Newsletter March 2022
ISBNPA Ageing SIG
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Welcome from the Ageing SIG Co-chairs |
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Dear members of the ISBNPA Ageing SIG,
We hope you are all doing well at this uncertain time and managing to stay healthy and active.
We are looking forward to the ISBNPA 2022 hybrid conference in May in beautiful Phoenix Arizona! We hope many of you will be able to join in-person or virtually. The conference theme this year focuses on promoting resilience and pushing the innovation in science for behavioral nutrition and physical activity. Older people in particular have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated social distancing restrictions. Now, more than ever, our research that focuses on how to engage older people in active lifestyles and adopt healthy nutrition, is so important for ensuring health and wellbeing in the coming years.
In this edition of the Ageing SIG newsletter, in addition to the usual items, we introduce our new Ageing SIG Twitter Takeover, and share information about the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing Platform. We hope you enjoy the March newsletter! If you have any comments, please let us know: ageing_sig@isbnpa.org Follow us on Twitter at @ISBNPA_Ageing
Best wishes,
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Anne Tiedemann
Co-chair ISBNPA Ageing SIG
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Libby Richards
Co-chair ISBNPA Ageing SIG
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Other members of the Ageing SIG committee and positions vacant |
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Webinars: Shilpa Dogra and Trynke Hoekstra
Awards: Cathie Sherrington and Neha P. Gothe
Communication officers: Sofie Compernolle and VACANT
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Join us for our first ISBNPA Ageing SIG Twitter Takeover! |
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What is it? We hand over the Twitter account to a new person each month and allow them to post what they want, when they want, and how they want (of course within some guidelines).
Why? 1) To spice up our Twitter feed; 2) To bring diversity in the topics tweeted; 3) To engage SIG members more; 4) To highlight our amazing members; 5) Encourage others to join our SIG
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UN Decade of Healthy Ageing - introducing The Platform
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The Platform is designed to be an inclusive, collaborative space where all knowledge relevant for the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing can be accessed, shared, and interacted with in one place by everyone around the world. It includes research, stories and interviews about ageing, a network of people and organisations working to promote healthy ageing, resources and tools to assist people working in the field and much more.
This short, two-minute video introduces The Platform. Check it out!
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Spotlight on an early career researcher |
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Since one of the aims of the Ageing SIG is to enhance networking, advertise post doc positions, job opportunities and research exchanges, we would like to use the newsletter to invite one Early Stage Researcher to talk about their PhD topic and future expectations. Could you suggest any of your PhD students for our next issue? Please send them to: ageing_sig@isbnpa.org.
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Irmina Klicnik, PhD Student,
Ontario Tech University.
Therapeutic Recreation Specialist.
Irmina.klicnik@ontariotechu.net
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Tell us about your area of research for your PhD. What attracted you to this area of research?
My work examines healthy aging as a function of the environment. Specifically, how older adults’ physical activity, and social engagement interact with the built and natural environments in which they live, work, and play. As a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (TRS), I have worked with older adults in a clinical setting for over a decade, and I have always seen patients experience better outcomes when their environment matched their needs. Unfortunately, due to the demands of clinical work, there is a dearth of TRSs in academia. Contributing to the evidence base on which we rely, is my way of supporting my profession.
Have you had any funding to support your PhD?
My most recent publication, and current work is funded by The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). It has been an important factor in being able to study full time.
What have been your most exciting achievements to date?
Finishing a project is always near the top of the list, but I was honored to present my research at an international conference of the Canadian Association on Gerontology (CAG) last year. I really enjoyed sharing my work with others. This year, I also had the opportunity to be a panelist at a virtual Recreation Therapy conference and speak about my experience of transitioning from clinical work to academia. This year I am very excited to finally be able to recruit participants for one of our studies in person.
Most challenging aspect of doing a PhD?
Hands down - finding time to write. In addition to my studies, I continue to work in my field, and I am a parent. I have come to realize that the ‘right time’ will never come, so prioritizing writing as a daily part of my routine has helped me to make progress on my work.
Any tips for others completing a PhD?
I’m sure I will have some when I finish! For now, creating a plan, being open to changing it, and taking small steps every day is crucial to getting big projects done. Also, saying “no” to things that take you too far away from your goal.
What are the most desirable characteristics a good supervisor should have?
A good supervisor is one who takes the time to get to know your skills, abilities, and interests and help you to develop them. My supervisor has worked with me from the beginning to ensure that my academic goals were specific and attainable for me, and she has empowered me to pace myself and focus on what I hope to get out of my graduate studies. My supervisor has high expectations of her students, and encourages us all to pursue new opportunities that are beneficial to our learning and development. In doing so, she has deepened my connection to the academic community and made me feel like I belong here.
What do you like to do for fun?
I enjoy photography as a creative outlet, as well as yoga to help undo some of the damage of sitting at my desk for a good part of the day. My family and I love to travel, and play games together. I don’t think I’ve missed a single Toronto Raptors game in the past 4 years.
What do you hope to do when you’ve completed your PhD?
I hope to continue to be involved in research, as well as teaching in the field of Therapeutic Recreation. I still enjoy the clinical side of my work, and I look forward to the opportunity to continue to mentor students on clinical placements.
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- ISBNPA, Phoenix, Arizona, USA May 18-21 2022, https://annualmeeting.isbnpa.org/
- Health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) conference, Nice, France 31 August - 2 September, 2022, https://hepaeurope2022.sciencesconf.org/
- International Society for Physical Activity and Health conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 23-26 October 2022, https://congress2022.ispah.org/
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Kettle V E, Madigan C D, Coombe A, Graham H, Thomas J J C, Chalkley A E et al. Effectiveness of physical activity interventions delivered or prompted by health professionals in primary care settings: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
BMJ 2022;376:e068465
This systematic review with meta-analysis aimed to examine the effectiveness of physical activity interventions delivered or prompted by primary care health professionals for increasing MVPA in adults. 46 RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. GPs, nurses, and physiotherapists delivered the interventions in 30 of the 46 trials. Overall, physical activity interventions increased MVPA by 14 min/week (95% confidence interval 4.2 to 24.6, P=0.006) compared with control.
Zhang J, Bloom I, Dennison EM, Ward KA, Robinson SM, et al. Understanding influences on physical activity participation by older adults: A qualitative study of community-dwelling older adults from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study, UK. PLOS ONE 2022;17(1).
This qualitative study explored influences on PA among community-dwelling older people, and the secondary aim was to explore gender differences. Focus groups were conducted with 92 participants (mean age 78 years). Six themes were identified that appeared to affect older adults’ participation in PA: past life experiences; significant life events; getting older; PA environment; psychological/personal factors; and social capital. These findings suggest that interventions that aim to build self-efficacy, motivation and social networks have the potential to indirectly promote PA participation in older adults.
Kinnafick FE, Brinkley AJ, Bailey SJ, et al. Is walking netball an effective, acceptable and feasible method to increase physical activity and improve health in middle- to older age women?: A RE-AIM evaluation. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2021; 18:136.
The objectives were to investigate the (i) reach, (ii) effectiveness, (iii) adoption, (iv) implementation, and (v) maintenance of a Walking Netball programme in Women’s Institutes in England. This mixed-methods research included a multiple-baseline study, quasi-experimental study, programme monitoring data and qualitative studies. Walking Netball was found to be an acceptable, feasible and effective intervention to increase physical activity and improve health in middle- to older- aged women.
We are keen to receive your suggestions for research to highlight in upcoming newsletters. Please send you suggestions to: ageing_sig@isbnpa.org
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