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Abstract Background Physical activity (PA) at moderate intensity is recommended for healthy pregnant women. The three-arm FitMum randomised controlled trial showed that it was possible to increase PA level during pregnancy with structured supervised exercise training (EXE) compared to standard care. Motivational counselling on PA (MOT) did not increase PA. This process evaluation aims to understand the implementation and mechanisms of impact of EXE and MOT. Methods A mixed methods process evaluation was conducted using the UK Medical Research Council’s process evaluation framework by assessing implementation (reach, fidelity, and dose) and mechanisms of impact of the two interventions provided to pregnant women in FitMum. Data was collected both quantitatively (n = 220) and qualitatively (n = 20). Results The FitMum trial reached educated pregnant women (80% having an educational level ≥ bachelor’s degree) with high autonomy of everyday life. Most participants (58%) were recruited at their first-trimester ultrasonic scan. Reasons to participate were personal (91%) and altruistic (56%). The intervention dose was delivered as intended with high fidelity in the original physical intervention setup and in the altered online setup during the COVID-19 restrictions. A low dose received in EXE (1.3 [95% CI, 1.1; 1.5] sessions/week) was partly explained by the pre-scheduled EXE sessions favouring participants with a flexible everyday life and a supportive social network. Dose received in EXE increased during online intervention delivery. Participants in MOT received 5.2 [4.7; 5.7] of 7 sessions. Mechanisms of impact comprised a perception of intervention commitment among participants in EXE due to the scheduled EXE sessions, whereas participants in MOT considered themselves as PA self-determined. PA was considered as constrained activities in EXE and included in daily activities in MOT. Conclusion The FitMum interventions was delivered with high fidelity. During COVID-19, the dose received in EXE increased compared to the previous physical setup. Mechanisms of impact as commitment, perception of empowerment and perception of PA as well as the paradox between prioritising PA and family and the need of a flexible everyday life need to be considered when offering pregnant women PA interventions. Future interventions should consider a combination of physical and online exercise training for pregnant women.

