Interventions to improve oral health and related health behaviours of substance use, smoking, and diet in people with severe and multiple disadvantage: a systematic review of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.

BACKGROUND: Homelessness overlapping with substance use and offending is described as severe and multiple disadvantage (SMD). People experiencing SMD have poor oral health along with high levels of related behaviours such as substance use, smoking, and poor diet. Existing evidence largely describes the prevalence of oral health problems, substance use, and smoking in SMD groups. Little is known about interventions that can address these conditions in SMD groups. We aimed to review the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of interventions on oral health and related health behaviours in adults experiencing SMD. METHODS: For this systematic review, we searched bibliographic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, EBSCO, Scopus) and grey literature for papers published from inception to February 2023. Two researchers independently reviewed the searches. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), comparative studies and economic evaluations were included. Risk of bias was assessed. Population included adults experiencing SMD (including homelessness and substance use or repeat offending). Outcomes included oral health, and related behaviours (substance use, smoking, poor diet). Results were narratively synthesised. This review was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42020202416. FINDINGS: The review included 38 studies (published between 1991 and 2023), with 34 reporting effectiveness. These studies comprised of 23 RCTs and 11 quasi-experimental studies conducted in the USA (25 studies), Canada (seven studies), France (one study), and Spain (one study). The interventions involving multiple components, such as housing services with substance use and mental health support, effectively reduced substance use in SMD groups; these were mostly individual-level interventions. However, these studies had short follow-up periods and high attrition rates. Only one study addressed oral health outcomes, none focused on diet, and three RCTs covered smoking, with one intervention showing smoking abstinence at 4 weeks. Some limited evidence suggested cost-effectiveness of substance use interventions. INTERPRETATION: This review found that integrating services such as housing with other health-care services together could be effective in improving health behaviours, especially substance use among SMD groups. More evidence is needed specifically on oral health, smoking, and diet-related interventions. The generalisability of findings of this review is limited to high-income countries and shorter-term outcomes. FUNDING: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Programme.

A personalised and systematically designed adherence intervention improves photoprotection in adults with Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP): Results of the XPAND randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Poor adherence to photoprotection in Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP) increases morbidity and shortens lifespan due to skin cancers. OBJECTIVE: To test a highly personalised intervention (XPAND) to reduce the dose of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) reaching the face in adults with XP, designed using known psychosocial determinants of poor photoprotection. METHODS: A two-arm parallel group randomised controlled trial, including patients with sub-optimal photoprotection to receive XPAND or a delayed intervention control arm that received XPAND the following year. XPAND comprises seven one-to-one sessions targeting photoprotection barriers (e.g., misconceptions about UVR) supported by personalised text messages, activity sheets, and educational materials incorporating behaviour change techniques. The primary outcome, mean daily UVR dose-to-face across 21 days in June-July 2018, was calculated by combining UVR exposure at the wrist with a face photoprotection activity diary. Secondary outcomes were UVR dose-to-face across 21 days in August 2018, time spent outside, photoprotective measures used outside, mood, automaticity, confidence-to-photoprotect. Financial costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were calculated. RESULTS: 16 patients were randomised, 13 provided sufficient data for primary outcome analysis. The XPAND group (n=8) had lower mean daily UVR dose-to-face [0.03 SED (SD 0.02] compared to control (n=7) [0.36 SED (SD 0.16)] (adjusted difference=-0.25, p<0.001, Hedge's g=2.2). No significant between-group differences were observed in time spent outside, photoprotection outside, mood, or confidence. The delayed intervention control showed improvements in UVR dose-to-face (adjusted difference=-0.05, Hedge's g=-0.1) , time outside (adjusted difference=-69.9, Hedge's g=-0.28), and photoprotection (adjusted difference=-0.23, Hedge's g=0.45), after receiving XPAND. XPAND was associated with lower treatment costs (£-2642; 95% CI: -£8715 to £3873) and fewer QALYs (-0.0141; 95% CI: -0.0369 to 0.0028). CONCLUSIONS: XPAND was associated with a lower UVR dose-to-face in XP patients and was cost-effective.

Furthering Scientific Inquiry for Weight Loss Maintenance: Assessing the Psychological Processes Impacted by a Low intensity Technology-Assisted Intervention (NULevel Trial).

