Association of self-reported physical activity and performance in the physical fitness assessment among Airmen

The U.S. Air Force, as with the other branches of military services, has physical fitness standards imposed on their personnel. These standards ensure a healthy and fit combat force. To meet these standards, Airmen have to maintain a certain level of physical activity in their lifestyle. Objective. This was a cross sectional (prevalence) study to evaluate the association of Airmen's self-reported physical activity and their performance in the Air Force Physical Fitness Assessment in 2007. Methods. The self-reported physical activity data were obtained from the Air Force Web Health Assessment (AF WEB HA), a web-based health questionnaire completed by the Airmen during their annual Preventive Health Assessment. The physical activity levels were categorized as having met or not having met the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) physical activity recommendations. Physical Fitness scores were collected from the Air Force Fitness Management System (AFFMS), a repository of physical fitness test data. Results. There were 49,029 Airmen who answered the AF WEB HA in 2007 and also took their physical fitness test. 94.4% (n = 46,304) of Airmen met the recommended physical activity guidelines and 79.9% (n = 39,178) passed the fitness test. Total Airmen who both met the physical activity recommendations and passed the fitness test was 75.6% (n = 37,088). Airmen who did not meet the activity recommendations and also failed the fitness test totaled 635 or 1.3% of the study group. The Mantel-Haenszel Chi-Square analysis of the data on the activity levels and the physical fitness test relationship was the following χ2 = 18.52, df 1, and p = <0.0001. The Odds Ratio (OR) was 1.22 (95% CI 1.12, 1.34). Conclusion. The study determined that there was a positive association between Airmen's self-reported physical activity and their performance in the physical fitness assessment.^

Self-reported participation and perceived barriers to exercise in South Texas Hispanic adults

National data show that Hispanics report low levels of physical activity. Limited information on barriers to exercise in this population exists in the literature. Surveys were administered to 398 Hispanic participants from two colonias in South Texas to investigate self-reported levels of and perceived barriers to exercise. Results show that 67.6% of respondents did not meet physical activity recommendations of at least 150 minutes per week, as compared to 55.6% nationally. Overall, the most frequently reported barriers included “lack of time”, “very tired” and “lack of self-discipline” to exercise. An exploratory factor analysis of the barriers reported by participants not meeting physical activity recommendations resulted in a three-factor structure. A unidimensional scale was found for participants meeting recommendations. Findings suggest that future interventions should be specific to gender and exercise level to address the high prevalence of inactivity in this population. ^

Environmental influences on self-reported leisure-time physical activity in the Austin/Travis County STEPS survey 2005--2009

This study was an examination of environmental and social correlates of physical inactivity in a socio-economically disadvantaged community. This study was a secondary analysis of data collected by the Austin/Travis County Department of Health and Human Services. The study included an analysis of perceived environmental influences (e.g. access to physical support features like sidewalks and streetlights). This study also investigated several features of the social environment (e.g. perceived neighborhood crime and social influence). Participants’ beliefs and attitudes about the neighborhood were investigated. Results included estimates of the association between neighborhood factors and physical inactivity controlling for age, gender and education. This study found significant associations for social and environmental variables with physical inactivity. The goal of this work was to identify factors that contribute to inactivity and address a number of environmental and neighborhood risk factors that contribute to sedentary behaviors in a population of relative social and economic disadvantage.^

Concomitant Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and type 2 diabetes: A descriptive model with global health implications

The type 2 diabetes (diabetes) pandemic is recognized as a threat to tuberculosis (TB) control worldwide. This secondary data analysis project estimated the contribution of diabetes to TB in a binational community on the Texas-Mexico border where both diseases occur. Newly-diagnosed TB patients > 20 years of age were prospectively enrolled at Texas-Mexico border clinics between January 2006 and November 2008. Upon enrollment, information regarding social, demographic, and medical risks for TB was collected at interview, including self-reported diabetes. In addition, self-reported diabetes was supported by blood-confirmation according to guidelines published by the American Diabetes Association (ADA). For this project, data was compared to existing statistics for TB incidence and diabetes prevalence from the corresponding general populations of each study site to estimate the relative and attributable risks of diabetes to TB. In concordance with historical sociodemographic data provided for TB patients with self-reported diabetes, our TB patients with diabetes also lacked the risk factors traditionally associated with TB (alcohol abuse, drug abuse, history of incarceration, and HIV infection); instead, the majority of our TB patients with diabetes were characterized by overweight/obesity, chronic hyperglycemia, and older median age. In addition, diabetes prevalence among our TB patients was significantly higher than in the corresponding general populations. Findings of this study will help accurately characterize TB patients with diabetes, thus aiding in the timely recognition and diagnosis of TB in a population not traditionally viewed as at-risk. We provide epidemiological and biological evidence that diabetes continues to be an increasingly important risk factor for TB.^

Cross-sectional study examining the role of acculturation in self-reported hypertension among Mexican Americans in Harris County, Texas

The objective of this secondary analysis was to examine the role of acculturation and self-reported hypertension in a Mexican-American cohort from Harris County, Texas. Specifically, we examined the acculturation measures of language-based Bidimensional Acculturation Scale (BAS), nativity, and length of United States (U.S) residency. Of 6,229 participants aged 40 and older, 38.0% self-reported hypertension at baseline. ^ Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the prevalence odds ratios (pOR) for the association of each acculturation measure and hypertension while controlling for confounding. When adjusted for age, gender, body mass index, number of comorbidities, and family history of hypertension, U.S.-born participants were 1.37 times more likely to report having hypertension compared to Mexico-born participants (95% CI: 1.21, 1.55). Similarly, immigrants residing in the U.S. for more than 20 years had an adjusted pOR of 1.40 (95% CI: 1.16, 1.70) as compared to immigrants living in the U.S. for less than 10 years. ^ In conclusion, individuals who were born in the U.S. or emigrated to the U.S. over 20 years ago were more likely to report having hypertension compared to individuals born in Mexico or compared to those who emigrated more recently to the U.S. This study will contribute to the literature in demonstrating the need for more initiatives in prevention of cardiovascular disease, specifically hypertension, in the acculturating Mexican American population.^