Sub-Saharan Africa reports high rates of human trafficking including child soldiers, sex trafficking, forced domestic labor, and ritual enslavement. In some countries, a majority of agencies who provide anti-trafficking specific services are faith-based organizations serving local communities. The shared value of social justice expressed by both religious organizations and the social work profession presents opportunities for collaborations in this field. However, there exist many gaps in the literature on faith-based anti-trafficking interventions, including best practices, program evaluation, and strategies to improve multi-sector collaborations. This research employs a scoping review to map peer-reviewed publications on faith-based organizations in anti-trafficking in sub-Saharan Africa. We examine the types of faith-based organizations providing services in this field, identify the trafficking sectors addressed, and the interventions offered. Informed by the findings of this review, we provide a research roadmap to promote multi-sector anti-slavery collaborations with the goal of maximizing the pool of resources available to both faith-based organizations and social work researchers and practitioners. Indeed, deliberate engagement built on shared values could bolster provision of localized and responsive survivor-centered services in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal for Educational & Vocational Guidance is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Recommendations for practice have become increasingly common in educational psychology articles in recent decades, according to a review by Brady et al. (2023). At the same time, the proportion of experimental studies has decreased. This led Brady et al. to warn against under-supported recommendations for practice. Researchers who read their article might get the impression that evidence from experimental studies is the only acceptable basis for practice recommendations. In the current commentary, I argue that both experimental and nonexperimental designs can inform us to some degree about cause-effect relationships, and that even studies that hardly inform us about causal effects can have practical implications. Thus, in order to enhance the transfer from research to practice, I recommend that educational researchers talk about practical implications in their articles regardless of the design and analysis they used. At the same time, researchers should clearly and transparently communicate the limitations and assumptions of their findings and how they affect the practical implications. Equipping educators, teachers, and policy makers with this information would enable them to make decisions in line with scientific evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: New ways of teaching have been under consideration over the last decade. Thus, this study aims to examine the effects of an interdisciplinary educational approach integrating physical education and mathematics on light and moderate–vigorous physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior, and learning subtraction. Method: Forty-six first-grade students (Mage = 76.98 ± 3.74 months) wore an accelerometer for 4 weeks to measure their PA levels. For 3 weeks, one group (n = 23) attended their physical education and mathematic lessons separately according to the traditional curriculum development (i.e., regular classroom lessons), and the other group (n = 23) was taught through an integrated curriculum based on an interdisciplinary approach integrating physical education and mathematics where the curricular time devoted to these subjects was unified. Results: Several t-test analyses revealed significant between-group differences in all variables following the curricular interventions. Students from the interdisciplinary group reached higher levels of light PA, t(44) = −10.095, p <.001, d = 2.97; moderate–vigorous PA, t(44) = −7.950, p <.001, d = 2.35; and spent less time in sedentary behavior, t(44) = 13.549, p <.001, d = 4.01, than students who attended regular classroom lessons. Moreover, the students from the interdisciplinary group achieved higher scores in subtraction learning, t(44) = −4.06, p <.001, d = 1.20. Discussion/Conclusion: The integration of PA into learning environments such as mathematics might help to develop tools that improve mathematical learnings (i.e., subtraction). Likewise, this kind of interdisciplinary approach may contribute to increase the children's PA levels during the school day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transportation of evidence‐based programs (EBPs) to a new cultural setting is often preferred over the comprehensive process of developing a new program. Intervention fidelity has been suggested as a predictor of successful transportation. The present study examined whether fidelity and parent behavior improved when implementing the U.S.‐developed Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch‐up (ABC) intervention in Norwegian child welfare services (CWS). 11 child welfare workers received training and supervision to become ABC parent coaches. Fidelity was assessed through video‐recordings of parent coaches' in vivo feedback at each home‐visit session. Parent sensitive behavior was assessed using video‐recordings of parent–child interactions, recorded before each ABC session. Mixed effects modeling showed that ABC fidelity increased over the course of training and supervision. Furthermore, parent behavior improved over the course of families' exposure to the intervention. These demonstrate that an EBP transported to a novel cultural setting can obtain promising levels of fidelity and intervention outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a school‐based intervention, Let's Be Friends (LBF), designed to promote the social information‐processing (SIP) skills of third‐grade children in rural China, the specific aim of this study was to assess the moderating effects of school characteristics on program outcomes. We systematically tested the moderating effects of six school‐resource variables (i.e., student–teacher ratio, school size, number of library books per student, number of computers per 100 students, percentage of teachers with middle‐ and high‐level titles, and percentage of teachers with high‐level title or "backbone" recognition) on outcomes in a controlled trial of LBF program. School resources (i.e., small school size, low student–teacher ratio, and more teachers with high‐level title or backbone) were associated with SIP skill acquisition, reduced aggressive behavior, and higher cognitive concentration. School contextual characteristics condition the impact of social‐emotional education programs in Chinese rural primary schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field of educational psychology has been moving away from intervention and experimental methods and toward observational and correlational methods (Hsieh et al., Journal of Educational Psychology, 97(4), 523–529, 2005; Reinhart et al., Journal of Educational Psychology, 105(1), 241–247, 2013; Robinson et al., American Educational Research Journal, 44(2), 400–413, 2007). Additionally, there has been an increase in the percentage of observational and correlational articles that include recommendations for practice. The present study updated previous data to 2020 by examining methodologies and recommendations for practice in articles published in five empirical educational psychology journals (Journal of Educational Psychology, American Educational Research Journal, Cognition and Instruction, Journal of Experimental Education, and Contemporary Educational Psychology). The percentage of articles employing experimental methods has continued to decrease (20%), whereas qualitative methods have increased (22%). Across correlational, qualitative, and mixed method articles, two-thirds included recommendations for practice—up from 46% in 2010. Implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Successful participant recruitment is vital to the feasibly of intervention research. In the behavioral and social sciences, intervention researchers face a myriad of recruitment barriers, many of which stem from working in real-world settings and among hard-to-access populations. Optimizing recruitment efforts requires being intentional about study planning and resource allocation, carefully documenting the outcomes of recruitment efforts, and developing and implementing procedures and strategies to overcome anticipated recruitment barriers. Methods: The current article presents recruitment flowcharts to illustrate (a) the multistep recruitment process and (b) the points of potential participant attrition during recruitment from a two-phase group-based intervention study conducted among individuals with serious mental illness incarcerated in a state prison system in the U.S. In addition, qualitative methods are used to examine strategies employed during the study to support recruitment efforts. Results: Despite challenges, this study was able to achieve recruitment goals. Analyses found the majority of potential participant attrition occurred prior to informed consent, highlighting the need for studies to track recruitment efforts in more detail than is currently recommended by commonly used guidelines. Strategies to optimize recruitment efforts included maximizing recruiter availability, developing a responsive communication approach, demonstrating respect for facility procedures and operations, and ensuring peak preparedness. Conclusion: Careful documentation of recruitment efforts and the early deployment of recruitment strategies is vital to the feasibility of intervention studies conducted in real-world settings with hard-to-access populations. The publication of recruitment procedures and outcomes can help future researchers anticipate recruitment challenges and inform recruitment goals, timelines, and strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is a Dance Movement Psychotherapy (DMP) pilot intervention designed to address the psychological challenges faced by Greek breast cancer patients, after surgery and around radiotherapy treatment. It was designed as a 12 weeks’ project, involving patients of diverse age and educational level, mostly living in rural areas. The personality and psychopathology inventory Symptoms’ Check List-90 (SCL-90), the therapist’s records and video self-observation were used in a mixed method approach. Thirteen subjects initiated the study, but they were gradually reduced and only four completed it. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS-25 addressing this fact. Positive results of qualitative interpretation of the therapist’s data and SCL-90, as well as changes in movement patterns and self-perception evaluated via video self-observation, showed that the intervention was beneficial for the patients who completed it. However, the fact that not all the participants were able to finish the program, implies that although DMT intervention at an early stage can help some patients deal with strong emotions, careful evaluation of eligible individuals should precede. Besides the patients’ medical condition, demographic and personality characteristics should be considered in the design of future similar studies.

