Evaluation of the Special Olympics Team Wellness health promotion program for individuals with intellectual disabilities

2020 ◽  
pp. 174462952095744
Author(s):  
Kathleen McCarty ◽  
Alicia Dixon-Ibarra ◽  
Megan MacDonald
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Health Promotion Program ◽  
Special Olympics ◽  
Program Fidelity ◽  
Promotion Program ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Feedback Program ◽  
Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities

Introduction: Individuals with intellectual disabilities are a known health disparities group. The Team Wellness (TW) health promotion program was developed to provide healthy lifestyle information to target this population. The purpose of this study was to conduct a qualitative program evaluation on Team Wellness. Methods: Interviews were conducted via one-on-one format with program coaches (n = 4, mean age = 25, female = 2, male = 2) and focus group with program athletes (n = 6, mean age = 45, female = 4, male = 2) who completed the TW program. Results: Themes that emerged included: (1) Program Perceptions; (2) TW Support; and (3) Program Feedback. Program perceptions were positive and continued athlete participation was anticipated. Coaches felt prepared to facilitate based on previous experience though program fidelity varied. Conclusion: Study participants enjoyed TW and identified valuable recommendations. Program fidelity and marketing efforts are important for future consideration. Further quantitative assessment is needed to determine the effectiveness the program.

An Evaluation of Lifestyle Risk Factors and Absenteeism after Two Years in a Worksite Health Promotion Program

1989 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 128-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Andrew Wood ◽  
Gary W. Olmstead ◽  
James L. Craig
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Promotion Program ◽  
Lifestyle Behaviors ◽  
Promotion Program ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Percent Increase ◽  
Participant Group

The purpose of this article is to compare health risk factors and rates of absenteeism of employees at General Mills, Inc. after participating for two years in a voluntary, self-directed health promotion program, called the “TriHealthalon.” Twelve hundred field sales employees were initially targeted to participate in this program, which focused on improving participants' physical, mental, and social well-being. Participants were asked to fill out a computerized lifestyle appraisal form before they started the program in 1985, and again in 1986. The rates of absenteeism were monitored for each individual in the participant and nonparticipant groups for the years 1984 (before the program started), 1985, and 1986. T-tests were performed to compare the rate of absenteeism between the two groups. Observations show that after two years in the TriHealthalon program, there was an increase in healthy lifestyle behaviors in the participant group, with a five percent decrease in the number of smokers, a 37 percent increase in the number of people who use their seat belts, and a 23 percent increase in the number of people who exercise three times a week. There was no significant difference in absenteeism between the groups in 1984, before the program began. Absenteeism was significantly (p < .05) less in the participant group during 1985 and 1986 after the initiation of the program.

Do Japan’s Health Care Personnel Meet the Personal Health Goals of the “National Health Promotion Program”?

2021 ◽  
pp. 101053952110087
Author(s):  
Nobutaka Hirooka ◽  
Takeshi Sano ◽  
Reiko Yasumura ◽  
Yuji Maeyama ◽  
Nakamoto Hidetomo
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
National Health ◽  
Preventive Medicine ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Health Promotion Program ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
High Health Literacy

To improve health among the population and reduce the societal burden of care and health-related costs in a rapidly aging environment, the Japanese government launched the “National Health Promotion Program in the 21st Century” (HJ21), which contains goals concerning areas such as lifestyle behavior and the use of preventive medicine. While health care personnel are responsible for guiding others’ health choices, they may not maintain healthy lifestyles themselves. Whether these individuals are meeting the HJ21 goals has not yet been examined. This study aims to determine whether certified specialists in health management are meeting such goals, and to compare their performance with the national average. This is a cross-sectional survey study. Study participants, sourced from all prefectures in Japan, were specialists certified in health management. We measured data concerning demographic information, lifestyle (physical activity, nutrition, diet, sleep, rest, smoking, and alcohol use), and the use of preventive medicine. The study participants exhibited many characteristics of high health literacy. They had an overall healthy lifestyle and met most of the HJ21 goals of healthy lifestyle, and a high proportion underwent health maintenance examinations and cancer screenings. These practices and behaviors maybe associated with high health literacy and social engagement activities.

