Do peers increase older adults\u27 participation in strength training? Pilot randomized trial

Fewer than 20% of older adults participate in strength training (ST). Barriers to ST participation include not knowing where to go or not having someone to go with. To address these barriers, the authors provided older adults with a peer (older person already participating in ST) to support their engagement. The aim of this pilot randomized controlled trial was to determine whether older adults who were provided with a peer when participating in ST were more likely to be participating in ST 4 weeks postintervention, compared with those receiving ST alone. Fifty-one ST participants were recruited; 40 completed the intervention and postintervention data collection (78.4%). Providing peer support with ST did not significantly increase ST participation (p = .775). However, both groups made significant improvements over time in lower-limb strength and mobility. Participants in either group who continued the ST program (55%) had made additional significant improvements in lower-limb strength and mobility

The effect of individual radiographers on rates of attendance to breast screening: A 7-year retrospective study

AIM: To establish whether individual radiographers had significantly different rescreening rates whilst controlling for other known confounding factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Women aged 50e69 years were identified from a state-wide screening database at their first screening attendance during the study period (2007e2013). The radiographer performing this index screen and potential confounding factors were recorded and subsequent screening behaviour was assessed. Clients with abnormal screens and those known to have died during the time period were excluded. A univariate analysis of the data from 160,028 women was assessed using the chi-square test to compare those women who attended their next mammography with non-re-attenders. Logistic regression was used to calculate the likelihood of “re-attendance success” across a range of variables. The probability of re-attendance for 11 randomly selected radiographers was determined from the logistic regression model, whilst controlling for other variables. RESULTS: Comparison of non-re-attenders (n¼49,698) with 110,330 (69%) women attending the next round of screening revealed significant differences, including radiographer (Wald statistics¼1188, p\u3c0.000) even when all other known factors were controlled. CONCLUSION: This large, population-level study demonstrates that individual radiographer factors appear to influence a women’s decision to return for their next screening round. Further research is required to identify reasons for differing rescre

Bouncing back from COVID-19: A Western Australian community perspective

Introduction: This study explored the behavioral profiles of residing Western Australians during a COVID-19 lockdown period and transitions in behavior post-lockdown. Methods: A total of 313 participants (76% female, age: M = 50.1, SD = 15.7 years) completed behavioral and mental health questionnaire items ~2 months after a 3-month COVID-19 lockdown in October 2020, using a retrospective recall to assess their experience during the lockdown period. Latent transition analysis (LTA) was used to identify behavioral profiles and transitions. Indicators were identified by assessing during–post-lockdown group differences (Kruskal–Wallis, chi-square tests) and profiles described using qualitative open-ended questions. Results: Significant indicators included changes in physical activity, leisure screen time, alcohol intake, psychological distress, and loneliness, but not fast food consumption. The significant indicators were used to form LTA models. The five latent class model showed the best model fit (Log-likelihood = −1301.66, AIC = 426.12, BIC = 609.68). Approximately one in four participants reported a change in their behavior profiles after the lockdown ceased. Key differences between the profiles were age, household income, education, resilience, sense of control, existing mental health issues, and social relations. Washing hands and social distancing were the most recalled and effective health campaigns across the classes, with health campaigns encompassing physical activity/alcohol consumption, or domestic violence having the least attention. Discussion: Overall, while most participants recovered relatively well after the lockdown period, LTA did identify subgroups such as those who were inactive and lonely experienced more difficulties than other groups, and engagement with public health campaigns differed. The results provide important insights for future public health campaigns on how these campaigns might be diversified to effectively target more people and particular groups to maximize engagement for maintaining people\u27s mental health with additional focus on physical activity, alcohol consumption, and domestic violence

Effectiveness of peers in delivering programs or motivating older people to increase their participation in physical activity: Systematic review and meta-analysis

The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness of peers to deliver programs or encourage older people to be physically active and improve physical outcomes. Peer reviewed articles published in English between January 1976 and June 2016, retrieved from six databases according to the predefined inclusion criteria were included. Where possible results were pooled and meta-analyses conducted. Eighteen articles were included in the review, a total of 3,492 intervention participants, average age 66.5 years and 67.1% were female. Overall, study quality was medium to high. Interventions mainly included resistance, flexibility and cardiovascular training, however there was one aquatic exercise group. Eight studies were delivered by peers and five utilised peer support, which included advice and being positive but was not directly linked to an exercise intervention. While 16 of the 18 studies reported improvement in levels of physical activity and/or noted physical benefits by peer involvement, the meta-analyses findings supported the control groups for the six minute walk test (favoured intervention) and the timed-up-and-go (favoured controls) tests. Meta-analyses data were limited due to studies using a variety of measurement tools and included predominantly small sample size studies. Findings from this review suggest exercise programs involving peers can promote and maintain adherence to exercise programs. However, results are inconclusive as to whether peers have a positive effect on improving physical function for older people

The importance of left atrial volume assessment in identifying the cause of ischemic stroke

Separating cardioembolic from large artery stroke has important treatment implications. We investigated whether echocardiography could improve Cardioembolic Stroke (CES) prediction compared with traditional measures and cholesterol biomarkers. Data from 40 consecutive patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke which included brain and carotid imaging, ECG, echo, serum cholesterol and apolipoproteins were independently reviewed. Patients were classified into two groups: a) CES, defined by sustained or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and \u3c50% stenosis of a perfusing cerebral artery; b) Large artery stroke (LAS) defined as \u3e 50% stenosis of an ipsilateral perfusing cerebral artery, with no evidence of AF on monitoring or evidence of small artery disease on neuroimaging and confirmed by an independent neurologist. Other than the CES group being older, the baseline characteristics of the two groups were similar. Left Atrial Volume (indexed for body surface area, LAVi) was significantly larger in CES (57.9 +/- 19.4 vs 31.1 +/- 8.3ml/m2, p\u3c0.01), with a simple equation that utilised age, LAVi and E wave accurately predicting 90% of CES. The difference in LAVi for CES was beyond that anticipated from the presence of AF alone. No differences in any of the lipid biomarkers were observed. These finding indicate that LAVi is the most important predictor of CES due to atrial fibrillation and is highly predictive of patients with CES due to atrial fibrillation. Cholesterol biomarkers offered no additional discriminatory value