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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
Prevalence And Influences Of Preschoolers' Sedentary Behaviours In Early Learning Centers: A Cross Sectional Study, Patricia Tucker, Leigh Vanderloo, Shauna Burke, Jennifer Irwin
Prevalence And Influences Of Preschoolers' Sedentary Behaviours In Early Learning Centers: A Cross Sectional Study, Patricia Tucker, Leigh Vanderloo, Shauna Burke, Jennifer Irwin
Trish Tucker
Background Recent research has highlighted the need for increased evidence regarding the sedentary activity levels of preschoolers. Given the large proportion of time this population spends in various early learning facilities, the exploration of sedentary behaviors within this particular environment should be a priority. The purpose of the study was two-fold: (1) to compare sedentary time of preschoolers in three different early learning environments (i.e., full-day kindergarten [FDK], center-, and home-based childcare); and (2) to assess which characteristics (i.e., staff behaviors, sedentary environment, fixed play environment, portable play environment, sedentary opportunities) of these early learning environments influence preschoolers’ sedentary time. …
Physical And Sedentary Activity Among Preschoolers In Home- Based Childcare: A Systematic Review, Patricia Tucker, Leigh Vanderloo, Olivia Martyniuk
Physical And Sedentary Activity Among Preschoolers In Home- Based Childcare: A Systematic Review, Patricia Tucker, Leigh Vanderloo, Olivia Martyniuk
Trish Tucker
Although preschoolers' physical activity in center-based childcare has received considerable attention, less is known regarding this group's activity levels within home-based childcare. This review aimed to explore and synthesize the literature on preschoolers' physical and sedentary activity levels in home-based childcare. Outdoor playtime was also examined to contribute to the understanding of preschoolers' activity levels within this particular setting.Nine online databases were searched for peer-reviewed, English-language, primary studies that quantitatively measured physical and sedentary activity levels of preschoolers attending home-based childcare. Studies were excluded if they were nonprimary research, if they lacked a preschool-aged sample, if they did not quantitatively …
An Objective Assessment Of Toddlers' Physical Activity And Sedentary Levels, Patricia Tucker, Leigh Vanderloo
An Objective Assessment Of Toddlers' Physical Activity And Sedentary Levels, Patricia Tucker, Leigh Vanderloo
Trish Tucker
Background Little evidence exists on the physical activity and sedentary time of Canadian toddlers; this study objectively measured such behaviors and compared participants’ activity levels to national guidelines. Levels of screen-viewing among toddlers were also explored. Methods Forty toddlers (mean age = 25.7 months) wore Actical accelerometers for seven consecutive days (15 s epoch). Parents/guardians completed a wear-time log and a demographic and screen-viewing questionnaire. Descriptive analyses were used to determine participants’ levels of physical activity and sedentary time, to identify whether toddlers were meeting physical activity/sedentary guidelines, and to explore demographic variables. T-tests were used to assess whether toddlers’ …
Parent's Perception Of Stroller Use In Young Children: A Qualitative Study, Patricia Tucker, Catherine Birken, Talia Lenton- Brym, Jonathon Maguire, Patricia Parkin, Sanjay Mahunt, Bradley Lichtblau
Parent's Perception Of Stroller Use In Young Children: A Qualitative Study, Patricia Tucker, Catherine Birken, Talia Lenton- Brym, Jonathon Maguire, Patricia Parkin, Sanjay Mahunt, Bradley Lichtblau
Trish Tucker
Despite their wide usage, it has recently been suggested that stroller use may reduce physical activity levels of young children. However, there have been no studies on stroller use as it relates to physical activity outcomes. The objectives of this study were to understand the context of stroller use for young children and parents’ perceptions of the relationship between stroller use and their children’s physical activity.Parents of children 1 to 5 years of age were recruited through two sites of TARGet Kids!, a primary-care, practice-based research network in Toronto, Canada. Fourteen semi-structured interviews were conducted. Interviews were audio recorded and …
Temperament And Objectively Measured Physical Activity And Sedentary Time Among Canadian Preschoolers, Patricia Tucker, Jennifer Irwin, Andrew Johnson, Leigh Vanderloo, Shauna Burke
Temperament And Objectively Measured Physical Activity And Sedentary Time Among Canadian Preschoolers, Patricia Tucker, Jennifer Irwin, Andrew Johnson, Leigh Vanderloo, Shauna Burke
Trish Tucker
This study sought to assess the influence of preschoolers' temperament on their objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time. Actical™ accelerometers were used to measure preschoolers' from London, Canada's (n = 216; 2.5–5 years) physical activity and sedentary levels during childcare hours (5 consecutive days; 15 s epoch). The Child Temperament Questionnaire (CTQ) was used to assess child temperament via parent/guardian report. The six subscales of the CTQ (i.e., reaction to food, soothability, attention span, activity, sociability, and emotionality) were correlated with Actical data (i.e., sedentary time, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and total physical activity). The five items of the activity …
