scholarly journals Effectiveness of Psychosocial School Interventions in Finnish Schools for Refugee and Immigrant Children, “Refugees Well School” in Finland (RWS-FI): A Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reeta Kankaanpää ◽  
Sanni Aalto ◽  
Mervi Vänskä ◽  
Riina Lepistö ◽  
Raija-Leena Punamäki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Prosocial Behavior ◽  
Behavioral Treatment ◽  
Immigrant Students ◽  
Preventive Intervention ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
School Interventions ◽  
Targeted Interventions

Abstract Background Schools are considered as natural environments to enhance students’ social-emotional skills in general and mental health and affiliation among students with refugee and immigrant background. A layered or tiered provision of services are recommended as they can be effective to meet the needs of war-affected adolescents’ who variably show posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The current study tests the effectiveness of multi-layered interventions integrating targeted cognitive-behavioral treatment-based TRT (Teaching Recovery Techniques), a class-room focused preventive intervention PIER (Peer Integration and Enhancement Resources), and a whole school psychoeducative teacher-led intervention INSETT (In Service Teacher Training) in enhancing the wellbeing of children in their school environments. We analyze first, whether the interventions are effective in decreasing symptoms of PTSD and psychological distress and increasing positive resources i.e. prosocial behavior and resilience among refugees and immigrant students. Second, we analyze which student-, school- and parent-related factors mediate the possible beneficial changes, and third, we look at which groups benefit the interventions most. Methods A three-arm cluster RCT with parallel assignment, with approximately 1:1 allocation ratio, is applied among 16 schools that agreed to participate in the Refugees Well School interventions and effectiveness study. Schools were randomized to three conditions of two active interventions and a waiting-list control condition. Students, their parents, and teachers in intervention and control schools participate at baseline before the interventions, after the interventions, and at 6 to 12 months after the interventions. The primary effectiveness criterion variables are psychological distress (SDQ) symptoms, resilience (CYRM-12), executive functioning (AEFI) and prosocial behavior (SDQ). PTSD (CRIES-8) symptoms are used as outcome variable in one of the interventions (TRT). Discussion The current study provides a recommended universal approach of layered interventions aiming to reduce psychological distress and increase resilience among migrated students. Combination of promotive, preventive and targeted interventions may offer a holistic, ecological intervention package for schools to better address the needs of the whole group. Trial registration: ISRCTN, identifier: ISRCTN64245549. Registered 10. June 2020. Retrospectively registered, http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN64245549

Association of demographic and work-related factors with psychological distress among oil workers in Kuwait

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Al-Adsani ◽  
K. Khudadah ◽  
H. Ali ◽  
O. Booz ◽  
M. Moussa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Oil Workers

scholarly journals A Multi-Domain Group-Based Intervention to Promote Physical Activity, Healthy Nutrition and Psychological Wellbeing in Older People with Losses in Intrinsic Capacity: AMICOPE Development Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 5979
Author(s):  
Sergi Blancafort Alias ◽  
César Cuevas-Lara ◽  
Nicolás Martínez-Velilla ◽  
Fabricio Zambom-Ferraresi ◽  
Maria Eugenia Soto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older People ◽  
Preventive Intervention ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Development ◽  
World Health ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
Healthy Nutrition ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Intrinsic Capacity

The World Health Organization has developed the Integrated Care of Older People (ICOPE) strategy, a program based on the measurement of intrinsic capacity (IC) as “the composite of all physical and mental attributes on which an individual can draw”. Multicomponent interventions appear to be the most effective approach to enhance IC and to prevent frailty and disability since adapted physical activity is the preventive intervention that has shown the most evidence in the treatment of frailty and risk of falls. Our paper describes the development of a multi-domain group-based intervention addressed to older people living in the community, aimed at improving and/or maintaining intrinsic capacity by means of promoting physical activity, healthy nutrition, and psychological wellbeing in older people. The process of intervention development is described following the Guidance for reporting intervention development studies in health research (GUIDED). The result of this study is the AMICOPE intervention (Aptitude Multi-domain group-based intervention to improve and/or maintain IC in Older PEople) built upon the ICOPE framework and described following the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) guidelines. The intervention consists of 12 face-to-face sessions held weekly for 2.5 h over three months and facilitated by a pair of health and social care professionals. This study represents the first stage of the UK Medical Research Council framework for developing and evaluating a complex intervention. The next step should be carrying out a feasibility study for the AMICOPE intervention and, at a later stage, assessing the effectiveness in a randomized controlled trial.

scholarly journals An internet-based self-help intervention for people with psychological distress due to COVID-19: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Noemi Anja Brog ◽  
Julia Katharina Hegy ◽  
Thomas Berger ◽  
Hansjörg Znoj
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
The Self ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Parallel Group ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

