STRESS MANAGEMENT EXPERT SYSTEM FOR CANCER PREVENTION

互动和个性化的阶段匹配压力管理干预措施，并积极主动地向整个人群提供，可以产生前所未有的影响。以计算机为基础的专家系统与自助手册相联系，可以与辅导员一样有效，但成本要低得多，而且更容易获得。压力是癌症和其他慢性和急性疾病的重要原因，也是医疗保健，工作表现和残疾方面成本最高的行为之一。五千万美国人没有进行有效的压力管理。现有的方案是面向行动的，是为准备采取行动的30%的人口设计的。阶段匹配方案可以满足所有人的需求; 45%的人在预思考阶段，25%的人在思考阶段。这项快速通道研究的第一阶段将证明招募70%高危人群的可行性和专家系统干预的可接受性。第二阶段将招募1200名参与者，随机分配到治疗组或对照组，并在六个月内证明这些干预措施的有效性。超过18个月的随访可以显示干预后很长一段时间的影响。有效和具有成本效益的精神压力管理系统可以广泛传播，质量一致，便于用户接受。建议的商业应用：压力是个人，员工和医疗保健系统最昂贵的条件之一。五千万美国人没有进行有效的压力管理。有效和成本效益的专家系统，可以处理人口的压力有显着的商业影响。

Stage matched interventions for stress management that are interactive and individualized, and are delivered proactively to entire populations can have unprecedented impacts. Computer based expert systems linked to self-help manuals can be as effective as Counselors but at much lower cost and greater accessibility. Stress is an important cause of cancer and other chronic and acute diseases and is one of the most costly behaviors in terms of health care, job performance and disability. Fifty million Americans do not practice effective stress management. Existing programs are action- oriented and are designed for the 30% of populations who are prepared to take action. Stage matched programs can meet the needs of all; the 45% in the Precontemplation stage and the 25% in the Contemplation stage. Phase I of this Fast-Track research will demonstrate the feasibility of recruiting 70% of at-risk populations and the acceptability of the expert system interventions. Phase II will complete recruitment of 1200 participants randomly assigned to treatment or control and can demonstrate efficacy of these interventions over six months. Follow-up over 18 months can show increasing impact long after the intervention. Effective and cost-effective stress management systems can be broadly disseminated with consistent quality and user friendly acceptability. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: Stress is one of the most costly conditions for individuals, employees and health care systems. Fifty million Americans do not practice effective stress management. Effective and cost effective expert systems that can treat stress on a population basis have outstanding commercial impact.