VTechWorks Repository :: Browsing by Author "Chen, Yi-Chun Yvonnes"

Browsing by Author "Chen, Yi-Chun Yvonnes"

Now showing 1 - 13 of 13

CEO Icon to GOP Hopeful: A Quantitative Analysis Exploring Politically Motivated Celebrity CEOs
Crighton, Lindsay (Virginia Tech, 2011-04-26)
This study examined the perceptions of celebrity CEOs potentially transitioning to political candidates. Using Carly Fiorina's campaign for Senator of California, this study identified how young voters perceive celebrity CEOs as politicians, their identification of celebrity CEOs, and the evaluations of CEOs and their companies. Results indicate a more favorable evaluation of Fiorina resulted in a more favorable reaction to Hewlett- Packard. Results also confirm the use of media messages to prime young voters about political candidates. Finally, political party affiliation was found to significantly influence the findings of this study while gender and political cynicism did not. Theoretical implications and areas of future research in celebrity and politics are discussed.
Effects of a behavioral and health literacy intervention to reduce sugar-sweetened beverages: a randomized-controlled trial
Zoellner, Jamie M.; Hedrick, Valisa E.; You, Wen; Chen, Yi-Chun Yvonnes; Davy, Brenda M.; Porter, Kathleen J.; Bailey, Angela; Lane, Hannah; Alexander, Ramine C.; Estabrooks, Paul A. (Biomed Central, 2016-03-22)
Background: Despite excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), little is known about behavioral interventions to reduce SSB intake among adults, particularly in medically-underserved rural communities. This type 1 effectiveness-implementation hybrid RCT, conducted in 2012–2014, applied the RE-AIM framework and was designed to assess the effectiveness of a behavioral intervention targeting SSB consumption (SIPsmartER) when compared to an intervention targeting physical activity (MoveMore) and to determine if health literacy influenced retention, engagement or outcomes. Methods: Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior and health literacy strategies, the 6 month multi-component intervention for both conditions included three small-group classes, one live teach-back call, and 11 interactive voice response calls. Validated measures were used to assess SSB consumption (primary outcome) and all secondary outcomes including physical activity behaviors, theory-based constructs, quality of life, media literacy, anthropometric, and biological outcomes. Results: Targeting a medically-underserved rural region in southwest Virginia, 1056 adult participants were screened, 620 (59 %) eligible, 301 (49 %) enrolled and randomized, and 296 included in these 2015 analyses. Participants were 93 % Caucasian, 81 % female, 31 % ≤ high-school educated, 43 % < $14,999 household income, and 33 % low health literate. Retention rates (74 %) and program engagement was not statistically different between conditions. Compared to MoveMore, SIPsmartER participants significantly decreased SSB kcals and BMI at 6 months. SIPsmartER participants significantly decreased SSB intake by 227 (95 % CI = −326,−127, p < 0.001) kcals/day from baseline to 6 months when compared to the decrease of 53 (95 % CI = −88,−17, p < 0.01) kcals/day among MoveMore participants (p < 0.001). SIPsmartER participants decreased BMI by 0.21 (95 % CI = −0.35,−0.06; p < 0.01) kg/m2 from baseline to 6 months when compared to the non-significant 0.10 (95 % CI = −0.23, 0.43; NS) kg/m2 gain among MoveMore participants (p <0.05). Significant 0–6 month effects were observed for about half of the theory-based constructs, but for no biological outcomes. Health literacy status did not influence retention rates, engagement or outcomes. Conclusions: SIPsmartER is an effective intervention to decrease SSB consumption among adults and is promising for translation into practice settings. SIPsmartER also yielded small, yet significant, improvements in BMI. By using health literacy-focused strategies, the intervention was robust in achieving reductions for participants of varying health literacy status.
