Parent perceptions of their child’s and their own physical activity after treatment for childhood cancer

Purpose: Parents are important facilitators of physical activity for children, yet little is known about the perceptions of parents of childhood cancer survivors. We investigated parent perceptions of their own and their child’s physical activity levels after cancer treatment and examined associations with clinical, demographic, and psychosocial factors. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 125 parents and 125 survivors. Parents reported on the perceived importance of their child being physically active and concerns regarding exercising after cancer treatment. Results: Parents and survivors self-reported median (range) of 127.5 (0–1260) and 220 (0–1470) min/week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Most parents (n = 109, 98%) believed that physical activity was highly important for their child. Some parents (n = 19, 17%) reported concerns, most commonly regarding exercise safety (n = 7, 22%). Parents were more likely to perceive that their child should increase physical activity if their child was an adolescent and had high body fat percentage. Conclusions: Physical activity levels varied widely among survivors, reflecting factors including parents’ lifestyles, limited understanding of exercise benefits and perceptions of risk. Given survivors’ insufficient physical activity levels and sedentary behaviour among families, embedding physical activity promotion into health systems and follow-up support could benefit the entire family unit

The therapeutic use of videogames within secure forensic settings: a review of the literature and application to practice

Engagement in leisure pursuits that involves the use of tools and objects and the exploration of a new environment can provide a success experience that leads to increased feelings of competence and mastery. Such experiences are considered important in the rehabilitation of forensic clients. The findings from videogame research within a general population are compared with those among mental health and forensic clients. Within the general population, videogames may provide opportunities for social interaction and the expression of creativity and humour as well as offering a graded approach to building computer skills. Within a forensic population, videogames have been found to be a normalising, age-appropriate and culturally appropriate activity, useful in engaging clients and improving self-concept and locus of control. The findings suggest that videogame play offers access to a safe virtual environment that encourages exploration and mastery and that it may be a useful therapeutic tool in secure settings where such opportunities are often limited. The use and potential contraindications of videogames within a forensic setting, the content of certain games and their possible influence on behaviour and the implications for future research are also discussed

Negative and positive consequences of cancer treatment experienced by long-term osteosarcoma survivors : a qualitative study

This work was supported by the Helse Sor Ost, grant no. 2013032.Background: Our study aimed to explore how survivors of osteosarcoma of the lower extremity experience physical and psychosocial late effects several years after undergoing arduous treatment. A qualitative, phenomenological and hermeneutic approach was applied. Materials and Methods: Osteosarcoma survivors (n=8) who were previously treated at the Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, participated in the study. In-depth and semi-structured interviews were conducted. The interviews were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Three to ten years after diagnosis, the majority of participants had experienced both negative and positive consequences following treatment. Changes in activity and exclusion from participation in different areas were the most challenging consequences. Several of their experiences are similar to those described by people with disabilities. Conclusion: It is important to understand osteosarcoma survivors’ own experiences in order to assist those who struggle to reorient in life and to construct a new identity for themselves.PostprintPeer reviewe

Her Life Depends On It: Sport, Physical Activity and the Health and Well-Being of American Girls

This report is a comprehensive compendium of research that points to physical activity and sport as fundamental solutions for many of the serious health and social problems faced by American girls. An appreciable mass of evidence-based knowledge about girls' involvement with sport and physical activity has been generated during the last decade. The amount and quality of this research are uneven and varied. For example, a good deal of research examines the associations between physical activity and risk for coronary heart disease, but studies that focus on risk for Alzheimer's disease are just beginning to issue. Researchers have verified links between high school athletic participation and teen pregnancy prevention, although more longitudinal research is needed to thoroughly confirm the connections. Overall, however, this report shows that the current state of knowledge on the relationship of physical activity to the health and social needs of American girls warrants the serious attention of public health officials, educators and sport leaders

Assessment and promotion of physical activity in children - with special reference to children diagnosed with cancer

