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BackgroundMass media campaigns for public health are increasingly using digital media platforms, such as web-based advertising and social media; however, there is a lack of evidence on how to best use these digital platforms for public health campaigns. To generate this evidence, appropriate campaign evaluations are needed, but with the proliferation of digital media–related metrics, there is no clear consensus on which evaluation metrics should be used. Public health campaigns are diverse in nature, so to facilitate analysis, this review has selected tobacco control campaigns as the scope of the study. ObjectiveThis literature review aimed to examine how tobacco control campaigns that use traditional and digital media platforms have been evaluated. MethodsMedicine and science databases (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online [MEDLINE], EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature [CINAHL], and Scopus), and a marketing case study database (World Advertising Research Center) were searched for articles published between 2013 and 2018. Two authors established the eligibility criteria and reviewed articles for inclusion. Individual campaigns were identified from the articles, and information on campaigns and their evaluations were supplemented with searches on Google, Google Scholar, and social media platforms. Data about campaign evaluations were tabulated and mapped to a conceptual framework. ResultsIn total, 17 campaigns were included in this review, with evaluations reported on by 51 articles, 17 marketing reports, and 4 grey literature reports. Most campaigns were from English-speaking countries, with behavioral change as the primary objective. In the process evaluations, a wide range of metrics were used to assess the reach of digital campaign activities, making comparison between campaigns difficult. Every campaign in the review, except one, reported some type of engagement impact measure, with website visits being the most commonly reported metric (11 of the 17 campaigns). Other commonly reported evaluation measures identified in this review include engagement on social media, changes in attitudes, and number of people contacting smoking cessation services. Of note, only 7 of the 17 campaigns attempted to measure media platform attribution, for example, by asking participants where they recalled seeing the campaign or using unique website tracking codes for ads on different media platforms. ConclusionsOne of the key findings of this review is the numerous and diverse range of measures and metrics used in tobacco control campaign evaluations. To address this issue, we propose principles to guide the selection of digital media–related metrics for campaign evaluations, and also outline a conceptual framework to provide a coherent organization to the diverse range of metrics. Future research is needed to specifically investigate whether engagement metrics are associated with desired campaign outcomes, to determine whether reporting of engagement metrics is meaningful in campaign evaluations.

BackgroundExtended intervention contact after an initial, intensive intervention is becoming accepted as best practice in behavioral weight control interventions. Whether extended contact mitigates weight regain in the longer term or it simply delays weight regain until after the extended intervention contact ceases is not clear. ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate, in multiple ways, maintenance of weight, diet, and physical activity outcomes following Get Healthy, Stay Healthy (GHSH), a text message–delivered extended contact intervention. MethodsClients completing the Get Healthy Service (GHS) lifestyle telephone coaching program were randomized to receive GHSH (n=114) or standard care (no additional contact, n=114) and were assessed at baseline (following completion of GHS), 6 months (following completion of GHSH), and 12 months (noncontact maintenance follow-up). At all 3 assessments, participants self-reported their body weight, waist circumference, physical activity (walking and moderate and vigorous sessions/week), and dietary behaviors (fruit and vegetable serves/day, cups of sweetened drinks per day, takeaway meals per week; fat, fiber, and total indices from the Fat and Fiber Behavior Questionnaire). Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was also assessed via accelerometry. Maintenance was examined multiple ways: (1) using traditional methods to assess and compare group averages after some period of noncontact (ie, at 12 months), (2) using a novel approach to assess and compare group average changes over the first 6 months of noncontact, and (3) exploring individual participant changes (increase/decrease/no change) over the first 6 months of noncontact. ResultsRetention over the 12-month trial was high (92.5%, 211/228). Participants had a mean (SD) age of 53.4 (SD 12.3) years and a baseline body mass index of 29.2 (SD 5.9) kg/m2. The between-group differences detected at 6 months were still present and statistically significant at 12 months for bodyweight (−1.33 kg [−2.61 to −0.05]) and accelerometer-assessed MVPA (24.9 min/week [5.8-44.0]). None of the other outcomes were significantly favored compared with the control group at 12 months. Changes over their first 6 months of noncontact for the GHSH group were significantly better than the control group in terms of accelerometer-measured MVPA and self-reported moderate activity (other differences between the groups were all nonsignificant). In addition to the maintenance seen in the group averages, most intervention participants had maintained their behavioral outcomes during the first 6 months of noncontact. ConclusionsThe GHSH participants were better off relative to where they were initially, and relative to their counterparts, not receiving extended contact in terms of MVPA. However, based on the between-group difference in bodyweight over the first 6 months of noncontact, GHSH does appear to simply delay the inevitable weight regain. However, this delay in weight regain, coupled with sustained improvements in MVPA, has public health benefits. Trial RegistrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12613000949785; https://www.anzctr.org. au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=364821&isReview=true

