Spiritual interventions: Improving the lives of colorectal cancer survivors-A systematic literature review.

AIM: To systematically review the types of spiritual interventions available for colorectal cancer survivors and determine if they improve their lives. DESIGN: Systematic review. DATA SOURCE: A thorough literature search was conducted in July 2023 using PRIMO, PubMed/Medline, Cochrane, CINAHL, Scopus, and EMBASE. REVIEW METHODS: As an extension of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) checklist, the Synthesis Without Meta-Analysis reporting guideline was employed. A narrative synthesis was used to analyse the data. RESULTS: Thirty-five articles were analysed for this study. The findings suggest that psychoeducational intervention, cognitive behavioural therapy intervention, mindfulness intervention, social intervention, and spiritual counselling improved CRC survivor's coping skills, boosted self-esteem, lessened anxiety, instilled hope, enhanced daily functioning, improved survival rates, improved neurological functional status and quality of life (QoL). CONCLUSION: There is proof that spiritual interventions help CRC patients and improve their QoL. It has been discovered that spiritual intervention is helpful in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of CRC conditions. IMPACT: CRC survivors may have impairments in their physical ability and daily functioning as a result of many symptoms, such as pain, bowel dysfunction, and exhaustion. Furthermore, individuals may encounter difficulties in several aspects of their psychological, emotional, social, and role functioning due to the presence of dread symptoms. Therefore, these study will help CRC survivors To implement spiritual interventions in the management of their long-term care. To cultivate problem-solving abilities, foster self-assurance, and enhance self-awareness. To alleviate symptoms, enhance everyday functioning, and improve QoL. NO INDUCEMENT: No financial incentives were used to compensate patients or members of the public for this review.

Longitudinal Follow-Up Study of Social Intervention Outcomes for Children on the Autism Spectrum.

A prior randomized trial found a school social intervention yielded significantly better outcomes (social and autism features) immediately following intervention compared to typical school programming (services-as-usual [SAU]) for children on the autism spectrum. In that study, children in the SAU condition subsequently completed a summer social intervention. This study tested longer-term maintenance of effects for children who completed both interventions. A total of 103 children (ages 6-12 years) on the autism spectrum enrolled and 102 completed the initial RCT. Following the summer social intervention, 90 children from the original RCT completed the longer-term follow-up study. In addition to baseline and posttest in the initial RCT, children from both groups were tested at three follow-up points (five total testing points). At the time of first longitudinal follow-up testing, the children were 1.25-4.25 years post-intervention (ages 8-15 years). Longitudinal multilevel model analyses (and follow-up contrasts) revealed significant improvements for both groups post-intervention on measures of emotion recognition, autism features, and social skills, indicating maintenance of post-intervention improvements over the three follow-up testing points. No between-group differences were found for autism features or social skills over time; however, the school social intervention may have yielded somewhat better emotion recognition skills. Exploratory tests found that child IQ, language level, and length of time since completing the intervention did not moderate outcomes. Both social interventions yielded positive and durable longer-term improvements for children on the autism spectrum. [ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03338530; November 8, 2017; original retrospectively registered trial].

Community Activities in Primary Care: A Literature Review.

Community health promotion activities are a useful tool for a proactive approach to healthy lifestyles. However, the implementation of these types of activities at health centers is not standardized. The aim of this review was to analyse the characteristics of community activities undertaken in the primary care setting and substantiate available evidence on their health impact. We conducted a bibliographic review until November 15th, 2023 in the TRIPDATABASE, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and DIALNET databases. We included original papers on interventions, community activities, and actions and/or social prescriptions which had been implemented in a Primary Care setting, included a group approach in at least one session, and described some type of evaluation of the intervention applied. Studies targeted at professionals and those without involvement of the primary care team were excluded. The search identified 1912 potential studies. We included a total of 30 studies, comprising 11 randomized clinical trials, 14 quasi-experimental studies, 1 cohort study, and 4 qualitative studies. The issues most frequently addressed in community activities were healthy habits, physical activity, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Community activities can improve the physical and psychological environment of their participants, as well as their level of knowledge about the issues addressed. That said, however, implementation of these types of interventions is not uniform. The existence of a professional community-activity liaison officer at health centers, who would help integrate the health system with the community sector, could serve to standardize implementation and maximize the health impact of these types of interventions.

