scholarly journals Schisto and Ladders version 2: a health educational board game to support compliance with school-based mass drug administration with praziquantel – a pilot study

Author(s):  
Cynthia Uchechukwu Ejike ◽  
Akinola Stephen Oluwole ◽  
Olaitan Olamide Omitola ◽  
Adedotun Ayodeji Bayegun ◽  
Islamiat Yetunde Shoneye ◽  
...  

Abstract Background We redesigned the Schisto and Ladders health educational board game and evaluated its potential to encourage compliance to school-based mass drug administration with praziquantel. Methods Two hundred and seventy-five children from six schools who rejected praziquantel treatment were divided into intervention and control groups. Before the intervention, preassessment interviews were conducted on their knowledge about praziquantel treatment and schistosomiasis. The Schisto and Ladders version 2 game as an intervention, and the Snakes and Ladders game as a control, were played for 6 mo. Postassessment interviews, including focus group discussions, were conducted. Results At preassessment, 0/98 (0.0%) children in the intervention group had heard of praziquantel compared with 2/177 (1.1%) in the control group. Similarly, 0/98 (0.0%) children in the intervention group did not know that praziquantel does not kill compared with 4/177 (2.3%) in the control group. The postassessment showed that 53/78 (67.9%) in the intervention group were aware of praziquantel compared with 2/177 (1.1%) in the control group (p=0.000). Similarly, 53 (69.7%) in the intervention group knew about the safety of praziquantel compared with 0/177 (0.0%) in the control group (p=0.000). Sixty-four children (65.3%) from the intervention group sought praziquantel treatment after the trial. Conclusions Schisto and Ladders version 2 is a useful sensitisation tool with which to encourage compliance to praziquantel treatment in schools.

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Renata da R. M. Rodrigues ◽  
Bruna K. Hassan ◽  
Michele R. Sgambato ◽  
Bárbara da S. N. Souza ◽  
Diana B. Cunha ◽  
...  

Abstract School-based studies, despite the large number of studies conducted, have reported inconclusive results on obesity prevention. The sample size is a major constraint in such studies by requiring large samples. This pooled analysis overcomes this problem by analysing 5926 students (mean age 11·5 years) from five randomised school-based interventions. These studies focused on encouraging students to change their drinking and eating habits, and physical activities over the one school year, with monthly 1-h sessions in the classroom; culinary class aimed at developing cooking skills to increase healthy eating and attempts to family engagement. Pooled intention-to-treat analysis using linear mixed models accounted for school clusters. Control and intervention groups were balanced at baseline. The overall result was a non-significant change in BMI after one school year of positive changes in behaviours associated with obesity. Estimated mean BMI changed from 19·02 to 19·22 kg/m2 in the control group and from 19·08 to 19·32 kg/m2 in the intervention group (P value of change over time = 0·09). Subgroup analyses among those overweight or with obesity at baseline also did not show differences between intervention and control groups. The percentage of fat measured by bioimpedance indicated a small reduction in the control compared with intervention (P = 0·05). This large pooled analysis showed no effect on obesity measures, although promising results were observed about modifying behaviours associated with obesity.


Author(s):  
Matthew S. Chrisman ◽  
Robert Wright ◽  
William Purdy

Standing desks may reduce sedentary behaviors in college students. Students at one mid-size urban university in the Midwestern United States were randomized into intervention (n = 21) and control groups (n = 27) to assess standing time when given access to standing desks. The intervention group received visual and oral instructor prompts to stand, while the control received no prompts during a 50 min lecture. All students were provided with adjustable tabletop standing desks. ActivPAL accelerometers measured sitting and standing time. A brief survey assessed student preferences, including facilitators and barriers to standing. Mean standing time was greater in the intervention vs. control group (26 vs. 17 min, p = 0.023). Students tended to stand in the corners and edges of the room. Main facilitators for standing included to break up sitting, reduce back pain, and increase attention and focus; main barriers were not wanting to distract others or be the only one standing. In total, 87.5% of intervention group participants found five prompts to stand were adequate. Students increased standing time in class when provided with standing desks and instructor prompts to stand. Findings can inform the layout of classrooms and when and how to promote standing desks during lectures.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yukari Isaka ◽  
Ai Hori ◽  
Rie Tanaka ◽  
Masao Ichikawa

