Consumers' self-care algorithms for the common cold: implications for health education interventions.
Two hundred ninety-seven young adults enumerated a self-care plan with at least seven behaviors for the management of a cold with a fever. They summarized satisfaction with their self-care activities and the role of self-care after a lecture on self-care in managing the common cold. Half of the participants relied solely on self-care, and the other half said they would seek medical attention. Having a fever directed two thirds of the sample in their decision making concerning treatment. Five percent would change their self-care behaviors as a consequence of the instruction. Methodological and theoretical implications for self-care interventions are discussed.
Reis
J
J
Department of Community Health, University of Illinois, Champaign 61802, USA. j_reis@uiuc.edu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D003139:Common Cold / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States; D012648:Self Care; D013334:Students