Development and feasibility of an oral health e-learning program for long-term Japanese overseas workers: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of an oral health self-care e-learning intervention for overseas workers as well as the research procedures for a future controlled trial. METHODS: We randomly allocated participants to either the intervention (n = 48) or control (n = 51) group. The intervention group received a standardized leaflet plus a theory-based oral health e-learning program. The control group received only the standardized leaflet. We assessed health behaviour related to fluoride toothpaste use, oral care knowledge, motivation, oral care self-efficacy, and oral health related quality of life (QoL). Chi-square and t test analyses were performed to make comparisons between the two groups. To evaluate the research process, participants in the intervention group were asked open-ended questions to assess the acceptability and feasibility of the research procedures in practice. RESULTS: A total of 82 participants (Intervention = 36, Control = 46) were included in the analysis. The dropout rate was 17.2%. The modal time taken to complete the e-learning intervention was more than 30 min (33.3%). Of the 36 respondents in the intervention group, 27 (70.4%) said that the e-learning intervention had changed their behaviour. At the three months follow-up, oral care knowledge alone was improved in the e-learning group. CONCLUSION: This pilot study provides evidence that the theory-based self-care for oral health e-learning intervention is feasible in overseas workers. Next, this feasible and acceptable pilot study should be used with an appropriate sample size in a randomized controlled trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial protocol was registered with UMIN-CTR (ID: UMIN000045883) on 27/10/2021.

Effectiveness of the Internet of Things for Improving Working-Aged Women's Health in High-Income Countries: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Women often experience many unique health issues and conditions throughout their working lives. The Internet of Things (IoT) is a system of interrelated digital devices that can enable data exchanges over a network without human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction. The usage of applications and IoT in improving women's health has recently increased worldwide. However, there has been no consensus on the effectiveness of IoT in improving women's health outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) aims to assess and synthesize the role of apps and the IoT in improving women's health and to identify the ranking of interventions for ensuring better results for each stated outcome. METHODS: Our systematic review and NMA will be conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the Cochrane Handbook. We will comprehensively search the following electronic databases: PubMed (including MEDLINE), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (ie, CINAHL), PsycINFO, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry, along with other resources to identify relevant randomized controlled trials that have assessed the effects of various apps and the IoT with regard to improving working-aged women's health in high-income countries. We will segment and analyze the results of the included studies based on age categories (women undergoing a preconception period, those undergoing gestational and postpartum periods, and menopausal and pre- and postmenopausal women) and the medical history (women who have a specific medical condition-eg, cancer or diabetes-and women who do not have them) separately. Two independent reviewers will perform the study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment. Our primary outcomes include health status, well-being, and quality of life. We will perform pairwise meta-analysis and NMA to estimate the direct, indirect, and relative effects of apps and the IoT on women's health outcomes. We will also assess the hierarchy of interventions, statistical inconsistencies, and certainties of evidence for each outcome. RESULTS: We plan to conduct the search in January 2023 and are currently discussing search strategies with the literature search specialists. The final report is planned for submission to a peer-reviewed journal in September 2023. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this review will be the first to identify the ranking of IoT intervention for ensuring working-aged women's health outcomes. These findings may be of great use to researchers, policy makers, and others with an interest in the field. TRIAL REGISTRATION: International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) CRD42022384620; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=384620. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/45178.

Technology-based innovative healthcare solutions for improving maternal and child health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries: A network meta-analysis protocol.

AIM: The aims of the study were to synthesize the role of technology-based healthcare interventions (TBIs) and to identify the most effective interventions for the best functional maternal and child health (MCH) outcomes among low-risk pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). DESIGN: A systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA). METHODS: We will perform a comprehensive search in electronic databases and other resources to identify relevant randomized controlled trials. Two reviewers will independently perform study selection, data extraction and quality assessment. Our primary outcomes include proportion of recommended antenatal care visits, skilled delivery care, postnatal care visits and exclusive breastfeeding practices. We will use pairwise random-effects meta-analysis and NMAs to estimate direct, indirect and relative effects using the relevant intervention classifications for each outcome separately. We plan to assess hierarchy of interventions, statistical inconsistency and certainty of evidence. RESULTS: This review will compare the effectiveness of different form of TBIs on a comprehensive range of MCH outcomes and will provide the outcome-specific reliable evidence of the most effective interventions on improving MCH in LMICs. The review findings will guide researchers, stakeholders or policymakers on the potential use of TBIs in the given contexts that could achieve the best functional MCH outcomes in LMICs.

