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This study examines how public perception of threat and efficacy (on self and others) influence their tendency to take preventive action against the Zika virus by surveying 1,152 U.S. adults in Texas and Florida. Findings show that individuals were likely to take protective actions when they: (1) saw a high risk of the disease (high threat) and were confident about their ability to reduce the danger (high efficacy); and (2) perceived others as having a high risk (high threat), but lacked the ability to reduce the danger (low efficacy). Further, the study discusses practical implications for the design of public health campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To synthesize evidence on the effectiveness of mass media campaigns for the management of LBP on beliefs of the general public and health care providers, LBP-related disability, health utilization, and LBP clinical outcomes. Five electronic databases were searched from inception to December 17, 2019. Any studies evaluating the effectiveness of mass media campaigns for LBP were eligible. Primary outcome was general public LBP beliefs, while secondary outcomes included health care provider beliefs as well as LBP-related disability, health utilization, and clinical outcomes. The search resulted in 4,164 unique records, of which 18 studies were included. These 18 studies predominantly used quasi-experimental methods to evaluate seven LBP mass media campaigns conducted in seven countries. All studies evaluating LBP beliefs in the general public detected positive effects. Health care provider beliefs also consistently improved. Results for behavioural outcomes (disability behaviour and health utilization) were mixed and appeared dependent on campaign characteristics and local context. Mass media campaigns for LBP appear effective for improving beliefs of the general public and health care providers. Prospero CRD42018116797 Mass media campaigns about low back pain (LBP) appear effective for improving beliefs of the general public and health care providers, aligning beliefs with current evidence and self-management principles. Rehabilitation professionals should be aware of and seek to support public education initiatives in their communities related to LBP and other disabling health conditions. Rehabilitation professionals can highlight and reinforce campaign messages when providing education and reassurance to individual patients. Several campaign resources (i.e., posters, pamphlets, electronic resources, etc.) are available for rehabilitation professionals to use in their efforts to reduce disability related to LBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose, from a focal organization's perspective, a holistic framework for an interorganizational collaboration (IOC) that integrates the resource dependence theory and the triangular alignment perspective to account for the impact external factors such as international donors and internal factors such as the focal organization's competencies have on the IOC's antecedents, process, and outcomes. We base our arguments on the case of the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) that collaborated with various international and domestic partners to effectively reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In this cross-sectional follow-up study, we explored Canadian's awareness of ParticipACTION and their levels of physical activity (PA) after seven years of campaigns. Methods: A population-based survey was conducted with 7282 adults over a period of 14 months from February 2014 to May 2015. The survey consisted of questions on the 2014-2015 Physical Activity Monitor relating to awareness and knowledge of ParticipACTION. Weighted logistic models were constructed to examine whether awareness was associated with PA-related beliefs, intentions, and leisure time physical activity (LTPA). Results: Approximately 20% of Canadians reported unprompted awareness of ParticipACTION and 82% reported prompted awareness. Education, income, and having children were significant correlates of awareness among Canadians. The adjusted odds of people being aware of ParticipACTION (prompted & unprompted) were greater if they were more educated (OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.04-2.39; OR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.24-3.24), reported higher income (OR = 3.92, 95% CI: 2.35-6.53; OR = 2.29, 95% CI: 1.44-3.62), and had children (OR = 1.93, 95% CI: 1.40-2.66; OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.26-2.30). Furthermore, awareness of ParticipACTION was positively associated with outcome expectations and self-efficacy, and negatively associated with LTPA status. Conclusion: Levels of unprompted awareness of ParticipACTION are higher than previously reported and, in comparison to active Canadians, inactive Canadians are more likely to be aware of the organization. Given that it had primarily targeted parents of inactive children over the past seven years, it appears the organization has been partially effective in achieving its communication goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: ParticipACTION is a Canadian physical activity communications and social marketing organization relaunched in 2007. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively investigate organizational capacity for physical activity promotion among Canadian organizations, and the influence of ParticipACTION on capacity five years after relaunch. Methods: Using a purposive sampling strategy, semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 44 key informants representing national, provincial, and local organizations with a mandate to promote physical activity. Interview data were analyzed using a thematic analytic approach. Results: Organizational capacity in terms of partnerships and collaborations, and the general climate for physical activity promotion have improved since ParticipACTION's relaunch. Although financial resources reduced the ability of organizations to fulfil their mandates, internal factors such as skilled employees and sponsorships, and external factors such as technological improvements in communication and information sharing helped to offset this strain. There were mixed feelings on ParticipACTION's contribution to capacity. While ParticipACTION has brought more attention to inactivity, this was perceived as a complement to work already taking place. While some organizations perceived ParticipACTION's relaunch as competition to funding and access to popular media, others found it as an opportunity to co-brand social marketing campaigns, utilizing ParticipACTION's products and reputation. Conclusion: According to participants, organizational capacity to promote physical activity in Canada has increased since 2007 in subtle but important ways because of a strong climate for physical activity promotion, skilled employees, and information sharing technology. Organizational capacity changes were minimally attributed to ParticipACTION. