Self-efficacy and autonomous motivation are associated with lower sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in low-income overweight and obese mothers of young children.

Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is strongly associated with obesity. Autonomous motivation and self-efficacy, key concepts of self-determination theory, may influence SSB consumption. Low-income mothers of young children experience disproportionate rates of obesity. Whether autonomous motivation and self-efficacy are associated with SSB consumption in low-income mothers of young children is unknown. This exploratory secondary data analysis explored whether autonomous motivation or self-efficacy were associated with SBB consumption using data from a lifestyle intervention for low-income, overweight or obese mothers with young children. Participants (N = 311) completed surveys assessing autonomous motivation, self-efficacy, and SSB consumption at baseline, after the 16-week intervention, and at 3-month follow-up. Using baseline data, we performed linear regression models to explore associations of self-efficacy and autonomous motivation with SSB consumption. We also performed mixed effects models to explore whether autonomous motivation or self-efficacy were associated with SSB consumption over time. At baseline, a one-point increase in autonomous motivation and self-efficacy were associated with 4.36 (p < 0.001) and 6.43 (p = 0.025) fewer ounces of SSB consumption per day, respectively. In longitudinal models, SSB consumption decreased over time. Change in SSB consumption was associated with self-efficacy (B = -4.88; p = 0.015) and autonomous motivation (B = -2.29; p = 0.008). Our findings suggest self-efficacy and autonomous motivation may influence SSB consumption among mothers of young children with overweight and obesity. Further investigation should explore if self-efficacy and autonomous motivation have long-term effects on SSB consumption.

Mothers In Motion Program: Implementation Process and Acceptability by Community.

BACKGROUND: Implementing lifestyle behavior programs in real-world settings challenges researchers. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) has implemented and sustained Mothers In Motion (MIM)'s client videos for clients to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors, and train-the-trainer videos, for personnel to enhance motivational interviewing techniques since 2015 and 2016, respectively. This paper describes the implementation processes and the results of client video implementation acceptability by WIC personnel. METHODS: To document the implementation process, we applied the Framework for Adaptation and Modifications to Evidence-Based Implementation Strategies (FRAME-IS). To evaluate implementation acceptability, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 WIC personnel. A qualitative analysis was conducted to identify the common themes. RESULTS: The facilitators for client video implementation were the inclusion of the target audience and family members addressing daily challenges, easy implementation, and compatibility with daily practice. While videos online facilitated implementation, videos in DVD format could challenge implementation. CONCLUSIONS: Future lifestyle intervention programs aimed for future implementation in community settings may consider the inclusion of the target audience and their family members and take into consideration easy implementation and compatibility.

Psychosocial Factors Associated With Physical Activity Among Low-Income Overweight or Obese Mothers with Young Children.

PURPOSE: Investigate the associations between psychosocial factors and physical activity. DESIGN: Secondary data analysis utilizing baseline data of a large-scale community-based randomized controlled lifestyle behavior intervention. SETTING: The Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children in Michigan, USA. SUBJECTS: Low-income overweight or obese mothers with young children (N = 740, 65% response rate). MEASURES: Survey data were collected via phone interview. Predictors included self-efficacy, autonomous motivation, emotional coping, and social support. Self-reported leisure physical activity was the outcome variable. Covariates were age, race, smoking, employment, education, body mass index, and postpartum status. ANALYSIS: A multiple linear regression model was applied. RESULTS: Self-efficacy (ß = .32, 95% CI = .11, .52, P = .003) and autonomous motivation (ß = .10, 95% CI = .03, .17, P = .005) were positively associated with physical activity. However, emotional coping and social support were not associated with physical activity. CONCLUSION: Future research should examine the longitudinal association of key psychosocial factors with physical activity.

Expect the unexpected: Adolescent and pre-teens' experience of diabetes technology self-management.

