Louise Masse

Lack of time for physical activity: Perception or reality for African American and Hispanic women?

ABSTRACT Lack of time is a well-known barrier to physical activity. It is not known, however, whether this barrier reflects actual time commitments. This study examined time commitments of women and assessed the relationship between time commitments and perceived lack of time for physical activity. Participants were 249 African American and Hispanic women, aged 45 to 70 years. These women devoted much of their time to their responsibilities as workers, housekeepers, mothers and wives. They also spent 28 hours per week in sedentary leisure-time activity. Actual time commitments did not predict perceived lack of time for physical activity. These findings can be used to address the mis-perceptions of women about time available to them for physical activity.

Does adherence to a lifestyle physical activity intervention predict changes in physical activity

This study examined whether adherence to a lifestyle physical activity intervention predicted weekly participation in at least 150 min of moderate to vigorous physical activity among 244 sedentary healthy adults. Structural equation modeling was used to assess the association between adherence and physical activity. Markers of adherence were attendance, homework completion, and self-monitoring for a group-based intervention and telephone call completion, homework completion, and self-monitoring for a telephone and mail-delivered intervention. For both interventions, adherence significantly predicted moderate to vigorous physical activity. Adherence to lifestyle physical activity interventions ought to be encouraged to increase the likelihood that participants will engage in an adequate amount of physical activity for health benefits to occur.

Toward the Development of the International Classification of Functioning Core Sets for Children With Cerebral Palsy A Global Expert Survey

The goal of the International Classification of Functioning is to standardize the classification of health and function of children around the world. To facilitate the application of this classification, International Classification of Functioning–based tools like the “Core Sets” are being developed. We conducted an international survey of professional experts to identify the most relevant areas of functioning in children with cerebral palsy. The questionnaire covered each component of the classification. In total, 193 professionals completed the survey (response rate 78%). Overall, 9706 answers were linked to the classification (pediatric version) by 2 professionals. From the experts’ perspective, movement-related areas and social participation are the most relevant areas of functioning. Experts suggest a more comprehensive profile of functioning in particular in areas of personal capacity and social participation. The results of this survey will inform the development of the International Classification of Functioning Core Sets for children with cerebral palsy.

Action Schools! BC implementation: from efficacy to effectiveness to scale-up

Objectives To describe Action Schools! BC (AS! BC) from efficacy to scale-up. Participants/setting Education and health system stakeholders and children in grades 4–6 from elementary schools in British Columbia, Canada. Intervention At the provincial level, the AS! BC model reflected socioecological theory and a partnership approach to social change. Knowledge translation and exchange were embedded as a foundational element. At the school level, AS! BC is a comprehensive school health-based model providing teachers and schools with training and resources to integrate physical activity (PA) and healthy eating (HE) into the school environment. Our research team partnered with key community and government stakeholders to deliver and evaluate AS! BC over efficacy, effectiveness and implementation trials. Results On the basis of significant increases in PA, cardiovascular fitness, bone and HE in AS! BC schools during efficacy trials, the BC government supported a provincial scale-up. Since its inception, the AS! BC Support Team and >225 trained regional trainers have delivered 4677 teacher-focused workshops (training approximately 81 000 teachers), reaching approximately 500 000 students. After scale-up, PA delivery was replicated but the magnitude of change appeared less. One (HE) and 4 (PA) years after scale-up, trained AS! BC teachers provided more PA and HE opportunities for students even in the context of supportive provincial policies. Conclusions Whole school models like AS! BC can enhance childrens PA and health when implemented in partnership with key stakeholders. At the school level, adequately trained and resourced teachers and supportive school policies promoted successful scale-up and sustained implementation. At the provincial level, multisectoral partnerships and embedded knowledge exchange mechanisms influenced the context for action at the provincial and school level, and were core elements of successful implementation. Trial registration number Clinical Trials Registry NCT01412203.

