Usual Care Condition Research Articles

Balancing effectiveness with responsiveness: Therapist satisfaction across different treatment designs in the Child STEPs randomized effectiveness trial.

To investigate the association between protocol design and therapist satisfaction in the Child STEPs Randomized Effectiveness Trial (Weisz et al., 2012). Therapist report was obtained at the close of 145 cases seen by 77 therapists, each of whom was randomized to a Standard evidence-based treatment (EBT), modular EBT, or usual care (UC) condition. Analysis of satisfaction items revealed 2 correlated factors representing perceived effectiveness and perceived responsiveness of the treatments. Therapist total satisfaction scores were significantly higher for cases in the modular condition than for those in the standard EBT or UC conditions. With regard to specific dimensions, the modular and UC cases were rated significantly higher than standard EBT cases on the Responsiveness scale, whereas modular and standard EBT cases were rated significantly higher than UC on the Effectiveness scale. Finally, increases in Effectiveness scores from first to second case were significantly larger for Modular cases than for cases in both other study conditions, and increases from first to second case in Total Satisfaction scores were significantly larger for modular cases than for UC cases. Therapist satisfaction with a treatment approach has independent dimensions, which can vary as a function of the protocol design. By virtue of being perceived as more effective than UC and more responsive than standard EBTs, the modular protocol design was also viewed as more overall satisfying than both, and secondary analysis suggested that these results were not due to mere first impressions of the protocols.

Coping-Infused Dialogue through Patient-Preferred Live Music: A Medical Music Therapy Protocol and Randomized Pilot Study for Hospitalized Organ Transplant Patients.

Solid organ transplant patients often experience a variety of psychosocial stressors that can lead to distress and may hinder successful recovery. Using coping-infused dialogue (CID) through patient- preferred live music (PPLM) music therapy sessions may improve mood and decrease pain while also imparting psychoeducational knowledge concerning the identification of local and global problems and coping skills. The purpose of this pilot study was to develop a coping-based medical music therapy protocol that combines coping-infused dialogue (CID) with patient-preferred live music (PPLM) and measure the effects of the resulting CID-PPLM protocol on mood (positive and negative affect) and pain in hospitalized transplant patients. Our study used a pre-/posttest single-session wait-list control design. Participants (N=25) were randomly assigned to experimental (CID-PPLM) or control (usual care) conditions. Participants in the CID-PPLM condition received a single 30-minute session that integrated stressor identification and knowledge of coping skills (CID) with patient-preferred live music (PPLM). Results indicated no between-group differences at pretest and significant correlations between pre- and posttest measures. Concerning posttest ANCOVA analyses, there were significant between-group differences in positive affect, negative affect, and pain, with experimental participants having more favorable posttest scores than control participants. Effect sizes were in the medium-to-large range for positive affect (η2=.198), negative affect (η2=.422), and pain (η2=.303). CID through receptive PPLM may be an effective protocol for improving mood and decreasing pain in organ transplant recipients. MT interventions can be an important tool to develop rapport and enhance outcomes with patients. As greater engagement during interventions may have stronger treatment effects, we recommend future research examining patient engagement as a potential mediator of intervention effects, as well as the number of sessions required to maximize clinical outcomes.

Evaluation of Parent and Child Psychoeducation Resources for the Prevention of Paediatric Post-concussion Symptoms

Background: Persistent post-concussion symptoms (PCS) are associated with adverse psychosocial outcomes, including psychological distress and poorer health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Research has found that the occurrence of persistent PCS can be lowered via paper-based psychoeducation. Unfortunately, these resources have mostly been evaluated in adult populations. Studies in children have failed to address the role of parents in the development and maintenance of PCS, and unfortunately fail to reach a large proportion of the mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) population who do not attend hospital. This study aimed to describe and evaluate a parent information booklet and child information website, for the prevention of paediatric PCS.Methods: Children with uncomplicated mTBI were randomly assigned to either the Intervention (n = 29) or Usual Care condition (n = 20). Families completed pre-treatment, post-treatment (3 month) and follow-up (6 month) assessments of children's PCS, cognitive and psychosocial functioning, and parent's psychosocial functioning. Families also provided feedback on the psychoeducation resources.Results: The Intervention programme, compared to Usual Care, was not associated with significant reductions in children's PCS or HRQOL, parent or child psychological distress, or parent or child knowledge of mTBI.Conclusions: Psychoeducation resources do not appear to be superior to usual care in promotion of both child and parent psychosocial outcomes following mTBI.

