QUARTER 3: July - September 2018 | USC-PRC Notes
"Promoting Health through Physical Activity"
Topics in this issue
NEWS YOU CAN USE:
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Applications due Nov. 1
Podcast: Helping Black Women Get Healthy by Walking
Inside a Pedestrian-First Superblock
Meet the Groups Diversifying the Great Outdoors
Upcoming Events and Observances: October, November, December
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON:
New Policy Restricts Military Use of GPS Devices Overseas, Including Physical Activity Trackers
U.S. Senate passes transportation appropriations bill with robust funding for transit, rail programs
RESEARCH NOTES:
Effect of e-Bike versus bike commuting on cardiorespiratory fitness in overweight adults: A 4-week randomized pilot study
Worldwide trends in insufficient physical activity from 2001 to 2016: a pooled analysis of
358 population-based surveys with
1.9 million participants
The effectiveness of eHealth interventions on physical activity and measures of obesity
among working-age women:
a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Home‐based exergaming among children with overweight and obesity: a randomized clinical trial
Associations between worksite walkability, greenness, and physical activity around work
REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES:
Making Strides: 2018 State Report Cards on Support for Walking, Bicycling, and Active
Kids in Communities
Assembly: Civic Design Guidelines
2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Data
Sedentary Behaviors in Today’s Youth: Approaches to the Prevention and Management
of Childhood Obesity: A Scientific
Statement from the American Heart Association
PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES:
LeBron Gives Bikes to School Children
Walkers More Than a Third of the Way to the Moon
Across Atlanta. 10 Surprising Facets of Outdoor Recreation
Orland, IL Park Residents Challenged to #Explore64
SC Teens Stand and Deliver at 6th Annual Youth Summit
UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS:
October, November, December
USC PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER UPDATES:
Update from the USC PRC Core Research Project
USC Hosts the Physical Activity and Public Health Courses for Practitioners and Researchers
Update from the National Physical Activity Plan
Update from the South Carolina Healthy Brain Research Network
Update from the South Carolina Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network II
NEWS YOU CAN USE:
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Applications due Nov. 1
Applications for the 2019 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Culture of Health Prize should be submitted online by 3:00 PM EST, Nov. 1, 2018. The prize recognizes communities working toward better health for all. Applications should prioritize health for all citizens, demonstrate a history of successful community partnerships, and have plans for measuring and sharing program progress and results. Up to 10 communities will be selected to receive a $25,000 cash prize. Interested applicants can review stories about past award winners here and sign up to receive information and updates from RWJF.
[Source: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation]
Podcast: Helping Black Women Get Healthy by Walking
GirlTrek, a nonprofit with the mission of inspiring one million black women to use walking as a first step to inspire healthy living and healthy communities, is currently the largest health organization serving black women and girls. In a new podcast from the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Morgan Dixon, a co-founder and CEO of GirlTrek, discusses health issues facing women of color and how her organization is working to encourage physical activity and community activism. In addition to organizing group walks around the country, GirlTrek members advocate for national policy to increase physical activity through walking, strive to improve access to safe spaces to walk, and improve the walkability of built environments in 50 high-need communities.
[Source: Chronicle of Philanthropy]
Inside a Pedestrian-First Superblock
In urban cities, planners continue to search for creative ways to successfully promote active transportation and healthy lifestyles. A new documentary short explains one approach to designing pedestrian-friendly environments. The “superblock” – a 40-acre street grid – has been used in Barcelona and elsewhere as a successful approach to improve walkability and bikeability. The film highlights how design features can create space for pedestrians, cyclists, and children to move more freely and safely in an urban environment.
[Source: CityLab]
Meet the Groups Trying to Diversify the Great Outdoors
Traditionally, outdoor recreational activities like hiking, biking, rock climbing, and camping have been most popular among non-Hispanic white Americans. Recently, a handful of national grassroots organizations have tried to diversify outdoor recreation and increase representation from minority groups. This article includes information from several successful organizations and leaders in the movement working to increase minority representation through education, outreach, and advocacy. In addition to groups like OutDoor Afro, a non-profit organization working to connect African Americans to outdoor experiences, the article explores strategies for increasing outdoor recreation among underrepresented groups.
