A Systematic Review of eHealth Interventions to Promote Physical Activity in Adults with Obesity or Overweight.

Use of information and communication technology to improve health, known as eHealth, is an emerging concept in healthcare that may present opportunities to promote physical activity in adults with obesity. The purpose of this research was to systematically review eHealth intervention studies to promote physical activity in adults with obesity. Five electronic databases were used. Two authors screened articles, assessed risk of bias, and extracted data independently. A qualitative data synthesis for summarizing the findings was performed using harvest plots. In the search, 2276 articles were identified, and 18 studies met all inclusion criteria. Study quality ranged from poor to good. The included studies varied in intervention technology (e.g., web-based), physical activity assessment (e.g., device-based), and control group (e.g., wait-list). Behavioral change techniques used in the included studies were consistent with some techniques (e.g., self-monitoring) known as effective in face-to-face interventions, but more efficiently employed in eHealth using information and communication technology. Overall, this systematic review showed that a web-based or physical activity monitor-based eHealth intervention had the potential to effectively promote physical activity in adults with obesity. Some recommendations for future eHealth interventions to promote physical activity in adults with obesity were provided (e.g., use of theory, accelerometers).

The effects of deep diaphragmatic breathing and focused attention on dental anxiety in a private practice setting.

PURPOSE: High dental anxiety is pervasive and associated with treatment avoidance and poor oral health. Ideally, anxiety reduction techniques should be easy to use, low in cost, non-pharmacological, comfortable, and effective. This study compared the effectiveness of two self-taught anxiety reduction techniques--breathing and focused attention--with a control group. METHODS: Anxiety was assessed in 272 adult private dental practice patients with a modified dental anxiety scale-revised. Frequency of oral health care visits in the last 10 years to all dentists, including the current dentist, was collected. Immediately prior to the dental procedure, participants in the two experimental groups were given written instructions outlining the respective anxiety reduction technique they were to use. Efficacy of technique was assessed by subjective comparison to anxiety during previous oral health treatment. Participants also listed techniques that they believed to be effective for anxiety reduction. RESULTS: Twenty-six participants (9.56%) scored high in dental anxiety. High anxiety was associated with infrequent oral health care visits. Compared to the recall of anxiety experienced during prior treatment, there were no significant differences in anxiety between breathing, focusing, and control groups. But there was a trend toward decreased anxiety overall. Controls who reported infrequent visits and use of their own anxiety reduction technique showed significantly reduced anxiety. CONCLUSION: Dental patients employ numerous strategies for anxiety reduction. Anxiety reduction techniques not yet practiced may place unwanted expectations on patients. It is suggested that oral health care practitioners be aware of the patient's preferred technique for coping with anxiety and encourage them to use self-help techniques.