BACKGROUND: NULevel was a randomized control trial to evaluate a technology-assisted weight loss maintenance (WLM) program in the UK. The program included: (a) a face-to-face goal-setting session; (b) an internet platform, a pedometer, and wirelessly connected scales to monitor and report diet, physical activity, and weight, and; (c) regular automated feedback delivered by mobile phone, tailored to participants' progress. Components were designed to target psychological processes linked to weight-related behavior. Though intervention participants showed increased physical activity, there was no difference in WLM between the intervention and control groups after 12 months (Sniehotta FF, Evans EH, Sainsbury K, et al. Behavioural intervention for weight loss maintenance versus standard weight advice in adults with obesity: A randomized controlled trial in the UK (NULevel Trial). PLoS Med. 2019; 16(5):e1002793. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1002793). It is unclear whether the program failed to alter targeted psychological processes, or whether changes in these processes failed to influence WLM. PURPOSE: We evaluate whether the program influenced 16 prespecified psychological processes (e.g., self-efficacy and automaticity toward diet and physical activity), and whether these processes (at 6 months) were associated with successful WLM (at 12 months). METHODS: 288 adults who had previously lost weight were randomized to the intervention or control groups. The control group received wireless scales and standard advice via newsletters. Assessments occurred in person at 0, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: The intervention significantly altered 10 of the 16 psychological processes, compared with the control group. However, few processes were associated with WLM, leading to no significant indirect effects of the intervention via the processes on WLM. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in targeted processes were insufficient to support WLM. Future efforts may more closely examine the sequence of effects between processes, behavior, and WLM.

Many tools exist to help people lose weight, but it is common for people to regain that weight over time. Thus, understanding how to support the maintenance of weight loss remains a priority. The NULevel program was a 12-month weight loss maintenance (WLM) intervention for individuals who had recently lost weight. It promoted psychological factors, shown to be tied to weight-related behaviors, using face-to-face and technology-based (e.g., mobile phone feedback) elements. For example, the program encouraged making plans to improve lifestyles (e.g., exercise, better diet) and promoted people's confidence in these behaviors. However, the program was not more successful than a control condition in maintaining weight loss. We sought to understand why this occurred. We found that the program was indeed successful in influencing most of the psychological factors it targeted. Instead, it was the psychological factors that failed to predict WLM. Were the psychological factors insufficient to impact behavior? Or did the promoted behaviors fail to aid WLM? Future research should focus on answering such questions. Doing so would inform whether interventions should target different psychological factors to change behaviors, or choose different sets of behaviors to support WLM.

Understanding healthcare professionals' responses to patient complaints in secondary and tertiary care in the UK: A systematic review and behavioural analysis using the Theoretical Domains Framework.

BACKGROUND: The path of a complaint and patient satisfaction with complaint resolution is often dependent on the responses of healthcare professionals (HCPs). It is therefore important to understand the influences shaping HCP behaviour. This systematic review aimed to (1) identify the key actors, behaviours and factors influencing HCPs' responses to complaints, and (2) apply behavioural science frameworks to classify these influences and provide recommendations for more effective complaints handling behaviours. METHODS: A systematic literature review of UK published and unpublished (so-called grey literature) studies was conducted (PROSPERO registration: CRD42022301980). Five electronic databases [Scopus, MEDLINE/Ovid, Embase, Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Health Management Information Consortium (HMIC)] were searched up to September 2021. Eligibility criteria included studies reporting primary data, conducted in secondary and tertiary care, written in English and published between 2001 and 2021 (studies from primary care, mental health, forensic, paediatric or dental care services were excluded). Extracted data included study characteristics, participant quotations from qualitative studies, results from questionnaire and survey studies, case studies reported in commentaries and descriptions, and summaries of results from reports. Data were synthesized narratively using inductive thematic analysis, followed by deductive mapping to the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). RESULTS: In all, 22 articles and three reports met the inclusion criteria. A total of 8 actors, 22 behaviours and 24 influences on behaviour were found. Key factors influencing effective handling of complaints included HCPs' knowledge of procedures, communication skills and training, available time and resources, inherent contradictions within the role, role authority, HCPs' beliefs about their ability to handle complaints, beliefs about the value of complaints, managerial and peer support and organizational culture and emotions. Themes mapped onto nine TDF domains: knowledge, skills, environmental context and resources, social/professional role and identity, social influences, beliefs about capability, intentions and beliefs about consequences and emotions. Recommendations were generated using the Behaviour Change Wheel approach. CONCLUSIONS: Through the application of behavioural science, we identified a wide range of individual, social/organizational and environmental influences on complaints handling. Our behavioural analysis informed recommendations for future intervention strategies, with particular emphasis on reframing and building on the positive aspects of complaints as an underutilized source of feedback at an individual and organizational level.

Preventing type 2 diabetes: A research agenda for behavioural science.

