Development and evaluation of a social cognitive theory-based instrument to assess correlations for physical activity among people with spinal cord injury.

BACKGROUND: People with spinal cord injury (SCI) are more susceptible to sedentary lifestyles because of the displacement of physical functioning and the copious barriers. Benefits of physical activity for people with SCI include physical fitness, functional capacity, social integration and psychological well-being. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop and test a social cognitive theory-based instrument aimed to predict physical activity among people with SCI. METHODS: An instrument was developed through the utilization and modification of previous items from the literature, an expert panel review, and cognitive interviewing, and tested among a sample of the SCI population using a cross-sectional design. Statistical analysis included descriptives, correlations, multiple regression, and exploratory factor analysis. RESULTS: The physical activity outcome variable was significantly and positively correlated with self-regulatory efficacy (r = 0.575), task self-efficacy (r = 0.491), self-regulation (r = 0.432), social support (r = 0.284), and outcome expectations (r = 0.247). Internal consistency for the constructs ranged from 0.82 to 0.96. Construct reliability values for the self-regulation (0.95), self-regulatory efficacy (0.96), task self-efficacy (0.94), social support (0.84), and outcome expectations (0.92) each exceeded the 0.70 a priori criteria. CONCLUSIONS: The factor analysis was conducted to seek modifications of current instrument to improve validity and reliability. The data provided support for the convergent validity of the five-factor SCT model. This study provides direction for further development of a valid and reliable instrument for predicting physical activity among people with SCI.

Attitude and knowledge changes in collegiate dancers following a short-term, team-centered prevention program on eating disorders.

Eating knowledge, nutritional knowledge, and psychological changes among female collegiate dancers were examined before and after a 4-wk. team-centered program on sport nutrition, exercise, and disordered eating consequences. Collegiate female dancers from two NCAA Division I institutions participated in a control (n = 19; M age = 19.1 yr., SD = 1.0) or intervention (n = 21; M age = 19.2 yr., SD = 1.2) group. Measures were administered to both groups before and after intervention to assess eating disorders, depression, and nutritional and disordered eating knowledge. There was a statistically significant increase in scores on nutritional and overall eating disorder knowledge in the intervention group compared to the control group. Mean scores on depression, drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction, and maturity fears decreased in the intervention group.

Knowledge of eating disorders among collegiate administrators, coaches, and auxiliary dancers.

Knowledge of eating disorders, confidence in knowledge, and attendance of eating disorder educational programs were assessed among NCAA Division I and II university administrators (n = 61), coaches (n = 44), and dancers (n = 53). A questionnaire assessed knowledge in 5 domains: etiology, signs and symptoms, management and treatment, risk factors, and prevention and education. Overall, dancers' knowledge and previous attendance were significantly lower than administrators' and coaches'. There was inconsistency between participants' confidence in answers and the correctness of their answers. Education is necessary for improving knowledge and reducing risky behaviors in auxiliary dancers.

Body image, anthropometric measures, and eating-disorder prevalence in auxiliary unit members.

CONTEXT: Medical professionals have recognized eating disorders and related problems in competitive athletes. Auxiliary members (color guard, dance, majorettes) experience the same appearance-related pressures observed in sports commonly associated with eating disorders. OBJECTIVE: To estimate eating-disorder prevalence based on associated eating-disorder characteristics and behaviors in female auxiliary members and to compare perceived and ideal body images and anthropometric measurements between at-risk and not-at-risk participants for eating-disorder characteristics and behaviors. DESIGN: Cross-sectional design. SETTING: Three universities in the southeastern United States. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Participants (n = 101, mean age = 19.2 +/- 1.2 years) represented 3 auxiliary units, including color guard (n = 35), dance line (n = 47), and majorettes (n = 19). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Participants self-reported menstrual history, height, and weight. Anthropometric measurements included height, weight, body fat percentage, and waist and hip circumferences. We screened for eating-disorder risk behavior with the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT)-26 and for body dissatisfaction with the Figural Stimuli Survey. RESULTS: Based on the EAT-26, we estimated eating-disorder prevalence among members to measure 29.7% (95% confidence interval = 20.8%, 38.6%). The EAT-26 results revealed that 21% of participants used purgatives and 14% vomited to control weight or shape. The at-risk group had higher scores on the EAT-26 total (P

A Compositional Analysis of a Common Acetic Acid Solution With Practical Implications for Ingestion.

