The Efficacy of Stage-Matched and Standard Public Health Materials for Promoting Physical Activity in the Workplace: The Physical Activity Workplace Study (PAWS)

2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 501-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald C. Plotnikoff ◽  
Stephanie Brunet ◽  
Kerry S. Courneya ◽  
John C. Spence ◽  
Nicholas J. Birkett ◽  
...  

Purpose. To compare the effects of stage-matched and standard print materials for physical activity (PA) change. Design. Participants were randomized into (1) a stage-matched intervention group (n = 165), (2) a standard intervention group (n = 176), or (3) a no-contact control group (n = 166). The stage-matched and standard intervention groups both received materials at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Assessments of all three groups were conducted at baseline, 6, and 12 months. Setting. Canadian worksites. Subjects. Employees (N = 507). Interventions. Five motivationally targeted booklets were developed for the stage-matched group. The standard group received Canada's Physical Activity Guide and handbook. Measures. The main dependent variable was PA, expressed as metabolic equivalent (MET) minutes and measured using the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire. Demographic characteristics and stages of change for PA were also assessed. Results. At 12 months mean weekly MET minutes for combined moderate and vigorous activity increased from baseline by 223, 67, and 78 for the stage-matched, standard, and control groups, respectively; however, differences were not significant (p > .05). Women in the stage-matched group over the 12-month period significantly increased their activity by 327 weekly MET minutes whereas the standard and control groups declined their activity (F = 3.01, p < .05). Conclusion. PA stage-matched materials delivered in the workplace are efficacious for women but not men. Future interventions should explore the use of these intervention materials in conjunction with multilevel strategies, and particular attention should be paid to possible gender differences.

Author(s):  
Matthew S. Chrisman ◽  
Robert Wright ◽  
William Purdy

Standing desks may reduce sedentary behaviors in college students. Students at one mid-size urban university in the Midwestern United States were randomized into intervention (n = 21) and control groups (n = 27) to assess standing time when given access to standing desks. The intervention group received visual and oral instructor prompts to stand, while the control received no prompts during a 50 min lecture. All students were provided with adjustable tabletop standing desks. ActivPAL accelerometers measured sitting and standing time. A brief survey assessed student preferences, including facilitators and barriers to standing. Mean standing time was greater in the intervention vs. control group (26 vs. 17 min, p = 0.023). Students tended to stand in the corners and edges of the room. Main facilitators for standing included to break up sitting, reduce back pain, and increase attention and focus; main barriers were not wanting to distract others or be the only one standing. In total, 87.5% of intervention group participants found five prompts to stand were adequate. Students increased standing time in class when provided with standing desks and instructor prompts to stand. Findings can inform the layout of classrooms and when and how to promote standing desks during lectures.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yukari Isaka ◽  
Ai Hori ◽  
Rie Tanaka ◽  
Masao Ichikawa

Abstract Background The method of communicating a positive cancer screening result should seek to alleviate psychological distress associated with a positive result. We evaluated whether the provision of information through a leaflet would help reduce psychological distress in a randomized controlled trial. Methods The participants were women aged 20–69 years who were about to undergo cervical cancer screening at health centers. Before the screening, they received hypothetical screening results, with a leaflet (intervention group, n = 493) or without it (control group, n = 479), randomly. Their psychological distress and intention to undergo further examination were then compared between the intervention and control groups. Results After the intervention (providing a leaflet with hypothetical screening results), psychological distress appeared to be higher in the control group than in the intervention group among those who received a hypothetical positive screening result (odds ratio: 2.57, 95% confidence interval: 1.87–3.54), while 95% and 97% of those in the intervention and control groups, respectively, reported that they would undergo further examination. Conclusions Information provision might help reduce psychological distress but not hinder further examination among women who screen positive for cervical cancer. Trial registration: UMIN Clinical Trials Registry UMIN000029894. Date of Registration: November 2017.


Author(s):  
Cynthia Uchechukwu Ejike ◽  
Akinola Stephen Oluwole ◽  
Olaitan Olamide Omitola ◽  
Adedotun Ayodeji Bayegun ◽  
Islamiat Yetunde Shoneye ◽  
...  

