Text message-based Cessation Intervention for People who Smoked or Used Smokeless Tobacco in India: a Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the high burden of tobacco use in India, users do not have access to adequate help. This pilot trial aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a text messaging intervention for tobacco cessation, generate preliminary estimates of its impact, and fine-tune procedures for a definitive trial. METHODS: Parallel two-arm single blind individually randomised controlled pilot trial with nested qualitative study. Participants included adult current tobacco users (smoked and smokeless). Eligible and consenting participants were randomised to receive either (a) text messaging intervention (ToQuit) which covered specific content areas such as psychoeducation about consequences of tobacco use and benefits of quitting and tobacco avoidance strategies or (b) information about tobacco cessation helplines such as the helpline number and the languages in which tobacco cessation support was available (control). Feasibility data included screening and consent rates, treatment dropouts and outcome ascertainment. The primary abstinence outcome was self-reported abstinence from tobacco in the past seven days at three months post-randomisation. In-depth interviews were conducted with a sub-sample of participants primarily to collect acceptability data. The primary abstinence analysis used a chi-squared test and logistic regression (complete-case), and qualitative data analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Ninety eight participants were randomised into the two trial arms; 77 (79%) completed outcome evaluation. No between-arm differences in abstinence were found though findings favoured the intervention (7-day abstinence: ToQuit 23%, control 19%; adjusted odds ratio 1.23, 95% confidence interval 0.38, 3.97). Participants appreciated the language, comprehensibility, and relevance of the messages; and reported overall satisfaction with and positive impact from the intervention on their lives. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate the acceptability and feasibility of ToQuit and if found effective, it could be a potentially scalable first-line response to tobacco use in low resource settings. IMPLICATIONS: Our pilot RCT provides sufficient findings supporting the acceptability and feasibility of an intervention for tobacco cessation which is suitable for a context which has a shortage of healthcare workers and for individuals who use smoked or smokeless tobacco. This is critical on a background of limited contextually relevant interventions for a problem with a high burden in low- and middle- income countries such as India.

Neuroproteomics: Unveiling the Molecular Insights of Psychiatric Disorders with a Focus on Anxiety Disorder and Depression.

Anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental disorders worldwide, with a lifetime prevalence of up to 30%. These disorders are complex and have a variety of overlapping factors, including genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors. Current pharmacological treatments for anxiety and depression are not perfect. Many patients do not respond to treatment, and those who do often experience side effects. Animal models are crucial for understanding the complex pathophysiology of both disorders. These models have been used to identify potential targets for new treatments, and they have also been used to study the effects of environmental factors on these disorders. Recent proteomic methods and technologies are providing new insights into the molecular mechanisms of anxiety disorder and depression. These methods have been used to identify proteins that are altered in these disorders, and they have also been used to study the effects of pharmacological treatments on protein expression. Together, behavioral and proteomic research will help elucidate the factors involved in anxiety disorder and depression. This knowledge will improve preventive strategies and lead to the development of novel treatments.

Pilot-Testing an Intervention to Enhance Wellness Policy Implementation in Schools: Wellness Champions for Change.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and pilot-test Wellness Champions for Change (WCC) to enhance local wellness policy (LWP) implementation by forming wellness teams. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled school-level pilot study. SETTING: Five Maryland school districts. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 63 elementary, middle, or high schools. INTERVENTION(S): Developed from stakeholder interviews, focus groups, and existing programs. Schools were randomized within district to (1) WCC training (6-hour, single-day teacher training), (2) WCC training plus technical assistance (TA), or (3) delayed training (control). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Online teacher/administrator survey pre-post (spring, 1 year apart) that examined the direct effect of the intervention on active wellness team formation (postintervention, 8-item sum score) and LWP implementation (29 items, not implemented to fully implemented)/indirect effect of intervention on LWP implementation via active wellness team formation. ANALYSIS: Adjusted linear or logistic regression and mediation modeling. RESULTS: Postintervention, WCC plus TA and WCC had more active wellness teams (vs control, ß = 1.49, P = .02 and ß = 1.42, P = .03, respectively). No direct effect of intervention on LWP implementation was found. Formation of active wellness teams mediated the association between both WCC plus TA and WCC and LWP implementation (WCC plus TA confidence interval [CI], 1.22-16.25; WCC CI, 10.98-15.61 [CI was significant without 0]). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The WCC intervention approaches indirectly affected LWP implementation through the formation of active wellness teams. These results support building and school-level wellness teams.

School wellness team best practices to promote wellness policy implementation.

Schools with wellness teams are more likely to implement federally mandated Local Wellness Policies (LWPs, Local Education Agency-level policies for healthy eating/physical activity). Best practices have been developed for wellness teams based on minimal empirical evidence. The purpose of this study is to determine, among schools with wellness teams, associations between LWP implementation and six wellness team best practices (individually and as a sum score). An online survey targeting Maryland school wellness leaders/administrators (52.4% response rate, 2012-2013 school year) was administered that included LWP implementation (17-item scale: categorized as no, low, and high implementation) and six wellness team best practices. Analyses included multi-level multinomial logistic regression. Wellness teams were present in 311/707 (44.0%) schools, with no (19.6%), low (36.0%), and high (44.4%) LWP implementation. A sum score representing active wellness teams (mean=2.6) included: setting healthy eating/physical activity goals (66.9%), informing the public of LWP activities (71.4%), meeting ≥4times/year (45.8%), and having school staff (46.9%), parent (25.4%), or student (14.8%) representation. In adjusted models, goal setting, meeting ≥4times/year, and student representation were associated with high LWP implementation. For every one-unit increase in active wellness team sum score, schools were 41% more likely to be in high versus no implementation (Likelihood Ratio=1.41, 95% C.I.=1.13, 1.76). In conclusion, wellness teams meeting best practices are more likely to implement LWPs. Interventions should focus on the formation of wellness teams with recommended composition/activities. Study findings provide support for wellness team recommendations stemming from the 2016 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act final rule.

Implementation of Local Wellness Policies in Schools: Role of School Systems, School Health Councils, and Health Disparities.

BACKGROUND: Written local wellness policies (LWPs) are mandated in school systems to enhance opportunities for healthy eating/activity. LWP effectiveness relies on school-level implementation. We examined factors associated with school-level LWP implementation. Hypothesized associations included system support for school-level implementation and having a school-level wellness team/school health council (SHC), with stronger associations among schools without disparity enrollment (majority African-American/Hispanic or low-income students). METHODS: Online surveys were administered: 24 systems (support), 1349 schools (LWP implementation, perceived system support, SHC). The state provided school demographics. Analyses included multilevel multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: Response rates were 100% (systems)/55.2% (schools). Among schools, 44.0% had SHCs, 22.6% majority (≥75%) African-American/Hispanic students, and 25.5% majority (≥75%) low-income (receiving free/reduced-price meals). LWP implementation (17-items) categorized as none = 36.3%, low (1-5 items) = 36.3%, high (6+ items) = 27.4%. In adjusted models, greater likelihood of LWP implementation was observed among schools with perceived system support (high versus none relative risk ratio, RRR = 1.63, CI: 1.49, 1.78; low versus none RRR = 1.26, CI: 1.18, 1.36) and SHCs (high versus none RRR = 6.8, CI: 4.07, 11.37; low versus none RRR = 2.24, CI: 1.48, 3.39). Disparity enrollment did not moderate associations (p > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Schools with perceived system support and SHCs had greater likelihood of LWP implementation, with no moderating effect of disparity enrollment. SHCs/support may overcome LWP implementation obstacles related to disparities.