OBJECTIVE: Acetic acid solutions, such as pickle juice (PJ), have gained anecdotal popularity among certified athletic trainers and other sports medicine professionals as remedies for exercise-associated muscle cramps. The aims of this study were 2-fold: (1) to report compositional analyses of 2 common types of PJ and (2) to discuss implications for ingestion following current National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) fluid-replacement guidelines. DESIGN AND SETTING: Biochemical laboratory analyses of 2 PJ sample types. MEASUREMENTS: Compositional analyses were performed in triplicate and compared with a 1-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: Mean values for PJ with 220 mg of sodium per serving were carbohydrate, 4 +/- 0.2%; osmolality, 713 +/- 6 mOsm.kg H(2)O(-1); pH, 3.8 +/- 0.2; calcium, 0.5 +/- 0.02 g/L; potassium, 1.4 +/- 0.02 g/L; magnesium, 0.1 +/- 0.01 g/L; and sodium, 7.4 +/- 0.1 g/L. Mean values for PJ with 390 mg of sodium per serving were carbohydrate, 3 +/- 0.1%; osmolality, 1446 +/- 9 mOsm.kg H(2)O(-1); pH, 3.5 +/- 0.1 g/L; calcium, 0.1 +/- 0.01 g/L; potassium, 1.2 +/- 0.02 g/L; magnesium, 0.1 +/- 0.01 g/L; and sodium, 17.1 +/- 0.1 g/L. Differences between the 220 and 390 PJ were significant (P <.05) for osmolality, calcium, and sodium. CONCLUSIONS: Both types of PJ exceeded sodium concentration levels set by the current NATA guidelines for fluid replacement. Hypothetical dilution references are presented to assist the athletic trainer with fluid volumes necessary to dilute PJ. Ingestion of PJ or other hypertonic fluids should be followed by ingestion of hypotonic or isotonic fluids to ensure that ingested amounts of sodium fall within the current NATA guidelines. Volumes for proper dilution may be substantial.

Critical-Thinking Predisposition Among Undergraduate Athletic Training Students.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the tendency of undergraduate athletic training students to think critically, to assess their likelihood of using specific components of critical thinking, and to study the effect of selected demographic and educational variables on critical-thinking tendencies in this sample of students. DESIGN AND SETTING: Data were collected before regularly scheduled athletic training classes at the beginning of the spring semester. SUBJECTS: Ninety-one students enrolled in 3 Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs-accredited undergraduate athletic training education programs in the southeast. The subjects ranged in age from 19 to 29 years (mean age = 22.33 +/- 1.94). Forty-six (50.5%) of the subjects were men and 45 (49.5%) were women. MEASUREMENTS: The California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory contains 75 Likert-type items assessing 7 components of critical thinking: truth seeking, open mindedness, analyticity, systematicity, inquisitiveness, cognitive maturity, and critical-thinking self-confidence. RESULTS: The overall mean indicated a general but mild trend toward critical thinking, with weak scores on the truth-seeking subscale. One-way analysis of variance reflected significant differences among the schools for truth seeking, open mindedness, and maturity subscales and for the overall mean score for the entire inventory. Only the open-mindedness difference persisted between 2 of the schools after post hoc testing. Correlation analyses indicated no significant relationship between total score and age, sex, ethnicity, year in athletic training program, cumulative grade point average, completed semester hours, or clinical-experience hours. CONCLUSIONS: Athletic training students are inclined toward critical thinking, but this tendency is relatively weak. Classroom and clinical instructors should use teaching methods and techniques that facilitate the components of critical thinking. The promotion of critical thinking and critical-thinking skills has implications for athletic training education and the advancement of certified athletic trainers and the profession of athletic training.