scholarly journals A Novel Mixed Methods Approach to Assess Children’s Sedentary Behaviors

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-86
Author(s):  
Liezel Hurter ◽  
Anna M. Cooper-Ryan ◽  
Zoe R. Knowles ◽  
Lorna A. Porcellato ◽  
Stuart J. Fairclough ◽  
...  

Purpose: Accurately measuring sedentary behavior (SB) in children is challenging by virtue of its complex nature. While self-report questionnaires are susceptible to recall errors, accelerometer data lacks contextual information. This study aimed to explore the efficacy of using accelerometry combined with the Digitising Children’s Data Collection (DCDC) for Health application (app), to capture SB comprehensively. Methods: 74 children (9–10 years old) wore ActiGraph GT9X accelerometers for 7 days. Each received a SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab4 (SM-T230) tablet, with the DCDC app installed and a specially designed sedentary behavior study downloaded. The app uses four data collection tools: 1) Questionnaire, 2) Take a photograph, 3) Draw a picture, and 4) Record my voice. Children self-reported their SB daily. Accelerometer data were analyzed using R-package GGIR. App data were downloaded and individual participant profiles created. SBs reported were grouped into categories and reported as frequencies. Results: Participants spent, on average, 629 min (i.e., 73% of their waking time) sedentary. App data revealed most of their out-of-school SB consisted of screen time (112 photos, 114 drawings, and screen time mentioned 135 times during voice recordings). Playing with toys, reading, arts and crafts, and homework were also reported across all four data capturing tools on the app. On an individual level, data from the app often explained irregular patterns in physical activity and SB observed in accelerometer data. Conclusion: This mixed methods approach to assessing SB adds context to accelerometer data, providing researchers with information needed for intervention design.

Author(s):  
Han Shi Jocelyn Chew ◽  
Violeta Lopez

Objective: To provide an overview of what is known about the impact of COVID-19 on weight and weight-related behaviors. Methods: Systematic scoping review using the Arksey and O’Malley methodology. Results: A total of 19 out of 396 articles were included. All studies were conducted using online self-report surveys. The average age of respondents ranged from 19 to 47 years old, comprised of more females. Almost one-half and one-fifth of the respondents gained and lost weight during the COVID-19 pandemic, respectively. Among articles that examined weight, diet and physical activity changes concurrently, weight gain was reported alongside a 36.3% to 59.6% increase in total food consumption and a 67.4% to 61.4% decrease in physical activities. Weight gain predictors included female sex, middle-age, increased appetite, snacking after dinner, less physical exercise, sedentary behaviors of ≥6 h/day, low water consumption and less sleep at night. Included articles did not illustrate significant associations between alcohol consumption, screen time, education, place of living and employment status, although sedentary behaviors, including screen time, did increase significantly. Conclusions: Examining behavioral differences alone is insufficient in predicting weight status. Future research could examine differences in personality and coping mechanisms to design more personalized and effective weight management interventions.


2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 310-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Vásquez ◽  
Garrett Strizich ◽  
Linda Gallo ◽  
Simon J. Marshall ◽  
Gina C. Merchant ◽  
...  

