Promoting Slhánay̓ Skwálwen (Indigenous Women's Heart Health): Findings From Sharing Circles With Squamish Nation.

OBJECTIVE: To gather knowledge and experiences from Squamish Nation citizens to codevelop a model of foraging walks for Indigenous women's heart health. DESIGN: Qualitative study (sharing circles). SETTING: Vancouver, Canada (virtual). PARTICIPANTS: Squamish Nation community members (n = 9), Elders or Knowledge Keepers (n = 5), and researchers (n = 2). INTERVENTION: Community-led foraging walks as a culturally safe nutrition education strategy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Perspectives and experiences. ANALYSIS: Content analysis and narrative synthesis. RESULTS: Personal experiences of foraging walks or knowledge of traditional plants were limited for most participants, and all desired to learn more about traditional foods using land-based activities. Participants identified a lack of nutrition education surrounding heart health and common mistreatment and judgment from health professionals. Participants identified important elements of a future Squamish program, including who should be involved, how to implement it, and the most effective temporal and physical setting. All agreed foraging walks help promote 5 dimensions of heart health (physical, emotional, spiritual, mental, and social) through physical activity, purposeful nutrition, and connection to community and culture. Findings from the sharing circles were used in the creation of a template for future foraging sessions and contributed to plant identification cards for the whole community. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Community-based pilot studies to test foraging walks as a culturally safe and environmental approach to nutrition education and cardiovascular health awareness for Indigenous communities are warranted. Research to examine the similarities and differences across Indigenous groups related to understanding heart health and land-based practices for nutrition education and heart health awareness is needed.

Changes in UK price disparities between healthy and less healthy foods over 10 years: An updated analysis with insights in the context of inflationary increases in the cost-of-living from 2021.

Food prices and affordability play an important role in influencing dietary choices, which in turn have implications for public health. With inflationary increases in the cost-of-living in the UK since 2021, understanding the dynamics of food prices becomes increasingly important. In this longitudinal study, we aimed to examine changes in food prices from 2013 to 2023 by food group and by food healthiness. We established a dataset spanning the years 2013-2023 by combining price data from the UK Consumer Price Index for food and beverage items with nutrient and food data from the UK nutrient databank and UK Department of Health & Social Care's National Diet and Nutrition Survey data. We calculated the price (£/100 kcal) for each food item by year as well as before and during the period of inflationary pressure, and classified items into food groups according to the UK Eatwell Guide and as either "more healthy" or "less healthy" using the UK nutrient profiling score model. In 2023, bread, rice, potatoes and pasta was cheapest (£0.12/100 kcal) and fruit and vegetables most expensive (£1.01/100 kcal). Less healthy food was cheaper than more healthy food (£0.33/100 kcal versus £0.81/100 kcal). Before the inflationary pressure period (from 2013 to late 2021), the price of foods decreased by 3%. After this period, the price of food increased by 22%: relative increases were highest in the food group milk and dairy food (31%) and less healthy category (26%). While healthier foods saw smaller relative price increases since 2021, they remain more expensive, potentially exacerbating dietary inequalities. Policy responses should ensure food affordability and mitigate price disparities via, for example, healthy food subsidies.

Does Retirement and Work Stoppage Impact Body Weight and Waist Circumference Changes in Middle- and Older-Aged Women and Men? Results From the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

This study aimed to examine the impact of employment transitions (ETs) on anthropometric changes among middle-aged and older workers (ages 45y+). Using two waves of data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, we analyzed the impact of ETs (stayed working, entered retirement, and stopped working) on change in body weight and waist circumference (WC) on continuous scales as well as categories (≥5% cut-off). Analyses were sex/gender-stratified. Women did not show significant weight or WC change that differed across ETs, but estimated directions suggested those who stopped working were more likely to have ≥5% change in weight. Estimated directions of continuous outcomes for women who stopped working relative to continued workers showed less weight gain and more WC gain. Men who retired gained less weight and had smaller WC gain compared to reference. The findings imply that the short-run impact of exiting the labor force may not exacerbate weight gain.

Preparing for colorectal surgery: a feasibility study of a novel web-based multimodal prehabilitation programme in Western Canada.

