Consumers' Self-Care Algorithms for the Common Cold: Implications for Health Education Interventions

• Published in: Journal of American college health Vol. 50; no. 1; pp. 27 - 32
• Main Author: Reis, Janet
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis Group 01.07.2001; Taylor & Francis Inc
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Algorithms; Behavior change; cold; Colds; College students; Common Cold - therapy; Common colds; Consumers; cough; Decision making; Female; Fever; Group Discussion; Health Education; Humans; Intention; Intervention; Lecture Method; Male; Mathematics; Medical Services; Midwestern United States; Outcome Measures; Personal health; Physicians; Quasiexperimental Design; Reading Materials; Research Design; Self Care; Self Evaluation (Individuals); Selfcare; Student Responsibility; Students; Undergraduate Students; Universities; upper respiratory infections; Young adults; Midwestern United States
• ISSN: 0744-8481; 1940-3208
• DOI: 10.1080/07448480109595708

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.