Cardiovascular health awareness,risk perception,behavioural intention and INTERHEART risk stratification among middle-aged adults in Malaysia

Objective:To investigate the interrelationship between cardiovascular health awareness,risk perception,behavioural intention,and INTERHEART risk stratification in a middle-aged adult population in Malaysia.Methods:A cross-sectional survey with convenience sampling was conducted during November 2022 and January 2023.Participants completed validated questionnaires assessing cardiovascular health awareness,risk perception of cardiovascular diseases,behavioural intention towards adopting healthy habits,and INTERHEART risk stratification score(IHRS)based on established risk factors.A total of 602 respondents were included in the final analysis.Data were analysed with independent t-test/one-way ANOVA or Mann-Whitney/Kruskal-Wallis to test the differences,Pearson correlation or linear regression test to analyze the association of independent and dependent variables.Results:There was a significant positive correlation between medical knowledge related to cardiovascular disease(CVD)and knowledge related to CVD risk prevention,risk perception,behavioural intention and IHRS(P<0.05,Pearson correlation).Notably,individuals with higher IHRS tended to have lower knowledge related to CVD and CVD risk prevention,risk perception,and behavioural intention.Males,laborers,active/former smokers,individuals with lower household income and educational levels,those involved in occupations not related to the healthcare sector,and those who did not receive the CVD health brochure or are unaware of health self-assessment tools are likely to have lower levels of knowledge,risk perception,and poorer behavioural intention regarding cardiovascular health(P<0.05,one-way ANOVA).While educational level,smoking status,awareness about CVD poster,self-assessment tools were repeatedly significantly associated with knowledge related to CVD and CVD risk prevention,risk perception,behavioral intention and/or IHRS(P<0.05,linear regression).Conclusions:These findings underscore the importance of promoting cardiovascular health awareness and risk perception among middle-aged adults to foster positive BI and reduce CVD risk.Tailored interventions targeting specific risk factors identified by INTERHEART may enhance risk stratification accuracy and facilitate targeted preventive strategies.

Relationship Between Individuals’Epidemic Risk Perception Within Living Space and Subjective Well-Being:Empirical Evidence from China after the First Wave of COVID-19

It is common to observe the epidemic risk perception(ERP)and a decline in subjective well-being(SWB)in the context of public health events,such as Corona Virus Disease 2019(COVID-19).However,there have been few studies exploring the impact of individuals’ERP within living space on their SWB,especially from a geographical and daily activity perspective after the resumption of work and other activities following a wave of the pandemic.In this paper,we conducted a study with 789 participants in urban China,measuring their ERP within living space and examining its influence on their SWB using path analysis.The results indicated that individuals’ERP within their living space had a significant negative effect on their SWB.The density of certain types of facilities within their living space,such as bus stops,subway stations,restaurants,fast food shops,convenience shops,hospitals,and public toilets,had a significantly negative impact on their SWB,mediated by their ERP within living space.Additionally,participation in out-of-home work and other activities not only increased individuals’ERP within living space,but also strengthened its negative effect on their SWB.

Volcanic Risk Perception and Coping Strategies from Mounts Cameroon and Nyiragongo Eruptions, Central Africa: A Comparative Analysis

