Preliminary Effectiveness of a Brief School-Based HERO Intervention: Improving the Wellbeing of Final Year Adolescent Female Students.

Young people face multiple challenges, including appearance dissatisfaction, academic stressors, anxiety and depression. These challenges may increase during the final year of high school and may have become further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examines the preliminary effectiveness of a brief, uncontrolled school-based intervention aimed at enhancing Psychological Capital (PsyCap), consisting of positive resources of hope, self-efficacy, resilience and optimism (HERO), and reducing mental health symptoms among female year 12 students (n = 95, Mage = 16.78, SD = 0.45). Outcomes on measures of HERO and secondary outcomes of flourishing, appearance dissatisfaction, anxiety and depression were measured at pre and post-intervention. In the overall cohort, no significant changes were found on the HERO outcomes or flourishing post-intervention, while symptoms of depression, anxiety and appearance dissatisfaction decreased significantly. For students with higher baseline anxiety, optimism and anxiety symptoms improved significantly at post-intervention. However, students with lower baseline anxiety experienced significant decreases in self-efficacy and optimism, as well as a significant increase in anxiety symptoms post-intervention. Baseline depression levels did not impact intervention outcomes. The findings, although mixed and limited by the lack of control group, suggest that a brief intervention grounded in PsyCap theory may improve student wellbeing under challenging circumstances.

Nasopharyngeal detection of atypical bacteria by multiplex polymerase chain reaction panel in acutely ill children was associated with an increased risk of pneumonia.

AIM: We aimed to assess whether detection of respiratory bacteria by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing associates with clinical outcomes in acutely ill children. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled children under the age of 18 with a suspected respiratory infection treated in a paediatric emergency department of Oulu University Hospital, Finland from January 2015 through December 2015. Nasopharyngeal samples were routinely analysed for 16 respiratory viruses and later, after storage, analysed with a multiplex PCR panel for seven respiratory bacteria. RESULTS: At least one bacterial pathogen was detected in 600 out of the 1195 children (50%). The mean age was 3.3 (SD 3.7) years and 54% were boys. Atypical bacteria were associated with a risk of pneumonia (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 14.1, 95% CI 3.98-50.1). Co-detection of rhinovirus with Streptococcus pneumoniae was not associated with risk of pneumonia (aOR 2.39, 95% CI 0.78-7.30). Detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae or both was not associated with the risk of hospital admission or prescription of antibiotics. CONCLUSION: Nasopharyngeal detection of atypical bacteria in acutely ill children was associated with a markedly increased risk of pneumonia. The clinical utility of wide testing for other respiratory bacteria needs further evaluation.