Consistency of nutrition recommendations for foods marketed to children in the United States, 2009-2010.

INTRODUCTION: Food marketing has emerged as an environmental factor that shapes children's dietary behaviors. "Advergames," or free online games designed to promote branded products, are an example of evolving food marketing tactics aimed at children. Our primary objective was to classify foods marketed to children (aged 2-11 y) in advergames as those meeting or not meeting nutrition recommendations of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), and the Institute of Medicine (IOM). We document the consistency of classification of those foods across agency guidelines and offer policy recommendations. METHODS: We used comScore Media Builder Metrix to identify 143 websites that marketed foods (n = 439) to children aged 2 to 11 years through advergames. Foods were classified on the basis of each of the 4 agency criteria. Food nutrient labels provided information on serving size, calories, micronutrients, and macronutrients. RESULTS: The websites advertised 254 meals, 101 snacks, and 84 beverages. Proportions of meals and snacks meeting USDA and FDA recommendations were similarly low, with the exception of saturated fat in meals and sodium content in snacks. Inconsistency in recommendations was evidenced by only a small proportion of meals and fewer snacks meeting the recommendations of all the agencies per their guidelines. Beverage recommendations were also inconsistent across the 3 agencies that provide recommendations (USDA, IOM, and CSPI). Most (65%-95%) beverages advertised in advergames did not meet some of these recommendations. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that a large number of foods with low nutritional value are being marketed to children via advergames. A standardized system of food marketing guidance is needed to better inform the public about healthfulness of foods advertised to children.

Relationships, body image, and intimacy: A pilot to increase sexual health conversations between radiation therapists and cancer patients in Ontario.

BACKGROUND: In 2016, a sexual health guideline recommended that the first step to addressing sexual health and dysfunction resulting from cancer and its treatment is for healthcare providers to initiate sexual health conversations with patients. To action this, a sexual health knowledge translation (KT) pilot was developed. METHODS: The Relationships, Body image, and Intimacy (RBI) pilot was implemented at four regional cancer centres (RCCs) from January 2018 to February 2020 which focused on medical radiation therapists (MRT(T)s) initiating conversations with radiation therapy patients. MRT(T)s were recruited to be RBI champion role models and were trained on RBI topics, trained fellow MRT(T)s, and modelled best practice for sexual health conversations with cancer patients. Pilot interventions were developed to address barriers to RBI conversations. Both qualitative and quantitative data collection activities were implemented to evaluate pilot interventions. RESULTS: Before the RBI pilot, over 80% of MRT(T)s reported they did not initiate RBI conversations with patients. By the end of the pilot, over 52% of MRT(T)s reported initiating RBI conversations with all or almost all patients. Feedback from patients was positive. Barriers to comfort level with RBI topic were successfully addressed with continued education and training throughout the pilot. DISCUSSION: Results show increased RBI conversations during the pilot, and MRT(T)s reported increased comfort speaking with patients about RBI with continued practice. The RBI champions played a pivotal role in the pilot's success and increased MRT(T) comfort with RBI. Initial barriers to RBI conversations were less reported as the pilot progressed and RBI conversations were normalized for patients. CONCLUSIONS: The RBI pilot was a novel KT initiative focused on supporting MRT(T)s to ensure patients were aware of sexual health resources available to them during their radiation therapy. Knowledge gained from this pilot can easily be adapted to assist other health care providers and additional RCCs to confidently initiate RBI conversations with their patients.

The effect of hand-hygiene interventions on infectious disease-associated absenteeism in elementary schools: A systematic literature review.

BACKGROUND: Hand-hygiene interventions are widely used in schools but their effect on reducing absenteeism is not well known. METHODS: The aim of our literature review was to determine whether implementation of a hand-hygiene intervention reduced infectious disease-associated absenteeism in elementary schools. The eligible studies (N = 19), published between 1996 and 2014, were summarized and the methodologic quality of each was assessed. RESULTS: Our review indicated evidence is available to show hand-hygiene interventions had an effect on reducing acute gastrointestinal illness-associated absenteeism but inadequate evidence is available to show an effect on respiratory illness-associated absenteeism. CONCLUSIONS: The methodologic quality assessment of eligible studies revealed common design flaws, such as lack of randomization, blinding, and attrition, which must be addressed in future studies to strengthen the evidence base on the effect of hand-hygiene interventions on school absenteeism.

Between likes and shares: effects of emotional appeal and virality on the persuasiveness of anticyberbullying messages on Facebook.

Growth in the popularity of social networking sites (SNSs) such as Facebook has been accompanied by unintended negative results (e.g., cyberbullying). SNSs could offer solutions, as well. In this article, we explore the persuasive effects of the emotional appeal and message virality of Facebook status updates. Using status updates for a fictitious anticyberbullying organization, we conducted a 3×2×2×3 (emotional tone × affective evaluation × viral reach × message repetition) mixed factorial experiment (N=365). Positive messages resulted in more positive message evaluations and stronger anticyberbullying attitudes and viral behavioral intentions. Further, low message virality led to the most favorable message evaluations, while high virality resulted in stronger anticyberbullying attitudes.