Abstract Background There is growing attention to the use of mHealth technologies to promote glycemic control for women with GDM around the world, but research on promoting a change in health behaviors is lacking. This study aimed to document the process of designing, developing, and testing the feasibility and acceptability of the SEESPA. Methods This single-arm pilot clinical trial study included 15 pregnant women with GDM. Following SEESPA development (e.g., goal setting and action plan, role modeling, motivational messages, mastery of experiences, and tracking healthy behaviors), all participants were provided access to use the SEESPA for 4 weeks. Feasibility outcomes assessed were rates of recruitment, retention rate, success rate of transmitting motivational text messages, rate of participants acknowledging receipt of text messages, and success rate of recording healthy behaviors. Acceptability outcomes were determined by asking open-ended questions through telephone interview at 4-week post-intervention. Results Fifteen randomly selected women consented to participate in the study, with a 60.0% (n = 9) retention rate at post-trial intervention and 40.0% (n = 6) trial dropout. Two motivational text messages per week were sent to all participants. Of these, 68.1% were acknowledged by the participants. Study participants reported that SEESPA is useful, effective, and they felt satisfied about it. In addition, they brought few suggestions that will be integrated on the final version of the app. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance. The developed innovative SEESPA is a feasible and acceptable intervention for behavioral modifications among women with GDM, and is ready to be tested in a larger RCT study which is expected to inform the health policymakers to integrate SEESPA with the antenatal health care practice of women with GDM, specifically in developing countries where there is a greater risk of developing GDM complications among mothers and their infants. Trial registration. The study is registered on September 16, 2019 (ACTRN12619001278123p) by the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry.

Abstract Background Community engagement is crucial for the design and implementation of community-based early childhood development (ECD) programmes. This paper aims to share key components and learnings of a community engagement process for an integrated ECD intervention. The lessons shared are drawn from a case study of urban informal settlement with embedded refugees in Nairobi, Kenya. Methods We conducted three stakeholder meetings with representatives from the Ministry of Health at County and Sub-County, actors in the ECD sector, and United Nations agency in refugee management, a transect walk across five villages (Ngando, Muslim, Congo, Riruta and Kivumbini); and, six debrief meetings by staff from the implementing organization. The specific steps and key activities undertaken, the challenges faced and benefits accrued from the community engagement process are highlighted drawing from the implementation team’s perspective. Results Context relevant, well-planned community engagement approaches can be integrated into the five broad components of stakeholder engagement, formative research, identification of local resources, integration into local lives, and shared control/leadership with the local community. These can yield meaningful stakeholder buy-in, community support and trust, which are crucial for enabling ECD programme sustainability. Conclusion Our experiences underscore that intervention research on ECD programmes in urban informal settlements requires a well-planned and custom-tailored community engagement model that is sensitive to the needs of each sub-group within the community to avoid unintentionally leaving anyone out.

Abstract The field of human-animal interaction (HAI) has experienced prolific growth in the scope, breadth, and rigor of research conducted on animal-assisted interventions (AAIs). As knowledge regarding the preliminary efficacy of AAIs on outcomes of human health and wellbeing continues to accumulate, so has information regarding the feasibility, safety, and acceptability of AAIs. This progression, combined with an increase in funding opportunities, institutional resources, and growing recognition of the field from mental and medical health professionals, has led to more widespread implementation of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the field. While conducting RCTs in any field of study is an intensive and complex undertaking, researchers conducting RCTs to evaluate the efficacy of AAIs are faced with unique considerations. The goal of this manuscript is to discuss these complexities and considerations surrounding conducting an RCT of an AAI program in regard to study planning, conceptualization, design, implementation, and dissemination. We highlight common confounders in HAI research and provide strategies for minimizing or ameliorating them. Recommendations pertain to such unique issues as ethical considerations, theory, control and comparison groups, sampling, implementation fidelity, and transparent reporting of findings. These considerations and recommendations seek to aid HAI researchers in the design, implementation, and dissemination of future RCTs to continue to advance the rigor of the field.

Purpose Ukraine has one of the fastest growing HIV epidemics globally. Due to their engagement in high-risk behaviors, adolescents and emerging adults involved with the penitentiary system are at a particularly high risk of HIV-acquisition. To address the epidemic, young males (aged 14 to 20 years) in penitentiary institutions across Ukraine participated in a ten-week, group-based HIV-prevention intervention (STEPS). The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach The authors analyzed clinical and programmatic services data collected as part of an evaluation of the STEPS intervention. Paired t-tests and χ2 were used to examine pre- and post-intervention differences in HV knowledge, attitudes, and risk behaviors and alcohol and other drug use knowledge. Findings In total, 105 male youths participated in the ten-session STEPS intervention. At baseline, males reported high frequencies of risk behaviors (e.g. unprotected sexual activity, injection drug use), moderate levels of HIV-related knowledge, and negative attitudes toward HIV and people living with HIV. At follow-up (immediately following the last STEPS session), participants HIV-related knowledge substantially improved and participants tended to have more favorable attitudes toward HIV. Research limitations/implications Outcomes suggest that knowledge and attitudes about HIV among Ukrainian incarcerated youth can improve as a result of group-based HIV-prevention intervention. Originality/value In Ukraine, individuals involved with the criminal justice system are one of the populations most-at-risk for HIV; criminal justice-involved adolescents and young adults are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic. Research among this sub-population is limited. This study aims to address this gap by evaluating an on-going group-based HIV-prevention program designed to reduce adolescent risk of HIV.

