Search Results (28)

The aim of this study was to investigate older adults’ engagement in sport through the lens of the Positive Development in Sport (PDS), a framework aimed at fostering human growth in sport environments. This qualitative study involved 80 older athletes (M = 71.91 years, SD = 7.91; 45 women) engaged in regular sport practice and four experienced coaches (37–57-years-old). Data was collected across multiple contexts: brief in-person individual or small-group interviews during a competitive event; five in-person focus groups; and individual interviews. Data was analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings revealed a central theme, autonomy to engage in sport, supported by three subthemes: competence and confidence, health, and setting priorities. Participants described sport as a meaningful component of their identity, with sustained engagement driven by intrinsic motivation and harmonious passion. They reported increased self-awareness, intentional health management, and the ability to balance sport participation with other life domains, highlighting positive implications for mental health. Coaches who actively supported athletes’ psychological needs played a key role in fostering autonomy and personal development. Participants also emphasized the importance of inclusive relationships and pedagogical strategies tailored to older athletes’ goals and lived experiences. The findings suggest that sport in older adulthood can be a context for personal growth and mental health development. Full article

Culinary culture shock (CCS)—the discomfort and ambivalence travelers feel when encountering unfamiliar foods—remains underexplored from a short-horizon, trip-bounded perspective. While prior work notes both attractions and impediments of food in tourism, a process-oriented account of how ordinary travelers experience and navigate CCS during brief trips is still limited. This study examines CCS in Guangzhou, China and delineates how it shapes travelers’ evaluations of place. We adopt a qualitative design, combining 30 semi-structured interviews with in situ ethnographic observations across markets, street-food settings, restaurants, and guided food tours, supplemented by document analysis (e.g., visitor materials and menus). Using reflexive thematic analysis, we identify three recurrent coping trajectories—avoidance, gradual adaptation, and immersion—that unfold nonlinearly as travelers recalibrate expectations, manage sensory dissonance, and renegotiate comfort boundaries. We integrate expectancy–disconfirmation theory (EDT) with an embodied view of tasting to develop the Palate Adaptation Spiral Model (PASM), which explains CCS as recursive cycles of appraisal, strategy enactment, and re-appraisal within the span of a trip. Social influence (peers, guides, and service staff) operates as a cross-cutting mechanism that can accelerate adaptation or entrench avoidance depending on cue valence and credibility. The study clarifies the scope of CCS as general travel encounters (not restricted to culinary-motivated tourists) and specifies contextual conditions under which negative reactions are reversible. Theoretically, we connect EDT to short-term culinary adaptation through PASM; practically, we outline design levers—pre-trip expectation management, pictorial/transparent menus, and guide-mediated tasting sequences—to reduce anxiety and support constructive exploration. Full article

Background: Physical activity (PA) provides significant health benefits, yet inactivity remains high in Spain, especially among adolescents and increasingly in children. Identifying barriers to PA is essential, but available tools are mainly designed for adolescents. This study aimed to adapt the “Brief Scale of Perceived Barriers to Physical Activity” for Spanish schoolchildren aged 6–12 and examine its validity and reliability. Methods: The “Brief Scale of Perceived Barriers to Physical Activity for Children” was linguistically and culturally adapted. Comprehension was assessed through cognitive interviews, and reliability was examined via a test–retest procedure with 137 Spanish schoolchildren. Several analyses were conducted, including confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to assess the factor structure, along with reliability metrics: Cronbach’s alpha (α) for internal consistency and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for test–retest reliability. Results: CFA confirmed a four-factor structure (self-concept, motivation–interest, social support, and task incompatibility) in a sample of 137 with excellent fit indices (χ²/df = 1.394, RMSEA = 0.054, CFI = 0.976, TLI = 0.966). Internal consistency ranged from good to excellent (α = 0.831–0.979). Temporal stability was substantial to near perfect (ICC = 0.708–0.979). Measurement error was low for all items and the total score (SEM% = 6.1–37.2; MDC% = 17.0–103.0), demonstrating accuracy. Conclusions: The “Brief Scale of Perceived Barriers to Physical Activity for Children” was proven to be a reliable and valid tool for assessing perceived barriers to PA in Spanish children. It offers developmentally appropriate insights that can guide strategies to enhance supportive environments and promote long-term active behaviours. As part of the social domain, it contributes to the Spanish Physical Literacy Assessment for Children (SPLA-C) model, the first physical literacy (PL) assessment instrument developed in Spain. Full article

