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As novel approaches to post-graduate education emerge and professional learning concepts evolve, there is a need for additional research investigating the processes by which physical education teacher education (PETE) faculty and administrators conceptualise and launch non-traditional graduate programming. The purpose of this study was to investigate stakeholders’ perceptions of the factors influencing the diffusion of a one-year, contextually based, full-immersion master’s degree in PE. Six stakeholders, including individuals from a mid-sized university, a global fitness corporation, and a rural K-12 school district all located within the United States, participated in semi-structured interviews. Deductive content analysis methods were used to analyse the data. Utilising Roger’s Attributes of Innovation, eleven sub-themes emerged. Findings represent stakeholders’ perceptions of facilitators and barriers to the implementation and diffusion of an innovative effort to deliver graduate education. Challenges and lessons learned provide insight for PETE faculty and administrators seeking to expand graduate education beyond bricks and mortar.

This article expands previous recommendation to “be proactive” by providing practical examples that have the potential to encourage stakeholders to value HPE programs before these programs are threatened with reduction or elimination. The aim is to capitalize on positive aspects of programs that are already in place to maximize publicity within communities.

The recent explosion of wearable technology and the associated concerns prompted the International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS) to create a quality assurance standard for wearable devices, which provides commissioned testing of marketing claims and endorsement of commercial wearables that test favorably. An open forum as announced in the conference advertising was held at the Annual Meeting of the New England Regional Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine (NEACSM) November 7 to 8, 2019, in Providence, Rhode Island, USA for attending NEACSM members to voice their input on the process. Herein, we report the proceedings. The round table participants perceived the quality assurance standard to be important, but identified some practical process challenges that included the broad scope and complexity of the device universe, the need for a multiphase testing pathway, and the associated fees for product evaluation. The participants also supported the evaluation of device data analysis, behavioral influences, and user experience in the overall evaluation. Looking forward, the FIMS quality assurance standard faces the challenge of balancing these broader perspectives with practical constraints of budget, facilities, time, and human resources. © 2020 by the American College of Sports Medicine.

Background: Our pilot study has demonstrated improvements in health outcomes through participation in a new sport, light volleyball (LVB), among older adults. In response to the promising results of the LVB pilot study and the priority of allocating resources to the prevention of age-related fitness degradation by the Hong Kong (HKG) government, the present study aims to investigate the effectiveness of a LVB intervention on physical and psychological health attributes among older adults at a larger scale in HKG. Methods/design: This study will apply both quantitative and qualitative methods with a large sample (approximately 315 participants). We will adopt a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design to further evaluate the effectiveness of a LVB intervention on health outcomes against a comparison group, Tai Chi (TC), and a control group (C). Older adults will be eligible to join the intervention if they are (a) aged 65 years and above; (b) living in the community independently; (c) absent of diagnosed cognitive impairment; (d) not regular participants in a structured PA program for two years preceding the study; and (e) able to achieve a passing score on the Timed-up-and-go test (TUG) and Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT). About 315 participants will be randomly assigned into 3 groups in 1:1:1 ratio. LVB group participants will receive 16-week LVB program; TC group will utilize a simplified 24-form Yang Style TC, and C group participants will be instructed to maintain their normal daily activity and join regular non-exercise social gatherings. Measurements will be collected before and after the intervention, and 6 months and 12 months after completion of the intervention. Discussion: This intervention, if effective, will enhance older adult's physical and psychological health, and provide the data and evidence to support policymaking in relation to future PA promotion for older adults. Trial registration number: ChiCTR1900026657. © 2020 The Author(s).

Objective: To examine health behaviors associated with overweight/obesity by race/ethnicity at a diverse urban college. Participants: 270 undergraduates (77.0% female; 26.7% non-Hispanic white) and median body mass index (BMI) of 23.1 kg/m2. Methods: A questionnaire about health-related behaviors as part of the “Get Fruved” project was used to measure health behaviors (sugar sweetened beverage (SSB), fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, stress, and sleep) by race/ethnicity. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the adjusted odds of engaging in positive health-related behaviors. Results: Non-Hispanic black and Hispanic students were 64% and 59% less likely to consume lower amounts of SSB. Hispanic students were 83% and 81% less likely to meet vegetable and fruit recommendations. Non-Hispanic black and other (including biracial) had reduced odds of meeting vegetable recommendations (AOR = 0.18 and 0.28). Conclusions: Disparities in SSB, fruit, and vegetable consumption represent potential intervention targets to improve health behaviors among racial/ethnic minorities. © 2020 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Purpose: High central blood pressure is more predictive of cardiovascular disease (CVD) versus high peripheral blood pressure. Measures of central pressures (CPs) include, central systolic blood pressure (CSBP) and central diastolic blood pressure. Measures of central pressures augmentation (CPsA) include augmentation pressure (AP) and the augmentation index @ 75 beats$min-1 (AIx@75). Increased sympathetic tone (ST) is also associated with CVD. The low to high frequency ratio (LF/HF) is often used to determine sympatho-vagal balance. Given the association between ST, CPs, CPsA and CVD there is a need to understand the association between these predictors of CVD. The aims of this study were to examine the association between the LF/HF ratio, CPs, and CPsA in men and women collectively and based on gender. Methods: We measured the LF/HF ratio, CSBP, AP, and AIx@75 in 102 participants (41F/61M). The LF/ HF ratio was determined via power spectral density analysis. CSBP, AP, and AIx@75 were determined via applanation tonometry. Results: The LF/HF ratio was inversely associated with AP (r 5 -0.26) and AIx @75 (r 5 -0.29) in the combined group of men and women. The LF/HF ratio was inversely associated with CSBP (r 5 -0.27), AP (r 5 -0.28), and AIx@75 (r 5 -0.32) in men, but not in women. Conclusion: There is an inverse association between the LF/HF ratio, AP, and AIx@75 in men and women combined. The association between the LF/HF ratio, CSBP, AP, and AIx@75, differs based on gender. © 2020 Akademiai Kiado, Budapest.

OBJECTIVE: Guided by the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, this study seeks to (1) examine the independent relationships between the level of distress among burn survivors, pre-morbid psychiatric history, and burn severity on length of hospital stay, and (2) to examine the relationship between having a premorbid psychiatric history and level of distress following a burn injury., METHODS: Data collected by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, Rehabilitation Research funded Burn Model System (N = 846) was used to theoretically link psychological distress with the length of hospital stay for survivors of burn injuries. Structural Equation Modeling was used to evaluate the aims of this study., RESULTS: Although counterintuitive, and while significant, burn severity was found to have a rather modest association with a burn survivor's level of distress, indicating that one's ability to cope may be a better predictor of distress rather than burn severity alone. Premorbid psychiatric history was significantly associated with increased levels of distress. While burn severity was associated with length of stay, level of distress did not act as a partial mediator. Length of stay was, however, significantly related to having a premorbid-psychiatric history. Of notable interest, a significant racial, ethnic, and gender difference exists in level of distress. Women and people of color experience higher levels of distress holding constant burn severity and psychiatric history., CONCLUSION: A need exists to assess for and address premorbid and current mental health challenges of burn survivors, specifically the ability to cope, especially among people of color and women, regardless of the burn size or severity. Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.