Melody Powers Noland

The measurement of physical activity in young children.

Two studies were conducted to determine the validity of various measures of physical activity in young children. In Study 1, 21 preschool children were utilized to explore how well measures of childrens activity obtained from parents, teachers, and the children predicted observed behavior at school and in the home. Study 2 (n = 51 preschool children) focused on the predictive validity of the Caltrac motion sensor. In both studies, detailed minute-by-minute ratings of childrens activity in Study 1 were generally ineffective in predicting observed physical activity. Childrens activity preferences, however, were significantly related to the proportion of high intensity physical activity performed. In Study 2, there was a significant relationship (r = .86, p less than .0001) between Caltrac readings and observed physical activity. This correlation was similar for boys and girls, normal and overweight children, and younger and older children. These findings suggest that the Caltrac monitor may provide a valid index of individual differences in physical activity in young children.

Effect of a Low-Cost, Teacher-Directed Classroom Intervention on Elementary Students' Physical Activity.

BACKGROUND Effective physical activity (PA) interventions are warranted for youth, and schools have been identified as logical locations for such involvement. Experts and professionals in the field promote comprehensive school PA programs, including classroom PA. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a low-cost, teacher-directed classroom-based intervention on the school PA of elementary children. METHODS Nine classroom teachers were provided inexpensive curricula and trained to implement and instruct PA breaks (2 × 30 minute training sessions). The teachers were encouraged to lead 1 activity break per day after the training. One hundred and six elementary students wore pedometers up to 12 days over 3 monitoring periods during the school year (baseline, follow-up, post follow-up) to assess the effectiveness and the sustainability of the intervention. The teachers self-reported the frequency of activity breaks instructed. RESULTS The teachers (n = 5) who complied with the recommended 1 activity break per day had students who accrued ∼33% more mean school steps/day at follow-up (∼1100) and post follow-up (∼1350) compared to controls. Teachers (n = 4) in the intervention who did not comply with the 1 activity break per day recommendation had students accrue similar mean school steps/day as controls. CONCLUSION Inexpensive, teacher-directed classroom-based PA interventions can be effective in improving childrens PA levels if teachers implement 1 activity break per school day. We recommend promoting the notion of 1 activity break per day in the classroom as part of a comprehensive school PA program that includes quality physical education, recess, and before/after school programs.

The Effects of Prenatal Secondhand Smoke Exposure on Preterm Birth and Neonatal Outcomes

OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship between prenatal secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure, preterm birth and immediate neonatal outcomes by measuring maternal hair nicotine. DESIGN Cross-sectional, observational design. SETTING A metropolitan Kentucky birthing center. PARTICIPANTS Two hundred and ten (210) mother-baby couplets. METHODS Nicotine in maternal hair was used as the biomarker for prenatal SHS exposure collected within 48 hours of birth. Smoking status was confirmed by urine cotinine analysis. RESULTS Smoking status (nonsmoking, passive smoking, and smoking) strongly correlated with low, medium, and high hair nicotine tertiles (ρ=.74; p<.001). Women exposed to prenatal SHS were more at risk for preterm birth (odds ratio [OR]=2.3; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] [.96, 5.96]), and their infants were more likely to have immediate newborn complications (OR=2.4; 95% CI [1.09, 5.33]) than nonexposed women. Infants of passive smoking mothers were at increased risk for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) (OR=4.9; 95% CI [1.45, 10.5]) and admission to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) (OR=6.5; CI [1.29, 9.7]) when compared to infants of smoking mothers (OR=3.9; 95% CI [1.61, 14.9]; OR=3.5; 95% CI [2.09, 20.4], respectively). Passive smokers and/or women with hair nicotine levels greater than .35 ng/ml were more likely to deliver earlier (1 week), give birth to infants weighing less (decrease of 200-300 g), and deliver shorter infants (decrease of 1.1-1.7 cm). CONCLUSIONS Prenatal SHS exposure places women at greater risk for preterm birth, and their newborns are more likely to have RDS, NICU admissions, and immediate newborn complications.