Abstract Background The method of communicating a positive cancer screening result should seek to alleviate psychological distress associated with a positive result. We evaluated whether the provision of information through a leaflet would help reduce psychological distress in a randomized controlled trial. Methods The participants were women aged 20–69 years who were about to undergo cervical cancer screening at health centers. Before the screening, they received hypothetical screening results, with a leaflet (intervention group, n = 493) or without it (control group, n = 479), randomly. Their psychological distress and intention to undergo further examination were then compared between the intervention and control groups. Results After the intervention (providing a leaflet with hypothetical screening results), psychological distress appeared to be higher in the control group than in the intervention group among those who received a hypothetical positive screening result (odds ratio: 2.57, 95% confidence interval: 1.87–3.54), while 95% and 97% of those in the intervention and control groups, respectively, reported that they would undergo further examination. Conclusions Information provision might help reduce psychological distress but not hinder further examination among women who screen positive for cervical cancer. Trial registration: UMIN Clinical Trials Registry UMIN000029894. Date of Registration: November 2017.


F1000Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 929
Author(s):  
Nouran Hesham El-Sherazy ◽  
Naglaa Samir Bazan ◽  
Sara Mahmoud Shaheen ◽  
Nagwa A. Sabri

Background Antioxidants show nephroprotective effect against vancomycin associated nephrotoxicity (VAN) in animals. This study aimed to assess the ascorbic acid nephro-protective role against VAN clinically. Methods Forty-one critically ill patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: intervention group (vancomycin IV plus ascorbic acid, n=21) or control group (vancomycin IV only, n=20). Primary outcomes were the incidence of VAN and the absolute change in creatinine parameters, while mortality rate was the secondary outcome. Nephrotoxicity was defined as an increase in serum creatinine (S.cr) by at least 0.5 mg/dL or 50% of baseline for at least two successive measurements. This study is registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03921099), April 2019. Results Mean absolute S.cr increase was significant when compared between both groups, P-value = 0.036, where S.cr increased by 0.05(0.12) and 0.34(0.55) mg/dL in the intervention and control groups, respectively. Mean absolute Cr.cl decline was significant when compared between both groups, P-value = 0.04, where Cr.cl was decreased by 5.9(17.8) and 22.3(30.4) ml/min in the intervention and control groups, respectively. Incidence of VAN was 1/21(4.7%) versus 5/20(25%) in the intervention and control groups, respectively (RR: 0.19; CI: 0.024–1.49; P-value = 0.093). Mortality was higher in the control group; however, it was not statistically significant, P-value = 0.141. Conclusion Co-administration of ascorbic acid with vancomycin preserved renal function and reduced the absolute risk of VAN by 20.3%, however, the reduction in VAN incidence didn’t reach statistical significance level. Further large multicenter prospective trials are recommended.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-67
Author(s):  
Werna Nontji ◽  
Dwi Kartika Sari ◽  
Sitti Maria Ulfa ◽  
Syafruddin Syarif ◽  
Inez Vravty Lestari ◽  
...  

