No abstract

The objective of the study was to examine some of the conditions under which elderly people are able to learn probabilistic inverse relationships and when this type of learning is no longer possible. Two kind of tasks were used: (a) two single-cue learning tasks with either direct or inverse relationships (the Single-Cue Probability Learning paradigm), and (b) three two-cue learning tasks, one with two direct relationships, one with a combination of direct and inverse relationships, and one with two inverse relationships (the Multiple-Cue Probability Learning paradigm). Four groups of participants were included in the study: young adults (18- to 25-year-olds), adults (40- to 50-year-olds), elderly people (65- to 74-year-olds), and very elderly people (75- to 90-year-olds). It was shown that (a) older adults are able to reject the direct relationship "default" hypothesis and select the inverse relationship hypothesis when outcome feedback contradicting the default hypothesis is given, and provided that the learning setting be a very simple one, involving only one cue; (b) some older adults are able to select the inverse relationship hypothesis provided that the learning setting be a simple one,involving only two inverse relationship cues; and (c) very few older adults are able to select the inverse relationship hypothesis when the learning setting is a complex one, involving two cues with both direct and inverse relationships with the criterion. These results led to the revision of the "gradual decrease of cognitive flexibility in older adults" hypothesis proposed by Chasseigne, Mullet, and Stewart (Acta Psychologicgrave;a, 103, 229-238, 1997).

The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the psychological barriers to and facilitators of undergoing the Hemoccult-II® colorectal cancer screening test in France. Sixty-nine French people aged 50 to 74 years were divided into seven qualitative focus groups. Three issues were discussed with participants: knowledge and beliefs about colorectal cancer screening; facilitators of colorectal cancer screening by Hemoccult-II®; barriers to colorectal cancer screening by Hemoccult-II®. All the discussions were led by two psychologists and were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using qualitative data analysis software. Correspondence factor analyses identified three dimensions for each topic. The main psychological facilitators of colorectal cancer screening were: information about colorectal cancer screening, perceived simplicity of using Hemoccult-II®, and perception of risk. Uncertainty about the reliability of Hemoccult-II®, health anxiety, and embarrassment emerged as the main barriers to colorectal cancer screening. Cross-sectional analyses identified the differences between the views expressed by women and men. Women appeared more embarrassed about Hemoccult-II® and men seemed to be more worried about colorectal cancer. This preliminary study suggests that psychological factors play an important role in colorectal cancer screening by Hemoccult-II®. This finding may help health organizations to conceive better awareness campaigns to promote colorectal cancer screening in order to reduce the related mortality rate by taking into account psychological determinants.

The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the psychological barriers to and facilitators of undergoing the Hemoccult-II ® colorectal cancer screening test in France. Sixty-nine French people aged 50 to 74 years were divided into seven qualitative focus groups. Three issues were discussed with participants: knowledge and beliefs about colorectal cancer screening; facilitators of colorectal cancer screening by Hemoccult-II ® ; barriers to colorectal cancer screening by Hemoccult-II ® . All the discussions were led by two psychologists and were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using qualitative data analysis software. Correspondence factor analyses identified three dimensions for each topic. The main psychological facilitators of colorectal cancer screening were: information about colorectal cancer screening, perceived simplicity of using Hemoccult-II ® , and perception of risk. Uncertainty about the reliability of Hemoccult-II ® , health anxiety, and embarrassment emerged as the main barriers to colorectal cancer screening. Cross-sectional analyses identified the differences between the views expressed by women and men. Women appeared more embarrassed about Hemoccult-II ® and men seemed to be more worried about colorectal cancer. This preliminary study suggests that psychological factors play an important role in colorectal cancer screening by Hemoccult-II ® . This finding may help health organizations to conceive better awareness campaigns to promote colorectal cancer screening in order to reduce the related mortality rate by taking into account psychological determinants.