Sufficient Levels Of Physical Activity Research Articles

Comparison of E-Health Literacy, Digital Health and Physical Activity Levels Of University Students In Different Fields

Background and Purpose: This study aimed to compare the health literacy, e-health literacy, digital health, and physical activity levels of undergraduate students in different departments. Methods: Undergraduate students 307 of whom were studying in the Physiotherapy department (PT), and 228 in the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences (FEAS) participated in the study. Health literacy (HL) (European Health Literacy Scale), e-health literacy (E-Health Literacy Scale), digital literacy (Digital Literacy Scale), and physical activity level (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF)) were assessed. Scales were applied to the participants electronically via Google Forms. Results: There was no difference between the e-HL, digital, and health literacy levels of both department students(p>0.05). 70.1% of all students did not have enough HL. PT department students' IPAQ-SF total score, severe physical activity, and walking activities were lower than FEAS students(p0.05). 79.6% of all students did not have sufficient physical activity levels (PALs). Conclusions: This study showed that HL and PALs were low in the majority of university students. HL education programs for university students before graduation and awareness studies to develop healthy behavior habits should be included in undergraduate education programs.

Health and economic burden of insufficient physical activity in Saudi Arabia.

Insufficient physical activity (PA) was estimated to cause 4.8% of deaths and 2.6% of disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) due to noncommunicable diseases in Saudi Arabia in 2019. While Saudi Arabia is already achieving great improvements, we predict the health and economic burden of insufficient PA up to 2040 to present a case for policy makers to invest more in the uptake of PA. Using a population health model to estimate avoidable health loss, we identified four causes of health loss related to low PA (cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer) and estimated the deaths and DALYs from these causes. We projected the expected disease burden until 2040 under alternative assumptions about future PA levels and trends by using three health scenarios: baseline (no change in 2019 PA levels), intervention (81% of the population achieving sufficient PA levels), and ideal (65% of population: moderate PA, 30%: high PA, and 5%: inactive). We applied an "intrinsic value" approach to estimate the economic impact of each scenario. Overall, we estimate that between 2023 and 2040, about 80,000 to 110,000 deaths from all causes and 2.0 million to 2.9 million DALYs could be avoided by increasing PA levels in Saudi Arabia. The average annual economic loss from insufficient PA is valued at 0.49% to 0.68% of the current gross domestic product, with an average of US$5.4 billion to US$7.6 billion annually till 2040. The most avoidable disease burden and economic losses are expected among males and because of ischemic heart disease. This study highlights that low PA levels will have considerable health and economic impacts in Saudi Arabia if people remain inactive and do not start following interventions. There is an urgent need to develop innovative programs and policies to encourage PA among all age and sex groups.

Identifying latent classes of physical activity profiles over time among adolescents in Ontario, Canada

BackgroundPhysical activity behaviours are known to be highly correlated. Adolescents who participate in one type of physical activity (e.g., physical education) have a greater likelihood of participating in other physical activities (e.g., organized sports); however, little research has examined participation rates in various physical activity behaviours concurrently. This study identified longitudinal physical activity profiles among secondary school aged youth in Ontario, Canada.MethodsWe used data from the COMPASS Study, a school-based prospective cohort study of adolescents in Canada. Using a repeated measures latent class analysis, Ontario students who participated in grade 9 PE in 2015-16 were analysed through to 2018-19 (n = 1,917). Latent classes were defined by: PE participation, guideline adherence (≥ 60 min/day of moderate to vigorous activity over the last 7 days), and sport participation (varsity, community, and/or intramural). Multinomial logistic regression models were used to examine associations between latent class membership and student characteristics.ResultsThree distinct latent classes were identified for females and four were identified for males. These classes were: (1) Guidelines (high probability of guideline adherence; females: 44%; males: 16%), (2) PE & Sports (high probability of PE and sport participation; females: 33%; males: 43%), (3) Guidelines & Sports (high probability of guideline adherence and sport participation; females: 23%; males: 23%;), and (4) Inactive (low probability of all physical activity indicators; males: 18%). Strength training, sleep, and English grade were associated with class membership among females. Ethno-racial identity, weekly spending money, strength training, and English and math grades were associated with class membership among males.ConclusionsFindings suggest that latent physical activity profiles differ by sex. Guideline adherence was the most common class among females, indicating high levels of independent physical activity, whereas PE & Sport participation was the most common class among males, indicating greater tendency towards organized activities. Additionally, a substantial number of male students were not engaging in any physical activity. Participation in both PE and sports did not necessarily lead to meeting physical activity guidelines, highlighting that these activities alone may not be providing sufficient levels of physical activity that align with current recommendations for Canadian youth.