AIMS: The aim of this narrative review was to identify important knowledge gaps in behavioural science relating to type 2 diabetes prevention, to inform future research in the field. METHODS: Seven researchers who have published behaviour science research applied to type 2 diabetes prevention independently identified several important gaps in knowledge. They met to discuss these and to generate recommendations to advance research in behavioural science of type 2 diabetes prevention. RESULTS: A total of 21 overlapping recommendations for a research agenda were identified. These covered issues within the following broad categories: (a) evidencing the impact of whole population approaches to type 2 diabetes prevention, (b) understanding the utility of disease-specific approaches to type 2 diabetes prevention such as Diabetes Prevention Programmes (DPPs) compared to generic weight loss programmes, (c) identifying how best to increase reach and engagement of DPPs, whilst avoiding exacerbating inequalities, (d) the need to understand mechanism of DPPs, (e) the need to understand how to increase maintenance of changes as part of or following DPPs, (f) the need to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of alternative approaches to the typical self-regulation approaches that are most commonly used, and (g) the need to address emotional aspects of DPPs, to promote effectiveness and avoid harms. CONCLUSIONS: There is a clear role for behavioural science in informing interventions to prevent people from developing type 2 diabetes, based on strong evidence of reach, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. This review identifies key priorities for research needed to improve existing interventions.

Physical activity, inactivity and sleep during the Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT).

AIMS: As sustained weight loss is vital for achieving remission of type 2 diabetes, we explored whether randomisation to weight loss plus maintenance in the DiRECT trial was associated with physical activity, inactivity or sleep. METHODS: Participants were randomised to either a dietary weight management programme or best-practice care. The weight management group were encouraged to increase daily physical activity to their sustainable maximum. Objective measurement was achieved using a wrist-worn GENEActiv accelerometer for 7 days at baseline, 12 and 24 months in both groups. RESULTS: Despite average weight loss of 10 kg at 12 months in the intervention (n = 66) group, there were no differences in total physical activity or inactivity compared with the control (n = 104) at any time point. However, in our exploratory analysis, those who lost more than 10% of their baseline body weight performed on average 11 mins/day more light activity than the <10% group at 24 months (p = 0.033) and had significantly lower bouts of Inactivity30min (interaction, p = 0.005) across 12 and 24 months. At 24 months, the ≥10% group had higher daily acceleration (38.5 ± 12.1 vs. 33.2 ± 11.1 mg, p = 0.020), and higher accelerations in the most active 5-hour period (59.4 ± 21.8 vs. 50.6 ± 18.3 mg, p = 0.023). Wakefulness after sleep onset decreased in the intervention group compared with the control group and also in the ≥10% weight loss group at 12 and 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: Randomisation to a successful intensive weight loss intervention, including regular physical activity encouragement, was not associated with increased physical activity although sleep parameters improved. Physical activity was greater, and night-time waking reduced in those who maintained >10% weight loss at 12 and 24 months. TRIAL REGISTRATION ISRCTN03267836.

Weight regain after behavioural weight management programmes and its impact on quality of life and cost effectiveness: Evidence synthesis and health economic analyses.

AIMS: We used data from a recent systematic review to investigate weight regain after behavioural weight management programmes (BWMPs, sometimes referred to as lifestyle modification programmes) and its impact on quality-of-life and cost-effectiveness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Trial registries, databases and forward-citation searching (latest search December 2019) were used to identify randomized trials of BWMPs in adults with overweight/obesity reporting outcomes at ≥12 months, and after programme end. Two independent reviewers screened records. One reviewer extracted data and a second checked them. The differences between intervention and control groups were synthesized using mixed-effect, meta-regression and time-to-event models. We examined associations between weight difference and difference in quality-of-life. Cost-effectiveness was estimated from a health sector perspective. RESULTS: In total, 155 trials (n > 150 000) contributed to analyses. The longest follow-up was 23 years post-programme. At programme end, intervention groups achieved -2.8 kg (95%CI -3.2 to -2.4) greater weight loss than controls. Weight regain after programme end was 0.12-0.32 kg/year greater in intervention relative to control groups, with a between-group difference evident for at least 5 years. Quality-of-life increased in intervention groups relative to control at programme end and thereafter returned to control as the difference in weight between groups diminished. BWMPs with this initial weight loss and subsequent regain would be cost-effective if delivered for under £560 (£8.80-£3900) per person. CONCLUSIONS: Modest rates of weight regain, with persistent benefits for several years, should encourage health care practitioners and policymakers to offer obesity treatments that cost less than our suggested thresholds as a cost-effective intervention to improve long-term weight management. REGISTRATION: The review is registered on PROSPERO, CRD42018105744.

Are motivational and self-regulation factors associated with 12 months' weight regain prevention in the NoHoW study? An analysis of European adults.

