A5012976351- Physical Activity and Health
- Urban Transport and Accessibility
- Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Behavioral Health and Interventions
- Urban Green Space and Health
- Health disparities and outcomes
- Community Health and Development
- Traffic and Road Safety
- Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
- Climate Change and Health Impacts
- Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Noise Effects and Management
- Urban Heat Island Mitigation
- Health Policy Implementation Science
- Injury Epidemiology and Prevention
- Air Quality and Health Impacts
- Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- School Health and Nursing Education
- Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Migration, Aging, and Tourism Studies
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Complex Network Analysis Techniques
- Social Media in Health Education
- Health and Lifestyle Studies
Queen's University Belfast
2016-2025
Royal Victoria Hospital
2013-2024
University of Ulster
2013-2024
York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
2023
United Nations Industrial Development Organization
2021
Victoria Hospital
2021
United Kingdom Clinical Research Collaboration
2012-2020
Southern Utah University
2020
Massachusetts Department of Mental Health
2018
Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway
1934-2017
Feasible, cost-effective instruments are required for the surveillance of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) to assess effects interventions. However, evidence base validity reliability World Health Organisation-endorsed Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) is limited. We aimed GPAQ, compared accelerometer data in measuring assessing change MVPA SB. Participants (n = 101) were selected randomly from an on-going research study, stratified by...
In order to accurately measure and monitor levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) sedentary behaviour (SB) in older adults, cost efficient valid instruments are required. To date, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) has not been validated with adults (aged 60 years plus) United Kingdom. The current study aimed test validity IPAQ a group for both MVPA SB. Participants wore an Actigraph GT3X+ seven consecutive days following wear participants were asked...
Social media public health campaigns have the advantage of tailored messaging at low cost and large reach, but little is known about what would determine their feasibility as tools for inducing attitude behavior change.The aim this study was to test designing, implementing, evaluating a social media-enabled intervention skin cancer prevention.A quasi-experimental used (Twitter) disseminate different message "frames" related care in sun prevention. Phase 1 utilized Northern Ireland charity's...
Walking has well-established positive relationships with, and effects on, physical health. In contrast, while poor mental health contributes substantially to global burden, an overview of the benefits from walking not previously been published. We aimed scope literature present what is known, highlight about health.Design: Scoping review.Ovid (Medline), ProQuest, Web Science.Screening reporting: 13 014 records were identified screened by a team researchers. Included full texts analysed...
Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic is causing mass disruption to our daily lives. We integrate mobility data from mobile devices and area-level study the walking patterns of 1.62 million anonymous users in 10 metropolitan areas United States. covers period mid-February 2020 (pre-lockdown) late June (easing lockdown restrictions). detect when were walking, distance walked time walk, classify each walk as recreational or utilitarian. Our results reveal dramatic declines particularly utilitarian...
The new generation of activity monitors allow users to upload their data the internet and review progress. aim this study is validate Fitbit Zip as a measure free-living physical activity. Participants wore Zip, ActiGraph GT3X accelerometer Yamax CW700 pedometer for seven days. were asked opinion on utility Zip. Validity was assessed by comparing output using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients, Wilcoxon signed tests Bland-Altman plots. 59.5% (25/47) cohort female. There high in...
There is now a strong body of research that suggests the form built environment can influence levels physical activity, leading to an increasing interest in incorporating health objectives into spatial planning and regeneration. have been number strands this research, one which has sought develop objective measurements using geographic information systems involving measures connectivity proximity compare relative ‘walkability’of different neighbourhoods. The development ‘walkability index’...
Social media (SM) offer huge potential for public health research, serving as a vehicle surveillance, delivery of interventions, recruitment to trials, collection data, and dissemination. However, the networked nature data means they are riddled with ethical challenges, no clear consensus has emerged handling such data. This article outlines key concerns researchers using SM discusses how these might best be addressed. Key issues discussed include privacy; anonymity confidentiality;...
Abstract Background Investigating the association of neighborhood social environment on physical activity is complex. A systematic scoping review was performed to (1) provide an inventory studies assessing influence since 2006; (2) describe methodologies employed; and (3) formulate recommendations for field. Methods Two databases were searched using terms related ‘physical activity,’ ‘neighborhood,’ ‘social environment’ in January 2017. Eligibility criteria included: 1) as outcome; 2) a...
Since the first Lancet Series on urban design, transport, and health (Series 1) was published in 2016, urgency to make transition healthy sustainable cities worldwide has intensified. That year, UN's Sustainable Development Goals1UN General AssemblyResolution adopted by Assembly: transforming our world: 2030 agenda for development. United Nations, New YorkOct, 2015Google Scholar promoting prosperity while protecting planet ensuring equity came into force. WHO also released its Shanghai...
Urban green and blue spaces (UGBS) have the potential to make a significant contribution United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Research shows need for UGBS mitigate adverse environmental impacts of urbanisation provide equitable access resources that reduce social health inequalities. However, no previous review has attempted consolidate this evidence within context SDGs. The aim study was pertaining role in achieving SDGs identify important knowledge gaps. Using systematic...
Urban regeneration of urban green and blue spaces (UGBS) is assumed to benefit residents' mental wellbeing. However, the mechanistic pathways linking UGBS wellbeing before vs. after remain unclear. This study assessed mediating roles subjective perceptions environment instoration indicators (social capital physical activity) proximity along Connswater Community Greenway (CCG) in Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK. Repeated cross-sectional household survey data were collected from adult residents...
Abstract Norm-based accounts of social behavior in economics typically reflect tradeoffs between maximization own consumption utility and conformity to norms. Theories norm-following tend assume that there exists a single, stable, commonly known injunctive norm for given choice setting each person has stable propensity follow We collect panel data on 1468 participants aged 11–15 years Belfast, Northern Ireland Bogotá, Colombia which we measure norms the dictator game twice at 10 weeks apart....
Managing non-communicable diseases requires policy makers to adopt a whole systems perspective that adequately represents the complex causal architecture of human behaviour. Agent-based modelling is computational method understand behaviour by simulating actions entities within system, including way these individuals influence and are influenced their physical social environment. The potential benefits this have led several calls for greater use in public health research. We discuss three...
We investigated whether "hidden" (or unobserved) social networks were evident in a 2011 physical activity behavior change intervention Belfast, Northern Ireland. Results showed evidence of unobserved the and illustrated how network evolved over short periods affected behavior. Behavior interventions should account for interaction among participants (i.e., networks) such interactions affect outcome.