smartEducation: Developing Stress Management and Resiliency Techniques

smartEducation (Stress Management and Resiliency Techniques) is a mindfulness-based professional learning initiative positioned in a Faculty of Education of a Western Canadian university. Following similar evidence-based initiatives of mindfulness in education, the smartEducation curriculum comprises nine sessions offered in a variety of face-to-face, intensive, and blended formats. This renewal program supports the development of self-care techniques to cultivate personal and professional resilience through a greater understanding and control of breath, movement, and the physiology of emotions. The 20-hour program consists of eight two-hour sessions and a four-hour silent retreat. This article provides an overview of the research supporting mindfulness in education and presents the results of a pilot study conducted with preservice teachers enrolled in the smartEducation course.

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Application of the Non-adoption, Abandonment, Scale-up, Spread and, Sustainability (NASSS) Framework to evaluate the role of technology in the Pathways to Comorbidity Care (PCC) implementation project to improve management of comorbid substance use and mental disorders

10.31234/osf.io/t9rs4 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

MariaGabriela Uribe Guajardo ◽

Andrew James Baillie ◽

Eva Louie ◽

Vicki Giannopoulos ◽

Katie Wood ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Clinical Supervision ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Scale Up ◽

Structured Interview ◽

Barriers And Facilitators ◽

Self Report ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Face To Face ◽

Drug And Alcohol

Abstract (250 words)In substance use treatment settings, there is a high prevalence of comorbid mental health problems. Yet an integrated approach for managing comorbidity, implementation of evidence-based intervention in drug and alcohol settings remains problematic. Technology can help the adoption of evidence-based practice and successfully implement effective treatment health care pathways. This study sought to examine aspects of electronic resources utilisation (barriers and facilitators) by clinicians participating in the PCC training. MethodA self-report questionnaire and a semi-structured interview was designed to measure overall satisfaction with the PCC portal and e-resources available throughout the 9-month intervention for participating clinicians. An adapted version of the ‘Non-adoption, Abandonment, Scale-up, Spread and, Sustainability’ (NASSS) framework was used to facilitate discussion in regards to the study findings. ResultsA total of 20 clinicians from drug and alcohol services responded to all the measures. Facilitators of portal use included: i. clinician acceptance of the PCC portal; ii. guidance from the clinical supervisor or clinical champion that encouraged the use of e-resources. Some of the barriers included: i. complexity of the illness (condition), ii. clinicians’ preference (adopter system) for face-to-face resources and training modes (e.g. clinical supervision, clinical champion workshops), and iii. lack of face-to-face training on how to use the portal (technology and organisation).ConclusionBased on the NASSS framework, we were able to identify several barriers and facilitators including such as the complexity of the illness, lack of face-to-face training and clinician preference for training mediums. Recommendations include ongoing consultation of clinicians to assist in the development of tailored e-health resources and offering in-house training on how to operate and effectively utilise these resources.

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Evidence-based eHealth interventions for caregivers of people with dementia (Myinlife and Partner in Balance): Evaluation of implementations in municipality contexts (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.21629 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Hannah Liane Christie ◽

Lizzy Mitzy Maria Boots ◽

Huibert Johannes Tange ◽

Frans Rochus Josef Verhey ◽

Marjolein Elizabeth de Vugt

Keyword(s):

Self Efficacy ◽

Measurement Instrument ◽

Implementation Process ◽

Successful Implementation ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Multiple Sources ◽

Target Groups ◽

Face To Face ◽

People With Dementia ◽

Implementation Context

BACKGROUND Very few evidence-based eHealth interventions for caregivers of people with dementia are implemented into practice. Municipalities are one promising context to implement these interventions, due to their available policy and innovation incentives regarding (dementia) caregiving and prevention. In this study, two evidence-based eHealth interventions for caregivers of people with dementia (Partner in Balance and Myinlife) were implemented in eight municipalities in the Euregion Meuse-Rhine. OBJECTIVE This study’s objectives were to (1.) evaluate this implementation and (2.) investigate determinants of successful implementation. METHODS This study collected eHealth usage data, Partner in Balance coach evaluation questionnaires, and information on implementation determinants. This was done by conducting interviews with the municipality officials, based on the Measurement Instrument for Determinants of Implementation (MIDI). This data from multiple sources and perspectives was integrated and analysed to form a total picture of the municipality implementation process. RESULTS The municipality implementation of Partner in Balance and Myinlife showed varying levels of success. In the end, three municipalities planned to continue the implementation of Partner in Balance, while none planned to continue the implementation of Myinlife. The two Partner in Balance municipalities that did not consider the implementation to be successful, viewed the implementation as an external project. For Myinlife, it was clear that more face-to-face contact was needed to engage the implementing municipality and the target groups. Successful implementations were linked to implementer self-efficacy CONCLUSIONS The experiences of implementing these interventions suggested that this implementation context was feasible regarding the required budget and infrastructure. The need to foster sense of ownership and self-efficacy in implementers will be integrated into future implementation protocols, as part of standard implementation materials for municipalities and organisations implementing Myinlife and Partner in Balance.

