Amy Leader | Thomas Jefferson University (original) (raw)

Papers by Amy Leader

Research paper thumbnail of The HPV vaccine and the media: How has the topic been covered and what are the effects on knowledge about the virus and cervical cancer?

Patient Education and Counseling, 2009

In June 2006, the first vaccine for HPV was approved by the FDA and media coverage about the topi... more In June 2006, the first vaccine for HPV was approved by the FDA and media coverage about the topic increased significantly. This study sought to explore the nature of the coverage and whether knowledge about HPV was affected by it. A content analysis, including 321 news stories from major newspapers, the AP wire and television news networks was conducted. A monthly RDD-recruited Internet survey with a national sample (n=3323) was used to assess changes in population knowledge. Twenty-three percent of stories did not mention the sexually transmitted nature of the disease and 80% left out information about the need for continued cervical cancer screening after vaccination. Exposure to health-related media content was significantly associated with knowledge about HPV, even controlling for baseline knowledge (OR=1.62, 95% CI=1.12-2.35). Changes in the volume of coverage over time were associated with knowledge about HPV, but the content analysis reveals that many of the stories were missing important information. Clinicians must consider the potential media source patients are using for HPV-related information in order to correct inaccurate or incomplete information that could affect health behavior.

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of Information Framing on Human Papillomavirus Vaccination

Journal of Women's Health, 2009

In June 2006, the first vaccine to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV) transmission was approved f... more In June 2006, the first vaccine to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV) transmission was approved for use in females in the United States. Because the vaccine was approved for females as young as 9, its success depends on parents' and individuals' willingness to accept vaccination. Little is known about how attitudes toward this vaccine will be influenced by the way the vaccine is portrayed in the media or in public debate.

Research paper thumbnail of Narrative Health Communication and Behavior Change: The Influence of Exemplars in the News on Intention to Quit Smoking

Journal of Communication, 2012

This study investigated psychological mechanisms underlying the effect of narrative health commun... more This study investigated psychological mechanisms underlying the effect of narrative health communication on behavioral intention. Specifically, the study examined how exemplification in news about successful smoking cessation affects recipients' narrative engagement, thereby changing their intention to quit smoking. Nationally representative samples of U.S. adult smokers participated in 2 experiments. The results from the 2 experiments consistently showed that smokers reading a news article with an exemplar experienced greater narrative engagement compared to those reading an article without an exemplar. Those who reported more engagement were in turn more likely to report greater smoking cessation intentions.

Research paper thumbnail of An Exploratory Study of Adolescent Female Reactions to Direct-to-Consumer Advertising: The Case of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine

Health Marketing Quarterly, 2011

Research paper thumbnail of Is the Promise of Cancer-Screening Programs Being Compromised? Quality of Follow-Up Care after Abnormal Screening Results

Medical Care Research and Review, 2003

Cancer screening has increased dramatically in the United States, yet in some populations, partic... more Cancer screening has increased dramatically in the United States, yet in some populations, particularly racial minorities or the poor, advanced disease at diagnosis remains high. One potential explanation is that follow-up of abnormal tests is suboptimal, and the benefits of screening are not being realized. The authors used a conceptual model of access to care and integrated constructs from models of provider and patient health behaviors to review published literature on follow-up care. Most studies reported that fewer than 75 percent of patients received some follow-up care, indicating that the promise of screening may be compromised. They identified pervasive barriers to follow-up at the provider, patient, and health care system levels. Interventions that address these barriers appear to be effective. Improvement of data infrastructure and reporting will be important objectives for policy makers, and further use of conceptual models by researchers may improve intervention development and, ultimately, cancer control.

Research paper thumbnail of Awareness of Anticancer Vaccines Among Asian American Women with Limited English Proficiency: An Opportunity for Improved Public Health Communication

Journal of Cancer Education, 2009

Background. Asian Americans suffer from liver and cervical cancers, both vaccine preventable, yet... more Background. Asian Americans suffer from liver and cervical cancers, both vaccine preventable, yet vaccine awareness has not been described. Methods. Cross-sectional survey (6 languages, 380 adult women). Results. Those with limited English proficiency (LEP) were less likely to have accurate knowledge of cervical cancer vaccine (44% vs. 76%, among the 34% aware of any cancer-preventive vaccines) and were more likely to believe vaccines existed for nonvaccine-preventable cancers. Awareness of anti-liver cancer vaccine was low for both LEP and non-LEP women. Conclusion. There is a great need to educate Asian Americans about vaccinepreventable cancers, especially among LEP women.

