Evaluation of the impact of a nutritional program for undernourished children in Brazil

To assess the effectiveness on child growth and body composition of a supplementary feeding program (Milk Supplement Program), a prospective, controlled study was conducted in Northeast Brazil. When entering the Program, children from 10 municipalities with the highest coverage rates in the Program (intervention group) were compared to non-beneficiary children from 10 municipalities with the lowest coverage rates (control group). A total of 219 children aged 6-18 months were enrolled. At entry, both groups were comparable in terms of age, sex, and nutritional status. There were frequent gaps in delivery of the supplement, no extra milk was provided to siblings less than 5 years of age, intra-household redistribution of milk was high, and maternal compliance with recommendations was low. Adjusted analyses by multilevel modelling showed average changes in weight, length, weight-age and length-age Z-scores, and % body water (deuterium method), at 6 months, of 1.53kg, 6.34cm, 0.33, 0.05, and 1.11% respectively among supplemented children as compared to 1.54kg, 6.5cm, 0.26, 0.07, and 4.10% among controls, with no statistically significant difference between groups. Thus, the Program failed to compensate for nutritional deficiencies in undernourished children in Northeast Brazil.

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Music intervention affects the quality of life on Alzheimer’s disease: a meta-analysis

10.37766/inplasy2021.12.0055 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Lingyan Zuo ◽

Fengting Zhu ◽

Rui Wang ◽

Hongyan Shuai ◽

Xin Yu

Keyword(s):

Meta Analysis ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Original Data ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Control Group ◽

Music Intervention ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Review Question ◽

Intervention Modality ◽

The Impact

Review question / Objective: Inclusion criteria: population: 1) A randomized controlled study on the impact of music intervention on the QOL of patients with AD; 2) The participants in this study is patients with AD; 3) There is no significant difference among age, gender and education background in sorted groups before analysis which make these groups comparable; intervention: 1)Intervention Modality Music-based intervention; comparison: 1) All data were sorted into two groups: the music intervention group and the control group without any music intervention; outcome: 1) The indicators evaluated in the literature included the score of QOL-AD or WHOQOL-BERF scale, at least one of the two scales summarized in selected publications; language: 1) Only articles published in English and Chinese were considered. Exclusion criteria: 1) The participants were not diagnosed with AD; 2) Non-musical intervention;3) Non-RCTs; 4) No specific values for outcome variables; 5) Articles lacking original data; 6) Repeat published reports; 7) Full text could not be obtained.

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A smartphone coaching program (“Bouge Grossesse”) improves daily physical activity in pregnant women (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.27495 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Matthieu MULLER ◽

Pandora JAMES ◽

Philippe MERVIEL ◽

Alain SARAUX ◽

Yannick GUILLODO ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Primary Outcome ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Daily Physical Activity ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Control Group ◽

Sedentary Behaviors ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Impact

BACKGROUND Physical activity has been shown to reduce obstetrical risks however pregnant women reduce their physical activity and sedentary behaviors increase. OBJECTIVE Our aim was to evaluate the impact of a smartphone application developed to increase daily physical activity in pregnant women. METHODS We enrolled 250 pregnant women in a prospective randomized controlled study. These women were instructed to download either an intervention application called «Bouge Grossesse» (coaching program and a pedometer; n=125) or a Placebo application (pedometer only; n=125). Primary outcome was defined as a daily increase of 2000 steps/day between day 1 and day 90 or 10 000 steps/week between week 1 and week 12. Data was analyzed with intention to treat. Secondary outcomes were the number of steps at week 12 and the evolution of quality of life measured by WHO score, EIFEL score and SPIEGEL scale, and on maternal and fetal outcomes. RESULTS Patients were enrolled between August 2017 and February 2019. They were retrospectively registered after September 2018. We found a significant difference in the primary outcome between the two groups in favor of the intervention group (22.4% success vs 3.2% in the control group, P<.001) but only 43 women in the intervention group (34.4%) and 16 women in the placebo group (12.8%) completed the 12-week coaching program. There were no significant differences in the SPIEGEL, EIFEL and WHO scores. The mean number of daily steps at week 12 was significantly higher in the intervention group (6900.0 vs 4371.9, P<.001). CONCLUSIONS The mobile health intervention « Bouge Grossesse » significantly increased physical activity in pregnant women but we observed a high percentage of withdrawals from the 12-week program. CLINICALTRIAL This clinical trial was registered under the number NCT03688087 ClinicalTrials.gov.

