scholarly journals Feasibility and outcome of an online streamed yoga intervention on stress and wellbeing of people working from home during COVID-19

Work ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Vipin Wadhen ◽  
Tina Cartwright
Keyword(s):  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Yoga Intervention ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Working From Home ◽  
And Coping ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND: The outbreak of COVID-19 and its associated measures has resulted in a sizeable working population transitioning to working from home (WFH), bringing additional challenges, and increasing work-related stress. Research has indicated that yoga has promising potential in reducing stress in the workplace. However, there are very few studies exploring the impact of online streamed yoga on stress management for people-WFH. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility and outcome of an online streamed yoga intervention on stress and wellbeing of people-WFH during COVID-19. METHODS: A six-week pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) yoga intervention was designed with yoga (n = 26) and a wait-list control group (n = 26). A mixed two-way ANOVA was used to assess changes in standardised outcome measures at baseline and post-intervention. Likert and open-ended questions assessed enjoyment, acceptability and perceived benefits of the program, which were analysed thematically. RESULTS: Compared with the control, the yoga group reported significant improvements in perceived stress, mental wellbeing, depression and coping self-efficacy, but not stress and anxiety. Participants experienced physical and mental health benefits and reported high acceptability and enjoyment of the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: An online yoga intervention can help people WFH manage stress and enhance wellbeing and coping abilities.

scholarly journals Community-based culinary and nutrition education intervention promotes fruit and vegetable consumption

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Jessica Jarick Metcalfe ◽  
Melissa Pflugh Prescott ◽  
Melissa Schumacher ◽  
Caitlin Kownacki ◽  
Jennifer McCaffrey
Keyword(s):  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Cooking Classes ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Objective: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the Market to MyPlate (M2MP) program on fruit and vegetable consumption and cooking behaviours. Secondary objectives were to examine factors that affected participant retention and program completion, and analyse program feedback provided by participants. Design: This study conducted a mixed methods evaluation embedded within a cluster randomised controlled trial of the M2MP intervention. Adult participants completed a pre- and post-program survey reporting on their fruit and vegetable consumption and cooking behaviours. A subsample participated in structured interviews, providing feedback about M2MP and the impact of the program. Setting: Seven weekly classes took place in community centres and extension offices in central Illinois. Participants: 120 adults and their families participated. Class cohorts were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: (1) nutrition education and cooking classes with produce allocations (PAE, n 39); (2) nutrition education and cooking classes only (EO, n 36) or (3) control group (n 45). Results: Compared to control, PAE participants reported larger increases from pre- to post-intervention in fruit (P = 0·001) and vegetable consumption (P = 0·002), with no differences in cooking frequency. Interview analyses identified key themes in behaviour changes due to M2MP, including reported increases in dietary variety, cooking self-efficacy and children’s participation in cooking. Conclusions: PAE participants who received an intervention that directly increased their access to fresh produce (via produce allocations) increased their reported fruit and vegetable consumption. Though participants’ cooking frequency did not change, interviewees reported increased variety, cooking confidence and family participation in cooking.

Free From Falls education and exercise program for reducing falls in people with multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled trial

2021 ◽  
pp. 135245852110468
Author(s):  
Michelle H Cameron ◽  
Andrea Hildebrand ◽  
Cinda L Hugos ◽  
Grace I Judd ◽  
Garnett McMillan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Exercise Program ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Credible Intervals ◽  
Falls In Older Adults ◽  
The Impact

Background: People with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) fall frequently. Community-delivered exercise and education reduce falls in older adults, but their efficacy in multiple sclerosis (MS) is unknown. Objectives: To evaluate the impact of the Free From Falls (FFF) group education and exercise program on falls in PwMS. Methods: This was a prospective, assessor-blinded, two-arm parallel randomized controlled trial. Ninety-six participants were randomized to FFF (eight weekly 2 hour sessions) or the control condition (a fall prevention brochure and informing their neurologist of their fall history). Participants counted falls prospectively from enrollment through 6 months following intervention. Effects on fall frequency were evaluated by the Bayesian analysis. Results: The modeled mean fall frequency pre-intervention was 1.2 falls/month in the FFF group (95% credible intervals (CIs) = 0.8–2.0) and 1.4 falls/month in the control group (95% CI = 0.9–2.1). Fall frequency decreased by 0.6 falls/month in both groups over time (nadir 4–6 months post-intervention: FFF 0.6 falls/month (95% CI = 0.4–0.9); control 0.8 falls/month (95% CI = 0.5–1.1)). Conclusion: In-person group exercise and education are not superior to written education and neurologist-initiated interventions for preventing falls in PwMS.

