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1.
Sustainable human resource training system for promoting school health in Japan.
Tomokawa, S, Miyake, K, Asakura, T
Pediatrics international : official journal of the Japan Pediatric Society. 2020;(8):891-898
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is essential to develop relevant human resources and sustainable training systems to promote school health. METHODS This paper reviewed the structure of human resources and relevant training systems for school health in Japan and identified current strengths and challenges. RESULTS Our review identified seven key points: (i) a legal basis for the allocation of human resources to schools; (ii) established training systems for school health human resources; (iii) uniformity and quality of teacher training curricula; (iv) establishment of teacher-training institutions; (v) education centers in every prefecture; (vi) allocation of supervisors for Yogo teachers to every prefectural and municipal education board; and (vii) various study group activities at the district and school levels. CONCLUSIONS Based on these results, we proposed some useful ideas for developing human resources to promote school health in countries outside Japan, especially for developing countries. First, it is necessary to clarify the required competencies for school health among school staff and establish teacher-training systems based on the required competencies in each country. It is also necessary to consider possible collaboration with existing community health workers, such as doctors, nurses, midwives, nutritionists, and community health workers by providing short-term training on school health. Second, it is important to train and assign specialists to teacher-training institutions that can provide education and conduct research on school health. Third, it is helpful to enhance the functions of in-service training at the prefectural or district level and introduce lesson study on school health.
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2.
A scoping review of evaluation frameworks and their applicability to real-world physical activity and dietary change programme evaluation.
Fynn, JF, Hardeman, W, Milton, K, Jones, AP
BMC public health. 2020;(1):1000
Abstract
BACKGROUND Physical activity and dietary change programmes play a central role in addressing public health priorities. Programme evaluation contributes to the evidence-base about these programmes; and helps justify and inform policy, programme and funding decisions. A range of evaluation frameworks have been published, but there is uncertainty about their usability and applicability to different programmes and evaluation objectives, and the extent to which they are appropriate for practitioner-led or researcher-led evaluation. This review appraises the frameworks that may be applicable to evaluation of physical activity and/or dietary change programmes, and develops a typology of the frameworks to help guide decision making by practitioners, commissioners and evaluators. METHODS A scoping review approach was used. This included a systematic search and consultation with evaluation experts to identify evaluation frameworks and to develop a set of evaluation components to appraise them. Data related to each framework's general characteristics and components were extracted. This was used to construct a typology of the frameworks based on their intended programme type, evaluation objective and format. Each framework was then mapped against the evaluation components to generate an overview of the guidance included within each framework. RESULTS The review identified 71 frameworks. These were described variously in terms of purpose, content, or applicability to different programme contexts. The mapping of frameworks highlighted areas of overlap and strengths and limitations in the available guidance. Gaps within the frameworks which may warrant further development included guidance on participatory approaches, non-health and unanticipated outcomes, wider contextual and implementation factors, and sustainability. CONCLUSIONS Our typology and mapping signpost to frameworks where guidance on specific components can be found, where there is overlap, and where there are gaps in the guidance. Practitioners and evaluators can use these to identify, agree upon and apply appropriate frameworks. Researchers can use them to identify evaluation components where there is already guidance available and where further development may be useful. This should help focus research efforts where it is most needed and promote the uptake and use of evaluation frameworks in practice to improve the quality of evaluation and reporting.
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3.
Social prescribing for stress related disorders and brain health.
Fixsen, A, Polley, M
International review of neurobiology. 2020;:237-257
Abstract
Social prescribing allows health professionals to refer at risk patients toward health and wellbeing interventions and activities in the local community. It is a key part of NHS (National Health Service) England health care policy, and schemes based on the social prescribing model have been developed in countries including Canada, New Zealand, the Netherlands and Singapore. In this chapter, we consider the role that social prescribing can play in reducing stress related problems and supporting and encouraging self-care and self-management of conditions for which conventional medicine may not be the only or the best option. Drawing on primary and secondary data sources, we examine the scope of social prescribing and professional and service users' perspectives concerning its strengths and limitations. Our findings suggest that link worker meetings within social prescribing schemes can motivate people to pursue activities with mental, physical and social benefits such as exercise, artistic pursuits and gardening. Problems within schemes included health provider engagement, recruiting those with low agency and communication between professionals and patients about social prescribing. Based on our findings, we propose a number of recommendations for enhancing social prescribing schemes. Professionals, including neurologists, we argue, can benefit from engaging in the concept and practice of social prescribing and referring patients and clients to social prescribing link workers where appropriate. Neurologists are also part of a larger team, as they work alongside allied health professionals such as occupational therapists and physiotherapists, some of whom are already performing aspects of the link worker role.
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4.
Sedentary Behavior and Public Health: Integrating the Evidence and Identifying Potential Solutions.
