Process and outcome evaluation of the “No more smoking! It's time for physical activity” program

Purpose:The aim of this study was to evaluate the program"No more smoking!It’s time for physical activity",with a mixed methods design,in order to collect information to improve the program for future applications.Methods:Forty patients across five anti-smoking clinics in Central Greece completed the program.Counselors’records and participants’questionnaires and interviews were used as data in order to evaluate the programs’process and outcome.Results:Quantitative measures before and after the program revealed significant differences on smoking behavior,physical activity(PA)behavior,self-efficacy,and smoking habit measures.Qualitative data implied that the promotion of PA as a cessation aid was perceived as positive by the participants and both participants’and counselors’statements were encouraging for the effectiveness of PA promotion during the program as a cessation-aid technique.Conclusion:Evaluation of the"No more smoking!It’s time for physical activity"program showed encouraging results.People who try to quit smoking can become more physically active through targeted intervention and they regard PA as a significant aid in their efforts to quit smoking.

Attitudes and Intentions of Greek Athletes and Coaches Regarding Doping

The aim of this study was to examine athletes’ and coaches’ attitudes and intentions with regard to doping, using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) model. This model [1], explains all the behaviors which are related to self-control, based to the theory that intentions are influenced by attitude, perceived behavioral control and subjective norms. The variable “morality” was added to the original model. One hundred and forty-three athletes (mean age = 20.93 ± 2.90) who were involved in competitive sports and 50 coaches (mean age = 35.74 ± 7.80) participated in the study. A questionnaire was administered to assess the demographics (age, gender, sport type, competitive level, years of sport participation and education), attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, intentions, morality and doping choices of athletes and coaches with regard to doping. The results showed that attitudes (62%), perceived behavioral control (3%), and morality (4%) were significant predictors of athletes’ intentions to engage in doping choices but that coaches’ only attitudes were the most important predictor of intentions to engage in doping choices (72%). The most important predictors of 1st and 2nd doping choices were intentions (78% and 68%) and perceived behavioral control (1%) for athletes and intentions (84% and 79%) for coaches.