Can Implementation of a Resilience Program for Primary School Children Enhance the Mental Health of Teachers?

This study investigated whether a mental health promotion program delivered by primary school teachers to prevent internalising problems in children had any impact on the teachers' job-related affective wellbeing. Teacher job-related anxiety and job-related depression were measured before teaching the Aussie Optimism program, and after implementation at 12 and 24 months. Schools and teachers were randomised to one of three groups: Aussie Optimism with Teacher Training; Aussie Optimism with Teacher Training and Coaching; or the Usual Care control group, which implemented the regular Western Australian Health Education Curriculum. In all three groups, teachers taught lessons to promote student self-management and interpersonal skills during the last two years of primary school. Teachers in schools in the control group received training in Aussie Optimism after the first year of intervention. Data was collected from 405 primary school teachers in 63 government primary schools. Multiple hierarchical regression analyses showed partial support for the hypotheses, with teachers in the Training and Coaching intervention group reporting significantly lower levels of job-related anxiety at the 12-month assessment and depression at both the 12- and 24-month assessments when compared to teachers in the Usual Care control group. There were no significant differences between teachers in the Training only group and the control group after intervention.

Randomized clinical trial of medical qigong on quality of life, fatigue, side effects, mood, status, and inflammation of cancer patients

9617 Background: The quality of life (QOL) of cancer patients is often diminished due to the side effects of treatment and symptoms of the disease itself. This study examines the impact of Medical Qigong (MQ), including gentle exercise and relaxation through meditation and breathing exercise based on the Chinese Medicine theory of energy channels, on quality of life (QOL), fatigue, side effects, mood status and inflammation. Methods: One hundred sixty two patients diagnosed with a range of cancers recruited from three university teaching hospitals were randomly assigned to two groups: a control group (n=83) that received usual health care and an intervention group (n=79) who participated in a MQ program for 10 weeks in addition to receiving usual health care at the hospital. Quality of life and symptoms were measured by the FACT-G, cancer related fatigue by FACT-F and mood status by POMS. The inflammatory marker serum C-reactive protein (CRP) was also monitored serially. Results: Regression analysis indicated that the MQ intervention group significantly improved on measures of overall QOL (t144= -5.761, p<0.001), fatigue (t153= -5.621, p<0.001), mood disturbance (t122=2.346, p=0.021) and inflammation (CRP) (t99=2.042, p<0.044) compared to the usual care control group after controlling for baseline variables. Analysis of the FACT-G subscales revealed that the MQ intervention group also significantly improved in satisfaction with sex life (t92=-3.783, p<0.001) and reduced side effects of nausea (t152=-2.071, p=0.040) and sleep disturbance (t150=-2.603, p=0.010) compared to the usual care control group. Pain was improved in both intervention and control groups. Conclusions: This study suggests that MQ with usual health care can improve overall QOL, fatigue, positive mood status and reduce the side effects of nausea, sleep disturbance and inflammation of cancer patients. This study supports the use of MQ as an intervention for cancer care. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Abstract 3111: Contribution of Improved Cardiorespiratory Functions to Increased Pain-Free and Maximal Walking Distance in Patients with Claudication Following Arm Ergometer or Treadmill Exercise Training

Introduction: We previously reported that arm ergometer exercise training improves walking distance in patients with claudication similar to treadmill exercise training through unknown mechanisms. This is the first study to investigate the effects of 12 weeks of arm ergometer or treadmill training on cardiorespiratory functions during treadmill exercise testing in patients with claudication, as compared to a usual care control group. Hypothesis: Both arm ergometer and treadmill training will significantly improve cardiorespiratory functions, which will contribute to improvement in both pain-free walking distance (PFWD) and maximal walking distance (MWD). Methods: Participants (21m, 7f, mean age 65.6 yrs, 86 % smoke hx., 27% diabetes) with claudication were randomly assigned to supervised exercise training [arm ergometry (n=10) or treadmill (n=10) ] for 12 weeks, 3h/week, or to a usual care control group (n=8). Double product at stage 1 and at MWD, anaerobic threshold, and VO 2 at onset of claudication pain and VO 2 peak were assessed during a symptom-limited, graded treadmill exercise test. Changes in these functions from baseline were analyzed between groups via ANCOVA and associations between variables were determined by Pearson’s partial correlations. Results: Groups did not differ in baseline demographic, medical or exercise variables. There were significant differences in response of cardiorespiratory variables to training in both exercise groups compared to the control group, but no statistical differences between exercise groups. Significant moderate correlations were found between changes in all cardiorespiratory variables and changes in PFWD or MWD (Table 1 ). Conclusion: Improvements in cardiorespiratory functions following arm ergometer or treadmill training were significantly associated with changes in PFWD and MWD, supporting systemic contributions to exercise training-related improvements seen in patients with claudication. Changes from Baseline in Submaximal and Maximal Cardiorespiratory Variables and Walking Improvement