Effects of music videos on sleep quality in middle-aged and older adults with chronic insomnia: a randomized controlled trial.

Listening to soothing music has been used as a complementary therapy to improve sleep quality. However, there is no empirical evidence for the effects of music videos (MVs) on sleep quality in adults with insomnia as assessed by polysomnography (PSG). In this randomized crossover controlled trial, we compared the effects of a peaceful Buddhist MV intervention to a usual-care control condition before bedtime on subjective and objective sleep quality in middle-aged and older adults with chronic insomnia. The study was conducted in a hospital's sleep laboratory. We randomly assigned 38 subjects, aged 50-75 years, to an MV/usual-care sequence or a usual-care/MV sequence. After pretest data collection, testing was held on two consecutive nights, with subjects participating in one condition each night according to their assigned sequence. Each intervention lasted 30 min. Sleep was assessed using PSG and self-report questionnaires. After controlling for baseline data, sleep-onset latency was significantly shorter by approximately 2 min in the MV condition than in the usual-care condition (p = .002). The MV intervention had no significant effects relative to the usual care on any other sleep parameters assessed by PSG or self-reported sleep quality. These results suggest that an MV intervention may be effective in promoting sleep. However, the effectiveness of a Buddhist MV on sleep needs further study to develop a culturally specific insomnia intervention. Our findings also suggest that an MV intervention can serve as another option for health care providers to improve sleep onset in people with insomnia.

Comparative effectiveness of vildagliptin in combination with other oral anti-diabetes agents in usual-care conditions: the EDGE–Latin America study

Objective:To assess the proportion of patients on vildagliptin add-on dual therapy who respond to treatment over a 12 month follow-up, relative to comparator oral anti-diabetes dual therapy, in a usual care setting.Research design and methods:Participants were patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) aged 18 years and older from 311 centers in Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Venezuela. Patients were taking monotherapy with an oral anti-diabetes drug (OAD), and were prescribed a new add-on OAD based on the judgment of their personal physician. According to this choice, patients were assigned to one of the two cohorts: vildagliptin or comparator OADs.Main outcome measures:The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving an A1c drop >0.3% without edema, hypoglycemia, weight gain or discontinuation due to gastrointestinal (GI) events. The secondary endpoint was the proportion of patients with baseline A1c ≥7% who reached the goal of an A1c <7% without hypoglycemia or weight gain.Results:The per-protocol population (a subset of the intention-to-treat population that excluded patients with pre-specified protocol deviations) comprised 3773 patients, 3002 in the vildagliptin cohort and 771 in the comparator cohort. The proportion of patients reaching the primary endpoint was higher in the vildagliptin cohort (60.3%) than the comparator cohort (50.7%), OR 1.48 (95% CI: 1.25–1.73). The same was observed for the secondary endpoint (44.8 versus 33.1%) OR 1.64 (95% CI: 1.37–1.98). The incidence of adverse events was low and similar between treatment cohorts.Conclusion:In a usual care setting, patients treated with a vildagliptin combination succeeded in lowering A1c to <7%, without weight gain, hypoglycemia or peripheral edema more often than patients treated with comparator combinations, without increased risk of adverse events. Key limitations are the observational nature of the study and its relatively limited 12 month timeframe.

