Biomedical subjects

K I Proper

Publications and source records attributed to K I Proper.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Sitting time and socio-economic differences in overweight and obesity.

OBJECTIVES: To examine (1) the inter-relationships between socio-economic status (SES), physical activity, three different domains of sitting time (weekday, weekend day and leisure-time sitting), and being overweight or obese (body mass index>/=25 kg/m(2)); and (2) the potential mediation effects of sitting time in the relationship between socio-economic factors and being overweight or obese in working Australian adults. DESIGN: Observational epidemiological study. SUBJECTS: One thousand forty eight working adults. Using a multistage sampling design on neighbourhood SES, participants were from high and low SES neighbourhoods of an Australian capital city. MEASUREMENTS: Neighbourhood SES was assessed using census data; individual SES was based on self-reported educational attainment and household income. There were three sitting time variables: sitting time on weekdays, weekend days and in leisure time. Overweight and obesity were determined using self-reported body weight and height. RESULTS: Gender, age, neighbourhood SES, education, working hours and physical activity were independently associated with weekday, weekend day and leisure-related sitting time. With the exception of education and working hours, these variables were also independently associated with being overweight or obese. Leisure-time sitting was found to be a mediator in the relationships between gender, education and being overweight or obese. CONCLUSION: Strategies to promote less sitting in leisure time are required to combat overweight and obesity in Australian adults, especially among those from low SES neighbourhoods, and among those with high levels of education and income who work long hours.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Dose-response relation between physical activity and sick leave.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the dose-response relation between moderate and vigorous physical activity and sick leave in a working population. METHODS: Data were used from three large Dutch databases: two continuous, cross sectional surveys among a representative sample of the Dutch population and one prospective cohort study. A distinction was made between duration, frequency and intensity of physical activity. The outcome measure was the number of days of sick leave. Analyses of variance were used to compare sick leave (in days) for workers with different amounts of physical activity, in particular workers meeting the physical activity recommendations v those who did not. Linear and logistic regression analyses were used to obtain effect estimates in the prospective cohort study, with the generalised estimating equation (GEE) method. RESULTS: No relation was found between moderate physical activity and sick leave. In two databases, workers meeting the recommendation of vigorous physical activity (active at a vigorous level for at least three times a week) had significantly less sick leave: more than one day over two months and more than four days over a year. The duration of vigorous physical activity was not associated with sick leave. CONCLUSION: Physical activity at a vigorous intensity level for at least three times a week, as in the CDC/ACSM recommendation, has a positive effect on sick leave.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Worksite health promotion using individual counselling and the effectiveness on sick leave; results of a randomised controlled trial.

AIMS: To investigate the effectiveness of a worksite health promotion programme by individual counselling on sick leave. METHODS: Three municipal services of Enschede, the Netherlands, participated in this trial. A total of 299 civil servants were measured at baseline and were randomised by cluster into the intervention (n = 131) or the control group (n = 168). During nine months, subjects in the intervention group received a total of seven consultations, particularly aimed at increasing their physical activity level and improving their dietary habits. Both the intervention and the control subjects received written information as to several lifestyle factors. Sick leave data regarding the nine month intervention period (from May until January) were collected from each municipal service's personnel department. In addition, sick leave data concerning the nine month period pre- and post-intervention were collected. Sick leave data were analysed using multilevel analysis. RESULTS: For both groups, the mean sick leave rate during the intervention increased compared to before the intervention. After the intervention period, the control group increased even more (from 22.9 to 27.6 days), whereas the intervention group slightly decreased (from 21.5 to 20.5 days). Median values of sick leave rate decreased for both groups. No statistically significant intervention effect was found. In both groups, the mean sick leave frequency slightly decreased over time (intervention effects were not significant). CONCLUSIONS: Results showed no significant effect of individual counselling on sick leave. Continued research investigating the effectiveness of this individual counselling programme on several health related outcomes is useful to clarify the trend observed in sick leave.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Short term effect of feedback on fitness and health measurements on self reported appraisal of the stage of change.

BACKGROUND: An individual's current status of physical activity and nutrition and readiness to change can be determined using PACE assessment forms. Practitioners have suggested that feedback on the fitness and health components can produce a change in a subject's awareness of their behaviour and thereby lead to a beneficial change in stage of behaviour change. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the short term effect of personalised feedback on fitness and health status on self reported appraisal of the stage of change. METHODS: A total of 299 civil servants were randomised to an intervention or a reference group. After having been tested for fitness and health, the intervention group received immediate feedback on their test results, whereas the reference group did not. PACE assessment forms were completed twice: before testing and after testing (reference group), or after testing and feedback (intervention group). The time interval between was one hour. The influence of feedback was determined using a x(2) test and analysis of variance. RESULTS: On the basis of the x(2) test, no significant effect of feedback was found on the stage of change of physical activity, nor on the stage of change with regard to nutrition. Analysis of variance results showed no significant effect on the raw PACE score as to physical activity, intake of fruit and vegetables and dietary fat. However, a significant effect was observed on the PACE score of "calorie intake and weight management". Subjects in the intervention group significantly more often regressed on their PACE score on this topic than the reference subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Feedback at baseline on measurements of an intervention study can influence PACE scores and can be considered as a small but relevant start of the intervention itself.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2000

[Cesar therapy is temporarily more effective in patients with chronic low back pain than the standard treatment by family practitioner: randomized, controlled and blinded clinical trial with 1 year follow-up].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of a special form of exercise therapy ('Cesar therapy') on self reported recovery and improvement of posture amongst patients with chronic aspecific lower back pain. DESIGN: Prospective randomized controlled and blinded investigation. METHOD: After informed consent had been obtained, patients with chronic aspecific lower back pain were given, on a randomized basis, either an exercise therapy (experimental group, n = 112) or a standard treatment by their general practitioner (control group, n = 110). Outcome measures were self reported recovery of back pain and improvement of posture (thoracic and lumbar spine, pelvis). Self reported recovery was determined by means of a dichotomized 7-point scale (questionnaire). Posture was measured qualitatively by a panel of 11 Cesar therapists (blinded) and quantitatively by an optical-electronic posture recording system (Vicon). Measurements were taken at baseline (pre-randomization) and at 3, 6 and 12 months after randomization. RESULTS: Three months after randomization, patients who were treated according to Cesar therapy, reported an improvement in their back symptoms (80%) significantly more often than the control group (47%). In both groups, however, only small improvements in posture were found. The judgement of the Cesar panel exhibited a significant difference between the two groups, with respect to the spine, in favour of Cesar therapy. Differences between the groups were still present 6 months after randomization, but could no longer be detected at 12 months after randomization. CONCLUSION: Cesar therapy was significantly more effective than standard treatment among patients with chronic lower back pain for a period of 6 months after randomization.

Adult↗