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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

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Articles 1 - 13 of 13

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Physical Activity At Daycare: Issues, Challenges And Perspectives, Melissa Van Zandvoort, Patricia Tucker, Jennifer Irwin, Shauna Burke May 2013

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 …


The Influence Of The Physical Environment And Sociodemographic Characteristics On Children's Mode Of Travel To And From School, Kristian Larsen, Jason Gilliland, Peter Hess, Patricia Tucker, Jennifer Irwin, Meizi He May 2013

The Influence Of The Physical Environment And Sociodemographic Characteristics On Children's Mode Of Travel To And From School, Kristian Larsen, Jason Gilliland, Peter Hess, Patricia Tucker, Jennifer Irwin, Meizi He

Trish Tucker

Objectives: We examined whether certain characteristics of the social and physical environment influence a child's mode of travel between home and school. Methods: Students aged 11 to 13 years from 21 schools throughout London, Ontario, answered questions from a travel behavior survey. A geographic information system linked survey responses for 614 students who lived within 1 mile of school to data on social and physical characteristics of environments around the home and school. Logistic regression analysis was used to test the influence of environmental factors on mode of travel (motorized vs "active") to and from school. Results: Over 62% of …


Adolescents' Perspectives Of Home, School And Neighborhood Environmental Influences On Physical Activity And Dietary Behaviors, Patricia Tucker, Jennifer Irwin, Jason Gilliland, Meizi He May 2013

Adolescents' Perspectives Of Home, School And Neighborhood Environmental Influences On Physical Activity And Dietary Behaviors, Patricia Tucker, Jennifer Irwin, Jason Gilliland, Meizi He

Trish Tucker

This investigation sought to gain an understanding of how youth perceive neighborhood environmental influences on their physical activity and eating behaviors. This qualitative study targeted a heterogeneous sample of 12- to 14- year-olds in London, Ontario, Canada. Using a semi-structured interview guide, we conducted nine focus groups (n = 60) and used inductive content analysis to investigate their discussions. Most participants discussed their school, parks, and opportunity structures around their homes as influencing their physical activity, and overwhelmingly reported the availability of fast-food restaurants, convenience stores, and slow-food restaurants in their neighborhoods as influencing their eating practices. The descriptive information …


The Effect Of Season And Weather On Physical Activity: A Systematic Review, Patricia Tucker, Jason Gilliland May 2013

The Effect Of Season And Weather On Physical Activity: A Systematic Review, Patricia Tucker, Jason Gilliland

Trish Tucker

Objectives: This study reviewed previous studies to explore the effect of season, and consequently weather, on levels of physical activity. Study design and methods: Thirty-seven primary studies (published 1980–2006) representing a total of 291 883 participants (140 482 male and 152 085 female) from eight different countries are described, and the effect of season on moderate levels of physical activity is considered. Results: Upon review of the evidence, it appears that levels of physical activity vary with seasonality, and the ensuing effect of poor or extreme weather has been identified as a barrier to participation in physical activity among various …


Environmental Influences On Physical Activity Levels In Youth, Patricia Tucker, Jennifer Irwin, Jason Gilliland, Meizi He, Kristian Larsen, Paul Hess May 2013

Environmental Influences On Physical Activity Levels In Youth, Patricia Tucker, Jennifer Irwin, Jason Gilliland, Meizi He, Kristian Larsen, Paul Hess

Trish Tucker

This study assessed the amount of physical activity engaged in by youth aged 11–13, in relation to: (1) the presence of neighborhood recreational opportunities, objectively measured within a geographic information system; and (2) parents’ perceptions of recreation opportunities in their neighborhoods. Students in grade 7 and 8 (n=811) in 21 elementary schools throughout London, Ontario completed the adapted Previous Day Physical Activity Recall and a questionnaire assessing environmental influences in the home and school neighborhoods. Parents/guardians of participants also completed a questionnaire eliciting demographic information and perceptions of the neighborhood environment. On average, students engaged in 159.9 min/day of physical …


Healthy Eating And Physical Activity Challenges And Opportunities In After-School Programs: Providers’ Perspectives, Heather Thomas, L. Fellner, Patricia Tucker, Jennifer Irwin May 2013

Healthy Eating And Physical Activity Challenges And Opportunities In After-School Programs: Providers’ Perspectives, Heather Thomas, L. Fellner, Patricia Tucker, Jennifer Irwin

Trish Tucker

The purpose of this study was to understand after-school program providers’ perspectives of (a) current physical activity and nutrition curriculum, practices, and challenges, and (b) necessary modifications, program suggestions or resource needs to improve the healthy eating and active living practices within their after-school program for children aged 6 to 12 years. This qualitative study targeted a sample of nine after-school program providers in London, Ontario. Data was collected via in-depth interviews and a demographic survey between January and April 2009. Strategies to enhance data trustworthiness were incorporated throughout. After-school program providers identified insufficient healthy eating curriculum and requested interactive, …


