Comparing the activPAL software's Primary Time in Bed Algorithm against Self-Report and van der Berg's Algorithm

The purpose of this study was to compare activPAL algorithm-estimated values for time in bed (TIB), wake time (WT) and bedtime (BT) against self-report and an algorithm developed by van der Berg and colleagues. Secondary analyses of baseline data from the Community Activity for Prevention Study (CAPS) were used in which adults ≥ 18 years wore the activPAL for seven days. Mixed-effects models compared differences between TIB, WT, and BT for all three methods. Bland-Altman plots examined agreement and the two-one-sided test examined equivalence. activPAL was not equivalent to self-report or van der Berg in estimating TIB, but was equivalent to self-report for estimating BT, and was equivalent to van der Berg for estimating WT. The activPAL algorithm requires adjustments before researchers can use it to estimate TIB. However, researchers can use activPAL's option to manually enter self-reported BT and WT to estimate TIB and better understand 24-hour movement patterns.

Rationale and design for the community activation for prevention study (CAPs): A randomized controlled trial of community gardening

BACKGROUND

Engaging in health-promoting behaviors (e.g., healthy fruit- and vegetable-rich diet, physical activity) and living in supportive social and built environments are consistently and significantly associated with reductions in cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. Interventions to change diet and physical activity behaviors should aim to educate individuals, change the environments in which people live, work and recreate, improve access, availability, and affordability of healthy foods, and create safe places the facilitate active lifestyles. This trial will assess whether community gardening increases fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity, improves social support and mental health, and reduces age-associated weight gain and sedentary time among a multi-ethnic, mixed-income population.

METHODS/DESIGN

A randomized controlled trial of community gardening began in Denver, Colorado in January 2017. Over 3 years, we will recruit 312 consenting participants on Denver Urban Gardens' waitlists and randomize them to garden or remain on the waitlist. At baseline (pre-gardening), harvest time, and post-intervention, study participants will complete three 24-hour dietary recalls, a 7-day activity monitoring period using accelerometry, a health interview and physical anthropometry.

DISCUSSION

This project addresses health-promoting behaviors among a multi-ethnic, mixed-income adult population in a large metropolitan area. If successful, this trial will provide evidence that community gardening supports and sustains healthy and active lifestyles, which can reduce risk of cancer and other chronic diseases.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT03089177: Registered on 03/17/17.

The relationship of hardiness, coping strategies, and perceived stress to symptoms of illness

We proposed a conceptual model based on research supporting the relationship between symptoms of illness and the determinants of hardiness, coping strategies, and perceived stress. In this model, hardiness, avoidance coping, and approach coping have paths to perceived stress, perceived stress has a path to symptoms of illness, and hardiness also has a path to symptoms of illness. We examined the goodness of fit of this model using path analysis and tested its stability, as well as the presence of gender effects, in corporate (N = 110) and university (N = 271) samples. The proposed model was a good fit for the data in the corporate sample, and no gender effects were found. The proposed model was not a good fir for the data in the university sample, therefore we added two paths that have received some support in the research: from approach coping to symptoms of illness and from avoidance coping to symptoms of illness. This model was a good fit for the data in the university sample, however, the path from approach coping to symptoms of illness had a critical ratio < 2.0, thus we removed this path and ran the model again. The final model was a good fit for the data, and no gender effects were found. Implications for the relationship of hardiness, coping strategies, and perceived stress to health are discussed.