Dropout from exercise trials among cancer survivors-An individual patient data meta-analysis from the POLARIS study.

INTRODUCTION: The number of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of exercise among cancer survivors has increased in recent years; however, participants dropping out of the trials are rarely described. The objective of the present study was to assess which combinations of participant and exercise program characteristics were associated with dropout from the exercise arms of RCTs among cancer survivors. METHODS: This study used data collected in the Predicting OptimaL cAncer RehabIlitation and Supportive care (POLARIS) study, an international database of RCTs investigating the effects of exercise among cancer survivors. Thirty-four exercise trials, with a total of 2467 patients without metastatic disease randomized to an exercise arm were included. Harmonized studies included a pre and a posttest, and participants were classified as dropouts when missing all assessments at the post-intervention test. Subgroups were identified with a conditional inference tree. RESULTS: Overall, 9.6% of the participants dropped out. Five subgroups were identified in the conditional inference tree based on four significant associations with dropout. Most dropout was observed for participants with BMI >28.4 kg/m2 , performing supervised resistance or unsupervised mixed exercise (19.8% dropout) or had low-medium education and performed aerobic or supervised mixed exercise (13.5%). The lowest dropout was found for participants with BMI >28.4 kg/m2 and high education performing aerobic or supervised mixed exercise (5.1%), and participants with BMI ≤28.4 kg/m2 exercising during (5.2%) or post (9.5%) treatment. CONCLUSIONS: There are several systematic differences between cancer survivors completing and dropping out from exercise trials, possibly affecting the external validity of exercise effects.

Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 and Incident Non-Communicable Diseases: Findings from a 15-Year Follow Up of Women from the 1973-78 Cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and multimorbidity (≥two chronic conditions), are increasing globally. Diet is a risk factor for some NCDs. We aimed to investigate the association between diet quality (DQ) and incident NCDs. Participants were from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health 1973-78 cohort with no NCD and completed dietary data at survey 3 (2003, aged 25-30 years) who responded to at least one survey between survey 4 (2006) and survey 8 (2018). DQ was measured by the Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010). Outcomes included coronary heart disease (CHD), hypertension (HT), asthma, cancer (excluding skin cancer), diabetes mellitus (DM), depression and/or anxiety, multimorbidity, and all-cause mortality. Repeated cross-sectional multivariate logistic regressions were performed to investigate the association between baseline DQ and NCDs over 15 years. The AHEI-2010 mean (±sd) for participants (n = 8017) was 51.6 ± 11.0 (range: 19-91). There was an inverse association between AHEI-2010 and incident asthma at survey 4 (ORQ5-Q1: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.57, 0.99). Baseline DQ did not predict the occurrence of any NCDs or multimorbidity between the ages of 25-45 years. Further well-planned, large prospective studies conducted in young women are needed to explore dietary risk factors before the establishment of NCDs.

The Barriers and Facilitators of Sport and Physical Activity Participation for Aboriginal Children in Rural New South Wales, Australia: A Photovoice Project.

Participating in physical activity is beneficial for health. Whilst Aboriginal children possess high levels of physical activity, this declines rapidly by early adolescence. Low physical activity participation is a behavioral risk factor for chronic disease, which is present at much higher rates in Australian Aboriginal communities compared to non-Aboriginal communities. Through photos and 'yarning', the Australian Aboriginal cultural form of conversation, this photovoice study explored the barriers and facilitators of sport and physical activity participation perceived by Aboriginal children (n = 17) in New South Wales rural communities in Australia for the first time and extended the limited research undertaken nationally. Seven key themes emerged from thematic analysis. Four themes described physical activity barriers, which largely exist at the community and interpersonal level of children's social and cultural context: the physical environment, high costs related to sport and transport, and reliance on parents, along with individual risk factors such as unhealthy eating. Three themes identified physical activity facilitators that exist at the personal, interpersonal, and institutional level: enjoyment from being active, supportive social and family connections, and schools. Findings highlight the need for ongoing maintenance of community facilities to enable physical activity opportunities and ensure safety. Children held strong aspirations for improved and accessible facilities. The strength of friendships and the family unit should be utilized in co-designed and Aboriginal community-led campaigns.

Mixed Method Evaluation of a Graduate Student Teaching and Learning Internship Program.

