Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Ruth F. Hunter, Deepti Adlakha, Christopher Cardwell, Margaret E. Cupples, Michael Donnelly, Geraint Ellis, Aisling Gough, George Hutchinson, Therese Kearney, Alberto Longo, Lindsay Prior, Helen McAneney, Sara Ferguson, Brian Johnston, Michael Stevenson, Frank Kee, Mark A. Tully
Summary: The study conducted a repeated cross-sectional household survey to investigate the impact of an urban greenway on a range of outcomes. Results showed no significant improvement in population-level physical activity behavior or mental wellbeing, but modest improvements were observed in positive perceptions of the environment and social capital constructs. The public health impact of urban greenways may require a longer period of time for realization, highlighting the need for improved evaluation methodology to capture the complexity of urban regeneration.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Studies
Janie Corley, Judith A. Okely, Adele M. Taylor, Danielle Page, Miles Welstead, Barbora Skarabela, Paul Redmond, Simon R. Cox, Tom C. Russ
Summary: During the COVID-19 lockdown in Scotland, older adults who used their home gardens more frequently reported better self-rated physical health, emotional and mental health, sleep quality, and overall health, suggesting that domestic gardens could be a potential health resource during the pandemic.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Maddison L. Mellow, Melissa J. Hull, Ashleigh E. Smith, Thomas P. Wycherley, Danielle Girard, Alyson J. Crozier
Summary: This study evaluated a community-based physical activity program called Daily Moves in Adelaide, Australia, and found that participants reported improvements in physical activity levels and physical function after participating in the program. There were no significant changes in measures of psychosocial wellbeing. Qualitative interviews revealed that participants appreciated the supportive and flexible nature of the program and felt connected with staff and other participants despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Jack S. Benton, Sarah Cotterill, Jamie Anderson, Vanessa G. Macintyre, Matthew Gittins, Matthew Dennis, David P. French
Summary: This study highlights the potential benefits of improving urban green spaces along canals in promoting physical activity, social interactions, and environmental awareness among adults.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Nicola Lamberti, Fabio Manfredini, Jana Babjakova, Francesca Galle, Kadri Medijainen, Christina Karatzaferi, Iuliia Pavlova, Yael Netz, Pablo Jesus Lopez-Soto
Summary: This systematic review aims to assess the benefits and harms of different types of physical activity on health-related quality of life in older adults. It will provide recommendations for the minimum amount of physical activity needed to obtain measurable quality of life benefits. The study will include randomized controlled trials and will search multiple databases for relevant literature. The results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals, international conferences, and social media.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Dongsheng He, Guibo Sun, Jonas De Vos, Chris Webster
Summary: This paper provides causal inference on the impact of transport intervention on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and walking among older adults. The study finds that the new metro line significantly decreases weekly MVPA in the treatment group but does not significantly affect walking time compared to the control group. Gender and age subgroup analysis also reveals heterogeneous treatment effects.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Haiyang Xie, Shenghua Lu
Summary: This study investigated the association between physical performance and subjective wellbeing among Chinese older adults. The findings suggest that higher relative handgrip strength is associated with better mood, while slower gait speed is associated with poorer quality of life, happiness, and mood.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Kejia Hu, Zuhui Zhang, Yuanyuan Li, Shiyi Wang, Tingting Ye, Jinglu Song, Yunquan Zhang, Jing Wei, Jian Cheng, Yujie Shen, Jiahao Pan, Jingqiao Fu, Jin Qi, Yiwen Guo, Yi Zeng, Yao Yao
Summary: Neighborhood greenness, especially overall greenness, is associated with a reduced risk of diabetes in older urban residents in China. This association is more pronounced in young old adults and those with higher education or income levels. Air pollution may partially mediate this association, while individual behavioral characteristics such as physical activity, BMI, and social interaction may not play a mediating role.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Xuemei Zhu, Marcia G. Ory, Minjie Xu, Samuel D. Towne, Zhipeng Lu, Tracy Hammond, Huiyan Sang, J. Timothy Lightfoot, E. Lisako J. McKyer, Hanwool Lee, Ledric D. Sherman, Chanam Lee
Summary: This study protocol aims to investigate the short- and long-term changes in physical activity levels and patterns after individuals move from non-AFCs to AFCs, as well as the environmental factors influencing these changes. The research utilizes a unique natural experiment opportunity in Austin, Texas, recruiting case and comparison participants to collect objective and subjective data for analysis using various statistical methods.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Puxiang Ren, Soren Harnow Klausen
Summary: This study investigates the interrelations among smartphone use, intergenerational support, and older adults' eudaimonic wellbeing among Danish retired older adults using quantitative and qualitative methods. The results showed that the use of smartphones had a positive impact on older adults' eudaimonic wellbeing and influenced the path from attitude towards smartphone use to actual usage. The study also confirmed that intergenerational support from children, despite being less important in individualistic cultures, positively promotes older adults' wellbeing.
CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kaja Teraz, Sasa Pisot, Bostjan Simunic, Rado Pisot
Summary: This study examined the impact of regular or increased physical activity on health status and quality of life in older adults. The findings showed that participants experienced a decrease in physical activity over an 8-year period but still met health-enhancing physical activity standards, and reported improved overall health, physical fitness, psychological wellbeing, and quality of life.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Anderson D'Oliveira, Loiane Cristina De Souza, Elisa Langiano, Lavinia Falese, Pierluigi Diotaiuti, Guilherme Torres Vilarino, Alexandro Andrade
Summary: The emergence of COVID-19 led to social isolation in many countries, causing negative psychological changes, especially among older adults. This study aims to provide a 4-week home-based exercise protocol for older people in social isolation, and evaluate its effects on psychological variables and physical capacities. The study will fill a gap in exercise provision for older adults and potentially identify improvements in their mental and physical health.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Pawel Brudek, Stanislawa Steuden, Kinga Kaleta
Summary: This study indicates that forgiveness mediates the relationship between wisdom and wellbeing in late adulthood, with wisdom being related to forgiveness which in turn affects psychological and subjective wellbeing.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Robert J. Dawe, Lei Yu, Sue E. Leurgans, Bryan D. James, Victoria N. Poole, Konstantinos Arfanakis, Julie A. Schneider, David A. Bennett, Aron S. Buchman
Summary: Postmortem MRI can capture brain tissue characteristics that mediate the association between physical activity and cognition in older adults. Two R-2 components partially mediated the relationship between physical activity and cognition, accounting for 12.7% of the association. Further studies are needed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying this pathway.
Article
Gerontology
Bill Cheuk Long Chan, Michelle Luciano, Billy Lee
Summary: This study examines how physical activity and personality traits influence the subjective wellbeing of older adults. The results show that while the Big Five personality traits predict SWB over a 3-year period, physical activity and its joint effect with personality traits do not significantly predict subsequent SWB. Further research is needed to understand the influence of physical activity and personality on SWB, considering variations in age, exercise level, and cultural background.
JOURNAL OF AGING AND HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Matthew Dennis, Adam Barker, Jamie Anderson, Jenna C. Ashton, Gina Cavan, Penny A. Cook, David French, Anna Gilchrist, Philip James, Christopher Phillipson, Konstantinos Tzoulas, C. Philip Wheater, Ada Wossink, Sarah Lindley
Summary: Ageing and urbanisation present challenges to public health and urban planning. To mitigate the negative effects on ageing populations, leveraging the benefits of urban green infrastructure as a public health intervention is proposed. However, a comprehensive framework for understanding the socio-cultural-ecological determinants of health is currently lacking. Principles for overcoming knowledge integration challenges in the intersection of green infrastructure, ageing, health, and well-being are presented.
Review
Oncology
Juliet A. Usher-Smith, Sarah Hindmarch, David P. French, Marc Tischkowitz, Sowmiya Moorthie, Fiona M. Walter, Rebecca A. Dennison, Francisca Stutzin Donoso, Stephanie Archer, Lily Taylor, Jon Emery, Stephen Morris, Douglas F. Easton, Antonis C. Antoniou
Summary: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the UK recommends offering risk-reducing medication and enhanced breast screening to women at moderate or high risk of breast cancer. In June 2022, NICE made a significant shift in recommending proactive risk assessment in primary care, paving the way for a primary care-based screening program. While there are benefits to this approach, there are also uncertainties and research gaps that need to be addressed before implementation.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Lisa M. Miles, Rhiannon E. Hawkes, David P. French
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate participants' understanding and use of behavior change content in the NHS-DDPP, investigate the role of health coaches in supporting behavior change, and examine variations across providers. The results showed that health coaches played a pivotal role in delivering key components of the program, and additional human support is needed to improve the understanding and use of behavior change content in digital interventions.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INTERNET RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Samuel G. Smith, Sophie M. C. Green, Rachel Ellison, Robbie Foy, Christopher D. Graham, Ellen Mason, David P. French, Louise H. Hall, Hollie Wilkes, Emma McNaught, Erin Raine, Rebecca Walwyn, Daniel Howdon, Jane Clark, Nikki Rousseau, Jacqueline Buxton, Sally J. L. Moore, Catherine Parbutt, Galina Velikova, Amanda Farrin, Michelle Collinson
Summary: Women with breast cancer who do not adhere to adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) have increased risks of mortality and recurrence. Multiple barriers to AET adherence include medication side-effects, beliefs about medication, memory, and psychological distress. This pilot trial aims to establish key trial parameters, intervention component adherence, availability and feasibility of outcome and process data, and cost estimation.
