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An Analysis of Behavior Change Theories Utilized by Collegiate Sports Dietitians and Their Perceived Efficacy
No full textBehavior change theory is foundational to effective nutrition education design. In this qualitative study we report the current use of the most commonly utilized behavior change theories by collegiate sports dietitians when designing nutrition education services. The rapidly developing and advancing field of sports dietetics boasts robust research demonstrating the effects of adequate nutrition on performance, but understanding the efficacy of interventions in yielding the behavior change needed for athletes to adhere to recommendations remains elusive. A qualitative survey assessed collegiate sports RDs working in Division I-III and others on their use of popular behavior change theories, attitude about their use in practice, and evaluation of efficacy of interventions. 66 participants consented to participation and 40 surveys were completed. Participating RDs, both that utilize and do not utilize behavior change theory, felt that it was important to implement behavior change theory, but cited time and interaction setting with athletes as barriers to current use. The most utilized behavior change theory was the Transtheoretical Model for Behavior Change. RDs often evaluate interventions through implementation of education, feedback from athletes or other department personnel, or body composition. The perceived relevance of behavior change theories and techniques in this area of dietetic practice, suggests that it may be a worthwhile area of continued research to increase efficacy of nutrition intervention and implementation of behaviors in this population
Impact of Montmorency Cherry Concentrate on Creatine Kinase Levels Post-Exercise: A Meta-analysis
No full textPolyphenols are well-studied compounds with anti-inflammatory properties that may attenuate muscle damage following rigorous exercise. Montmorency tart cherries contain high levels of polyphenols and are commonly used to prevent muscle soreness following exercise. No meta-analyses exist that study the impact of Montmorency cherry concentrate supplementation on creatine kinase levels, a biomarker of muscle damage. The primary aim of this meta-analysis was to explore the effect of Montmorency cherry concentrate on creatine kinase levels in athletes following fatigue-inducing exercise. Randomized control trials were identified in PubMed, Cochrane Trials, and the ACSM library with publishing dates between 2009 and 2024. Three studies were included in the data analysis. Montmorency cherry concentrate had no significant effect on creatine kinase levels immediately following exercise (SMD: 1.01; 95% CI: -2.99 to 0.97; p = 0.3175; I2 = 86.07%), 24 hours after exercise (SMD: 0.06; 95% CI: -2.76 to 2.63; p = 0.9635; I2 = 91.84%), or 48 hours after exercise (SMD: 0.48; 95% CI: -1.63 to 0.66; p = 0.4053; I2 = 65.28%). However, studies also found positive impacts on muscle soreness and functional performance. These findings suggest that Montmorency cherry concentrate may have a positive impact on muscle damage, but not necessarily through creatine kinase. Future studies should be conducted to ascertain the optimal method of supplementation of Montmorency cherry concentrate for reducing muscle damage and whether creatine kinase is an accurate way to measure its effect
How Accommodating are Oneida County Businesses of Breastfeeding Mothers? A Countywide, Cross-sectional Survey
No full textBackground & Objective: With the majority of American mothers staying in or returning to the workforce after childbirth and the myriad known benefits of breastfeeding it is useful and important to know how to best support them to continue breastfeeding. However, the existing research addressing the environment and policies that best support working mothers is limited. This study aimed to investigate the extent to which the Oneida County, Wisconsin Businesses are accommodating of breastfeeding mothers in the workplace through both policy and environment. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was developed using Qualtrics™ with both closed and open-ended questions. There were 9 survey questions total. 45 human resource professionals and business owners with businesses located in Oneida County were invited by both phone and email invitation with a Qualtrics survey link and description of survey. Results: Of the respondents, 11 completed the survey. 5/11 worksites had a rating of nonexistent for breastfeeding policy, 2 had a rating of essential, 3/11 had a rating of modest, and 1 worksite had a rating of luxurious. There was less variation in environmental ratings, 10/11 worksites had essential environment ratings and 1 site had a rating of modest. All of the worksites who completed the survey appear to meet the federal requirements for providing a reasonable place to pump. All respondents do have some form of breastfeeding accommodation regardless of the existence of their breastfeeding policies. Conclusion: Additional research must be done to investigate how policies, or the lack thereof, and environments interact with one another in Oneida County Businesses and their existing systems. Researching accommodations of breastfeeding mothers in the workplace on a larger scale would also be beneficial for comparison of scale for future research endeavors