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Controlled Study of the Impact of a Virtual Program to Reduce Stigma Among University Students Toward People With Mental Disorders

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.632252 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Matías E. Rodríguez-Rivas ◽

Adolfo J. Cangas ◽

Daniela Fuentes-Olavarría

Keyword(s):

Mental Disorders ◽

University Students ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Project Based Learning ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Control Group ◽

Global Score ◽

Stigma Reduction ◽

Before And After ◽

The Impact

Stigma toward mental disorders is one of today's most pressing global issues. The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the barriers to social inclusion faced by individuals with mental disorders. Concurrently, stigma reduction interventions, especially those aimed at university students, have been more difficult to implement given social distancing and campus closures. As a result, alternative delivery for programs contributing to stigma reduction is required, such as online implementation. This paper reports the results of a controlled study focused on an online multi-component program on reducing stigma toward mental illness that included project-based learning, clinical simulations with standardized patients and E-Contact with real patients. A total of 40 undergraduate students from the Universidad del Desarrollo in Santiago, Chile, participated in the study. They were randomly divided between an intervention and control group. The intervention group participated in the online multi-component program, while the control group participated in an online educational program on cardiovascular health. We assessed the impact of the program by using the validated Spanish-language versions of the Attribution Questionnaire AQ-27 and the Questionnaire on Student Attitudes toward Schizophrenia with both groups, before and after the intervention. In addition, an ad hoc Likert scale ranging from 0 to 5 was used with the intervention group in order to assess the learning strategies implemented. Following the intervention, the participants belonging to the intervention group displayed significantly lower levels of stereotypes, perception of dangerousness, and global score toward people with schizophrenia (p < 0.001). In addition, participants presented lower levels of dangerousness-fear, avoidance, coercion, lack of solidarity, and global score (p < 0.001). The control group displayed no statistically significant differences in the level of stigma before and after the evaluation, for all of the items assessed. Finally, the overall assessment of each of the components of the program was highly positive. In conclusion, the study shows that online programs can contribute to reducing stigma toward mental disorders. The program assessed in this study had a positive impact on all the dimensions of stigma and all of the components of the program itself were positively evaluated by the participants.

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Impact of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery with Preoperative Whey Protein-Infused Carbohydrate Loading and Postoperative Early Oral Feeding among Surgical Gynecologic Cancer Patients: An Open-Labelled Randomized Controlled Trial

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12010264 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 264 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Ho Chiou Yi ◽

Zuriati Ibrahim ◽

Zalina Abu Zaid ◽

Zulfitri ‘Azuan Mat Daud ◽

Nor Baizura Md. Yusop ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Whey Protein ◽

Enhanced Recovery ◽

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery ◽

Gynecologic Cancer ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Oral Feeding ◽