Exploring health disparities in rural regions of Virginia: The impact of health literacy and social capital
Bailey, Angela (Virginia Tech, 2016-01-14)
In the United States, low-income, ethnic/racial minorities and rural populations are at increased risk for poorer health outcomes compared to higher income, non-minorities, and urban populations. Two key determinants that influence rural health disparities are health literacy and social capital. Health literacy can be described as an individual-level factor and defined as, "the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand the basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions." Social capital is a concept that accounts for the role of collective social functioning and has been defined as, "the features of social structures, such as levels of interpersonal trust and norms of reciprocity and mutual aid" which act as resources for individuals to facilitate collective action." The overarching goal of this research is to explore factors influencing health disparities, including health literacy, social capital in two rural regions of Virginia. The first study is embedded in Talking Health, a larger 2-arm RCT targeting adults in rural Southwest Virginia and examined participants' perceptions of and satisfaction with components of a behavioral intervention designed using health literacy concepts to decrease sugary beverage intake in rural, low-health literacy participants. The second study is also embedded in the Talking Health trial, yet focused on the maintenance of behavior 12-months after the intervention concluded. Guided by RE-AIM, this study examined the reach, effectiveness and implementation of a 12-month randomized extended care intervention aimed at enhancing long-term maintenance of behavior change and study retention when compared to a control condition. The last study is part of a larger telephone surveillance survey conducted in the Dan River Region located in south central Virginia. This study described current levels of social capital in the Dan River Region and examined the influence of social capital on FV consumption, physical activity, sugary beverage intake and BMI on a sample of rural and urban adults.
Let's Talk About Sex: The Health Belief Model and Effects of Prime Time Television Sexual Portrayals
Shade, Drew D. (Virginia Tech, 2010-05-05)
This study used the Health Belief Model to examine the effects of viewing valenced levels of consequences of sexual decision found in prime time television programs. When exposed to portrayals of negative consequences, participants had higher levels of perceived severity than those in the positive condition. After viewing positive portrayals, participants perceived an increased amount of benefits of behavior modification when compared to those who were exposed to the negative portrayals. In addition, multiple correlations were found between several individual-level variables that were tested for in the study and the HBM constructs. Theoretical implications and practical implications are discussed.
Metaphor as a Tool for Preparing Sojourners
Bayliss, Lauren (Virginia Tech, 2012-04-30)
Sojourners, or people who live in a foreign country for a limited period of time, must prepare to communicate effectively in a foreign culture. Current theory suggests that sojourners learn to develop primary social interaction schemas to prepare for intercultural communication. Because sojourners may not stay in a country long enough to develop schemas, sojourners could benefit from a tool designed to help them acquire schemas for their host countries. Conceptual and situation metaphors can help sojourners gain useful insights into the cultures they prepare to face. To investigate metaphors that may assist sojourners, international students studying in the United States were interviewed to uncover the metaphors they already used to describe their experiences, as well as to see if new metaphors could be created to assist future sojourners. The conceptual and situation metaphors uncovered are discussed in within the framework of schemas.
News Corp Translated: Framing the United States in Bulgaria
Sotirova, Nadezhda Mihaylova (Virginia Tech, 2009-05-04)
This study examined framing in two Bulgarian television stations and their web sites. Framing within the web sites' news coverage of the United States was examined during the one-month period immediately following the 2008 United States presidential election. The news articles gathered from the two web sites were examined for amount of coverage, frame presence and valence, as well as hyperlinks, in order to offer insight into the fields of gatekeeping, framing, and corporate ownership bias. Suggestions of bias were found in terms of the overall tone of the articles but not in the amount of coverage. There was a significant difference between the two web sites in the tone of coverage concerning individuals and events.
