Researchers at University of South Carolina Have Published New Data on Health Education Research.(Report) - Education Letter

According to the authors of recent research published in the journal Health Education Research, 'This study tested the initial efficacy of implementing a physical activity (PA) behavior change intervention for midlife African American (AA) men. Intervention components were based on information gathered during formative research preceding the intervention.'

'Eligible participants were underactive AA men ages 45-66 years. In a quasi-experimental pre-post design, participants attended 90-min program sessions twice weekly for 8 weeks. Session topics specific to PA included overcoming barriers, gaining social support, setting goals, tracking progress and integrating into one's lifestyle. Participants were assigned to teams to facilitate group discussion, problem solving, accountability and camaraderie. 25 AA men (mean age = 54.7 +/- 4.8 years) completed the intervention. After 8 weeks, significant (P < 0.05) positive changes were observed for moderate to vigorous-intensity PA (+7.3 hour week(-1)) and overall PA (+9.4 hour week(-1)), self-efficacy for PA (+12%), social support for PA from family (+28%) and friends (+53%), self-regulation for planning (+33%) and goal setting (+48%) and each fitness component (+9 to +144%). Based on a post-intervention satisfaction survey, participants rated the program very positively,' wrote S.P. Hooker and colleagues, University of South Carolina.

The researchers concluded: 'These positive results attest to the feasibility of successfully engaging midlife AA men in a tailored PA behavior change program.'

Hooker and colleagues published their study in Health Education Research (Exploring the feasibility of a physical activity intervention for midlife African American men. Health Education Research, 2011;26(4):732-738).

For additional information, contact S.P. Hooker, University of South Carolina, Cancer Prevention & Control Program, Columbia, SC 29208, United States.

The publisher's contact information for the journal Health Education Research is: Oxford University Press, Great Clarendon St., Oxford OX2 6DP, England.

Keywords: City:Columbia, State:South Carolina, Country:United States, Region:North and Central America

New health education research study findings have been reported by scientists at William Paterson University.(Clinical report) - Education Letter

'This study identified mediators of a Transtheoretical Model (TTM) intervention to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among economically disadvantaged African American adolescents (N = 549). Single- and multiple-mediator models were used to determine whether pros, cons, self-efficacy, and stages of change satisfied four conclusions necessary for establishing mediation of intervention effects on youths' dietary behavior,' researchers in the United States report.

'All four conclusions were satisfied for stages of change and pros in the single-mediator models and for stages in the multiple-mediator model. Stages mediated 31% of the intervention effect, and pros mediated 7% of the intervention effect in the single-mediator models. In the multiple-mediator model, stages accounted for 72% of the intervention effect,' wrote J. Dinoia and colleagues, William Paterson University.

The researchers concluded: 'Add to the limited data on mediating variables in TTM dietary intervention programs. Replication studies are needed before it can be concluded that stages of change and pros are consistent mediators of TTM intervention program effects.'

Dinoia and colleagues published their study in Health Education & Behavior (Mediating Variables in a Transtheoretical Model Dietary Intervention Program. Health Education & Behavior, 2010;37(5):753-762).

For additional information, contact J. Dinoia, William Paterson University, 300 Pompton Rd., Wayne, NJ 07470, USA.

Publisher contact information for the journal Health Education & Behavior is: Sage Publications Inc., 2455 Teller Rd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, USA.

Keywords: City:Wayne, State:NJ, Country:United States, Health Education Research

Reports on Health Education Research Findings from University of Rochester Provide New Insights.(Report) - Education Letter

According to the authors of recent research from New York City, New York, 'This study tested the effects of two theory-based interventions to increase fruit and vegetable intake. Hypothesized intervention mediators included self-efficacy (SE), social support (SS), autonomous motivation (AM), and controlled motivation (CM).'

