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An important cause of stunting is limited consumption of complementary foods, in terms of both quantities and nutrients. Although existing studies show a positive association between fathers' engagement and children's diet, programmes designed to improve complementary feeding practices often only target mothers. In response to this, maternal behaviour change communication (BCC), paternal BCC and food voucher programmes were designed and implemented in Ethiopia using a clustered randomized controlled trial design. The paternal BCC programme included gender‐equal messages to increase fathers' participation in childcare, household labour and decision making. The research reported in this paper is an examination of the BCC programmes, characterizing the behavioural, normative and control beliefs of both mothers and fathers in BCC households compared to those in control households. In this study, a total of 40 participants were included, with 13 mother–father pairs in the BCC + food voucher group, and seven pairs in the control group. Each participant was interviewed separately. We found that BCC mothers showed more gender‐equal tendencies than the control mothers despite being more rural in location. By contrast, the beliefs of BCC and control fathers were similar overall, suggesting men are more resistant to gender‐equal BCC. More work is needed to develop and test effective methods for changing fathers' beliefs and practices. Key messages: Mothers in behaviour change communication (BCC) group mothers held more gender‐equal beliefs than control mothers, while BCC and control fathers shared similar views, suggesting a male resistance to gender equality.Mothers found fathers' involvement in childcare socially acceptable but often perceived them as inexperienced, which limited their participation.Control mothers' traditional view on household chores maintained the conventional labour division, influencing fathers' involvement.Fathers typically resisted maternal control of resources; however, they agreed that the more knowledgeable should lead decision‐making. BCC mothers showed greater confidence in making household decisions as effectively as fathers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Primary care provides an important opportunity to detect unhealthy alcohol use and offer assistance but many barriers to this exist. In an Australian context, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) are community-led and run health services, which provide holistic primary care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. A recent cluster randomised trial conducted with ACCHS provided a service support model which showed a small but significant difference in provision of 'any treatment' for unhealthy alcohol use. However, it was not clear which treatment modalities were increased. Aims: To test the effect of an ACCHS support model for alcohol on: (i) delivery of verbal alcohol intervention (alcohol advice or counselling); (ii) prescription of relapse prevention pharmacotherapies. Methods: Intervention: 24-month, multi-faceted service support model. Design: cluster randomised trial; equal allocation to early-support ('treatment') and waitlist control arms. Participants: 22 ACCHS. Analysis: Multilevel logistic regression to compare odds of a client receiving treatment in any two-month period as routinely recorded on practice software. Results: Support was associated with a significant increase in the odds of verbal alcohol intervention being recorded (OR = 7.60, [95% CI = 5.54, 10.42], p < 0.001) from a low baseline. The odds of pharmacotherapies being prescribed (OR = 1.61, [95% CI = 0.92, 2.80], p = 0.1) did not increase significantly. There was high heterogeneity in service outcomes. Conclusions: While a statistically significant increase in verbal alcohol intervention rates was achieved, this was not clinically significant because of the low baseline. Our data likely underestimates rates of treatment provision due to barriers documenting verbal interventions in practice software, and because different software may be used by drug and alcohol teams. The support made little impact on pharmacotherapy prescription. Changes at multiple organisational levels, including within clinical guidelines for primary care, may be needed to meaningfully improve provision of alcohol treatment in ACCHS. Trial registration: ACTRN12618001892202 (retrospectively registered on 21/11/2018). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Web-based self-help interventions for parents of children with ADHD and other externalizing disorders have been proven to be effective. In order to recommend individualized and optimized interventions, a better understanding of the acceptance and utilization of this innovative treatment approach is needed. Previous research has frequently employed subjective reports of utilization, but the validity of these studies may be limited. Methods: Data from the German WASH study were used. Participants (n = 276) were randomly assigned to the intervention condition (a) web-based self-help or (b) web-based self-help with optional telephone-based support calls. Data collection took place at baseline (T1) and 12 weeks later (T2). Utilization data were tracked using a log file generated for each participant at T2. Prediction models were calculated using CART (Classification and Regression Trees), a method known mostly from the field of machine learning. Results: Acceptance, of the intervention as defined in this paper was very high on objective (89.4% have taken up the intervention) and subjective measures (91.4% reported having used the intervention and 95.3% reported they would recommend the intervention