Evaluated the effects of increased methodological rigor on the validity of the Observation Scale of Behavioral Distress and on findings concerning whether children habituate to painful procedures. Data were scored with and without refinements. Results indicated that children do habituate but that refinements had little effect on validity. (BH)

New technologies have been developed to diagnose such disorders as cancer, heart disease, and defects of the newborn in presymptomatic stages. Several technologies, including amniocentesis, radioimmunoassay, enzyme immunoassay, multichannel analysis and others are discussed. Development of these technologies and issues related to their use are…

Extensive study affirms that vinyl chloride is a potent animal carcinogen. Epidemiological studies show elevated rates of human cancers in association with extended contact with the compound. (Author/RE)

Studied (N=120) terminally ill cancer patients over several months on quality of life variables, functional status and survival. Counseled patients changed significantly more than controls by three months. Overall, response to counseling was similar in young and old patients, with both improving. (Author/JAC)

Assessed the psychosocial adjustment of (N=107) parents whose children had cancer. Different patterns of association between 11 sources of social support and adjustment were found among groups of parents. Psychosocial adjustment of parents with a child in treatment was correlated more frequently with perceived social support. (Author)

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory scores yielded significant discriminations between cancer and noncancer groups. The group with cancer was significantly separated from the noncancer group on the basis of lower scores on Byrne's Repression-Sensitization scale (greater repression) and on the Depression scale of the MMPI (less…

Intervention effectively ameliorated some of the psychosocial problems reported by patients. Patients evidenced a more rapid decline of negative affect (anxiety, hostility, depression), a more realistic outlook on life, a greater proportion of return to previous vocational status, and a more active pattern of time usage. (Author)

A screening program for health education facilitated the acquisition of health knowledge for high school students. (JD)

The Washington State Cancer Education Conference designed to encourage cancer education in school programs is described from its planning stages through participant commitments. (JMF)

Discussed is the currently known information relating to naturally occurring cancer-causing substances. Examples include: moldy grains, false morsel, coltsfoot, senecio plants, and bracken fern. (CS)

This study compared secondary health teachers' beliefs concerning teaching about testicular cancer (TC) and self-examination (TSE) to actual instruction. TC and TSE education levels were low. Perceived barriers to teaching about TSE was the main predictor of TSE instruction. Teachers with previous preparation in TC and TSE provided the most…

Surveyed adolescent boys who had participated in a brief outreach program to high school health education classes designed to increase boys' knowledge about and improve their attitudes toward testicular self-examination (TSE) and early cancer detection. Results indicated that the 1-hour outreach improved students' knowledge and attitudes regarding…

Analyzes progress in the fight against the "cigarette epidemic," presents evidence relating smoking to cancer, and provides suggestions for citizen action to curb cigarette-smoking and to prevent children from developing the habit. (LS)