Research paper thumbnail of Are Patterns of Health Behavior Associated With Cancer Screening?

American Journal of Health Promotion, 2009

This study investigates the relationship between patterns of health behaviors and the use of canc... more This study investigates the relationship between patterns of health behaviors and the use of cancer-screening tests while controlling for sociodemographic and health system factors. Cross-sectional analysis of the 2000 National Health Interview (NHIS). Nationally representative sample. Adults 50 years and older. Use of cancer-screening tests, health behaviors, sociodemographic factors, and health system factors from self-reported responses from the NHIS. Sixteen health behavior patterns were identified based on lifestyle recommendations for physical activity, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and fruit and vegetable consumption. Health behavior patterns, age, educational attainment, usual source of care, and health insurance were significantly associated with the use of breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening (p < .05). Approximate R2 for the four models ranged from .067 for colorectal cancer screening in women to .122 for cervical cancer screening. Having a usual source of care was the strongest correlate of screening; the magnitude of associations for health behavior patterns and demographic variables and screening was similar and much smaller than those for usual source of care. These findings demonstrate relationships between patterns of multiple health behaviors and use of recommended cancer-screening tests, even when accounting for factors known to influence test use. This suggests potential for addressing cancer screening in the context of multiple behavior change interventions once barriers to health care access are removed.

Research paper thumbnail of The Association between Neighborhood Social Capital and Cancer Screening

American Journal of Health Behavior, 2013

To examine the association between social capital and adherence to cancer screening exams. Data f... more To examine the association between social capital and adherence to cancer screening exams. Data from a population-based survey assessed perceived neighborhood social capital as well as cancer screening behavior. We analyzed the influence of social capital on adherence to screening guidelines for cervical, breast, and colorectal cancer. Data from 2668 adults documented that those with greater perceived neighborhood social capital were more likely to be screened for cancer. The effect was strongest for colorectal cancer and weakest for cervical cancer. Research on understanding the effect of the neighborhood social environment on efforts related to cancer screening behavior may be helpful for increasing cancer screening rates.

Research paper thumbnail of The HPV vaccine and the media: How has the topic been covered and what are the effects on knowledge about the virus and cervical cancer?

Patient Education and Counseling, 2009

In June 2006, the first vaccine for HPV was approved by the FDA and media coverage about the topi... more In June 2006, the first vaccine for HPV was approved by the FDA and media coverage about the topic increased significantly. This study sought to explore the nature of the coverage and whether knowledge about HPV was affected by it. A content analysis, including 321 news stories from major newspapers, the AP wire and television news networks was conducted. A monthly RDD-recruited Internet survey with a national sample (n=3323) was used to assess changes in population knowledge. Twenty-three percent of stories did not mention the sexually transmitted nature of the disease and 80% left out information about the need for continued cervical cancer screening after vaccination. Exposure to health-related media content was significantly associated with knowledge about HPV, even controlling for baseline knowledge (OR=1.62, 95% CI=1.12-2.35). Changes in the volume of coverage over time were associated with knowledge about HPV, but the content analysis reveals that many of the stories were missing important information. Clinicians must consider the potential media source patients are using for HPV-related information in order to correct inaccurate or incomplete information that could affect health behavior.

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of Information Framing on Human Papillomavirus Vaccination

Journal of Women's Health, 2009

In June 2006, the first vaccine to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV) transmission was approved f... more In June 2006, the first vaccine to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV) transmission was approved for use in females in the United States. Because the vaccine was approved for females as young as 9, its success depends on parents' and individuals' willingness to accept vaccination. Little is known about how attitudes toward this vaccine will be influenced by the way the vaccine is portrayed in the media or in public debate.

Research paper thumbnail of Narrative Health Communication and Behavior Change: The Influence of Exemplars in the News on Intention to Quit Smoking

Journal of Communication, 2012

This study investigated psychological mechanisms underlying the effect of narrative health commun... more This study investigated psychological mechanisms underlying the effect of narrative health communication on behavioral intention. Specifically, the study examined how exemplification in news about successful smoking cessation affects recipients' narrative engagement, thereby changing their intention to quit smoking. Nationally representative samples of U.S. adult smokers participated in 2 experiments. The results from the 2 experiments consistently showed that smokers reading a news article with an exemplar experienced greater narrative engagement compared to those reading an article without an exemplar. Those who reported more engagement were in turn more likely to report greater smoking cessation intentions.