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: ParticipACTION is a Canadian physical activity communications and social marketing organization relaunched in 2007. This study assesses the capacity of Canadian organizations to adopt, implement, and promote physical activity initiatives. The four objectives were to compare findings from baseline (2008) and follow-up (2013) with respect to: (1) awareness of ParticipACTION; (2) organizational capacity to adopt, implement and promote physical activity initiatives; (3) potential differences in capacity based on organizational size, sector, and mandate; and (4) assess perceptions of ParticipACTION five years after relaunch. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, representatives from local, provincial/territorial, and national organizations completed an online survey assessing capacity to adopt, implement, and promote physical activity. Descriptive statistics and one-way analyses of variance were conducted to examine the objectives. Results: Response rate for opening an email survey invitation and consenting to participate was 40.6% (685/1688) and 540 surveys were completed. Awareness of ParticipACTION increased from 54.6% at baseline to 93.9% at follow-up (Objective 1). Findings at both baseline and follow-up reflected good organizational capacity to adopt, implement and promote physical activity (Objective 2) although some varied by organizational sector and mandate (Objective 3). Most respondents reported that ParticipACTION provided positive leadership (65.3%), but there was less agreement regarding ParticipACTION's facilitation of infrastructure (44.0%) or organizational will/motivation (47.1%)(Objective 4). Conclusion: Canadian organizations continue to report having good capacity to adopt, implement, and promote physical activity. There was no discernible change in capacity indicators five years after ParticipACTION's relaunch although its broader contribution to the physical activity sector was endorsed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Applied Physiology, Nutrition & Metabolism is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Marketers realize the importance of 360-degree communication (reaching audience members in consistent but multiple ways) to improve brand salience, increase the effectiveness of behavior change strategies, and achieve organizational objectives. While several social marketing organizations have embraced the 360-degree approach, their effectiveness has not been adequately captured by research approaches such as 360-degree feedback. Our study addresses this gap by reporting the influence of Project Raksha (“protection” in Hindi), launched in November 2007 in the rural areas of four Indian states by Pathfinder International in support of government of India’s efforts to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity by promoting institutionalized delivery. The project designed specific interventions at the household, community, local government, and clinical levels to address four types of delays in response to obstetric complications. Westat India carried out postintervention-only evaluation by conducting self-report surveys and interviews with women and their influencers, community health workers, health service providers, and local government members. Findings revealed that most interventions proved effective in addressing the four types of delay that were key contributors to maternal mortality in the project areas. The 360-degree feedback mechanism allowed the social marketing organization to obtain a comprehensive grasp of its persuasion efforts. Achievements and failures were better captured and lessons better learned for future behavior change attempts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although social marketing promotion efforts are typically evaluated online using either finished video or static images, limited evidence exists whether media type influences audience response. In a posttest-only experimental study with a nationally representative sample of 663 Canadian mothers of 5- to 11-year-old children, participants were randomly assigned to one of two media conditions consisting of Think Again physical-activity Public Service Announcements created by ParticipACTION. Mothers reported campaign recall, ad liking, motivation to respond to the ad (i.e., assist one’s child to get at least 60 min of physical activity every day), and their support behaviors. Data were analyzed using χ2 and independent samples t-tests. Those exposed to the video version of the ad in comparison to the static image reported higher message recall and liking, and motivation to respond. There were no differences in parental support behaviors. Social marketing promotion efforts should be evaluated using the same format as the media message originally used. The study concludes that media type influences findings when evaluating social marketing promotion campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Applied Physiology, Nutrition & Metabolism is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Poor eating habits are an important public health issue that has large health and economic implications. Many food preferences are established early, but because people make more and more independent eating decisions as they move through adolescence, the transition to independent living during the university days is an important event. To study the phenomenon of food selection, the heath belief model was applied to predict the likelihood of healthy eating among university students. Structural equation modeling was used to investigate the validity of the health belief model (HBM) among 194 students, followed by gender-based analyses. The data strongly supported the HBM. Social change campaign implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]