scholarly journals Effectiveness of Text Message Interventions for Weight Management in Adolescents: Systematic Review (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Ruth Partridge ◽  
Rebecca Raeside ◽  
Anna Singleton ◽  
Karice Hyun ◽  
Julie Redfern
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Z Score ◽  
Contact Points ◽  
Effective Interventions

BACKGROUND The incidence of obesity among adolescents is increasing. Text messages are a primary communication form for adolescents and potentially a scalable strategy for delivering population health interventions. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of text message interventions in reducing BMI in adolescents and describe characteristics that are common to effective interventions. METHODS This systematic review included randomized controlled trials of text message lifestyle interventions involving adolescents aged 10 to 19 years with outcomes focused on obesity prevention or management. Primary outcome was objective or self-report change in BMI. RESULTS In total, 4362 records were identified, and 215 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. A total of 8 unique studies were identified, including 767 participants, mean age 14.3 (SD 0.9) years, BMI 29.7 (SD 1.6) kg/m2 and 53.1% (407/767) female (31/101, 30.7%-172/172, 100.0%). All interventions were multicomponent. The median active intervention period was 4.5 months. During the active and extended intervention phases, text messages accounted for >50% (8 studies) and >85% (3 studies) of contact points, respectively. Text messages were heterogeneous, with a median of 1.5 text messages sent per week (range: 1-21). A total of 4 studies utilized two-way text message communication with health professionals Of the 8 studies, 7 demonstrated reductions in BMI or BMI z-score in the intervention group compared with the control at the end of the final follow-up. The effect was only statistically significant in 1 study at 6 months. Over 6 months, reductions in BMI (kg/m2) ranged from 1.3% to 4.5% and BMI z-score ranged from 4.2% to 28.1%. Overall quality of the studies was low. CONCLUSIONS Further research is required to elucidate the effectiveness and potential impact of text message interventions on weight and weight-related behaviors in adolescents.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of Text Message Interventions for Weight Management in Adolescents: Systematic Review

10.2196/15849 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. e15849 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Ruth Partridge ◽  
Rebecca Raeside ◽  
Anna Singleton ◽  
Karice Hyun ◽  
Julie Redfern
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Z Score ◽  
Contact Points ◽  
Effective Interventions

Background The incidence of obesity among adolescents is increasing. Text messages are a primary communication form for adolescents and potentially a scalable strategy for delivering population health interventions. Objective This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of text message interventions in reducing BMI in adolescents and describe characteristics that are common to effective interventions. Methods This systematic review included randomized controlled trials of text message lifestyle interventions involving adolescents aged 10 to 19 years with outcomes focused on obesity prevention or management. Primary outcome was objective or self-report change in BMI. Results In total, 4362 records were identified, and 215 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. A total of 8 unique studies were identified, including 767 participants, mean age 14.3 (SD 0.9) years, BMI 29.7 (SD 1.6) kg/m2 and 53.1% (407/767) female (31/101, 30.7%-172/172, 100.0%). All interventions were multicomponent. The median active intervention period was 4.5 months. During the active and extended intervention phases, text messages accounted for >50% (8 studies) and >85% (3 studies) of contact points, respectively. Text messages were heterogeneous, with a median of 1.5 text messages sent per week (range: 1-21). A total of 4 studies utilized two-way text message communication with health professionals Of the 8 studies, 7 demonstrated reductions in BMI or BMI z-score in the intervention group compared with the control at the end of the final follow-up. The effect was only statistically significant in 1 study at 6 months. Over 6 months, reductions in BMI (kg/m2) ranged from 1.3% to 4.5% and BMI z-score ranged from 4.2% to 28.1%. Overall quality of the studies was low. Conclusions Further research is required to elucidate the effectiveness and potential impact of text message interventions on weight and weight-related behaviors in adolescents.

scholarly journals Impact of a Nutrition-Related Community Intervention on the Quantity and Quality of Children’s School almuerzo

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 253
Author(s):  
Jenny Vilchis-Gil ◽  
Miguel Klünder-Klünder ◽  
Ximena Duque ◽  
Gloria Martínez-Andrade ◽  
Andrea Martínez-Almaráz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Schools ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Community Intervention ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Plain Water