Comparison Of Actical And Actigraph Accelerometers For Measuring Young Children's Physical Activity Levels And Sedentary Time, Patricia Tucker, Leigh Vanderloo, Natascja D'Alimonte, Nicole Proudfoot, Brian Timmons
Comparison Of Actical And Actigraph Accelerometers For Measuring Young Children's Physical Activity Levels And Sedentary Time, Patricia Tucker, Leigh Vanderloo, Natascja D'Alimonte, Nicole Proudfoot, Brian Timmons
Trish Tucker
Young children's activity and sedentary time were simultaneously measured via the Actical method (i.e., Actical accelerometer and Pfeiffer et al.'s cut-points) and the ActiGraph method (i.e., ActiGraph accelerometer and Pate et al.'s cut-points) at both 15s and 60s epochs to explore possible differences between these two measurement approaches. For seven consecutive days, participants (n = 23) wore both the Actical and ActiGraph side-by-side on an elastic neoprene belt. Device-specific cut-points were applied. Paired sample t-tests were conducted to determine the differences in participants' daily average activity levels and sedentary time (mins/hr) measured by the two devices at 15s and 60s …
Environmental Influences On Preschoolers' Physical Activity Levels In Various Learning Facilities, Patricia Tucker, Leigh Vanderloo, Andrew Johnson, Shauna Burke, Jennifer Irwin
Environmental Influences On Preschoolers' Physical Activity Levels In Various Learning Facilities, Patricia Tucker, Leigh Vanderloo, Andrew Johnson, Shauna Burke, Jennifer Irwin
Trish Tucker
PURPOSE: This study aimed to: (a) compare the physical activity (PA) levels (i.e., moderate-to-vigorous PA [MVPA] and total PA [TPA]) of preschoolers in 3 different early-learning environments (center-based childcare, home-based childcare, and full-day kindergarten [FDK]); and (b) assess which characteristics (e.g., play equipment, policies, etc.) of these settings influenced preschoolers' PA. METHOD: Twenty-seven facilities (9 centers, 10 homes, and 8 FDK) participated in this study. Participants (aged 2.5-5 years; n = 297) were fitted with Actical™ accelerometers for 5 consecutive days during childcare/school hours to assess their PA. The Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation (EPAO) tool was used to …
Weekly Trends In Preschoolers' Physical Activity And Sedentary Time In Childcare, Patricia Tucker, Leigh Vanderloo
Weekly Trends In Preschoolers' Physical Activity And Sedentary Time In Childcare, Patricia Tucker, Leigh Vanderloo
Trish Tucker
This study sought to examine how the physical activity levels and sedentary time of preschoolers attending center-based childcare varied across the week. Sex differences were also explored. Participants (n=101) wore Actical™ accelerometers (15 s epoch) for five consecutive days during childcare hours only. A multivariate repeated measures analysis of variance was used to evaluate levels of sedentary, light, and moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA) physical activity across the five weekdays. Total physical activity (TPA) was analyzed separately in a univariate repeated measures ANOVA. Sex was entered as an additional between-subjects factor. Levels of sedentary time, LPA, and TPA across the week were found …
Preventing Paediatric Obesity; Recommendations From A Community-Based Qualitative Investigation, Patricia Tucker, Jennifer Irwin, L. Sangster Bouck, Meizi He, G. Pollett
Preventing Paediatric Obesity; Recommendations From A Community-Based Qualitative Investigation, Patricia Tucker, Jennifer Irwin, L. Sangster Bouck, Meizi He, G. Pollett
Trish Tucker
Childhood obesity is on the rise, and interventions targeted at pre-school-aged children are essential for the primary prevention of this disease. Physical activity programming and decreasing screen viewing may be advantageous ways to reduce the early onset of obesity. Parents' perceptions regarding effective tools and programmes to target obesity are needed to develop an efficacious programme. Ten semi-structured focus groups were conducted for this qualitative study. Two experienced moderators facilitated all focus groups which were conducted in local day cares, workplaces and play groups, frequented by parents. All focus groups were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Strategies to ensure trustworthiness of …
Physical Activity At Daycare: Issues, Challenges And Perspectives, Melissa Van Zandvoort, Patricia Tucker, Jennifer Irwin, Shauna Burke
Physical Activity At Daycare: Issues, Challenges And Perspectives, Melissa Van Zandvoort, Patricia Tucker, Jennifer Irwin, Shauna Burke
Trish Tucker
This study sought to examine London, Ontario‐based childcare providers’ perspectives of the barriers and facilitators to physical activity participation among preschoolers (i.e. children aged 2.5–5 years) attending daycare. A heterogeneous sample of childcare providers (n = 54; response rate 47%) working at public daycare facilities in London, Ontario participated. Using a qualitative methodology, eight semi‐structured focus groups were conducted between February and March 2009. Focus groups were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Inductive content analysis was used to code and categorize emerging themes. When asked to describe the barriers to engaging preschoolers in physical activity while at daycare, participants discussed …
Preschoolers' Physical Activity Behaviours: Parents' Perspectives, Jennifer Irwin, Meizi He, L. Sangster Bouck, Patricia Tucker, Graham Pollett
Preschoolers' Physical Activity Behaviours: Parents' Perspectives, Jennifer Irwin, Meizi He, L. Sangster Bouck, Patricia Tucker, Graham Pollett