BackgroundThe unprecedented rise in obesity among young adults, who have limited interaction with health services, has not been successfully abated. ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to assess the maintenance outcomes of a 12-week mHealth intervention on prevention of weight gain in young adults and lifestyle behaviors at 9 months from baseline. MethodsA two-arm, parallel, randomized controlled trial (RCT) with subjects allocated to intervention or control 1:1 was conducted in a community setting in Greater Sydney, Australia. From November 2012 to July 2014, 18- to 35-year-old overweight individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 25-31.99 kg/m2 and those with a BMI ≥ 23 kg/m2 and a self-reported weight gain of ≥ 2 kg in the past 12 months were recruited. A 12-week mHealth program “TXT2BFiT” was administered to the intervention arm. This included 5 coaching calls, 96 text messages, 12 emails, apps, and downloadable resources from the study website. Lifestyle behaviors addressed were intake of fruits, vegetables, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), take-out meals, and physical activity. The control group received 1 phone call to introduce them to study procedures and 4 text messages over 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, the intervention arm received 2 further coaching calls, 6 text messages, and 6 emails with continued access to the study website during 6-month follow-up. Control arm received no further contact. The primary outcome was weight change (kg) with weight measured at baseline and at 12 weeks and self-report at baseline, 12 weeks, and 9 months. Secondary outcomes were change in physical activity (metabolic equivalent of task, MET-mins) and categories of intake for fruits, vegetables, SSBs, and take-out meals. These were assessed via Web-based surveys. ResultsTwo hundred and fifty young adults enrolled in the RCT. Intervention participants weighed less at 12 weeks compared with controls (model β=−3.7, 95% CI −6.1 to −1.3) and after 9 months (model β=− 4.3, 95% CI − 6.9 to − 1.8). No differences in physical activity were found but all diet behaviors showed that the intervention group, compared with controls at 9 months, had greater odds of meeting recommendations for fruits (OR 3.83, 95% CI 2.10-6.99); for vegetables (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.32-4.44); for SSB (OR 3.11, 95% CI 1.47-6.59); and for take-out meals (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.07-3.30). ConclusionsDelivery of an mHealth intervention for prevention of weight gain resulted in modest weight loss at 12 weeks with further loss at 9 months in 18- to 35-year-olds. Although there was no evidence of change in physical activity, improvements in dietary behaviors occurred, and were maintained at 9 months. Owing to its scalable potential for widespread adoption, replication trials should be conducted in diverse populations of overweight young adults. Trial RegistrationAustralian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): ACTRN12612000924853; (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6i6iRag55)

BackgroundExtending contact with participants after initial, intensive intervention may support maintenance of weight loss and related behaviors. ObjectiveThis community-wide trial evaluated a text message (short message service, SMS)-delivered, extended contact intervention (‘Get Healthy, Stay Healthy’ (GHSH)), which followed on from a population-level, behavioral telephone coaching program. MethodsThis study employed a parallel, randomized controlled trial: GHSH compared with no continued contact (standard practice). Participants (n=228) were recruited after completing a 6-month lifestyle telephone coaching program: mean age = 53.4 (standard deviation (SD)=12.3) years; 66.7% (152/228) female; mean body mass index (BMI) upon entering GHSH=29.5 kg/m2 (SD = 6.0). Participants received tailored text messages over a 6-month period. The message frequency, timing, and content of the messages was based on participant preference, ascertained during two tailoring telephone calls. Primary outcomes of body weight, waist circumference, physical activity (walking, moderate, and vigorous sessions/week), and dietary behaviors (fruit and vegetable serves/day, cups of sweetened drinks per day, takeaway meals per week; fat, fiber and total indices from the Fat and Fiber Behavior Questionnaire) were assessed via self-report before (baseline) and after (6-months) extended contact (with moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) also assessed via accelerometry). ResultsSignificant intervention effects, all favoring the intervention group, were observed at 6-months for change in weight (-1.35 kg, 95% confidence interval (CI): -2.24, -0.46, P=.003), weekly moderate physical activity sessions (0.56 sessions/week, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.96, P=.008) and accelerometer-assessed MVPA (24.16 minutes/week, 95% CI: 5.07, 43.25, P=.007). Waist circumference, other physical activity outcomes and dietary outcomes, did not differ significantly between groups. ConclusionsThe GHSH extended care intervention led to significantly better anthropometric and physical activity outcomes than standard practice (no contact). This evidence is useful for scaling up the delivery of GHSH as standard practice following the population-level telephone coaching program.