The aim of this study was to explore how to assess and support physical activity of children diagnosed with cancer, and to describe the physical activity levels in children diagnosed with cancer compared to healthy children. Healthy children’s physical activity was explored with a longitudinal cohort study (study I). The proportion of those who spent less than 1 hour in leisure-time physical activities weekly was 17% at the age of 10-years, 12% at the age of 12-years, and 38% at the age of 15 (n=571). Self-perceived physical competence was positively associated with physical activity (p<0.05), and the association was strengthened with age. At study II FitbitOne® step counts were compared to ActiGraph with an experimental design in 9-to-10-year old children (n=34). Positive correlations were consistent, r=0.94, but FitbitOne® overestimated the step counts significantly when compared to ActiGraph. At study III, effectiveness of active video games was studied with randomised controlled trial in 3-to-16-year old children diagnosed with cancer (n=36). The intervention was not effective in physical activity (p=0.63), or motor performance (p=0.77), nor in reducing fatigue (p=1.00). Small sample size and large standard deviations may have hidden the effective results. Physical activity did not differ either by diagnosis or gender. The difference between younger children (aged 3– 8) and older children (aged 9–16) was significant for step counts (p=0.028) and physical activity min/day (p=0.042). At study IV the physical activity levels (p=0.56) or self-perceived physical competence (p=0.78) did not differ between children diagnosed with cancer and healthy children (data from studies I and III). The promotion of physical activity both in healthy children and in children diagnosed with cancer is warranted.Lasten fyysisen aktiivisuuden arviointi ja edistäminen – erityisenä kohderyhmänä syöpää sairastavat lapset Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli selvittää miten syöpää sairastavien lasten fyysistä aktiivisuutta voidaan arvioida ja tukea. Lisäksi tarkoituksena oli tutkia syöpää sairastavien lasten fyysisen aktiivisuuden määrää ja verrata sitä terveiden lasten fyysisen aktiivisuuden määrään. Terveiden lasten fyysistä aktiivisuutta arvioitiin pitkittäis-kohorttitutkimuksella (osatutkimus I). Tutkimukseen osallistuneista lapsista (n=571) liikkui vapaa-aikanaan alle tunnin viikossa 10-vuotiaina 17%, 12-vuotiaina 12% ja 15-vuotiaina 38%. Lasten kokema fyysinen pätevyys oli yhteydessä fyysisen aktiivisuuden määrään kaikissa ikäpisteissä (p<0.05) ja yhteys vahvistui iän myötä. Toisessa osatutkimuksessa FitbitOne® kiihtyvyysmittarin askelmääriä verrattiin ActiGraph kiihtyvyysmittarin antamiin askelmääriin kokeellisella asetelmalla 9–10-vuotiailla lapsilla (n=34). Laitteiden antamat askelmäärät korreloivat keskenään (r=0.94) mutta FitbitOne® yliarvioi askelmäärän verrattuna ActiGraphiin. Tutkimuksen kolmannessa osatutkimuksessa aktivoivien videopelien vaikutuksia tutkittiin 3–16-vuotiailla syöpää sairastavilla lapsilla (n=36) satunnaistetussa ja kontrolloidussa asetelmassa. Interventiolla ei ollut vaikutusta syöpää sairastavien lasten fyysiseen aktiivisuuteen (p=0.63), motoriseen suoriutumiseen (p=0.77) tai itsearvioituun uupumukseen (p=1.00). Diagnoosi tai sukupuoli eivät olleet yhteydessä fyysisen aktiivisuuden määrään. Kuitenkin 3–8-vuotiaat liikkuivat enemmän kuin 9–16-vuotiaat (askelmäärä p=0.028 ja aktiivinen aika min/päivä p=0.042). Neljännessä osatutkimuksessa syöpää sairastavien lasten ja terveiden lasten fyysisen aktiivisuuden määrää ja koettua fyysistä pätevyyttä verrattiin keskenään (aineistot osatutkimuksista I ja III). Fyysisen aktiivisuuden määrä (p=0.56) tai koetun fyysisen pätevyyden arvot (p=0.78) eivät eronneet syöpää sairastavien lasten ja terveiden lasten välillä. Sekä terveiden lasten että syöpää sairastavien lasten fyysisen aktiivisuuden edistäminen on perusteltua

Her Life Depends on it III: Sport, Physical Activity and the Health and Well-being of American Girls and Women

Her Life Depends On It III is the Women's Sports Foundation's comprehensive report that reviews existing and emerging research on the links between participation in sport and physical activity and the health and wellbeing of American girls and women. As with the previous editions in 2004 and 2009, this study also confirms that physical activity and sport provides the critical foundation, in no small part, that allows girls and women to lead healthy, strong, and fulfilled lives. Ten years since its first publication, the updated Her Life Depends On It provides an even more comprehensive review of the ever-expanding body of research that demonstrates how important it is for girls and women to participate in sport and physical activity. The report's contents reflect the review of 1,500 studies, nearly 400 covered since the previous edition

The Association Between Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Mental Health Among Young Adults

While the majority of the American population is aware that fruits and vegetables can improve physical health, research also suggests that mental health may benefits as well. With depression and anxiety rates increasing and fruit and vegetable consumption decreasing across the country there is potential that the two are related. It has been found that majority of American adults do not meet fruit and vegetable recommendations, while 16 million adults face depression and anxiety. Young adults reported the lowest amount of fruit and vegetable consumption, as well as some of the highest rates of depression and anxiety. The purpose of the current study was to find if there is a relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and mental health in young adults. The study gathered data on 113 American young adults, ages 18-25, and their recorded food intake and mental health using validated questionnaires and nutrition tools. The findings show a positive relationship between fruit intake and self-esteem, a negative correlation between fruit intake and cognitive dysregulation and lastly, a positive correlation between total fruit and vegetable intake and self-esteem. These findings support existing literature in that there is a correlation between fruit and vegetable consumption and mental health in young adults

The American Academy of Health Behavior 2018 Annual Scientific Meeting: An Equity Approach to Health Behavior Innovations

The American Academy of Health Behavior (AAHB) hosted its 18th Annual Scientific Meeting at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in historic downtown Portland, OR March 4-7, 2018. The meeting’s theme was “An Equity Approach to Health Behavior Innovations.” This publication describes the meeting theme and includes the refereed abstracts presented at the 2018 Annual Scientific Meeting