to a friend). The average number of logins corresponded to recommendations. Predictors of acceptance and predictors of utilization were similar and included, e.g., child's externalizing symptoms, parental psychopathology, and above all additional telephone-based support by counselors. Conclusions: Through a detailed identification of acceptance and utilization, and the predictors thereof, we were able to gain a better understanding of the acceptance and utilization of web-assisted self-help for a parent management intervention in the treatment of children with ADHD and ODD. These findings can be used to recommend web-based interventions to particularly suitable families. It should be noted that some form of support is required for an intensive engagement with the content of the program. Trial Registration: The protocol of the study (German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00013456 conducted on January 3rd, 2018) was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University Hospital, Cologne. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Medicines are often suboptimally managed for heart failure patients across the transition from hospital to home, potentially leading to poor patient outcomes. The Improving the Safety and Continuity Of Medicines management at Transitions of care programme included: understanding the problems faced by patients and healthcare professionals; developing and co‐designing the Medicines at Transitions of care Intervention (MaTI); a cluster randomized controlled trial testing the effectiveness of a complex behavioural MaTI aimed at improving medicines management at the interface between hospitals discharge and community care for patients with heart failure; and a process evaluation. The MaTI included a patient‐held My Medicines Toolkit; enhanced communication between the hospital and the patient's community pharmacist and increased engagement of the community pharmacist postdischarge. This paper reports on the patients' experiences of the MaTI and its implementation from the process evaluation. Design: Twenty one‐to‐one semi‐structured patient interviews from six intervention sites were conducted between November 2018 and January 2020. Data were analysed using the Framework method, involving patients as co‐analysts. Interview data were triangulated with routine trial data, the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and a logic model. Results: Within the hospital setting patients engaged with the toolkit according to whether staff raised awareness of the My Medicines Toolkit's importance and the time and place of its introduction. Patients' engagement with community pharmacy depended on their awareness of the community pharmacist's role, support sources and perceptions of involvement in medicines management. The toolkit's impact on patients' medicines management at home included reassurance during gaps in care, increased knowledge of medicines, enhanced ability to monitor health and seek support and supporting sharing medicines management between formal and informal care networks. Conclusion: Many patients perceived that the MaTI offered them support in their medicines management when transitioning from hospital into the community. Importantly, it can be incorporated into and built upon patients' lived experiences of heart failure. Key to its successful implementation is the quality of engagement of healthcare professionals in introducing the intervention. Patient or Public Contribution: Patients were involved in the study design, as qualitative data co‐analysts and as co‐authors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attachment disorganization is a significant high-risk factor for infant mental health. Its association with high-risk psychosocial contexts has been clearly identified, but the link between these difficult social contexts and maternal disruptive communication has been poorly explored. The CAPEDP (Compétences Parentales et Attachement dans la Petite Enfance; Parental competences and attachment in early childhood) study assessed the effects of a manualized home-intervention on the mental health of children and its major determinants. In this controlled trial, 440 young, first-time mothers belonging to socially vulnerable populations were recruited. Mothers in the intervention group received psychological support from the 27th week of pregnancy through to their child's second birthday, while both groups received assessment visits at the 3rd, 6th, 9th, 18th, and 24th months of age of the child and benefited from assistance by the research team. When the children reached 12 months of age, an ancillary study, the CAPEDP-Attachment (n = 119) evaluated the effects of this intervention on attachment. The current paper describes the program's impact on this subsample concerning maternal disruptive behavior, while exploring the role of socioeconomic risk factors. Our results showed that: (a) mothers in the intervention (IG) group presented significantly less disruptive communication than those in the control group (CG), even though the CG received a significant level of care over and above that which is available to the public in the French health system as 'care as usual'; (b) having a "low income" and "having given birth prematurely" was associated with maternal disruptive communication; and (c) the intervention impact increased when the model was adjusted for these two variables. Results suggest that attachment focused intervention programs should invest both maternal interactional skills and social and economic vulnerability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frailty is a common condition in older adults that negatively impacts health and quality of life. This study