Approximately 2,000,000 people are exposed to volcanic risks in communities situated at the flanks of Mounts Cameroon (MC) and Nyiragongo (MN) volcanoes in Central Africa. This study therefore sought to investigate risk perception from four previous eruptions of MC, namely the 1959, 1982, 1999, and 2000 eruptions;and two previous eruptions of MN: 1977 and 2002. The study was initiated with co-design workshops held with major stakeholders in the cities of Buea and Goma at the flanks of MC and MN, respectively, in 2017, to develop the research objectives for the study. A non-random questionnaire survey was later conducted within 14 and 15 communities in Buea and Goma respectively, on the effects, perceived risks, and coping strategies for the chosen eruptions. Three age groups (18 - 30, 31 - 45 and >45 years) and gender (male and female) were considered. The population at the flanks of both volcanoes cited scientific and indigenous factors to be responsible for eruptions from these volcanoes. At MC and MN, ≥45% of the sampled participants (with a higher female population) perceived that the sampled eruptions posed a very high risk to the population. In terms of the effects, the age group of 18 - 30 was the least knowledgeable. In terms of direct effect on persons, over 90% of participants at MC and MN attested that they were overcome by fear/panic. On measures to cope with any likely eruption, the following order was established at the flanks of both volcanoes: sensitization of population, use of religious (prayers) and of traditional/indigenous strategies. In terms of future coping strategies, while the males at MC maintained sensitization as the favourite option, 62% of the males at MN opted for traditional/indigenous strategies. The female population at both MC and MN showed a higher preference for religious strategies like prayers.

Survey and Analysis on the Status Quo of Occupational Risk Perception of Teachers in Public Vocational Colleges in an Underdeveloped Area

This paper selects the teachers of public higher vocational college(College A)in underdeveloped areas to participate in the analysis,and conducts a questionnaire survey using the occupational risk perception questionnaire of higher vocational teachers.A total of 223 higher vocational teachers were selected to participate in the survey in order to understand the status quo of occupational risk perception of higher vocational teachers.The survey results show that the Cronbach’sαcoefficient of occupational risk perception scale for higher vocational teachers is 0.846,and the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin(KMO)is 0.871.The education legal liability risk,workload risk,and career development risk are the highest average occupational risk perception of higher vocational teachers.In conclusion,the occupational risk perception scale of higher vocational teachers compiled in this study has good reliability and validity.The occupational risk perceived by teachers in public higher vocational colleges is relatively high.

The effect of risk perception and COVID‑19 anxiety in pregnancy on decision‑making via the Internet and prenatal care quality:A cross‑sectional multivariate analysis

Background:Risk perception and COVID‑19 anxiety in pregnant women restrict access to health services,cause pregnant women to resort to alternative channels such as the Internet,and affect prenatal care quality(PCQ)negatively.Purpose:The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of risk perception and COVID‑19 anxiety in pregnancy on decision‑making via the Internet(DMI)and PCQ with multivariate analysis.Materials and Methods:This cross‑sectional study was conducted with 406 pregnant women selected using the convenience sampling method in a training and research hospital,in Turkey.The data were collected using the information form,the perception of pregnancy risk questionnaire,the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale,the DMI Scale,and the PCQ Scale.The data obtained were subject to descriptive analysis and the multivariate analysis of variance.Results:Approximately 24.9%of the pregnant women were found to have a high perception of risk and 18%had symptoms of COVID‑19 anxiety.Pregnant women with high COVID‑19 anxiety and a higher perception of risk perceived the Internet as less influential for decision‑making(P<0.05).Pregnant women with a high‑risk perception had lower PCQ(P<0.05).Conclusion:The findings can be used to enhance mental health and resilience in pregnant women and to formulate appropriate intervention strategies.

An Empirical Study on the Impacts of Tourist Risk Perception on Tourist Motivation and Satisfaction in Xinjiang of China under the Background of the Belt and Road Initiative

Discussing the impact of the crisis in Xinjiang on tourists and tourism plays an important role in Xinjiang tourism industry leveraging the country’s the Belt and Road Initiative and policy support,and constructing the“Silk Road Economic Zone Core Area”and the“Silk Road Economic Zone Tourism Center”.Based on the questionnaire survey of tourists infamous tourism scenic spots,like Urumqi,Bortala Mongolia Autonomous Prefecture,Xinjiang,Hami,Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture,Yili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture,and so on.This study used literature analysis,multivariate statistical analysis,and structural equation model.This paper constructed a study on the mechanism and path of the impact of tourism risk perception on the tourism motive and the satisfaction degree of tourism.The results showed that there was a significant positive correlation between tourism motivations and satisfaction,and there was also a significant positive correlation between tourism motivation and tourism satisfaction.The findings of this study provided scientific basis for quantitative decision-making for the crisis management in Xinjiang and the corresponding tourism marketing strategies.

