scholarly journals Pilot Study

2008 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shveta Sanghani ◽  
Alexis Deavenport ◽  
Patti Herring ◽  
S. Eric Anderson ◽  
Ernie Medina

A major public health concern is the debilitating effect of chronic stress, leading to lower performance and productivity at work and school, thus affecting quality of life. Addressing this crisis, a stress reduction pilot program was designed based on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) strategies as an effective, quick, and relatively inexpensive health promotion strategy for chronic stress. The intervention, a four-session yoga and meditation regimen, was created to give participants the acquired skills and comprehension for performing seven breathing exercises, two meditation techniques, and 14 simple yoga postures to combat stress in their daily lives. The design was a quasi-experimental, with a pretest and posttest, and non-equivalent control group. Data were analyzed using five repeated measure ANOVAs. The intervention group experienced greater decreases in stress-related variables from pretest to posttest compared to the control group. Preliminary findings indicate promise for introducing yoga and meditation among a variety of schools, workplace settings, and preventive care clinics. as an effective, simple, and relatively inexpensive health promotion strategy to negate the debilitating effects of chronic stress, and to enhance well being and performance.

2020 ◽  
pp. 152483992097638
Author(s):  
Deinera Exner-Cortens ◽  
Alysia Wright ◽  
Marisa Van Bavel ◽  
Kathleen C. Sitter ◽  
Debb Hurlock ◽  
...  

Gender-transformative approaches (i.e., approaches that support male-identified individuals to critique and resist stereotypical male gender role norms that negatively affect health and well-being) are increasingly recognized as a key health promotion strategy. However, there is limited evidence to date on gender-transformative interventions for male-identified adolescents. In addition, given the dynamic and socially constructed nature of gender, methods beyond quantitative data collection are needed to gain a holistic understanding of promising gender-transformative health promotion approaches. One newer method to capture lived experiences with adolescents is photo-based evaluation, where youth program participants take pictures to represent their knowledge, attitudes, and/or behaviors before and after a program. The present study presents findings from the photo-based evaluation of a gender-transformative health promotion program called WiseGuyz. WiseGuyz is offered to mid-adolescent, male-identified youth in school and community settings, and is designed to promote mental and sexual health and prevent violence. Six youth photographers from a rural Canadian setting took part in this evaluation, taking photos to represent what being a guy in their world meant before and after WiseGuyz. Youth then participated in an individual visual storytelling interview and a group-based photovoice process. Key themes in relation to masculinities that emerged from these data were around changes to (1) social norms and (2) emotionality following program participation, and the need for a safe program space to support these changes. This study adds to literature demonstrating the promise of gender-transformative approaches with adolescents, with implications for future health promotion research and practice with male-identified youth.


2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 523-534
Author(s):  
Darunnee Limtrakul ◽  
Krongporn Ongprasert ◽  
Pisittawoot Ayood ◽  
Ratana Sapbamrer ◽  
Penprapa Siviroj

PurposeChildcare is an essential part of early life environment that has a significant influence on lifelong physical and mental health. This study aimed to examine the relationship between development, growth and frequency of illness in different types of care.Design/methodology/approachThis cross-sectional study recruited 177 children aged 30–36 months and their caregivers. Of these 66 were being cared for at home and 111 were attending out-of-home day-care facilities. An interview form, growth measurement and the Denver Developmental Screening Test II were collected. The association between child developmental, growth and illness variables was analyzed with Chi-square, Fisher's exact and Mann–Whitney U tests.FindingsThis study found that the development and growth results did not show statistically significant differences between the home-care and day-care groups. The number of minor illnesses was significantly lower in home-care children than in day-care children (OR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.15-0.72).Research limitations/implicationsThis study indicated that the risk of infection is increased in the children attending day care. Provision of a healthy and safe childcare environment needs to be an essential health promotion strategy to improve family and child well-being.Originality/valueAs the number of women's participation in the labor market has increased rapidly over the past decades, so did the number of children in nonparental care. The study findings reflect that the development of a day-care center for children was unclear, whereas the risk of infection was increased. Therefore, provision of a healthy and safe childcare environment needs to be an essential health promotion strategy to improve family and child well-being.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-12
Author(s):  
Wiwik Udayani ◽  
Muhammad Amin ◽  
Makhfudli Makhfudli

