Kids on bikes: A community intervention

We describe the development, implementation and evaluation of a pilot programme to increase physical activity, through cycling, among children. The programme, implemented in Dunedin, New Zealand, during 2003, comprised three components. The first was a free community based programme to promote safe cycling, it was open to all children aged 4–12 to register for, required access to a safe cycle and helmet, and was conducted on a weeknight at a local park (n=101). The second component targeted children from a low socioeconomic schoolwhowere less likely to have access to the community programme and less likely to have access to a cycle or helmet (n=20). The third and final component was the donatea- bike programme; this componentwas designed to provide cycles for those children from the low SES school who would otherwise not be able to cycle. The lead author was approached to help redesign an existing unstructured cycling programme for children, provided one night each week, lacking trained volunteers, and having a negligible number of children from low socio-economic schools. The objectives of the old programme were to promote cycling as a sport and to teach children skills to improve their safety in cycling

Physical activity among cancer survivors : a literature review

Aim Physical activity offers a variety of health benefits to cancer survivors, both during and post-treatment. The aim here is to review: the preferences of cancer survivors regarding exercise counselling and participation in a physical activity programme; adherence rates among cancer survivors to physical activity programmes; and predictors of adherence to exercise training.Methods Two electronic databases, Ovid MEDLINE(R) 1950 to Present with Daily Update and SCOPUS, were used to undertake literature searches for studies examining exercise preferences of adult cancer survivors, and physical activity programmes for adults at any point of the cancer trajectory.Results Studies suggest that, while physical activity levels are low among cancer survivors, most are interested in increasing their participation. Preferences and adherence to physical activity programmes differ across a range of demographic, medical, and behavioural variables, suggesting the importance of tailoring exercise programmes to patient-specific and disease-specific needs.Conclusions Current evidence supports the benefits of physical activity for improving risk factors associated with cancer prognosis. Physical activity programmes developed for oncology patients and cancer survivors need to take into account the needs of the target population in order to optimise adherence, outcomes, and long-term behavioural changes in this population

Advocacy for active transport: advocate and city council perspectives

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Effective advocacy is an important part of efforts to increase population participation in physical activity. Research about effective health advocacy is scarce, however, the health sector can learn from the experiences and knowledge of community advocates and those who are on the receiving end of this advocacy. The aim of this study is to explore advocacy for active transport from the perspectives of community advocates and representatives from City councils.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cycling and walking advocates were identified from the local contact list of Cycling Advocates Network and Living Streets Aotearoa. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with cycle and walking advocates from throughout New Zealand. Advocates also nominated a suitable council officer at their local City council to be interviewed. Interviews were recorded and transcribed and categories of responses for each of the questions created.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Several processes were used by advocates to engage with council staff, including formal council submissions, meetings, stakeholder forums and partnership in running community events promoting active transport. Several other agencies were identified as being influential for active transport, some as potential coalition partners and others as potential adversaries. Barriers to improving conditions for active transport included a lack of funding, a lack of will-power among either council staff or councillors, limited council staff capacity (time or training) and a culture of providing infrastructure for motor vehicles instead of people. Several suggestions were made about how the health sector could contribute to advocacy efforts, including encouraging political commitment, engaging the media, communicating the potential health benefits of active transport to the general public and being role models in terms of personal travel mode choice and having workplaces that support participation in active transport.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>There is potential for the health sector to make an important contribution to advocacy for active transport in New Zealand. While there are many barriers to achieving supportive environments for cycling and walking, a range of advocacy strategies were identified which could help ensure that health perspectives are considered in decisions relevant to active transport.</p

