Awareness, knowledge and perceived risk for toxic shock syndrome in relation to health behavior

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the relationship of awareness, knowledge and perceived risk for toxic shock syndrome (TSS) in relation to health behavior. Female college students at a large urban university responded to an 18-item multiple choice questionnaire. The data obtained revealed a high awareness among the 306 subjects who participated in the study, yet many of these women lacked essential knowledge about TSS. Perceived knowledge and perceived risk for developing TSS were significantly related to: (1) menstrual product used before an awareness of TSS; (2) menstrual product presently used; and (3) changing menstrual products due to a concern for TSS. Actual knowledge was also found to be related to the subjects' changing menstrual products due to a concern for TSS. Twenty-one percent of the subjects in this study actually did change their health behavior due to a concern for TSS.