Article
Oncology
David P. French, Lorna McWilliams, Sarah Bowers, Victoria G. Woof, Fiona Harrison, Helen Ruane, Alice Hendy, D. Gareth Evans
Summary: Adding risk stratification to the NHS Breast Screening Programme allows additional prevention and screening options for high-risk women, but may also increase cancer worry. This study found that offering risk stratification did not increase anxiety or cancer worry, even for women informed of being at high risk.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2023)
Article
Primary Health Care
Gail Davidge, Lindsey Brown, Moira Lyons, Charlotte Blease, David French, Tjeerd van Staa, Brian McMillan
Summary: This study aims to explore the views and experiences of primary care staff regarding patients' online access to their health records, and how this service can be supported and improved. Most staff agreed with the principle of patient access but had mixed feelings about the potential benefits and drawbacks. They identified opportunities to enhance patient engagement and health literacy while also expressing concerns about maintaining clinical integrity and ensuring safety and wellbeing. Participants recognized the transformative potential of online access and emphasized the need for additional training and support to adapt practice and enhance patient understanding.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF GENERAL PRACTICE
(2023)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
David P. French, Amy L. Ahern, Colin J. Greaves, Rhiannon E. Hawkes, Suzanne Higgs, Rachel Pechey, Falko F. Sniehotta
Summary: The aim of this narrative review was to identify important knowledge gaps in behavioural science relating to type 2 diabetes prevention, to inform future research in the field. Seven researchers identified 21 overlapping recommendations for research in the behavioral science of type 2 diabetes prevention. The review emphasizes the need to address various aspects, including population approaches, disease-specific approaches, engagement, and emotional aspects of diabetes prevention.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
D. J. Ryan, J. S. Benton
Summary: Using infrared counters is a promising method for assessing footfall in urban parks, but issues with reliability and validity need to be addressed. This study aimed to determine the number of weeks needed for stable estimates of footfall in each season and compare automated infrared count estimates with manual observation counts.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Sophie M. C. Green, David P. French, Louise H. Hall, Yvonne Kiera Bartlett, Nikki Rousseau, Erin Raine, Catherine Parbutt, Benjamin Gardner, Samuel G. Smith
Summary: This study aimed to develop a pool of brief SMS text messages targeting habit formation to support adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) in women with breast cancer. The messages were developed using a transparent approach based on behavior change techniques (BCTs) and user input. After expert and user evaluations, a pool of 66 messages with fidelity to the intended BCTs and acceptability to the target population was created.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INTERNET RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Urban Studies
Jack S. Benton, Gail Jennings, Jim Walker, James Evans
Summary: Walking is the primary mode of transport in African cities, but walking infrastructure is lacking. The study explores the political and decision-making processes in African transport authorities and finds that walking receives marginal resource allocation due to undervaluation and limited capacity. The bias towards large infrastructure schemes rather than funding availability is a major constraint for African city authorities to support walking. The study emphasizes the importance of redefining a successful mobility system to value walking in African cities.
Correction
Health Care Sciences & Services
Mary Pegington, Alan Davies, Julia Mueller, Rachel Cholerton, Anthony Howell, D. Gareth Evans, Sacha J. Howell, David P. French, Michelle Harvie
JMIR RESEARCH PROTOCOLS
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Antonia M. Marsden, Mark Hann, Emma Barron, Jamie Ross, Jonathan Valabhji, Elizabeth Murray, Sarah Cotterill
Summary: Global evidence suggests that face-to-face diabetes prevention programs can effectively prevent and delay the onset of type 2 diabetes by promoting behavior changes such as weight loss, healthy eating, and increased exercise. However, there is a lack of evidence on whether digital delivery is as effective as face-to-face delivery.
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE REPORTS
(2023)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Peter Bower, Claudia Soiland-Reyes, Simon Heller, Paul Wilson, Sarah Cotterill, David French, Matt Sutton
Summary: The NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NHS DPP) has successfully achieved significant reductions in diabetes incidence through a large-scale behaviour change programme. Despite encountering barriers during implementation, such as low engagement and fidelity issues, the programme has shown effectiveness in reducing diabetes incidence at both individual and population levels. By closely collaborating with the NHS DPP team, valuable insights have been provided for improving communication, supporting primary care referral, enhancing provider relationships, increasing patient choice, improving behavior change techniques, and enriching educational and health coaching content.
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Sophie M. C. Green, Louise H. Hall, David P. French, Nikki Rousseau, Catherine Parbutt, Rebecca Walwyn, Samuel G. Smith, ROSETA investigators
Summary: In an online study, we found that detailed side effect information had a negative impact on patients' beliefs about adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) compared to quotes from other women with breast cancer. Therefore, we decided to remove this section from the information leaflet. The use of a stepped approach to optimize the leaflet proved to be efficient and effective in changing patients' beliefs about AET.
ANNALS OF BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Victoria G. Woof, Lorna McWilliams, Anthony Howell, D. Gareth Evans, David P. French
Summary: This study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of women's lived experiences of receiving an increased breast cancer risk. The findings suggest that providing risk predictions has little impact on women's beliefs about breast cancer risk, and discussions with healthcare professionals are needed to help women form more accurate appraisals and make informed decisions.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)