In recognition of the need to better prepare doctoral candidates with teaching and learning competencies, we devised an innovative internship program in the form of a structured apprenticeship and trialed it in public health higher education. The paid internship was comprised of: (i) Mentoring from an experienced educator, (ii) Structured program of education in pedagogy and curriculum design, and (iii) Opportunities for applied experience. Eleven interns completed the apprenticeship in its first 2 years. The mixed method evaluation assessed the impact of the internship on knowledge, skills, and confidence of interns throughout the internship, and included a cost-consequence analysis. Data collection included surveys and face-to-face interviews with interns and mentors. Changes in intern knowledge and skills were analyzed by intern self-ratings pre- and post-internship on 11 performance descriptors. All interns indicated improvement in at least one area of teaching. Interviews indicated general satisfaction, however raised incompatibilities between the unstructured nature of mentoring and intern expectations and preferences. The economic analysis calculated a cost-offset associated with intern-delivered teaching activities of $58,820 (AUD, 2019). The total cost of the program was calculated to be $70,561 (comprising mentor investment AUD$20,436, intern investment AUD$15,126, scholarship "top-up" payment of $5,000 paid to each of the 7 interns AUD $35,000). This Internship is associated with positive impacts for interns across a range of domains at a net total investment of $11,741.

Diet Quality and Incident Non-Communicable Disease in the 1946-1951 Cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health.

Diet quality indices (DQIs) can be useful predictors of diet-disease relationships, including non-communicable disease (NCD) multimorbidity. We aimed to investigate whether overall diet quality (DQ) predicted NCD, multimorbidity, and all-cause mortality. Women from the 1945-51 cohort of the Australia Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH) were included if they: responded to S3 in 2001 and at least one survey between 2004 (S4) and 2016 (S8), and had no NCD history and complete dietary data at S3. DQ was summarized by the Healthy Eating Index for Australian Adults-2013 (HEIFA-2013), Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS), and Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010). Outcomes included each NCD (diabetes mellitus (DM), coronary heart disease (CHD), hypertension (HT), asthma, cancer (except skin cancer), depression and/or anxiety) independently, multimorbidity, and all-cause mortality. Repeated multivariate logistic regressions were used to test associations between DQIs and NCD outcomes across the 15 years of follow-up. The mean (±sd) of DQIs of participants (n = 5350) were 57.15 ± 8.16 (HEIFA-2013); 4.35 ± 1.75 (MDS), and 56.01 ± 10.32 (AHEI-2010). Multivariate regressions indicated that women reporting the highest quintile of AHEI-2010 had lower odds of DM (42-56% (S5-S8)), HT (26% (S8)), asthma (35-37% (S7, S8)), and multimorbidity (30-35% (S7, S8)). The highest quintile of HEIFA-2013 and MDS had lower odds of HT (26-35% (S7, S8); 24-27% (S6-S8), respectively) and depression and/or anxiety (30% (S6): 30-34% (S7, S8)). Our findings support evidence that DQ is an important predictor of some NCDs and a target for prevention in middle-aged women.

Interventions for improving medical students' interpersonal communication in medical consultations.

