Intervention Effects Research Articles

The government intervention effects on panic buying behavior based on online comment data mining: a case study of COVID-19 in Hubei Province, China

At the end of 2019, the world grappled with an unparalleled public health crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which also precipitated a global economic downturn. Concurrently, material panic buying occurred frequently. To restore benign market order, the government instituted a series of interventions to stabilize the market. This scholarly exploration dives deep into evaluating the tangible impact of these governmental measures in Hubei, China, a region which found itself at the very epicenter of the epidemic in its onset phase. Existing papers often employ structured questionnaires and structural equation methods, with small samples and limited effective information. In contrast, we used a dataset of tens of thousands of entries and employed text analysis to maximize the extraction of valid information. Through a meticulous analysis of public feedback, our findings unveil several pivotal insights: (1) The news measures of materials have the best effect. Their effectiveness, in descending order, is ranked as: material sufficiency > authority effect > market supervision > appeal and guidance; (2) Government measures during the epidemic’s initial phase exhibited a delay. After the lockdown measures, the phenomenon of large-scale buying has been formed, and the relevant material news was released later; (3) A dual approach combining authority influence with material sufficiency yielded the most favorable results. In light of these findings, the paper concludes with tailored recommendations aimed at amplifying the efficacy of government-led public opinion interventions in future crises.

Short Imagery Rescripting Intervention Effects on Non-Suicidal Self-Injury College Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Short Imagery Rescripting Intervention Effects on Non-Suicidal Self-Injury College Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Baicalin relieves complement alternative pathway activation-induced lung inflammation through inhibition of NF-κB pathway

IntroductionAcute lung injury (ALI) as one kind of acute pulmonary inflammatory disorder, manifests primarily as damage to alveolar epithelial cells and microvascular endothelial cells. Activation of the complement system is a common pathological mechanism in ALI induced by diverse factors, with the complement alternative pathway assuming a pivotal role. Baicalin, a flavonoid derived from the root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, exhibits noteworthy biological activities. The present study attempted the interventional effects and underlying mechanisms of baicalin in microangiopathy in ALI induced by complement alternative pathway activation.MethodsActivation of the complement alternative pathway by cobra venom factor (CVF). HMEC cells were pretreated with baicalin and then exposed to complement activation products. The expression of inflammatory mediators was detected by ELISA, and the intranuclear transcriptional activity of NF-κB was assessed by a dual fluorescent kinase reporter gene assay kit. Before establishing the ALI mouse model, baicalin or PDTC was gavaged for 7 d. CVF was injected into the tail vein to establish the ALI model. The levels of inflammatory mediators in BALF and serum were determined by ELISA. HE staining and immunohistochemistry evaluated pathological changes, complement activation product deposition, and NF-κB p65 phosphorylation in lung tissue.ResultsBaicalin reduced complement alternative activation product-induced expression of HMEC cells adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin) and cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α) as well as upregulation of NF-κB intranuclear transcriptional activity. Baicalin intervention reduced the number of inflammatory cells and protein content in the BALF and decreased the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and ICAM-1 in serum and IL-6, TNF-α, ICAM-1, and P-selectin in BLAF. In addition, baicalin attenuated inflammatory cell infiltration in the lung of ALI mice and reduced the deposition of complement activation products (C5a, C5b-9) and phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 in lung tissue.ConclusionBaicalin relieves complement alternative pathway activation-induced lung inflammation by inhibition of NF-κB pathway, delaying the progression of ALI.

The impact of an exercise and sport intervention on cognitive function and pain among forcibly displaced individuals at risk for PTSD: a secondary analysis of the SALEEM randomized controlled trial