Engaging carers in neuropsychological rehabilitation for brain cancer survivors: The "I'm aware: Patients And Carers Together" (ImPACT) program.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment is a common late effect in child and adult brain cancer survivors (BCS). Still, there is a dearth of research aimed at therapeutic interventions and no standard treatment options for most BCS. OBJECTIVE: To describe 1) a novel neuropsychological rehabilitation program for BCS - the "I'm aware: Patients And Carers Together" (ImPACT) program, and 2) two studies that aim to assess the feasibility of the ImPACT program in child and adult BCS, respectively. The program adapts the holistic neuropsychological approach pioneered by Leonard Diller and Yehuda Ben-Yishay to an outpatient setting. METHODS: Two feasibility studies are described: 1) A single-armed study with 15 child BCS (10-17 years) (ImPACT Child); and 2) a randomized waitlist-controlled trial with 26 adult BCS (>17 years) (ImPACT Adult). In both studies, patients will undergo an 8-week program together with a cohabiting carer. Primary outcomes (i.e., cognitive and neurobehavioral symptoms), and secondary outcomes (i.e., behavioral and psychological symptoms, e.g., quality of life, fatigue) will be assessed at four time points: pre-, mid-, and post intervention, and 8 weeks follow-up. Adult waitlist controls will be assessed at equivalent time points and will be included in the intervention group after all study assessments. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted at follow-up. EXPECTED OUTCOMES: Results will provide feasibility data in support of future larger scale trials. DISCUSSION: The findings could potentially improve the management of cognitive impairment in BCS and transform available services. The program can be delivered in-person or remotely and harnesses existing resources in patients' lives.

Compassion Fatigue Syndrome in Social Workers and Its relationship with Emotional Intelligence.

A study was conducted on how emotional intelligence and compassion fatigue (CF) interact in social workers. The hypothesis was that social workers with higher emotional intelligence were less likely to suffer/develop CF. A sample of 264 subjects was selected from among 2,014 active social workers in Seville (Spain). They were administered a sociodemographic questionnaire (α = .710), the Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Short Form (α = .790), and the Compassion Fatigue Scale (α = .770). Authors carried out a reliability analysis (Cronbach's alpha), a frequency study, contingency tables, a Pearson-type correlations analysis, a linear regression analysis, and analysis of variance-type significance tests (with values between p = .001 and p = .005). The social workers who participated in this study presented high emotional intelligence, yet high rates of CF were found. Specifically, the lower the social worker's manifest level of emotional intelligence, the greater the suffering of CF. Overall, social workers with higher emotional intelligence were less likely to suffer or develop CF.

Ethical and Information Governance Considerations for Promoting Digital Social Interventions in Primary Care.

Promoting online peer support beyond the informal sector to statutory health services requires ethical considerations and evidence-based knowledge about its impact on patients, health care professionals, and the wider health care system. Evidence on the effectiveness of digital interventions in primary care is sparse, and definitive guidance is lacking on the ethical concerns arising from the use of social media as a means for health-related interventions and research. Existing literature examining ethical issues with digital interventions in health care mainly focuses on apps, electronic health records, wearables, and telephone or video consultations, without necessarily covering digital social interventions, and does not always account for primary care settings specifically. Here we address the ethical and information governance aspects of undertaking research on the promotion of online peer support to patients by primary care clinicians, related to medical and public health ethics.

"Personally, I feel sorry, but professionally, I don't have a choice." Understanding the drivers of anti-Roma discrimination on the rental housing market.