Parent-Adolescent Patterns of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviors and Sleep Among a Sample of Overweight and Obese Adolescents.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to examine the association between parent and adolescent levels of physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and sleep among a group of overweight and obese adolescents. METHODS Baseline data of parent-adolescent pairs who enrolled in a lifestyle modification intervention were analyzed for this study (n = 176). Participants completed questionnaires about their screen time (TV, video game, and computer time), wore an accelerometer for 8 days, and completed a sleep diary for 1 week. In total, 98 parent-adolescent dyads provided valid data for the analyses. Multivariable regression analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between parent and adolescents moderate-to-vigorous activity (MVPA), step counts, sedentary behaviors, and sleep duration. Analyses were split by weekday, weekday evening and weekend. RESULTS Parent-adolescent MVPA was significantly associated on weekdays (b = 0.18; SE = 0.08; β = 0.26), weekday evenings (b = 0.21; SE = 0.08; β = 0.28), and weekends (b = 0.29; SE = 0.12; β = 0.27). This study found associations between parent-child video game time on weekends (b = 1.10; SE = 0.49; β = 0.24) and computer time on weekdays (b = 0.42; SE = 0.19; β = 0.23). Adolescent sleep was associated with parental sleep on weekdays only (b = 0.38; SE = 0.09; β = 0.46). CONCLUSION The findings warrant further investigation into the direction and mechanism of the relationship between parent and adolescent weight related behaviors.

A brief tool to assess capacity to consent for medical care among homeless individuals with problematic substance use: study protocol.

BackgroundPublic health care increasingly uses outreach models to engage individuals who are marginalized, many of whom misuse substances. Problematic substance use, together with marginalization from the health care system, among homeless adults makes it difficult to assess their capacity to consent to medical care. Tools have been developed to assess capacity to consent; however, these tools are lengthy and unsuitable for outreach settings. The primary objective of this study is to develop, validate, and pilot a brief but sensitive screening instrument which can be used to guide clinicians in assessing capacity to consent in outreach settings. The goal of this paper is to outline the protocol for the development of such a tool.Methods/DesignA brief assessment tool will be developed and compared to the MacArthur Competency Assessment Tool for Treatment (MacCAT-T). As list of 36 possible questions will be created by using qualitative data from clinician interviews, as well as concepts from the literature. This list will be rated by content experts according to the extent that it corresponds to the test objectives. The instrument will be validated with 300 homeless adult volunteers who self-report problematic substance use. Participants will be assessed for capacity using the MacCAT-T and the new instrument. A combination of Classical Test Theory and advanced psychometric methods will be used for the psychometric analysis. Corrected Item-Total correlation will be examined to identify items that discriminate poorly. Guided exploratory factor analysis will be conducted on the final selection of items to confirm the assumptions for a unidimensional polytomous Rasch model. If unidimensionality is confirmed, an unstandardized Cronbach Alpha will be calculated. If multi-dimensionality is detected, a multidimensional Rasch analysis will be conducted. Results from the new instrument will be compared to the total score from the MacCAT-T by using Pearson’s correlation test. The new instrument will then be piloted in real-time by street outreach clinicians to determine the acceptability and usefulness of the new instrument.DiscussionThis research will build on the existing knowledge about assessing capacity to consent and will contribute new knowledge about assessing individuals whose judgment is impaired by substance use.

Using item response theory to assess the psychometric properties of the physical activity enjoyment scale: 1300 Board #155 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM

The literature suggests that enjoyment may be an important correlate of physical activity. However, the psychometric properties of scales measuring enjoyment of physical activity have not been adequately assessed. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of interval versus continuous training on absolute and relative VO2max, resting systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and resting heart rate (RHR). METHODS Forty-two volunteers were randomly assigned to an IT group (n=20) or a CT group (n=22). A separate control group (n=18) was formed from volunteers who were currently not engaged in CT or IT. Both training groups trained an average of 3 times per week for ten weeks starting the first week at 70% of VO2max for 30 min, increasing to 75% VO2max for 35 min the fifth week, and increasing to 80% VO2max for 40 min the eight week. The CT group maintained a constant intensity throughout the training session. The IT group completed a similar volume of work but varied the intensity within each session from 120–150% VO2max during the work intervals to 30–40% VO2max during the relief intervals. The training program was preceded and followed by a series of tests of VO2max, SBP, DBP and RHR. RESULTS The IT and CT groups improved significantly (p<.01) on both absolute and relative VO2max compared to the controls, with the IT group improving significantly better on relative VO2max than the CT group. Both training groups showed significant pre-post changes in percent fat and fat weight, but neither group changed significantly in comparison with the controls. SBP and DBP was reduced in the IT group, but not significantly compared to the CT group or controls. RHR was significantly lower in both training groups when compared with controls, but no difference was observed between the training groups. CONCLUSIONS The results of the study indicate that IT increased relative VO2max not only as well as CT, but actually better than CT. No differences were observed between IT and CT with regard to body composition or resting blood pressure. Similar reductions in RHR were observed in both training groups. Interval training, it appears, can be recommended in lower risk adults as an alternative to continuous training, resulting in significant improvements in aerobic fitness with no detrimental effects on resting blood pressure.