| 1. |
- Addelyan Rasi, Hamideh, et al.
(författare)
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Can a psychosocial intervention programme teaching coping strategies improve the quality of life of Iranian women? : A non-randomised quasi-experimental study
- 2013
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - : BMJ Publishing Group. - 2044-6055. ; 3:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: To assess whether a psychosocial intervention teaching coping strategies to women can improve quality of life (QOL) in groups of Iranian women exposed to social pressures. Design: Quasi-experimental non-randomised group design involving two categories of Iranian women, each category represented by non-equivalent intervention and comparison groups. Setting: A large urban area in Iran. Participants: 44 women; 25 single mothers and 19 newly married women. Interventions: Seventh-month psychosocial intervention aimed at providing coping strategies. Primary outcome measures: Effect sizes in four specific health-related domains and two overall perceptions of QOL and health measured by the WHOQOL-BREF instrument. Results: Large effect sizes were observed among the women exposed to the intervention in the WHOQOLBREF subdomains measuring physical health (r=0.68; p<0.001), psychological health (r=0.72; p<0.001), social relationships (r=0.52; p<0.01), environmental health (r=0.55; p<0.01) and in the overall perception of QOL (r=0.72; p<0.001); the effect size regarding overall perception of health was between small and medium (r=0.20; not significant). Small and not statistically significant effect sizes were observed in the women provided with traditional social welfare services. Conclusions: Teaching coping strategies can improve the QOL of women in societies where gender discrimination is prevalent. The findings require reproduction in studies with a more rigorous design before the intervention model can be recommended for widespread distribution.
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| 2. |
- Dalal, Koustuv, 1969-, et al.
(författare)
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Interactions between microfinance programmes and non-economic empowerment of women associated with intimate partner violence in Bangladesh : a cross-sectional study
- 2013
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 2044-6055. ; 3:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: This study aims to examine the associations between microfinance programme membership and intimate partner violence (IPV) in different socioeconomic strata of a nationally representative sample of women in Bangladesh. Methods: The cross-sectional study was based on a nationally representative interview survey of 11 178 ever-married women of reproductive age (15-49 years). A total of 4465 women who answered the IPV-related questions were analysed separately using chi(2) tests and Cramer's V as a measure of effect size to identify the differences in proportions of exposure to IPV with regard to microfinance programme membership, and demographic variables and interactions between microfinance programme membership and factors related to non-economic empowerment were considered. Results: Only 39% of women were members of microfinance programmes. The prevalence of a history of IPV was 48% for moderate physical violence, 16% for severe physical violence and 16% for sexual violence. For women with secondary or higher education, and women at the two wealthiest levels of the wealth index, microfinance programme membership increased the exposure to IPV two and three times, respectively. The least educated and poorest groups showed no change in exposure to IPV associated with microfinance programmes. The educated women who were more equal with their spouses in their family relationships by participating in decision-making increased their exposure to IPV by membership in microfinance programmes. Conclusions: Microfinance plans are associated with an increased exposure to IPV among educated and empowered women in Bangladesh. Microfinance firms should consider providing information about the associations between microfinance and IPV to the women belonging to the risk groups.
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| 3. |
- Halje, Karin, et al.