The aim of our study is to assess the drivers of discriminatory behaviors of real-estate agents and private landlords toward prospective Roma tenants, relying on qualitative data from Hungary. Though there is a broad literature on the forms and frequency of discrimination, we know much less about the question of why people discriminate. Previous research suggests that discrimination on the basis of ethnicity is widespread in Hungary. To understand the drivers of discrimination, we analyzed: (a) the sources and justifications of discrimination of Roma people on the rental housing market among real-estate agents and private landlords, the actors making decisions about tenants (b) mapped the social embeddedness of discrimination, and (c) assessed the resilience of discriminatory intentions by analyzing the reactions to a 3-min advocacy video showing discrimination of Roma people on the rental housing market. We conducted and analyzed five online group discussions with 18 real estate agents and landlords advertising properties for rent in different regions of the country. Our qualitative study revealed that discrimination of Roma people is understood to be a widespread and socially acceptable practice driven by the need to avoid risks attributed to Roma tenants based on widely held stereotypes about them. We identified certain specificities in the justification and argumentation strategies of real-estate agents in comparison to private landlords. By providing counter-information presenting the perspective of Roma tenants, negative views could be challenged on the emotional level and also by shifting the group dynamics, strengthening the viewpoint of those without prejudice. We discuss our findings with regards to the possibilities of interventions against discrimination in societies in which neither social norms nor state institutions expect the equal treatment of the members of ethnic minority groups.

Social robotics to support older people with dementia: a study protocol with Paro seal robot in an Italian Alzheimer's day center.

Introduction: The aging of the population and the high incidence of those over 80 lead to an inevitable increase in chronic degenerative diseases, such as dementia, resulting in increased morbidity and disability. Treatment of people with dementia involves both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. In particular, robot-assisted therapy is a potentially useful treatment for dementia as it has the advantage of improving mood, encouraging social interaction and communication. The overall objective of the study is to evaluate the improvement in patient-perceived quality of life following the use of the Paro robot integrated with usual care in the older people with dementia. Methods and analysis: For this study, 20 patients with dementia are recruited and divided into Experimental Group (EG) and Control Group (CG). Twenty-four session of intervention are conducted, divided into 2 sessions per week, for 12 weeks. The therapy sessions last 20 min. The Experimental Group will receive a social robotic intervention with Paro combined with usual care; the Control Group will receive only the traditional therapy, consisting of cognitive stimulation (reality orientation therapy, cognitive training) and occupational activities (painting workshops, cooking workshops, garden therapy, music therapy, etc.). Paro is a seal-shaped robot designed to have a calming effect and elicit emotional responses in patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and retirement homes. Assessment will be performed at the baseline, at the end of intervention and 3 months after the end of intervention. During these phases, several scales will be administered to the patients, such as Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease, Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination, the Rating Anxiety In Dementia scale and the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia, Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction, Neuropsychiatric Inventory, the Technology Acceptance Model. Discussions: The final goals of the present study are to evaluate the improvement in patient-perceived quality of life following the use of the Paro robot integrated with usual care in the older people with dementia. Ethics and dissemination: The study was approved by the Ethic Committee of the Istituto Nazionale Ricovero e Cura Anziani, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS INRCA) during the session of 12 April 2022. It was recorded in ClinicalTrials.gov on 23 November 2022 on the number NCT05626205. The study findings will be used for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals and presentations in scientific meetings.

Digital adaptation of group activities in an outpatient center of a children´s hospital: Adolescent participants' experiences. / Adaptación telemática de las actividades grupales de un hospital de día infanto-juvenil: experiencias de participantes adolescentes.

Introduction: Outpatient centers offer specialized care to users with severe psychiatric disorders. The usual group activities of outpatient centers have been shown to be effective in the child and adolescent population. There are significant access limitations to these services and one way to expand coverage is through digital care. However, there are no studies on digital outpatient care services in Chile. The present study is part of the preparatory phase of a future randomized clinical trial to investigate the effectiveness of digital adaptation of outpatient centers interventions. Objectives: To explore the experience and subjective perception of the pilot intervention participants by identifying central themes, and to evaluate the participant's satisfaction regarding the intervention. Methods: Of the 13 users of the digital group activities, 10 participated in this study. Semi-structured interviews and satisfaction surveys were conducted between August 2020 and January 2021. The interviews were evaluated using content analysis and the surveys were conducted using descriptive statistics. Conclusions and Results: Participants were particularly appreciative of positive social interactions (with peers and therapists). There is a general perception of having improved socioemotional skills and mood. The digital implementation was satisfactory for most participants, who suggested adding activities that promote deeper interactions with their peers. The core elements of this intervention would be the perception of social support (a possible therapeutic mechanism), along with the feeling of improved social skills and mood (possible main outcome).

