scholarly journals A systematic review of sport-based life skills programs for young people: The quality of design and evaluation methods

Author(s):  
Charlotte Williams ◽  
Rich Neil ◽  
Brendan Cropley ◽  
Tim Woodman ◽  
Ross Roberts
Author(s):  
Pablo Campos-Garzón ◽  
Javier Sevil-Serrano ◽  
Yaira Barranco-Ruíz ◽  
Palma Chillón

There are no systematic reviews that have identified the existing studies assessing active commuting physical activity (PA) to and from (to/from) school using objective measures, as well as the contribution of both walking and cycling to/from school to PA levels. To fill this gap in the literature, this systematic review will aim (a) to identify existing studies that assess active commuting PA to/from school with objective measures in young people and to examine the contribution of walking and cycling to/from school to PA levels, and (b) to propose an appropriate methodology and practical considerations to assess active commuting PA to/from school based on the studies identified. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020162004). We will conduct a systematic search up to 2020 in five databases: PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTdiscuss, Cochrane Library, and National Transportation Library. Both the risk of bias and the quality of the identified studies will be evaluated through different instruments according to the design of each study. This systematic review will help to choose the most appropriate objective measures to assess active commuting PA to/from school and to promote walking and cycling to/from school to increase PA levels.


2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Hollis ◽  
Mary Pennant ◽  
José Cuenca ◽  
Cris Glazebrook ◽  
Tim Kendall ◽  
...  

BackgroundTourette syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by chronic motor and vocal tics affecting up to 1% of school-age children and young people and is associated with significant distress and psychosocial impairment.ObjectiveTo conduct a systematic review of the benefits and risks of pharmacological, behavioural and physical interventions for tics in children and young people with TS (part 1) and to explore the experience of treatment and services from the perspective of young people with TS and their parents (part 2).Data SourcesFor the systematic reviews (parts 1 and 2), mainstream bibliographic databases, The Cochrane Library, education, social care and grey literature databases were searched using subject headings and text words for tic* and Tourette* from database inception to January 2013.Review/research methodsFor part 1, randomised controlled trials and controlled before-and-after studies of pharmacological, behavioural or physical interventions in children or young people (aged < 18 years) with TS or chronic tic disorder were included. Mixed studies and studies in adults were considered as supporting evidence. Risk of bias associated with each study was evaluated using the Cochrane tool. When there was sufficient data, random-effects meta-analysis was used to synthesize the evidence and the quality of evidence for each outcome was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. For part 2, qualitative studies and survey literature conducted in populations of children/young people with TS or their carers or in health professionals with experience of treating TS were included in the qualitative review. Results were synthesized narratively. In addition, a national parent/carer survey was conducted via the Tourettes Action website. Participants included parents of children and young people with TS aged under 18 years. Participants (young people with TS aged 10–17 years) for the in-depth interviews were recruited via a national survey and specialist Tourettes clinics in the UK.ResultsFor part 1, 70 studies were included in the quantitative systematic review. The evidence suggested that for treating tics in children and young people with TS, antipsychotic drugs [standardised mean difference (SMD) –0.74, 95% confidence interval (CI) –1.08 to –0.41;n = 75] and noradrenergic agents [clonidine (Dixarit®, Boehringer Ingelheim) and guanfacine: SMD –0.72, 95% CI –1.03 to –0.40;n = 164] are effective in the short term. There was little difference among antipsychotics in terms of benefits, but adverse effect profiles do differ. Habit reversal training (HRT)/comprehensive behavioural intervention for tics (CBIT) was also shown to be effective (SMD –0.64, 95% CI –0.99 to –0.29;n = 133). For part 2, 295 parents/carers of children and young people with TS contributed useable survey data. Forty young people with TS participated in in-depth interviews. Four studies were in the qualitative review. Key themes were difficulties in accessing specialist care and behavioural interventions, delay in diagnosis, importance of anxiety and emotional symptoms, lack of provision of information to schools and inadequate information regarding medication and adverse effects.LimitationsThe number and quality of clinical trials is low and this downgrades the strength of the evidence and conclusions.ConclusionsAntipsychotics, noradrenergic agents and HRT/CBIT are effective in reducing tics in children and young people with TS. The balance of benefits and harms favours the most commonly used medications: risperidone (Risperdal®, Janssen), clonidine and aripiprazole (Abilify®, Otsuka). Larger and better-conducted trials addressing important clinical uncertainties are required. Further research is needed into widening access to behavioural interventions through use of technology including mobile applications (‘apps’) and video consultation.Study registrationThis study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42012002059.FundingThe National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riley McDanal ◽  
Deanna Parisi ◽  
Ijeoma Opara ◽  
Jessica L. Schleider

