Risk perception and information processing: the development and validation of a questionnaire to assess self-reported information processing.

The role of information processing in understanding people's responses to risk information has recently received substantial attention. One limitation of this research concerns the unavailability of a validated questionnaire of information processing. This article presents two studies in which we describe the development and validation of the Information-Processing Questionnaire to meet that need.

An empirical test of the materialist framework for understanding the general population's reaction to nonpersonalized genetic health messages.

Genetic health messages are increasingly prevalent in our society. The materialist framework of laypeople's genetic knowledge may provide a good basis for understanding the effects of such messages on preventive behavior and related health cognitions. This study provides an empirical test of the predictions of this framework.

Fear appeals in HIV prevention: the role of anticipated regret.

The present study examined the role of a number of cognitive beliefs (i.e. attitude, subjective norm, anticipated regret, and self-efficacy) in explaining the effects of fear appeal information on behavioral motivation.

Lay responses to health messages about the genetic risk factors for salt sensitivity: do mass media genetic health messages result in genetic determinism?

Media coverage of genetics may lead to overestimation of the impact of genetics on disease development. In this study, we presented one student sample and one general public sample from the Netherlands with a general or a genetic health message (HM) about salt sensitivity. After reading the genetic (but not the general) HM, participants reported higher perceived impact of genetic versus lifestyle factors and a higher attributable fraction of genetics on disease development.

Understanding the positive effects of graphical risk information on comprehension: measuring attention directed to written, tabular, and graphical risk information.

Risk communications are an integral aspect of health education and promotion. However, the commonly used textual risk information is relatively difficult to understand for the average recipient. Consequently, researchers and health promoters have started to focus on so-called decision aids, such as tables and graphs.

Genetic health messages in the mass media: do the general public perceive non-personalized genetic health message as personally relevant?

Objectives: Although health messages communicating the role of genetics in health and disease development are increasingly prevalent in our society, no research has examined whether the general public perceives such messages as believable or personally relevant. We examined whether the general public accepted genetic health messages and viewed them personally relevant in promoting their preventive behaviour.

Design: Experimental pre-test-post-test measurement design was employed to contrast the information acceptance and perceived personal relevance of the genetic health message with a general health message.

Alerting the general population to genetic risks: the value of health messages communicating the existence of genetic risk factors for public health promotion.

Background: Health messages alerting the public to previously unknown genetic risk factors for multifactorial diseases are a potentially useful strategy to create public awareness, and may be an important first step in promoting public health. However, there is a lack of evidence-based insight into its impact on individuals who were unaware of the existence of genetic risk factors at the moment of information exposure.

Method: The authors conducted 3 experimental studies with health messages communicating information about genetic risk factors for salt sensitivity (Studies 1A and 1B) and heightened cholesterol (Study 2) compared with general information without reference to genetic risk factors as a between-subjects variable and risk perception and intention to engage in preventive behavior as dependent variables.

A systematic review of the impact of genetic counseling on risk perception accuracy.

This review presents an overview of the impact of genetic counseling on risk perception accuracy in papers published between January 2000 and February 2007. The results suggest that genetic counseling may have a positive impact on risk perception accuracy, though some studies observed no impact at all, or only for low-risk participants. Several implications for future research can be deduced.

Educating the general public about multifactorial genetic disease: applying a theory-based framework to understand current public knowledge.

The present article describes the application of a theory-based framework to understand current public knowledge of genetic risk factors of multifactorial diseases. The main innovative aspect is the application of E. M.

Should individuals be informed about their salt sensitivity status? First indications of the value of testing for genetic predisposition to low-risk conditions.

The present study examined the possible pathways of effect of genetic testing for relatively "low-risk" conditions by exploring positive as well as negative effects of anticipated test results on the intention to restrict salt intake. In a cross-sectional within-subjects design, patients being tested for genetic predispositions to salt sensitivity reported higher overall intentions to restrict their salt intake when anticipating positive test results, confirming the value of genetic testing for low-risk conditions. However, participants in the precontemplation and preparation stages of change reported lower intentions when anticipating negative test results.

Validating the Medical Data Interpretation Test in a Dutch population.

Objective: To validate the Dutch translation of the Medical Data Interpretation Test.

Methods: A test-retest design with a 2-week interval was used.

Results: The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC=.