BackgroundIn 2000 and in 2 subsequent 5-year cycles, the National Cancer Institute funded grantees on a regional and national basis to address community needs for cancer awareness, research, and training. The Asian American Network for Cancer Awareness, Research and Training (AANCART) is fortunate to have been funded since 2000 to focus on mitigating cancer health disparities facing Asian Americans residing primarily in California and Hawaii. This article highlights AANCART's achievements with respect to the original specific aims and unanticipated outcomes in its most recent funded cycle.MethodsSources included reports to the National Cancer Institute and peer-reviewed articles as well as the insights of the 3 principal investigators.ResultsAll aims of the original application (infrastructure, outreach, research, and training) were attained or exceeded. Most distinctive was the completion and publication of 8 randomized controlled trials to address Asian American cancer health disparities and its nurture of 14 new and early stage investigators who have been productive in terms of research career trajectories.ConclusionsAANCART is contributing to mitigating Asian American cancer health disparities by catalyzing academic and community collaborations that have resulted in linguistically specific and culturally tailored educational products, scientifically rigorous interventions addressed at cancer risk factors, and nurturing new and early stage Asian American cancer investigators. Cancer 2018;124:1527-34. © 2018 American Cancer Society.

Solving individual, group, or societal problems through social intervention in practice settings is a complex task. The extent to which this end is achieved depends heavily on the effectiveness of the change strategies in use. Increased understanding of how these change strategies work to impact outcomes is at the forefront of the science of social intervention. In this special issue, we have gathered a collection of seven articles that present central issues related to program theory in social interventions developed in practice setting. Our goal is to advance the knowledge of how an understanding of theory in practice can advance social intervention research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is an invitation to decolonial thinking/doing, through the articulation between intervention research and university extension, as one of the many possible options to coloniality that can permeate research in Human and Social Sciences. Based on a study in Developmental and School Psychology, carried out with members of historically marginalized groups in public universities (people from poor inner-city neighbourhoods, black people, indigenous people, people in vulnerable housing situations, people from deprived rural areas, etc.) in an university extension project, it is evident that involvement with these projects offers interesting possibilities for exercising protagonism and dialogue in the trajectories of those involved, giving visibility and audibility to disqualified knowledge and experiences. The role of the researcher in the constitution of decolonial dynamics for the production of knowledge with the subalterns is emphasized, to overcoming the coloniality of knowledge and being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Ahmet Kelesoglu Educational Faculty is the property of Journal of Ahmet Kelesoglu Educational Faculty and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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Background: This descriptive qualitative study informed by an ecological framework explored factors influencing South Asian Muslim women’s decisions to participate in a mosque-based physical activity intervention. Methods: Individual, face-to-face, semistructured interviews were conducted in English, Hindi, or Urdu with 12 South Asian Muslim women at their home or mosque in Ontario, Canada. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and managed, sorted, and analyzed for themes through a process of descriptive analysis. Results: The participants described as follows: (1) intrapersonal facilitators, which included their feelings, beliefs, and motivations to continue with this intervention; (2) interpersonal facilitators detailing the support that they had received from others during the intervention; and (3) environmental facilitators, which highlighted convenience and access to physical activity opportunities in a local community setting. Conclusion: This intervention displayed how South Asian Muslim women were motivated to continue with the mosque-based physical activity intervention due to interpersonal, intrapersonal, and environmental facilitators. The findings can be used to increase further understanding of how mosques may provide culturally and religiously sensitive contexts for physical activity interventions for South Asian Muslim women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Physical activity (PA) at moderate intensity is recommended for healthy pregnant women. The three-arm FitMum randomised controlled trial showed that it was possible to increase PA level during pregnancy with structured supervised exercise training (EXE) compared to standard care. Motivational counselling on PA (MOT) did not increase PA. This process evaluation aims to understand the implementation and mechanisms of impact of EXE and MOT. Methods: A mixed methods process evaluation was conducted using the UK Medical Research Council's process evaluation framework by assessing implementation (reach, fidelity, and dose) and mechanisms of impact of the two interventions provided to pregnant women in FitMum. Data was collected both quantitatively (n = 220) and qualitatively (n = 20). Results: The FitMum trial reached educated pregnant women (80% having an educational level ≥ bachelor's degree) with high autonomy of everyday life. Most participants (58%) were recruited at their first-trimester ultrasonic scan. Reasons to participate were personal (91%) and altruistic (56%). The intervention dose was delivered as intended with high fidelity in the original physical intervention setup and in the altered online setup during the COVID-19 restrictions. A low dose received in EXE (1.3 [95% CI, 1.1; 1.5] sessions/week) was partly explained by the pre-scheduled EXE sessions favouring participants with a flexible everyday life and a supportive social network. Dose received in EXE increased during online intervention delivery. Participants in MOT received 5.2 [4.7; 5.7] of 7 sessions. Mechanisms of impact comprised a perception of intervention commitment among participants in EXE due to the scheduled EXE sessions, whereas participants in MOT considered themselves as PA self-determined. PA was considered as constrained activities in EXE and included in daily activities in MOT. Conclusion: The FitMum interventions was delivered with high fidelity. During COVID-19, the dose received in EXE increased compared to the previous physical setup. Mechanisms of impact as commitment, perception of empowerment and perception of PA as well as the paradox between prioritising PA and family and the need of a flexible everyday life need to be considered when offering pregnant women PA interventions. Future interventions should consider a combination of physical and online exercise training for pregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Firearm-related suicide is a preventable yet leading cause of death in the United States, and screening for access to firearms in clinical settings is rare. The lack of screening in clinical practice may be compounded by the fact that clinicians are not often trained to effectively screen for access to lethal means. This article evaluates the effectiveness of the novel Engaging in Lethal Means Safety (ELMS) suicide prevention program. ELMS is a theoretically driven, empirically supported lethal means safety training program that trains mental health first responders in engaging clients in discussions of lethal means safety with a particular focus on firearm access and storage. Pretest, posttest, and one-month follow-up assessments measured knowledge of lethal means, confidence, and comfort in screening for access to lethal means, and future intent to counsel on means safety measures. All constructs increased significantly at posttest. Confidence was sustained at posttest. Comfort and intent to counsel levels decreased at follow-up but not to pretraining levels. Booster sessions are recommended for future iterations of the program to further sustain overall effects. Further, additional research using a treatment control is encouraged., (© 2024 National Association of Social Workers.)