PURPOSE: Preventing weight regain can only be achieved by sustained changes in energy balance-related behaviors that are associated with weight, such as diet and physical activity. Changes in motivation and self-regulatory skills can support long-term behavioral changes in the context of weight loss maintenance. We propose that experiencing a supportive climate care is associated with enhanced satisfaction of basic psychological needs, intrinsic goals, and autonomous motivation. These factors are expected to be associate with the utilization of self-regulation skills, leading to more sustained behavior changes and ultimately preventing weight regain. This hypothesis was tested in this ancillary analysis of the NoHoW trial, where the study arms were pooled and followed for 12 months. METHODS: The NoHoW was a three-center, large-scale weight regain prevention full factorial trial. In this longitudinal study, data were collected in adults who lost > 5% weight in the past year (N = 870, complete data only, 68.7% female, 44.10 ± 11.86 years, 84.47 ± 17.03 kg) during their participation in a 12-month digital behavior change intervention. Weight and validated measures of motivational- and self-regulatory skills-related variables were collected at baseline, six- and 12 months. Change variables were used in Mplus' path analytical models informed by NoHoW's logic model. RESULTS: The bivariate correlations confirmed key mediators' potential effect on weight outcomes in the expected causal direction. The primary analysis showed that a quarter of the variance (r2 = 23.5%) of weight regain prevention was achieved via the mechanisms of action predicted in the logic model. Specifically, our results show that supportive climate care is associated with needs satisfaction and intrinsic goal content leading to better weight regain prevention via improvements in self-regulatory skills and exercise-controlled motivation. The secondary analysis showed that more mechanisms of action are significant in participants who regained or maintained their weight. CONCLUSIONS: These results contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms of action leading to behavior change in weight regain prevention. The most successful participants used only a few intrinsic motivation-related mechanisms of action, suggesting that habits may have been learned. While developing a digital behavior change intervention, researchers and practitioners should consider creating supportive climate care to improve needs satisfaction and intrinsic goal contents. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN, ISRCTN88405328 , registered 12/22/2016.

Exploratory analysis of reflective, reactive, and homeostatic eating behaviour traits on weight change during the 18-month NoHoW weight maintenance trial.

Behaviour change interventions for weight management have found varied effect sizes and frequent weight re-gain after weight loss. There is interest in exploring whether differences in eating behaviour can be used to develop tailored weight management programs. This secondary analysis of an 18-month weight maintenance randomised controlled trial (RCT) aimed to investigate the association between individual variability in weight maintenance success and change in eating behaviour traits (EBT). Data was analysed from the NoHoW trial (Scott et al., 2019), which was designed to measure processes of change after weight loss of ≥5% body weight in the previous year. The sample included 1627 participants (mean age = 44.0 years, SD = 11.9, mean body mass index (BMI) = 29.7 kg/m2, SD = 5.4, gender = 68.7% women/31.3% men). Measurements of weight (kg) and 7 EBTs belonging to domains of reflective, reactive, or homeostatic eating were taken at 4 time points up to 18-months. Increases in measures of 'reactive eating' (binge eating, p < .001), decreases in 'reflective eating' (restraint, p < .001) and changes in 'homeostatic eating' (unlimited permission to eat, p < .001 and reliance on hunger and satiety cues, p < .05) were significantly and independently associated with concomitant weight change. Differences in EBT change were observed between participants who lost, maintained, or re-gained weight for all EBTs (p < .001) except for one subscale of intuitive eating (eating for physical reasons, p = .715). Participants who lost weight (n = 322) exhibited lower levels of reactive eating and higher levels of reflective eating than participants who re-gained weight (n = 668). EBT domains can identify individuals who need greater support to progress in weight management interventions. Increasing reflective eating and reducing reactive eating may enhance weight management success.

Increasing access to evidence-based treatment for child anxiety problems: online parent-led CBT for children identified via schools.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety problems are extremely common and have an early age of onset. We previously found, in a study in England, that fewer than 3% of children with an anxiety disorder identified in the community had accessed an evidence-based treatment (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy; CBT). Key ways to increase access to CBT for primary school-aged children with anxiety problems include (a) proactive identification through screening in schools, (b) supporting parents and (c) the provision of brief, accessible interventions (and capitalising on technology to do this). METHOD: We provided a brief, therapist guided treatment called Online Support and Intervention (OSI) to parents/carers of children identified, through school-based screening, as likely to have anxiety problems. Fifty out of 131 children from 17 Year 4 classes in schools in England screened positive for 'possible anxiety problems' and 42 (84%) of these (and 7 who did not) took up the offer of OSI. We applied quantitative and qualitative approaches to assess children's outcomes and families' experiences of this approach. RESULTS: Inbuilt outcome monitoring indicated session on session improvements throughout the course of treatment, with substantial changes across measures by the final module (e.g. Child Outcome Rating Scale d = 0.84; Goal Based Outcomes d = 1.52). Parent engagement and satisfaction was high as indicated by quantitative and qualitative assessments, and intervention usage. CONCLUSIONS: We provide promising preliminary evidence for the use of OSI as an early intervention for children identified as having anxiety problems through school-based screening.

