Robert J. McDermott

Adolescent Asthma Self-Management: Patient and Parent-Caregiver Perspectives on Using Social Media to Improve Care.

BACKGROUNDnSelf-management of asthma can now leverage new media technologies. To optimize implementation they must employ a consumer-oriented developmental approach. This study explored benefits of and barriers to improved asthma self-management and identified key elements for the development of a digital media tool to enhance asthma control.nnnMETHODSnBetween August 2010 and January 2011, 18 teens with asthma and 18 parent-caregivers participated in semistructured in-depth interviews to identify mechanisms for improving asthma self-management and propose characteristics for developing a digital media tool to aid such efforts.nnnRESULTSnTeens and caregivers enumerated physician-recommended strategies for asthma management as well as currently employed strategies. Both groups thought of a potential digital media solution as positive, but indicated specific design requirements for such a solution to have utility. Whereas most participants perceived mobile platforms to be viable modes to improve asthma self-management, interest in having social networking capabilities was mixed.nnnCONCLUSIONSnA digital media product capable of tracking conditions, triggers, and related asthma activities can be a core element of improved asthma control for youth. Improved asthma control will help decrease school absenteeism.

What proportion of preschool-aged children consume sweetened beverages?

BACKGROUNDnObesity affects nearly 17% of US children and youth 2-19 years old and 10% of infants and toddlers under the age of 2 years. One strategy for addressing obesity is to discourage sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption. Compared with their older school-aged counterparts, children ≤ 5 years depend largely on parents for the purchase and serving of SSBs. Therefore, recognizing parental factors associated with childrens intake of SSBs is important.nnnMETHODSnThis study used cross-sectional data from parents of children ≤ 5 years old to examine SSB consumption and associated factors. Elements of the Health Belief Model and Theory of Reasoned Action facilitated data analysis and interpretation.nnnRESULTSnThe most consistent predictor of SSB intake was child age. Nearly 94% of children aged 3-5 years consumed sweetened milk products, 88% consumed fruity drinks, 63% consumed sodas, and 56% consumed sports drinks and sweet tea. Adjusting for all other factors, the only parental psychosocial factor associated with SSB intake was self-efficacy (predicting fruity drinks consumption).nnnCONCLUSIONSnMore children drink SSBs as they get older. Interventions designed to prevent SSB consumption should occur early, before children reach preschool age. Additional study of parental factors influencing SSB intake in early childhood is recommended.

A Modified Obesity Proneness Model Predicts Adolescent Weight Concerns and Inability to Self‐Regulate Eating

BACKGROUNDnThe prevalence of obesity among high school students has risen in recent decades. Many high school students report trying to lose weight and some engage in disordered eating to do so. The obesity proneness model suggests that parents may influence their offsprings development of disordered eating. This study examined the viability of a modified obesity proneness model in a high school population.nnnMETHODSnCross-sectional survey data from a random cluster sample of 1533 students in grades 9-12 from a Florida school district were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Variables included adolescents weight concerns; inability to self-regulate eating; and perceptions about maternal comments about adolescents weight, restrictive feeding practices, and maternal weight-related concern and values.nnnRESULTSnAll the models originally proposed relationships were statistically significant, for example perceived maternal weight comments were associated with adolescents weight concerns (β = 0.64; p < .0001), and perceived maternal restrictive feeding practices were associated with adolescents inability to self-regulate eating (β = 0.22; p < .001).nnnCONCLUSIONnSome points of intervention should be subjected to empirical study. These interventions should give mothers guidance about appropriate feeding practices and discourage mothers from making weight-related comments to their offspring. Together, as 1 component of a multilevel intervention, these behaviors may help prevent disordered eating and obesity.

VERB™ Summer Scorecard: Increasing Tween Girls' Vigorous Physical Activity

OBJECTIVEnWe assessed changes in the frequency of self-reported physical activity (PA) among tween girls exposed and not exposed to the VERB™ Summer Scorecard (VSS) intervention in Lexington, Kentucky, during 2004, 2006, and 2007.nnnMETHODSnGirls who reported 0-1u2009day per week of PA were classified as having little or no PA. Girls who reported 2-3u2009days of PA were classified as low PA performers; 4-5u2009days of PA were labeled as moderate performers; and 6-7u2009days of PA were identified as high performers. Logit regression analysis of survey data from girls identified trends in PA frequency across time.nnnRESULTSnIn 2004, participant girls were more likely than girls unfamiliar with VSS (reference group girls) to report high frequency of PA (ORu2009=u20091.44, CIu2009=u20091.18, 1.70). In 2006, participants were statistically less likely than reference group girls to report low frequency of PA (ORu2009=u20091.75, CIu2009=u20091.33, 2.21). In 2007, VSS participants were consistently more likely to report moderate frequency (ORu2009=u20091.56, CIu2009=u20091.35, 1.77) and high frequency of PA (ORu2009=u20091.44, CIu2009=u20091.24, 1.64) than reference group girls.nnnCONCLUSIONnAn innovative, community-driven intervention demonstrated promise for increasing PA among tween girls. VSS may have transportability to other communities to help reverse the secular trend of declining PA for this population segment.