Background: Psychodrama (PD), supported by extensive global research, is increasingly becoming a vital method for alleviating psychological symptoms and promoting mental well-being in diverse populations across China. However, comprehensive evidence based on rigorous interventions is currently lacking., Methods: This article systematically reviews the literature on randomized controlled experimental intervention studies of PD in the Chinese Mainland from 1982 to 2023., Findings: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses framework, this article included seven studies (N = 332, 25 effect sizes). The results demonstrate that PD interventions have a promotional effect (standardized mean difference SMD = 0.768, 95% CI [0.591, 0.946]) across different age groups and settings in randomized controlled trial interventions. In accordance with previous literature, we categorized the effect sizes into two major groups: illness reduction (IR) and health promotion (HP). Subgroup analysis based on these two categories revealed consistent findings. In the IR category, the overall effect size was notably significant (SMD = -0.711, 95% CI [-0.976, -0.446]), and in the HP category, the overall effect was also highly significant (SMD = 0.889, 95% CI [0.705, 1.074]). This finding aligns with previous research in other nations, supporting the significant effectiveness of PD as a counseling method in alleviating psychological illnesses and promoting mental health within the Chinese context., Conclusion: PD serves not only as a therapeutic tool but also as a preventive and developmental intervention. Moving forward, there is a call for increased emphasis on standardized and randomized controlled experimental studies to further the advancement of PD within China., Competing Interests: The authors declare none., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

Abstract Background and study objectives MHPSS is increasingly seen as a critical component to effective and responsible humanitarian programming. This review examines the extent to which MHPSS research generated since 2010 has contributed to the public health evidence base and how this has influenced and impacted programming and policy in humanitarian settings. Methods This mixed-method study included a scoping literature review (n = 50) and a consultation process with qualitative key informant interviews (n = 19) and online survey responses (n = 52) to identify the facilitating and inhibiting factors for the two areas of inquiry and to understand the broader context in which knowledge is generated and taken up. The interviews were thematically analysed and the survey responses were descriptively analysed. Results The review identified a rapidly growing evidence base that has evaluated a range of MHPSS interventions. However, few studies examined long-term impacts of interventions, there was limited direct evidence on outcomes for children and adolescents and whole family approaches, and there were minimal replications of the same approach that could test efficacy across settings and population groups. A general shift was identified in the consultation process away from a focus on disorder towards the more positive aspects of wellbeing. However, there remained a mismatch in many studies included in the literature review, whereby the interventions were broad, community-based but the outcome measures used still focused on changes in symptoms of mental disorders. Conclusion The evidence base for MHPSS has grown significantly over the last 10 years. However, several knowledge gaps remain, as does the divide between research and practice. Moving forward, MHPSS intervention research needs to be more responsive to the needs on the ground.

