scholarly journals Effectiveness of a School-Based Tobacco Prevention Program for Middle School Students in Saudi Arabia: A Quasi-Experimental Controlled Trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 1179173X2095340
Author(s):  
Dania E Al Agili ◽  
Hamisu M Salihu

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a school-based tobacco program in preventing initiation of tobacco use among adolescents in Saudi Arabia. Methods: We used a quasi-experimental controlled design. Four intervention and four control schools were selected from the regional education registry. A baseline questionnaire was administered to all grade 7 students before implementing the tobacco prevention program, Dentists Fighting Nicotine Dependence (DFND). The intervention group (n =379) received the DFND program whereas the control group (n = 255) received the regular tobacco program administered by the Department of Education. The program was delivered by trained health educators over 5 weeks. Pre- and post-test surveys (immediate and 2-year post-intervention) were collected. Study outcomes were current tobacco use, tobacco knowledge, attitude towards not using tobacco, and perceived behavioral control (PBC) of tobacco use. Covariates included sex, parent education, academic performance, absenteeism, student allowance, and religiosity. Data were analyzed using a two-level hierarchical mixed models. Results: In the immediate post-test, 597 participants (intervention, n = 366; control, n = 231) were surveyed. There was no difference in tobacco use between intervention and control schools, however, the intervention group had significantly higher mean scores for knowledge (β = 1.27, SE = 0.27, P < .01) and attitude toward not using tobacco (β = 5.17, SE = 2.48, P < .05) after adjusting for covariates. At 2-year post-intervention, 463 participants (intervention, n = 289; control, n = 173) were surveyed. There were no differences in tobacco use, knowledge, attitude or PBC between intervention and control groups. Conclusions: Our program did not impact tobacco use. In the short-term, the program significantly improved knowledge and attitude towards not using tobacco. These effects decayed 2 years post-intervention without additional programming. Increasing the effectiveness of DFND may be achieved by expanding curriculum content and practice time throughout the school years and by targeting high-risk adolescents within the program.

Author(s):  
Byamukama Topher ◽  
Keraka M. Margaret ◽  
Gitonga Eliphas

Background: Immunization is one of the most cost-effective public health interventions to reduce child mortality and morbidity associated with infectious diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the perceptions of caregivers on immunization in Ntungamo district.Methods: Quasi-experimental study was used with health centres assigned to intervention and control groups. Purposive sampling was used to select the two counties where the study was done. Proportional sampling was done to get study samples from each health facility, while systematic sampling was done to get study participants. A total of 787 children from twelve health facilities provided the study sample. A post intervention evaluation was conducted to determine the effect of these interventions. Association of variables was tested using Mann Whitney U-test and Chi-square.Results: On benefits, most caregivers in the intervention group (85.3%) and in the control group (54.3%) regarded immunization as very highly and moderately beneficial to their children respectively. On risks, most caregivers in the intervention group (85.5%) and control group (43.1%) regarded the risk factor associated with immunization as very low and moderate respectively. From hypothesis testing, there was a significant difference on the perceived benefits and risks of immunization between the intervention and control group.Conclusions: Most caregivers in the intervention and control group regarded immunization as very highly beneficial and moderately to their children respectively. Most of the caregivers in the intervention and control group regarded the risk factor associated with immunization as very low and moderate respectively. 


Author(s):  
Maryam Zahedi

Background: The occurrence of marital conflicts decreases the quality of communication between couples and marital intimacy. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the effect of compassion-based counseling on marital intimacy of conflicted couples in Isfahan. Methods: The research method was quasi-experimental with a pretest-posttest design and control group. The statistical population included all couples referring to Isfahan counseling centers in 1396. The sample size was 30 couples who were selected by purposive non-random sampling method and were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The intervention group received compassion-based counseling intervention for 8 sessions which lasted an hour and a half for 2 months. Then, subjects in both groups were examined. The instruments used were the marital conflict questionnaire and marital intimacy questionnaire. After collecting the questionnaires and extracting the raw data, data were analyzed by SPSS (version 23) using descriptive statistics and covariance analysis. Results: The results showed that compassion-based counseling had a significant effect on the marital intimacy of couples in the post-test phase (P < 0.0001). This treatment could increase the marital intimacy of conflicted couples. Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that compassion-based therapy using techniques such as mindfulness training, empathy, and sympathy for oneself and managing difficult emotions can enhance the marital intimacy of the conflicted couples. In this regard, compassion-based therapy can be used as an effective treatment to increase the marital intimacy of conflicted couples.


