Resilience@Work Mindfulness Program: Results From a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial With First Responders (Preprint)

BACKGROUND A growing body of research suggests that resilience training can play a pivotal role in creating mentally healthy workplaces, particularly with regard to protecting the long-term well-being of workers. Emerging research describes positive outcomes from various types of resilience training programs (RTPs) among different occupational groups. One specific group of workers that may benefit from this form of proactive resilience training is first responders. Given the nature of their work, first responders are frequently exposed to stressful circumstances and potentially traumatic events, which may impact their overall resilience and well-being over time. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to examine whether a mindfulness-based RTP (the Resilience@Work [RAW] Mindfulness Program) delivered via the internet can effectively enhance resilience among a group of high-risk workers. METHODS We conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) comprising 24 Primary Fire and Rescue and Hazmat stations within New South Wales. Overall, 12 stations were assigned to the 6-session RAW Mindfulness Program and 12 stations were assigned to the control condition. A total of 143 active full-time firefighters enrolled in the study. Questionnaires were administered at baseline, immediately post training, and at 6-month follow-up. Measurements examined change in both adaptive and bounce-back resilience as well as several secondary outcomes examining resilience resources and acceptance and mindfulness skills. RESULTS Mixed-model repeated measures analysis found that the overall test of group-by-time interaction was significant (P=.008), with the intervention group increasing in adaptive resilience over time. However, no significant differences were found between the intervention group and the control group in terms of change in bounce-back resilience (P=.09). At 6-month follow-up, the group receiving the RAW intervention had an average increase in their resilience score of 1.3, equating to a moderate-to-large effect size compared with the control group of 0.73 (95% CI 0.38-1.06). Per-protocol analysis found that compared with the control group, the greatest improvements in adaptive resilience were observed among those who completed most of the RAW program, that is, 5 to 6 sessions (P=.002). CONCLUSIONS The results of this RCT suggest that mindfulness-based resilience training delivered in an internet format can create improvements in adaptive resilience and related resources among high-risk workers, such as first responders. Despite a number of limitations, the results of this study suggest that the RAW Mindfulness Program is an effective, scalable, and practical means of delivering online resilience training in high-risk workplace settings. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a mindfulness-based RTP delivered entirely via the internet has been tested in the workplace. CLINICALTRIAL Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12615000574549; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=368296 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/75w4xtrpw).

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An App-Based Intervention for Caregivers to Prevent Unintentional Injury Among Preschoolers: Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

JMIR mhealth and uhealth ◽

10.2196/13519 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (8) ◽

pp. e13519 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Peishan Ning ◽

Peixia Cheng ◽

David C Schwebel ◽

Yang Yang ◽

Renhe Yu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Injury Prevention ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Unintentional Injury ◽

Control Group ◽

Injury Incidence ◽

Child Injury ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Cluster Randomized

Background App-based interventions have the potential to reduce child injury in countries with limited prevention resources, but their effectiveness has not been rigorously examined. Objective This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an app-based intervention for caregivers of preschoolers to prevent unintentional injury among Chinese preschoolers. Methods A 6-month cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted from December 2017 to June 2018. Recruitment was conducted through preschools, which were randomly allocated to either the control group (ie, app-based parenting education excluding unintentional injury prevention) or the intervention group (ie, app-based parenting education including unintentional injury prevention). A total of 2920 caregivers of preschoolers aged 3-6 years from 20 preschools in Changsha, China, were recruited offline through the schools. The primary outcome was unintentional injury incidences among preschoolers in the past 3 months; this measure was assessed through an online caregiver-report at the baseline visit and at 3-month and 6-month follow-up visits. Secondary outcome measures included caregivers’ self-reported attitudes and behaviors concerning child supervision during the last week. Generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were used to assess the effectiveness of the app-based intervention on responses at 3 and 6 months after adjusting for sociodemographic variables, baseline level of the outcome variable, and engagement with interventions in the assigned group. All analyses were intention-to-treat. A per-protocol sensitivity analysis was also conducted. Results In total, 1980 of the 2920 caregivers completed the study. The mean age of participants was 32.0 years (SD 5.5) and 68.99% (1366/1980) of them were female. During the 6-month follow-up visit, unintentional injury incidence did not change significantly in either group: incidence in the intervention group went from 8.76% (94/1073) to 8.11% (87/1073), P=.59; incidence in the control group went from 9.4% (85/907) to 7.5% (69/907), P=.15. The changes did not differ between the groups (odds ratio [OR] 1.14, 95% CI 0.80-1.62). Changes in the average score in attitude concerning unintentional injury prevention were also similar between the groups (B .05, 95% CI -0.03 to 0.13). Changes in unintentional injury prevention behaviors were greater in the intervention group than in the control group after the intervention (B .87, 95% CI 0.33-1.42). Analyses of individual injury prevention behaviors showed that the intervention reduced three risky behaviors: unsafe feeding of children (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.60-0.89); incorrectly placing children in cars (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.57-0.93); and allowing children to ride bicycles, electric bicycles, or motorcycles unsupervised (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.64-0.99). The intervention also improved scores on three safety-focused behaviors: testing water temperature before giving children a bath (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.05-1.52); properly storing sharp objects (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.01-1.52); and safely storing medicines, detergents, and pesticides (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.02-1.51). Conclusions The app-based intervention did not reduce unintentional injury incidence among preschoolers but significantly improved caregivers’ safety behaviors. This app-based intervention approach to improve caregiver behaviors surrounding child injury risk offers promise to be modified and ultimately disseminated broadly. Trial Registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR-IOR-17010438; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=17376 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/75jt17X84) International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR2-10.1186/s12889-018-5790-1