Owen, N, Healy, GN, Dempsey, PC, Salmon, J, Timperio, A, Clark, BK, Goode, AD, Koorts, H, Ridgers, ND, Hadgraft, NT, et al
Annual review of public health. 2020;:265-287
Abstract
In developed and developing countries, social, economic, and environmental transitions have led to physical inactivity and large amounts of time spent sitting. Research is now unraveling the adverse public health consequences of too much sitting. We describe improvements in device-based measurement that are providing new insights into sedentary behavior and health. We consider the implications of research linking evidence from epidemiology and behavioral science with mechanistic insights into the underlying biology of sitting time. Such evidence has led to new sedentary behavior guidelines and initiatives. We highlight ways that this emerging knowledge base can inform public health strategy: First, we consider epidemiologic and experimental evidence on the health consequences of sedentary behavior; second, we describe solutions-focused research from initiatives in workplaces and schools. To inform a broad public health strategy, researchers need to pursue evidence-informed collaborations with occupational health, education, and other sectors.
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5.
Gamer's Health Guide: Optimizing Performance, Recognizing Hazards, and Promoting Wellness in Esports.
Emara, AK, Ng, MK, Cruickshank, JA, Kampert, MW, Piuzzi, NS, Schaffer, JL, King, D
Current sports medicine reports. 2020;(12):537-545
Abstract
Electronic sports (esports), or competitive video gaming, is a rapidly growing industry and phenomenon. While around 90% of American children play video games recreationally, the average professional esports athlete spends 5.5 to 10 h gaming daily. These times and efforts parallel those of traditional sports activities where individuals can participate at the casual to the professional level with the respective time commitments. Given the rapid growth in esports, greater emphasis has been placed on identification, management, and prevention of common health hazards that are associated with esports participation while also focusing on the importance of health promotion for this group of athletes. This review outlines a three-point framework for sports medicine providers, trainers, and coaches to provide a holistic approach for the care of the esports athlete. This esports framework includes awareness and management of common musculoskeletal and health hazards, opportunities for health promotion, and recommendations for performance optimization.
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6.
Physical activity interventions promoted in the Arabic-speaking region: A review of the current literature.
Benajiba, N, Mahrous, L, Janah, K, Alqabbani, SF, Chavarria, EA, Aboul-Enein, BH
Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity. 2020;(8):e13032
Abstract
The Arabic-speaking region suffers from insufficient levels of physical activity (PA). Assessing the effectiveness of PA interventions presents a scientifically evaluated method to reduce and prevent the current high burden of noncommunicable diseases affecting this region. This review examined implemented PA interventions and corresponding measured health outcomes in this region. The review was limited to studies prior to January 2020 using nine electronic academic databases. Only intervention-focused articles incorporating PA as the primary intervention or as a component of a multibehavioural intervention were included. Thirty-nine PA intervention studies were identified. Published PA interventions were implemented among 50% of the countries in the region. Seventy percent of the studies were conducted in the Gulf region and 25% in North Africa. A third of the studies was designed for children and adolescents. Accordingly, 40% of interventions were for patients living with comorbidities. Seventy percent of the studies included PA as part of a multidisciplinary intervention. Most studies included body mass index as an outcome parameter. Significant improvement (P < .05) in measured health outcomes was seen in 97% of studies. Thorough analysis includes social and culturally congruent aspects of the PA interventions and discussion of resultant health outcomes. This information furthers the understanding of effective PA interventions that can be adapted to target sedentary lifestyle behaviours in this region.
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7.
Importance of Lifestyle Modification on Cardiovascular Risk Reduction: COUNSELING STRATEGIES TO MAXIMIZE PATIENT OUTCOMES.
Franklin, BA, Myers, J, Kokkinos, P
Journal of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and prevention. 2020;(3):138-143
Abstract
This commentary builds on the unhealthy lifestyle habits, population health, risk factors as harbingers of cardiovascular disease, current provider counseling practices, assessing patient readiness to change, and research-based interventions to facilitate behavior change (eg, the 5A's, motivational interviewing, and overcoming inertia with downscaled goals).
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8.
Behaviour change interventions: getting in touch with individual differences, values and emotions.
Strömmer, S, Lawrence, W, Shaw, S, Correia Simao, S, Jenner, S, Barrett, M, Vogel, C, Hardy-Johnson, P, Farrell, D, Woods-Townsend, K, et al
Journal of developmental origins of health and disease. 2020;(6):589-598
Abstract
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses suggest that behaviour change interventions have modest effect sizes, struggle to demonstrate effect in the long term and that there is high heterogeneity between studies. Such interventions take huge effort to design and run for relatively small returns in terms of changes to behaviour.So why do behaviour change interventions not work and how can we make them more effective? This article offers some ideas about what may underpin the failure of behaviour change interventions. We propose three main reasons that may explain why our current methods of conducting behaviour change interventions struggle to achieve the changes we expect: 1) our current model for testing the efficacy or effectiveness of interventions tends to a mean effect size. This ignores individual differences in response to interventions; 2) our interventions tend to assume that everyone values health in the way we do as health professionals; and 3) the great majority of our interventions focus on addressing cognitions as mechanisms of change. We appeal to people's logic and rationality rather than recognising that much of what we do and how we behave, including our health behaviours, is governed as much by how we feel and how engaged we are emotionally as it is with what we plan and intend to do.Drawing on our team's experience of developing multiple interventions to promote and support health behaviour change with a variety of populations in different global contexts, this article explores strategies with potential to address these issues.