Abstract Background We redesigned the Schisto and Ladders health educational board game and evaluated its potential to encourage compliance to school-based mass drug administration with praziquantel. Methods Two hundred and seventy-five children from six schools who rejected praziquantel treatment were divided into intervention and control groups. Before the intervention, preassessment interviews were conducted on their knowledge about praziquantel treatment and schistosomiasis. The Schisto and Ladders version 2 game as an intervention, and the Snakes and Ladders game as a control, were played for 6 mo. Postassessment interviews, including focus group discussions, were conducted. Results At preassessment, 0/98 (0.0%) children in the intervention group had heard of praziquantel compared with 2/177 (1.1%) in the control group. Similarly, 0/98 (0.0%) children in the intervention group did not know that praziquantel does not kill compared with 4/177 (2.3%) in the control group. The postassessment showed that 53/78 (67.9%) in the intervention group were aware of praziquantel compared with 2/177 (1.1%) in the control group (p=0.000). Similarly, 53 (69.7%) in the intervention group knew about the safety of praziquantel compared with 0/177 (0.0%) in the control group (p=0.000). Sixty-four children (65.3%) from the intervention group sought praziquantel treatment after the trial. Conclusions Schisto and Ladders version 2 is a useful sensitisation tool with which to encourage compliance to praziquantel treatment in schools.


F1000Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 929
Author(s):  
Nouran Hesham El-Sherazy ◽  
Naglaa Samir Bazan ◽  
Sara Mahmoud Shaheen ◽  
Nagwa A. Sabri

Background Antioxidants show nephroprotective effect against vancomycin associated nephrotoxicity (VAN) in animals. This study aimed to assess the ascorbic acid nephro-protective role against VAN clinically. Methods Forty-one critically ill patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: intervention group (vancomycin IV plus ascorbic acid, n=21) or control group (vancomycin IV only, n=20). Primary outcomes were the incidence of VAN and the absolute change in creatinine parameters, while mortality rate was the secondary outcome. Nephrotoxicity was defined as an increase in serum creatinine (S.cr) by at least 0.5 mg/dL or 50% of baseline for at least two successive measurements. This study is registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03921099), April 2019. Results Mean absolute S.cr increase was significant when compared between both groups, P-value = 0.036, where S.cr increased by 0.05(0.12) and 0.34(0.55) mg/dL in the intervention and control groups, respectively. Mean absolute Cr.cl decline was significant when compared between both groups, P-value = 0.04, where Cr.cl was decreased by 5.9(17.8) and 22.3(30.4) ml/min in the intervention and control groups, respectively. Incidence of VAN was 1/21(4.7%) versus 5/20(25%) in the intervention and control groups, respectively (RR: 0.19; CI: 0.024–1.49; P-value = 0.093). Mortality was higher in the control group; however, it was not statistically significant, P-value = 0.141. Conclusion Co-administration of ascorbic acid with vancomycin preserved renal function and reduced the absolute risk of VAN by 20.3%, however, the reduction in VAN incidence didn’t reach statistical significance level. Further large multicenter prospective trials are recommended.


2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 1831
Author(s):  
Süreyya Karsu ◽  
Meftune Özbakır Umut ◽  
Meltem Nurtanış Velioğlu ◽  
Sertaç Çifci ◽  
Yusuf Volkan Topuz ◽  
...  