evaluated a comprehensive, personalised, and coordinated intervention under the value-based care approach to address frailty's multidimensional nature in older people in the primary care setting. It employed a pre–post randomised controlled design involving 242 frail individuals aged over 65 years living in the community in Valencia (Spain) between 2021 and 2023. Assessments were conducted at baseline, 12 months (immediately post-intervention), and 18 months. The intervention included a personalised care plan supported by technology, with monthly motivational follow-ups and plan updates by health professionals and participants. Outcomes were measured using an assessment questionnaire that included the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement dataset for the older population: physical health, physical functioning, general mental health, satisfaction with social activities and relationships, ability to carry out usual social roles and activities, pain, general quality of life, loneliness, physical frailty, psychological frailty, and social frailty. The study found significant improvements in physical frailty, quality of life, reduced health resource use and hospitalisations and lower levels of pain and depression/anxiety compared to baseline. The findings suggest further research into value-based care approaches, emphasizing the development and activation of personalised, comprehensive programs for older individuals with frailty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression is one of the most prevalent mental disorders worldwide. This study examined the effect of a spiritual connectivity intervention on individuals with depression in a randomized waitlist-controlled trial. Fifty-seven participants with mild or moderate depressive symptoms were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n = 28) or the waitlist control group (n = 29). The intervention comprised eight weekly sessions focusing on divine connection, forgiveness and freedom, suffering and transcendence, hope, gratitude, and relapse prevention. The outcome measures included depressive symptoms, anxiety, hope, meaning in life, self-esteem, and social support. Participants completed self-administered questionnaires at baseline (week 0), post-intervention (week 8), and 3-month follow-up (week 20). Repeated-measures ANOVA and one-way ANCOVA were used to compare the within-group and between-group differences in the changes in outcome variables. Participants in the intervention group showed significant improvements in depression, anxiety, spiritual experience, hope, self-esteem, and perceived social support after the intervention. Effect size statistics showed small to large differences (Cohen's d, 0.308 to −1.452). Moreover, 85.71% of participants in the intervention group also experienced clinically significant reductions in PHQ-9 scores from baseline to immediate post-intervention. This study highlights the effectiveness of a low-cost, accessible intervention suitable for community implementation by clergy and faith-based organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study demonstrates how formative process evaluation was used to assess implementation and improve dose and fidelity in the Together Everyone Achieves More Physical Activity (TEAM-PA) randomized controlled trial. TEAM-PA uses a randomized group cohort design to evaluate the efficacy of a group-based intervention for increasing physical activity among African American women. Methods: Intervention groups met for 10 weeks and were co-led by female African American facilitators, with intervention sessions consisting of group feedback, a health curriculum, group-based physical activity games, and group-based goal-setting. Drawing from a multi-theoretical framework, the intervention targeted social affiliation using collaborative and competitive group strategies, including essential elements focused on group-based behavioral skills, peer-to-peer positive communication, collectivism, optimal challenge, social facilitation, and peer to peer challenges. Formative process evaluation was used to monitor reach, dose, and fidelity, and implement feedback and solutions. Results: Across two cohorts, four groups (n = 54) were randomized to the TEAM-PA intervention. On average 84.8% of participants attended each week, which exceeded the a priori criteria. Results from the systematic observations indicated that on average 93% of the dose items were completed in each session and adequate levels of fidelity were achieved at both the facilitator and group-levels. Participants were compliant with wearing the FitBits (6.73 ± 0.42 days/week) and most participants successfully contributed to meeting the group-based goals. The use of open-ended items also revealed the need for additional modifications to the group-based PA games, including allowing for individuals to take breaks, incorporating a broader range of exercises, minimizing activities that required bending/reaching down without assistance, and providing facilitators with additional training for implementing the games. Initial evidence suggests that these changes were successful in increasing participants' comprehension of the games from Cohort 1 (M = 1.83, SD = 0.71) to Cohort 2 (M = 3.33, SD = 0.69). Conclusion: Findings from this study demonstrated high levels of reach, dose, and fidelity, while also highlighting strategies for implementing competitive group-based PA games that are accessible across physical fitness levels. Formative process evaluation, including open-ended items and collaborative brainstorming, holds tremendous potential for improving future interventions. Trial registration: This study was registered on Clinicaltrials.gov (# NCT05519696) on August 22, 