Delivering the Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT) in primary care: Experiences of healthcare professionals.

OBJECTIVE: The Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT) used a formula total diet replacement programme followed by structured weight loss maintenance to induce and sustain weight loss and remission of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in 36% of participants after 2 years. Nurses and dietitians delivering DiRECT in 22 primary care practices in Tyneside and Scotland provided behavioural support to participants. Participant experiences with DiRECT highlighted the key role of support by healthcare professionals (HCPs). We evaluated HCPs' experiences with DiRECT. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Healthcare professionals delivering DiRECT were interviewed at 12 months, while general practices (GPs) were sent an implementation questionnaire. The interviews were analysed thematically. The questionnaires were analysed using frequencies and a narrative synthesis. RESULTS: Healthcare professionals representing 11 of 22 intervention practices were interviewed and 10 of 22 GPs completed questionnaires. HCPs' initial concerns over perceived potential negative intervention effects, particularly withdrawing anti-diabetes and anti-hypertensive medications, were barriers to engagement. Trust of HCPs towards the research team and perceived credibility of the study facilitated engagement and adoption. Ongoing support by research dietitians was key to the management of participants. Involvement in DiRECT inspired more focus on behaviour modification in the treatment of other people living with T2D in routine practice. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial was considered highly appropriate for the management of T2D in primary care when supported by trained dietitians. Addressing limitations, including varying training needs of HCPs may improve intervention scale-up and tailoring to clinical contexts.

Participant experiences in the Diabetes REmission Clinical Trial (DiRECT).

INTRODUCTION: The Diabetes REmission Clinical Trial (DiRECT) has shown that sustained remission of type 2 diabetes in primary care is achievable through weight loss using total diet replacement (TDR) with continued behavioural support. Understanding participants' experiences can help optimise the intervention, support implementation into healthcare, and understand the process of behaviour change. METHODS: Thirty-four DiRECT participants were recruited into this embedded qualitative evaluation study. In-person and telephone interviews were conducted before the TDR; at week 6-8 of the TDR; 2 weeks into food reintroduction (FR); and at 1 year, to learn about participant experiences with the programme. Transcribed narratives were analysed thematically, and we used interpretation to develop overarching themes. RESULTS: Initiation of the TDR and transition to FR were challenging and required increased behavioural support. In general, adhering to TDR proved easier than the participants had anticipated. Some participants chose the optional extension of TDR. Rapid weight loss and changes in diabetes markers provided ongoing motivation. Further weight loss, behavioural support and occasional use of TDR facilitated weight loss maintenance (WLM). A process of behaviour adaptation to change following regime disruption was identified in three stages: (1) expectations of the new, (2) overcoming difficulties with adherence, and (3) acceptance of continuous effort and establishment of routines. CONCLUSIONS: The DiRECT intervention was acceptable and regularity, continuity, and tailoring of behavioural support was instrumental in its implementation in primary care. The adaptation process accounts for some of the individual variability of experiences with the intervention and highlights the need for programme flexibility.

A Theory- and Evidence-Based Digital Intervention Tool for Weight Loss Maintenance (NoHoW Toolkit): Systematic Development and Refinement Study.

BACKGROUND: Many weight loss programs show short-term effectiveness, but subsequent weight loss maintenance is difficult to achieve. Digital technologies offer a promising means of delivering behavior change approaches at low costs and on a wide scale. The Navigating to a Healthy Weight (NoHoW) project, which was funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, aimed to develop, test, and evaluate a digital toolkit designed to promote successful long-term weight management. The toolkit was tested in an 18-month, large-scale, international, 2×2 factorial (motivation and self-regulation vs emotion regulation) randomized controlled trial that was conducted on adults with overweight or obesity who lost ≥5% of their body weight in the preceding 12 months before enrollment into the intervention. OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to describe the development of the NoHoW Toolkit, focusing on the logic models, content, and specifications, as well as the results from user testing. METHODS: The toolkit was developed by using a systematic approach, which included the development of the theory-based logic models, the selection of behavior change techniques, the translation of these techniques into a web-based app (NoHoW Toolkit components), technical development, and the user evaluation and refinement of the toolkit. RESULTS: The toolkit included a set of web-based tools and inputs from digital tracking devices (smart scales and activity trackers) and modules that targeted weight, physical activity, and dietary behaviors. The final toolkit comprised 34 sessions that were distributed through 15 modules and provided active content over a 4-month period. The motivation and self-regulation arm consisted of 8 modules (17 sessions), the emotion regulation arm was presented with 7 modules (17 sessions), and the combined arm received the full toolkit (15 modules; 34 sessions). The sessions included a range of implementations, such as videos, testimonies, and questionnaires. Furthermore, the toolkit contained 5 specific data tiles for monitoring weight, steps, healthy eating, mood, and sleep. CONCLUSIONS: A systematic approach to the development of digital solutions based on theory, evidence, and user testing may significantly contribute to the advancement of the science of behavior change and improve current solutions for sustained weight management. Testing the toolkit by using a 2×2 design provided a unique opportunity to examine the effect of motivation and self-regulation and emotion regulation separately, as well as the effect of their interaction in weight loss maintenance.

