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Objective: To identify the strategies and effects of interventions carried out by community health workers (CHW) on physical activity (PA) levels in children and adolescents., Data Source: In August 2020, a systematic review, designed according to the PRISMA checklist items, was conducted by searches in seven electronic databases and in reference lists. Original studies were searched without restriction with regard to year of publication; they were written in Spanish, English or Portuguese and examined interventions implemented by CHW, involving theoretical and/or practical contents of PA, with a focus on children and/or adolescents between three and 19 years of age., Data Synthesis: Of the 2,321 studies initially retrieved, eight were included, targeting samples with more specific characteristics (e.g., clinical, ethnic and/or socioeconomic). In all studies, CHW were trained to lead educational activities. In three non-controlled trials, positive results were observed, involving indicators such as moderate and vigorous PA and physical inactivity reduction. Also, two positive results were found in reducing sedentary behavior., Conclusions: Even though most of the interventions included did not have a significant effect on increasing PA levels, the available findings reinforce the role of CHW as an important strategy for dialogue between health services and the most vulnerable communities, and they suggest a greater articulation of these professionals in the actions developed in the school context.

Background: This study was conducted to examine the lifestyle behaviors and health promoting practices of physicians, nurses, and community health workers in Brazil., Methods: A random sample of primary health care units in Brazil was selected, and a pretested questionnaire was administered via phone interviews, in 2011, to 182 physicians, 347 nurses, and 269 community health workers, totaling 798 health professionals. The total initial sample included 1600 eligible health professionals. Variables measured included physical activity, alcohol intake, hours of sleep, diet, and perceived self-efficacy to provide preventive counseling on related lifestyle behaviors., Results: More than 25 % of physicians, nurses, and community health workers reported eating 0-2 portions of fruits and vegetables per day. In terms of cervical and breast cancer, nurses reported to be 'very prepared' to advise patients on these topics more frequently than physicians. The prevalence of smoking ranged from 4.9 % among nurses to 7.4 % among community health workers. The proportion of physical inactivity ranged from 40.3 % among nurses to 52.1 % among community health workers., Conclusion: A reasonably high proportion of physicians, nurses, and community health workers report not engaging in healthy lifestyle behaviors that impact chronic diseases, thus, they may be less likely to encourage such behaviors in their patients.

Objective: To assess the physical activity promotion in interventions conducted by community health workers., Methods: Systematic searches in five electronic databases (LILACS, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and SportDiscus) and manual searches in reference lists were conducted for papers published up until May 2014. The inclusion criteria were interventions delivered in adults by community health workers that had physical activity promotion as an objective (primary or secondary)., Results: Of the 950 references initially retrieved, 26 were included in the descriptive synthesis. At the operational level, action strategies were predominantly based on the model of health education grounded in counseling, and delivered in populations at risk or diagnosed with chronic non-communicable diseases. Only five studies had the primary outcome of physical activity promotion and twenty-five studies used self-report methods for evaluation. The majority of studies (72.4%) were classified as having low or moderate risk of bias. Sixteen studies (61.5%) reported positive results for different parameters of physical activity. Most studies were carried out in the United States. The successful interventions were conducted over a period averaging 6.5 months and targeted mainly women, individuals older than thirty, specific ethnic groups, and syndromic or at-risk individuals., Conclusions: The community health workers were important for physical activity promotion, but further interventions should be carried out in different countries and less specific samples, that include physical activity as a primary outcome and employ direct methods for assessing physical activity., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study analyzed the effectiveness of physical activity promotion by community health workers (CHW) during home visits. This was a non-randomized controlled trial that lasted six months, with one group of CHW that received training to promote physical activity during home visits among users of the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS) and a control group. Physical activity and stages of behavior change were evaluated in 176 adults (n = 90 in the intervention group and n = 86 in the control group) assisted by the CHW. Associations, prevalence ratios, and generalized estimate equations were conducted to verify differences between groups. No evidence of differences in physical activity and stages of behavior change were observed between the two groups. CHW from the intervention group conducted more home visits promoting physical activity among elders, those with low schooling, unemployed, and those with chronic diseases. It is important to reassess the work and priorities of CHW to expand physical activity promotion under the SUS.

Background: There is evidence that if a health professional is active and has a healthy diet, he/she is more likely to advise patients about the benefits of physical activity and healthy eating The aims of this study were to: (1) describe the personal physical activity, consumption of fruits and vegetables behaviors and nutritional status of community health workers; (2) evaluate the association between knowledge, delivery of preventive counseling and personal behaviors among community health workers., Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in a nationally sample of health professionals working in primary health care settings in Brazil in 2011. This survey was part of the second phase of the Guide for Useful Interventions for Activity in Brazil and Latin America project, and data were collected through telephone interviews of 269 community health workers from the Unified Health Care system of Brazil. We applied questionnaires about personal reported behaviors, knowledge and preventive counseling in physical activity and consumption of fruits and vegetables. We calculated the prevalence and associations between the variables with logistic regression., Results: The proportion of community health workers that practiced 150 minutes per week of physical activity in leisure time or transportation was high (64.9%). Half of community health workers were overweight and only 26.2% reported consuming five portions/day of fruits or vegetables. Most community health workers reported counseling about physical activity for more than six months (59.7%), and most were not knowledgeable of the fruits and vegetables and physical activity recommendations. Meeting the fruits and vegetables recommendations was associated with correct knowledge (OR = 4.5; CI95% 1.03;19.7), with reporting 150 minutes or more of physical activity per week (OR = 2.0; CI95% 1.03;3.7) and with reporting physical activity in leisure time (OR = 2.0; CI95% 1.05;3.6). Regular physical activity counseling was associated with reporting 10-149 minutes per week (OR = 3.8; CI95% 1.1;13.3) and with more than 150 minutes of physical activity per week (OR = 4.9; CI95% 1.5;16.5)., Conclusion: Actions to promote physical activity and healthy eating and to improve knowledge among community health workers within the health care system of Brazil could have a potential positive influence on delivery of preventive counseling to patients on this topic.

Background: The aim of this study was to describe a methodology for training to provide counseling on physical activity among community health workers working within primary healthcare in Brazil., Methods: This was an intervention study conducted with 65 community health workers in the Ermelino Matarazzo district in the São Paulo, Brazil (30 in intervention group). The intervention group received a course of 12 hours (with 4 meetings of 3 hours each in 1 month) that aimed to improve their knowledge and be autonomous with regard to promoting physical activity. For data analysis, focus groups and questionnaires on knowledge and perceptions regarding physical activity were used., Results: The average attendance for the 4 meetings was 29 workers (93% of total). There was an improvement in knowledge on physical activity recommendations in comparison with the control (P = .03), and qualitative results revealed that the professionals appreciated the learned content, valued its application based on knowledge construction and felt secure about promoting physical activity. This was seen through high adherence levels and construction collective of proposal for home visits for physical activity promotion., Conclusion: The training was effective in improving knowledge and attitudes toward counseling on physical activity among community health workers.