[Source: Philadelphia Inquirer]
OCTOBER
Healthy Lung Month
October 1-31, 2018
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October 1-31, 2018
National Physical Therapy Month
October 1-31, 2018
International Walk to School Month
October 1-31, 2018
National Child Health Day
October 1, 2018
Walk to Work Day [Australia]
October 5, 2018
Walk to School Day
October 10, 2018
World Food Day
October 16, 2018
World Osteoporosis Day
October 20, 2018
NOVEMBER
National Diabetes Month
November 1-30, 2018
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month
November 1-30, 2018
United States Antibiotic Awareness Week
November 12-18, 2018
World Diabetes Day
November 14, 2018
December
World AIDS Day
December 1, 2018
National Handwashing Awareness Week
December 2-8, 2018
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON:
New Policy Restricts Military Use of GPS Devices Overseas, Including Physical Activity Trackers
The Department of Defense (DoD) has implemented a new policy preventing U.S. personnel overseas from using geolocation features in devices including fitness trackers. This affects devices such as mobile phone apps and other wearables frequently used to track physical activity. Geolocation information from these devices may unintentionally expose classified information on military operations. This type of information may include locations, routines, and identification of DoD personnel. The DoD will continue to assess the risk GPS capability in devices and may adjust the policy moving forward.
[Source: United States Department of Defense]
US Senate Passes Transportation Appropriations Bill with Robust Funding for Transit, Rail Programs
The US Senate has passed the Fiscal Year 2019 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill, which includes updates to the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) program. The Senate THUD bill funds the $1 billion BUILD program and proposes changes that would reduce financial and administrative burden to grantee communities. The BUILD program, formerly the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program, provides grants to local communities to increase investment in transportation infrastructure including walking paths, biking trails, and other means of active transportation. Previously, the House Appropriations Committee approved a similar bill, which has not yet been considered by the full House of Representatives.
[Source: Transportation for America]
RESEARCH NOTES:
Effect of e-bike versus bike commuting on cardiorespiratory fitness in overweight adults: A 4-week randomized pilot study
Active commuting may help busy individuals meet weekly physical activity recommendations. Considering the rise in assisted commuting devices such as electrically assisted bicycles (e-bikes) and scooters, researchers investigated if individuals using e-bikes obtained similar cardiorespiratory benefits to those using traditional bicycles. Participants were randomized to the e-bike group or traditional bike group and actively commuted to work for at least 3 days during the 4-week intervention. Researchers measured changes in VO2 peak at baseline and follow-up and found that individuals in the e-bike group had higher VO2 peak measures than the traditional bicycle group. Results suggest that power-assisted commuting devices may still increase physical activity levels and improve cardiorespiratory fitness, perhaps because they allow higher biking speeds and greater elevation gains.
[Source: Höchsmann, C., et al. 2018. Effect of e-bike versus bike commuting on cardiorespiratory fitness in overweight adults: A 4-week randomized pilot study. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine.]
Worldwide trends in insufficient physical activity from 2001 to 2016: a pooled analysis of 358 population-based surveys with 1.9 million participants
Physical inactivity is a risk factor for preventable chronic diseases and has negative effects on mental health and quality of life. In a recent study, data from population-based surveys on insufficient physical activity at work, home, for transport, and during leisure were analyzed. The global prevalence of insufficient physical activity was 27.5%. Although this level remains similar to 2001 estimates, current worldwide trends suggest the 2025 global physical activity target will not be met. Researchers emphasize implementing and scaling up policies to increase population levels of physical activity.
[Source: Guthold, R. et al. 2018. Worldwide trends in insufficient physical activity from 2001 to 2016: a pooled analysis of 358 population-based surveys with 1·9 million participants. The Lancet.]
The effectiveness of eHealth interventions on physical activity and measures of obesity among working-age women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
eHealth physical activity interventions have increased in popularity and are known to positively impact physical activity behaviors. This systematic review assessed the effectiveness of eHealth interventions to increase moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in women 18-65 years old. Data were pooled from 20 intervention studies for the meta-analysis, and authors found that eHealth interventions improved moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, on average, 25 minutes per week. Future research should continue to use and adapt eHealth interventions to increase physical activity in this population.
[Source: Cotie, L.M. et al. 2018. The effectiveness of eHealth interventions on physical activity and measures of obesity among working-age women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Obesity Reviews.]