AIM: Prehabilitation for colorectal cancer has focused on exercise-based interventions that are typically designed by clinicians; however, no research has yet been patient-oriented. The aim of this feasibility study was to test a web-based multimodal prehabilitation intervention (known as PREP prehab) consisting of four components (physical activity, diet, smoking cessation, psychological support) co-designed with five patient partners. METHOD: A longitudinal, two-armed (website without or with coaching support) feasibility study of 33 patients scheduled for colorectal surgery 2 weeks or more from consent (January-September 2021) in the province of British Columbia, Canada. Descriptive statistics analysed a health-related quality of life questionnaire (EQ5D-5L) at baseline (n = 25) and 3 months postsurgery (n = 21), and a follow-up patient satisfaction survey to determine the acceptability, practicality, demand for and potential efficacy in improving overall health. RESULTS: Patients had a mean age of 52 years (SD 14 years), 52% were female and they had a mean body mass index of 25 kg m-2 (SD 3.8 kg m-2). Only six patients received a Subjective Global Assessment for being at risk for malnutrition, with three classified as 'severely/moderately' malnourished. The majority (86%) of patients intended to use the prehabilitation website, and nearly three-quarters (71%) visited the website while waiting for surgery. The majority (76%) reported that information, tools and resources provided appropriate support, and 76% indicated they would recommend the PREP prehab programme. About three-quarters (76%) reported setting goals for lifestyle modification: 86% set healthy eating goals, 81% aimed to stay active and 57% sought to reduce stress once a week or more. No patients contacted the team to obtain health coaching, despite broad interest (71%) in receiving active support and 14% reporting they received 'active support'. CONCLUSION: This web-based multimodal prehabilitation programme was acceptable, practical and well-received by all colorectal surgery patients who viewed the patient-oriented multimodal website. The feasibility of providing active health coaching support requires further investigation.

Perceptions of self-monitoring dietary intake according to a plate-based approach: A qualitative study.

Dietary self-monitoring is a behaviour change technique used to help elicit and sustain dietary changes over time. Current dietary self-monitoring tools focus primarily on itemizing foods and counting calories, which can be complex, time-intensive, and dependent on health literacy. Further, there are no dietary self-monitoring tools that conform to the plate-based approach of the 2019 Canada Food Guide (CFG), wherein the recommended proportions of three food groups are visually represented on a plate without specifying daily servings or portion sizes. This paper explored the perceptions of end-users (i.e., general public) and Registered Dietitians of iCANPlateTM-a dietary self-monitoring mobile application resembling the CFG. Qualitative data were collected through virtual focus groups. Focus group questions were based on the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) theoretical framework to explore perceptions of using the CFG and currently available dietary self-monitoring tools. The prototype iCANPlateTM (version 0.1) was presented to gain feedback on perceived barriers and facilitators of its use. Focus group discussions were audio recorded and verbatim transcribed. Trained researchers used thematic analysis to code and analyze the transcripts independently. Seven focus groups were conducted with Registered Dietitians (n = 44) and nine focus groups with members from the general public (n = 52). During the focus groups, participants mainly discussed the capabilities and opportunities required to use the current iteration of iCANPlateTM. Participants liked the simplicity of the application and its capacity to foster self-awareness of dietary behaviours rather than weight control or calorie counting. However, concerns were raised regarding iCANPlateTM's potential to improve adherence to dietary self-monitoring due to specific characteristics (i.e., insufficient classifications, difficulty in conceptualizing proportions, and lack of inclusivity). Overall, participants liked the simplicity of iCANPlateTM and its ability to promote self-awareness of dietary intakes, primarily through visual representation of foods on a plate as opposed to reliance on numerical values or serving sizes, were benefits of using the app. Findings from this study will be used to further develop the app with the goal of increasing adherence to plate-based dietary approaches.

Economic evaluation of prostate cancer risk assessment methods: A cost-effectiveness analysis using population data.