Barriers to Physical Activity (PA) in the Working Population: A Review

Regular physical activity (PA) plays a crucial role in promoting overall health and preventing non-communicable diseases, with exercise both during and outside working hours reducing accumulated fatigue and stress caused by various job tasks. However, despite this, many people do not engage in sufficient levels of PA for various reasons. In line with this, this comprehensive research aimed to identify the barriers to physical exercise among the working population (WP). A search of literature was conducted using the following databases: Google Scholar, PubMed, Medline, and Mendeley, covering the period from 2002 to 2022. To potentially include in the study, all titles and abstracts were reviewed. A search of the databases based on keywords yielded 420 studies, then, through analysis and in accordance with the study’s objectives, 50 studies were included for analysis. Through a detailed analysis of selected studies, various barriers to PA in the WP have been identified. All barriers can be divided into three main groups: i) Work schedule and workplace as barriers; ii) Marital and extramarital relationships, parenthood, family, and household obligations as barriers; iii) Time, behavioral, socio-economic, demographic, and ecological factors as barriers. The detected barriers suggest that interventions to overcome them should not be directed toward a single solution, given their diversity. In the context of the contemporary lifestyle where economic activities almost dominantly prevail, maintaining the health and adequate work level of employees is of utmost importance, further emphasizing the significance of PA and the identification of barriers of various kinds. Therefore, this research is of great value, as by determining the state and identifying different barriers to PA, it can serve as an initial step in devising various measures and solutions to eliminate these barriers and enable the WP to engage in physical activities for the improvement of their health and work potential.

Prevalence and association of compliance with the Canadian 24-hour movement guidelines with sociodemographic aspects in Brazilian adults: a cross-sectional epidemiological study

BackgroundThe physical inactivity is a global health concern, so that recommendations on sufficient physical activity levels are elaborated worldwide, such as in Brazil. However, the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines were first in the world to consider time-specific recommendations for physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep, which is still not developed for Latin-American population. The present study aimed to verify the adherence to Canadian 24-hour guidelines in a Brazilian inner city and to analyze its association with sociodemographic aspects.MethodsA cross-sectional epidemiological study, with a sample composed by 250 adults (140 women), with a median age of 41.0 years. Objective measures of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behavior were collected by accelerometry. Sleep duration and sociodemographic aspects (ethnicity, gender, age, educational attainment and socioeconomic level) were obtained through a face-to-face questionnaire. Canadian 24-hour guidelines considered ≥ 150 min/week of MVPA, <8 h/day of sedentary behavior and daily sleep time between 7 and 9 h, being analyzed separately and in combination. Poisson regression with robust variance estimator was used to analyze the prevalence ratio (PR) of meeting the 24-hour guidelines according to the categories of sociodemographic variables, being performed by the software IBM SPSS version 25.0.ResultsThe complete 24-hour guidelines were met only by 24.4% of sample (n = 61). Sedentary behavior was the most met guideline (88%), followed by MVPA (56.8%) and sleep (53.2%), without significant difference according to sex. When compared to elderly participants, those participants in younger groups (18–39 years and 40–59 years) were more likely to meet MVPA guideline (PR = 2.51 [95%CI = 1.47; 4.28] and PR = 2.60 [95%CI = 1.52; 4.45], respectively), as well as the combination of MVPA and sedentary behavior (PR = 1.98 [95%CI = 1.13; 3.44] and PR = 2.17 [95%CI = 1.25; 3.79], respectively) and MVPA with the sleep guideline (PR = 2.39 [95%CI = 1.09; 5.27] only for 18–39 years group). Men were more likely to meet MVPA guideline than women (PR = 1.29 [95%CI = 1.04; 1.59]).ConclusionYounger aged and male adults were more likely to meet the Canadian 24-hour guidelines in a small Brazilian city. However, further studies with larger and representative samples of sociodemographic stratum are still needed.

