scholarly journals Developing a Digital Marketplace for Family Planning: Pilot Randomized Encouragement Trial (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric P Green ◽  
Arun Augustine ◽  
Violet Naanyu ◽  
Anna-Karin Hess ◽  
Lulla Kiwinda
Keyword(s):  
Family Planning ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Treatment Group ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Unmet Need ◽  
Average Treatment Effect ◽  
Western Kenya ◽  
To Receive

BACKGROUND Family planning is an effective tool for preventing death among women who do not want to become pregnant and has been shown to improve newborn health outcomes, advance women’s empowerment, and bring socioeconomic benefits through reductions in fertility and population growth. Yet among the populations that would benefit the most from family planning, uptake remains too low. The emergence of digital health tools has created new opportunities to strengthen health systems and promote behavior change. In this study, women with an unmet need for family planning in Western Kenya were randomized to receive an encouragement to try an automated investigational digital health intervention that promoted the uptake of family planning. OBJECTIVE The objectives of the pilot study were to explore the feasibility of a full-scale trial—in particular, the recruitment, encouragement, and follow-up data collection procedures—and to examine the preliminary effect of the intervention on contraception uptake. METHODS This pilot study tested the procedures for a randomized encouragement trial. We recruited 112 women with an unmet need for family planning from local markets in Western Kenya, conducted an eligibility screening, and randomized half of the women to receive an encouragement to try the investigational intervention. Four months after encouraging the treatment group, we conducted a follow-up survey with enrolled participants via short message service (SMS) text message. RESULTS The encouragement sent via SMS text messages to the treatment group led to differential rates of intervention uptake between the treatment and control groups; however, uptake by the treatment group was lower than anticipated (19/56, 33.9% vs 1/56, 1.8%, in the control group). Study attrition was also substantial. We obtained follow-up data from 44.6% (50/112) of enrolled participants. Among those in the treatment group who tried the intervention, the instrumental variables estimate of the local average treatment effect was an increase in the probability of contraceptive uptake of 41.0 percentage points (95% uncertainty interval −0.03 to 0.85). CONCLUSIONS This randomized encouragement design and study protocol is feasible but requires modifications to the recruitment, encouragement, and follow-up data collection procedures. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03224390; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03224390 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/70yitdJu8)

A Pilot Study of Mobile Telephone Message Interventions with Suicide Attempters in China

Crisis ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Chen ◽  
Brian L. Mishara ◽  
Xiao Xian Liu
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Mobile Telephone ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Quick Method ◽  
Suicide Attempters ◽  
To Receive

Background: In China, where follow-up with hospitalized attempters is generally lacking, there is a great need for inexpensive and effective means of maintaining contact and decreasing recidivism. Aims: Our objective was to test whether mobile telephone message contacts after discharge would be feasible and acceptable to suicide attempters in China. Methods: Fifteen participants were recruited from suicide attempters seen in the Emergency Department in Wuhan, China, to participate in a pilot study to receive mobile telephone messages after discharge. All participants have access to a mobile telephone, and there is no charge for the user to receive text messages. Results: Most participants (12) considered the text message contacts an acceptable and useful form of help and would like to continue to receive them for a longer period of time. Conclusions: This suggests that, as a low-cost and quick method of intervention in areas where more intensive follow-up is not practical or available, telephone messages contacts are accessible, feasible, and acceptable to suicide attempters. We hope that this will inspire future research on regular and long-term message interventions to prevent recidivism in suicide attempters.

Preferred versus Nonpreferred Treatment, and Self-Control Training versus Determination Raising as Treatments of Obesity: A Pilot Study

1976 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 191-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. C. Murray
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Treatment Group ◽  
Self Control ◽  
The Other ◽  
Significant Weight Loss ◽  
Overweight Women

Of 12 overweight women half received 10 wk. of self-control training and the rest received an equal period aimed at increasing determination to lose weight. Half of each treatment group had expressed a preference for the type of treatment they received and half for the other type of treatment. Both groups lost a statistically significant amount of weight, and at a 3-mo. follow-up there was still a significant weight loss. Follow-up at 6 mo. on 9 of the 12 original subjects indicated both groups regained much of their lost weight. There was no evidence that either type of treatment or receiving one's preferred type of treatment was related to weight loss.