Political activity for physical activity: health advocacy for active transport

Effective health advocacy is a priority for efforts to increase population participation in physical activity. Local councils are an important audience for this advocacy. The aim of the current study was to describe features of advocacy for active transport via submissions to city council annual plans in New Zealand, and the impact of an information sheet to encourage the health sector to be involved in this process. Written submissions to city council's annual consultation process were requested for 16 city councils over the period of three years (2007/08, 2008/09, and 2009/10). Submissions were reviewed and categories of responses were created. An advocacy information sheet encouraging health sector participation and summarising some of the evidence-base related to physical activity, active transport and health was released just prior to the 2009/10 submission time. Over the period of the study, city councils received 47,392 submissions, 17% of which were related to active transport. Most submissions came from city residents, with a small proportion (2%) from the health sector. The largest category of submissions was in support of pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, design and maintenance of facilities and additional features to support use of these transport modes. Health arguments featured prominently in justifications for active transport initiatives, including concerns about injury risk, obesity, physical inactivity, personal safety and facilities for people with disabilities. There was evidence that the information sheet was utilised by some health sector submitters (12.5%), providing tentative support for initiatives of this nature. In conclusion, the study provides novel information about the current nature of health advocacy for active transport and informs future advocacy efforts about areas for emphasis, such as health benefits of active transport, and potential alliances with other sectors such as environmental sustainability, transport and urban planning and local communities

Introduction by editors of the Special Edition on Spaces and Practices of Pacific Thought and Research

For centuries, Pacific societies were sustained by collective knowledge systems premised on a relational existence between humans and the environment. European contact, through its modernising agenda disturbed this reality, and turned Pacific knowledge systems on their head, relegating them as secondary, or in some instances irrelevant. Political independence since the early 1960’s has seen a renaissance in things Pacific. Universities have been central to this development. At the University of Otago, under the umbrella of the Pacific Thought Network (PacTNet), graduate students and academics both of Pacific and of non-Pacific heritage participate in a range of activities that foster Pacific ways of knowing and engagement

Fine forecasts: encouraging the media to include ultraviolet radiation information in summertime weather forecasts

Melanoma and skin cancer are largely attributable to over-exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Reports of UVR levels within media weather forecasts appear to be well received by the public and have good potential to communicate the need for appropriate sun protection to a broad audience. This study describes provision of UVR messages by New Zealand newspapers, radio and TV stations over a 4-year period, and examines the impact of an intervention which aimed to address media concerns about the financial costs of accessing UVR information for broadcast. Newspaper and radio presentation of UVR information increased immediately after these costs were removed; however, among radio stations it dropped in subsequent years. Among those media that were presenting UVR, this information was broadcast throughout the summer period and repeated throughout the day. Furthermore, most reports included concomitant, behavioral sun protection messages. At the final assessment (summer 2001/02), 66% of radio stations, both TV channels and 48% of newspapers reported UVR information in summertime weather reports. Efforts to further increase UVR presentation will need to address media concerns about time constraints on weather forecasts and media perceptions of poor audience demand or understanding of some UVR messages. [Authors]]]> https://serval.unil.ch/resource/serval:BIB_354391F9AF1F.P001/REF.pdf http://nbn-resolving.org/urn/resolver.pl?urn=urn:nbn:ch:serval-BIB_354391F9AF1F6 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/urn/urn:nbn:ch:serval-BIB_354391F9AF1F6 info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Copying allowed only for non-profit organizations https://serval.unil.ch/disclaimer application/pdf oai:serval.unil.ch:BIB_3543C4DF78F4 2022-05-07T01:15:02Z <oai_dc:dc xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:oai_dc="http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc/" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc/ http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc.xsd"> https://serval.unil.ch/notice/serval:BIB_3543C4DF78F4 The acute effects of intravenously administered mibefradil, a new calcium antagonist, on the electrophysiologic characteristics of the human heart info:doi:10.1007/s002280050241 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1007/s002280050241 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pmid/9143860 Rosenquist, M. Brembilla-Perrot, B. Meinertz, T. Neugebauer, A. Crijns, H. J. Smeets, J. L. van der Vring, J. A. Fromer, M. Kobrin, I. info:eu-repo/semantics/article article 1997 European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, vol. 52, no. 1, pp. 7-12 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/0031-6970 <![CDATA[OBJECTIVE: This multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study was designed to assess the acute effects of intravenous mibefradil on the electrophysiologic characteristics of the human heart. METHODS: Seventy-one patients referred for routine electrophysiologic testing were randomized to receive one of three intravenous treatments: placebo n = 23, 15 mg mibefradil in 15 min followed by 25 mg in 60 min (group 1, n = 24), or 35 mg mibefradil in 15 min followed by 45 mg in 60 min (group 2, n = 24). Electrophysiologic evaluations were performed prior to study drug administration and 30 min after the start of the infusion. Plasma samples were obtained at the start of the infusion and after 15, 75, and 105 min. RESULTS: Sinus node recovery time decreased significantly in Group 1 patients (-103 ms). Corrected sinus node recovery time in group 2 patients was 68.7 ms (P = 0.053). Compared to placebo, mibefradil produced mild but significant slowing of conduction in group 2 patients as manifested by an increase in the AH interval of 6.7 ms. Atrioventricular (AV) nodal refractoriness was increased, as indicated by a prolongation of the Wenckebach point in patients in both group 1 (32.1 ms) and group 2 (32.5 ms), compared to placebo. All adverse events were classified as mild to moderate and only one event (vasovagal attack) was considered to be treatment related. CONCLUSIONS: At plasma levels close to those found after chronic oral administration of 50 and 100 mg mibefradil, the higher dose produced an increase in corrected sinus node recovery time. Mibefradil also produced small but significant effects on AV nodal conduction and increased AV nodal refractoriness. Mibefradil had no effect on any other electrophysiologic parameter and was well tolerated