The purpose of the study is to reveal whether the preconscious messages which are given as social messages to teaching staff, will cause any change in their physical activity habits. And to suggest social marketing strategies which are required to be developed in that direction. The mixed research method and triangulation  model were both used in the study. The teaching staff of AİBÜ Gölköy Campus were the main mass and the study was conducted around 15th January 2015- 25th May 2015. Convenience sampling method was utilized from non-random sampling methods. According to findings of mix research, “both experimental and control groups had awareness on physical activity and they were both affected to valuate themselves on physical activity levels” were concluded. Beside these, another major conclusion was; the preconscious messages which are given to affect control groups’ physical activity habits had negative impact on control group. ÖzetÇalışmanın amacı, öğretim elemanlarına sosyal mesaj olarak verilen bilinç öncesi mesajların fiziksel aktivite alışkanlıkları üzerinde değişim yaratıp yaratmayacağını ortaya koymak, bu yönde gerekli sosyal pazarlama stratejilerinin geliştirilmesinde önerilerde bulunmaktır. Araştırmada, karma araştırma yöntemi ve çeşitleme modelinden yararlanılmıştır. Araştırmada tesadüfi olmayan örnekleme yöntemlerinden, kolayda örnekleme yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Araştırma AİBÜ Gölköy Yerleşkesi’nde 15 Ocak 2015-25 Mayıs 2015 tarihlerinde yürütülmüştür. Uygulanan karma araştırma yöntemi sonucunda hem deney, hem kontrol grubu için fiziksel aktivite konusunda farkındalık ve katılımcıların kendilerini fiziksel aktivite düzeyleri konusunda değerlendirmeleri açısından etki yarattığı sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Önemli bir diğer sonuç da bilinç öncesi mesajların fiziksel aktivite alışkanlığını etkileme boyutunda deney grubu üzerinde negatif etki yarattığıdır. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-67
Author(s):  
Werna Nontji ◽  
Dwi Kartika Sari ◽  
Sitti Maria Ulfa ◽  
Syafruddin Syarif ◽  
Inez Vravty Lestari ◽  
...  

Background: Educating mothers during their postpartum period could potentially help them to overcome some important phases after giving birth. The process of education is evaluated based on the mothers’ knowledge about their independent self-care. Independency is an activity that is started individually and is done based on self-capability. The independency in the postpartum care is not only important to decrease the mother’s mortality and morbidity rate, but it is also crucial to strengthen and improve the post-partum mother’s healthy behavior during the perineal care. Providing education using Android-based application called BUBI Care could be potential to facilitate a more dynamic transfer of knowledge to the postpartum mothers.Aims: To analyze the knowledge, skills, and independence of primipara postpartum mothers in independent perineal care before and after accessing BUBI Care app. Research Method: employing quasi experimental research with pre-test and post-test design with control group design. The sample for this research were 19 pregnant mothers TM III (pregnancy age of ? 38 weeks) on each group. The treatment group was educated using BUBI Care Android app that was conducted at one of Public Health Center. The control group was educated without BUBI Care that was conducted at a Midwife Practice Clinic. The research was conducted on September to October 2020. Study Result: According to the Wilcoxon test, there was a difference in the pre-test knowledge of the treatment and control groups with the similar median of 53 and p-value of 0.666, the treatment group showed their scores improved to 80 on the post-test while the control group stayed at 53 with the p-value of 0.000. It means that BUBI Care app education influences the post-test. On the other hand, the perineal care skill saw a difference between the intervention and control groups. The intervention group had a mean of 70.05 and 56.68 for the control group with the p-value of 0.002 which means that there was an influence from the BUBI Care app education. Additionally, Mann Whitney test showed that the intervention group had a mean score of 78.95, but the control group only had 49.26, the total difference between the two are 29.69 with the p-value of 0.000. It can be concluded that there is a significance in difference in the independency rate from the provision of BUBI Care Android app education.Conclusion:  there is a significance effect on the intervention group in terms of Android based usage.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leila Kianfard ◽  
Farkhonde Amin SHokravi ◽  
Sakineh Rakhshanderou ◽  
Shamsaddin Niknami

Abstract BackgroundPhysical activity during pregnancy period is one of the issues with priority during pregnancy period. Researches show that women reduce their physical activity during this period and are unaware of the benefits on the health of the mother and embryology. Although researchers regarding physical activity during pregnancy have prepared many guidelines; it is not however clear why pregnant women do not perform physical activity and the effectiveness factors that facilitate the desired behavior. MethodsThe research population included all pregnant women aged 18 to 40 years with gestational age of 12-38 weeks referring to the healthcare centers in District 5 of Tehran Municipality, from 22 districts of the city who had eliminated their physical activity during pregnancy. Questionnaires of physical activity assessment questionnaire after educational intervention in pregnant women (PPAQ) and a questionnaire designed based on the results of the needs assessment and the dimensions of the PEN-3 model were used for assessment. This study is a Research Clinical Trial (RCT). Due to the nature, a quasi-experimental research design (pre-test, post-test) with the control group was used in this research. ResultsBased on the obtained results, the intervention based on E-learning has a significant effect of enabling factors to increase physical activity in pregnant women in the experimental group. In addition, the intervention based on E-learning has a significant effect on the training factors in order to increase physical activity in pregnant women in the experimental group. ConclusionBased on the research results, it can be said that there is a statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the scores obtained from training factors in the pretest and the experimental group. Furthermore, it can be said that there is a statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the scores obtained from the enabling factors in the pre-test and the experimental group.