Purpose: Adolescence is a period of increased vulnerability to addictive behaviors, and Primary Health Care (PHC) plays a crucial role in prevention and intervention (e.g., through Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment), but professionals often face barriers, such as inadequate training and systemic challenges, particularly within the Greek context. Given the lack of data on their needs, this study aimed to investigate the levels of self-perceived knowledge/skills, attitudes regarding communication and readiness, perceived barriers, and educational expectations among PHC professionals in Greece. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted using an anonymous questionnaire with a convenience sample of 331 PHC professionals from 5 Health Regions. Results: Professionals recognized the high importance of effective communication (M = 4.31/5) but reported low preparedness (M = 2.65/5) and moderate confidence in knowledge, especially in screening tools/motivational interviewing (M = 2.25/5). Lack of training was the main barrier (87.6%). A strong positive correlation was found between knowledge and preparedness (rho = 0.68, p < 0.001), but not between age/experience and readiness (p > 0.05). Discussion: The study highlights a significant readiness gap and a substantial need for specialized training for PHC professionals in Greece, regardless of experience. Targeted interventions are required to enhance skills (especially in SBIRT/MI) and self-efficacy, alongside action to address systemic barriers. Full article

Pregnant and postpartum people (PPPs) face heightened risk for HIV acquisition, yet depression and trauma-related symptoms can undermine adherence to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). To inform the development of a brief mental health-focused adherence intervention, we explored the impacts of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms on PrEP use among PPPs in Cape Town, South Africa. Twenty-eight PPPs with elevated symptoms of depression and/or PTSD and recent PrEP adherence challenges completed qualitative interviews. Six antenatal providers were also interviewed. Thematic analysis revealed three key findings with subthemes that deepen exploration of each theme: (1) depression and PTSD symptoms contributed to missed PrEP doses or late pickups by increasing doubt about PrEP efficacy, amplifying pill burden, intensifying avoidance and withdrawal (e.g., hypersomnia and disengagement from providers), and disrupting memory through rumination and emotional overload; (2) most PPPs preferred support from professional counselors, while a minority preferred informal support; and (3) intervention design considerations included aligning patient and provider goals, selecting between individual or group formats, and addressing integration barriers such as staffing and space constraints. Providers affirmed the need for embedded mental health support. Intervention strategies that increase PrEP knowledge and motivation while targeting emotional withdrawal, fatigue, and cognitive overload may improve adherence and reduce HIV risk in this population. Full article

Background/Objective: Smoking is an individual risk factor for bladder cancer. Many patients are still smoking at the time of their diagnosis, yet few trials have examined smoking cessation interventions (SCIs) in relation to transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT). This study therefore aimed to compare the efficacy of a hospital-based 6-week intensive SCI with standard treatment among this patient group. Methods: A parallel-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted from December 2021 to March 2024 at two university hospital urology departments in Denmark. A total of 38 daily smokers undergoing TURBT were allocated to the hospital-based intensive SCI, including weekly meetings, patient education, motivational support, and complimentary nicotine replacement therapy or the standard treatment with very brief advice and referral to the same intensive SCI at a municipality clinic. The primary outcome was smoking cessation at the end of the intervention, assessed through participant interviews. The secondary outcomes included continuous abstinence at three and six months, quality of life, and frailty. Analyses were performed as intention-to-treat. Results: After six weeks, 37% in the hospital-based group and 6% in the standard group achieved smoking cessation (p = 0.042). At three and six months the quit rates were, 37% and 26% in the hospital-based group, compared to 0% and 0% in the standard group, respectively. No significant differences in quality of life or frailty were found. Conclusions: This trial found that hospital-based intensive SCI increased cessation rates compared to standard treatment. It would be valuable to evaluate the impact on postoperative complications, cancer prognosis, and long-term cessation in a sizeable new study. Full article