Home-based exergaming among children with overweight and obesity: A randomized clinical trial
Increased screen time is considered a contributor to overweight and obesity among children. In this randomized trial, researchers examined the impact of exergaming (i.e., video games requiring active participation) on physical activity levels in overweight and obese children. Intervention participants engaged in three one-hour exergaming sessions weekly for 24 weeks. Compared to a delayed control group, children who exergamed significantly increased moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and reduced BMI z-scores, blood pressure, and total cholesterol. While increased screen-time and sedentary behavior may be detrimental, exergaming presents one potential way to increase physical activity in children.
[Source: Staiano, A.E. et al. 2018. Home-based exergaming among children with overweight and obesity: a randomized clinical trial. Pediatric Obesity.]
Associations between worksite walkability, greenness, and physical activity around work
Adults spend significant amounts of time in offices and workspaces, often engaged in sedentary behaviors. In this article, researchers explored the connection between the work environment and employee physical activity. Results from this study showed that adults in workspaces with higher measures of walkability and more green space had higher levels of physical activity during the workday. These results indicate that workplace built environments supporting active living should be considered as a tool to increase employee physical activity. Future studies should include interventions to improve the walkability and presence of greenspace in the work environment.
[Source: Marquet, O. et. al. 2018. Associations between worksite walkability, greenness, and physical activity around work. Environment and Behavior.]
REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES:
Making Strides: 2018 State Report Cards on Support for Walking, Bicycling, and Active Kids in Communities
A new report from Safe Routes to School analyzes community efforts to support walking, biking, and physical activity for children. Making Strides 2018 includes report cards for all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on support for key areas that could influence activity: (1) Complete Streets and Active Transportation, (2) Safe Routes to Schools and Active Transportation Funding, (3) Active Neighborhoods and Schools, and (4) State Physical Activity Planning and Support. Most states continue to make progress toward meeting the goals of supporting walking and active transportation, but the report provides suggestions for improvement. Safe Routes to School also provides a guide to help advocates understand the report card scoring protocol and suggestions for how states can use the report cards to support healthier communities.
[Source: Safe Routes to Schools]
Assembly: Civic Design Guidelines
Well-designed public spaces can improve health by increasing active transportation, engaging citizens in community activities, and increasing environmental stewardship. A report released by the Center for Active Design explores how public spaces can support community health and provides practical, evidence-based guidance for communities. The report explores strategies to improve physical and mental health by enhancing community connectivity, incorporating nature into public spaces, celebrating community identify, and including space for activity. The report includes real-world examples from communities that have increased engagement in outdoor physical activity by creating opportunities for active transportation and considering the needs and abilities of all citizens. Based on a synthesis of empirical research and community project analysis, the report identifies best practices that could be implemented in a variety of settings.
[Source: Center for Active Design]
2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Data
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Population Health has released 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data. Data were collected from adults in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico using landlines and cellphones. The BRFSS collects information about population-level physical activity, diet, clinical health data, and health care access. Supporting information include an overview on the background, design, and data collection procedures. The BRFSS question codebook, state- and nation-level comparisons, and analyses are also provided. In addition, city- and county-level data can be assessed using several online tools available from the CDC. Archived data from previous years are also available.
[Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]
Sedentary Behaviors in Today’s Youth: Approaches to the Prevention and Management of Childhood Obesity: A Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association (AHA) has released a new statement about complications arising from sedentary behavior among youth. The new statement emphasizes understanding the context in which sedentary behaviors occur due to the increased portability of devices with screens (e.g., phones, tablets) and easily accessible screen-based programming. According to the statement, more research is needed to quantify sedentary behaviors for this population and to develop effective guidelines. Currently, the AHA recommends removing screen devices from bedrooms and during meal times. In addition, parents/guardians should encourage daily device-free social interactions and outdoor play.
[Source: Circulation]
PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES:
LeBron James Gives Bicycles to Students
In 2011, LeBron James launched a Wheels for Education program providing bicycles to 3rd grade students. Since then, the program has continued to grow. As part of the LeBron James Foundation’s recent opening of the I Promise School in Akron, Ohio, all of the students received a new bicycle and helmet. The program’s goal is to encourage children to get outside and travel to local parks and community centers and be more physically active. Local bike shops have also partnered with the LeBron James Foundation to provide bicycle repair and maintenance for the students.
