Abstract 6265: A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial of Oscillometric Versus Manual Sphygmomanometers for Blood Pressure Management in Primary Care (CRAB)

Although mercury sphygmomanometers are seen as the gold standard instrument for blood pressure (BP) measurement they are being withdrawn due to health and safety concerns. This has potential for changes in BP recording and management. CRAB aimed to determine the effect of an oscillometric device on digit preference, BP measurement and antihypertensive drug prescribing. Cluster randomized controlled trial in 24 family practices in Tasmania, Australia. Practices were excluded if they had oscillometric devices. Intervention practices were supplied with OMRON HEM-907 monitors for all clinical rooms and other BP measuring devices were removed. Three practices (2 control & 1 intervention) withdrew. Intervention practices had a 1 week run-in phase for familiarization and novelty reduction. Intervention practices were subsequently audited by a research nurse as prospective collection of data by a family physician may have influenced the outcome measures of interest. Control practice audit periods were matched to intervention practices. All analyses were ITT and adjusted for potential clustering. Differences in BP were analysed using generalised estimating equations. All other outcomes were analysed using multilevel mixed-effects poisson regression. Post hoc analyses were performed to determine the mediators of changes in prescribing behaviour. 3355 records were reviewed with 828 visits having BP recordings. The percentage of BP recordings ending in “0” was significantly lower in intervention vs. control practices [SBP 18% (233/329) vs. 71% (107/587), DBP 20% (229/328) vs. 70% (119/584) p<0.001]. The mean of systolic BP recordings in the intervention group was 7.5 mmHg (95% CI 5.2, 9.9 mmHg) higher than in the control group. Patients taking BP lowering drugs were more likely (IRR 1.3 95% CI 1.1, 1.7) to have a BP lowering drug prescribed if they were in the intervention compared to the control. Post hoc analyses identified systolic BP and not terminal digit preference as mediators of changes in prescribing behaviour. Oscillometric BP devices led to increases in overall prescribing of antihypertensive drugs. This was most likely mediated by reductions in measurement error leading to higher BP recordings.

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Effects of a lifestyle intervention programme after 1 year of follow-up among South Asians at high risk of type 2 diabetes: a cluster randomised controlled trial

BMJ Global Health ◽

10.1136/bmjgh-2021-006479 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (11) ◽

pp. e006479

Author(s):

Mirthe Muilwijk ◽

Marie Loh ◽

Samreen Siddiqui ◽

Sara Mahmood ◽

Saranya Palaniswamy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Waist Circumference ◽

Lifestyle Intervention ◽

South Asians ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial ◽

Control Group ◽

Family Based ◽

Randomised Controlled

IntroductionSouth Asians are at high risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D). We assessed whether intensive family-based lifestyle intervention leads to significant weight loss, improved glycaemia and blood pressure in adults at elevated risk for T2D.MethodsThis cluster randomised controlled trial (iHealth-T2D) was conducted at 120 locations across India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the UK. We included 3684 South Asian men and women, aged 40–70 years, without T2D but with raised haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and/or waist circumference. Participants were randomly allocated either to the family-based lifestyle intervention or control group by location clusters. Participants in the intervention received 9 visits and 13 telephone contacts by community health workers over 1-year period, and the control group received usual care. Reductions in weight (aim >7% reduction), waist circumference (aim ≥5 cm reduction), blood pressure and HbA1C at 12 months of follow-up were assessed. Our linear mixed-effects regression analysis was based on intention-to-treat principle and adjusted for age, sex and baseline values.ResultsThere were 1846 participants in the control and 1838 in the intervention group. Between baseline and 12 months, mean weight of participants in the intervention group reduced by 1.8 kg compared with 0.4 kg in the control group (adjusted mean difference −1.10 kg (95% CI −1.70 to −1.06), p<0.001). The adjusted mean difference for waist circumference was −1.9 cm (95% CI −2.5; to 1.3), p<0.001). No overall difference was observed for blood pressure or HbA1c. People who attended multiple intervention sessions had a dose-dependent effect on waist circumference, blood pressure and HbA1c, but not on weight.ConclusionAn intensive family-based lifestyle intervention adopting low-resource strategies led to effective reduction in weight and waist circumference at 12 months, which has potential long-term benefits for preventing T2D. A higher number of attended sessions increased the effect on waist circumference, blood pressure and HbA1c.Trial registration numberEudraCT: 2016-001350-18; ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02949739.

