American Board of Medical Specialties Reports Research in Health Education Research. - Education Letter

According to the authors of recent research from Chicago, Illinois, 'During the last decade, interest in assessing professionalism in medical education has increased exponentially and has led to the development of many new assessment tools. Efforts to validate the scores produced by tools designed to assess professionalism have lagged well behind the development of these tools.'

'This paper provides a structured framework for collecting evidence to support the validity of assessments of professionalism. The paper begins with a short history of the concept of validity in the context of psychological assessment. It then describes Michael Kane's approach to validity as a structured argument. The majority of the paper then focuses on how Kane's framework can be applied to assessments of professionalism,' wrote B.E. Clauser and colleagues, American Board of Medical Specialties.

The researchers concluded: 'Examples are provided from the literature, and recommendations for future investigation are made in areas where the literature is deficient.'

Clauser and colleagues published their study in Advances in Health Sciences Education (Validity considerations in the assessment of professionalism. Advances in Health Sciences Education, 2012;17(2):165-181).

For additional information, contact B.E. Clauser, Amer Board Med Specialties, Chicago, IL, United States.

Publisher contact information for the journal Advances in Health Sciences Education is: Springer, Van Godewijckstraat 30, 3311 Gz Dordrecht, Netherlands.

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

New health education research has been reported by M.B. Scales et al. - Education Letter

According to a study from the United States, 'The present study examined how adolescents perceive the relationship between smoking and stress and where they learn that smoking cigarettes may be an effective stress-reduction mechanism. Eight focus groups were conducted with low-income African American and European American 14- to 16-year-olds in urban and rural locations, in which they suggested that the primary reasons why they smoked-namely, as a coping mechanism (to calm nerves), for social acceptance, and because of environmental influences.'

'Family issues, boyfriend/girlfriend problems, and school were common stressors. Although participants overwhelmingly believed that people smoke to reduce their stress, a few believed that cigarettes do not actually reduce stress. When asked for examples of smoking in popular media, teens predominantly generated examples of individuals smoking to reduce stress,' wrote M.B. Scales and colleagues.

The researchers concluded: 'Ethnic and gender differences were found among the types of media in which they had seen smoking, their opinions of anti-smoking messages, and the media's perceived influence..'

Scales and colleagues published the results of their research in Health Education & Behavior (Adolescents' Perceptions of Smoking and Stress Reduction. Health Education & Behavior, 2009;36(4):746-758).

For additional information, contact M.B. Scales, 115 Perimeter Center W, Suite 380, Atlanta, GA 30346, USA.

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

Keywords: United States, Atlanta, Life Sciences, Behavior, Health & Society.

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