Motivational interviewing in a nurse-led outpatient clinic to support lifestyle behaviour change after admission to a stroke unit: a randomized controlled trial.

AIMS: Modification of health behaviour is an important part of stroke risk management. However, the majority of people with cardiovascular disease fail to sustain lifestyle modification in the long term. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of motivational interviewing to encourage lifestyle behaviour changes after transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or minor ischaemic stroke. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed a randomized controlled open-label phase II trial with blinded endpoint assessment. The intervention consisted of three 15-minute visits in 3 months by a motivational interviewing trained nurse practitioner. Patients in the control group received standard consultation after 1 and 3 months by a nurse practitioner. Primary outcome was lifestyle behaviour change, defined as smoking cessation and/or increased physical activity (30 min/day) and/or healthy diet improvement (5 points at the Food Frequency Questionnaire) at 6 months. We adjusted for age and sex with multivariable logistic regression. Between January 2014 and February 2016, we included 136 patients (of whom 68 were assigned to the intervention group). Twenty-five of 55 patients in the intervention group (45%) and 27 of 61 patients in the control group (44%) had changed their lifestyle at 6 months. We found no effect of motivational interviewing on lifestyle behaviour change after 6 months (aOR 0.99; 95% confidence interval: 0.44-2.26). CONCLUSION: Our results do not support the effectiveness of motivational interviewing in supporting lifestyle behaviour change after TIA or ischaemic stroke. However, the overall lifestyle behaviour change was high and might be explained by the role of specialized nurses in both groups.

Intelligent checklists improve checklist compliance in the intensive care unit: a prospective before-and-after mixed-method study.

BACKGROUND: We examined whether a context and process-sensitive 'intelligent' checklist increases compliance with best practice compared with a paper checklist during intensive care ward rounds. METHODS: We conducted a single-centre prospective before-and-after mixed-method trial in a 35 bed medical and surgical ICU. Daily ICU ward rounds were observed during two periods of 8 weeks. We compared paper checklists (control) with a dynamic (digital) clinical checklist (DCC, intervention). The primary outcome was compliance with best clinical practice, measured as the percentages of checked items and unchecked critical items. Secondary outcomes included ICU stay and the usability of digital checklists. Data are presented as median (interquartile range). RESULTS: Clinical characteristics and severity of critical illness were similar during both control and intervention periods of study. A total of 36 clinicians visited 197 patients during 352 ward rounds using the paper checklist, compared with 211 patients during 366 ward rounds using the DCC. Per ICU round, a median of 100% of items (94.4-100.0) were completed by DCC, compared with 75.1% (66.7-86.4) by paper checklist (P=0.03). No critical items remained unchecked by the DCC, compared with 15.4% (8.3-27.3) by the paper checklist (P=0.01). The DCC was associated with reduced ICU stay (1 day [1-3]), compared with the paper checklist (2 days [1-4]; P=0.05). Usability of the DCC was judged by clinicians to require further improvement. CONCLUSIONS: A digital checklist improved compliance with best clinical practice, compared with a paper checklist, during ward rounds on a mixed ICU. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03599856.

A Social Gradient in the Effects of the Skills for Life Program on Self-Efficacy and Mental Wellbeing of Adolescent Students.

BACKGROUND: The goal of the current study was to evaluate the effects of the Social Emotional Learning program Skills 4 Life on mental health and its risk factors self-esteem, self-efficacy, and social interaction skills in students of secondary schools. METHODS: A cluster randomized controlled study was conducted, including 38 schools (66 classes; grades 7 to 9) for secondary education, with a 1 year and 20 months follow-up (teachers and students reports). RESULTS: The intervention was effective in improving self-efficacy, depressive symptoms, and teacher-reported psychological problem behavior, all after 20 months. Stratified analyses showed effects in mainly lower educational level students. CONCLUSION: The Skills 4 Life curriculum is effective in improving the mental health and self-efficacy among adolescents, especially for adolescents from lower educational level, a group that is most prone to ill mental health.

Self-efficacy for health-related behaviour change in patients with TIA or minor ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To assess levels of self-efficacy for health-related behaviour change and its correlates in patients with TIA or ischemic stroke. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, 92 patients with TIA or ischemic stroke completed questionnaires on self-efficacy for health-related behaviour change and fear, social support and depressive symptoms. Relations between fear, social support, depressive symptoms, cognitive impairment, vascular risk factors and history and demographic characteristics and low-self-efficacy were studied with univariable and multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Median total self-efficacy score at baseline was 4 (IQR 4-5). Older age (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01-1.09), depressive symptoms (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.03-1.16), presence of vascular history (OR 2.42, 95% CI 0.97-6.03), higher BMI (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.01-1.30), fear (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.01-1.12) and low physical activity (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.01-2.21) were significantly associated with low self-efficacy. CONCLUSION: Patients with recent TIA or ischemic stroke report high self-efficacy scores for health-related behaviour change. Age, vascular history, more depressive symptoms, higher BMI, less physical activity and fear were correlates of low self-efficacy levels. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: These correlates should be taken into account in the development of interventions to support patients in health behaviour change after TIA or ischemic stroke.