Association Between Children's and Parents' Physical Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Lagged Analysis.

COVID-19 caused closures of movement supporting environments such as gyms and schools in Canada. This study evaluated the association between Ontario parents' and children's physical activity levels across time during COVID-19, controlling for variables that were identified as significant predictors of children's and parents' physical activity (e.g.,children's age, parents' employment status). Parents (n = 243; mean age = 38.8y) of children aged 12 and under (n = 408; mean age = 6.3y) living in Ontario, Canada completed 2 online surveys, the first between August and December 2020 and the second between August and December 2021. At baseline, parents were asked to recall prepandemic physical activity levels. To determine the association between parent and child physical activity during COVID-19, a cross-lagged model was estimated to determine the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between parents' and children's physical activity across time. Bivariate associations revealed that parents' and children's physical activity levels were significantly related during lockdown and postlockdown but not prelockdown. The autoregressive paths from prelockdown to during lockdown were significant for children (β = 0.53, P < .001) and parents (β = 1.058, P < .001) as were the autoregressive paths from during lockdown to postlockdown for children (β = 0.61, P < .001) and parents (β = 0.48, P < .001). In fully adjusted models, the cross-lagged association between parents' physical activity prelockdowns was significantly positively associated with their children's physical activity during lockdowns (β = 0.19, P = .013). Resources are needed to ensure that children and parents are obtaining sufficient levels of physical activity, particularly during a pandemic.

Physical Activity among Older People with Chronic Illnesses: A Cross-sectional Study

BSTRACT Article History: Received: November 21, 2023 Accepted: January 31, 2024 Background: The significance of physical activity in preventing and treating chronic illnesses has long been established. However, there are limited studies focusing on the physical activity among old people with chronic illnesses in Jordan. Purpose: This study aimed to explore the association between physical-activity level, chronic illnesses, and multimorbidity among people 60 years old and above in Jordan. Methods: A crosssectional design was used in the northern region of Jordan. A survey was conducted among 200 old people aged 60 years and above. The survey included sociodemographic data and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, correlation coefficient, and logistic-regression analysis. Results: Approximately 41% of old people had a sufficient level of physical activity. Gender, level of schooling, smoking, heart conditions, diabetes, and multimorbidity were significantly associated with physical activity. In the logistic-regression analysis, gender (OR 0.221, 95% CI 0.096-0.507), heart condition (OR 0.093, 95% CI 0.011-0.760), and diabetes (OR 0.312, 95% CI 0.120-0.810) were found to be significantly associated with physical activity among old people. Conclusion: This study revealed a low physical activity among old people. It is important to develop policies that support regular physical activity for old people with chronic illnesses. Implications for Nursing: Community-based healthpromotion programs should be developed to encourage regular physical activity among older people with chronic illnesses. Keywords: Physical activity, Older people, Chronic illnesses, Cross-sectional study.

Bone mineral density in the various regions of the skeleton in women with subclinical hypothyroidism: the effect of biological factors, bone turnover markers and physical activity

