Get ur 60: A social marketing campaign to promote and facilitate physical activity among Central Texas middle school students

If allowed to continue unabated, the obesity epidemic may lead to the first decline in life expectancy in the developed world (Olshansky et al., 2005). Similar to the relationship between smoking habits in youth and adulthood, obesogenic dietary and physical activity habits in childhood may persist into adulthood (Kelder et al., 2002). Teaching children how to establish healthy eating habits and activity levels, as well as providing them the necessary resources to internalize and maintain these behaviors, may be the key to curbing this epidemic.^ A school-based obesity prevention approach is advantageous for many reasons including exposure to large captive audiences, reduced costs of sustainability and long-term maintenance, and generalizability of models and results across multiple populations. The effectiveness of school-based programs has been researched over the past 20 years, with promising results.^ Social marketing is a program-planning process that “facilitates the acceptance, rejection, modification, abandonment, or maintenance of particular behaviors” (Grier & Bryant, 2005). Social marketing has been shown to be effective in a variety of public health applications including improving diet, increasing physical activity, and preventing substance abuse. It is hypothesized that social marketing could further enhance the effectiveness of the Coordinated Approach To Child Health (CATCH) Central Texas Middle School Project, a school-based obesity prevention program.^ The development, implementation, and initial evaluation of the get ur 60 campaign, to promote the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended sixty minutes of daily activity, is described in this paper. Various components of the get ur 60 campaign were assessed to evaluate the effectiveness of the campaign during the first semester of implementation. At the end of the spring semester focus groups were held to collect student reactions to the first semester of the get ur 60 campaign.^ The initial results from the first semester of get ur 60 have demonstrated that the campaign as designed was feasible to implement, accepted at all intervention schools, and resulted in a measure of success. ^

Effect of parental weight status on the food packed in preschool children's lunches

Problem. Recent statistics show that over a fifth of children aged 2-5 years in 2006-2008 were overweight, with 7% above the 97 th percentile of the BMI-for-age growth charts (extreme obesity). Because poor diet is an important environmental determinant of obesity and the preschool years are crucial developmentally, examination of factors related to diet in the pre-school years is important for obesity prevention efforts. ^ Objective. The goals of this study were to determine the association between BMI of the parents and the number of servings of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains (FVWG) packed; the nutrient content of preschool children’s lunches; and norms and expectations about FVWG intake.^ Methods. This study was a cross sectional analysis of parents enrolled in the Lunch is in the Bag program at baseline. The independent measure was weight status of the parents/caregivers, which was determined using body mass index (BMI) calculated from self-reported height and weight. BMI was classified as healthy weight (BMI <25) or overweight/obese (BMI ≥25). Outcomes for the study included the number of servings of fruits, vegetables and whole grains (FVWG) in sack lunches, as well as the nutrient content of the lunches, and psychosocial constructs related to FVWG consumption. Linear regression analysis was conducted and adjusted for confounders to examine the associations of these outcomes with parental weight status, the main predictor. ^ Results. A total of 132 parent/child dyads were enrolled in the study; 59.09% (n=78) of the parents/caregivers were healthy weight and 39.01% (n=54) of the parents/caregivers were overweight/obese. Parents/caregivers in the study were predominantly white (68%, n=87) and had at least some college education (98%, n=128). No significant associations were found between the weight status of the parents and the servings of fruits, vegetables and whole grain packed in preschool children’s lunchboxes. The results were similar for the association of parental weight status and the nutrient contents of the packed lunches. Both healthy weight and overweight/obese parents packed less than the recommended amounts of vegetables (mean servings = 0.49 and 0.534, respectively) and whole grains (mean servings = 0.58 and 0.511, respectively). However, the intentions of the obese/overweight parents were higher compare to the healthy for vegetables and whole grains.^ Conclusion. Results from this study indicate that there are few differences in the servings of fruits, vegetables and whole grains packed by healthy weight parents/caregivers compared to overweight/obese parents/caregivers in a high income, well-educated population, although neither group met the recommended number of servings of vegetables or whole grains. Thus, results indicate the need for behaviorally-based health promotion programs for parents, regardless of their weight status; however, this study should be replicated with larger and more diverse populations to determine if these results are similar with less homogenous populations.^