BACKGROUND: Communication is a common element in all medical consultations, affecting a range of outcomes for doctors and patients. The increasing demand for medical students to be trained to communicate effectively has seen the emergence of interpersonal communication skills as core graduate competencies in medical training around the world. Medical schools have adopted a range of approaches to develop and evaluate these competencies. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of interventions for medical students that aim to improve interpersonal communication in medical consultations. SEARCH METHODS: We searched five electronic databases: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and ERIC (Educational Resource Information Centre) in September 2020, with no language, date, or publication status restrictions. We also screened reference lists of relevant articles and contacted authors of included studies. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs), cluster-RCTs (C-RCTs), and non-randomised controlled trials (quasi-RCTs) evaluating the effectiveness of interventions delivered to students in undergraduate or graduate-entry medical programmes. We included studies of interventions aiming to improve medical students' interpersonal communication during medical consultations. Included interventions targeted communication skills associated with empathy, relationship building, gathering information, and explanation and planning, as well as specific communication tasks such as listening, appropriate structure, and question style. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. Two review authors independently reviewed all search results, extracted data, assessed the risk of bias of included studies, and rated the quality of evidence using GRADE. MAIN RESULTS: We found 91 publications relating to 76 separate studies (involving 10,124 students): 55 RCTs, 9 quasi-RCTs, 7 C-RCTs, and 5 quasi-C-RCTs. We performed meta-analysis according to comparison and outcome. Among both effectiveness and comparative effectiveness analyses, we separated outcomes reporting on overall communication skills, empathy, rapport or relationship building, patient perceptions/satisfaction, information gathering, and explanation and planning. Overall communication skills and empathy were further divided as examiner- or simulated patient-assessed. The overall quality of evidence ranged from moderate to very low, and there was high, unexplained heterogeneity. Overall, interventions had positive effects on most outcomes, but generally small effect sizes and evidence quality limit the conclusions that can be drawn. Communication skills interventions in comparison to usual curricula or control may improve both overall communication skills (standardised mean difference (SMD) 0.92, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.53 to 1.31; 18 studies, 1356 participants; I² = 90%; low-quality evidence) and empathy (SMD 0.64, 95% CI 0.23 to 1.05; 6 studies, 831 participants; I² = 86%; low-quality evidence) when assessed by experts, but not by simulated patients. Students' skills in information gathering probably also improve with educational intervention (SMD 1.07, 95% CI 0.61 to 1.54; 5 studies, 405 participants; I² = 78%; moderate-quality evidence), but there may be little to no effect on students' rapport (SMD 0.18, 95% CI -0.15 to 0.51; 9 studies, 834 participants; I² = 81%; low-quality evidence), and effects on information giving skills are uncertain (very low-quality evidence). We are uncertain whether experiential interventions improve overall communication skills in comparison to didactic approaches (SMD 0.08, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.19; 4 studies, 1578 participants; I² = 4%; very low-quality evidence). Electronic learning approaches may have little to no effect on students' empathy scores (SMD -0.13, 95% CI -0.68 to 0.43; 3 studies, 421 participants; I² = 82%; low-quality evidence) or on rapport (SMD 0.02, 95% CI -0.33 to 0.38; 3 studies, 176 participants; I² = 19%; moderate-quality evidence) compared to face-to-face approaches. There may be small negative effects of electronic interventions on information giving skills (low-quality evidence), and effects on information gathering skills are uncertain (very low-quality evidence).  Personalised/specific feedback probably improves overall communication skills to a small degree in comparison to generic or no feedback (SMD 0.58, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.87; 6 studies, 502 participants; I² = 56%; moderate-quality evidence). There may be small positive effects of personalised feedback on empathy and information gathering skills (low quality), but effects on rapport are uncertain (very low quality), and we found no evidence on information giving skills. We are uncertain whether role-play with simulated patients outperforms peer role-play in improving students' overall communication skills (SMD 0.17, 95% CI -0.33 to 0.67; 4 studies, 637 participants; I² = 87%; very low-quality evidence). There may be little to no difference between effects of simulated patient and peer role-play on students' empathy (low-quality evidence) with no evidence on other outcomes for this comparison. Descriptive syntheses of results that could not be included in meta-analyses across outcomes and comparisons were mixed, as were effects of different interventions and comparisons on specific communication skills assessed by the included trials. Quality of evidence was downgraded due to methodological limitations across several risk of bias domains, high unexplained heterogeneity, and imprecision of results. In general, results remain consistent in sensitivity analysis based on risk of bias and adjustment for clustering. No adverse effects were reported.  AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: This review represents a substantial body of evidence from which to draw, but further research is needed to strengthen the quality of the evidence base, to consider the long-term effects of interventions on students' behaviour as they progress through training and into practice, and to assess effects of interventions on patient outcomes. Efforts to standardise assessment and evaluation of interpersonal skills will strengthen future research efforts.

Diet Quality Indices Used in Australian and New Zealand Adults: A Systematic Review and Critical Appraisal.

Distilling the complexity of overall diet into a simple measure or summative score by data reduction methods has become a common practice in nutritional epidemiology. Recent reviews on diet quality indices (DQI) have highlighted the importance of sound construction criteria and validation. The aim of this current review was to identify and critically appraise all DQI used within Australian and New Zealand adult populations. Twenty-five existing DQI were identified by electronic searching in Medline and hand searching of reference lists. DQI were constructed based on the respective national dietary guidelines and condition-specific recommendations. For preferable features of DQI, six captured the dimensions of adequacy, moderation and balance; five had a nested structure; 12 consisted of foods, food groups and nutrients; 11 used metric scoring systems and most of those with metric scales used normative cutoff points. Food frequency questionnaires, either alone or with other methods, were the most common dietary assessment method used in 20 DQI. For evaluation of DQI, construct validity and relative validity are reported. Based on our critical appraisal, Dietary Guideline Index (DGI), Dietary Guideline Index-2013 (DGI-2013), Total Diet Score (TDS), Healthy Eating Index for Australian Adults-2013 (HEIFA-2013), and Aussie-Diet Quality Index (Aussie-DQI) were the preferred DQI used in Australian adults according to dimension, indicator selection, scoring criteria and evaluation. Further work is needed to enhance the construction of all Australian and New Zealand DQI, especially in terms of dimension and structure, for alignment with recommended construction criteria.