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Efficacy of a Smartphone App Intervention for Reducing Caregiver Stress: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.17541 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz ◽

Ben Richardson ◽

Keriann Little ◽

Samantha Teague ◽

Linda Hartley-Clark ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Active Control ◽

Psychological Intervention ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Well Being ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Mobile App ◽

Control Group ◽

Self Monitoring

BACKGROUND Caregivers play a pivotal role in maintaining an economically viable health care system, yet they are characterized by low levels of psychological well-being and consistently report unmet needs for psychological support. Mobile app–based (mobile health [mHealth]) interventions present a novel approach to both reducing stress and improving well-being. OBJECTIVE This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a self-guided mobile app–based psychological intervention for people providing care to family or friends with a physical or mental disability. METHODS In a randomized, single-blind, controlled trial, 183 caregivers recruited through the web were randomly allocated to either an intervention (n=73) or active control (n=110) condition. The intervention app contained treatment modules combining daily self-monitoring with third-wave (mindfulness-based) cognitive-behavioral therapies, whereas the active control app contained only self-monitoring features. Both programs were completed over a 5-week period. It was hypothesized that intervention app exposure would be associated with decreases in depression, anxiety, and stress, and increases in well-being, self-esteem, optimism, primary and secondary control, and social support. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, postintervention, and 3-4 months postintervention. App quality was also assessed. RESULTS In total, 25% (18/73) of the intervention participants were lost to follow-up at 3 months, and 30.9% (34/110) of the participants from the wait-list control group dropped out before the postintervention survey. The intervention group experienced reductions in stress (b=−2.07; P=.04) and depressive symptoms (b=−1.36; P=.05) from baseline to postintervention. These changes were further enhanced from postintervention to follow-up, with the intervention group continuing to report lower levels of depression (b=−1.82; P=.03) and higher levels of emotional well-being (b=6.13; P<.001), optimism (b=0.78; P=.007), self-esteem (b=−0.84; P=.005), support from family (b=2.15; P=.001), support from significant others (b=2.66; P<.001), and subjective well-being (b=4.82; P<.001). On average, participants completed 2.5 (SD 1.05) out of 5 treatment modules. The overall quality of the app was also rated highly, with a mean score of 3.94 out of a maximum score of 5 (SD 0.58). CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that mHealth psychological interventions are an effective treatment option for caregivers experiencing high levels of stress. Recommendations for improving mHealth interventions for caregivers include offering flexibility and customization in the treatment design. CLINICALTRIAL Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry ACTRN12616000996460; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=371170

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Prevention of Depressive Symptoms and Promotion of Well-being in Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Smile Program

Anales de Psicología ◽

10.6018/analesps.35.2.342591 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 (2) ◽

pp. 300-313

Author(s):