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Pengaruh Jus Apel Terhadap Penurunan Tekanan Darah pada Lansia Hipertensi di Puskesmas Muara Kaman

Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan ◽

10.30650/jik.v5i2.61 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 121-129

Author(s):

Siti Khoiroh

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Community Health ◽

Apple Juice ◽

Antihypertensive Drugs ◽

Intervention Group ◽

T Test ◽

Mean Difference ◽

Control Group ◽

P Value ◽

The Mean

Background : Hypertension is a condition of high blood pressure in the arteries that lasted continuously for the long term. Hypertension can be overcome in two ways: pharmacology and non-pharmacology. Pharmacology treatment usually use medicine while one of the ways for non-pharmacology treatment is to consumes apple juice.Research Objective : The aim of this research is to know the effect of apple juice on blood pressure decrease in elderly people with hypertension at Muara Kaman Community Health Center.Methods : The design of this research used quasi experimental design (quasi experiment) with pretest posttest control group design. The sample of the research was hypertensive respondents at Muara Kaman Community Health Center as many as 30 respondents were divided into 2 groups, 15 intervention groups and 15 control groups. The sampling technique used purposive sampling. The research instruments were stethoscope and sphygmomanometer, data analysis using t test dependent and t test independent.Results : There were a significant influence between pretest and posttest of apple juice in the intervention group (P value = 0,000; P <0.005). The mean difference in systolic blood pressure in the intervention group and the control group also had significant differences (P value = 0.002; P <0.05), where as the mean difference in diastolic blood pressure in the intervention group and the control group also had significant differences (P value = 0,039; P <0,05).The Conclusions : The results of this research showed that consumes apple juice gives an effect on the blood pressure of hypertensive patients by consumes regularly.The Suggestions : Nurses and the public can use apple juice as one of the ways to handling to hypertension sufferers besides antihypertensive drugs.

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Effect of Steamed Potato Bread Intake on Glucose, Lipids, and Urinary Na+ and K+: A Randomized Controlled Trial with Adolescents

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17062096 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (6) ◽

pp. 2096

Author(s):

Haiquan Xu ◽

Yanzhi Guo ◽

Shijun Lu ◽

Yunqian Ma ◽

Xiuli Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Systolic Blood Pressure ◽

Total Cholesterol ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

High Density Lipoproteins ◽

Control Group ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Potato Bread

Although potatoes are highly nutritious, many epidemiological studies have connected their consumption with abnormal lipids, diabetes, and hypertension. Steamed potato bread has recently become one of China’s staple foods. A randomized controlled trial was designed to evaluate the effect of steamed potato bread consumption on Chinese adolescents. Four classes from a high school were randomly selected and assigned to the intervention group (two classes) or control group (two classes). The steamed wheat bread (100% raw wheat flour) and potato bread (raw wheat flour to cooked potato flour ratio of 3:7) were provided to the control group and intervention group as staple food once a school day for 8 weeks, respectively. Compared with the control group, the intervention group had significant net changes in systolic blood pressure (4.6 mmHg, p = 0.010), insulin (−4.35 mIU/L, p < 0.001), total cholesterol (−0.13 mmol/L, p = 0.032), and high-density lipoproteins cholesterol (−0.07 mmol/L, p = 0.010). The urinary level of Na+/K+ did not differ between the groups. In conclusion, the intake of steamed potato bread for 8 weeks resulted in positive effects on the total cholesterol and insulin profiles but a negative effect on the systolic blood pressure and high-density lipoproteins cholesterol of adolescents.

