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Youth is a period in life when the risk of violence victimization is high and association between victimization and ill health is well established. Youth rarely reveal violence victimization to health professionals if not directly asked but favor health professionals asking about victimization. The study's primary aim was to examine health outcomes in young women being routinely asked about violence victimization and offered subsequent support, compared with controls, at 12-month follow-up. Secondary aims were to examine to what extent routine inquiry altered the consultation and re-victimization rates during the study period. A randomized controlled intervention study was conducted at Swedish youth health centers. Participants assigned to the intervention group were asked structured questions about violence. Victimized participants received empowering strategies and were offered further counseling. Participants in the control group completed questionnaires about victimization after the visit. Both groups answered questions about sociodemographics and health, constructed from validated instruments. A questionnaire was administered to all participants 12 months after baseline. Of 1,445 eligible young women, 1,051 (73%) participated, with 54% of the participants completing the 12-month follow-up. Lifetime violence victimization was reported by 53% in the intervention group and 60% in the control group, ns. There were no significant differences in health outcomes, between baseline and 12-month follow-up, within either group or between groups. Re-victimization rates were 16% in the intervention group and 12% in the control group, ns. Of victimized young women in the intervention group, 14% wanted and received further counseling. Routine inquiry about violence victimization and empowering strategies were feasible within ordinary consultations at youth health centers but did not demonstrate improved health outcomes at 12-month follow-up compared with controls. Questions about violence led to a high degree of disclosure, and 14% of victimized young women in the intervention group received further counseling as a result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This pre-planned secondary analysis of geriatric interdisciplinary home rehabilitation, which was initially found to shorten the postoperative length of stay in hospital for older individuals following hip fracture, investigated whether such rehabilitation reduced the numbers of complications, readmissions, and total days spent in hospital after discharge during a 12-month follow-up period compared with conventional geriatric care and rehabilitation. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Geriatric department, participants' residential care facilities, and ordinary housing. Subjects: Individuals aged ⩾70 years with acute hip fracture (n = 205) were included. Intervention: Geriatric interdisciplinary home rehabilitation was individually designed and aimed at early discharge with the intention to prevent, detect, and treat complications after discharge. Main measures: Complications, readmissions, and days spent in hospital were registered from patients' digital records and interviews conducted during hospitalization and at 3- and 12-month follow-up visits. Results: No significant difference in outcomes was observed. Between discharge and the 12-month follow-up, among participants in the geriatric interdisciplinary home rehabilitation group (n = 106) and control group (n = 93), 57 (53.8%) and 44 (47.3%) had complications (P = 0.443), 46 (43.4%) and 38 (40.9%) fell (P = 0.828), and 38 (35.8%) and 27 (29.0%) were readmitted to hospital (P = 0.383); the median total days spent in hospital were 11.5 and 11.0 (P = 0.353), respectively. Conclusion: Geriatric interdisciplinary home rehabilitation for older individuals following hip fracture resulted in similar proportions of complications, readmissions, and total days spent in hospital after discharge compared with conventional geriatric care and rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Impaired emotional well-being has detrimental effects on health outcomes in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Aims: To evaluate a nurse-led Coping Effectiveness Training (CET) group intervention for patients with CHF. It was hypothesized that CET would increase emotional well-being (primary outcome) and health-related quality (HRQoL) of life and improve clinical outcomes. Furthermore, changes in appraisal and coping as mediators of the intervention effect were examined. Methods: Participants were randomized to either control group (n=51) receiving standard health care or CET intervention group (n=52). Self-assessments of positive affect, negative affect, depression, anxiety, HRQoL, illness perception, coping strategies and social support were performed pre- and post-intervention and after six weeks, six months and 12 months. Time to death and hospitalizations were measured during the entire follow-up (median 35 months, interquartile range 11 months). Results: No significant improvements for emotional well-being and HRQoL in the intervention group compared with the control group were found. After excluding patients with clinical anxiety and depression at baseline the intervention group had significantly lower negative affect (p = 0.022). There were no significant differences regarding cardiovascular events between the groups. The intervention group had greater sense of control over their illness in the short-term (p = 0.036). Conclusion: CET intervention was found to increase sense of control over the illness in the short term. Psychosocial support programmes, like CET, for patients with CHF is currently lacking evidence for implementing in clinical practice. However, the results provide a basis for future studies with a modified CET intervention design and increased study size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which analyzed treatment effects of eccentric vs. concentric graded exercise in chronic tennis elbow. Randnomized controlled trial was carried out for the study. The eccentric exercise group showed faster regression of pain, with an average of 10% higher responder rate at all levels of pain reduction, both during muscle contraction and elongation.

