The effect of educational intervention based on the theory of planned behavior on improving physical and nutrition status of obese and overweight women

Background Regarding the high rate of obesity and overweight among women, develop a comprehensive and effective program it seems necessary to improve their nutritional behaviors and physical activity. This study aims to survey the effect of educational intervention based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) on improving physical and nutritional activities of obese and overweight women. Methods This experimental study was performed on 400 obese and overweight women over the age of 20. The sampling method was A simple random sampling. The data collection was valid and reliable self-reports measure, questionnaires. This tools was including demographic information, questionnaire based on the constructs of the theory of planned behavior, physical activity performance questionnaire and nutritional performance questionnaire that individuals completed before and 6 months after the educational intervention. The training intervention for the experimental group consisted of 12 sessions of 50–55 min. Data analyzed by SPSS22 and by using chi-square test, independent t-test and paired t-test. Results Findings showed that before the educational intervention, was no significant difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of education, household monthly income, occupation, mean age, marital status, awareness, attitude, perceived behavioral control, subjective norms, physical activity and nutritional behavioral intentions, and physical activity and nutritional performance, weight and BMI. However, six months after the training intervention, there was a significant increase in each of the TPB contracts, weight and BMI in the experimental group, while no significant difference was observed in the control group. The meaningful level was considered 0.05. Conclusion Our findings partially support of applying theory of planned behavior in reducing the weight, BMI and improved nutritional performance and physical activity of the study subjects. TPB could be an important strategy for effective future educational interventions.

Unexplored Potential in Online In-Service Teacher Professional Development towards Teaching with Technology: Teacher Perceptions, Challenges and Spill-Over Effects in Kenya

Online courses can provide a worthwhile alternative to on-site Teacher Professional Development (TPD) especially in developing countries such as Kenya. This study was based on a training intervention which helped teachers to cope with the sudden turn of events that came after the government closed schools as one of the COVID-19 containment measures. A private university in Kenya designed and launched an online in-service course to respond to the needs of teachers amidst the pandemic. The university’s Teacher Enhancement Programme (TEP) realized that the training proved to be a game changer for the group of teachers who participated. The online training intervention enabled the teachers to get in touch with learners who were otherwise inaccessible. This study is a descriptive survey with both quantitative and qualitative data from a post survey questionnaire and a focused group discussion. The outcomes of the study indicated that online teacher enhancement programmes are an uncharted potential option for TPD even though there were challenges. The training intervention boosted teacher confidence in using technology to teach, and encouraged them to venture and discover more technology-based teaching tools on their own. The training intervention also led to improved teacher performance in the employment of emergency remote teaching within their learning institutions.

Effect of Psycho-Yogic Training Intervention on Selected Psychological Variables of Female Police Recruits

The purpose of this study was to find the effects of an eight-week psycho-yogic training intervention on theselected psychological parameters of female police recruits. Materials and methods. Initially, the study involved 200 FPR. Out of the 200 participants, 100 participants werescreened using the lie score of the revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. Participants were then further divided intotwo groups (i.e., experimental and control) using the stratified random sampling method based on the lie score. Thepsychological variables selected for the study were aggression (physical aggression, verbal aggression, hostility, andanger), emotional intelligence (self-awareness, managing emotions, self-motivation, empathy, and social skill), anxiety, perceived stress, satisfaction with life, and self-esteem. Tests were conducted pre-training and post-training after eightweeks. Results. The Friedman’s two-way analysis of variance revealed significant difference in verbal aggression (p = 0.016), hostility (p = 0.017), managing emotions (p = 0.004), self-motivation (p = 0.004), empathy (p = 0.017), social skill (p= 0.015), anxiety (p = <0.001), perceived stress (p = <0.001), satisfaction with life (p = 0.022), and self-esteem (p = <0.001). Further post-hoc analysis test – Kruskal Wallis revealed that the experimental group improved significantly from pre- to post-test in managing emotions (p = 0.005, d = 0.61, Δ% = 9), self-motivation (p = 0.027, d = 0.57, Δ% = 8.8), social skill (p = 0.002, d= 0.59, Δ% = 10.2), satisfaction with life (p = 0.036, d = 0.5, Δ% = 11.7), and self-esteem (p = <0.001, d = 0.94, Δ% = 17.6). In addition, the experimental group had reduced anxiety (p = <0.001, d = 1.27, Δ% = 59.3) and perceived stress (p = <0.001, d = 1.32, Δ% = 41.7) from pre- to post-testing. On the other hand, the control group showed significant deterioration in physical aggression (p = 0.018, d = 0.58, Δ% = 19.9), verbal aggression (p = 0.017, d = 0.57, Δ% = 17), andhostility (p = 0.013, d = 0.54, Δ% = 17.8). Conclusion. The study findings suggest psycho-yogic training of eight weeks duration to be an effective strategyor method to improve the psychological parameters of female police recruits.

Effects of Resistance Training Intervention along with Leucine-Enriched Whey Protein Supplementation on Sarcopenia and Frailty in Post-Hospitalized Older Adults: Preliminary Findings of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Resistance training and protein supplementation are expected to exert the greatest effect in counteracting muscle-wasting conditions. Myokines might play a key role, but this remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study (NCT03815201) was to examine the effects of a resistance training program with post-exercise leucine-enriched protein supplementation on sarcopenia and frailty status and on the plasma myokine concentrations of post-hospitalized older adults. A total of 41 participants were included in this 12-week resistance training intervention and randomized either to the placebo group or the protein group. Sarcopenia, frailty, body composition and blood-based myokines were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks. Both groups improved in terms of physical performance (p < 0.005) and frailty (p < 0.07) following the resistance training intervention, but without any difference between groups. Myokine concentrations did not change after the intervention in either group. Changes in myostatin concentrations were associated with greater improvements in appendicular skeletal muscle mass at the end of the intervention (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the implementation of resistance training programs after hospitalization in older adults should be prioritized to combat sarcopenia and frailty immediately. The results regarding myostatin should be taken as preliminary findings.

Social Work Training Intervention to Increase Referral Rates for Preventive Psychosis Services: A Randomized Trial

Purpose Social workers are employed in a broad range of community settings, in which they may be able to identify youth with emerging psychotic symptoms and facilitate connection to specialized services. Methods: This randomized controlled trial tested the efficacy of a training intervention for social workers ( N = 959) intended to increase the volume of referrals and rate of successful referrals to specialized early psychosis services. Results: During the 2-year study period, referrals to the early intervention program nearly doubled, t (df = 11) = 5.46, p < 0.001. Additionally, the rate of successful referrals was greater among social workers who received the active training (41.7%) compared to the other referral sources (19.2%), X2 (df = 1, n = 311) = 3.69, p = 0.055. Conclusions: The active training was associated with a marginally greater rate of successful referrals. Overall referrals increased greatly during the training period although this could not be linked to specific participants, suggesting contamination effects may have increased community awareness of early intervention services.