Active travelling to school is not associated with increased total daily physical activity levels, or reduced obesity and cardiovascular/pulmonary health parameters in 10-12-year olds: a cross-sectional cohort study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Childhood obesity has increased enormously. Several lifestyle factors have been implicated, including decreased physical activity, partially involving a decline in active travel to school. We aimed to establish the association between school transport mode and physical activity levels of primary 6 and 7 children (aged 10-12). Secondary outcomes were body mass index standard deviation scores, blood pressure levels and lung function. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a total number of 432 children from three primary schools in North East Scotland. Actigraph accelerometers were used to provide objective measures of physical activity. Ninety-two children in primary 6 and 90 children in primary 7 (40 in common) had adequate data. Modes of transport to school were assessed by a questionnaire. Two hundred and seventeen children in primary 6 and one hundred and sixty-five in primary 7 returned adequate questionnaires. Children who used active transport modes for >70% of their journeys to school over the week were coded as active travellers and <30% were coded as passive travellers. All children also had height, weight, blood pressure levels and lung function measured. RESULTS: Children who lived further away from school, and in more expensive properties were more likely to travel passively to school. Actively commuting children (70% walking) had significantly higher activity levels than passive commuters during the 30 min that encompassed their journey to and from school. However, there were no significant differences between active and passive school travellers in total daily physical activity, BMI SDS, and both systolic and diastolic blood pressure and lung function. CONCLUSIONS: There was no evidence that more days of active travel to school had a significant influence on total physical activity, obesity and related health parameters. Public health interventions promoting active travel to school may have limited success in quelling the childhood obesity epidemic.

The effect of traffic-light labels and time pressure on estimating kilocalories and carbon footprint of food.

Food consumption decisions require consumers to evaluate the characteristics of products. However, the literature has given limited attention to how consumers determine the impact of food on health (e.g., kilocalories) and on the environment (e.g., carbon footprint). In this exercise, 1511 consumers categorised 43 food products as healthy/unhealthy and good/bad for the environment, and estimated their kilocalories and carbon footprint, which were known to the investigator. The task was performed either with no stimuli (a control group), under time pressure only, with traffic-light labels only, or both. Results show that traffic-light labels: 1) operate through improvements in knowledge, rather than facilitating information processing under pressure; 2) improve the ability to rank products by both kilocalories and carbon footprint, rather than the ability to use the metric; 3) reduce the threshold used to categorise products as unhealthy/bad for the environment, whilst raising the threshold used to classify products as good for the environment (but not healthy). Notably, traffic-light increase accuracy by reducing the response compression of the metric scale. The benefits of labels are particularly evident for carbon footprint. Overall, these results indicate that consumers struggle to estimate numerical information, and labels are crucial to ensure consumers make sustainable decisions, particularly for unfamiliar metrics like carbon footprint.

Stakeholders' perceptions and experiences of the National Health Service diabetes prevention programme in England: qualitative study with service users, intervention providers and deliverers, commissioners and referrers.

BACKGROUND: The National Health Service diabetes prevention programme in England, (NHS DPP) aims to identify people at high risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and offer them a face-to-face, group-based, behaviour change intervention for at least 9 months. The NHS DPP was rolled out in phases. We aimed to elicit stakeholders' perceptions and experiences of the factors influencing implementation of, and participation in, the programme during the development phase. METHODS: Individual, semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 50 purposively sampled stakeholders: service users (n = 20); programme commissioners (n = 7); referrers (n = 8); and intervention deliverers (n = 15). Topic guides were structured using a pragmatic, theory-informed approach. Analysis employed the framework method. RESULTS: We identified factors that influenced participation: Risk communication at referral - stakeholders identified point of referral as a window of opportunity to offer brief advice, to provide an understanding of T2D risk and information about the programme; Perceived impact of the NHS DPP - service users highlighted the positive perceived impact on their behaviour change, the peer support provided by participating in the programme, the option to involve a relative, and the 'knock on' effect on others. Service users also voiced disappointment when blood test results still identified them at high risk after the programme; and Behavioural maintenance - participants highlighted the challenges linked to behavioural maintenance (e.g. discontinuation of active support). Factors influencing implementations were also identified: Case finding - stakeholders suggested that using community involvement to identify service users could increase reach and ensure that the workload was not solely on GP practices; Adaptability: intervention deliverers acknowledged the need to tailor advice to service users' preferences and needs; Accountability - the need to acknowledge who was responsible for what at different stages of the NHS DPP pathway; and Fidelity - stakeholders described procedures involved in monitoring service users' satisfaction, outcome data collection and quality assurance assessments. CONCLUSIONS: The NHS DPP offers an evidence-informed behavioural intervention for T2D prevention. Better risk communication specification could ensure consistency at the referral stage and improve participation in the NHS DPP intervention. Cultural adaptations and outreach strategies could ensure the NHS DPP contributes to reducing health inequalities.

