scholarly journals Exploring Efficacy of a Serious Game (TOBBSTOP) for Smoking Cessation in Pregnant Women: Pilot Case-Control Study (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesc X Marin-Gomez ◽  
Rosada Garcia-Moreno ◽  
Anabel Mayos-Fernandez ◽  
Cristina Rey-Reñones

BACKGROUND Tobacco use entails, during pregnancy, a serious risk to the mother and harmful effects on the development of the child. Europa has the highest tobacco smoking prevalence (19.3%) as compared to a worldwide mean of 6.8%. Twenty to thirty percent of pregnant women used tobacco during pregnancy worldwide. These data emphasize the urgent need for community education and implementation of prevention strategies focused on risks associated to tobacco use during pregnancy. OBJECTIVE This study aims to investigate the possibility to address this problem through a serious game (TOBBSTOP), something that has proven efficient as a tool for learning in many situations. By using a game for smoke cessation during pregnancy, we aim to maintain cessation and interest pregnant smokers in learning about health care and effects of tobacco by playing a game that helps them to achieve their challenge. METHODS A pilot case-control study enrolls 44 women who were visited in two primary care centers in Spain between March 2015 and November 2016. All participants were pregnant smokers over the age of 17 years attending consultation to a midwife during the first trimester of pregnancy who expressed their desire to stop smoking. We recruited the intervention group (n=22) among the attended on the centers and instructed them to install the game on their smartphone or tablet and use it for 3 months. Until the delivery, all participants had to respond to a questionnaire, assessing their stage on smoke cessation during their follow-up midwife consultations. The selected control group participants (n=22), matched for age, level of tobacco-dependence and number of smoking attempts. We tested the amount of CO at each visit with a carboxymeter during the entire intervention period to assess the abstinence. RESULTS Pregnant women from the intervention group, with 80.0% (12/15), had significant higher rates of cessation until delivery than control group (χ2=8.4; P=.004). Logistic regression analyses revealed that game’s use was associated with an increased likelihood to maintain smoking cessation during the intervention period compared with those not using the game (odds ratio 4.0; 95% CI 1.3-12.2). Additionally, a Mantel-Cox means’ analysis revealed that the use of the game was associated with an increased number of days without smoking, with an average of 139.7 days (95% CI 97.1-182.4) in the intervention group (χ2=13.912; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS Pregnancy is an ideal opportunity to intervene and control tobacco use among future mothers. On the other hand, serious games is an emerging technology, growing in importance, which is shown as a good tool to assist in maintaining women without smoking and help behavior change during pregnancy. However, due to study design limitations, these outcomes should be interpreted with caution. More research, using larger samples and longer follow-up periods, is needed to replicate the findings of this study.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesc X Marin-Gomez ◽  
Rocio Garcia-Moreno Marchán ◽  
Anabel Mayos-Fernandez ◽  
Gemma Flores-Mateo ◽  
Esther Granado-Font ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Tobacco use during pregnancy entails a serious risk to the mother and harmful effects on the development of the child. Europe has the highest tobacco smoking prevalence (19.3%) compared with the 6.8% global mean. Between 20% to 30% of pregnant women used tobacco during pregnancy worldwide. These data emphasize the urgent need for community education and implementation of prevention strategies focused on the risks associated with tobacco use during pregnancy. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of an intervention that incorporates a serious game (Tobbstop) to help pregnant smokers quit smoking. METHODS A two-arm randomized controlled trial enrolled 42 women who visited 2 primary care centers in Catalonia, Spain, between March 2015 and November 2016. All participants were pregnant smokers, above 18 years old, attending consultation with a midwife during the first trimester of pregnancy, and had expressed their desire to stop smoking. Participants were randomized to the intervention (n=21) or control group (n=21). The intervention group was instructed to install the game on their mobile phone or tablet and use it for 3 months. Until delivery, all the participants were assessed on their stage of smoking cessation during their follow-up midwife consultations. The primary outcome was continuous tobacco abstinence until delivery confirmed by the amount of carbon monoxide at each visit, measured with a carboxymeter. RESULTS Continuous abstinence until delivery outcome was 57% (12/21) in the intervention group versus 14% (3/21) in the control group (hazard ratio=4.31; 95% CI 1.87-9.97; P=.001). The mean of total days without smoking until delivery was higher in the intervention group (mean 139.75, SD 21.76) compared with the control group (mean 33.28, SD 13.27; P<.001). In addition, a Kapplan-Meier survival analysis showed that intervention group has a higher abstinence rate compared with the control group (log-rank test, χ21=13.91; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS Serious game use is associated with an increased likelihood to maintain abstinence during the intervention period if compared with those not using the game. Pregnancy is an ideal opportunity to intervene and control tobacco use among future mothers. On the other hand, serious games are an emerging technology, growing in importance, which are shown to be a good tool to help quitting smoking during pregnancy and also to maintain this abstinent behavior. However, because of the study design limitations, these outcomes should be interpreted with caution. More research, using larger samples and longer follow-up periods, is needed to replicate the findings of this study. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01734421; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01734421 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/75ISc59pB)