BACKGROUND: The current prostate cancer (PCa) screening standard of care (SOC) leads to unnecessary biopsies and overtreatment because decisions are guided by prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, which have low specificity in the gray zone (3-10 ng/mL). New risk assessment tools (RATs) aim to improve biopsy decision-making. We constructed a modeling framework to assess new RATs in men with gray zone PSA from the British Columbia healthcare system's perspective. METHODS: We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of a new RAT used in biopsy-naïve men aged 50+ with a PSA of 3-10 ng/mL using a time-dependent state-transition model. The model was informed by engaging patient partners and using linked administrative health data, supplemented with published literature. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio and the probability of the RAT being cost-effective were calculated. Probabilistic analysis was used to assess parameter uncertainty. RESULTS: In the base case, a RAT based on an existing biomarker's characteristics was a dominant strategy associated with a cost savings of $44 and a quality-adjusted life years (QALY) gain of 0.00253 over 18 years of follow-up. At a cost-effectiveness threshold of $50,000/QALY, the probability that using a RAT is cost-effective relative to the SOC was 73%. Outcomes were sensitive to RAT costs and accuracy, especially the detection rate of high-grade PCa. Results were also impacted by PCa prevalence and assumptions about undetected PCa survival. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that a more accurate RAT to guide biopsy can be cost-effective. Our proposed general model can be used to analyze the cost-effectiveness of any novel RAT.

Prescribing diabetes nutrition therapy: a qualitative study of dietitians' experiences of carbohydrate restriction in Canada.

Background: Diabetes care has traditionally not included nutrition therapy using carbohydrate restriction, nor has carbohydrate restriction been taught to registered dietitians (RDs) to support patients living with diabetes choosing this dietary approach. We aimed to describe the experiences and views of RDs caring for patients using therapeutic carbohydrate-restricted diets (TCR), particularly metabolic conditions such as type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. Subjects/Methods: A qualitative study design using free-text responses from an online needs assessment survey was employed. RDs who practised in Canada were invited (n=6640) and 274 completed the survey, with 45 respondents who regularly prescribed TCR to their patients providing open-text responses (2987 words), which were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: We identified four themes characterising Canadian RDs' experiences around prescribing TCR: interpersonal context, personal experience/knowledge, regulatory environment and patient-centredness. While these themes often interacted, each impacted TCR prescription uniquely, with patient-centred care at the core of reported experiences of prescribing. Conclusions: There exists a variety of experiences and perspectives related to prescribing of TCR among Canadian RDs caring for patients with diabetes, and all focus on the patient's needs, benefits and preferences. Prescribing TCR was often informed by the scientific literature yet also by RDs' experiential knowledge. Responses highlighted a desire for evidence-based educational materials and greater discussion within the diabetes nutrition community on this topic.

How is food variety conceptualised and measured as a diet quality indicator in developed settings? Protocol for a systematic scoping review.

OBJECTIVES: Dietary diversity (DD) is a pillar of healthy eating guidance and can be used to assess diet quality. Despite being an established nutrition concept, many inconsistencies in its definition and measurement exist and meanings vary across the development spectrum. This protocol outlines a research trajectory, whereby a scoping review will be undertaken to illustrate and map the methodological approaches that have been utilised to measure diversity as a marker of diet quality in the general population. It seeks to determine the most common and less used methodological approaches to measure DD in the diet of healthy adults. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Scoping review of peer-reviewed and grey literature from five bibliographic databases, supplemented by handsearching of reviews and reference lists. Search terms will include DD, food variety, mixed diet, balanced diet and food group variety. Eligible articles must include a measure for DD as an indicator of diet quality in the general population living in developed settings. Two independent reviewers will screen titles or abstracts, and read full-texts. Consensus will resolve any disagreements on study eligibility with a third reviewer consulted if needed. Data will be extracted using a standardised evidence table and analysed using a narrative synthesis approach. Data will be managed using Covidence. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: No ethics is required for this study using public documents. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed papers and scientific conferences. DISCUSSION: This scoping review will help to map, classify and assess the methodological approaches used in the nutrition literature to measure DD as a diet quality indicator. We anticipate a wide range of DD measures and expect to identify the most prevalent DD measures used to assess diet quality. Our findings will inform standardisation to improve future research on this nutritional concept.

What Is a School Farm? Results of a Scoping Review.