Óscar Sánchez-Hernández ◽

Francisco X. Méndez ◽

Manuel Ato ◽

Judy Garber

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Well Being ◽

Behavioral Approach ◽

Control Group ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Post Test ◽

Intervention Condition

This study addressed the development and evaluation of the Smile Program whose main objective was the prevention of depression and the promotion of well-being in adolescents. The program is based on interventions that have been shown to be efficacious (a cognitive-behavioral approach). Participants were 89 adolescents (mean age = 13.88 years; SD = 0.95) recruited from a sample of 1212 students from seven schools. Results showed a significant reduction in self-reported depressive symptoms in the intervention group (n= 51) as compared to youth in the control group (n= 38). Based on parents’ report (n=56), youth in the intervention group had significantly better self-esteem at post-test as compared to youth in the control group. At four months post intervention, youth in the intervention group had higher psychological well-being than those in the control group; at the 8-month follow-up, youth in the intervention condition reported better family self-concept.

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Five-year follow-up of a cluster-randomized controlled trial of a client-centred activities of daily living intervention for people with stroke

Clinical Rehabilitation ◽

10.1177/0269215518809791 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

pp. 262-276 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Annicka Hedman ◽

Gunilla Eriksson ◽

Lena von Koch ◽

Susanne Guidetti

Keyword(s):

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Significant Others ◽

Control Group ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Stroke Impact Scale ◽

Impact Scale ◽

Cluster Randomized ◽

Changes Over Time

Objective: To compare five-year outcomes and changes over time of a client-centred activities of daily living (ADL) intervention versus usual ADL interventions for people with stroke and their significant others. Design: Five-year follow-up of a cluster-randomized controlled trial where a client-centred ADL intervention ( n = 129) or usual ADL interventions ( n = 151) were delivered to people with stroke. Setting: Multicentre study including 16 inpatient or home-based rehabilitation units. Participants: People with stroke and significant others. Intervention: The client-centred ADL intervention aimed at enabling agency in daily activities and participation in everyday life and at reducing caregiver burden. Main measures: For people with stroke, perceived participation (Stroke Impact Scale), independence in ADL, life satisfaction, and use of formal/informal care were measured. For significant others, caregiver burden, life satisfaction, and mood (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) were assessed. Results: Five years post-intervention, data were collected from 145 people with stroke (intervention group: n = 71/control group: n = 74) and 75 significant others (intervention group: n = 36/control group: n = 39). For those with stroke, the Participation domain of the Stroke Impact Scale showed no group differences at year five (68.9 vs 75.4, P = 0.062) or in changes over time. At year five, the control group had better outcomes regarding Other help/supervision. Significant others in the control group were more likely to show signs of depression at year five (odds ratio = 22.3; P < 0.001). Conclusion: The client-centred ADL intervention appears to render similar long-term effects as usual ADL interventions for people with stroke, but for significant others signs of depression might be reduced.

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Efficacy of a Smartphone App Intervention for Reducing Caregiver Stress: Randomized Controlled Trial

JMIR Mental Health ◽

10.2196/17541 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (7) ◽

pp. e17541

Author(s):

Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz ◽

Ben Richardson ◽

Keriann Little ◽

Samantha Teague ◽

Linda Hartley-Clark ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Active Control ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Well Being ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Mobile App ◽