Introducción: Los hospitales de día ofrecen atención especializada a usuarios con patologías psiquiátricas graves. Las actividades grupales habituales del hospital de día han demostrado efectividad en población infanto-juvenil. Existen importantes limitaciones de acceso a estos servicios y una forma de ampliar la cobertura es a través de la atención telemática. Sin embargo, no existen estudios sobre atención telemática de hospital de día en Chile. El presente estudio es parte de la fase preparatoria de un futuro ensayo clínico aleatorizado para investigar la efectividad de la adaptación telemática de las intervenciones de un hospital de día. Objetivos: Explorar la percepción y experiencia subjetiva de los participantes de la versión piloto de dicha intervención identificando temáticas centrales, y evaluar la satisfacción de los participantes con la intervención. Métodos: De los 13 usuarios de las actividades grupales telemáticas, 10 participaron en este estudio. Se realizaron entrevistas semi-estructuradas y encuestas de satisfacción entre agosto de 2020 y enero de 2021. Las entrevistas fueron evaluadas utilizando análisis de contenido y las encuestas se realizaron con estadísticas descriptivas. Resultados: Se aprecia una especial valoración de los participantes por las interacciones sociales positivas (con pares y terapeutas). Aparece una percepción general de haber mejorado en habilidades socioemocionales y estado de ánimo. La implementación telemática resultó satisfactoria para la mayoría de los participantes, quienes proponen agregar actividades que promuevan interacciones más profundas con sus pares. Conclusiones: Los elementos centrales de esta intervención serían la percepción de apoyo social (posible mecanismo terapéutico), junto con la sensación de mejorar las habilidades sociales y el estado de ánimo (posible resultado principal).

The Impact of Co-occurring ADHD on Social Competence Intervention Outcomes in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

PURPOSE: The co-occurrence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is significant and associated with a host of negative outcomes. Studies investigating social functioning in the presence of the ASD/ADHD co-occurrence have produced mixed findings. The present study further evaluated the impact of co-occurring ADHD on social functioning among youth with ASD and compared treatment response to a social competence intervention between youth with ASD and ASD + ADHD. METHODS: Two-way repeated measures analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were computed with diagnostic group and time as the independent variables and measures of social functioning as dependent variables. Group and Time effects and Group by Time interactions were examined. RESULTS: Youth with co-occurring ADHD displayed more impairments related to social awareness, but not in other social areas. Participants in both the ASD and ASD + ADHD groups demonstrated significant improvement following a social competence intervention. CONCLUSION: Co-occurring ADHD did not negatively affect treatment response. Youth with ASD + ADHD may benefit highly structured interventions with a scaffolded teaching design.

Facilitators and barriers to engaging with the DREAMS initiative among young women who sell sex aged 18-24 in Zimbabwe: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) are at high risk of contracting HIV and exchanging sex for financial or material support heightens their risk. In Zimbabwe, the DREAMS initiative integrated education and employment opportunities within HIV health promotion and clinical services for vulnerable young women, including those who sell sex. While most participants accessed health services, fewer than 10% participated in any social programmes. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 43 young women aged 18-24 to understand their experiences of engaging with the DREAMS programme. We purposively sampled participants for diversity in level of education, type and location of selling sex. We analysed the data by applying the Theoretical Domains Framework to explore facilitators and barriers to engaging with DREAMS. RESULTS: Eligible women were motivated by hopes of escaping poverty, and their longer-term engagement was sustained through exposure to new social networks, including friendships with less vulnerable peers. Barriers included opportunity costs and expenses such as transport or equipment required for job placements. Participants also described pervasive stigma and discrimination related to their involvement in selling sex. Interviews highlighted the young women's struggles in a context of entrenched social and material deprivation and structural discrimination that hindered their ability to take up most of the social services offered. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that while poverty was a key driver of participation in an integrated package of support, it also constrained the ability of highly vulnerable young women to benefit fully from the DREAMS initiative. Multi-layered HIV prevention approaches such as DREAMS that seek to alter complex and longstanding social and economic deprivation address many of the challenges faced by YWSS but will only succeed if the underlying drivers of HIV risk among YWSS are also addressed.

