Understanding Breast Cancer Disparities Affecting Black Women: Obtaining Diverse Perspectives Through Focus Groups Comprised of Patients, Providers, and Others.

Black women have the highest death rate from breast cancer and a higher chance of developing breast cancer before the age of 40 than White women. Mammography screening is recommended for early detection which has led to decreased mortality and improved survival. Unfortunately, Black women are less likely to have breast cancer screenings. Environmental justice communities represent place-based structural disparity/racism leading to health inequality. Environmental justice specifically addresses situations where minority or low-income communities bear disproportionately poor human health outcomes and environmental risks. The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain a deep understanding of breast cancer screening disparity from multiple perspectives to enable collective solutions to barriers faced by Black women in an environmental justice community. Data were collected from 22 participants using a focus group approach from Black women with breast cancer (n = 5) and without it (n = 5), healthcare providers (n = 6), and community leaders (n = 6). An iterative and inductive thematic data analysis method was used to analyze data. The themes that emerged from the data included: (1) misconceptions and fear of mammograms; (2) breast cancer screening beyond mammograms; and (3) barriers beyond mammograms. These themes reflected personal, community, and policy barriers leading to breast cancer screening disparity. This study was an initial step to develop multi-level interventions targeting the personal, community, and policy barriers that are needed to advance breast cancer screening equity for Black women living in environmental justice communities.

Exploring the Nursing Universal Retention and Success Model for Student Success in a School of Nursing.

BACKGROUND: Not all students who enter nursing programs are prepared at the same level of educational equity, and some may have other obstacles that prevent their success once admitted. This may be especially true for underrepresented minority students. Early assessment of all students is essential to identify potential problems sooner versus later. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify at-risk nursing students early to ensure student success through appropriate referrals on campus. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of a student success program based on Jeffreys' Nursing Universal Retention and Success (NURS) model. RESULTS: Four factors were identified that were used to tag and identify at-risk students within our student success management software program. CONCLUSIONS: The program was successful in identifying students based on 4 factors (low personal/college support, financial challenges, excessive work hours, and substantial family obligations) that could place them at risk, so students could be referred to appropriate resources available on campus early in the process.

Interactions Between Race/Ethnicity and Gender on Physical Activity Among US High School Students: Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2011-2017.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Most adolescents do not meet the recommended amount of physical activity. Female, Black, and Hispanic students have significantly less physical activity than White male students. Physical activity of Asian or Multiple Race students have not been reported. The purpose of this research is to estimate differences in physical activity by race/ethnicity and gender among US high school students to examine whether Black Hispanic, Asian and multiple race female students and 11th grade and 12th grade female students have significantly lower physical activity levels. DESIGN/METHODS: This study is a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the high school Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a biennial, nationally representative survey of US high school students. Four waves of data were pooled from 2011 to 2017 YRBS (N = 59,397). Dependent variables were the number of active days per week a student was physically active, and whether the student was physically active for zero, 5 or more, or 7 days per week. Data were analyzed using R software. RESULTS: Asian students and students in grade 12 had the fewest number of physically active days per week. Female students were less physically active than male students. Significant negative interactions were measured in female gender by race/ethnicity (Black or Hispanic) and female gender by grade levels for the number of physically active days per week and for zero physically active days per week. The gender disparity in physical activity was significantly more pronounced among Black and Hispanic students. The reduction in physical activity by grade level was also significantly greater among female students. DISCUSSION: Efforts to increase physical activity are especially needed among Asian, Black, and Hispanic, and upper-grade female students. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Further research is needed to identify explanations and solutions for the significantly lower physical activity among Asians, female minority students, and students in upper grades.

Can Active Video Games Improve Physical Activity in Adolescents? A Review of RCT.

Children and adolescents are not meeting the required federal physical activity (PA) guidelines established by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. It is critical that a regular pattern of PA is established in their youth to ensure ongoing PA into adulthood. However, many programs implemented during adolescence have shown limited effects, stressing the need for more innovative approaches to generate more interest and maintenance of PA behavior in this age group. Active video games (AVGs) or exergaming may prove to be an innovate process to improve PA in children and adolescents. A literature review was conducted to explore if active video games or exergaming could be an effective intervention to improve physical activity in adolescents. Active video games, also called "exergames", are a category of video games that require movement or physical exertion to play the game. The methodology consisted of searching Academic Search Premier, CINAHL, The Cochrane Library, ERIC, PubMed, and Web of Science databases. Inclusion criteria involved only youth aged 12 to 19 years, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and studies within the last 12 years. The following search terms were used: exergaming or active video games; physical activity or exercise; adolescents or youth; RCT or randomized clinical trial. The outcome indicates that exergaming or active video games can be an effective tool to improve PA in adolescents that will be more acceptable and sustainable than many conventional approaches.

Estimating physical activity trends among blacks in the United States through examination of four national surveys.

Physical activity is essential for overall good health and aids in the prevention and reduction of many diseases. In 2008, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) issued the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans to foster appropriate levels of physical activity at various ages of development. Despite these guidelines and the known benefit to being physically active; physical activity levels are significantly lower in Blacks, contributing to higher prevalence of poor health outcomes. Therefore, the purpose of this paper was to look at four national datasets [Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), and National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)] to identify any patterns and trends that could be used to improve physical activity behavior within this population. These national datasets were used to estimate the proportion of Black adults and youth meeting national physical activity recommendations overall-stratified by age, gender and other demographic characteristics, to help identify patterns. The proportion of Black youth reporting regular physical activity ranged from 33% to 52%; and of Black adults, 27% to 52%. Physical activity was highest among men, younger age groups, highest education and income groups, and those who were employed or married. Trends were consistent across surveys. Among Black youth, physical activity decline with increasing grade level, and improvements over the past 10 years have been minimal. The percentage of Black adults achieving physical activity guidelines has improved slightly over the last ten years, but physical activity participation is still low and continues to decline with age. Trends identified from examining these national datasets can be used to inform development of physical activity interventions aimed at promoting and maintaining regular physical activity behavior among high risk subgroups across the life span.

The Root of Physical Inactivity Among African-American Women: Identifying Exercise Friendly Hairstyles.

The purpose of this study was to provide information regarding hair maintenance that would increase physical activity among African-American women. A descriptive study design was used, along with Survey Monkey to obtain online responses from African-American female participants over the age of 18 that were associated with four predominately African-American social organizations. Participants were asked to rate the "ease of use" of 8 hairstyles commonly worn by Black or African-American women living in the United States as it related to three physical activity (PA) intensity categories: light to moderate, vigorous, and water-based physical activity. The results revealed that short natural styles had low maintenance scores for all three PA categories (1.19, 1.27, and 1.34, respectively). Increased knowledge and understanding of the complex and varied hair care practices common among African-American women will improve development of exercise-based health interventions for this population.

A Qualitative Study: African-American Girls' Perceptions of Why Physical Activity Declines in High School.

African-American adolescent girls are less physically active than any other U.S. racial/ethnic group. The school environment may contribute to physical inactivity in this group. The purpose of this study was to explore African-American girls' perceptions offactors that contribute to girls being less physically active in high school. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to identify individual perceptions of girls regarding physical activity. This resulted in four themes: personal appearances, scheduling/timing of classes, environmental/facilities issues, and lack of variety of activities in PE classes. Thefindings from this study indicated that African-American adolescent girls did not feel the physical or social school environment encouraged or supported them to be physically active.