A 15-year follow-up study on long-term adherence to health behaviour recommendations in women diagnosed with breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Whilst a cancer diagnosis may prompt health behaviour change, there is limited evidence regarding whether such changes are maintained in the long-term. We aimed to investigate the impact of cancer diagnosis on health behaviour changes over the long-term survivorship period among breast cancer survivors (BCSs). METHODS: The sample comprised 153 BCSs and 4778 cancer-free women, aged 49-55 years in 2001 (our baseline), from the 1946-1951 birth cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. Health behaviours (physical activity, smoking, alcohol, diet and Body Mass Index), recommended by the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR), were assessed in five survivorship periods: ≤ 3 years, 3 to ≤ 6 years, 6 to ≤ 9 years, 9 to ≤ 12 years, and 12 to 15 years since diagnosis. A validated semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire was used for dietary assessment. Pre-diagnosis (baseline) health behaviours of BCSs and cancer-free women were compared (using Generalized Linear Models (GLM)). Multilevel (mixed effect) models were used for longitudinal data in BCSs. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in health behaviours between BCSs (prior to diagnosis) and cancer-free women. Following diagnosis, BCSs were significantly more physically active (≥ 600 MET min/week; 50.8% to 63.3%; p = 0.02) and consumed more fruit (≥ 2 serves/day; 57.4% to 66.4%; p = 0.01) in the recent survivorship period, but were less likely to be classified in the healthy weight range (p < 0.01). The proportion of non-drinkers and non-smokers slightly increased over the survivorship period. Whole-vegetable intake did not significantly change; however, the intake of non-starchy vegetables significantly increased from pre-diagnosis (LS mean = 89.1 g/day) to post-diagnosis, 6 to ≤ 9 years (LS mean = 137.1 g/day), and 9 to ≤ 12 years (LS mean = 120.8 g/day). There were no significant changes in the total intake of fibre, carotenoids, calcium, fat, saturated fat, vitamin C, or vitamin E observed, except for increased total energy intake (p = 0.012). CONCLUSION: Before diagnosis, BCSs had similar adherence to health behaviours compared to cancer-free women. Initial positive changes to health behaviours were observed post BC diagnosis, except healthy body weight, but maintenance of such changes over the long-term was poor. BCSs may benefit from additional advice and support to make healthy lifestyle choices throughout survivorship.

Efficiency Considerations for SnO2-Based Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

A comparative study of mesoporous thin films based on SnO2 (rutile) and TiO2 (anatase) nanocrystallites sensitized to visible light with [Ru(dtb)2(dcb)](PF6)2, where dtb = 4,4'-(tert-butyl)2-2,2'-bipyridine and dcb = 4,4'-(CO2H)2-2,2'-bipyridine, in CH3CN electrolyte solutions is reported to identify the reason(s) for the low efficiency of SnO2-based dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Pulsed laser excitation resulted in rapid excited state injection (kinj > 108 s-1) followed by sensitizer regeneration through iodide oxidation to yield an interfacial charge separated state abbreviated as MO2(e-)|Ru + I3-. Spectral features associated with I3- and the injected electron MO2(e-) were observed as well as a hypsochromic shift of the metal-to-ligand charge-transfer absorption of the sensitizer attributed to an electric field. The field magnitude ranged from 0.008 to 0.39 MV/cm and was dependent on the electrolyte cation (Mg2+ or Li+) as well as the oxide material. Average MO2(e-) + I3- → recombination rate constants quantified spectroscopically were about 25 times smaller for SnO2 (6.0 ± 0.14 s-1) than for TiO2 (160 ± 10 s-1). Transient photovoltage measurements of operational DSSCs indicated a 78 ms lifetime for electrons injected into SnO2 compared to 27 ms for TiO2; behavior that is at odds with the view that recombination with I3- underlies the low efficiencies of nanocrystalline SnO2-based DSSCs. In contrast, the average rate constant for charge recombination with the oxidized sensitizer, MO2(e-)|-S+ → MO2|-S, was about 2 orders of magnitude larger for SnO2 (k = 9.8 × 104 s-1) than for TiO2 (k = 1.6 × 103 s-1). Sensitizer regeneration through iodide oxidation were similar for both oxide materials (kreg = 6 ± 1 × 1010 M-1 s-1). The data indicate that enhanced efficiency from SnO2-based DSSCs can be achieved by identifying alternative redox mediators that enable rapid sensitizer regeneration and by inhibiting recombination of the injected electron with the oxidized sensitizer.

Multiple health behaviors before and after a cancer diagnosis among women: A repeated cross-sectional analysis over 15 years.