ABSTRACT   Introduction: Poor control of asthma can reduce the quality of life of asthma patients. Doing breathing exercises and regular physical exercise can increase asthma control. Exercises that can be done are a combination of Buteyko breathing techniques and walking exercises. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of a combination of Buteyko breathing techniques and walking exercises on athma control. Methods: The design of this study was quasi experimental with pretest-posttest control group design. The location of the study was in the pulmonary clinic of Regional General Hospital of Sidoarjo Regency and Bangil Regional General Hospital in Pasuruan Regency, East Java. Respondents were selected by randomization by simple random sampling. Respondents in this study amounted to 76 respondents. Asthma control were measured using Asthma Control Test. The intervention group was given a combination exercise with Buteyko breathing technique and walking exercise for 8 weeks, 3x per week, 55 minutes every training session. Giving a combination of Buteyko breathing technique and walking exercises using module and video media. Asthma control measurements were carried out 3 times (pre test, week 4, week 8). Data were analyzed using SPSS 22 with GLM-RM (General Linear Model-Repeated Measure) ANOVA. Result: The research results showed a significant difference in the astma control value between before and after 4 weeks and 8 weeks of the intervention in the treatment group with p = 0.000(p <0.05). Discussion:The combination of Buteyko breathing techniques and walking exercise increase asthma control through the mechanism of increasing CO2 and producing nitric oxide which has bronchodilation effects and through decreasing inflammatory mediators so that it can reduce asthma symptoms. This exercise can be used as an alternative choice in supporting pharmacological therapy to improve asthma control.    


Crisis ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 415-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yik-Wa Law ◽  
Paul S. F. Yip ◽  
Carmen C. S. Lai ◽  
Chi Leung Kwok ◽  
Paul W. C. Wong ◽  
...  

Abstract. Background: Studies have shown that postdischarge care for self-harm patients is effective in reducing repeated suicidal behaviors. Little is known about whether volunteer support can help reduce self-harm repetition and improve psychosocial well-being. Aim: This study investigated the efficacy of volunteer support in preventing repetition of self-harm. Method: This study used a quasi-experimental design by assigning self-harm patients admitted to the emergency departments to an intervention group with volunteer support and treatment as usual (TAU) for 9 months and to a control group of TAU. Outcome measures include repetition of self-harm, suicidal ideation, hopelessness, and level of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Results: A total of 74 cases were recruited (38 participants; 36 controls). There were no significant differences in age, gender, and clinical condition between the two groups at the baseline. The intervention group showed significant improvements in hopelessness and depressive symptoms. However, the number of cases of suicide ideation and of repetition of self-harm episodes was similar for both groups at the postintervention period. Conclusion: Postdischarge care provided by volunteers showed significant improvement in hopelessness and depression. Volunteers have been commonly involved in suicide prevention services. Further research using rigorous methods is recommended for improving service quality in the long term.


2021 ◽  
pp. 014303432110250
Author(s):  
Celeste Simões ◽  
Anabela C. Santos ◽  
Paula Lebre ◽  
João R. Daniel ◽  
Cátia Branquinho ◽  
...  

Resilience is an individual’s ability to adapt successfully to and persevere during and after significant challenges. Resilience programmes based on a socioemotional learning approach have been associated with an increase in protextive factors (e.g., prosocial competencies), improvements in physical and mental health, and a decrease in internalised and externalised symptoms. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of the RESCUR curriculum implemented in Portuguese schools on students’ academic, behavioural, and socioemotional outcomes, based on child and teacher reports. Participants included 1,084 children (53.2% male) aged 3-15 ( M = 7.24, SD = 2.31). A quasi-experimental study compared outcomes for an experimental intervention group (AIG) with a waiting list control group (WG). The results showed the RESCUR programme decreased mental health difficulties while increasing both prosocial behaviours and well-being. In addition, academic performance increased for those in preschool after implementation. Both teachers and children consistently reported positive behavioural changes in resilience-related competencies after implementing RESCUR. Our findings contribute to the recent research on the potential of RESCUR to address key socioemotional competencies and improve relevant protextive factors. Study limitations and future recommendations are addressed.