Modifiable Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors: 10-Year Health Outcomes From a Health Promotion Program

2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 1027-1037 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel W. Byrne ◽  
Lori A. Rolando ◽  
Muktar H. Aliyu ◽  
Paula W. McGown ◽  
Lisa R. Connor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Health Promotion Program ◽  
Lifestyle Behaviors ◽  
Promotion Program ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors

scholarly journals Online health promotion program and individualized health coaching for veteran wellbeing

2022 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-26
Author(s):  
Devangi Patel ◽  
Kayleigh Beaveridge ◽  
Zoe O'Neill ◽  
Ilka Lowensteyn ◽  
Mohammed Kaouache ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Health Coaching ◽  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
Health Promotion Program ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Promotion Program ◽  
Health Coaches ◽  
And Coping

The pandemic has highlighted the need for accessible and effective health promotion as Canadians are isolated from their communities during social distancing measures. A web-based health promotion program in which participants also received individualized email-based health coaching from medical students has been available during the pandemic to empower veterans and their family members to engage in healthy lifestyle change. Health coaches’ email interactions with participants used techniques of motivational interviewing, including an empathetic style, statements of affirmation, and reflections. Open-ended questions were useful in gaining insight into the participant’s current lifestyle, including habits, challenges, and coping strategies. As services have transitioned online and individuals have become more isolated, the connection formed between online health coaches and individuals participating in the health promotion program became crucial in countering the mental and physical health repercussions of the pandemic. In a preliminary analysis, we show that web-based health promotion with health coaching, for Canadian Veterans and their families, leads to significant weight loss, increased activity and improvement in wellbeing metrics such as sleep and stress. The medical students acting as health coaches were able to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges involved in behaviour change, something that is seldom covered in detail in the medical school curricula. Medical students were also able to practice their motivational counseling skills surrounding lifestyle changes. Given the lack of available evidence for web-based health promotion that targets veterans and their families, these preliminary results appear promising, with longer-term follow-up planned for the next two years.

scholarly journals Athletic identity of individuals participating in Special Olympics as exemplified by swimmers – pilot study

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 17-28
Author(s):  
Marta Wieczorek ◽  
Wojciech Wiliński ◽  
Aleksandra Sadziak
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
Athletic Identity ◽  
Research Tool ◽  
Professional Athletes ◽  
Measurement Scale ◽  
Special Olympics ◽  
Olympic Movement ◽  
High Level ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities

Abstract Introduction: Special Olympics is an association whose main objective is to organise training and sports competitions for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Each of these individuals manifests certain identification with the sport they do. It is called sports identity and is the subject of interest in this study. The cognitive aim of the study was to determine the intensity which is measured by the level of agreement with the sports identity in the selected group of athletes participating in Special Olympics. In turn, the practical purpose of the work was to indicate the possibilities of applying a modified research tool with regard to individuals with intellectual disabilities and to spread the knowledge about people with intellectual disabilities. Material and methods:The study was conducted on the participants of the 8thLower Silesian Special Olympics Swimming Competition in 2015. A diagnostic poll was applied as a research method and aninterview technique was used. Brewer’s Modified Athletic Identity Measurement Scale was a research tool utilised in the study. Results:Aspects of athletic identity revealed that the majority of Special Olympics participants believed that they were professional athletes and were planning to continue participating in this type of Olympic movement. Their closest friends were also professional athletes. For half of the study participants sport was the most significant part of their life, while a sports failure did not change their disposition. Conclusions:The participants of Special Olympics manifest a high level of athletic identity, which is proven, inter alia, by the fact that sport is one of the most important parts of their lives. For individuals with intellectual disabilities, participation in sports competitions and training sessions organised by Special Olympics is more significant than winning in sports competition

The impact of "health promotion program" on health perception and healthy life style applied to a group of adolescent students

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 137-146
Author(s):  
ÖÖ. Yıldırım ◽  
A. Altın ◽  
S. Şener ◽  
İA. Avci
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
School Health ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Health Perception ◽  
Health Promotion Program ◽  
Promotion Program ◽  
Adolescent Students ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Experimental Group

<br/><b>Purpose:</b> This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of health education on adolescents' healthy lifestyle and health perceptions given an adolescent group. <br/><b>Materials and methods:</b> The study's universe constitutes a total of 234 students attending the 9th grade of a high school. The study was constructed according to the single-group pre-test, quasi-experimental research model, in the 9th class in a high school. Data collection form, Adolescent lifestyle scale(ALS) and health perception scale were applied to the adolescents as a pre-test during the first phase of the study. The adolescents who were below the median score of ALS were accepted as the risk group and taken to the experimental group. Adolescents in the experimental group received a 6-week "Health Promotion Program" and a final test was given to the adolescents at the end of the training sessions. Descriptive statistics, Paired-t-test, independent-, and correlation were used in the evaluation of the data. <br/><b>Results:</b> ALS total score was 94.52±9.53 before adolescents' health promotion education and 104.05±15.4 after education. The relationship between them was statistically significant(p<0.05). It was determined that the health perception of adolescents included in the study decreased after post-training total scores compared to the pre-training scores and that this relationship was statistically significant(p<0.05). <br/><b>Conclusion:</b> Public health nurses may be recommended to develop healthy lifestyle behaviours by raising healthy adolescents by providing more adolescent education through school health services.

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