Predicting Engagement With Online Walking Promotion Among Metropolitan and Rural Cancer Survivors.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity has numerous associated benefits for cancer survivors. Compared with their urban counterparts, rural Australians experience a health disadvantage, including poorer survival rate after diagnosis of cancer. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to test the effectiveness of an online 12-week walking intervention designed for cancer survivors and explore region-specific psychological predictors of behavior change. METHODS: This was a quasi-randomized controlled trial of an online resource designed according to Social Cognitive Theory and Self-determination Theory, based on individualized goal setting. Measures of habitual walking, motivation, and self-efficacy were taken at baseline, postintervention, and 3-month follow-up in an intervention group (n = 46) and active control group (n = 45). The control group was provided a pedometer but did not have access to the online program. RESULTS: An increase in steps/day at 12 weeks was observed in both groups, with a larger increase in the intervention group; these increases were not sustained at the 3-month follow-up. Psychological predictors of maintained change in steps per day (motivation, barrier self-efficacy, and relapse self-efficacy) did not differ between metropolitan and rural participants. Changes in steps per day among intervention participants were predicted by changes in relapse self-efficacy and barrier self-efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: The intervention was successful in increasing physical activity postintervention; however, changes were not maintained at follow-up. There were no region-specific predictors of engagement in the intervention. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Nurses are seamlessly positioned to promote health interventions like walking. Nurses should reframe physical activity with patients so that relapse is seen as common and possibly inevitable when adopting a regular physical activity habit.

"It's just common sense": Preconceptions and myths regarding fundamental care.

Fundamental care has come under increased scrutiny due to high-profile reports globally of poor nursing care. The reasons for these documented care failures are widely debated, with some scholars identifying issues with how fundamental care is valued within healthcare systems and by nurses. During focus groups designed to evaluate a fundamental care education intervention, we identified a perception commonly held by first-year pre-registration (pre-licensure) students that appeared indicative of a de-valuing of fundamental care: students routinely described fundamental care as 'common sense' and doubted that such care should form a key part of their education. In this paper, we explore this perception and its potential consequences for nursing education, clinical practice, and research. We argue that a perception of fundamental care as 'common sense' is a myth; it undermines the inherent complexity of providing such care to a consistently high standard and has negative implications for nursing education and continuing professional development, patient experiences and outcomes, and the advancement of nursing science. It is a perception that must be challenged.

Patients' use of mobile health applications: what general practitioners think.

BACKGROUND: Chronic disease patients are adopting self-management techniques, such as using mobile health applications (apps). As GPs are the main caregivers of chronic disease patients, obtaining GP perspectives regarding patient use of mobile health apps is vital in understanding longer term value and feasibility of these apps. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to determine GP perceptions of their current and potential roles in the use of health apps by their patients and how patient-focused apps affect patient management. METHODS: Ten GPs participated in semi-structured, face-to-face interviews, which focused on their perceptions of, and involvement in, the use of patient-focused health apps. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed by two independent reviewers. RESULTS: GPs found that apps complemented their role in patient management as additional sources of medical information of their patients. They perceived that patient-focused apps would be part of their future practices; however they noted that further work was required to incorporate them into their current practices. Currently, the main role of GPs was in promoting apps to patients. Suggestions for further engagement in mobile health included regularly reviewing patient data entered into health apps during consultations. CONCLUSION: GPs view patient-focused health apps positively, particularly to support them in providing patient care. Discussing information recorded in apps during consultations and frequent promotion of apps are feasible ways to integrate apps into their current work practices. Further studies involving evaluations of apps in improving health care delivery and patient communication in general practice are required.

Perceived Facilitators and Barriers in Response to a Walking Intervention in Rural Cancer Survivors: A Qualitative Exploration.

Physical activity has numerous associated benefits for cancer survivors. Compared to their urban counterparts, rural and remote Australians experience a health disadvantage, including poorer survival rate after the diagnosis of cancer. The purpose of this qualitative study was to (a) investigate factors that motivated or inhibited walking in rural participants during a 12-week intervention and (b) to investigate factors that motivated or inhibited physical activity behavior change three months post-intervention. Ten cancer survivors living in rural areas of South Australia participated in a 12-week computer-delivered walking-based intervention during which they reported daily steps, daily affect, and ratings of perceived exertion. Based on this information, individualized daily step goals were sent to them to increase walking. Following the intervention, participants engaged in face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and coded using thematic analysis. Participants identified a range of physical, psychological, social, environmental, and organizational motivators and barriers. Participants appreciated the monitoring and support from the research team, but some voiced a need for better transition to post-program and many desired ongoing support to maintain their motivation. Future studies should incorporate strategies to help walking behavior to become more intrinsically motivated and therefore sustained.

mHealth App Patient Testing and Review of Educational Materials Designed for Self-Management of Gout Patients: Descriptive Qualitative Studies.