BACKGROUND: Cancer diagnosis may be a cue for health behavior change. Previous research that assessed the impact of a cancer diagnosis on multiple health behavior (MHB) change is limited by small sample size, cross-sectional study design, and a focus on individual rather than multiple behaviors. This study investigated the impact of a cancer diagnosis on compliance with MHB recommendations. METHODS: Data from Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH) were utilized. Compliance with MHB was assessed by cancer survivorship period; 0-3 years pre-diagnosis, 0-3 years postdiagnosis, 4-12 years postdiagnosis, and compared to controls. A MHB score based on the WCRF/AICR guidelines was calculated for six behaviors (physical activity, smoking, alcohol, BMI, fruit, and vegetable intake); scores ranged from 0 to 6, with a higher score indicating higher compliance. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Participants comprised 7585 women from the 2001 ALSWH survey, of whom 2285 developed cancer during 15 years of follow-up. Compared to controls, the mean MHB score was slightly lower (Mean Difference (MD) = -0.015, P > .05) in survivors pre-diagnosis, after adjusting for confounders; however, the compliance score increased during postdiagnosis, with the mean difference score being significantly higher in recent survivors (0-3 years post diagnosis; MD = 0.055, P < .01). Likewise, within cancer survivors, the mean compliance score significantly increased 0-3 years postdiagnosis (MD = 0.07, P < .05) compared to pre-diagnosis, but this significant improvement was not maintained over the longer term (MD = 0.037, P > .05). CONCLUSION: In this sample, survivors had higher MHB score than controls. A cancer diagnosis may provide a teachable moment for health behavior change in the period immediately following diagnosis, but this effect was not sustained during longer-term survivorship.

Moderators of Exercise Effects on Cancer-related Fatigue: A Meta-analysis of Individual Patient Data.

PURPOSE: Fatigue is a common and potentially disabling symptom in patients with cancer. It can often be effectively reduced by exercise. Yet, effects of exercise interventions might differ across subgroups. We conducted a meta-analysis using individual patient data of randomized controlled trials (RCT) to investigate moderators of exercise intervention effects on cancer-related fatigue. METHODS: We used individual patient data from 31 exercise RCT worldwide, representing 4366 patients, of whom 3846 had complete fatigue data. We performed a one-step individual patient data meta-analysis, using linear mixed-effect models to analyze the effects of exercise interventions on fatigue (z score) and to identify demographic, clinical, intervention- and exercise-related moderators. Models were adjusted for baseline fatigue and included a random intercept on study level to account for clustering of patients within studies. We identified potential moderators by testing their interaction with group allocation, using a likelihood ratio test. RESULTS: Exercise interventions had statistically significant beneficial effects on fatigue (ß = -0.17; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.22 to -0.12). There was no evidence of moderation by demographic or clinical characteristics. Supervised exercise interventions had significantly larger effects on fatigue than unsupervised exercise interventions (ßdifference = -0.18; 95% CI -0.28 to -0.08). Supervised interventions with a duration ≤12 wk showed larger effects on fatigue (ß = -0.29; 95% CI, -0.39 to -0.20) than supervised interventions with a longer duration. CONCLUSIONS: In this individual patient data meta-analysis, we found statistically significant beneficial effects of exercise interventions on fatigue, irrespective of demographic and clinical characteristics. These findings support a role for exercise, preferably supervised exercise interventions, in clinical practice. Reasons for differential effects in duration require further exploration.

Does Patient Preference for Mode of Intervention Delivery Impact Intervention Efficacy and Attrition?

PURPOSE: To explore whether there was a difference in objectively measured physical activity and study participation between people who received their preferred study group allocation (matched) and those who did not receive their preferred study group (mismatched). DESIGN: Secondary data from the NewCOACH randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Insufficiently active patients in the primary care settings in Sydney and Newcastle, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred seventy-two adults aged 20 to 81 years. INTERVENTION: Participants indicated their intervention preference at baseline for (1) five face-to-face visits with an exercise specialist, (2) one face-to-face visit and 4 telephone follow-ups with an exercise specialist, (3) written material, or (4) slight-to-no preference. Participants were then allocated to an intervention group and categorized as either "matched" or "mismatched" based on their indications. Participants who reported a slight-to-no preference was categorized as "matched." MEASURES: Daily step count as measured by pedometers and study participation. ANALYSIS: Mean differences between groups in daily step count at 3 and 12 months (multiple linear regression models) and study participation at baseline, 3 months, and 12 months (χ2 tests). RESULTS: Preference for an intervention group prior to randomization did not significantly (all P's > .05 using 95% confidence interval) impact step counts (differences of <600 steps/day between groups) or study participation. CONCLUSION: Future research should continue to address whether the strength of preferences influence study outcome and participation and whether the study preferences change over time.