As school farms become more prominent programs to teach food education, research is needed to support school farms' implementation and sustainability. This scoping review included 94 articles on school farms from three bibliometric databases covering broad international literature. Vocational agricultural training, animal husbandry, and crop production were common characteristics of school farms across 103 years of publications. Themes of sustainability, healthy eating, and food systems were more prominent in recent literature. Peer-reviewed studies (1985-2019) provided some empirical research showing school farms' impact on students. This review discusses school farms' structures and objectives as promising food education and production programming.

Race-based reporting and participation of Black individuals in registered pain clinical trials, United States, 2000 to 2019.

ABSTRACT: There are numerous, well-established racial disparities in the management of pain. The degree to which these are evident at the stage of conducting clinical trials is unknown. To address this knowledge gap, we examined race-based reporting, participation of Black individuals, and the factors associated with reporting and participation in pain clinical trials in the United States. Data were extracted from Clinicaltrials.gov and published articles. One thousand two hundred trials met our inclusion criteria; 482 (40.2%) reported participant race. More recent, publicly funded, and larger trials were more likely to report race. Of 82,468 participants included in pain clinical trials that reported race, 15,101 were Black individuals (18.3%). Participation of Black individuals was significantly associated with pain type (ß = +27% in cardiovascular disease pain compared with acute pain, P < 0.05), study population (ß = +33% and +7% in pain in minoritized populations and women, respectively, compared with general population, P < 0.05), pain intervention (ß = +7.5% for trials of opioid interventions compared with nonopioid interventions, P < 0.05), and a diverse team of investigators (ß = +8.0% for studies incorporating a visible non-White investigator compared with those that did not, P < 0.05). Our results indicate that representation of Black participants in pain clinical trials generally aligns with national demographics in the United States. Increased representation corresponds with health conditions more prevalent among Black individuals (eg, cardiovascular disease) and with a diverse study team composition. Despite these encouraging results, less than half of pain trials reported race, which introduces potential publication bias and limits external validity.

Health Care Costs Attributable to Prostate Cancer in British Columbia, Canada: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

We aimed to estimate the total health care costs attributable to prostate cancer (PCa) during care phases by age, cancer stage, tumor grade, and primary treatment in the first year in British Columbia (BC), Canada. Using linked administrative health data, we followed a cohort of men aged ≥ 50 years at diagnosis with PCa between 2010 and 2017 (Cohort 1) from the diagnosis date until the date of death, the last date of observation, or 31 December 2019. Patients who died from PCa after 1 January 2010, were selected for Cohort 2. PCa attributable costs were estimated by comparing costs in patients to matched controls. Cohort 1 (n = 22,672) had a mean age of 69.9 years (SD = 8.9) and a median follow-up time of 5.2 years. Cohort 2 included 6942 patients. Mean PCa attributable costs were the highest during the first year after diagnosis ($14,307.9 [95% CI: $13,970.0, $14,645.8]) and the year before death ($9959.7 [$8738.8, $11,181.0]). Primary treatment with radiation therapy had significantly higher costs each year after diagnosis than a radical prostatectomy or other surgeries in advanced-stage PCa. Androgen deprivation therapy (and/or chemotherapy) had the highest cost for high-grade and early-stage cancer during the three years after diagnosis. No treatment group had the lowest cost. Updated cost estimates could inform economic evaluations and decision-making.

Sex differences in heart disease prevalence among individuals with spinal cord injury: A population-based study.

CONTEXT/OBJECTIVE: The risk for cardiovascular disease is amplified following spinal cord injury, but whether risk differs between the sexes remains unknown. Here, we evaluated sex differences in the prevalence of heart disease among individuals with spinal cord injury, and compared sex differences with able-bodied individuals. DESIGN: The design was a cross-sectional study. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted, using inverse probability weighting to account for the sampling method and to adjust for confounders. SETTING: Canada. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals who participated in the national Canadian Community Health Survey. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported heart disease. RESULTS: Among 354 individuals with spinal cord injury, the weighted prevalence of self-reported heart disease was 22.9% in males and 8.7% in females, with an inverse-probability weighted odds ratio of 3.44 (95% CI 1.70-6.95) for males versus females. Among 60,605 able-bodied individuals, the prevalence of self-reported heart disease was 5.8% in males and 4.0% in females, with an inverse probability weighted odds ratio of 1.62 (95% CI 1.50-1.75) for males versus females. The effect of male sex on increasing heart disease prevalence was about two times higher among individuals with spinal cord injury than able-bodied individuals (relative difference in inverse probability weighted odds ratios = 2.12, 95% CI 1.08-4.51). CONCLUSION: Males with spinal cord injury exhibit a significantly higher prevalence of heart disease, compared with females with spinal cord injury. Moreover, relative to able-bodied individuals, spinal cord injury amplifies sex-related differences in heart disease. Overall, this work will inform targeted cardiovascular prevention strategies, and may also inform a better understanding of cardiovascular disease progression in both able-bodied and individuals with spinal cord injury.