Although adults with autism spectrum disorder are an increasingly identified patient population, few treatment options are available. This preliminary randomized controlled open trial with a parallel design developed two group interventions for adults with autism spectrum disorders and intelligence within the normal range: cognitive behavioural therapy and recreational activity. Both interventions comprised 36 weekly 3-h sessions led by two therapists in groups of 6–8 patients. A total of 68 psychiatric patients with autism spectrum disorders participated in the study. Outcome measures were Quality of Life Inventory, Sense of Coherence Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and an exploratory analysis on measures of psychiatric health. Participants in both treatment conditions reported an increased quality of life at post-treatment (d = 0.39, p < 0.001), with no difference between interventions. No amelioration of psychiatric symptoms was observed. The dropout rate was lower with cognitive behavioural therapy than with recreational activity, and participants in cognitive behavioural therapy rated themselves as more generally improved, as well as more improved regarding expression of needs and understanding of difficulties. Both interventions appear to be promising treatment options for adults with autism spectrum disorder. The interventions’ similar efficacy may be due to the common elements, structure and group setting. Cognitive behavioural therapy may be additionally beneficial in terms of increasing specific skills and minimizing dropout. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background:The aim of the study was to compare the results after arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using either the double-bundle or single-bundle technique with hamstring tendon autografts in an unselected group of patients.Hypothesis:Double-bundle ACL reconstruction will render a better outcome on the pivot-shift test.Study Design:Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.Methods:A randomized series of 103 patients (33 women, 70 men; median age, 27 years; range, 18-52 years) with a unilateral ACL rupture underwent anatomic ACL reconstruction. The double-bundle technique was used in 53 patients, and the single-bundle technique was used in 50 patients. The ACL footprint was visualized, and the femoral tunnel was drilled through the anteromedial portal; interference screw fixation was used at both ends. The patients were examined preoperatively and at a median of 26 months (range, 22-42 months) after the reconstruction by a blinded observer. The primary variable was the pivot-shift test.Results:At 2-year follow-up, 98 patients (93%) were examined. Clinical assessments at follow-up revealed no significant differences between the double-bundle and single-bundle groups in terms of the pivot-shift test, KT-1000 arthrometer laxity measurements, manual Lachman test, range of motion, Lysholm knee scoring scale, Tegner activity scale, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis and Outcome Score (KOOS), 1-legged hop test, and square hop test. A significant improvement was seen in both groups compared with the preoperative values in terms of most clinical assessments.Conclusion:In this prospective randomized study, the primary variable, the pivot-shift test, and other subjective and objective outcome variables revealed no significant differences between the double-bundle and single-bundle techniques at 2 years after ACL reconstruction in an unselected group of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To compare the treatment outcome of scaling and root planing ( SRP) in combination with systemic antibiotics, local antibiotic therapy and/or periodontal surgery. Material and Methods One hundred and eighty-seven patients were assigned to eight groups treated by SRP plus none, one, two or three adjunctive treatments and monitored for 24 months in a randomized controlled clinical trial using a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design. Systemic amoxicillin + metronidazole ( SMA), local tetracycline delivery ( LTC) and periodontal surgery (SURG) were evaluated as adjuncts. Changes in clinical attachment level ( CAL) and probing pocket depth ( PPD) were statistically evaluated by ancova of main effects. Results Effects of adjunctive therapy to SRP were minimal at 3 months. Between 3 and 6 months PPD reduction occurred particularly in patients receiving periodontal surgery. After 6 months, both CAL gain and PPD reduction reached a plateau that was maintained at 24 months in all groups. The 24-month CAL gain was improved by SMA (0.50 mm) while PPD was reduced by SMA (0.51 mm) and SURG (0.36 mm). Smoking reduced CAL gain and PPD reduction. Conclusion Patients receiving adjunctive therapies generally exhibited improved CAL gain and/or PPD reduction when compared with the outcome of SRP alone. Only additive, not synergistic effects of the various adjunctive therapies were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]