Saliva cotinine and thiocyanate: Chemical indicators of smokeless tobacco and cigarette use in adolecents

Recent attempts to measure smoking behavior using chemical tests may have been confounded by the use of smokeless tobacco. An objective measure of smokeless tobacco use is needed, particularly among adolescents who may not provide accurate self-reports of tobacco usage. Saliva cotinine was used to distinguish self-reported tobacco users from nonusers and a combination of saliva cotinine and thiocyanate (SCN) tests was used to distinguish smokers from smokeless tobacco users. The subjects were 471 students in grades 7 through 11 who lived in a high-tobacco production area. Approximately 89% of reported nonusers had no detectable cotinine and 99% of nonusers had levels <25 ng/ml. Of those who had used tobacco within the last 12 hr, 95% had detectable levels of cotinine. Samples that tested positive for cotinine were also tested for SCN. Eighty-six percent of smokers and 74% of mixed users had SCN values of >1000 μmol/liter, while only 14% of smokeless users had SCN values at that level. The combination of cotinine and SCN was effective in distinguishing smokers from smokeless users but was not effective in distinguishing mixed use from the other two types of use.

Levels and Characteristics of Physical Activity among a College Student Cohort

Abstract The purpose of this study was to assess physical activity levels and the relationships between activity and personal characteristics among a cohort of college students and to determine personal characteristics that predict activity. A sample of 1,700 undergraduates was mailed a survey that requested demographic information and assessed health behaviors including self-reported physical activity. Of the 1,575 successfully mailed, a total of 903 completed questionnaires were received—a response rate of 57.3%. Nearly half of the respondents indicated they “exercised or participated in sports activities for at least 20 minutes that made you sweat or breathe hard” on three or more of the preceding 7 days (VIG). Nearly three-fifths reported they “walked or biked for at least 30 minutes at a time” on 3 or more of the preceding 7 days (MOD). Those reporting VIG were more likely to be younger Caucasian males. Those reporting MOD were more likely to be younger Caucasian females. Gender, race, being an intercollegiate athlete, and belonging to a fraternity or sorority were predictors of VIG. Gender, age, race, and being an intercollegiate athlete were predictive of MOD. These results are in agreement with other studies on the correlates of physical activity among college students. This study was funded by the University of Kentucky Prevention Research Center.

Relationship of personal tobacco-raising, parental smoking, and other factors to tobacco use among adolescents living in a tobacco-producing region

This study examined factors related to tobacco use among youth from tobacco-raising (TRH) and nonraising households (NRH). The subjects were 3,851 seventh-grade students from 19 middle schools located in a tobacco-raising region. Valid self-reports of tobacco use were encouraged by the use of a test for carbon monoxide in expired air. Cigarette use was higher when (a) at least one parent smoked, and/or (b) the student personally raised tobacco. A boy who personally raised tobacco and had at least one parent who smoked was 10.2 times more likely to have smoked in the last 7 days than a boy from a nonraising household in which neither parent smoked. For girls, the odds ratio was 5.6:1. Tobacco use among students in this high-risk group was higher than rates reported in national or regional studies. Other results were: (1) use began very early--16% of the students had tried cigarettes and 13% of the boys had tried smokeless tobacco (SLT) in Grade 3 or earlier; and (2) users reported more lenient rules at home regarding tobacco use than did nonusers. Years from now, these high-risk students are likely to be major contributors to increased morbidity and mortality due to tobacco use. Implications for tobacco prevention in tobacco-raising areas are discussed.

Postpartum smoking relapse and secondhand smoke.

