Awareness and Knowledge of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd Edition

Moving With the Times: Updating the National Physical Activity Plan's Media and Communication Strategies to Increase Population-Level Physical Activity

In 2022, an interdisciplinary team of subject matter experts was convened to substantially revise the Mass Media sector content of the National Physical Activity Plan. The updated version recognizes the rapid pace at which the media landscape is evolving and includes a new sector name (Media and Communications) and revised strategies and tactics that reflect progress in the development of a national physical activity campaign brand (Move Your Way ®). This commentary summarizes key changes and highlights the importance of ongoing collaboration between physical activity and media professionals to optimize promotion of physical activity through diverse channels.

Self-Reported Physical Activity Behavior and Practice of Healthcare Professionals During the Second and Third Trimester of Pregnancy in Greece

Background/Objectives: The primary aim of the study was to investigate the self-reported behavior and practice of healthcare professionals (midwives and obstetricians) regarding physical activity during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. The secondary goal of the study was to highlight sociodemographic and professional characteristics affecting the aforementioned behavior. Methods: The study was of cross-sectional design and was conducted between January 2022 and March 2023 with the participation of 235 midwives and obstetricians working in public and private facilities in the region of Attica, Greece. The participants completed a demographic characteristics form as well as a questionnaire structured to serve the aim of the study. Eight independent models of multivariate analyses of variance were performed. Results: Among the participants, over 97% recommended exercising during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Cardio exercises were the most commonly suggested type (93.1% in the second trimester and 88.5% in the third trimester), followed by relaxation exercises (87.7% and 89.8%, respectively). The majority recommended exercising 2-3 times per week, with session durations ranging from 15 to 30 min in the second trimester and 30 to 45 min in the third trimester. The intention for recommending physical activity during the second trimester was associated with the profession (p < 0.001), the personal attitude toward the necessity of exercising (p = 0.006), the participants' belief regarding the importance of being informed about relevant recommendations (p = 0.003), and the degree of knowledge regarding the relevant international guidelines (p = 0.031). With respect to the third trimester, the associated factors included gender (p = 0.011), the participant's profession (p = 0.006), the degree of knowledge regarding the relevant international guidelines (p = 0.008), their positive attitude toward physical activity during pregnancy (p = 0.011), and the degree of knowledge regarding the relevant international guidelines (p = 0.008). Conclusions: The aforementioned factors should be taken into consideration when designing interventions for the promotion of physical activity during pregnancy. The structure of relevant instruments would facilitate the evaluation of health professionals' behavior toward physical activity.

Frequency and Predictors of Adolescent Worry for School Gun Violence In the United States: Findings from a Nationally Representative Study

Purpose

While school gun violence (SGV) incidents in the United States (U.S.) have risen sharply over the past decade, limited research has examined adolescent worries about SGV. We examined the frequency and correlates of SGV worry in a U.S. nationally representative sample of adolescents.

Methods

Data were from adolescent participants (14-17 years; N = 1017) in the 2022 National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior, a nationally representative study of sexual health experiences of people in the U.S. SGV worry was a single 5-point item (not at all worried - extremely worried). We used both weighted descriptive statistics to examine SGV frequency and random intercept mixed effects ordinal regression to examine demographic and background impact on SGV worry.

Results

Nearly 75% of adolescents reported some degree of SGV worry; of these, one in five were very or extremely worried. SGV worry was significantly higher for adolescents in younger grades and among racial/ethnic minority youth, as well as for cisgender female and gender minority teens. Adolescents in higher income homes were less worried about SGV. Both teens living in metropolitan locations and teens who reported higher anxiety in the past two weeks noted higher SGV worry.

Conclusions

U.S. adolescents have a substantial level of worry about school gun violence. Structural interventions are needed to reduce SGV itself. Moreover, because there are detrimental long-term impacts of prolonged worry, targeted interventions are important for reaching those who are at greatest worry risk, including lower income, race/ethnic minority and gender minority teens.

Implications and Conclusions

Three out of every four adolescents in the United States worry about being a victim of school gun violence. Structural interventions to both reduce SGV itself and to reach adolescents at greatest risk for SGV worry are warranted.

Physical activity experience of patients with hypertension: a systematic review and synthesis of qualitative literature

BACKGROUND

Hypertension continues to increase in prevalence, and it has become a major cause of increased mortality globally. Physical activity (PA) has been shown to be a first-line treatment for controlling blood pressure. However, participation rates in PA are still poor. Therefore, it's imperative to explore the factors that affect patient PA adherence.

METHODS

A synthesis of qualitative research of the PA experience of patients with hypertension was conducted. We systematically searched for qualitative studies published in English from inception to May 2023 in the databases of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library. The Joanna Briggs Institute tool was used to extract data, and the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour model was used to synthesize data.