Assessing Potential Barriers Experienced by Wisconsin Coulee Region WIC Participants When Utilizing WIC Benefits
No full textThe Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) serves more than 6 million individuals in the United States. Understanding how to improve their experience with WIC to ensure benefits are being utilized to their full potential is imperative. Few studies have been conducted to evaluate potential barriers experienced by participants when using WIC benefits, and fewer exist for rural areas, such as Wisconsin. The purpose of this study was to assess potential barriers experienced by Wisconsin WIC participants in the Coulee Region (La Crosse, Vernon, Monroe, and Trempealeau counties) when utilizing their WIC benefits. In order to evaluate potential barriers, WIC participants were recruited to complete a brief survey which included a Likert scale to rate the prevalence of each experienced barrier. A total of 70 Wisconsin residents over the age of 18 completed the survey questionnaire online through Qualtrics survey software. Descriptive analyses were conducted to assess demographic characteristics and evaluate which barriers were most common among participants. Descriptive analyses were also utilized to assess age range and preferred education/visit style among participants. The data expressed a preference to telehealth visits when compared to in-person among all age ranges. The descriptive analysis of barriers revealed that visibility and availability of WIC eligible items in stores along with confusion from store staff were among the highest ranked barriers experienced by WIC participants. The data from this study brings awareness to WIC sites in the Coulee Region on what can be improved upon for participant satisfaction as well as what current strategies are working well. More research needs to be done in this area to assess potential barriers among a larger and more representative sample size of Wisconsin and various areas where gaps in research regarding WIC remain
What is the Lived Experience of First Year Elementary School Counselors?
No full textThe school counseling position has evolved over the past 100 years from a position of vocational guidance to a holistic approach to child development, by ensuring students have the foundation to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. To encourage this, the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) National Model (2019) has developed a roadmap for K-12 school counselors. Middle and high school counselors have been involved in this development since the beginning, however, elementary school counseling was not recognized as necessary until federal legislation was passed in 2001. As mental health challenges increase at the elementary level, it is more critical than ever to be sure that students' mental health needs are supported so they can successfully navigate the challenges faced by society. The goal of this transcendental phenomenological research study is to learn about the lived experience of first-year elementary school counselors. This nationwide study included seven elementary school counselors to learn about their first year of practice. Themes that arose focused on their relationships, student services, leadership and advocacy, and perceived challenges. The results of this project can be used to inform practices of school counselors, school administrators, and counselor education programs
The Implications of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Agonist Drugs on Anesthesia Care Planning
No full textGlucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist drugs have been approved as a type 2 diabetes mellitus treatment since 2005. In 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved their use for chronic weight management, leading to a surge in the public’s demand for these medications. As a result, patients who take GLP-1 agonists commonly present for elective procedures that require anesthesia care. Anecdotal evidence suggested that these medications are linked to delayed gastric emptying, which provoked the American Society of Anesthesiologists to release a practice guideline in June of 2023, regarding the perioperative use of GLP-1 agonists. The project leaders of this study conducted retrospective analysis of 1264 elective esophagogastroduodenoscopy procedures that occurred between January 1 and August 1, 2024, of adults between the ages of 18 and 85 years, to determine whether patients who took GLP-1 agonists had greater odds of retained gastric contents than patients who did not take GLP-1 agonists. The project leaders found that 9.8% (4/41) of participants who took GLP-1 agonists and 3.3% (1/30) of participants who did not take GLP-1 agonists had retained gastric contents regardless of proper NPO status and appropriate holding of their GLP-1 agonist medications (OR = 3.14, 95% CI [.33, 29.58]). Eight participants with similar demographic profiles presented on the day of their elective procedure with observations of clinical significance. The project leaders recommend that anesthesia providers consider modifying their anesthesia care plan for female patients who take GLP-1 agonists and have a BMI > 30 kg/m2 to decrease that patient’s risk of intraoperative bronchopulmonary aspiration
Father-Son Combined Therapy Groups: A New Form of Group Therapy