Foods and beverages that schoolchildren carry in their lunchboxes have high energy values but lack plain water, fresh fruits and vegetables. A nutrition-related community intervention on the quantity and quality of school almuerzo was performed, in which four primary schools participated, as part of two groups: 225 children in the intervention group (IG) and 177 children in the control group (CG). The parents from the IG had access to a website where they could consult information on eating habits and physical activity or school almuerzo menus. They were sent weekly text messages on their mobile phones and attended in-person sessions. Anthropometric measurements and surveys were performed in both groups at the start of the study, as well as after 6 and 12 months. The school almuerzo was assessed by recording foods that the children brought in their lunchboxes. At baseline, 88% of children brought a school almuerzo, 37% fruit, 17% vegetables, 40% plain water and 50% sweet drinks. In both groups, 50% of children brought a school almuerzo with an energy value above the recommended value (>340 kcal) during follow-up; however, the percentage of children who brought sweet drinks decreased (p < 0.05), with sweet drinks contributing between 26% and 33% of the calories in the school almuerzo. In the IG, the quantity in milliliters of plain water increased at the end of the follow-up period (p = 0.044). From the point of view of food-and-beverage quantity and quality, school almuerzo were unhealthy for both groups. The intervention failed to increase the frequency with which parents provided children with school almuerzo or enhance the quality of the latter.

scholarly journals Feasibility and Acceptability of a Text Message–Based Intervention to Reduce Overuse of Alcohol in Emergency Department Patients: Controlled Proof-of-Concept Trial

10.2196/17557 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. e17557
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Burner ◽  
Mark Zhang ◽  
Sophie Terp ◽  
Kelsey Ford Bench ◽  
Joshua Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Screening Program ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Heavy Drinking ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Motivation To Change ◽  
Risky Alcohol

Background Emergency department (ED) patients have high rates of risky alcohol use, and an ED visit offers an opportunity to intervene. ED-based screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) reduces alcohol use and health care costs. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions may expand the impact of SBIRTs but are understudied in low-resource ED populations. Objective The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of and patient satisfaction with a text-based mHealth extension of an ED screening program to reduce risky alcohol use in low-income, urban patients. Methods Research assistants screened a convenience sample of ED patients in person for risky alcohol use via the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Patients who reported AUDIT scores ≥8 and <20 were informed of their AUDIT score and risk. RAs invited patients with SMS text message–capable phones to receive mROAD (mobilizing to Reduce Overuse of Alcohol in the ED), an SMS text message–based extension of the ED screening program. mROAD is a 7-day program of twice-daily SMS text messages based on the National Institutes of Health’s Rethinking Drinking campaign. Participants were allocated to a control group (daily sham text messages without specific guidance on behaviors, such as “Thanks for taking part!”) or to the mROAD intervention group. Patients were interviewed at 30 days to assess acceptability, satisfaction, and changes in drinking behavior. Satisfaction was examined descriptively. Pre and post measurements of drinking behaviors and motivation were compared, as were differences in change scores between the intervention arms. Results Of 1028 patients screened, 95 (9.2%) exhibited risky alcohol use based on AUDIT, and 23/95 (24%) of those patients did not own an SMS text messaging–capable phone; this left 72/95 (76%) eligible patients. Among eligible participants, 48/72 (67%) agreed to enroll; 31/48 (65%) achieved follow-up (18/24 (75%) in the intervention group and 13/24 (55%) in the control group). Participants who completed follow-up reported high satisfaction. Changes in behavior were similar between the arms. Overall, the number of drinking days reported in the prior 30 days decreased by 5.0 (95% CI 1.7-8.3; P=.004), and the number of heavy drinking days decreased by 4.1 (95% CI 1.0 to 7.15, P=.01). Patients reported an 11-point increase (95% CI 2.6-20, P=.01, 10% overall increase) in motivation to change alcohol use via the Change Questionnaire. The were no statistical differences in drinking days, heavy drinking days, or motivation to change between the arms. Conclusions The mROAD trial was feasible. Over three-quarters of ED patients with risky alcohol use owned a text message–capable phone, and two-thirds of these patients were willing to participate; only 1 patient opted out of the intervention. Although 35% of patients were lost to follow-up at 30 days, those patients who did follow up had favorable impressions of the program; more than 90% reported that SMS text messages were a “good way to teach,” and 89% of intervention arm participants enjoyed the program and found that the messages were motivating. Both the mROAD and sham message groups showed promising changes in alcohol use and motivation to change. mROAD is a feasible intervention that may reduce rates of risky alcohol use in ED patients. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02158949; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02158949

scholarly journals Sun protection education for adolescents: A feasibility study of a wait-list controlled trial of an intervention using objective measurement of sun exposure