Trial Registration ◽

Control Group ◽

Self Monitoring

Background Caregivers play a pivotal role in maintaining an economically viable health care system, yet they are characterized by low levels of psychological well-being and consistently report unmet needs for psychological support. Mobile app–based (mobile health [mHealth]) interventions present a novel approach to both reducing stress and improving well-being. Objective This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a self-guided mobile app–based psychological intervention for people providing care to family or friends with a physical or mental disability. Methods In a randomized, single-blind, controlled trial, 183 caregivers recruited through the web were randomly allocated to either an intervention (n=73) or active control (n=110) condition. The intervention app contained treatment modules combining daily self-monitoring with third-wave (mindfulness-based) cognitive-behavioral therapies, whereas the active control app contained only self-monitoring features. Both programs were completed over a 5-week period. It was hypothesized that intervention app exposure would be associated with decreases in depression, anxiety, and stress, and increases in well-being, self-esteem, optimism, primary and secondary control, and social support. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, postintervention, and 3-4 months postintervention. App quality was also assessed. Results In total, 25% (18/73) of the intervention participants were lost to follow-up at 3 months, and 30.9% (34/110) of the participants from the wait-list control group dropped out before the postintervention survey. The intervention group experienced reductions in stress (b=−2.07; P=.04) and depressive symptoms (b=−1.36; P=.05) from baseline to postintervention. These changes were further enhanced from postintervention to follow-up, with the intervention group continuing to report lower levels of depression (b=−1.82; P=.03) and higher levels of emotional well-being (b=6.13; P<.001), optimism (b=0.78; P=.007), self-esteem (b=−0.84; P=.005), support from family (b=2.15; P=.001), support from significant others (b=2.66; P<.001), and subjective well-being (b=4.82; P<.001). On average, participants completed 2.5 (SD 1.05) out of 5 treatment modules. The overall quality of the app was also rated highly, with a mean score of 3.94 out of a maximum score of 5 (SD 0.58). Conclusions This study demonstrates that mHealth psychological interventions are an effective treatment option for caregivers experiencing high levels of stress. Recommendations for improving mHealth interventions for caregivers include offering flexibility and customization in the treatment design. Trial Registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry ACTRN12616000996460; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=371170

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O7C.3 Effectiveness of a multi-faceted intervention to prevent musculoskeletal pain in nurses and aides: results of a cluster-randomized controlled trial

Occupational and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.1136/oem-2019-epi.174 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 76 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. A65.1-A65

Author(s):

Mercè Soler Font ◽

José Maria Ramada Rodilla ◽

Sander van Zon ◽

Josué Almansa Ortega ◽

Ute Bültmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Occupational Health ◽

Sickness Absence ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Cluster Randomized

BackgroundHealth workers are at high risk of developing musculoskeletal pain (MSP). This study aimed to evaluate a multi-faceted intervention in two public tertiary hospitals, encompassing three levels of prevention and health promotion to prevent and manage MSP.MethodsA two-armed cluster randomized controlled trial, with a late intervention control group was performed. Clusters were independent hospital units, and participants were the nursing staff. The intervention comprised three components: participatory ergonomics, case management, and health promotion. The control group received usual occupational health care. The intervention lasted one year and data were collected at baseline, 6 and 12 months follow-up. Primary outcomes were self-perceived MSP and its associated sickness absence. The process evaluation included recruitment, context, reach, dose administered and received, fidelity, satisfaction, implementation strategy, and discussion groups of experts and participants.ResultsEight clusters, including 445 participants, were randomized. In the intervention group a 20% statistically significant reduction of neck, shoulders and upper back pain compared to the control group (OR=0.37; 95% CI=0.14–0.96) was observed at 12 months follow-up. We found no significant differences in incidence and duration of sickness absence. Organizational culture (secondary outcome) improved significantly in the intervention group in the domains of ‘formal safety audits’, ‘availability of information for safety at work’, and ‘involvement of workers in decisions that affect their safety and health’ compared to the control group. The intervention was implemented with 96.6% fidelity, and participants’ adherence was 75.5%. Participant’s satisfaction was 9.1/10.ConclusionsThis intervention showed effectiveness to reduce MSP and improve organizational culture, through to an integral management of MSP. Although our results are modest, strategies should focus on multi-faceted interventions, and occupational health services might be excellent opportunity for.

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An App-Based Intervention for Caregivers to Prevent Unintentional Injury Among Preschoolers: Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.13519 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Peishan Ning ◽

Peixia Cheng ◽

David C Schwebel ◽

Yang Yang ◽

Renhe Yu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Injury Prevention ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Unintentional Injury ◽

Control Group ◽

Injury Incidence ◽

Child Injury ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Cluster Randomized

