Suchergebnisse

Purpose. Examine associations among observed, self-reported, and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) environmental features and physical activity among adolescent males. Design. Cross-sectional study. Setting. Boy Scout troops and neighborhoods in Houston, Texas. Subjects. Two hundred and ten 10- to 14-year-old Boy Scouts. Measures. Accelerometry to obtain minutes of sedentary, light, and moderate to vigorous activity per day. GIS sources were used to identify the numbers of parks, gymnasiums, trails, bus stops, grocery stores, and restaurants within a 1-mile radius of participant residences as well as residential density, connectivity, and crime. Participants provided a self-report of their environment. Analysis. Principal component analysis was used to reduce the number of GIS and self-reported items. Four factors were previously obtained from direct observations of the neighborhoods. Correlations were conducted among factors and physical activity. Regression models were run in which minutes of sedentary behavior, light, or moderate to vigorous physical activity were the dependent variables and environmental factors were the independent variables. Nonsignificant variables were removed in a backward deletion process. Results. Three GIS factors, Parks, Crime, and Gyms, were obtained as were two self-reported factors: difficulty and access and safety. Factor scores were interrelated and associated with the four observed factors. Only observed sidewalk characteristics were correlated with physical activity and were retained in the regression models. Conclusion. Environmental factors were interrelated. Only sidewalk characteristics were associated with sedentary behavior and light intensity physical activity.

Purpose. We investigated the prevalence of hypertension-lowering lifestyle-modification advice given to adults living in Iowa. We sought to determine if persons with high blood pressure and those who are overweight receive more advice than do persons with normal blood pressure and a desirable body weight. Methods. By using the 2002 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, we asked Iowa adults with (N = 1050) and without (N = 2514) high blood pressure five questions relating to the most recent Joint National Committee guidelines on lowering blood pressure. Respondents with high blood pressure were placed into normal weight and overweight categories. Chi-square analysis revealed group differences in amount of advice received. To reflect the true Iowa population, data were weighted by SPSS software. Results. Compared with persons without high blood pressure, those with high blood pressure received more lifestyle-modification advice (p < .001) for eating less high-fat or high-cholesterol foods (28.3% vs. 12.5%), eating more fruits and vegetables (35.7% vs. 20.0%), exercising more (37.6% vs. 20.8%), losing weight (19.3% vs. 9.3%), and quitting smoking (80.5% vs. 64.6%). Conclusions. Although persons with multiple chronic-disease risk factors are given more advice, the prevalence of advice given to individuals when lifestyle changes may reduce risk factors is still very low. Methods of translating research on lifestyle modifications into practice are discussed.

Purpose. To determine baseline use rates for health-promoting behaviors of the recently adopted New Jersey Health Wellness Promotion Act and to examine the effects of demographic and socioeconomic factors on the use of preventive services included in the Act. Design. A random telephone survey of 3094 households was conducted using questions from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System supplemented by questions related to provisions of the Act. Setting. All New Jersey households. Subjects. State representative adult sample of 1246 subjects. Measures. Rates for getting timely screening tests, for obtaining influenza immunizations, and engaging in selected health-promoting behaviors. Results. Rates for receiving recommended screening tests ranged from 0.88 for blood pressure testing to 0.29 for osteoporosis screening. According to bivariate analysis, having insurance was the most consistent determinant associated with receiving preventive services but was associated only with sigmoidoscopy, mammography, and Pap smear testing in the multivariate modeling. Reminders were significantly associated with respective screening tests. Age was positively associated with receiving the majority of tests. Gender, ethnicity, education, and income affected receipt sporadically. Half the respondents were overweight and a quarter were current smokers. Conclusions. Receipt of appropriate screening tests and adoption of health-promoting behaviors fell short of desired goals. Having health insurance increased receipt rates, but was not enough to achieve usage goals. Procedure-specific reminders may improve usage rates.

Purpose. To examine relations among gender, self-generated smoking-outcome expectancies, and smoking in adolescents. Methods. Students from one all-girls' (n = 350; 53%) and one all-boys' (n = 315; 47%) Catholic high school participated. Analyses included binary and ordinal logistic regression. Results. For boys, smoking behavior was associated with buzz (odds radio [OR] = 1.92, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.31–2.83, p < .001), pleasure (OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.01–2.16, p = .044), taste/smell (OR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.12–4.19, p = .022), stimulation (OR = 3.69, 95% CI: 1.32–10.28, p = .013), and exercise/sport impairment (OR = 2.84, 95% CI: 1.68–4.81, p < .001). Among girls, weight control (OR = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.13–0.36, p < .001), negative aesthetics (OR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.28-0.64, p < .001), addiction (OR = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.28–0.55, p < .001), and negative mood (OR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.20–0.97, p = .041) predicted smoking. Buzz (β = 2.88, p = .004) mediated the gender-smoking relationship. Moderators included negative social (β = −0.45, p = .021) and enhance self-esteem (β = −1.07, p = .024). Conclusion. Interventions might benefit from tailoring on gender differences in smoking-outcome expectancies.