2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
pp. 0-0
Author(s):  
L.A. Vaira ◽  
C. Hopkins ◽  
M. Petrocelli ◽  
J.R. Lechien ◽  
S. Cutrupi ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: The growing number of COVID-19 patients with long-lasting olfactory disorders makes it necessary to identify effective treatments that enhance the spontaneous recovery of olfactory function. METHODS: Multicentre randomised case-control study that involved 18 patients with COVID-19 related anosmia or severe hyposmia for more than 30 days. Nine patients were prescribed systemic prednisone and nasal irrigation with betamethasone, ambroxol and rinazine for 15 days. The other 9, untreated, patients were used as controls. The olfactory function was evaluated with CCCRC test at 20 and 40 days from the first evaluation. RESULTS: In the control group, a median olfactory score of 20 (IQR 30) was detected at baseline. At the 20-day control there was no significant improvement in olfactory function. The improvement in olfactory performance became significant at the 40-day follow-up compared to baseline scores [60 (IQR 60) versus 20 (IQR 30)]. In the treatment group, patients had a mean olfactory score of 10 (IQR 15) at initial control. At the 20-day control, a significant im-provement in the olfactory scores, compared to the baseline, was detected [70 (IQR 40) versus 10 (IQR 15)]. Olfactory function further improved at 40 days [median score 90 (IQR 50)]. Patients in the treatment group reported significantly higher improvements of the olfactory scores than the controls at both the 20-day [40 (IQR 45) versus 10 (IQR 15)] and 40-day [60 (IQR 40) versus 30 (IQR 25)] evaluations. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this study, the mix of drugs including steroids could represent a useful specific therapy to reduce the prevalence of this long-term morbidity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salman Khazaei ◽  
Saeid Bashirian ◽  
Akram Bathaei ◽  
Mohadese Sadri ◽  
Fateme Shirani ◽  
...  

Background: Adolescent pregnancy, pregnancy in women aged between 13-19 years, is considered a major health problem. Objective: This study was performed to determine the maternal, perinatal, and neonatal outcomes of adolescent pregnancies. Materials and Methods: The present hospital-based case-control study was performed on pregnant women who were referred to Fatemieh Hospital in Hamadan City for delivery. The case group was pregnant women whose gestational age was less than 19 years (adolescent pregnancy) and the control group included pregnant women whose gestational age was at 19-35 years (adult women pregnancy). Data were analyzed using Stata software version 14. The significant level was considered less than 0.05. Results: The unwanted pregnancy was significantly higher in adolescent women (45% vs. 28.5%, P=0.002). 18% of adolescent women had the experience of spouse violence compared to 4.25% in the control group (P<0.001). Accessing prenatal care and supplements were significantly higher in adult women (P<0.05). The adult mothers had significantly higher cesarean section delivery compared adolescent group (54.91% vs. 33%, P<0.001). Also, there was a significant association between postpartum hemorrhages and the study group (22% in cases compared to 13.75% in the control group, P=0.04). The Apgar score 1 minute was significantly higher in adult mothers (8.05±2.08 vs. 7.39±2.05, P<0.001). Conclusion: In conclusion, adolescent mothers in the west of Iran had a higher risk of inadequate prenatal care, low Apgar score and postpartum hemorrhage. Therefore, society should focus on public health policies that can improve the adequacy of prenatal care among adolescents.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna-Sophia von Celsing ◽  
Per Kristiansson ◽  
Kurt Svärdsudd ◽  
Thorne Wallman