BackgroundIn response to the global scope of forced displacement, international organizations highlight the need of scalable solutions to support individuals’ health and integration into host societies. Exposure to high mental and physical stress perceived before, during, and after displacement can impair functional capabilities, essential for adapting to a new environment. This secondary analysis examined the impact of an exercise and sport intervention on cognitive function and pain severity among individuals living in a refugee camp in Greece.MethodsWe implemented a randomized controlled trial involving n = 142 (52.8% women) forcibly displaced individuals from Southwest Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Participants were randomly assigned to a waitlist or a 10-week co-designed exercise and sport intervention with a 1:1 allocation rate between groups and sexes. Assessments at baseline and follow-up included the Flanker task, the Oddball paradigm, pain severity via visual analog scales, and the Åstrand-Rhyming indirect test of maximal oxygen uptake. We analyzed the intervention effects using structural equation modeling.ResultsOur findings did not indicate a direct intervention effect on cognitive function or pain (p ≥ .332). However, the intervention group significantly improved cardiorespiratory fitness, ß = .17, p = .010, which was associated with faster reaction times in cognitive tasks, ß = − .22, p = .004. Moreover, there was some evidence that adherence might be linked to reduced pain severity, ß = − .14, p = .065.ConclusionsExercise and sport did not directly impact cognitive function and pain severity among a sociodemographically diverse sample living in a refugee camp, suggesting the need for complementary measures. Nevertheless, our results indicate that improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness benefit aspects of attention.Trial registrationThe study was approved by the local ethics committee of the University of Thessaly (no. 39) and registered prospectively on February 8, 2021 at the ISRCTN registry (no. 16291983).

An intervention study of poly-victimization among rural left-behind children based on the theoretical framework of planned behavior

BackgroundPoly-victimization (PV) not only threatens physical and mental health but also causes a range of social problems. Left-behind children in rural areas are more likely to experience PV problems. However, there have been fewer studies on PV among rural children, and even fewer intervention studies.ObjectiveThe difference-in-differences method was employed to analyze the impact of intervention measures, based on the theory of planned behavior, on PV among left-behind children in rural areas.MethodsThe study subjects were left-behind children from six middle schools in two cities in southern China, who completed the baseline survey from 2020 to 2021. They were divided into a control group and an intervention group, each consisting of 228 cases, based on their schools. Before and after the intervention, the Self-made victimization-related knowledge, attitude, and practice questionnaire, Poly-victimization scale, and Middle school students’ coping style scale were used to evaluate the victimization-related KAP(knowledge, attitude, and practice), victimization occurrence, and coping styles of left-behind children, respectively. Stata 15.0 was used to establish a difference-in-differences regression model to analyze the impact of the intervention measures on poly-victimization and coping styles.ResultsMixed Anova revealed that after the intervention, the KAP scores of the intervention group were significantly higher than those of the control group (p < 0.05). After the intervention, the incidence of child victimization in the intervention group dropped to 9.60% (n = 22), lower than in the baseline survey, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.01). The incidence of PV among children in the intervention group was lower than that in the control group, with the difference being statistically significant (p < 0.01). The net reduction in the incidence of PV among children was 21.20%. After the intervention, the protection rate for preventing PV among children was 73.33%, and the effect index was 3.75. The intervention improved children’s coping styles, problem-solving, and help-seeking, while reducing negative coping styles such as avoidance and venting, with the differences being statistically significant (p < 0.05).ConclusionIntervention measures based on the theory of planned behavior reduce the occurrence of PV among left-behind children, and the intervention effects on different types of victimization are also different.

Effects of graphene far-infrared and social network interventions on depression, anxiety and dementia in older adults

BackgroundFive-guaranteed elderly individuals are a special group of the elderly Chinese population faced with unique challenges; these individuals lack any financial resources (including support by relatives), and are solely reliant on the government to provide food, clothing, medical care, and housing as well as burials. In this article, we aim to investigate mood problems (depression, anxiety) and cognitive functioning in Five-guaranteed elderly individuals, and to validate the effectiveness of two promising interventions, graphene far-infrared intervention (GFII; an exploratory and noninvasive technique) and social network intervention (SNI), for elderly people to lay the foundation for future social service work.MethodsTo address the emotional and cognitive difficulties experienced by this special group, we designed this study, which is the first to apply GFII in this population. We also administered SNI given the social isolation of these individuals, in addition to a corresponding control group. 108 elderly individuals in 3 elder care facilities were screened to evaluate eligibility to participate in the current study, including 44 from Facility A (allocated to the GFII group), 43 from Facility B (allocated to the SNI group), and 21 from Facility C (allocated to the control group). GFII lasts for four weeks, with professionally trained carers putting on and removing intervention caps for half an hour each day. SNI lasts for three weeks, three times a week, and consists of a total of nine themed activities. The length of an activity is 90 min. We also did pre- and post-test comparisons of depression, anxiety and cognition in each group of older adults.ResultsThe results showed that GFII led to immediate improvements in anxiety and cognitive impairment in the five-guaranteed elderly individuals, and the improvement in cognitive function was sustained over time. Moreover, SNI group showed significant improvements in cognitive function after the intervention period.ConclusionsThe GFII is a promising intervention that can be applied to intervene in cognitive and mood disorders in older adults. The GFII has short-term interventions for anxiety in older adults, but long-term effects for cognitive impairment. SNI also had an interventional effect on cognition.