Trish Tucker
OBJECTIVES: To understand parents' perspectives of their preschoolers' physical activity behaviours. METHODS: A maximum variation sample of 71 parents explored their preschoolers' physical activity behaviours through 10 semi-structured focus group discussions. RESULTS: Parents perceived Canada's Physical Activity Guidelines for Children as inadequate; that their preschoolers get and need more than 30-90 minutes of activity daily; and that physical activity habits must be established during the preschool years. Nine barriers against and facilitators toward adequate physical activity were proposed: child's age, weather, daycare, siblings, finances, time, society and safety, parents' impact, and child's activity preferences. DISCUSSION: The need for education and …
Screen-Viewing Behaviors Among Preschoolers Parents' Perceptions, Meizi He, Jennifer Irwin, L. Sangster Bouck, Patricia Tucker, Graham Pollett
Screen-Viewing Behaviors Among Preschoolers Parents' Perceptions, Meizi He, Jennifer Irwin, L. Sangster Bouck, Patricia Tucker, Graham Pollett
Trish Tucker
BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity has emerged as a public health concern in Canada. It has been suggested that excessive screen viewing (i.e., television, computer, video) is a major factor contributing to the increased risk of obesity in children. Exploring young children's experiences with this modifiable behavior may be beneficial to the creation of a multifaceted program aimed at the primary prevention of obesity. OBJECTIVES: To seek parents' perceptions and insights pertaining to their preschoolers' screen-viewing behaviors. METHODS: This qualitative study targeted a heterogeneous sample of parents with children aged 2.5 to 5 years. Two experienced moderators using a semistructured interview guide …
The Influence Of Parents And The Home Environment On Preschoolers' Physical Activity Behaviours: A Qualitative Investigation Of Childcare Providers' Perspectives, Patricia Tucker, Melissa Van Zandvoort, Shauna Burke, Jennifer Irwin
The Influence Of Parents And The Home Environment On Preschoolers' Physical Activity Behaviours: A Qualitative Investigation Of Childcare Providers' Perspectives, Patricia Tucker, Melissa Van Zandvoort, Shauna Burke, Jennifer Irwin
Trish Tucker
BACKGROUND: Physical activity offers numerous physiological and psychological benefits for young children; however, many preschool-aged children are not engaging in sufficient activity. The home environment, inclusive of parent role modeling, has been identified as influencing preschoolers' physical activity. This study sought to examine childcare providers' perspectives of the importance of parents and the home environment for supporting the physical activity behaviours of preschool-aged children (aged 2.5-5 years) attending childcare. METHODS: A heterogeneous sample of childcare providers (n = 84; response rate 39%) working at childcare facilities in London, Ontario participated. Thirteen semi-structured focus groups were conducted in London centres between …
Physical Activity Behaviors During The Preschool Years, Patricia Tucker, Jennifer Irwin
Physical Activity Behaviors During The Preschool Years, Patricia Tucker, Jennifer Irwin
Trish Tucker
This is the first Canadian study to measure physical activity participation and opportunities for outdoor playtime among preschoolers. Preschoolers in the London, Ontario study spent significantly more time engaging in high-intensity indoor activity versus outdoor activity. Daycare providers reported the children in their care had access to approximately 2 hours of daily outdoor playtime. Nearly half the study‟s parents reported their preschoolers did not engage in physical activity at the level needed for health gains. Insufficient activity among such a large segment of preschoolers has potentially serious physical and psychological health implications. Daycare settings afford ample opportunity for physical activity …
Physical Activity At Daycare: Childcare Providers’ Perspectives For Improvements, Patricia Tucker, Melissa Van Zandvoort, Shauna Burke, Jennifer Irwin
Physical Activity At Daycare: Childcare Providers’ Perspectives For Improvements, Patricia Tucker, Melissa Van Zandvoort, Shauna Burke, Jennifer Irwin
Trish Tucker
In London, Ontario, approximately 45 percent of preschoolers are insufficiently active.With the large number of preschoolers who attend childcare (54%), and the low levels of physical activity among preschool-aged children, daycare centers may be an appropriate avenue to intervene. This study sought to collect childcare providers’ suggestions for improving physical activity during daycare hours and their perspectives regarding the feasibility of meeting the physical activity guidelines currently set out for preschoolers. This qualitative study targeted a heterogeneous sample of childcare providers (n = 54) working at YMCA daycare centers in London, Ontario. Eight focus groups were conducted. Saturation was reached …
The Physical Activity Levels Of Preschool-Aged Children: A Systematic Review, Patricia Tucker
The Physical Activity Levels Of Preschool-Aged Children: A Systematic Review, Patricia Tucker
Trish Tucker
No abstract provided.
Preschoolers’ Dietary Intake Behaviours: Parents’ Perspectives, Patricia Tucker, Jennifer Irwin, Meizi He, L Sangster Bouck, Graham Pollett
Preschoolers’ Dietary Intake Behaviours: Parents’ Perspectives, Patricia Tucker, Jennifer Irwin, Meizi He, L Sangster Bouck, Graham Pollett
Trish Tucker
No abstract provided.