Permeating the wall: Transmitting knowledge remittances as a strategy for health information campaigns in The Republic of Moldova
Fesenmaier, Margaret Anna (Virginia Tech, 2013-07-16)
The Republic of Moldova is losing many of its citizens to more lucrative economic opportunities abroad. Remittances from emigrants, in many various forms, have become vital agents in the Moldovan economy. This thesis investigated whether remittance activity among immigrants from Moldova in the United States and Canada might be used as a model for an effective strategy to spread public health information amongst Moldovans. Specifically, two studies examined whether remittance behavior among Moldovans living in The United States and Canada predicted their perceptions that a "knowledge remittance" strategy for public health information would be effective and their interest in participating in a knowledge remittance effort. Grounded in the extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM2), two studies evaluated the remittance relationship. Study 1, an exploratory online survey (n = 15), indicated that Moldovan immigrants living in the United States and Canada that have a generally positive attitude towards capital and knowledge remittances will tend to perceive the transmission of knowledge remittances as useful. There was tentative support for the correlation of perceived usefulness with the intention to remit knowledge. Study 2 (n = 5) consisted of qualitative interviews and found that Moldovan immigrants living in the United States and Canada have access to the Internet and frequently use the technology to contact family in Moldova at home. Interviewees had a generally positive view of both capital and knowledge remittances, though they were in disagreement on the major health risks facing Moldova. The findings of these studies suggest that a remittance propagated health campaign is a possible resolution to poor health knowledge in Moldova.
Pilot Findings from a Randomized Controlled Trial Targeting Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Behaviors
Cook, Emily Ryland (Virginia Tech, 2012-03-27)
Background: Low health literacy and increased sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption are two broad public health concerns facing the United States. For example, it is estimated that 90 million Americans have insufficient literacy skills (IOMC, 2004) and low health literacy is associated with poorer health outcomes (Berkman et. al., 2011). Furthermore, SSBs contribute about 80% of added sugars in the diet (Nielsen & Popkin, 2004) and have been associated with poor health outcomes, including obesity, type II diabetes, bone fractures, dental caries, and coronary heart disease. Despite these findings, there is limited research related to how to effectively decrease SSB intake among adults. Additionally, there have been few studies investigating health literacy interventions that target health behaviors in community settings (Allen et.al, 2011). Objective: As guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and constructs of health literacy, this 5-week, 2-arm randomized controlled pilot trial, used mixed methods to examine the effects of an intervention to decrease SSB (SipSmartER), as compared to a matched-contact control condition targeting physical activity (Move More). The primary aims of this pilot project were to evaluate participant's feedback through process and summative evaluation as well as evaulate intervention content and/or delivery through process evaluation by staff tracking for quality improvements. Secondary aims included the assessment of changes in theorized mediating variables and health behaviors among participants. Methods: Twenty-five participants (mean age = 42±14 years, mean BMI = 34.3±7.5 kg/m₂, 19 females, 12 African Americans, 9 (high school education) residing in Roanoke, VA were randomized to either SipSmartER (n=14) or Move More (n=11) to begin the 5-week intervention. Inclusion criteria consisted of participants being 18 years of age or older, English speaking, consuming greater than 200 kcal/day of SSB, and being without medical conditions in which physical activity would be contraindicated. Both 5-week interventions included two interactive small group sessions (Weeks 1 & 5) and three support telephone calls (Weeks 2, 3 & 4). Pre-post data was obtained using previously validated instruments including Beverage Intake Questionnaire (Bev-Q), Theory of Planned Behavior constructs addressing SSB and physical activity, media literacy, subjective numeracy, Stanford Leisure-Time Activity Categorical Item (L-CAT), and quality of life. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and regression models were used in data analysis. Results: Although SSB consumption decreased more among the SipSmartER participants (-257±622.6 kcal/day) than Move More (-200±404.6 kcal/day) there were no significant group by time differences. However, among all participants, changes in TPB constructs significantly predicted changes in SSB (R²=0.592; F=2.485; p=0.080) and physical activity behaviors (R2=0.621; F=2.813; p=0.056). Participant and staff feedback were very positive, ranging from 4.2-5.0 on a 5-point likert scale that included questions about intervention organization, flow, effectiveness, engagement, and enjoyment. Favorite themes that emerged with SipSmartER participants when asking about small group sessions included, realizing how much sugar is found in SSBs, understanding the health risks associated with drinking too much sugar, realizing how much sugar was being consumed during the day, and learning about better alternatives. Conclusion: Findings suggest promise for the piloted intervention to reduce SSB consumption through targeted TPB and health literacy strategies. This pilot study has allowed further refinement and execution of a larger trial that includes a larger sample and longer study duration (i.e. 6-months) and follow-up period (i.e. 18-months).
