American Journal of Health Promotion

The goal of this study was to describe the salient perceived barriers to exercise in three different groups and to examine the perceived barriers characterizing individuals with a high or a low intention to exercise in the context of the theory of planned behavior.

Cross-sectional studies relating perceived barriers and intention to exercise were utilized.

Three independent samples were used: general population (n=349), individuals who have suffered from coronary heart disease (n=162), and pregnant women (n=139).

Firstly, standard elicitation procedures were applied to identify the particular perceived barriers characterizing each population. Then, three self-administered questionnaires, one per sample, were used to measure perceived barriers and intention to exercise.

MANOVA analyses contrasting high and low intenders indicated a significant difference in perceived barriers to exercise in two of the three samples: general population (F_5,343=6.37, p<.001) and individuals suffering from coronary heart disease (F_9,152=2.28, p<.05).

The results indicate not only that each population has specific salient perceived barriers to exercise, but also that within each group high and low intenders differ on a number of these perceived barriers. Therefore, it is recommended that the study of perceived barriers to exercise in any population should be based upon a standardized method of measuring these barriers such as the method adopted in the present study.

The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of the cultural meanings that shape the breast cancer screening behavior of older African-American women.

Qualitative research methods elicited social and cultural themes related to breast cancer screening.

Focus group interviews were conducted in the natural settings (churches, etc.) of older African-American women.

Interviews were conducted with 132 members from 14 social networks of older African-American women.

A focus group guide asked about 1) perceived risk of breast cancer, 2) behavioral intentions about breast cancer screening, 3) health seeking behavior, and 4) social support.

For older African-American women: other health concerns are of more concern than breast cancer; age is generally not recognized as a risk factor for breast cancer; fear of finding breast cancer and its social consequences are salient barriers to mammography; they tend to rely on breast self-exam rather than mammography to detect a breast problem; cost may be more an issue of competing priorities than cost per se; the tradition is to go to doctors for a problem, not prevention; and women in their own social networks are important sources of social support for health concerns.

These data offer explanations for mammography screening in older African-American women and emphasize the strength of naturally existing sources of social support for designing interventions to increase breast cancer screening.

The purpose of this study was to operationalize adopter characteristics identified by Rogers and assess their relationship to the adoption and implementation of health innovations in schools.

A two-year cohort study of teachers was used following introduction of a new health promotion program.

From a randomly selected statewide sample of 300 second grade Texas teachers, 131 completed an initial questionnaire (54% of 244 eligible participants). Among those 131 who completed the initial questionnaire, 103 (79%) completed a follow-up postcard in year two. These represented 42 % of the original sample eligible to participate.

The self-administered questionnaire explored the structure of underlying cognitions towards adoption of innovations, teachers' communication patterns with health agencies, responses to various tobacco prevention and general educational materials, and the association of their views about adoption with practice. Descriptive statistics, principal components analysis, and nonparametric correlation coefficients were used.

Three components of teacher views which measured adopter characteristics described by Rogers (1983) were identified: Innovativeness, Need for Collegial Support, and Conservativeness. Respective levels of reliability were .83, .76, and .60. Associations of the components with user communication patterns with health agencies and use of innovations were found.

Scales identified adopter cognitions associated with use of innovations. These may be used to diagnose target audiences, plan training programs, and expand research to enhance adoption and use of new programs.