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Efficacy of a smartphone-based coaching program for addiction prevention among apprentices: study protocol of a cluster-randomised controlled trial

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-020-09995-6 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Severin Haug ◽

Raquel Paz Castro ◽

Andreas Wenger ◽

Michael P. Schaub

Keyword(s):

Randomised Controlled Trial ◽

Cigarette Smoking ◽

Internet Use ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial ◽

Control Group ◽

Addiction Prevention ◽

Cluster Randomised ◽

Randomised Controlled

Abstract Background A large proportion of apprentices shows addictive behaviours like cigarette smoking, alcohol, cannabis, or compulsive Internet use, others do not show such behaviours at all. ready4life is a smartphone application-based coaching program for apprentices, which takes into account the heterogeneity of adolescent addictive behaviour by promoting life skills and reducing risk behaviours. The main objective of the planned study is to test the efficacy of ready4life for addiction prevention among apprentices in Switzerland within a controlled trial. Methods/design The efficacy of the ready4life coaching program will be tested in comparison to an assessment only control group, within a cluster-randomised controlled trial with one follow-up assessment after 6 months. At the beginning of the program, participants of the intervention group will receive an individual profile, showing areas in which they have sufficient resources and in which there is a need for coaching. Based on this feedback, they can select two out of the following six program modules: stress, social skills, Internet use, tobacco/e-cigarettes, cannabis, and alcohol. Participants of the intervention group will receive individualised coaching by a conversational agent (chatbot) for a period of four months. The coaching relies on motivational and social-cognitive principles of behaviour change. Within weekly dialogues, the coach provides individually tailored information in different formats, such as videoclips, texts, or pictures. Study participants will be 1318 apprentices with a minimum age of 15, recruited in approximately 100 vocational school classes in Switzerland. Primary outcome will be a composite measure for addictive behaviours including (1) at risk-drinking, (2) tobacco/e-cigarette smoking, (3) cannabis use, and (4) problematic Internet use. Discussion The study will reveal whether this universally implementable but individually tailored intervention approach is effective in preventing the onset and escalation of addictive behaviors among apprentices. Trial registration ISRCTN59908406 (registration date: 21/10/2020).

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Effects of a kindergarten intervention on vegetables served and staff’s food-related practices: results of a cluster randomised controlled trial – the BRA study

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980019003963 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 23 (6) ◽

pp. 1117-1126

Author(s):

Anne Himberg-Sundet ◽

Anne Lene Kristiansen ◽

Lene Frost Andersen ◽

Mona Bjelland ◽

Nanna Lien

Keyword(s):

Randomised Controlled Trial ◽

Vegetable Intake ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial ◽

Control Group ◽

Public And Private ◽

Cluster Randomised ◽

Block Randomisation ◽

Randomised Controlled

AbstractObjective:The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect on frequency, variety and amount of vegetables served and staff’s food-related practices in the multicomponent BRA intervention.Design:Cluster randomised controlled trial, conducted between Spring 2015 and Spring 2016. For allocation of the kindergartens, a stratified block randomisation was used. Data were collected in three ways: (i) a questionnaire for pedagogical leaders assessing the variety and frequency of vegetables served, including staff’s food-related practices assumed to be related to vegetable intake; (ii) a questionnaire for kindergarten assistants assessing staff’s food-related practices; (iii) a 5-d weighted vegetable diary assessing amount of vegetables served in a department.Setting:The target group for this study was public and private kindergartens in the counties of Vestfold and Buskerud, Norway.Participants:A total of seventy-three kindergartens participated.Results:At follow-up I, the amount of vegetables served increased by approximately 20 g per person per day (P = 0·002), and the variety in served vegetables increased by one-and-a-half kind per month (P = 0·014) in the intervention group compared to the control group. No effects on the frequency of vegetables served or on staff’s food-related practices were found.Conclusions:The BRA intervention was successful in increasing the amount and variety of vegetables served within intervention kindergartens. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms that can affect the staff’s food-related practices.