Control Group ◽

Early Oral Feeding ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Impact

Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) with sole carbohydrate (CHO) loading and postoperative early oral feeding (POEOF) shortened the length of postoperative (PO) hospital stays (LPOHS) without increasing complications. This study aimed to examine the impact of ERAS with preoperative whey protein-infused CHO loading and POEOF among surgical gynecologic cancer (GC) patients. There were 62 subjects in the intervention group (CHO-P), which received preoperative whey protein-infused CHO loading and POEOF; and 56 subjects formed the control group (CO), which was given usual care. The mean age was 49.5 ± 12.2 years (CHO-P) and 51.2 ± 11.9 years (CO). The trial found significant positive results which included shorter LPOHS (78.13 ± 33.05 vs. 99.49 ± 22.54 h); a lower readmission rate within one month PO (6% vs. 16%); lower weight loss (−0.3 ± 2.3 kg vs. −2.1 ± 2.3 kg); a lower C-reactive protein–albumin ratio (0.3 ± 1.2 vs. 1.1 ± 2.6); preserved muscle mass (0.4 ± 1.7 kg vs. −0.7 ± 2.6 kg); and better handgrip strength (0.6 ± 4.3 kg vs. −1.9 ± 4.7 kg) among CHO-P as compared with CO. However, there was no significant difference in mid-upper arm circumference and serum albumin level upon discharge. ERAS with preoperative whey protein-infused CHO loading and POEOF assured better PO outcomes.

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Effects of a Meal Replacement on Body Composition and Metabolic Parameters among Subjects with Overweight or Obesity

Journal of Obesity ◽

10.1155/2018/2837367 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Xiaohui Guo ◽

Yifan Xu ◽

Hairong He ◽

Hao Cai ◽

Jianfen Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Body Composition ◽

Total Energy ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Metabolic Parameters ◽

Control Group ◽

Meal Replacement ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Impact

Meal replacement plans are effective tools for weight loss and improvement of various clinical characteristics but not sustainable due to the severe energy restriction. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of meal replacement, specifically 388 kcal in total energy, on body composition and metabolic parameters in individuals with overweight and obesity from a Chinese population. A parallel, randomized controlled trial was performed with 174 participants (ChiCTR-OOC-17012000). The intervention group (N=86) was provided with a dinner meal replacement, and the control group (N=88) continued their routine diet as before. Body composition and blood parameters were assessed at 0, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. A post hoc analysis (least significant difference (LSD) test), repeated measurements, and pairedT-test were used to compare each variable within and between groups. Significant (p<0.001) improvements in body composition components were observed among the intervention group, including body weight (−4.3 ± 3.3%), body mass index (−4.3 ± 3.3%), waist circumference (−4.3 ± 4.4%), fat-free mass (−1.8 ± 2.9%), and body fat mass (−5.3 ± 8.8%). Body composition improvements corresponded with significant metabolic improvements of blood glucose (−4.7 ± 9.8%). Further improvements in visceral fat area (−7.7 ± 10.1%), accompanying with improvements in systolic (−3.7 ± 6.9%) and diastolic (−5.3 ± 7.7%) blood pressure, were only found in male subjects. To conclude, meal replacement intake with 388 kcal in total energy at dinner time for 12 weeks contributed to improvement in body composition and clinically significant metabolic parameters in both male and female participants with overweight/obesity. Additionally, glucose and blood pressure reduction were gender-specific highlighting the importance of gender stratification for design of nutritional intervention studies for improvement of health.

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The effect of interactive computer play on balance and functional abilities in children with moderate cerebral palsy: a pilot randomized study

Clinical Rehabilitation ◽

10.1177/0269215518821714 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 33 (4) ◽

pp. 704-710 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Tamis W Pin ◽

Penelope B Butler

Keyword(s):

Cerebral Palsy ◽

Motor Function ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Control Group ◽

Gross Motor ◽

Gross Motor Function ◽

Gross Motor Function Measure ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Function Measure

