Translational Potential of High-Resistance Inspiratory Muscle Strength Training.

Age-associated cardiovascular (CV) dysfunction increases the risk for CV diseases. Aerobic exercise training can improve CV function, but only a minority of adults meet aerobic exercise guidelines. High-resistance inspiratory muscle strength training is a time-efficient lifestyle intervention that may promote adherence and improve CV function.

Large-scale evaluation of a computer-based learning program to increase prison staff knowledge on geriatric and end-of-life care.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to continue research and development of the ECAD-P learning system with an emphasis on developing a scalable unit for testing in a larger number of more diverse correctional settings. There are almost 2.3 million US persons incarcerated.

Inmates Care: Computer-Based Training for Geriatric and End-of-Life Care in Prisons.

The growing aged and dying incarcerated population increases demands on corrections health care. People who are incarcerated can assist in care delivery; however, currently, their training is typically face-to-face, home grown, and variable in content and duration. Six focus groups conducted with peer caregivers (PCs) ( = 12) and staff ( = 15) identified priority training topics.

Technology-Based Bullying Intervention for Rural Schools: Perspectives on Needs, Challenges, and Design.

Bullying is a significant problem in the United States, with 26.7% of middle school students reporting bullying victimization. The majority of bullying programs are comprehensive, school-wide interventions that require significant resources for implementation, creating barriers and challenges for schools in rural and low-income communities.

Impact of Baseline Fatigue on a Physical Activity Intervention to Prevent Mobility Disability.

Objectives: Our aim was to examine the impacts of baseline fatigue on the effectiveness of a physical activity (PA) intervention to prevent major mobility disability (MMD) and persistent major mobility disability (PMMD) in participants from the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) study.

Design: Prospective cohort of individuals aged 65 years or older undergoing structured PA intervention or health education (HE) for a mean of 2.6 years.

Developing Computer-Based Learning on Care of Aged and Dying Incarcerated People.

Introduction: Corrections agencies are exploring ways to securely and cost-effectively increase access to high-quality, evidence-based educational programs for personnel. Technology-based instructional tools hold strong potential for continuing education. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement's Framework for Going to Full Scale was employed to guide a systematic approach.

Developing educational modules to enhance care of aged and dying inmates: Set-up phase.

The purpose of this article is to explain the strategies used in the "Set-up" phase of developing computer-based education on the care and management of incarcerated people who are older and/or dying. Public health nurses have an opportunity to support efforts in educating corrections staff to enhance health care for older and dying inmates. Such endeavors can promote social justice through inmates receiving evidence-based care that parallels that received by the community at large.

Enhancing Care of Aged and Dying Prisoners: Is e-Learning a Feasible Approach?

Background: Prisons and jails are facing sharply increased demands in caring for aged and dying inmates. Our Toolkit for Enhancing End-of-life Care in Prisons effectively addressed end-of-life (EOL) care; however, geriatric content was limited, and the product was not formatted for broad dissemination. Prior research adapted best practices in EOL care and aging; but, delivery methods lacked emerging technology-focused learning and interactivity.

The impact of continued intervention on weight: Five-year results from the weight loss maintenance trial.

Objective: In the Weight Loss Maintenance (WLM) Trial, a personal contact (PC) intervention sustained greater weight loss relative to a self-directed (SD) group over 30 months. This study investigated the effects of continued intervention over an additional 30 months and overall weight change across the entire WLM Trial.

Methods: WLM had 3 phases.

The Conversations About Cancer (CAC) Project-Phase II: National findings from viewing When Cancer Calls…and implications for Entertainment-Education (E-E).

Objective: We address cancer communication by creating and assessing the impacts of a theatrical production, When Cancer Calls…(WCC…), anchored in conversations from the first natural history of a patient and family members talking through cancer on the telephone.

Methods: A national study was conducted using a multi-site and randomized controlled trial. An 80-minute video was produced to assess viewing impacts across cancer patients, survivors, and family members.

Effect of Structured Physical Activity on Sleep-Wake Behaviors in Sedentary Elderly Adults with Mobility Limitations.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of structured physical activity on sleep-wake behaviors in sedentary community-dwelling elderly adults with mobility limitations.

Design: Multicenter, randomized trial of moderate-intensity physical activity versus health education, with sleep-wake behaviors prespecified as a tertiary outcome over a planned intervention period ranging from 24 to 30 months.

Setting: Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders Study.

Predictors for selection of insurance-funded weight loss approaches in individuals with severe obesity.

Objective: To determine whether there are differences in baseline psychological and behavioral characteristics between individuals with severe obesity who chose a surgical or nonsurgical intervention for weight loss.

Methods: The current study utilized data from a larger study funded by a state insurance company and is unique in that the insurance company funded the weight loss interventions. Participants indicated their preferred method of weight loss, and completed several self-report psychological questionnaires, as well as demographic information.

Predictors of dietary change among those who successfully lost weight in phase I of the Weight Loss Maintenance Trial.

Aim: Dietary changes occurring during weight loss interventions can vary. The present study tested if pretreatment psychosocial, dietary and demographic factors were associated with changes in fat intake and fruit and vegetable intake during a weight loss intervention.

Methods: This analysis includes participants who lost at least four kilograms during the initial six month weight loss phase (phase I) of the Weight Loss Maintenance Trial, a group format behavioural intervention emphasising a low-fat diet and increased physical activity.