BACKGROUND App-based interventions have the potential to reduce child injury in countries with limited prevention resources, but their effectiveness has not been rigorously examined. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an app-based intervention for caregivers of preschoolers to prevent unintentional injury among Chinese preschoolers. METHODS A 6-month cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted from December 2017 to June 2018. Recruitment was conducted through preschools, which were randomly allocated to either the control group (ie, app-based parenting education excluding unintentional injury prevention) or the intervention group (ie, app-based parenting education including unintentional injury prevention). A total of 2920 caregivers of preschoolers aged 3-6 years from 20 preschools in Changsha, China, were recruited offline through the schools. The primary outcome was unintentional injury incidences among preschoolers in the past 3 months; this measure was assessed through an online caregiver-report at the baseline visit and at 3-month and 6-month follow-up visits. Secondary outcome measures included caregivers’ self-reported attitudes and behaviors concerning child supervision during the last week. Generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were used to assess the effectiveness of the app-based intervention on responses at 3 and 6 months after adjusting for sociodemographic variables, baseline level of the outcome variable, and engagement with interventions in the assigned group. All analyses were intention-to-treat. A per-protocol sensitivity analysis was also conducted. RESULTS In total, 1980 of the 2920 caregivers completed the study. The mean age of participants was 32.0 years (SD 5.5) and 68.99% (1366/1980) of them were female. During the 6-month follow-up visit, unintentional injury incidence did not change significantly in either group: incidence in the intervention group went from 8.76% (94/1073) to 8.11% (87/1073), P=.59; incidence in the control group went from 9.4% (85/907) to 7.5% (69/907), P=.15. The changes did not differ between the groups (odds ratio [OR] 1.14, 95% CI 0.80-1.62). Changes in the average score in attitude concerning unintentional injury prevention were also similar between the groups (B .05, 95% CI -0.03 to 0.13). Changes in unintentional injury prevention behaviors were greater in the intervention group than in the control group after the intervention (B .87, 95% CI 0.33-1.42). Analyses of individual injury prevention behaviors showed that the intervention reduced three risky behaviors: unsafe feeding of children (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.60-0.89); incorrectly placing children in cars (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.57-0.93); and allowing children to ride bicycles, electric bicycles, or motorcycles unsupervised (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.64-0.99). The intervention also improved scores on three safety-focused behaviors: testing water temperature before giving children a bath (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.05-1.52); properly storing sharp objects (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.01-1.52); and safely storing medicines, detergents, and pesticides (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.02-1.51). CONCLUSIONS The app-based intervention did not reduce unintentional injury incidence among preschoolers but significantly improved caregivers’ safety behaviors. This app-based intervention approach to improve caregiver behaviors surrounding child injury risk offers promise to be modified and ultimately disseminated broadly. CLINICALTRIAL Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR-IOR-17010438; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=17376 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/75jt17X84) INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPOR RR2-10.1186/s12889-018-5790-1

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Effects of a health educational intervention on cardiovascular disease knowledge, motivation and behavioral skills: A cluster randomized controlled trial

10.21203/rs.2.12686/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

John Amoah ◽

Salmiah Md. ◽

Lekhraj Rampal ◽

Rosliza A Manaf ◽

Normala Ibrahim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Health Education ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Control Group ◽

School Students ◽

Behavioral Skills ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Cluster Randomized

Abstract Background Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the number one public health challenge of the 21st century. Globally, the disease causes more deaths than any other cause. Unfortunately, many people are not aware of CVDs and its risk factors and because of this the disease burden keeps on rising. Objective of this study was to develop, implement and evaluate the effects of a health education program to improve CVD knowledge, motivation, and behavioral skills among secondary school students in Ghana. Methods A parallel single-blind cluster randomized controlled trial was carried out for a period of six-months with baseline and post intervention evaluations. Participants (n=848) were secondary school students of ages of 14-19 years from four schools (clusters) in Brong Ahafo, Ghana. Students in the intervention group received health education intervention whereas those of the control group received no intervention. The intervention included information on cardiovascular diseases and its risk factors, motivation, and behavioral skills modules. At six months, a follow-up data using same questionnaire were collected after the intervention was completed. The generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) was used to assess the overall effects of the intervention. Results Of the 848 students, 836 completed the follow-up assessment immediately after six-month. The GLMM showed the intervention was significant in improving 6.85(p<0.001), 0.90(p<0.001), 0.94(p<0.001) higher total CVD knowledge, motivation, and behavioral skills scores respectively for the intervention group when compared to the control group. Conclusions The intervention was effective in increasing CVD knowledge, motivation, and behavioral skills of students in the intervention arm of the study. It is recommended that the health education module be implemented into secondary schools education curricula in Ghana to improve CVD knowledge, motivation, and behavioral skills. Equipping students with the IMB will reduce CVD risk factors and prevent the onset of CVDs in future.