Effective self-regulation change techniques to promote mental wellbeing among adolescents: a meta-analysis.

Mental wellbeing is influenced by self-regulation processes. However, little is known on the efficacy of change techniques based on self-regulation to promote mental wellbeing. The aim of this meta-analysis is to identify effective self-regulation techniques (SRTs) in primary and secondary prevention interventions on mental wellbeing in adolescents. Forty interventions were included in the analyses. Techniques were coded into nine categories of SRTs. Meta-analyses were conducted to identify the effectiveness of SRTs, examining three different outcomes: internalising behaviour, externalising behaviour, and self-esteem. Primary interventions had a small-to-medium ([Formula: see text] = 0.16-0.29) on self-esteem and internalising behaviour. Secondary interventions had a medium-to-large short-term effect (average [Formula: see text] = 0.56) on internalising behaviour and self-esteem. In secondary interventions, interventions including asking for social support [Formula: see text] 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.11-1.98) had a great effect on internalising behaviour. Interventions including monitoring and evaluation had a greater effect on self-esteem [Formula: see text] 95% CI = 0.21-0.57). For primary interventions, there was not a single SRT that was associated with a greater intervention effect on internalising behaviour or self-esteem. No effects were found for externalising behaviours. Self-regulation interventions are moderately effective at improving mental wellbeing among adolescents. Secondary interventions promoting 'asking for social support' and promoting 'monitoring and evaluation' were associated with improved outcomes. More research is needed to identify other SRTs or combinations of SRTs that could improve understanding or optimise mental wellbeing interventions.

Which Combinations of Techniques and Modes of Delivery in Internet-Based Interventions Effectively Change Health Behavior? A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Many online interventions designed to promote health behaviors combine multiple behavior change techniques (BCTs), adopt different modes of delivery (MoD) (eg, text messages), and range in how usable they are. Research is therefore needed to examine the impact of these features on the effectiveness of online interventions. OBJECTIVE: This study applies Classification and Regression Trees (CART) analysis to meta-analytic data, in order to identify synergistic effects of BCTs, MoDs, and usability factors. METHODS: We analyzed data from Webb et al. This review included effect sizes from 52 online interventions targeting a variety of health behaviors and coded the use of 40 BCTs and 11 MoDs. Our research also developed a taxonomy for coding the usability of interventions. Meta-CART analyses were performed using the BCTs and MoDs as predictors and using treatment success (ie, effect size) as the outcome. RESULTS: Factors related to usability of the interventions influenced their efficacy. Specifically, subgroup analyses indicated that more efficient interventions (interventions that take little time to understand and use) are more likely to be effective than less efficient interventions. Meta-CART identified one synergistic effect: Interventions that included barrier identification/ problem solving and provided rewards for behavior change reported an average effect size that was smaller (g=0.23, 95% CI 0.08-0.44) than interventions that used other combinations of techniques (g=0.43, 95% CI 0.27-0.59). No synergistic effects were found for MoDs or for MoDs combined with BCTs. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions that take little time to understand and use were more effective than those that require more time. Few specific combinations of BCTs that contribute to the effectiveness of online interventions were found. Furthermore, no synergistic effects between BCTs and MoDs were found, even though MoDs had strong effects when analyzed univariately in the original study.

Are condom-promotion interventions reaching internal migrants in China? Integrated evidence from two cross-sectional surveys.

Behavioral interventions containing behavior change techniques (BCTs) that do not reach the target populations sufficiently will fail to accomplish their desired outcome. To guide sexually transmitted infection prevention policy for internal migrants in China, this study examines the extent to which BCTs aiming at increasing condom use reach the migrants and investigates the preference of the target population for these techniques among 364 migrants and 44 healthcare workers (HCWs) in Shenzhen, China. The results show that condom-promotion techniques that had been offered by HCWs to internal migrants reached a limited proportion of the population (range of reach ratio: 17.6-55.0%), although there appears to be a good match between what is offered and what is preferred by Chinese internal migrants regarding condom-promotion techniques (rank difference ≤ 1). Our findings highlight the need to increase the reach of condom-promotion techniques among Chinese internal migrants, and suggest techniques that are likely to reach the target population and match their preferred health education approaches.

