scholarly journals An Evaluation of the Nutrition and Health Awareness (NHA) Program on Health Knowledge, Health Literacy and Activity Levels

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Brundage ◽  
William Errico ◽  
Daharsh Rana ◽  
Molly Enenbach ◽  
Cassandra Haworth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Heart Disease ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Oral Hygiene ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Health And Wellness ◽  
Nutrition And Health ◽  
Average Activity

Research ObjectivesThe Nutrition and Health Awareness (NHA) program aims to educate and cultivate positive attitudes towards health and wellness in a school-based setting. Education on physical activity, diet, and oral hygiene were emphasized.  The study’s purpose was to evaluate the effectiveness of the curriculum on increasing physical activity and health knowledge.Study Design/Methods A team of medical students developed and administered lessons to 93 eligible 4th-grade students at Superstition Springs Elementary School on topics such as physical exercise, nutrition groups and labels, sugar metabolism, heart disease, and oral hygiene. At baseline (Week 0), participants were randomly assigned anonymized ID numbers and Fitbit Flex 2TM accelerometers, and completed a pre-intervention questionnaire evaluating their knowledge, health literacy and attitudes. Accelerometers were used to monitor activity levels throughout the duration of the six-week program. Five lessons were provided once weekly during Weeks 1–5. One week after lessons concluded, participants were again assessed using the questionnaire.Principal Findings and Quantitative/ Qualitative Results Ninety-three students participated in this research. Paired pre/post questionnaires (n=81) suggest students are more likely to exercise daily (p=0.021) and know more about their health (p=0.029). Students also scored higher on questions testing their cognitive ability to correctly identify healthy foods, portion sizes, importance of exercise, dental hygiene, and risk factors of diabetes and heart disease. Fitbit accelerometers recorded activity levels (n=84) as average steps students walked every week. Due to technical difficulties, no baseline (Week 0) average activity was established. Average activity levels over 5-week period did not differ due to inconsistent data collection.Conclusions/Impact on Health CentersApplication of the NHA program showed noteworthy improvements in health literacy, specifically in understanding of individual health, which suggests the curriculum’s potential to be used in an educational setting. Furthermore, by using a tool, such as the NHA questionnaire, to screen for health literacy in pediatric patients, healthcare providers can deliver personalized health education and care. Future research should focus on how to effectively measure activity levels, as well as how to involve the whole family in health and wellness improvement. Additionally, future research should be aimed at assessing long term retention of health knowledge.

379 Do Depressive Symptoms Mediate the Association Between Insomnia and Physical Activity?

SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A150-A151
Author(s):  
Jamie Walker ◽  
Rebecca Campbell ◽  
Ivan Vargas
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Energy Levels ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Severity Index ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Insomnia Symptoms

Abstract Introduction Insomnia and depression are highly comorbid and have been shown to be independently associated with lower levels of physical activity. It is not clear, however, if being less physically active is a risk factor for or consequence of depression and insomnia. The factors that explain the associations between insomnia, depression, and physical activity are likely complex and overlapping. For example, insomnia may predict inactivity by impacting one’s energy levels, leaving them too tired to exercise. Insomnia may also interfere with one’s motivation to exercise due to low mood, as insomnia is associated with the development of depressive symptoms. The purpose of the present study was to explore whether depression mediated the link between insomnia and low levels of physical activity. Methods A national online survey was conducted from April-June 2020. Participants completed surveys to assess demographics, mood, sleep, and physical activity. Depressive symptoms were estimated with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Insomnia symptoms were estimated with the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Physical activity levels were estimated with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Analyses were conducted using multiple linear regression, with separate models for depression, insomnia, and the combination of the two, on levels of physical activity. Results 3,952 adults (Mage = 46.9 years) completed the survey. According to the unadjusted models, greater insomnia symptoms were associated with greater depressive symptoms (b = 0.4523, SE = 0.019593, p < .001), and lower levels of physical activity (b = -38.741, SE = 18.236, p = 0.0337). The relationship between insomnia and physical activity was no longer significant, however, when controlling for depression (b = -6.140, SE = 19.274, p = 0.75). According to the mediation analyses, there was an indirect effect of insomnia on physical activity that was explained by differences in depressive symptoms (Sobel Test = -4.895, SE = 6.518, p < .001). Conclusion Our findings support previous research indicating associations between symptoms of insomnia and depression and physical activity. Future research should examine if these same results hold using a longitudinal design. Support (if any) Vargas: K23HL141581

scholarly journals Promotion of Elementary School Students’ Health Literacy

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (24) ◽  
pp. 9560
Author(s):  
Elke Knisel ◽  
Helge Rupprich ◽  
Annika Wunram ◽  
Markus Bremer ◽  
Christiane Desaive
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Elementary School ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
School Students ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Signed Rank ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Signed Rank Test

