Search

Background: Information about the domains of physical activity (PA) that are most prone to decline between late childhood (11 y), early adolescence (13 y), and mid-adolescence (15 y) may support more targeted health promotion strategies. This study explored longitudinal trends in nonorganized PA, organized PA, active transport and active chores/work between childhood and adolescence, and potential sociodemographic moderators of changes. Methods: Data were sourced from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (n = 4108). Participation in PA domains was extracted from youth time-use diaries. Potential moderators were sex, Indigenous status, language spoken at home, socioeconomic position, and geographical remoteness. Results: A large quadratic decline in nonorganized PA (-48 min/d, P < .001) was moderated by sex (β = 5.55, P = .047) and home language (β = 8.55, P = .047), with girls (-39 min/d) and those from a non-English speaking background (-46 min/d) declining more between 11 and 13 years. Active chores/work increased between 11 and 13 years (+4 min/d, P < .001) and then stabilized. Active transport increased among boys between 11 and 13 years (+6 min/d, P < .001) and then declined between 13 and 15 years (-4 min/d, P < .001). Organized PA remained stable. Conclusions: The longitudinal decline in PA participation may be lessened by targeting nonorganized PA between childhood and adolescence. Future interventions may target girls or those from non-English speaking backgrounds during this transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Not all drivers living with dementia need to cease driving upon diagnosis. However, early planning for driving retirement is recommended. To guide and support decisions and early planning for driving retirement, there is a need for person-centered resources. This study aimed to test the effects of a dementia and driving decision aid for drivers living with dementia. The primary outcome measured was decisional conflict. Secondary outcome measures were dementia knowledge, decision, satisfaction with decision, booklet use, and booklet acceptability. A parallel-group quasi-experimental study was conducted in Australia and New Zealand. Twenty drivers living with dementia were recruited from the community. Participants self-nominated after responding to media articles promoting the study and were allocated into an intervention or comparison group by the research assistant. The intervention group reviewed the dementia and driving decision aid booklet. Telephone interviews were conducted over three data collection time points at: baseline, 1 week, and 3 months. The intervention and comparison groups each comprised ten participants. Decisional conflict, knowledge, and satisfaction with decision significantly improved in the intervention group following use of the decision aid, however the differences were not significantly greater than the control group. Booklet acceptability levels were high. The dementia and driving decision aid is an acceptable, person-centered intervention enabling individuals living with dementia to be central to decisions about driving retirement. The findings are relevant for primary care in Australia and New Zealand and applicable to the growing number of drivers living with dementia in car-dependent societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In 2019/20 major bushfires devastated Australia's East Coast. Shortly afterward the COVID-19 pandemic was declared. Older people are disproportionately affected by disasters and are at high risk from respiratory pandemics. However, little is known about how these events impact on older peoples' health and well-being and engagement with services such as primary care.Objective: To explore the health impacts of the 2019/20 bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic on older Australians' health and well-being.Methods: One hundred and fifty-five people aged over 65 years living in South-eastern New South Wales, Australia participated in an online survey. The survey measured the impacts of the bushfires and COVID-19 on physical and mental health and the capacity of older people to manage these impacts.Results: Most respondents felt that the bushfires caused them to feel anxious/worried (86.2%) and negatively affected their physical (59.9%) and mental (57.2%) health. While many participants had similar feelings about COVID-19, significantly fewer felt these physical and mental health impacts than from the bushfires. A significantly greater perceived level of impact was observed for females and those with health problems. More respondents described negative mental health than physical health effects. Those who felt more impacted by the events had lower levels of resilience, social connection and support, and self-rated health.Conclusion: The health impacts identified in this study represent an opportunity for primary care to intervene to both ensure that people with support needs are identified and provided timely support and that older people are prepared for future disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]