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the acceptability and feasibility of a therapeutic assessment protocol for the Screening and Support of Youth (SASY). SASY provides brief but comprehensive community-based screening and support for diverse youth in the community. Methods: SASY screening evaluates symptoms, functioning and clinical risk. The Kiddie Computerized Adaptive Test was used to evaluate seven different diagnoses and symptom severity. The Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale-Self was used to measure functional impairment. Measures were scored according to nationally developed norms. An algorithm was developed to aggregate symptom and function ratings into an overall score for clinical risk. The results are discussed with participants in a motivational interview designed to promote insight, followed by the opportunity for the participant to engage in an online intervention. Protocol changes necessitated by social distancing during the pandemic led to innovative methods including the use of a QR code for recruitment, integration of both online and offline participation, and expansion from in-person recruitment within the schools to virtual engagement with youth throughout the community. The final sample included disproportionately more Black or African American and Hispanic youth as compared to school and community statistics, suggesting that optimization of online and offline methods in research may facilitate the recruitment of diverse populations. Qualitative interviews indicated that the screening and feedback raised youth awareness of their wellbeing and/or distress, its impact on their functioning, and engagement with options for improved wellbeing. Conclusions: The emergence of innovative methods optimizing the advantages of both online and offline methods, developed as a necessity during the pandemic, proved advantageous to the feasibility and acceptability of community-based recruitment of at-risk, minoritized youth. Full article

Objective: Two brief computerized motivational interventions for excessive-drinking university students were evaluated. Method: Participants (N = 88, females = 61.5%, mean age = 21.05 years) were randomly assigned to a control group or one of two experimental groups: Computerized Brief Intervention (CBI) or Computerized Brief Intervention-Enhanced (CBI-E). CBI followed the principles of Motivational Interviewing to motivate participants to change their drinking behavior. CBI-E additionally used the principles of Systematic Motivational Counseling to identify and discuss with participants their dysfunctional motivational patterns that were interfering with their attainment of emotional satisfaction. At baseline and a three-month follow-up, the participants completed a battery of measures of alcohol consumption and related problems. Results: At baseline, the participants were confirmed to be heavy drinkers with many drink-related negative consequences. Males and females responded differently to the interventions. During follow-up, males’ alcohol use was ordered: CBI-E < CBI < Controls. The females in all three groups reduced their alcohol use, but there were no significant group differences. Conclusions: Males responded to the interventions as expected. For females, the assessment itself seemed to serve as an effective intervention, and there were no post-intervention differences among the three groups. Suggestions for future research using CBI and CBI-E are discussed. Full article

American Indian (AI) women are at risk of alcohol-exposed pregnancy (AEP) due to the higher prevalence of alcohol use disorders (AUDs) and risky drinking. The Native Changing High-Risk Alcohol Use and Increasing Contraception Effectiveness Study (Native CHOICES) was implemented in partnership with a Northern Plains Tribal community to address the effectiveness of a brief, motivational interviewing-based intervention to reduce AEP risk among adult AI women. A subgroup of the participants shared their perspectives in a qualitative interview conducted following the completion of the six-month post-baseline data collection. These interviews solicited participant perspectives on the Native CHOICES intervention and its satisfaction, reach, acceptability, and sustainability. The participants were delighted with Native CHOICES, felt the intervention helped them learn about AEP prevention and goal setting, learned valuable lessons, and believed Native CHOICES would be well-received by other women in their community and should be continued. The participants also shared how the COVID-19 pandemic affected their choices about drinking and birth control. The findings showed the receptivity to and acceptance of Native CHOICES among AI women. The interview findings offered a glimpse into the effectiveness of Native CHOICES and how it contributed to participants making healthier choices surrounding drinking and sexual health. Full article

