Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
Am J Prev Med. 2010 Apr;38(4):396-402. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2009.12.028.
Americans of Mexican origin are at high risk for developing cardiovascular disease.
This study aimed to evaluate the associations between the presence of social network members who encourage screening and individuals' motivation to undergo three types of health screening: blood cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood glucose. The distinct roles of encouragers from different generations (older, same, and younger) were evaluated.
Adults of Mexican origin (N=452) aged 20-75 years from 162 households in Houston TX were included in this cross-sectional study by completing surveys in 2008 regarding their intentions to screen, health behaviors, illness beliefs, social networks, and family health history in either English or Spanish. Data were analyzed in 2009.
About one third of the participants reported having at least one same-generation network member who encouraged screening; smaller proportions reported having at least one older- (17% to 19%) and one younger-generation (11% to 12%) encourager. The presence of at least one older-generation encourager was associated with higher levels of intention to screen for all three screenings controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and illness beliefs. Having at least one same-generation encourager was associated with higher levels of intention to screen for blood cholesterol.
Social influence may play an important role in motivating individuals to engage in screenings. Network-based intervention involving older individuals to provide encouragement to younger network members should be explored as a means to increase motivation to screen among this population.
墨西哥裔美国人患心血管疾病的风险很高。
本研究旨在评估社交网络中存在鼓励筛查的成员与个体接受三种健康筛查（血胆固醇、血压和血糖）的动机之间的关系。评估了来自不同代际（年长、同龄和年轻）的鼓励者的不同作用。
本横断面研究纳入了来自德克萨斯州休斯顿的 162 户家庭的 452 名年龄在 20-75 岁的墨西哥裔成年人，他们在 2008 年完成了关于他们进行筛查的意愿、健康行为、疾病信念、社交网络和家族健康史的调查，这些调查可以用英语或西班牙语完成。数据于 2009 年进行分析。
约三分之一的参与者报告至少有一位同龄网络成员鼓励他们进行筛查；较小比例的参与者报告至少有一位年长（17%至 19%）和一位年轻（11%至 12%）鼓励者。至少有一位年长鼓励者的存在与所有三种筛查的更高筛查意愿水平相关，控制了社会人口特征和疾病信念。至少有一位同龄鼓励者与更高的血胆固醇筛查意愿水平相关。
社会影响可能在激励个体进行筛查方面发挥重要作用。应该探索基于网络的干预措施，让年长的个体为年轻的网络成员提供鼓励，作为增加这一人群筛查动机的一种手段。