Intervention use and action planning in a web-based computer-tailored weight management program for overweight adults: randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: There are many online interventions aiming for health behavior change but it is unclear how such interventions and specific planning tools are being used. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to identify which user characteristics were associated with use of an online, computer-tailored self-regulation intervention aimed at prevention of weight gain; and to examine the quality of the goals and action plans that were generated using the online planning tools. METHODS: Data were obtained with a randomized controlled effect evaluation trial in which the online computer-tailored intervention was compared to a website containing generic information about prevention of weight gain. The tailored intervention included self-regulation techniques such as personalized feedback, goal setting, action planning, monitoring, and other techniques aimed at weight management. Participants included 539 overweight adults (mean age 46.9 years, mean body mass index [BMI] 28.03 kg/m(2), 31.2% male, 11% low education level) recruited from the general population. Use of the intervention and its planning tools were derived from server registration data. Physical activity, fat intake, motivational factors, and self-regulation skills were self-reported at baseline. Descriptive analyses and logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the results. RESULTS: Use of the tailored intervention decreased sharply after the first modules. Visiting the first tailored intervention module was more likely among participants with low levels of fat intake (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.62-0.95) or planning for change in PA (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.05-0.97). Revisiting the intervention was more likely among participants high in restrained eating (OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.12-5.43) or low in proactive coping skills for weight control (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.10-0.76). The planning tools were used by 5%-55% of the participants, but only 20%-75% of the plans were of good quality. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that psychological factors such as self-regulation skills and action planning were associated with repeated use of an online, computer-tailored self-regulation intervention aimed at prevention of weight gain among adults being overweight. Use of the intervention was not optimal, with a limited number of participants who visited all the intervention modules. The use of the action and coping planning components of the intervention was mediocre and the quality of the generated plans was low, especially for the coping plans. It is important to identify how the use of action planning and coping planning components in online interventions can be promoted and how the quality of plans generated through these tools can be improved. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Netherlands Trial Register: NTR1862; http://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp?TC=1862 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6QG1ZPIzZ).

Occupational exposure to blood and compliance with standard precautions among health care workers in Beijing, China.

This cross-sectional survey assessed both risk and prevention of health care workers to bloodborne virus transmission in 2 hospitals in Beijing. The identified discrepancy between the high level of occupational blood exposure and suboptimal compliance with standard precautions underscores the urgent need for interventions to enhance occupational safety of health care workers in China.

Combinations of techniques that effectively change health behavior: evidence from Meta-CART analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Many health-promoting interventions combine multiple behavior change techniques (BCTs) to maximize effectiveness. Although, in theory, BCTs can amplify each other, the available meta-analyses have not been able to identify specific combinations of techniques that provide synergistic effects. This study overcomes some of the shortcomings in the current methodology by applying classification and regression trees (CART) to meta-analytic data in a special way, referred to as Meta-CART. The aim was to identify particular combinations of BCTs that explain intervention success. METHOD: A reanalysis of data from Michie, Abraham, Whittington, McAteer, and Gupta (2009) was performed. These data included effect sizes from 122 interventions targeted at physical activity and healthy eating, and the coding of the interventions into 26 BCTs. A CART analysis was performed using the BCTs as predictors and treatment success (i.e., effect size) as outcome. A subgroup meta-analysis using a mixed effects model was performed to compare the treatment effect in the subgroups found by CART. RESULTS: Meta-CART identified the following most effective combinations: Provide information about behavior-health link with Prompt intention formation (mean effect size g = 0.46), and Provide information about behavior-health link with Provide information on consequences and Use of follow-up prompts (g = 0.44). Least effective interventions were those using Provide feedback on performance without using Provide instruction (g = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Specific combinations of BCTs increase the likelihood of achieving change in health behavior, whereas other combinations decrease this likelihood. Meta-CART successfully identified these combinations and thus provides a viable methodology in the context of meta-analysis.

Equity-specific effects of 26 Dutch obesity-related lifestyle interventions.

CONTEXT: Reducing health inequalities is a policy priority in many developed countries. Little is known about effective strategies to reduce inequalities in obesity and its underlying behaviors. The goal of the study was to investigate differential effectiveness of interventions aimed at obesity prevention, the promotion of physical activity or a healthy diet by SES. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Subgroup analyses in 2010 and 2011 of 26 Dutch studies funded by The Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development after 1990 (n=17) or identified by expert contact (n=9). Methodologic quality and differential effects were synthesized in harvest plots, subdivided by setting, age group, intensity, and time to follow-up. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Seven lifestyle interventions were rated more effective and four less effective in groups with high SES; for 15 studies no differential effects could be demonstrated. One study in the healthcare setting showed comparable effects in both socioeconomic groups. The only mass media campaign provided modest evidence for higher effectiveness among those with high SES. Individually tailored and workplace interventions were either more effective in higher-SES groups (n=4) or no differential effects were demonstrated (n=9). School-based studies (n=7) showed mixed results. Two of six community studies provided evidence for better effectiveness in lower-SES groups; none were more effective in higher-SES groups. One high-intensity community-based study provided best evidence for higher effectiveness in low-SES groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although for the majority of interventions aimed at obesity prevention, the promotion of physical activity, or a healthy diet, no differential effectiveness could be demonstrated, interventions may widen as well as reduce socioeconomic inequalities in these outcomes. Equity-specific subgroup analyses contribute to needed knowledge about what may work to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in obesity and underlying health behaviors.