BACKGROUND: Gout is a form of chronic arthritis caused by elevated serum uric acid (SUA) and culminates in painful gout attacks. Although effective uric acid-lowering therapies exist, adherence is low. This is partly due to the lack of support for patients to self-manage their disease. Mobile health apps have been used in the self-management of chronic conditions. However, not all are developed with patients, limiting their effectiveness. OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to collect feedback from gout patients to design an effective gout self-management app. METHODS: Two descriptive qualitative studies were conducted. In Study 1, researchers developed a short educational video and written materials about gout management, designed to be embedded into an app; 6 interviews and 1 focus group were held with gout patients to gather feedback on these materials. Usability testing in Study 2 involved additional gout patients using a pilot version of Healthy.me Gout, a gout self-management app, for 2 weeks. Following the trial, patients participated in an interview about their experiences using the app. RESULTS: Patients viewed the gout educational material positively, appreciating the combined use of video, text, and images. Patients were receptive to using a mobile app to self-manage their gout. Feedback about Healthy.me Gout was generally positive with patients reporting that the tracking and diary features were most useful. Patients also provided suggestions for improving the app and educational materials. CONCLUSIONS: These studies involved patients in the development of a gout self-management app. Patients provided insight to improve the app's presentation and usability and general lessons on useful features for chronic disease apps. Gout patients enjoyed tracking their SUA concentrations and gout attack triggers. These capabilities can be translated into self-management apps for chronic diseases that require monitoring of pathological values, medication adherence, or symptoms. Future health app design should integrate patient input and be developed iteratively to address concerns identified by patients.

Effect of a 12-Week Online Walking Intervention on Health and Quality of Life in Cancer Survivors: A Quasi-Randomized Controlled Trial.

Cancer survivors are at an increased risk of experiencing physical and psychological ill-effects following cancer treatment. Rural cancer survivors are at a greater risk of future health problems following a cancer diagnosis compared to their urban counterparts. Physical activity has been targeted as a health promotion priority in cancer survivors. Research indicates that a large portion of cancer survivors do not meet physical activity recommendations. The purpose of this quasi-randomized controlled trial was to test the effectiveness of an online 12-week walking intervention designed for cancer survivors, and to explore its impact on physical health indicators and quality of life outcomes. Steps Toward Improving Diet and Exercise among cancer survivors (STRIDE) is an online resource designed according to Social Cognitive Theory and Self Determination Theory, based on individualized step goal setting. Measures of physiology, physical fitness, and quality of life were taken at the baseline, post-intervention, and three-month follow-up in an Intervention group (n = 46) and active Control group (n = 45). The Control group was provided with a pedometer but did not have access to the online program. Three-factor repeated measures ANOVAs indicated that there were improvements in physical fitness (p < 0.01), systolic blood pressure (p < 0.01), diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.01), waist girth (p < 0.01), mental health (p < 0.05), social functioning (p < 0.01), and general health (p < 0.01), but an increase in bodily pain (p < 0.01), from the baseline to week 12 and the three-month follow-up, irrespective of group allocation. Pedometer interventions, delivered with or without online support and step goal setting, show promise for improving the overall health of cancer survivors, at least in the short term.

Effectiveness of an electronic patient-centred self-management tool for gout sufferers: a cluster randomised controlled trial protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Gout is increasing despite effective therapies to lower serum urate concentrations to 0.36 mmol/L or less, which, if sustained, significantly reduces acute attacks of gout. Adherence to urate-lowering therapy (ULT) is poor, with rates of less than 50% 1 year after initiation of ULT. Attempts to increase adherence in gout patients have been disappointing. We aim to evaluate the effectiveness of use of a personal, self-management, 'smartphone' application (app) to achieve target serum urate concentrations in people with gout. We hypothesise that personalised feedback of serum urate concentrations will improve adherence to ULT. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Setting and designPrimary care. A prospective, cluster randomised (by general practitioner (GP) practices), controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS: GP practices will be randomised to either intervention or control clusters with their patients allocated to the same cluster. INTERVENTION: The intervention group will have access to the Healthy.me app tailored for the self-management of gout. The control group patients will have access to the same app modified to remove all functions except the Gout Attack Diary. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES: The proportion of patients whose serum urate concentrations are less than or equal to 0.36 mmol/L after 6 months. Secondary outcomes will be proportions of patients achieving target urate concentrations at 12 months, ULT adherence rates, serum urate concentrations at 6 and 12 months, rates of attacks of gout, quality of life estimations and process and economic evaluations. The study is designed to detect a ≥30% improvement in the intervention group above the expected 50% achievement of target serum urate at 6 months in the control group: power 0.80, significance level 0.05, assumed 'dropout' rate 20%. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has been approved by the University of New South Wales Human Research Ethics Committee. Study findings will be disseminated in international conferences and peer-reviewed journal. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12616000455460.