Objective. There has been an abundance of research evaluating prenatal and postnatal smoking abstinence programs. However, few researchers have tested postpartum relapse interventions that address secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure. Pregnant women exposed to SHS are more likely to relapse. This article explores the similarities and differences among postpartum interventions that incorporate SHS education. Generating knowledge about the components of postpartum relapse prevention interventions that do and do not achieve prolongation of abstinence is integral to the development of effective SHS interventions that help women achieve lifelong abstinence. Methods. We used a methodological review of 11 randomized, controlled trials testing the efficacy of relapse prevention interventions that address SHS exposure. We compared intervention strength, biomarker validation of home smoking and SHS, as well as abstinence and relapse rates. We examined three predictors of postpartum relapse: (1) partner smoking in the home, (2) adoption of home smoking restrictions, and (3) motivation/confidence to remain abstinent. Results. Findings revealed a need for more comprehensive SHS interventions and a clear delineation of abstinence/relapse terminology. Biomarker validation of home smoking and SHS was primarily measured by self-report, passive nicotine monitors, and hair nicotine levels. Furthermore, studies using nurse- and pediatrician-led interventions resulted in the lowest relapse rates. Conclusion. A comprehensive intervention that specifically prioritizes parental education on the health effects of SHS on the family, empowerment of the mother and family members to remain abstinent and adopt a smoke-free home smoking policy, and partner influence on smoking could result in a significant reduction in postpartum relapse rates.

Recovery of dynamic muscular endurance

SummaryRecovery of the rate of dynamic muscular endurance was measured in two groups of college-aged males. Subjects were required to perform elbow flexion (between the angles of 70 and 170 degrees) for as long as possible at the rate of 38 contractions/min while loaded with 1/6 of their maximum isometric strength (MVC). The task was terminated when the subject fell four contractions behind the required cadence or failed to complete two successive contractions. Subsequent to the task the subject was given a predetermined rest period after which a second fatigue bout to failure was performed. The rest intervals for Gp I (n=22) were 5, 15, 45, 135, 405, and 1215 seconds, while the rest intervals for Gp II (n=17) were 10, 30, 90, 270, 810, and 2550 s. Each subject completed six recovery intervals with the order of administration assigned at random. The percentage of recovery was calculated by dividing the exercise time of the first bout into the time of the second bout. These normalized data for the two groups were combined for analysis providing a 12 point recovery curve. The percentage of recovery ranged from 15.4% after 5 s to 91.8% after 2550 s. Analysis of the data revealed that the recovery pattern of dynamic muscular endurance progressed very rapidly initially, reached 50% at approximately 2 min and 15 s and was slightly less than 90% complete at 20 min. Exponential analysis of these data yielded a three-component curve.

An Empirical Investigation of Leisure Exercise Behavior in Adult Women

(1985). An Empirical Investigation of Leisure Exercise Behavior in Adult Women. Health Education: Vol. 16, No. 5, pp. 29-34.

Prevalence and correlates of HIV testing among college students: an exploratory study

OBJECTIVES Whether college students who are most at-risk of HIV infection are being tested is unknown. This exploratory study identified the prevalence and correlates of ever having an HIV test among college students. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a probability sample of 903 college students. Measures of sexual risk behaviour were assessed. RESULTS Of the students surveyed, 22.5% reported they had been tested for HIV. Testing was more likely among those 20 years of age or older (27.8% v. 14.7%; P = 0.0001), females (25.4% v. 17.8%; P = 0.01), and members of racial/ethnic minorities (42.7% v. 20.3%; P = 0.0001). After adjusting for these covariates, those who reported ever having vaginal sex (AOR = 5.5; 95% CI = 3.1-9.6); anal sex (AOR = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.6-3.6), and oral sex (AOR = 6.3; 95% CI = 3.0-13.3) were significantly more likely to report being tested. Students having vaginal sex in the past 12 months were significantly more likely to report testing (AOR = 5.3; 95% CI = 3.1-9.1). Those reporting vaginal sexual debut (AOR = 1.9; 95% CI = 1.2-3.1) or oral sexual debut (AOR= 1.7; 95% CI = 1.1-2.5) < or = age 15 were significantly more likely to be tested. Students reporting four or more sex partners were significantly more likely to be tested than sexually experienced students reporting fewer partners (AOR = 3.2; 95% CI = 2.2-4.6). Finally, those reporting at least one episode of forced vaginal sex (AOR = 3.9; 95% CI = 2.1-7.2) and reporting at least one episode of any forced sex (vaginal, anal, oral) (AOR = 3.0; 95% CI = 1.8-5.0) were significantly more likely to report being tested. CONCLUSIONS Within this population, demographically controlled findings suggest that those most at-risk of HIV infection are indeed being tested for the virus.