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Aims: To explore how emerging adult‐aged women self‐manage their sexual and reproductive health and to generate a grounded theory of these self‐management processes. Design: Grounded theory methods using a constructivist approach. Methods: Between September 2019 and September 2020, 18‑ to 25‐years‐old women (n = 13) were recruited from a 4‐year university, a 2‐year community college, and neighbourhoods surrounding the institutions of higher education. Individual interviews were transcribed verbatim and qualitatively analysed using a constant comparative method and inductive coding. Results: The theory purports that core processes of sexual and reproductive health self‐management used by the women in this study included both passive and (re)active processes. These processes expanded upon and/or maintained the women's accessible sexual and reproductive health knowledge, behaviour and beliefs, defined as the sexual and reproductive health repertoire. The processes appeared to be cyclical and were often initiated by a catalysing event or catalyst and resulted in conversations with confidantes, or trusted individuals. A catalyst was either resolved or normalized by expanding or maintaining the sexual and reproductive health repertoire. Conclusion: The resulting theory, EMeRGE Theory, offers insight into the complex and cyclical processes emerging adult‐aged women use to simultaneously develop and adapt their foundational sexual and reproductive health knowledge, behaviours and beliefs. Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care: This explication of emerging adult‐aged women's sexual and reproductive health self‐management processes can be used by nurses and nurse researchers to better address this population's unique health needs. Impact: The EMeRGE Theory provides valuable guidance for future exploratory and intervention research aimed at improving the health and well‐being of emerging adult‐aged women. Reporting Method: The authors adhered to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative studies (COREQ) in preparation of this publication. Patient or Public Contribution: No patient or public contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intervention construct validity procedures test the efficacy of a program to impact on targeted theory constructs. To examine the intervention construct validity of the Planning to be Active (PBA) and Mentored Planning to be Active (MPBA) programs on high school youth residing in Appalachia. Twenty high schools in Appalachia were randomly assigned to either the teacher lead PBA program or the peer mentor led MPBA program. All participants (n = 633) completed a set of valid and reliable instruments assessing SCT variables: social support for exercise friends, social support for exercise family, self-efficacy for exercise and the self-regulation skills (behavioral goal setting, exercise self-monitoring, building social support, overcoming barriers, and self-reward). PBA and MPBA are effective approaches to increasing social support, self-efficacy for exercise and increasing the use of self-regulation skills to increase physical activity. The results identify constructs that were not improved suggesting areas for curriculum refinement. PBA and MPBA have established construct validity. Intervention construct validity methods identified program strengths and weaknesses. Intervention construct validity is an evidence-based approach to program improvement. Intervention construct validity establishes a foundation for testing theory impact on health behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this article is to provide practical strategies for maintaining methodological rigour in executing a virtual qualitative study. Strategies are based on evidence from existing research about virtual qualitative methods and on the strategies used by the authors to convert a planned in‐person qualitative, grounded theory study to an entirely virtual grounded theory study during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The study began in‐person in September 2019 and was converted to virtual in March 2020. Virtual data collection was completed in September 2020. Design: This article provides a case exemplar of virtual adaptations made to a study underway when the pandemic rendered all in‐person research impractical and potentially dangerous. Data sources: The strategies discussed are based on our own experiences and the supporting theoretical assumptions of qualitative research, specifically grounded theory methods. Implications for nursing: Nursing scholars conducting qualitative inquiry may find these strategies helpful in continuing research activities during periods of limited access to the phenomena or persons of interest. Furthermore, these strategies allow nursing scholars to conduct rigorous, in‐depth research without geographical limitations, providing greater possibilities for international collaborations and cross‐institution research. Conclusion: Despite novel challenges, methodological adaptations that are carefully planned and purposeful allow qualitative and non‐qualitative scholars to continue research activities in a fully virtual manner. Impact: This case exemplar and discussion provide practical strategies for qualitative scholars to consider while planning new studies or converting an in‐person study to a virtual one. Despite the in‐person nature of in‐depth qualitative inquiry, a historic pandemic and a changing research environment require qualitative researchers to adapt to virtual methods while still conducting high quality, methodologically rigorous research. Qualitative scholars can use the strategies presented here to continue rigorous qualitative inquiry despite limited access to phenomena or persons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are a large source of added sugar in teenagers' diets, comprising 20–25% of daily calories. Despite efforts, teens in rural and southern states continue to have the high SSB consumption rates. Using Teen Advisory Councils (TAC), students designed and delivered school-specific interventions at five Tennessee schools. Using repeated measures models with Bonferroni correction, data were collected on SSBs and water consumption at baseline and 30 days postintervention. The 573 participants ranged from 13 to 19 years; mean age 15.97 years (SD = 1.4). Daily SSB servings decreased from a mean of 2.37 (SD = 2.06) to 1.87 (SD = 1.89; p =.024). Weekly SSB behaviors decreased 10%. Daily water consumption increased 19.5% to 4.46 (SD = 2.97) servings (p =.03). Student-led efforts supported behavioral changes. TACs were effective at changing lifestyle behaviors. Community-driven solutions may result in manageable changes to sustain behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Sugar-sweetened beverages ( SSBs) are the largest source of added sugar in the US diet. In adolescents aged 12-19, these drinks account for 13% to 28% of total daily calories. Compared with other adolescents, those residing in Appalachia have the highest consumption rates of SSBs. METHODS Using a Teen Advisory Council (TAC), a student-designed and student-led intervention was conducted at 2 high schools in a rural Appalachian county. Using repeated-measures models design with Bonferroni correction, data were collected on daily and weekly consumption of SSBs and of water at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and 30 days post-intervention. Vending machine surveys were completed. RESULTS The 186 participants reported purchasing SSBs from school vending machines (41.4%), cafeteria (36.5%), and school stores (7.7%). Daily SSB servings decreased from an average of 2.32 ( SD = 2.14) to 1.32 ( SD = 1.29) (p < .001). Weekly consumption decreased from an average of 4.30 ( SD = 2.40) days/week to 2.64 ( SD = 1.91) (p < .001). Water consumption increased 19% from baseline to immediately post-intervention. CONCLUSIONS Student-directed efforts to support behavioral change are feasible and effective at affecting individual lifestyle behaviors. Small and manageable changes may lead to net improvements in lifestyle behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study describes sugar‐sweetened beverage (SSB) behaviors of children and compares child‐reported SSB behaviors to parent‐reported SSB behaviors during school days and nonschool days. Method: Six elementary schools from Tennessee participated with 444 students and 287 parents. Descriptive statistics included means, standard deviation (SD), ranges of values, and measures of central tendency. To explore the relationship between parent and child report, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were analyzed. The mean (SD) differences and limits of agreement were calculated using paired t tests with Bonferroni corrections for multiple outcomes of interest. A p < 0.05 was significant. Results: Reporting differed with SSB type of school day. Children reported higher quantities of sweet tea and "coke/soda." Both agreed on SSB abstention, except for juice. ICCs ranged from 0.383 to 0.513 (p = 0.000). The lowest and highest ICCs were for sweet tea, based on school days or nonschool days. Discussion: To determine the best estimate of SSBs, information should be obtained from children and parents to improve accuracy and enhance education about health behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]