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of brief Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for the improvement of productivity in the workplace: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitsuhiro Sado ◽  
Masashi Yamada ◽  
Akira Ninomiya ◽  
Maki Nagaoka ◽  
Naho Goto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Cognitive Therapy ◽  
Work Performance ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Self Report ◽  
World Health ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of Mindfulness Based Programs’ (MBPs) among both clinical and non-clinical populations. These data document positive impacts in the workplace, including reducing perceived stress and burnout and increasing wellbeing. However, the effectiveness for productivity, which is of most interest to managers and administrators, is still unclear. In addition, MBPs in the workplace tend to be modified by reducing the number of the program sessions or delivering content online to improve accessibility. To date, however, the impact on productivity of MBPs in the workplace that feature these modifications has not been investigated. OBJECTIVE The study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the online-delivered brief Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (bMBCT) for improving productivity and other work related outcomes. METHODS We conduct a four-week RCT with a six-month follow-up. Employees are included in the study if they 1) are between the ages of 20-65 and 2) work longer than 30 hours weekly. Employees were randomly allocated to either the bMBCT group or wait-list control group. The primary outcome of the study is the mean difference of productivity measured by World Health Organization Health and Work Performance Questionnaire (WHO-HPQ) between the groups at 4, 16, 28 weeks. Secondary outcomes include several clinical outcomes and health economics evaluation. RESULTS Recruitment began in August 2021. 104 participants have been enrolled in the study as of October 2021. The intervention is ongoing and scheduled to be completed in December 2023. Data collection will be completed by March 2024. CONCLUSIONS The novelty of the study is that 1) it will investigate the bMBCTs’ effectiveness on productivity, which is still unclear, 2) samples are recruited from three companies in different industries, etc. The limitations of the study are 1) all measures assessed are self-report format, 2) we lack an active control group. This study has the potential to provide new data on the relationship between MBPs and occupational health and productivity. CLINICALTRIAL UMIN Clinical Trials Registry: UMIN000044721

scholarly journals The Impact of Shorter, More Frequent Outdoor Play Periods on Preschoolers’ Physical Activity during Childcare: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (21) ◽  
pp. 4126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Molly Driediger ◽  
Stephanie Truelove ◽  
Andrew M. Johnson ◽  
Leigh M. Vanderloo ◽  
Brian W. Timmons ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Outdoor Play ◽  
Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Cluster Randomized ◽  
The Impact

Children’s physical activity levels are higher at the start of outdoor playtime, which suggests that shorter, more frequent play periods might result in greater amounts of daily physical activity. In this extension of the Supporting Physical Activity in the Childcare Environment (SPACE) cluster randomized controlled trial, we explored the impact of four 30-min daily outdoor unstructured play periods on preschoolers’ moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA). Experimental childcare centres (n = 6) implemented four 30-min daily outdoor playtimes for 8 weeks, while control centres (n = 6) maintained their two 60-min outdoor sessions. Actical™ accelerometers were used to measure preschoolers’ physical activity pre- and post-intervention for 5 days during childcare hours. Linear mixed effects models were used to determine the impact of the intervention on preschoolers’ MVPA. Of the 185 preschoolers enrolled (54.20% female; mean age = 39.90 months, SD = 7.24), 127 (65 experimental and 62 control) were included in the analysis (30% and 9% loss to follow-up for experimental and control group preschoolers, respectively). No significant differences in MVPA were observed between groups over time (p = 0.36). Preschoolers’ MVPA did not improve after the introduction of shorter outdoor play periods. The loss of data due to wear time noncompliance and participant attrition may have influenced these findings. Trial registration: ISRCTN70604107 (October 8, 2014).

scholarly journals Destress 9-1-1—an online mindfulness-based intervention in reducing stress among emergency medical dispatchers: a randomised controlled trial

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (10) ◽  
pp. 705-711 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Lilly ◽  
Rebecca Calhoun ◽  
Ian Painter ◽  
Randal Beaton ◽  
Scott Stangenes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Emergency Medical ◽  
Emergency Medical Dispatchers

