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OBJECTIVE: Unhealthy dietary and physical inactivity patterns inspired many initiatives promoting healthy youth and healthy schools in Alberta between 2005 and 2008. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in the prevalence of lifestyle risk factors for type 2 diabetes (T2D) between two province-wide samples of Alberta adolescents (2005 and 2008). METHODS: The dietary and physical activity (PA) patterns of Alberta youth were assessed in two cross-sectional studies of grade 7-10 students, one in 2005 (n=4936) and one in 2008 (n=5091), using a validated web-survey. For each diabetes risk factor, participants were classified as either at risk or not at risk, depending on their survey results relative to cut-off values. Chi-square tests and logistic regression models were used to determine differences in risk factor prevalence between 2005 and 2008. RESULTS: Compared to 2005, mean BMI, energy intake, fat intake, glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) were lower in 2008 (p CONCLUSIONS: Improvements were observed between 2005 and 2008 in terms of the proportion of adolescents having specific risk factors for T2D. The cause of these changes could not be determined. Continued monitoring of adolescent lifestyle habits and monitoring of exposure to health promotion programming is recommended. KEY WORDS: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus; adolescents; prevalence; risk factors; diet; physical activity OBJECTIF: Les habitudes alimentaires malsaines et l'inactivite physique ont inspire de nombreuses initiatives de promotion de la sante des jeunes et des ecoles en Alberta entre 2005 et 2008. Nous avons cherche a examiner les differences dans la prevalence des facteurs de risque lies aux habitudes de vie pour le diabete de type 2 (DT2) entre deux echantillons provinciaux d'adolescents albertains (2005 et 2008). METHODE: Les habitudes d'alimentation et d'activite physique des jeunes de l'Alberta ont ete evaluees a la faveur de deux etudes transversales aupres d'eleves de la 7e a la 10e annee, l'une en 2005 (n=4 936) et l'autre en 2008 (n=5 091), a l'aide d'un sondage en ligne valide. Pour chaque facteur de risque du diabete, les participants ont ete classes comme etant a risque ou non a risque selon leurs reponses au sondage par rapport aux valeurs limites. Des tests du khi-carre et des modeles de regression logistique ont servi a determiner les differences dans la prevalence des facteurs de risque entre 2005 et 2008. RESULTATS: Comparativement a 2005, l'IMC moyen, l'apport energetique, l'apport en matieres grasses, l'indice glycemique (IG) et la charge glycemique (CG) etaient plus faibles en 2008 (p CONCLUSIONS: Des ameliorations ont ete observees entre 2005 et 2008 dans la proportion d'adolescents presentant les facteurs de risque propres au DT2. Nous n'avons pas pu determiner la cause de ces changements. Il est recommande de continuer a surveiller les habitudes de vie des adolescents et leur exposition aux programmes de promotion de la sante. MOTS CLES: diabete de type 2; adolescent; prevalence; facteurs de risque; regime alimentaire; exercice physique La traduction du resume se trouve a la fin de l'article., Unhealthy dietary and physical activity patterns are prevalent among Canadian youth (1,2) and are implicated in increasing rates of early onset type 2 diabetes that have been observed in Canada. [...]

Objectives: Detailed assessments of the built environment often resist data reduction and summarization. This project sought to develop a method of reducing built environment data to an extent that they can be effectively communicated to researchers and community stakeholders. We aim to help in an understanding of how these data can be used to create neighbourhood groupings based on built environment characteristics and how the process of discussing these neighbourhoods with community stakeholders can result in the development of community-informed health promotion interventions. Methods: We used the Irvine Minnesota Inventory (IMI) to assess 296 segments of a semi-rural community in Alberta. Expert raters 'created' neighbourhoods by examining the data. Then, a consensus grouping was developed using cluster analysis, and the number of IMI variables to characterize the neighbourhoods was reduced by multiple discriminant function analysis. Results: The 296 segments were reduced to a consensus set of 10 neighbourhoods, which could be separated from each other by 9 functions constructed from 24 IMI variables. Biplots of these functions were an effective means of summarizing and presenting the results of the community assessment, and stimulated community action. Conclusions: It is possible to use principled quantitative methods to reduce large amounts of information about the built environment into meaningful summaries. These summaries, or built environment neighbourhoods, were useful in catalyzing action with community stakeholders and led to the development of health-promoting built environment interventions. Key words: Built environment; quantitative methods; health promotion; knowledge exchange; obesity reduction Objectifs: Les evaluations approfondies du milieu bati resistent souvent aux tentatives de reduction et de synthese des donnees. Nous avons cherche a elaborer une methode de reduction des donnees sur le milieu bati qui permette de communiquer efficacement ces donnees aux chercheurs et aux acteurs locaux. Notre objectif est de faire comprendre comment on peut utiliser ces donnees pour creer des regroupements de quartiers fondes sur les caracteristiques du milieu bati, et que le processus de discussion des quartiers avec les acteurs locaux peut entrainer la mise au point d'interventions de promotion de la sante renforcees par