scholarly journals Potential Efficacy of Multiple-shot Long-pulsed 1,064-nm Nd:YAG in Nonablative Skin Rejuvenation: A Pilot Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-165
Author(s):  
Young-Koo Kim ◽  
Hae-Jin Lee ◽  
Jihee Kim
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Skin Rejuvenation ◽  
Potential Efficacy ◽  
Multiple Shot

Psychedelic therapy for smoking cessation: Qualitative analysis of participant accounts

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 756-769 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tehseen Noorani ◽  
Albert Garcia-Romeu ◽  
Thomas C Swift ◽  
Roland R Griffiths ◽  
Matthew W Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Addiction Treatment ◽  
Therapeutic Process ◽  
Drug Effects ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Self Identity ◽  
Potential Efficacy ◽  
Study Team

Background: Recent pilot trials suggest feasibility and potential efficacy of psychedelic-facilitated addiction treatment interventions. Fifteen participants completed a psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation pilot study between 2009 and 2015. Aims: The aims of this study were as follows: (1) to identify perceived mechanisms of change leading to smoking cessation in the pilot study; (2) to identify key themes in participant experiences and long-term outcomes to better understand the therapeutic process. Methods: Participants were invited to a retrospective follow-up interview an average of 30 months after initial psilocybin sessions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 of the 15 participants. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Participants reported gaining vivid insights into self-identity and reasons for smoking from their psilocybin sessions. Experiences of interconnectedness, awe, and curiosity persisted beyond the duration of acute drug effects. Participants emphasised that the content of psilocybin experiences overshadowed any short-term withdrawal symptoms. Preparatory counselling, strong rapport with the study team, and a sense of momentum once engaged in the study treatment were perceived as vital additional factors in achieving abstinence. In addition, participants reported a range of persisting positive changes beyond smoking cessation, including increased aesthetic appreciation, altruism, and pro-social behaviour. Conclusions: The findings highlight the value of qualitative research in the psychopharmacological investigation of psychedelics. They describe perceived connections between drug- and non-drug factors, and provide suggestions for future research trial design and clinical applications.

scholarly journals Adapting Personal Therapies Using a Mobile Application for Tinnitus Rehabilitation: A Preliminary Study

2020 ◽  
pp. 000348942096281
Author(s):  
Mehdi Abouzari ◽  
Khodayar Goshtasbi ◽  
Brooke Sarna ◽  
Yaser Ghavami ◽  
Erica M. Parker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Mobile Application ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Smartphone Application ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Sound Therapy ◽  
Potential Efficacy ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
And Control

Objectives: To develop a smartphone application providing sound therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for treating tinnitus and performing a proof-of-concept pilot study evaluating its potential efficacy. Methods: An interactive smartphone application available on iOS and Android platforms was developed, which provided an 8-week tinnitus-specific CBT and personalized and frequency-matched sound therapy. Included patients presented to our tertiary clinic between 2017 and 2018, while those waitlisted were regarded as controls. Three surveys were administrated: Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7), and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Results: A total of 30 patients enrolled in this study consisting of 20 treatment and 10 control patients and mean age was 55.4 ± 11.6 years. Treatment and control patients had similar age, sex, and pre-enrolment GAD and PSS (all P > .05). Baseline THI scores were also similar between treatment and control cohorts (50.1 ± 21.9 vs 62.0 ± 20.7; P = .15). After 8 weeks, though changes in GAD and PSS scores were similar ( P > .05), the treatment group reported a significantly greater improvement in THI scores (17.7 ± 15.8 vs 5.3 ± 10.5, P = .04). Conclusions: This pilot study demonstrated potentially promising efficacy of a smartphone-based CBT and sound therapy platform for treating tinnitus and encourages future randomized controlled trials on this treatment modality.

Persisting Auditory Hallucinations: Prospects for Non-medication Interventions in a Hospital Population

1996 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 112-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Farhall ◽  
Nicholas Voudouris
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Psychiatric Hospital ◽  
Auditory Hallucinations ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Potential Efficacy ◽  
Hospital Population

The potential efficacy of recently developed cognitive and behavioural treatments (CBT) for residual hallucinations raises practical questions about the extent of applicability of such treatments and the possible need for programmatic responses by mental health services. This pilot study, conducted in a 355-bed acute and rehabilitation psychiatric hospital, explored the prevalence of persisting auditory hallucinations, patients' coping strategies, and indicators for cognitive and behavioural treatments. A census identified 123 patients with persisting hallucinations. Information about practical impediments to CBT was obtained from structured interviews with staff. Detailed interviews with a subsample of 35 hallucinators identified natural coping strategies and indicators for treatment. High rates of natural coping strategies were reported by this very disabled sample. Fifty-three per cent of hallucinators were considered “potential” candidates, and 20% “good” candidates for CBT for voices.

scholarly journals Adequate management of Phosphorus in hemodialysis using a dietary smartphone app: A pilot study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cosette Fakih El Khoury ◽  
Rik Crutzen ◽  
Jos M.G.A. Schols ◽  
Ruud J.G. Halfens ◽  
Mirey Karavetian
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
G Protein ◽  
Effect Size ◽  
Elevated Serum ◽  
Hemodialysis Patients ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Serum Phosphorus ◽  
Smartphone App ◽  
Large Effect Size ◽  
Potential Efficacy