A look at parent-adolescent processes and adolescent sexual intentions among urban, minority, middle school youth

Background. The United States continues to have the highest rates in teenage pregnancy among industrialized nations and approximately 46% of high school students engaged in sex by the time they graduated. Various family adolescent processes (family connectedness, perceived parental beliefs about sex, parent-child communication about sex) have been linked to adolescent sexual behavior. However, the association between family adolescent and adolescent sexual intentions has not often been studied in middle school minority youth.^ Methods. Research hypotheses were tested using a secondary data analysis from a HIV, STI, and pregnancy prevention program for urban middle school students.^ Results. At baseline, 77% of students reported low intentions to engage in vaginal or oral sex within a year and 87% reported they would use a condom if having sex within the next 3 months. After adjusting for gender, age, and race/ethnicity, family connectedness and perceived parental beliefs about sex were significantly associated with vaginal and oral sex intentions. Only perceived parental beliefs was associated with condom use intentions. ^ Conclusions. Family adolescent processes appear to be associated with adolescents’ intentions regarding sex and condom use. Early interventions are needed that take into account the importance of healthy, supportive parent-adolescent relationships and encourage parents to share their beliefs about sex to adolescents before the onset of sexual activity. ^

Program evaluation for a summer science internship: Short and long term benefits as reported by interns

Undergraduate research programs have been used as a tool to attract and retain student interest in science careers. This study evaluates the short and long-term benefits of a Summer Science Internship (SSI) at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston– School of Public Health – in Brownsville, Texas, by analyzing survey data from alumni. Questions assessing short-term program impact were aimed at three main topics, student: satisfaction with program, self-efficacy for science after completing the program, and perceived benefits. Long-term program impact was assessed by looking at student school attendance and college majors along with perceived links between SSI and future college plans. Students reported high program satisfaction, a significant increase in science self-efficacy and high perceived benefits. At the time data were collected for the study, one-hundred percent of alumni were enrolled in school (high school or college). The majority of students indicated they were interested in completing a science major/career, heavily influenced by their participation in the program.^

The heart challenge: The effect of regular aerobic exercise on body fat distribution in third and fourth grade school children: A randomized clinical trial

The pattern of body fat distribution known as "centralized", and characterized by a predominance of subcutaneous fat on the trunk and a "pot belly", has been associated with an increased risk of chronic disease. These patterns of fat distribution, as well as the lifestyle habit variables associated with adult fatness and chronic morbidity clearly begin to develop during childhood, indicating the need for intervention and primary prevention of obesity, particularly the centralized form, during childhood or adolescence. The purpose of this study was to determine whether regular aerobic exercise could beneficially alter the distribution of body fat in 8 and 9 year old children. One hundred and eighty-eight participants were randomized into either a regular aerobic exercise treatment group or a standard physical education program control group. A variety of aerobic activities was used for intervention 5 days per week during physical education class for a period of 12 weeks. Fat distribution was measured by a number of the most commonly used indices, including ratios of body circumferences and skinfolds and indices derived from a principal components analysis. Change over time in average pulse rate was used to determine if intervention actually occurred. Approximately 10% of the students were remeasured, allowing the calculation of intra- and interexaminer measurement reliability estimates for all indices.^ This study group was comparable to the U.S. population, though the study children were slightly larger for certain measures. No effect of the exercise intervention was found. The most likely explanation for this was inadequacy of the intervention, as indicated by the lack of any change in average pulse rate with treatment. The results of the measurement reliability analysis are reported and indicate that body circumference ratios are more precise than skinfold ratios, particularly when multiple observers are used. Reliability estimates for the principal component indices were also high.^ It remains unclear whether the distribution of body fat can be altered with exercise. It is likely that this issue will remain undecided until one highly reliable, valid, and sensitive measure of fat distribution can be found. ^