Abstract Study aim: This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between biological factors, physical activity (PA), bone turnover markers (BTMs) and bone mineral density (BMD) in women with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and healthy. Material and methods: The study included 135 women. Bone parameters were measured by the densitometry. Calcium, phosphorus, osteocalcin (OC), total alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), vitamin D and cross-linked carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) were measured in blood serum. PA were evaluated by metabolic equivalent of task (MET). Results: Women with SCH had lower BMD in hip and lumbar spine, calcium, vitamin D and higher values of ICTP than the healthy group. In women with SCH, the affecting BMD in the femoral neck were ICTP (µg/l), (η² = 0.083), and also 25(OH)D (ng/ml), (η² = 0.080) and PA level (I/S), (η² = 0.115). BMD in the spine was affected by PA level (I/S), (η² = 0.173). The parameters affecting BMC in the femoral neck were 25(OH)D (ng/ml), (η² = 0.073). In all women sufficient levels of PA determined higher BMD. Conclusions: PA and BTMs significantly determine BMD levels. PA can be an important area of rehabilitation and physical therapy as an available measure to counteract BMD loss in postmenopausal healthy women and those with SCH.

Abstract B135: The impact of physical activity on cancer-associated cognitive decline, fatigue, and health outcomes among cancer survivors in the U.S.

Abstract Purpose: This study aimed to examine the influence of physical activity (PA) on cancer-associated cognitive decline (CACD) and CACD risk factors (e.g., age, fatigue, depression, sleep) among cancer survivors compared to those without a history of cancer. Methods: Using data from the 2020 National Health Interview Survey, differences in key health outcomes and the mediating effects of PA were explored. Chi-square tests were used to examine group differences. Multinomial logistic regression models were fit to examine associations between PA, CACD, CACD risk factors, and other health outcomes (cognition, fatigue, anxiety, depression, health status, sleep, work limitations, and body mass index [BMI]). Results: Cancer survivors were less likely to meet sufficient levels of PA to achieve health benefits when compared to those without a history of cancer. Cancer survivors were also more likely to experience cognitive difficulties, trouble remembering, frequent fatigue, depression, poor/fair health status, more likely to experience work limitations and miss work due to health, and less likely to be employed fulltime. Overall, physical activity (PA) had a significant positive impact on all measured health outcomes even after adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, income, and education. Participants without a history of cancer and who met the PA criteria were less likely to experience cognitive difficulties, frequent fatigue, frequent anxiety, depression, poor/fair health, insufficient sleep, work limitations, and unhealthy BMI (underweight, overweight, or obese categories). These relationships were often strengthened by race and sex (male) and with higher levels of income and education. Unadjusted results showed a positive significant relationship between PA and all measured health outcomes for cancer survivors. Although cancer survivors did not see the same benefits from PA with underweight BMI or anxiety when adjusting for confounders, PA served as a protective factor with all other variables. Cancer survivors who meet PA recommendations in both aerobic and strengthening activities were less likely to report some or a lot of cognitive difficulty. Cancer survivors who met PA criteria were also less likely to experience frequent fatigue, depression, poor/fair health, work limitations, overweight and obesity, and more likely to get the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep at night. Again, most of these relationships were strengthened by higher levels of income and education. Health disparities based on race/ethnicity, sex, and age were more apparent in the cancer survivor group. Conclusion: PA has shown tremendous promise towards the lingering effects of cancer and cancer treatments. More research is needed to inform exercise prescriptions (i.e., frequency, intensity, time, type), optimal timing of interventions, and for whom physical activity may be most beneficial in relation to cognitive health. Citation Format: Jaimi Mimi L. Allen. The impact of physical activity on cancer-associated cognitive decline, fatigue, and health outcomes among cancer survivors in the U.S. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr B135.

Association between physical activity status and musculoskeletal pain in individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2: Sulcovid-19 survey.

BackgroundThis study aimed to evaluate the association of physical activity (PA) before SARS-Cov-2 infection with Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain after infection. Methods: We used data from the Sulcovid-19, a longitudinal study. This study was carried out in the city of Rio Grande, in the extreme south of Brazil with individuals who were infected by SARS-Cov-2 between December/2020 and March/2021. Participants were asked on MSK pain in the cervical, thoracic, low back, upper and lower limbs. Three PA variables were built, as follows: 1) any PA (yes or no), 2) sufficient PA (based on WHO recommendations), and 3) PA status before and after COVID-19 (i.e., remained inactive, became inactive, and remained active). Results: Participants reporting sufficient PA levels were less likely to experience pain in the cervical (PR 0.70, 0.53–0.92 95% CI) after COVID-19. Those who remained active were less likely to experience pain in the cervical spine and in at least one body site. Becoming inactive increased the likelihood of experiencing pain in the lower limbs after infection by 30%. Conclusions: Continuous PA practice regardless SARS-Cov-2 infection showed important protection effect for MSK as a consequence of infection.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY TREND DURING COVID-19 MOVEMENT RESTRICTION ORDER AMONG UiTM STUDENTS