Effect of a smartphone self-management digital support system for low-back pain (selfBACK) among workers with high physical work demands - secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

This study aimed to investigate whether physical work demands modify the effect of the selfBACK app, which is designed to support self-management of low-back pain. In a secondary analysis of the selfBACK trial with 346 employed participants, we stratified into low (N=165) and high physical work demands (N=181). Outcomes included the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (0-24), a numeric rating scale for low-back pain intensity (0-10), the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (0-60), and work ability (0-10). Intervention effects were assessed at three- and nine-month follow-ups using a linear mixed model. At three months, high physical demand workers with selfBACK showed a significant reduction in pain intensity [-0.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) -1.3- -0.2] compared to usual care. By nine months, the high physical demands workers with selfBACK reported reduced pain-related disability (-1.4, 95% CI -2.7- -0.1), improved pain self-efficacy (3.5, 95% CI 0.9-6.0), and lower pain intensity (-1.0, 95% CI -1.6- -0.4) compared to usual care. Low physical demands workers with selfBACK also improved pain self-efficacy [2.8 (95% CI 0.3-5.3)] compared to usual care. The impact of selfBACK was more noticeable among workers with high physical demands compared to their low physical demand counterparts, but no statistically significant differences were found in any outcome. The selfBACK intervention had consistent effects across workers with high and low physical work demands, indicating that these demands did not modify its impact. Both groups experienced similar positive effects, highlighting the intervention's effectiveness across varying levels of physical work demands.

Evaluation of the Curative Effects of Surgical Intervention in Cases of Congenital Malformation of the Ossicular Chain in Children.

Purpose: Congenital malformation of the ossicular chain results in challenges with hearing and language development in children. We aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics, prognosis, and surgical treatments of different types of congenital ossicular chain malformations in children. Methods: Eight cases (10 ears) treated between October 2019 and February 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided according to the location of the ossicular chain malformation and whether it was complicated by external ear malformation. Imaging, audiological examination, intraoperative exploration of the middle ear, and postoperative outcomes were recorded. Results: Group 1 incudostapedial joint deformity): 6 ears/60%; Group 2 (simple incus deformity): 2 ears/20%; Group 3 (simple malleus deformity): 2 ears/20%; Group A (with external ear malformations): 4 ears/40%; Group B (without external ear malformations): 6 ears/60%. The average hearing threshold before and after the operation was 51.25 ± 12.88 and 31.94 ± 12.96 dB, respectively. There were differences in the intervention effects of different malformed sites (Group 1: t = 5.139, P = .004; Group 2: t = 13.500, P = .047; Group 3: t = 15.000, P = .042). The effect of the intervention in cases of malformation with mobile stapes footplates was better than that with immobile stapes footplates (t = 4.082, P = .027). The effect of the intervention without external ear malformations was better than that with external ear malformations (t = 7.706, P = .001). Conclusions: The intervention yielded superior results in cases of malformation with mobile stapes footplates compared to those with immobile stapes footplates. Different intervention strategies should be determined through precise deformity assessments, with the degree of stapes mobility serving as a crucial factor in improving the prognosis.

