Do hospital treatments represent a 'teachable moment' for quitting smoking? A study from a stage-theoretical perspective

Hospital treatments are assumed to be a 'teachable moment'. This phenomenon, however, is only poorly conceptualised and untested. A stage-theoretical perspective implies that a cueing event such as hospital treatments is a teachable moment if a stage progression, change of cognitions, or both occur. This concept is examined in a cross-sectional study by comparing smokers in two treatment settings, an emergency department (ED) and inpatient treatment after elective surgery, with smokers in a control setting. Setting differences were hypothesised in stage distribution, and levels of and stage differences in social-cognitive factors under control for possible confounders. Stage, social-cognitive factors and possible confounders were assessed in 185 ED smokers, 193 inpatient smokers and 290 control smokers. Compared to control smokers, ED and inpatient smokers were in higher stages; they perceived fewer risks and cons; inpatient smokers reported more concrete plans. Stage differences in self-efficacy among ED and inpatient smokers differed from those among control smokers, but the former corresponded more strongly to the theoretical stage assumptions. The results suggest that hospital treatments lead to a stage progression and change of corresponding cognitions, and thus represent a 'teachable moment'. Stage-matched interventions should be provided but consider differences in cognitions to be effective.     

Being Successful in a Creative Profession: The Role of Innovative Cognitive Style, Self-Regulation, and Self-Efficacy

Purpose  

The purpose of this study was to test a model that proposes that innovative cognitive style and self-regulation (setting priorities, planning work activities, and monitoring time and task progress) are related to the self-reported success of architects. We investigated two aspects of the success: as designers and as business people. To this end, we examined the mediating role of self-efficacy in these relationships.     

Colour Relations in Form

The orthodox monadic determination thesis holds that we represent colour relations by virtue of representing colours. Against this orthodoxy, I argue that it is possible to represent colour relations without representing any colours. I present a model of iconic perceptual content that allows for such primitive relational colour representation, and provide four empirical arguments in its support. I close by surveying alternative views of the relationship between monadic and relational colour representation.     

Structural Constraints on the Performance of Symmetrical Bimanual Movements with Different Amplitudes

In bimanual movements the amplitude of each hand's movement often depends on the concurrent amplitude of the other hand's movement such that both amplitudes become similar (amplitude coupling). We tested the hypothesis that the strength of amplitude coupling depends on the tempo of performance of a movement sequence, a hypothesis based on a model of bimanual coordination that holds that cross-talk occurs at the execution level as well as at the programming level. Subjects performed bimanual periodic arm movements on two digitizers. In nine conditions constant small, constant large, and alternating small and large amplitudes of each arm were orthogonally combined. Overall tempo was varied by instructing subjects to increase the tempo progressively by 10%. Clear tempo-dependent modulations of the amplitude were observed in movements with instructed constant amplitude when the other hand performed alternating amplitudes. The effect of the size of constant-amplitude movements on the mean amplitude of the other hand indicated cross-talk at the execution level. Cross-talk at the programming level was revealed by the dependence of the current amplitude on the change in the amplitude of the other hand in the preceding cycle. Finally, asymmetric cross-manual effects were observed.