Background:Chronic stress and/or lifetime traumatic stress can create a self-reinforcing cycle of unhealthy behaviors, such as overeating and sedentary behavior, that can lead to further increases in stress. This study examined the relationship between stress and sedentary behavior in a sample of Hispanic/Latino adults (N = 4244) from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos Sociocultural Ancillary Study.Methods:Stress was measured as the number of ongoing difficulties lasting 6 months or more and as lifetime exposure to traumatic events. Sedentary behavior was measured by self-report and with accelerometer. Multivariable regression models examined associations of stress measures with time spent in sedentary behaviors adjusting by potential confounders.Results:Those who reported more than one chronic stressor spent, on average, 8 to 10 additional minutes per day in objectively measured sedentary activities (P < .05), whereas those with more than one lifetime traumatic stressor spent (after we adjusted for confounders) 10 to 14 additional minutes in sedentary activities (P < .01) compared with those who did not report any stressors. Statistical interactions between the 2 stress measures and age or sex were not significant.Conclusion:Interventions aimed at reducing sedentary behaviors might consider incorporating stress reduction into their approaches.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catiana Leila Possamai Romanzini ◽  
Marcelo Romanzini ◽  
Mariana Biagi Batista ◽  
Cynthia Correa Lopes Barbosa ◽  
Gabriela Blasquez Shigaki ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND The use of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to measure sedentary behavior (SB) in children, adolescents, and adults can increase the understanding of the role of the context of SB in health outcomes. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to systematically review literature to describe EMA methodology used in studies on SB in youth and adults, verify how many studies adhere to the Methods aspect of the Checklist for Reporting EMA Studies (CREMAS), and detail measures used to assess SB and this associated context. METHODS A systematic literature review was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and SPORTDiscus databases, covering the entire period of existence of the databases until January 2018. RESULTS This review presented information about the characteristics and methodology used in 21 articles that utilized EMA to measure SB in youth and adults. There were more studies conducted among youth compared with adults, and studies of youth included more waves and more participants (n=696) than studies with adults (n=97). Most studies (85.7%) adhered to the Methods aspect of the CREMAS. The main criteria used to measure SB in EMA were self-report (81%) with only 19% measuring SB using objective methods (eg, accelerometer). The main equipment to collect objective SB was the ActiGraph, and the cutoff point to define SB was <100 counts/min. Studies most commonly used a 15-min window to compare EMA and accelerometer data. CONCLUSIONS The majority of studies in this review met minimum CREMAS criteria for studies conducted with EMA. Most studies measured SB with EMA self-report (n=17; 81.0%), and a few studies also used objective methods (n=4; 19%). The standardization of the 15-min window criteria to compare EMA and accelerometer data would lead to a comparison between these and new studies. New studies using EMA with mobile phones should be conducted as they can be considered an attractive method for capturing information about the specific context of SB activities of young people and adults in real time or very close to it.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
E L M Ruiter ◽  
G A J Fransen ◽  
M Kleinjan ◽  
G R M Molleman ◽  
K van der Velden ◽  
...  

Abstract Background To increase our understanding of the effect of parenting on the child’s likelihood of becoming overweight, we attempted to identify typologies based on how consistently parents apply dietary and sedentary behavior rules, and we examined whether these typologies are associated with energy balance-related behaviors in children and/or with the prevalence of overweight children. Methods Data were obtained from a cross-sectional survey of the Community Health Service in Nijmegen, the Netherlands in which a total of 4,865 parents of children aged 4-12 years participated. Data were collected using validated self-report questionnaires. To identify typologies based on how consistently parents apply dietary and sedentary behavior rules, we performed latent class analyses. We then performed regression analyses to examine the correlation between these typologies and socio-demographic characteristics, dietary and sedentary behaviors, and overweight. Results Latent class analyses revealed the existence of the following four distinct, stable classes/typologies; parents who have: (1) no dietary behavior rules, plus indulgent sedentary behavior rules; (2) indulgent dietary behavior rules, plus no sedentary behavior rules; (3) overall indulgent rules; (4) overall strict rules. Children of parents with overall strict rules (class 4) had significantly healthier dietary and sedentary behaviors compared to the children of parents in the other three classes. Children 8-12 years of age with parents in class 2 were the most likely to be overweight; compared to the children of parents in classes 1, 3, and 4, the parents in class 2 had the lowest level of education and the higher number of Turkish and Moroccan immigrants. Conclusions These results underscore the need for parents to establish strict rules for their children, particularly regarding sedentary behaviour in order to minimize the child’s likelihood of becoming overweight. Key messages The results underscore the need for parents to establish strict rules for their children, particularly regarding sedentary behaviour in order to minimize the child’s likelihood of becoming overweight. These results may contribute to making healthcare professionals aware that children of parents who do not apply sedentary behavior rules are more likely to become overweight.


