Michelle Grace Swainson

We evaluated validity, reliability, and effect of user expertise of “HaemoCalc”, a mobile phone application for hematocrit (Hct) measurement from fingerpick blood samples, compared to a traditional Hawksley microhaematocrit reader (MHR). Experiment 1 examined the effect pitch angle during image capture exerted on the validity of Hct values. Twenty participants' samples were analyzed at 0°, 10°, and 20° directly over the sample, and 33° with a 10 cm setback. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a significant effect of angle on Hct values (p < 0.01). Measurements at 33° pitch differed from other angles and the MHR (p < 0.001, d = 2.31–3.06). Bland–Altman analysis showed good agreement at 0°, 10°, and 20° (mean differences: −0.4% to 1.0%) but poor agreement at 33° (mean difference: −4.4%, LOA: −0.7% to 8.4%). Experiment 2 assessed inter‐ and intra‐rater reliability of expert and novice users (n = 12). Participants performed three trials each. HaemoCalc and MHR showed excellent reliability (ICC = 0.95–1.00). No differences were observed between experts and novices (p = 1.000, d = 0.01–0.39). HaemoCalc is a valid and reliable tool for Hct measurement at small pitch angles and in expert and novice users. The HaemoCalc app offers scalability, repeatability, health and safety benefits, and potential applications in medical education and remote learning.

Reaching the potential of knowledge and skill acquisition in physical activity interventions is a challenge in practice.6–8 Yet we know that HCP practice influences healthcare behaviours in patients: this is the basis of ‘making every contact count’ …

Background/Objectives Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is becoming a method of choice for the assessment of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) but the lack of robust reference ranges presents a challenge to the interpretation of VAT in clinical practice, research settings, and the athletic environment. The objective of this study was to develop age- and sex-specific reference intervals for DXA-derived VAT mass. Subjects/Methods The reference group comprised 3219 adults (1886 general population, 42% women; 1333 athletes, 11% women) in the United Kingdom, aged 18–83 years. Total body scans were performed using a GE Lunar iDXA and VAT analyses were enabled through Corescan software (Encore version 15.0). Age-specific reference ranges were derived in samples stratified by sex and general population/ athlete status. We modelled the mean and SD of Box-Cox transformed VAT mass as a function of age with a generalised least squares method using fractional polynomials (Stata® -xrigls- program). Centile values were then back-transformed to provide reference intervals on the original scale. Results In general population samples, average VAT mass increases with age up until around 65–70 years, and then begins to decline at older ages, though data are relatively sparse at the upper end of the age range. In athletes, on average, VAT mass increases with advancing age in men and women. Both 95 and 98% reference ranges are presented in 5-year increments in all samples, and we provide equations to enable the calculation of any centile, for any age within the range. Conclusions These reference data can aid the interpretation of VAT mass specific to an individual’s sex, age, and athletic status, increasing the utility and applicability of DXA-derived VAT assessments. Additional research is needed in adults over 65 years and female athletes, with different DXA devices, across different ethnic groups and specific sports.

Development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a public health concern for young to middle‐aged adults, now exacerbated by the increasing prevalence of obesity and sedentary lifestyles. Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) improves the reclassification of short‐term (10‐year) CVD risk, but has not been uniformly defined across studies. This study evaluated cross‐sectional differences in short‐term and lifetime CVD risk scores, across both absolute metabolic equivalent (MET) and sex‐ and age‐standardized CRF categories in 805 apparently healthy young to middle‐aged adults (68% male; 47.4 ± 7.2 years). CVD risk factors were evaluated, and estimated cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) measurements (METS and peak VO₂) were derived from a submaximal Bruce treadmill test. CRF measures also included post‐exercise heart rate recovery (HRR) data. Consistent trends showing more favorable risk factor profiles and lower short‐term CVD (QRISK2), and CVD mortality (SCORE) scores, associated with higher levels of CRF were evident in both sexes. Lifetime CVD risk (Q‐Lifetime) was highest in the lowest CRF categories. Peak VO₂ and HRR following submaximal exercise testing contributed to the variability in short‐term and lifetime CVD risk. Global CVD risk predictions were examined across different contemporary CRF classifications with inconsistent findings. Recommended absolute MET and sex‐ and age‐standardized CRF categories were significantly associated with both short‐term and lifetime risk of CVD outcomes. However, compared to internationally derived normative CRF standards, cohort‐specific CRF categories resulted in markedly different proportion of individuals classified in the “poor” CRF category at higher CVD risk.

