{"title":"Geosocial Tools for Community Diagnosis and Health Promotion.","authors":"Yang Li, Dario Spini, Cecilia Delgado Villanueva","doi":"10.1177/10901981241294230","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10901981241294230","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Growing research highlights the role of local community contexts in health and well-being. Communities function as central arenas for health promotion as individuals and community spaces interact in daily life. To better communicate the linkages between community and health, we demonstrate the use of a set of geosocial tools for community diagnosis and health promotion, conceptually grounded in the framework of geosocial embeddedness, using data from community surveys and participatory research conducted with local inhabitants to engage their competency. Through a web-based interactive map generated using a geographic information system, we identified public territories in the municipality where greater policy attention is needed to enhance health. Through an intersectional matrix produced using multilevel analysis, we identified precise social groups by intersectional categories that are most at risk of loneliness for targeted intervention. A health radar chart on multidomain indicators illustrated information on group dynamics and longitudinal comparisons for health promotion. Overall, these tools offered not only diagnoses of the most vulnerable social groups for tailored interventions but also insight for policymakers to improve infrastructure and material resources to promote health. We conclude that geosocial tools offer a promising approach toward sharpening health communication and improving health in the community.</p>","PeriodicalId":12974,"journal":{"name":"Health Education & Behavior","volume":" ","pages":"219-228"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11894869/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142590166","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jemima C John, MinJae Lee, Soo K Park, Lorna H McNeill, Deanna M Hoelscher, Susan M Schembre, Belinda M Reininger, Larkin L Strong
{"title":"Associations Between Social Support, Social Control, and Stage of Change With Self-Reported and Objectively Assessed Physical Activity in Adult Latino Dyads.","authors":"Jemima C John, MinJae Lee, Soo K Park, Lorna H McNeill, Deanna M Hoelscher, Susan M Schembre, Belinda M Reininger, Larkin L Strong","doi":"10.1177/10901981251322379","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10901981251322379","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Health behaviors such as physical activity (PA) are socially influenced, such that individuals from shared social networks or living environments may exhibit similar habits. This cross-sectional study examined associations of social support, social control, and family member stage of change with moderate-to-vigorous self-reported and objective PA in dyads of adult Hispanic family members. We used the Godin Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire to assess self-reported PA and accelerometry for objective PA. Validated scales assessed social support, social control, and stage of change. We performed multivariable multilevel analysis using generalized estimating equations (GEE) to account for within-dyad correlations. We conducted multivariable negative binomial regression for Metabolic Equivalent Task minutes (MET-minutes) (self-reported; <i>N</i> = 429) and accelerometer data (<i>N</i> = 356) and logistic regression for meeting PA guidelines (self-reported; <i>N</i> = 429). Most dyads were spouses (41%) or parents and adult children (32%). Individuals with high family support had 81% higher odds of meeting PA guidelines (1.81 adjusted odds ratio (aOR); 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.06, 3.09]; <i>p</i> = .030) and 58% higher leisure-time MET-minutes of PA per week (1.58 adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR], 95% CI = [1.30, 1.91]; <i>p</i> < .0001) than those with low levels of support. Participants reporting medium-to-high family punishment were 98% higher in odds of meeting PA guidelines (1.98 aOR; 95% CI = [1.09, 3.61]; <i>p</i> = .025) and had 70% higher leisure-time MET-minutes of PA (1.7 aIRR; 95% CI = [1.36, 2.13]; <i>p</i><.0001) compared with those with low scores. Participants with study partners in action or maintenance stages had significantly higher leisure-time MET-minutes of PA per week (aIRR = 1.45, 95% CI = [1.10, 1.91], <i>p</i> = .009 and aIRR = 1.33, 95% CI = [1.01, 1.76], <i>p</i> = .041, respectively) compared with those with partners in other stages. No statistically significant associations were observed for social control with any measure of PA or between psychosocial measures and accelerometer-assessed PA. Our findings demonstrated that interventions should engage social networks and multimodal forms of PA assessment to optimize behavior change in similar populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":12974,"journal":{"name":"Health Education & Behavior","volume":" ","pages":"10901981251322379"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143742752","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Application of Cognitive Load Theory to the Design of Health and Behavior Change Programs: Principles and Recommendations.","authors":"Kimberley A Baxter, Nidhi Sachdeva, Sabine Baker","doi":"10.1177/10901981251327185","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10901981251327185","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Health