scholarly journals Uncovering the Truth

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-50
Author(s):  
George E. Guthrie

Finding the truth is important. In the field of lifestyle medicine the randomized controlled trial has significant limitations. Physicians and patients need to know the truth about the healthy lifestyle changes and their ability to prevent and reverse disease. To meet this challenge, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine has established a committee of experts (HEaLM), under the leadership of David Katz to create a level of evidence construct for ranking lifestyle medicine evidence that includes evidence from basic science and epidemiologic trials. This tool will be used by the new Expert Lifestyle Medicine Panel to create guidelines and standards of practice.

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
E Macario ◽  
A Consuelo

Abstract Background Three-quarters of Mexican American women are overweight vs. 64% of white women. Our preliminary 3-year study tested a culturally tailored app to improve weight health among Latinas in Southwest U.S. Phase II randomized controlled trial (RCT) compared experimental group and control group changes in weight health, attitudes, and behaviors at 6 months. The primary outcome was weight loss of > =5% of a participant's body weight at 6 months (weight loss of this amount has shown significant health benefits). Methods Phase I evaluated a prototype (n = 54). Phase II RCT tested the app (n = 195). Both included adult Latinas with BMI 25-39 in New Mexico who reported wishing to lose weight. Weight was measured at 0-, 3-, and 6-months; an interview was conducted at 9-months. The experimental group was exposed to the app and the control group was exposed to non-culturally specific government education print materials. Results For Phase II participants 35-50 years, 29.4% of those in the experimental group, compared with 12.1% in the control group, had a weight loss of 5% at 6 months (p-value=0.04). Phase II participants <35 years were 3.9X more likely to experience a weight loss of > =5% at 6 months relative to those 50+ years; 9 of 10 participants overall maintained some healthy lifestyle changes at 9 months, with a slightly higher percentage of the experimental than the control group reporting positive changes. Conclusions De Las Mías (bilingual healthy lifestyles platform for Latinas) achieved the most impact among women 35-50 years. The primary weight loss drivers were increased efficacy in making changes in healthy eating/physical activity. The food log was difficult to use; thus, new offerings (in-app communications/videos/interactivity) consider literacy. A Healthy Lifestyle Checklist was added to improve usability. New content targets women <35 and 50+ years; builds efficacy to structure habits; and explores in-app peer support and more rewards on weight management. Key messages Our preliminary study validates and supports culturally tailored innovation for population health. Valuable lessons learned continue to inform ongoing iterations for an effective De Las Mías platform.


Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Guerrini Usubini ◽  
Roberto Cattivelli ◽  
Emanuele Maria Giusti ◽  
Francesco Vailati Riboni ◽  
Giorgia Varallo ◽  
...  

Abstract Background As treatment of choice in promoting psychological flexibility, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) was found to be effective in several conditions, and among different populations, including weight management in individuals with obesity. However, the mechanism of action of psychological flexibility is less known. The aim of the present study is, within the context of a brief ACT intervention for behavioral change and behavioral maintenance of a healthy lifestyle in a sample of inpatients with obesity, to explore the effect of each subcomponent of the psychological flexibility model on treatment processes and outcomes. Methods A randomized controlled trial will be conducted. Ninety Italian adult inpatients with obesity attending a rehabilitation program for weight loss will be randomly allocated into three experimental conditions targeting respectively each subcomponent of the psychological flexibility model: group Engage focused on values-oriented behaviors, group Openness focused on acceptance and cognitive defusion, and group Awareness focused on being present and aware of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors at every moment. Weight, BMI (kg/m2), the Psychological General Well-Being Inventory (PGWBI), the Outcome Questionnaire-45.2 (OQ-45.2), the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), the Dutch Eating Behaviors Questionnaire (DEBQ), the Brief Values Inventory (BVI), the Committed Action Questionnaire (CAQ), the Italian-Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire (I-CFQ), the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), and the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II) will be assessed at the beginning (time 0), at the end of psychological intervention (time 1), and after 3 (time 2) and 6 months (time 3) and 9 months (time 4) from discharge. During the following month after discharge, outpatients will be monitored in their adherence to a healthy lifestyle, using a wearable device. To assess the effectiveness of the intervention, mixed between-within 3 (conditions) × 4 (times) repeated measure ANOVAs will be conducted to examine changes from time 0 to time 1, 2, 3, and 4 in means of weight, BMI, and means of scores PGWBI, OQ-45.2, DASS, DERS, DEBQ, AAQ-II, BVI, CAQ, I-CFQ, and FFMQ, between three groups. Discussion This study will contribute to clarify the mechanism of action of each subcomponent of the psychological flexibility model and understand its impact on the promotion of a healthy lifestyle. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.govNCT04474509. Registered on July 4, 2020


