scholarly journals Connecting people with cancer to physical activity and exercise programs: a pathway to create accessibility and engagement

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 149 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Santa Mina ◽  
C.M. Sabiston ◽  
D. Au ◽  
A.J. Fong ◽  
L.C. Capozzi ◽  
...  

Recent guidelines concerning exercise for people with cancer provide evidence-based direction for exercise assessment and prescription for clinicians and their patients. Although the guidelines promote exercise integration into clinical care for people with cancer, they do not support strategies for bridging the guidelines with related resources or programs. Exercise program accessibility remains a challenge in implementing the guidelines, but that challenge might be mitigated with conceptual frameworks (“pathways”) that connect patients with exercise-related resources. In the present paper, we describe a pathway model and related resources that were developed by an expert panel of practitioners and researchers in the field of exercise and rehabilitation in oncology and that support the transition from health care practitioner to exercise programs or services for people with cancer. The model acknowledges the nuanced distinctions between research and exercise programming, as well as physical activity promotion, that, depending on the available programming in the local community or region, might influence practitioner use. Furthermore, the pathway identifies and provides examples of processes for referral, screening, medical clearance, and programming for people after a cancer diagnosis. The pathway supports the implementation of exercise guidelines and should serve as a model of enhanced care delivery to increase the health and well-being of people with cancer.

Author(s):  
Sigit Arifwidodo ◽  
Orana Chandrasiri

Public Park is considered one of the essential settings for physical activity, especially in urban areas. Parks support physical activity through their accessibility, their provision to facilitate active pursuits; their capacity to provide opportunities to a wide range of users; and their semi-permanent nature. The paper explores the design intervention assessment of Benchakitti Park, which serves as the pilot project for active park and showcase during the past ISPAH 2016 conference. The objective of the paper is to understand the health and well-being benefits of an urban park in increasing PA levels of urban population and promoting a healthy and active lifestyle. Keywords: Public park; physical activity; urban landscape design; public health; SOPARC


Author(s):  
Anna Chalkley ◽  
Lauren Sherar

Physical activity is beneficial to children’s health and well-being. Evidence suggests that physical activity declines with age from childhood through adolescence and into adulthood, with boys being more active than girls at all ages. Physical activity participation in childhood is affected by the social support and role modelling provided by family, peers, friends, and teachers. Marginalized groups are disadvantaged in terms of access to opportunities to be physically active. From a population perspective, the greatest gains in public health will be achieved by helping those who are most inactive to become moderately active. Physical activity promotion efforts for children have predominantly focused on school-based programmes, but multisectoral approaches are needed with transformative and enlightened public policy regarding many facets of children’s lives such as school curricula, active travel, safe play areas, and enhanced sports opportunities for all.


2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 192-201
Author(s):  
Sarah Deans ◽  
Alison Kirk ◽  
Anthony McGarry ◽  
David Rowe

Background: Healthcare professionals play a key role in supporting physical activity participation for people with lower limb absence. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to survey healthcare professionals’ views of people with lower limb absence in the United Kingdom, explore their awareness and knowledge of physical activity recommendations and investigate their current and desirable practice towards physical activity promotion. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Potential participants were identified from open-access health-related databases, educational institution databases, and the authors’ professional networks. An online 40-item questionnaire was distributed electronically and by post. Survey items were multiple choice, Likert-type scale or open-ended questions to explore the characteristics of healthcare professionals, awareness/knowledge of physical activity guidelines, current and desired practice and views on physical activity promotion. Results: In total, 106 people responded. Physiotherapists had greater awareness/knowledge of physical activity guidelines compared to prosthetists/orthotists and other respondents. Awareness/knowledge of guidelines decreased as age, experience and time since qualification increased. The most common source of knowledge was self-directed learning. Conclusion: Continuing and improving education on the content of physical activity guidelines may be helpful for healthcare professionals in promoting physical activity to those with lower limb absence. Clinical relevance This research aims to inform prosthetic rehabilitation professionals and academics about an under-researched area within physical activity for health. This knowledge could help develop interventions with the aim of improving physical activity promotion and participation, and ultimately the health and well-being of people with limb absence.


2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 682-696 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lene Levy-Storms ◽  
Lin Chen ◽  
Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris

Major gaps exist in the literature regarding the link between open space and physical activity promotion for older adults. This study conducted a systematic review on older adults, open space, and physical activity to identify their needs and preferences in and near parks. We identified 48 peer-reviewed journal articles. All articles focused on older adults but not necessarily exclusively. Most studies were descriptive and correlational. Findings suggest that older adults have specific open space and physical activity needs in and near parks that partly overlap with younger people. Framed by the biopsychosocial framework, open space and physical activity in and near parks can benefit older adults’ physical health and psychologically well-being to stay socially engaged. Framed within the person–environment and life span perspectives, open space and physical activity in and near parks can facilitate an optimum fit between older adults and their environment as they continue to develop over time.


2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (02) ◽  
pp. 140-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex A. Florindo ◽  
Douglas R. Andrade ◽  
Paulo H. Guerra ◽  
Jorge Mota ◽  
Diane Crone ◽  
...  