Adaptación telemática de las actividades grupales de un hospital de día infanto-juvenil: experiencias de participantes adolescentes / Digital adaptation of group activities in an outpatient center of a children´s hospital: Adolescent participants' experiences

Introducción Los hospitales de día ofrecen atención especializada a usuarios con patologías psiquiátricas graves. Las actividades grupales habituales del hospital de día han demostrado efectividad en población infanto-juvenil. Existen importantes limitaciones de acceso a estos servicios y una forma de ampliar la cobertura es a través de la atención telemática. Sin embargo, no existen estudios sobre atención telemática de hospital de día en Chile. El presente estudio es parte de la fase preparatoria de un futuro ensayo clínico aleatorizado para investigar la efectividad de la adaptación telemática de las intervenciones de un hospital de día. Objetivos Explorar la percepción y experiencia subjetiva de los participantes de la versión piloto de dicha intervención identificando temáticas centrales, y evaluar la satisfacción de los participantes con la intervención. Métodos De los 13 usuarios de las actividades grupales telemáticas, 10 participaron en este estudio. Se realizaron entrevistas semi-estructuradas y encuestas de satisfacción entre agosto de 2020 y enero de 2021. Las entrevistas fueron evaluadas utilizando análisis de contenido y las encuestas se realizaron con estadísticas descriptivas. Resultados Se aprecia una especial valoración de los participantes por las interacciones sociales positivas (con pares y terapeutas). Aparece una percepción general de haber mejorado en habilidades socioemocionales y estado de ánimo. La implementación telemática resultó satisfactoria para la mayoría de los participantes, quienes proponen agregar actividades que promuevan interacciones más profundas con sus pares. Conclusiones Los elementos centrales de esta intervención serían la percepción de apoyo social (posible mecanismo terapéutico), junto con la sensación de mejorar las habilidades sociales y el estado de ánimo (posible resultado principal).

Introduction Outpatient centers offer specialized care to users with severe psychiatric disorders. The usual group activities of outpatient centers have been shown to be effective in the child and adolescent population. There are significant access limitations to these services and one way to expand coverage is through digital care. However, there are no studies on digital outpatient care services in Chile. The present study is part of the preparatory phase of a future randomized clinical trial to investigate the effectiveness of digital adaptation of outpatient centers interventions. Objectives To explore the experience and subjective perception of the pilot intervention participants by identifying central themes, and to evaluate the participant's satisfaction regarding the intervention. Methods Of the 13 users of the digital group activities, 10 participated in this study. Semi-structured interviews and satisfaction surveys were conducted between August 2020 and January 2021. The interviews were evaluated using content analysis and the surveys were conducted using descriptive statistics. Conclusions Results Participants were particularly appreciative of positive social interactions (with peers and therapists). There is a general perception of having improved socioemotional skills and mood. The digital implementation was satisfactory for most participants, who suggested adding activities that promote deeper interactions with their peers. The core elements of this intervention would be the perception of social support (a possible therapeutic mechanism), along with the feeling of improved social skills and mood (possible main outcome).

Palliative care stay room - designing, testing and evaluating a gamified social intervention to enhance palliative care awareness.

INTRODUCTION: The message of palliative care can be promoted using creative thinking and gamification. It can be an innovative strategy to promote changes in behaviour, promote thinking, and work on skills such as empathy. AIM: Design, test and evaluate a gamified social intervention to enhance palliative care awareness among young university students from non-health background. METHODS: Participatory action research study with mixed methods, Design Thinking and using the Public Engagement strategy. Forty-three undergraduate students participated in a Palliative Care Stay Room and completed the Test of Cognitive and Affective Empathy (TECA) before and after the game. At the end of the game, a ten-minute debriefing was held with the participants, which was concluded with an open conversation. The content analysis was done independently and the sum of the scores of each dimension was compared before and after the activity. FINDINGS: The Stay Room improved the participants' knowledge and new perspectives about palliative care. Before the game, their views focused on the end of life and after the game on their values, highlighting the dedication of the healthcare professionals who do not treat death but the life until death. After de game, participants (N = 43: female = 23; male = 20; x̄ 19.6 years old) presented higher values in perspective adoption (intellectual ability to put oneself in the other's place) p = 0.046 and in emotional understanding (ability to recognize emotional states) p = 0.018, and had high scores on empathic joy (p = 0.08). CONCLUSION: Gamification can be used in teaching and transmitting positive attitudes. Palliative Care and can help young university students to think positively about care issues.