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Effects of the Rango Cards game intervention on food consumption, nutritional knowledge and self-efficacy in the adoption of healthy eating practices of high school students: a cluster randomised controlled trial

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980020000531 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 23 (13) ◽

pp. 2424-2433 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Carolina Martins dos Santos Chagas ◽

Giselle Rhai-Sa Melo ◽

Raquel Braz Assunção Botelho ◽

Natacha Toral

Keyword(s):

High School Students ◽

Healthy Eating ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial ◽

Control Group ◽

Nutritional Knowledge ◽

School Students ◽

Eating Practices

AbstractObjective:The study aimed to assess the impact of a game-based nutritional intervention on food consumption, nutritional knowledge and self-efficacy in the adoption of healthy eating practices.Design:This cluster randomised controlled trial included both male and female high school students from private schools in the Federal District, Brazil. Four schools were randomly selected for each group. Investigated variables were age, sex, monthly family income, maternal education level, dietary perceptions and practices, nutritional knowledge and self-efficacy in the adoption of healthy eating practices.Setting:Intervention group participants were instructed to play Rango Cards, a digital game developed for the study, on their own, for a period of 7–17 d, while the control group was not provided with any game or material during the study.Participants:The study included 319 adolescents (mean age = 15·8 (sd 0·7) years).Results:Significant reductions were observed in the intervention group compared with the control group for the following variables: habit of eating while watching TV or studying and having meals at fast food restaurants. The intervention group showed increased knowledge of the effects of fruit and vegetable consumption as well as improved self-efficacy in the adoption of healthy eating practices such as reducing Na intake and preparing healthy meals.Conclusions:The design of Rango Cards is potentially capable of effecting positive changes. Therefore, the digital game promotes autonomy and self-care among adolescents with regard to healthy eating.

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Financial incentives to improve adherence to antipsychotic maintenance medication in non-adherent patients: a cluster randomised controlled trial

Health Technology Assessment ◽

10.3310/hta20700 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 20 (70) ◽

pp. 1-122 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Stefan Priebe ◽

Stephen A Bremner ◽

Christoph Lauber ◽

Catherine Henderson ◽

Tom Burns

Keyword(s):

Financial Incentives ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Qualitative Evaluation ◽

Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial ◽

Control Group ◽

Subjective Quality Of Life ◽

Semistructured Interviews ◽

Randomised Controlled

BackgroundPoor adherence to long-term antipsychotic injectable (LAI) medication in patients with psychotic disorders is associated with a range of negative outcomes. No psychosocial intervention has been found to be consistently effective in improving adherence.ObjectivesTo test whether or not offering financial incentives is effective and cost-effective in improving adherence and to explore patient and clinician experiences with such incentives.DesignA cluster randomised controlled trial with economic and nested qualitative evaluation. The intervention period lasted for 12 months with 24 months’ follow-up. The unit of randomisation was mental health teams in the community.SettingCommunity teams in secondary mental health care.ParticipantsPatients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective psychosis or bipolar illness, receiving ≤ 75% of their prescribed LAI medication. In total, 73 teams with 141 patients (interventionn = 78 and controln = 63) were included.InterventionsParticipants in the intervention group received £15 for each LAI medication. Patients in the control group received treatment as usual.Main outcome measuresPrimary outcome: adherence to LAI medication (the percentage of received out of those prescribed). Secondary outcomes: percentage of patients with at least 95% adherence; clinical global improvement; subjective quality of life; satisfaction with medication; hospitalisation; adverse events; and costs. Qualitative evaluation: semistructured interviews with patients in the intervention group and their clinicians.ResultsPrimary outcome: outcome data were available for 131 patients. Baseline adherence was 69% in the intervention group and 67% in the control group. During the intervention period, adherence was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (85% vs. 71%) [adjusted mean difference 11.5%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.9% to 19.0%;p = 0.003]. Secondary outcome: patients in the intervention group showed statistically significant improvement in adherence of at least 95% (adjusted odds ratio 8.21, 95% CI 2.00 to 33.67;p = 0.003) and subjective quality of life (difference in means 0.71, 95% CI 0.26 to 1.15;p = 0.002). Follow-ups: after incentives stopped, adherence did not differ significantly between groups, neither during the first 6 months (adjusted difference in means –7.4%, 95% CI –17.0% to 2.1%;p = 0.175) nor during the period from month 7 to month 24 (difference in means –5.7%, 95% CI –13.1% to 1.7%;p = 0.130). Cost-effectiveness: the average costs of the financial incentives was £303. Overall costs per patient were somewhat higher in the intervention group, but the difference was not significant. Semistructured interviews: the majority of patients and clinicians reported positive experiences with the incentives beyond their monetary value. These included improvement in the therapeutic relationship. The majority of both patients and clinicians perceived no negative impact after the intervention was stopped after 1 year.ConclusionsFinancial incentives are effective in improving adherence to LAI medication. Health-care costs (including costs of the financial incentive) are unlikely to be increased substantially by this intervention. Once the incentives stop, the advantage is not maintained. The experiences of both patients and clinicians are largely, but not exclusively, positive. Whether or not financial incentives are effective for patients with more favourable background, those on oral mediation or for shorter or longer time periods remains unknown.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN77769281.FundingThis project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full inHealth Technology Assessment; Vol. 20, No. 70. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