OBJECTIVE: Only 17% of adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are currently meeting their glycemic targets despite advances in diabetes technologies. Self-management behaviors and challenges specific to use of diabetes technologies are insufficiently studied in adolescents. We aimed to describe the experience of diabetes technology self-management, including facilitators and barriers, among preteens/adolescents with low and high A1C. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Youth (10-18 years of age) with T1D who use insulin pump therapy were recruited from the larger quantitative cohort of a mixed methods study for participation in semi-structured qualitative interviews. Maximum variability sampling was used to recruit youth with A1C <7.5% (n = 5) and A1C >9% (n = 5). Participants' personal insulin pump and continuous glucose monitoring data were downloaded and served as a visual reference. Interviews were analyzed using a qualitative descriptive approach. RESULTS: Participants were 50% female with a median age of 14.9 years and 80% used CGM. The sample was predominantly white (90.0%). Analysis produced four major themes, Bad Day, Expect the Unexpected, Nighttime Dependence, and Unpredictability, It's Really a Team and interconnecting subthemes. Youth characterized ''Bad Days'' as those requiring increased diabetes focus and self-management effort. The unpredictability (''Expect the Unexpected'') of glucose outcomes despite attention to self-management behaviors was considerable frustration. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes devices such as insulin pumps are complex machines that rely heavily on individual proficiency, surveillance, and self-management behaviors to achieve clinical benefit. Our findings highlight the dynamic nature of self-management and the multitude of factors that feed youths' self-management behaviors.

State of the science: A scoping review and gap analysis of adolescent insulin pump self-management.

PURPOSE: Adolescent diabetes outcomes remain poor despite increased use of diabetes technologies such as insulin pump therapy. Meaningful research examining adolescent insulin pump self-management has been done, however, a summary of these self-management findings has not been published. The aim of this literature review is to map, evaluate, and summarize existing adolescent insulin pump self-management research. METHOD: A scoping review of three databases was conducted to comprehensively report and synthesize relevant literature published before September 2019. RESULTS: Of the 1295 titles identified, 18 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in this scoping review. Key insulin pump self-management behaviors were featured in the literature, most notably self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) and bolus frequency. Several factors were found to influence pump self-management including psychological factors, parental support and self-management transition, insulin pump education and knowledge acquisition, and environmental factors. We uncovered five gaps in the literature including: an unclear delineation of adolescent age; limited minority representation; variability in the definitions and reporting of self-management behaviors; the role of data sharing and remote monitoring was not addressed; and there remains limited inquiry into diabetes burden and distress associated with insulin pump self-management. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: There exists a consensus that well-established behaviors, such as bolus and SMBG frequency, influence glycemic outcomes for adolescent insulin pump users, however, full insulin pump utilization and self-management is poorly understood. Diabetes clinicians should work to support adolescent insulin pump self-management practices by reinforcing bedrock behaviors while fostering supportive factors found to influence pump self-management.

Self-management among pre-teen and adolescent diabetes device users.

OBJECTIVE: Despite increased diabetes device use, few adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) meet glycemic targets. We examine associations between utilization of insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and glycemic control. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 80 youths (10-18 years of age) with T1D. Multiple linear regression and linear mixed models (LMM) were used to estimate the effects of device self-management on HbA1c and daily time in range (70-180 mg/dL), respectively. RESULTS: Every blood glucose (BG) input/day was associated with a 0.2% decrease in HbA1c (95% CI: -0.297, -0.013), each bolus/day was associated with a 0.2% decrease (-0.327, -0.057), and use of CGM was associated with a 0.5% decrease (-1.00, -0.075). Among CGM users (n = 45) every 10% increase in CGM use was associated with a 0.3% decrease in HbA1c (-0.390, -0.180). In LMM accounting for within subject and between subject variability, there was a negative association between BG input/day frequency (coefficient = -1.880, [-2.640, -1.117]) and time in range. Residual random effects for CGM users were large showing time in range varied between youth with a SD of 15.0% (3 hours and 36 minutes) (SE 2.029, [11.484, 19.530]). Time in range varied significantly from day-to-day with SD of 18.6% (4 hours and 40 minutes) (SE0.455, [17.690, 19.473]). CONCLUSIONS: Device self-management behaviors among youth are significantly associated with both HbA1c and time in range. Our findings showing an association between reduced time in range and increased self-management behaviors is novel and deserves further investigation.

A scoping review of patient-facing, behavioral health interventions with voice assistant technology targeting self-management and healthy lifestyle behaviors.