and behavior change programs play a crucial role in improving health behaviors at individual and family levels. However, these programs face challenges with engagement and retention and typically show modest efficacy. Cognitive load theory is an established and highly used educational theory that proposes individuals have a finite capacity to process new information (\"working memory\"). Learning, engagement, and performance are negatively impacted when working memory is exceeded. Cognitive load theory is grounded in an understanding of human cognition and conceptualizes different types of cognitive loads imposed on individuals by a learning experience. Cognitive load theory aims to guide the design of learning experiences, considering how the human mind works, leading to more meaningful and effective learning. Cognitive load theory is increasingly applied to domains outside the classroom, such as designing patient and clinical education. Applying cognitive load theory to the design of health programs, their materials, and interfaces can provide insights. By considering the cognitive demands placed on individuals when interacting with health programs, design can be optimized to reduce cognitive load and better facilitate learning and behavior adoption. This may enhance engagement, retention, and effectiveness of programs. Cognitive load theory may be particularly valuable for individuals with diminished working memory due to high levels of mental load and stress. Design principles are presented to consolidate knowledge from cognitive load theory and existing approaches to guide researchers, policymakers, and health programmers. Further research and interdisciplinary collaboration are needed to realize the potential of cognitive load theory in health.</p>","PeriodicalId":12974,"journal":{"name":"Health Education & Behavior","volume":" ","pages":"10901981251327185"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143718055","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sarah E Piombo, George G Vega Yon, Thomas W Valente
{"title":"The Impact of Social Norms on Diffusion Dynamics: A Simulation of E-Cigarette Use Behavior.","authors":"Sarah E Piombo, George G Vega Yon, Thomas W Valente","doi":"10.1177/10901981251327189","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10901981251327189","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Diffusion of innovations theory can be used to understand how to prevent or slow the spread of harmful behaviors, such as e-cigarette use in adolescent social networks. This study explores how different network intervention strategies could impact diffusion dynamics through network simulations based on observed social norms and e-cigarette use data. Simulations were initialized with baseline network data collected from 10 schools in a prospective cohort study of adolescent social networks and health behaviors in Southern California. Diffusion conditions varied by changes in social norms for intervention nodes (pro-e-cigarette, anti-e-cigarette, or neutral norms) and intervention strategy, where greater pro- and anti-tobacco norms were assigned to 15% of the network based on four intervention seeding conditions: opinion leadership, betweenness centrality, segmentation, and random selection. For each network, simulations were run using the netdiffuseR package in R and multivariate generalized linear models were estimated to examine changes in diffusion dynamics. Diffusion prevalence and rate were greater in denser networks and networks with more initial e-cigarette users. Anti-e-cigarette norms significantly decreased average prevalence across all intervention conditions. Strategically selecting high betweenness centrality nodes and opinion leader nodes significantly decreased the average prevalence of e-cigarette use. The results of this study show that achieving a change in norms for 15% of a network can substantially impact e-cigarette use prevalence. Furthermore, this study enhances our knowledge of how personal and network factors affect diffusion dynamics and demonstrates that targeting social norms through network-based interventions is one avenue for slowing the spread of harmful behaviors.</p>","PeriodicalId":12974,"journal":{"name":"Health Education & Behavior","volume":" ","pages":"10901981251327189"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143718060","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Dentamatics, a Board Game for Oral Health Education Using the Health Belief Model: A Qualitative Study.","authors":"Priyanga Chandrasekaran, Priyadharshini Ragavane, Bhargavi K, Vikneshan Murugaboopathy, Senthil Murugappan","doi":"10.1177/10901981251324130","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10901981251324130","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Collaborative learning is an engaging approach that brings individuals together to achieve common educational goals. This study explores the effectiveness of Dentamatics, an innovative interactive board game, in enhancing oral health knowledge among children. Twelve children participated in the study, playing the game after obtaining consent from the parents. During the sessions, they were encouraged to ask questions and clarify doubts, promoting active learning. Post-game interviews revealed significant improvements in oral health awareness, with children gaining knowledge about topics such as early dental visits and the use of braces for teeth alignment. The game was well-received, with participants expressing enjoyment and a willingness to play again. These findings suggest that Dentamatics is a promising, interactive, and enjoyable tool for educating children about oral health.