Cross-sectional Content Analysis Research Articles

Physical Education and Physical Activity Policies as Described on California Charter School Websites

Objectives: Nearly all US schools have a website that enables them to inform about and promote physical activity (PA) and physical education (PE). We performed a cross-sectional content analysis of California (state with the most charters) elementary charter school websites' PA/PE content. Methods: We analyzed data (N = 520 schools) using descriptive statistics and cross tabulations to identify associations among school characteristics and the mentioning of PE, PE curriculum, PE teacher, recess, interscholastic sport, and other extracurricular PA. Results: Over a third (39%) of websites did not mention providing either PA or PE opportunities at all. Only 30.6% of websites mentioned PE (mandated by state education code to be delivered for 200 min/10 days to students in grades 1-6). Websites also infrequently mentioned Fitnessgram scores (36.5%), required by state education code to be reported for 5th graders, as well as recess (30.2%), other extracurricular PA (20.4%), and interscholastic sport (16.5%). Conclusions: Schools did not use the full potential of their websites to inform constituents about PA or to promote it on campus. Deficient schools should expand the PE/PA content information available on their websites and be held accountable for such by their parent school district..

California Districts and Schools Underutilize Websites to Demonstrate Compliance to a Physical Education Lawsuit

ABSTRACTPurpose: Quality physical education (PE) reaches many objectives (e.g., knowledge, physical fitness, and physical skills) and could provide at least half the dose of recommended daily physical activity for youths if their opportunity to learn is provided according to national professional recommendations (min/week) and related state mandates. A 2015 California class-action lawsuit required affected schools to post data indicating they scheduled PE time meeting the state mandate of 200 min per 10-day period. The extent to which schools posted PE schedules on their websites and demographic factors related to their compliance was investigated in this study. Method: We performed a quantitative, cross-sectional content analysis of the websites of 37 school districts plus a random sample of 860 elementary schools in them. Z tests were used to analyze frequencies/proportions and associations among demographic (e.g., Hispanic enrollment, PE specialist) and PE schedule variables (e.g., schools meeting state-mandated PE time). Results: Twenty-two districts (59.4%) had websites with ≥1 page/document related to PE opportunities. Only 11% of schools posted PE schedules, an event that was associated with employing a PE specialist (p = .01). Of schools posting schedules, 68% specified a PE volume that met the state mandate. Meeting the mandate was independently associated with enrolling a minority of Hispanic students (p = .02). Conclusion: Websites can provide information about the importance/occurrence of PE; however, schools in the lawsuit did not use the potential of their websites to inform constituents either about the lawsuit or their PE programs. Non-compliant schools should adjust PE schedules to meet statutory requirements.

The extent, nature, and nutritional quality of foods advertised to children in Lebanon: the first study to use the WHO nutrient profile model for the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

ObjectiveExposure to food marketing may influence children’s food preferences and consumption patterns and may increase the risk of childhood obesity. The WHO Office for the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) has recently released a regional nutrient profile model (WHO EMR) for the purpose of regulating the marketing of food and beverages to children. This study aimed at 1) analyzing the frequency and types of food and drink advertisements during children’s viewing time in Lebanon; 2) examining the nutritional content of the advertised food products in reference to the nutrient thresholds specified by the WHO EMR model; and 3) assessing the proportion of food advertisements that included health messages.DesignThis study consisted of a cross-sectional content analysis of food advertisements on local TV channels, during children’s viewing time.SettingThree local Lebanese channels with the highest viewership among 4- to 14-year-olds were selected. Recorded broadcasts (September 2016 through January 2017) were analyzed between 3 pm and 10 pm on weekdays and between 8 am and 10 pm on weekend days.ResultsApproximately 31% of advertisements were for foods or drinks. The proportion of food advertisements was the highest during children’s programs (43%) compared to general viewing (32%) and parental guidance (29%) programs. Approximately 8 out of 10 food advertisements were for products that did not meet the standards of the WHO EMR model. Of concern was the heavy advertisement of alcoholic beverages during programs for general audiences. The majority of the advertisements that comprised a health claim were for foods that did not meet the WHO EMR’s nutritional standards (79%).ConclusionsThe findings of this study, which is the first to utilize the new WHO EMR profile model, should be viewed as a foundation for the development of food marketing policies aimed at reducing children’s exposure to TV food advertisements in Lebanon, a country that harbors a high burden of childhood obesity.

