Preferred Information Sources Research Articles

Abstract P238: A Multinational Analysis of Perceptions of Non-Communicable Diseases

Introduction: Understanding perceptions of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is pivotal for enhancing primary prevention programs and health literacy. Objective: To assess perceptions and attitudes toward NCDs in five distinct countries. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using the "Measuring Public Perceptions of Noncommunicable Diseases" survey by Gallup (2022). The sample encompassed 7,029 participants from the United States, Colombia, Jordan, Tanzania, and India, selected through probability-based sampling. The survey involved 15 sociodemographic variables and 97 questions related to knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes toward NCDs. We focused our analysis on cardiometabolic diseases and cancer. Results: Over 89% of respondents across all countries considered NCDs to be harmful, although perceptions were lower in India and Jordan, particularly for diabetes and stroke. Gender-based differences were notable in these countries; women in India and men in Jordan were less likely to view stroke as harmful. Support for public policies varied by country; participants from Jordan showed greater support for alcohol taxes, whereas India demonstrated lower support for tobacco control. Cancer was generally perceived as highly harmful, but along with stroke showed the least perceived empowerment for risk reduction. Television was the preferred source of health information, and high levels of trust were placed in healthcare personnel across countries. Individuals with higher education and income were more aware of the detrimental impacts of NCDs and felt more empowered to mitigate them, and older participants showed a diminished perception of their harm (Table 1). Conclusion: The data highlights varied perceptions of harm and empowerment across countries, affecting receptivity to different public policies such as taxation and advertising restrictions. Understanding these disparities is crucial for crafting efficient healthcare interventions tailored to specific populations.

Patient Perception on Osteoporosis in Korean Female Patients with Osteoporosis.

Patient perception is a key element in improving compliance with medications for osteoporosis. This study evaluated the awareness, perception, sources of information, and knowledge of osteoporosis among Korean women with osteoporosis. A questionnaire survey was conducted from July 22, 2021 to 13 August 2021. Patients who were followed up in endocrinology (Endo), orthopedic surgery (OS), and gynecology (GY) were recruited (N=40, 40, and 20 in each group). Patients were allocated according to their age, as follows: 15, 15, and 10 patients in their 60s, 70s, and 80s for Endo and OS, and 10 and 10 patients in their 60s and 70s for GY. The questionnaire was composed of the following topics: patient journey to the hospital, drug-related issues, communication with medical doctors, patient knowledge, and sources of information about osteoporosis. The results of medical check-ups were the most common reason for patient visits to the hospital for an initial diagnosis of osteoporosis (61%). A knowledge gap regarding mortality, refracture, and drug-induced osteoporosis was observed. Doctors were the most preferred and trustful source of information, while health-related TV shows were the second most common source of information. Patients with OS reported lower perceived severity and higher drug discontinuation, along with a higher proportion of fractures, as the initial reasons for hospital visits for osteoporosis. Variations in perceptions according to the issue and group were identified. These should be considered during patient consultations to improve compliance with osteoporosis treatment.

The impact of information needs satisfaction on the creativity of visual art teachers

PurposeThe aim of this study is to investigate how the information needs satisfaction of visual art teachers affects their creativity. Visual art teachers’ information seeking behaviour and specifically the association of information needs satisfaction with creativity has been an understudied area, despite competent information seeking being considered essential for high quality practices of art teachers.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire survey was developed addressing the information seeking behaviour of art teachers, informed by Wilson’s model (1981), including visual art teachers’ information needs, information resources, obstacles faced while seeking information and the perceived impact of information needs satisfaction on visual art teachers’ creativity.FindingsThe study included 298 visual art teachers in Greece. The results demonstrated that the key information needs of art teachers were mainly related to materials’ properties, techniques for creating artwork and artwork promotion methods. Online information sources were the preferred sources of art information, followed by colleagues, personal collections and visits to galleries and museums. Our study identified lack of time, lack of specialized libraries and copyright, as the main barriers to information seeking.Originality/valueInformation about art plays a substantial role in visual art education, while visual art teachers’ information needs satisfaction positively influences their creative endeavours. There is a need to further explore the digital information needs of visual art teachers.

Mpox: Awareness, knowledge and information channels used by individuals accessing a sexually transmitted infections Helpline.