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 232596712198972
Author(s):  
Anis Jellad ◽  
Amine Kalai ◽  
Mohamed Guedria ◽  
Mahbouba Jguirim ◽  
Sana Elmhamdi ◽  
...  

Background: Active rehabilitation has an important role in the management of patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). Although some studies have shown the benefit of hip-muscle strengthening, the effect of combining hip-muscle stretching with strengthening has not yet been defined. Purpose: To evaluate the effect of combined strengthening of the hip external rotators and abductors and stretching of the hip internal rotators on pain and function in patients with PFPS. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A total of 109 patients with PFPS (75 female and 34 male; mean age, 31.6 ± 10.8 years) were first randomly assigned to protocol A (n = 67) of the A-B arm (AB group; standard rehabilitation) or protocol B (n = 42) of the B-A arm (BA group; standard rehabilitation with strengthening of the hip external rotators and abductors and stretching of the hip internal rotators). Each protocol consisted of 3 sessions a week for 4 weeks. After a washout period, corresponding to a symptom-free period, rehabilitation programs were crossed over. A visual analog scale (VAS) evaluating perceived pain, the Functional Index Questionnaire (FIQ), and the Kujala score were administered at baseline, the end of each rehabilitation protocol, and 12 weeks after the completion of the second protocol for each group. Results: Until the final follow-up, VAS, FIQ, and Kujala scores were significantly improved in both the A-B and B-A arms ( P < .05 for all). Compared with protocol A, protocol B provided significant improvement in terms of pain and function in both the BA (VAS and Kujala; P < .001) and AB (VAS and Kujala; P < .001) groups. Conclusion: Combined strengthening of the hip abductors and external rotators with stretching of the hip internal rotators provided better outcomes, which were maintained for at least 12 weeks, in terms of pain and function in patients with PFPS.


Trials ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leopoldo J. Cabassa ◽  
Ana Stefancic ◽  
Kathleen O’Hara ◽  
Nabila El-Bassel ◽  
Roberto Lewis-Fernández ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 488-494
Author(s):  
Anna Barnard ◽  
Victoria Jansen ◽  
Mark G. Swindells ◽  
Melanie Arundell ◽  
Frank D. Burke

We report a single-blinded randomized controlled trial comparing acupuncture to sham (non-penetrating) needling for relief of symptoms of basal thumb joint arthritis. Seventy acupuncture naive patients with basal thumb joint arthritis were randomized to receive true acupuncture or sham needling with 35 patients in each arm. Blinded baseline and post-treatment assessments included visual analogue pain scores for different grips and movement. Function was assessed using the Nelson questionnaire. Both groups showed statistically and clinically significant improvements in pain at week one post-treatment compared with baseline, but there was no difference between the treatment groups. The pain relief was comparable with published data for some standard treatments. Acupuncture did not perform better than sham needling in this study, indicating that pain relief may have been achieved through non-specific mechanisms. Level of evidence: I


2018 ◽  
Vol 43 (8) ◽  
pp. 808-812 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hafiz J. Iqbal ◽  
Ashtin Doorgakant ◽  
Nader N. T. Rehmatullah ◽  
Ashok L. Ramavath ◽  
Prasad Pidikiti ◽  
...  

We conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial to investigate carpal tunnel decompression under local anaesthesia. Carpal tunnel decompression was performed in 37 wrists using local anaesthesia and an arm tourniquet and 36 without tourniquet but with a local anaesthetic mixture containing adrenaline. Patients who underwent carpal tunnel decompression using a tourniquet experienced a significantly greater degree of pain when compared with those who did not have a tourniquet. Pain and hand function improved to a similar degree in both groups. We conclude that carpal tunnel decompression performed with a tourniquet causes patients unnecessary pain with no additional benefit as compared with the wide-awake carpal tunnel decompression without use of a tourniquet. Level of evidence: I


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