Fostering Activities of Daily Living by Intact Nursing Home Residents

We assessed effectiveness of four education programs in providing nursing assistants with ability to produce a therapeutic milieu supportive of intact residents' activities of daily living, positive self-esteem and mood: (1) a combination of Orem's Systems of Nursing Care and Skinner's Applied Behavioral Analysis, (2) Applied Behavioral Analysis, (3) Orem's Systems of Nursing Care, and (4) regular in-service education. We hypothesized that the combination program was most effective. Results revealed no significant difference among programs. Education alone is not sufficient. Administrative and supervisory involvement and support is crucial for nursing assistants' successful implementation of newly acquired knowledge and skills.     

Extending the Theory of Planned Behavior in the Exercise Domain: A Comparison of Social Support and Subjective Norm

Abstract

A sedentary and unfit way of life leads to increased risk for several chronic diseases and premature mortality. Sedentary and unfit individuals are also more likely to develop functional limitations as they age. The precise type, amount, and intensity of physical activity required for protection needs further investigation. Traditional exercise recommendations suggest a threshold of activity that necessary for protection, although current evidence does not support a dichotomous view of this issue. Clinical and epidemiological studies show a continuous dose-response gradient of outcome variables across a wide range of activity or fitness levels. Moderate amounts and intensities of physical activity are associated with improved health and reduced risk of morbidity and mortality when compared with low activity or fitness. The major public health emphasis for physical activity recommendations and programming should be to encourage the most sedentary and unfit 20 to 25 % of the population to become at least moderately active, and this can yield substantial benefits for the population.     

Leisure Time Physical Activity and Job Performance

In this study, the dual-task paradigm was used to determine peak attentional demand during the free-throw process. Thirty participants completed 40 free-throw trials. The free throw was the primary task, but participants also verbally responded to a tone administered at one of four probe positions (PP). Repeated measures analysis of variance showed no significant difference in free-throw performance across PPs, indicating participants were able to keep the free throw as the primary task. Repeated measures analysis of response time (RT) showed significant differences, with RT at PP1 (preshot routine) and PP2 (first upward motion of the ball) significantly higher than baseline RT. These results suggest that PP1 requires the greatest attentional demand, followed by PP2.     

The Learning Advantages of an External Focus of Attention in Golf

Abstract

Two unique methodological strategies were used to investigate the influence of retroactive inhibition on recall within a contextual interference paradigm. Three independent blocked groups, blocked without retroactive inhibition (BL-without), blocked with 18 trials of retroactive inhibition (BL-18), and blocked with 36 trials of retroactive inhibition (BL-36), were created that varied in order of presentation of tasks. By testing a single task in retention and creating three independent blocked groups, varying amounts of retroactive inhibition were produced. This isolated the effects of retroactive inhibition on blocked compared to control and random subjects' retention. The Acquisition Group x Retention Trials interaction indicated that random and BL-without subjects had shorter reaction time than BL-18 and BL-36 subjects. Thus, blocked subjects with retroactive inhibition exhibited a retention deficit compared to BL-without subjects. The results support previous contextual interference findings and suggest that retroactive inhibition influences the retention deficits demonstrated by blocked compared to random subjects in typical contextual interference investigations.     

Right–left digit ratio (2D:4D) predicts free testosterone levels associated with a physical challenge

Abstract

There is evidence that the digit ratio (2D:4D) is a negative correlate of prenatal levels of testosterone, but there is no association between 2D:4D and the circulating levels of both total and free testosterone. Sports provide a physical challenge and participants often show increased levels of free testosterone immediately preceding and during competition. We tested this hypothesis of a link between 2D:4D and testosterone under challenge in 79 professional rugby players using the following procedures; (i) 25 players were physically challenged using a repeated sprint agility test, and saliva samples were assayed for testosterone immediately preceding the repeated sprint agility test (time 1) and 5 minutes (time 2) and 20 minutes after completion of the repeated sprint ability (time 3); (ii) 54 players were also tested for salivary testosterone in an unchallenged condition. We found that right-left 2D:4D was significantly and negatively related to testosterone concentrations at times 1, 2 and 3 following the repeated sprint agility test (P < 0.05) and there was no association between the 2D:4D and basal testosterone levels in the unchallenged group. We suggest that low right–left 2D:4D is a predictive marker of free testosterone responsiveness when trained men are physically challenged, and that this association is programmed by the action of prenatal testosterone.     

Age, physical activity, physical fitness, body composition, and incidence of orthopedic problems

The incidence of orthopedic problems was examined in 5,582 men and women who attended the Cooper Clinic in Dallas, Texas between 1974 and 1982. The effects of age, physical activity, physical fitness, and body mass index (BMI) on the occurrence of these problems were examined using a proportional hazards approach. The expected risk of orthopedic problems per person-year was 0.045 for men and 0.046 for women. For men, physical fitness, BMI, and physical activity were associated with orthopedic problems, while for women, physical activity was the main predictor. Age was not a factor for either gender. The effect of change in physical fitness, physical activity, and BMI was examined in a subset of 2,325 persons with more than one visit to the clinic. For women, physical activity and a decrease in BMI were associated with orthopedic problems, while for men none of those factors were significant. Again, age was not a factor in either group. The absence of any age effect on the occurrence of problems suggests that with regard to orthopedic problems, moderate amounts of physical activity in generally healthy persons may be recommended without special consideration as to age.     

Measuring the impact of competition in local government education markets on the cognitive achievement of students

In this paper, the role of interjurisdictional competition among school districts is examined. Using 1970 California school district data and controlling for a variety of education inputs, achievement scores are found to rise as the local education market becomes more competitive. This relationship continues until a competitive threshold is reached, beyond which additional districts have no impact on achievement. It is estimated that three to four school districts per county are necessary to create a competitive market in education. These findings are consistent with similar studies examining the effect of entry in the private sector. Additionally, the results show a variety of parental, school and student inputs to be significant in “producing” student achievement.     

Social Media and Active Shooter Events: A School Crisis Communication Challenge

In recent years, the need to study the communication challenges schools face during crises has become essential. The current study included semi-structured interviews with 56 crisis team members from 21 P–12 districts. Participants identified the social media challenges and strategies districts employ during crisis events. Implications for scholars and P–12 administrators are discussed.