The government of Malaysia has implemented a Movement Restriction Order (MCO) curfew on all citizens to prevent the Covid-19 pandemic from spreading. Studies have suggested that a long period of MCO will decrease overall weekly spending on energy for physical exercise in all age groups, ultimately promoting hypokinetic diseases. This study is interested in identifying the trend of physical activity behaviour changes during the Covid-19 MCO among university students. This study is also interested in comparing the mean score of physical activity level (inactive, minimum active, sufficient level) among samples. One hundred sixty-five (n=165) healthy samples age 19 to 23 years old currently enrolled as students from the Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation, University Teknologi Mara (FSR) answered the international physical activity questionnaire short form (IPAQ-SF) during the MCO period. Self-Reported Physical Activity Level has shown entirely contradicted from previous studies. 78.2% were at a sufficient level of physical activity; meanwhile, 20% were minimum, and 1.8% were reportedly inactive during the MCO period among FSR students. In addition, this study also found the differences of mean score in physical activity for sufficient level was (1438.78 SE=314.83), minimum active (-1268.65 SE=942.55), and inactive (-2707.43 SE=973.21). This study result showed that although, in restriction conditions in MCO, samples were still able to maintain their physical activity behaviour. The past physical activity practice can explain this phenomenon by these samples required throughout the lesson course, which has become a behaviour among these students.

The Concept of Moving School and Its Practical Implementation in Bavarian Higher Secondary Schools.

The roles of physical activity and the reduction in sedentary activities in the healthy physical, psychosocial and mental development of children and adolescents are undisputed. This is where the concept of Moving School comes in, which has been expanded to a holistic approach that takes into account all areas of the school, including lessons, after-school care and breaks, and aims to provide students with a sufficient level of physical activity. There are no current studies that show to what extent this concept has arrived in the theoretical specifications for higher secondary schools and to what extent it is implemented in practice. In this study, by conducting a narrative review, we determine the core elements of the concept of Moving School. Furthermore, we analyse the extent to which these elements of Moving School are taken into account in the school curriculum, in published school programmes and on school homepages. In this study, we revealed that the concept of Moving School has hardly been implemented in practice in Bavarian higher secondary schools as mostly only single elements of it are referred to in the school curriculum, programmes and school homepages. It can therefore be assumed that the concept has not yet been able to achieve its intended effect, namely, to fill the daily lives of schoolchildren with movement, play and sport.

Analysis of Hypertension-Related Factors in Rural Areas, Banyumas Regency

Background: Hypertension is a public health concern since it has the potential to cause consequences such as stroke, coronary heart disease, renal failure, and eventually become one of the leading causes of premature death worldwide. In many parts of Indonesia, notably rural regions, the prevalence of hypertension is relatively high. Information on hypertension risk factors in rural regions is required to develop effective interventions for the prevention and treatment of hypertension among rural communities. The purpose of this study is to investigate the risk factors associated with the prevalence of hypertension in rural areas.&#x0D; Methods: This research is a quantitative study using a case control approach with a total sample of 76 respondents. The comparison of the case and control groups in this study was 1:1.Questionnaires are used as instruments in data collection. The chi square test was used to assess the data.&#x0D; Results: Most of the respondents were in the late elderly age (35.5%), female (84.2%), had a family history of hypertension (40.8%), had normal BMI (30.3%), and obesity (28.9%). Most of the respondents did not smoke (93.4%), consumed less vegetables and fruit (78.9%), were not stressed (93.4%) and had sufficient levels of physical activity (82.9%).The findings revealed there was a relationship between age and hypertension (p value = 0.000). Gender (p = 0.753), family history of hypertension (p = 1,000), obesity (p = 0.502), smoking habit (p = 1,000), fruit and vegetable consumption (p = 0.778), level of stress (p = 1000), and physical activity (p = 0.542) were not linked with hypertension.&#x0D; Conclusions: Community health activities in rural regions must be strengthened in order to monitor public health status (including blood pressure monitoring) and approach the community to increase their involvement in these activities.