Interventions for increasing fruit and vegetable consumption in children aged five years and under.

BACKGROUND: Insufficient consumption of fruits and vegetables in childhood increases the risk of future non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease. Interventions to increase consumption of fruit and vegetables, such as those focused on specific child-feeding strategies and parent nutrition education interventions in early childhood may therefore be an effective strategy in reducing this disease burden. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness, cost effectiveness and associated adverse events of interventions designed to increase the consumption of fruit, vegetables or both amongst children aged five years and under. SEARCH METHODS: We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase and two clinical trials registries to identify eligible trials on 25 August 2019. We searched Proquest Dissertations and Theses in May 2019. We reviewed reference lists of included trials and handsearched three international nutrition journals. We contacted authors of included trials to identify further potentially relevant trials. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials, including cluster-randomised controlled trials and cross-over trials, of any intervention primarily targeting consumption of fruit, vegetables or both among children aged five years and under, and incorporating a dietary or biochemical assessment of fruit or vegetable consumption. Two review authors independently screened titles and abstracts of identified papers; a third review author resolved disagreements. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed the risks of bias of included trials; a third review author resolved disagreements. Due to unexplained heterogeneity, we used random-effects models in meta-analyses for the primary review outcomes where we identified sufficient trials. We calculated standardised mean differences (SMDs) to account for the heterogeneity of fruit and vegetable consumption measures. We conducted assessments of risks of bias and evaluated the quality of evidence (GRADE approach) using Cochrane procedures. MAIN RESULTS: We included 78 trials with 214 trial arms and 13,746 participants. Forty-eight trials examined the impact of child-feeding practices (e.g. repeated food exposure) in increasing child vegetable intake. Fifteen trials examined the impact of parent nutrition education in increasing child fruit and vegetable intake. Fourteen trials examined the impact of multicomponent interventions (e.g. parent nutrition education and preschool policy changes) in increasing child fruit and vegetable intake. Two trials examined the effect of a nutrition education intervention delivered to children in increasing child fruit and vegetable intake. One trial examined the impact of a child-focused mindfulness intervention in increasing vegetable intake. We judged 20 of the 78 included trials as free from high risks of bias across all domains. Performance, detection and attrition bias were the most common domains judged at high risk of bias for the remaining trials. There is very low-quality evidence that child-feeding practices versus no intervention may have a small positive effect on child vegetable consumption equivalent to an increase of 4.45 g as-desired consumption of vegetables (SMD 0.42, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.60; 18 trials, 2004 participants; mean post-intervention follow-up = 8.2 weeks). Multicomponent interventions versus no intervention has a small effect on child consumption of fruit and vegetables (SMD 0.34, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.57; 9 trials, 3022 participants; moderate-quality evidence; mean post-intervention follow-up = 5.4 weeks), equivalent to an increase of 0.36 cups of fruit and vegetables per day. It is uncertain whether there are any short-term differences in child consumption of fruit and vegetables in meta-analyses of trials examining parent nutrition education versus no intervention (SMD 0.12, 95% CI -0.03 to 0.28; 11 trials, 3078 participants; very low-quality evidence; mean post-intervention follow-up = 13.2 weeks). We were unable to pool child nutrition education interventions in meta-analysis; both trials reported a positive intervention effect on child consumption of fruit and vegetables (low-quality evidence). Very few trials reported long-term effectiveness (6 trials), cost effectiveness (1 trial) and unintended adverse consequences of interventions (2 trials), limiting their assessment. Trials reported receiving governmental or charitable funds, except for four trials reporting industry funding. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Despite identifying 78 eligible trials of various intervention approaches, the evidence for how to increase children's fruit and vegetable consumption remains limited. There was very low-quality evidence that child-feeding practice may lead to, and moderate-quality evidence that multicomponent interventions probably lead to small increases in fruit and vegetable consumption in children aged five years and younger. It is uncertain whether parent nutrition education interventions are effective in increasing fruit and vegetable consumption in children aged five years and younger. Given that the quality of the evidence is very low or low, future research will likely change estimates and conclusions. Long-term follow-up of at least 12 months is required and future research should adopt more rigorous methods to advance the field. This is a living systematic review. Living systematic reviews offer a new approach to review updating, in which the review is continually updated, incorporating relevant new evidence as it becomes available. Please refer to the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for the current status of this review.

Electron Localization and Transport in SnO2/TiO2 Mesoporous Thin Films: Evidence for a SnO2/SnxTi1-xO2/TiO2 Structure.

