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Biomedical subjects

Melissa A Napolitano

Publications and source records attributed to Melissa A Napolitano.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Outcomes from the women's wellness project: a community-focused physical activity trial for women.

BACKGROUND: Given the low rates of physical activity participation, innovative intervention approaches are needed to make a public health impact. METHODS: The study was conducted at the Miriam Hospital/Brown Medical School in Providence, RI, and in communities of Southeastern Massachusetts from 2002 to 2005. Previously sedentary women (n = 280; mean age = 47.1; 94.6% Caucasian) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (1) Choose to Move, a self-help printed booklet (n = 93), (2) Jumpstart, a motivationally tailored, print based intervention (n = 95); or (3) Wellness, women's health materials (n = 92). Face-to-face contact at months 3 (M3) and 12 (M12) occurred within participants' communities in local libraries. RESULTS: At M3, participants in the Jumpstart condition reported significantly more minutes of physical activity per week (M = 140.4, SE = 14.82) than participants in the Wellness condition (M = 98.1, SE = 15.09), (t(275) = 2.00, p < 0.05). The Jumpstart arm showed a trend towards significance (t(275) = 1.93, p = 0.054) when compared with the CTM arm (M = 99.5, SE = 15.11); there was no significant difference between the CTM and Wellness arms (t(275) = 0.07, p = NS). At M12, there were no significant differences (F(2,275) = 0.147, p = NS) between any of the treatment arms. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that print-based programs for physical activity may be efficacious short-term, but more research is needed to find approaches that are effective long-term. It is possible to deliver print-based programs through existing community infrastructures, however these approaches need further evaluation to examine maintenance effects apart from the demand characteristics of a research study.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Examination of print and telephone channels for physical activity promotion: Rationale, design, and baseline data from Project STRIDE.

BACKGROUND: Project STRIDE is a 4-year randomized controlled trial comparing two computer-based expert system guided intervention delivery channels (phone vs. print) for physical activity adoption and short-term maintenance among previously sedentary adults. METHODS: Sedentary adults (n=239) were randomized to one of the following (1) telephone-based, individualized motivationally-tailored feedback; (2) print-based, individualized motivationally-tailored feedback; (3) contact-control delayed treatment group (received intervention after 12 months as control). This paper: (1) outlines the study design, rationale, and participant sample; and (2) describes relationships between baseline variables to better understand their influence on the efficacy of the intervention. RESULTS: Participants averaged 19.8+/-25.0 min of physical activity/week that was at least of moderate intensity, with no group differences. The average estimated VO(2) at 85% of maximum heart rate was 25.6 ml/kg/min. Body fat was 34.1% for women and 23.2% for men and the BMI of the sample averaged 28.5 kg/m(2). CONCLUSIONS: Project STRIDE examines non face-to-face approaches for promoting physical activity behavior. It has unique features including a direct comparison of an expert system guided intervention delivered via phone or print. Future analyses will examine the cost-effectiveness of the interventions and this will likely yield important information for policy-makers.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Worksite and communications-based promotion of a local walking path.

Current research has shown relationships between the environment (eg, parks and trails) and levels of physical activity participation. This study was designed to implement and evaluate a communications based worksite campaign to promote awareness of an existing local walking path and to increase walking. Promotional materials were distributed for 1 month via flyers, email, website postings, and during bi-weekly information booths. Evaluations were conducted at baseline, during, and following the promotional campaign. Borderline statistically significant increases in walking activity from baseline were observed midway through the campaign (p = 0.069) and following the campaign (p = 0.075). Counts observed during the intervention were almost triple those at baseline and increased in the post-campaign phase to approximately three and a half times those at baseline. Sign recognition surveys revealed at baseline, 51% of the participants correctly identified the walking path signs, which increased to 65% during the campaign (p = .0674). Familiarity with physical activity messages around the workplace increased from 64.6% at baseline to 75.5% during the campaign (p = .097). This study shows initial promise of a theoretically based communications intervention to increase knowledge of physical activity and to promote walking.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Psychosocial factors related to physical activity and weight loss in overweight women.

PURPOSE: This study examined whether psychosocial factors related to physical activity in overweight, previously sedentary women were affected by a 6-month behavioral weight loss program. In addition, these psychosocial factors were examined across levels of weight loss and self-reported physical activity in response to a weight loss intervention. METHODS: Data from 165 overweight (body mass index (BMI) = 32.7 +/- 4.2 kg.m(-2)) women (age = 37.6 +/- 5.5 yr) who participated in a comprehensive behavioral weight loss program that included behavioral education, moderate caloric restriction, and progressive home-based exercise were examined. Body weight was assessed at 0 and 6 months. Perceived benefits and barriers, physical activity self-efficacy, and physical activity processes of change were assessed at 0 and 6 months. Physical activity (minutes per week of at least moderate-intensity activity) was assessed using the 7-Day Physical Activity Recall at 0 and 6 months. RESULTS: The intervention resulted in increases in physical activity self-efficacy, behavioral processes of change, and several cognitive processes of change(P < 0.05). There was a reduction in expected barriers for physical activity (P < 0.05). Individuals with > or = 10% weight loss reported higher levels of physical activity self-efficacy, greater use of behavioral strategies to elicit social support, and fewer barriers to physical activity than those with lower levels of physical activity and less weight loss (P < 0.05). Individuals reporting higher levels of exercise also reported higher levels of physical activity self-efficacy, greater use of behavioral strategies, and fewer barriers to physical activity than those individuals with lower levels of physical activity (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Targeting self-efficacy, behavioral strategies, and barriers in weight management programs may improve physical activity, which may result in improved weight loss in overweight adults.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Evaluation of an internet-based physical activity intervention: a preliminary investigation.