Elderly African Americans Insights on the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Exploratory Study of Risk Perception and Personal, Social, and Cultural Factors

This exploratory study examined elderly African Americans attitudes on the COVID-19 pandemic by identifying their perceptions of risk based personal, social, and cultural factors. It seeks to understand their insights toward public health pandemic response initiatives and other efforts to mitigate COVID-19 outbreak response measures impacting elderly African Americans, including policies, interventions, and public information/communication. The effectiveness of pandemic response measures and community caregiving support for the elderly African Americans was examined as well. Respondents in this study were a convenient sample of 60 residents predominantly in a Midwestern metropolitan area. Respondents were eligible for study participation if 1) there were 60 years and over and, 2) African American or people of African descent. A mixed research method design comprising focus groups and online survey was used to collect the data for the study. The respondents characterized the impact of the coronavirus as a personal, family, and community loss (e.g., less socially engaged and burdensome). An overwhelming majority (98.3%) expressed no worries about getting health care if they or their family members needed it. A sizable number of respondents expressed the need for all to be tested to help prevent the spread of the virus.

Factors Affecting Disease Risk Perception and Self-Management Behaviors among Japanese Long-Term Overseas Volunteers

Introduction: Many overseas volunteers have worked in low and middle-income countries. However traveling abroad and staying in an unfamiliar environment with inadequate medical infrastructure exposes volunteers to a wide range of health risks. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationships among disease knowledge and symptoms, disease risk perception, and self-management skills. Methods: This was a questionnaire survey of 189 Japanese who were preparing to volunteer abroad. A factor analysis was conducted on 13 items (six general risk events and seven major diseases) of risk perception. Correlation analysis was performed between the identified risk perception factors and disease knowledge and symptoms. Risk perception scores by factors from the seven disease items were compared between the Self-management Score (SMS) group and disease knowledge and risk of symptoms group, using T-tests. St. Luke’s International University Ethics Committee (19-A092) approved this study. Results: Many participants expected to suffer from digestive diseases (69.3%) and dermatitis (55%) in the field. On the other hand, few expected high risk of malaria (26.5%) or dengue fever (36%). Factor analysis yielded robust factor loadings creating a “Dread” and an “Unknown” factor accounting for 62.2% of total variance. Strong correlation was not found between SMS and disease risk perception. A weak negative correlation was observed in dengue fever, digestive disorders, and dermatitis (r = −0.20 to −0.25, p < 0.001) on the “Unknown” factor. A high SMS score was associated with a lower “Unknown” factor score for malaria, diarrhea, dermatitis, and dental disorders. In addition, higher disease knowledge was significantly associated with higher “Dread” factor score for dental disorders. Conclusions: Self-management skills and disease knowledge will enable higher risk awareness of common diseases and high lethality diseases.

Seismic Risk Perception in Al-Marj, Libya: A Case Study after the 1963 Earthquake

Individual beliefs, knowledge, and perception play a vital role in understanding and coping with the consequences of earthquakes. These perceptions then mold the broader perceptions of risk and danger held by communities, which ultimately create public policy. This survey study was designed and conducted to assess the perceptions of seismic hazard and risk of earthquake survivors and residents in Al-Marj, Libya—a city razed in a 1963 tremor. In 2019, 364 earthquake survivors and residents were surveyed for their knowledge and perception of earthquakes. Surveys were conducted in Arabic and included demographic and narrative questions in addition to Likert-scaled responses. A number of predictable, surprising, and valuable correlations were found. It was found that during earthquakes most respondents prayed to Allah, or did nothing, in comparison to escape, seeking shelter, or running for help. The majority believed their neighborhoods were unsafe while questions illiciting some aspect of quake recurrence caused a complete refusal to answer;they commented “I do not know” or “only God knows”. Most respondents did not consider preparation to be important, but younger respondents were relatively more prepared. Surprisingly, highly educated respondents were less prepared, however, they also attributed earthquakes to tectonic slipping and not divine retaliation or retribution. However, less-educated respondents stated “I do not know”, “Allah punishes”, or “Allah tests the believers”. Most participants considered themselves well-informed about earthquakes from popular media sources (internet, TV, magazines). These findings were vital in gaining an insight into hazard perception and high-risk behavior in a seismically active region like Libya. When natural hazard recurrence (i.e. earthquakes) are better understood, then the potential consequences of injury, damages, and deaths may be assessed, and an overall plan to produce sustainable disaster management strategies and decrease risk can be created and implemented.