un apport communautaire. Methode: A l'aide de la liste de criteres Irvine-Minnesota Inventory (IMI), nous avons evalue 296 segments d'une communaute semi-rurale de l'Alberta. Des evaluateurs experts ont << cree >> des quartiers en examinant les donnees. Ensuite, nous avons elabore un regroupement consensuel au moyen d'une analyse en grappes, et reduit le nombre de variables IMI caracterisant les quartiers au moyen d'une analyse discriminante multiple. Resultats: Les 296 segments ont ete reduits par consensus a un ensemble de 10 quartiers, lesquels se distinguent les uns des autres selon 9 fonctions construites a partir de 24 variables IMI. Des biplots de ces fonctions ont ete un moyen efficace de resumer et de presenter les resultats de l'evaluation communautaire, et ont stimule l'action communautaire. Conclusions: Il est possible d'utiliser des methodes quantitatives raisonnees pour reduire de grandes quantites d'information sur le milieu bati en resumes signifiants. Ces resumes, ou << quartiers selon le milieu bati >>, ont ete utiles pour catalyser des actions avec les acteurs locaux et ont mene a l'elaboration d'interventions sur le milieu bati favorisant la sante. Mots cles: milieu bati; methodes quantitatives; promotion de la sante; echange des connaissances; reduction de l'obesite, In Canada, chronic diseases as leading causes of death are linked by common preventable risk factors related to lifestyle: tobacco use, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity. (1) Recent research suggests [...]

Objective: The Healthy Heart Kit (HHK) is a risk management and patient education kit for the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the promotion of CV health. There are currently no published data examining predictors of HHK use by physicians. The main objective of this study was to examine the association between physicians&apos; characteristics (socio-demographic, cognitive, and behavioural) and the use of the HHK. Methods: All registered family physicians in Alberta (n=3068) were invited to participate in the "Healthy Heart Kit" Study. Consenting physicians (n=153) received the Kit and were requested to use it for two months. At the end of this period, a questionnaire collected data on the frequency of Kit use by physicians, as well as socio-demographic, cognitive, and behavioural variables pertaining to the physicians. Results: The questionnaire was returned by 115 physicians (follow-up rate = 75%). On a scale ranging from 0 to 100, the mean score of Kit use was 61 [SD=26]. A multiple linear regression showed that "agreement with the Kit" and the degree of "confidence in using the Kit" was strongly associated with Kit use, explaining 46% of the variability for Kit use. Time since graduation was inversely associated with Kit use, and a trend was observed for smaller practices to be associated with lower use. Conclusion: Given these findings, future research and practice should explore innovative strategies to gain initial agreement among physicians to employ such clinical tools. Participation of older physicians and solo-practitioners in this process should be emphasized. Key words: Cardiovascular medicine; clinical practice guidelines; evidence based medicine; family medicine; primary care Objectif: La trousse Coeur en sante est une trousse de gestion des risques et d&apos;education des patients pour la prevention des maladies cardiovasculaires et la promotion de la sante cardiovasculaire. Actuellement, il n&apos;existe aucune donnee publiee examinant les indicateurs previsionnels pour l&apos;utilisation de la trousse Coeur en sante par les medecins. Le principal objectif de cette etude est d&apos;examiner l&apos;association entre les caracteristiques des medecins (sociodemographiques, cognitives et comportementales) et l&apos;utilisation de la trousse. Methode: Tous les medecins de famille de l&apos;Alberta (n=3068) ont ete invites a participer a l&apos;etude sur la << trousse Coeur en sante >>. Les medecins consentants (n=153) ont recu la trousse et on leur a demande de l&apos;utiliser pendant deux mois. A la fin de cette periode, un questionnaire a permis de recueillir les donnees sur la frequence de l&apos;utilisation de la trousse par les medecins, ainsi que les variables sociodemographiques, cognitives et comportementales relatives aux medecins. Resultats: Le questionnaire a ete retourne par 115 medecins (taux de suivi = 75 %). Sur une echelle allant de 0 a 100, la note moyenne pour l&apos;utilisation de la trousse etait de 61 [ecart type=26]. Une regression lineaire multiple a demontre que << le consentement a utiliser la trousse >> et le degre de << confiance dans l&apos;utilisation de la trousse >> etaient fortement associes a l&apos;utilisation de la trousse, ce qui explique 46 % de la variabilite de l&apos;utilisation de la trousse. Le temps ecoule depuis l&apos;obtention du diplome etait inversement associe a l&apos;utilisation de la trousse, et on a observe une tendance pour les plus petits cabinets associes a une utilisation moins frequente. Conclusion: Etant donne ces resultats, les prochaines recherches et les prochains exercices devraient examiner des strategies innovatrices pour obtenir l&apos;accord initial parmi les medecins d&apos;employer de tels outils cliniques. La participation des medecins plus ages et des medecins exercant seuls a ce processus devrait etre mise en evidence. Mots cles: medecine cardiovasculaire; lignes directrices sur les pratiques cliniques; medecine fondee sur des preuves; medecine de famille; soins primaires, Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is Canada's leading cause of mortality and morbidity, with estimated direct and indirect costs of $7.2 and $12.4 billion respectively. (1) Further, physicians report difficulty in meeting [...]