Attitudes of dental students to hand hygiene practices at a dental school

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to elucidate behavioral determinants (prevailing attitudes and beliefs) of hand hygiene practices among undergraduate dental students in a dental school. ^ Methods. Statistical modeling using the Integrative Behavioral Model (IBM) prediction was utilized to develop a questionnaire for evaluating behavioral perceptions of hand hygiene practices by dental school students. Self-report questionnaires were given to second, third and fourth year undergraduate dental students. Models representing two distinct hand hygiene practices, termed "elective in-dental school hand hygiene practice" and "inherent in-dental school hand hygiene practice" were tested using linear regression analysis. ^ Results. 58 responses were received (24.5%); the sample mean age was 26.6 years old and females comprised 51%. In our models, elective in-dental school hand hygiene practice and inherent in-dental school hand hygiene practice, explained 40% and 28%, respectively, of the variance in behavioral intention. Translation of community hand hygiene practice to the dental school setting is the predominant driver of elective hand hygiene practice. Intended elective in-school hand hygiene practice is further significantly predicted by students' self-efficacy. Students' attitudes, peer pressure of other dental students and clinic administrators, and role modeling had minimal effects. Inherent hand hygiene intent was strongly predicted by students' beliefs in the benefits of the activity and, to a lesser extent, role modeling. Inherent and elective community behaviors were insignificant. ^ Conclusions. This study provided significant insights into dental student's hand hygiene behavior and can form the basis for an effective behavioral intervention program designed to improve hand hygiene compliance.^

The impact of a cooking and gardening summer camp experience on the fruit and vegetable consumption of elementary school-aged children

Childhood obesity is a significant public health problem. Over 15 percent of children in the United States are obese, and about 25 percent of children in Texas are overweight (CDC NHANES). Furthermore, about 30 percent of elementary school aged children in Harris County, Texas are overweight or obese (Children at Risk Institute 2010). In addition to actions such as increasing physical activity, decreasing television watching and video game time, decreasing snacking on low nutrient calorie dense foods and sugar sweetened beverages, children need to consume more fruits and vegetables. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2002, about 26 percent of U.S. children are meeting the recommendations for daily fruit intake and about 16 percent are meeting the recommendations for daily vegetable intake (CDC NHANES). In 2004, the average total intake of vegetables was 0.9 cups per day and 1.1 cups of fruit per day by children ages four to nine years old in the U.S. (CDC NHANES). Not only do children need effective nutrition education to learn about fruits and vegetables, they also need access and repeated exposure to fruits and vegetables (Anderson 2009, Briefel 2009). Nutrition education interventions that provide a structured, hands-on curriculum such as school gardens have produced significant changes in child fruit and vegetable intake (Blair 2009, McAleese 2007). To prevent childhood obesity from continuing into adolescence and adulthood, effective nutrition education interventions need to be implemented immediately and for the long-term. However, research has shown short-term nutrition education interventions such as summer camps to be effective for significant changes in child fruit and vegetable intake, preferences, and knowledge (Heim 2009). ^ A four week summer camp based on cooking and gardening was implemented at 6 Multi-Service centers in a large, urban city. The participants included children ranging in age from 7 to 14 years old (n=64). The purpose of the camp was to introduce children to their food from the seed to the plate through the utilization of gardening and culinary exercises. The summer camp activities were aimed at increasing the children's exposure, willingness to try, preferences, knowledge, and intake of fruits and vegetables. A survey was given on the first day of camp and again on the last day of camp that measured the pre- and post differences in knowledge, intake, willingness to try, and preferences of fruits and vegetables. The present study examined the short-term effectiveness of a cooking and garden-based nutrition education program on the knowledge, willingness, preferences, and intake among children aged 8 to 13 years old (n=40). The final sample of participants (n=40) was controlled for those who completed pre- and post-test surveys and who were in or above the third grade level. Results showed a statistically significant increase in the reported intake of vegetables and preferences for vegetables, specifically green beans, and fruits. There was also a significant increase in preferences for fruits among boys and participants ages 11 to 13 years. The results showed a change in the expected direction of willingness to try, preferences for vegetables, and intake of fruit, however these were not statistically significant. Interestingly, the results also showed a decrease in the intake of low nutrient calorie dense foods such as sweets and candy.^

