Self-efficacy, physical activity, and aerobic fitness in middle school children: examination of a pedometer intervention program.

Physical activity in children has been associated with a number of health benefits. Unfortunately, physical inactivity continues to increase. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among self-efficacy levels, physical activity, aerobic fitness, and body composition (relative body mass index [RBMI]) and to determine whether a school-based pedometer intervention program would improve those variables. The sample consisted of 116 rural 11- to 13-year-old students. Weakly positive correlations between self-efficacy, physical activity, and aerobic fitness and weakly correlated inverse relationships between self-efficacy, physical activity, aerobic fitness and RBMI were found. There was no statistical significance between the intervention and control group when analyzing outcome variables. These findings suggest that those with optimal RBMI levels have higher self-efficacy, physical activity and aerobic fitness levels. Although not statistically significant, the intervention group had greater improvements in mean self-efficacy scores, aerobic fitness levels, and RBMI.

The border community and immigration stress scale: a preliminary examination of a community responsive measure in two Southwest samples.

Understanding contemporary socio-cultural stressors may assist educational, clinical and policy-level health promotion efforts. This study presents descriptive findings on a new measure, the border community and immigration stress scale. The data were from two community surveys as part of community based participatory projects conducted in the Southwestern US border region. This scale includes stressful experiences reflected in extant measures, with new items reflecting heightened local migration pressures and health care barriers. Stressors representing each main domain, including novel ones, were reported with frequency and at high intensity in the predominantly Mexican-descent samples. Total stress was also significantly associated with mental and physical health indicators. The study suggests particularly high health burdens tied to the experience of stressors in the US border region. Further, many of the stressors are also likely relevant for other communities within developed nations also experiencing high levels of migration.

The challenge of closing the diversity gap: development of Hispanic nursing faculty through a Health Resources and Services Administration Minority Faculty Fellowship Program grant.

Underrepresentation of minority faculty in schools of nursing is well reported. Recently, there have been multiple initiatives from both public and private sectors to alleviate the shortage of minority faculty. This article describes how the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) College of Nursing took advantage of one such initiative: the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Minority Faculty Fellowship Program (MFFP) grant. This program grant provides stipends to enable health professions educational programs to increase the number of faculty who are racial and ethnic minorities underrepresented in the health professions. It enabled the college to recruit a Hispanic nurse and to assist her in preparing for a successful academic career. HRSA provided a stipend in an amount not exceeding 50% of regular faculty salary of the institution for 3 years, to be matched by the institution. Expert faculty mentored the nurse's development in the areas of pedagogy, administration and leadership, design and conduct of research, grant writing and scientific writing for publication in peer-reviewed journals, and cultural competence. Dr. Susan Jacob was the project director of the MFFP grant received by the College of Nursing at UTHSC, and Zoila Sanchez, a Cuban American, was the minority faculty fellow supported by an HRSA MFFP grant. Dr. Sanchez was the first minority faculty fellow selected from the nursing profession. Past fellows represented the other health professions such as medicine and dentistry.

Changes in weight during the first year after kidney transplantation.

CONTEXT: Obesity frequently occurs following kidney transplantation and is of concern because of the associated risk for cardiovascular complications. OBJECTIVE: To examine weight gain over the first year after kidney transplantation to determine associations with gender, ethnicity, and cardiovascular risk factors. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis was completed on patients who had received transplants between January 1998 and January 2002 and who had matching baseline and 1-year follow-up data and a functional graft. PARTICIPANTS: The sample consisted of 171 recipients (33% women, 58% African Americans, and 39% whites) with a mean age of 44 +/- 12.2 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome measures included fasting blood sugar, triglycerides, creatinine levels, and body mass index categorized as normal, overweight, or obese. RESULTS: The total group showed a significant increase in mean weight (6.2 +/- 10.7 kg) and body mass index (2.1 +/- 3.8). Although equivalent at baseline, by 1 year after transplantation there were significantly more obese than normal-weight recipients, regardless of gender or ethnicity, with African Americans increasing more than whites and women more than men. At baseline, those characterized as obese versus normal weight were older (47 vs. 41 years; P < .05), with a higher fasting blood sugar. At 1 year, differences in age and fasting blood sugar disappeared; however, the obese group had higher triglycerides (235 vs. 165, P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: Weight gain after transplantation was not explained by demographic and clinical factors. We speculate additional variables such as genetic factors influence weight gain and warrant study.

Perceived barriers and facilitators to physical activity in kidney transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Relatively few transplant recipients participate in regular physical activity. There is a paucity of information regarding barriers and facilitators to physical activity in kidney transplant recipients. OBJECTIVE: To investigate factors that transplant recipients perceive as barriers and facilitators to physical activity and whether these barriers and facilitators differ on the basis of transplant patients' reported level of physical activity. METHOD: Using a descriptive, cross-sectional design, a convenience sample of 100 kidney transplant recipients provided survey data on a physical activity questionnaire on their current levels of physical activity and determinants that influence participation in physical activity. RESULTS: The "rarely/never" (32%) physical activity group reported more frequent barriers and the "often" (20%) group reported the least. Overall, perceived facilitators were reported most frequently by the "often" (80%) physical activity group and least by the "rarely/never" (67%) group. CONCLUSIONS: Motivational interventions should focus on diminishing perceived barriers in the less physically active transplant recipients and enhancing perception of health-related facilitators. Nurses should be innovative in customizing interventions, recommending structured physical activity programs, and encouraging less structured, enjoyable ways to increase activities that expend energy. Interventions with achievable outcomes and realistic expectations are more acceptable to patients.