Association of breakfast consumption with objectively measured and self-reported physical activity, sedentary time and physical fitness in European adolescents: the HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) Study

Objective: To examine the association of breakfast consumption with objectively measured and self-reported physical activity, sedentary time and physical fitness. Design: The HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) Cross-Sectional Study. Breakfast consumption was assessed by two non-consecutive 24 h recalls and by a ‘Food Choices and Preferences’ questionnaire. Physical activity, sedentary time and physical fitness components (cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness and speed/agility) were measured and self-reported. Socio-economic status was assessed by questionnaire. Setting: Ten European cities. Subjects: Adolescents (n 2148; aged 12?5–17?5 years). Results: Breakfast consumption was not associated with measured or self-reported physical activity. However, 24 h recall breakfast consumption was related to measured sedentary time in males and females; although results were not confirmed when using other methods to assess breakfast patterns or sedentary time. Breakfast consumption was not related to muscular fitness and speed/agility in males and females. However, male breakfast consumers had higher cardiorespiratory fitness compared with occasional breakfast consumers and breakfast skippers, while no differences were observed in females. Overall, results were consistent using different methods to assess breakfast consumption or cardiorespiratory fitness (all P#0?005). In addition, both male and female breakfast skippers (assessed by 24 h recall) were less likely to have high measured cardiorespiratory fitness compared with breakfast consumers (OR50?33; 95% CI 0?18, 0?59 and OR50?56; 95 %CI 0?32, 0?98,respectively). Results persisted across methods. Conclusions: Skipping breakfast does not seem to be related to physical activity,sedentary time or muscular fitness and speed/agility as physical fitness components in European adolescents; yet it is associated with both measured and self-reported cardiorespiratory fitness, which extends previous findings.

Plausible self-reported dietary intakes in a residential facility are not necessarily reliable

Acknowledgements The original study, from which the current data were taken, was funded by the Food Standards Agency, UK.

A combined analysis of two randomized controlled trials evaluating the effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on self-reported emotional experience and physiological symptoms among Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2016-06

Self-Reported Fall and Associate Risk Factors Among Korean American Adults In Washington State

Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2016-06

Self-reported difficulty in conceiving as a measure of infertility

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to explore the meaning and potential use of women's self-reported difficulties in conceiving as a measure of infertility in epidemiological studies, and to compare women's stated reasons for infertility with information in their medical records. METHODS: Data were available from a population-based case-control study of ovarian cancer involving 1638 women. The sensitivity and specificity of women's self-reported infertility were calculated against their estimated fertility status based on detailed reproductive histories. Self-reported reasons for infertility were compared with diagnoses documented in women's medical records. RESULTS: The sensitivity of women's self-reported difficulty in conceiving was 66 and 69% respectively when compared with calendar-derived and self-reported times taken trying to conceive; its specificity was 95%. Forty-one (23%) of the 179 women for whom medical records were available had their self-reported fertility problem confirmed. Self-reported infertility causes could be compared with diagnoses in medical records for only 22 of these women. CONCLUSIONS: Self-reported difficulty conceiving is a useful measure of infertility for quantifying the burden of fertility problems experienced in the community. Validation of reasons for infertility is unlikely to be feasible through examination of medical records. Improved education of the public regarding the availability and success rates of infertility treatments is proposed.

Validation of self-reported cigarette smoking in a remote Australian Aboriginal community

Objective: To examine the relationship between self-reported tobacco smoking and urinary cotinine concentrations in the setting of a remote Aboriginal community. Methods: In a remote Northern Territory (NT) Aboriginal community the relationship between self-reported tobacco smoking and urinary cotinine concentrations was examined as part of a cross-sectional survey of cardiovascular risk factors. Current tobacco smoking was assessed as part of a questionnaire. The concentration of cotinine and cotinine/creatinine ratio (CCR) in a spot urine sample were used as a biochemical marker of nicotine exposure. Results: A total of 237 people took part in the survey, although completed questionnaires and urine results were available for 184 people. Current tobacco smoking was reported by 161 (69 [95% Cl 63 to 75]%) people, with higher rates among males (84/104, 81 [95% Cl 72 to 88]%) than females (77/129, 60 [95% Cl 51 to 68]%, p

Being stoned: A review of self-reported cannabis effects

Although there has been considerable research into the adverse effects of cannabis, less attention has been directed toward subjective effects that may be associated with ongoing cannabis use. Examination of self-reported cannabis effects is an important issue in understanding the widespread use of cannabis. While reviews have identified euphoria as a primary factor in maintaining cannabis use, relaxation is the effect reported most commonly in naturalistic studies of cannabis users, irrespective of the method used. Self-reported effects in 12 naturalistic and 18 laboratory studies were compared. Regardless of methodology there was considerable variation in the effects experienced. Variation has been reported in terms of opposite effects being experienced by different individuals, variation of effects by individuals within a single occasion and between occasions of use. Factors that might explain this variation are outlined. Limitations of the available literature and suggested directions for future research are discussed.