[Research impact and participatory health research: an international debate].

In recent years, the academic world has been increasingly concerned with the social benefits of research and how they can be identified and demonstrated. Various discussions are being held on the impact of research, which are especially controversial in those countries where impact has become an important factor in the distribution of research funding. For participatory health research, a form of research that prioritises the engagement of those whose work or lives are the topic of the research, achieving social just impact outside the academic world is fundamental to its goal to reduce health inequalities.

[Involving the seldom heard in participatory health research: challenges and strategies].

Background: Participatory health research is gaining increasing recognition in the public health sector. The people whose lives or work are central to wicked issues around health inequalities are integrated into the projects. Including diverse forms of knowledge and perspectives has the capability of strengthening health equity in specific settings.

Mindfulness-based practices with family carers of adults with learning disability and behaviour that challenges in the UK: Participatory health research.

Background: Family carers of adults with learning disability and behaviours that challenge lead complex and stressful lives. Their caring role can leave them isolated and unsupported. In the UK, effective services designed to build resilience for people in long-term caring roles are lacking.

Searching for the Impact of Participation in Health and Health Research: Challenges and Methods.

Internationally, the interest in involving patients and the public in designing and delivering health interventions and researching their effectiveness is increasing. Several systematic reviews of participation in health research have recently been completed, which note a number of challenges in documenting the impact of participation. Challenges include working across stakeholders with different understandings of participation and levels of experience in reviewing; comparing heterogeneous populations and contexts; configuring findings from often thin descriptions of participation in academic papers; and dealing with different definitions of impact.

Social impact of participatory health research: collaborative non-linear processes of knowledge mobilization.

Social impact, defined as an effect on society, culture, quality of life, community services, or public policy beyond academia, is widely considered as a relevant requirement for scientific research, especially in the field of health care. Traditionally, in health research, the process of knowledge transfer is rather linear and one-sided and has not recognized and integrated the expertise of practitioners and those who use services. This can lead to discrimination or disqualification of knowledge and epistemic injustice.

Moderators of the effectiveness of a web-based tailored intervention promoting physical activity in adolescents: the HELENA Activ-O-Meter.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the moderation effects of sex, age, and psychosocial determinants (intention, social support, and modeling) of physical activity (PA) in the relationship between an Internet-based computer-tailored intervention program (Activ-O-Meter) and modes of PA and commuting.

Methods: The Activ-O-Meter with intervention and control condition was delivered to 555 adolescents (boys 50.5%, mean age: 14.

Psychosocial determinants and perceived environmental barriers as mediators of the effectiveness of a web-based tailored intervention promoting physical activity in adolescents: the HELENA Activ-O-Meter.

Background: The aim was to examine if psychosocial determinants (attitudes, self-efficacy, social support from a sports partner) and perceived environmental barriers (PEB) of physical activity (PA) mediated the effect of a 3-month Internet-based intervention on PA in European adolescents.

Methods: A sample of 536 adolescents (51% boys) aged 12-17 years were randomly assigned to intervention or control condition. Questionnaires were used to assess different PA behaviors, psychosocial determinants and PEB at baseline and at 3-month follow-up.

Engaging with marginalized communities: the experiences of London health trainers.

Aims: Health trainers represent a new occupational role within the NHS which has been developing since 2006, when the first 'early adopter' sites were funded by the Department of Health. Health trainers are 'lay' people recruited to engage 'harder-to-reach' people from their communities, offering one-to-one support to enable them to make the healthy lifestyle changes of their choice. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences and approaches adopted by health trainers in engaging with marginalized communities.

Pilot evaluation of the HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) Food-O-Meter, a computer-tailored nutrition advice for adolescents: a study in six European cities.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and impact of the Food-O-Meter, an Internet-based computer-tailored nutrition intervention in adolescents.

Design: Participants in the intervention condition received the computer-tailored advice at baseline and at 1 month, those in the control condition received standardised advice. Effects were evaluated at 1 month (n 621) and at 3 months (n 558) using multi-level modelling.

Prevalence of obesity and body mass index correlates in a representative sample of Cretan school children.

Objective: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity and investigate associated factors in a representative sample of Cretan school children.

Methods: As part of a cross-sectional study in children aged 10-12 years (n = 481, 48% boys) in 27 (urban and rural) schools in Crete, Greece, the rates of overweight and obesity were estimated and multiple logistic regression was used to explore the relationship between several factors and body mass index (BMI).

Results: It was shown that 28% and 13% of children were overweight and obese, respectively.

Associations of several anthropometric indices with insulin resistance in children: The Children Study.

Aim: To compare the associations of several anthropometric indices (i.e. waist circumference [WC], waist-to-height ratio, body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio) with the insulin resistance (IR) proxy measures in Greek schoolchildren.

Shift in the reasons why adults seek HIV testing in the United States: policy implications.

HIV testing is an important step in the continuum of HIV care. It provides the opportunity to counsel people who seek testing and links those who test positive to health services. To determine the number of adults who had ever been tested for HIV, compare the reasons they sought testing, and evaluate the policy implications of their decision, data from the 1998 and 2002 National Health Interview Surveys were analyzed.