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Brief Behavioural Activation (Brief BA) for Adolescent Depression: A Pilot Study

Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy ◽

10.1017/s1352465817000443 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 46 (2) ◽

pp. 182-194 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Laura Pass ◽

Carl W. Lejuez ◽

Shirley Reynolds

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Young People ◽

Adolescent Depression ◽

Psychological Intervention ◽

Clinical Effectiveness ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Behavioural Activation ◽

Evidence Based Treatments ◽

The Uk

Background: Depression in adolescence is a common and serious mental health problem. In the UK, access to evidence-based psychological treatments is limited, and training and employing therapists to deliver these is expensive. Brief behavioural activation for the treatment of depression (BATD) has great potential for use with adolescents and to be delivered by a range of healthcare professionals, but there is limited empirical investigation with this group. Aims: To adapt BATD for depressed adolescents (Brief BA) and conduct a pilot study to assess feasibility, acceptability and clinical effectiveness. Method: Twenty depressed adolescents referred to the local NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health service (CAMHs) were offered eight sessions of Brief BA followed by a review around one month later. Self- and parent-reported routine outcome measures (ROMs) were collected at every session. Results: Nineteen of the 20 young people fully engaged with the treatment and all reported finding some aspect of Brief BA helpful. Thirteen (65%) required no further psychological intervention following Brief BA, and both young people and parents reported high levels of acceptability and satisfaction with the approach. The pre–post effect size of Brief BA treatment was large. Conclusions: Brief BA is a promising innovation in the treatment of adolescent depression. This approach requires further evaluation to establish effectiveness and cost effectiveness compared with existing evidence-based treatments for adolescent depression. Other questions concern the effectiveness of delivery in other settings and when delivered by a range of professionals.

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ProReal®: The ‘good enough’ online alternative to face-to-face Dramatherapy

Dramatherapy ◽

10.1177/02630672211020886 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 026306722110208

Author(s):

Claire Anne Quigley

Keyword(s):

Ambiguity Tolerance ◽

Face To Face ◽

On Line ◽

And Control ◽

Selection Of

The Covid-19 restrictions have limited the access of face-to face therapies for many people and continues to effect how Dramatherapists operate. The following article offers reflections around adapting to an on-line medium, focusing more specifically around the software of ProReal. Limitations and considerations are acknowledged, including technological difficulties, computer efficacy, ambiguity tolerance and the need for careful contracting and reassurance of autonomy and control when using on-line platforms. The article ends with a short selection of vignettes from ProReal sessions.

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The Effect of Reflexology on Lactation in Women Who Had Cesarean Section: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Complementary Medicine Research ◽

10.1159/000513924 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Sevde Aksu ◽

Pelin Palas Karaca

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Cesarean Section ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Breast Pain ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Right ◽

Documentation Tool ◽

And Control

Aim: The research was conducted as a randomized controlled pilot study to evaluate the effects of reflexology on lactation in mothers who delivered by cesarean section (CS). Methods: A single-blind randomized controlled experimental study was conducted with a total of 60 postpartum women in the reflexology application (n = 30) and control groups (n = 30). After the CS, the mothers in the control group were given approximately 3-h routine nursing care after recovering from the effects of anesthesia; the introductory information form was applied, and the Breastfeeding Charting System and Documentation Tool (LATCH) and visual analog scale (VAS) for the signs of the onset of lactation were implemented on the first and second days. Reflexology was applied to the women in the intervention group after an average of 3 h following the mother’s condition had become stable and she had recovered from the effects of anesthesia. Reflexology was applied a total of 20 min – 10 min for the right foot, 10 min for the left foot – twice a day with 8-h intervals on the first and second days after CS. After the last reflexology application, the LATCH and VAS for the signs of the onset of lactation were applied. Results: Of the women, 70% breastfed their babies within 60 min after delivery; 46.7% of the mothers received breastfeeding training and 81.7% needed support for breastfeeding after the CS. The LATCH breastfeeding scores of the women in the intervention group on both days were significantly higher compared to those of the women in the control group (p < 0.001). On the first day after the CS, apart from breast pain, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of breast heat and breast tension (p > 0.05). On the second day after the CS, apart from breast tension, there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of breast heat and breast pain (p < 0.05). In the study, women in the intervention group were found to have higher scores in terms of all three symptoms compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In the study, it was determined that LATCH scores and signs of the onset of breastfeeding increased in the mothers who received reflexology after CS.

