Biomedical subjects

Barbara J Speck

Publications and source records attributed to Barbara J Speck.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Undergraduate community health in the first semester: opportunities and challenges.

In the current health care environment, there is a trend for care to move from acute hospital settings to community settings. The Pew Health Professions Commission and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing identified a need to modify health care professional education to meet the needs of the changing health care system and diverse demographics in the United States. In traditional baccalaureate nursing programs, the community health nursing course typically is taken in the last year, after students have completed medical-surgical nursing courses. This article describes a curriculum that begins with the community health nursing course. Many opportunities and challenges related to this placement are described.

Community Health Nursing↗

PubMed2002

From exercise to physical activity.

Recommendations for regular exercise have been evident in the nursing literature since the early 1900s. Health professionals and popular media have promoted vigorous exercise for positive health benefits since the 1960s. The concept of exercise as it appeared in the nursing literature during the early part of the 20th century is closer to the concept of physical activity of today--regular, moderate-intensity activities that become part of one's lifestyle. Nurses are in a unique position to counsel individuals, families, and communities on the importance of regular physical activity and to correct misconceptions that only vigorous exercise has health benefits.

Exercise↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Maintaining regular physical activity in women: evidence to date.

Physical activity is well established as a primary health promotion and cardiovascular disease prevention behavior, yet over 60% of the population does not participate in regular physical activity. Maintenance of regular physical activity is a complex behavior influenced by variables from several domains. This review includes studies of the relationship between physical activity in women and psychological, social environmental, demographic, physiologic, health status, and physical activity variables. A key issue in physical activity research is development of interventions for maintaining a physically active lifestyle. Interventions for maintenance of regular physical activity that have a strong theoretical basis will be beneficial to women in primary care settings, occupational settings, wellness centers as well as public health departments and other organizations that address the needs of women.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Self-reported physical activity validated by pedometer: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to validate self-reported physical activity based on a daily activity record (DAR) with concurrent pedometer and 7-day physical activity-recall questionnaire data. DESIGN: The design was a one-group descriptive correlational study. SAMPLE: The sample consisted of 25 working women with a mean age of 39.8 years, 92% Caucasian, and 63% with a combined family income of 60,000 dollars or greater. MEASUREMENTS: Three instruments: (a) DAR, a self-reported record of moderate or higher intensity physical activities including household, exercise, leisure, and occupational. Metabolic equivalent unit (MET) scores were calculated from the self-report data, (b) 7-day physical activity recall, and (3) Yamax pedometers (SW-701) measured number of steps. RESULTS: MET scores based on the DAR (n=22) were strongly associated with both pedometer data (Spearman's rho=0.607, p=0.003) and 7-day physical activity-recall data (Spearman's rho=0.542, p=0.009). CONCLUSION: The results of this validation study indicated a statistically significant correlation of self-reported physical activity (DAR) with pedometer values and 7-day physical activity-recall data. The DAR may be useful for measuring physical activity in community health programs and in community-based research.

Adult↗