The Recognition-Response Gap in Acute Stroke: Examining the Relationship between Stroke Recognition and Response in a General Population Survey.

BACKGROUND: Benefits of reperfusion therapies in acute ischemic stroke are highly time-dependent. It is crucial that people who witness the onset of symptoms call emergency medical services (EMS) immediately. The aim of this study was to examine whether there is a gap between recognition of stroke and responding correctly by calling EMS using a scenario-based measure. METHODS: Population-based survey of 1406 individuals from Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, examining stroke recognition and response knowledge using 12 scenario-based vignettes. The response rate was 32% out of 5000 contacted individuals. In total, 16,574 responses to scenarios were examined to investigate whether respondents would recognise stroke symptoms and indicate to call EMS immediately. RESULTS: In 16% of cases people recognised stroke but did not correctly respond by indicating to call EMS. In 49% of responses people recognised stroke and would respond correctly, while in 31% of cases people both failed to correctly recognise and failed to identify the correct response to the stroke scenario. In 5% of cases stroke was not identified but a correct response was indicated. When stroke was recognised, in 25% of responses people indicated that they would not call EMS. Recognition self-efficacy and response self-efficacy were associated with correct response. CONCLUSIONS: A recognition-response gap was identified among UK adults in hypothetical scenarios concerning stroke. Both recognition and translation to adequate EMS response should be explicitly addressed in interventions aiming to improve witness response to stroke. Self-efficacy may be a promising target to close the recognition-response gap.

Behavioural intervention for weight loss maintenance versus standard weight advice in adults with obesity: A randomised controlled trial in the UK (NULevel Trial).

BACKGROUND: Scalable weight loss maintenance (WLM) interventions for adults with obesity are lacking but vital for the health and economic benefits of weight loss to be fully realised. We examined the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a low-intensity technology-mediated behavioural intervention to support WLM in adults with obesity after clinically significant weight loss (≥5%) compared to standard lifestyle advice. METHODS AND FINDINGS: The NULevel trial was an open-label randomised controlled superiority trial in 288 adults recruited April 2014 to May 2015 with weight loss of ≥5% within the previous 12 months, from a pre-weight loss BMI of ≥30 kg/m2. Participants were self-selected, and the majority self-certified previous weight loss. We used a web-based randomisation system to assign participants to either standard lifestyle advice via newsletter (control arm) or a technology-mediated low-intensity behavioural WLM programme (intervention arm). The intervention comprised a single face-to-face goal-setting meeting, self-monitoring, and remote feedback on weight, diet, and physical activity via links embedded in short message service (SMS). All participants were provided with wirelessly connected weighing scales, but only participants in the intervention arm were instructed to weigh themselves daily and told that they would receive feedback on their weight. After 12 months, we measured the primary outcome, weight (kilograms), as well as frequency of self-weighing, objective physical activity (via accelerometry), psychological variables, and cost-effectiveness. The study was powered to detect a between-group weight difference of ±2.5 kg at follow-up. Overall, 264 participants (92%) completed the trial. Mean weight gain from baseline to 12 months was 1.8 kg (95% CI 0.5-3.1) in the intervention group (n = 131) and 1.8 kg (95% CI 0.6-3.0) in the control group (n = 133). There was no evidence of an effect on weight at 12 months (difference in adjusted mean weight change from baseline: -0.07 [95% CI 1.7 to -1.9], p = 0.9). Intervention participants weighed themselves more frequently than control participants and were more physically active. Intervention participants reported greater satisfaction with weight outcomes, more planning for dietary and physical activity goals and for managing lapses, and greater confidence for healthy eating, weight loss, and WLM. Potential limitations, such as the use of connected weighing study in both trial arms, the absence of a measurement of energy intake, and the recruitment from one region of the United Kingdom, are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in the WLM of participants who received the NULevel intervention compared to participants who received standard lifestyle advice via newsletter. The intervention affected some, but not all, process-related secondary outcomes of the trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial is registered with the ISRCTN registry (ISRCTN 14657176; registration date 20 March 2014).

Intervention strategies to improve nutrition and health behaviours before conception.