Up until recently, monkeypox (mpox) was considered to be a rare zoonotic infection restricted to Central and West Africa. However, in July 2022, the World Health Organization declared mpox to be a public health emergency of international concern, after there were several outbreaks in non-endemic countries. This study assessed the information channels used by individuals accessing the "Telefono Verde AIDS e Infezioni Sessualmente Trasmesse" of Istituto Superiore di Sanità (National Institute of Health in Italy) with regard to mpox. We also evaluated their awareness, and knowledge about mpox focusing on transmission and prevention. This is a cross-sectional study conducted on "Telefono Verde AIDS e Infezioni Sessualmente Trasmesse" users, between January and April 2023. The target population was helpline users who were older than 18 years of age, and were phoning the service for the first time (i.e. who have not phoned in the last 12 months). Participants were interviewed using a questionnaire containing 19 questions filled by the interviewer. Collected data were analysed through descriptive statistics, and significance testing. From January to April 2023, "Telefono Verde AIDS e Infezioni Sessualmente Trasmesse" received 2,389 phone calls, 216 of which participated in this study. Most of these were male (85.2%; n=186), single (79.2%; n=171) and in employment (72.2%; n=156). Awareness about mpox was high (71.3%; n=154), with the central and south/islands regional areas having the highest percentage of participants who heard about the virus (84.3%; n=43 vs 72.4%; n=42; p=0.078). Television was the most frequently mentioned source of information about mpox by participants (63%; n=97; p<0.001). This medium was also the most preferred source of information about mpox (39%; n=60; p=0.109). The majority of participants stated that they did not know what mpox is (67.6%; n=146), and less than half knew that it is preventable (42.4%; n=89). Of those who stated that mpox is a preventable illness, less than half knew about the existence of a vaccine (44.9%; n=40; p<0.001). This study provides insights into the awareness, knowledge, prevention tools and information channels of individuals who contacted the "Telefono Verde AIDS e Infezioni Sessualmente Trasmesse". Useful indications for defining future information campaigns were obtained.

COVID-19 information seeking and individuals’ protective behaviors: examining the role of information sources and information content

BackgroundSeeking COVID-19 information promotes individuals to adopt preventive behaviors, including wearing a mask, social distancing, staying away from risky places, and washing hands. This study aims to investigate which information and sources individuals relied on in seeking COVID-19 information and further examine their roles in individuals’ adoption of preventive behaviors.MethodsThrough a statistical analysis of 1027 valid responses from citizens in different Chinese cities in 2022 to the self-designed items in an online survey, this study identified individuals’ preferred information sources and content on COVID-19. Regarding the information sources and content, the study used multiple regression analysis to examine their associations with individuals’ preventive behaviors, and further applied fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to explore their configurations that increase the likelihood of individuals adopting preventive behaviors.ResultsIndividuals preferred information about the newest prevention and control policies, precautions and treatment, and symptoms from the sources of workplace and community, social media, and social live streaming services. Additionally, individuals’ preventive behaviors were positively related to the workplace and community (β = 0.202, p <.001), social live streaming services (β = 0.089, p <.01), government department websites (β = 0.079, p <.05), television (β = 0.073, p <.05), and online news media (β = 0.069, p <.05), but were negatively associated with newspapers (β=-0.087, p <.05). Regarding information content, precautions and treatments (β = 0.211, p <.001), the newest prevention and control policies (β = 0.173, p <.001), symptoms (β = 0.152, p <.001), and official rumor-dispelling information (β = 0.082, p <.05) had a positive relationship with individuals’ preventive behaviors. In addition, fsQCA results presented eight configurations that promote individuals to adopt preventive behaviors. The total coverage and solution consistency values were 0.869 and 0.987, respectively. Furthermore, COVID-19 information content, the sources of social media and interpersonal sources, and official news media played an essential role in increasing the likelihood of individuals adopting preventive behaviors.ConclusionsOur findings demonstrated that individuals seek various COVID-19 information from multiple sources. The direct and degree of association of information sources and content with individuals’ preventive behaviors vary from source to source and from content to content. Information sources and content could combinatorially promote individuals to adopt preventive behaviors through several configurations.