A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials Testing the Efficacy of Psychosocial Interventions for Gastrointestinal Cancers

Psychological morbidity in those diagnosed with cancer has been shown to result in poorer quality of life and increase the risk of mortality. As a result, researchers have designed and tested psychosocial interventions to improve quality of life and survival of patients diagnosed with cancer. A systematic review of the literature was performed to describe the psychosocial interventions that have been tested in patients with gastrointestinal cancers. Databases such as MEDLINE, PsychINFO, PubMed, MedLine, and Cochrane Reviews were searched. The searches were inclusive of studies published in English between 1966 and October 2013. Raters conducted full-text review of the resulting articles for the following eligibility criteria: (1) participants were 18 years or older, (2) the majority of patients in the sample were diagnosed with a gastrointestinal cancer, (3) the trial was testing a psychosocial intervention, and (4) random assignment to one or more interventions versus a usual care, placebo, attention control, or waiting-list control condition. The interventions that were eligible for this review included psychosocial or behavioral intervention (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy, problem solving, educational, and collaborative care), physical activity, and/or psychopharmacologic treatment (e.g., selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor). Interventions that included dietary changes were not included in the present review. Study quality was also assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) system. The results of the review resulted in a finding of eight studies to have been conducted, testing psychosocial interventions, in patients with gastrointestinal cancers. Findings of these studies suggested that the interventions were effective in reducing psychological and physical symptoms associated with the cancer, improved quality of life, and reduced immune system dysregulation, and one study demonstrated an improvement in survival. Two studies reported no benefit from psychosocial intervention when compared with a control group. The quality of the studies varied greatly, but reporting of the details of the trials, and the methodological rigor, improved over time. Further research is warranted to design and test interventions that may be effective in patients diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancers.

Increasing Engagement in Evidence-Based PTSD Treatment Through Shared Decision-Making: A Pilot Study

Within the Veterans Health Administration, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment decisions are left to the patient and provider, allowing substantial variability in the way treatment decisions are made. Theorized to increase treatment engagement, shared decision-making interventions provide a standardized framework for treatment decisions. This study sought to develop (phase 1) and pilot test the feasibility and potential effectiveness (phase 2) of a brief shared decision-making intervention to promote engagement in evidence-based PTSD treatment. An initial version of the intervention was developed and then modified according to stakeholder feedback. Participants in the pilot trial were 27 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans recruited during an intake assessment at a Veterans Affairs PTSD clinic. Participants randomized to the intervention condition (n = 13) participated in a 30-minute shared decision-making session, whereas patients randomized to the usual care condition (n = 14) completed treatment planning during their intake appointment, per usual clinic procedures. Among the 20 study completers, a greater proportion of participants in the intervention condition preferred an evidence-based treatment and received an adequate (≥9 sessions) dose of psychotherapy. Results provide preliminary support for the feasibility and potential effectiveness of the intervention and suggest that larger-scale trials are warranted.

Weight loss intervention for young adults using mobile technology: Design and rationale of a randomized controlled trial — Cell Phone Intervention for You (CITY)

BackgroundThe obesity epidemic has spread to young adults, leading to significant public health implications later in adulthood. Intervention in early adulthood may be an effective public health strategy for reducing the long-term health impact of the epidemic. Few weight loss trials have been conducted in young adults. It is unclear what weight loss strategies are beneficial in this population. PurposeTo describe the design and rationale of the NHLBI-sponsored Cell Phone Intervention for You (CITY) study, which is a single center, randomized three-arm trial that compares the impact on weight loss of 1) a behavioral intervention that is delivered almost entirely via cell phone technology (Cell Phone group); and 2) a behavioral intervention delivered mainly through monthly personal coaching calls enhanced by self-monitoring via cell phone (Personal Coaching group), each compared to 3) a usual care, advice-only control condition. MethodsA total of 365 community-dwelling overweight/obese adults aged 18–35years were randomized to receive one of these three interventions for 24months in parallel group design. Study personnel assessing outcomes were blinded to group assignment. The primary outcome is weight change at 12months. We hypothesize that each active intervention will cause more weight loss than the usual care condition. Study completion is anticipated in 2014. ConclusionsIf effective, implementation of the CITY interventions could mitigate the alarming rates of obesity in young adults through promotion of weight loss. ClinicalTrial.gov: NCT01092364.

