Factors influencing attitudes to violence against women

Attitudes toward men's violence against women shape both the perpetration of violence against women and responses to this violence by the victim and others around her. For these reasons, attitudes are the target of violence-prevention campaigns. To improve understanding of the determinants of violence against women and to aid the development of violence-prevention efforts, this article reviews the factors that shape attitudes toward violence against women. It offers a framework with which to comprehend the complex array of influences on attitudes toward violent behavior perpetrated by men against women. Two clusters of factors, associated with gender and culture, have an influence at multiple levels of the social order on attitudes regarding violence. Further factors operate at individual, organizational, communal, or societal levels in particular, although their influence may overlap across multiple levels. This article concludes with recommendations regarding efforts to improve attitudes toward violence against women.

Tissue donation and the attitudes of health care professionals

Since the first corneal transplant in 1905, improved surgical techniques and the development of immunosuppressive drugs have led to excellent success rates for organ and tissue transplantation procedures. This Chapter ,"'ill focus on the cadaveric donation of tissue and the attitudes towards it of health professionals, because they are key players in the donation- transplantation process.

The chapter begins with an overview of cadaveric tissue donation, including what can currently be transplanted. It will then present what is known about health professionals' attitudes to and knowledge of tissue donation and the impact that these have on donation rates. Attitudes, their components and their effect upon behaviour are explored using theories arising from social psychology to explain how these influence actual or intended behaviours associated with the discussion of donation wishes with relatives of the potential donor. Since some tissues, such as blood and bone marrow, can only normally be donated during life, these will be excluded since the behaviours associated with blood donation differ significantly from those associated with cadaveric tissue donation.

Consumer knowledge and attitudes to salt intake and labelled salt information

The objective of this study was to investigate consumers’ knowledge of health risks of high salt intake and frequency of use and understanding of labelled salt information. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in shopping centres within Metropolitan Melbourne. A sample of 493 subjects was recruited. The questionnaire assessed salt related shopping behaviours, attitudes to salt intake and health and their ability to interpret labelled sodium information. Four hundred and seventy four valid surveys were collected (65% female, 64% being the main shopper). Most participants knew of the relationship between salt intake and high blood pressure (88%). Sixty five percent of participants were unable to correctly identify the relationship between salt and sodium. Sixty nine percent reported reading the salt content of food products when shopping. Salt label usage was significantly related to shoppers concern about the amount of salt in their diet and the belief that their health could improve by lowering salt intake. Approximately half of the sample was unable to accurately use labelled sodium information to pick low salt options. Raising consumer awareness of the health risks associated with high salt consumption may increase salt label usage and purchases of low salt foods. However, for food labels to be effective in helping consumers select low salt foods a more ‘user friendly’ labelling format is needed.

Improving the uptake of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with COPD : qualitative study of experiences and attitudes

Background
Pulmonary rehabilitation can improve the quality of life and ability to function of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It may also reduce hospital admission and inpatient stay with exacerbations of COPD. Some patients who are eligible for pulmonary rehabilitation may not accept an offer of it, thereby missing an opportunity to improve their health status.

Aim
To identify a strategy for improving the uptake of pulmonary rehabilitation.

Design of study
Qualitative interviews with patients.

Setting
Patients with COPD were recruited from a suburban general practice in north-east Derbyshire, UK.

Method
In-depth interviews were conducted on a purposive sample of 16 patients with COPD to assess their concerns about accepting an offer of pulmonary rehabilitation. Interviews were analysed using grounded theory.

Results
Fear of breathlessness and exercise, and the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on coexisting medical problems were the most common concerns patients had about taking part in the rehabilitation. The possibility of reducing the sensation of breathlessness and regaining the ability to do things, such as play with their grandchildren, were motivators to participating.

Conclusion
A model is proposed where patients who feel a loss of control as their disease advances may find that pulmonary rehabilitation offers them the opportunity to regain control. Acknowledging patients' fears and framing pulmonary rehabilitation as a way of ‘regaining control’ may improve patient uptake.

A preliminary analysis of barriers, intentions, and attitudes towards moderate physical activity in women who are overweight

Physical activity is important for the health of all individuals, however, the determinants of physical activity behaviour for women who are overweight remain largely unexplored. The purpose of this investigation was to explore a range of factors that influence participation in physical activity for a group of women who are overweight. Participants were 30 women, aged 25–71 years, with a mean age of 46.8 years (+12.95) and an average BMI of 31.2 kg/m2 (+5.6). Self-reported level of physical activity, perceived barriers and facilitators of physical activity, attitudes, intentions and perceived behavioural control to physical activity were measured. Seventeen participants were generally active, with self-reported moderate physical activity of 218.53 min (±113.82) in the last 7 days; whereas 13 participants were reportedly less active 43.46 (±42.98) min. Active participants were more likely to identify social reasons for participating in physical activity, while inactive participants perceived that their laziness prevented them from being physically active. There were no significant differences between active and inactive overweight women for attitude, intention or subjective norm for moderate-intensity physical activity. There was a significant difference between these women in perceived behavioural control (p = .014) for moderate-intensity physical activity, as women who felt more in control of their physical activity behaviour were more likely to engage in physical activity than inactive women. Future research should investigate interventions to increase behavioural control of moderate-intensity physical activity in women who are overweight.