Abstract Background: To evaluate the efficacy of a multidisciplinary vocational programme in sick-listed, primary health care patients as compared to matched non-programme patients. Methods: The design was a 3-year prospective population-based, matched case-control study. It was set in a large primary healthcare centre in the city of Eskilstuna, Sweden. The subjects were 943 sickness-certified patients (482 women and 461 men). Intervention: 170 high-risk patients and a matched control group (n = 340) with similar risk for not returning to work within expected time, based on propensity score was created. The intervention group passed a multidisciplinary medical assessment and a coordinated vocational programme, while the control group received usual care by their general practitioner. Main outcome measures: Sick leave conclusion and the day when it occurred. Results: The follow-up time was subdivided into four periods. During the first two periods, days 1–14 and days 15–112 after baseline, the intervention group had a significantly lower sick leave conclusion rate than the control group (hazard ratios, (HR) 0.32, 95% CI 0.20–0.51, p < 0.0001 and 0.47, 95% CI 0.35–0.64). During the third period, days 113–365, the intervention group had an insignificantly lower conclusion rate (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.46–1.08, p = 0.10), and during the fourth follow-up period, days 366–1096, the intervention group had an insignificantly higher conclusion rate than the control group (HR 1.16, 95% CI 0.69–1.96, p = 0.58). Across the total follow-up period, the intervention group had a lower conclusion rate than the control group (HR 0.55, 95% CI 0.45–0.66, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: No positive significant effects of the rehabilitation programme on time to sick leave conclusion were found.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajesh Kumar ◽  
Ravi Kant ◽  
Poonam Yadav ◽  
Tamar Rodney ◽  
Mukesh Bairwa

Abstract BackgroundThe burden of tobacco-associated disorders is prevalent worldwide. Over the years, many innovative internet-based approaches have been utilized with variable success to quit tobacco. Though the effectiveness of internet-based and face-to-face interventions on quitting smoking are very well reported in the literature, due to limitation in methodology and limited sample size, it is required to integrate and analyze these studies' findings to reach a single conclusion. The study evaluated the effectiveness of the internet as an intervention approach versus face-to-face interaction on reducing tobacco use as control among adults.MethodsA systematic search was performed through various electronic databases such as Medline, PsychInfo, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), ResearchGate, Google Scholar, and Academia. Reference lists of the eligible articles were also screened. Full-text articles were included as per eligibility criteria (PICO framework). No ethnicity restriction was applied.ResultsA total of 13 studies were selected for meta-analysis, with 3852 and 3908 participants in intervention and control groups respectively. Forest plot favours the intervention group at one month follow up for tobacco quitting (OR: 2.37, CI: 1.86-3.02, P-0.00001, I2 =0%), at three months (OR: 1.88, CI: 1.48-2.40, P-0.00001, I2 =42%) at six months (OR: 2.02, CI: 1.64-2.50, P-0.00001, I2 =38%) and at 1 year of follow-up (OR: 1.43, CI: 1.18-1.74, P-0.00001, I2 = 36%) comparing to control group. ConclusionInternet and web-based interventions are highly useful in tobacco quitting at one month, three months, six months, and one year of follow-up compared to face-to-face interaction or no intervention, although the level of evidence was moderate. Additionally, limited availability of trials in developing countries, arising need for research of internet use in developing countries to quit tobacco. Prospero Registration number- PROSPERO 2020 CRD42020214306


Author(s):  
Angela Chu ◽  
Tyler M Rose ◽  
Danielle A Gundrum ◽  
Tressa E McMorris ◽  
Eytan A Klausner ◽  
...  

