Relationship between physical activity and general mental health.

PURPOSE: We investigated the relationship between physical activity and mental health and determined the optimal amount of physical activity associated with better mental health. METHOD: Self-reported data from a national random sample of 7674 adult respondents collected during the 2008 U.S. Health Information National Trends 2007 Survey (HINTS) were analyzed in 2012. Mental health was plotted against the number of hours of physical activity per week using a fractional 2-degree polynomial function. Demographic and physical health factors related to poorer mental health were examined. The optimal range of physical activity associated with poorer mental health was examined by age, gender, and physical health. RESULTS: A curvilinear association was observed between physical activity and general mental health. The optimal threshold volume for mental health benefits was of 2.5 to 7.5h of weekly physical activity. The associations varied by gender, age, and physical health status. Individuals who engaged in the optimal amount of physical activity were more likely to have reported better mental health (odds ratio=1.39, p=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: This study established a hyperbolic dose-response relationship between physical activity and general mental health, with an optimal range of 2.5 to 7.5h of physical activity per week.

Perceptions about collaborative decisions: perceived provider effectiveness among 2003 and 2007 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) respondents.

Patient-provider communication is an important element in cancer treatment and prevention. We examined the degree of concordance perceived to exist between the patient's preferences for inclusion in decision-making processes and their actual experiences among two population-based cohorts of U.S. adults with and without cancer histories who were surveyed in 2003 and 2007. Associations were examined between selected sociodemographic characteristics of respondents and the extent to which respondents perceived their health providers "always" involved them in decisions about their health to the extent desired. Data came from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), and SPSS and SAS-Callable SUDAAN statistical packages were used to analyze the data. Results showed a decrement in the proportion of favorable responses between 2003 and 2007. While there was no gender effect on the reported perceptions in either year, there was a significant effect of ethnicity (p = .001) in both years. Age, income, and employment were also independently associated (p = .001) in 2007. In contrast to 2003, higher education was significantly associated with communication satisfaction, as was having a cancer diagnosis, in 2007. There was a significant relationship between several sociodemographic variables and respondent perceptions about the consistency with which providers included patients as desired in decision-making. We conclude that communication between patient and provider remains suboptimal in cancer prevention and treatment.

Perceptions of health care provider communication activity among American cancer survivors and Adults Without Cancer Histories: an analysis of the 2003 Health Information Trends Survey (HINTS) Data.

Provider communication is an important determinant of health outcomes. We examined the frequency with which five important communication activities were perceived by cancer survivors and adults without a history of cancer to have been performed by their primary care providers. We analyzed data on more than 5,000 adults drawn from the 2003 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), a public dataset of the National Cancer Institute. We analyzed the responses to a question that asked how frequently the respondent's primary care provider had performed the following communication activities in the past 12 months: (1) listening carefully, (2) explaining things, (3) showing respect, (4) spending enough time, and (5) involving the patient in joint decision making. In addition, we compared responses among demographic subgroups. Results showed that regardless of health status or demographic characteristics, the 2003 HINTS respondents reported less than optimal rates of their providers "always" listening carefully, explaining things, showing respect, spending enough time, and involving them in joint decision making. Being Hispanic and having no usual provider or health insurance were associated with a significantly lower frequency of reporting that providers "always" performed the five communication activities (p < .05).