Better with age: A health promotion program for men at midlife.

Physical activity and a healthy diet are key factors for avoiding major noncommunicable diseases. The aim of the present study was to analyze how physical activity (PA) and adherence to the Mediterranean diet among employees participating in the Healthy Cities program have been affected during confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample was composed of 297 employees from 40 leading companies based in Spain, who participated in the 5th edition of the Sanitas “Healthy Cities” challenge. The participants (148 women and 149 men), aged between 24 and 63 years old (M = 42.76; SD = 7.79) completed the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the PREDIMED (Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea) questionnaire to measure adherence to the Mediterranean diet before and during the pandemic. Pearson χ2 tests revealed that workers were more likely to show sedentary behaviors during the pandemic than before (83.5% vs. 66.7%). Additionally, they were more likely to reach high levels of PA (51.2% vs. 64%), and Wilcoxon tests revealed that energy expenditure measured in Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) was higher during the pandemic (4199.03 METs) than before (3735.32 METs), due to an increase in moderate PA. Lastly, a higher adherence to a Mediterranean diet during the pandemic (76.4%) than before (54.5%) was reported. The findings of this investigation suggest a positive effect of working from home for employees involved in a health-promotion program, and highlight the relevance of this kind of action among this population.

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Seniors and Undergraduates Mutually Benefit From an Interprofessional Service-Learning Health Promotion Program

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.025 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 8-8

Author(s):

Britteny Howell

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Health Promotion ◽

Service Learning ◽

Learning Outcomes ◽

Low Income ◽

Interprofessional Education ◽

Interdisciplinary Teams ◽

Health Promotion Program ◽

Positive Health ◽

Promotion Program

Abstract Although benefits of service-learning and interprofessional education (IPE) have been separately well documented to be effective for students in gerontology and geriatrics courses, few curricula appear to integrate both aspects into a single course for undergraduate students in public health. This poster discusses the development and implementation of a service-learning health promotion program utilizing IPE embedded within two courses in two different departments at a mid-sized university. Students worked in interdisciplinary teams and acquired interprofessional educational learning outcomes while they engaged in their first experiences working with diverse older adults at a low-income, independent-living housing community. Twenty-five students (N=25) each team-taught 2 sessions on nutrition, physical activity, and stress reduction techniques in a 10-week program. Qualitative and quantitative results are presented which demonstrate significant learning outcomes from the students about the health needs of the aging population and increased comfort in working with older adults. Older participants in the program also reported positive health and psychological outcomes from their participation. Limitations, challenges, and next steps are also presented.

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Pilot Testing the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability in a Process Evaluation of a Community Pharmacy–Based Men’s Mental Health Promotion Program

SAGE Open ◽

10.1177/2158244019885129 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 215824401988512

Author(s):

Andrea Lynn Murphy ◽

David Martin Gardner

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Promotion ◽

Process Evaluation ◽

Theoretical Framework ◽

Mental Health Promotion ◽

Health Promotion Program ◽

Perceived Effectiveness ◽

Pilot Testing ◽

Promotion Program ◽

Affective Attitude

The objective of this study was to assess men’s acceptability of a men’s mental health promotion program in community pharmacies through pilot testing the theoretical framework of acceptability (TFA) as part of the process evaluation. Five men were interviewed about their experiences with the Headstrong program to learn about the acceptability of the program. The TFA was used as the deductive coding scheme and consists of seven constructs including affective attitude, burden, intervention coherence, ethicality, opportunity costs, perceived effectiveness, and self-efficacy. Three constructs, affective attitude, perceived effectiveness, and intervention coherence, from the TFA were coded in all five transcripts. The most frequently coded constructs were affective attitude and perceived effectiveness, coded 19 and 17 times, respectively. Interviewees all reported good relationships with their pharmacists, which influenced their willingness, attitude, and low burden for participation in Headstrong. Each of the men expressed comments reflecting anticipated effectiveness of the program outside of their own experience and how it could impact other men. Use of the TFA as part of a process evaluation of men’s experiences in a men’s mental health program was useful in identifying men’s perceptions of the program’s acceptability. Further research regarding how the quality of existing relationships with clinicians and patients impacts the TFA constructs of affective attitudes, perceived effectiveness, and burden would be useful.

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