Acupuncture for symptoms management in Korean breast cancer survivors: a prospective pilot study

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 164-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tae-Hun Kim ◽  
Jung Won Kang
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Unmet Need ◽  
Symptomatic Treatment ◽  
Common Symptom ◽  
Specific Outcome ◽  
Acupuncture Research

Background: There is an unmet need for effective treatment of the various treatment-related symptoms experienced by breast cancer survivors. These symptoms could be alleviated by acupuncture. Although several lines of evidence in Western countries suggest that acupuncture has a beneficial effect on symptoms in breast cancer survivors, few relevant studies have been conducted in Korean patients. This pilot study assessed the feasibility of acupuncture for a variety of treatment-related symptoms in Korean breast cancer survivors. Method: From October 2015 to March 2016, we recruited patients who had undergone treatment for breast cancer and subsequently reported symptoms, including aromatase inhibitor-related knee pain, vasomotor symptoms, insomnia, sexual dysfunction and post-mastectomy pain in the chest wall or shoulder. The women received 4 weeks of symptom-specific acupuncture followed by a further 4 weeks of follow-up to evaluate the feasibility of acupuncture for this indication, and its impact on common and symptom-specific outcome variables. Results: Eight study participants were recruited over a period of 6 months, six of whom completed the planned acupuncture treatment and follow-up assessments. A total of 78 acupuncture sessions were performed. We found that acupuncture was feasible, with only six minor self-limiting acupuncture-related adverse events. Most of the women felt that they had benefitted from participation in the study. The preliminary analysis indicated improvement in common symptom-specific outcomes. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that acupuncture is feasible, but low recruitment rates should be considered when considering future acupuncture research in Korean breast cancer survivors. Rigorous evaluation of this symptomatic treatment strategy is now needed in the Korean population.

scholarly journals Immediate post placental insertion of intrauterine contraceptive device at caesarean delivery: a prospective study

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 2244
Author(s):  
Sravani Mukka ◽  
Madhavi Y.
Keyword(s):  
Family Planning ◽  
Prospective Study ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Unmet Need ◽  
Intrauterine Contraceptive Device ◽  
Efficacy Rate ◽  
Contraceptive Device ◽  
Intrauterine Contraceptive ◽  
A Prospective Study

Background: In India almost 65% of the women have an unmet need for family planning in the first postpartum year. Increasing rates of institutional deliveries creates an opportunity for providing quality post-partum family planning services. Post-partum Intrauterine contraceptive device (PPIUCD), a form of long acting reversible contraception (LARC) is one of the most affective and safest method available. The present study aims at evaluating the safety, efficacy, rate of acceptance and rate of discontinuation of Intra caesarean inserted contraceptive device Copper T-380A.Methods: This was a prospective study conducted at ESIC Medical College, Sanathnagar in women delivered by caesarean section during the period between March 2018 to February 2019. Recruitment was done based on the WHO medical eligibility criteria (MEC) for PPIUCD and also their willingness to participate in the study. Follow-up visits were scheduled at 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months.Results: Of the 265 women fulfilling the WHO MEC, 180 (67.92%) were willing to participate in the study. Total acceptance rate was 67.7%. Majority of them belonged to the age group 21-30 years (80%) and para 2 (53.88). 93.3% of the women were literates. 12 (6.66%) cases lost to follow up and the complications were studied in the rest 168 women. During follow up -38.69% had missing strings, 12.5% menstrual disturbances, 4.76% abdominal pain and spontaneous expulsion in 4.1%. No cases of perforation and pregnancy were reported. Total continuation rate was 84%.Conclusions: PPIUCD is a safe and convenient option of contraception with low expulsion rates and high continuation rates.

scholarly journals Study on post partum intrauterine contraceptive device practices and causes for discontinuation of PPIUCD at follow up in a tertiary hospital

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 2299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radhika Chethan ◽  
Anitha G. S. ◽  
Savitha C.
Keyword(s):  
Family Planning ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Unmet Need ◽  
Tertiary Hospital ◽  
Contraceptive Device ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Reversible Method ◽  
Planning Methods ◽  
The Government