Engaging in positive healthy lifestyle behaviors continues to be a public health challenge, requiring innovative solutions. As the market for voice assistants (Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri) grows and people increasingly use them to assist their daily tasks, there is a pressing need to explore how voice assistant (VA) technology may be used in behavioral health interventions. A scoping review of literature was conducted to address a PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome) question: across populations, how does the use of voice assistants in behavioral health research/interventions influence healthy lifestyle behaviors versus control or comparison interventions? To inform the science, a secondary aim of this review was to explore characteristics of VAs used in behavioral health research. The review was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines with scoping review extension (PRISMA-ScR). Ten studies satisfied the inclusion criteria, representing research published through February 2019. Studies spanned pediatric to elderly populations, covering a vast array of self-management and healthy lifestyle behaviors. The majority of interventions were multicomponent, involving more than one of the following behavior change techniques grouped by cluster: shaping knowledge, self-belief, repetition and substitution, feedback and monitoring, goals and planning, antecedents, natural consequences, comparison of behavior, and identification. However, most studies were in early stages of development, with limited efficacy trials. VA technology continues to evolve and support behavioral interventions using various platforms (e.g., Interactive Voice Response [IVR] systems, smartphones, and smart speakers) which are used alone or in conjunction with other platforms. Feasibility, usability, preliminary efficacy, along with high user satisfaction of research adapted VAs, in contrast to standalone commercially available VAs, suggest a role for VAs in behavioral health intervention research.

Evaluating Feasibility of Personal Diabetes Device Data Collection for Research.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes devices, like insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), capture and store patient adherence and utilization data that can be retrieved or downloaded providing objective information on self-management behaviors; yet, diabetes device data remain underutilized in research. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to examine the usability and feasibility of personal diabetes device data collected using a clinical download platform retooled for research purposes. METHODS: Investigators evaluated the feasibility of raw diabetes device data collection. One hundred eight preteens and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes and their parents provided consent/assent. RESULTS: Data were successfully collected from the diabetes devices (insulin pumps and CGM) of 97 youth using a clinical download software adapted for research, including data from all three commercially available CGM systems and insulin pumps brands, which contained all current and previous models of each insulin pump brand. The time required to download, mode of connection, and process varied significantly between brands. Despite the use of an agnostic download software, some outdated device brands and cloud-based CGM data were unsupported during data collection. Within the download software, dummy clinical accounts were created for each study participant, which were then linked back to a master study account for data retrieval. Raw device data were extracted into seven to eight Excel files per participant, which were then used to develop aggregate daily measures. DISCUSSION: Our analysis is the first of its kind to examine the feasibility of raw diabetes device data using a clinical download software. The investigators highlight issues encountered throughout the research process, along with mitigating strategies to inform future inquiry. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the feasibility of raw data collection, from a wide variety of insulin pump and CGM brands, through the retooling of a clinical download software. Data from these personal devices provide a unique opportunity to study self-management behavior and the glycemic response of individuals in their everyday environments.

The future of pediatric nursing science.

The provision of safe and effective nursing care to children is dependent upon pediatric nurse scientists creating knowledge that guides and directs day-to-day nursing practice. Current trends demonstrating steady decreases of pediatric nurses and inadequate numbers of PhD-prepared pediatric nurse scientists put the health of our children at risk. The purposes of this paper are to (1) summarize current health care demands in pediatrics, (2) present our concern that the number of pediatric nurse scientists is inadequate to generate foundational knowledge to guide pediatric nursing practice, (3) present our perspectives on factors influencing the number of pediatric nurse scientists, and (4) recommend specific actions for nursing leaders, nursing faculty, and professional nursing organizations to increase the depth and breadth of pediatric nursing science to meet current and future pediatric care needs.

COPE for Adolescent Syrian Refugees in Lebanon: A Brief Cognitive-Behavioral Skill-Building Intervention to Improve Quality of Life and Promote Positive Mental Health.

Lebanon has the highest per-capita concentration of refugees worldwide. There is an urgent need to offer psychosocial interventions to vulnerable groups such as Syrian refugee adolescents. To assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of a cognitive-behavioral intervention (Creating Opportunities for Patient Empowerment [COPE]) on depression, anxiety, and quality of life (QOL) in a sample of adolescent refugees (13-17 years) living in Lebanon. A preexperimental study design was used. COPE 7-Session was delivered to 31 adolescent Syrian refugees. Participants were assessed for depression (Personal Health Questionnaire-9), anxiety (General Anxiety Disorders Scale), and QOL (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory). Feasibility and acceptability findings indicated that the COPE program was a positive experience for teens. Significant decreases in depression and anxiety, and increases in QOL were also reported. COPE is an effective cognitive-behavioral intervention that can be delivered in an Arabic/Middle-Eastern setting for teen refugees to improve mental health and QOL.