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Lack of effects of evidence-based, individualised counselling on medication use in insured patients with mild hypertension in China: a randomised controlled trial

BMJ evidence-based medicine ◽

10.1136/bmjebm-2019-111197 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 25 (3) ◽

pp. 102-108

Author(s):

Mengyang Di ◽

Chen Mao ◽

Zuyao Yang ◽

Hong Ding ◽

Qu Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mild Hypertension ◽

Antihypertensive Drugs ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Medication Use ◽

Control Group ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Randomised Controlled ◽

Insured Patients

ObjectiveTo evaluate whether evidence-based, individualised (EBI) counselling regarding hypertension and the treatment would affect medication use in insured patients with mild hypertension in China.MethodsWe conducted a parallel-group, randomised controlled trial in two primary care centres in Shenzhen, a metropolitan city in China. Patients with mild primary hypertension, 10-year risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) lower than 20% and no history of CVDs were recruited and randomly allocated to two groups. EBI plus general counselling was provided to the intervention group and general counselling alone to the control group. EBI counselling included information on the 10-year CVD risk and treatment benefit in terms of absolute risk reduction estimated for each individual and information on average side effects and costs of antihypertensive drugs. The outcomes included use of antihypertensive drugs and adherence to the treatment at 6-month follow-up, with the former being primary outcome.ResultsTwo hundred and ten patients were recruited, with 103 and 107 allocated to the intervention and control groups, respectively. At baseline, 62.4% of the patients were taking antihypertensive drugs that were all covered by health insurance. At the end of 6-month follow-up, there was no statistically significant difference in the rate of medication use between the intervention group and the control group (65.0% vs 57.9%; OR=1.35, 95% CI: 0.77 to 2.36). The difference in adherence rate between the two groups was not statistically significant either (43.7% vs 40.2%; OR=1.15, 95% CI 0.67 to 2.00]). The results were robust in sensitivity analyses that used different cutoffs to define the two outcomes.ConclusionsThe EBI counselling by health educators other than the caring physicians had little impact on treatment choices and drug-taking behaviours in insured patients with mild primary hypertension in this study. It remains unclear whether EBI counselling would make a difference in uninsured patients, especially when conducted by the caring physicians.Trial registration numberChiCTR-TRC-14004169.