2021 ◽  
pp. 026921552110411
Author(s):  
Hiromichi Takeda ◽  
Katsuhiko Takatori

Objective To assess the preliminary effects of a buddy-style intervention to improve exercise adherence. Design A parallel-group, open-label, pilot randomized controlled trial. Setting Adult day-care centers. Participants Sixty-five disabled older adults. Interventions All participants underwent a 12-week home exercise program, and the intervention group received a 5–10 min buddy-style intervention between older adults in the intervention group once weekly at an adult day-care center. Main measures Based on the exercise log calendar, the number of days of exercise was assessed for each of the three phases: 1–4 weeks, 5–8 weeks, and 9–12 weeks. Short physical performance battery was measured at baseline and after 12 weeks. Results Of the 590 screened older adults, 65 were recruited and 33 were assigned to the intervention group. One participant in each group withdrew before the program began, and four and five patients in the intervention and control groups, respectively, dropped out by the 12-week assessment. Analysis of covariance of the 28 and 26 patients in the intervention and control groups, respectively, for whom exercise log calendars could be retrieved, showed that the intervention group (24.4/28 days) exercised significantly more days than the control group (20.6/28 days) at 9–12 weeks ( P = 0.009). In the between-group effect of the intention-to-treat analysis of short physical performance battery, walking and standing test ( P = 0.790, P = 0.829) were not significantly different, and balance test ( P = 0.049) was significantly better in the control group. Conclusions There was a preliminary effect of the buddy-style intervention to improve exercise adherence.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saeideh Shahsavari ◽  
Sakineh dadipoor ◽  
Mohtasham Ghaffari ◽  
Ali Safari-Moradabadi

Abstract Background: The aim of the present study was to assess readiness to become or stay physically active according to the Stages of Change Model.Methods: The present quasi-experimental study was conducted on 100 women working in the healthcare centres of Bandar Abbas, Iran. The sampling method is clustering in type. The subjects were assigned into two groups of intervention and control. The collected data were analysed by SPSS-16 software using descriptive and inferential statistics, including independent-sample t-test, paired-sample t-test and Chi-square test.Results: Before the educational intervention, 19 subjects (0.38%) from the intervention group showed to have regular physical activity (4-5 stages). This number changed to 29 (0.58%) and 25 (0.50%) after three months and six months of intervention. A statistically significant difference was found before the intervention and 3 and 6 months afterwards (P˂.001). In the control group, no statistically significant difference was found between the pre-intervention and post-intervention (three months (P=.351) and six months (P=.687).Conclusion: The educational intervention based on the stages of behaviour change model showed to be effective in promoting the physical activity of employed women. These findings may benefit health education researchers and practitioners who tend to develop innovative theory-based interventions and strategies to increase the level of physical activity in women.


Author(s):  
Mansoor Keshavarz ◽  
Maryam Kashanian ◽  
Soodabeh Bioos ◽  
Yasaman Vazani

Abstract Background Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) is an ancient medical system that provides suggestions to improve the health of mothers and children during pregnancy and labor. Persian physicians believed that these instructions made labor easier, safer, and less painful. Methods The present randomized clinical trial was conducted among women at 33–38 weeks of pregnancy in Tehran, Iran. TPM instructions consisted of diet, bathing, and application of oil from the 38th week of pregnancy to the onset of labor. The primary outcome was the duration of the active phase of labor. Results The mean duration of the active phase was 331.60 ± 151.48 min for the intervention group and 344.40 ± 271.46 min for the control groups, but it was not statistically significant. The active phase was significantly shorter in women who had better compliance (p=0.03). The need for oxytocin augmentation was 53.3% in the control group and 38.5% in the intervention group (p=0.17). The rate of perineal infection was 13% in the control group and 0% in the intervention group (p=0.11). Conclusions The active phase was not different in the intervention and control groups, but it was shorter in compliant women. It is possible that prolonged use of these recommendations in combination with a sitz baths and a larger sample size could result in more significant outcomes.


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