2022 prior to the enrollment of the first participant on September 12, 2022 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05519696?term=NCT05519696&rank=1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volunteer interventions play a vital role in supporting families by offering accessible and community-based resources outside the formal professional sector. This study examines the impact of the volunteer intervention known as Family Club Denmark (FCD) on the well-being of parents and children. FCD aims to provide families with positive experiences and support relationship building. The intervention, open to families from diverse social backgrounds, comprises volunteer-led family clubs where parents and children aged 2–12 years engage in activities and meals. We allocated 510 families (363 vulnerable families) to FCD or placed them on a waiting list based on a first-come, first-served principle. We conducted baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up assessments through questionnaires, observations, and interviews. On average, families participated in 5.8 sessions, with both families and volunteers reporting high satisfaction. When compared to control families, we find that vulnerable FCD parents feel more confident playing with their children (p = 0.04, [0.01; 0.40], d = 0.25), require less assistance in playing with their children (p = 0.01, [−0.34; −0.05], d = 0.33), and report that their children have a more challenging time forming friendships (p = 0.01, [−0.51; −0.09], d = 0.29). However, we did not find significant effects on mental health, parenting stress, self-efficacy, self-worth, family routines, or child well-being. We observed similar results for the full sample. The discovery that parents feel more confident playing with their children after participating in FCD highlights the vital role of volunteer-based interventions in enhancing parental engagement and fostering positive parent–child interactions. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03657888 (registered 29 August 2018). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

6–11-year-old children provide a critical window for physical activity (PA) interventions. The Virtual Fitness Buddy ecosystem is a precision health PA intervention for children integrating mixed reality technology to connect people and devices. A cluster randomized, controlled trial was conducted across 19 afterschool sites over two 6-month cohorts to test its efficacy in increasing PA and decreasing sedentary behavior. In the treatment group, a custom virtual dog via a mixed reality kiosk helped children set PA goals while sharing progress with parents to receive feedback and support. Children in the control group set PA goals using a computer without support from the virtual dog or parents. 303 children had 8+ hours of PA data on at least one day of each of the 3 intervention time intervals. Conversion of sedentary time was primarily to light-intensity PA and was strongest for children with low baseline moderate-to-vigorous PA than children above 45 min of baseline moderate-to-vigorous PA. Findings suggest that the VFB ecosystem can promote sustainable PA in children and may be rapidly diffused for widespread public health impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-management interventions (SMIs) may enhance heart failure (HF) outcomes and address challenges associated with disease management. This study aims to review randomized evidence and identify knowledge gaps in SMIs for adult HF patients. Within the COMPAR-EU project, from 2010 to 2018, we conducted searches in the databases MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane, and PsycINFO. We performed a descriptive analysis using predefined categories and developed an evidence map of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We found 282 RCTs examining SMIs for HF patients, comparing two to four interventions, primarily targeting individual patients (97%) globally (34 countries, only 31% from an European country). These interventions involved support techniques such as information sharing (95%) and self-monitoring (62%), often through a mix of in-person and remote sessions (43%). Commonly assessed outcomes included quality of life, hospital admissions, mortality, exercise capacity, and self-efficacy. Few studies have focused on lower socio-economic or minority groups. Nurses (68%) and physicians (30%) were the primary providers, and most studies were at low risk of bias in generating a random sequence for participant allocation; however, the reporting was noticeably unclear of methods used to conceal the allocation process. Our analysis has revealed prevalent support techniques and delivery methods while highlighting methodological challenges. These findings provide valuable insights for researchers, clinicians, and policymakers striving to optimize SMIs for individuals living with HF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of health technologies and gamification to promote physical activity has increasingly been examined, representing an opportunistic method for harnessing social support inherent within existing social ties. However, these prior studies have yielded mixed findings and lacked long-term follow-up periods. Thus, a pilot cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted to gauge the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a digital gamification-based physical activity promotion approach among teams of insufficiently active adults with existing social ties. Methods: Teams (N = 24; 116 total participants) were randomized to either a 12-week intervention (Fitbit, step goals, app, feedback; TECH) or the same program plus gamification (TECH + Gamification). Mixed