Background: This study aimed to identify patterns of overall, team, and individual sport participation and examine the prospective associations between these patterns and loneliness in young people. Methods: We analyzed data from 4241 young people, from waves 3 (8–9 y) to 9 (20–21 y) of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. We conducted latent class analyses to identify overall and team versus individual sport participation trajectories and used adjusted log-Poisson regression models to examine the associations between these trajectories and loneliness at wave 9. Results: Latent class analyses identified 4 distinct overall sport participation classes which were labeled: nonparticipants (24%), dropouts (42%), initiators (7%), and consistent participants (27%). Compared with nonparticipants, consistent participants had a lower risk of loneliness (risk ratios = 0.69; 95% CIs, 0.59–0.81). Latent class analyses also identified 4 distinct team versus individual sport participation classes: team and individual sport nonparticipants (38%), individual sport participants (14%), moderate team sport participants (14%), and high team sport participants (34%). Compared with the team and individual sport nonparticipants, the high team sports participants had a lower risk of loneliness (risk ratios = 0.70; 95% CIs, 0.53–0.92). Conclusions: Young people who continued participating in sport in general, and particularly in team sport, had a reduced risk of loneliness. Continued participation in sports should be promoted to improve a range of physical, mental, and social health benefits. Furthermore, team-based sport can provide additional health and well-being benefits, including reduced loneliness due to the group nature of participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundWeight gained in young adulthood often persists throughout later life with associated chronic disease risk. Despite this, current population prevention strategies are not specifically designed for young adults. ObjectiveWe designed and assessed the efficacy of an mHealth prevention program, TXT2BFiT, in preventing excess weight gain and improving dietary and physical activity behaviors in young adults at increased risk of obesity and unhealthy lifestyle choices. MethodsA two-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial was conducted. Subjects and analyzing researchers were blinded. A total of 250 18- to 35-year-olds with a high risk of weight gain, a body mass index (BMI) of 23.0 to 24.9 kg/m2 with at least 2 kg of weight gain in the previous 12 months, or a BMI of 25.0 to 31.9 kg/m2 were randomized to the intervention or control group. In the 12-week intervention period, the intervention group received 8 text messages weekly based on the transtheoretical model of behavior change, 1 email weekly, 5 personalized coaching calls, a diet booklet, and access to resources and mobile phone apps on a website. Control group participants received only 4 text messages and printed dietary and physical activity guidelines. Measured body weight and height were collected at baseline and at 12 weeks. Outcomes were assessed via online surveys at baseline and at 12 weeks, including self-reported weight and dietary and physical activity measures. ResultsA total of 214 participants—110 intervention and 104 control—completed the 12-week intervention period. A total of 10 participants out of 250 (4.0%)—10 intervention and 0 control—dropped out, and 26 participants (10.4%)—5 intervention and 21 control—did not complete postintervention online surveys. Adherence to coaching calls and delivery of text messages was over 90%. At 12 weeks, the intervention group were 2.2 kg (95% CI 0.8-3.6) lighter than controls (P=.005). Intervention participants consumed more vegetables (P=.009), fewer sugary soft drinks (P=.002), and fewer energy-dense takeout meals (P=.001) compared to controls. They also increased their total physical activity by 252.5 MET-minutes (95% CI 1.2-503.8, P=.05) and total physical activity by 1.3 days (95% CI 0.5-2.2, P=.003) compared to controls. ConclusionsThe TXT2BFiT low-intensity intervention was successful in preventing weight gain with modest weight loss and improvement in lifestyle behaviors among overweight young adults. The short-term success of the 12-week intervention period shows potential. Maintenance of the behavior change will be monitored at 9 months. Trial RegistrationTrial Registration: The Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12612000924853; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?ACTRN=12612000924853 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6Z6w9LlS9).