Steps toward improving diet and exercise for cancer survivors (STRIDE): a quasi-randomised controlled trial protocol.

BACKGROUND: Cancer survivorship rates have increased in developed countries largely due to population ageing and improvements in cancer care. Survivorship is a neglected phase of cancer treatment and is often associated with adverse physical and psychological effects. There is a need for broadly accessible, non-pharmacological measures that may prolong disease-free survival, reduce or alleviate co-morbidities and enhance quality of life. The aim of the Steps TowaRd Improving Diet and Exercise (STRIDE) study is to evaluate the effectiveness of an online-delivered physical activity intervention for increasing walking in cancer survivors living in metropolitan and rural areas of South Australia. METHODS/DESIGN: This is a quasi-randomised controlled trial. The intervention period is 12-weeks with 3-month follow-up. The trial will be conducted at a university setting and community health services in South Australia. Participants will be insufficiently active and aged 18 years or older. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. All participants will receive a pedometer but only the intervention group will have access to the STRIDE website where they will report steps, affect and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) during exercise daily. Researchers will use these variables to individualise weekly step goals to increase walking.The primary outcome measure is steps per day. The secondary outcomes are a) health measures (anthropometric and physiological), b) dietary habits (consumption of core foods and non-core foods) and c) quality of life (QOL) including physical, psychological and social wellbeing. Measures will be collected at baseline, post-intervention and 3-month follow-up. DISCUSSION: This protocol describes the implementation of a trial using an online resource to assist cancer survivors to become more physically active. It is an innovative tool that uses ratings of perceived exertion and daily affect to create individualised step goals for cancer survivors. The research findings may be of relevance to public health policy makers as an efficacious and inexpensive online-delivered intervention can have widespread application and may improve physical and psychological outcomes among this vulnerable population. Findings may indicate directions for the implementation of future physical activity interventions with this population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12613000473763.

The experiences of participants in an innovative online resource designed to increase regular walking among rural cancer survivors: a qualitative pilot feasibility study.

PURPOSE: Physical activity has been associated with improved outcomes for cancer survivors. Compared to their urban counterparts, rural Australians experience a health disadvantage, including poorer survival rates after diagnosis of cancer. The aim of this pilot feasibility study was to gain insight into the experiences of rural cancer survivors engaging in an online resource designed to increase regular walking. METHODS: A 6-week online lifestyle intervention was implemented among eight cancer survivors living in three rural regions of South Australia. Participants used a pedometer to monitor daily steps taken, reported daily steps using a specially designed website and were provided with daily step goals based on their affective state. Participants took part in semi-structured face-to-face interviews to gauge their impressions of the program. Data were analysed using qualitative description and content analysis to derive major themes from the interviews. RESULTS: The program motivated participants to increase their walking and resulted in improvements in several self-reported physical and quality of life outcomes. The resource was clear and easy to navigate. The three-tiered step goal system reduced feelings of guilt if participants were unable to reach a goal. The step log and graph allowed participants to self-monitor their progress. The forum fostered social support; however, more interaction with intervention personnel was suggested. CONCLUSIONS: This online pedometer-based walking intervention is feasible and effectively increases motivation for walking and enhances health-related quality of life in South Australian rural cancer survivors. A randomized controlled trial of this intervention is warranted.

Influences of micronutrient and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on cognition, learning, and behavior: methodological considerations and implications for children and adolescents in developed societies.

The purpose of this review is to outline the current evidence regarding the effects of micronutrient and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) supplementation on the cognition, learning, and behavior of children and adolescents living in developed societies. Existing evidence suggests that children and adolescents in developed countries may perform better on tests of nonverbal intelligence and on behavioral measures after receiving vitamin and mineral supplements with or without n-3 PUFA supplementation compared with those receiving placebo, regardless of age and supplementation formula. The strongest effects were observed in trials that lasted over 3 months and in subgroups of children with low socioeconomic status, symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and/or learning disabilities. Future studies should focus on children and adolescents who have a low socioeconomic status or are likely to be suffering nutritional deficiencies to determine the impact of vitamin and mineral supplements with or without n-3 PUFA supplementation on their cognitive and behavioral functioning. These studies should ideally include blood sample analyses to help determine if nutritional status influences the response to supplementation and whether changes in blood status account for effects on cognition and behavior.