[Source: Bicycling]
Walkers More Than a Third of the Way to the Moon
As part of the Greater Huntington Walks movement, residents of Huntington, WV, have challenged themselves to collectively walk 238,900 miles before the end of 2018 – the distance from the earth to the moon. The program encourages walking through friendly competition, organized walking activities, and individual and community goals. Organizers also release monthly challenges and encourage residents to participate in charity 5Ks and walks supporting local organizations. Residents can check in on upcoming events, team and individual rankings, and progress on the walk to the moon on the Greater Huntington Walks Facebook page.
[Source: The Herald-Dispatch]
Across Atlanta, 10 Surprising Facets of Outdoor Recreation
Atlanta houses nearly 400 parks covering more than 5,000 acres of greenspace. This article highlights 10 features of parks that encourage outdoor physical activity, some unique to the area and others familiar around the country. Atlanta is one of the first communities to provide in-town mountain-biking trails, covering close to 6 miles and connecting several downtown parks. In addition, the Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation has added amenities like outdoor exercise stations, public soccer fields, and accessible playgrounds and play structures. The city is also one of several communities around the U.S. working to incorporate art and activity into public spaces through play structures like the “ATL” and “In Search of Awe.”
[Source: Curbed Atlanta]
Orland, IL Park Residents Challenged to #Explore64
This summer, the Parks and Recreation Department in Orland, Illinois, offered families and residents the #Explore64 challenge. For one month, people were challenged to visit the 64 village parks in Orland and participate in a city-wide scavenger hunt. The hunt included 3 common tasks: (1) a photo challenge, (2) a GPS check-in, and (3) question and answer activities. Prizes for the #Explore64 challenge included a membership to the local Sportsplex, free passes to local parks, and free rentals for outdoor equipment.
[Source: Orland Park Patch]
Teens Present at the 6th Annual South Carolina Youth Summit
Teenagers and adults from around South Carolina came together for the 6th Annual South Carolina Youth Summit to learn about youth-led policy change and advocacy. As part of the summit, organizers highlighted success stories of youth involvement in policy and environmental changes to promote physical activity. Examples included revitalizing an abandoned field in Laurens County, installing ADA accessible sidewalks in Anderson County, and partnering with administrators to create safer routes to school in Richland County. Additional breakout sessions included discussions about leadership, youth engagement, and developing action plans for new initiatives promoting healthy lifestyles. Learn more about the Youth Summit online and watch the success stories here.
[Source: Eat Smart Move More South Carolina]
UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS:
OCTOBER
Annual ASHA School Health Conference
October 4-6, 2018
Indianapolis, IN
International Council on Active Aging Conference
October 18-20, 2018
Long Beach, CA
NOVEMBER
American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Exposition
November 10-November 14, 2018
San Diego, CA
European Public Health Association (EUPHA) Annual Conference
November 28-December 1, 2018
Ljubljana, Slovenia
DECEMBER
11th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation in Health
December 3-5, 2018
Washington D.C.
USC PRC UPDATES:
Update from the USC Core Research Project
The USC PRC core research project examines the dissemination & implementation (D&I) of Faith, Activity, and Nutrition (FAN), a faith-based intervention to help promote changes to the church environment and policies that support physical activity and healthy eating. A fourth publication from this project is now available in an epub ahead of print version and reports differences in the potential healthy eating and physical activity environments of churches.
Bernhart, J.A., La Valley, E.A., Kaczynski, A.T., Wilcox, S., Jake-Schoffman, D.E., Peters, N., Dunn, C.G., Hutto, B. (2018). Investigating Socioeconomic Disparities in the Potential Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Environments of Churches. Journal of Religion and Health. E-pub ahead of print August 2018. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-018-0687-y
USC Hosts the Physical Activity and Public Health Courses for Practitioners and Researchers
Earlier this month, the University of South Carolina hosted the Physical Activity and Public Health Courses in Columbia, SC. The courses consisted of an 8-day Postgraduate Course on Research Directions and Strategies. Due to the potential weather issues related to Hurricane Florence, the 6-day Practitioner’s Course on Community Interventions was not held (a plan for delivering the content is underway). There were 30 Research Course participants who attended the course. The long-term goal of the courses is to improve the public’s health by increasing the number of public health researchers and practitioners who have expertise in the relationship between physical activity and health in populations. The course began in 1995 and has been successfully delivered 21 times since then. A total of 579 researchers and 407 practitioners have been trained in the courses, representing 49 states and the District of Columbia and 25 countries. During the course, Dr. Russ Pate was recognized for his pioneering vision in developing and implementing the successful course over this 23-year period.
