Publications by authors named "Karen Croteau"

Nursing is a physically active profession; however, nurses and nursing support staff may limit their physical activity (PA) on non-workdays. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the effects of a 12-week pedometer-based PA intervention on daily steps of hospital nursing and support staff from two departments, emergency (ED) and oncology (ONC). The 12-week minimal-contact, self-managed intervention was designed to increase total and non-workday PA.

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Background: Evidence on physical activity (PA) and transitions out of full-time employment in middle-to-older age is mainly cross-sectional and focused upon retirement. The purpose was to examine trajectories in PA before and after transitions out of full-time employment.

Methods: Data were obtained for 5,754 people in full-time employment aged 50-75 from the US Health and Retirement Survey.

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We investigated whether ethnic and country of birth differences in adult Body Mass Index (BMI) were associated with differences in diet, physical activity and ethnic density (the percentage of an ethnic group within the neighbourhood environment). A sample of 214,807 adults living in Australia was extracted from the 45 and Up Study. Analyses comprised multilevel modelling of BMI for 38 ethnic and country of birth groups.

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The purpose of this pilot study was to determine if using physical activity (PA) mentors has any additional impact on daily steps of older adults participating in the Maine in Motion (MIM) program in the primary care setting. Participants were randomly assigned to a MIM-only group (n = 14) or a MIM+ mentor group (n = 14). The MIM intervention lasted 6 months with follow-up at 12 months.

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Background: It is speculated that rural Kenyan children are more physically active than those in developed countries. The purpose of this study was to examine pedometer-measured physical activity levels of western Kenyan youth.

Methods: Participants in this study were children in Levels 3 and 5 who attended a private primary school.

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Older adults and special populations (living with disability and/or chronic illness that may limit mobility and/or physical endurance) can benefit from practicing a more physically active lifestyle, typically by increasing ambulatory activity. Step counting devices (accelerometers and pedometers) offer an opportunity to monitor daily ambulatory activity; however, an appropriate translation of public health guidelines in terms of steps/day is unknown. Therefore this review was conducted to translate public health recommendations in terms of steps/day.

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Focus group methodology was used to explore in depth the perceptions of older adults who had participated in a 12-week pedometer-based intervention. Nineteen women and 8 men, ages 55-86 years, volunteered to take part in the focus groups following participation in the intervention. Four focus groups of six to eight participants were scheduled at primary sites in the southern Maine area.

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This study investigated the effect of a 12-week pedometer-based intervention on daily step counts of 147 older adults randomly assigned to an intervention or wait-list control group (M age = 72.9 years, SD = 8.8).

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Objectives: To determine the prevalence of physical activity advice, including the Green Prescription (a physical activity scripting scheme), given in the primary care setting, and the characteristics of New Zealanders who receive such advice.

Method: Questions from a 2003 national postal survey (n = 8,291), 'Obstacles to Action', were examined. The survey was designed to identify population segments to target for physical activity interventions.

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Issue Addressed: To examine levels of trust for various sources of physical activity information.

Methods: Questions from a 2003 nationally representative survey (n=8,291), Obstacles to Action, relating to how much respondents would trust various sources of physical activity information, were examined.

Results: The most trusted source of physical activity information was the general practitioner (GP) and the least trusted source was the Internet.

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The purpose of this study was to determine the self-selected strategies participants used to increase physical activity during an 8-week, pedometer-based lifestyle intervention. Participants were 34 employees of a small northeastern private college, with a mean age of 44.3 (+/- 9.

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Purpose: To investigate the effects of an 8-week, pedometer-based lifestyle physical activity intervention on physical activity levels.

Methods: Participants were 37 college employees who volunteered to participate in the study. The intervention consisted of goal setting, pedometer use, self-monitoring, and weekly e-mail reminders.

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