The implementation of multiple lifestyle interventions in two organizations: a process evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the implementation of a multicomponent lifestyle intervention at two different worksites. METHODS: Data on eight process components were collected by means of questionnaires and interviews. Data on the effectiveness were collected using questionnaires. RESULTS: The program was implemented partly as planned, and 84.0% (max 25) and 85.7% (max 14) of all planned interventions were delivered at the university and hospital, respectively. Employees showed high reach (96.6%) and overall participation (75.1%) but moderate overall satisfaction rates (6.8 ± 1.1). Significant intervention effects were found for days of fruit consumption (ß = 0.44 days/week, 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.85) in favor of the intervention group. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed successful reach, dose, and maintenance but moderate fidelity and satisfaction. Mainly relatively simple and easily implemented interventions were chosen, which were effective only in improving employees' days of fruit consumption.

Measuring stair use in two office buildings: a comparison between an objective and a self-reported method.

INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE: Measuring stair use reliably and objectively is complicated and difficult. In this study, stair use was measured at an individual level by using an innovative registration system and was compared with self-reported data. The purpose of this study was to gain an insight into the comparability of self-reported stair use vs objectively measured stair use. METHODS: Self-reported and objective stair use was measured in two worksites and was operationalized as how often a subject uses the stairs per week (i.e., stair-use frequency) and the number of floors covered (up or down) in a week with each use. Analyses were performed by means of the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). RESULTS: A number of significant differences in stair use between worksites were found. ICCs of 0.55 and 0.24 for stair-use frequency were found in worksites 1 and 2, respectively. The ICCs for the number of floors covered were lower at 0.39 and 0.19 for worksites 1 and 2, respectively. CONCLUSION: The comparability of self-reported and objectively measured stair use is moderate to poor, and given the independent measurement errors of both methods, this might have been expected. Comparability seemed to be dependent on worksite characteristics.

A comparison of patient characteristics and rehabilitation treatment content of chronic low back pain (CLBP) and stroke patients across six European countries.

BACKGROUND: So far no studies have been conducted on the issue of comparability of rehabilitation treatment profiles and patient characteristics across countries. These aspects might have implications for the feasibility of treating patients abroad but also for the comparison of treatment outcome on an international level. OBJECTIVE: This study attempts to compare the patient characteristics and treatment profiles in six European countries of two rehabilitation categories (chronic low back pain (CLBP) and stroke) and to reveal possible consequences for international treatment and multi-centre studies. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study comparing demographic variables, treatment profiles, generic health (SF-36) and disabilities (RDQ for CLBP and the Barthel index for stroke) in six European countries. SUBJECTS: 255 patients with CLBP and 246 patients with stroke, treated in 36 different institutions in Austria (AUT), Finland (FIN), Germany (GER), Ireland (IR), Italy (IT) and The Netherlands (NL). RESULTS: The treatment profiles of CLBP patients show marked differences between countries and three categories of treatment can be distinguished: (a) predominant physiotherapy (IR, IT), (b) all disciplines equally provided (NL, GER, AUS) and (c) treatment concentrated in four disciplines (FIN). Striking differences are also found for patient characteristics, characterised by in particular the younger and more disabled Dutch patients and the older and less disabled (mostly female) Italian patients. International stroke rehabilitation was more similar between countries; however, a few differences in patient characteristics were found which again could mostly be ascribed to the Dutch and Italian patients. CONCLUSION: International treatment and outcome assessment of CLBP patients is not possible unless standardisation is considered of treatment content and patient selection. For stroke treatment international traffic and multi-centre outcome assessment might be more feasible.

Measuring maximum holding times and perception of static elevated work and forward bending in healthy young adults.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the maximum holding times (MHT) of two highly stressful postures: standing in a forward bend position and performing elevated work in a standing position. The relationship between perceived exertion and MHT was also studied. Subjects were 44 young adults, age 20-29 years (25 female, 19 male). A test-retest design was used to establish reliability. Mean maximum holding times for forward bending and elevated work were respectively 14.51 and 16.18 min with large interindividual variations. A logarithmic rather than a linear relation between perceived exertion and performance is found. It is not possible to reliably predict MHTs from subjective data. Test-retest correlation is high (n = 19, r = 0.716 and 0.813, p < 0.001), and the scores did not differ significantly (p < 0.005), indicating a reliable procedure. The average holding times of the population studied are higher than expected from literature. Neither generic formulas, curve estimations, or predictions can reliably predict an individual's MHT. An individual's MHTs are best tested through performance based testing.