'At baseline, 1,021 African American adults were recruited from 16 churches randomized to one comparison and two intervention groups: Group 1 (standard educational materials), Group 2 (culturally targeted materials), and Group 3 (culturally targeted materials and telephone-based motivational interviewing). A well-fitted model based on structural equation modeling-chi(2)(df = 541, N = 353, 325) = 864.28, p< .001, normed fit index = .96, nonnormed fit index = .98, comparative fit index = .98, root mean square error of approximation = .042-demonstrated that AM was both a significant mediator and moderator. In the subgroup with low baseline AM, AM mediated 17% of the effect of the Group 3 intervention on fruit and vegetable intake. Conversely, SS, SE, and CM were not significant mediators,' wrote A.R. Shaikh and colleagues, University of Rochester.

The researchers concluded: 'Implications related to theory and intervention development are discussed.'

Shaikh and colleagues published their study in Health Education & Behavior (Direct and Mediated Effects of Two Theoretically Based Interventions to Increase Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables in the Healthy Body Healthy Spirit Trial. Health Education & Behavior, 2011;38(5):492-501).

For additional information, contact A.R. Shaikh, University of Rochester, New York City, NY, United States.

Publisher contact information for the journal Health Education & Behavior is: Sage Publications Inc., 2455 Teller Rd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, USA.

Keywords: City:New York City, State:New York, Country:United States, Region:North and Central America, Health Education Research

New Findings from University of Michigan in the Area of Health Education Research Published.(Clinical report) - Education Letter

Fresh data on Health Education Research are presented in the report 'Social relationships in religious institutions and healthy lifestyles.' 'The purpose of this study is to see if encouragement from fellow church members helps older people develop and maintain healthy lifestyles. The findings indicate that informal church-based support is associated with healthy lifestyles among older African Americans but not older Whites,' investigators in the United States report.

'In addition, the influence of support from fellow church members on health behaviors is greater for study participants who closely identify with their congregations. The results further reveal that the adoption of healthy lifestyles is not associated with support from people outside the church nor is it linked to formal programs that churches provide to encourage good health behaviors,' wrote N. Krause and colleagues, University of Michigan.

The researchers concluded: 'The theoretical and practice implications of these results are discussed.'

Krause and colleagues published their study in Health Education & Behavior (Social relationships in religious institutions and healthy lifestyles. Health Education & Behavior, 2011;38(1):25-38).

For additional information, contact N. Krause, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI USA.

The publisher of the journal Health Education & Behavior can be contacted at: SAGE Publications, USA , 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, USA.

Keywords: City:Ann Arbor, State:MI, Country:United States, Health Education Research.

Data on Health Education Research Discussed by S.N. Zenk and Colleagues. - Education Letter

'This qualitative study sought to understand food acquisition behaviors and environmental factors that influence those behaviors among women in a low-income African American community with limited food resources. We drew on in-depth interviews with 30 women ages 21 to 45 years recruited from a community health center in Chicago, Illinois,' researchers in Chicago, United States report.

'Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Emergent themes revealed that women identified multiple environmental barriers-material, economic, and social-interactional-to acquiring food in an acceptable setting. In response, they engaged in several adaptive strategies to manage or alter these challenges, including optimizing, settling, being proactive, and advocating,' wrote S.N. Zenk and colleagues.

The researchers concluded: 'These findings indicate that efforts to improve neighborhood food environments should address not only food availability and prices but also the physical and social environments of stores.'

Zenk and colleagues published their study in Health Education & Behavior (''You Have to Hunt for the Fruits, the Vegetables'': Environmental Barriers and Adaptive Strategies to Acquire Food in a Low-Income African American Neighborhood. Health Education & Behavior, 2011;38(3):282-292).

For additional information, contact S.N. Zenk, 845 S Damen Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612, United States.

Publisher contact information for the journal Health Education & Behavior is: Sage Publications Inc., 2455 Teller Rd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, USA.

Keywords: City:Chicago, State:Illinois, Country:United States, Region:North and Central America, Health Education Research

Research on health education research described by scientists at University of Minnesota. - Education Letter

According to recent research from the United States, 'African Americans bear a disproportionate health burden from smoking but are less likely than other populations to engage in cessation treatment. Intervening on adult nonsmokers residing with a smoker might represent an innovative approach to motivate smokers to engage in smoking behavior change.'