A study of SnO2/TiO2 core/shell films was undertaken to investigate the influences of shell thickness and post deposition sintering on electron localization and transport properties. Electrochemical reduction of the materials resulted in the appearance of a broad visible-near IR absorbance that provided insights into the electronic state(s) within the core/shell structures. As the shell thickness was increased from 0.5 to 5 nm, evidence for the presence of a SnxTi1-xO2 interfacial state emerged that was physically located between the core and the shell. The lifetime of photoinjected electrons increased with the shell thickness. Electron transport occurred through the SnO2 core; however, when materials with shell thicknesses ≥2 nm were annealed at 450 °C, a new electron transport pathway through the shell was evident. The data indicate that these materials are best described as SnO2/SnxTi1-xO2/TiO2 where electrons preferentially localize in a SnxTi1-xO2 interfacial state and transport through SnO2 and annealed TiO2 (if present). The implications of these results for applications in solar energy conversion are discussed.

Adherence to multiple health behaviours in cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Multiple health behaviours (not smoking, minimal alcohol consumption, and maintaining a healthy weight by having a healthy diet and regular physical activity) improve quality of life and longevity of cancer survivors. Despite international guidelines, there are no existing reviews that synthesise cancer survivors' adherence to healthy lifestyle recommendations. METHOD: Five databases (Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) were searched for relevant articles published from 2007 until January 2018. Studies reporting adult cancer survivors' adherence to at least two lifestyle behaviours (body mass index, physical activity, smoking, fruit and vegetable intake, fiber intake, red meat intake, caloric intake, sodium intake, and alcohol consumption) based on the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) recommendations were included in the review. The pooled prevalence of adherence to single and multiple behaviours was calculated using a random-effects model. Subgroup analysis (mean years of survival and publication year) was undertaken. RESULTS: A total of 3322 articles were identified. Of these, 51 studies matched the inclusion criteria, presenting data from 2,620,586 adult cancer survivors. Adherence to single behaviours, which was estimated from studies that assessed at least two health behaviours, was highest for not smoking (PE 87%; 95% CI, 85%, 88%) and low or no alcohol intake (PE 83%; 95% CI, 81%, 86%), and lowest for fiber intake (PE 31%; 95% CI, 21%, 40%). Adherence to multiple healthy behaviours (13 studies), ranged from 7 to 40% (pooled estimate (PE) 23%; 95% CI, 17%, 30%). Recent survivors (< 5-year survival time) had relatively better adherence to multiple behaviours (PE 31%; 95% CI, 27%, 35%) than long-term (> 5 years) survivors (PE 25%; 95% CI, 14%, 36%). Adherence to multiple behaviours improved over time since 2007. CONCLUSION: Adherence to physical activity, dietary, and multiple lifestyle behaviours recommendations was low amongst cancer survivors. Recent cancer survivors were relatively more adherent to WCRF/AICR recommendations compared to long-term survivors. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Health promotion programs help support healthy lifestyle behaviours of cancer survivors. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42018091663.

Compliance with Multiple Health Behaviour Recommendations: A Cross-Sectional Comparison between Female Cancer Survivors and Those with no Cancer History.

Lifestyle behaviours have an important role in preventing cancer, reducing treatment side effects, and improving survival and quality of life for cancer survivors. This study investigated adherence to multiple lifestyle behaviours among women with and without a cancer history. From the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH) surveys, 2407 cancer survivors and 3896 controls (cancer free population) were identified. Based on the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) recommendations, adherence to six health behaviours (smoking, physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, alcohol consumption, sugary drink intake, and Body Mass Index [BMI]) were assessed. Overall adherence was low, and there were no differences between survivors and controls on adherence to any of the six individual health behaviours. However, both recent and long-term cancer survivors were more likely than controls to adhere to multiple health behaviours (p < 0.05). When participants with melanoma or non-melanoma skin cancer were excluded, adherence was less likely (but not significant) in the cancer group than controls. Higher education (p < 0.01), being married (p < 0.01), and lower comorbidity of chronic illnesses (p < 0.01) were significantly associated with adherence to multiple lifestyle behaviours. Overall, the findings suggest that a cancer diagnosis may result in increased compliance with multiple health behaviour guidelines.