No full textMen's mental health has often been overlooked in mental health service provision, leading to underutilization of available resources. Poor father/son relationship and relational stress have been suggested as contributing factors to men's mental health difficulties. This needs assessment aimed to evaluate the perceived need for a novel father/son co-therapy mental health group within the community. A survey was administered to 19 participants, with 12 usable responses analyzed. Participants' responses indicated a need for such a group, with 75% agreeing that it would be beneficial. Key themes included the stigma surrounding men seeking mental healthcare, socio-cultural barriers, a need for unique treatment options for men, and a lack of widespread resources tailored to men's mental health. The findings highlight the necessity of addressing these barriers, educating both practitioners and the community, and suggest that community-based therapy groups may be an effective intervention
Effect of Vitamin D3 Supplementation on Power Sport Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
No full textPrevious research has demonstrated that vitamin D deficiency is a prevalent issue among power sport athletes. With studies suggesting vitamin D's potential role in the function of muscle tissue, researchers believe there may be a link to supplementation and performance measures. However, research on the effects of vitamin D3 supplementation is limited and with varied results. The purpose of this review and meta-analysis was to determine whether vitamin D3 supplementation improves measures of performance among healthy power sport athletes. A literature review involving PubMed, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library was performed to identify primary research trials that used 30-meter sprint tests and vertical jump tests to measure changes in power performance. A total of five studies with 180 participants altogether were included. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool was used to screen the included studies for areas of bias. The standardized mean difference (SMD) was used as the effect size. The SMD was analyzed along with its respective 95% confidence intervals (CI). To determine the effect size, changes from baseline levels of serum 25(OH)D, 30 meter sprint times, and vertical jump were assessed between the intervention versus placebo groups. Results showed no statistically significant difference between the 30-meter sprint test times or the vertical jump tests at baseline versus the end of the intervention period for the treatment groups compared to the placebo groups (SMD: -0.03; 95% CI: -0.39, 0.33; p = 0.7422) and (SMD: 0.97; 95% CI: -0.11, 2.06; p = 0.07947). However, there was a significant difference between serum 25(OH)D levels at baseline versus the end of the intervention period (SMD: 14.58; 95% CI: -3.11, 32.27; p = 0.01060). Results of this meta-analysis suggest that vitamin D3 supplementation may be effective in raising serum 25(OH)D concentration to optimal levels but is ineffective in improving measures of performance among healthy power sport athletes. Further investigation is needed to determine the potential interactive effects of vitamin D supplementation in combination with other performance enhancing strategies. Additionally, considering the wide range of power sports and individual differences among athletes, future research should focus interventions on specific subpopulations within the broader category of power sport athletes to better interpret the relationship between vitamin D and athletic performance in this group of athletes
The Relationship Between Different Infant Feeding Methods and Breastfeeding Mother's Consumption of Cow's Milk Compared to Colic
No full textThere are many different theories as to how colic develops. There has been contradicting evidence as to whether infant feeding practices impact the development of colic. There is also contradicting evidence between the relationship of colic and lactating mother's consumption of cow's milk, the presence of a cow's milk allergy, and lactose intolerance in colicky infants. Some researchers state that exclusively breastfeeding lowers the risk of an infant developing colic. Other researchers state that there is no significance that feeding practices have an impact on colic. Some researchers state that mothers who consume a common allergen, such as cow's milk, will increase the risk of colic in infants, while others have found no significance between the two variables. The main purpose of this research study was to investigate associations between both feeding practice (exclusively breastfeeding, a combination of breastfeeding and formula, and exclusively formula feeding) and colic, and the consumption of cow's milk by a lactating mother and colic. An electronic survey was sent out to voluntary participants through social media. The survey included questions about milk choice in the mother's diet, infant feeding practices, formula choice, supplements taken by the mother, duration of colic symptoms, and demographics. The data was then analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) Software. This research study found a significant association between infant feeding practices and colic occurrence. There was no significance found between cow's milk consumption by lactating mothers and colic outcomes. This information will be beneficial to mothers and physicians when making decisions about feeding practices to help prevent and navigate colic in infants. This information also aids in the need for more research in this area