Author(s):  
Donatella Di Corrado ◽  
Marinella Coco ◽  
Maria Guarnera ◽  
Nelson Mauro Maldonato ◽  
Alessandro Quartiroli ◽  
...  

It is widely documented that negative body image is a significant public health concern due to its association with symptoms of disordered eating and worse psychological well-being. The purpose of the study was to develop a path model of intrapersonal dimensions (self-efficacy and internal locus of control) as antecedents of perceived stress toward females’ body dissatisfaction and eating attitude disorders. A total of 300 females, including 100 aspiring fashion models, 100 athletes and 100 students (controls), between 15 and 24 years of age (M = 19.6, SD = 1.85) participated in the study. Measures included level of psychological stress, self-efficacy and locus of control dimensions, body dissatisfaction and eating attitude disorder indices. A path analysis confirmed our research hypothesis. Comparing the three subsamples, we found better fit indexes in the two subgroups with elevated investment on their body image with respect the control group. More specifically, the model in the group of aspiring fashion models showed the best fit index. These results indicated that aspiring fashion models have a strong desire to maintain their low body mass or to become thinner. For this reason, a suitable involvement of expert health workers in the nutritional and psychological field could be extremely essential in the fashion world to maintain a healthier well-being.


Author(s):  
Tzofnat Zadok-Gurman ◽  
Ronit Jakobovich ◽  
Eti Dvash ◽  
Keren Zafrani ◽  
Benjamin Rolnik ◽  
...  

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on teachers professional and personal lives. Our primary aim was to assess the effect of a blended Inquiry-Based Stress Reduction (IBSR), an emerging mindfulness and cognitive reframing intervention on teacher’s well-being. Our secondary aims were to assess the effect of IBSR on resilience, burnout, mindfulness, and stress among teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The study was a prospective controlled trial with an intervention group (N = 35) and a comparison control group (N = 32). The intervention took place in the Jerusalem District throughout the school year from November 2019 to May 2020. The sessions were conducted in blended learning that included traditional learning (face-to-face) and online learning. Data was analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis. Results: IBSR blended intervention enhanced the resilience and improved the subjective and psychological well-being of teachers in spite of the breakout of the COVID-19 pandemic and the first lockdown in Israel. Simultaneously the control group suffered from enhanced burnout levels and a decline in psychological and subjective well-being. Conclusions: Implementation of IBSR blended intervention during the school year may benefit teachers’ well-being and ability to flourish, even during stressful events such as the COVID-19 pandemic.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvina Catuara-Solarz ◽  
Bartlomiej Skorulski ◽  
Inaki Estella ◽  
Claudia Avella-Garcia ◽  
Sarah Shepherd ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Against a long-term trend of increasing demand, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a global rise in common mental disorders. Now more than ever, there is an urgent need for scalable, evidence-based interventions to support mental well-being. OBJECTIVE The aim of this proof-of-principle study was to evaluate the efficacy of a mobile-based app in adults with self-reported symptoms of anxiety and stress in a randomised control trial that took place during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. METHODS Adults with mild to severe anxiety and moderate to high levels of perceived stress were randomised to either the intervention or control arm. Participants in the intervention arm were given access to the app, Foundations, for the duration of the 4-week study. All participants were required to self-report a range of validated measures of mental well-being (10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience scale [CD-RISC-10]; 7-item Generalised Anxiety Disorder scale [GAD-7]; Office of National Statistics Four Subjective Well-being Questions [ONS-4]; World Health Organisation-5 Well-Being Index [WHO-5]) and sleep (Minimal Insomnia Scale [MISS]) at baseline and weeks 2 and 4; and, in addition, on perceived stress weekly (10-item Perceived Stress Score [PSS]). RESULTS 136 participants completed the study and were included in the final analysis. The intervention group (n=62) showed significant improvements compared to the control group (n=74) on measures of anxiety (GAD-7 score, delta from baseline to week 2 in the intervention group: -1.35 [SD 4.43]; control group: -0.23 [SD 3.24]; t134= 1.71 , P=.04), resilience (CD-RISC score, delta from baseline to week 2 in the intervention group: 1.79 [± SD 4.08]; control group: -0.31 [± SD 3.16]; t134 -3.37, P<.001), sleep (MISS score, delta from baseline to week 2 in the intervention group: -1.16 [± SD 2.67]; control group: -0.26 [± SD 2.29]; t134= 2.13, P=.01), and mental well-being (WHO-5 score, delta from baseline to week 2 in the intervention group: 1.53 [5.30]; control group: -0.23 [± SD 4.20]; t134= -2.16, P=.02) within 2 weeks of using Foundations, with further improvements emerging at week 4. Perceived stress was also reduced within the intervention group, although the results did not reach statistical significance relative to the control group (PSS score, delta from baseline to week 2 in the intervention group: -2.94 [± SD 6.84]; control group: -2.05 [± SD 5.34]; t134= 0.84, P=.20). CONCLUSIONS This study provides proof-of-principle that the digital mental health app, Foundations, can improve measures of mental well-being, anxiety, resilience, and sleep within 2 weeks of use, with greater effects after 4 weeks. It therefore offers potential as a scalable, cost-effective, and accessible solution to enhance mental well-being, even during times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 59
Author(s):  
Agnes Berlina Printina

