Physical activity (PA) pre-COVID-19 was lower in rural areas compared to non-rural areas. The purpose of this study was to determine COVID-19’s impact on PA in rural and non-rural residents. A cross-sectional study consisting of a convenience sample of 278 participants (50% rural, 50% non-rural) from 25 states completed an online survey describing their PA behaviors and perceptions during COVID-19. The global physical activity questionnaire was used to determine PA in various domains and summed to determine if the participant met the PA guidelines. Rural participants had a significantly higher body mass index, lower income, and a lower educational attainment. Conversely, non-rural participants reported more barriers to PA. There was no difference in the perception of COVID-19’s impact on PA, specifically; however, rural participants were significantly less likely to meet cardiorespiratory PA recommendations compared to non-rural participants. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the continued disparity in PA between rural and non-rural residents, despite the supposition of COVID-19 being less impactful in rural areas due to sparse populations. Efforts should be pursued to close the PA gap between rural and non-rural residents.

Purpose Rural residents have a higher cancer burden than urban residents, which is likely related to multiple socioecological factors. This study sought to investigate the perspectives of a diverse set of rural stakeholders regarding access to cancer prevention and control resources in rural southern Illinois. Methods Stakeholders were recruited from counties in southern Illinois and included residents (cancer survivors or caregivers), leaders of community‐based organizations with health‐related missions, and health care providers. Individual interviews and focus groups assessed recommended cancer prevention, control, and treatment resources; helpfulness of regional resources; and needed resources. The research team used an iterative approach to thematic analysis wherein codes were derived inductively and refined repeatedly to reveal overarching themes. Findings Forty‐four stakeholders reported challenges to health care access (eg, travel distance, financial burdens, and poor quality of care) and limited access to supportive care services (lack of caregiver support and “spotty” area resources). To mitigate these barriers, local residents used a combination of individual (self‐reliance and adaptive measures) and organizational (patient navigation and financial services) approaches. Finally, stakeholders reported multiple forms of cancer control and prevention communication, including formal discussions with health care providers and various types of informal social support (eg, friends and family). Conclusions Stakeholders experienced barriers to cancer prevention and control often mitigated by a reliance on personal adaptations, nonclinical organizational supports, and informal support systems. While resources remain minimal in southern Illinois, researchers and practitioners must make efforts to leverage existing community organizations and social networks to improve cancer outcomes in this region.

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The purpose of this study was to capture the perceptions of COVID-19 mitigations’ efficacy of rural and non-rural participants, using the health belief model (HBM), as well as to describe where public health nursing may be able to fill behavior gaps in rural communities. Rural and non-rural participants completed electronic surveys. Surveys collected demographic information and perceptions of various mitigation strategies’ effectiveness. Rurality was significantly associated with perceptions of the effectiveness of public health mitigation strategies including wearing facemasks, limiting time indoors, avoiding gatherings, non-essential business closure, and staying home. Our findings suggest people in rural areas perceive mitigations to be effective. Other researchers have consistently shown rural residents are least likely to partake in the same mitigations. Rural public health nurses on the front line serve as the key to closing the aforementioned gap. Understanding where their community’s perceptions lie is pivotal in creating educational programs to continue mitigation efforts as we embark on the second year of this pandemic.

Although innovative and impactful interventions are necessary for the primary prevention of breast cancer, the factors influencing program adoption, implementation, and sustainment are key, yet remain poorly understood. Insufficient attention has been paid to the primary prevention of breast cancer in state and national cancer plans, limiting the impact of evidence-based interventions on population health. This commentary highlights the state of primary prevention of breast cancer and gaps in the current literature. As a way to enhance the reach and adoption of cancer prevention policies and programs, the utility of dissemination and implementation (D&I) science is highlighted. Examples of how D&I could be applied to study policies and programs for chronic disease prevention are described, in addition to needs for future research. Through application of D&I science and a strong focus on health equity, a clearer understanding of contextual factors influencing the success of prevention programs will be achieved, ultimately impacting population health.

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Objective: By the year 2100, the Earth's mean temperature could increase 1.8°C to 4.0°C, in part due to the release of greenhouse gases (GHGs). This increase may negatively influence personal health, directly through GHG emissions and increased temperature, and indirectly through climate change's impact on the environment. The potential effect of climate change on physical activity (PA), and in turn, obesity, is less clearly understood. Methods: We carried out an integrative review of English-language peer-reviewed published papers to improve understanding of how climate change may influence PA and obesity. Results: From an initial retrieval of 4587 papers, we condensed the search to 19 using a PRISMA approach. Eight papers reported individual physiological responses to excessive heat during PA, primarily among elderly persons, with 11 others providing broad implications for PA trends over time in conjunction with climate change. Conclusion: Overall, excessive heat exposure during PA has greater impact on the elderly whose bodies are less able to thermoregulate core temperature, placing increased strain on cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Because elderly individuals report more cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses than the overall population, climate change may exacerbate these conditions during PA. Rising temperature may decrease PA prevalence, especially during summer, thereby increasing sedentariness. Rising temperature could decrease PA frequency and intensity, and concomitantly, place already vulnerable populations in life-threatening situations.

Health is complex and the perception of individual wellness can be influenced by various factors.Students at a Midwestern university estimated their BMI, completed the Perceived Wellness Survey, andhad their BMI calculated. Measured BMI was significantly higher than estimated [F(2,155) = 62.03, p= 0.001]. Associations existed between the measured constructs of psychological (r = -0.231; p = 0.004),spiritual (r = 0.248; p = 0.002), and estimated BMI. Data indicates that perceived body composition isrelated to wellness. False perception of body composition could lead to wellness deficiencies.