Background: Post partum contraception is the best evidence based intervention in prevention of pregnancy and abortion related maternal morbidity and mortality in the developing countries. The unmet need for contraception among women in the postpartum period can be effectively fulfilled by post partum insertion of IUCD, in a single visit under the Government scheme of providing free maternity services during institutional delivery. Despite optimal efforts by family planning program, very few couples are opting for spacing methods and lack of awareness has resulted in discontinuation of family planning methods particularly PPIUCD. This study is designed to study the practices of PPIUCD and causes for discontinuation at follow up in our hospital. The objectives of the study were study PPIUCD practices at Vanivilas hospital; causes for discontinuation of PPIUCD.Methods: Prospective study done at Vanivilas hospital attached to Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute from January 2014 to December 2014. Women admitted and delivered at VVH, were counselled. CuT 380A was inserted in accepters who fulfilled the Medical Eligibility Criteria and had no contraindications for PPIUCD. They were followed up till June 2016.Results: There were 2072 PPIUCD insertions in one year, out of which 1244 were post placental, 139 were in immediate postpartum and 689 were intra caesarean insertions. Fifty four (54) women discontinued PPIUCD during follow up .Main causes for removal were menstrual abnormalities (19), pain abdomen (13), wanting sterilisation procedure (12) and marital disharmony.Conclusions: PPIUCD is an effective, safe, reversible method of long term contraception with high reported expulsion and low perforation rate, compared to interval insertion. More research is needed in the field of PPIUCD to enhance awareness and acceptance in the community. Awareness and counselling the eligible couples during ante natal care can improve acceptance and compliance of PPIUCD continuation rates.

scholarly journals Digitalizing a Brief Intervention to Reduce Intrusive Memories of Psychological Trauma for Health Care Staff Working During COVID-19: Exploratory Pilot Study With Nurses (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Singh ◽  
Marie Kanstrup ◽  
Katherine Depa ◽  
Ann-Charlotte Falk ◽  
Veronica Lindström ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Traumatic Events ◽  
Psychological Trauma ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Health Care Staff ◽  
Intrusive Memories

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the worldwide need for simple remotely delivered (digital) scalable interventions that can also be used preventatively to protect the mental health of health care staff exposed to psychologically traumatic events during their COVID-19–related work. We have developed a brief behavioral intervention that aims to reduce the number of intrusive memories of traumatic events but has only been delivered face-to-face so far. After digitalizing the intervention materials, the intervention was delivered digitally to target users (health care staff) for the first time. The adaption for staff’s working context in a hospital setting used a co-design approach. OBJECTIVE The aims of this mixed method exploratory pilot study with health care staff who experienced working in the pandemic were to pilot the intervention that we have digitalized (for remote delivery and with remote support) and adapted for this target population (health care staff working clinically during a pandemic) to explore its ability to reduce the number of intrusive memories of traumatic events and improve related symptoms (eg, posttraumatic stress) and participant’s perception of their functioning, and to explore the feasibility and acceptability of both the digitalized intervention and digitalized data collection. METHODS We worked closely with target users with lived experience of working clinically during the COVID-19 pandemic in a hospital context (registered nurses who experienced intrusive memories from traumatic events at work; N=3). We used a mixed method design and exploratory quantitative and qualitative analysis. RESULTS After completing the digitalized intervention once with remote researcher support (approximately 25 minutes) and a brief follow-up check-in, participants learned to use the intervention independently. All 3 participants reported zero intrusive memories during week 5 (primary outcome: 100% digital data capture). Prior to study inclusion, two or more intrusions in the week were reported preintervention (assessed retrospectively). There was a general pattern of symptom reduction and improvement in perceived functioning (eg, concentration) at follow-up. The digitalized intervention and data collection were perceived as feasible and rated as acceptable (eg, all 3 participants would recommend it to a colleague). Participants were positive toward the digital intervention as a useful tool that could readily be incorporated into work life and repeated in the face of ongoing or repeated trauma exposure. CONCLUSIONS The intervention when delivered remotely and adapted for this population during the pandemic was well received by participants. Since it could be tailored around work and daily life and used preventatively, the intervention may hold promise for health care staff pending future evaluations of efficacy. Limitations include the small sample size, lack of daily intrusion frequency data in the week before the intervention, and lack of a control condition. Following this co-design process in adapting and improving intervention delivery and evaluation, the next step is to investigate the efficacy of the digitalized intervention in a randomized controlled trial.