Effectiveness of Providing Cash Incentives and Training To Community Health Workers on Active Case Finding for Tuberculosis In Nigeria: A Cluster-Randomized Control Trial

Background Case detection for Tuberculosis remains low in high-burden communities. Community Health Workers (CHWs) are the first point of contact for many rural Nigerians and have been useful in active case finding. This study assessed the effectiveness of cash incentives and training on tuberculosis case detection by CHWs in six Local Government Areas in Nigeria. Materials and Methods A cluster randomized control trial with three arms was conducted. Arm A received cash incentives and training, Arm B received only training, and the control arm (C) received neither. CHWs already working in the communities participated. TB case notification and number of community outreaches held were used to assess intervention effects. Data were analyzed using STATA (v.13) and GraphPad Prism (v.8). Effect sizes were calculated using odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Associations were tested using Chi-square (χ²) tests, with significance set at P=0.05. Results Arm A had a 14.4% increase in case notification, Arm B showed a 7.4% increase, and the control arm showed a 39.7% increase from the previous year. Arms A and B had lower odds of TB case notification post-intervention, compared to the control (OR = 0.819 and 0.769, respectively), with no significant difference between them. Arm A also saw a 144.8% increase in community outreaches, compared to 46.7% in Arm B and 22.7% in Control Arm C. Arms A and B had higher odds of carrying out community outreaches post-intervention compared to the control (OR = 1.995 and 1.195, respectively), but no significant differences were found between the groups regarding community outreach. Conclusion While the interventions resulted in an increased number of community outreaches compared to the control, case notification improved more in the control arm than in the intervention arms. Nevertheless, the findings highlight the potential of combining cash incentives with training to improve TB control efforts at the community level. Further exploration of the implementation process may shed light on the observed outcomes and guide future intervention strategies.

Twelve-month outcomes of a community-based, father-daughter physical activity program delivered by trained facilitators

BackgroundDads and Daughters Exercising and Empowered (DADEE) is a program targeting fathers/father-figures to improve their daughters’ physical activity and well-being. Previous randomised controlled efficacy and effectiveness trials of DADEE demonstrated meaningful improvements in a range of holistic outcomes for both fathers and daughters in the short-term. This study aims to assess the long-term impact (12-months) of the program when delivered in the community by trained facilitators.MethodsFathers/father-figures and their primary school-aged daughters were recruited from Newcastle, Australia into a single-arm, non-randomised, pre-post study with assessments at baseline, 10-weeks (post-intervention) and 12-months. The 9-session program included weekly 90-min educational and practical sessions, plus home-based tasks. The primary outcome was fathers’ and daughters’ days per week meeting national physical activity recommendations (≥ 30 min/day of MVPA for fathers, ≥ 60 min/day MVPA for daughters). Secondary outcomes included physical activity, screen time, self-esteem, father-daughter relationship, social-emotional well-being, parenting measures, and process outcomes (including recruitment, attendance, retention and program acceptability).ResultsTwelve programs were delivered with 257 fathers (40.0 ± 9.2 years) and 285 daughters (7.7 ± 1.9 years). Mixed effects regression models revealed significant intervention effects for the primary outcome, with fathers increasing the days/week meeting physical activity recommendations by 27% at 10-weeks (p < 0.001) and by 19% at 12-months (p < 0.001) compared with baseline. Likewise, for daughters there was a significant increase by 25% at 10-weeks (p < 0.001) and by 14% at 12-months (p = 0.02) when compared to baseline. After conducting a sensitivity analysis with participants unaffected by COVID-19 lockdowns (n = 175 fathers, n = 192 daughters), the primary outcome results strengthened at both time-points for fathers and at 12-months for daughters. Additionally, the sensitivity analysis revealed significant intervention effects at post-program and 12-months for all secondary outcomes in both fathers and daughters. Furthermore, the process outcomes for recruitment capability, attendance, retention and satisfaction levels were high.ConclusionsFindings provide support for a sustained effect of the DADEE program while delivered in a community setting by trained facilitators. Further investigation is required to identify optimised implementation processes and contextual factors to deliver the program at scale.Trial registrationACTRN12617001450303. Date registered: 12/10/2017.