The Current Concept of Paternal Bonding: A Systematic Scoping Review.

Bonding is crucial to perinatal mental health. Despite an extensive body of literature on maternal bonding, few studies have focused on paternal bonding. This scoping review aimed to clarify the current state of the concept of paternal-infant/fetus bonding. The eligibility criteria were drawn from the population concept and context elements to answer the following questions: "what is paternal bonding?" and "what are the constructs of the concept of paternal bonding?" The review comprised 39 studies. Paternal bonding was associated with both positive and negative paternal behavior and thought and may be determined based on fathers' beliefs and rearing history. Most studies showed that father-child interaction is one of the factors promoting paternal bonding. However, fathers generally felt more distant from their babies post-delivery than mothers. Only a few studies originally defined paternal bonding; most relied on the definitions of maternal bonding. We found different descriptions lacking consensus. Few studies examined the differences between paternal and maternal bonding. No consensus exists on the concept, constructs, and assessment of paternal bonding. The causal relationship between paternal bonding and other variables is unexplored. Future studies should explore fathers' perspectives and experiences, focusing on the unknown aspects of paternal bonding identified in this review.

Communication Tools Used in Cancer Communication with Children: A Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: Although communication tools might guide healthcare professionals in communicating with children about cancer, it is unclear what kind of tools are used. This scoping review aimed to map the communication tools used in cancer communication among children with cancer, families, and healthcare professionals. METHODS: A comprehensive search using PubMed (including MEDLINE), Embase, CENTRAL, PsycINFO, and CINAHL was conducted on 1 August 2021. We mapped communication tools and their impacts. RESULTS: We included 25 studies (9 experimental studies and 16 feasibility studies) of 29 reports and found 21 communication tools. There was a lack of communication tools that were (1) accessible and validated, (2) designed for healthcare professionals, (3) targeted children, families, and healthcare professionals, and (4) were designed to meet the needs of children and families. Experimental studies showed that the communication tools improved children's knowledge and psychological outcomes (e.g., health locus of control, quality of life, self-efficacy). CONCLUSION: We mapped communication tools and identified areas that needed further research, including a lack of tools to guide healthcare professionals and share information with children and families. Further research is needed to develop and evaluate these communication tools. Moreover, it is necessary to investigate how communication tools support children, families, and healthcare professionals.

Communication tools used in cancer communication with children: a scoping review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the potential benefits of effective communication, telling children about cancer, unpredictable and life-threatening conditions is challenging. This study aimed to summarise the communication tools used in cancer communication among children with cancer, caregivers and healthcare professionals. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will conduct a scoping review following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews checklist. We will search PubMed (including MEDLINE), Embase, CENTRAL, PsycINFO and CINAHL. We will include the qualitative and quantitative studies that reported the communication tools that tell a child diagnosed with cancer about the cancer-related information. We will summarise the communication tools and the impacts of the tools. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Formal ethical approval is not required, as primary data will not be collected in this study. The findings of this study will be disseminated through the presentation at the conference and publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

The Clustering of Health-Related Behaviors in the Adult Japanese Population.

BACKGROUND: Research findings indicate that four health-related behaviors (HRBs), smoking, alcohol, diet, and physical activity, do not co-occur within individuals by chance and therefore cluster. To date, there is a lack of research investigating the clustering of these HRBs in the Japanese population. METHODS: The Japanese National Health and Nutrition Survey 2010 was used, containing information on 8,015 community-dwelling adults. Latent profile analysis identified distinct cluster patterns of four HRBs: smoking status, alcohol consumption, calorie intake, and the number of steps per day. RESULTS: For men, four distinct HRB clusters were identified. The largest cluster (54%) was characterized by drinking more than Japan's recommended alcohol guidelines and walking an inadequate number of steps per day. A small cluster (4%) also emerged, characterized by smoking, high calorie intake, and exceeding alcohol guidelines. Members of these clusters had higher systolic blood pressure than those in the remaining clusters. For women, five distinct HRB clusters were identified. The largest cluster (57%) was characterized by not smoking or drinking and walking an inadequate number of steps per day. For both genders, there was a relationship between cluster membership and age. Cluster membership was associated with income and health status among men but not women. CONCLUSION: Detecting distinct clusters of HRBs in a Japanese population-based survey provides a person-centered understanding of Japanese lifestyles. This approach can assist policy makers in Japan and overseas to identify new strategies for targeting behavioral risk factors and make health promotion policies more effective in their respective countries.