Household Environments and Functional Decline Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in China: Variations by Gender, Age, and Residence.

This study examined the associations between household social, economic, and physical environments and the trajectory of functional limitations over time among middle-aged and older adults in China, and how this relationship differs by gender, age, and residence. Linear growth curve models were applied to a sample of 13,564 respondents aged 45 years and older from four waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS 2011-2018). Living alone, particularly for rural, female, and older respondents, was associated with a faster functional decline when compared to living with a spouse and without children. Improved housing quality was associated with a slower functional decline. Living with young descendants and without adult children for urban residents and a lower expenditure per capita for younger respondents were associated with a faster functional decline. These findings suggest that policies aimed at enhancing living conditions have the potential to improve physical functioning of older adults.

Treatment of Systemic Sclerosis-associated Interstitial Lung Disease: Evidence-based Recommendations. An Official American Thoracic Society Clinical Practice Guideline.

Background: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). To date, clinical practice guidelines regarding treatment for patients with SSc-ILD are primarily consensus based. Methods: An international expert guideline committee composed of 24 individuals with expertise in rheumatology, SSc, pulmonology, ILD, or methodology, and with personal experience with SSc-ILD, discussed systematic reviews of the published evidence assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. Predetermined conflict-of-interest management strategies were applied, and recommendations were made for or against specific treatment interventions exclusively by the nonconflicted panelists. The confidence in effect estimates, importance of outcomes studied, balance of desirable and undesirable consequences of treatment, cost, feasibility, acceptability of the intervention, and implications for health equity were all considered in making the recommendations. This was in accordance with the American Thoracic Society guideline development process, which is in compliance with the Institute of Medicine standards for trustworthy guidelines. Results: For treatment of patients with SSc-ILD, the committee: 1) recommends the use of mycophenolate; 2) recommends further research into the safety and efficacy of (a) pirfenidone and (b) the combination of pirfenidone plus mycophenolate; and 3) suggests the use of (a) cyclophosphamide, (b) rituximab, (c) tocilizumab, (d) nintedanib, and (e) the combination of nintedanib plus mycophenolate. Conclusions: The recommendations herein provide an evidence-based clinical practice guideline for the treatment of patients with SSc-ILD and are intended to serve as the basis for informed and shared decision making by clinicians and patients.

Multidimensional risk score to stratify community-dwelling older adults by future fall risk using the Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries (STEADI) framework.

BACKGROUND: The Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries (STEADI) screening algorithm aligns with current fall prevention guidelines and is easy to administer within clinical practice. However, the stratification into low, moderate and high risk categories limits the meaningful interpretation of the fall-related risk factors. METHODS: Baseline measures from a modified STEADI were used to predict self-reported falls over 4 years in 3170 respondents who participated in the 2011-2015 National Health and Aging Trends Study. A point method was then applied to find coefficient-based integers and 4-year fall risk estimates from the predictive model. Sensitivity and specificity estimates from the point method and the combined moderate and high fall risk STEADI categories were compared. RESULTS: There were 886 (27.95%) and 387 (12.21%) respondents who were classified as moderate and high risk, respectively, when applying the stratification method. Falls in the past year (OR: 2.16; 95% CI: 1.61 to 2.89), multiple falls (OR: 2.94; 95% CI: 1.89 to 4.55) and a fear of falling (OR: 1.77; 95% CI: 1.45 to 2.16) were among the significant predictors of 4-year falls in older adults. The point method revealed integers that ranged from 0 (risk: 27.21%) to 44 (risk: 99.71%) and a score of 10 points had comparable discriminatory capacity to the combined moderate and high STEADI categories. CONCLUSION: Coefficient-based integers and their risk estimates can provide an alternative interpretation of a predictive model that may be useful in determining fall risk within a clinical setting, tracking changes longitudinally and defining the effectiveness of an intervention.

Promoting Healthy Environments In Afterschool Settings: The LiveWell Greenville Afterschool Initiative.

INTRODUCTION: LiveWell Greenville, a multi-organization community coalition, launched an initiative in 2011 to help afterschool programs promote environments that decrease the risk of obesity among children and adolescents. The objective of this study was to describe changes in nutrition and physical activity environments, policies, and practices among 37 afterschool programs after their participation in the LiveWell Greenville Afterschool Initiative. METHODS: The study used a nonexperimental, pre- and postsurvey design. The survey was based on the Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care questionnaire and modified for afterschool settings. Items addressed sedentary time, physical activity time, availability of sugar-sweetened beverages, sweet and salty snack consumption, fruit consumption, staff behaviors, and policies that support nutrition and physical activity practices. The self-assessment survey was completed by an afterschool program supervisor at each site. The 9-month intervention consisted of program staff members' completing the pre-assessment and goal-setting worksheet, receiving technical support and training from LiveWell Greenville staff, attending networking meetings about nutrition and physical activity promotion strategies, and completing a postassessment. RESULTS: We found significant positive changes in afterschool environments in the type and frequency of snacks offered, duration of children's sedentary time, staff behaviors that supported healthy nutrition and physical activity practices, and education provided to staff, children, and parents. CONCLUSION: We found the LiveWell Greenville Afterschool Initiative, which involved self-assessment, goal setting and technical support, to be a successful strategy to change nutrition and physical activity environments in afterschool settings.

Physical activity behaviors of students of a rural historically black college.

UNLABELLED: Physical activity can have a positive impact on health disparities among African Americans. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we assessed physical activity behaviors and correlates of students of a Historically Black College. METHODS: In September 2004, an online survey and pedometers were used to measure physical activity behavior and correlates. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 106 students completed the survey and received pedometers. Pedometer data were submitted online for 5 weeks. RESULTS: One hundred and six students completed the survey. Twenty-eight percent and 41% of respondents met recommendations for moderate physical activity and vigorous physical activity, respectively. Week 1 daily pedometer step count average was 8,707. Most students reported positive outcome expectations for physical activity. Students submitting pedometer data were less likely to meet MPA recommendations than students only completing the survey. CONCLUSIONS: African American students feel positive about physical activity yet most do not meet recommended levels.

Guidelines for public health practitioners serving as student preceptors.

Student fieldwork and service learning are valuable strategies for developing the skills of future public health professionals. Practitioners who serve as preceptors to students often receive little preparation for guiding and evaluating students. Findings from a review of fieldwork and service learning literature and a program evaluation of an undergraduate public health program at a large southern public university were used to construct guidelines for the practitioners supervising students in the field. These guidelines should aid practitioners in their role as preceptors of public health students. The guidelines address assessing student competencies, developing student competencies, writing learning objectives, evaluating students, maximizing the student precept or relationship, and managing problems.

Promoting success for at-risk African-American youth: perceived barriers and resources in using community-based success criteria.

A Delphi technique was used to assess service provider and community consensus on program elements essential for promoting the success of at-risk African American youth. The respondent group consisted of 54 subjects representing three broad groups: service agencies, community leaders and members, and school system participants. The study identified barriers to the use of community-derived success constructs, opportunities for collaboration between community members and service agencies in the development of programs, and the feasibility of incorporating success constructs into program development and delivery. Although consensus was achieved on key issues, individual variations between counties point to the necessity of targeting intervention programs to the unique problems and expectations found in each community.