Seismic Risk Perception Assessment of Earthquake Survivors: A Case Study from the 2005 Kashmir Earthquake

Following the catastrophic earthquake of October 2005 in Kashmir, Pakistan, 215 surveys were administered to earthquake survivors in villages within 50 miles (80 km) of the epicenter near the town of Muzaffarabad. The survey questionnaires were designed to address perceptions of seismic knowledge, event-related behavior, and opinions of local, regional, and national seismic preparedness and mitigation-representing a rare opportunity in seismic risk assessment. Some of the findings were similar to previous research results, while some were counter-intuitive, surprising, and valuable. Overwhelmingly, respondents stated that they ran away after the quake (vs. praying, taking cover, screaming, or doing nothing). Their trust in local and national governments regarding future earthquake preparedness and mitigation was high (~50%), contrary to most prior studies. Less than five percent of respondents believed that “no quake would occur again”, while nearly 75% responded that another quake would occur within 5 - 10 years, another opinion contrary to previous research. This research revealed new aspects of risk perception in the predominant Muslim communities of Northern Pakistan regarding recurrence, post-event action, and regional preparedness.

Impact of Risk Perception about COVID-19 on the Coping Behavior of the Elderly:Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy

Objective:This study aimed to explore the mediating role of self-efficacy on the relationship between risk perception and the coping behavior of the elderly during the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic.Methods:The study employed the convenience sampling method to select a total of 550 elderly from Chongqing,Chengdu and Luohe in China.A questionnaire composed of the perception scale,self-efficacy scale,and coping behavior scale was used to collect data.Results:Risk perception exerted a significantly direct effect on positive coping behavior and avoidant coping behavior.Moreover,it positively predicted the components of self-efficacy.In turn,self-efficacy positively predicted the components of positive coping behavior,which confirm that it plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between risk perception and positive coping behavior.Moreover,self-efficacy negatively predicted the components of avoidant coping behavior,which confirms that it also plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between risk perception and avoidant coping behavior.Conclusion:A simple mediation model revealed that self-efficacy partially mediated the direct and indirect effects of risk perception on coping behavior.Based on the results,the study recommended several countermeasures and suggestions for enhancing the positive coping behavior of the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Human-Machine Shared Lateral Control Strategy for Intelligent Vehicles Based on Human Driver Risk Perception Reliability

Intelligent vehicle(Ⅳ)technology has developed rapidly in recent years.However,achieving fully unmanned driving still presents numerous challenges,which means that human drivers will continue to play a vital role in vehicle operation for the foreseeable future.Human-machine shared driving,involving cooperation between a human driver and an automated driving system(AVS),has been widely regarded as a necessary stage for the development of IVs.Focusing onⅣdriving safety,this study proposed a human-machine shared lateral control strategy(HSLCS)based on the reliability of driver risk perception.The HSLCS starts by identifying the effective areas of driver risk perception based on eye movements.It establishes an anisotropic driving risk field,which serves as the foundation for the AVS to assess risk levels.Building upon the cumulative and diminishing effects of risk perception,the proposed approach leverages the driver's risk perception effective area and converts the risk field into a representation aligned with the driver's perspective.Subsequently,it quantifies the reliability of the driver's risk perception by using area-matching rules.Finally,based on the driver’s risk perception reliability and dif-ferences in lateral driving operation between the human driver and the AVS,the dynamic distribution of driving authority is achieved through a fuzzy rule-based system,and the human-machine shared lateral control is completed by using model predictive control.The HSLCS was tested across various scenarios on a driver-in-the-loop test platform.The results show that the HSLCS can realize the synergy and complementarity of human and machine intelligence,effectively ensuring the safety ofⅣoperation.