A pragmatic cluster randomized clinical trial of diabetes prevention strategies for women with gestational diabetes: design and rationale of the Gestational Diabetes’ Effects on Moms (GEM) study

BackgroundWomen with gestational diabetes (GDM) are at high risk of developing diabetes later in life. After a GDM diagnosis, women receive prenatal care to control their blood glucose levels via diet, physical activity and medications. Continuing such lifestyle skills into early motherhood may reduce the risk of diabetes in this high risk population. In the Gestational Diabetes’ Effects on Moms (GEM) study, we are evaluating the comparative effectiveness of diabetes prevention strategies for weight management designed for pregnant/postpartum women with GDM and delivered at the health system level.Methods/DesignThe GEM study is a pragmatic cluster randomized clinical trial of 44 medical facilities at Kaiser Permanente Northern California randomly assigned to either the intervention or usual care conditions, that includes 2,320 women with a GDM diagnosis between March 27, 2011 and March 30, 2012. A Diabetes Prevention Program-derived print/telephone lifestyle intervention of 13 telephonic sessions tailored to pregnant/postpartum women was developed. The effectiveness of this intervention added to usual care is to be compared to usual care practices alone, which includes two pages of printed lifestyle recommendations sent to postpartum women via mail. Primary outcomes include the proportion of women who reach a postpartum weight goal and total weight change. Secondary outcomes include postpartum glycemia, blood pressure, depression, percent of calories from fat, total caloric intake and physical activity levels. Data were collected through electronic medical records and surveys at baseline (soon after GDM diagnosis), 6 weeks (range 2 to 11 weeks), 6 months (range 12 to 34 weeks) and 12 months postpartum (range 35 to 64 weeks).DiscussionThere is a need for evidence regarding the effectiveness of lifestyle modification for the prevention of diabetes in women with GDM, as well as confirmation that a diabetes prevention program delivered at the health system level is able to successfully reach this population. Given the use of a telephonic case management model, our Diabetes Prevention Program-derived print/telephone intervention has the potential to be adopted in other settings and to inform policies to promote the prevention of diabetes among women with GDM.Trial registrationClinical Trials.gov number, NCT01344278.

Effect of an exercise training intervention with resistance bands on blood cell counts during chemotherapy for lung cancer: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

PurposeChemotherapy for lung cancer can have a detrimental effect on white blood cell (WBC) and red blood cell (RBC) counts. Physical exercise may have a role in improving WBCs and RBCs, although few studies have examined cancer patients receiving adjuvant therapies. The purpose of this pilot trial was to examine the effects of an exercise intervention utilizing resistance bands on WBCs and RBCs in lung cancer patients receiving curative intent chemotherapy.MethodsA sample of lung cancer patients scheduled for curative intent chemotherapy was randomly assigned to the exercise intervention (EX) condition or usual care (UC) condition. The EX condition participated in a three times weekly exercise program using resistance bands for the duration of chemotherapy.ResultsA total of 14 lung cancer patients completed the trial. EX condition participants completed 79% of planned exercise sessions. The EX condition was able to maintain WBCs over the course of the intervention compared to declines in the UC condition (p = .008; d = 1.68). There were no significant differences in change scores in RBCs.ConclusionsExercise with resistance bands may help attenuate declines in WBCs in lung cancer patients receiving curative intent chemotherapy. Larger trials are warranted to validate these findings. Ultimately these findings could be informative for the development of supportive care strategies for lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.Trial registrationClinical Trials Registration #: NCT01130714.