2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Clare ◽  
Stephen Rowley

Background: Aseptic technique is an important infection prevention competency for protecting patients from healthcare-associated infection (HAI). Healthcare providers using the Aseptic Non Touch Technique (ANTT®) aseptic technique have demonstrated reduced variability and improved compliance with aseptic technique. Objectives: The primary aim of this study is to determine whether standardizing aseptic technique for invasive IV procedures, using the ANTT® - Clinical Practice Framework (CPF), increases staff compliance with the infection prevention actions designed to achieve a safe and effective aseptic technique, and whether this is sustainable over time. Methods: A pragmatic evaluation using a mixed-methods approach consisting of an observational audit of practice, a self-report survey and structured interviews with key stakeholders. Compliance with aseptic technique before and after the implementation of ANTT® was measured by observation of 49 registered healthcare professionals. Results: Mean compliance with competencies was 94%; each component of practice was improved over baseline: hand hygiene = 63% ( P ≤ 0.001); glove use = 14% ( P ≤ 0.037); Key-Part protection = 54% ( P ≤ 0.001); a non-touch technique = 45% ( P ≤ 0.001); Key-Part cleaning = 82% ( P ≤ 0.001); and aseptic field management = 80% ( P ≤ 0.001). Conclusions: Results show implementation of ANTT® improved compliance with the prerequisite steps for safe and effective aseptic technique as defined by the ANTT®-CPF. Improvements in compliance were sustained over four years.


2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 213-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanette M. Garcia ◽  
Alen Agaronov ◽  
John R. Sirard ◽  
Diane Whaley ◽  
David J. Rice ◽  
...  

Background:Sedentary behavior (SB) increases throughout adolescence, and is associated with adverse health outcomes.Purpose:Examine psychosocial and friend influences on SB and screen time in adolescents using a mixed-methods design.Methods:108 middle and high school students wore accelerometers to measure objective SB, completed screen time and psychosocial questionnaires, and nominated friends to complete activity questionnaires. Focus groups centered around influences on SB behavior. Regression analyses and NVivo software analyzed quantitative and qualitative data.Results:Screen time was associated with greater screen time enjoyment, lower self-efficacy, and friends’ screen time (r2 = .21, P < .0001). Friends influenced whether adolescents engaged in screen time behaviors, with active friends encouraging less screen time.Conclusion:Active friends influenced adolescents to engage in less SB. Interventions should place an emphasis on encouraging less screen time, and providing opportunities for adolescents and their friends to engage in activities that promote physical activity rather than SB.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank L.K. Ohemeng ◽  
Theresa Obuobisa Darko ◽  
Emelia Amoako-Asiedu