Abstract Background The suspected or actual effects on health of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC) and their ubiquitous presence in everyday life justify the implementation of health promotion interventions. These interventions should ideally be applied during critical windows like pregnancy. Perinatal environmental health education interventions may help to reduce EDC exposure during pregnancy. Methods/design PREVED (Pregnancy, PreVention, Endocrine Disruptors) is an open-label randomized controlled trial assessing the impact of environmental health education intervention on EDC exposure during pregnancy. Inclusion, consent, and randomization take place during the first trimester. The participants are randomly allocated into three groups: (i) control group (information leaflet on EDCs), (ii) intervention group in neutral location (information leaflet and workshops in a meeting room), and (iii) intervention group in contextualized location (information leaflet and workshops in a real apartment). Workshops are organized between the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Main outcome is the percentage of participants who reported consuming manufactured/industrial food. Secondary outcomes are as follows: (i) psycho-social dimensions, (ii) EDC concentrations in urine, (iii) EDC concentration in colostrum, and (iv) percentage of participants who reported consuming paraben-free personal care products. Discussion PREVED is a ground-breaking intervention research project dedicated to perinatal environmental health education that aims to identify pollutant sources in daily life and to offer accessible and realistic alternative solutions, by promoting the sharing of know-how and experience in a positive and non-alarmist approach. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov : NCT03233984 (current status: ongoing). Retrospectively registered on 31 July 2017 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03233984 ) because when the first participant was enrolled in this non-drug intervention, ClinicalTrials.gov was centered in therapeutic trials. The World Health Organization Trial Registration Data Set is in Additional file 1.

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In this analysis, we contend that theorizing strengthens the connections between practice and research by requiring researchers to check their working assumptions, premises, conclusions, and implications for research, theory, and practice. Our exploration of the process of theorizing in practice research is rooted in the concept of "sensemaking" (Weick, 1995) whereby practice researchers engage in disciplined imagination by reflecting on diverse forms of evidence, being attentive to specific practices and problems, and moving between intuition and reasoned explanation. The analysis includes the following components: 1) tools for theorizing from research findings (abductive analysis and problematization), 2) processes for theorizing about practice research findings (focusing on practice, researcher repertoire, and theory development processes), 3) an example of theorizing from key findings, and 4) the construction of interventive theory. It concludes with implications for social work practice research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purpose of this scoping review was two-fold: 1) to identify effective intervention studies addressing chronic disease for seniors living in nursing homes (e.x. chronic heart failure, diabetes, dementia, etc.), and 2) to describe how consistently the studies' reported their stages of the Knowledge-to-Action framework (2006). Methods: This scoping review involved a systematic search of CINAHL, EMBASE, PubMed and Scopus of intervention studies, published in English and French between 1997 and 2018, that focused on the development, implementation and/or evaluation of a chronic disease management guideline or best practice for older adults 65+ residing within a nursing home (NH). Authors abstracted information specific to the seven stages of the Knowledge-to-Action framework (identifying problem, tailoring to local context, barriers and facilitators to intervention delivery, implementation, monitoring, outcome criteria, and sustainability). Results: Six studies met the inclusion criteria. Procedures for monitoring knowledge use and outcome evaluation were thoroughly described. Other stages of the Knowledge-to-Action framework were not consistently reported, including problem identification related to older adults' needs and within the context of NHs, intervention implementation, evaluation, and sustainability. Of the six studies included, only two met all the pre-defined evaluation outcomes. Conclusions: Given the need for chronic disease management in NHs, researchers are encouraged to report on intervention studies using the Knowledge-to-Action framework to optimize the likelihood that interventions will be suitable for the context of their delivery and introduce sustainable change. Clinical implications: To answer what interventions should be introduced to residents in long-term care, research must clearly demonstrate efficacy, provide enough detail for methods to be reproducible in applied contexts, and consider strategies for sustainability and the holistic needs of residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite a publicly funded system, health care in Canada has been shown to be deeply inequitable, particularly toward Indigenous people. Based on research identifying key dimensions of equity-oriented health care as being cultural safety, harm reduction and trauma- and violence-informed care, an intervention to promote equity at the organizational level was tested in primary health care, refined and adapted, and tested in Emergency Departments (EDs).Methods: In partnership with clinical, community and Indigenous leaders in three diverse EDs in one Canadian province, we supported direct care staff to tailor and implement the intervention. Intervention activities varied in type and intensity at each site. Survey data were collected pre- and post-intervention from every consecutive patient over age 18 presenting to the EDs (n = 4771) with 3315 completing post-visit questions in 4 waves at two sites and 3 waves (due to pandemic constraints) at the third. Administrative data were collected for 12 months pre- and 12 months post-intervention.Results: Throughout the study period, the participating EDs were dealing with a worsening epidemic of overdoses and deaths related to a toxic drug supply, and the COVID 19 pandemic curtailed both intervention activities and data collection. Despite these constraints, staff at two of the EDs mounted equity-oriented intervention strategies; the other site was experiencing continued, significant staff shortages and leadership changeover. Longitudinal analysis using multiple regression showed non-significant but encouraging trends in patient perceptions of quality of care and patient experiences of discrimination in the ED. Subgroup analysis showed that specific groups of patients experienced care in significantly different ways at each site. An interrupted time series of administrative data showed no significant change in staff sick time, but showed a significant decrease in the percentage of patients who left without care being completed at the site with the most robust intervention activities.Conclusions: The trends in patient perceptions and the significant decrease in the percentage of patients who left without care being completed suggest potential for impact. Realization of this potential will depend on readiness, commitment and resources at the organizational and systems levels.Trial Registration: Clinical Trials.gov #NCT03369678 (registration date November 18, 2017). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Placement of children in alternative care is supposed to be a temporary and not a permanent arrangement. In the absence of a family reunification model in South Africa, most children stay for longer periods in alternative care than necessary. This article concludes that family reunification services should be holistic in order to be effective, which is possible in the framework of a developmental approach.