Abstract Background The coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) has reached pandemic status and is affecting countries all over the world. The COVID-19 pandemic is accompanied by various stressors that require adjustment in everyday life and possibly changes in personal future prospects. While some individuals cope well with these challenges, some develop psychological distress including depressive symptoms, anxiety, or stress. Internet-based self-help interventions have proven to be effective in the treatment of various mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. Based on that, we developed an internet-based self-help program for individuals with psychological distress due to the situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The 3-week self-help program consists of 6 modules comprising texts, videos, figures, and exercises. Participants can request guidance within the self-help program (guidance on demand). The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of the self-help program compared to a waiting control condition. Methods The design is a parallel group randomized controlled trial. Participants are allocated to a 3-week self-help intervention plus care as usual or a 3-week waiting period with only care as usual. There are follow-ups after 6 weeks and 18 weeks. At least 80 participants with COVID-19 pandemic related psychological distress will be recruited. Primary outcome are depressive symptoms. Secondary outcomes include anxiety and chronic stress, suicidal experiences and behavior, health-related quality of life, generalized optimism and pessimism, embitterment, optimistic self-beliefs, emotion regulation skills, loneliness, resilience, and the satisfaction with and usability of the self-help program. Discussion To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the first studies investigating the efficacy of an internet-based self-help program for psychological distress due to the situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, the results of this study may give further insight into the use of internet-based self-help programs in pandemic-related psychological distress. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04380909. Retrospectively registered on 8 May 2020.

scholarly journals Clinical efficacy of scaling and root planing with and without metronidazole on glycemic control: three-arm randomized controlled trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ambrina Qureshi ◽  
Syed Akhtar Hussain Bokhari ◽  
Zeba Haque ◽  
Akhtar Ali Baloch ◽  
Sidra Zaheer
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Glycemic Control ◽  
Clinical Efficacy ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Test Group ◽  
Periodontal Pocket ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Scaling And Root Planing ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Root Planing

Abstract Background Treating periodontitis through non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) may improve glycemic control in type-2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients. However, the evidence to maintain this improvement beyond four months is insufficient. Hence, this trial was conducted to assess clinical efficacy of NSPT on glycemic control in T2DM patients. Methods This three-arm randomized controlled trial recruited 150 known T2DM participants (35–65 years), suffering from moderate to severe periodontitis, having HbA1c level ≥ 6.5% at baseline. Participants were followed up at 3 and 6 months. Intervention for test group-1 included scaling and root planing (SRP) with metronidazole (MET) and oral hygiene instructions (OHI). Test group-2 was intervened with SRP + OHI and control group with OHI only. Stata v. 14 was used to observe inter and intragroup mean changes in glycemic [glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose (FBG)] and periodontal variables [bleeding on probing (BOP), periodontal pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment loss (CAL)] using ANOVA and RMANOVA. Proportion of change in outcome variable (HbA1c) was assessed between treatment groups using chi-square test. Change was considered significant at p-value ≤ 0.05. Results A significant reduction was observed in BOP, PPD, CAL, HbA1c and FBG over time [p < 0.05]. Significant reductions were observed in same variables in both test groups in comparison to control arm [p < 0.05]. No change between the two test groups was observed [p > 0.05]. Conclusion Scaling and root planing improves glycemic control of T2DM patients independently of the use of MET. Therefore, SRP after every 6 months may be suggested and included as a part of overall diabetes management for patients suffering from T2DM. Clinical trial registration NCT 03,343,366 [Date of Registration: 17/11/2017]

scholarly journals Development of a prognostic tool: based on risk factors for tooth loss after active periodontal therapy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonja Rahim-Wöstefeld ◽  
Dorothea Kronsteiner ◽  
Shirin ElSayed ◽  
Nihad ElSayed ◽  
Peter Eickholz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Tooth Loss ◽  
Treatment Plan ◽  
Periodontal Therapy ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Individual Treatment ◽  
Risk Indicator ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Prognostic Tool