AimTo report an evaluation of health professionals’ participation in a distance-learning physical activity training course developed in a low socio-economic region of São Paulo city, Brazil.BackgroundIn countries with public universal health systems, physical activity promotion in primary health care settings can reap results, particularly given that such interventions have the potential to reach a large percentage of the population. However, few studies proposed physical activity training for health professionals in low- and middle-income countries. Brazil is a continental country and has the Unified Health System which incorporates family health teams in over 85% of Brazilian cities.MethodsThe physical activity training was part of the fifth module of an educational intervention throughout a distance-learning course focusing on health professionals at M’Boi Mirim district in São Paulo city. The training totaled 3 h and had five themes of physical activity: (1) concepts, definitions benefits; (2) evaluation; (3) recommendation; (4) interventions; (5) physical activity counseling. The opinion of health professionals was evaluated after training by two open questions.FindingsOut of 106 professionals who took part of the course, only 22.6% (n=24) had accessed the fifth module. These professionals were predominantly female (79.2%), nurses (66.7%) and aged 30 years or older. Responses highlighted the course approach focused on physical activity for improving patient’s quality of life and well-being, disease prevention and health improvements. Regarding the themes for improvement, the health professionals identified that there was a need to experience physical activity classes first-hand, and the need to link physical activity counseling to the local venues that provide structured physical activity programs. We recommend that further training courses can be conducted based on this model for health professionals to promote physical activity to the community in Brazil.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marlize De Vivo ◽  
Hayley Mills

Abstract Background The antenatal period is associated with a decline in physical activity among women. Midwives are viewed central to the dissemination of information during pregnancy, however, there is little research relating to their promotion of physical activity. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into midwives’ perspectives of providing physical activity advice and guidance to pregnant women Methods Community midwives (N = 10) from ten randomly selected antenatal clinics in England took part in semi-structured interviews which were audio recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically Results In relation to perceived role and responsibilities in providing physical activity advice and guidance, midwives emphasised the extent to which their profession has evolved, the perceived burden of responsibility, and the tick box approach to physical activity discussion. Midwives identified a lack of training, knowledge, confidence, time, resources, and perceptions of vulnerability as barriers to effective physical activity promotion. Despite these issues midwives proposed eight opportunities to facilitate pregnant women’s physical activity engagement: (1) recognising and addressing barriers in the uptake and maintenance of physical activities, (2) professional development, (3) inter-professional collaboration, (4) communicating effectively through simple, reliable resources, (5) improved access, availability, and awareness of suitable activities in the local community, (6) encouraging a support network, (7) “selling” physical activity by challenging misconceptions and focusing on benefits, and (8) suitable motivation, incentives and reward. Conclusions These opportunities identified by midwives provide foundations from which improvements in practice can result. Whilst midwives are ideally placed to promote physical activity as part of a healthy pregnancy, this is likely to be most effective as part of a wider network of practitioners that share consistent and confident messages regarding physical activity engagement. This notion has far reaching implications for practice, policy, research and the normalisation of active pregnancies in the wider population.


Author(s):  
Xenia Fischer ◽  
Lars Donath ◽  
Kimberly Zwygart ◽  
Markus Gerber ◽  
Oliver Faude ◽  
...  

Background. Physical inactivity is currently seen as one of the biggest global public health issue. Remote physical activity (PA) promotion programs are expected to be effective if they are individually tailored and include behavior change techniques, personal coaching, and regular prompting. However, it is still not fully understood which intervention components are most effective. This paper describes the rationale and design of a study on an individually tailored remote PA promotion program comparing the efficacy of coaching and prompting with a single written advice. Methods. In total, 288 adults (age 20 to 65 years) were randomly assigned to three different intervention arms of a 6-month-long PA promotion program. A minimal intervention group received a single written PA recommendation. The two remaining groups either received telephone coaching sessions (n = 12 calls) with or without additional short message service (SMS) prompting (n = 48 SMSs for each participant). Data assessment took place at baseline, at the end of the intervention, and after a six-month follow-up-period. The primary outcome of the study was self-reported PA. Objectively assessed PA, psychosocial determinants of PA, well-being, body mass index (BMI), and adherence were assessed as secondary outcomes. Conclusion. Findings of this three-arm study will provide insight into the short and long-term effects of coaching and prompting for PA promotion.


Medicina ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rasa Jankauskienė

The article is devoted to disclosure of the tendencies in the promotion of Lithuanian physical activity. During the Soviet times, Lithuanian sports politics was oriented to elite sport and it is still. The attempts to foster physical activity of the population lie on the movement “Sport for all,” but the results of the movement are not effective enough, because only a small part of the population (approximately 6%) took part in it. No one governmental institution has full and clear responsibility for the results of physical activity promotion. The poor environment of physical activity results in poor possibilities to be physically active in leisure domain. Differently, the huge expansion of the private sport, health, and beauty industries fosters the adoration of the body and overemphasizes the meaning of body image in the society. Physical activity is represented as the measure to achieve ideal body image or good health, but not as the measure of the overall culture of the human or society. Conclusions. The long-lasting, health-related physical activity-oriented national strategy is essential to foster physical activity, health, and quality of life at the national level. The multiplicity of possibilities in the physical activity would foster lifestyle activity instead of adoration of body image and would improve the psychological and physical well-being of the population.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joelle H. Fong

Abstract Background To examine the prevalence and correlates of regular leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) among community-dwelling adults in Singapore. Methods Data was sourced from the 2018–2019 Singapore Life Panel, which asked respondents about their current LTPA participation at various time-points over a seven-month period. The final sample comprised 7684 subjects over age 50. We applied logistic regression models in our analysis. Results 39.8% of the respondents engaged in regular LTPA, with significantly higher proportions of men than women doing so. Factors positively associated with regular LTPA in both genders were age, education, retired, income, and satisfaction with social life, whereas a negative association was found with self-rated health. The correlates of sustained LTPA participation were relatively consistent with factors predicting current participation. Conclusions Regular participation in recreational physical activities is important to promoting health and well-being among middle-aged and older adults as populations age. Our findings indicated that positive perceptions of social relationships and being retired are important supporting factors. The urgent development of physical activity promotion strategies and interventions are required to foster greater overall LTPA participation.


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