Document Detail


Aversion to ambiguity regarding medical tests and treatments: measurement, prevalence, and relationship to sociodemographic factors.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19731127     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Aversion to "ambiguity"-uncertainty about the reliability, credibility, or adequacy of risk-related information-is an important problem that may influence judgments and decisions about medical interventions. Ambiguity aversion (AA) varies among individuals, however, and has been understudied in the health domain. To explore this phenomenon further, we developed a new theory-based measure of aversion to ambiguity regarding medical tests and treatments, and examined the prevalence and association of AA with sociodemographic factors. The "AA-Med" scale was developed using a large survey sample of the U.S. public (n = 4,398), and scale psychometric properties and the population distribution of AA were evaluated. The scale demonstrated acceptable reliability (alpha = .73) and validity as ascertained by association with respondents' interest in a hypothetical ambiguous cancer screening test. Ambiguity aversion (AA) was associated with older age, non-White race, lower education and income, and female sex. The AA-Med scale is a promising new measure, and AA is associated with several sociodemographic factors. We discuss implications of these findings and potential applications of the scale for future research.
Authors:
Paul K J Han; Bryce B Reeve; Richard P Moser; William M P Klein
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of health communication     Volume:  14     ISSN:  1081-0730     ISO Abbreviation:  J Health Commun     Publication Date:  2009 Sep 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-09-04     Completed Date:  2009-12-11     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9604100     Medline TA:  J Health Commun     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  556-72     Citation Subset:  T    
Affiliation:
Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. hanp@mail.nih.gov
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Aged
Analysis of Variance
Data Collection
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
Humans
Income
Male
Mass Screening / psychology,  statistics & numerical data*
Middle Aged
Neoplasms / diagnosis*
Patient Acceptance of Health Care / psychology,  statistics & numerical data*
Prevalence
Questionnaires
Reproducibility of Results
Socioeconomic Factors
United States

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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