The limits and impact of communication and context in implementing social interventions in a pandemic: Ghana's free water policy revisited.

The study examined the implementation of the free water intervention initiated by the government of Ghana during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The study deployed a case study design within the qualitative research method. A total of 22 respondents were interviewed for the study. Findings from the study revealed that the implementation suffered some challenges which mostly stemmed from both the suddenness of the intervention and the complex context of the water sector in Ghana. The abruptness of the intervention resulted in poor communication and little or no consultation between the presidency and the implementer. The other major setback was the withdrawal of services by many tanker drivers from the supply of free water to designated Covid-19 reservoirs due to delays in reimbursement by the government. Furthermore, there was no effective monitoring mechanism to ensure complete adherence to the policy directive by both household vendors and landlords. Generally, the objective of the intervention to provide free water to all was largely ineffective due to the challenges highlighted above.

The experience of claiming mental health disability benefits: A qualitative analysis of clients' perspectives.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: The decision to apply for disability benefits may be an important breakthrough in the life of people with severe mental illness. The literature regarding the process of applying for mental health disability benefits is scarce. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: This study is, to the best of our knowledge, the first to fully describe the experience of submitting a claim for mental health disability benefits, as experienced by those diagnosed with severe mental illness. The process of applying for recognition of a mental health disability has three chronological stages-before the claim submission, during the claims process and after recognition. Clients approach the process without any prior knowledge, and therefore they need professional help when submitting their claim. A deterioration in clients' mental health prompts them to apply. A lack of trust in the system affects the application decision/process. The medical committee hearing is described as a complex and multifaceted experience. Clients reported being extensively preoccupied with stigma throughout the process. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Professional assistance throughout the claims process is a key factor with the potential to change clients' experience of the entire process. It is important to educate mental health nurses about the disability applicating process. Mental health professionals are encouraged to be mindful of the facilitating/hindering mechanisms that are dominant at each stage of the process. There is a need for liaising with relevant agencies that act as advocates for those diagnosed with a mental health illness. ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: The decision to apply for disability benefits may be an important breakthrough in the life of those diagnosed with severe mental illness (SMI). Nevertheless, the literature regarding the application process is scarce. AIM: The aim of the study was to explore how people who receive mental health disability benefits retrospectively perceive the process of applying for and receiving these benefits. METHODS: Twenty-four in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with people whose mental health disability was recognized in the past few years. RESULTS: Analysis revealed three themes describing the process's chronological stages: Before submitting the claim (from deterioration to trust), during the claim process (from bureaucracy to understanding), after receiving recognition (from stigma to gratitude). Each stage includes facilitating factors (e.g. encouragement from professionals) and hindering factors (e.g. stigma, lack of knowledge and trust). DISCUSSION: This is the first study to fully describe the experience of applying for mental health disability benefits, as experienced by clients. The decision to apply is perceived as complex and difficult. Although clients are extensively preoccupied with stigma throughout the process, they are able to express gratitude for the opportunities made available to them. IMPLICATIONS: Professional assistance throughout the claim is a key factor with the potential to change clients' experience of the entire process.

A Causal Mediation Analysis for Investigating the Effect of a Randomized Cash-Transfer Program in Nicaragua.