The Colic Clinic---a comprehensive program evaluation

Child abuse correlated with excessive infant crying affects millions of families each year, with consequences of the abuse lasting a lifetime. The University Of Texas School Of Medicine's Colic Clinic is currently in the early stages of testing Dr. Harvey Karp's combinatorial soothing technique for infants called "The Happiest Baby on the Block". In order to gauge the program's potential effectiveness, the Colic Clinic Protocol was examined in order to assess the applicability of the intervention to known causal factors of child abuse associated with excessive infant crying. ^ This evaluation also carried out an anticipated cost-benefit breakout analysis for the implementation of the intervention for 100 children and compared the cost of the program implementation to the cost associated with a single instance of child abuse. The analysis revealed that while accounting for materials, advertising, salaried personnel and other overhead expenses, the cost to implement the intervention was less than half the cost of the medical treatment associated with a single victim of whiplash-shaken infant syndrome. ^ Although the program is still in its early evaluative phase, the future implications of this work are extensive. If this intervention is revealed to be relevant and cost effective, it will precipitate sweeping changes in medical education and training, public health detection and prevention programs, and law enforcement.^

Effects of a health advocacy program to promote physical activity and nutrition behaviors among adolescents: An evaluation of the Young Leaders for Healthy Change program

Background. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of the Young Leaders for Healthy Change program, an internet-delivered program in the school setting that emphasized health advocacy skills-development, on nutrition and physical activity behaviors among older adolescents (13–18 years). The program consisted of online curricular modules, training modules, social media, peer and parental support, and a community service project. Module content was developed based on Social Cognitive Theory and known determinants of behavior for older adolescents. ^ Methods. Of the 283 students who participated in the fall 2011 YL program, 38 students participated in at least ten of the 12 weeks and were eligible for this study. This study used a single group-only pretest/posttest evaluation design. Participants were 68% female, 58% white/Caucasian, 74% 10th or 11th graders, and 89% mostly A and/or B students. The primary behavioral outcomes for this analysis were participation in 60-minutes of physical activity per day, 20-minutes of vigorous- or moderate- intensity physical activity (MVPA) participation per day, television and computer time, fruit and vegetable (FV) intake, sugar-sweetened beverage intake, and consumption of breakfast, home-cooked meals, and fast food. Other outcomes included knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes related to healthy eating, physical activity, and advocacy skills. ^ Findings. Among the 38 participants, no significant changes in any variables were observed. However, among those who did not previously meet behavioral goals there was an 89% increase in students who participated in more than 20 minutes of MVPA per day and a 58% increase in students who ate home-cooked meals 5–7 days per week. The majority of participants met program goals related to knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes prior to the start of the program. Participants reported either maintaining or improving to the goal at posttest for all items except FV intake knowledge, taste and affordability of healthy foods, interest in teaching others about being healthy, and ease of finding ways to advocate in the community. ^ Conclusions. The results of this evaluation indicated that promoting healthy behaviors requires different strategies than maintaining healthy behaviors among high school students. In the school setting, programs need to target the promotion and maintenance of health behaviors to engage all students who participate in the program as part of a class or club activity. Tailoring the program using screening and modifying strategies to meet the needs of all students may increase the potential reach of the program. The Transtheoretical Model may provide information on how to develop a tailored program. Additional research on how to utilize the constructs of TTM effectively among high school students needs to be conducted. Further evaluation studies should employ a more expansive evaluation to assess the long-term effectiveness of health advocacy programming.^