&#8220;It Didn't Fill the Void&#8221;: reasons for e-cigarette and tobacco dual use

Background Although moving from smoking to electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) could reduce the harms smokers face, many ENDS users continue to smoke tobacco. We explored the contributing factors to tobacco use among ENDS users. Methods We conducted in-depth interviews with n =20 past 30-day ENDS and tobacco users (16 used ENDS daily; the median duration of ENDS use was 4.5 months). Interviews explored motivations for using ENDS, experiences of using ENDS and tobacco, and dual use patterns. We used qualitative thematic analysis to analyse interview data. Results Most, but not all, participants used ENDS to try and quit smoking entirely. Among those who reported trying to quit, social exposure to tobacco use and alcohol consumption cued cravings and undermined a full transition to vaping. Some participants found ENDS did not sufficiently alleviate stress or replicate the nicotine hit, mouth-feel or rituals they experienced with smoking. The convenience and perceived social acceptability of using ENDS indoors also facilitated dual use. Several participants cited financial reasons as the primary motivation for using ENDS; they reported alternating between ENDS and smoking as rationing their 'real' cigarettes helped manage the cost of tobacco. Younger, social tobacco smokers reported experiencing stigma when using ENDS, which inhibited their ENDS use in some social settings where tobacco use was normative. While many participants saw dual use as a transition towards becoming smokefree, others viewed their reduced smoking levels alongside ENDS use as a successful outcome. Some perceived ENDS as healthful, not merely less harmful than tobacco; this view appeared to offset dissonance about using tobacco and positioned cigarette smoking as a reward for being "good". Conclusions Understanding factors that facilitate and support dual use of ENDS and smoked tobacco may help inform interventions that support ENDS users to make a full transition from tobacco smoking to vaping

Moe Kitenga: a qualitative study of perceptions of infant and child sleep practices among Māori whānau

Insufficient sleep is a strong risk factor for unhealthy weight gain in children. Māori (the indigenous population of Aotearoa (New Zealand)) children have an increased risk of unhealthy weight gain compared to New Zealand European children. Interventions around sleep could provide an avenue for improving health and limiting excessive weight gain with other meaningful benefits for whānau (extended family) well-being. However, current messages promoting good sleep may not be realistic for many Māori whānau. Using qualitative methods, the Moe Kitenga project explored the diverse realities of sleep in 14 Māori whānau. We conclude that for infant sleep interventions to prevent obesity and improve health outcomes for Māori children, they must take into account the often pressing social circumstances of many Māori whānau that are a barrier to adopting infant sleep recommendations, otherwise sleep interventions could create yet another oppressive standard that whānau fail to live up to