The Internet has the potential for delivering innovative, interactive physical activity (PA) interventions to large numbers of people. This study was designed to test the efficacy of an Internet intervention that consisted of a Web site plus 12 weekly e-mail tip sheets, compared with a waiting list control group. The Internet intervention was theory based and emphasized clear, graphical presentation of PA information. Sixty-five (30 intervention and 35 control) sedentary adult employees of several large hospitals (9 men and 56 women) were randomly assigned to 1 of the 2 study arms. Of the 65 participants, 57 completed the 1-month follow-up, and 52 completed the 3-month follow-up. At both 1 and 3 months, those in the intervention group were significantly more likely to have progressed in stage of motivational readiness for PA than participants in the control group: 1 month, c2(1, N =52) =4.05, p <.05; 3 months, c2(1, N =52) =6.45, p <.01. We hypothesized that at 1 and 3 months, the intervention group would exhibit significant increases relative to the control group on the number of minutes of moderate activity. At the 1-month assessment, the intervention group did exhibit significant increases, relative to the control group in moderate minutes, F(1, 54) =5.79, p <.05; however, at the 3-month assessment this difference was no longer significant. In addition, secondary analyses were conducted to examine total number of minutes of walking reported. At 1 month, the intervention group did exhibit significant increases, relative to the control group, in walking minutes, F(1, 54) =12.1, p <.001. At the 3-month assessment, amount of time spent in walking activity continued to be significantly higher for the intervention group compared with the control group, F(1, 48) =5.2, p <.05. These findings show that a theoretically based PA Web site and weekly e-mail tip sheets can have a short-term impact on PA motivation and behavior both at 1 and 3 months. As Internet access increases, and as bandwidth and other technical attributes of this medium improve, Web site delivered health behavior interventions will become increasingly useful in public health promotion.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

User attitudes toward a physical activity promotion website.

BACKGROUND: The goal of the present study was to examine participants' perceptions of a theory-driven, physical activity promotion website. METHODS: Participants in the present study were individuals in the website condition of a randomized trial designed to test the efficacy of the website. At 1 month, participants were surveyed regarding their self-report of barriers, frequency of use, and helpfulness of the website. RESULTS: Overall, 30 worksite participants were randomized to the website condition and 24 (80%) completed the survey at 1 month. The main barrier to using the website was a "lack of time" (63%). No participants endorsed trouble using the website, a lack of interest in using the internet, or a lack of interest in changing their activity level as barriers to using the website. Furthermore, most sections of the website were found to be "helpful." Patterns of use and perceived utility differed by readiness to become active. For example, more respondents in the "preparation" stage at baseline reported using the overall website, in addition to the "becoming active" and "physical activity and health" sections, than those in the "contemplation" stage at baseline. Perceived utility and frequency of use of specific sections were often divergent, where some sections were rated more helpful and used less frequently (the "Overcoming Barriers" section, for example), while the reverse was true for other sections (the "Walking Fitness Test" section, for example). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the website was well accepted and few barriers were noted. Areas of the website that were used less frequently or found to be less helpful will become areas of focus for future iterations of the site.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Effects of a telephone-based psychosocial intervention for patients awaiting lung transplantation.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To test the efficacy of a tailored telephone-based intervention consisting of supportive counseling and cognitive behavioral techniques for individuals awaiting lung transplantation on measures of quality of life and general well-being. METHOD: Patients were randomly assigned to either a telephone-based special intervention (SI; n = 36) for 8 weeks (average session length, 16.3 min) or a usual care (UC) control condition (n = 35) in which subjects received usual medical care but no special treatment or phone calls. At baseline, and immediately following the 8-week intervention, patients completed a psychometric test battery. SETTING: Duke University Medical Center, Pulmonary Transplantation Program. PATIENTS: Seventy-one patients with end-stage pulmonary disease listed for lung transplantation. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Measures of health-related quality of life (both general and disease-specific), general psychological well-being, and social support. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis of covariance, adjusting for pretreatment baseline scores, age, gender, and time waiting on the transplant list, revealed that patients in the SI condition compared to the UC reported greater general well-being (p < 0.05), better general quality of life (p < 0.01), better disease-specific quality of life (p < 0.05), and higher levels of social support (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: A brief, relatively inexpensive, telephone-based psychosocial intervention is an effective method for reducing distress and increasing health-related quality of life in patients awaiting lung transplantation.

Counseling↗