Search

© 2015 Elsevier Inc. Objective: Promoting adherence to healthy dietary patterns is a critical public health issue. Models of behaviour, such as the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) allow programme designers to identify antecedents of dietary patterns and design effective interventions. The primary aim of this study was to examine the association between TPB variables and dietary patterns. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted to identify relevant studies. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to calculate average correlations. Meta-regression was used to test the impact of moderator variables. Results: In total, 22 reports met the inclusion criteria. Attitudes had the strongest association with intention (r+. =. 0.61) followed by perceived behavioural control (PBC, r+. =. 0.46) and subjective norm (r+. =. 0.35). The association between intention and behaviour was r+. =. 0.47, and between PBC and behaviour r+. =. 0.32. Moderator analyses revealed that younger participants had stronger PBC-behaviour associations than older participants had, and studies recording participants' perceptions of behaviour reported significantly higher intention-behaviour associations than did those using less subjective measures. Conclusions: TPB variables were found to have medium to large associations with both intention and behaviour that were robust to the influence of key moderators. Recommendations for future research include further examination of the moderation of TPB variables by age and gender and the use of more valid measures of eating behaviour.

© 2015 McDermott et al. The combination of economic and social costs associated with non-communicable diseases provide a compelling argument for developing strategies that can influence modifiable risk factors, such as discrete food choices. Models of behaviour, such as the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) provide conceptual order that allows program designers and policy makers to identify the substantive elements that drive behaviour and design effective interventions. The primary aim of the current review was to examine the association between TPB variables and discrete food choice behaviours. A systematic literature search was conducted to identify relevant studies. Calculation of the pooled mean effect size (r+) was conducted using inverse-variance weighted, random effects meta-analysis. Heterogeneity across studies was assessed using the Q- and I2-statistics. Meta-regression was used to test the impact of moderator variables: type of food choice behaviour; participants' age and gender. A total of 42 journal articles and four unpublished dissertations met the inclusion criteria. TPB variables were found to have medium to large associations with both intention and behaviour. Attitudes had the strongest association with intention (r+ = 0.54) followed by perceived behavioural control (PBC, r+ = 0.42) and subjective norm (SN, r+ = 0.37). The association between intention and behaviour was r+ = 0.45 and between PBC and behaviour was r+ = 0.27. Moderator analyses revealed the complex nature of dietary behaviour and the factors that underpin individual food choices. Significantly higher PBC-behaviour associations were found for choosing health compromising compared to health promoting foods. Significantly higher intention-behaviour and PBC-behaviour associations were found for choosing health promoting foods compared to avoiding health compromising foods. Participant characteristics were also found to moderate associations within the model. Higher intention-behaviour

The study, using mixed methodology, examined perceptions of risk associated with speeding in young rural people. Focus groups discussions (age range 16-24) in which speeding was identified as often being an involuntary driving behaviour, informed the development of a survey instrument. The survey was conducted with two groups of young people, one rural (n = 217) and another semi-rural (n = 235). The results from both the focus groups and surveys indicate that young rural drivers had specific attitudes to speeding, when compared with other risk factors for crashing. Speeding behaviour was viewed as both acceptable and inevitable. Males and those from a rural area viewed speeding, and reducing trip time when compared to that of a peer, to be less risky than did females and those who lived in a semi-rural area. Speeding was considered to be less risky than drink driving. These perceptions of speeding may contribute to the crash rates on rural roads involving young, local drivers and need to be considered in interventions or educational programmes which aim to reduce the rural road crash rate.

BACKGROUND: Good General Practice is essential for an effective health system. Good General Practice training is essential to sustain the workforce, however training for General Practice can be hampered by a number of pressures, including professional, structural and social isolation. General Practice trainees may be under more pressure than fully registered General Practitioners, and yet isolation can lead doctors to reduce hours and move away from rural practice. Virtual communities of practice (VCoPs) in business have been shown to be effective in improving knowledge sharing, thus reducing professional and structural isolation. This literature review will critically examine the current evidence relevant to virtual communities of practice in General Practice training, identify evidence-based principles that might guide their construction and suggest further avenues for research. METHODS: Major online databases Scopus, Psychlit and Pubmed were searched for the terms "Community of Practice" (CoP) AND (Online OR Virtual OR Electronic) AND (health OR healthcare OR medicine OR "Allied Health"). Only peer-reviewed journal articles in English were selected. A total of 76 articles were identified, with 23 meeting the inclusion criteria. There were no studies on CoP or VCoP in General Practice training. The review was structured using a framework of six themes for establishing communities of practice, derived from a key study from the business literature. This framework has been used to analyse the literature to determine whether similar themes are present in the health literature and to identify evidence in support of virtual communities of practice for General Practice training. RESULTS: The framework developed by Probst is mirrored in the health literature, albeit with some variations. In particular the roles of facilitator or moderator and leader whilst overlapping, are different. VCoPs are usually collaborations between stakeholders rather than single company VCoPs. S

Background: A better understanding of resilience is integral to optimising the psychosocial care of cancer patients. The purpose of this research is to test a goal-based model of resilience in the cancer context, and more specifically, provide preliminary support for its application to breast cancer patients. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative design was used to measure personal goals, psychological distress, and subjective well-being in 29 early-stage breast cancer patients approximately one month following surgery. Findings: Goal importance was positively related to positive affect. Furthermore, goal interference was significantly associated with higher anxiety. These findings indicate that high goal importance is associated with high well-being, while high cancer-related goal interference is associated with high distress. Discussion: The findings provide preliminary empirical and theoretical support for the application of this model to breast cancer patients. Further investigation in this area has the potential to enhance the psychosocial care of cancer patients.

Aims & rationale/Objectives General Practice training faces geographic barriers to efficient knowledge sharing, collaboration and professional and social support amongst its participants. In industry, large companies use internet tools to create Virtual Communities of Practice which improve collaboration, information sharing and support amongst staff. This study examined the feasibility of using Web 2.0 tools to create a Virtual Community of Practice for GP training. Methods A crossectional online survey was conducted in a Regional GP Training Provider (RTP). The instrument contained categorical and 5-point ascending Likert response format items and was sent to all registrars and supervisors in the RTP. Descriptive analyses were undertaken to highlight overall trends. T-Test was used to compare differences between means for the 5-point response items, and Chi-square for proportions. Principal findings The response rate was 36% (total n=131, registrar n=81, supervisor n=50). Mean responses for confidence in using internet browsers were similar (registrar=4.15 SD=0.64, supervisor=4.04, SD=0.78, p=0.71), however confidence using discussion forums was higher for registrars compared with supervisors (mean=3.40, SD 1.02 vs. 2.98, SD 1.29; p<0.05). Mean response for registrars' interest in a private social network for training purposes was 3.96, SD 0.71. Implications This study shows that supervisors and registrars have confidence in internet usage and that particularly registrars are interested in a private social network for training purposes. GP training faces some geographical and workplace barriers. Virtual Communities of Practice and Web 2.0 tools may help to improve GP training by overcoming geographic barriers and therefore should be further investigated.

The Sociobehavioural Cancer Research Network (SCRN) was established in 1994 by the National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC) with funding from the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS). The network was created to facilitate the development of behavioural science studies that would contribute to a fuller understanding of the cancer experience, from prevention through detection, treatment and post treatment (including palliative care). This article describes the nature of network research, the development and organization of the Sociobehavioural Cancer Research Network and the challenges it faces.