Preventive medicine
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Preventive medicine · Jun 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialAction Schools! BC: a school-based physical activity intervention designed to decrease cardiovascular disease risk factors in children.
Our primary objective was to determine whether a novel 'active school' model--Action Schools! BC--improved the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk profile in elementary-school children. Our secondary objective was to determine the percentage of children with elevated CVD risk factors. ⋯ Action Schools! BC was an effective school-based physical activity model for improving the CVD risk profile of elementary-school children. Our multi-component intervention exposed children to fitness enhancing physical activity. It may be important for education stakeholders to adequately resource the delivery of the active school models if cardiovascular health benefits are to be achieved on a population basis.
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Preventive medicine · Jun 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe effect of a home-based walking program on risk factors for coronary heart disease in hypercholesterolaemic men. A randomized controlled trial.
Hypercholesterolaemia and physical inactivity significantly contribute towards risk of coronary heart disease. Increased physical activity may be an effective way to improve lipid profiles in hypercholesterolaemic individuals. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a home-based physical activity program meeting current guidelines improved the lipid profile of hypercholesterolaemic men. ⋯ Twelve weeks of moderate intensity walking was sufficient to improve TC/HDL-C in hypercholesterolaemic men, primarily through improvement in HDL-C.
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Preventive medicine · Jun 2008
Comparative StudyAcceptability and impact of a partial smoking ban followed by a total smoking ban in a psychiatric hospital.
To assess the impact of a partial smoking ban followed by a total smoking ban in a psychiatric hospital in Switzerland. ⋯ The partial ban decreased exposure to ETS and the total ban further improved the situation and increased the proportion of smokers who attempted to quit smoking and received nicotine medications. The total ban was loosely enforced and was overall acceptable, but most participants preferred a partial ban.
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Preventive medicine · May 2008
Synergistic effects of child abuse and intimate partner violence on depressive symptoms in women.
Few population-based studies have examined the association of both child abuse (i.e., physical and sexual abuse) and intimate partner violence (IPV) with depressive symptoms in women. This study estimated the odds of depressive symptoms over the prior week among women exposed to child abuse or IPV alone, and both child abuse and IPV. ⋯ The results demonstrate a super-additive risk of depressive symptoms in women exposed to both child abuse and IPV, and underscore the adverse psychological effects of these exposures.
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Preventive medicine · Apr 2008
Review Meta AnalysisVitamin D and calcium intake in relation to risk of endometrial cancer: a systematic review of the literature.
In response to a recent ecologic study of UV exposure and endometrial cancer incidence, we present the epidemiologic evidence on the relation between intake of vitamin D and its metabolically related nutrient, calcium, and the occurrence of endometrial cancer. ⋯ The limited epidemiological evidence suggests no relation between endometrial cancer in the ranges of dietary vitamin D examined, and suggests a possible inverse association for calcium from supplements. Prospective studies, ideally including plasma 25(OH) D to estimate vitamin D input from diet and sun exposure, are needed to further explore these hypotheses.