Update from the National Physical Activity Plan Alliance
This quarter the National Physical Activity Plan Alliance (NPAPA) released objectives for the Transportation, Land Use, and Community Design. The objectives indicate specific actions that can and should be taken to implement plan tactics, along with a timeline for implementation. The NPAPA also published two new conversational commentaries about walkability and Safe Routes to School. The first, titled “Environment and Culture: The Importance of Walking and Walkability,” by Dr. NiCole Keith, discusses the impacts of cultural and physical environments on walking behavior. The second, "Transforming Active Transportation: Impacts of Safe Routes to School," explores the efforts of the Safe Routes to School National Partnership with it's Executive Director Cass Isidro.
Update from the South Carolina Healthy Brain Research Network
HBRN Scholar and Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Seul Ki Choi led a manuscript about the content and quality of mobile applications (apps) on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). An analysis of 36 apps showed caregiving and disease management content was most frequently provided. Overall, the quality of the apps was acceptable as assessed by the uMARS. Apps by health care-related developers had higher quality scores than those by non-health care-related developers. Results indicated that ADRD-related apps provide a wide range of content and have the potential to benefit caregivers, individuals with ADRD, health care providers, and the general public. Collaborations between ADRD researchers and technology experts are needed to provide evidence-based information using effective technical functions that will meet users’ needs. This paper was published online as an Epub ahead of print on July 26, 2018.
Citation: Choi, S. K., Yelton, B., Ezeanya, V. K., Kannaley, K., & Friedman, D. B. (2018). Review of the Content and Quality of Mobile Applications About Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias. Journal of Applied Gerontology. DOI: 10.1177/0733464818790187
Update from the South Carolina Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network II
SC-CPCRN welcomes Brooks Yelton and Venice Haynes as graduate assistants this year. Brooks Yelton is pursuing a Master of Social Work degree and is specializing in Health and Mental Health. Her primary interests focus on the psychosocial barriers to health screening and treatment, and psychosocial support in healthcare. Brooks was working with CPCRN as a consultant and they are excited she is continuing to work with CPCRN. Venice Haynes is a fourth-year doctoral student whose current dissertation research looks at the sociocultural impact of cervical cancer prevention and control behaviors on women in Peru with plans to expand this work to other low and middle-income countries. The SC-CPCRN is excited to have Venice’s experience and knowledge working with low- to middle-income populations as a part of their team.
Post-doctoral fellow, Dr. Seul Ki Choi, led a manuscript that analyzed prostate cancer (PrCA) information available in healthcare provider offices for content, readability and cultural sensitivity. Communication with health care providers, side effects of PrCA treatment, sexual dysfunction and its treatment and treatment options were most frequently presented. All materials had acceptable cultural sensitivity scores; however, materials demonstrated unacceptable cultural sensitivity regarding format and visual messages. More than half of the materials were written above a high-school reading level. The authors concluded that PrCA-related materials available in health-care practices may not meet patient needs regarding content, cultural sensitivity, and readability, and culturally sensitive materials presented in plain language are needed.
Choi, S.K., Seel, J.S., Yelton, B., Steck, S.E., McCormick, D., Payne, J., Minter, A., Deutchki, E.K., Hebert, J.R., & Friedman, D.B. (2018). Prostate cancer information available in healthcare provider offices: An analysis of content, readability, and cultural sensitivity. American Journal of Men’s Health, 12(4), 1160-1167 (DOI: 10.1177/1557988318768599).
Writers: John Bernhart and Caroline Dunn
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The USC Prevention Research Center is a member of the CDC Prevention Research Center's National Network, consisting of 33 Centers in the U.S. For more information about the PRC National Network, visit http://www.cdc.gov/prc.
This publication was supported by Cooperative Agreement Number U48-DP-001936 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the CDC.
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