Author(s):  
Ye ◽  
Pope ◽  
Lee ◽  
Gao

Background: Modern-day technology is appealing to children. Few studies, however, have conducted longitudinal analyses of a school-based exergaming program’s effect on physical activity (PA) behaviors and fitness in children. Therefore, this study examined the longitudinal effect of an 8-month school-based exergaming intervention on children’s objectively-measured PA and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). Materials and Methods: Eighty-one fourth grade students (X̅age = 9.23 ± 0.62; 39 girls; 54.3% African American, 30.9% Non-Hispanic White, 14.8% other) participated in this study from 2014–2015. The intervention school’s children participated in a once-weekly 50-minute exergaming intervention during recess throughout the school year, while the control school continued regular recess. Children’s in-school PA and sedentary behavior (SB) were measured with ActiGraphGT3X+ accelerometers, with CRF assessed via the half-mile run. All measurements were taken at baseline, mid-intervention (four months) and post-intervention (eight months). Repeated-measures two-way ANCOVAs using age and race as covariates were conducted to examine between-school differences over time for SB, light PA (LPA), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), and CRF. Results: Significant time by group interactions were observed for LPA, F(1, 79) = 7.82, η2 = 0.09, p < 0.01, and MVPA, F(1, 79) = 4.58, η2 = 0.06, p < 0.05, as LPA increased among the control group, while MVPA increased among intervention group. Children in both groups experienced decreased SB during the intervention (intervention: −7.63 minutes; control: −17.59 minutes), but demonstrated lower CRF over time (intervention: +46.73 seconds; control: +61.60 seconds). Conclusions: Observations suggested that school-based exergaming implementation may be effective in increasing children’s MVPA and decreasing their SB over the course an academic year (i.e., ~eight months). More research is needed, however, to discern how modifications to school-based exergaming might also promote improved CRF in children.


2011 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 231-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Harrell Stigler ◽  
Cheryl L. Perry ◽  
Derek Smolenski ◽  
Monika Arora ◽  
K. Srinath Reddy

This article presents the results of a mediation analysis of Project MYTRI (Mobilizing Youth for Tobacco Related Initiatives in India), a randomized, controlled trial of a multiple-component, school-based tobacco prevention program for sixth- to ninth-graders ( n = 14,085) in Delhi and Chennai, India. A mediation analysis identifies how an intervention achieves its effects. In MYTRI, changes in students’ (a) knowledge about the negative health effects of tobacco, (b) beliefs about its social consequences, (c) reasons to use tobacco, (d) reasons not to use tobacco, (e) advocacy skills self-efficacy, and (f) normative beliefs about tobacco use were significantly associated with reductions in students’ intentions to use tobacco and tobacco use behaviors. In contrast, changes in students’ perceptions of the prevalence of smoking and chewing tobacco were significantly related to increases in students’ intentions to use and use of tobacco. Implications for intervention design are considered.


2008 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 173-178
Author(s):  
Gad Datak ◽  
Krisna Yetti ◽  
Rr. Tutik Sri Hariyati

AbstrakRelaksasi Benson merupakan pengembangan metode respons relaksasi dengan melibatkan faktor keyakinan pasien yang dapat mengurangi nyeri pascabedah. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengetahui efektifitas relaksasi Benson dalam menurunkan nyeri pascabedah pasien TUR Prostat. Metode penelitian quasi-eksperimental dengan pre test and post test design with control group. Pengambilan sampel dengan consecutive sampling. Jumlah sampel 14 orang, masing-masing 7 orang pada kelompok intervensi yang diberikan kombinasi relaksasi Benson dan terapi analgesik serta kelompok kontrol yang hanya diberikan terapi analgesik. Relaksasi Benson dilakukan setelah pemberian analgesik dengan durasi 15 menit selama dua hari. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan kombinasi Relaksasi Benson dan terapi analgesik efektif menurunkan rasa nyeri pascabedah pada pasien TUR Prostat (p = 0,019, α = 0,05). Penelitian ini menyarankan Relaksasi Benson digunakan untuk mengurangi nyeri pasca bedah TUR Prostat elektif. AbstractBenson Relaxation is the development of relaxation response method by involving patient is belief factor to relieve postoperative pain. This research was aimed to explore the effectiveness of Benson Relaxation in relieving post-operative pain of TUR prostate. The method used in this study was quasi experimental with pre test and post test design with control group. A total of 14 consecutive samples were participated in this study by divided into the intervention and control group, 7 participants respectively. Those in intervention group received Benson Relaxation combined with analgesic therapy where as in control group took analgesic therapy alone. Benson Relaxation intervention given after analgesic was taken, for 15 minutes each day for two days. The results revealed that combination between Benson Relaxation and analgesic therapy was more effective than analgesic therapy alone (p = 0,019, α = 0,05). The Implication of this research was Benson Relaxation can be applied to relieve post-operative pain of elective TUR Prostate.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6331
Author(s):  
Jianfen Wu ◽  
Manlin Zhang ◽  
Wenqi Lin ◽  
Yunpeng Wu ◽  
Hui Li