Results from an online computer-tailored weight management intervention for overweight adults: randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Prevention of weight gain has been suggested as an important strategy in the prevention of obesity and people who are overweight are a specifically important group to target. Currently there is a lack of weight gain prevention interventions that can reach large numbers of people. Therefore, we developed an Internet-delivered, computer-tailored weight management intervention for overweight adults. The focus of the intervention was on making small (100 kcal per day), but sustained changes in dietary intake (DI) or physical activity (PA) behaviors in order to maintain current weight or achieve modest weight loss. Self-regulation theory was used as the basis of the intervention. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the computer-tailored intervention in weight-related anthropometric measures (Body Mass Index, skin folds and waist circumference) and energy balance-related behaviors (physical activity; intake of fat, snacks and sweetened drinks) in a randomized controlled trial. METHODS: The tailored intervention (TI) was compared to a generic information website (GI). Participants were 539 overweight adults (mean age 47.8 years, mean Body Mass Index (BMI) 28.04, 30.9% male, 10.7% low educated) who where recruited among the general population and among employees from large companies by means of advertisements and flyers. Anthropometric measurements were measured by trained research assistants at baseline and 6-months post-intervention. DI and PA behaviors were assessed at baseline, 1-month and 6-month post-intervention, using self-reported questionnaires. RESULTS: Repeated measurement analyses showed that BMI remained stable over time and that there were no statistically significant differences between the study groups (BMI: TI=28.09, GI=27.61, P=.09). Similar results were found for waist circumference and skin fold thickness. Amount of physical activity increased and intake of fat, snacks and sweetened drinks decreased during the course of the study, but there were no differences between the study groups (eg, fat intake: TI=15.4, GI=15.9, P=.74). The first module of the tailored intervention was visited by almost all participants, but only 15% completed all four modules of the tailored intervention, while 46% completed the three modules of the general information intervention. The tailored intervention was considered more personally relevant (TI=3.20, GI=2.83, P=.001), containing more new information (TI=3.11, GI=2.73, P=.003) and having longer texts (TI=3.20, GI=3.07, P=.01), while there were no group differences on other process measures such as attractiveness and comprehensibility of the information (eg, attractive design: TI=3.22, GI=3.16, P=.58). CONCLUSIONS: The online, computer-tailored weight management intervention resulted in changes in the desired direction, such as stabilization of weight and improvements in dietary intake, but the intervention was not more effective in preventing weight gain or modifying dietary and physical activity behaviors than generic information. A possible reason for the absence of intervention effects is sub-optimal use of the intervention and the self-regulation components. Further research is therefore needed to gain more insight into how the intervention and exposure to its contents can be improved. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NTR1862; http://apps.who.int/trialsearch/trial.aspx?trialid=NTR1862.

Systematic development of a self-regulation weight-management intervention for overweight adults.

BACKGROUND: This paper describes the systematic development of an intervention for the prevention of obesity among overweight adults. Its development was guided by the six steps of Intervention Mapping (IM), in which the establishment of program needs, objectives and methods is followed by development of the intervention and an implementation and evaluation plan. METHODS: Weight gain prevention can be achieved by making small changes in dietary intake (DI) or physical activity (PA). The intervention objectives, derived from self-regulation theory, were to establish goal-oriented behaviour. They were translated into a computer-tailored Internet-delivered intervention consisting of four modules. The intervention includes strategies to target the main determinants of self-regulation, such as feedback and action planning.The first module is intended to ensure adults' commitment to preventing weight gain, choosing behaviour change and action initiation. The second and third modules are intended to evaluate behaviour change, and to adapt action and coping plans. The fourth module is intended to maintain self-regulation of body weight without use of the program.The intervention is being evaluated for its efficacy in an RCT, whose protocol is described in this paper. Primary outcomes are weight, waist circumference and skin-fold thickness. Other outcomes are DI, PA, cognitive mediators and self-regulation skills. DISCUSSION: The IM protocol helped us integrating insights from various theories. The performance objectives and methods were guided by self-regulation theory but empirical evidence with regard to the effectiveness of theoretical methods was limited. Sometimes, feasibility issues made it necessary to deviate from the original, theory-based plans. With this paper, we provide transparency with regard to intervention development and evaluation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NTR1862.