Sex Differences on Quality of Life and Mental Health Outcomes When Using a Brief Cognitive-Behavioral Skill Building Intervention with Adolescent Syrian Refugees: A Secondary Analysis.

Little is known about how sex as a biological variable may contribute to differences in quality of life (QOL) and mental health outcomes following a brief intervention among adolescent Syrian refugees. This paper explores the results of a secondary data analysis to investigate differences by sex on self-reported QOL and mental health outcomes among Syrian refugees who participated in a 7-session cognitive behavioral skills building intervention. A one group pretest-posttest design was used to deliver the intervention to 31 adolescent refugees (13-17 years; 15 male, and 16 female). At baseline, there were no significant differences between males and females on mean scores of depression, anxiety, or QOL. Post-intervention, self-reported scores for QOL and mental health were significantly different between sexes. Males demonstrated a significant decrease in anxiety scores compared to females. Among males only, significant decreases in depression and anxiety scores were observed with significant improvement in total QOL.

A Review of Systematic Reviews Targeting the Prevention and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adolescent Populations.

PURPOSE: Adolescent obesity is a powerful predictor of morbidity and mortality, yet amenable to modifiable behaviors. To accurately summarize the effects of behavioral interventions on changes in adolescent body mass index and/or weight status, we assessed existing systematic reviews for reporting transparency and methodological quality. METHODS: Five databases were searched through September 2017 to identify relevant systematic reviews. Reviews were evaluated for reporting transparency and methodological quality using PRISMA Reporting Checklist and Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews Instrument. Evidence was synthesized across high-quality reviews. RESULTS: Four of twelve systematic reviews were of high methodological quality. All four focused on the treatment of overweight/obesity in adolescent populations, representing 97 international studies. Findings indicate intervention compared with no intervention/wait list showed larger effects for improving BMI/BMI z-scores. Small improvements (averaging a 3.7-kg decrease) in weight/weight percentile were observed following a supervised exercise plus dietary and/or behavior support intervention. Health-related quality of life may improve following interventions, but overall attention to associated psychological variables (depression, self-esteem/perception) is limited. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to objective checklists and protocols for rigorous conduct and reporting of systematic reviews is warranted. Consensus evidence is urgently needed to define and report behavior change interventions related to obesity prevention and treatment.

Factors Associated With Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Among Adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: Guided by cognitive theory, this study tested an explanatory model for adolescents' beliefs, feelings, and healthy lifestyle behaviors and sex differences in these relationships. METHODS: Structural equation modeling evaluated cross-sectional data from a healthy lifestyle program from 779 adolescents 14 through 17 years old. RESULTS: Theoretical relationships among thoughts, feelings, and behaviors were confirmed and sex differences identified. Thoughts had a direct effect on feelings and an indirect effect through feelings on healthy behaviors for both sexes. A direct effect from thoughts to behaviors existed for males only. DISCUSSION: Findings provide strong support for the thinking-feeling-behaving triangle for adolescents. To promote healthy lifestyle behaviors in adolescents, interventions should incorporate cognitive behavioral skills-building activities, strengthening healthy lifestyle beliefs, and enhancing positive health behaviors.

Systematic Review of Cyberbullying Interventions for Youth and Parents With Implications for Evidence-Based Practice.

