rate declined. 5. The presence of other beetles constructing galleries elicited more rapid entry by the test beetles. 6. Gallery lengths were generally higher in the presence of aggregation pheromones. 7. Gallery lengths increased with increased density of beetles within the assay arena. 8. These results suggest a link between the density of bark beetles and responses of individuals. This linkage may partially explain behavioural changes observed during population eruptions. [source]


Parental care in the whitefly Aleyrodes singularis

ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 5 2001
Moshe Guershon
Summary 1. Patches of Aleyrodes singularis nymphs are characterised by a distinctive phenotype composed of the nymphs' exuviae, which are piled on the nymph, and by a covering layer of wax secreted by the adults; these characteristics have been found to confer defensive properties against natural enemies. 2. In contrast to the behaviour typical for ovipositing females of other aleyrodids, A. singularis females tend to remain near the patch of their progeny throughout their development. These mothers were therefore tested to show whether they exhibited active defensive behaviour towards natural enemies, beyond their contribution to passive defence achieved through the secretion of wax on the immatures. 3. The behaviour of whitefly adults differed significantly when performed in the presence of conspecific adults from their behaviour in the presence of natural enemies (either a parasitoid or a predator). The differences were expressed in the mean time devoted to some behavioural events, the frequency at which events were performed, and the number of transitions between pairs of events. 4. Most of the recorded behavioural differences were associated with departure of the natural enemies, facilitating immature survival. 5. This is the first report of active behavioural changes that convey defence of immature offspring for the family Aleyrodidae. Conditions characterising these findings and their relationship with those in which parental care is expected are discussed. [source]


Head injuries related to sports and recreation activities in school-age children and adolescents: Data from a referral centre in Victoria, Australia

EMERGENCY MEDICINE AUSTRALASIA, Issue 1 2010
Louise M Crowe
Abstract Objectives:, Head injuries (HI) in children are common and even mild HI can lead to ongoing cognitive and behavioural changes. We set out to determine the causes of sport-related HI in school-age children presenting to a large urban ED as a basis for future interventions. Method:, Identification and medical record review of all sport-related HI in children aged 6,16 years at a tertiary children's hospital ED in Victoria, Australia, over a 1 year period. Information was collected on demographics, injury variables and radiology findings. HI were classified as mild, moderate and severe based on GCS and radiography reports. Results:, Over 12 months there were 406 HI in school-age children. Seventy per cent were male. A large number of HI (129; 33%) were related to sports. Of these, most were classified as mild and 13% were classified as moderate or severe. Among a range of sports, Australian Rules football was associated with more than 30% of all HI attributable to a sport and recreation cause. Equestrian activities were the main cause of moderate HI. Conclusion:, The present study identified sports as a major cause of HI in the Victorian paediatric emergency setting with Australian Rules football the most commonly involved sport. Further prevention initiatives should consider targeting Australian Rules football and equestrian activities. [source]


Psychodrama: helping families to adapt to childhood diabetes

EUROPEAN DIABETES NURSING, Issue 3 2006
B Bektas RN.
Abstract Effective management of diabetes in children requires a holistic approach that takes into account the roles of diabetes education, treatment and disease management, and the integral role of family relationships. Psychodrama is a group-based psychological support technique that aims to improve the acceptance and understanding of diabetes within the families of diagnosed children. Through group improvisation, role plays and feedback sessions, the families of children with diabetes participate in a cathartic process that helps them to share their problems, benefit from others' insight and feedback and to discuss behavioural changes that will avoid similar problems in the future. The families that participated in this study reported an enhanced understanding of the contribution that relationships with their children have on the successful management of their diabetes. Through recognition of the reasons for their anxieties about their children's diabetes, they were able to address fixed behavioural patterns in a supportive, non-judgmental arena, and to work towards positive change. Their children benefited indirectly through changes in their parents' behaviour and improved communication within their families. A reduction in the children's HbA1c levels was observed through the course of the study, although this could not be considered a direct result of psychodrama. Copyright © 2006 FEND. [source]