Objectives The overarching research objective was to examine, culturally adapt, and further evaluate a mental health promotion approach called the PAX within 8 First Nations communities. This presentation describes a research process whereby First Nations community members and researchers worked in collaborative and culturally safe ways to reach their research objectives. Approach Building on a strong existing relationship between Swampy Cree Tribal Council (SCTC) members from Northern Canada and academic researchers, a team was formed to prepare the research proposal. This team included community members, leaders from First Nations organizations, decision makers, program developers and researchers. This research was guided by two-eyed seeing, a principle developed by a Mi’kmaw Elder, that recognizes both Indigenous and Western ways of knowing, where one worldview does not dominate the other. The research process was compliant with Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession (OCAP) principles that ensure self-determination of First Nations communities over research involving their people. Results A First Nations community liaison was hired as a research team member ensuring that traditional and cultural protocols were adhered to and connections to community members facilitated and sustained. Over the course of the research, the team met monthly to oversee implementation and annually with SCTC community members for guidance and for sharing and interpreting results. All 8 communities were actively engaged and benefitted from their involvement. Seeing the value of examining PAX’s effectiveness through linkages to administrative datasets, community members supported engagement of an additional 16 First Nations communities thereby ensuring an adequate sample size for the study. Health and education databases were linked to program data from 20 First Nations communities. Infographics, lay summaries and presentations were prepared for meaningful knowledge exchange. Conclusion First Nations communities deemed it essential to understand what works and for whom regarding mental health promotion. Building relationships with First Nations community members based on trust and respect provided information that was relevant and beneficial to their communities. This relationship-building should be considered when developing research timelines and budgets.

Objectives PAX, a mental health promotion approach, has been shown to decrease negative mental health outcomes and improve academic achievement. These effects have yet to be shown among Indigenous children. We evaluated PAX for improving First Nations children’s outcomes following a research process wherein community members and researchers work more collaboratively. Approach Building on a long-term relationship with Swampy Cree Tribal Council, community members, First Nations leaders and researchers worked together through all phases of the project. This cluster randomized controlled trial used population-based health, social services, and education administrative data that allowed de-identified individual-level linkages across all databases through a scrambled health number. Our cohort of 725 children from 20 First Nations schools were randomized to PAX (n=469, 11 schools) or wait-list control (n=256, 9 schools). We used propensity score weighting and multi-level modeling to estimate the differences over time (2011 up to 2020) between children exposed to PAX and those who were not. Results Differences in baseline characteristics were found between the two groups of children, despite the cluster randomization. After applying propensity score weights, children in the PAX group had significantly greater decreases in conduct problems (β:-1.08, standard error(se):0.2505, p

Abstract Background To reduce social inequities in health, the World Health Organization’s Commission on Social Determinants of Health recommends acting as soon as life begins. In this context, parenting support is promoted as a major lever. The objective of the present research was to develop an intervention theory establishing the conditions for the success of interventions, policies, and organizations supporting parenting in terms of reducing or preventing social inequalities in health for both mother and child in the perinatal period. Methods To meet these objectives, we conducted a realist evaluation based on a multiple-case study. The study evaluated two border towns in Europe. We collected data from three sources: documentary reviews, focus groups and interviews with professionals, and parental questionnaires. Results The main results concerning the fight against social inequalities in health show a true willingness on the part of those involved to carry out universal actions, coordinated between professionals and institutions, in response to the demands of parents; however, the reality on the ground shows the complexity of their implementation and the multiplicity of results. Our middle-range theory showed that to be effective in tackling social inequalities in health, actions must address structural determinants at the macro-systemic level. However, the field of realist evaluation shows that it is first and foremost the actions focused on individual behavior that are implemented. While there is a general political desire to combat social inequalities in health in early childhood, the results show that the strategies in place are potentially not the most effective. Effective support actions would respond to individual strategies; however, current approaches target parents’ behavior, aiming to empower them but without giving them the means to do so. Conclusions This research constitutes a body of knowledge gathered for reflection and action. In particular, any perinatal policy should clearly state among its objectives the intention to reduce social inequalities in health. The policy should also state that it will be evaluated according to the criteria of proportionate universalism, interprofessional coordination, and actions based on the diversity of parents’ needs.