Research paper thumbnail of An Exploratory Study of Adolescent Female Reactions to Direct-to-Consumer Advertising: The Case of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine

Health Marketing Quarterly, 2011

Research paper thumbnail of Is the Promise of Cancer-Screening Programs Being Compromised? Quality of Follow-Up Care after Abnormal Screening Results

Medical Care Research and Review, 2003

Cancer screening has increased dramatically in the United States, yet in some populations, partic... more Cancer screening has increased dramatically in the United States, yet in some populations, particularly racial minorities or the poor, advanced disease at diagnosis remains high. One potential explanation is that follow-up of abnormal tests is suboptimal, and the benefits of screening are not being realized. The authors used a conceptual model of access to care and integrated constructs from models of provider and patient health behaviors to review published literature on follow-up care. Most studies reported that fewer than 75 percent of patients received some follow-up care, indicating that the promise of screening may be compromised. They identified pervasive barriers to follow-up at the provider, patient, and health care system levels. Interventions that address these barriers appear to be effective. Improvement of data infrastructure and reporting will be important objectives for policy makers, and further use of conceptual models by researchers may improve intervention development and, ultimately, cancer control.

Research paper thumbnail of Awareness of Anticancer Vaccines Among Asian American Women with Limited English Proficiency: An Opportunity for Improved Public Health Communication

Journal of Cancer Education, 2009

Background. Asian Americans suffer from liver and cervical cancers, both vaccine preventable, yet... more Background. Asian Americans suffer from liver and cervical cancers, both vaccine preventable, yet vaccine awareness has not been described. Methods. Cross-sectional survey (6 languages, 380 adult women). Results. Those with limited English proficiency (LEP) were less likely to have accurate knowledge of cervical cancer vaccine (44% vs. 76%, among the 34% aware of any cancer-preventive vaccines) and were more likely to believe vaccines existed for nonvaccine-preventable cancers. Awareness of anti-liver cancer vaccine was low for both LEP and non-LEP women. Conclusion. There is a great need to educate Asian Americans about vaccinepreventable cancers, especially among LEP women.

Research paper thumbnail of Are Patterns of Health Behavior Associated With Cancer Screening?

American Journal of Health Promotion, 2009

This study investigates the relationship between patterns of health behaviors and the use of canc... more This study investigates the relationship between patterns of health behaviors and the use of cancer-screening tests while controlling for sociodemographic and health system factors. Cross-sectional analysis of the 2000 National Health Interview (NHIS). Nationally representative sample. Adults 50 years and older. Use of cancer-screening tests, health behaviors, sociodemographic factors, and health system factors from self-reported responses from the NHIS. Sixteen health behavior patterns were identified based on lifestyle recommendations for physical activity, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and fruit and vegetable consumption. Health behavior patterns, age, educational attainment, usual source of care, and health insurance were significantly associated with the use of breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening (p < .05). Approximate R2 for the four models ranged from .067 for colorectal cancer screening in women to .122 for cervical cancer screening. Having a usual source of care was the strongest correlate of screening; the magnitude of associations for health behavior patterns and demographic variables and screening was similar and much smaller than those for usual source of care. These findings demonstrate relationships between patterns of multiple health behaviors and use of recommended cancer-screening tests, even when accounting for factors known to influence test use. This suggests potential for addressing cancer screening in the context of multiple behavior change interventions once barriers to health care access are removed.

Research paper thumbnail of The Association between Neighborhood Social Capital and Cancer Screening

American Journal of Health Behavior, 2013

To examine the association between social capital and adherence to cancer screening exams. Data f... more To examine the association between social capital and adherence to cancer screening exams. Data from a population-based survey assessed perceived neighborhood social capital as well as cancer screening behavior. We analyzed the influence of social capital on adherence to screening guidelines for cervical, breast, and colorectal cancer. Data from 2668 adults documented that those with greater perceived neighborhood social capital were more likely to be screened for cancer. The effect was strongest for colorectal cancer and weakest for cervical cancer. Research on understanding the effect of the neighborhood social environment on efforts related to cancer screening behavior may be helpful for increasing cancer screening rates.