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Effectiveness of an Educational Intervention in Reducing New International Postgraduates’ Acculturative Stress in Malaysian Public Universities: Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.12950 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Musheer Abdulwahid Al-Jaberi ◽

Muhamad Hanafiah Juni ◽

Hayati Kadir Shahar ◽

Siti Irma Fadhilah Ismail ◽

Murad Abdu Saeed ◽

...

Keyword(s):

International Students ◽

Acculturative Stress ◽

Educational Program ◽

Public Universities ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Cluster Randomized

BACKGROUND Universities around the world, including Malaysia, have attracted many international students from different countries. Research has reported that acculturative stress resulting from international students’ attempts to adjust to the cultures of host countries is one of the most challenging issues that affects their lives in general and academic lives in particular. OBJECTIVE This study aims to examine the effectiveness of an educational intervention on acculturative stress among new postgraduate international students joining Malaysian public universities. METHODS A cluster randomized controlled trial design with Malaysian public universities as the unit of randomization will be used in this study. Public universities will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to be either in the intervention (educational program) or control group (waiting list). Participants in the intervention group will receive 7 sessions in 9 hours delivered by an expert in psychology and the researcher. The control group will receive the intervention once the 3-month follow-up evaluation is completed. RESULTS The data will be analyzed using the generalized estimation equation with a confidence interval value of 95%; significant differences between and within groups are determined as P<.05. The results of the study underlie the effectiveness of educational program in decreasing acculturative stress of new international students and enabling them to cope with a new environment. The results of this study will contribute to previous knowledge of acculturative stress, acculturation, and adjustment of international students. Furthermore, such results are expected to play a role in raising university policy makers’ awareness of their postgraduate international students’ acculturative stress issues and how they can help them avoid such stress and perform well in their academic life. CONCLUSIONS We expect that the intervention group will score significantly lower than the wait-list group on the immediate and 3-month postintervention evaluation of acculturative stress and achieve a higher level of adjustment. Results will have implications for international students, policy makers at universities, the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education, and future research. CLINICALTRIAL Clinical Trials Registry India CTRI/2018/01/011223; http://ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/showallp.php?mid1= 21978&amp;EncHid=&amp;userName=Muhamad%20Hanafiah%20Juni INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT PRR1-10.2196/12950

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Increasing Life-Space Mobility in Community-Dwelling Older Persons With Cognitive Impairment Following Rehabilitation: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The Journals of Gerontology Series A ◽

10.1093/gerona/glaa254 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Phoebe Ullrich ◽

Christian Werner ◽

Martin Bongartz ◽

Tobias Eckert ◽

Bastian Abel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Older Persons ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Control Group ◽

Life Space ◽

Home Based ◽

Independent Life

Abstract Background Community-dwelling older persons with cognitive impairment (CI) following discharge from geriatric rehabilitation are at high risk of losing life-space mobility (LSM). Interventions to improve their LSM are, however, still lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a CI-specific, home-based physical training and activity promotion program on LSM. Methods Older persons with mild-to-moderate CI (Mini-Mental State Examination: 17–26 points) discharged home from rehabilitation were included in this double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial with a 12-week intervention period and 12-week follow-up period. The intervention group received a CI-specific, home-based strength, balance, and walking training supported by tailored motivational strategies. The control group received a placebo activity. LSM was evaluated by the Life-Space Assessment in Persons with Cognitive Impairment, including a composite score for LSM and 3 subscores for maximal, equipment-assisted, and independent life space. Mixed-model repeated-measures analyses were used. Results One hundred eighteen participants (82.3 ± 6.0 years) with CI (Mini-Mental State Examination: 23.3 ± 2.4) were randomized. After the intervention, the home-based training program resulted in a significant benefit in the Life-Space Assessment in Persons with Cognitive Impairment composite scores (b = 8.15; 95% confidence interval: 2.89–13.41; p = .003) and independent life-space subscores (b = 0.39; 95% confidence interval: 0.00–0.78; p = .048) in the intervention group (n = 63) compared to control group (n = 55). Other subscores and follow-up results were not significantly different. Conclusions The home-based training program improved LSM and independent life space significantly in this vulnerable population. Effects were not sustained over the follow-up. The program may represent a model for improved transition from rehabilitation to the community to prevent high risk of LSM restriction.

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