RESULTS

This qualitative research included 17 studies, identified 85 findings, summarized 9 categories, and finally meta-aggregated 3 synthesized findings, including capabilities of patients with hypertension, PA opportunities and PA motivators. The capabilities included age, other health problems, and PA knowledge and skills. Opportunities included time constraints, environmental factors, physical activity resources, and social support. Motivators included self-efficacy, pursuing physical health, and experience from PA.

CONCLUSION

The available evidence contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the barriers and facilitators of PA in patients with hypertension. Most of these barriers can be addressed and improved. When designing and implementing physical activity programs for patients with hypertension, an individualized PA program should first be designed, tailored to the patient's capacity. Secondly, patients should be provided with additional PA resources and enhanced social support. Lastly, patients' motivation can be increased by enhancing their PA experience.

Awareness and Knowledge of the Physical Activity Guidelines and Their Association with Physical Activity Levels

BACKGROUND

Physical activity guidelines recommend that adults engage in aerobic exercise and activities that preserve or increase muscle mass. The primary aim of this study was to assess the awareness and knowledge of these guidelines among adults in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia. A secondary objective was to examine the role of awareness and knowledge in the adherence to physical activity guidelines.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional observational study, 1018 participants were recruited through a self-administered online survey. Participants' awareness and knowledge about physical activity guidelines were assessed using a prompted questionnaire. Physical activity levels and weekly energy expenditures were evaluated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire.

RESULTS

The proportion of the participants who reported being aware of the guidelines was approximately 48%, whereas the proportion of the participants who correctly identified the guidelines for moderate-intensity physical activity was 38%. However, only 23% correctly identified the muscle strength guidelines. Those who were aware of the guidelines were most likely to meet the physical activity recommendations (OR = 2.03; 95% CI = 1.55-2.65). Participants who reported being aware of the guidelines exhibited a significantly higher energy expenditure, measured in MET minutes per week (p < 0.01). Similarly, participants who correctly identified the guidelines had greater energy expenditure (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

We found that adults in Jazan have a moderate level of awareness and knowledge of PA guidelines and that awareness is a predictor of adherence to these guidelines. Individuals who are aware of PA guidelines or have knowledge of them tend to have higher levels of physical activity. These findings suggest that public health campaigns that promote awareness and knowledge of the physical activity guidelines may accelerate the progress in engaging the Saudi population with these guidelines.

Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Women

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of mortality in women, necessitating innovative primary prevention strategies. Contemporary guidelines on primary prevention of CVD highlight the increasing prevalence of CVD risk factors and emphasize the significance of female-specific risk enhancers that substantially augment the future risk of CVD. These risk factors occur throughout a woman's life cycle, such as hormonal contraception, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and menopause, all of which confer an added layer of risk in women beyond the conventional risk factors. Despite this, current methods may not fully capture the nuanced vulnerabilities in women that increase their risk of CVD. In this review, we highlight gender-specific risk enhancers and subsequent prevention as well as strategies to improve primary prevention of CVD in women.

An assessment of the move your way program among hispanic adults in Las Vegas, Nevada

BACKGROUND

Physical activity (PA) is important because of its associated health benefits. However, many Americans remain inactive. The 2018 guidelines recognize that PA bouts of less than 10 min are beneficial. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion created the Move Your Way® (MYW) campaign to provide PA resources for communities and healthcare providers. This study aims to describe the reach of the MYW campaign, and assess whether having seen, heard, or read (SHR) about MYW, or having seen the MYW logo, was associated with PA knowledge, self-efficacy, and behavior among Hispanics residing in the Las Vegas, Nevada area.

METHODS

Hispanics, aged 18-74, were surveyed at community events (n = 481) or via an online survey (n = 123). Respondents were asked if they had SHR of MYW, were aware of 2018 PA recommendations, and to report their personal PA behavior, PA knowledge, PA intentions, and demographics.

RESULTS

Respondents (71% female) completed a 38-42-item survey. Approximately (12.4%) had SHR of the MYW campaign and 16.1% had seen the MYW logo. Only 3.4% and 15% identified, "150 minutes per week" and "75 minutes per week" as the 2018 guidelines for moderate physical activity (MPA) and vigorous physical activity (VPA), respectively. Those who had SHR of the MYW campaign were more likely to correctly identify 150 min per week as the MPA guideline and had greater confidence in overcoming selected PA barriers. Regression analysis showed that those who had seen the MYW logo were more likely to meet strength guidelines, and that those who had SHR of MYW or saw the logo were more likely to know the recommended minutes of MPA.

CONCLUSIONS

Knowledge of the MYW program positively associates with some PA behaviors and PA correlates.