Effects of self-perception of aging interventions in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background and Objectives Self-perception of aging (SPA) is associated with various health outcomes in the aging process. This study aimed to conduct a systematic review of existing interventions targeting SPA among older adults, and to synthesize their effects on self-perception of aging, physical performance, and mental health. Research Design and Methods A systematic search was performed in PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, CENTRAL, CNKI, SinoMed, VIP, and WanFang databases for randomized controlled trials that reported intervention effects on self-perception of aging, physical performance, and mental health in older adults. Two researchers independently conducted study selection, data extraction and quality assessment. Results A total of 16 studies were included for qualitative analysis, and 12 studies of them were included for meta-analysis. The results showed a significant impact of interventions on self-perception of aging, with the effect size of -0.56 (95% CI -1.06 to -0.07, P=0.03). And the results also supported a significant improvement in physical performance and mental health among older adults. Discussion and Implications Self-perception of aging interventions present a promising approach to enhance positive aging perception for older adults, with potential benefits extending to physical performance and mental health. However, larger-scale and more robust trials are still required to validate these findings and obtain more accurate conclusions.

Efficacy of the mHealth-Based Exercise Intervention re.flex for Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Exercise therapy is recommended by international guidelines as a core treatment for patients with knee osteoarthritis. However, there is a significant gap between recommendations and practice in health care. Digital exercise apps are promising to help solve this undersupply. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a 12-week fully automated app-based exercise intervention with and without a supporting knee brace on health-related outcomes, performance measures, and adherence in patients with knee osteoarthritis. This closed user group trial included participants with moderate to severe unicondylar painful knee osteoarthritis. Randomization was 1:1:2 into an intervention group (IG) with 2 subgroups (app-based training [IG A] and app-based training and a supportive knee brace [IG AB]) and a control group (CG). The intervention included a 12-week home exercise program with 3 sessions per week. Instructions for the exercises were given via the app and monitored using 2 accelerometers placed below and above the affected knee joint. Participants in the CG did not receive any study intervention but were allowed to make use of usual care. Osteoarthritis-specific pain (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score) was defined as the primary outcome, and secondary outcomes included all other Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score subscales, general health-related quality of life (Veterans RAND 12-item Health Survey), psychological measures (eg, exercise self-efficacy), performance measures (strength and postural control), and the monitoring of adherence and safety. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks. Intervention effects were calculated using baseline-adjusted analysis of covariance for the joint comparison of IG A and IG AB versus the CG using a per-protocol approach. Subgroup analyses were conducted for each IG separately. A total of 61 participants were included (IG: n=30, 49%; CG: n=31, 51%; male: n=31, 51%; female: n=30, 49%; mean age 62.9, SD 8.5 years; mean BMI 27.7, SD 4.5 kg/m2). Analysis revealed statistically significant effects in favor of the IG for pain reduction (P<.001; effect size [ES]=0.76), improvements in physical function (P<.001; ES=0.64), improvements in symptoms (P=.01; ES=0.53), improvements in sport and recreation activities (P=.02; ES=0.47), improvements in knee-related quality of life (P<.001; ES=0.76), and improvements in the physical component of general health-related quality of life (P<.001; ES=0.74). Mean differences ranged from 6.0 to 13.2 points (scale range 0-100). ESs indicated small to medium effects. No effects were found for psychological and performance measures. Participants adhered to 92.5% (899/972) of all scheduled exercise sessions. Individuals with knee osteoarthritis undergoing a 12-week sensor-assisted app-based exercise intervention with or without an additional knee brace experienced clinically meaningful treatment effects regarding pain relief and improvements in physical function as well as other osteoarthritis-specific concerns compared to controls. German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS) DRKS00023269; https://drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00023269.

A randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of a brief Triple P discussion group to increase healthy feeding practices and reduce risk factors for infant obesity.