The dynamics of the risk perception on a social network and its effect on disease dynamics

The perceived infection risk changes individual behaviors,which further affects the disease dynamics.This perception is influenced by social communication,including surveying their social network neighbors about the fraction of infected neighbors and averaging their neighbors’perception of the risk.We model the interaction of disease dynamics and risk perception on a two-layer random network that combines a social network layer with a contact network layer.We found that if information spreads much faster than disease,then all individuals converge on the true prevalence of the disease.On the other hand,if the two dynamics have comparable speeds,the risk perception still converges to a value uniformly on the network.However,the perception lags behind the true prevalence and has a lower peak value.We also study the behavior change caused by the perception of infection risk.This behavior change may affect the disease dynamics by reducing the transmission rate along the edges of the contact network or by breaking edges and isolating the infectious individuals.The effects on the basic reproduction number,the peak size,and the final size are studied.We found that these two effects give the same basic reproduction number.We find edge-breaking has a larger effect on reducing the final size,while reducing the transmission rate has a larger effect on reducing the peak size,which is true for both scale-free and Poisson networks.

Protection Measures and Change in the Perception of Work Risks with COVID-19, in a Representative Sample of Portuguese Tattoo Artists

Introduction: Tattoo Artists are exposed to Occupational Hazards, but the bibliography is scarce. Methodology: this is a Mixed Exploratory Study carried out with a quantitative component (online questionnaire) and a qualitative component (online interview). The questionnaire was available between April 2020 and March 2021 and was distributed by the companies/professionals that work on Tattoos, main national magazines in the sector, companies that supply products and equipment and organizing committees of the main national congresses. The research project was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Arts of the University of Porto (28.04.2020) and an informed consent was obtained. As an inclusion criterion, it was considered to carry out tattooing tasks on a paid basis. As exclusion criteria, working outside the country or not mastering the Portuguese language stood out. Results: 207 Tattoo Artists answered the questionnaire (25.87% of professionals registered in Portugal) and nine interviews took place. Numerous statistically significant associations were found between the variables analysed. Final considerations: the main weaknesses of the study are related to the difficulties inherent in data collection: as it was carried out using an online questionnaire, it was not controlled whether all respondents practiced the profession of Tattoo Artists. Furthermore, as it is a voluntary questionnaire, it is possible that the sample retained professionals who value Occupational Health issues. This investigation combined quantitative and qualitative techniques, so that it was possible to take advantage of and mitigate the disadvantages of both;in fact, the qualitative aspect sequentially completed and explored the data initially obtained in the survey, as well as it allowed to deepen issues initially not programmed, such as the possible interference of the Pandemic associated with SARS-COV2 in the general Risk Perception and compliance with the Standards of Good Practices. Regarding the interviews, the sample was reduced, although the answers were reasonably repeated. During those, even though the questions were posed based on what the Tattoo Artists’ thoughts on what most of the colleagues considered and not having to answer only for themselves, this may still have motivated them to respond in a more politically correct manner. In the overall project, very complete data were obtained on Occupational Health applied to this professional sector, part of which had not been published before, which will certainly constitute an asset to acting more effectively. Overall, Portuguese Tattoo Artists believe that most of their colleagues try to comply with the standards of Good Practice, and this attitude was boosted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