</p>","PeriodicalId":12974,"journal":{"name":"Health Education & Behavior","volume":" ","pages":"10901981251324130"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143691880","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Food Insecurity and Weight Discrimination: A Gender-Based Study.","authors":"Gabriele Ciciurkaite, Bethany Sky Jones","doi":"10.1177/10901981251322406","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10901981251322406","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Food insecurity has been identified as an understudied risk factor for weight-based stigma and discrimination. This study leverages data from 1,904 working-age adults to examine the food insecurity-weight-based discrimination relationship, as well as tests gender differences for this association. Logistic regression models revealed that food insecurity was significantly associated with higher odds of reporting weight-based discrimination in both unadjusted and adjusted models. Importantly, this association was only significant in the female sample. Contrary to expectations, body mass index (BMI) did not moderate this relationship among women. These findings highlight the gendered nature of the food insecurity-weight discrimination link, underscoring the need for targeted interventions and policies addressing food insecurity and weight stigma, particularly among women. Specifically, public health practitioners should consider screening for both food insecurity and experiences of weight discrimination, especially when working with female patients. Furthermore, policymakers should consider the interconnected nature of food insecurity and weight discrimination when designing programs to address either issue. Finally, future research should explore the mechanisms underlying these associations and investigate potential interventions to mitigate the negative impacts of food insecurity and weight discrimination on health and well-being.</p>","PeriodicalId":12974,"journal":{"name":"Health Education & Behavior","volume":" ","pages":"10901981251322406"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143663392","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Simona C Kwon, Julie A Kranick, Nadia S Islam, Laura C Wyatt, Shilpa Patel, Gulnahar Alam, Perla Chebli, Joseph Ravenell, Perry Pong, Sara S Kim, Victoria H Raveis, Chau Trinh-Shevrin
{"title":"Applying Social Marketing Principles for Community-Based Cancer Screening Programs: Two Case Studies.","authors":"Simona C Kwon, Julie A Kranick, Nadia S Islam, Laura C Wyatt, Shilpa Patel, Gulnahar Alam, Perla Chebli, Joseph Ravenell, Perry Pong, Sara S Kim, Victoria H Raveis, Chau Trinh-Shevrin","doi":"10.1177/10901981251322806","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10901981251322806","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Minoritized communities often experience worse health outcomes on the cancer continuum. Mainstream strategies may have limited reach and utility to populations experiencing inequities in real-world settings. Through the combined use of community-based participatory research (CBPR) and social marketing strategies, which highlight community-centered and culturally adapted processes, we provide an approach to inform future intervention research across various health topics that has been successful in engaging minoritized and understudied communities. We present two case studies that used participatory social marketing principles to culturally adapt evidence-based cancer screening programs for two communities in New York City. The first program is a campaign to increase screening and vaccination for hepatitis B among Korean and Chinese American immigrants. The second is a culturally adapted program to increase breast and cervical cancer screening among a multiracial and ethnic population of Muslim women. These case studies illustrate the benefits of integrating social marketing and CBPR approaches as a key strategy when developing public health campaigns to effectively reach and influence health behaviors in partnership with communities that have been socially marginalized and historically underserved.</p>","PeriodicalId":12974,"journal":{"name":"Health Education & Behavior","volume":" ","pages":"10901981251322806"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143656986","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Understanding and Supporting the Health Education Specialist Role in Clinical Settings.","authors":"Lakeshia Brown, Joshua Bernstein","doi":"10.1177/10901981251322389","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10901981251322389","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>There is a persistent misunderstanding in the interdisciplinary field of public health, particularly regarding the roles and titles associated with health education specialists. The confusion necessitates a focus on collaboration, professional development, and standardizing terms within the realm of public health, health education, and health education specialists. To contribute to clarifying these roles, a qualitative exploratory case study was conducted, specifically examining the challenges and skills of health education specialists in clinical care or hospital settings. During three virtual focus group discussions, 13 participants who were selected through convenience sampling from the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing expressed their perspectives. Thematic analysis