Dietary adequacy in community-dwelling older Chinese adults living in South Florida

A challenge facing nutrition care providers and the Chinese community is how to improve and maintain dietary adequacy (DA) and quality of life (QoL) in older Chinese Americans. Little is known about the factors contributing to DA and the relationships between DA and QoL among community-dwelling older Chinese adults in South Florida. A DA model and a QoL model were hypothesized. ^ Structured interviews with 100 Chinese Floridians, ages ≥60, provided data to test the hypothesized models, using structured equation modeling. Participants (mean age ± SD = 70.9 + 6.8 years) included 59% females, 98% foreign-born, 23% non-English speakers, and 68% residents of Florida for 20 years or more. The findings supported the study hypotheses: an excellent goodness-of-fit of the DA model (χ2/DF (7) = .286; CFI = 1.000; TLI = 1.704; NFI = .934; RMSEA < .001, 90% CI < .0001 to < .001; SRMR = .033; AIC = 30.000; and BIC = 66.472) and an excellent goodness-of-fit of the QoL model (χ2/DF (6) = .811; CFI = 1.000; TLI = 1.013; NFI = .979; RMSEA < .001, 90% CI < .001 to .116; SRMR = .0429; AIC = 34.869; and BIC = 73.946). ^ The DA model consisted of a structure of four indicators (i.e. Body Mass Index, food practices, diet satisfaction, and appetite) and one intervening variable (i.e. combining nutrient adequacy with nutritional risk). BMI was the strongest, most reliable indicator of DA with the highest predictability coefficient (.63) and the ability to differentiate between participants with different DA levels. The QoL model consisted of a two-dimensional construct with one indicator (i.e. physical function) and one intervening variable (i.e. combining loneliness with social resources, depression, social function, and mental health). Physical function had the strongest predictability coefficient (.89), while other indicators contributed to QoL indirectly. When integrating the DA model to the QoL model, DA appears to influence QoL via indirect pathways. ^ It is necessary to include a precise measure of BMI as the basis for assessing DA in this population. Important goals of dietary interventions should be improving physical function and alleviating social and emotional isolation. ^

The effect of osteoporosis education on calcium intake and physical activity in a group of community-dwelling Black older adults

The unprecedented increase in the number of older adults is expected to increase the burden of osteoporosis on the individual and society. Blacks have been understudied in osteoporosis prevention education research. Although the risk of osteoporosis is low in this population, its consequences are significant. This study employs a two-group experimental design (experimental and wait-list control groups) to evaluate the effect of an osteoporosis education on two osteoporosis prevention behaviors (OPBs)—calcium intake (CI) and physical activity (PA), in a group of community-dwelling Black older adults, 50 years and older resident in South Florida. A final sample of 110 (mean age 70.15 years), 90% female and 10% male completed a battery of questionnaires at two assessment periods. The experimental group participated in six weekly education program sessions immediately following baseline assessment, and the wait-list control group received the education following end of program assessment by all participants. The weekly educational sessions were conducted in social settings (church or senior center) employing constructs of the Revised Health Belief Model. The sessions focused on improving CI; osteoporosis knowledge (OKT), self-efficacy (SE), health beliefs (HB) and PA. Findings revealed significantly greater increase in reported CI ( M = 556 mg, Wilks’ λ = .47, F (1,108)=122.97, p< .001, η2=.53), OKT (p< .001), and SE (p< .001) among participants in the experimental compared to the wait-list control group. There was no significant difference between the two groups for PA and most of the HB subscales. OKT and SE were the best predictors of CI, while perceived barrier was a predominant factor predicting PA. Over the study period, a change in SE was the only variable related to changes in both OPBs. Attrition rate was lower than expected, which can be attributed to the settings utilized for the study. These findings support the importance of utilizing a familiar social setting. These results suggested the effectiveness of a program offered in multiple short sessions among this underserved minority population to improve OKT and SE resulting in a change in OPBs (increase in CI). However, there is need to explore alternative strategies to improve PA in this population group.

Geophysical Analysis of a Central Florida Karst Terrain using Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Derived Surfaces

Airborne LIDAR (Light Detecting and Ranging) is a relatively new technique that rapidly and accurately measures micro-topographic features. This study compares topography derived from LIDAR with subsurface karst structures mapped in 3-dimensions with ground penetrating radar (GPR). Over 500 km of LIDAR data were collected in 1995 by the NASA ATM instrument. The LIDAR data was processed and analyzed to identify closed depressions. A GPR survey was then conducted at a 200 by 600 m site to determine if the target features are associated with buried karst structures. The GPR survey resolved two major depressions in the top of a clay rich layer at ~10m depth. These features are interpreted as buried dolines and are associated spatially with subtle (< 1m) trough-like depressions in the topography resolved from the LIDAR data. This suggests that airborne LIDAR may be a useful tool for indirectly detecting subsurface features associated with sinkhole hazard.

The Effect of Osteoporosis Education on Calcium Intake and Physical Activity in a Group of Community-Dwelling Black Older Adults

The unprecedented increase in the number of older adults is expected to increase the burden of osteoporosis on the individual and society. Blacks have been understudied in osteoporosis prevention education research. Although the risk of osteoporosis is low in this population, its consequences are significant. This study employs a two-group experimental design (experimental and wait-list control groups) to evaluate the effect of an osteoporosis education on two osteoporosis prevention behaviors (OPBs) – calcium intake (CI) and physical activity (PA), in a group of community-dwelling Black older adults, 50 years and older resident in South Florida. A final sample of 110 (mean age 70.15 years), 90% female and 10% male completed a battery of questionnaires at two assessment periods. The experimental group participated in six weekly education program sessions immediately following baseline assessment, and the wait-list control group received the education following end of program assessment by all participants. The weekly educational sessions were conducted in social settings (church or senior center) employing constructs of the Revised Health Belief Model. The sessions focused on improving CI; osteoporosis knowledge (OKT), self-efficacy (SE), health beliefs (HB) and PA. Findings revealed significantly greater increase in reported CI (M = 556 mg, Wilks’ λ = .47, F(1,108)=122.97, p< .001, η2=.53), OKT (p< .001), and SE (p< .001) among participants in the experimental compared to the wait-list control group. There was no significant difference between the two groups for PA and most of the HB subscales. OKT and SE were the best predictors of CI, while perceived barrier was a predominant factor predicting PA. Over the study period, a change in SE was the only variable related to changes in both OPBs. Attrition rate was lower than expected, which can be attributed to the settings utilized for the study. These findings support the importance of utilizing a familiar social setting. These results suggested the effectiveness of a program offered in multiple short sessions among this underserved minority population to improve OKT and SE resulting in a change in OPBs (increase in CI). However, there is need to explore alternative strategies to improve PA in this population group.