Mediation analysis can be applied to data from randomized trials of health and social interventions to draw causal inference concerning their mechanisms. We used data from a cluster-randomized trial in Nicaragua, fielded between 2000 and 2002, to investigate whether the impact of providing access to a conditional cash-transfer program on child nutritional outcomes was mediated by child health check-ups and household dietary diversity. In a sample of 443 children 6-35 months old, we estimated the controlled direct (CDE) effect of random assignment on measured height-for-age z scores had we intervened so that all children received a health check-up and had the same level of household dietary diversity, using inverse-probability weighted marginal structural models to account for mediator-outcome confounding. Sensitivity analyses corrected the CDE for potential nondifferential error in the measurement of dietary diversity. Treatment assignment increased height-for-age z score by 0.37 (95% CI: 0.05, 0.69) standard deviations. The CDE was 0.20 (95% CI: -0.17, 0.57) standard deviations, suggesting nearly one-half of the program's impact on child nutrition would be eliminated had we intervened on these factors, although estimates were relatively imprecise. This study provides an illustration of how causal mediation analysis can be applied to examine the mechanisms of multifaceted interventions.

Predictors of individual differences in minimally verbal peer communication exchanges following peer-oriented social intervention.

School-age children on the autism spectrum who are minimally verbal (MVAS) use a limited repertoire of spontaneous communicative spoken words and reveal large heterogeneity in cognitive functioning. Despite the challenges to form peer social engagement posed by their unique social-communicative profile, few interventions have targeted peer interactions in the MVAS population. This study explored predictors of individual differences in treatment response among 54 school-age minimally verbal autistic children (8-16 years) following an RCT "school-based peer social intervention" (S-PSI) that compared two peer-oriented intervention modalities (conversation versus collaboration) versus a waitlisted control group. We examined autistic-symptom severity, age, verbal and nonverbal IQ, executive functions, and sensory-processing profile for their contribution to children's ability to form relevant spontaneous communication exchanges with a peer partner. Main findings revealed that larger deficits in sensory-processing (sensory-avoidance and sensory low-registration) and in executive functions contributed to greater growth in "relevant" (i.e., adequately attuned, participatory, reciprocal) communication following both interventions, but not for the waitlisted controls. Additionally, older participants with lower verbal and nonverbal IQ improved communication's relevancy more after the conversation intervention, whereas the collaboration intervention was more beneficial for younger participants. Lower autistic-symptom severity contributed to larger growth in relevancy for all groups. By identifying individual-level predictors of spontaneous, attuned, participatory, and reciprocal (i.e., "relevant") communication exchanges with peers, we optimized S-PSI personalization for this uniquely nonverbal, heterogeneous MVAS population. These new channels for tailoring peer interventions to better meet individuals' needs may result in reduced social isolation and loneliness and enhanced well-being.

What is needed to promote physical activity in a secondary school? a qualitative study / O que é necessário para promover a atividade física em uma escola de ensino médio? um estudo qualitativo / ¿qué se necesita para promover la actividad física en una escuela secundaria? un estudio cualitativo

Interventions are required to modify physical activity behaviours in adolescents, and in this regard, education-based actions seem to be effective. The aim of this study was to explore the beliefs and perceptions of the context stakeholders with respect to adolescents' health behaviours, as well as intervention programmes to gain insight into the setting where the implementation of an intervention is required. Three focus groups were created with twenty-two participants (nine adolescents, four parents, six teachers, and three local politicians). The educational context, in collaboration with the community, was perceived as a setting with high a potential for physical activity promotion. Engagement and coordination of all stakeholders were considered necessary for a tailored intervention, in addition to programme institutionalization to ensure sustainability. Multilevel intervention with a whole-school and community approach is key to increasing physical activity levels among adolescents. (AU)

São necessárias intervenções para modificar os comportamentos de atividade física dos adolescentes e, nesse sentido, as ações baseadas na educação nas escolas parecem ser eficazes. O objetivo deste estudo foi explorar as crenças e percepções das partes interessadas do contexto em relação aos comportamentos de saúde dos adolescentes, bem como aos programas de intervenção para obter uma visão do ambiente em que uma intervenção deseja ser implementada. Foram criados três grupos focais com vinte e dois participantes (nove adolescentes, quatro pais, seis professores e três políticos locais). O contexto educativo, em colaboração com a comunidade, foi percebido como um ambiente com um alto potencial para a promoção da atividade física. O compromisso e a coordenação de todas as partes interessadas foram considerados necessários para uma intervenção personalizada, bem como a institucionalização do programa para garantir a sustentabilidade. A intervenção multinível com uma abordagem de toda a escola e da comunidade é fundamental para aumentar os níveis de atividade física entre os adolescentes. (AU)

