Attitudes, barriers and enablers to physical activity in pregnant women: a systematic review

Question: What are the attitudes, barriers and enablers to physical activity perceived by pregnant women? Design: In a systematic literature review, eight electronic databases were searched: AMED, CINAHL, Embase, Joanna Briggs Institute, Medline, PsycInfo, SPORTDiscus (from database inception until June 2016) and PubMed (from 2011 until June 2016). Quantitative data expressed as proportions were meta-analysed. Data collected using Likert scales were synthesised descriptively. Qualitative data were analysed thematically using an inductive approach and content analysis. Findings were categorised as intrapersonal, interpersonal or environmental, based on a social-ecological framework. Participants: Pregnant women. Intervention: Not applicable. Outcome measures: Attitudes and perceived barriers and enablers to physical activity during pregnancy. Results: Forty-nine articles reporting data from 47 studies (7655 participants) were included. Data were collected using questionnaires, interviews and focus groups. Meta-analyses of proportions showed that pregnant women had positive attitudes towards physical activity, identifying it as important (0.80, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.98), beneficial (0.71, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.83) and safe (0.86, 95% CI 0.79 to 0.92). This was supported by themes emerging in 15 qualitative studies that reported on attitudes (important, 12 studies; beneficial, 10 studies). Barriers to physical activity were predominantly intrapersonal such as fatigue, lack of time and pregnancy discomforts. Frequent enablers included maternal and foetal health benefits (intrapersonal), social support (interpersonal) and pregnancy-specific programs. Few environmental factors were identified. Little information was available about attitudes, barriers and enablers of physical activity for pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus who are at risk from inactivity. Conclusion: Intrapersonal themes were the most frequently reported barriers and enablers to physical activity during pregnancy. Social support also played an enabling role. Person-centred strategies using behaviour change techniques should be used to address intrapersonal and social factors to translate pregnant women's positive attitudes into increased physical activity participation. </p

The role of physical activity in the association between disability and mortality among US older adults: a nationwide prospective cohort study

To examine whether physical activity can mitigate the mortality risk associated with disability in activities of daily living and instrumental activities in daily living among older adults. This analysis comprised 177,360 US participants (104,556 women), aged ≥ 60 years, with valid data from the 1997 through 2018 waves of the US National Health Interview Survey. Participants reported the frequency and duration of leisure-time PA, and their disabilities in activities of daily living and instrumental activities in daily living. Mortality data were obtained from the National Death Index. Over a mean (SD) follow-up of 8.02 (5.43) years, 66,694 deaths occurred from all-cause, 22,673 from cardiovascular disease, and 13,845 from cancer. Among people with disability in activities in daily living, those reaching physical activity recommendations had 25%, 24% and 33% lower risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer death, respectively, compared with those who do not meet physical activity recommendations. Values were 23%, 22% and 24% for those with disability in instrumental activities in daily living. Risk reductions associated with reaching the recommended physical activity ranged 16% to 29% for people without disability. Combining disability type and compliance with physical activity, individuals with disability in activities of daily living or instrumental activities in daily living who meet the recommended physical activity had moderately higher mortality than those without disability who did not achieve the recommended physical activity. Compliance with physical activity recommendations can partially mitigate excess mortality resulting from disability in activities in daily living or instrumental activities in daily living in older adults.</p

Effects of sport or physical recreation for adults with physical or intellectual disabilities: a systematic review with meta-analysis

No description supplied. </p

Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre: Response to the ‘What we have heard’ report

This is the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre's: Response to the NDIS ‘What we have heard’ report. OTARC’s recommendations draw on evidence from:Our four Research Program areas and accumulated clinical and professional expertise, including lived experience.Our embedded research to practice program at the Victorian Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre. We support approximately 50 Autistic toddlers and preschool aged children using an evidence-based program called the Group-Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) incorporated within the La Trobe University Community Children’s Centre. An OTARC NDIS ‘Conversation Session’ where we discussed the What we have heard report (held in July 2023) involving researchers, clinicians, NDIS service providers (La Trobe University Community Children’s Centre, Centre Manager and Clinical Manager), NDIS participants and NDIS applicants.Consultation with lived experience experts within OTARC (Autistic people, parents of Autistic people, and NDIS participants). </ul