BackgroundYounger adults are difficult to engage in preventive health, yet in Australia they are gaining more weight and increasing in waist circumference faster than middle-to-older adults. A further challenge to engaging 18- to 35-year-olds in interventions is the limited reporting of outcomes of recruitment strategies. ObjectiveThis paper describes the outcomes of strategies used to recruit young adults to a randomized controlled trial (RCT), healthy lifestyle mHealth program, TXT2BFiT, for prevention of weight gain. The progression from enquiry through eligibility check to randomization into the trial and the costs of recruitment strategies are reported. Factors associated with nonparticipation are explored. MethodsParticipants were recruited either via letters of invitation from general practitioners (GPs) or via electronic or print advertisements, including Facebook and Google—social media and advertising—university electronic newsletters, printed posters, mailbox drops, and newspapers. Participants recruited from GP invitation letters had an appointment booked with their GP for eligibility screening. Those recruited from other methods were sent an information pack to seek approval to participate from their own GP. The total number and source of enquiries were categorized according to eligibility and subsequent completion of steps to enrolment. Cost data and details of recruitment strategies were recorded. ResultsFrom 1181 enquiries in total from all strategies, 250 (21.17%) participants were randomized. A total of 5311 invitation letters were sent from 12 GP practices—16 participating GPs. A total of 131 patients enquired with 68 participants randomized (68/74 of those eligible, 92%). The other recruitment methods yielded the remaining 182 randomized participants. Enrolment from print media was 26% of enquiries, from electronic media was 20%, and from other methods was 3%. Across all strategies the average cost of recruitment was Australian Dollar (AUD) $139 per person. The least expensive modality was electronic (AUD $37), largely due to a free feature story on one university Web home page, despite Facebook advertising costing AUD $945 per enrolment. The most expensive was print media at AUD $213 and GP letters at AUD $145 per enrolment. ConclusionsThe research indicated that free electronic media was the most cost-effective strategy, with GP letters the least expensive of the paid strategies in comparison to the other strategies. This study is an important contribution for future research into efficacy, translation, and implementation of cost-effective programs for the prevention of weight gain in young adults. Procedural frameworks for recruitment protocols are required, along with systematic reporting of recruitment strategies to reduce unnecessary expenditure and allow for valuable public health prevention programs to go beyond the research setting. Trial RegistrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): ACTRN12612000924853; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=362872 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6YpNfv1gI).