Test the efficacy of a brief 2-hr parenting intervention in increasing protective factors against and reducing risk factors for infant obesity. A 2 (Baby Healthy Living Triple P vs. care-as-usual) × 3 (baseline, postintervention, 6-month follow-up) design was used. Eighty-two parents of 4- to 18-month-old infants meeting at least two risk factors for early childhood obesity (e.g., parent/child overweight, low education level) were randomized to intervention (n = 42) or control group (n = 40). Parents questionnaires and child weight status was measured. Results showed an intervention effect on a primary outcome, early feeding practices (restrictive: d = 0.44, 95% CI [-0.01,0.88], pressuring: d = 0.11, 95% CI [-0.32,0.54], nonresponsive behaviors: (d = 0.32, 95% CI [-0.11,0.75]), and on a secondary outcome, feeding beliefs (d = 0.29, 95% CI [-0.14,0.73]). No beneficial impact was found on other primary outcomes (responsiveness in feeding: quantity d = 0.50, 95% CI [-0.03,1.03]) and nutritive d = 0.52, 95% CI [-0.03,1.07], mealtime environment: d = 0.35, 95% CI [-0.78,0.08], self-efficacy in responsive feeding: d = 0.21, 95% CI [-0.22,0.64]), or secondary outcomes (parental self-efficacy: d = 0.08, 95% CI [-0.50,0.35]), parent emotional eating (d = 0.01, 95% CI [-0.43,0.43]), food restraint (d = 0.42, 95% CI [-0.85,0.02]), and body satisfaction (d = 0.01, 95% CI [-0.43,0.43]) and child weight status (d = 0.11, 95% CI [-0.54,0.32]). Promising though limited support was demonstrated for a brief, low-intensity program to help parents in the prevention of obesity for infants at risk.

The influence of different intensity of Tan Tui exercises on the posture control of students in the Tai Chi Elective Course: protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundTai Chi (TC) holds a unique and valued place in promoting the physical and mental health of college students. Its significance is underscored by its incorporation as a compulsory physical education course in every university in China. TC, with its rich tradition, places a strong emphasis on posture control as a core sports ability. However, the students in Tai Chi Elective Course (TCEC) have very poor posture control ability. This study protocol investigates the potential of Tan Tui (TT) to address these issues, as TT is a fundamental skill for beginners of traditional Chinese martial arts and has a track record of enhancing lower limb strength and balance, making it a promising choice for improving posture control in TCEC.Methods/designTo investigate the impact of different intensities of TT exercises on posture control in TCEC students, we have designed a randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled trial. Seventy-six students in the TCEC will be randomly divided into low-intensity Tan Tui (LTT), medium-intensity Tan Tui (MTT), and high-intensity Tan Tui exercises group (HTT) and control group (CON), each with 19 people. The LTT group, MTT group, and HTT group will be given different intensity of TT exercises, and the CON group will be given regular TCEC. The intervention period will be 6 weeks (2 times a week, 20 min each time). At baseline (before), 4 weeks of intervention (middle), and 6 weeks of intervention (after), the Unipedal Stance Test (UST), the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT), 60°/s angular velocity knee joint flexion and extension relative peak torque (RPT), and knee joint position perception (KJPP) will be evaluated.DiscussionThis is the first randomized controlled trial protocol from the perspective of training intensity to evaluate the effect of different intensity of TT exercises on posture control of students in TCEC. Should our research reveal a significant intervention effect, the results will offer preliminary, higher-quality evidence supporting the positive impact of varying intensities of Tan Tui exercises on posture control in TCEC students.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2000039109. Registered on October 17, 2020.

Examining Real-World Evidence of Depression-Related Symptom Reduction Through a Comprehensive Holistic Lifestyle Intervention

Depression is a global health concern, with various treatments available. In this study, participants (n = 430) were self-selected or medically referred to a residential lifestyle program at the Black Hills Health &amp; Education Center (BHHEC), with a mean stay of 19 days. Individualized treatment plans included structured physical activity sessions, counseling sessions, and the provision of a vegan diet. Beck Depression Inventory-II, self-reported total exercise minutes, resistance exercise minutes, and sleep, along with the number of holistic treatments and counseling sessions, were evaluated. Paired samples t-tests indicated a significant decrease in depression scores over time (MT1 = 20.14, MT2 = 6.17, P &lt; .001). Results from the multiple linear regression that evaluated total exercise minutes, resistance exercise, number of treatments and counseling sessions, and average reported hours of nightly sleep on depression scores at time 2 indicated that average reported hours of nightly sleep were the only significant predictor of depression scores at time 2 ( P &lt; .05). While depression scores significantly improved from baseline to post-assessment for all participants, it is possible that an unmeasured variable, or the synergistic intervention effect of the wellness program, accounted for changes in depressive symptoms over time. Future studies should incorporate sleep quality and assessing time spent in nature to explore these relationships further.