The Role of Health Literacy in Intervention Engagement, Teach Back Performance, and Perceptions of Intervention Components
Noel, Lauren Elizabeth (Virginia Tech, 2013-05-30)
Background: Low health literacy is a significant problem affecting our country. While the associations between low health literacy and poorer health outcomes have been well documented (Berkman et al., 2011), the literature lacks evidence of effective strategies to address health literacy in the context of health behaviors such as diet and physical activity (PA). Likewise, few interventions have reported on how health literacy status influences performance and engagement in the intervention. Two potential intervention strategies include the teach back method or teach to goal approach and interactive voice response (IVR) technology. These strategies hold promise as a means of improving health literacy and reaching vulnerable, low health literate populations, but these strategies have not been widely explored in the literature (Paasche-Orlow et al., 2005; Baker et al., 2011; Schillinger et al., 2009; Bennett et al., 2012; Piette et al., 1999). Primary Aims: This research was embedded in a larger trial, Talking Health, which is a 6-month, 2 group randomized controlled trial to determine the effects of a health behavior intervention on reducing sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption in Southwest Virginians. The primary aims of this study were to examine the associations between health literacy status and 1) number of rounds of teach back needed to reinforce key concepts, 2) proportion of correct answers on the first round of teach back, 3) level of intervention engagement (i.e., completion rates for teach back call, IVR calls, and small group classes), and 4) perceptions of the intervention components. Methods: The data reported represent the first 3 cohorts of the Talking Health trial including participants in Lee, Giles, and Pulaski Counties. Eligibility requirements included being 18 years or older, English speaking, consuming at least 200 calories per day from SSB, able to participate in moderate intensity PA, and having reliable access to a telephone. Data were collected at baseline and at the 6-month follow-up assessment. Health literacy was assessed using the validated Newest Vital Sign. Participants were randomized to a behavioral intervention aimed at decreasing SSB consumption (SipSmartER) or to a matched-contact control group targeting PA (Move More). Both groups participated in 3 small group education sessions, received a live teach back call, and 11 supportive IVR calls. Participants completed a summative evaluation at the 6-month follow-up, which captured their perceptions of the intervention components. ANOVAs were used to measure differences in outcomes by health literacy status, randomized condition, and interactions. Results: Of the 125 enrolled participants, 92.0% were Caucasian, 76.8% were female, 29.6% had d high school education, 64.0% had <$25,000 annual household income, and 32.8% had low health literacy skills. Eighty-five participants (68.0%) completed the teach back call. The overall model when looking at the degree to which health literacy status and randomized condition predicted the number of rounds of teach back needed to reinforce key concepts was significant (F= 8.323, p < 0.001). Out of 3 possible teach back attempts, participants in the low health literacy category required a significantly higher number of teach back attempts as compared to those with high health literacy (F= 16.769, p <0.001), and participants randomized to Move More required a significantly higher number of teach back attempts compared to SipSmartER participants (F=7.296, p= 0.008). Similarly, the overall model when looking at the degree to which health literacy status and randomized condition predicted the proportion correct on the first round of teach back was significant (F= 9.836, p<0.001), such that those with higher health literacy status (F= 19.176, p< 0.001) and those randomized to SipSmartER condition answered a significantly higher proportion of questions correct (F= 9.783, p= 0.002). Intervention engagement including completion of the small group education sessions, the live teach back call, and the IVR calls did not vary significantly across randomized condition or literacy levels. Low health literate participants had a significantly higher overall perceived satisfaction with the IVR, as compared to high health literate participants (F= 5.849, p= 0.020). However, perceptions of other intervention components (e.g., small group sessions, teach back call, personal action plans, drink diaries/exercise logs,) were similar among participants with low and high health literacy status and across randomized conditions. Conclusion: These data confirm the importance for multiple teach back opportunities and additional exposure to health information to ensure participant comprehension of key intervention content"in particular for those with lower health literacy. This research also supports that IVR is an effective approach to reaching vulnerable, low health literate populations. Future research should investigate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of utilizing teach back methods delivered using automated technologies. Future research also is needed to determine how teach back performance are related to other study factors such as retention, engagement, and health outcomes.
