Kim Bercovitz's research while affiliated with University of Toronto and other places

... There has already been a focus on examining differences in the PA of adolescents according to urbanicity (the degree to which an area is urban). Adolescent-focused studies have typically differentiated an urban-rural dichotomy (Booth et al. 2004;Liu et al. 2008;Plotnikoff et al. 2004;Sjolie et al. 2002) and an urban-rural-suburban triad (Felton et al. 2002;Springer et al. 2006;Springer et al. 2009). ...

... Numerous studies have explored online social networks across a variety of health conditions [37][38][39][40][41][42][43], and two recent systematic reviews and meta-analysis found that online social networks exert a positive effect on health behavior change [44,45]. To date, studies of online networks specifically for cessation have primarily focused on describing engagement patterns [46], identifying content themes [47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54] and sentiment [55] in posts, and characterizing key network members who act as leaders [48,50,56,57]. These studies provide an important foundation for understanding the impact of online social networks on smoking behavior. ...

... In another study conducted in Canada, Loucaides et al. investigated the physical activity levels of urban and rural students [31]. In the study conducted with l398 students living in urban areas and 1290 students from rural areas, no difference was round in terms or physical condition, self-efficacy and recreation activities in both settlements. ...

... These findings are consistent with reports among construction workers in the US (Bang and Kim 2001). Studies have shown that efforts to make construction sites smoke-free zones to be highly challenging (Bondy and Bercovitz 2011). We only assessed smoking history but is important to record also other aspects of lifestyle such as alcohol history, diet and exercise and stress levels among these workers as part of their regular health checks. ...

... Furthermore, unlike Australia (Genat, Robinson, & Parker, 2009, Canada's core competencies for public health (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2008) do not explicitly include specific competencies that address Indigenous health, a point of critique from Indigenous health researchers in Canada (Baba & Reading, 2012;Hunt, 2015). In looking at the core competencies for epidemiologists specifically, learning outcomes based on cultural competency and/or culturally appropriate methods for diverse populations are primarily located in competencies for applied epidemiology (Abraham, Gille, Puhan, ter Riet, & von Wyl, 2021; Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008;Bondy, Johnson, Cole, & Bercovitz, 2008;Moser, Ramiah, & Ibrahim, 2008), which demonstrates an opportunity to incorporate Indigenous methods and ways of knowing into both the quantitative competencies for general epidemiology and the cultural competency domain for applied epidemiology. The OHC-NET applied epidemiology training program, which to our knowledge will be the first of its kind in Canada, 3 will be closer in conception to the Institute of Koorie Education and Victorian Consortium of Public Health's MPH program for community-based Indigenous cohorts, which uses Indigenous community-based pedagogies, mixed-mode delivery, and technology provision (Genat, Robinson, & Parker, 2016, p. 9). ...

... This finding is similar to that of Kaczynski et al. [42], who reported that male adolescent non-smokers engage in more physical activity to reduce the harmful effects of smoking and that skipping breakfast is associated with smoking, alcohol use, and sedentary behavior. The results of this study support those of previous research indicating gender differences in breakfast-skipping [43]. A study conducted on students (n = 318) in grades 9 through 12 in three schools in southwestern Ontario found a significant difference between male nonsmokers (60.4%) and currently smoking students (31.9%) in terms of eating breakfast daily; however, there was no statistical difference among female students, who had concerns about weight gain [43]. ...

... A previous study conducted among Iranian primary-school children found that for every increase in the leisure-time physical activity score, the ageadjusted odds ratio of BMI decreased significantly [14]. Similar results have been reported in several studies from other countries [18][19][20]. Regular exercise is proven to be an effective measure of reducing weight. Therefore, parents must find creative ways to engage children/adolescents in physical activities, such as sports, to prevent sedentary lifestyles. ...

... In Iran, 19% of adolescents are active smokers (8). According to research, girls, compared to boys, use smoking as a strategy for weight control more, because they are more concerned with their body image (14). Other worrisome health factors are concerns about weight and diet (15). ...

... By identifying the key barriers and challenges faced by general physicians in recognizing and referring rare pathologies (Dudding et al., 2015), we can develop targeted interventions and educational strategies to bridge the knowledge gap and improve patient care. By equipping general physicians with the necessary tools, resources, and guidelines for early identification and referral, we can facilitate timely access to specialized care, potentially saving lives and reducing long-term morbidity associated with treatable rare pathologies (Ahmad et al., 2006). This study will employ a mixed-methods approach, including surveys, interviews, and educational interventions, to gather data from general physicians across various healthcare settings. ...