scholarly journals Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the ‘HEYMAN’ healthy lifestyle program for young men: a pilot randomised controlled trial

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee M. Ashton ◽  
Philip J. Morgan ◽  
Melinda J. Hutchesson ◽  
Megan E. Rollo ◽  
Clare E. Collins
Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Robson ◽  
Steven J. Kamper ◽  
Alix Hall ◽  
Hopin Lee ◽  
Simon Davidson ◽  
...  

Abstract Background This paper describes the statistical analysis plan for a randomised controlled trial of a Healthy Lifestyle Program (HeLP) for low back pain targeting multiple health risks and behaviours, weight, physical activity, diet and smoking, to improve disability. We describe the methods for the main analyses and economic analysis of the trial. Methods and design The trial is a two-arm pragmatic randomised controlled trial comparing the effect of the HeLP intervention to usual care on low back pain disability at 26 weeks. A total of 346 adults with low back pain were recruited from the Newcastle and Hunter region between September 2017 and November 2019 and randomised to either HeLP or usual care. HeLP is a 6-month intervention with participant outcomes measured at weeks 6, 12, 26 and 52 post randomisation. This statistical analysis plan describes data integrity, handling and preparation of data for analyses and methods for analyses. The primary endpoint for the trial is disability at 26 weeks using the 24-item self-report Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire. The primary analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle using linear mixed regression models. Discussion The statistical analysis plan for this trial was produced to reduce outcome reporting bias arising from knowledge of the study findings. Any deviations will be described and justified in the final report. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12617001288314. Registered on 6 September 2017.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 769
Author(s):  
Abrar M Babateen ◽  
Oliver M Shannon ◽  
Gerard M O’Brien ◽  
Edward Okello ◽  
Anmar A Khan ◽  
...  

Nitrate-rich food can increase nitric oxide production and improve vascular and brain functions. This study examines the feasibility of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) testing the effects of prolonged consumption of different doses of dietary nitrate (NO3-) in the form of beetroot juice (BJ) in overweight and obese older participants. A single-blind, four-arm parallel pilot RCT was conducted in 62 overweight and obese (30.4 ± 4 kg/m2) older participants (mean ± standard deviation (SD), 66 ± 4 years). Participants were randomized to: (1) high-NO3- (HN: 2 × 70 mL BJ/day) (2) medium-NO3- (MN: 70 mL BJ/day), (3) low-NO3- (LN: 70 mL BJ on alternate days) or (4) Placebo (PL: 70 mL of NO3--depleted BJ on alternate days), for 13 weeks. Compliance was checked by a daily log of consumed BJ, NO3- intake, and by measuring NO3- and NO2- concentrations in plasma, saliva, and urine samples. Fifty participants completed the study. Self-reported compliance to the interventions was >90%. There were significant positive linear relationships between NO3- dose and the increase in plasma and urinary NO3- concentration (R2 = 0.71, P < 0.001 and R2 = 0.46 P < 0.001, respectively), but relationships between NO3- dose and changes in salivary NO3- and NO2- were non-linear (R2 = 0.35, P = 0.002 and R2 = 0.23, P = 0.007, respectively). The results confirm the feasibility of prolonged BJ supplementation in older overweight and obese adults.


Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 910
Author(s):  
Dorthe Djernis ◽  
Mia S. O’Toole ◽  
Lone O. Fjorback ◽  
Helle Svenningsen ◽  
Mimi Y. Mehlsen ◽  
...  

Here, we developed and examined a new way of disseminating mindfulness in nature to people without meditation experience, based on the finding that mindfulness conducted in natural settings may have added benefits. We evaluated a 5-day residential programme aiming to reduce stress and improve mental health outcomes. We compared an indoor and an outdoor version of the programme to a control group in a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT). Sixty Danish university students experiencing moderate to high levels of stress were randomised into a residential mindfulness programme indoors (n = 20), in nature (n = 22), or a control group (n = 18). Participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale and the Self-Compassion Scale (primary outcomes) along with additional secondary outcome measures at the start and end of the program and 3 months after. Stress was decreased with small to medium effect sizes post-intervention, although not statistically significant. Self-compassion increased post-intervention, but effect sizes were small and not significant. At follow-up, changes in stress were not significant, however self-compassion increased for both interventions with medium-sized effects. For the intervention groups, medium- to large-sized positive effects on trait mindfulness after a behavioural task were found post-intervention, and small- to medium-sized effects in self-reported mindfulness were seen at follow-up. Connectedness to Nature was the only outcome measure with an incremental effect in nature, exceeding the control with a medium-sized effect at follow-up. All participants in the nature arm completed the intervention, and so did 97% of the participants in all three arms. Overall, the results encourage the conduct of a larger-scale RCT, but only after adjusting some elements of the programme to better fit and take advantage of the potential benefits of the natural environment.


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