Developing and Validating a Step Test of Aerobic Fitness among Elementary School Children.

Purpose: The tests to estimate aerobic fitness among children require substantial space and maximum effort, which is often difficult for children. We developed a simple submaximal step test (Step Test of Endurance for Pediatrics, or STEP) and assessed its reliability, validity, and ability to estimate aerobic fitness among elementary school children. Method: Children aged 5-10 years completed the STEP with a protocol consisting of 0.1-, 0.2-, and 0.3-metre (4, 8, and 12 in.) step heights. Participants underwent treadmill testing with open circuit spirometry to determine actual maximal oxygen consumption (V̇o2max). Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) assessed test-retest reliability of the STEP and its component tests. Multivariate linear regression assessed the associations between the STEP and V̇o2max, adjusting for potential covariates such as age, sex, BMI, and comorbidity count. Results: The STEP showed excellent reliability (ICC ≥ 0.92; N = 170), irrespective of effort level during testing. Significant effort issues and collinearity among the independent variables led us to exclude children aged 5-6 years (n = 45) from the regression analysis. The final regression model for children aged 7-10 years with adequate effort (n = 111), as defined by a respiratory exchange ratio of 1.0 or more, showed that the STEP, sex, and BMI were significantly predictive of V̇o2max (R 2 = 0.51). Conclusions: This new, effort-independent step test can estimate the aerobic fitness of children aged 7-10 years. Regression equations to estimate V̇o2max from the STEP were provided.

Objectif : les tests d'évaluation de la capacité aérobique chez les enfants exigent beaucoup d'espace et un effort maximal, et les enfants éprouvent souvent de la difficulté à les exécuter. La présente étude visait à mettre à l'essai un simple test sous-maximal de la marche d'escalier (test de la marche d'escalier pour établir l'endurance en pédiatrie, ou STEP, selon l'acronyme anglais) et à en déterminer la fiabilité, la validité et la capacité à évaluer la capacité aérobique des enfants du primaire. Méthodologie : des enfants de cinq à dix ans ont effectué le STEP selon un protocole qui incluait des marches de 0,1, 0,2 et 0,3 mètre (4, 8 et 12 pouces). Les participants ont effectué une épreuve d'effort sur tapis roulant avec spirométrie en circuit ouvert pour déterminer leur consommation maximale réelle d'oxygène (V̇o2max). Les chercheurs ont utilisé les coefficients de corrélation intraclasse (CCI) pour évaluer la fiabilité test-retest du STEP et des tests qui le composaient. Ils ont utilisé la régression linéaire multivariée pour évaluer les associations entre le STEP et le V̇o2max, rajustée pour tenir compte de covariances potentielles comme l'âge, le sexe, l'indice de masse corporelle (IMC) et le nombre de comorbidités. Résultats : le STEP était d'une excellente fiabilité (CCI ≥ 0,92; n = 170), quel que soit le niveau d'effort utilisé. Des problèmes relatifs à l'importance de l'effort et la colinéarité entre les variables indépendantes ont incité les chercheurs à exclure de l'analyse de régression les enfants de cinq et six ans (n = 45). Le modèle de régression final des enfants de sept à dix ans qui faisaient un effort approprié (n = 111), défini par un ratio d'échanges gazeux minimal de 1,0, a révélé que le STEP, le genre et l'IMC étaient très prédictifs du V̇o2max (R 2 = 0,51). Conclusion : ce nouveau test de la marche d'escalier qui n'est pas lié à l'effort peut évaluer la capacité aérobique des enfants de sept à dix ans. Les chercheurs ont fourni les équations de régression pour évaluer le V̇o2max à partir du STEP.

It's Her Fault: Student Acceptance of Rape Myths On Two College Campuses.

The present study examined factors that are associated with an individual's adherence to rape myths at two colleges located in the same town. Particularly, we examined sex, race, and participants' drinking behavior in relation to rape myth acceptance. We found that males and heavy drinkers are more likely than females and non/low drinkers to adhere to rape myths. An interaction between males and drinking was also found indicating a moderated effect of gender on rape myth acceptance. In addition, the college with sexual assault programming did not experience a lowered acceptance of rape myths compared with the college with no programming.

A Quality Improvement Project to Improve Family Recognition of Medical Team Member Roles.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have shown that inpatients and families in academic settings have a limited ability to recall either their medical team members or the roles of those members. This is an important issue for patient and family satisfaction as well as patient safety. The objective of this study was to increase families' recognition of medical team members' roles. METHODS: We established a multidisciplinary quality improvement leadership team, measured family recognition of medical team members and their roles, and conducted 2 PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) cycles. The first intervention was standardization of the content and delivery of our verbal team introductions to ensure inclusion of essential elements and family engagement. The second intervention was addition of an informational white board in each patient room. The prospective study included 105 families in the preintervention phase, 103 post-PDSA cycle 1, and 92 post-PDSA cycle 2. RESULTS: After conduction of 2 PDSA cycles, the recognition of the attending role increased from 49% to 87% (P = .000), the resident role from 39% to 73% (P = .000), and the medical student from 75% to 89% (P = .038). CONCLUSIONS: The multidisciplinary quality improvement model was effective in improving family recognition of the roles of attending physicians, resident physicians, and medical students. Consistent attention to engaging the families and explaining our roles as well as providing informational white boards are effective interventions to facilitate this process.

Effects of a Brief Physical Activity Program on Young Students' Physical Fitness.

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to test whether brief daily activity could increase young students' physical fitness and compare different forms of intervention delivery. METHODS: Two intervention groups were instructed to increase children's activity by 6 minutes daily. The principal was responsible for the intervention in the first group while classroom teachers were responsible in the second. The third group was a control. Success was defined by changes in student fitness. RESULTS: The principal-led group had a significant increase in the number of 75-foot laps completed after intervention (+0.61 laps) and a significant decrease in after-exercise heart rate (-37.4 beats per minute) as compared with the control group. The teacher-led group experienced no change in either outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that a 6-minute increase in activity can produce a significant improvement in student fitness. Administrative support of school-based interventions can have a positive impact on program completion.

An exploratory examination of student to professor disclosures of crime victimization.

Prior qualitative research has demonstrated that female college students may utilize their professors as support providers when they experience sexual assault and intimate partner violence victimization. To further explore this phenomenon, the present study used a random sampling design on two college campuses to examine the following questions: (a) Are student disclosures of crime victimization a common occurrence for college professors? (b) What is the nature of college professors' most recent disclosure of crime victimization? and (c) Do professor characteristics predict receiving a student disclosure of victimization? Implications of these findings as well as directions for future research will be discussed.