Se necesitan intervenciones para modificar los comportamientos de actividad física en adolescentes y, en este sentido, las iniciativas desde la educación parecen ser efectivas. El objetivo de este estudio fue explorar las creencias y percepciones de las partes interesadas del contexto en relación con los comportamientos de salud de los adolescentes y los programas de intervención para conocer mejor el entorno en el que se quiere aplicar una intervención. Se crearon tres grupos focales con veintidós participantes (nueve adolescentes, cuatro padres, seis docentes y tres políticos locales). El contexto educativo, en colaboración con la comunidad, fue percibido como un ambiente con un alto potencial para la promoción de la actividad física. Se consideró necesario el compromiso y la coordinación de todas las partes interesadas para una intervención personalizada, así como la institucionalización del programa para garantizar la sostenibilidad. La intervención multinivel con un enfoque de toda la escuela y la comunidad es clave para aumentar los niveles de actividad física entre los adolescentes. (AU)

Eliciting empathetic drives to prosocial behavior during stressful events.

In the current pandemic situation, psychological science is increasingly considered by public health policy. Empathy is mainly recognized as a crucial drive for prosocial behavior. However, this rich body of evidence still lacks visibility and implementation. Effective social programs are needed, and little is known about how to elicit empathetic drives. The paper gives first a clear foundation to the role of empathy during stressful events. It provides then a comprehensive overview of innovative interventions triggering empathic response in the public such as fiction, film, and theater. Moreover, it integrates interactive ways of sharing personal views that could elicit empathetic feelings in different people. Advances deriving from this perspective could be of significant public interest in the current and future health crises and help authorities develop innovative social programs, which should be the focus of further scientific inquiry.

A Community-Based Participatory Research Approach to Developing and Testing Social and Behavioural Interventions to Reduce the Spread of SARS-CoV-2: A Protocol for the 'COPAR for COVID' Programme of Research with Five Interconnected Studies in the Hong Kong Context.

BACKGROUND: While a number of population preventive measures for COVID-19 exist that help to decrease the spread of the virus in the community, there are still many areas in preventative efforts that need improvement or refinement, particularly as new strains of the virus develop. Some of the key issues currently include incorrect and/or inconsistent use of face masks, low acceptance of early screening or vaccination for COVID-19, vaccine hesitance, and misinformation. This is particularly the case in some vulnerable populations, such as older people with chronic illnesses, ethnic minorities who may not speak the mainstream language well and children. The current protocol introduces a large programme of research through five interrelated studies that all focus on social and behavioural interventions to improve different aspects of community-related preventative indicators. Hence, the specific objectives of the overall programme are to (1) increase early testing for COVID-19 and promote the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in the community (Study 1); (2) increase COVID-19-related health literacy and vaccine literacy and promote improved preventative measures in minority ethnic groups, chronically ill populations and caregivers (Study 2); (3) strengthen the public's motivation to stay at home and avoid nonessential high-risk activities (Study 3); (4) decrease COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (Study 4); and (5) enhance the adherence to COVID-19-related hygiene practices and the uptake of early testing in school children (Study 5). METHODS: We will utilise a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach in the proposed studies. All studies will incorporate an intervention development phase in conjunction with key community stakeholders, a feasibility study and an execution stage. A variety of self-reported and objective-based measures will be used to assess various outcomes, based on the focus of each study, in both the short- and long-term, including, for example, the 8-item self-reported eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEAL) and objective measures such as vaccine uptake. DISCUSSION: Theory-driven interventions will address each study's focus (e.g., social distancing, promotion of vaccine uptake, eHealth education, preventive measures and early detection). Improvements are expected to be seen in the outcomes of vulnerable and high-risk groups. Decreased infection rates are expected due to improved preventative behaviours and increased vaccine uptake. Long-term sustainability of the approach will be achieved through the CBPR model. The publication of this protocol can assist not only in sharing a large-scale and complex community-based design, but will also allow all to learn from this, so that we will have better insight in the future whether sharing of study designs can elicit timely research initiatives.