284 research outputs found
Towards a methodology for online VR application testing
No full textPerforming online testing for applications is a common practice in business, but for research without much control over the participants it is unknown as to what this process should look like and what could be possible scenarios. Furthermore, making use of VR testing is reliant on users owning their own devices which could influence the process and level of criticism greatly but also foster new thoughts on best practice for this type of research. This paper explains the steps that were taken for the gathering of the data and reports on the feedback from participants regarding their perception of the process
Describing a design thinking methodology to develop sustainable physical activity and nutrition interventions in low resourced settings
No full textThe objective of the study is to describe how design thinking as a participatory process can be applied in determining how sustainable physical activity and nutrition interventions should be implemented in a low resourced community in South Africa. Physical inactivity is the 4th leading cause of mortality world-wide. Associated with inactivity, a high prevalence of obesity is reported. Evidence based research indicate that sustainable physical activity and nutrition interventions will reduce the burden of physical inactivity and obesity. Poverty, and its inherent lack of food security, further impacts the health of people living marginalized, increasingly urban lifestyles. The intent of the project is to change attitudes and behavior towards physical activity participation and nutrition choices. Design Thinking is typically implemented using a five-step process where the community is engaged with presenting the problem they experience, defining the problem, presenting solutions to the problem and finally developing a prototype in solving the problem they experience. The principle of the Design Thinking process is that the low resourced community holds part of the answer to the problem and has a desire to change their health. The proposed solutions, coming directly from the participants, are therefore considered viable. Once a desired prototype is developed and tested in the community, feasibility can be determined. The presence of these three factors, is expected to result in an innovatio
Student's soft skill acquisition in an outdoor adventure education event over two years of participation
No full textOutdoor Adventure Education can be used to develop and hone the transferable or so called soft skills such as group work and problem-solving skills in higher education. These skills are also much needed to ensure employability. An outdoor adventure activity was developed and implemented by lecturers in order to bridge this gap between university and the industry in order to hone the transferable skills of students studying sport and recreation. Data were collected over two years. Two hundred students participated in the research study with a mean age of 22±4 years. Data were collected qualitatively and analysed and subsequently numerically coded to ensure statistical analyses. Analyses indicated no statistical differences between skills learned in the first and second year. Students were then divided into first time and second time participants and statistical differences were found. The second time participants reported mostly on leadership skills learned and first time participants on teamwork. Implementing an outdoor Adventure Education event was effective in developing skills in students much needed for success in higher education as well as becoming well-rounded individuals whom possess all the qualities for rewarding employment
Multi-media for flipped classrooms: engaged nutrition learning in a multi-media enhanced flipped classroom
No full textThis article focuses on the experiences of Health Science students changing from a traditional lecturer–centred, face–to–face teaching scenario to a multi–modal learning experience in a flipped classroom. Getting students engaged with course content is sometimes a challenge for lecturers, especially in a basic introductory compulsory course, where a student may not be interested or motivated. Furthermore, traditional teaching methods are increasingly being criticised for not speaking to the younger generation who demand more active visual methods of teaching to keep their attention. A lack of student engagement and motivation in a nutrition course prompted the lecturer to redesign the traditional teaching approach previously used in this introductory course. In addition, the unavailability of multi–media content for the specific South African context formed part of the research problem. The nutrition introduction course for second–year students was re–designed according to Picciano s model for multi–modal learning, applying multi–modal learning by incorporating self–designed multi–media study material within a flipped classroom approach. Design–based research with a mixed methods approach was followed, including a pre–course test, polls, narratives and focus group interviews. The results showed that students were initially negative and unsure about this process, but that their experience improved during the semester, and that the use of multi–media within a multi–modal learning approach enhanced their learning experience. The study also showed that close collaboration between the lecturer and the instructional designer is necessary to ensure quality effective multi–media resources, and that technical support for students is critical
Physical activity energy expenditure and sarcopenia in black South African urban women
No full textBackground: Black women are believed to be genetically less predisposed to age-related sarcopenia. The objective of this study was to investigate lifestyle factors associated with sarcopenia in black South African (SA) urban women. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 247 women (mean age 57 y) were randomly selected. Anthropometric and sociodemographic variables, dietary intakes, and physical activity were measured. Activity was also measured by combined accelerometery/heart rate monitoring (ActiHeart), and HIV status was tested. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry was used to measure appendicular skeletal mass (ASM). Sarcopenia was defined according to a recently derived SA cutpoint of ASM index (ASM/height squared) 2. Results: In total, 8.9% of the women were sarcopenic, decreasing to 8.1% after exclusion of participants who were HIV positive. In multiple regressions with ASM index, grip strength, and gait speed, respectively, as dependent variables, only activity energy expenditure (β = .27) was significantly associated with ASM index. Age (β = -.50) and activity energy expenditure (β = .17) were significantly associated with gait speed. Age (β = -.11) and lean mass (β = .21) were significantly associated with handgrip strength. Conclusions: Sarcopenia was prevalent among these SA women and was associated with low physical activity energy expenditure.</p
Agreement between specific measures of adiposity and associations with high blood pressure in black South African women
No full textObjectives
To derive percentage body fat (%BF) cut-points according to body mass index (BMI) categories for adult black South African women and to investigate the agreement between adiposity classifications according to WHO BMI and %BF cut-points. The secondary aim was to determine the association between these different adiposity measures and high blood pressure.
