Research ObjectivesThe Nutrition and Health Awareness (NHA) program aims to educate and cultivate positive attitudes towards health and wellness in a school-based setting. Education on physical activity, diet, and oral hygiene were emphasized.  The study’s purpose was to evaluate the effectiveness of the curriculum on increasing physical activity and health knowledge.Study Design/Methods A team of medical students developed and administered lessons to 93 eligible 4th-grade students at Superstition Springs Elementary School on topics such as physical exercise, nutrition groups and labels, sugar metabolism, heart disease, and oral hygiene. At baseline (Week 0), participants were randomly assigned anonymized ID numbers and Fitbit Flex 2TM accelerometers, and completed a pre-intervention questionnaire evaluating their knowledge, health literacy and attitudes. Accelerometers were used to monitor activity levels throughout the duration of the six-week program. Five lessons were provided once weekly during Weeks 1–5. One week after lessons concluded, participants were again assessed using the questionnaire.Principal Findings and Quantitative/ Qualitative Results Ninety-three students participated in this research. Paired pre/post questionnaires (n=81) suggest students are more likely to exercise daily (p=0.021) and know more about their health (p=0.029). Students also scored higher on questions testing their cognitive ability to correctly identify healthy foods, portion sizes, importance of exercise, dental hygiene, and risk factors of diabetes and heart disease. Fitbit accelerometers recorded activity levels (n=84) as average steps students walked every week. Due to technical difficulties, no baseline (Week 0) average activity was established. Average activity levels over 5-week period did not differ due to inconsistent data collection.Conclusions/Impact on Health CentersApplication of the NHA program showed noteworthy improvements in health literacy, specifically in understanding of individual health, which suggests the curriculum’s potential to be used in an educational setting. Furthermore, by using a tool, such as the NHA questionnaire, to screen for health literacy in pediatric patients, healthcare providers can deliver personalized health education and care. Future research should focus on how to effectively measure activity levels, as well as how to involve the whole family in health and wellness improvement. Additionally, future research should be aimed at assessing long term retention of health knowledge.

No abstract

No abstract

Prediction of peak fertility is critical yet challenging in both planning and preventing pregnancy. Period tracking applications for the smartphone are ubiquitous, free of charge, and user friendly with many providing ovulation estimates. The objective of this study was to analyze the period tracking applications (apps)’ ability to accurately predict fertility windows and ovulation. Three medical students tracked their menstrual cycle over four months in seven commercially available menstrual period tracking applications. Six of the apps were analyzed for fertility window, ovulation prediction, and usability. Two home ovulation kits were utilized to confirm ovulation. The sensitivity to predict the fertility window ranged from 35% to 94%  (p<0.05) while sensitivity to predict ovulation ranged from 0% to 31% (p>0.05).  Four of the apps allowed for menstrual cycle lengths greater than 35 day and offered an adjustable algorithm. Apps had increased sensitivity due to an expanded fertility window with increased number of predicted fertile days, but a low ovulation sensitivity and an inability to predict the day of ovulation. Additionally, apps allowed for additional personal information to be added with some apps sharing this data with a third party, raising the question of data protection for users. Solely using period tracking apps is not the gold standard for contraception or conception. The use of these apps in conjunction with luteinizing hormone home kits for detection of physiologic ovulation provides an accurate tool that allows a woman to take charge of her reproductive health.