The Need for School-Based Teen Dating Violence Prevention

Schools have several competing demands, and often suffer from inefficient access to needed resources. Thus, the addition of any program into an already overtaxed school system must be met with convincing evidence that 1) a need or problem exists and is relevant to the education of students, 2) the problem is amenable to change, and 3) addressing the problem is in the best interest of educators and students. The purpose of the present paper is to present a case for inclusion of teen dating violence prevention programs in middle and high schools. We also discuss a recent survey of 219 employees of a suburban school district in southeast Texas. Specifically, we examined their perceived need for and appropriateness of a school-based dating violence prevention program. The anonymous internet-based survey revealed that a majority of participants believed that teen dating violence was a problem, 19% reported having observed an instance of teen dating violence, and 82% believed school to be an appropriate outlet for the implementation of a dating violence prevention program.

Impacto de la Asignación Universal por Hijo en la escolaridad de las familias pobres. El caso de Villa Argüello [Berisso] [2007-2014]

El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo analizar el impacto que la AUH tuvo, en las representaciones y prácticas escolares de las familias destinatarias, domiciliadas en el barrio Villa Argüello (Berisso, Provincia de Bs. As.), para así, observar los cambios y/o continuidades en los significados y en la praxis escolar de los niños/as perceptores de la AUH, durante el período 2007-2013. Al meditar sobre las investigaciones que nos anteceden, creemos observar que ninguna abordó específicamente el impacto que la AUH tuvo, sobre las representaciones y las prácticas escolares de los niños/as y de sus familias, desde los propios sujetos. Tampoco incorporaron la opinión de los docentes, directivos, psicopedagogos y preceptores respecto a la asistencia y retención escolar de los niños/as perceptores del DNU 1602/09. Por lo tanto, para evaluar si las políticas sociales del modelo de la post-convertibilidad, generaron modificaciones en la praxis y en los significados escolares de los niños/as en situación de pobreza a través de la AUH, consideramos indispensable llevar a cabo nuestra investigación, utilizando una metodología de tipo cualitativa. Para ello, recurriremos a la historia social a través de los testimonios y de las entrevistas, para analizar así la dimensión "escolaridad" de la AUH

Impacto de la Asignación Universal por Hijo (AUH) en la escolaridad de las familias pobres : El caso de Villa Argüello (Berisso) 2007-2013

El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo analizar el impacto, que la Asignación Universal por Hijo (en adelante AUH) tuvo en las representaciones y prácticas escolares de las familias destinatarias, domiciliadas en el barrio Villa Argüello (Berisso, Provincia de Buenos Aires), durante la implementación de dicha asignación; a través de la observación de los cambios y/o continuidades en los significados y prácticas escolares de los niños/as perceptores de esta AUH; para comprender las representaciones de los integrantes de las familias respecto de la AUH, como también la praxis escolar de los niños/as, antes y después de percibir la AUH (2007-2013). Puesto que hemos percibido que los estudios que anteceden a nuestra investigación, no abordaron específicamente el impacto que la AUH tuvo, sobre los significados y las prácticas escolares de los niños/as y de sus familias, desde los propios sujetos, como tampoco incorporaron la opinión de los docentes, directivos, psicopedagogos y preceptores respecto a la asistencia y retención escolar de los niños/as perceptores del Decreto de Necesidad y Urgencia 1602/09. Por lo tanto, para evaluar si las políticas sociales del modelo de la post-convertibilidad, generaron modificaciones en las prácticas y representaciones escolares de los niños/as en situación de pobreza a través de la AUH, consideramos indispensable investigar a partir de lo cualitativo desde la perspectiva de la historia social

Impacto de la Asignación Universal por Hijo (AUH) en la escolaridad de las familias pobres : El caso de Villa Argüello (Berisso) 2007-2013