Background: Social support is a crucial factor influencing the sustainability of physical activity (PA). This proof-of-concept study presents the development of a Social Physical Activity Index for Area (SPAIFA) an indicator reflecting opportunities for individuals to actively participate as part of a group within which opportunities for social interaction can be developed. Methods: Six government councils in the state of New South Wales, Australia, were selected encompassing 174 suburbs. Using 2 search engines' map tools, we identified PA venues for each suburb (eg, park, studios, etc). To enumerate activities per suburb, we used (1) venue websites, (2) New South Wales Office of Sport website, (3) national websites of grassroots PA for nonorganized activity (eg, parkrun, meetup, etc), and (4) social media. The database was linked to the suburb demographic profile, the area disadvantage score, walkability and open space scores, and the proportion of insufficiently active residents. Spatial analysis techniques were used to identify SPAIFA clusters. Results: SPAIFA councils' average was 9.9 activities per 10,000 people (ranging from 6.6/10,000 to 16.2/10,000). SPAIFA-Old (ie, activities specific to older adults) varied significantly (ranging from 11.7/10,000 to 0.8/10,000 seniors). Disadvantaged areas and a high proportion of insufficiently active residents were associated with being classified as low SPAIFA (P <.01). Three clusters of low SPAIFA were identified, and 17 high-risk areas where low SPAIFA was compounded by poor environmental support. Conclusions: SPAIFA can be used by councils and policymakers as an indicator for monitoring and intervening in areas where natural and/or urban design is not conducive for PA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Teachers face high levels of occupational stress, which can influence their mental well-being and contribute to teacher burnout. Healthy levels of exercise, a good diet and adequate sleep can reduce stress and improve mental well-being outcomes. This study explores the characteristics and effectiveness of lifestyle interventions on teachers' mental well-being, including burnout; discusses directions for future programmes; and aims to identify the nature of evidence and gaps in the research field. Methods: A scoping review was conducted in May 2020 via ERIC, Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, Education Source, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus and Scopus databases. The search included relevant peer-reviewed articles on physical activity, nutrition and sleep interventions reporting teachers' mental well-being outcomes. A quality assessment tool was used to appraise the quality and risk of bias of the included studies. Results: Sixteen intervention studies met the inclusion criteria. All studies incorporated physical activity into the intervention; however, only four included aspects of nutrition or sleep. No studies reported only nutrition or sleep interventions alone. The heterogeneity of interventions and their reported outcomes makes comparisons difficult. In general, the quality of the included studies was low due to small sample sizes, poor study design and incomplete reporting of information. Conclusion: Preliminary evidence suggests lifestyle interventions can improve mental well-being outcomes for teachers; however good-quality research is needed to improve the evidence base. Future interventions should have stronger research designs and larger sample sizes and use established measurements for assessing outcomes.

Background: We aimed to identify long-term patterns of sport participation (overall, team, and individual sport) from childhood into adolescence, and to examine the association between these patterns and academic outcomes. Methods: This cohort study used data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children in wave 3 (4–5 y) to wave 9 (20–21 y). The participants were a nationally representative sample of 4241 children. We conducted latent class analyses to identify sport participation trajectories and assessed the association between these trajectories and academic outcomes. Results: Continued sport participation was associated with lower odds of being absent from school (OR = 0.44; 95% confidence intervals [CIs], 0.26 to 0.74), better performance on attention (B = −0.010; 95% CIs, −0.019 to −0.002) and working memory (B = −0.013; 95% CIs, −0.023 to −0.003), higher numeracy (B = 20.21; 95% CIs, 14.56 to 25.86) and literacy scores (B = 9.42; 95% CIs, 2.82 to 16.02), higher end of school academic performance (B = 3.28; 95% CIs, 1.47 to 5.09), and higher odds of studying at university (OR = 1.78; 95% CIs, 1.32 to 2.40). Team sport participation was associated with reduced absenteeism, better performance on attention and working memory, and being awarded the Higher School Certificate. Whereas individual sport participation was associated with higher literacy scores and end of school academic performance. Conclusions: Team and individual sport participation both benefit academic outcomes, but differently. Given the decline in sport participation during adolescence, these findings highlight the need to develop educational policies to establish an environment that promotes sport participation, which in turn could improve academic outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professional development (PD) provides an opportunity to promote the psychological, social, and physical health tools teachers require to maintain teacher wellbeing. Despite their potential, little is known about PD programs targeting the health and wellbeing of Australian teachers. This study aimed to summarize the characteristics of Australian PD programs targeted at teacher wellbeing, identify gaps in existing PD and make recommendations for future research and practice. Three search strategies, (1) search engine results, (2) a manual search of known Australian education websites, and (3) requests for information from Australian education organizations, were combined to ensure a comprehensive inventory of PD programs was compiled. This study found 63 PD programs promoting health and wellbeing that currently exist for Australian teachers. Of these, only three provided evidence of their evaluation indicating programs are advertised and implemented without evidence of their effectiveness. Future PD should be evaluated with findings of the evaluations reported publicly so evidence-based programs promoting teacher's health and wellbeing can be recommended and implemented.