Methods
Black women aged 29–65 years (n = 435) from Ikageng, South Africa, were included in this cross-sectional study. Socio-demographic and anthropometric data were collected (weight, height and BMI). %BF using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and blood pressure were measured.
Results
There was significant agreement between three %BF categories: low/normal (<35.8% age 29–49 years; or <38% age 50–65 years), overweight range (35.8–40.7% age 29–49 years; or 38–42.1% age 50–65 years) and obese (≥40.7% age 29–49 years; or ≥42.1% age 50–65 years) and three BMI categories: low/normal (<25 kg/m2), overweight range (25–29.9 kg/m2) and obese (≥30kg/m2); (κ = 0.62, P < .0001). Despite statistically significant agreement between groups, more than half of overweight individuals were misclassified as having either a normal (30.2%) or obese %BF (25.5%). %BF misclassification was low in the low/normal and obese BMI ranges. After adjustment for confounders, obesity (BMI ≥ 30kg/m2), as well as high %BF were significantly associated with high blood pressure (OR = 1.75, 95% CI 1.09–2.81 versus OR = 1.92, 95% CI 1.15–3.23, respectively).
Conclusion
Despite significant agreement between BMI and %BF categories, considerable misclassification occurred in the overweight range. Participants with excessive %BF had a greater odds of high blood pressure than those in the highest BMI categor
The association between calf circumference and appendicular skeletal muscle mass index of black urban women in Tlokwe City
No full textBackground: Sarcopenia, the loss of muscle mass and strength, is associated with adverse health outcomes. Calf circumference (CC) has been proposed as a surrogate measure of muscle mass in the elderly; however, ethnic/sex specific cut-off values remain to be established.
Objective: A study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between CC and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM), and the ASM index (ASMI), as well as to determine whether CC could be used to diagnose sarcopenia.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 247 older black women living from Tlokwe, South Africa. ASM was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and the ASMI was calculated. Receiver operator characteristics curves and maximum Youden index were applied to identify a CC cut-off point for sarcopenia according to low gait speed (< 0.8 m/s), low hand-grip strength (< 16 kg) and low ASMI using a South African cut-off point for sarcopenia (ASMI < 4.94 kg/m2).
Results: A strong positive correlation between CC and ASMI (r = 0.84, p 0.60.
Conclusion: A CC of 30 cm is proposed as a simple and inexpensive way to predict, screen or diagnose sarcopenia in black women in low-resource health settings. An accessible, inexpensive screening or diagnostic tool could facilitate timely interventions and preventio
The intake and quality of breakfast consumption in adolescents attending public secondary schools in the North West province, South Africa
No full textObjectives: The objectives of the study were to determine the proportion and quality of breakfast intake in adolescents, and to determine the" effect of breakfast intake and quality on overall diet quality. Design: A cross–sectional quantitative study design was used. Setting: The setting was seven public secondary schools in Potchefstroom and the surrounding areas in North West province. Subjects: The subjects were randomly selected adolescents in grades 9–11 (n = 244). "Outcome measures: A self–administered demographic questionnaire was completed by the adolescents. Single 24–hour recall, using" "the four–stage multiple–pass method, was conducted to obtain information on breakfast and dietary intake for the day. Breakfast quality" was measured by applying a breakfast quality score. The Diet Quality Index Revised was used to assess the quality of the overall diet. Spearman s rank correlation coefficient was employed to assess an association between the continuous variables. The chi–square or Fisher s exact test was utilised to assess an association between the categorical variables. "Results: The proportion of breakfast intake and skipping was 81% and 19%, respectively. The mean breakfast quality score was moderate" (3.1). No significant difference was shown in the diet quality score for the breakfast eaters and skippers. The breakfast quality score was "marginally associated with calcium intake (p–value < 0.0001, r = 0.418), phosphorous intake (p–value < 0.0001, r = 0.378) and total diversity" "score (p–value < 0.0001, r = 0.369)." "Conclusion: The proportion of breakfast skipping, moderate quality of the breakfast consumed and trend of improved nutrient intake with" improved breakfast quality highlights the need for breakfast education and intervention as part of the Integrated School Health Polic
Attitudes, choices and expenditures on dietary supplements among adult members at low-cost gymnasiums in Johannesburg
No full textMSc (Human Movement Science), North-West University, Potchefstroom CampusDietary supplement use is on the increase globally with people seeking to achieve health and fitness goals through supplementation use. This caused gymnasiums to become a major market for dietary supplements. However, most dietary supplements have not been scientifically proven and there are reports of possible adverse effects associated with some dietary supplements. It is, therefore, of interest to research how well-informed dietary supplement users are. Numerous researchers have given insight into dietary supplement use among athletes and members of upmarket gymnasiums. However, not much is known about dietary supplement use in low-cost gymnasiums. A study was conducted to establish factors influencing dietary supplement use in low-cost gyms, the sources of information that dietary supplement users access and how much dietary supplement users spend monthly on supplements, were investigated. A mixed-method research design was followed at four selected low-cost gymnasiums in Johannesburg belonging to a popular fitness chain that classifies