El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo analizar el impacto, que la Asignación Universal por Hijo (en adelante AUH) tuvo en las representaciones y prácticas escolares de las familias destinatarias, domiciliadas en el barrio Villa Argüello (Berisso, Provincia de Buenos Aires), durante la implementación de dicha asignación; a través de la observación de los cambios y/o continuidades en los significados y prácticas escolares de los niños/as perceptores de esta AUH; para comprender las representaciones de los integrantes de las familias respecto de la AUH, como también la praxis escolar de los niños/as, antes y después de percibir la AUH (2007-2013). Puesto que hemos percibido que los estudios que anteceden a nuestra investigación, no abordaron específicamente el impacto que la AUH tuvo, sobre los significados y las prácticas escolares de los niños/as y de sus familias, desde los propios sujetos, como tampoco incorporaron la opinión de los docentes, directivos, psicopedagogos y preceptores respecto a la asistencia y retención escolar de los niños/as perceptores del Decreto de Necesidad y Urgencia 1602/09. Por lo tanto, para evaluar si las políticas sociales del modelo de la post-convertibilidad, generaron modificaciones en las prácticas y representaciones escolares de los niños/as en situación de pobreza a través de la AUH, consideramos indispensable investigar a partir de lo cualitativo desde la perspectiva de la historia social

Impacto de la Asignación Universal por Hijo en la escolaridad de las familias pobres. El caso de Villa Argüello [Berisso] [2007-2014]

El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo analizar el impacto que la AUH tuvo, en las representaciones y prácticas escolares de las familias destinatarias, domiciliadas en el barrio Villa Argüello (Berisso, Provincia de Bs. As.), para así, observar los cambios y/o continuidades en los significados y en la praxis escolar de los niños/as perceptores de la AUH, durante el período 2007-2013. Al meditar sobre las investigaciones que nos anteceden, creemos observar que ninguna abordó específicamente el impacto que la AUH tuvo, sobre las representaciones y las prácticas escolares de los niños/as y de sus familias, desde los propios sujetos. Tampoco incorporaron la opinión de los docentes, directivos, psicopedagogos y preceptores respecto a la asistencia y retención escolar de los niños/as perceptores del DNU 1602/09. Por lo tanto, para evaluar si las políticas sociales del modelo de la post-convertibilidad, generaron modificaciones en la praxis y en los significados escolares de los niños/as en situación de pobreza a través de la AUH, consideramos indispensable llevar a cabo nuestra investigación, utilizando una metodología de tipo cualitativa. Para ello, recurriremos a la historia social a través de los testimonios y de las entrevistas, para analizar así la dimensión "escolaridad" de la AUH

Impacto de la Asignación Universal por Hijo en la escolaridad de las familias pobres. El caso de Villa Argüello [Berisso] [2007-2014]

El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo analizar el impacto que la AUH tuvo, en las representaciones y prácticas escolares de las familias destinatarias, domiciliadas en el barrio Villa Argüello (Berisso, Provincia de Bs. As.), para así, observar los cambios y/o continuidades en los significados y en la praxis escolar de los niños/as perceptores de la AUH, durante el período 2007-2013. Al meditar sobre las investigaciones que nos anteceden, creemos observar que ninguna abordó específicamente el impacto que la AUH tuvo, sobre las representaciones y las prácticas escolares de los niños/as y de sus familias, desde los propios sujetos. Tampoco incorporaron la opinión de los docentes, directivos, psicopedagogos y preceptores respecto a la asistencia y retención escolar de los niños/as perceptores del DNU 1602/09. Por lo tanto, para evaluar si las políticas sociales del modelo de la post-convertibilidad, generaron modificaciones en la praxis y en los significados escolares de los niños/as en situación de pobreza a través de la AUH, consideramos indispensable llevar a cabo nuestra investigación, utilizando una metodología de tipo cualitativa. Para ello, recurriremos a la historia social a través de los testimonios y de las entrevistas, para analizar así la dimensión "escolaridad" de la AUH