EXPLORING ON-LINE SOCIETAL RISK PERCEPTION FOR HARMONIOUS SOCIETY MEASUREMENT

The nearly 30-year economic growth miracle brings the consequent tremendous poor-rich gap leading strong drives for social transformation in current China. Chinese top leaders have realized to increase the peoples＇ income, improve quality of life and construct a ＂harmonious society＂ as key missions especially in recent 10 years. How to measure a harmonious society is one important topic as different measures may lead to different development policies. This paper outlines over 10 indices relevant to measure a harmonious society. Some are global indicators, while some are contributed by domestic researchers and arouse debates. Most of those indicators require conducting surveys on social attitudes under micro levels, which is always time consuming with problem of data quality. As Internet technology advances provide ways to record and disseminate fresh community ideas and thoughts conveniently, detecting topics or emotions from on-line public opinions is becoming a trend or one supplement way to overcome those data acquisition problems. This paper discusses one approach to on-line societal risk perception using hot search words and BBS posts. Such a trial aims to provide another way to societal risk perception different from those in traditional socio psychology studies. Challenges are also indicated.

Influences of Risk Perception and Sense of Place on Landslide Disaster Preparedness in Southwestern China

The effects of risk perception and sense of place on disaster preparedness have been widely reported.However, most studies have only demonstrated weak relationships and it is unknown whether these are applicable to China. This study investigated such relationships in hazard-threatened areas of the Three Gorges Reservoir area in southwestern China. Data were collected from 348 farming households in landslide-prone areas. Binary logistic and Tobit regression models were constructed to determine whether risk perception and sense of place influence landslide preparedness. The results show that:(1)Farming households' awareness of the need to prepare for disasters was relatively low, and disaster preparedness behaviors were mainly based on self-learning. Among the348 sampled households, 67% exhibited no disaster preparedness behavior, and only 2% adopted four of the five types of disaster preparedness behaviors. About a quarter of farming households consciously learned disaster-related knowledge.(2) Risk perception and sense of place had important influences on disaster preparedness. Respondentswho received higher scores on the perception of the probability of a landslide, the threat of a landslide, and the place dependence variables were more likely to adopt a greater number of disaster preparedness behaviors.Respondents with higher scores on the perception of controllability in the case of a landslide were less likely to adopt a greater number of disaster preparedness behaviors.Additionally, individual and household socioeconomic characteristics—education, loss, distance from hazard site,information acquisition channel, and housing material—were all related to household disaster preparedness behavior. This study contributes to the current literature by improving the understanding of the relationships of risk perception and sense of place to disaster preparedness in farming households threatened by geological disasters in southwestern China.

Factors influencing hybrid maize farmers' risk attitudes and their perceptions in Punjab Province,Pakistan

Hybrid maize farmers have to face diverse kinds of climate, biological, price and financial risks. Farmers＇ risk perceptions and risk attitudes are essential elements influencing farm operations and management decisions. However, this important issue has been overlooked in the contemporary studies and therefore there is a dearth of literature on this important issue. The present research is therefore, an attempt to fill this gap. This study aims to quantify hybrid maize farmers＇ perceptions of disastrous risks, their attitudes towards risk and to explore the impacts of various farm and farm household factors on farmers＇ risk attitudes and risk perceptions. The present study is conducted in four hybrid maize growing districts of Punjab Province, Pakistan, using cross-sectional data of 400 hybrid maize farmers. Risk matrix and equally likely certainty equivalent （ELCE） method are used to rank farmers＇ perceptions of four catastrophic risk sources including climate, biological, price and financial risks and to investigate farmers＇ risk aversion attitudes, respectively. Furthermore, probit regression is used to analyze the determinants affecting farmers＇ risk attitudes and risk perceptions. The results of the study showed that majority of farmers are risk averse in nature and perceive price, biological and climate to be potential sources of risks to their farm enterprise. In addition, analysis divulges that distance from farm to main market, off-farm income, location dummies for Sahiwal and Okara, age, maize farming experience, access to extension agent, significantly （either negatively or positively） influence farmers＇ risk attitudes and risk perceptions. The study delivers valuable insights for farmers, agricultural insurance sector, extension services researchers and agricultural policy makers about the local understanding of risks to hybrid maize crop in developing countries, like Pakistan, and have implications for research on farmers＇ adaptation to exposed risks.