The nutritional status of both women and men before conception has profound implications for the growth, development, and long-term health of their offspring. Evidence of the effectiveness of preconception interventions for improving outcomes for mothers and babies is scarce. However, given the large potential health return, and relatively low costs and risk of harm, research into potential interventions is warranted. We identified three promising strategies for intervention that are likely to be scalable and have positive effects on a range of health outcomes: supplementation and fortification; cash transfers and incentives; and behaviour change interventions. On the basis of these strategies, we suggest a model specifying pathways to effect. Pathways are incorporated into a life-course framework using individual motivation and receptiveness at different preconception action phases, to guide design and targeting of preconception interventions. Interventions for individuals not planning immediate pregnancy take advantage of settings and implementation platforms outside the maternal and child health arena, since this group is unlikely to be engaged with maternal health services. Interventions to improve women's nutritional status and health behaviours at all preconception action phases should consider social and environmental determinants, to avoid exacerbating health and gender inequalities, and be underpinned by a social movement that touches the whole population. We propose a dual strategy that targets specific groups actively planning a pregnancy, while improving the health of the population more broadly. Modern marketing techniques could be used to promote a social movement based on an emotional and symbolic connection between improved preconception maternal health and nutrition, and offspring health. We suggest that speedy and scalable benefits to public health might be achieved through strategic engagement with the private sector. Political theory supports the development of an advocacy coalition of groups interested in preconception health, to harness the political will and leadership necessary to turn high-level policy into effective coordinated action.

Primary care-led weight management for remission of type 2 diabetes (DiRECT): an open-label, cluster-randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disorder that requires lifelong treatment. We aimed to assess whether intensive weight management within routine primary care would achieve remission of type 2 diabetes. METHODS: We did this open-label, cluster-randomised trial (DiRECT) at 49 primary care practices in Scotland and the Tyneside region of England. Practices were randomly assigned (1:1), via a computer-generated list, to provide either a weight management programme (intervention) or best-practice care by guidelines (control), with stratification for study site (Tyneside or Scotland) and practice list size (>5700 or ≤5700). Participants, carers, and research assistants who collected outcome data were aware of group allocation; however, allocation was concealed from the study statistician. We recruited individuals aged 20-65 years who had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within the past 6 years, had a body-mass index of 27-45 kg/m2, and were not receiving insulin. The intervention comprised withdrawal of antidiabetic and antihypertensive drugs, total diet replacement (825-853 kcal/day formula diet for 3-5 months), stepped food reintroduction (2-8 weeks), and structured support for long-term weight loss maintenance. Co-primary outcomes were weight loss of 15 kg or more, and remission of diabetes, defined as glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) of less than 6·5% (<48 mmol/mol) after at least 2 months off all antidiabetic medications, from baseline to 12 months. These outcomes were analysed hierarchically. This trial is registered with the ISRCTN registry, number 03267836. FINDINGS: Between July 25, 2014, and Aug 5, 2017, we recruited 306 individuals from 49 intervention (n=23) and control (n=26) general practices; 149 participants per group comprised the intention-to-treat population. At 12 months, we recorded weight loss of 15 kg or more in 36 (24%) participants in the intervention group and no participants in the control group (p<0·0001). Diabetes remission was achieved in 68 (46%) participants in the intervention group and six (4%) participants in the control group (odds ratio 19·7, 95% CI 7·8-49·8; p<0·0001). Remission varied with weight loss in the whole study population, with achievement in none of 76 participants who gained weight, six (7%) of 89 participants who maintained 0-5 kg weight loss, 19 (34%) of 56 participants with 5-10 kg loss, 16 (57%) of 28 participants with 10-15 kg loss, and 31 (86%) of 36 participants who lost 15 kg or more. Mean bodyweight fell by 10·0 kg (SD 8·0) in the intervention group and 1·0 kg (3·7) in the control group (adjusted difference -8·8 kg, 95% CI -10·3 to -7·3; p<0·0001). Quality of life, as measured by the EuroQol 5 Dimensions visual analogue scale, improved by 7·2 points (SD 21·3) in the intervention group, and decreased by 2·9 points (15·5) in the control group (adjusted difference 6·4 points, 95% CI 2·5-10·3; p=0·0012). Nine serious adverse events were reported by seven (4%) of 157 participants in the intervention group and two were reported by two (1%) participants in the control group. Two serious adverse events (biliary colic and abdominal pain), occurring in the same participant, were deemed potentially related to the intervention. No serious adverse events led to withdrawal from the study. INTERPRETATION: Our findings show that, at 12 months, almost half of participants achieved remission to a non-diabetic state and off antidiabetic drugs. Remission of type 2 diabetes is a practical target for primary care. FUNDING: Diabetes UK.