Everyday Life Information Seeking

The purpose of this paper is to elaborate the everyday information seeking practices of urban teens and the benefits they get from these practices; moreover, demographic details of participants are also elaborated. In Pakistan many studies have been carried out on information need and seeking behavior of diverse groups, but not a single study has been done so far on everyday information seeking of Pakistani urban teens. This research is a humble endeavor to understand their daily practices that may lead to design systems for fulfilling their everyday information needs. For this purpose, a quantitative study was conducted employing a sample of 1000 urban teen participants who responded to the survey. Cluster sampling was done and the Likert scale was used to assess the written questionnaires, which were analyzed on the statistical software SPSS-21. These teens were from public and private schools of Pakistan. This data was collected by using Google forms. The results indicated that an easy access to teen’s preferred sources would play important role in their lives. It would be helpful for academicians to understand the teens’ ELIS behavior and reasons of their preferred information sources. This study will also be helpful for policy

On the brink: Examining preemptive indicators of preparedness inequity and social vulnerability to climate change hazards in Connecticut, USA

The current study is part of an ongoing effort to combine environmental, infrastructural, and socioeconomic data tied to specific locations to identify sites of preparedness-inequity, and generate information for crisis communication practitioners, emergency services, and state level disaster management. A cross-sectional survey was administered to a sample of 519 residents in four counties in Connecticut identified as vulnerable to climate-related hazard events using projected climate risk data from the US Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CJEST) (Justice40.gov) and socially vulnerable per the Social Vulnerability Index (SoVI). Geospatial analysis was used to map SoVI data and identify the Justice 40 risk factors of individual municipalities. These data were triangulated with participant data concerning risk awareness, information needs, preferred information sources, and trust in local emergency services. The results reveal racial and socioeconomic disparities in information sufficiency, self-identified preparedness, risk awareness, and trust and underline the need for emergency management to identify the sources of information sought by underprivileged residents and residents of color at the local level. While past studies have taken a variable-analytic approach to examining risk communication, this study aimed to inform our knowledge of the most underserved individuals when it comes to emergency messages and planning. The results have implications for developing effective and equitable messaging concerning environmental risks that consider vulnerability and audience behaviors within and across municipalities; and highlight the utility of combining social and geospatial data to develop new insights into best practices to improve crisis and risk communication in advance of disaster scenarios.

Women with ovarian cancer's information seeking and avoidance behaviors: an interview study.

Despite the importance of using information for ovarian cancer (OvCa) disease management and decision-making, some women with OvCa do not actively seek out information. The purpose of this study is to investigate factors that influence information seeking behaviors and information avoidance behaviors and information resources among women with OvCa and their caregivers. We conducted in-depth interviews with OvCa patients or caregivers of OvCa (n = 20) and employed deductive and inductive coding methodologies for analysis. Our analysis revealed 5 emerging themes associated with active information seeking behavior, 5 themes of passive information acquisition, and 4 themes of information avoidance behavior. Additionally, we identified participants' preferred information sources for OvCa management, such as health organization or government operated resources and web-based social groups. To enhance information access, strategies should be developed to motivate people with OvCa to seek rather than avoid information. The study emphasizes the significance of promoting patient-provider communication and leveraging strong social support networks for effective information acquisition. Our findings provide valuable implications for clinical practice and policymaking, emphasizing the need to improve access to information for individuals with OvCa. By addressing the identified factors influencing information seeking behaviors, healthcare professionals and policymakers can better support patients and caregivers in their information-seeking journey, ultimately enhancing disease management and decision-making outcomes.

Effective public health messaging for university students: lessons learned to increase adherence to safety guidelines during a pandemic

Variation in compliance with recommended safety behaviors early in the COVID-19 pandemic was especially concerning in places where people aggregated after traveling from a range of geographical areas, such as many universities. Understanding variation in these behaviors is important for continuing to address the COVID-19 pandemic and planning for future disease outbreaks. We examined the relationship between safety behaviors, risk perception, COVID-19-related knowledge, and information sources among university students during the Fall 2020 semester. A person’s preferred information sources were associated with differences in knowledge, risk perception, and protective behaviors. Furthermore, people with higher COVID knowledge practiced more protective behaviors. Providing reliable information can reduce harm during future global health crises, particularly at universities where interventions on campus can also protect the larger community, as spillover from universities has impacted the most vulnerable members of the surrounding communities. Our study adds to public health literature on factors influencing personal behaviors.