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to develop a prognostic tool to estimate long-term tooth retention in periodontitis patients at the beginning of active periodontal therapy (APT). Material and methods Tooth-related factors (type, location, bone loss (BL), infrabony defects, furcation involvement (FI), abutment status), and patient-related factors (age, gender, smoking, diabetes, plaque control record) were investigated in patients who had completed APT 10 years before. Descriptive analysis was performed, and a generalized linear-mixed model-tree was used to identify predictors for the main outcome variable tooth loss. To evaluate goodness-of-fit, the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated using cross-validation. A bootstrap approach was used to robustly identify risk factors while avoiding overfitting. Results Only a small percentage of teeth was lost during 10 years of supportive periodontal therapy (SPT; 0.15/year/patient). The risk factors abutment function, diabetes, and the risk indicator BL, FI, and age (≤ 61 vs. > 61) were identified to predict tooth loss. The prediction model reached an AUC of 0.77. Conclusion This quantitative prognostic model supports data-driven decision-making while establishing a treatment plan in periodontitis patients. In light of this, the presented prognostic tool may be of supporting value. Clinical relevance In daily clinical practice, a quantitative prognostic tool may support dentists with data-based decision-making. However, it should be stressed that treatment planning is strongly associated with the patient’s wishes and adherence. The tool described here may support establishment of an individual treatment plan for periodontally compromised patients.

scholarly journals Factors associated with serious psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: a nationwide cross-sectional internet-based study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. e051115
Author(s):  
Takashi Yoshioka ◽  
Ryo Okubo ◽  
Takahiro Tabuchi ◽  
Satomi Odani ◽  
Tomohiro Shinozaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Income Level ◽  
Economic Situation ◽  
Serious Psychological Distress ◽  
Sampling Weights ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Caregiving Burden ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Factors Associated

ObjectiveTo investigate the factors associated with serious psychological distress (SPD) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.DesignNationwide cross-sectional study using survey data.SettingInternet survey using sampling weights for national estimates conducted between 25 August and 30 September 2020 in Japan.ExposuresDemographics (age, gender), socioeconomic status (income level, employment type, educational attainment, marital status, family composition and caregiving burden); the experience of domestic violence (DV), the state of emergency and fear of and stigma related to COVID-19.Main outcome measuresPrevalence of SPD, defined as Kessler 6 Scale score ≥13.ResultsAmong 25 482 respondents, 10.0% met the criteria of SPD. Overall, women (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.59; 95% CI 1.17 to 2.16; p=0.003), ages 15–29 (aOR 2.35 compared with ages 45–59 years; 95% CI 1.64 to 3.38; p<0.001), low-income level (aOR 1.70 compared with intermediate income; 95% CI 1.16 to 2.49; p=0.007), providing caregiving to family members (aOR 5.48; 95% CI 3.51 to 8.56; p<0.001), experiencing DV (aOR 5.72; 95% CI 3.81 to 8.59; p<0.001) and fear of COVID-19 (aOR 1.96; 95% CI 1.55 to 2.48; p<0.001) were associated with SPD. Among women aged 15–29 years, who have a higher risk of suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, caregiving, DV, fear of COVID-19 and COVID-19-related stigma were associated with SPD.ConclusionsEconomic situation, caregiving burden, DV and fear of COVID-19 were independently associated with SPD during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among young women, similar factors, except economic situation, were associated with SPD. Targeted interventions based on age and gender may be more effective in mitigating the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the population’s mental health.

scholarly journals The effect of sleep-wake intraindividial variability in digital cognitive behaviour therapy for insomnia: A mediation analysis of a large-scale RCT

SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilie L Vestergaard ◽  
Øystein Vedaa ◽  
Melanie R Simpson ◽  
Patrick Faaland ◽  
Daniel Vethe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Sleep Onset ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Sleep Onset Latency ◽  
Composite Measures ◽  
Cognitive Behaviour ◽  
Insomnia Severity

Abstract Study Objectives Digital Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (dCBT-I) is an effective treatment for insomnia. However, less is known about mediators of its benefits. The aim of the present study was to test if intraindividual variability in sleep (IIV) was reduced with dCBT-I, and whether any identified reduction was a mediator of dCBT-I on insomnia severity and psychological distress. Methods In a two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT), 1720 adults with insomnia (dCBT-I = 867; patient education about sleep = 853) completed the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and sleep diaries, at baseline and 9-week follow-up. Changes in IIV were analysed using linear mixed modelling followed by mediation analyses of ISI, HADS, and IIV in singular sleep metrics and composite measures (Behavioural Indices (BI-Z) and Sleep-disturbance Indices (SI-Z)). Results dCBT-I was associated with reduced IIV across all singular sleep metrics, with the largest between-group effect sizes observed for sleep onset latency (SOL). Reduced IIV for SOL and wake after sleep onset had the overall greatest singular mediating effect. For composite measures, SI-Z mediated change in ISI (b = -0.74; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) -1.04 to -0.52; 13.3%) and HADS (b = -0.40; 95% CI -0.73 to -0.18; 29.2%), whilst BI-Z mediated minor changes. Conclusion Reductions in IIV in key sleep metrics mediate significant changes in insomnia severity and especially psychological distress when using dCBT-I. These findings offer important evidence regarding the therapeutic action of dCBT-I and may guide the future development of this intervention.

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