Internalizing problems (e.g., depression, anxiety) and substance use are common among young people and often co-occur. However, youths face myriad barriers to access needed treatment, and existing evidence-based interventions tend to focus on internalizing problems or substance use, rather than both simultaneously. Brief interventions that target both problems may therefore be an efficient and accessible resource for alleviating youth difficulties; however, this possibility has been insufficiently evaluated. This systematic review evaluated the intervention characteristics and quality of six studies spanning 2015 to 2019 that examined intervention effects on internalizing and substance use outcomes. Based on independent calculations and author reports (respectively), 3-4 interventions significantly reduced youth internalizing symptoms; 3-5 reduced youth substance use; and 2-3 reduced symptoms in both domains. All six interventions identified substance use as a primary target. Four interventions were administered by interventionists to youths in inpatient, outpatient, primary care, or school settings. The remaining two studies delivered content through voicemail messages or an online design. Interventions ranged from ~15 minutes to 240 minutes. Results highlight the sparsity and heterogeneity of youth-focused brief interventions that have evaluated program effects on both internalizing problems and substance use outcomes, suggesting a clear need for integrated supports that are also designed for accessibility. Future investigations of brief youth-focused interventions should assess program effects on both internalizing and substance use outcomes; examine mechanisms driving the varied efficacy of identified interventions; and create, refine, and test interventions with potential to address co-occurring internalizing problems and substance use in young people.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther Kirchhoff ◽  
Roger Keller

Strengthening life skills is a popular approach for prevention and health promotion in schools. It aims to empower students to deal effectively with the demands of everyday life by improving self-regulation, making informed decisions, and building supportive social relationships. By addressing various health-related topics such as friendship, sexuality, violence, or substance use, life skills education has the potential not only to teach students how to act responsively regarding their health and well-being, but also to build a comprehensive understanding of the biological, psychological, and social factors influencing their individual development. However, little is known about whether the contents of life skills programs differ depending on student age, either in terms of the set of skills promoted or the influencing factors on health that are the focus. This systematic review addressed this gap by analyzing evaluated school-based life skills programs regarding age-specific targeted life skills, underlying theoretical frameworks, and effectiveness. The analysis, following the PRISMA guidelines, was based on longitudinal evaluation studies published between 2007 and 2020, which were retrieved from six electronic databases, and referred to eighteen programs. Results showed that programs were mostly implemented in adolescence and that the targeted life skills shifted from a more behavioral-affective focus in childhood to a broader set of life skills targeted in adolescence which emphasized social and sociocultural influencing factors on health. Little evidence was available on the effectiveness of the programs on life skills development. Ultimately, life skills education promotes health-related self-regulation, especially in adolescence. However, further research is needed to clarify how to achieve sustainable effects in the development of life skills, both in childhood and adolescence.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. A. Taylor ◽  
Aron Shlonsky ◽  
Bianca Albers ◽  
Sangita Chakraborty ◽  
Jane Lewis ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Relative to their counterparts in the general population, young people who leave, or transition out of, out-of-home (OOHC) arrangements commonly experience poorer outcomes across a range of indicators, including higher rates of homelessness, unemployment, reliance on public assistance, physical and mental health problems and contact with the criminal justice system. The age at which young people transition from OOHC varies between and within some countries, but for most, formal support ceases between the ages of 18 and 21. Programs designed to support transitions are generally available to young people toward the end of their OOHC placement, although some can extend beyond. They often encourage the development of skills required for continued engagement in education, obtaining employment, maintaining housing and general life skills. Little is known about the effectiveness of these programs or of extended care policies that raise the age at which support remains available to young people after leaving OOHC. This systematic review will seek to identify programs and/or interventions that improve outcomes for youth transitioning from the OOHC system into adult living arrangements. Methods This review will identify programs, interventions and policies that seek to improve health and wellbeing of this population that have been tested using robust controlled methods. Primary outcomes of interest are homelessness, health, education, employment, exposure to violence and risky behaviour. Secondary outcomes are relationships and life skills. We will search, from January 1990 onwards, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, ERIC, CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL, SocINDEX, Sociological Abstracts, Social Services Abstracts, NHS Economic Evaluation Database and Health Technology Assessment. Grey literature will be identified through searching websites and databases, e.g. clearing houses, government agencies and organisations known to be undertaking or consolidating research on this topic area. Two reviewers will independently screen all title and abstracts and full text articles with conflicts to be resolved by a third reviewer. Data extraction will be undertaken by pairs of review authors, with one reviewer checking the results of the other. If more than one study with suitable data can be identified, we plan to undertake both fixed-effects and random-effects meta-analyses and intend to present the random-effects result if there is no indication of funnel plot asymmetry. Risk of bias will be assessed using tools appropriate to the study methodology. Quality of evidence across studies will be assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. Discussion Previous reviews were unable to identify any programs or interventions, backed by methodologically rigorous research, that improve outcomes for this population. This review seeks to update this previous work, taking into account changes in the provision of extended care, which is now available in some jurisdictions. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42020146999


BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. e020959 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Mansfield ◽  
Tess Kay ◽  
Catherine Meads ◽  
Lily Grigsby-Duffy ◽  
Jack Lane ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo review and assess effectiveness of sport and dance participation on subjective well-being outcomes among healthy young people aged 15–24 years.DesignSystematic review.MethodsWe searched for studies published in any language between January 2006 and September 2016 on PsychINFO, Ovid MEDLINE, Eric, Web of Science (Arts and Humanities Citation Index, Social Science and Science Citation Index), Scopus, PILOTS, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus and International Index to Performing Arts. Additionally, we searched for unpublished (grey) literature via an online call for evidence, expert contribution, searches of key organisation websites and the British Library EThOS database, and a keyword Google search. Published studies of sport or dance interventions for healthy young people aged 15–24 years where subjective well-being was measured were included. Studies were excluded if participants were paid professionals or elite athletes, or if the intervention was clinical sport/dance therapy. Two researchers extracted data and assessed strength and quality of evidence using criteria in the What Works Centre for Wellbeing methods guide and GRADE, and using standardised reporting forms. Due to clinical heterogeneity between studies, meta-analysis was not appropriate. Grey literature in the form of final evaluation reports on empirical data relating to sport or dance interventions were included.ResultsEleven out of 6587 articles were included (7 randomised controlled trials and 1 cohort study, and 3 unpublished grey evaluation reports). Published literature suggests meditative physical activity (yoga and Baduanjin Qigong) and group-based or peer-supported sport and dance has some potential to improve subjective well-being. Grey literature suggests sport and dance improve subjective well-being but identify negative feelings of competency and capability. The amount and quality of published evidence on sport and dance interventions to enhance subjective well-being is low.ConclusionsMeditative activities, group and peer-supported sport and dance may promote subjective well-being enhancement in youth. Evidence is limited. Better designed studies are needed.Trial registration numberCRD42016048745; Results.


BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. e015924 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Mpundu-Kaambwa ◽  
Gang Chen ◽  
Elisabeth Huynh ◽  
Remo Russo ◽  
Julie Ratcliffe