Abstract Disclaimer In an effort to expedite the publication of articles, AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time. Purpose Pharmacists report high levels of burnout. Mindfulness approaches have been demonstrated to have positive results in the general population and in other healthcare professions. However, limited studies have been performed evaluating mindfulness approaches in student pharmacists. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of daily use of a mindfulness mobile application in improving student pharmacists’ perceived stress, burnout, and mindfulness. Methods This study was a randomized, longitudinal, waitlist-controlled trial. The intervention group was asked to meditate using the mindfulness application Headspace daily for at least 6 weeks. The waitlist control group was asked to abstain from using the application for the entire study. Stress, burnout, and mindfulness were assessed using validated survey instruments at baseline, 6 weeks, and 10 weeks. A secondary outcome was to assess the persistence of application use after the intervention period. Results Fifty-six participants completed the study. The intervention group reported significantly lower scores on stress and burnout at 6 weeks compared to the control group. The intervention group also reported significantly higher scores on mindfulness. The differences in stress, burnout, and mindfulness persisted at follow-up. The mean percentage of students in the intervention group who used the application each day was 90% over the intervention period and 62% over the follow-up period. Conclusion A mindfulness mobile application significantly improved student pharmacists’ stress, burnout, and mindfulness with daily use. Most participants continued to use the application for 4 weeks after the end of the intervention. Positive effects on stress and mindfulness persisted even with decreased use.


Trauma ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 146040862097814
Author(s):  
Justin Vaida ◽  
Alexander DB Conti ◽  
Justin J Ray ◽  
Daniel A Bravin ◽  
Michelle A Bramer

Introduction Optimal management of lower extremity fractures includes early antibiotics administration, thorough irrigation and debridement, consideration of soft tissue injury, and definitive skeletal management. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of topical vancomycin powder in the treatment of open lower extremity fractures. Methods This was a retrospective case control study in which open lower extremity fractures at our institution were reviewed for development of infection (including species and sensitivity if present) and the development of unanticipated wound complications requiring intervention. Patients from 2010-2015 were treated with standard of care consistent with evidence-based literature (IV antibiotics with external fixator, intramedullary nail, etc.). Patients from 2016–18 were additionally treated with vancomycin powder applied directly to the wound before closure. All patients were monitored per the treating surgeon’s standard follow-up protocol and had follow-up of at least two months. Results This retrospective case control study comprised 434 patients. The historical control group (n = 388 patients) and treatment group (n = 46 patients) were similar for age, sex, BMI (body mass index), diabetes, smoking status, and Injury Severity Score (ISS). There were 36 infections (9.28%) in the control group compared to four infections (8.70%) in the vancomycin powder group (p = 0.901). No significant difference was seen after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, diabetes, smoking status, and ISS. The vancomycin powder group experienced significantly more wound complications (15.2%) compared to the control group (6.4%; p = 0.039), which remained significant when adjusting for multiple covariates. Conclusions Topical vancomycin powder did not reduce the infection rate when applied in the surgical site of open lower extremity fractures. Instead, the addition of topical vancomycin powder resulted in significantly more wound complications in patients with open lower extremity fractures.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Binit Vaidya ◽  
Manisha Bhochhibhoya ◽  
Shweta Nakarmi