Integrated medical care management and behavioral risk factor reduction for multicondition patients: behavioral outcomes of the TEAMcare trial

PurposeThe purpose of the study was to compare behavioral outcomes (physical activity, sedentary behavior, smoking cessation, diet) between the intervention and usual care conditions from the TEAMcare trial. MethodsTEAMcare was a randomized trial among 214 adults with depression and poorly controlled diabetes and/or coronary heart disease that promoted health behavior change and pharmacotherapy to improve health. Behavioral outcomes were measured with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (physical activity, sitting time) and the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities Measure (smoking, diet, exercise). Poisson regression models among completers (N=185) were conducted adjusting for age, education, smoking status and depression. ResultsIntervention participants had more days/week following a healthy eating plan [relative rate=1.2, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.1–1.4] and more days of participation in 30 min of physical activity (relative rate=1.2, 95% CI=1.1–2.0) compared to usual care. Intervention participants were more likely to meet physical activity guidelines (7.5% increase) compared to usual care (12% decrease; P=.053). ConclusionDiet and activity generally improved for those receiving the intervention, while there were no differences in some aspects of diet (fruit and vegetable and high-fat food intake), smoking status and sitting time between conditions in the TEAMcare trial.

Improving children's obesity‐related health care quality: Process outcomes of a cluster‐randomized controlled trial

To examine the extent to which an intervention using electronic decision support delivered to pediatricians at the point-of-care of obese children, with or without direct-to-parent outreach, improved health care quality measures for child obesity. Process outcomes from a three-arm, cluster-randomized trial from 14 pediatric practices in Massachusetts were reported. Participants were 549 children aged 6-12 years with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 95th percentile. In five practices (Intervention-1), pediatricians receive electronic decision support at the point-of-care. In five other practices (Intervention-2), pediatricians receive point-of-care decision support and parents receive information about their child's prior BMI before their scheduled visit. Four practices receive usual care. The main outcomes were Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) performance measures for child obesity: documentation of BMI percentile and use of counseling codes for nutrition or physical activity. Compared to the usual care condition, participants in Intervention-2, but not Intervention-1, had substantially higher odds of use of HEDIS codes for BMI percentile documentation (adjusted OR: 3.97; 95% CI: 1.92, 8.23) and higher prevalence of use of HEDIS codes for counseling for nutrition or physical activity (adjusted predicted prevalence 20.3% [95% CI 8.5, 41.2] for Intervention -2 vs. 0.0% [0.0, 2.0] for usual care). An intervention that included both decision support for clinicians and outreach to parents resulted in improved health care quality measures for child obesity.

Effects of a Cognitive–Behaviorally Based Physical Activity Treatment for 4- and 5-Year-Old Children Attending US Preschools

Inadequate volumes of physical activity may be associated with the increases in inappropriately high weight in children of 5years of age and younger. Preschools have typically lacked sufficient time in daily physical activity. A preschool-administered physical activity treatment based on social cognitive and self-efficacy theory (Start For Life) was tested for its association with increased physical activity and reduced body mass index (BMI). Data from accelerometer and BMI assessments over a 9-month preschool year (18 treatment and 8 control classes of 17 to 20 children each; mean age = 4.4years) were used to contrast the behaviorally based treatment of 30min per day with a usual care condition of the same duration. The sample was primarily African-American. Preschool teachers administered all processes. The Start For Life treatment was associated with a significantly greater percentage of the preschool day in moderate-to-vigorous and vigorous physical activity (approximately 30min per week more), with sedentary time unaffected. The treatment was also associated with a significant reduction in BMI, with effect sizes greatest in overweight and obese children. Although results were positive in contrast to usual care and other related interventions, the specific sample requires that the Start For Life treatment undergo sufficient replication to increase confidence in generalizability of the findings to others. Although reduction in sedentary time may require a different strategy, the practical application of the present treatment suggests possibilities for addressing overweight through increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in preschool settings.

Cost effectiveness of patient education for the prevention of falls in hospital: economic evaluation from a randomized controlled trial.