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9.
Trends in reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition indicators during five years of piloting and scaling-up of Ananya interventions in Bihar, India.
Abdalla, S, Weng, Y, Mehta, KM, Mahapatra, T, Srikantiah, S, Shah, H, Ward, VC, Pepper, KT, Bentley, J, Carmichael, SL, et al
Journal of global health. 2020;(2):021003
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Ananya program in Bihar implemented household and community-level interventions to improve reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition (RMNCHN) in two phases: a first phase of intensive ancillary support to governmental implementation and innovation testing by non-government organisation (NGO) partners in eight focus districts (2012-2014), followed by a second phase of state-wide government-led implementation with techno-managerial assistance from NGOs (2014 onwards). This paper examines trends in RMNCHN indicators in the program's implementation districts from 2012-2017. METHODS Eight consecutive rounds of cross-sectional Community-based Household Surveys conducted by CARE India in 2012-2017 provided comparable data on a large number of indicators of frontline worker (FLW) performance, mothers' behaviours, and facility-based care and outreach service delivery across the continuum of maternal and child care. Logistic regression, considering the complex survey design and sample weights generated by that design, was used to estimate trends using survey rounds 2-5 for the first phase in the eight focus districts and rounds 6-9 for the second phase in all 38 districts statewide, as well as the overall change from round 2-9 in focus districts. To aid in contextualising the results, indicators were also compared amongst the formerly focus and the non-focus districts at the beginning of the second phase. RESULTS In the first phase, the levels of 34 out of 52 indicators increased significantly in the focus districts, including almost all indicators of FLW performance in antenatal and postnatal care, along with mother's birth preparedness, some breastfeeding practices, and immunisations. Between the two phases, 33 of 52 indicators declined significantly. In the second phase, the formerly focus districts experienced a rise in the levels of 14 of 50 indicators and a decline in the levels of 14 other indicators. There was a rise in the levels of 22 out of 50 indicators in the non-focus districts in the second phase, with a decline in the levels of 13 other indicators. CONCLUSIONS Improvements in indicators were conditional on implementation support to program activities at a level of intensity that was higher than what could be achieved at scale so far. Successes during the pilot phase of intensive support suggests that RMNCHN can be improved statewide in Bihar with sufficient investments in systems performance improvements. STUDY REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT02726230.
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10.
The Society of Gynecologic Oncology wellness curriculum pilot: A groundbreaking initiative for fellowship training.
Turner, TB, Kushner, DM, Winkel, AF, McGwin, G, Blank, SV, Fowler, JM, Kim, KH, ,
Gynecologic oncology. 2020;(3):710-714
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Trainee well-being is a core component of ACGME program requirements and the SGO has recognized the high incidence of burnout among gynecologic oncologists and its negative impact. To foster a culture of wellness throughout the SGO community we sought to engage current fellows along with fellowship directors in a structured didactic program designed to teach wellness. We evaluated the feasibility of and preliminary responses to a pilot curriculum designed to teach skills that promote wellness and prevent burnout. METHODS The SGO Wellness Taskforce developed a curriculum with topics based on established evidence as well as specialty specific stressors such as end of life discussions. Faculty leaders from 15 pilot-sites attended a full-day training course and then taught four modules over four months. Interactive modules engaged fellows through reflective writing, guided discussion, and multimedia presentations. Fellows completed the Perceived Stress Scale pre- and post-implementation and provided feedback regarding attitudes toward wellness and the individual modules. Faculty curriculum leaders completed surveys regarding their attitudes toward the curriculum as well as their trainees' reactions. RESULTS Among 73 participating gynecologic oncology fellows, 95% (69/73) and 52/73 (71%) completed the pre-and post-surveys, respectively. Only 34/73 (49%) respondents reported that there was wellness programming at their institution prior to the initiation of the SGO curriculum. At institutions where such programming was available, 35% (12/34) reported not utilizing them. Fifty-five (80%) fellows had PSS scores greater than 12 compared to 39 (75%) post-intervention. After the curriculum, the percentage of fellows comfortable discussing wellness topics increased from 63 to 74%. Prior to the curriculum, 75% felt they could identify symptoms of burnout or psychosocial distress. This increased to 90% post-intervention. The modules were well received by fellows, and the time spent addressing wellness was widely appreciated. CONCLUSIONS A structured curriculum to promote wellness among gynecologic oncology fellows is feasible and was associated with observed decreased reported stress among fellows at participating programs. This curriculum addresses ACGME requirements regarding trainee well-being, and showed potential for more programmatic, nationwide implementation. Fellowship culture change was not directly measured, but may have been one of the most significant positive outcomes of the wellness program. Further longitudinal studies will be necessary to understand the natural course of fellow burnout and the impact of structured wellness programming.