Awareness, knowledge, and attitude about shaken baby syndrome among parents in Qassim Region: a cross-sectional study

Objective: This study aimed to determine the level of knowledge, awareness, and attitude about shaken baby syndrome (SBS) among parents in the Qassim region, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted that evaluated the SBS knowledge and attitude among the Qassim population by distributing a questionnaire to a sample that matched the criteria. Results: In total, 373 parents participated in the study, with 82.0% mothers, 49.1% over 40 years old, 98.1% Saudi citizens, and 95.7% married. Out of the 373 participants, 70% were not aware of SBS. The majority (85%) had poor knowledge about SBS, while only 15% had an excellent understanding. However, 85.3% of the individuals expressed interest in learning more about SBS. The preferred sources of information were the internet and social media (39.2%) and doctors or medical personnel during vaccination visits (31%). Interestingly, there were no significant differences in parental knowledge based on gender (p = 0.722) or nationality (p = 0.957). Conclusions: Parents in the studied region had low knowledge of SBS. Educational programs and awareness campaigns are needed to inform them about the grave consequences of this form of child abuse.

IPM messaging: who, what, how?—Insights from a survey of farmers and agronomists in Scotland

Abstract Enhanced awareness and knowledge among arable (field crop) farmers and agronomists are pivotal for making informed integrated pest management (IPM) decisions. In this study, we had 3 primary objectives: (i) identifying the key factors influencing the adoption of IPM, (ii) gathering insights into the currently perceived pest threats, and (iii) identifying any necessary intervention tools or methods for modifying the flow of information. In 2021, a telephone survey involving 267 arable and arable/livestock farmers and 26 agronomists was conducted in Scotland. The survey was designed to gather information on the perceived invertebrate pest, disease, and weed threats, the extent of IPM implementation, and the sources of information consulted. Several factors influenced the uptake of IPM, including farm type, location, agronomist engagement, farmer’s age, education, and membership in schemes promoting IPM. Notably, there were disparities in perceptions of the most significant pest threats between arable farmers and agronomists. This points to a division of decision-making responsibilities and, consequently, varying information needs. Agronomists typically require technical information related to pesticide effectiveness and disease management, whereas arable farmers seek guidance on cultural approaches for managing weeds and invertebrate pests. Furthermore, preferences for information sources also differed, with agronomists showing a preference for social media as a source of IPM information, while farmers favored the farming press. Ultimately, a deeper understanding of IPM practices equips farmers to actively participate in IPM discussions with their agronomists. This enables the collaborative development of an effective IPM strategy and, in turn, increases the adoption of IPM practices.

Preferred Information Sources and Covid-19 Vaccine Acceptance: A Comparative Analysis of Television vs. Social Media

Preferred Information Sources and Covid-19 Vaccine Acceptance: A Comparative Analysis of Television vs. Social Media

Bridging the Gap: Communicating with Emergency Management Professionals in the Midst of Climate-Related Disasters

Abstract Objective The objective of this research is to assess how New York City Health + Hospitals emergency management professionals (EMPs) perceive climate change-related events, to a.) improve communication for increased receptivity and b.) identify gaps in perceived risks. Methods The study surveys EMPs from 13 geographically different healthcare facilities in NYC about their perceptions on climate change and its related emergency scenarios, preferred information sources on climate change, and the best modes of communication during climate-related extreme weather events. Results The results of this study support a.) the importance of official hospital-system guidance regarding climate risks b.) the use of a diverse array of terminology, including messaging that refrains from the phrase ‘climate change’ and instead refers to the ‘future’ c.) the incorporation of clear actionable deliverables and d.) the inclusion of expert voices into messaging. Overall, recent events and upcoming seasonal hazards appear to affect perception of risk more than objective measures. Knowledge of city and temporal factors that impact perceived risk can be mobilized to harness engagement. Conclusions The results of this study inform best practices for climate communications to EMPs, critical in preparing our health systems for future climate disasters.

Psychosocial Needs of Breast Cancer Survivors in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Background: Despite the high prevalence of breast cancer, there is limited understanding of the psychosocial needs of cancer survivors in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: A survey was conducted to assess the psychosocial needs among 205 breast cancer survivors in the UAE and the association of various socio-demographics and clinical characteristics with the psychosocial needs were analysed. Results: The informational needs were the highest (mean - 27.99 ± 11.02) among the study participants compared to other psychosocial needs. Healthcare specialists were the most preferred source of information for all the psychosocial needs. Individuals currently receiving treatment (p-0.006) and who had longer years of survival (p-0.006) had significantly higher informational concerns. Social and financial concerns were significantly higher in expats (p&lt;0.001), individuals currently receiving treatment (p&lt;0.001) and individuals with longer years of survival (p&lt;0.001). Conclusion: The study shows that there are unmet psychosocial needs among the breast cancer survivors in the UAE and the needs differ based on demographic and clinical characteristics.