ABSTRAKPendahuluan: Penyalahgunaan narkoba merupakan masalah yang serius di berbagai negara bahkan di Indonesia. Keterbatasan informasi menjadi kendala kurangnya pengetahuan remaja tentang narkoba. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh video vlog terhadap tingkat pengetahuan tentang penyalahgunaan narkoba pada siswa siswi di SMP Strada Jakarta Selatan. Metode: Penelitian ini merupakan quasi eksperiment dengan pre -post test control group design yang dilakukan pada Oktober 2017. Kelompok kontrol terdiri dari 52 responden dari SMP Asisi Jakarta Selatan dan 67 responden merupakan kelompok intervensi dari SMP Strada Marga Mulia Jakarta Selatan. Responden didapatkan dengan cara Total Sampling. Data dianalisa dengan Uji t-test independent dan paired sampel t-test. Hasil: Penelitian ini menunjukan terdapat perbedaan tingkat pengetahuan antara kelompok kontrol yang tidak diberikan perlakuan dan kelompok intervensi yang diberikan promosi kesehatan melalui video vlog dengan p value 0,000. Penelitian ini juga menunjukan pengaruh yang signifikan terhadap tingkat pengetahuan pada kelompok intervensi dengan video vlog  p value 0,000. Simpulan: Promosi kesehatan dengan video vlog bagi siswa dapat meningkatkan pengetahuan tentang penyalahgunaan narkoba sehingga dapat terhindar dari penyalahgunaan  narkoba. Kata Kunci: promosi kesehatan,  pengetahuan,  narkoba, vlog ABSTRACT Introduction: Drug abuse is a serious problem in many countries include Indonesia. The limitdness informations of knowledge for teenegers being obstacle. This purpose of this study was to determine the influence of health promotion through a vlog toward on the level knowledge about drug abuse at students in Strada Marga Mulia Junior High School. Method: this study is an quasi eksperiment with pre test post test control group design that alrady implemented on October 2017. The control group consist of 52 respondents in Asisi Jakarta Selatan Junior High School and 62 respondents of intervention group in Strada Marga Mulia Junior High School. The respondents obtained by total sampling. The data are analysed with independent t-test anda paired sampel t-test. Result: this study show that there is difference of knowledge’s level between control group that no treatment and intervention group that significant health promotion through vlog with p value 0,000. This study show the significant influence toward knowledge level in intervention group of vlog with p value 0,000. Conclution: health promotion with vlog for students can improve the knowledge about drug abuse, allowing can be escape by drug abuse. Keywords: health promotion, knowledge, narcotics, vlog 


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