BACKGROUND: Cyberbullying is a new risk factor for the well-being of pediatric populations. Consequences of cyberbullying include both physical and mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, and somatic concerns. Adolescents who have been victims of cyberbullying and developed secondary symptoms are often recommended to visit a healthcare provider to obtain effective, evidence-based treatment. To date, no interventions exist in the healthcare setting for adolescents who are victims of cyberbullying. AIMS: The purpose of this project is to review interventional studies on cyberbullying that have components for adolescents who have been involved with cyberbullying and their parents and to provide recommendations on effective intervention components with the goal of guiding clinical practice. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted using the Institute of Medicine guidelines. A comprehensive electronic literature search was completed targeting interventions of cyberbullying in any setting. No date limits were used. Literature was searched in MEDLINE, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PubMed, Communication and Mass Media Complete, Education Information Resource Center (ERIC), and PsycINFO databases. The following search terms were applied "cyberbullying" + "intervention" or "treatment" or "therapy" or "program." Only articles with a pediatric population were selected for review. RESULTS: Seventeen cyberbullying intervention programs in 23 articles were found to meet the search criteria. The most frequently used intervention components included education on cyberbullying for the adolescent, coping skills, empathy training, communication and social skills, and digital citizenship. Parent education on cyberbullying was also found to be important and was included in programs with significant outcomes. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: As youth present to healthcare providers with symptoms related to cyberbullying, effective interventions are needed to guide evidence-based practice. This review supports educating the individual youth and parent on cyberbullying and teaching the youth skills in communication and social, empathy, coping with cyberbullying, and digital citizenship.

Pokémon GO Within the Context of Family Health: Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Pokémon GO illuminated the potential for mobile phone gaming apps to engage users and promote health. However, much work is needed to fully understand the mechanisms through which digitally supported behavior change interventions operate, particularly for children and families. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were (1) to explore the Pokémon GO user experience from a family perspective and (2) to investigate Pokémon GO within the context of family health. METHODS: Between January and February 2017, congruent with one of the largest anticipated Pokémon GO updates Gen 2, participants were recruited from parks, word of mouth, and social media to complete a Web-based survey. Participants were surveyed about family characteristics, interest, and experiences playing Pokémon GO and healthy lifestyle beliefs. Using a revised Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire, a retrospective pre-post design assessed changes in parent physical activity (PA) before and after playing Pokémon GO. RESULTS: Self-reported data from 160 parents and 31 children were included in the final analyses (representing 129 parents and 31 parent-child dyads). Gameplay most often occurred between sons aged 10 years or younger and mothers. "Spending time together" was the most cited reason for gameplay by both parents (122/160, 76.3%) and children (24/31, 77%), followed by "it helped me go outdoors" for parents (113/160, 70.1%) and "I am a Pokémon fan" by children (21/31, 68%). Interestingly, open-ended responses indicated that gameplay could trigger both positive and negative emotional parent response. The most cited reason for app disengagement was boredom; conversely, the most cited reason for app re-engagement was in-app events. For parents, there were significant increases in minutes spent in mild (mean 23.36 [SD 66.02]; t97=3.50, P<.001) and moderate (mean 21.76 [SD 53.04]; t130=4.70, P<.001) PA per week after playing Pokémon GO. However, child perceptions of parental influence on PA most significantly associated with parents who reported weekly strenuous PA both before (rs=.514, P=.003) and after (rs=.536, P=.003) Pokémon GO uptake. CONCLUSIONS: Pokémon GO transcended traditional understanding of digital health and uniquely reached across generations to engage users. Findings from this study highlight that, for a period of time, Pokémon GO fostered social and physical well-being for children and families through a multifaceted approach.

Correlates of Healthy Lifestyle Beliefs and Behaviors in Parents of Overweight or Obese Preschool Children Before and After a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention With Text Messaging.

INTRODUCTION: Significant gaps exist in the published literature regarding the treatment of overweight/obesity in preschool-aged children, especially in primary care settings. Parental influence plays an important factor in the development of healthy behaviors in children, yet there is no consensus about why some behavior change intervention strategies for parents of young children are more influential and effective than others. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this secondary data analysis was to assess correlations among the study variables (healthy lifestyle beliefs, perceived difficulty, and healthy lifestyle behaviors) in parents of overweight/obese preschool children. A second aim explored if the parent's level of cognitive beliefs and perceived difficulty of engaging in healthy lifestyle behaviors correlated with text messaging cognitive behavioral support. METHODS: Fifteen preschool-parent dyads from primary care clinics completed a 7-week cognitive behavioral skills building intervention. Beck's Cognitive Theory guided the intervention content, and Fogg's Behavior Model guided the implementation. The intervention was delivered using a combination of face-to-face clinic visits and ecological momentary interventions using text messaging. RESULTS: Supported are the interconnected relationships among the study variables, that is, parental healthy lifestyle beliefs, thoughts, and behaviors. At baseline, parental healthy lifestyle belief scores significantly correlated with perceived difficulty (rs = 0.598, p < .05) and healthy lifestyle behaviors (rs = 0.545, p < .05). These associations strengthened after the intervention. Furthermore, as parental healthy lifestyle beliefs increased and perceived difficulty lessened, their response rate and subsequent feedback lessened to the static text messaging support. DISCUSSION: Findings from this study support the interconnections between parents' thoughts, feelings, and actions toward healthy lifestyles. As parental beliefs became stronger through cognitive behavioral skills building and tailored text messaging, the need for general support via text messaging lessened, warranting additional research.