ObjectivesEmergency medical dispatchers (EMDs) experience significant stress in the workplace. Yet, interventions aimed at reducing work-related stress are difficult to implement due to the logistic challenges associated with the relatively unique EMD work environment. This investigation tested the efficacy of a 7-week online mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) tailored to the EMD workforce.MethodsActive-duty EMDs from the USA and Canada (n=323) were randomly assigned to an intervention or wait list control condition. Participants completed surveys of stress and mindfulness at baseline, post intervention, and 3 months follow-up. Repeated measures mixed effects models were used to assess changes in stress and mindfulness.ResultsDifferences between the intervention group and control group in pre–post changes in stress using the Calgary Symptoms of Stress Inventory were statistically significant, with a difference of −10.0 (95% CI: −14.9, −5.2, p<0.001) for change from baseline to post intervention, and a difference of −6.5 (95% CI: −11.9, −1.1, p=0.02) for change from baseline to 3 months follow-up. Change in mindfulness scores did not differ between groups. However, increases in mindfulness scores were correlated with greater reductions in stress for all participants, regardless of group (r=−0.53, p<0.001).ConclusionsDevelopment of tailored online MBIs for employees working in challenging work environments offer a promising direction for prevention and intervention. This study found that a short, weekly online MBI for EMDs resulted in reductions in reports of stress. Implications of online MBIs in other emergency responding populations and directions for future research are discussed.

scholarly journals Daily Vinegar Ingestion Improves Depression Scores and Alters the Metabolome in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 4020
Author(s):  
Carol S. Johnston ◽  
Paniz Jasbi ◽  
Yan Jin ◽  
Shayna Bauer ◽  
Susanna Williams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acetic Acid ◽  
Mood State ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Urinary Metabolites ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Mood States ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Hexosamine Pathway ◽  
The Impact

Daily vinegar ingestion has been linked to improved glycemic control, but recent data suggest a separate unexplored role for vinegar in mental health. Utilizing a placebo-controlled, parallel arm study design, this 4-week trial examined the impact of daily vinegar ingestion on mood states and urinary metabolites in healthy college students. Participants were randomized to the vinegar group (VIN: n = 14; 1.5 g acetic acid/day as liquid vinegar) or the control group (CON: n = 11; 0.015 g acetic acid/day as a pill) with no change to customary diet or physical activity. At baseline and at study week four, participants completed the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) questionnaires and provided a first-morning urine sample for targeted metabolomics analyses. The change in both POMS depression scores and CES-D scores differed significantly between groups favoring improved affect in the VIN versus CON participants after four weeks. Metabolomics analyses pre and post-intervention suggested metabolite alterations associated with vinegar ingestion that are consistent for improved mood, including enzymatic dysfunction in the hexosamine pathway as well as significant increases in glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism. These data warrant continued investigation of vinegar as a possible agent to improve mood state.

scholarly journals Impact of a Digital Intervention for Literacy in Depression among Portuguese University Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Healthcare ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 165
Author(s):  
Lersi D. Durán ◽  
Ana Margarida Almeida ◽  
Ana Cristina Lopes ◽  
Margarida Figueiredo-Braga
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Study Groups ◽  
The Other ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Text Format ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
The Impact

Digital interventions are important tools to promote mental health literacy among university students. “Depression in Portuguese University Students” (Depressão em Estudantes Universitários Portugueses, DEEP) is an audiovisual intervention describing how symptoms can be identified and what possible treatments can be applied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of this intervention. A random sample of 98 students, aged 20–38 years old, participated in a 12-week study. Participants were recruited through social media by the academic services and institutional emails of two Portuguese universities. Participants were contacted and distributed into four study groups (G1, G2, G3 and G4): G1 received the DEEP intervention in audiovisual format; G2 was given the DEEP in text format; G3 received four news articles on depression; G4 was the control group. A questionnaire was shared to collect socio-demographic and depression knowledge data as a pre-intervention method; content was then distributed to each group following a set schedule; the depression knowledge questionnaire was then administered to compare pre-intervention, post-intervention and follow-up literacy levels. Using the Scheffé and Least Significant Difference (LSD) multiple comparisons test, it was found that G1, which received the DEEP audiovisual intervention, differed significantly from the other groups, with higher depression knowledge scores in post-intervention stages. The DEEP audiovisual intervention, compared to the other formats used (narrative text format; news format), proved to be an effective tool for increasing depression knowledge in university students.