BackgroundFalls are one of the most frequently occurring adverse events that impact upon the recovery of older hospital inpatients. Falls can threaten both immediate and longer-term health and independence. There is need to identify cost-effective means for preventing falls in hospitals. Hospital-based falls prevention interventions tested in randomized trials have not yet been subjected to economic evaluation.MethodsIncremental cost-effectiveness analysis was undertaken from the health service provider perspective, over the period of hospitalization (time horizon) using the Australian Dollar (A$) at 2008 values. Analyses were based on data from a randomized trial among n = 1,206 acute and rehabilitation inpatients. Decision tree modeling with three-way sensitivity analyses were conducted using burden of disease estimates developed from trial data and previous research. The intervention was a multimedia patient education program provided with trained health professional follow-up shown to reduce falls among cognitively intact hospital patients.ResultsThe short-term cost to a health service of one cognitively intact patient being a faller could be as high as A$14,591 (2008). The education program cost A$526 (2008) to prevent one cognitively intact patient becoming a faller and A$294 (2008) to prevent one fall based on primary trial data. These estimates were unstable due to high variability in the hospital costs accrued by individual patients involved in the trial. There was a 52% probability the complete program was both more effective and less costly (from the health service perspective) than providing usual care alone. Decision tree modeling sensitivity analyses identified that when provided in real life contexts, the program would be both more effective in preventing falls among cognitively intact inpatients and cost saving where the proportion of these patients who would otherwise fall under usual care conditions is at least 4.0%.ConclusionsThis economic evaluation was designed to assist health care providers decide in what circumstances this intervention should be provided. If the proportion of cognitively intact patients falling on a ward under usual care conditions is 4% or greater, then provision of the complete program in addition to usual care will likely both prevent falls and reduce costs for a health service.Trial registrationAustralia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register: ACTRN12608000015347.

Evaluation of 4,672 routine prostate biopsies performed in six African countries

Purpose Prostate cancer (CaP) is the leading cancer diagnosed in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, relatively little is known about the clinical detection of CaP in SSA. In order to evaluate CaP detection in SSA, we evaluated the outcomes of prostate biopsies under conditions of usual clinical care.

The Healthy Living Partnerships to Prevent Diabetes Study

Since the Diabetes Prevention Project (DPP) demonstrated that lifestyle weight-loss interventions can reduce the incidence of diabetes by 58%, several studies have translated the DPP methods to public health-friendly contexts. Although these studies have demonstrated short-term effects, no study to date has examined the impact of a translated DPP intervention on blood glucose and adiposity beyond 12 months of follow-up.To examine the impact of a 24-month, community-based diabetes prevention program on fasting blood glucose, insulin, insulin resistance as well as body weight, waist circumference, and BMI in the second year of follow-up.An RCT comparing a 24-month lifestyle weight-loss program (LWL) to an enhanced usual care condition (UCC) in participants with prediabetes (fasting blood glucose=95-125 mg/dL). Data were collected in 2007-2011; analyses were conducted in 2011-2012.301 participants with prediabetes were randomized; 261 completed the study. The intervention was held in community-based sites.The LWL program was led by community health workers and sought to induce 7% weight loss at 6 months that would be maintained over time through decreased caloric intake and increased physical activity. The UCC received two visits with a registered dietitian and a monthly newsletter.The main measures were fasting blood glucose, insulin, insulin resistance, body weight, waist circumference, and BMI.Intent-to-treat analyses of between-group differences in the average of 18- and 24-month measures of outcomes (controlling for baseline values) revealed that the LWL participants experienced greater decreases in fasting glucose (-4.35 mg/dL); insulin (-3.01 μU/ml); insulin resistance (-0.97); body weight (-4.19 kg); waist circumference (-3.23 cm); and BMI (-1.40), all p-values <0.01.A diabetes prevention program administered through an existing community-based system and delivered by community health workers is effective at inducing significant long-term reductions in metabolic indicators and adiposity.