IntroductionCerebral palsy is the most common cause of physical disability in children and adolescents and is associated with impairments that may reduce the quality of life (QOL) of this population. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) can facilitate the assessment of the effect of disease and treatment on QOL, from a patient viewpoint. The purpose of this systematic review is to identify PROMs that are used to measure QOL and subjective well-being (SWB) outcomes in young people with cerebral palsy and to evaluate the suitability of these PROMs for application in economic evaluations within this population.Methods and analysisMEDLINE, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science Core Collection, EconLit, PsycINFO, CINAHL, EMBASE and Informit will be systematically searched from inception to date of search. Published peer-reviewed, English-language articles reporting PROMs measuring QOL or SWB outcomes in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy will be included. One reviewer will conduct the initial search and screen titles and abstracts for potentially eligible studies. The search will be performed in November 2017. To reduce the likelihood of reviewer selection bias, two other reviewers will independently screen a randomly selected subsample (10%) of the citations. Two reviewers will then retrieve full texts of potentially eligible studies and assess them against predefined inclusion criteria. The suitability of selected PROMs for use in economic evaluations of young people with cerebral palsy will be assessed using the International Society of Quality of Life Research recommended Minimum Standards and the Patient-Centered Outcomes and Comparative Effectiveness Research checklist. A narrative synthesis of extracted data will be presented including study descriptive data, PROMs measurement properties, settings in which they were applied and the valuation methods. Recommendations for practice on the selection of PROMs for use in economic evaluations of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy will be presented.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is not required as the proposed systematic review will not use primary data. The results of this study will be widely disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal and conference presentation(s).Systematic review registration numberInternational Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews number: CRD42016049746.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
David John Anthony Taylor ◽  
Aron S. Shlonsky ◽  
Bianca Albers ◽  
Sangita Chakraborty ◽  
Jane Lewis ◽  
...  

Abstract Background:Relative to their counterparts in the general population, young people who leave, or transition out of, out-of-home (OOHC) arrangements, commonly experience poorer outcomes across a range of indicators, including: higher rates of homelessness, unemployment, reliance on public assistance, physical and mental health problems, and contact with the criminal justice system. The age at which young people transition from OOHC varies between and within some countries, but for most, formal support ceases between the ages of 18 and 21.Programs designed to support transitions are generally available to young people toward the end of their OOHC placement, although some can extend beyond. They often encourage the development of skills required for continued engagement in education, obtaining employment, maintaining housing and general life skills. Little is known about the effectiveness of these programs, or of extended care policies that raise the age at which support remains available to young people after leaving OOHC. This systematic review will seek to identify programs and/or interventions that improve outcomes for youth transitioning from the OOHC system into adult living arrangements.Methods:Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines, this review will identify programs, interventions and policies that seek to improve health and psychosocial outcomes amongst this population that have been tested using robust controlled methods. Primary outcomes of interest are homelessness, health, education, employment, exposure to violence and risky behaviour. Secondary outcomes are relationships and life skills. A search strategy has been developed that covers eleven databases of published literature in multiple languages. Unpublished literature will also be searched. A meta-analysis will be undertaken if identified studies are suitably heterogenous. Risk of bias will be assessed using tools appropriate to the study methodology. Outcomes across studies will be assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology.Discussion:Previous reviews were unable to identify any programs or interventions, backed by methodologically rigorous research, that improve outcomes for this population. This review seeks to update this previous work, taking into account changes in the provision of extended care, which is now available in some jurisdictions. Trial Registration:PROSPERO: CRD42020146999


Author(s):  
Hamed Mirzan ◽  
Azin Bahreini ◽  
Mehdi Moeinaddini ◽  
Zohreh Asadi-Shekari ◽  
Muhammad Zaly Shah ◽  
...  

Although, happiness has been evaluated by many researchers, there are very limited studies on happy environment, specifically happy cities. In addition, different methods that have been introduced for measuring happiness by previous studies have several major shortcomings. Firstly, happiness is considered equivalent to satisfaction or the quality of life. Secondly, the majority of these methods are not easy to follow and it is difficult to connect them to design process. Furthermore, these methods support only a limited number of indicators and majority of them are not related to the happy environment. Thus, this paper reviews prominent studies on happiness evaluations and happy environment to identify effective indicators for happy cities. It also attempts to highlight current happiness evaluation methods that consider happy environment to determine how various studies assess cities for happiness. The weaknesses and strengths of different evaluation methods are discussed in this paper to propose a better way to assess happy cities. A systematic review is used to identify indicators for happy cities. Overall, socio-economic factors, environmental factors (e.g., air pollution and temperature), geographical location and facilities management are effective variables for happy cities. This study discusses the challenges in happiness evaluation and attempts to introduce new objectives for futures studies. The results of this study can be used to propose strategies to have happier cities.


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