its gymnasium branches according to membership fee and services offered. Participants (n=351) were randomly selected from the four gyms. The initial stage of the study comprised of a self-administered validated quantitative survey on knowledge and attitudes regarding supplement use. In order to gain a deeper understanding of themes generated from results of the survey, eighteen participants from the survey were randomly selected to participate in three focus group discussions after which data saturation was reached. Two articles were submitted from this study. The first article focuses on the results from the quantitative survey. Overall prevalence of dietary supplement (DS) use was 53.4%. Among males 59% were users whereas 38.8% among females used DS. Dietary Supplement use was associated with gender (P0.5) was positively correlated to reasons for DS use; p<0.000 to gain muscle r=0.611, to improve performance r=0.681, to achieve personal goals r=0.702 and to maintain health r=0.522. Among non-users, more females than males felt DS were unnecessary (p=0.001), against their beliefs (p=0.000) and that they do not trust the DS companies (p=0.012) Whereas more males than females agreed they felt tempted to use performance enhancing substances (p=0.015). The main source of information for DS users were; 51% internet and 34% friends and fellow gym members. The least consulted were physicians (4%), scientific journals (4%) and biokineticists (3%). The second article focuses on perceptions of low-cost gym members and how these attitudes influence expenditure on DS. Dietary supplement users believe: DS are effective in achieving results faster, DS benefits outweigh the possible risks, DS are only risky to people with underlying health conditions, normal food is less nutritional because of genetic modification and that DS are cheaper as their nutritional value is measured and require no dietician. The study concluded that DS users in low-cost gymnasiums are not adequately informed about DS and, therefore, put their health at risk and the risk of a disproportionate financial burden of spending on products with little or no benefit. As such, the study recommends that despite their cost saving drive, low-cost gymnasiums make dietitians available or conduct awareness campaigns to educate members on DS.Master
Dietary intake practices of adults with intellectual disability in a controlled care centre environment
No full textMSc (Dietetics), North-West University, Potchefstroom CampusBackground and aim: Globally, inadequate nutrition and consequently, obesity is highly prevalent among adults with intellectual disability. Overweight and obesity leads to an increased risk for the development of non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Secondary conditions may result in further disability, pain, loss of employment, and depression in adults with intellectual disability. Dietary intake studies concerning the intellectually disabled population have revealed insufficient fibre, fruits and vegetables, and excessive total fat, saturated fat, and sodium consumption. Unfortunately, research is lacking in this population, especially in South Africa. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the dietary intake practices of adults with intellectual disability in a controlled, care centre environment in South Africa with the future aim of compiling intervention programmes to improve the overall quality of life in this population. Methods: The researcher used qualitative and quantitative methods to collect data. Quantitatively demographic, anthropometric, and dietary data were recorded of 66 adults (18-40 years) with intellectual disability at two care centres. The measuring instrument used for the dietary intake was a three-day food wastage study on different days, within three weeks. All snacks that the adults with intellectual disability bought at the snack shop and supermarket during the three days, were recorded. The adults with intellectual disability received three meals per day with one snack at 10:00 prepared at a central kitchen from a fixed menu. Qualitative data on the dietary intake practices during meals, between meals, and other eating occasions were recorded via three focus group discussions with caregiver staff who know the adults with intellectual disability well. Results: The mean body mass index of the men (27.3) and women (33.1) with intellectual disability in this study indicated overweight and obesity respectively. The dietary diversity and quality of the adults with intellectual disability's diet, and the menus at the care centres were low. Dietary intake was compared to the Food Based Dietary Intake Guidelines of South Africa. Fibre, carbohydrate, fruit, and vegetable dietary intake were lower than recommendations. In contrast, sodium, total fat, saturated fat, and added sugar intakes were higher than recommendations. The most popular snacks and drinks consumed by the adults with intellectual disability in this study population were salted crisps and carbonated drinks. During the focus group discussions, the caregivers complained about high-fat cooking methods used by the cooks, and therefore, expressed a need for cooking skills training. Additionally, the caregivers expressed a need for more variety in the menus, healthier snacks, and improved communication between them. Conclusion: The dietary intake of the adults with intellectual disability was not according to recommendations. The following observations translate into recommendations made in order to improve the overall quality of dietary intake of the adults with intellectual disabilities. There is a need at the centres for training in cooking skills, menu planning, and basic nutrition. The adults with intellectual disability need guidance and training in good nutrition and healthy food choices. Continuous, professional input from dietitians is recommended for the compilation of menus, as well as the training of both the staff and the adults with intellectual disability.Master
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