IMplementing Predictive Analytics towards efficient COPD Treatments (IMPACT): protocol for a stepped-wedge cluster randomized impact study.

INTRODUCTION: Personalized disease management informed by quantitative risk prediction has the potential to improve patient care and outcomes. The integration of risk prediction into clinical workflow should be informed by the experiences and preferences of stakeholders, and the impact of such integration should be evaluated in prospective comparative studies. The objectives of the IMplementing Predictive Analytics towards efficient chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatments (IMPACT) study are to integrate an exacerbation risk prediction tool into routine care and to determine its impact on prescription appropriateness (primary outcome), medication adherence, quality of life, exacerbation rates, and sex and gender disparities in COPD care (secondary outcomes). METHODS: IMPACT will be conducted in two phases. Phase 1 will include the systematic and user-centered development of two decision support tools: (1) a decision tool for pulmonologists called the ACCEPT decision intervention (ADI), which combines risk prediction from the previously developed Acute COPD Exacerbation Prediction Tool with treatment algorithms recommended by the Canadian Thoracic Society's COPD pharmacotherapy guidelines, and (2) an information pamphlet for COPD patients (patient tool), tailored to their prescribed medication, clinical needs, and lung function. In phase 2, we will conduct a stepped-wedge cluster randomized controlled trial in two outpatient respiratory clinics to evaluate the impact of the decision support tools on quality of care and patient outcomes. Clusters will be practicing pulmonologists (n ≥ 24), who will progressively switch to the intervention over 18 months. At the end of the study, a qualitative process evaluation will be carried out to determine the barriers and enablers of uptake of the tools. DISCUSSION: The IMPACT study coincides with a planned harmonization of electronic health record systems across tertiary care centers in British Columbia, Canada. The harmonization of these systems combined with IMPACT's implementation-oriented design and partnership with stakeholders will facilitate integration of the tools into routine care, if the results of the proposed study reveal positive association with improvement in the process and outcomes of clinical care. The process evaluation at the end of the trial will inform subsequent design iterations before largescale implementation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05309356.

Setting Goals to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk: A Retrospective Chart Review of a Pharmacist-Led Initiative in the Workplace.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the second leading cause of death in Canada with many modifiable risk factors. Pharmacists at a Canadian university delivered a novel CVD risk management program, which included goal-setting and medication management. Aim: This study aimed to describe what CVD prevention goals are composed of in a workplace CVD risk reduction program, and how might these goals change over time. Methods: A longitudinal, descriptive qualitative study using a retrospective chart review of clinical care plans for 15 patients enrolled in a CVD prevention program. Data across 6 visits were extracted from charts (n = 5413 words) recorded from May 2019-November 2020 and analyzed using quantitative content analysis and descriptive statistics. Results: Behavioural goals were most popular among patients and were more likely to change over the 12-month follow-up period, compared to health measure goals. Behavioural goals included goals around diet, physical activity (PA), smoking, medication, sleep and alcohol; health measure goals centered on weight measures, blood pressure (BP) and blood lipid levels. The most common behavioural goals set by patients were for diet (n = 11) and PA (n = 9). Over time, goals around PA, medication, alcohol and weight were adapted while others were added (e.g. diet) and some only continued. Patients experienced a number of barriers to their goal(s) which informed how they adapted their goal(s). These included environmental limitations (including COVID-19) and work-related time constraints. Conclusions: This study found CVD goal-setting in the pharmacist-led workplace wellness program was complex and evolved over time, with goals added and/or adapted. More detailed qualitative research could provide further insights into the patient-provider goal-setting experience in workplace CVD prevention.