effects models were used to compare group differences in treatment adherence, and changes in social support, steps, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity at 12 weeks and 52 weeks from baseline, adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics and team size. Results: TECH had a lower mean number of days of Fitbit self-monitoring versus TECH + Gamification during the intervention (adjusted difference: -.30; 95% CI, -.54 to -.07; P =.01). Post-intervention, TECH had 47% lower odds of self-monitoring 7 days per week versus TECH + Gamification (.53; 95% CI,.31 to.89; P =.02). No differences were observed between TECH + Gamification and TECH in increases in social support (0.04; 95% CI, -.21 to.29; P =.76), ActiGraph-measured daily steps (-425; 95% CI, -1065 to 215; P =.19), or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity minutes (-3.36; 95% CI, -8.62 to 1.91; P =.21) from baseline to 12 weeks or in the regression of these improvements by 1 year (Ps >.05). Although not significant in the adjusted models (Ps >.05), clinically meaningful differences in Fitbit-measured daily steps (TECH, 7041 ± 2520; TECH + Gamification, 7988 ± 2707) and active minutes (TECH, 29.90 ± 29.76; TECH + Gamification, 36.38 ± 29.83) were found during the intervention. Conclusions: A gamified physical activity intervention targeting teams of adults with existing social ties was feasible and facilitated favorable, clinically meaningful additive physical activity effects while in place but did not drive enhanced, long-term physical activity participation. Future investigations should explore optimal team dynamics and more direct ways of leveraging social support (training teams; gamifying social support). Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03509129, April 26, 2018). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Dementia caregiving is associated with notable impacts on the health of family carers. Although sense of coherence (SOC), as a core dimension of inner strength, has been found to have health-protecting effects in stressful encounters, few studies have designed a strength-based intervention to optimise SOC and thereby the health of carers. Objectives To identify the effects of a strength-based intervention on SOC, coping, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), perceived burden and depression among Chinese family carers of people with dementia and to examine whether the health effects, if any, are mediated through an enhanced SOC and effective coping. Design A double-blind randomised controlled trial comparing a strengths-based intervention with a general education control. Intervention A 14-session strengths-based intervention which combined the use of narrative and empowerment strategies to support the carers of people with dementia to optimise the use of their generalised resistance resources in coping with the caregiving situation. Setting Older people community centres in Hong Kong. Results A total of 350 family carers participated in the study (mean age: 65.0 (SD = 12.3); female: 84.6%). Participants who received the strength-based intervention reported significantly greater improvements in their SOC, mental health, perceived burden and depression, than those in the education group, over a 22-week evaluation period. Path analysis models revealed that an SOC wholly mediated the relationship between the strength-based intervention and mental HRQoL (covering energy/vitality and psychosocial functioning) and partially mediated the relationship between the strength-based intervention and depression. We did not identify any harm from the intervention. Conclusion A strength-based intervention is effective in improving the perceived burden and mental health of family caregivers of persons with dementia, and an SOC plays an important role in accounting for the mental health benefits. Trial registration The trial was registered in the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (Main ID: ChiCTR-IIC-17011097). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis management primarily entails azole therapy used as required or as an extended daily or weekly maintenance therapy for 6 months or more. Unfortunately, relapse within 3–6 months of ceasing maintenance therapy is experienced for more than half the patients, for whom indefinite treatment is required. Objectives: To explore the feasibility of trial design examining a prophylaxis treatment to prevent recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis symptomatic episodes and reduce adverse effects. Study Design: A double-blinded randomized controlled feasibility trial was conducted in Australia. Women with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis were enrolled. Methods: An intravaginal prophylaxis application of lactic acid and acetic acid (Intravaginal Combination Therapy of Acetic and Lactic Acid) was compared with placebo. Primary outcomes comprised recruitment and retention, compliance to study medications and study assessments. Secondary outcomes included the reduction of symptomatic recurrence over the trial period and the acceptability, satisfaction, safety and tolerability of the intervention. The feasibility of quality-of-life measures was also explored. Results: Fifteen participants were enrolled and randomized (active = 9, placebo = 6). Consent rate was 23.4%. Eight participants were lost to follow-up (active = 5, placebo = 3). Forty-seven per cent of participants (n = 7) were 100% compliant with the intervention, six of which completed the trial with good assessment compliance. The blinding process was effective. The study demonstrated a reduction in relapse in both active and placebo groups with only four participants across both