Background: The Internet is a potential medium to attain large groups of Canadians for physical activity monitoring and interventions, however, little is known about the characteristics of participants who could be recruited on a national level. Our objectives were to determine: 1) the extent to which our sample was representative of the Canadian population; 2) the demographic, social-cognitive and physical activity behaviour, and environmental characteristics of one-time and multi-time users of the Canada on the Move website; and 3) whether certain recruitment strategies were more likely to reach specific demographic subgroups.Methods: Web-based self-report measures were collected on demographic, social-cognitive, physical activity behaviour, and environmental factors. Descriptive statistics were employed to address the study's research objectives.Results: Significant differences (p<0.001) were found between our total sample and 2001 Canadian census/Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) data on all demographic and physical activity behaviour measures. One-time and multi-time users significantly differed on age (p<0.005) and being responsible for children under age 13 (p=0.01). No differences existed between the groups on any of the social-cognitive, behavioural or environmental variables. Source of knowledge about the Canada on the Move website between one-time and multi-time users was not significantly different.Conclusion: The Canada on the Move website presents a viable approach to reaching diverse demographic groups. Further work needs to be undertaken to: 1) develop engaging websites; 2) detail the monitoring of the web-based access information; 3) integrate the website with other organizations promoting physical activity; and 4) expand the number of recruitment sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purposes of this study were to: 1) explore the potential role of sex in the association between the perceived environment and walking; and 2) determine the efficacy of an Internet-based research platform for collecting population-level physical activity and correlates data.Methods: Visitors to the Canada on the Move website were asked questions about their demographics, physical activity participation and perceptions of their neighbourhood environment. A total of 3,144 Canadians (2,036 women; 609 men) completed the survey. Level of walking was regressed on eight measures of perceived neighbourhood environment in a series of logistic regressions.Results: Individuals who reported interesting scenery (OR=1.41, 95% CI 1.17-1.71) and many places to go that were within easy walking distance (OR=1.39, 95% CI 1.18-1.64) were more likely to report walking at a level sufficient to derive health benefits. For women, interesting scenery in and around their neighbourhood (OR=1.40, 95% CI 1.13-1.74) and the presence of many places to go within easy walking distance (OR=1.42, 95% CI 1.17-1.72) were associated with walking at a sufficient level. Among men, no significant associations were found between the perceived environment measures and walking.Conclusions: The results from this study provide additional support for the use of models in which sex is treated as a potential moderator of the link between the perceived environment and physical activity. Further, the results support the use of an Internet-based research platform to collect data on the correlates of physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study was to: 1) evaluate the quality of promotional pedometers widely distributed through cereal boxes at the time of the 2004 Canada on the Move campaign; and 2) establish a battery of testing protocols to provide direction for future consensus on industry standards for pedometer quality.Methods: Fifteen Kellogg's* Special K* Step Counters (K pedometers or K; manufactured for Kellogg Canada by Sasco, Inc.) and 9 Yamax pedometers (Yamax; Yamax Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) were tested with 9 participants accordingly: 1) 20 Step Test; 2) treadmill at 80m x min(-1) (3 miles x hr(-1)) and motor vehicle controlled conditions; and 3) 24-hour free-living conditions against an accelerometer criterion.Results: Fifty-three percent of the K pedometers passed the 20 Step Test compared to 100% of the Yamax. Mean absolute percent error for the K during treadmill walking was 24.2+/-33.9 vs. 3.9+/-6.6% for the Yamax. The K detected 5.7-fold more non-steps compared to the Yamax during the motor vehicle condition. In the free-living condition, mean absolute percent error relative to the ActiGraph was 44.9+/-34.5% for the K vs. 19.5+/-21.2% for the Yamax.Conclusions: K pedometers are unacceptably inaccurate. We suggest that research grade pedometers: 1) be manufactured to a sensitivity threshold of 0.35 Gs; 2) detect +/-1 step error on the 20 Step Test (i.e., within 5%); 3) detect +/-1% error most of the time during treadmill walking at 80m x min(-1) (3 miles x hr(-1)); as well as, 4) detect steps/day within 10% of the ActiGraph at least 60% of the time, or be within 10% of the Yamax under free-living conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]