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A Smartphone App in Promoting Mental Wellbeing and Awareness of Anxiety Disorders for Adolescents: A Pilot Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.22684 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Yuying Sun ◽

Man Ping Wang ◽

Sai Yin Ho ◽

Christian S. Chan ◽

Patrick K.W. Man ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Randomised Controlled Trial ◽

Anxiety Disorders ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial ◽

Mental Wellbeing ◽

Smartphone App ◽

Control Group ◽

Cluster Randomised ◽

Randomised Controlled

BACKGROUND Mental health problems in adolescents are prevalent while population-based interventions for improving mental wellbeing of adolescents are limited. OBJECTIVE To design a smartphone app and evaluate its effect on promoting mental wellbeing of adolescents and awareness of anxiety disorders. METHODS A pilot cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted with 2 secondary schools (390 students, mean age 13.1 years) randomised to the intervention and control groups. A smartphone app was designed for one month’s use to promote mental wellbeing through “Sharing, Mind and Enjoyment (SME)” related interactions between students and their parents (e.g., express gratitude to family in words or actions), with assistance of App designers in releasing SME tasks daily. The waitlist control group was offered the app after completing all assessments. The primary outcomes were SME behaviours measured at 3-month after baseline. Secondary outcomes included subjective happiness, wellbeing, personal health and happiness, family health, happiness and harmony, self-perceived knowledge and understanding of anxiety disorders. Two focus groups of students and three individual in-depth interviews of service providers were conducted. RESULTS In the intervention students, 11.2% used the app together with parents and 45.4% used it without involving parents. The intervention group did not show significant difference in the change of SME behaviours at 1-month or 3-month compared with the control group. The intervention group showed greater increase in the awareness of anxiety disorders at follow-ups than the control group (Cohen’s d=0.52 at 1-month and 0.43 at 3-month, both P<0.001). Post-hoc analysis showed significantly greater increase in SME-related behaviours in the adherent subgroup than the control group at 3-month (d=0.46, P=0.04). The interviews found favourable changes in app users, but motivation of using the app was low in general. Both students and community partners suggested primary school students would be more receptive users. CONCLUSIONS The app did not show effectiveness in increasing SME behaviours of students but was effective in increasing awareness of anxiety disorders. Further improvements and tests among younger children and their parents are warranted. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03361475

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The Adductor Strengthening Programme prevents groin problems among male football players: a cluster-randomised controlled trial

British Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1136/bjsports-2017-098937 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 53 (3) ◽

pp. 150-157 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Joar Harøy ◽

Benjamin Clarsen ◽

Espen Guldahl Wiger ◽

Mari Glomnes Øyen ◽

Andreas Serner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial ◽

Exercise Programme ◽

Control Group ◽

Football Players ◽

Trauma Research ◽

Cluster Randomised ◽

Competitive Season ◽

Prevention Programmes

BackgroundGroin injuries represent a considerable problem in male football. Previous groin-specific prevention programmes have not shown a significant reduction in groin injury rates. An exercise programme using the Copenhagen Adduction exercise increases hip adduction strength, a key risk factor for groin injuries. However, its preventive effect is yet to be tested.AimTo evaluate the effect of a single-exercise approach, based on the Copenhagen Adduction exercise, on the prevalence of groin problems in male football players.Methods35 semiprofessional Norwegian football teams were cluster-randomised into an intervention group (18 teams, 339 players) and a control group (17 teams, 313 players). The intervention group performed an Adductor Strengthening Programme using one exercise, with three progression levels, three times per week during the preseason (6–8 weeks), and once per week during the competitive season (28 weeks). The control group were instructed to train as normal. The prevalence of groin problems was measured weekly in both groups during the competitive season using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center Overuse Injury Questionnaire.ResultsThe average prevalence of groin problems during the season was 13.5% (95% CI 12.3% to 14.7%) in the intervention group and 21.3% (95% CI 20.0% to 22.6%) in the control group. The risk of reporting groin problems was 41% lower in the intervention group (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.86, p=0.008).ConclusionThe simple Adductor Strengthening Programme substantially reduced the self-reported prevalence and risk of groin problems in male football players.Trial registration numberISRCTN98514933.

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