scholarly journals The Effect of Improved Access to Family Planning on Postpartum Women: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahesh Karra ◽  
David Canning
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Family Planning ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Contraceptive Use ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Birth Spacing ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Causal Impact

BACKGROUND The World Health Organization recommends that a woman waits at least 24 months after a live birth before getting pregnant again; however, an estimated 25% of birth intervals in low-income countries do not meet this recommendation for adequate birth spacing, and the unmet need for postpartum family planning (PPFP) services is high. Few randomized controlled trials have assessed the causal impact of access to PPFP services, and even fewer evaluations have investigated how such interventions may affect postpartum contraceptive use, birth spacing, and measures of health and well-being. OBJECTIVE This protocol paper aims to describe a randomized controlled trial that is being conducted to identify the causal impact of an intervention to improve access to PPFP services on contraceptive use, pregnancy, and birth spacing in urban Malawi. The causal effect of the intervention will be determined by comparing outcomes for respondents who are randomly assigned to an intervention arm against outcomes for respondents who are randomly assigned to a control arm. METHODS Married women aged 18-35 years who were either pregnant or had recently given birth were randomly assigned to either the intervention arm or control arm. Women assigned to the intervention arm received a package of services over a 2-year intervention period. Services included a brochure and up to 6 home visits from trained family planning counselors; free transportation to a high-quality family planning clinic; and financial reimbursement for family planning services, consultations, and referrals for services. Two follow-up surveys were conducted 1 and 2 years after the baseline survey. RESULTS A total of 2143 women were randomly assigned to either the intervention arm (n=1026) or the control arm (n=1117). Data collection for the first follow-up survey began in August 2017 and was completed in February 2018. A total of 1773 women, or 82.73% of women who were eligible for follow-up, were successfully contacted and reinterviewed at the first follow-up. Data collection for the second follow-up survey began in August 2018 and was completed in February 2019. A total of 1669 women, or 77.88% of women who were eligible for follow-up, were successfully contacted and reinterviewed at the second follow-up. The analysis of the primary outcomes is ongoing and is expected to be completed in 2021. CONCLUSIONS The results of this trial seek to fill the current knowledge gaps in the effectiveness of family planning interventions on improving fertility and health outcomes. The findings also show that the benefits of improving access to family planning are likely to extend beyond the fertility and health domain by improving other measures of women’s well-being. CLINICALTRIAL American Economics Association Registry Trial Number AEARCTR-0000697; https://www.socialscienceregistry.org/trials/697 Registry for International Development Impact Evaluations (RIDIE) Trial Number RIDIE-STUDY-ID-556784ed86956; https://ridie.3ieimpact.org/index.php?r=search/detailView&id=320 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT DERR1-10.2196/16697

scholarly journals Twitter-Based Social Support Added to Fitbit Self-Monitoring for Decreasing Sedentary Behavior: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial With Female Patients From a Women’s Heart Clinic (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marily Oppezzo ◽  
Jennifer Tremmel ◽  
Manisha Desai ◽  
Michael Baiocchi ◽  
Danielle Ramo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Treatment Group ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Change Strategies ◽  
Self Monitoring