Songs are popular resources with teachers of young language learners. In addition to important socioemotional and developmental outcomes, a common assumption is that songs will help support learning the target language. This systematic review narratively synthesises evidence from intervention research on the effects of using songs in second or foreign language classrooms on linguistic outcomes among children aged 2–18 years. 1862 potentially relevant reports were identified. After screening, 60 intervention studies from 23 countries were located that assessed the relationship between using songs in the classroom and substantive linguistic outcomes. These were vocabulary acquisition, grammatical learning, and speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. While most of the assembled literature made positive causal claims about the relationship between singing songs and these outcomes, a majority were not appropriately designed to support these claims. Our formal assessment of the robustness of the designs and other methodological characteristics of the included studies suggests that it is not possible to draw firm causal inferences about the effect of using songs on linguistic outcomes. This systematic review makes the case for conducting further robustly designed intervention research to better inform our understanding of the linguistic effects of using songs to teach young language learners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this measurement study was to examine the Scale of Body Connection (SBC) sensitivity to change among mind--body or bodywork interventions and to explore the concurrent validity in relation to emotion dysregulation and mindfulness skills. Methods: This study was based on multiple clinical trials that had used the SBC to evaluate changes in body awareness (BA) and bodily dissociation (BD) in response to a mind--body or bodywork intervention. To test for sensitivity to change, t tests were used to examine change and estimate effect sizes. To explore convergent validity, Pearson's product--moment correlations between the SBC subscales and Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) were calculated among a subset of the studies, which also included these measures. Results: The BA and BD scales consistently detected significant positive responses to a range of intervention types (yoga, mindfulness meditation, BA, multimodal therapy, and bodywork), demonstrating SBC sensitivity to change. With a few exceptions, the effect sizes across studies for BA were above 0.35, indicating near moderate-to-large effect sizes. The effect sizes for BD, as a measure of responsiveness, were much smaller than for BA; however, four of the studies had effect sizes between 0.54 and 0.86. Concurrent validity with the DERS was supported by moderate-to-large correlations, and with the FFMQ, it was significant with the BA scale in one included study. Conclusions: The results of this study further establish SBC validity and sensitivity to change across a range of mind--body therapies and confirm prior findings of moderate-to-strong internal consistency reliability. The findings support the use of this brief scale to assess key dimensions of BA and BD in practice and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given social workers' role in developing programs to respond to social issues, it is important to offer examples on how to apply all steps of intervention research to ensure the development of evidence-informed interventions. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how one specific intervention research framework was applied in the development and refinement of an intervention aimed to foster youth compassion, leadership, and advocacy skills. Further, specific group work skills embedded in the design of the intervention will be shared as well as results from an initial pilot study completed to aid in the further refinement of the curriculum-guided group program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the effect of a language-concordant health coaching intervention for Spanish-speaking patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) and uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) on glycemic control, anxiety, depression, and diabetes self-efficacy.Methods: 64 patients with T2D were randomly assigned to a control or intervention group. Outcomes were assessed by blood work and surveys pre and post intervention.Results: The mean sample age was 47.8 years (SD=11.3) and 81% were female. HbA1c was not significantly different between groups at baseline. The intervention group's HbA1c was significantly lower at times 2 and 3 than in the control arm (p < .01 and p < .001). There were significant reductions in the intervention group's mean HbA1c levels from baseline 10.37 to midpoint 9.20, p < .001; and from baseline 10.42 to study end 8.14, p < .001. Depression and anxiety scores significantly decreased (p < .05 and p < .001), and diabetes self-efficacy significantly increased (p < .001).Conclusion: Health coaching led to statistically significant and clinically meaningful decreases in HbA1c, depression, and anxiety scores among LEP Latinx adults with uncontrolled T2D.Practice Implications: Heath coaching can be conducted in primary care clinics by nurses or advanced practice nurses. The short-term intervention tested here could be adapted to the clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Placement of children in alternative care is supposed to be a temporary and not a permanent arrangement. In the absence of a family reunification model in South Africa, most children stay for longer periods in alternative care than necessary. This article concludes that family reunification services should be holistic in order to be effective, which is possible in the framework of a developmental approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is a Dance Movement Psychotherapy (DMP) pilot intervention designed to address the psychological challenges faced by Greek breast cancer patients, after surgery and around radiotherapy treatment. It was designed as a 12 weeks' project, involving patients of diverse age and educational level, mostly living in rural areas. The personality and psychopathology inventory Symptoms' Check List-90 (SCL-90), the therapist's records and video self-observation were used in a mixed method approach. Thirteen subjects initiated the study, but they were gradually reduced and only four completed it. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS-25 addressing this fact. Positive results of qualitative interpretation of the therapist's data and SCL-90, as well as changes in movement patterns and self-perception evaluated via video self-observation, showed that the intervention was beneficial for the patients who completed it. However, the fact that not all the participants were able to finish the program, implies that although DMT intervention at an early stage can help some patients deal with strong emotions, careful evaluation of eligible individuals should precede. Besides the patients' medical condition, demographic and personality characteristics should be considered in the design of future similar studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]