Mandatory handwashing in elementary schools reduces absenteeism due to infectious illness among pupils: A pilot intervention study

UNSTRUCTURED Good nutrition impacts children’s health, wellbeing and learning, and schools offer an important setting to promote healthy behaviors that can last a lifetime. Once children reach school age, they spend more of their waking hours in school than in any other environment. Children’s eating habits may be easier to influence than those of adults. In Canada, households with children are more likely to experience food insecurity, and school food programs that are universally available to all children can support the development of healthy eating patterns across groups of varying socioeconomic status. There is a significant gap in rigorous community-engaged academic research on the impact of school meal programs, especially universal ones. The purpose of this population health intervention research is to study the impacts of a two-year universal, curriculum-integrated healthy school lunch program in elementary schools in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada on food consumption, dietary quality and food and nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes and practices. This population health intervention study will take place in two intervention elementary schools matched with two control schools. We will collect pre-intervention data including objective measurement of food eaten at school and food-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviors. This will be followed by the intervention itself along with qualitative case studies of the intervention process in the two intervention schools. Then we will collect post-intervention data similar to pre-intervention. Finally, we will wrap up data analysis and complete the ongoing sharing of learning from the project. The opportunity we have to systematically and comprehensively study a curriculum-integrated school lunch program, as well as the promising practices for school food programs across Canada is without precedent.

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THE BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT TEAM FOR LOW-INCOME, PREDOMINANTLY-MINORITY WOMEN: A PILOT INTERVENTION STUDY

Health Care For Women International ◽

10.1080/073993301317094317 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 22 (5) ◽

pp. 501-515 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Linda C. Pugh, Renee A. Milligan, Linda P

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Intervention Study ◽

Minority Women ◽

Breastfeeding Support ◽

Predominantly Minority ◽

Support Team ◽

Pilot Intervention

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Effects of “minimally invasive curricular surgery” – A pilot intervention study to improve the quality of bedside teaching in medical education

Medical Teacher ◽

10.1080/01421590902845865 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 31 (9) ◽

pp. e425-e430 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Tobias Raupach ◽

Sven Anders ◽

Tobias Pukrop ◽

Gerd Hasenfuss ◽

Sigrid Harendza

Keyword(s):

Medical Education ◽

Minimally Invasive ◽

Intervention Study ◽

Bedside Teaching ◽

Pilot Intervention

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Blood Glucose Lowering Effect by an Extract from Aronia (Aronia melanocarpa) – a pilot intervention study

Current Nutraceuticals ◽

10.2174/2665978602666210709103232 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 02 ◽

Author(s):

Kirsten Berger ◽

Johanna Josefine Ostberg-Potthoff ◽

Tamara Bakuradze ◽

Peter Winterhalter ◽

Elke Richling

Keyword(s):

Blood Glucose ◽

Intervention Study ◽

Grape Juice ◽

Protective Effects ◽

Glucose Lowering ◽

Insulin Levels ◽

Glucose Levels ◽

Red Grape ◽

Pilot Intervention ◽

Phenolic Extracts

Background: The polyphenols from red fruits exhibit protective effects against degenerative diseases, including diabetes mellitus type 2, cardiovascular disease, etc. Objective: In this small pilot intervention study with only ten volunteers, we investigated the influence of phenolic extracts prepared from an Aronia juice and a red grape juice concentrate on peripheral glucose, blood glucose, and insulin after the intake of a drink containing these extracts plus maltodextrin and water. Method: Maltodextrin in water served as control; additionally, phenolic extracts from Aronia or grape juice were added. Blood samples were taken before ingestion of the bolus drink and 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, and 360 min after. Additionally, continuously the peripheral glucose was measured using a commercially available sensor system. Results: In all ten volunteers, the intake of Aronia extract (100 mg) reduced both the peripheral glucose and the blood glucose levels significantly (p ≤ 0.05) in comparison to the control. Blood insulin levels were not affected. Whereas the intake of red grape extract (120 mg) did not reduce the glucose levels but increased the insulin levels significantly. Conclusion: Our pilot study showed that even low amounts of a phenolic Aronia extract could lower glucose absorption. Thus, due to the blood glucose-lowering effects of Aronia phenolics in healthy volunteers, these preliminary results warrant further investigation in the frame of a follow-up study with a larger number of volunteers.

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Rehabilitation with a stabilizing exercise program in triangular fibrocartilage complex lesions with distal radioulnar joint instability: A pilot intervention study

Hand Therapy ◽

10.1177/1758998319861661 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (4) ◽

pp. 116-122

Author(s):

EDJ Bonhof-Jansen ◽

GJ Kroon ◽

SM Brink ◽

JH van Uchelen

Keyword(s):

Joint Instability ◽

Intervention Study ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Distal Radioulnar Joint ◽

Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex ◽

Radioulnar Joint ◽

Triangular Fibrocartilage ◽

Pilot Intervention ◽

Complex Lesions

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A culturally tailored Internet cancer support group for Asian American breast cancer survivors: A randomized controlled pilot intervention study

Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare ◽

10.1177/1357633x16658369 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 23 (6) ◽

pp. 618-626 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Wonshik Chee ◽

Yaelim Lee ◽

Eun-Ok Im ◽

Eunice Chee ◽

Hsiu-Min Tsai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Asian American ◽

Breast Cancer Survivors ◽

Intervention Study ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Cancer Support ◽

Pilot Intervention

Introduction The necessity of culturally competent Internet Cancer Support Groups (ICSGs) for ethnic minorities has recently been highlighted in order to increase its attractiveness and usage. The purpose of this study was to determine the preliminary efficacy of a culturally tailored registered-nurse-moderated ICSG for Asian American breast cancer survivors in enhancing the women’s breast cancer survivorship experience. Methods The study included two phases: (a) a usability test and an expert review; and (b) a randomized controlled pilot intervention study. The usability test was conducted among five Asian American breast cancer survivors using a one-month online forum, and the expert review was conducted among five experts using the Cognitive Walkthrough method. The randomized controlled pilot intervention study (a pre-test and post-test design) was conducted among 65 Asian American breast cancer survivors. The data were analysed using content analysis and descriptive and inferential statistics including the repeated ANOVA. Results All users and experts positively evaluated the program and provided their suggestions for the display, educational contents, and user-friendly structure. There were significant positive changes in the support care needs and physical and psychological symptoms ( p < 0.05) of the control group. There were significant negative changes in the uncertainty level of the intervention group ( p < 0.10). Controlling for background and disease factors, the intervention group showed significantly greater improvements than the control group in physical and psychological symptoms and quality of life ( p < 0.10). Discussion The findings supported the positive effects of ICSGs on support care needs, psychological and physical symptoms, and quality of life.

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