Objectives: To investigate the feasibility and potential efficacy of a six-week interactive computer play training on balance and gross motor function in children with moderate cerebral palsy. Design: A pilot single-blinded matched randomized controlled study. Setting: Community. Participants: In total, 18 children with moderate cerebral palsy were recruited, paired according to age and severity of cerebral palsy and randomized into intervention group or control group. Intervention: The intervention group received additional trunk control training using the interactive computer play in sitting four times per week, 20 minutes per session for six weeks. All study children continued their usual physiotherapy programme. Measurements: All study children were assessed at baseline, week 3, week 6 (completion of intervention) and week 12 using the Pediatric Reach Test, Gross Motor Function Measure–66-Item Set and 2-Minute Walk Test. Results: All intervention children completed and enjoyed the training with no reported adverse event. All children were assessed at all time points. No significant difference was found between the two groups in all assessments. In both groups of children, significant improvements were found in the Gross Motor Function Measure–66-Item Set between week 3 (intervention group: mean 53.41, SD 5.34; control group: mean 52.86, SD 8.33) and week 6 (intervention group: mean 55.00, SD 6.32; control group: mean 54.20, SD 8.35). Conclusion: The intervention protocol of a six-week interactive computer play training was feasible and safe for children with moderate cerebral palsy in special school settings. Future studies with larger sample sizes or using single-subject designs are recommended.

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Real Life Clinical Impact of Antimicrobial Stewardship Actions on the Blood Culture Workflow from a Microbiology Laboratory

Antibiotics ◽

10.3390/antibiotics10121511 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. 1511

Author(s):

Jose Maria López-Pintor ◽

Javier Sánchez-López ◽

Carolina Navarro-San Francisco ◽

Ana Maria Sánchez-Díaz ◽

Elena Loza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Culture ◽

Antimicrobial Susceptibility ◽

Susceptibility Testing ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Real Life ◽

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing ◽

Control Group ◽

Correct Treatment ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Impact

Background: Accelerating the diagnosis of bacteremia is one of the biggest challenges in clinical microbiology departments. The fast establishment of a correct treatment is determinant on bacteremic patients’ outcomes. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of antimicrobial therapy and clinical outcomes of a rapid blood culture workflow protocol in positive blood cultures with Gram-negative bacilli (GNB). Methods: A quasi-experimental before–after study was performed with two groups: (i) control group (conventional work-protocol) and (ii) intervention group (rapid workflow-protocol: rapid identification by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time-Of-Flight (MALDI-TOF) and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) from bacterial pellet without overnight incubation). Patients were divided into different categories according to the type of intervention over treatment. Outcomes were compared between both groups. Results: A total of 313 patients with GNB-bacteremia were included: 125 patients in the control group and 188 in the intervention. The time from positive blood culture to intervention on antibiotic treatment decreased from 2.0 days in the control group to 1.0 in the intervention group (p < 0.001). On the maintenance of correct empirical treatment, the control group reported 2.0 median days until the clinical decision, while in the intervention group was 1.0 (p < 0.001). In the case of treatment de-escalation, a significant difference between both groups (4.0 vs. 2.0, p < 0.001) was found. A decreasing trend on the change from inappropriate treatments to appropriate ones was observed: 3.5 vs. 1.5; p = 0.12. No significant differences were found between both groups on 7-days mortality or on readmissions in the first 30-days. Conclusions: Routine implementation of a rapid workflow protocol anticipates the report of antimicrobial susceptibility testing results in patients with GNB-bacteremia, decreasing the time to effective and optimal antibiotic therapy.

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A randomised controlled trial to evaluate a medication monitoring system for TB treatment

The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease ◽

10.5588/ijtld.21.0373 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 44-49

Author(s):

J. Acosta ◽

P. Flores ◽

M. Alarcón ◽

M. Grande-Ortiz ◽

L. Moreno-Exebio ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Controlled Trial ◽

Treatment Success ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Control Group ◽

Second Phase ◽

Open Label ◽

Pulmonary Tb ◽

Tb Treatment ◽

Significant Difference

BACKGROUND: Adherence to TB treatment and therefore treatment success could be improved using digital adherence technology.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a medication event reminder monitor system (MERM) on treatment success and treatment adherence in patients with drug-susceptible pulmonary TB in Perú.METHODS: This was an experimental, randomised, open-label, controlled study conducted among patients in the second phase of TB treatment. The intervention group received their medications through MERM with the support of a treatment monitor, whereas the control group used the usual strategy. Participants were followed until they completed the 54 doses of the second phase of treatment.RESULTS: The study included 53 patients in each group; four in the intervention group withdrew from the study. Treatment success was significantly more frequent in the MERM group (RR 1.15, 95% CI 1.02–1.30; P = 0.0322). There was no significant difference in the adherence outcomes; however, the percentage of patients who missed at least one dose and patients with more than 10% of total doses missed were lower in the intervention group.CONCLUSION: The use of MERM in the second phase of treatment showed a significant improvement in the treatment success rate in patients with drug-susceptible pulmonary TB.