Existing studies of technology supporting meditation habit formation mainly focus on mobile applications which support users via reminders. A potentially more effective source of motivation could be contextual cues provided by meaningful objects in meaningful locations. This longitudinal mixed-methods 8-week study explored the effectiveness of such an object, Prana, in supporting forming meditation habits among seven novice meditators. First, the Meditation Intentions Questionnaire-24 and the Determinants of Meditation Practice Inventory-Revised were administered. The self-report habit index (SrHI) was administered before and after the study. Prana recorded meditation session times, while daily diaries captured subjective experiences. At the end of the study, the system usability scale, the ten-item personality inventory, and the brief self-control scale were completed, followed by individual semi-structured interviews. We expected to find an increase in meditation frequency and temporal consistency, but the results failed to confirm this. Participants meditated for between 16% and 84% of the study. The frequency decreased with time for four, decreased with subsequent increase for two, and remained stable for one of them. Daily meditation experiences were positive, and the perceived difficulty to start meditating was low. No relevant correlation was found between the perceived difficulty in starting to meditate and meditation experience overall; the latter was only weakly associated with the likelihood of meditating the next day. While meditation became more habitual for six participants, positive scores on SrHI were rare. Despite the inconclusive results, this study provides valuable insights into challenges and benefits of using a meditation device, as well as potential methodological difficulties in studying habit formation with physical devices. Full article

Background: Obesity is linked to chronic diseases in adults and children. Its prevalence continues to grow in the United States, necessitating the need for healthcare provider training and presenting an opportunity for the education of future medical providers. Despite this need, effectively implementing obesity education into medical school curricula has been challenging. Anti-obesity bias amongst healthcare providers and trainees represents a significant obstacle to the care of patients with obesity. Obesity bias may affect up to 1/3 of medical students. Methods: This study describes the development and preliminary testing of a brief, 2.5 h multi-modality teaching intervention consisting of online, interactive, and independent learning modules for first-year medical students and a patient panel focused on obesity, obesity bias, and motivational interviewing. The participants took Crandall’s anti-fat attitude (AFA) questionnaire before and after an online independent learning module on motivational interviewing and obesity bias. The AFA consists of three subscales (“dislike”, “fear of fat”, and “willpower”). Individual responses were measured using a nine-point Likert-type response format (0 = very strongly disagree; 9 = very strongly agree). An average composite score was calculated for each subscale. Results: Data were analyzed from 103 first-year medical students enrolled at a college of medicine in the southwestern United States in 2022. The AFA mean composite scores decreased significantly, indicating a decrease in explicit anti-obesity attitude bias after completing the online module. This decrease was present in all three domains of fear (4.63 vs. 3.72, p < 0.001), dislike (1.25 vs. 0.88, p < 0.001) and willpower (3.23 vs. 2.31, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Relatively brief educational interventions can positively impact students’ anti-obesity attitudes. Full article

Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of motivational interviewing (MI) in reducing sexual risk behaviors. However, limited information is available on the acceptability of brief MI among men who have sex with men (MSM) in poor resource settings like sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of this study was to assess the views of MSM about the benefits and utility of brief MI (bMI) in changing their risky behavior. A qualitative study among men who have sex with men (MSM) who were enrolled in a longitudinal observational study between December 2021 and May 2023. The setting was in Tshwane North and participants were scheduled for baseline, 6-month, and 12-month visits. All participants received 20 min one-on-one face-to-face brief motivational interview (bMI) sessions during their follow-up visits. At month 12, an exit interview was conducted with consenting conveniently sampled participants (n = 23) who had completed all scheduled visits and received three bMI sessions. The findings indicated that the most recalled conversation was related to multiple sexual partners, having sex under the influence of alcohol, and MSM learned more about sexually transmitted diseases. Many expressed being comfortable with the sessions because the counselor was respectful and non-judgmental. Most found the bMI sessions to have a positive impact on changing and reducing risky sexual behaviors, particularly it reportedly increased their use of condoms and reduced the number of multiple partners. MSM found the bMI to be useful and acceptable in reducing sexual risk behaviors among MSM. Full article