Malaysian and Australian male and female middle managers : a cross-cultural comparison of workplace attitudes, aspirations for promotion, and self-rated leadership styles

This paper outlines the rise of women in management worldwide, and considers why so few women achieve senior or executive management positions. This slow advance of women into senior roles is unexpected given that the changes in organisations today are believed to require more ‘feminine leadership’. A decrease in the emphasis on masculine characteristics for managers is reported, and a requirement that more ‘feminine leadership’ needs to be adopted by organisations in order to ensure their survival in the future (Powell, Butterfield & Parent, 2002, p.189). Recent empirical research reports that there are differences in leadership style between male and female managers, and the findings suggest that women exhibit more transformational leadership than their male counterparts, with this style being strongly equated with effective leadership (Eagly, Johannesen-Schmidt, van Engen, 2003). However, these findings are based on western research, and it may be that cross cultural research will yield a different picture (House, Hanges, Javidan, Dorfman, & Gupta, 2004). Leadership and leadership styles may be conceptualised differently in a more paternalistic society. To explore this possibility, a cross cultural study was conducted in Malaysia and Australia. It is hypothesised that countries that are paternalistic in cultural values will exhibit a stronger constraint on women in management roles, which may impact on workplace attitudes, aspirations for promotion and style of leadership exhibited. Therefore, it is possible that the career advancement of women may be more problematic for Malaysian managerial women than their Australian counterparts. Results from an initial pilot study in Malaysia and Australia are outlined, and highlight some interesting similarities and differences to what are reported in the western literature.

Modelling general and carbon related environmental knowledge, attitudes and behaviour

Using the theory of reasoned action, this study proposes a structural equation model that tests the relationships among carbon and environmental knowledge, attitude and behaviour. We found that carbon related knowledge is unrelated to attitudes, but general environmental attitudes drive both general and carbon related behaviours. The results suggest that specific environmental behaviour may therefore be more driven by general attitudes and knowledge, rather than by issue specific knowledge.

Opportunity recognition attitudes of nascent indigenous entrepreneurs

This exploratory research aims to fill a gap in the literature. The current theory of entrepreneurial attitude toward opportunity recognition (EOR) is primarily based upon a non-indigenous entrepreneurship theory. Yet, there are significant differences between non-indigenous and indigenous forms of entrepreneurship. Non-indigenous entrepreneurship tends to emphasise economic objectives whereas indigenous entrepreneurship tends to embrace both economic and non-economic objectives. As such, the current EOR theory needs to be expanded to include both non-indigenous and indigenous similarities and differences. This research uses indigenous culture as a context for examining the relationships between personal values, EOR and expected personal success of nascent indigenous entrepreneurs.

Crisis and triage clinicians' attitudes toward working with people with personality disorder

PURPOSE. This study aimed to investigate the attitudes of Australian psychiatric triage and crisis clinicians toward those with a diagnosis of personality disorder.
DESIGN AND METHODS. The design of the study was exploratory descriptive research. The study employed a survey method using Bowers and Allan's (2006) Attitude to Personality Disorder Questionnaire, which was designed to identify global attitudes toward those with a diagnosis of personality disorder.
FINDINGS. The findings of this study indicate that psychiatric crisis and triage clinicians hold negative attitudes toward those with a diagnosis of personality disorder.
PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. Education and clinical supervision is required to address negative clinician attitudes.

Preventing falls among older people : current practice and attitudes among community pharmacists

Objective: Falls among older people are a major cause of injury and death in Australia Urgent action is required if we are to stem the .epidemic' increase in falls as our population ages. This paper describes current practice and attitudes of community pharmacists in Northern Rivers, New South Wales, in relation to preventing falls. .. Method: Comm~typhannacists in the Northern Rivers area ofNew South Wales were surveyed to detennine their current activities to reduce the risk of falls in older clients and to gauge awareness of the successful 1992-96 falls prevention program- 'Stay on Your Feet'. Results: Response rate was 79% (53/67). Seventy-two per cent reported that they urge 'most' or 'almost all' older clients to bring in out-of-date medications for disposal, 66% give them falls prevention advice at least 'sometimes', 57% refer at least 'some' older clients to allied health practitioners for assessment or treatment of falls risk. and 92% are interested in receiving more written information regarding falls prevention. Conclusion: The fmdings suggest that while community pharmacists are both ready and keen to play a role in future falls prevention initiatives. their current involvement varies considerably. Specific ways in which they might further help to reduce falls are: regularly checking the potential of client. medications to connibute to falls. giving more verbal or written advice, promoting 'falls safe' products, referring older clients to allied health practitioners for assessment or treatment of falls risk, and training staff [Q provide falls prevention advice

Relationship of heart failure patients' knowledge, perceived barriers, and attitudes regarding low-sodium diet recommendations to adherence.

The purposes of this study were to describe heart failure patient perceptions regarding instructions received for following a low-sodium diet and the benefits, barriers, and ease and frequency of following the diet. A total of 246 patients with heart failure referred from academic medical centers in the United States and Australia participated in the study. A subset of 145 patients provided 24-hour urine samples for sodium excretion assessment. While most (80%) patients reported receiving recommendations to follow a low-sodium diet, their recall of specific instructions was poor. Although the majority (75%) reported following a low-sodium diet most or all of the time, 24-hour urine sodium excretion indicated that only 25% of patients were adherent. Patients who reported being more adherent, however, had lower urine sodium excretion levels. Attitudes regarding difficulty in and perceived benefits of following the diet were not related to sodium excretion. Data on attitudes and barriers provided guidance for strategies to improve adherence.