Examination of Factors Preventing High School Students from Participating in Physical Activities

In today's world, the importance of physical activity for daily life continues to increase. However, it cannot be said that the level of interest of our society in physical activity is sufficient. In the reports of organisations such as the Ministry of Health, Public Health Institution of Turkiye and Active Living Association, it has been reported that 3/4 of the population of Turkiye does not have sufficient physical activity level and the most sedentary group is the 15-19 age group. These serious rates were seen as an important justification for research on this subject. This aims to examine the differentiation status of the participants in terms of some demographic variables to determine the factors that prevented high school students from participating in physical activities. The research is a quantitative study and was carried out in a descriptive survey model. The sample of the research consisted of 376 participants from high school students who continue their education in schools under the Directorate of National Education in Kahramanmaras city centre in Turkiye. The data of the research were analysed by using the statistical software JAMOVI 2.3.16.0 package program. As a result of the research, it was found that the scores of the participants for the factors that prevented their participation in physical activities were at a moderate level. In the scale of factors that prevented high school students from participating in physical activities, statistically, significant differences were found in terms of gender, family monthly income, how many days a week they do sports, mother's interest in sports, father's interest in sports, PE teacher's attitude and friends' attitudes. As a result, in this study, high school students' concerns about the factors that prevent their participation in physical activities were determined in terms of different variables.

EffEx-HN trial: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial on the EFFectiveness and feasibility of a comprehensive supervised EXercise program during radiotherapy in Head and Neck cancer patients on health-related quality of life

BackgroundWith over 500,000 annually reported cases worldwide, head and neck cancer (HNC) is the seventh most common type of cancer worldwide. Treatment of HNC with chemoradiotherapy frequently results in serious impairments in physical and psychosocial functioning. Besides, HNC patients typically start their cancer treatment already with poor physical and psychosocial health. It has been shown that a sufficient level of physical activity (PA) before, during, and after cancer treatment is associated with fewer negative treatment-related side effects and a better quality of life (QOL). In order to prevent worsening of functioning and limit the physical impact of the HNC treatment, a comprehensive supervised exercise program (CSEP) may be beneficial during early cancer treatment. However, up to now, the feasibility and effectiveness of such a program are not yet investigated thoroughly in HNC. Therefore, the primary objective of this study is to examine the effectiveness of a CSEP during HNC treatment, in addition to usual supportive care, compared to usual supportive care alone, on health-related QOL up to 1 year post-diagnosis. Secondary objectives entail gathering information on (1) the effectiveness of a CSEP on secondary outcomes such as physical and mental function, activities of daily life, and participation in society and (2) the feasibility, possible barriers, and facilitators for participation in a CSEP during HNC treatment.MethodsTo investigate the effectiveness of the CSEP, a parallel, open-label randomized controlled trial will be performed. To study the feasibility of the CSEP, a mixed-method study will be performed in a subgroup of participants. HNC patients are eligible if they receive radiotherapy at the Radiation-Oncology department of the University Hospital of Leuven. A 4-size permuted block randomization will be used. The control group receives the current standard of supportive care. The intervention group receives a CSEP, additional to the same usual supportive care. The CSEP consists of a 12-week intensive phase with 3 exercise sessions of 1 h per week, where supervision is gradually reduced after 6 weeks. During the maintenance phase (from week 13), patients exercise at home with monthly tele-consultations with a physiotherapist. The CSEP contains supervised aerobic and resistance training. In both groups, outcomes of interest are evaluated through self-reported questionnaires and clinical assessments, at baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months post-diagnosis. The primary endpoint is health-related QOL, measured with the EORTC QLQ-C30 at 6 months post-diagnosis.DiscussionThe study will be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. This protocol has been approved by the ethical committee of the University Hospitals Leuven (s65549). Recruitment started in January 2022. Results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed scientific journals and presentations at congresses.Trial registrationTrial Registration: ClinicalTrials.govIdentifier: NCT05256238Date of registration: February 25, 2022