Background: Health coaching-based interventions can support behaviour change to improve oral health. This scoping review aims to identify key characteristics of health coaching-based interventions for oral health promotion. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews checklist and the Joanna Briggs Institute manual for evidence synthesis were used in this review. A search strategy using medical subject heading terms and keywords was developed and applied to search the following databases: CINAHL, Ovid, PubMed, Cochrane Library and Scopus. Thematic analysis was used to synthesise the data. Results: Twenty-three studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. These studies were predominantly based on health coaching and motivational interviewing interventions applied to oral health promotion. The following are the characteristics of health coaching-based interventions extracted from themes of the included studies: (a) Health professionals should be trained on the usage of motivational interviewing/health coaching interventions; (b) oral health professionals should acquire motivational techniques in their practice to engage patients and avoid criticisms during the behaviour change process; (c) routine brief motivational interviewing/health coaching intervention sessions should be introduced in dental clinics; (d) traditional oral health education methods should be supplemented with individually tailored communication; and (e) for cost-effectiveness purposes, motivational interviewing/health coaching strategies should be considered. Conclusions: This scoping review reveals that health coaching-based techniques of health coaching and motivational interviewing can significantly impact oral health outcomes and behaviour change and can improve oral health professional–patient communication. This calls for the use of health coaching-based techniques by dental teams in community and clinical settings. This review highlights gaps in the literature, suggesting the need for more research on health coaching-based intervention strategies for oral health promotion. Full article

Background: This study tested the occurrence of early childhood caries (ECC) and changes in potential mediators of ECC after an early childhood oral health promotion intervention. Methods: Consenting parent/child dyads in Western Australia were randomised into test [motivational interviewing (MI) + anticipatory guidance (AG)] or control (lift the lip assessments by child health nurses). A questionnaire at baseline and follow-ups (at 18, 36 and 60 months) evaluated the parental factors and the children clinically examined. Data were analysed using parametric and non-parametric tests for two groups and paired comparisons. Multivariable analysis used negative binomial regression with robust standard errors for over-dispersed count data and effect estimates presented as incidence rate ratios. Results: Nine hundred and seventeen parent/child dyads were randomised (test n = 456; control n = 461). The parental attitude toward a child’s oral hygiene needs improved among the test group at the first follow-up (n = 377; baseline 1.8, SD 2.2, follow-up 1.5, SD 1.9, p = 0.005). Living in a non-fluoridated area and parents holding a fatalistic belief increased the risk of caries (IRR = 4.2, 95% CI 1.8–10.2 and IRR = 3.5, 95% CI 1.7–7.3), respectively, but MI/AG did not reduce the incidence of dental caries. Conclusion: The brief MI/AG oral health promotion intervention improved parental attitude but did not reduce ECC. Full article

Background: The peer recovery specialist (PRS) workforce has rapidly expanded to increase access to substance-use disorder services for underserved communities. PRSs are not typically trained in evidence-based interventions (EBIs) outside of motivational interviewing, although evidence demonstrates the feasibility of PRS delivery of certain EBIs, such as a brief behavioral intervention, behavioral activation. However, characteristics that predict PRS competency in delivering EBIs such as behavioral activation remain unknown, and are critical for PRS selection, training, and supervision if the PRS role is expanded. This study aimed to explore the outcomes of a brief PRS training period in behavioral activation and identify predictors of competence. Method: Twenty PRSs in the United States completed a two-hour training on PRS-delivered behavioral activation. Participants completed baseline and post-training assessments, including roleplay and assessments of PRS characteristics, attitudes towards EBIs, and theoretically relevant personality constructs. Roleplays were coded for competence (behavioral activation specific and PRS skills more broadly, i.e., PRS competence) and changes were assessed from baseline to post-training. Linear regression models tested factors predicting post-training competence, controlling for baseline competence. Results: There was a significant pre-post increase in behavioral activation competence (t = −7.02, p < 0.001). Years working as a PRS significantly predicted post-training behavioral activation skills (B = 0.16, p = 0.005). No variables predicted post-training PRS competence. Conclusions: This study provides preliminary evidence that behavioral activation may be appropriate for dissemination to PRSs through brief trainings, particularly for PRSs with more work experience. However, additional research is needed to examine predictors of competence among PRSs. Full article