'Twelve focus groups were conducted with African American smokers (four groups, n = 27), nonsmokers (four groups, n = 26) and pairs of cohabitating smokers and nonsmokers (four groups, n = 22) to assess attitudes and/or beliefs regarding engaging a nonsmoker in the home in smoking behavior change efforts. (N = 75) were middle-aged (45.1 +/- 3.7 years) females (68.0%) with 11.8 +/- 1.5 years of education. Smokers smoked 14.9 +/- 11.3 cigarettes per day, made 3.0 +/- 4.4 quit attempts in the past year, and are interested in receiving cessation assistance from a nonsmoker in their home. African American nonsmokers living with a smoker may be an appropriate target group to motivate smoking behavior change in the smoker,' wrote J.L. Thomas and colleagues, University of Minnesota.

The researchers concluded: 'Suggestions for future research considerations are provided.'

Thomas and colleagues published their study in Health Education & Behavior (Targeting African American Nonsmokers to Motivate Smokers to Quit: A Qualitative Inquiry. Health Education & Behavior, 2010;37(5):680-693).

For additional information, contact J.L. Thomas, University of Minnesota, Clinic Research Center, 717 Delaware St. SE, Suite 166, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA.

Publisher contact information for the journal Health Education & Behavior is: Sage Publications Inc., 2455 Teller Rd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, USA.

Keywords: City:Minneapolis, State:MN, Country:United States, Health Education Research

APTS PRESIDENT AND CEO LARRY SIDMAN'S SPEECH AT PUBLIC TELEVISION HEALTH EDUCATION SHOWCASE. - States News Service

WASHINGTON -- The following information was released by the Association of Public Television Stations:

Good afternoon. Welcome to the Association of Public Television Stations' Health Education Showcase. I'm Larry Sidman, the President and CEO of APTS. I thank you for taking time out from your busy schedules to join us.

At the outset, APTS thanks Senator Harkin for making it possible for us to use this room for our event. We also thank our member stations, Sesame Workshop, V-me and MHz Networks for expending the time and resources necessary to be here during an exceedingly difficult financial period in the history of our public broadcasting system.

Today we are proud to bring together public television stations from across the countryufrom Los Angeles and Las Vegas to Iowa and Illinois to New York and Bostonuto showcase the role they are playing in leading over-the-air, online and on the ground health education and disease prevention campaigns. You will see video and on-line content addressing obesity, diabetes, cancer, asthma, and elderly care. Many stations are forming partnerships with doctors, nurses, hospitals, universities and state and local governments to foster better health and defend against disease.

We in public television hope that you will take away three principal messages from our health education showcase.

First, we must, as a nation, pay greater attention to preventive health care. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, preventable causes of deathusuch as smoking, poor diet and physical inactivityuare responsible for nearly 900,000 deaths annually in the United States. Eating well, exercising and faithful checkups and screenings are commitments we can and should make to ourselves, our families and our country. A healthy America is a stronger, more vibrant America.

Second, disease prevention and wellness education cut health care costs. New studies demonstrate major cost savings from preventive care. For example, the Council of Economic Advisors concluded that a widespread emphasis on disease prevention measures will help reduce health care cost growth by as much as 1.5 percentage points per year. Although CBO may not score the cost savings associated with disease prevention and early treatment, every American knows intuitively that these savings are real.

Third, public broadcasting plays an essential role in promoting wellness and preventing disease. Through our video programming, exciting on-line, interactive content and on-the-ground partnerships with health care facilities in communities all across our great land, local public television stations, with their ubiquitous reach and unmatched trust, can and should be viewed as health care educators and enablers. Our role is particularly important in serving the most vulnerable members of our societyucommunities of color, Spanish speaking communities and the pooruwho suffer the ill effects of preventable diseases in disproportionate numbers.

I'd like to thank particularly Chairman Waxman and Chairman Harkin for their hard work and insightful thinking regarding their provisions in the House and Senate HELP Committee health bills, which make available grant funds for disease prevention and wellness education. APTS and our member stations look forward to continuing to work with Congress to ensure that public television stations will help make their grant programs a resounding success if they become law.