Evaluation of an entrepreneurship training programme: a proposal for new guidelines

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate an entrepreneurship training and education programme, which has already had five editions in the Sabor region of Portugal’s northern interior. This evaluation was conducted in order to propose new guidelines to improve the Sabor Entrepreneurship Programme (SEP).Design/methodology/approachThe research included primary data collection using mixed methods (i.e. quantitative and qualitative). Questionnaires were distributed to 103 entrepreneurs who participated in the SEP, and interviews were conducted with entities involved in developing this programme. The data were processed using cross-sectional content analysis of the interviews and descriptive analysis of the completed questionnaires in order to ascertain the opinions of all the parties involved in the SEP.FindingsThe results show that the SEP has been modified throughout the five editions, which has contributed to better performance. Based on the findings, new guidelines were proposed for the programme, such as the implementation of new phases and improvement of various methods used. The proposed phases include the validation and full development of business ideas, management decision training for entrepreneurs, help with financing solutions and support during new companies’ first three years. The results also indicate that the SEP needs to create an entrepreneurial ecosystem that includes public policies and the involvement of other local entities that are active in the region and that have the skills entrepreneurs need.Originality/valueThis study’s findings have theoretical and practical implications, which provide empirical evidence of how evaluating entrepreneurship education and training programmes can make them more effective and efficient. In addition, the results contribute to the evolution of the existing knowledge about entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Entre surcos y caminos: una aproximación a la vida cotidiana de la población infantil jornalera de México

In Mexico, agricultural day laborers migrate in family groups to the different agroindustrial enclaves in the country in search of work, therefore adjusting to the production and labor dynamics that intensive agriculture requires. Girls and boys from these groups accompany their parents during their travels and stays throughout the year, meaning that spatial mobility, temporary stays in shelters and tenement blocks, attendance at rudimentary schools, and participation in the furrowing and harvesting of tomato fields form part of their life experience in precarious conditions. The goal of this article is to make these children visible, to show how their lives among paths and furrows allow them to spend time with their families while adapting to the work conditions as well as the spatial mobility that the work requires; as well as showing what allows them to know the practices and spaces of their daily lives and generate spatialities that are their own, in the case of Yurecuaro, Michoacan, one of the points in their migration route. The theoretical approach that sheds light on the above is the spaces of life framework, originating in French human geography. This framework helps reconstruct the spatiality of the study population. Children’s drawings are employed as a qualitative research technique that helps elucidate graphically the spaces with their material and natural elements, the practices that are carried out in them, and the people with whom the children interact either in the fields, during their commutes, inside their homes, or around their community; aspects that permeate the lives of boys and girls, their thinking and actions. Apart from the information provided in these drawings (85 in total), we used, mainly, the field notes containing our observations and conversations during our visits to the different spaces, as well as interviews of day laborers of different ages, including the child population (16 in total). Cross-sectional content analysis guided by the topics in which the drawings were classified, the included elements, and the short texts that some of the children wrote is used. The results reveal the strong ties that the study population has with their place of origin despite their lengthy stays elsewhere, the experiences they have internalized during their short lives and their significance, as well as the economic, national and local interests that contribute to the forging of a reality in which the state, with its tenuous presence in the form of assistance programs for the day laborer population, more than dignifying their living and working conditions, contributes to the subsistence of the labor that this agroindustry requires.

Variation in Nutritional Quality of School Lunches With Implementation of National School Lunch Program Guidelines

School lunches must meet National School Lunch Program (NSLP) requirements to receive reimbursement. In this study, we sought to determine whether there are significant differences in nutrient content and nutritional quality between 2 menus meeting NSLP requirements. A cross-sectional content analysis compared 6 weeks of a typical school lunch menu (TM) from an actual school district to a best practice school lunch menu (BPM) created by a registered dietitian based on Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) best practices and Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) healthy meal pattern recommendations. Daily nutrient content was determined using nutrient analysis software. Nutritional quality was computed using Healthy Eating Index (HEI) 2010. For nutrients required for analysis, the BPM was lower in calories, saturated fat, and sodium and higher in protein, carbohydrate, and fiber (ps < .01). For other nutrients of concern, the BPM was higher in vitamin A, vitamin D, phosphorus, and magnesium (ps < .01). The BPM had higher HEI scores for nutritional quality (p < .001). Results indicate the possibility for significant variation in nutritional quality of NSLP-qualifying lunches. Using CACFP best practices and DGA recommendations may significantly impact school lunch dietary quality.

AGEING IN PLACE FRAMEWORK AS REFERENCE GUIDE FOR HOUSING IN MALAYSIA: LANDED PROPERTY

The increasing ageing population due to improved quality of life from better healthcare services and lifestyle as well as development in technology calls for better support in the ageing process. Even though the aged population dramatically increases globally, surprisingly the construction sector and the housing system seem slow in adapting to the changing needs of the ageing population. Increasing evidence show that population ageing is a pervasive and unparalleled global phenomenon which presents many challenges towards social and economic growth. Therefore, this research focuses on the provision of better support services and facilities of landed property, as well as the creation of sustainable environment that is age-friendly and safe. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, focus group discussion and document reviews. Findings from cross sectional content analysis and cognitive mapping could enhance the standard of living for senior citizens in Malaysia in the context of ageing in place. A foundation for developing a comprehensive guideline for elderly, particularly in the urban areas, is proposed to improve the health and welfare of senior citizens in Malaysia through the provision of better services, facilities and development in landed properties.