An increase in the number of students entering higher education has intensified the need for targeted strategies to support a wider range of student requirements. Current research suggests that emotional intelligence (EI) may be associated with academic success, progression and retention in university students but the use of EI screening as a prospective measure of success requires further investigation. This study evaluates the utility of prospective EI screening to predict progression rates, mean grades, attendance and online engagement in a sample of first-year undergraduate students enrolled on the same degree programme (N = 358). A supportive text messaging intervention was employed during potentially stressful periods of the academic year with a subsection of participants (n = 60) who demonstrated low total EI scores relative to the cohort. Results showed no effects of EI classification on progression rates, mean grades, attendance or online engagement (all p > 0.418). Alternatively, the text messaging intervention was associated with significant improvements compared with a matched control group for progression rates (p = 0.027), mean grades (p = 0.026) and attendance (p = 0.007). The frequency of access to the virtual learning environment also tended to be higher in the intervention group compared with the control group (p = 0.059). In conclusion, this study did not identify any benefits of EI screening as a prospective indicator of student success but provides encouraging indications that a text messaging support intervention could help to improve progression rates, mean grades, attendance and online engagement in first-year undergraduate students. Further research is warranted to develop these proof-of-concept findings.

The Movement for Movement ‘community of practice’ was specifically created to deliver this complex, interrelated system change.3

The conventional measurement of obesity utilises the body mass index (BMI) criterion. Although there are benefits to this method, there is concern that not all individuals at risk of obesity-associated medical conditions are being identified. Whole-body fat percentage (%FM), and specifically visceral adipose tissue (VAT) mass, are correlated with and potentially implicated in disease trajectories, but are not fully accounted for through BMI evaluation. The aims of this study were (a) to compare five anthropometric predictors of %FM and VAT mass, and (b) to explore new cut-points for the best of these predictors to improve the characterisation of obesity. BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and waist/height^0.5 (WHT.5R) were measured and calculated for 81 adults (40 women, 41 men; mean (SD) age: 38.4 (17.5) years; 94% Caucasian). Total body dual energy X-ray absorptiometry with Corescan (GE Lunar iDXA, Encore version 15.0) was also performed to quantify %FM and VAT mass. Linear regression analysis, stratified by sex, was applied to predict both %FM and VAT mass for each anthropometric variable. Within each sex, we used information theoretic methods (Akaike Information Criterion; AIC) to compare models. For the best anthropometric predictor, we derived tentative cut-points for classifying individuals as obese (>25% FM for men or >35% FM for women, or > highest tertile for VAT mass). The best predictor of both %FM and VAT mass in men and women was WHtR. Derived cut-points for predicting whole body obesity were 0.53 in men and 0.54 in women. The cut-point for predicting visceral obesity was 0.59 in both sexes. In the absence of more objective measures of central obesity and adiposity, WHtR is a suitable proxy measure in both women and men. The proposed DXA-%FM and VAT mass cut-offs require validation in larger studies, but offer potential for improvement of obesity characterisation and the identification of individuals who would most benefit from therapeutic intervention.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of reducing core temperature in postexercise hyperthermic subjects and to assess if hand cooling (HC) improves subsequent timed distance performance. Following a detailed measurement check on the use of insulated auditory canal temperature (T_ac), eight wheelchair (WA) athletes and seven male able-bodied (AB) athletes performed two testing sessions, comprising a 60-min exercise protocol and 10-min recovery period, followed by a performance trial (1 km and 3 km for WA and AB, respectively) at 30.8°C (SD 0.2) and 60.6% (SD 0.2) relative humidity. In a counterbalanced order, HC and a no-cooling condition was administered during the 10-min recovery period before the performance trial. Nonsignificant condition × time interactions for both WA ( F_15,75= 1.5, P = 0.14) and AB ( F_15,90= 1.2, P = 0.32) confirmed that the exercise-induced changes (Δ) in T_acwere similar before each intervention. However, the exercise-induced increase was evidently greater in AB compared with WA (2.0 vs. 1.3°C change, respectively). HC produced ΔT_acof −0.4°C (SD 0.4) and −1.2°C (SD 0.2) in comparison (WA and AB, respectively), and simple-effects analyses suggested that the reductions in T_acwere noteworthy after 4 min of HC. HC had an impact on improving AB performances by −4.0 s (SD 11.5) ( P < 0.05) and WA by −20.5 s (SD 24.2) ( P > 0.05). In conclusion, extraction of heat through the hands was effective in lowering T_acin both groups and improving 3-km performance in the AB athletes and trends toward positive gains for the 1-km performance times of the WA group.