Background: Educating mothers during their postpartum period could potentially help them to overcome some important phases after giving birth. The process of education is evaluated based on the mothers’ knowledge about their independent self-care. Independency is an activity that is started individually and is done based on self-capability. The independency in the postpartum care is not only important to decrease the mother’s mortality and morbidity rate, but it is also crucial to strengthen and improve the post-partum mother’s healthy behavior during the perineal care. Providing education using Android-based application called BUBI Care could be potential to facilitate a more dynamic transfer of knowledge to the postpartum mothers.Aims: To analyze the knowledge, skills, and independence of primipara postpartum mothers in independent perineal care before and after accessing BUBI Care app. Research Method: employing quasi experimental research with pre-test and post-test design with control group design. The sample for this research were 19 pregnant mothers TM III (pregnancy age of ? 38 weeks) on each group. The treatment group was educated using BUBI Care Android app that was conducted at one of Public Health Center. The control group was educated without BUBI Care that was conducted at a Midwife Practice Clinic. The research was conducted on September to October 2020. Study Result: According to the Wilcoxon test, there was a difference in the pre-test knowledge of the treatment and control groups with the similar median of 53 and p-value of 0.666, the treatment group showed their scores improved to 80 on the post-test while the control group stayed at 53 with the p-value of 0.000. It means that BUBI Care app education influences the post-test. On the other hand, the perineal care skill saw a difference between the intervention and control groups. The intervention group had a mean of 70.05 and 56.68 for the control group with the p-value of 0.002 which means that there was an influence from the BUBI Care app education. Additionally, Mann Whitney test showed that the intervention group had a mean score of 78.95, but the control group only had 49.26, the total difference between the two are 29.69 with the p-value of 0.000. It can be concluded that there is a significance in difference in the independency rate from the provision of BUBI Care Android app education.Conclusion:  there is a significance effect on the intervention group in terms of Android based usage.


2021 ◽  
pp. 026921552110411
Author(s):  
Hiromichi Takeda ◽  
Katsuhiko Takatori

Objective To assess the preliminary effects of a buddy-style intervention to improve exercise adherence. Design A parallel-group, open-label, pilot randomized controlled trial. Setting Adult day-care centers. Participants Sixty-five disabled older adults. Interventions All participants underwent a 12-week home exercise program, and the intervention group received a 5–10 min buddy-style intervention between older adults in the intervention group once weekly at an adult day-care center. Main measures Based on the exercise log calendar, the number of days of exercise was assessed for each of the three phases: 1–4 weeks, 5–8 weeks, and 9–12 weeks. Short physical performance battery was measured at baseline and after 12 weeks. Results Of the 590 screened older adults, 65 were recruited and 33 were assigned to the intervention group. One participant in each group withdrew before the program began, and four and five patients in the intervention and control groups, respectively, dropped out by the 12-week assessment. Analysis of covariance of the 28 and 26 patients in the intervention and control groups, respectively, for whom exercise log calendars could be retrieved, showed that the intervention group (24.4/28 days) exercised significantly more days than the control group (20.6/28 days) at 9–12 weeks ( P = 0.009). In the between-group effect of the intention-to-treat analysis of short physical performance battery, walking and standing test ( P = 0.790, P = 0.829) were not significantly different, and balance test ( P = 0.049) was significantly better in the control group. Conclusions There was a preliminary effect of the buddy-style intervention to improve exercise adherence.


Author(s):  
Mansoor Keshavarz ◽  
Maryam Kashanian ◽  
Soodabeh Bioos ◽  
Yasaman Vazani

Abstract Background Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) is an ancient medical system that provides suggestions to improve the health of mothers and children during pregnancy and labor. Persian physicians believed that these instructions made labor easier, safer, and less painful. Methods The present randomized clinical trial was conducted among women at 33–38 weeks of pregnancy in Tehran, Iran. TPM instructions consisted of diet, bathing, and application of oil from the 38th week of pregnancy to the onset of labor. The primary outcome was the duration of the active phase of labor. Results The mean duration of the active phase was 331.60 ± 151.48 min for the intervention group and 344.40 ± 271.46 min for the control groups, but it was not statistically significant. The active phase was significantly shorter in women who had better compliance (p=0.03). The need for oxytocin augmentation was 53.3% in the control group and 38.5% in the intervention group (p=0.17). The rate of perineal infection was 13% in the control group and 0% in the intervention group (p=0.11). Conclusions The active phase was not different in the intervention and control groups, but it was shorter in compliant women. It is possible that prolonged use of these recommendations in combination with a sitz baths and a larger sample size could result in more significant outcomes.


