Preventive medicine
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Preventive medicine · Jul 2019
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyEffects of a prevention program on multiple health-compromising behaviours in adolescence: A cluster randomized controlled trial.
We aimed to assess the effectiveness of 'Paesaggi di Prevenzione', a school-based prevention program delivered by trained teachers and designed to tackle smoking, alcohol misuse, dietary risks, and physical inactivity in adolescence. We evaluated the program between 2010 and 2013 with a two-arm, parallel-group, multicentre cluster randomized controlled trial in which schools were the units of randomization. We collected data on health-compromising behaviours using self-reported measurements of behaviour frequency administered before and after program implementation. ⋯ The program had iatrogenic effects in regard to some eating behaviours, resulting in (i) lower odds of fruit consumption among middle-school students (odds ratio [OR] 0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.68-0.99) and (ii) lower odds of having breakfast every day in high-school students at the post-intervention measurement (OR 0.76; 95%CI 0.58-0.99) but not at one-year follow-up (OR 0.94; 95%CI 0.69-1.28). Due to the possibility of unintended effects, we advise against disseminating 'Paesaggi di Prevenzione' in its present form. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN00953701.
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Preventive medicine · Jul 2019
Intensity and temporal patterns of physical activity and cardiovascular disease risk in midlife.
Physical activity (PA) and sedentary time (SED) are associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but the temporal patterns of these behaviors most beneficial for cardiovascular health remain unknown. We aimed to identify the intensity and temporal patterns of PA and SED measured continuously by an accelerometer and their relationship with CVD risk. At the age of 46 years, 4582 members (1916 men; 2666 women) of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 study underwent continuous measurement of PA with Polar Active (Polar Electro, Finland) accelerometers for one week. ⋯ Four distinct PA clusters were recognized based on accelerometer data and X-means clustering. A significant difference in CVD risk across the clusters was found in both genders. These results can be used in developing and promoting CVD prevention strategies.
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Preventive medicine · Jul 2019
Economic evaluation of California prenatal participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) to prevent preterm birth.
There is growing evidence that prenatal participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) reduces the risk of adverse birth outcomes. With recent changes in health care, rising health care costs, and increasing rates of prematurity in the U. S., there is urgency to estimate the potential cost savings associated with prenatal WIC participation. ⋯ The findings confirm evaluations from the early 1990s that prenatal WIC participation is cost-saving and cost-effective. Further savings could be achieved if all eligible women were enrolled in WIC. Substantial preterm birth-related costs would result from reductions in WIC participation.
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Preventive medicine · Jul 2019
Consequences of inadequate sleep during the college years: Sleep deprivation, grade point average, and college graduation.
Sleep deprivation can have substantial consequences for college learning and achievement. However, prior studies on this topic are limited due to the reliance on small and convenience samples, the use of cross-sectional data, inadequate control for confounders, and the lack of outcome data from official school records. The present study used two waves of longitudinal data from the U. ⋯ Students who experienced sleep deprivation from their freshman to senior years had a lower chance of graduation than students who were not sleep deprived. Furthermore, sleep deprivation during students' senior year was found to be more consequential for college graduation than sleep deprivation during their freshman year. Findings suggest that the ramifications of chronic sleep deprivation extend beyond short-term GPA; sleep deprivation predicts the likelihood of obtaining a college degree.