Background: Effects of attending early childhood education and care (ECEC) on health behaviours of young children remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether ECEC attendance was associated with outdoor play, screen time, sleep duration and family demographics of children aged 2 and 3 years. Methods: Secondary analysis was conducted using data extracted from two linked trials conducted in Australia, 2017–2020. Telephone surveys were conducted with participating mothers for data collection. Multiple logistic and linear regression models were built to investigate the associations of ECEC attendance with outdoor play, screen time, sleep duration and family demographics among young children. Results: At ages 2 and 3 years, 797 and 537 mothers completed surveys, respectively. Of respondents, 65% and 72% of children attended ECEC, respectively. Children who attended ECEC had 17 min (95% CI 3.8–30.5) and 28 min (95% CI 14.1–41.9) more daily outdoor playtime and had 13 min (95% CI 4.0–21.5) and 19 min (95% CI 6.4–30.7) less daily screen time at home at 2 and 3 years, respectively. Although ECEC attendance was not associated with sleep duration, children who attended ECEC were more likely to meet all three recommendations (outdoor play, screen time and sleep) with adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.84 (95% CI 1.24–2.72) at age 2 and AOR 2.34 (95% CI 1.28–4.28) at age 3. Mothers who were employed, first‐time mothers, spoke English at home or had a high household income were more likely to use ECEC services. Conclusions: ECEC services may hold promise to influence outdoor play and screen time among young children. Children from lower socio‐demographic background had a lower rate of ECEC attendance. Future health promotion programmes for young children need to also consider children who do not attend ECEC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence-based population interventions rely on intervention testing (efficacy and effectiveness trials) to determine what works to improve public health. We investigated the characteristics of real-world public health interventions to address obesity and explored the extent to which research testing was undertaken prior to scale-up. We identified 90 population health interventions targeting physical activity, nutrition or obesity-related health behaviours and collected publicly available information on their key characteristics and outcomes. We then assessed the differences between interventions that followed a research pathway and those that did not. Two-thirds (n  = 60) of the interventions were reported as having followed a research pathway. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that these interventions were more likely to be health education interventions [odds ratio (OR): 5.56; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.38–22.38], developed by research institutes (OR: 12.81; 95% CI: 3.47–47.34), delivered in North America (OR: 4.13; 95% CI: 1.61–10.62), and less likely to be owned (OR: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.14–0.88) or funded by government organizations (OR: 0.37; 95% CI: 0.14–0.95). Interventions that followed a research pathway were nearly three times more likely to have a positive impact on population health (OR: 2.72; 95% CI: 1.04–7.14). Interventions that followed a research pathway to scale-up were no more likely to be sustained longer than those that did not. Differences exist across real-world interventions between those that follow a research pathway to population-scale delivery and those that do not, regarding organizational and environmental context. A key benefit of research pathway to scale-up is the impact it has on health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Teachers' health behaviors and mental well‐being are important for their chronic disease risk and reducing burnout. This study investigates the health‐related behaviors and psychological distress of Australian teachers compared with other occupations. METHODS: Data from the nationally representative Australian National Health Survey (NHS) were analyzed. Employed adults (20‐64 years) from 2014/2015 (n = 8455), 2017/2018 (n = 9130), and 2020/2021 (n = 5753) survey waves were included. Logistic regression, adjusted for demographics, compared health‐related behaviors (eg, physical activity, diet), and psychological distress among teachers, nonteacher professionals (NTPs; eg, accountants, doctors), and other general occupations (eg, laborers, beauticians). RESULTS: After adjusting for demographics and survey wave, teachers had similar odds as NTPs for meeting physical activity (OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 0.90‐1.41), vegetable intake (OR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.52‐1.00), and alcohol consumption (OR: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.83‐1.22) guidelines. However, teachers exhibited higher psychological distress (OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.01‐1.75). Elevated psychological distress levels were observed in all groups in 2020/2021, compared with pre‐COVID‐19. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with NTPs, teachers showed similar or better health‐related behaviors, although teachers had higher levels of psychological distress. School executives and policymakers need to implement sustainable measures to prioritise teachers' mental wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Cross-sectional studies show associations between loneliness, social isolation and physical inactivity. Cohort studies are shedding light on these relationships and further longitudinal investigations are needed. Purpose This study aimed to assess the longitudinal and bidirectional associations between loneliness, social isolation, and physical inactivity. Methods Data were drawn from five annual waves of the Household and Labour Dynamics of Australia Survey (2015–2019), providing a sample of 17,303 persons (mean age = 46.3 years [ SD = 18.0], 49.4% female). Relationships between loneliness, social isolation, and physical inactivity were examined using cross-lagged panel modeling, with estimation of simultaneous cross-lagged effects across each wave. Models adjusted for sociodemographic factors, chronic disease status, psychological distress, and mutually for social isolation or loneliness. Moderation of associations by sex was explored. Results There were modest lagged effects of physical inactivity on loneliness across the survey waves (odds ratio 1.16 [95% confidence interval 1.04–1.29] to 1.20 [1.07, 1.33]). A lagged effect of physical inactivity upon social isolation was only present across three of the waves (odds ratio 1.20 [1.02–1.41] to 1.23 [1.05–1.42]). While loneliness and social isolation showed lagged effects upon physical inactivity, these did not persist with adjustment for psychological distress. Conclusions Longitudinal analysis found that physical inactivity consistently predicted loneliness, but not social isolation. After adjustment for confounding, loneliness and social isolation were not predictive of physical inactivity. While the strength of the associations was modest, further investigation is warranted of the type and dose of physical activity that is most beneficial for reducing loneliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delayed engagement with health services is a key contributor to poorer health outcomes experienced by men. Patterns of health service usage which reduce the opportunity for disease prevention and health promotion appear to be especially prominent amongst young men. To identify the multiple and intersecting determinants of young men's help-seeking practices and health services usage, this review uses the social ecological model (SEM) to guide a critical synthesis of the literature on barriers and facilitators experienced by young men in accessing health services. A systematic review was conducted across five databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsychINFO, CINAHL and Scopus). Included studies presented primary data regarding young men's (12–24 years) barriers and/or facilitators to seeking and accessing health care. Thirty-one studies (24 qualitative and 7 quantitative) underwent data extraction, quality appraisal and thematic analysis under the guiding framework of the SEM. Seven key themes were constructed, encapsulating the perceived barriers and facilitators to help-seeking and accessing health care experienced by young men, including masculine attitudes, health literacy, social pressure, service accessibility, economic factors, service characteristics and cultural attitudes. These findings highlight the complex interplay between the individual, interpersonal, organizational and societal factors impacting young men's healthcare engagement. They also illuminate avenues for multifaceted, context-specific interventions to enhance healthcare accessibility for this group, including addressing health literacy gaps, providing culturally sensitive care and reducing cost barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Standards-based assessment rubrics are recognised as an important tool for ensuring clear criteria in higher education. Most of the available evidence on rubrics comes from studies with face-to-face undergraduate students. Our study evaluated the introduction of rubrics into a postgraduate subject that included both online and face-to-face students. We conducted formative evaluation with former students to develop the rubrics, as well as surveying current students for process and impact evaluation, supplemented with a focus group. Process results showed that the rubrics were used widely and were generally considered to be of at least some use. Clarity of the rubrics was the main issue affecting perceived usefulness, particularly for the assessment tasks that had undergone comparatively less formative evaluation. Impact evaluation showed mixed results, with students that reported always using rubrics having higher marks on average compared to students who did not always use the rubrics. However, an expected improvement in marks across the whole student cohort compared to previous years did not eventuate, although this could be explained by a number of factors independent of the rubrics. Our results provide some evidence for the use of rubrics in postgraduate and online settings but highlight the need for rigorous formative evaluation.