CDC Grand Rounds: Improving Medication Adherence for Chronic Disease Management - Innovations and Opportunities.

Adherence to prescribed medications is associated with improved clinical outcomes for chronic disease management and reduced mortality from chronic conditions (1). Conversely, nonadherence is associated with higher rates of hospital admissions, suboptimal health outcomes, increased morbidity and mortality, and increased health care costs (2). In the United States, 3.

A large-scale cluster randomized trial to determine the effects of community-based dietary sodium reduction--the China Rural Health Initiative Sodium Reduction Study.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death and disability in China. High blood pressure caused by excess intake of dietary sodium is widespread and an effective sodium reduction program has potential to improve cardiovascular health.

Design: This study is a large-scale, cluster-randomized, trial done in five Northern Chinese provinces.

Progress toward sodium reduction in the United States.

The average adult in the United States of America consumes well above the recommended daily limit of sodium. Average sodium intake is about 3 463 mg/day, as compared to the 2010 dietary guidelines for Americans recommendation of < 2 300 mg/day. A further reduction to 1 500 mg/day is advised for people 51 years or older; African Americans; and people with high blood pressure, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease.

Characteristics of the built environment associated with leisure-time physical activity among adults in Bogotá, Colombia: a multilevel study.

Background: Even though there is increasing evidence that the built environment (BE) has an influence on leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), little is known about this relationship in developing countries. The objective of this study was to assess the associations between objective built environment characteristics and LTPA.

Methods: A cross-sectional multilevel study was conducted in 27 neighborhoods in which 1315 adults aged 18-65 years were surveyed.

Did the Ottawa Charter play a role in the push to assess the effectiveness of health promotion?

The Ottawa Charter contains no explicit mention of the role evidence should play in supporting the development of health promotion, nor is there a discussion on the available methods or recommendations for assessing the effectiveness of health promotion programs and policies. The authors of this paper suggest evidence and effectiveness were not prioritized in the Ottawa Charter, and consequently, attracted little attention during the early development of health promotion practice. This paper reflects upon the various implications of a push to assess the effectiveness of health promotion well after the release of the Ottawa Charter; examines progress in this area since the Ottawa Charter; and challenges the reader to continue on in their own contemplation of remaining challenges ahead, in preparation for the 19th IUHPE World Conference, of which "assessing health promotion effectiveness" is one of the key themes.

A framework for evaluating community-based physical activity promotion programmes in Latin America.

A growing interest in promoting physical activity through multi-sectoral community-based programmes has highlighted the need for effective programme evaluation. Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, an international workgroup of behavioural, medical, public health and other scientists and practitioners endorsed the principle of careful evaluation of all programmes and in a consensus process developed the Rio de Janeiro Recommendations for Evaluation of Physical Activity Interventions". Among these recommendations and principles were that when possible, evaluation should 'built into' the programme from the beginning.

Promoting physical activity in the Americas.

Physical inactivity, obesity, and noncommunicable disease rates are rapidly climbing to epidemic proportions and are becoming the leading causes of death and disability in the Americas and globally. The causes are complex and will require a multifaceted, multisectoral approach. Recognizing this, the World Health Organization adopted a broad-ranging process to develop a Global Strategy for the Promotion of Diet, Physical Activity, and Health, as mandated by the World Health Assembly in May 2002.

Physical Activity Policy Development: a synopsis of the WHO/CDC Consultation, September 29 through October 2, 2002, Atlanta, Georgia.

Physical activity is an important part of the World Health Organization's integrated approach to the prevention and control of noncommunicable disease and the promotion of health, and, in particular, to the evolving World Health Organization Global Strategy on Diet and Physical Activity. To assist in these efforts, a joint World Health Organization/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Consultation on Physical Activity Policy Development took place in Atlanta, Georgia, from September 29 through October 2, 2002. This article summarizes the context and outcomes of the consultation.