Biomedical subjects

Lorian M Taylor

Publications and source records attributed to Lorian M Taylor.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Development and evaluation of a theory-based physical activity guidebook for breast cancer survivors.

This study's objective was to develop and evaluate the suitability and appropriateness of a theory-based physical activity (PA) guidebook for breast cancer survivors. Guidebook content was constructed based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) using salient exercise beliefs identified by breast cancer survivors in previous research. Expert judges completed the Maine Area Health Education Center's 18-item attribute checklist for evaluating written health information. Judges indicated that the PA guidebook achieved desirable attributes for the suitability and appropriateness of the guidebook. A subset of TPB expert judges completed items designed to determine the degree of match between the guidebook content and the respective TPB components. Mean item-content relevance ratings indicated at least a "very good match" between the PA guidebook content and the keyed TPB domains. Theoretically based PA information may be an effective strategy for increasing PA in breast cancer survivors at the population level.

Attitude to Health↗

PubMed2006

Small-scale randomized controlled trials need more powerful methods of mediational analysis than the Baron-Kenny method.

OBJECTIVE: To devise more-effective physical activity interventions, the mediating mechanisms yielding behavioral change need to be identified. The Baron-Kenny method is most commonly used, but has low statistical power and may not identify mechanisms of behavioral change in small-to-medium size studies. More powerful statistical tests are available. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Inactive adults (N=52) were randomized to either a print or a print-plus-telephone intervention. Walking and exercise-related social support were assessed at baseline, after the intervention, and 4 weeks later. The Baron-Kenny and three alternative methods of mediational analysis (Freedman-Schatzkin; MacKinnon et al.; bootstrap method) were used to examine the effects of social support on initial behavior change and maintenance. RESULTS: A significant mediational effect of social support on initial behavior change was indicated by the MacKinnon et al., bootstrap, and, marginally, Freedman-Schatzkin methods, but not by the Baron-Kenny method. No significant mediational effect of social support on maintenance of walking was found. CONCLUSIONS: Methodologically rigorous intervention studies to identify mediators of change in physical activity are costly and labor intensive, and may not be feasible with large samples. The use of statistically powerful tests of mediational effects in small-scale studies can inform the development of more effective interventions.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

Factors associated with physical activity in Canadian adults with diabetes.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to identify key demographic and health factors associated with physical activity (PA) participation in adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Participants were adults > or = 18 yr of age living in the province of Alberta, Canada who were previously diagnosed with type 1 (N = 697) or type 2 (N = 1614) diabetes. Individuals were recruited from the Canadian Diabetes Association (Alberta) registry and through a random digit-dialing protocol. Multiple and logistic regression models were employed to identify demographic and health factors related to PA levels, of which many to date have not been examined in this population. Analyses were conducted separately for type 1 and type 2 groups. RESULTS: Of those with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, 63.7 and 71.9%, respectively, were not achieving recommended PA levels. For those with type 1, higher PA levels were associated with a younger age, being single, higher income, lower level of perceived disability, and not smoking. For the type 2 group, a younger age, male gender, higher education, higher income, lower body mass index, and lower level of perceived disability were associated with higher PA levels. CONCLUSIONS: Many of our results for both diabetes types are consistent with findings from other limited research in this domain. Contrary to previous research, however, a significant negative relationship was reported between body mass index and PA for the type 2 group. In addition, perceived disability was negatively associated with PA, which, to date, has not been reported in the literature with type 2 individuals. Research and practice related to physical activity promotion for this population should take into account specific demographic and health factors associated with PA.

Alberta↗