Mixed Reality in Clinical Settings for Pediatric Patients and Their Families: A Literature Review.

In the post-pandemic context, there has been an increasing demand for technology-based interventions in education and healthcare systems, such as augmented and mixed reality technologies. Despite the promising outcomes of applying mixed reality (MR), there is limited aggregated evidence focusing on child-patient interventions in hospital-based or clinical settings. This literature review aimed to identify and synthesize existing knowledge on MR technologies applied to pediatric patients in healthcare settings. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a comprehensive search of the Scopus and Web of Science databases was conducted to identify articles published in the last 10 years that address the application of augmented and/or MR technologies in pediatric hospital settings or clinical environments to improve patient and family outcomes. A total of 45 articles were identified, and following a rigorous screening and eligibility process, 4 review articles were selected for qualitative synthesis. From these reviews, 10 studies with relevant interventions and measured effects were extracted. The extracted studies were analyzed based on eight key attributes: country of origin, study design, characteristics of the study population, primary clinical setting, type of MR device used, nature of the intervention, variables measured, and significant effects observed in the outcome variables. The analysis revealed diverse approaches across different clinical settings, with a common focus on improving both emotional well-being and learning outcomes in pediatric patients and their families. These findings suggest that MR-based pediatric interventions generally provide children and their parents with positive emotional experiences, enhancing both learning and treatment outcomes. However, the studies reviewed were heterogeneous and varied significantly in terms of clinical settings and MR applications. Future research should focus on developing more controlled study designs that specifically target the pediatric population to strengthen the evidence base for MR interventions in healthcare.

Intervention Effect of the Mobile Phone APP Based Continuous Care on Patients after Mechanical Heart Valve Replacement: A Randomised Controlled Trials.

To determine the effect of continuous care based on mobile application on patients' quality of life and self-care ability after mechanical heart valve replacement. Ninety patients who underwent cardiac mechanical valve replacement in the cardiovascular surgery department of a tertiary general hospital in Guizhou Province from September 2020 to January 2022 were selected for the study. The subjects were randomly divided into a control group and an intervention group using the SPSS25.0 software, with 45 patients in the two groups. The control group received routine nursing care during hospitalization, health education the day before discharge, and regular telephone and outpatient follow-up 6 months after discharge. Based on the control group's care, the intervention group received Mobile APP continuous care for 6 months. The effectiveness of patient's quality of life, medication adherence, international normalized ratio (INR) value compliance rates and self-care ability following mechanical heart valve replacement were evaluated the day before discharge and at the 1, 3 and 6 months after discharge. Scores of quality of life, warfarin medication adherence, and self-care ability rose considerably in the intervention group compared to the control group, and the differences were statistically significant. The mobile phone application (APP) 's continuity of care could improve patients' quality of life, medication adherence, INR value compliance rates, and self-care ability. No: ChiCTR2400081250. Registered 27 February, 2024, https://www.chictr.org.cn.

The Effects of Using Adapted Science eBooks Within Shared Reading on Comprehension and Task Engagement of Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of using adapted science eBooks within shared reading on comprehension and task engagement of high school students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A grade-level science textbook was selected and converted into an eBook format, incorporating various visual and auditory features (e.g., text-to-speech, summarized sentences, highlighted keywords) and presented on an iPad. The shared reading intervention included before, during, and after reading strategies (i.e., pre-teaching target vocabulary words, sharing information, retelling), with direct instruction on locating literal information. The intervention effects on reading comprehension and task engagement were evaluated using a single-case multiple probe design. The results of this study indicated that all participants demonstrated improvements in reading comprehension. Despite the longer intervention sessions compared to the baseline, all participants exhibited similar or enhanced levels of task engagement during the intervention sessions. The findings of this study provide empirical evidence supporting the use of adapted eBooks within shared reading as a means to increase access to grade-level science texts for high school students with ASD while maintaining a high level of task engagement. This intervention holds promise for improving the learning outcomes for students with ASD in science content area.