BACKGROUND The renal diet is complex and requires amendments in various nutrients. Elevated serum phosphorus is common among hemodialysis patients, and it is associated with many complications. Alternative approaches that support both dietitians and patients in overcoming these difficulties should be explored. Smartphone technology could be used to provide a source of accessible and reliable information. OBJECTIVE The aim of this pilot is to assess the potential efficacy of an intervention using KELA.AE on the phosphorous management in hemodialysis patients. Results will be used to improve both the application and a planned, rigorous large-scale trial intended to assess app efficacy. METHODS This is a pilot study performed at the hemodialysis unit of Al Qassimi Hospital (Emirate of Sharjah). All patients were assessed for eligibility, and based on inclusion criteria, they were considered for enrollment. Participants met with a dietitian once a week and used the mobile app. Outcomes were measured at baseline (T0) and two weeks post app usage (T1). This pilot is reported as per guidelines for non-randomized pilot and feasibility studies and in line with the CONSORT 2010 checklist for reporting pilot or feasibility trials. RESULTS Twenty-three subjects successfully completed the pilot. Patients knowledge improved to 68.1% (13.3) after intervention with a large effect size (d= 1.22, 95%CI 0.59-1.85). Dietary protein intakes increased from a mean of 0.9g/Kg (SD=0.3) per day to a mean of 1.3g/Kg (SD=0.5) per day with a large effect size (d= 1.07, 95%CI 0.45-1.69). Phosphorus to protein ratio dropped from a mean of 18.4 mg/g protein to 13.5mg/g protein with a large effect size (d= 0.83, 95%CI 0.22-1.43). There were no improvements in phosphorous intakes, self-reported non-adherence, and serum phosphorus. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this pilot reveal potential efficacy for the use of a smartphone app as a supportive nutrition education tool for the phosphorus management in hemodialysis. This pilot study showed that KELA.AE app has the potential to improve knowledge and dietary choices. Processes related to the procedure, resources, tools, and app improvement for a future trial were assessed. A rigorous randomized controlled trial should be performed to evaluate the efficacy, assessing app usage of a long-term intervention.

Hyaluronic acid filler for skin rejuvenation: The role of diet on outcomes. A pilot study

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. e12646 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michela G. Galimberti ◽  
Stefania Guida ◽  
Giovanni Pellacani ◽  
Pier Luca Bencini
Keyword(s):  
Hyaluronic Acid ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Skin Rejuvenation

scholarly journals Early-stage Studies to Larger-scale Trials: Investigators’ Perspectives on Scaling-Up Childhood Obesity Interventions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren von Klinggraeff ◽  
Roddrick Dugger ◽  
Anthony Okely ◽  
David Lubans ◽  
Russ Jago ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Behavioral Interventions ◽  
Voltage Drop ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Scaling Up ◽  
Lead Author ◽  
Pilot Studies ◽  
Potential Efficacy

Abstract Background: Pilot/feasibility studies play an important role in the development and refinement of behavioral interventions by providing information about feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy. Despite their importance and wide-spread use, the approaches taken by behavioral scientists to scale-up early-stage studies to larger-scale trials has received little attention. The aim of our study was to understand the role that pilot studies play in the development and execution of larger-scale trials.Methods: We conducted interviews with behavioral interventionists identified in a systematic review as the lead author of a published pilot study that had also published larger-scale trial on a topic related to childhood obesity. Questions were asked about the role of pilot studies in developing larger-scale trials and the challenges encountered when scaling-up an intervention based upon pilot findings. Data were coded and analyzed using an inductive analytic approach to identify themes.Results: 24 Interventionists (54% women, 37-70 yrs old, mean 20 years since terminal degree) completed a total of 148 pilot studies across their careers (mean 6.4, range 1-20), of which 59% were scaled-up. Scaling was described as resource intensive and pilot work was considered essential to successfully competing for funding by 63% of the sample (n=15). When asked to define a high-quality pilot study, interventionists described studies that allowed them to evaluate components of their intervention (e.g., acceptability, feasibility) and study parameters (e.g., sample size, measures). Interventionists expressed that more process implementation measures, different study designs, and additional iterations could improve decisions to scale-up. Most agreed that pilot studies were likely to produce inflated estimates of potential efficacy though only nine interventionists provided potential solutions for decreasing inflated measures of efficacy. Suggested major causes of inflated effects included high levels of oversight in pilot studies (e.g., researcher support), reliance on subjective measures, and utilizing convenience or highly motivated samples. Potential solutions included designing pilots for real-world implementation, only conducting randomized controlled pilot studies, and pre-registering pilot studies. Conclusions: Pilot studies purposes are multifaceted and deemed essential to obtaining funding for larger-scale trials. Clarifying the form and function of preliminary, early-stage research may enhance the productive utilization of early-stage studies and reduced “voltage drop”.

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