(författare)
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Self-referral psychological treatment centre for young adults: a 2-year observational evaluation of routine practice before and after treatment
- 2015
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - : BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP. - 2044-6055. ; 5:8, s. e008030-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: To examine a self-referral psychological service provided to young adults with regard to effects on anxiety, depression and psychological distress and to explore client factors predicting non-adherence and non-response. Design: Observational study over a 2-year period. Setting: Young Adults Centre providing psychological services by self-referral (preprimary care) to Linkoping, Atvidaberg, and Kinda municipalities (combined population 145 000) in Ostergotland county, Sweden. Participants: 607 young adults (16-25 years of age); 71% females (n= 429). Intervention: Individually scheduled cognitive behavioural therapy delivered in up to six 45 min sessions structured according to an assessment of the clients mental health problems: anxiety, depression, anxiety and depression combined, or decreased distress without specific anxiety or depression. Primary outcome measures: Pre-post intervention changes in psychological distress (General Health Questionnaire-12, GHQ-12), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale Anxiety/Depression (HADS-A/D). Results: 192 clients (32.5%) discontinued the intervention on their own initiative and 39 clients (6.6%) were referred to a psychiatric clinic during the course of the intervention. Intention-to-treat analyses including all clients showed a medium treatment effect size (d= 0.64) with regard to psychological distress, and small effect sizes were observed with regard to anxiety (d= 0.58) and depression (d= 0.57). Restricting the analyses to clients who adhered to the agreed programme, a large effect size (d= 1.26) was observed with regard to psychological distress, and medium effect sizes were observed with regard to anxiety (d= 1.18) and depression (d= 1.19). Lower age and a high initial HADS-A score were the strongest risk factors for non-adherence, and inability to concentrate and thinking of oneself as a worthless person increased the risk for discontinuation. Conclusions: We conclude that provision of psychological services to young people through a self-referral centre has potential to improve long-term mental health in communities, but management of non-adherence remains a central challenge.
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| 4. |
- Spreco, Armin, et al.
(författare)
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Algorithms for detecting and predicting influenza outbreaks: metanarrative review of prospective evaluations
- 2016
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - : BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP. - 2044-6055. ; 6:5, s. e010683-
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives Reliable monitoring of influenza seasons and pandemic outbreaks is essential for response planning, but compilations of reports on detection and prediction algorithm performance in influenza control practice are largely missing. The aim of this study is to perform a metanarrative review of prospective evaluations of influenza outbreak detection and prediction algorithms restricted settings where authentic surveillance data have been used. Design The study was performed as a metanarrative review. An electronic literature search was performed, papers selected and qualitative and semiquantitative content analyses were conducted. For data extraction and interpretations, researcher triangulation was used for quality assurance. Results Eight prospective evaluations were found that used authentic surveillance data: three studies evaluating detection and five studies evaluating prediction. The methodological perspectives and experiences from the evaluations were found to have been reported in narrative formats representing biodefence informatics and health policy research, respectively. The biodefence informatics narrative having an emphasis on verification of technically and mathematically sound algorithms constituted a large part of the reporting. Four evaluations were reported as health policy research narratives, thus formulated in a manner that allows the results to qualify as policy evidence. Conclusions Awareness of the narrative format in which results are reported is essential when interpreting algorithm evaluations from an infectious disease control practice perspective.
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| 5. |
- Teder, Marie, et al.
(författare)
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Family-based behavioural intervention programme for obese children : a feasibility study
- 2012
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - : BMJ. - 2044-6055. ; 2:2, s. e000268-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: To assess a 2-year family-based behavioural intervention programme against child obesity.DESIGN: Single-group pre- and post-intervention feasibility study.SETTING: Swedish paediatric outpatient care.PARTICIPANTS: 26 obese children aged 8.3-12.0 years and their parents who had consented to actively participate in a 2-year intervention.INTERVENTIONS: 25 paediatric outpatient group sessions over a 2-year period with parallel groups for children and parents. The basis for the programme was a manual containing instructions for tutor-supervised group sessions with obese children and their parents. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was change in standardised body mass index between baseline and after 36 months. The secondary outcome measures were change in the waist:height ratio, metabolic parameters and programme adherence. The participants were examined at baseline and after 3, 12 and 24 months of therapy and at follow-up 12 months after completion of the programme.RESULTS: The primary outcome measure, standardised body mass index, declined from a mean of 3.3 (0.7 SD) at baseline to 2.9 (0.7 SD) (p<0.001) at follow-up 12 months after completion of the programme. There was no change in the waist:height ratio. Biomedical markers of blood glucose metabolism and lipid status remained in the normal range. 96% of the families completed the programme.CONCLUSIONS: This feasibility study of a 2-year family-based behavioural intervention programme in paediatric outpatient care showed promising results with regard to further weight gain and programme adherence. These findings must be confirmed in a randomised controlled trial with longer follow-up before the intervention programme can be implemented on a larger scale.
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