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gill Hubbard ◽  
John Cherrie ◽  
Jonathan Gray ◽  
Richard G Kyle ◽  
Amanda Nioi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Sun Exposure ◽  
Sun Protection ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Wait List

Abstract Background People increase their risk of melanoma unless they are protected from the harmful effects of sun exposure during childhood and adolescence. We aimed to assess the feasibility of a three-component sun protection intervention- presentation, booklet, and text messages - and trial parameters. Methods This feasibility wait-list controlled trial was conducted in the United Kingdom in 2018. Students aged 13-15 years were eligible. Feasibility outcomes were collected for recruitment rates; data availability rates for objective measurements of melanin and erythema using a Mexameter and self-reported sunburn occurrences, severity and body location, tanning, sun protection behaviours and SSE collected before (baseline) and after the school summer holidays (follow-up); intervention reach, adherence, perceived impact and acceptability. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics; qualitative data were analysed thematically. Results Five out of eight schools expressing an interest in participating with four allocated to act as intervention and one control. Four parents/carers opted their child out of the study. 487 out of 724 students on the school register consented to the study at baseline (67%). 385 were in intervention group schools. Objective skin measurements were available for 255 (66%) of the intervention group at baseline and 237 (61%) of the group at follow up. Melanin increased; erythema decreased. Complete self-report data were available for 247 (64%) students in the intervention group. The number of students on the school register who attended the presentation and given the booklet was 379 (98%) and gave their mobile phone number was 155 (40%). No intervention component was perceived as more impactful on sun protection behaviours. Adolescents did not see the relevance of sun protection in the UK or for their age group. Conclusions This is the first study to use a Mexameter to measure skin colour in adolescents. Erythema (visible redness) lasts no more than three days and its measurement before and after a six week summer holiday may not yield relevant or meaningful data. A major challenge is that adolescents do not see the relevance of sun protection and SSE.

scholarly journals Mental Health Outreach via Supportive Text Messages during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Improved Mental Health and Reduced Suicidal Ideation after Six Weeks in Subscribers of Text4Hope Compared to a Control Population

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 2157
Author(s):  
Vincent I. O. Agyapong ◽  
Reham Shalaby ◽  
Marianne Hrabok ◽  
Wesley Vuong ◽  
Jasmine M. Noble ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
High Stress ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Effective Population ◽  
Cross Sectional

Background: In March 2020, Alberta Health Services launched Text4Hope, a free mental health text-message service. The service aimed to alleviate pandemic-associated stress, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and suicidal propensity. The effectiveness of Text4Hope was evaluated by comparing psychiatric parameters between two subscriber groups. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study with two arms: Text4Hope subscribers who received daily texts for six weeks, the intervention group (IG); and new Text4Hope subscribers who were yet to receive messages, the control group (CG). Logistic regression models were used in the analysis. Results: Participants in the IG had lower prevalence rates for moderate/high stress (78.8% vs. 88.0%), likely GAD (31.4% vs. 46.5%), and likely MDD (36.8% vs. 52.1%), respectively, compared to respondents in the CG. After controlling for demographic variables, the IG remained less likely to self-report symptoms of moderate/high stress (OR = 0.56; 95% CI = 0.41–0.75), likely GAD (OR = 0.55; 95% CI = 0.44–0.68), and likely MDD (OR = 0.50; 95% CI = 0.47–0.73). The mean Composite Mental Health score, the sum of mean scores on the PSS, GAD-7, and PHQ-9 was 20.9% higher in the CG. Conclusions: Text4Hope is an effective population-level intervention that helps reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Similar texting services should be implemented during global crises.

scholarly journals Feasibility and efficacy of text messaging to promote care among trauma patients screened for HIV at an urban emergency department in Tanzania

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gimbo M. Hyuha ◽  
Hendry R. Sawe ◽  
Said Kilindimo ◽  
Raya Y. Mussa ◽  
Masuma A. Gulamhussein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Text Messaging ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Hiv Negative

