Exercise and dietary modification with women of non-english speaking background: A pilot study with polish-australian women

An innovative program for changing health behaviours

Health-related behaviours affecting diet, weight control and physical activity are important for long-term cardiovascular health but behaviour change is difficult to initiate and even more difficult to maintain. We have developed a health promotion program, in which social support has a key role, to encourage a prudent diet, weight control and physical activity. Behaviour change is based on evaluating initial behaviour, weighing up costs and benefits, assessing barriers to change and goal-setting. We first evaluated the program in couples beginning to live together, a group chosen because of the risk of weight gain and decreased physical activity after marriage, readiness to change behaviour at that time in the life course and the opportunity to use partner's support in achieving behaviour change. In an initial short-term study with 39 couples, intake of fat and take-away foods decreased and consumption of fruit, vegetables and reduced fat foods increased. Physical activity increased and there was a 6% fall in blood cholesterol. Further evaluation in 137 couples included assessment after 12 months. A decrease in fat intake and increase in physical activity and fitness seen at the end of the program persisted 1 year later. Lower cholesterol and a trend to lower weight gain and lower blood pressure were also maintained after 12 months. We have modified the program aiming for weight loss, improved dietary habits and increased physical activity in overweight treated hypertensives, supported by their partners. Decreased intake of energy, total and saturated fat, and weight loss seen at the end of the 16 week program was significantly greater in the intervention group than with usual care. Blood pressure fell in the program group at the end of intervention and, in men, withdrawal of antihypertensive drugs was significantly associated with the intervention. Weight loss and a decrease in waist circumference were maintained in the program group up to 16 months after entering the study. This program has the potential for wider application in other at-risk groups.

Development and evaluation of a pilot program to promote exercise among mothers of preschool children

The health benefits of physical activity are well documented, but mothers of young children experience significant barriers to exercise. A 10-week minimal-intervention exercise program, involving a weekly meeting at which child care was provided, and guidance in establishing independent exercise was developed on the basis of previous research with this population group. Thirty-two women with children under age 5, and in the contemplation or preparation stages of exercise behavior change, were recruited from Australian play groups. Postprogram measures showed small but significant decreases in body mass index, resting heart rate, and diastolic blood pressure. Three months later, 41% of participants were still active. Family-related constraints were highly disruptive to these participants. This study is limited by its small sample size, lack of controls, and potential biases in recruitment and assessment, but it does suggest that hard-to-reach groups, such as mothers of young children, may be mobilized to exercise if programs explicitly address social contexts and the constraints on individual choice.

Physical activity interventions using mass media, print media, and information technology

INTRODUCTION

Media-based physical activity interventions include a variety of print, graphic, audiovisual, and broadcast media programs intended to influence behavior change. New information technology allows print to be delivered in personalized, interactive formats that may enhance efficacy. Media-based interventions have been shaped by conceptual models from health education, Social Cognitive Theory, the Transtheoretical Model, and Social Marketing frameworks.

METHODS

We reviewed 28 studies of media-based interventions of which seven were mass media campaigns at the state or national level and the remaining 21 were delivered through health care, the workplace, or in the community.

RESULTS

Recall of mass-media messages generally was high, but mass-media campaigns had very little impact on physical activity behavior. Interventions using print and/or telephone were effective in changing behavior in the short term. Studies in which there were more contacts and interventions tailored to the target audience were most effective.

CONCLUSION

A key issue for research on media-based physical activity interventions is reaching socially disadvantaged groups for whom access, particularly to new forms of communication technology, may be limited. There is a clear need for controlled trials comparing different forms and intensities of media-based physical activity interventions. Controlled studies of personalized print, interactive computer-mediated programs, and web-based formats for program delivery also are needed. The integration of media-based methods into public and private sector service delivery has much potential for innovation.

The health of Filipinas in the Hunter region

An interview survey found life-style behaviours (including risk factors and screening), social support and psychological health (GHQ-12) among a sample of 198 Filipina-Australians to be conducive to good health. Knowledge of local health services was good, and most women expressed general satisfaction with all aspects of life in Australia, except in the area of employment prospects. Despite these indications of good health in the group, there remains a need for health service providers to be aware of the difficulties faced by a proportion of Filipina migrants to Australia.