AGEING IN PLACE FRAMEWORK AS REFERENCE GUIDE FOR HOUSING IN MALAYSIA: LANDED PROPERTY

The increasing ageing population due to improved quality of life from better healthcare services and lifestyle as well as development in technology calls for better support in the ageing process. Even though the aged population dramatically increases globally, surprisingly the construction sector and the housing system seem slow in adapting to the changing needs of the ageing population. Increasing evidence show that population ageing is a pervasive and unparalleled global phenomenon which presents many challenges towards social and economic growth. Therefore, this research focuses on the provision of better support services and facilities of landed property, as well as the creation of sustainable environment that is age-friendly and safe. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, focus group discussion and document reviews. Findings from cross sectional content analysis and cognitive mapping could enhance the standard of living for senior citizens in Malaysia in the context of ageing in place. A foundation for developing a comprehensive guideline for elderly, particularly in the urban areas, is proposed to improve the health and welfare of senior citizens in Malaysia through the provision of better services, facilities and development in landed properties.

What are people tweeting about orthodontic retention? A cross-sectional content analysis.

Social media can offer valuable insights in relation to the perceptions and impact of medical treatments on patient groups. There is also a lack of information concerning patient experiences with orthodontic retainers and little appreciation of barriers to optimal compliance with orthodontic retention. The aim of this study was to describe the content of Twitter posts related to orthodontic retainers. Publicly available tweets were prospectively collected over a period of 3 to 4weeks using a bespoke social media monitoring tool. A total of 7037 tweets were collected, of which 827 were randomly selected for the analysis. Pilot coding was undertaken on a subset of tweets (n=70), and a coding guide was developed. Tweets were iteratively categorized under the main themes and subthemes. The frequencies of tweets in each theme and subtheme were subsequently determined. Of 827 tweets, 660 were included in the analysis. The main themes identified included compliance, impact, maintenance, patient-clinician relationship, and positive and negative feelings. Compliance with orthodontic retainers was the most frequently coded theme (n=248), with most reporting suboptimal compliance. The negative impact of orthodontic retainers on social and daily activities (n=192) and the maintenance requirements (n=115) were commonly mentioned. Patients also frequently expressed feelings about their clinician. Subjective experiences in relation to orthodontic retainers were commonly shared on Twitter. Most of the publicly available tweets portrayed retainer wear in a negative light.

A cross-sectional content analysis of Android applications for asthma.

Providing patients opportunities for self-management and education about their disease, asthma applications designed for use on an Android operating system can have positive health outcomes across the range of demographics who use mHealth applications. This study provides a content analysis of freely available Google Android Platform Mobile Applications for Asthma. A list of applications was collected on 26 October 2014, using the search feature of the Google Play Android platform and using the words and phrases "Asthma," "Lung Function" and "Peak Flow." Each application was coded for its approach to asthma self-management, based on categories adapted by Huckvale et al., which are based on the Global Initiative for Asthma and the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program. The characteristics of the 15 asthma applications are described. Most of the asthma applications' primary function focused on patient self-monitoring and self-assessment. Using the HON Code, we found low health information quality across all asthma applications. Android asthma applications can have positive outcomes in helping patients as they provide opportunities for self-management and education about their disease. Future research should continue to monitor and evaluate the development and use of mHealth Asthma Applications. Based on these findings, and their indication of a gap in existing research, subsequent studies can continue to evaluate the development and use of mHealth Asthma Applications with increasing methodological consistency to improve the quality of in-app health information.

Independence and Financial Knowledge on Audit Committee with Non-compliance of Financial Disclosure: A Study of Listed Companies Issued with Public Reprimand in Malaysia

This paper aims to describe the public reprimand issued by Bursa Malaysia to PLCs pertaining to financial related information. It was found that public reprimand were sanctioned for non-compliance of the requirements related to continuing disclosure with amounted to 145 breaches for year 2009 until 2013. It was also discovered that most of the companies sanctioned for public reprimand had complied with the minimum requirements for the independence and financial knowledge on audit committee. This study is a cross-sectional content analysis and consists of firms that had been reprimanded by Bursa Malaysia for non-compliance with the listing requirements.

Clinical Inertia: A Common Barrier to Changing Provider Prescribing Behavior

A cross-sectional content analysis nested within a randomized, controlled trial was conducted to collect information on provider responses to computer alerts regarding guideline recommendations for patients with suboptimal hypertension care. Participants were providers who cared for 1,017 patients with uncontrolled hypertension on a single antihypertensive agent within Veterans Affairs primary care clinics. All reasons for action or inaction were sorted into a framework to explain the variation in guideline adaptation. The 184 negative provider responses to computer alerts contained explanations for not changing patient treatment; 76 responses to the alerts were positive, that is, the provider was going to make a change in antihypertensive regimen. The negative responses were categorized as: inertia of practice (66%), lack of agreement with specific guidelines (5%), patient-based factors (17%), environmental factors (10%), and lack of knowledge (2%). Most of the 135 providers classified as inertia of practice indicated, "Continue current medications and I will discuss at the next visit." The median number of days until the next visit was 45 days (interquartile range, 29 to 78 days). Clinical inertia was the primary reason for failing to engage in otherwise indicated treatment change in a subgroup of patients. A framework was provided as a taxonomy for classification of provider barriers.