Five-year medical and pharmacy costs after a medically supervised intensive treatment program for obesity.

Purpose: The financial impact of intensive medical interventions for weight loss has not been fully studied.

Design: A randomized pragmatic clinical trial.

Setting: Seven primary care clinics and one research center in Louisiana.

Psychosocial predictors of weight regain in the weight loss maintenance trial.

This study's purpose was to identify psychosocial predictors of weight loss maintenance in a multi-site clinical trial, following a group-based weight loss program. Participants (N = 1025) were predominately women (63%) and 38% were Black (mean age = 55.6 years; SD = 8.

Why patients seek bariatric surgery: does insurance coverage matter?

Despite increasing prevalence of bariatric surgery, little is known about why patients seek out this treatment option. Heads Up is an observational study sponsored by a large benefits management group that examines surgical and nonsurgical approaches to weight management in obese adults. This study examined patients' reasons for choosing surgery.

Exercise training and quality of life in individuals with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To establish whether exercise improves quality of life (QOL) in individuals with type 2 diabetes and which exercise modalities are involved.

Research Design And Methods: Health Benefits of Aerobic and Resistance Training in individuals with type 2 Diabetes (HART-D; n = 262) was a 9-month exercise study comparing the effects of aerobic training, resistance training, or a combination of resistance and aerobic training versus a nonexercise control group on hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in sedentary individuals with type 2 diabetes. This study is an ancillary analysis that examined changes in QOL after exercise training using the Short Form-36 Health Survey questionnaire compared across treatment groups and with U.

Actual medical and pharmacy costs for bariatric surgery: 6-year follow-up.

Objective: To determine the change in total medical expenditures, total pharmacy expenditures, and subcategories of medical and pharmacy expenditures in obese individuals following weight loss surgery (WLS), and to compare these costs with expenditures in obese individuals not receiving WLS.

Methods: Louisiana Office of Group Benefits (OGB), the state-managed health insurer, invited members to be evaluated for insurance-covered WLS. Of 951 obese members who provided written consent to begin the WLS screening process, 40 were selected for surgery.

Weight loss history as a predictor of weight loss: results from Phase I of the weight loss maintenance trial.

Past studies have suggested that weight loss history is associated with subsequent weight loss. However, questions remain whether method and amount of weight lost in previous attempts impacts current weight loss efforts. This study utilized data from the Weight Loss Maintenance Trial to examine the association between weight loss history and weight loss outcomes in a diverse sample of high-risk individuals.

The effect of exercise training modality on serum brain derived neurotrophic factor levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Introduction: Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been implicated in memory, learning, and neurodegenerative diseases. However, the relationship of BDNF with cardiometabolic risk factors is unclear, and the effect of exercise training on BDNF has not been previously explored in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Men and women (N = 150) with type 2 diabetes were randomized to an aerobic exercise (aerobic), resistance exercise (resistance), or a combination of both (combination) for 9 months.

Cancer survival through lifestyle change (CASTLE): a pilot study of weight loss.

Background: Excess weight is a strong predictor of incident breast cancer (BC) and survivorship. A limited number of studies comparing strategies for promoting successful weight loss in women with remitted BC exist.

Purpose: CASTLE was a pilot study comparing the effectiveness/feasibility of in-person and telephonic behavioral-based lifestyle weight loss interventions in BC survivors.

Dietary intakes associated with successful weight loss and maintenance during the Weight Loss Maintenance trial.

Background: Dietary components effective in weight maintenance efforts have not been adequately identified.

Objective: To determine the effects of changes in dietary consumption on weight loss and maintenance during the Weight Loss Maintenance clinical trial.

Design: Weight Loss Maintenance was a randomized controlled trial.

Development and Implementation of a Tailored Self-assessment Tool in an Internet-based Weight Loss Maintenance Program.

Background: Using the Internet to replicate client/counselor interactions provides a tremendous opportunity to disseminate interventions at relatively low cost per participant. However, there are substantial challenges with this approach. The Weight Loss Maintenance Trial (WLM) compared two long-term weight-maintenance interventions: (1) a personal contact arm and (2) an Internet arm, to a third self-directed control arm.

Medical and psychosocial outcomes of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: cross-sectional findings at 4-year follow-up.

Background: In conjunction with the Louisiana Office of Group Benefits, the Louisiana State University School of Medicine conducted a study to examine 4-year medical and psychosocial outcomes of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) surgery in patients insured by a state-run managed care program.

Methods: Forty severely obese participants (body mass index >40 and <60 kg/m(2)) underwent LRYGB surgery. Four years later, self-reported data on weight, blood pressure, blood glucose, and cholesterol were collected from the participants via telephone, and chart reviews for most recent weight and laboratory measures available were requested from physicians of record.

Associations of internet website use with weight change in a long-term weight loss maintenance program.

Background: The Weight Loss Maintenance Trial (WLM) compared two long-term weight-maintenance interventions, a personal contact arm and an Internet arm, with a no-treatment control after an initial six-month Phase I weight loss program. The Internet arm focused on use of an interactive website for support of long-term weight maintenance. There is limited information about patterns of website use and specific components of an interactive website that might help promote maintenance of weight loss.