Assessment of cardiovascular disease risk in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders in German psychiatric hospitals: results of the pharmacoepidemiologic CATS study

Patients with severe mental illness are at high risk for metabolic and cardiac disorders. Thus, monitoring of cardiovascular risks is imperative and schedules for screening for lipids, glucose, body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio and blood pressure have been developed. We intended to analyze screening for metabolic disorders in German patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders in routine psychiatric care. We included 674 patients with any F2 diagnosis in out- and inpatient settings and analyzed metabolic screening procedures as practiced under conditions of usual care. Except BMI (54%), all other values were documented only in a minority of patients: waist circumference (23%), cholesterol (28%), fasting glucose (19%), triglycerides (25%) and blood pressure (37%). We found evidence for less than perfect quality of blood pressure measures. The group of patients who met the individual metabolic syndrome ATPIII criteria was comparable to the US CATIE trial. We conclude that frequency and quality of metabolic monitoring in German in- and outpatients settings are not in accordance with the respective recommendations. Similar to previous reports we found evidence for a high prevalence of metabolic disturbances in German patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Evaluation of a booster intervention three years after acute treatment for early-onset disruptive behavior disorders.

This study examines the impact of a brief booster treatment administered 3years after the delivery of an acute treatment in a group (n = 118) of clinically referred boys and girls (ages 6 to 11) originally diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) or Conduct Disorder (CD). At the conclusion of the acute treatment and three-year follow-up period (i.e., study month 42), the sample was re-randomized into Booster treatment or Enhanced Usual Care and then assessed at four later timepoints (i.e., post-booster, and 6-, 12- and 24-month booster follow-up). Booster treatment was directed towards addressing individualized problems and some unique developmental issues of adolescence based on the same original protocol content and treatment setting, whereas the Enhanced Usual Care condition involved providing clinical recommendations based on the assessment and an outside referral for services. HLM analyses identified no significant group differences and few time effects across child, parent, and teacher reports on a broad range of child functioning and impairment outcomes. Analyses examining the role of putative moderators or predictors (e.g., severity of externalizing behavior, dose of treatment) were likewise non-significant. We discuss the nature and implications of these novel findings regarding the role and timing of booster treatment to address the continuity of DBD over time.

Depression Training in Nursing Homes: Lessons Learned from a Pilot Study

Late-life depression is common among nursing home residents, but often is not addressed by nurses. Using a self-directed CD-based depression training program, this pilot study used mixed methods to assess feasibility issues, determine nurse perceptions of training, and evaluate depression-related outcomes among residents in usual care and training conditions. Of 58 nurses enrolled, 24 completed the training and gave it high ratings. Outcomes for 50 residents include statistically significant reductions in depression severity over time (p < 0.001) among all groups. Depression training is an important vehicle to improve depression recognition and daily nursing care, but diverse factors must be addressed to assure optimal outcomes.

Cultural adaptations of behavioral health interventions: a progress report.

To reduce health disparities, behavioral health interventions must reach subcultural groups and demonstrate effectiveness in improving their health behaviors and outcomes. One approach to developing such health interventions is to culturally adapt original evidence-based interventions. The goals of the article are to (a) describe consensus on the stages involved in developing cultural adaptations, (b) identify common elements in cultural adaptations, (c) examine evidence on the effectiveness of culturally enhanced interventions for various health conditions, and (d) pose questions for future research. Influential literature from the past decade was examined to identify points of consensus. There is agreement that cultural adaptation can be organized into 5 stages: information gathering, preliminary design, preliminary testing, refinement, and final trial. With few exceptions, reviews of several health conditions (e.g., AIDS, asthma, diabetes) concluded that culturally enhanced interventions are more effective in improving health outcomes than usual care or other control conditions. Progress has been made in establishing methods for conducting cultural adaptations and providing evidence of their effectiveness. Future research should include evaluations of cultural adaptations developed in stages, tests to determine the effectiveness of cultural adaptations relative to the original versions, and studies that advance our understanding of cultural constructs' contributions to intervention engagement and efficacy.