BACKGROUND Prolonged sitting is an independent risk behavior for the development of chronic disease. With most interventions focusing on physical activity and exercise, there is a separate need for investigation into innovative and accessible interventions to decrease sedentary behavior throughout the day. Twitter is a social media platform with application for health communications and fostering of social support for health behavior change. OBJECTIVE This pilot study aims to test the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of delivering daily behavior change strategies within private Twitter groups to foster peer-to-peer support and decrease sedentary behavior throughout the day in women. The Twitter group was combined with a Fitbit for self-monitoring activity and compared to a Fitbit-only control group. METHODS In a 2-group design, participants were randomized to a Twitter + Fitbit treatment group or a Fitbit-only control group. Participants were recruited via the Stanford Research Repository System, screened for eligibility, and then invited to an orientation session. After providing informed consent, they were randomized. All participants received 13 weeks of tailored weekly step goals and a Fitbit. The treatment group participants, placed in a private Twitter support group, received daily automated behavior change “tweets” informed by theory and regular automated encouragement via text to communicate with the group. Fitbit data were collected daily throughout the treatment and follow-up period. Web-based surveys and accelerometer data were collected at baseline, treatment end (13 weeks), and at 8.5 weeks after the treatment. RESULTS The initial study design funding was obtained from the Women’s Heart Clinic and the Stanford Clayman Institute. Funding to run this pilot study was received from the National Institutes of Health’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute under Award Number K01HL136702. All procedures were approved by Stanford University’s Institutional Review Board, #32127 in 2018, prior to beginning data collection. Recruitment for this study was conducted in May 2019. Of the 858 people screened, 113 met the eligibility criteria, 68 came to an information session, and 45 consented to participate in this pilot study. One participant dropped out of the intervention, and complete follow-up data were obtained from 39 of the 45 participants (87% of the sample). Data were collected over 6 months from June to December 2019. Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy results are being analyzed and will be reported in the winter of 2021. CONCLUSIONS This pilot study is assessing the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of delivering behavior change strategies in a Twitter social support group to decrease sedentary behavior in women. These findings will inform a larger evaluation. With an accessible, tailorable, and flexible platform, Twitter-delivered interventions offer potential for many treatment variations and titrations, thereby testing the effects of different behavior change strategies, peer-group makeups, and health behaviors of interest. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02958189, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02958189 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT DERR1-10.2196/20926

scholarly journals The Effect of Improved Access to Family Planning on Postpartum Women: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

10.2196/16697 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. e16697
Author(s):  
Mahesh Karra ◽  
David Canning
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Family Planning ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Contraceptive Use ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Birth Spacing ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Causal Impact

Background The World Health Organization recommends that a woman waits at least 24 months after a live birth before getting pregnant again; however, an estimated 25% of birth intervals in low-income countries do not meet this recommendation for adequate birth spacing, and the unmet need for postpartum family planning (PPFP) services is high. Few randomized controlled trials have assessed the causal impact of access to PPFP services, and even fewer evaluations have investigated how such interventions may affect postpartum contraceptive use, birth spacing, and measures of health and well-being. Objective This protocol paper aims to describe a randomized controlled trial that is being conducted to identify the causal impact of an intervention to improve access to PPFP services on contraceptive use, pregnancy, and birth spacing in urban Malawi. The causal effect of the intervention will be determined by comparing outcomes for respondents who are randomly assigned to an intervention arm against outcomes for respondents who are randomly assigned to a control arm. Methods Married women aged 18-35 years who were either pregnant or had recently given birth were randomly assigned to either the intervention arm or control arm. Women assigned to the intervention arm received a package of services over a 2-year intervention period. Services included a brochure and up to 6 home visits from trained family planning counselors; free transportation to a high-quality family planning clinic; and financial reimbursement for family planning services, consultations, and referrals for services. Two follow-up surveys were conducted 1 and 2 years after the baseline survey. Results A total of 2143 women were randomly assigned to either the intervention arm (n=1026) or the control arm (n=1117). Data collection for the first follow-up survey began in August 2017 and was completed in February 2018. A total of 1773 women, or 82.73% of women who were eligible for follow-up, were successfully contacted and reinterviewed at the first follow-up. Data collection for the second follow-up survey began in August 2018 and was completed in February 2019. A total of 1669 women, or 77.88% of women who were eligible for follow-up, were successfully contacted and reinterviewed at the second follow-up. The analysis of the primary outcomes is ongoing and is expected to be completed in 2021. Conclusions The results of this trial seek to fill the current knowledge gaps in the effectiveness of family planning interventions on improving fertility and health outcomes. The findings also show that the benefits of improving access to family planning are likely to extend beyond the fertility and health domain by improving other measures of women’s well-being. Trial Registration American Economics Association Registry Trial Number AEARCTR-0000697; https://www.socialscienceregistry.org/trials/697 Registry for International Development Impact Evaluations (RIDIE) Trial Number RIDIE-STUDY-ID-556784ed86956; https://ridie.3ieimpact.org/index.php?r=search/detailView&id=320 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/16697

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