groups reporting symptomatic episodes while enrolled. The intervention demonstrated good tolerability. Quality-of-life data showed minimal variance with a high quality-of-life measure. Conclusion: This trial assesses the feasibility of conducting a large-scale study exploring the efficacy of the Intravaginal Combination Therapy of Acetic and Lactic Acid intravaginal intervention and hints on the importance of psychological support through appropriate disease-specific communication and clinical attention. Consideration of the reported recruitment challenges, the inclusion of suitable quality-of-life measures and digital data collection is warranted for adaptation to a fully powered trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a lifelong condition, intellectual disability (ID) remains a public health priority. Parents caring for children with ID experience serious challenges to their wellbeing, including depression, anxiety, stress and health-related quality of life. Integrated parenting interventions, which have been well evidenced for depressed mothers, may also effectively support depressed parents with a child with ID in low-resource settings such as Pakistan, and in turn optimise child outcomes. We conducted a mixed-method rater-blind feasibility randomised controlled trial, which assessed the feasibility and acceptability of the Learning Through Play in My Own Way Plus (LTP-IMOW Plus) intervention. Mothers who screened positive for depression (n = 26) with a young child (age 3–6 years) with ID were recruited from two low-resource community settings. Participants in the intervention arm (n = 13) received 12 group sessions of LTP-IMOW Plus and others (n = 13) received routine care. The intervention was feasible and acceptable with 100% retention and 100% session attendance. The intervention improved depression, anxiety, parenting stress and child socialisation score outcomes relative to the routine care arm. The framework utilised to analyse the qualitative interviews with seven participants at pre-intervention identified a range of struggles experienced by the mothers, and at post-intervention, found improved knowledge of child development and practices, improved mother–child relationships, recommendations for the intervention and perceived practical barriers and facilitators. The findings highlight the prospects for a clinical and cost-effective trial of an integrated parenting intervention to manage long-term parental mental health needs and improve child outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Primary care is often the first point of contact when community-dwelling older adults experience subjective cognitive decline (SCD) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Living with SCD or MCI can be life-altering, resulting in low mood and increased anxiety, further exacerbating cognitive decline. However, there is scant literature on interventions that interprofessional primary care providers can provide to support those living with SCD or MCI. Practicing mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in an interprofessional primary care setting may support emotional health and well-being for those with cognitive decline, but it has not been studied in an interprofessional primary care context. Objectives: This study's primary aim was to determine the feasibility of, and perceived benefits to and satisfaction with, a 9-Week MBSR program delivered in a team-based primary care setting. The secondary aim was to examine the acceptability of using technology (computer tablet and App Insight Timer®) for program delivery and home practice. Methods: A convergent mixed-methods, single-blind pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) study design was used. A quantitative strand was used to evaluate the feasibility of the MBSR program. The qualitative strand used a focus group with older adult participants with SCD or MCI. Individual semi-structured interviews with occupational therapists who are qualified-MBSR teachers were conducted to explore the acceptability of using computer tablets for program delivery and home practice. Results: 27 participants were randomized (14 MBSR; 13 Control) with retention rates of 64.3% (9/14 completed ≥6 sessions), true adherence rates of 50% (7/14 met ≥19.5 hrs of home practice), 21.4% attrition rates, and 100% post-intervention follow-up. No participants who used computer tablets at the beginning of the intervention switched to low technology. Older adult participants found the use of computer tablets in the MBSR course acceptable and appreciated the portability of the tablets. Conclusions: Based on the lower-than-expected rates of recruitment, retention, and adherence, our study, as designed, did not meet the feasibility benchmarks that were set. However, with minor modifications to the design, including changing how participants who drop-out are analyzed, extending recruitment, and adding multiple sites, this intervention would be well suited to further study using a full-scale RCT. However, we found that embedding MBSR in an interprofessional primary care setting was feasible in practice and qualitative data highlighted the satisfaction and perceived benefits based on the intervention. The use of technology was acceptable and portable, as participants utilized their computer tablets consistently until the study's end. Our study showed that older adults living with SCD or MCI were highly receptive to learning how to use technology, and future group intervention programs in interprofessional primary care settings may also incorporate tablet use. Trial registration: This study was reviewed and approved by the Research Ethics Board in Toronto, Ontario, Canada (REB# 2017–0056-E); Queen's University (REB# 6026418) in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and Clinicaltrials.gov (08/03/2019; NCT03867474). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Relatives of people with psychosis or bipolar disorder experience high levels of distress but are typically not offered the support they need. Online peer forums may offer a solution, but knowledge about who uses them, how, and why is limited. This study reported on online forum use during the Relatives Education and Coping Toolkit (REACT) trial. Objective: We aimed to report who used the forum and why; how sociodemographic factors are associated with participation; the relationship among frequency, type of use, and outcomes; and how the forum was used. Methods: The relationships between key sociodemographic characteristics, levels of forum use, and distress were statistically analyzed. We used thematic and semantic analyses to understand the reasons for relatives joining the forum and the key topics initiated by them. We also used the University Centre for Computer Corpus Research on Language Semantic Analysis System to compare how relatives and REACT supporters (moderators) used the forum. Results: A total of 348 participants with full forum use data from REACT were included in this study. The forum was accessed by 59.4% (207/348) of the relatives across the entire age range, with no significant associations between sociodemographic factors and forum participation, or between level or type of use and relatives' distress levels. Relatives joined the forum primarily to find people in similar circumstances, express concerns, and talk about stressful events. Relatives were most concerned about recent events, negative emotions linked to caring, experiences of conflict or threat, and concerns about suicide. These posts underscored both the challenges the relatives were facing and the fact that they felt safe sharing them in this context. Conclusions: Although only a proportion of REACT participants engaged actively with its forum, they were widely distributed across age and other sociodemographic groupings. Relatives used the forum for information, support, and guidance and to offer detailed information about their experiences. The topics raised highlighted the burden carried by relatives and the potential value of easy-access, moderated, peer-supported forums in helping relatives to manage the challenges they faced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescents with depression or anxiety initiate mental health treatment in low numbers. Supporting Our Valued Adolescents (SOVA) is a peer support website intervention for adolescents seen in primary care settings and their parents with the goal of increasing treatment uptake through changing negative health beliefs, enhancing knowledge, offering peer emotional support, and increasing parent-adolescent communication about mental health. Objective: This pilot study aimed to refine recruitment and retention strategies, refine document intervention fidelity, and explore changes in study outcomes (the primary outcome being treatment uptake). Methods: We conducted a 2-group, single-blind, pilot randomized controlled trial in a single adolescent medicine clinic. Participants were aged 12 to 19 years with clinician-identified symptoms of depression or anxiety for which a health care provider recommended treatment. The patient and parent, if interested, were randomized to receive the SOVA websites and enhanced usual care (EUC) compared with EUC alone. Baseline, 6-week, and 3-month measures were collected using a web-based self-report survey and blinded electronic health record review. The main pilot outcomes assessed were the feasibility of recruitment and retention strategies. Implementation outcomes, intervention fidelity, missingness, and adequacy of safety protocols were documented. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize mental health service use and target measures with 2-sample t tests to compare differences between arms. Results: Less than half of the adolescents who were offered patient education material (195/461, 42.2%) were referred by their clinician to the study. Of 146 adolescents meeting the inclusion criteria, 38 completed the baseline survey, qualifying them for randomization, and 25 (66%, 95% CI 51%-81%) completed the 6-week measures. There was limited engagement in the treatment arm, with 45% (5/11) of adolescents who completed 6-week measures reporting accessing SOVA, and most of those who did not access cited forgetting as the reason. Changes were found in target factors at 6 weeks but not in per-protocol analyses. At 12 weeks, 83% (15/18) of adolescents randomized to SOVA received mental health treatment as compared with 50% (10/20) of adolescents randomized to EUC (P=.03). Conclusions: In this pilot trial of a peer support website intervention for adolescents with depression or anxiety, we found lower-than-expected study enrollment after recruitment. Although generalizability may be enhanced by not requiring parental permission for adolescent participation in the trials of mental health interventions, this may limit study recruitment and retention. We found that implementing education introducing the study into provider workflow was feasible and acceptable, resulting in almost 500 study referrals. Finally, although not the primary outcome, we found a signal for greater uptake of mental health treatment in the arm using the SOVA intervention than in the usual care arm. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03318666; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03318666 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): RR2-10.2196/12117 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]