scholarly journals Pain Neuroscience Education and Physical Therapeutic Exercise for Patients with Chronic Spinal Pain in Spanish Physiotherapy Primary Care: A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 1201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Angel Galan-Martin ◽  
Federico Montero-Cuadrado ◽  
Enrique Lluch-Girbes ◽  
María Carmen Coca-López ◽  
Agustín Mayo-Iscar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Experimental Treatment ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Public Health Services ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Common Location ◽  
Pressure Pain Thresholds ◽  
Neuroscience Education

Chronic musculoskeletal pain affects more than 20% of the population, leading to high health care overload and huge spending. The prevalence is increasing and negatively affects both physical and mental health, being one of the leading causes of disability. The most common location is the spine. Most treatments used in the Public Health Services are passive (pharmacological and invasive) and do not comply with current clinical guidelines, which recommend treating pain in primary care (PC) with education and exercise as the first-line treatments. A randomized multicentre clinical trial has been carried out in 12 PC centres. The experimental group (EG) conducted a program of pain neuroscience education (6 sessions, 10 h) and group physical exercise with playful, dual-tasking, and socialization-promoting components (18 sessions in 6 weeks, 18 h), and the control group performed the usual physiotherapy care performed in PC. The experimental treatment improved quality of life (d = 1.8 in physical component summary), catastrophism (d = 1.7), kinesiophobia (d = 1.8), central sensitization (d = 1.4), disability (d = 1.4), pain intensity (d = 3.3), and pressure pain thresholds (d = 2). Differences between the groups (p < 0.001) were clinically relevant in favour of the EG. Improvements post-intervention (week 11) were maintained at six months. The experimental treatment generates high levels of satisfaction.

Reducing the Social Stigma Associated with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Controlled Trial of an Intervention Program in a Turkish Community Sample

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-120
Author(s):  
Ayça Aktaç Gürbüz ◽  
Orçun YORULMAZ ◽  
Gülşah DURNA
Keyword(s):  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Case Vignette ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

Scientific research into the reduction of stigmatization, particularly related to specific problems such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), is scarce. In the present study, we examine the impact of a video-based antistigma intervention program for OCD in a pretest-posttest control group research. After being randomly assigned to either an intervention (n= 101) or control group (n= 96), the participants reported their attitudes on a hypothetical case vignette before and after OCD vs. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) videos, and again six months later as a follow up assessment. The mixed design analyses for the group comparisons indicated that although there was no significant difference in the measures of the control group, the participants watching the anti-stigma OCD video, in which the focus was psychoeducation and interaction strategies, reported significantly lower scores on social distances and negative beliefs for the case vignettes they read, and this difference was maintained six months later. Then, the present results indicate the effectiveness of our anti-stigma intervention program for OCD. Interventions to reduce stigmatization can also be viewed as effective tools for changing the attitudes of people toward OCD, although further research and applications are needed related to specific disorders if a longlasting impact is to be achieved.

Impact of an Amaranth-Sorghum Grains Product on Nutrient Intake of Children Aged 6-23 Months in Kiandutu Slums, Thika, Kenya

10.37512/700 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Nutrient Intake ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Composite Flour ◽  
Monthly Basis ◽  
Sorghum Flour ◽  
Baseline Characteristics ◽  
The Impact

Poor quality complementary foods contribute to undernutrition in children aged 6-23 months. Therefore, there is need to explore foods that will provide adequate nutrients for this age group. This study aimed at determining the impact of a sorghum-amaranth composite flour porridge on nutrient intake of children aged 6-23 months. A randomized controlled trial was conducted at Kiandutu slum, Thika, Kenya. Children in the control group (CG), received a maize-sorghum flour while those in the treatment group (TG) received an amaranth-sorghum flour. The sample size per study group was 73 mother-child pairs. The children in the TG received Kcal 1000 worth of porridge/day while those in the CG received Kcal 266.8/day. Mothers of children in both groups were given nutrition education at baseline, and monthly, for six months. Food intake data was taken at baseline, then monthly for six months. Descriptive statistics were used to describe nutrient intake. Chi square and Mann Whitney U test were was used to compare the baseline characteristics of the two groups and their nutrient intake, respectively. At baseline characteristics of the two groups were similar. On a monthly basis, nutrient intake in the TG was significantly higher for a majority of the nutrients than in the CG. The product can contribute to preventing under-nutrition in children aged 6-23 months.

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