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BackgroundFew researchers have the data required to adequately understand how the school environment impacts youth health behaviour development over time.Methods/DesignCOMPASS is a prospective cohort study designed to annually collect hierarchical longitudinal data from a sample of 90 secondary schools and the 50,000+ grade 9 to 12 students attending those schools. COMPASS uses a rigorous quasi-experimental design to evaluate how changes in school programs, policies, and/or built environment (BE) characteristics are related to changes in multiple youth health behaviours and outcomes over time. These data will allow for the quasi-experimental evaluation of natural experiments that will occur within schools over the course of COMPASS, providing a means for generating “practice based evidence” in school-based prevention programming.DiscussionCOMPASS is the first study with the infrastructure to robustly evaluate the impact that changes in multiple school-level programs, policies, and BE characteristics within or surrounding a school might have on multiple youth health behaviours or outcomes over time. COMPASS will provide valuable new insight for planning, tailoring and targeting of school-based prevention initiatives where they are most likely to have impact.

This study explored psychosocial experiences of breast cancer survivors involved in dragon boat programs. Twenty women (M(age) = 58.69, SD = 6.85) were interviewed for 45-60 min about their experiences as members of survivor dragon boat teams. Interviews were analyzed using constructivist grounded theory methods. The dragon boat program facilitated social support from women with common challenges and a shared understanding of survivorship. It also provided opportunities to (re)gain a sense of personal control, develop new identities as athletes, and overcome physical challenges. Together these elements contributed to positive psychological growth and linked to the literature on posttraumatic growth. Future physical activity interventions targeting breast cancer survivors may benefit from developing strategies that share key characteristics of dragon boating.

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The present study identifies a number of perceived physical, psychosocial and organizational/environmental barriers to naturally occurring physical activity participation among active breast cancer survivors that should be addressed to ensure they maintain a physically active lifestyle This study also provides evidence that comprehensive approaches that address physical and psychosocial motivators to physical activity should be developed to assist women with a history of breast cancer maintain their physical activity levels.

BackgroundThe Godin-Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire (GSLTPAQ) is one of the most often used questionnaires in oncology research, yet modifications to the scale are done with little evidence of psychometric testing. This study aimed to (i) document the frequency of use of the questionnaire for ranking (i.e., level of activity) and classification (i.e., active versus insufficiently active) purposes, (ii) summarize how the GSLTPAQ is used in terms of item content and scoring, and (iii) evaluate the extent to which validity evidence supports the use of the scale among cancer survivors.MethodsA systematic review was conducted with evidence drawn from English-written articles published between January 1st 1985 (year the GSLTPAQ was published) and December 31, 2014. A search of six databases, a scan of reference list of included articles, and a cited reference search identified articles that reported using the GSLTPAQ among cancer survivors.ResultsA total of 212 articles were retrieved. The GSLTPAQ was used for classifying cancer survivors into active and insufficiently active categories in 51 % of the articles. Moreover, a modified version of the questionnaire was used in 81 % of the research studies. Three studies reported validity evidence based on the relationship between the scores on the GSLTPAQ (i.e., leisure score index, LSI) and accelerometer or pedometer-derived activity data. Validity evidence supporting the use of the GSLTPAQ for assessing changes in LSI was computed from six randomized trials.ConclusionsThe use of the GSLTPAQ for classification purpose in oncology research is common. Standardization in the use and interpretation of the GSLTPAQ in oncology research is warranted. Although limited, there is support for using the original form of the GSLTPAQ and interpreting the LSI for ranking cancer survivors from the lowest to highest levels of leisure-time physical activity.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12874-015-0045-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Realignment of models of care is identified as a health system priority to meet the supportive care and surveillance needs of a burgeoning survivor population. Further research is needed to evaluate the efficacy of models of care in a broader population of cancer survivors with differing needs and risks. While the evidence is limited, there is research that may be used to guide the configuration of health care services and planning.

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