The Impact of Community Violence on School-Based Research.

Research conducted on youth exposure to violence has generally focused on documenting the prevalence of community violence and its emotional and behavioral implications. However, there is a dearth of information related to the impact of violence on the implementation and evaluation of community and school-based programs. This commentary examines the impact of community violence on a school-based research program. It is also a brief summary of the detrimental effects of exposure to community violence on psychological and academic functioning and health outcomes. An example of the impact of community violence on the implementation of a school-based asthma program will be addressed. Implications for school nurses will be discussed.

A methodological quality synthesis of systematic reviews on computer-mediated continuing education for healthcare providers.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare providers use continuing education (CE) to meet professional development requirements and to ensure optimal patient care. There has been a dramatic increase in computer-mediated CE (CMCE) programs. AIMS: To synthesize the literature regarding the current state of the science on the efficacy of CMCE for healthcare professionals, particularly as it relates to provider learning and patient outcomes. Specifically, this review assesses the methodological quality of existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses. METHODS: A literature search was conducted using Cochrane Library, PubMed, and CINAHL. Review articles evaluating the efficacy of CMCE for healthcare providers were included. Publications were searched between 2002 and 2013 and limited to those printed in English. An objective measurement tool, AMSTAR, was used to assess the methodological quality of each review. AMSTAR is an 11-item instrument, in which individual criteria were evaluated and a composite score of all 11 components was determined for each review. Outcomes of each review were also categorized based on Kirkpatrick's levels for summative evaluation: (i) Learner satisfaction, (ii) Learning outcomes, (iii) Performance improvement, (iv) Patient/health outcomes. RESULTS: Starting with 231 articles, 11 met the inclusion criteria for this evaluation. AMSTAR quality scores of the reviews ranged from 7 to 11, with 11 indicating the strongest quality. Although weak research design of many studies and heterogeneous topics covered make summative evaluations difficult, there were some common themes covered in the articles reviewed. Healthcare providers were largely satisfied with using CMCE programs. Overall, the studies comparing CMCE to traditional CE methods found the impact on learning outcomes to be comparable, with neither method necessarily superior. Additionally, all reviews lacked evaluation of practice outcomes. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: While results of this review show promise for CMCE, further evaluation and more rigorously conducted research is necessary. Particular focus is needed to determine the effects of CMCE on health outcomes.

Pediatric obesity and asthma quality of life.

Widely researched as separate entities, our understanding of the comorbid effects of childhood obesity and asthma on quality of life is limited. This article discusses the effects of childhood obesity and asthma on self-reported quality of life in low-income African American teens with asthma. When controlling for the influence of symptom frequency, asthma classification, asthma self-efficacy, and asthma self-care levels, body mass index remains a most important factor in determining self-reported quality of life among teens with asthma. Although overweight and obesity did not change the effectiveness of the asthma intervention program, obesity did affect participants quality of life scores.

Effects of coping-skills training in low-income urban African-American adolescents with asthma.

BACKGROUND: Minority teens with asthma are at particular risk for this life-threatening disease due to increased morbidity and mortality rates in addition to the normal challenges of adolescence. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this randomized controlled trial (n = 137) was to determine the effects of a coping-skills training program (intervention) compared with standard asthma education (attention control) in African-American teens with asthma. METHODS: Adolescents were recruited from five African-American dominant high schools serving low-income areas of Chicago. Data were collected at baseline, 2 months (immediately following the intervention), 6 months, and 12 months. Results. Both groups improved over time, with significant increases in asthma-related quality of life, asthma knowledge, and asthma self-efficacy, accompanied by decreases in symptom days and asthma-related school absences. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that coping-skills training as implemented in this study provided no additional benefit beyond that experienced in the control group. However, group-based interventions delivered in the school setting may be beneficial for low-income, minority teens with asthma.