INFLUENCE OF HEALTH CARE TECHNOLOGIES ON THE INDICES OF ACTIVE ATTENTION AND INFORMATION MASTERING AMONG SCHOOLCHILDREN

Childhood and adolescence are important periods for developing healthy lifestyle habits.A sufficient level of physical activity has a positive effect on neurocognitive processes and ensuresthe psychological well-being of school-aged children. In its turn, attention and concentrationare key factors of the academic success, adaptation and everyday life of young peoplе.Objective – to study the impact of school health care programs on the peculiarities oflearning and processing of information in schoolchildren.Materials and methods. The work analyzed the results of a comprehensive examination of79 schoolchildren aged 11-12 years, some of them (32 persons) were involved in a specialhealth care school program. The research included an examination by pediatrician andophthalmologist, measurement of functional indices of the cardiorespiratory system,assessment of the speed of learning and processing of the text information by proofreading.Results. The result of the students’ participation in the school- based health promotioninterventions for one year was the improvement of the cardiorespiratory system indices.The state of active attention during information processing – the reading speed of thetest task on attention concentration was higher in children of the experimental group(111.1±4.4 words/min.), compared to the indicator of the control group (96.9±2.4 words/min) (p&lt;0.05). The accuracy of performing special tests, the level of attention switching,the ability to switch to new tasks quickly were better in the experimental group.Conclusions. The school- based health promotion interventions with increased physicalactivity, implemented in the educational process throughout the year, contributes to theimprovement of both individual cardiorespiratory indices and intellectual functions forlearning and processing of the text information.

Parent-Reported Changes in Ontario Children’s Physical Activity Levels during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in closures of physical-activity-supporting environments, including playgrounds, outdoor recreation facilities (e.g., basketball courts), and community centers, which impacted children's movement opportunities. This study evaluated changes in Ontario children's physical activity levels during the COVID-19 pandemic and explored the impact of family sociodemographic markers on children's activity. Parents (n = 243; Mage = 38.8 years) of children aged 12 and under (n = 408; Mage = 6.7 years) living in Ontario, Canada, completed two online surveys between August and December 2020 (survey 1) and August and December 2021 (survey 2). Generalized linear mixed-effects models were used to estimate changes in the proportion of children who accumulated 60 min of physical activity per day pre-lockdown, during lockdown, and post-lockdown in Ontario. Results revealed a significant non-linear trajectory whereby the proportion of children achieving 60 min of physical activity per day pre-lockdown (63%) declined during lockdown (21%) and then increased post-lockdown (54%). Changes in the proportion of children engaging in 60 min of daily physical activity were moderated by several demographic variables. Efforts are needed to provide parents of young children with a wider variety of resources to ensure children are obtaining sufficient levels of physical activity regardless of the presence of community lockdowns.

Telehealth multicomponent exercise and health education in breast cancer patients undergoing primary treatment: rationale and methodological protocol for a randomized clinical trial (ABRACE: Telehealth)