Abstract Background Due to the high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Tanzania, provider-initiated HIV testing for patients attending any health care setting is recommended. However, follow-up and linkage to care by those tested remain poor. We determined the feasibility and efficacy of text messaging to promote follow-up among otherwise healthy trauma patients who underwent provider-initiated HIV testing and counseling at an emergency department (ED) in Tanzania. Material and methods This randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) ED between September 2019 and February 2020. Adult trauma patients consenting to HIV testing and follow-up text messaging were randomized to standard care (pre-test and post-test counseling) or standard care plus a series of three short message service (SMS) text message reminders for follow-up in an HIV clinic, if positive, or for retesting, if negative. Investigators blinded to the study assignment called participants 2 months after the ED visit if HIV-positive or 4 months if HIV-negative. We compared the proportion of people in the intervention and control groups completing recommended follow-up. Secondary outcomes were the proportion of patients agreeing to testing, proportion of patients agreeing to receiving text messages, and the proportion of HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients in each study arm who followed up. Results Of the 290 patients approached, 255 (87.9%) opted-in for testing and agreed to receive a text message. The median age of the study population was 29 [IQR 24–40] years. There were 127 patients randomized to the intervention group and 128 to the control group. The automated SMS system verified that 381 text messages in total were successfully sent. We traced 242 (94.9%) participants: 124 (51.2%) in the intervention group and 18 (488%) in the control group. A total of 100 (39.2%) subjects reported completing a follow-up visit, of which 77 (60.6%) were from the intervention group and 23 (17.9%) were from the control group (RR = 3.4, 95% CI 2.3–5.0). This resulted in a number needed to treat (NNT) of 2.3. Of the 246 HIV-negative participants, 37% underwent repeat screening: 59% of those in the intervention group and 16% in the control group (RR = 3.7, P = < 0.0001, NNT 2.3). Among the nine positive patients, all five in the intervention group and only three in the controls had follow-up visits. Conclusion Automated text message is a feasible and effective way to increase follow-up in HIV-tested individuals in a limited income country.

scholarly journals Feasibility and Acceptability of a Text Message–Based Intervention to Reduce Overuse of Alcohol in Emergency Department Patients: Controlled Proof-of-Concept Trial (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Burner ◽  
Mark Zhang ◽  
Sophie Terp ◽  
Kelsey Ford Bench ◽  
Joshua Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Screening Program ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Heavy Drinking ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Motivation To Change ◽  
Risky Alcohol

BACKGROUND Emergency department (ED) patients have high rates of risky alcohol use, and an ED visit offers an opportunity to intervene. ED-based screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) reduces alcohol use and health care costs. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions may expand the impact of SBIRTs but are understudied in low-resource ED populations. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of and patient satisfaction with a text-based mHealth extension of an ED screening program to reduce risky alcohol use in low-income, urban patients. METHODS Research assistants screened a convenience sample of ED patients in person for risky alcohol use via the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Patients who reported AUDIT scores ≥8 and &lt;20 were informed of their AUDIT score and risk. RAs invited patients with SMS text message–capable phones to receive mROAD (mobilizing to Reduce Overuse of Alcohol in the ED), an SMS text message–based extension of the ED screening program. mROAD is a 7-day program of twice-daily SMS text messages based on the National Institutes of Health’s Rethinking Drinking campaign. Participants were allocated to a control group (daily sham text messages without specific guidance on behaviors, such as “Thanks for taking part!”) or to the mROAD intervention group. Patients were interviewed at 30 days to assess acceptability, satisfaction, and changes in drinking behavior. Satisfaction was examined descriptively. Pre and post measurements of drinking behaviors and motivation were compared, as were differences in change scores between the intervention arms. RESULTS Of 1028 patients screened, 95 (9.2%) exhibited risky alcohol use based on AUDIT, and 23/95 (24%) of those patients did not own an SMS text messaging–capable phone; this left 72/95 (76%) eligible patients. Among eligible participants, 48/72 (67%) agreed to enroll; 31/48 (65%) achieved follow-up (18/24 (75%) in the intervention group and 13/24 (55%) in the control group). Participants who completed follow-up reported high satisfaction. Changes in behavior were similar between the arms. Overall, the number of drinking days reported in the prior 30 days decreased by 5.0 (95% CI 1.7-8.3; <i>P</i>=.004), and the number of heavy drinking days decreased by 4.1 (95% CI 1.0 to 7.15, <i>P</i>=.01). Patients reported an 11-point increase (95% CI 2.6-20, <i>P</i>=.01, 10% overall increase) in motivation to change alcohol use via the Change Questionnaire. The were no statistical differences in drinking days, heavy drinking days, or motivation to change between the arms. CONCLUSIONS The mROAD trial was feasible. Over three-quarters of ED patients with risky alcohol use owned a text message–capable phone, and two-thirds of these patients were willing to participate; only 1 patient opted out of the intervention. Although 35% of patients were lost to follow-up at 30 days, those patients who did follow up had favorable impressions of the program; more than 90% reported that SMS text messages were a “good way to teach,” and 89% of intervention arm participants enjoyed the program and found that the messages were motivating. Both the mROAD and sham message groups showed promising changes in alcohol use and motivation to change. mROAD is a feasible intervention that may reduce rates of risky alcohol use in ED patients. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02158949; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02158949