Purpose An engaged workforce has never been more important than it is now. Research continues to reveal a strong link between engaged employees and employee performance. Consequently, different strategies continue to be developed to enhance employee engagement (EE) in organisations. Unfortunately, many of these strategies have not worked due to the lack of trust that some employees may have towards organisational leaders. Thus, it is argued that the first step in building an effective EE is building trust, which will erode all sorts of suspicion of the intention of leaders in the organisation. Unfortunately, the literature is not clear about how to build such trust, especially in developing countries where the organisational environment is much different from that in developed ones; making the applicability of models in the developed world quite difficulty in these countries. How can public sector leaders build trust in the organisations in an environment where informality appears to be the norm? The purpose of this paper is therefore to ascertain how trust can be built in public organisations. Design/methodology/approach In order to answer the research questions, as well as obtain in-depth understanding of what is being done, the authors used the mixed methods approach in the data collection for the paper. In using mixed method data collection, the authors took both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Both qualitative and quantitative data were, however, collected concurrently. This was done for the sake of convenience, as there is little study on how to build trust or, even, EE in the Ghanaian context. The authors set out to explore these issues, and the only way for the authors to do so was to undertake the data collection simultaneously. Findings The paper examined critically four main areas to help leadership build trust: credibility, fairness, respect and communication. The study shows that both managers and employees firmly believe in building trust. Leaders were able to discuss the efforts they make to ensure that issues concerning trust building are addressed. At the same time, employees also agreed on the need to strengthen these variables. Practical implications The research identifies areas on which both leadership and employees can continually work to help bridge the gap between them if public organisations are to reap the benefits of EE. The authors are convinced that if the issues discussed here are addressed, and parties work on them, individuals will succeed in their own areas, but so will the organisations, which in turn will help in the development of he country. Originality/value From a theoretical perspective, it extends the work on EE, and offers new insight into this emerging concept from a developing countries perspective, where informality in the public sector is common. Most of the research on trust and EE has been either qualitative or quantitative in nature. Using the mixed methods approach means the authors will be explaining how both can help us better understand the “how” in building trust in the public sector. Thus, the paper is one of the few papers that have used the mixed methods approach to examine how trust can be built in public organisations.


Field Methods ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 252-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Rice ◽  
Ian W. Holloway ◽  
Anamika Barman-Adhikari ◽  
Dahlia Fuentes ◽  
C. Hendricks Brown ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Gregory J. Welk ◽  
Pedro F. Saint-Maurice ◽  
Philip M. Dixon ◽  
Paul R. Hibbing ◽  
Yang Bai ◽  
...  

A balance between the feasibility and validity of measures is an important consideration for physical activity (PA) research—particularly in school-based research with youth. The present study extends previously tested calibration methods to develop and test new equations for an online version of the youth activity profile (YAP) tool, a self-report tool designed for school applications. Data were collected across different regions and seasons to develop more robust, generalizable equations. The study involved a total of 717 youth from 33 schools (374 elementary [ages 9–11 years], 224 middle [ages 11–14 years], and 119 high school [ages 14–18 years]) in two different states in the United States. Participants wore a Sensewear monitor for a full week and then completed the online YAP at school to report PA and sedentary behaviors in school and at home. Accelerometer data were processed using an R-based segmentation program to compute PA and sedentary behavior levels. Quantile regression models were used with half of the sample to develop item-specific YAP calibration equations, and these were cross validated with the remaining half of the sample. Computed values of mean absolute percentage error ranged from 15 to 25% with slightly lower error observed for the middle school sample. The new equations had improved precision compared with the previous versions when tested on the same sample. The online version of the YAP provides an efficient and effective way to capture school level estimates of PA and sedentary behaviors in youth.


Author(s):  
Chelsea Carpenter ◽  
Sang-Eun Byun ◽  
Gabrielle Turner-McGrievy ◽  
Delia West

College students exhibit high levels of sedentary time and/or poor lifestyle factors (e.g., poor sleep, stress, physical inactivity). It is unknown; however, in what domains college students spend their sedentary time and whether there are associations between sedentary time and these lifestyle factors. This study examined sedentary behavior of college students by domains, current lifestyle factors and sociodemographics. Undergraduates (n = 272, M age = 20 years, 79% female) self-reported their sedentary behavior, sleep, stress, physical activity, anthropometrics and sociodemographics. Sedentary time was categorized as: total, recreational screen, education and social. Students reported spending >12 h of their day sedentary on average, with over a third of this time spent in recreational screen time. All categories of sedentary time were significantly correlated with body mass index, and both total sedentary time and screen time were significantly correlated with sleep score, with poorer sleep quality associated with greater sedentary time. Physical activity was negatively correlated with social sedentary time only. Subgroups with elevated sedentary time included minority students, those with low parental education and students with overweight/obesity. Given the negative health impacts of sedentary behavior, college students would likely benefit from interventions tailored to this population which target reducing sedentary time, particularly recreational screen time.


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