Preventive medicine
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Preventive medicine · Dec 2014
A meta-analysis of serious digital games for healthy lifestyle promotion.
Several systematic reviews have described health-promoting effects of serious games but so far no meta-analysis has been reported. This paper presents a meta-analysis of 54 serious digital game studies for healthy lifestyle promotion, in which we investigated the overall effectiveness of serious digital games on healthy lifestyle promotion outcomes and the role of theoretically and clinically important moderators. Findings showed that serious games have small positive effects on healthy lifestyles (g=0.260, 95% CI 0.148; 0.373) and their determinants (g=0.334, 95% CI 0.260; 0.407), especially for knowledge. ⋯ Serious games are best individually tailored to both socio-demographic and change need information, and benefit from a strong focus on game theories or a dual theoretical foundation in both behavioral prediction and game theories. They can be effective either as a stand-alone or multi-component programs, and appeal to populations regardless of age and gender. Given that effects of games remain heterogeneous, further explorations of which game features create larger effects are needed.
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Preventive medicine · Dec 2014
Review Meta AnalysisPhysical activity and cardiovascular risk factors in children: meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.
To assess the effects of physical activity interventions in preventing cardiovascular risk factors in childhood through a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs). ⋯ As physical activity intervention programs lasting longer than 6months are associated with reductions in blood pressure levels and triglycerides, they should be considered to be included in prevention programs for cardiovascular diseases in schoolchildren.
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Preventive medicine · Dec 2014
ReviewA systematic review of health effects of electronic cigarettes.
To provide a systematic review of the existing literature on health consequences of vaporing of electronic cigarettes (ECs). ⋯ Due to many methodological problems, severe conflicts of interest, the relatively few and often small studies, the inconsistencies and contradictions in results, and the lack of long-term follow-up no firm conclusions can be drawn on the safety of ECs. However, they can hardly be considered harmless.
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Preventive medicine · Dec 2014
Observational StudyNon-melanoma skin cancer and NSAID use in women with a history of skin cancer in the Women's Health Initiative.
Evidence for the effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) risk is inconsistent. We prospectively examined whether regular, inconsistent, or no/low-use of NSAIDs is associated with lower NMSC risk among 54,728 postmenopausal Caucasian women in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study enrolled between 1993 and 1998. ⋯ Overall, NSAID use was not associated with NMSC risk. However, in women with a history of skin cancer, regular NSAID use was associated with 18% lower odds of NMSC. Future studies on potential chemopreventative effects of NSAIDs should focus on subjects with prior history of NMSC.
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Preventive medicine · Dec 2014
Overcoming the challenges of conducting physical activity and built environment research in Latin America: IPEN Latin America.
There is evidence linking the built environment (BE) with physical activity (PA), but few studies have been conducted in Latin America (LA). State-of-the-art methods and protocols have been designed in and applied in high-income countries (HIC). In this paper, we identify key challenges and potential solutions to conducting high-quality PA and BE research in LA. ⋯ Conducting high-quality PA and BE research in LA is challenging but feasible. Networks of institutions and researchers from both HIC and LMIC play a key role. The lessons learned from the IPEN LA study may be applicable to other LMIC.