Association between social jetlag and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in adolescents in Western Canada.

BACKGROUND: Sleep debt is linked to poor health behaviours, and adolescents may be especially vulnerable to deficit from the mismatch of their late chronotype with socially determined sleep timing. We aimed to investigate the potential association between social jetlag and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) consumption among adolescents. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from 1031 adolescents (13-18 years) who participated in the population-based British Columbia Adolescent Substance Use Survey in 2012. Regression analysis using interaction terms estimated the associations between social jetlag (using self-reported weekday/weekends sleep times) and odds of SSB intake in girls and boys. RESULTS: On average, adolescents reported 1.59 (SD 0.73) hours of social jetlag, but girls had significantly more social jetlag (1.64) than boys (1.52). Most adolescents (84%) reported consuming SSBs, and significantly more boys (87%) than girls (81%); median SSB intake in boys was 1-2 times per week and in girls less than once per week. Significant differences in girls consuming any SSB were seen across levels of social jetlag. The odds of any SSB intake were significantly higher in adolescents with social jetlag between 1 and 2 h [odds ratio (OR): 1.6 (1.14-2.38)] and over 2 h [OR 1.87 (1.11-3.14)], compared with 1 h or less; associations were stronger and only significant in girls. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to show social jetlag is a common sleep deficit that is associated with SSB intake in adolescents, particularly among teen girls.

Therapeutic carbohydrate restriction pre-COVID pandemic: assessing registered dietitians' knowledge, use and perceived barriers in Canada.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Evidence supports therapeutic carbohydrate restriction (TCR) for managing appropriate patients with chronic illness, but little is known about TCR prescribing among dietitians. This study evaluated dietitians' knowledge, information use and needs for TCR in Canada. METHODS: Registered dietitians (RDs) were recruited (n = 274) from January to December 2020 to collect semi-structured data using an online needs assessment survey (French and English). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to describe and assess which nine RD practice characteristics predicted TCR prescription in clinical practice. RESULTS: Respondents were located in all provinces and territories in Canada, with few international responses in the sample (3.5%). We found statistically significant differences between RDs who have prescribed TCR or not in four practice characteristics studied: level of knowledge (p < 0.001), reviewing literature (p = 0.02), clinician referrals (p < 0.001) or personal experience (p < 0.001). Multivariable models showed that the odds of prescribing TCR was associated with intermediate/expert knowledge (OR 5.92 [95% CI: 2.26-17.77]), clinician's referral (OR 3.22 [1.73-6.14]) and personal experience, whether a former user (OR 2.24 [1.09-4.72]) or a current user of TCR (OR 9.09 [2.70-42.09]), compared to no knowledge, no referral or no experience. CONCLUSION: There is a strong link between the use, or lack, of TCR in clinical practice among RDs and their knowledge level, personal experience and clinician referrals/support. Scope exists to develop novel educational tools and resources on scientific evidence for TCR, and increase multidisciplinary teams, so as to better support RDs in Canada to safely implement TCR in appropriate patients with chronic illness.

A systematic review of evidence on employment transitions and weight change by gender in ageing populations.

BACKGROUND: Becoming unemployed is associated with poorer health, including weight gain. Middle- and older-age adults are a growing segment of workforces globally, but they are also more vulnerable to changes to employment status, especially during economic shocks. Expected workforce exits over the next decade may exacerbate both the obesity epidemic and the economic burden of obesity. This review extends current knowledge on economic correlates of health to assess whether employment transitions impact body weight by sex/gender among middle-aged and older adults. METHODS: Eight bibliometric databases were searched between June and July 2021, supplemented by hand-searches, with no restriction on publication date or country. Longitudinal studies, or reviews, were eligible when examining body weight as a function of employment status change in adults ≥50 years. Data extraction and quality appraisal used predefined criteria; reported findings were analysed by narrative synthesis. RESULTS: We screened 6,001 unique abstracts and identified 12 articles that met inclusion criteria. All studies examined retirement; of which two also examined job-loss. Overall, studies showed that retirement led to weight gain or no difference in weight change compared to non-retirees; however, reported effects were not consistent for either women or men across studies or for both women and men within a study. Reported effects also differed by occupation: weight gain was more commonly observed among retirees from physical occupations but not among retirees from sedentary occupations. Few studies assessed the role of health behaviours; sleep was the least studied. Most studies were medium quality. CONCLUSIONS: Existing studies do not provide a clear enough picture of how employment transitions affect body weight. Firm conclusions on the impact of employment transitions on weight cannot be made without further high-quality evidence that considers the role of gender, job-type, other health behaviours, and other transitions, like job-loss.