Effectiveness of an unguided modular online intervention for highly anxious parents in preventing anxiety in their children: a parallel group randomised controlled trial

Children whose parents have anxiety problems are at increased risk of developing anxiety themselves. Parenting behaviors are a contributing factor to intergenerational transmission. Interventions which seek to limit anxiogenic parenting behaviors have shown potential in reducing anxiety in offspring but are not widely accessible. This prevention trial aimed to establish the effectiveness of an unguided modular online intervention for highly anxious parents in preventing anxiety in their children. A parallel group, block-randomised controlled trial of unblinded participants in a 1:1 ratio was conducted to compare efficacy of the online course compared to a no-intervention control. The intervention comprised 8 modules, of approximately 20min each, and participants progressed through the course at their own pace. The study was conducted entirely online with a self-referred UK-based community sample of parents (child 2-11 years) with substantial anxiety. The primary outcome measure was change in parent-reported child anxiety, as measured by the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale-Parent Report (SCAS-P) or Spence Pre-School Anxiety Scale-Parent Report (Preschool SCAS). Secondary outcomes were child internalising, externalising, and attentional symptoms (Pediatric Symptom Checklist), and parent anxiety (SCARED-Adult). Analyses using complete case analysis following intention to treat principles investigated intervention effects at 6 months (primary analysis) and additionally at 9 to 25-months' follow-up. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.GovNCT04755933, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04755933. 1811 participants (intervention=900; control=911; 92.7% (1677/1810) female; 85.3% (1535/1800) White-British; 66.8% (1201/1799) university educated). Participant retention (based on primary outcome completion) at T2 (6-months post consent) was 67.6% overall (n=1224) and substantially lower in the intervention arm 57.3% ((516/900) control=77.8% (708/910)). Child anxiety was lower in the intervention group compared to control at 6-month follow-up (adjusted effect size estimate-0.15 (95% CI:-0.23 to-0.08, p<0.001). There was very strong evidence that those in the intervention arm had lowered child anxiety (standardised SCAS score) compared to the control arm, with an effect size (Cohen's d) of-0.16 (95% CI:-0.23 to-0.08, p<0.001). The difference in standardised Spence Child Anxiety Scale score between the arms was-0.15 standard deviations. On the original scales for SCAS-P (0-114) and Preschool SCAS (0-112), this corresponds to a reduction of-2.38 (95% CI:-3.59 to-1.16) and-2.68 (95% CI:-4.05 to-1.31), respectively. No reported harms. A clinically unsupported online intervention designed for parents with high levels of anxiety is effective in reducing anxiety and internalising symptoms in their children, and also anxiety in parents. Given the low resource intensity of this intervention, and the positive effects reported here, these findings suggest it has promise in limiting the intergenerational transmission of severe anxiety. This work was supported by Kavli Trust (grant 38/19).

Digital motor intervention effects on physical activity performance of individuals with developmental disabilities: a systematic review.

Post-pandemic, use of digital technologies (e.g., mobile app, Zoom, virtual reality, and videogaming) to promote physical activity (PA) in populations with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) has increased. The efficacy of various digital technologies in promoting PA in individuals with IDD varies. We conducted a systematic review to examine current literature findings on the efficacy of digital PA interventions on PA outcomes in individuals with IDD. Articles published between 1900 and 2024 that examined effects of technology-based PA interventions on PA levels/fitness of individuals with IDD using experimental or quasi-experimental study designs were included. Sixteen articles were retrieved from four health databases PubMed (914), PsycInfo (1201), SCOPUS (1910), and CINAHL (948). Findings based on 604 participants (Autism: 383; Down Syndrome: 106; Developmental Disability: 83, Developmental Coordination Disorder: 37) provide the most support for exergaming/digital PA intervention benefits for populations with ID, Down Syndrome, and Autism; however, there was limited support for its use in those without ID (e.g., DCD). Digital technology is an effective tool to promote improvements in PA/fitness, motor, cardiovascular performance in individuals with ID. Future studies need to build on this evidence to support the use of PA outcomes in individuals with different IDD diagnoses.