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.

Effects of wearable technology on patients with diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongjun Wu ◽  
Nicholas Buys ◽  
Guandong Xu ◽  
Jing Sun
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Relapse Prevention ◽  
Diabetes Management ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Wearable Technologies ◽  
Patients With Diabetes ◽  
Hba1c Levels

UNSTRUCTURED Aims: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of wearable technologies on HbA1c, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and fastening blood glucose (FBG) in patients with diabetes. Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus, Embase, the Cochrane database, and the Chinese CNKI database from last 15 years until August 2021. The quality of the 16 included studies was assessed using the PEDro scale, and random effect models were used to estimate outcomes, with I2 used for heterogeneity testing. Results: A significant reduction in HbA1c (-0.475% [95% CI -0.692 to -0.257, P<0.001]) was found following telemonitoring. However, the results of the meta-analysis did not show significant changes in blood pressure, BMI, and glucose, in the intervention group (P>0.05), although the effect size for systolic blood pressure (0.389) and diastolic blood pressure may indicate a significant effect. Subgroup analysis revealed statistically significant effects of wearable technologies on HbA1c when supported by dietetic interventions (P<0.001), medication monitoring (P<0.001), and relapse prevention (P<0.001). Online messages and telephone interventions significantly affected HbA1c levels (P<0.001). Trials with additional online face-to-face interventions showed greater reductions in HbA1c levels. Remote interventions including dietetic advice (P<0.001), medication (P<0.001), and relapse prevention (P<0.001) during telemonitoring showed a significant effect on HbA1c, particularly in patients attending ten or more intervention sessions (P<0.001). Conclusion: Wearable technologies can improve diabetes management by simplifying self-monitoring, allowing patients to upload their live measurement results frequently and thereby improving the quality of telemedicine. Wearable technologies also facilitate remote medication management, dietetic interventions, and relapse prevention.

scholarly journals The quality of intervention reporting in trials of therapeutic exercise for hip osteoarthritis: a secondary analysis of a systematic review

Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise C. Burgess ◽  
Thomas W. Wainwright ◽  
Khara A. James ◽  
Johan von Heideken ◽  
Maura D. Iversen
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Internal Validity ◽  
Hip Osteoarthritis ◽  
Therapeutic Exercise ◽  
Quality Of Reporting ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
Intervention Reporting

Abstract Background Therapeutic exercise is recommended as a core treatment for hip osteoarthritis (HOA). Whilst it is widely accepted that exercise can improve pain and disability, optimal type and dose of exercise are yet to be agreed upon. This may, in part, be attributed to the wide variation and inadequate reporting of interventions within the literature. This study evaluates the quality of intervention reporting among trials of therapeutic exercise in HOA. Methods Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were sourced in a systematic review, completed in August 2020. Two raters independently used the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) and Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template (CERT) to evaluate intervention reporting. Correlations between quality assessment scores and CERT and TIDieR scores evaluated the relationship between internal validity and external applicability. The year of publication was compared to the quality of reporting scores. Results Fourteen RCTs were included in the analysis. On average, studies were awarded 9.43 ± 1.95 out of 12 points for the TIDieR checklist (range 4–12) and 13.57 ± 4.01 out of 19 points for the CERT (range 5–19). Pearson’s correlation coefficient suggested that the quality of reporting had improved over time and that there was a fair, positive relationship between internal validity and external applicability. Discussion Whilst the quality of intervention reporting is improving, many RCTs of therapeutic exercise in HOA lack the detail necessary to allow accurate evaluation and replication. Researchers are encouraged to utilise the standardised reporting guidelines to increase the translation of effective interventions into clinical practice.

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