revealed key themes associated with challenges that included respect, buy-in, and prioritization. Concerning skills, the data indicated an overlap when assessing the most and least utilized skills of health education specialists. The application of skills correlated to size of the health care system or clinical care setting as well as the title and function of the health education specialist. Those working in larger health care systems primarily utilized fewer skills as their tasks and efforts were more concentrated. The implications for practice suggest that health care organizations can fully utilize and integrate health education specialists with concerted efforts on buy-in from executive leadership, professional growth, and clear communication to promote awareness of the role. These efforts will empower health education specialists to elevate their expertise, bring awareness to the profession, and enhance the quality of patient education.</p>","PeriodicalId":12974,"journal":{"name":"Health Education & Behavior","volume":" ","pages":"10901981251322389"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143656988","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Paul Sharp, Caitlin Sankey, John L Oliffe, Nico Schulenkorf, Cristina M Caperchione
{"title":"Designing Gender-Responsive Health Promotion Programs for Men: A Scoping Review.","authors":"Paul Sharp, Caitlin Sankey, John L Oliffe, Nico Schulenkorf, Cristina M Caperchione","doi":"10.1177/10901981251322391","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10901981251322391","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Over the past decade, there has been an increased emphasis on tailoring men's health promotion programs. To optimize outcomes, participatory action research that involves and elicits feedback from end-users has been highlighted as important to creating gender-responsive interventions. In this scoping review, we examine (a) how participatory action research has been used to design health promotion interventions for men and (b) what constitutes a gender-responsive intervention design. Following a comprehensive search, 53 articles were included in the review, reporting on 35 men's health promotion programs. Our findings suggest that participatory action methods harness varying degrees of end-user involvement, with a large majority limited to post-intervention evaluations rather than co-design and consumer collaboration. In addition, there are inconsistencies for applying gender-responsive approaches within programs, particularly regarding how interventions are targeted, tailored, and promoted to men. We conclude that participatory action research methods translate to varying degrees of gender responsiveness in men's health promotion programs. That said, involving end-users at various stages of intervention design, implementation, and evaluation may increase the likelihood that programs are more attuned to masculinities and better engage participants in promoting healthy behavior change. Efforts to advance gender-responsive designs can benefit from inductively deriving and incorporating men's masculine values.</p>","PeriodicalId":12974,"journal":{"name":"Health Education & Behavior","volume":" ","pages":"10901981251322391"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143648406","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Socio-Ecological Approach to Promoting Physical Activity in a Low-Income Neighborhood: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial.","authors":"Navin Kaushal, Rafael A Alamilla, NiCole R Keith","doi":"10.1177/10901981251316858","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10901981251316858","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Physical activity (PA) helps prevent several diseases; however, individuals residing in low-income neighborhoods have lower PA participation rates due to social disparities, as outlined in the social-ecological model. The purpose of this pilot study was to apply the social-ecological framework to test the effectiveness of a six-month, community-based PA program in a low-income neighborhood. Participants (n = 45) lived in a low-income neighborhood near a community fitness center. Those randomized to the experimental arm (n = 23) received gym access and attended monthly on-site workshops (Months 1-3) designed to enhance PA determinants such as planning and habit formation. The remaining participants (n = 22) were assigned to a wait-listed control group. PA, body composition, and fitness data were collected using accelerometers, BODPOD, and on-site fitness assessments at baseline, Month 3, and Month 6. Compared to the control group, participants in the experimental arm engaged in more moderate-to-vigorous PA (d = .48, d = .74), total PA (d = .41, d = .99), and steps (d = .48, d = .92) at Months 3 and 6, respectively. The experimental group also showed improvements in fitness tests, including the 30-s chair test (d = .29, d = .23) and the 8-foot up-and-go test at Month 3 (d = -.23), though these gains were not sustained at Month 6. Overall, this pilot study supports the feasibility of promoting PA and improving fitness outcomes in a low-income neighborhood. Notes for improvement and future directions are provided such as tracking PA exclusively performed at the community center to better assess program impact.</p>","PeriodicalId":12974,"journal":{"name":"Health Education & Behavior","volume":" ","pages":"10901981251316858"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143448200","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}