The Impact Of Co-Active Coaching On Physically Inactive 12 To 14 Year Olds In Ontario, Paul Gorczynski, Don Morrow, Jennifer Irwin Jan 2013

The Impact Of Co-Active Coaching On Physically Inactive 12 To 14 Year Olds In Ontario, Paul Gorczynski, Don Morrow, Jennifer Irwin

Donald Morrow

This study assessed the impact of life coaching on physical activity participation, self-efficacy, social support, and perceived behavioural control among physically inactive youth between the ages of 12 and 14 years in London, Ontario. The multiple-baseline across participants single case-experimental design study consisted of five 12 to 14 year olds. Six coaching sessions were conducted over two months by a certified professional Co-active coach. Physical activity increased for one participant while the other participants’ physical activity remained unchanged. No significant changes occurred in self-efficacy, social support, and perceived behavioural control with specific regard to becoming more physically active. Results indicted …


Fertility Desires Among Hiv-Infected Men And Women In Los Angeles County: Client Needs And Provider Perspectives, Sebastian Linnemayr, Deborah Mindry, Glenn Wagner, Jordan Lake, Amber Smith, Molly Quinn, Risa Hoffmann Dec 2012

Fertility Desires Among Hiv-Infected Men And Women In Los Angeles County: Client Needs And Provider Perspectives, Sebastian Linnemayr, Deborah Mindry, Glenn Wagner, Jordan Lake, Amber Smith, Molly Quinn, Risa Hoffmann

Sebastian Linnemayr

Combination antiretroviral therapy for persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) has extended life expectancy, and enabled PLHA to live productive lives that can include having children. Despite calls to address childbearing for PLHA there has been limited attention to developing safe conception programs. This research sought to assess the childbearing desires of PLHA and the experiences of health care providers serving this population. Research entailed a brief cross-sectional client survey given to HIV-infected men and women over age 18 at two Los Angeles County clinics administered over an 8-week period. Focus group discussions were conducted with providers at each clinic site. …


U.S. Policies To Enhance Older Driver Safety: A Systematic Review Of The Literature, Elizabeth Dugan Dec 2012

U.S. Policies To Enhance Older Driver Safety: A Systematic Review Of The Literature, Elizabeth Dugan

Elizabeth Dugan

The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature related to state policies concerning older drivers and to draw policy conclusions about what policies appear to work to reduce older driver crashes and to identify areas needed for further research. Specific policies examined in this paper concern medical reporting and medical review, license renewal processes, and driver testing. A study was included in the systematic review if it met the following criteria: published in English between 1991and January 2013; included data on human subjects aged 65 and older residing in the United States; included information …


Research Budget Overhaul, Chiehwen Ed Hsu Dec 2012

Research Budget Overhaul, Chiehwen Ed Hsu

Chiehwen Ed Hsu

No abstract provided.


Medicare Payment Reform And Provider Entry And Exit, Peter Huckfeldt, Neeraj Sood, John Romley, Alessandro Malchiodi, Jose Escarce Dec 2012

Medicare Payment Reform And Provider Entry And Exit, Peter Huckfeldt, Neeraj Sood, John Romley, Alessandro Malchiodi, Jose Escarce

Peter J. Huckfeldt

Objective. To understand the impacts of Medicare payment reform on the entry and exit of post-acute providers. Data Sources. Medicare Provider of Services data, Cost Reports, and Census data from 1991 through 2010. Study Design. We examined market-level changes in entry and exit after payment reforms relative to a preexisting time trend. We also compared changes in high Medicare share markets relative to lower Medicare share markets and for freestanding relative to hospital-based facilities. Data Extraction Methods. We calculated market-level entry, exit, and total stock of home health agencies, skilled nursing facilities, and inpatient rehabilitation facilities from Provider of Services …


The Impact Of Natural Disasters On Child Health And Investments In Rural India, Sebastian Linnemayr, Ashlesha Datar, Jenny Liu, Chad Stecher Dec 2012

The Impact Of Natural Disasters On Child Health And Investments In Rural India, Sebastian Linnemayr, Ashlesha Datar, Jenny Liu, Chad Stecher

Sebastian Linnemayr

No abstract provided.


Gifts From The Elders: Honouring The Past For A Healthier Tomorrow, Chantelle Richmond, James Fortier Dec 2012

Gifts From The Elders: Honouring The Past For A Healthier Tomorrow, Chantelle Richmond, James Fortier

Chantelle Richmond

“Gifts from the Elders” follows five Anishinaabe youth on a summer research project with their Elders, whose stories guide them on a journey back to proceeding generations that lived a healthy lifestyle off of the land. Their stories chronicle the devastating impact that environmental and cultural dispossession had on the flow of knowledge from Elders to youth, and ultimately on the health of their people. As their summer comes to an end, the youth emerge with “gifts” of knowledge and teachings from their Elders, inspiring a renewed determination to forge a hopeful and healthy future for the next generation.