Setting the Standard: Media Literacy Education in Virginia's Public School
O'Kane, Charles John (Virginia Tech, 2011-04-28)
This thesis examines the state of media literacy in the middle school curriculum of Virginia's public schools. Through in-depth interviews with state certified teachers of English and Language Arts, the goal was to uncover student, teacher, resource, family, classroom, school, and other structural variables that influence media literacy among students at the middle school level, while also uncovering teachers' perception of the Standards of Learning (SOLs) and the benchmarks for media literacy that are contained within those state directives. An additional purpose of this thesis is to contribute to theory building efforts so that media literacy education is better understood in academic literature, in higher education, and in K-12 curriculum.
A Spoonful of Salt Helps the Vegetables Go Down: Exploring the Processing of Health and Nutrition-related Claims in Advertising
Tice, Meghan A. (Virginia Tech, 2011-04-29)
In light of recent persuasive appeals which promote a food product's health or nutritional benefits in advertisements, this exploratory study investigates the ways in which individuals read and understand health and nutrition-related claims in advertising and make subsequent judgments about the product, brand, and purchase intentions. Using the Elaboration-Likelihood model of persuasion, this study looks at how motivational (e.g., health consciousness, need for cognition) and ability (nutrition knowledge) factors influence attitudes toward three food products following exposure to manipulated advertisements containing a nutrition-related claim. Although the results do not demonstrate much support for the predicted relationships, the findings nonetheless provide researchers useful information that may benefit future studies.
Supporting maintenance of sugar-sweetened beverage reduction using automated versus live telephone support: findings from a randomized control trial
Zoellner, Jamie M.; You, Wen; Estabrooks, Paul A.; Chen, Yi-Chun Yvonnes; Davy, Brenda M.; Porter, Kathleen J.; Hedrick, Valisa E.; Bailey, Angela; Kružliaková, Natalie (2018-10-04)
Background Although reducing sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake is an important behavioral strategy to improve health, no known SSB-focused behavioral trial has examined maintenance of SSB behaviors after an initial reduction. Guided by the RE-AIM framework, this study examines 6–18 month and 0–18 month individual-level maintenance outcomes from an SSB reduction trial conducted in a medically-underserved, rural Appalachia region of Virginia. Reach and implementation indicators are also reported. Methods Following completion of a 6-month, multi-component, behavioral RCT to reduce SSB intake (SIPsmartER condition vs. comparison condition), participants were further randomized to one of three 12-month maintenance conditions. Each condition included monthly telephone calls, but varied in mode and content: 1) interactive voice response (IVR) behavior support, 2) human-delivered behavior support, or 3) IVR control condition. Assessments included the Beverage Intake Questionnaire (BEVQ-15), weight, BMI, and quality of life. Call completion rates and costs were tracked. Analysis included descriptive statistics and multilevel mixed-effects linear regression models using intent-to-treat procedures. Results Of 301 subjects enrolled in the 6-month RCT, 242 (80%) were randomized into the maintenance phase and 235 (78%) included in the analyses. SIPsmartER participants maintained significant 0–18 month decreases in SSB. For SSB, weight, BMI and quality of life, there were no significant 6–18 month changes among SIPsmartER participants, indicating post-program maintenance. The IVR-behavior participants reported greater reductions in SSB kcals/day during the 6–18 month maintenance phase, compared to the IVR control participants (− 98 SSB kcals/day, 95% CI = − 196, − 0.55, p < 0.05); yet the human-delivered behavior condition was not significantly different from either the IVR-behavior condition (27 SSB kcals/day, 