Health Information Seeking Behaviour in University Students Sri Lanka

Health Information Seeking Behaviour (HISB) refers to the action individuals take to fulfil their health-related information needs. In today's information-rich world, understanding HISB has become crucial for developing effective strategies in information-seeking and health management. For university students, efficient HISB can alleviate health-related anxiety, enhance risk management, promote self-care, and empower informed decision-making, all of which can positively impact academic performance. The findings unveiled intriguing patterns in information source preferences, with 46.2% of students turning to the Internet as their primary source, 41% relying on interpersonal networks, and 13% consulting healthcare professionals. Notably, no students reported using mass media platforms for health information. Gender, year of study, degree program, physical activity, health literacy, self-efficacy, and perceived severity of health problems exhibited significant associations with the choice of information sources. For instance, male students preferred the Internet, while female students leaned towards consulting healthcare professionals and interpersonal networks. Second-year students primarily used the internet, while final-year students sought advice from family and friends. Those who work-activity turned to healthcare professionals, whereas sports-activity favoured the internet. Furthermore, students with low work activity showed reduced odds of using the internet. Interestingly, sports activity had a significant impact only among internet information seekers. Students with moderate health literacy were more inclined to consult family and friends. This comprehensive study provides valuable insights into the factors affecting HISB among university students, offering a nuanced understanding of their information-seeking behaviour. These findings have implications for health education and interventions promoting informed and responsible health-related decision-making among young adults.

Farmers Preferred Information Sources Regarding Climate Change Awareness in Mountainous Areas of Punjab, Pakistan

Climate change is one of the key challenges having adverse impacts on agriculture, which is the key source of food and livelihood. Information is a critical component in the process of climate risk management. Therefore, this study was conducted in mountainous areas of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to explore the preferred information sources of the farmers to cope the climate change. A total of 384 farmers were interviewed face to face on a structured interview schedule from District Rawalpindi of Punjab and Mansehra of KPK. Collected data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results indicated that farmers had more reliance on electronic media gadgets for information seeking as least on social media gadgets. Fellow farmers and extension field staff were also rated as the preferred information sources of the farmers. This was deduced that farmers were emphasizing n traditional sources rather than modern tools of communication like social media. There is a need to promote the use of social media tools for information sharing for climate change awareness. Social media tools have the potential to meet the information needs of the farmers and have diverse contents to disseminate about climate change. Extension field staff should use social media gadgets for information dissemination among the farmers.

Features of building trust in municipal authorities among young Russians

The subject of this article is related to factors associated with the functioning of self-government as a social process. The main focus is on the level of trust in local authorities by citizens of different age groups. Research shows that trust in local self-government is closely linked to citizens’ civic activity. However, the analysis reveals an interesting situation: young Russians under the age of 25, despite their generally low interest in the socio-political aspects of society, demonstrate a higher level of trust in municipal authorities compared to representatives of other age groups. To study the specifics of the situation in more depth, the author of the article used an approach based on the generational characteristics of Russian society. The aim of the study is to identify the factors that motivate Russians under the age of 25 to trust municipal authorities more than representatives of other age groups. The authors of the article hypothesise that people of different ages may have different preferences for sources of information that shape their attitude towards local self-government, and this affects the level of trust. To test this hypothesis, data from representative population surveys conducted by the Institute of Sociology of the FCTAS RAS in 2016, 2018, and 2021 were used. The analysis of the surveys showed that contemporary Russian youth have a weak understanding of municipal authorities and how they operate in practice. Young people are not interested in traditional mass media through which the main information about municipal authorities is conveyed;instead, they rely on the opinions of people in their social circles. Young people have limited opportunities to obtain information about the activities of municipal authorities directly, as due to their age they have little experience of direct interaction with them. Therefore, an important source of information about municipal authorities for young people becomes observing how the activities of municipal authorities impact their local community. Significant part of young people are satisfied with the results of the activities of local authorities that they can observe. This satisfaction likely contributes to a higher level of trust in municipal authorities among this age group.

Sexual and reproductive health experiences, access to services, and sources of information among university students in Ethiopia.

