Introduction. Cycling can be an enjoyable way to meet physical activity recommendations and is suitable for older people; however cycling participation by older Australians is low. This qualitative study explored motivators, enablers, and barriers to cycling among older people through an age-targeted cycling promotion program. Methods. Seventeen adults who aged 50–75 years participated in a 12-week cycling promotion program which included a cycling skills course, mentor, and resource pack. Semistructured interviews at the beginning and end of the program explored motivators, enablers, and barriers to cycling. Results. Fitness and recreation were the primary motivators for cycling. The biggest barrier was fear of cars and traffic, and the cycling skills course was the most important enabler for improving participants' confidence. Reported outcomes from cycling included improved quality of life (better mental health, social benefit, and empowerment) and improved physical health. Conclusions. A simple cycling program increased cycling participation among older people. This work confirms the importance of improving confidence in this age group through a skills course, mentors, and maps and highlights additional strategies for promoting cycling, such as ongoing improvement to infrastructure and advertising.
Objectives. Study 1 examines whether age-related declines in balance are moderated by bicycling. Study 2 tests whether regular cycling can increase leg strength and improve balance. Methods. Study 1: a cross-sectional survey of 43 adults aged 44–79 was conducted. Leg strength was measured, and Balance was measured using the choice stepping reaction time (CSRT) test (decision time and response time), leg strength and timed single leg standing. Study 2: 18 older adults aged 49–72 were recruited into a 12-week cycling program. The same pre- and postmeasures as used in Study 1 were collected. Results. Study 1: participants who had cycled in the last month performed significantly better on measures of decision time and response time. Study 2: cycling at least one hour a week was associated with significant improvements in balance (decision time and response time) and timed single leg standing. Conclusions. Cycling by healthy older adults appears promising for improving risk factors for falls.
This study investigated the occupational exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) of a group of blast furnace workers from an integrated steelworks, compared to a control group having no significant occupational CO exposure from other areas in the same works. The study was undertaken in 1984 at Port Kembla, New South Wales. Carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) levels before and after an eight-hour work shift were measured in 98 male steelworkers: 52 from two CO-exposed iron blast furnaces and 46 controls from production areas in the same steelworks. The sample was stratified by smoking habits. Environmental air CO levels had been found to be consistently higher on one furnace than on the other. Absorption of CO from the working environment occurred in workers on the blast furnace with higher CO levels, regardless of smoking habits. On this blast furnace, some readings of COHb levels after a workshift in nonsmokers approached the proposed Australian occupational limit of 5 per cent COHb saturation. Overall, workers with the highest occupational exposure who smoked most heavily had the highest absorption of CO over a work shift. Biological monitoring gives an accurate measure of individual worker 'dose' of CO from all sources. Both environmental monitoring and biological monitoring need to be included as part of a program for controlling occupational CO exposure. (Aust J Public Health 1992; 16: 262-8) ccupational exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) is a widespread industrial hazard, 0 occurring in processes where incomplete combustion of carbon-containing materials takes place.' The health effects of carbon monoxide are described in detail elsewhere.' Briefly, CO binds to haemoglobin to form carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb), competitively displacing oxygen and impairing the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. It also affects enzyme systems involved in cellular respiration, for example the cytochrome P-450 system. Thus the organs most vulnerable to the effects of CO are those with a high metabolic demand for oxygen-the heart and the central nervous system. At similar COHb levels the fetus is also vulnerable for the same reason. Control of CO emissions is also important for climate modification, as CO can increase the concentration of several important greenhouse gases, and there is evidence now of a global increase in CO level^.:^.^ At present, the standard biological monitoring measure for CO exposure is percentage saturation of r e d b l o o d cell haemoglobin with carboxyhaemoglobin (per cent COHb). This measure correlates well with exposure, rising with increasing concentration and duration of exposure until a steady state is r e a~h e d .~The current Australian standard for occupational CO exposure is 50 parts per million (ppm) as an
This paper investigates what factors can predict victimisation of domestic violence in England. Previous research has suggested that being female, less educated, living in deprived areas and having low-level occupations are important risk factors for domestic violence victimisation. By utilising data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) between the years 2016 to 2020, this quantitative research project aims to explore the relationship between Socioeconomic Class (SEC), gender and experiencing domestic violence using binary logistic regression. This research explores this relationship further by controlling for various other risk factors determined by the literature, such as social housing tenure and having a disability, which have previously been explored individually. This study concludes that there is a statistically significant relationship (p<.05) between SEC and experiencing domestic violence, with its main contribution being that gender has a significant moderating effect, in such a way that the relationship is stronger for females.
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