95% CI = − 69, 125) or IVR control condition (− 70 SSB kcals/day, 95% CI = − 209, 64). Call completion rates were similar across maintenance conditions (4.2–4.6 out of 11 calls); however, loss to follow-up was greatest in the IVR control condition. Approximated costs of IVR and human-delivered calls were remarkably similar (i.e., $3.15/participant/month or $38/participant total for the 12-month maintenance phase), yet implications for scalability and sustainability differ. Conclusion Overall, SIPsmartER participants maintained improvements in SSB behaviors. Using IVR to support SSB behaviors is effective and may offer advantages as a scalable maintenance strategy for real-world systems in rural regions to address excessive SSB consumption. Trial registry Clinicaltrials.gov; NCT02193009; Registered 11 July 2014. Retrospectively registered.
Using the Theory of Planned Behavior to Understand Drink Choices in Southwest Virginians
Krzeski, Erin (Virginia Tech, 2011-04-22)
Background: Between 1977 and 2002, the per capita intake of caloric beverages doubled in the United States, with most recent data from 2005–2006 showing that children and adults consume about 172 and 175 kcal daily, respectively, from sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) (Brownell et al., 2009). Also, a high intake of SSB has been related to many adverse health outcomes including type 2 diabetes, obesity, dental carries and heart disease (Malik, Schulze, & Hu, 2006; Vartanian, Schwartz, & Brownell, 2007; Schulze et al., 2004; Ismail, Sohn, Lim, & Willem, 2009; Fung et al., 2009); however, few studies have explored factors that influence SSB consumption. In addition, no theory-based interventions have been implemented targeting this public health problem. Objective: The primary objective of this study was to apply the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) (Ajzen, 1991) to investigate culturally specific attitudes, subjective norms and behavioral capabilities related to SSB, water, and artificially sweetened drink consumption among adults residing in rural Southwest Virginia. In addition, programmatic issues related to implementation of SSB interventions, including small group sessions and interactive voice response (IVR) technology was explored. Methods: A total of 8 focus groups were completed with 54 participants. Each focus group took place with residents from one of the 11 identified rural Southwest Virginia counties. Four focus groups included individuals on city water and four contained residents on well water to investigate any discrepancies in attitudes, norms and perceived behavioral control related to the intake of various drinks. Participants needed to be at least 18 years of age, English speaking, and consume >1 cup of SSB per day. A semi-structured script guided by the TPB constructs was used to facilitate the focus group discussions. All focus groups were transcribed verbatim. Two researchers independently reviewed the transcripts and met to identify major themes and develop a coding system. Three researchers independently coded meaning units (MU) to the major themes and subsequently met to review codes and reconcile disagreements. Results: The most notable themes that emerged included taste (n= 161 MU), availability/convenience (n= 95 MU), cost (n= 28 MU), and habit/addiction (n= 57 MU). Participants also continuously emphasized the importance of their doctor's advice and health concerns on their beverage choices. The majority of the participants (n=27 MU) indicated they would be willing to participate in a program with three small group sessions and phone calls, yet when asked specifically about receiving multiple interactive voice technology telephone messages, most participants said that they would not be receptive to an automated message (n=21 MU). Conclusions: Collectively, these findings provide unique cultural insight to better understand the salient beliefs associated with beverage behaviors and helps inform intervention development and delivery in the targeted vulnerable region of Southwest Virginia.

Browsing by Author "Chen, Yi-Chun Yvonnes"

Results Per Page

Sort Options