Nursing
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/24
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Item Stages of exercise behaviour change: a pilot study of measurement validity(Institute of Health Promotion and Education, 2008) Bulley, Catherine; Donaghy, Marie; Payne, A.; Mutrie, N.Objectives: The Stage of Exercise Behaviour Change (SEBC) scale is used to monitor physical activity levels and change in a variety of contexts. However, there is insufficient conceptual discussion relating to its use and a lack of objective evidence for its validity. Pilot work was undertaken to explore the issues involved in validating a SEBC scale using objective monitoring of exercise behaviour, and subsequent discussion aims to inform future validity studies. Design: Estimates of of physical activity energy expenditure (kilocalories) were calculated for 20 participants, while minutes spent in moderate and vigorous activity were extrapolated from heart rate data in 23 participants. The SEBC scale was completed after a three-day objective monitoring period. Data were compared descriptively and using analysis of variance. Results: Inter-stage differences in objective measurements of energy expenditure and minutes of vigorous activity participation provided hierarchical confirmation of the SEBC scale. Conclusions: Objectively monitored exercise partcipation supported previous work in its confirmation of the Stage of Change hierarchy. However, in order to build confidence in the tool, it will be necessary to explore minutes of exercise participation over a six-month period. This would enable comparison of objectively monitored activity levels against the threshold level of exercise described as the target behaviour. Suggestions are made as to how this could be carried out. A word of caution is provided in relation to current use of SEBC tools in measurement contexts.Item A survey of community exercise programmes for stroke survivors in Scotland(Wiley, 2011) Best, C.; van Wijck, F.; Dennis, J.; Donaghy, Marie; Fraser, H.; Dinan-Young, S.; Mead, G.Stroke is the most common cause of complex disability in the community. Physical fitness is often reduced after stroke, but training can improve fitness and function. UK and international stroke clinical guidelines recommend long-term exercise participation for stroke survivors. However, there has been no previous research into what services are available to support this. In 2009, we conducted the first European survey of community Exercise after Stroke services. A link to our web-based survey was emailed to health, leisure service and stroke charity contacts in Scotland with email and telephone follow-up to non-respondents. The overall response rate was 64% (230/361). A total of 14 Exercise after Stroke services were identified, the majority of which were run by charity collaborations (7/14), followed by leisure centre services (4/14) and health services (3/14). We sought information on session content, referral and assessment processes, and the qualifications of exercise instructors. This information was cross-referenced with current clinical and exercise guidelines to determine whether existing resources were sufficient to meet stroke survivors' needs for safe, effective and sustainable access to exercise. The results indicated a shortage of stroke-specific community exercise programmes. Further service development is required to ensure appropriate instructor training and referral pathways are in place to enable stroke survivors to access exercise services in accordance with current guidelines. 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.Item Variation in the alcohol content of a 'drink' of wine and spirit poured by a sample of the Scottish population(Oxford University Press, 2004-05-20) Gill, Jan; Donaghy, MarieThe standard UK alcohol unit is used to record alcohol consumption and, in health promotion, as a useful yardstick by which the public may be encouraged to monitor their own drinking levels. To investigate the correspondence between this standard unit and the actual amount contained in the 'usual' drink poured by a sample of the Scottish public, participants (n=251) were recruited from three employers in a major city-a manufacturer, an academic and a financial institution. Following a brief questionnaire, participants were asked to pour their usual drink of wine, and then spirit, into a glass. Among drinkers (n=238), the mean amount of alcohol in a drink of wine corresponded to not 1, but 1.92 UK units. For spirit, the corresponding figure was 2.3 UK units. For wine, 43% of the sample poured more than 2 units, for spirit, 55%. (Males poured significantly more spirit than females.) These findings may have important implications for individuals who wish to promote and to adopt sensible drinking practices when consuming wine and spirit at home. Also, the reliability of many consumption surveys, where there is often the implicit assumption that a 'drink' is equivalent to a 'standard unit', must be questioned.