Search

Objectives: We assessed the agreement between self-reported and accelerometer-assessed physical activity (PA) in African-American adults by sex, education, income, and weight status. Methods: Participants (N = 274) completed the International PA Questionnaire short form (IPAQS), Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) PA questions, and PA Questionnaire (PAQ) and a 7-day accelerometer protocol using a waist-worn ActiGraph GT3X accelerometer. Inter-relationships among PA measures were assessed by sociodemographics. Results: Participants consistently reported doing ≥150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA) per week via self-report measures and did 113.5±179.4 minutes of accelerometer-assessed MVPA/week. Men self-reported and did more MVPA than women (p < .01). Regardless of sex, there were low correlations between self-report and accelerometer-assessed MVPA (r = .092-.190). Poor agreement existed between self-report and accelerometry for classifying participants as meeting PA recommendations (Cohen κ = .054-.136); only half of the participants were classified the same by both self-report and accelerometry. Conclusions: There was generally poor relative agreement between self-report and accelerometer-based assessments of MVPA in this sample of African-American adults. Findings suggest that self-report measures may perform better among African-American women than men, regardless of socioeconomic or weight status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We investigated the treatment needs and preferences of low socioeconomic status cervical cancer survivors to inform the adaptation of a theoretically- and empirically-based Motivation and Problem-Solving approach to facilitate cessation in this at-risk population. Methods: Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 female smokers with cervical cancer. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using NVivo 10. Results: Most participants did not believe that smoking caused cervical cancer and attributed their diagnosis solely to human papillomavirus. They suggested that cessation treatment for cervical cancer survivors include psychoeducation about the impact of smoking on health and cancer and the benefits of quitting, pharmacotherapy, planning for quitting, strategies for coping with cravings/withdrawal, social support, real-time support, a nonjudgmental and understanding counselor, tailoring, and follow-up. They recommended that negativity/judgment and being told that "smoking is bad" not be included in treatment. Participants also suggested that treatment address stress management, issues specific to cervical cancer survivorship, and physical activity and healthy eating. Conclusions: Results highlight the unique treatment needs of low socioeconomic status smokers with cervical cancer and will inform the adaptation of an existing evidence-based intervention to encourage smoking cessation in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to address current gaps in the literature by examining the associations of fast food restaurant (FFR) density around the home and FFR proximity to the home, respectively, with body mass index (BMI) among a large sample of African American adults from Houston, Texas. Methods. We used generalized linear models with generalized estimating equations to examine associations of FFR density at 0.5-, 1-, 2-, and 5-mile road network buffers around the home with BMI and associations of the closest FFR to the home with BMI. All models were adjusted for a range of individual-level covariates and neighborhood socioeconomic status. We additionally investigated the moderating effects of household income on these relations. Data were collected from December 2008 to July 2009. Results. FFR density was not associated with BMI in the main analyses. However, FFR density at 0.5, 1, and 2 miles was positively associated with BMI among participants with lower incomes (P £ .025). Closer FFR proximity was associated with higher BMI among all participants (P < .001), with stronger associations emerging among those of lower income (P < .013) relative to higher income (P < .014). Conclusions. Additional research with more diverse African American samples is needed, but results supported the potential for the fast food environment to affect BMI among African Americans, particularly among those of lower economic means. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Most women in the United States do not meet minimum recommendations for physical activity or fruit/vegetable consumption. Thus, many are overweight/obese and are at increased risk for cancer morbidity and mortality. This study investigated women's perceptions about the importance of physical activity and a healthy diet in preventing cancer, perceptions of engaging in these behaviors, and whether or not the behaviors met cancer prevention recommendations. Method: A cross-sectional, national, random-digit-dialed telephone survey was conducted with 800 women, ages 18 and older. The response rate was 24.5%. Measures assessed demographics, perceived health status, beliefs about the role of physical activity and diet in cancer prevention, perceived engagement in these behaviors, and actual behaviors. Results: Only 9.9% of women who reported eating a healthy diet met minimum fruit and vegetable recommendations; 39.7% of women who reported regular physical activity met the minimum recommendation. Analyses adjusted for demographics indicated that low education was associated with reporting regular physical activity to prevent cancer, yet failing to meet the minimum recommendation (odds ratio [OR]=0.90, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.82-0.98, p=0.01). Racial/ethnic minority status was marginally significantly associated with reporting eating a healthy diet to prevent cancer, yet failing to consume sufficient fruits and vegetables (OR=2.94, 95% CI : 0.99-8.71, p=0.05). Conclusions: Most women who reported eating a healthy diet and being physically active to prevent cancer failed to meet the minimum cancer prevention recommendations. Furthermore, low socioeconomic status and racial/ethnic minority women may be particularly vulnerable to discrepancies between beliefs and behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To examine associations of the US and community subjective social status (SSS) ladders with smoking sta­tus, at-risk drinking, fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity, and body mass index among 1467 church-going African American adults from a larger cohort study. Methods: Regression analyses, adjusted for sociodemographics, exam­ined associations between SSS ladders and health behaviors. Results: The SSS-US ladder was significantly associated with fruit and vegetable consumption (p = .007) and physical activity (p = .005). The SSS-community ladder was not sig­nificantly associated with any health be­haviors. Conclusions: Among this sam­ple of African Americans, the SSS-US ladder is more predictive of some health behaviors than is the SSS-community ladder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]