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Does transcranial direct current stimulation affect selective visual attention in children with left-sided infantile hemiplegia? A randomized, controlled pilot study

Brain Impairment ◽

10.1017/brimp.2020.20 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-13

Author(s):

Raed A. Alharbi ◽

Saleh A. Aloyuni ◽

Faizan Kashoo ◽

Mohamed I. Waly ◽

Harpreet Singh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Direct Current ◽

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Sham Group ◽

Time Points ◽

Selective Visual Attention ◽

Subject Factor ◽

And Control

Abstract Objective: Infantile hemiplegia due to brain injury is associated with poor attention span, which critically affects the learning and acquisition of new skills, especially among children with left-sided infantile hemiplegia (LSIH). This study aimed to improve the selective visual attention (SVA) of children with LSIH through transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Methods: A total of 15 children participated in this randomized, double-blinded, pilot study; of them, 10 experienced LSIH, and the remaining 5 were healthy age-matched controls. All the children performed the Computerized Stroop Color-Word Test (CSCWT) at baseline, during the 5th and 10th treatment sessions, and at follow-up. The experimental (n = 5) and control groups (n = 5) received tDCS, while the sham group (n = 5) received placebo tDCS. All three groups received cognitive training on alternate days, for 3 weeks, with the aim to improve SVA. Results: Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a statistically significant change in the mean scores of CSCWT between time points (baseline, 5th and 10th sessions, and follow-up) within-subject factor, group (experimental, sham) between-subject factor and interaction (time points X group) (p < 0.005). Furthermore, a one-way repeated measures ANOVA showed significant differences between time point (p < 0.005) for the experimental and control group but not the sham group. Conclusion: These pilot results suggest that future research should be conducted with adequate samples to enable conclusions to be drawn.

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Telepresence Robots in the Classroom

Journal of Educational Technology Systems ◽

10.1177/00472395211034778 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 004723952110347

Author(s):

Penny Thompson ◽

Sarinporn Chaivisit

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Space Robot ◽

Classroom Experience ◽

Face To Face ◽

Telepresence Robot ◽

Telepresence Robots ◽

Remote User

This study used the concept of shared affordance space to explore students’ perceptions of the use of a telepresence robot in a face-to-face classroom. Results from this qualitative pilot study suggest the telepresence robot has the potential to provide enough autonomy and agency for both the remote user and the in-class students to perceive a shared affordance space. Robot users and classmates use human pronouns to describe the robot user and discuss a process of adjusting to its presence. The physical configuration of the classroom can either facilitate or hinder this process. The research provides greater understanding of the experiences of students in a face-to-face classroom that includes remote students attending class using a telepresence robot. It can help educators design and implement these experiences in a way that creates a beneficial classroom experience for both in-class and remote learners.

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The effect of face-to-face and virtual prenatal care training of spouses on the pregnancy experience and fear of childbirth of primiparous women: A controlled quasi-experimental study

Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare ◽

10.1177/1357633x211024101 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1357633X2110241

Author(s):

Zari Doaltabadi ◽

Leila Amiri-Farahani ◽

Seyedeh Batool Hasanpoor-Azghady ◽

Shima Haghani

Keyword(s):