Health literacy is an important outcome of the discussion of school-related health education and health promotion in the 21st century. Although the improvement of health literacy at an early age is increasingly recognized and few interventions show the development of children´s health literacy, still there is little research in this area. The purpose of the study was to examine the enhancement of health literacy among children in a physical activity-based program at elementary school. In total, 137 students aged 6–12 years participated in the program, which included health knowledge transfer in child-appropriate games and exercises. Participants´ health literacy was assessed using the HLS-Child-Q15-DE at the beginning and the end of the program. The instrument measures the access, understanding, appraisal and application of health-related information on a four-point Likert-type scale. As expected, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed significant increases in self-reported health literacy over time. The results show that the degree of change in health literacy was not associated with gender or age. The results suggest that the physical activity-based program has the potential to improve elementary school children´s health literacy, even though in a single group pilot study.

scholarly journals Physical activity modification in youth with congenital heart disease: a comprehensive narrative review

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arend W. van Deutekom ◽  
Adam J. Lewandowski
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Congenital Heart Disease ◽  
Heart Disease ◽  
Congenital Heart ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
Large Range ◽  
Physical Activity Promotion ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Activity Promotion

Abstract Congenital heart disease (CHD) affects nearly 1% of births. As survival rates have dramatically improved, the majority of individuals with CHD now live into adulthood. As these patients age, they become prone to a large range of complications, such as chronic heart failure and acquired cardiovascular disease. Promotion of a healthy and active lifestyle from childhood onwards has been suggested as a sustainable and effective strategy to enhance cardiovascular health, improve quality of life and reduce immediate and long-term risk in people with CHD. Well-established physical activity consensus statements for youth with CHD have now been published. In this article, we review how increasing physical activity in youth with CHD may offer immediate and long-term cardiovascular benefits, what is known about physical activity in children with CHD, describe the unique factors that contribute to achieving sufficient and insufficient physical activity levels and summarize the evidence of trials on physical activity promotion in youth with CHD. Furthermore, we discuss some of the challenges that need to be addressed by further research regarding the optimal strategy, timing and format of physical activity intervention programmes in children and adolescents with CHD. Impact Congenital heart disease (CHD) affects nearly 1% of births, with the majority of individuals with CHD now living into adulthood due to improved survival. As CHD patients age, they become prone to a large range of cardiovascular complications. This article discusses how and why increasing physical activity in youth with CHD may offer immediate and long-term cardiovascular benefits, the barriers to achieving sufficient physical activity levels and the evidence from trials on physical activity promotion in youth with CHD. The optimal strategy, timing and format of physical activity intervention programmes in children and adolescents with CHD are discussed.

scholarly journals Physical Activity Status in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease: Results From the Cross-Sectional EUROASPIRE Surveys

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 1378-1384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Delphine De Smedt ◽  
Els Clays ◽  
Christof Prugger ◽  
Johan De Sutter ◽  
Zlatko Fras ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Coronary Heart Disease ◽  
Heart Disease ◽  
Risk Profile ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Physical Activity Levels ◽  
The Cross

Background:The study aim was to assess the physical activity levels as well as the intention to become physically active in patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD) with a special focus on the association with their risk profile.Methods:Analyses are based on the cross-sectional EUROASPIRE IV surveys. Information was available on 8966 patients in EUROASPIRE III and on 7998 patients in EUROASPIRE IV. Physical activity level according to patients risk profile and their medical management was assessed, the intention to become physically active was investigated and a time trend analysis was performed.Results:A better cardiovascular risk profile as well as receiving physical activity advice or weight loss advice was associated with better physical activity levels. The physical activity status improved significantly over time, the proportion of patients reporting vigorous physical activity for at least 20 minutes ≥ 3 times/week increased from 14.1% to 20.2% (P < .001). Similarly, a significantly greater proportion of patients are in the maintenance stage (36.6% vs. 27.4%) and a smaller proportion in the precontemplation stage (43.2% vs. 52.3%).Conclusion:Although an increase was seen in the proportion of patients being adequately physical active, physical activity levels remain suboptimal in many CHD patients.

Barriers to Physical Activity Among Assertive Community Treatment Participants: A Mixed-Methods Analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 102-117
Author(s):  
Garrett Huck ◽  
Michele Mahr ◽  
Blaise Morrison ◽  
Cruz Finnicum ◽  
Emre Umucu
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Stages Of Change ◽  
Assertive Community Treatment ◽  
Premature Mortality ◽  
Community Treatment ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
Future Research Directions

There is a paucity of research about factors influencing physical activity participation among individuals with severe mental illness (SMI). Consequently, this group continues to engage in low levels of activity, resulting in high comorbidity and premature mortality. This study examined the barriers to activity experienced by individuals with SMI receiving assertive community treatment (ACT) services. A mixed-methods approach was used to gain a comprehensive understanding of (a) the most frequently identified barriers to activity, (b) the degree to which specific barriers influence activity levels and stages of change, and (c) the consistency between those barriers experienced by ACT participants and individuals receiving other types of treatments. Participants identified a variety of barriers. Several significant correlations with low activity and stages of change were noted, and consistency with those barriers experienced by individuals receiving treatment in other settings was observed. Implications for clinical practice and future research directions are discussed.

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