Preliminary efficacy and feasibility of referral to exercise specialists, psychologists and provision of a technology-based behavior change support package to promote physical activity in school teachers 'at risk' of, or diagnosed with, type 2 diabetes: The 'SMART Health' Pilot Study Protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a global public health concern. Aerobic physical activity (PA) and resistance training (RT) play significant roles in the prevention and management of T2DM. The aim of this pilot trial is to determine the preliminary efficacy and confirm feasibility of referral to exercise physiologists, psychologists, and provision of a technology-based behavior change support package to promote aerobic PA and RT in school teachers 'at risk' of or diagnosed with T2DM. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The SMART (Support, Motivation and Physical Activity Research for Teachers') Health pilot study will be evaluated using a three-arm randomized controlled trial. The intervention will be guided by Social Cognitive Theory, Health Action Process Approach Model and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy strategies. The participants will be randomly allocated to one of three study groups: Group 1: wait-list control group; Group 2: 5 face-to-face visits with a psychologist and exercise specialist over 3 months; and Group 3: same as Group 2 plus technology-based behavior change support package for an additional 6 months. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, 3-, 9- (primary time-point) and 18-months post-baseline. The primary outcome will be PA measured with pedometers. DISCUSSION: SMART Health is an innovative, multi-component intervention, that integrates referral to exercise specialists, psychologists and provision of a technology-based behavior support package to promote PA and RT in adults diagnosed with T2DM or 'at risk' of T2DM. The findings will be used to guide future PA interventions and to develop effective community-based diabetes prevention and treatment programs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry No: ACTRN12616001309471.

Predictors of adherence to a physical activity counseling intervention delivered by exercise physiologists: secondary analysis of the NewCOACH trial data.

BACKGROUND: General practitioners (GPs) cite time as a barrier to physical activity counseling. An alternative for time-poor GPs in Australia is the referral of insufficiently active patients to exercise physiologists (EPs). As data on the predictors of adherence to physical activity counseling interventions are limited, this study aimed to identify the sociodemographic, medical, health, and psychological characteristics of insufficiently active primary care patients who adhered to a physical activity counseling intervention delivered by EPs. METHODS: This secondary analysis of data from the NewCOACH randomized trial used logistic regression to identify predictors of adherence, defined as patient participation in at least four of the five physical activity counseling sessions. EPs provided information about the number of sessions, while other potential predictors were obtained from the self-administered baseline questionnaire and medical summary sheets provided by the GPs. RESULTS: Of the 132 patients referred to an EP, 102 (77%) were adherent: 91 (69%) and eleven (8.3%) participated in all, or all but one, of the sessions, respectively. Of the remainder, seven (5.3%) patients participated in three sessions, seven (5.3%) participated in two sessions, five (3.8%) participated in one session, and eleven (8.3%) did not participate in any session. The odds of being adherent were 5.84 (95% CI 1.46-23.4, P≤0.05) times higher among retired participants than in those who were not in paid employment. The odds of being adherent 1) increased as the positive outcome expectation score increased (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.12-3.18, P≤0.05) and 2) decreased as the duration (days) between referral and the initial counseling session increased (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.92-0.98, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: More than three quarters of the patients participated in all, or all but one, of the sessions. Being retired, positive outcome expectations, and having a shorter wait between referral and the initial appointment predicted adherence.

Targeting Exercise Interventions to Patients With Cancer in Need: An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis.

Background: Exercise effects in cancer patients often appear modest, possibly because interventions rarely target patients most in need. This study investigated the moderator effects of baseline values on the exercise outcomes of fatigue, aerobic fitness, muscle strength, quality of life (QoL), and self-reported physical function (PF) in cancer patients during and post-treatment. Methods: Individual patient data from 34 randomized exercise trials (n = 4519) were pooled. Linear mixed-effect models were used to study moderator effects of baseline values on exercise intervention outcomes and to determine whether these moderator effects differed by intervention timing (during vs post-treatment). All statistical tests were two-sided. Results: Moderator effects of baseline fatigue and PF were consistent across intervention timing, with greater effects in patients with worse fatigue (Pinteraction = .05) and worse PF (Pinteraction = .003). Moderator effects of baseline aerobic fitness, muscle strength, and QoL differed by intervention timing. During treatment, effects on aerobic fitness were greater for patients with better baseline aerobic fitness (Pinteraction = .002). Post-treatment, effects on upper (Pinteraction < .001) and lower (Pinteraction = .01) body muscle strength and QoL (Pinteraction < .001) were greater in patients with worse baseline values. Conclusion: Although exercise should be encouraged for most cancer patients during and post-treatments, targeting specific subgroups may be especially beneficial and cost effective. For fatigue and PF, interventions during and post-treatment should target patients with high fatigue and low PF. During treatment, patients experience benefit for muscle strength and QoL regardless of baseline values; however, only patients with low baseline values benefit post-treatment. For aerobic fitness, patients with low baseline values do not appear to benefit from exercise during treatment.