Prenatal Care ◽

Fear Of Childbirth ◽

Virtual Training ◽

Face To Face ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

Care Training ◽

The Mean ◽

And Control ◽

Primiparous Women

Introduction The spouse has a special role in promoting the health of mothers and infants during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. Women's health during pregnancy requires the participation and cooperation of their spouses. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effect of face-to-face and virtual prenatal care training of spouses on the pregnancy experience and fear of childbirth of primiparous women. Methods This is a quasi-experimental clinical trial that was conducted on primiparous pregnant women referring to three prenatal clinics in Tehran, Iran. Sampling was done by available method and pregnant women were divided into three groups of face-to-face training ( n = 35), virtual training ( n = 35), and control ( n = 33). The content of training program in the virtual and face-to-face groups was similar and included; nutrition during pregnancy, emotional support, fetal growth and development, advantages and disadvantages of vaginal delivery, planning for delivery, infant care, and danger signs for infants, which were presented in four sessions. The samples in the control group did not receive any training. In the 18th and 20th weeks of pregnancy, the demographic information form, pregnancy experience scale, and version A of the Wijma delivery expectancy/experience questionnaires were completed, and once again in the 37th and 38th weeks of pregnancy, the pregnancy experience scale and version A of the Wijma delivery expectancy/experience questionnaires were completed. Results There was a statistically significant difference in the mean score of pregnancy experience after the intervention between the face-to-face training and control groups ( p = 0.001). There was a statistically significant difference in the mean score of uplifts between the two groups of face-to-face training and control ( p = 0.01), and also between virtual training and control groups ( p = 0.02). There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups of face-to-face training and control in terms of and hassles score after the intervention ( p = 0.04). There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups of face-to-face training and control ( p = 0.02) and also between virtual training and control ( p = 0.04) in terms of the mean score of fear of childbirth after the intervention. Conclusion The results of this study showed that teaching prenatal care to spouses of primiparous women by face-to-face and virtual methods can be a useful intervention in improving the pregnancy experience and reducing the fear of childbirth among primiparous women.

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Collegiate Principal Structures in Implementing a School Behaviour Support Program: The Role of the Local Management Group Model

Australasian Journal of Special and Inclusive Education ◽

10.1017/jsi.2021.4 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Judith Foggett ◽

Robert Conway ◽

Kerry Dally

Keyword(s):

High School ◽

Preservice Teachers ◽

Professional Learning ◽

School Principals ◽

Individual Student ◽

Group Model ◽

Local Management ◽

Problem Behaviour ◽

Local Schools ◽

The Individual

Abstract Student problem behaviour in schools is an issue for teachers, schools, and education jurisdictions. Problem behaviour also has an effect on families, the individual student, and the community. It is one of the principal issues of discussion for teachers, preservice teachers, principals, and policymakers. The purpose of this study was to examine a model that supports schools in managing available resources to promote positive behaviour and address problem behaviour. Interviews were conducted with 12 primary and high school principals to investigate their experiences of working together in 6 local management groups (LMGs) for the management of student behaviour. The findings revealed that the LMG model supported effective collaborative leadership practices between the high school and primary school principals and encouraged collegial networks among primary and high school teachers through joint professional learning opportunities. The benefits of the LMG model highlighted some positive outcomes for principals, teachers, and students with problem behaviour within their local schools.

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A Collaborative Deprescribing Intervention in a Subacute Medical Outpatient Clinic: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Metabolites ◽

10.3390/metabo11040204 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 204

Author(s):

Anissa Aharaz ◽

Jens Henning Rasmussen ◽

Helle Bach Ølgaard McNulty ◽

Arne Cyron ◽

Pia Keinicke Fabricius ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Inappropriate Medication ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Patient Interviews ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

Multimorbid Patients ◽

And Control

Medication deprescribing is essential to prevent inappropriate medication use in multimorbid patients. However, experience of deprescribing in Danish Subacute Medical Outpatient Clinics (SMOCs) is limited. The objective of our pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility and sustainability of a collaborative deprescribing intervention by a pharmacist and a physician to multimorbid patients in a SMOC. A randomized controlled pilot study was conducted, with phone follow-up at 30 and 365+ days. A senior pharmacist performed a systematic deprescribing intervention using the Screening Tool of Older Persons’ potentially inappropriate Prescriptions (STOPP) criteria, the Danish deprescribing list, and patient interviews. A senior physician received the proposed recommendations and decided which should be implemented. The main outcome was the number of patients having ≥1 medication where deprescribing status was sustained 30 days after inclusion. Out of 76 eligible patients, 72 (95%) were included and 67 (93%) completed the study (57% male; mean age 73 years; mean number of 10 prescribed medications). Nineteen patients (56%) in the intervention group and four (12%) in the control group had ≥1 medication where deprescribing status was sustained 30 days after inclusion (p = 0.015). In total, 37 medications were deprescribed in the intervention group and five in the control group. At 365+ days after inclusion, 97% and 100% of the deprescribed medications were sustained in the intervention and control groups, respectively. The three most frequently deprescribed medication groups were analgesics, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal medications. In conclusion, a collaborative deprescribing intervention for multimorbid patients was feasible and resulted in sustainable deprescribing of medication in a SMOC.

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