A CAUSALITY ANALYSIS OF SOCIETAL RISK PERCEPTION AND STOCK MARKET VOLATILITY IN CHINA

Modem China is undergoing a variety of social conflicts as the arrival of new era with thetransformation of the principal contradiction. Then monitoring the society stable is a huge workload.Online societal risk perception is acquired by mapping on-line public concerns respectively intosocietal risk events including national security, economy ＆ finance, public morals, daily life, socialstability, government management, and resources ＆ environment, and then provides one kind ofmeasurement toward the society state. Obviously, stable and harmonious social situations are the basicguarantee for the healthy development of the stock market. Thus we concern whether the variations ofthe societal risk are related to stock market volatility. We study their relationships by two steps, firstthe relationships between search trends and societal risk perception; next the relationships betweensocietal risk perception and stock volatility. The weekend and holiday effects in China stock market aretaken into consideration. Three different econometric methods are explored to observe the impacts ofvariations of societal risk on Shanghai Composite Index and Shenzhen Composite Index. 3 majorfindings are addressed. Firstly, there exist causal relations between Baidu Index and societal riskperception. Secondly, the perception of finance ＆ economy, social stability, and governmentmanagement has distinguishing effects on the volatility of both Shanghai Composite Index and Shenzhen Composite Index. Thirdly, the weekend and holiday effects of societal risk perception on the stock market are verified. The research demonstrates that capturing societal risk based on on-line public concerns is feasible and meaningful.

Nurses' and students' perception of risk from medical practices

Objectives: To determine the risk perceptions of a series of medical practices in non-expert (un-dergraduates) and expert (nurses) samples.Methods: Four hundred and forty-seven nurses and 246 undergraduate students participated in this study. They all answered questionnaires about the risk dimensions and acceptance for medical practices. Results: An exploratory factor analysis on participants' answers to various dimensions of risk yielded a two-factor structure for risk perception in both samples: for nurses, the factors were"Unknown"and"Dread,"while for students, they were"Dread"and"Lack of Independence."For both nurses and stu-dents, the factor scores of Dread negatively related to individual risk acceptance of medical practices. Furthermore, nurses tended to be more accepting of practices that they knew well (i.e., low Unknown scale scores). For students, the subscale scores of the Lack of Independence factor negatively related to individual risk acceptance only for health examination practices. Nurses conceived risks more correctly and concretely compared to students. This was especially pronounced for practices related to medication use. Conclusions: Although both nurses and students conceived various risk contents from medical practices, their conceptions still differed. Knowledge of these differences in the structure of risk perception and conceived risk contents of various medical practices between nurses and students could be utilized to improve risk communication in clinical practice.

Effects of social capital,risk perception and awareness on environmental protection behavior

Introduction:Environmental protection is an essential issue for sustainable development,and its execution power mainly comes from individual environmental protection behavior.This study investigates the resident environmental protection behaviors and influencing factors in the ecologically fragile areas of western China based on a total of 1062 households by adopting the participatory assessment method.Then,this study used the structural equation model to empirically analyze the impact of social capital,environmental risk perception,and environmental awareness on residents’environmental protection behavior.Outcomes:The results showed that environmental awareness is the basis for practicing environmental protection behavior,consistent with the existing research;social capital has a significant impact on residents’environmental protection behavior,with an impact coefficient of 0.347.Hence,environmental risk perception has an indirect influence on environmental protection behavior through environmental awareness.Besides,compared with urban residents,rural residents’environmental awareness and social capital have a stronger role in environmental protection behavior.Conclusions:The study clarified the influence path of residents’environmental protection behavior,thus effectively providing a decision-making basis for the government to guide residents in the environmental governance system.