Author(s):  
Jihen Maatoug ◽  
Sihem Ben Fredj ◽  
Zeineb Msakni ◽  
Emna Dendana ◽  
Jihene Sahli ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Obesity is a serious health issue and predisposes individuals to an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Its prevalence in children has increased worldwide. Objective: To demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of a school-based management program based on healthy lifestyle promotion for obese and overweight adolescents in Sousse, Tunisia. Methods: We conducted a quasi-experimental study among overweight and obese school children enrolled in 7th and 8th grades in Sousse, Tunisia with two groups, intervention and control. The 1-year intervention was based on promoting healthy eating and physical activity through a collective intervention for all recruited children and an individual intervention only for obese children who require intensive managing. Data collection was done before, at the end and at a 4-month follow up of the intervention, both in intervention and control groups. Results: The body mass index Z score decreased significantly from pre-intervention to post-intervention (1.89±0.57 to 1.76±0.63, p<0.001) and from post-intervention to the follow-up (1.76±0.63 to 1.55±0.68, p<0.001) in the intervention group. In the control group, it decreased significantly from pre-intervention to post-intervention but not significantly from post-intervention to follow-up assessment. Calorie intake decreased significantly both in intervention and control groups. Conclusion: This project began with introducing a new culture of health management in schools on one side and with increasing awareness of the importance of obesity prevention and treatment. The support of authorities for this type of action is very important to guarantee its sustainability.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (A) ◽  
pp. 1231-1239
Author(s):  
Arwam Hermanus Markus Zeth ◽  
Nouvy Helda Warouw ◽  
Paula Krisanty

The ant plant (Myrmecodia pendans), an epiphyte of Hydnophytinae (Rubiceae), has long been used for traditional medication. This research aimed to examine the effect of ant plant on the increase of CD4 count in PLHIV in Papua Province and to identify the effect of ant plan supplementation on the increase of CD4 in PLHIV. The research used true experimental design with modified randomized control group pretest-posttest design. The pretest was performed by conducting a preliminary count of CD4 in both the intervention and control groups, to which ART has been administered. The intervention group was supplemented with the ant plant on a daily basis, while the control group was given a placebo treatment with tea. Based on the results, it can be concluded that PLHIV given ant plant supplementation may have a higher increase in their CD4 count after receiving an intervention for one month than those who only received ART. Further research is needed to investigate the effect of the ant plant on the viral load in PLHIV.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parvin Allahyari ◽  
Mitra Kolivand ◽  
Arash Namdari ◽  
Khaled Rahmani

Abstract Objective: sexual desire is an integral part of an identity and character of a human being, that affect how to behave with spouse. This study aimed to study the effect of cognitive-behavioral counseling (CBT) on sexual compatibility of new married couples in Sanandaj City in 2018. Method: This was a randomized clinical trial study and participants were 80 new married couples whose information was recorded at the premarital counseling centers that were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. Intervention group received 8 weekly 120-minute sessions of group consultation with cognitive-behavioral approach. Data were collected before the intervention, after 8 weeks of counseling, and two months after the last counseling session using the National Sexual Compatibility Scale. Data were analyzed using chi-square inferential statistics and independent t-test or nonparametric Mann-Whitney test. analysis of covariance was used to control of potential confounders. Results: The mean values of sexual compatibility in two intervention and control groups before counseling were 94.20±3.30 and 93.41±6.84 respectively. These scores reached to 100.11±2.96 in the intervention group and 98.83±3.66 in the control group immediately after the intervention. Also two months after the end of counseling, this rate was 101.98±4.03 in the intervention group and 98.83±3.66 in the control group. The intra-group comparison of sexual adjustment scores before and after counseling and two months after the intervention, showed a statistically significant difference (P <0.001). The trend of changes in the control group was not significant (P >0.05). There was a significant difference between two groups in level of scores two months after the intervention (P <0.001). Conclusion: CBT was effective in improving the level of sexual compatibility between new married couples. It is recommended to use this method of counseling, along with other services provided at pre-marriage counseling centers, to continue and improve the quality of sex and vitality of couples.


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