Adolescence and youth are times of major growth and change that can place young people at elevated risk of poor sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes, particularly when they are living away from home for the first time. Understanding the barriers that young people face when accessing SRH services and information is imperative for addressing their SRH needs; our study explored this topic among university students in Ethiopia. Specifically, we explore university students' SRH experiences, access to services, and preferred sources of information. We draw on mixed-methods research conducted in four public universities across Ethiopia in early 2020. A random sample of 822 male and female students completed a cross-sectional survey that explored SRH knowledge, attitudes, experiences, and sources of information. We also conducted 8 focus group discussions with students and 8 key informant interviews across the four universities. Survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and we used structural coding and inductive analysis to analyze qualitative data. The survey data demonstrated that condoms and emergency contraceptive pills were the most used contraceptive methods. Nearly 18% of female students had experienced an unwanted pregnancy, and 14% reported having had an abortion. Approximately one-third of students reported encountering gender-based violence in the past 6 months. Most students preferred receiving SRH information from mass media, and male students were more likely than female students to seek information from friends. Our qualitative findings highlight a lack of comprehensive SRH care available on university campuses, and services that are available are often of poor quality; participants described a lack of privacy, confidentiality and respect when accessing SRH care at school. University students also lack regular opportunities to learn about SRH while on campus, and their preferred sources of information varied widely. Ethiopian university students have considerable unmet demand for SRH services and often face significant barriers to accessing high-quality information and services on campus. Consistent commitment and investment by universities and the government is vital to meeting the SRH needs of young people during this potentially vulnerable time.

Predictors of information needs among women with breast cancer receiving adjuvant therapy at Tikur Anbessa specialized hospital, Addis Ababa Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundWomen undergoing adjuvant therapy for breast cancer have diverse information needs that remain unfulfilled. Extensive research has shown that access to relevant information about their condition can significantly enhance the quality of life for these women, making it an essential part of cancer care. However, various clinical and socioeconomic factors influence the information needs of these women. Hence, the primary aim of this study is to identify predictors of the information needs of women undergoing adjuvant therapy for breast cancer. In addition, this study will also describe the preferred sources of information and the optimal timing for its acquisition.MethodsA facility-based cross-sectional study was undertaken at Tikur Anbessa Specialty Hospital, enlisting a cohort comprising 121 women undergoing adjuvant therapy for breast cancer. Trained interviewers administered an Amharic-translated Toronto information needs questionnaire specifically designed for breast cancer to assess the information needs of the study participants Statistical analysis was executed using the sophisticated software SPSS (version 25). Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize the variables of the study. A linear regression analyses was then carried out to identify notable predictors that significantly influenced the information needs of the women.ResultsThe total mean score for overall information needs in the current study was 194.30 (± 28.01), with a range scale of 142–260 and a standardized mean score of 3.74 (± 0.54). The disease and treatment domains had the highest information needs, with standardized mean scores (standard deviation) of 4.00 (± 0.54) and 3.77 (± 0.59), respectively. 95% of the participants sought information from healthcare professionals, and 67.7% of the women needed the information before beginning the treatments. Predictors of information needs were following a single treatment option (β = 12.68; 95% CI (0.68, 24.68); P = 0.039) and joining higher education and above (β = 17.1; 95% CI (1.47, 34.14); P = 0.033).ConclusionThe women exhibited a substantial demand for information. Healthcare professionals need to consider the women’s educational background and treatment status while delivering the needed information.

Exercise instructors are not consistently implementing the strength component of the UK chief medical officers’ physical activity guidelines in their exercise prescription for older adults

Strength training recommendations have been embedded within the UK’s Chief Medical Officers’ physical activity guidelines since 2011. There is limited evidence that these recommendations are used by exercise instructors in the community to underpin strength training prescription in the older adult population. This study aimed to explore exercise instructors’ awareness and utilisation of the guidelines when prescribing strength training to older adults. Fifteen exercise instructors working with older adults in the UK participated in one online interview. A general inductive approach was conducted and thematic analysis allowed for major themes to be identified from the raw data. We found that most exercise instructors (n = 9), but not all (n = 6), were aware of the guidelines. Only one instructor (n = 1) had reportedly implemented the guidelines into their practice; other instructors reported that the guidelines were irrelevant. Instead, each of the instructors had their preferred sources of information that they relied on to underpin their exercise prescription, and each had their own interpretation of ‘evidence-based strength training.’ This individualised interpretation resulted in exceptionally varied prescription in the community and does not necessarily align with the progressive, evidence-based prescription known to build muscular strength. We suggest that (i) more detail on how to build muscular strength be embedded within the guidelines, (ii) a handbook on how to implement the guidelines be made available, (iii) theoretical and practical teaching materials and courses be updated, and/or (iv) a re-(education) of exercise instructors already in the field may be necessary to bring about a consistent, evidence-based strength prescription necessary for the best possible health and longevity outcomes for our ageing population.