BackgroundCurrent guidelines emphasize cancer patients should increase their physical activity levels, encouraging physical exercise practice as a complementary therapy to mitigate adverse effects during treatment. Telehealth can be a feasible method to improve adherence and interventional support for breast cancer patients, of which most do not meet sufficient physical activity levels after diagnosis. The Adaptations to Breast Cancer and Exercise Using Telehealth (ABRACE: Telehealth) study aims to investigate the effects of a 12-week telehealth multicomponent training program plus a health education program (MTHE), compared to a health education program alone (HE), on physical and psychological outcomes in breast cancer patients undergoing treatment.MethodsThis study is a randomized controlled trial. Women undergoing primary treatment (during or after chemotherapy) for breast cancer (stages I–III) will be randomly assigned to MTHE (twice a week) or HE (once a week). MTHE components are mobility, aerobic, balance, resistance, and flexibility home-based exercises, supervised by video call. The primary study outcome is cancer-related fatigue. The secondary outcomes are quality of life, symptoms of depression and anxiety, physical activity level, cancer-related cognitive impairment, and functional capacity. Other outcomes are adherence to interventions and a follow-up questionnaire evaluating the individual perception in motivation, lifestyle changes, and main barriers to participation. All outcomes will be remotely assessed before and after intervention. Our analysis will follow the intention-to-treat approach and per-protocol criteria, with additional sub-group analysis.DiscussionTo our knowledge, this is the first randomized clinical trial in breast cancer patients using a face-to-face videoconference strategy to supervise physical exercise. Our hypothesis is of superiority for the effects of MTHE on primary and secondary outcomes compared to the effects of only the health education intervention.Trial registrationAdaptations to Breast Cancer and Exercise Using Telehealth (ABRACE: Telehealth), NCT04641377. Registered on 23 November 2021, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04641377

Assessment of physical activity level, self-efficacy and perceived barriers to physical activity among adult Saudi women

ObjectivesGenerally, physical activity (PA) is accepted to have a crucial role in sustaining and improving individuals’ health. Consequently, it is considered a viable solution to the public health challenge of chronic diseases, particularly as sedentary behaviour is becoming a considerable concern worldwide. Therefore, this study focused on PA levels among adult Saudi women, and assessed the effects of self-efficacy, socio-demographic characteristics and perceived barriers on PA level. MethodsThis study used a quantitative cross-sectional descriptive design involving a self-reported web-based survey. The sample included 509 Saudi women recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected with validated pre-existing questionnaires. The information provided by participants included their PA levels, self-efficacy and perceived barriers to PA. ResultsThe survey's completion rate was 51%. Analysis of the study sample responses indicated that the participants' had high levels of PA: 54% participated in vigorous PA, whereas 30% had insufficient PA (less than 600 MET m/week). In the sample, self-efficacy was moderate, and simple regression indicated that self-efficacy significantly affected the levels of PA (p = 0.001). The leading barriers to PA were a lack of resources and willpower. However, multiple regression indicated that only lack of willpower (p = 0.004), fear of injury (p = 0.043) and environmental barriers (p = 0.021) significantly influenced PA levels. Moreover, demographic characteristics had no significant effects on PA levels. ConclusionA large proportion of the study sample demonstrated sufficient levels of PA. Psychological determinants, including self-efficacy and willpower, significantly correlated with performance. The physical environment was also found to be a highly influential factor. These findings have implications for future initiatives and health promotion strategies targeted at Saudi women. The knowledge gained may be used to design theory based interventions for improving self-efficacy and willpower, while considering strategies for overcoming barriers to PA.

Family predictors of physical activity change during the COVID-19 lockdown in preschool children in Germany

The COVID-19 pandemic is associated with crucial changes in children’s daily life including their physical activity (PA) and screen time (ST). Among preschool children, the family represents an important factor for sufficient PA levels by being the gatekeeper for PA. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the family environment, specifically SES, parental support, and having siblings on COVID-19-related changes of PA and ST behavior in 317 (170 boys, 147 girls) German preschool children using longitudinal data. Our results indicate a decline in total amount of sports-related PA, an increase in outdoor play, as well as an increase in leisure ST in preschool children. The changes in total amount of PA differed between children with different levels of parental support as well as in dependence on having siblings. Furthermore, levels of outdoor play and ST in preschool children were influenced by environmental factors like having access to their own garden. We conclude that the family environment (parental support as well as physical environment) is highly relevant for PA and ST levels in preschool children. To provide every child with PA opportunities during potential future lockdowns, restriction policies should be adapted and parents need sophisticated information about the importance of their support and thus the PA levels of their children.