Objective. To examine the efficacy of vitamin E in methotrexate- (MTX-) induced transaminitis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. A case-control study was conducted at a tertiary rheumatology center for 12 months. Patients with RA on MTX and deranged aminotransferases were included. Patients with previous liver diseases, baseline transaminitis before methotrexate initiation, alcohol intake, muscle diseases, under hepatotoxic drugs, and aminotransferases>3 times the upper normal limit were excluded. The patients were divided into treatment (vitamin E 400 mg bid for 3 months) and control groups (no vitamin E) using a random number table. The dose of MTX was unaltered. Follow-up was done after 3 and 6 months. Independent t-test was done to compare means of two groups. Paired t-test was done to compare differences in mean. Results. Among 230 patients, 86.5% were female with a mean BMI of 25.9±4.5 kg/m2. In the treatment group, SGPT and SGOT at baseline were 73.1±20.4 and 60.2±24.5 IU/L, respectively; at 3-month follow-up 44.6±34.2 and 38.3±20.8 IU/L, respectively; and at 6-month follow-up 40.4±35.7 and 34.2±21.9 IU/L, respectively. In the control group, SGPT and SGOT at baseline were 63.4±15.1 and 46.8±13.7 IU/L, respectively, and at 3-month follow-up 55.8±45.9 and 45.5±30.9 IU/L, respectively. Significant decrease in the level of aminotransferases was seen in the treatment group (p value < 0.001) and not in the control group (p values 0.161 and 0.728, respectively). The change in levels of SGPT and SGOT from baseline to 3 months of follow-up was statistically significant in between two study groups (p values 0.007 and <0.001, respectively). From the control group, 29 patients were crossed over to vitamin E for the next 3 months. SGPT and SGOT decreased from 97.6±44.1 to 46.1±40.9 and 69.3±34.9 to 29.1±11.6 IU/L, respectively (p values 0.031 and 0.017, respectively). Conclusion. Vitamin E significantly attenuates MTX-induced transaminitis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 134 (4) ◽  
pp. 350-353
Author(s):  
M Narayan ◽  
S Limbachiya ◽  
D Balasubramanian ◽  
N Subramaniam ◽  
K Thankappan ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectivesPharyngocutaneous fistulae are dreaded complications following total laryngectomy. This paper presents our experience using 3–5 ml gastrografin to detect pharyngeal leaks following total laryngectomy, and compares post-operative videofluoroscopy with clinical follow-up findings in the detection of pharyngocutaneous fistulae.MethodsA retrospective case–control study was conducted of total laryngectomy patients. The control group (n = 85) was assessed clinically for development of pharyngocutaneous fistulae, while the study group (n = 52) underwent small-volume (3–5 ml) post-operative gastrografin videofluoroscopy.ResultsIn the control group, 24 of 85 patients (28 per cent) developed pharyngocutaneous fistulae, with 6 requiring surgical correction. In the study group, 24 of 52 patients (46 per cent) had videofluoroscopy-detected pharyngeal leaks; 4 patients (8 per cent) developed pharyngocutaneous fistulae, but all cases resolved following non-surgical management. Patients who underwent videofluoroscopy had a significantly lower risk of developing pharyngocutaneous fistulae; sensitivity and specificity in the detection of pharyngocutaneous fistulae were 58 per cent and 100 per cent respectively.ConclusionSmall-volume gastrografin videofluoroscopy reliably identified small pharyngeal leaks. Routine use in total laryngectomy combined with withholding feeds in cases of early leaks may prevent the development of pharyngocutaneous fistulae.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Raquel Neves ◽  
Fabiane Neves ◽  
Isabel Santos Silva ◽  
Maria do Céu Almeida ◽  
Pitorra Monteiro

Objective. To determine the contribution of drug use during pregnancy to the route of delivery.Methods. A case-control study was conducted at a hospital in Coimbra, Portugal, between 2001 and 2014. Drug-dependent pregnant women (n=236) were compared with a control group of low risk women (n=228) in terms of maternal characteristics, obstetric history, pregnancy complications, and labor details. Factors that influenced the mode of delivery were determined. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS v. 23.0 (IBM Corp.).pvalues < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.Results. Drug-dependent women presented a lower rate of cesarean delivery (18.2 versus 28.9%,p=0.006). After adjusting for the factors that were significantly related to the mode of delivery, drug dependency influenced the rate of cesarean section (β=0.567; 95% CI = 0.328–0.980). Within the drug-dependent group, the mode of delivery was significantly related to previous cesarean or vaginal delivery (p=0.008andp<0.001, resp.) and fetal presentation (p<0.001), but not with the type of drug, route of administration, or substitution maintenance therapy.Conclusions. The drug-dependent group presented a significantly higher rate of vaginal delivery. However, this was not associated with the behavioral factors analyzed. We hypothesize that other social and psychological factors might explain this difference.


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