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

Parent Support Programmes for Families Who are Immigrants: A Scoping Review

Parental support is of paramount importance in the promotion of positive parenting, strengthening parenthood and protecting children from disadvantages due to immigration experiences. The aim was to describe what is known about parent support programmes targeted to families who are immigrants. Electronic databases and the grey literature were systematically and comprehensively searched with no time/language restrictions. JBI approach and PRISMA-ScR were used to guide the review. N = 88 articles were sourced. Interventions were targeted to improve parental practices, skills and family wellbeing, usually through group-based methods. Most interventions included components of positive parenting and family communication. Identifying the needs of the target group and cultural tailoring were reported to be highly important in gaining acceptability, promoting engagement and producing benefits. Parent support programmes for families who are immigrants potentially improve positive parental practices and families' wellbeing. There are many applicable and effective interventions to be exploited

Motor Performance in Children Diagnosed with Cancer: A Longitudinal Observational Study

Children with cancer are dealing with different side and long-term effects caused by cancer and its treatments, like vinca-alkaloids, which may have negative effects on motor performance. However, the affected areas of motor performance (aiming and catching, balance, manual dexterity) and the differences in these areas between boys and girls and diagnoses are not frequently reported in a longitudinal design. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate how motor performance changes over the course of cancer treatment. The study was conducted with 3-to 16-year-old children with cancer (N = 36) in 2013-2017. The five assessment points were 0, 2, 6, 12 and 30 months from diagnosis. Movement-ABC2 was used to assess motor performance. We found that aiming and catching skills decreased significantly during the follow-up (p p p p p p < 0.05, respectively). Individual monitoring of motor performance with standardized tests and physical activity/exercise programs during and after treatment are needed. </p

Feasibility of smart wristbands for continuous monitoring during pregnancy and one month after birth

BackgroundSmart wristbands enable the continuous monitoring of health parameters, for example, in maternity care. Understanding the feasibility and acceptability of these devices in an authentic context is essential. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using a smart wristband to collect continuous activity, sleep and heart rate data from the beginning of the second trimester until one month postpartum.MethodsThe feasibility of a smart wristband was tested prospectively through pregnancy in nulliparous women (n=20). The outcomes measured were the wear time of the device and the participants' experiences with the smart wristband. The data were collected from the wristbands, phone interviews, questionnaires, and electronic patient records. The quantitative data were analyzed with hierarchical linear mixed models for repeated measures, and qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis.ResultsParticipants (n=20) were recruited at a median of 12.9weeks of gestation. They used the smart wristbands for an average of 182days during the seven-month study period. The daily use of the devices was similar during the second (17.9h, 95% CI 15.2 to 20.7) and third trimesters (16.7h, 95% CI 13.8 to 19.5) but decreased during the postpartum period (14.4h, 95% CI 11.4 to 17.4, p=0.0079). Participants who could not wear smart wristbands at work used the device 300min less per day than did those with no use limitations. Eight of the participants did not wear the devices or wore them only occasionally after giving birth. Nineteen participants reported that the smart wristband did not have any permanent effects on their behavior. Problems with charging and synchronizing the devices, perceiving the devices as uncomfortable, or viewing the data as unreliable, and the fear of scratching their babies with the devices were the main reasons for not using the smart wristbands.ConclusionsA smart wristband is a feasible tool for continuous monitoring during pregnancy. However, the daily use decreased after birth. The results of this study may support the planning of future studies and help with overcoming barriers related to the use of smart wristbands on pregnant women.</p

Advancing the Field of Pediatric Exercise Oncology: Research and Innovation Needs

The field of pediatric exercise oncology explores the relationships between physical activity (PA), including exercise, and a range of outcomes among children and adolescents affected by cancer. Although PA is safe and beneficial for this population, several important gaps in knowledge and practice remain. In this article, we describe research and innovation needs that were developed with a team of international experts and relevant literature, a series of online surveys, and an in-person meeting. Addressing these needs will contribute valuable knowledge and practice outputs to advance this field, ultimately enabling a greater number of children and adolescents affected by cancer to realize the benefits of moving more

The international Pediatric Oncology Exercise Guidelines (iPOEG)

Physical activity (PA) and exercise are safe and beneficial for children and adolescents affected by cancer. Yet, this population is not active enough to receive benefits. PA guideline and recommendation statements can support individual behavior and practice change. The purpose of this project was to develop the international Pediatric Oncology Exercise Guidelines (iPOEG), comprised of guideline and recommendation statements, to promote PA among children and adolescents affected by cancer. Guideline development procedures, stakeholder engagement strategies, and the Delphi technique were used. Four online surveys were distributed to the iPOEG network (n = 9 core team members, n = 122 expert consensus committee members). Surveys included closed- and open-ended items informed by a literature synthesis and an in-person meeting. Responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. Consensus was defined as >= 80% agreement. Response rates to online surveys ranged from 82% to 91%. The iPOEG network agreed on four guideline and five recommendation statements, which highlight that movement is important for all children and adolescents affected by cancer. These statements are generic in nature as more research is still required to provide specific guidance on the frequency, intensity, time, and type of PA for this population. Nevertheless, the iPOEG statements represent available evidence and expert opinion, collectively suggesting that it is time for children and adolescents affected by cancer to move more.</p

Using blogs for facilitating and connecting nurse educator candidates

Background Social media includes blog applications, which can be used as online journals or diaries that encourages interaction and collaboration within an online community. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the use of blog writing as learning journals during a short course for nurse educator candidates about social media. Method A qualitative descriptive design was used. The participants were nurses, Bachelor, Master's and Doctoral students who intended to follow a career in education (N = 24, female n = 21, male n = 3, Mean age 37) from four different countries of the European Union. The blogs written during the course were used as a data collection method and the data was analyzed with qualitative content analysis. Results A total of 260 blogger posts and 372 peer comments were analyzed. Four main categories emerged from the analysis: 1) Course content, new knowledge, and changed views, 2) Reflection and critical thinking, 3) Encouraging and peer support and 4) Expressing feelings, experiences, and expectations. Conclusion Blogs are potential learning spaces in short courses in nurse educator education, especially in sharing feelings and experiences, enhancing an encouraging atmosphere, critical thinking, and reflection

Lasten ja nuorten liikuntalääketiede : tavoitteena terveyden edistäminen, sairauksien ehkäisy ja kuntoutus

Fyysinen aktiivisuus kannattaa. Liikuntaharjoittelu vaikuttaa myönteisesti kehon koostumukseen, fyysiseen kuntoon, toimintakykyyn, psyykkiseen hyvinvointiin ja elämänlaatuun myös niillä lapsilla ja nuorilla, joilla on kroonisia sairauksia ja liikkumisen rajoitteita.nonPeerReviewe

Parent Support Programmes for Families Who are Immigrants : a Scoping Review

Parental support is of paramount importance in the promotion of positive parenting, strengthening parenthood and protecting children from disadvantages due to immigration experiences. The aim was to describe what is known about parent support programmes targeted to families who are immigrants. Electronic databases and the grey literature were systematically and comprehensively searched with no time/language restrictions. JBI approach and PRISMA-ScR were used to guide the review. N = 88 articles were sourced. Interventions were targeted to improve parental practices, skills and family wellbeing, usually through group-based methods. Most interventions included components of positive parenting and family communication. Identifying the needs of the target group and cultural tailoring were reported to be highly important in gaining acceptability, promoting engagement and producing benefits. Parent support programmes for families who are immigrants potentially improve positive parental practices and families' wellbeing. There are many applicable and effective interventions to be exploited