Knowledge And Perceived Risk Of Major Diseases Essays - RTT

Knowledge And Perceived Risk Of Major Diseases KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEIVED RISK OF MAJOR DISEASES IN MIDDLE AGED AND OLDER WOMEN Hudson Valley Community College Fall Semester, 2000 General Psychology, Course 02587-588Abstract The American Psychological Association Journal Article this paper is based on focuses on the knowledge of health related risks and behaviors of middle age and older age women, and specifically women's knowledge of perceived risk of major disease (Wilcox & Stefanick, 1999). A link between lifestyle and chronic disease in old age has been established. In addition, the belief that age was a risk factor for breast and colon cancer actually decreased with increasing age among women. The population's general knowledge of CHD risk factors has gone up in recent time. Women, African-American women specifically are still more likely to die from CHD as opposed to men. The study used a survey which they had women age 40 and older fill out. Information requested about the women who filled out the survey was their age, marital status, education level and ethnic origins. Other variables reported in the study that were measured were the risk factors women described in the survey that were relevant to CHD, breast cancer, colon cancer and other various health problems. The survey also contained questions regarding what the women thought were the leading causes of death of women in certain age groups and gender groups. The women in the study were also questioned regarding their perceived general risk of a women developing a major disease. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into what women know about serious diseases i.e., CHD, lung cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer and genital organ cancer and the risk factors associated with developing these diseases. Also the researchers were attempting to determine how women see their own chances of developing a serious disease and what they know about deaths due to the above-mentioned diseases in the survey and applying their knowledge across groups of men and women and various age groups. It is well known that the fastest growing section of the population in the United States is the senior citizens. When Baby Boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, reach retirement age (some organizations allow employees 55 years old to take full retirement) which could begin next year for some and will continue to increase the older age or senior population of the United States (U.S. Bureau of the Census knowledge of perceived risk of major disease (Wilcox & Stefanick, 1999). As people get older, they are more susceptible to diseases and other disabling conditions. Their very survival becomes difficult because as they age they are more likely to develop diseases such as coronary heart disease (CHD), cancer of the lung, colon, breast and genital organs. Women often live longer than men do and their mortality rates are less than the rates for men. Because women are living longer they are more likely to experience chronic illness during their later years of life. Although this is true for many women, it does not have to be. A link between lifestyle and chronic disease in old age has been established. Lifestyle factors or habits such as lack of exercise, smoking and bad or unhealthy eating habits have been closely linked to CHD (McGinnis & Foege, 1993). Instead of managing a chronic disease such as CHD or diabetes we should have more focus on preventing the diseases that impact the health and quality of life for our aging population altogether and specificall y women. The prevention efforts could help increase the knowledge of individuals and this knowledge must be known or people will not change their unhealthy habits (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1999). An alarming report mentioned in the article this paper is based on The 1992 National Health Intervention Survey Cancer Control Supplement determined that most Americans did not know about the major risk factors for common cancers and lacked knowledge regarding survival rates following early detection (Breslow et. al., 1997). For example, close to two thirds of Americans did not know that age increased ones