Emotional competence (EC) is important for children’s social adjustment and sustainable development. The present study designed a school based emotional competence learning (ECL) program and examined its effectiveness with 56 Chinese preschoolers aged 5–6. A quasi-experimental design was employed to examine the impact of the ECL program on young children’s EC. Two upper Kindergarten classes (Daban) for children aged 5–6 were randomly assigned as experimental group (n = 31, 42% girls, Mage = 68.31 months, SD = 3.75) and control group (n = 25, 44% girls, Mage = 68.16 months, SD = 3.77). The experimental group was engaged in a 15-week ECL program, whereas the control group had similar duration courses without emotional competence training. All the children were administered the Test of Emotion Comprehension, Expression Identification Task, and Emotion Regulation Strategy Inventory before and after the intervention. The results indicated no significant differences between the experimental and control groups in the pre-test. In contrast, the experimental group outperformed the control group in most EC components in the post-test. Meanwhile, the experimental group demonstrated greater increases in EC components. The findings suggest that this ECL program has strong potential as a school-based, structured program for enhancing children’s emotional competence. The educational implications of these findings are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (10) ◽  
pp. e0000025
Author(s):  
Indra Prasad Sharma ◽  
Monica Chaudhry ◽  
Dhanapati Sharma ◽  
Raju Kaiti

Purpose Improving eye health awareness in the underserved population is a universal eye health priority. The ubiquity of cell phones and internet usage provides new and innovative opportunities for health promotion. This study evaluated the effect of mobile health intervention (text message link) to promote eye health literacy (EHL) of priority ocular morbidities. Methods This study was an intervention evaluation and employed a two-armed pre-test post-test approach. Baseline assessment on EHL was performed on 424 university students. Participants were categorised into intervention and control groups, using the 1:1 allocation ratio. The intervention and control group received a text message alone and text message with a link, respectively. EHL was assessed via a self-administered questionnaire. The primary outcome measures were changes in EHL scores between baseline and one month post-intervention. Descriptive analysis was performed to assess the cost-effectiveness of the intervention. Results With low attrition and a response rate of 95.6%, 409 responses were eligible for analysis. The mean age of the participants (49.4% males and 50.6% of females) was 19.9±1.68 years. Baseline EHL scores were low, and there was no correlation with a demographic profile (all p<0.05, CI 95%). The demographic characteristics were similar between the two groups (for all, P <0.05, CI 95%) at baseline. The EHL scores improved in both groups between the pre-and post-test assessment; however, improvements were statistically significant only in the control group. The one-month post-intervention EHL scores were also higher in the intervention group compared to the control (p≤0.001, CI 95% for all). The total cost incurred for the intervention used was 11.5 USD. Conclusion Text message link demonstrated effectiveness for improving the EHL scores; the low baseline EHL scores substantially improved with intervention. The text message link intervention is a cost-effective method and could be considered in advocating for eye health in developing countries, particularly during global emergencies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 537
Author(s):  
Kuswantoro Rusca Putra ◽  
Heriandi Sutadi ◽  
Setyowati Setyowati ◽  
Rr. Tutik Sri Hayati

Nurses belong to a profession that carries a high risk of burnout. This condition will have an impact on the performance and quality of nursing services. Efforts should be made to minimize burnout for nurses. Management of the nurses' work environment is one that should be done by the nurse manager. This study aimed to identify the effect of the implementation of a caring work environment by the head of the care unit on nurse burnout. This study used a quasi-experimental design with a pre- and post-test with control group approach. Respondent of this study was 170 nurses who were divided into intervention and control groups. The intervention group consisted of nurses within the Caring Work Environment Model as applied by the head of the units. The control group included nurses working in the environment commonly applied in accordance with hospital policies in the inpatient unit. Burnout measurements on nurses applied preand post- intervention. Data analysis was performed using the Mann Whitney<br />test. This research showed a decrease in emotional fatigue and depersonalization scores, and an increase in nurse personal accomplishment, (p&lt;0.001) after the implementation of the nurse's caring work environment model by the head of care unit in the intervention group. Within the control group, only personal accomplishment showed increased scores, (p=0.034). Reduction in burnout symptoms in nurses can be facilitated through the implementation of a caring work environment by the head of the care unit.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 209-219
Author(s):  
Delvi Rahmayanti ◽  
Yusrah Taqiyah ◽  
Rizqy Iftitah Alam

Dysmenorrhea is pain before or during menstruation which can be primary or secondary due to an increase in the hormone prostaglandin which causes the uterine muscles to contract. The incidence of dysmenorrhea in the world is quite large, on average more than 50% of women in every country experience menstrual pain. This study aims to determine the effect of murottal surah ar-rahman therapy on the level of dysmenorrhea in adolescents in SMA Negeri 6 Kota Bau-Bau in 2020. The type of research used is quantitative experiment with Quasi Experimental design, pre-post test experimental group and control group using purposive sampling technique. With a sample size of 20 respondents in the intervention group and 20 respondents in the control group. The relationship test was carried out with  the Paired Sample T-test with a significance level of <0.05. The results showed that there was an effect between murottal surah ar-rahman therapy on the level of dysmenorrhea with a value of p = 0.000,  where the value of p <a, then Ha was accepted. The conclusion of this study is that before being given murottal surah ar-rahman therapy in adolescents, they experienced a controlled moderate and severe pain scale, after being given murottal surah ar-rahman therapy the adolescents experienced a decrease  in pain levels from moderate pain, mild pain, to no pain. And there is an effect between murottal sura ar- rahman therapy on the level of dysmenorrhea in adolescents in SMA Negeri 6 Kota Bau-Bau.


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