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The impact of using BASNEF model on self-control behaviors among Patients with hypertension

Internal Medicine And Medical Investigation Journal ◽

10.24200/imminv.v3i3.127 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (3) ◽

pp. 112

Author(s):

Moradali Zareipour ◽

Mousa Ghelichi Ghojogh ◽

Masoumeh Mahdi-akhgar ◽

Sarvin Abbasi ◽

Nooshin Yoshany ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Self Control ◽

Control Group ◽

Validity And Reliability ◽

Important Public Health Problem ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Impact

Background: High blood pressure is the most important public health problem in developed countries. It is one reason for early mortality and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases like stroke and kidney failure. This study aimed to determine the effect of educational intervention based on BASNEF in blood pressure control in 1395.Methods and Materials: This study was a quasi-experimental study on 160 patients in two groups (each n = 80) suffering from hypertension in urban health centers of Urmia. Data collection questionnaire included: demographic questions, knowledge base questions, self-control behaviors questions and structures of BASNEF model. Validity and reliability were respectively 80% and 79%. Intervention group had taken three 45 minutes sessions using speeches, questions and answers, posters, booklets, pamphlets and whiteboard. Before training, information collected through questionnaires and after training questionnaires were completed again after 3 months. The data were analyzed in SPSS software with chi-square tests, Fisher, independent and paired sample t-test.Results: The average age of case and control group were 99.11 ± 01.56 and 75.12 ± 66.53 years. That there was no statistically significant difference (p=0.1). After intervention average systolic blood pressure significantly decreased in the intervention group from 43.157 to 24.147 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure significantly decreased from 21.93 to 52.87 mm Hg (P <0.05)Conclusion: The training program using BASNEF model has provided better results in controlling blood pressure than conventional trainings.

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The impact of a peer-based education on fruits and vegetables intake among housewives

Journal of Health Population and Nutrition ◽

10.1186/s41043-021-00278-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Roya Sheybani ◽

Zahra Hosseini ◽

Sayed Hossein Davoodi ◽

Teamur Aghamolaei ◽

Amin Ghanbarnejad

Keyword(s):

Self Efficacy ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Group Discussion ◽

Peer Education ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Evidence indicates the lower intake of fruits and vegetables than the recommended daily amount. Study aimed at determining the effects of peer education intervention on the consumption of fruits and vegetable in housewives. Methods A quasi-experimental was conducted with 130 housewives referring to health care centers in Bandar Abbas, Iran. Sixty-five subjects were recruited in each of the intervention and the control groups. Intervention group were divided into three subgroups each receiving a seven-sessions educational programs (lecturing and group discussion) through peers about the importance of benefits of fruits and vegetables consumption. Participants were followed for two months. Data were collected using a questionnaire in two stages of pre- and post-intervention. Differences in the outcome before and after the intervention were tested using T-test and paired T-test. Results The daily servings of fruits and vegetables in the intervention group increased from 1.73 to 4.20 and in the control group from 1.96 to 2.16; a statistically significant difference was also observed between the groups (P < 0.001). After the intervention benefits and self-efficacy of fruits and vegetables consumption significantly increased and perceived barriers of fruits and vegetables consumption significantly decreased in the intervention group (P < 0.001). Conclusion Peer education improves benefits and self-efficacy, reduces barriers, and increases the daily servings of fruits and vegetables in housewives.

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