Preparing for colorectal surgery: a qualitative study of experiences and preferences of patients in Western Canada.

OBJECTIVES: The burden and costs of abdominal surgery for chronic conditions are on the rise, but could be reduced through self-management support. However, structured support to prepare for colorectal surgery is not routinely offered to patients in Canada. This study aimed to describe experiences and explore preferences for multimodal prehabilitation among colorectal surgery patients. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive study using three focus groups (FG) was held with 19 patients who had a surgical date for abdominal surgery (April 2017-April 2018) and lived close (≤ 50 km radius) to a tertiary hospital in Western Canada (including a Surgical Lead for the British Columbia Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Collaborative). FGs were audio-taped and verbatim transcribed with coding and pile-and-sort methods performed by two independent reviewers, confirmed by a third reviewer, in NVivo v9 software; followed by thematic analysis and narrative synthesis. RESULTS: Four themes emerged: support, informed decision-making, personalization of care, and mental/emotional health, which patients felt was particularly important but rarely addressed. Patient preferences for prehabilitation programming emphasised regular support from a single professional source, simple health messages, convenient access, and flexibility. CONCLUSIONS: There is an unmet need for structured preoperative support to better prepare patients for colorectal surgery. Future multimodal prehabilitation should be flexible and presented with non-medical information so patients can make informed decisions about their preoperative care and surgical outcomes. Healthcare providers have an important role in encouraging healthy lifestyle changes before colorectal surgery, though clearer communication and accurate advice on self-care, particularly mental health, are needed for improving patient outcomes.

Modified Delphi Process to Identify Research Priorities and Measures for Adult Lifestyle Programs to Address Type 2 Diabetes and Other Cardiometabolic Risk Conditions.

OBJECTIVES: Clinical and community guidelines recommend lifestyle (i.e. diet and physical activity) interventions for cardiometabolic conditions (including type 2 diabetes), yet current evidence suggests limited and variable services in primary care and public health settings. New implementation research studies are needed to ensure maximal effectiveness, equity and efficiency across all population subgroups and within the context of health systems. Such work will benefit from use of similar core measures and outcome indicators across studies. This Delphi process was undertaken by a new interdisciplinary volunteer researcher network to identify research priorities and core measures for such studies. METHODS: Interested network members completed 2 rounds of a modified Delphi process delivered through online questionnaire and teleconferences. Consensus was defined as the median and interquartile range within the top third of a 9-point scale. RESULTS: Twenty-five of 53 (47%) members and 18 (34%) participants completed the round 1 and round 2 surveys, respectively. Of 22 possible research priorities, 4 were rated high priority with consensus, including evaluating the efficacy and effectiveness of interventions in place, improving existing interventions for sustainability and clinical and public health research to advance existing knowledge to develop new capacities. Only 15 of the 93 measures and indicators proposed achieved similar consensus. CONCLUSIONS: This first effort confirms broad agreement on research priorities and limited agreement on core indicators/measures. The results provide a starting point for further development of common measures for implementation research in lifestyle studies addressing cardiometabolic conditions.

Letter to Editor: a cautionary note about "Dietary diversity score and cardio-metabolic risk factors: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis".

In the Journal's recent issue, Qorbani and colleagues conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine if a dietary diversity score is associated with cardio-metabolic outcomes. Given the importance of evidence synthesis for nutrition policy and practice, robust review methodology is necessary to avoid spurious conclusions about the health impacts of a mixed diet. There are important conceptual and methodological issues unique to this nutrition topic that warrant consideration and attention and that raise concerns for internal validity of the review. We write to emphasise the need for readers' caution when interpreting this research evidence.