scholarly journals A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Positive Family Holistic Health Intervention for Probationers in Hong Kong: A Mixed-Method Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnes Y.-K. Lai ◽  
Shirley M.-M. Sit ◽  
Carol Thomas ◽  
George O.-C. Cheung ◽  
Alice Wan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Family Communication ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Holistic Health ◽  
Health Intervention ◽  
Probation Officers ◽  
Cohen’S D ◽  
Probation Service ◽  
Cohen's D

Introduction: Probationers, offenders with less serious and non-violent offences, and under statutory supervision, have low levels of self-esteem and physical health, and high level of family conflict, and poorer quality of family relationships. This study examined the effectiveness of the existing probation service and the additional use of a positive family holistic health intervention to enhance physical, psychological, and family well-being in probationers and relationships with probation officers.Methods: Probationers under the care of the Hong Kong Social Welfare Department were randomized into a care-as-usual control group (CAU), a brief intervention group (BI) receiving two 1-h individual sessions [of a brief theory-based positive family holistic health intervention integrating Zero-time Exercise (simple and easy-to-do lifestyle-integrated physical activity) and positive psychology themes of “Praise and Gratitude” in the existing probation service], or a combined intervention group (CI) receiving BI and a 1-day group activity with family members. The outcomes were physical activity, fitness performance, self-esteem, happiness, anxiety and depression symptoms, life satisfaction, quality of life, family communication and well-being, and relationships with probation officers. Self-administered questionnaires and simple fitness tests were used at baseline, 1-month and 3-month follow-up. Linear mixed model analysis was used to compare difference in the changes of outcome variables among groups, adjusted of sex, age, and baseline values. Focus group interviews were conducted. Thematic content analysis was used.Results: 318 probationers (51% male) were randomized into CAU (n = 105), BI (n = 108), or CI (n = 105) group. CAU showed enhanced physical activity, fitness performance and psychological health, and family communication with small effect sizes (Cohen’s d: 0.19–0.41). BI and CI showed further improved physical activity, family communication and family well-being (Cohen’s d: 0.37–0.70). Additionally, CI reported greater improvements in the relationships with probation officers than CAU with a small effect size (Cohen’s d: 0.43). CI also reported greater increases in physical activity and family communication than BI with small to moderate effect sizes (Cohen’s d: 0.38–0.58). Qualitative feedbacks corroborated the quantitative findings.Conclusion: Our trial provided the first evidence of the effectiveness of probation service and the additional use of an innovative, relatively low-cost, theory-based brief positive family holistic health intervention. This intervention may offer a new model for enhancing probation service.Trial Registration: The research protocol was registered at the National Institutes of Health (identifier: NCT02770898).

A School-Based Physical Activity and Motor Development Program for Low-Fit Adolescent Females: The Sport4Fun Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 345-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jodie Andruschko ◽  
Anthony D. Okely ◽  
Phil Pearson
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Adolescent Females ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Fundamental Movement Skill ◽  
Cohen’S D ◽  
School Based ◽  
Cohen's D

This study examined the feasibility and potential efficacy of a multi-faceted secondary school–based intervention among low-fit adolescent females. TheSport4Funprogram was designed to promote physical activity participation, fundamental movement skill proficiency, perceived physical competence, and enjoyment of physical activity in secondary school students. The intervention consisted of three components including two practical components—weekly movement skill activities for 90 min during compulsory school sport and sports-based activities for 60 min after school (non-compulsory) for 6 months—and one theoretical component—three 15-min theory sessions completed during homeroom (or roll call) time per week. The control group participated in their regular school activities. Compared with females in the control group, those in the intervention group showed a greater increase in total weekday accelerometer counts per min (adjusted difference, 77.49; 95% CI, 8.21–132.77;p = .03; Cohen’s d = 1.26). The difference in total fundamental movement skill components mastered favored the intervention group but was not statistically significant (adjusted difference, 1.48; 95% CI, −1.21–4.17;p = .26, Cohen’s d = 0.48). Targeting fundamental movement skills may be a potentially novel and motivating way to promote activity among low-fit adolescent girls; however, challenges in recruitment and implementation warrant further investigation before adopting this approach more broadly.

scholarly journals Responsiveness to Change of Self-Report and Device-Based Physical Activity Measures in the Living Well With Diabetes Trial

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 1082-1087 ◽  
Author(s):  
Winnie Y.H. Lee ◽  
Bronwyn K. Clark ◽  
Elisabeth Winkler ◽  
Elizabeth G. Eakin ◽  
Marina M. Reeves
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Usual Care ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
The United States ◽  
Telephone Counseling ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Responsiveness Index ◽  
Cohen’S D ◽  
Cohen's D ◽  
Responsiveness To Change

Background:This study evaluated the responsiveness to change in physical activity of 2 self-report measures and an accelerometer in the context of a weight loss intervention trial.Methods:302 participants (aged 20 to 75 years) with type 2 diabetes were randomized into telephone counseling (n = 151) or usual care (n = 151) groups. Physical activity (minutes/week) was assessed at baseline and 6-months using the Active Australia Survey (AAS), the United States National Health Interview Survey (USNHIS) walking for exercise items, and accelerometer (Actigraph GT1M; ≥1952 counts/minute). Responsiveness to change was calculated as responsiveness index (RI), Cohen’s d (postscores) and Cohen’s d (change-scores).Results:All instruments showed significant improvement in the intervention group (P < .001) and no significant change for usual care (P > .05). Accelerometer consistently ranked as the most responsive instrument while the least responsive was the USHNIS (responsiveness index) or AAS (Cohen’s d). RIs for AAS, USNHIS and accelerometer did not differ significantly and were, respectively: 0.45 (95% CI: 0.26–0.65); 0.38 (95% CI: 0.20–0.56); and, 0.49 (95% CI: 0.23–0.74).Conclusions:Accelerometer tended to have the highest responsiveness but differences were small and not statistically significant. Consideration of factors, such as validity, feasibility and cost, in addition to responsiveness, is important for instrument selection in future trials

scholarly journals Impact of Combined Theory-Based Intervention on Psychological Effects and Physical Activity among Chinese Adolescents

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 3026
Author(s):  
Yao Zhang ◽  
Yi Yin ◽  
Jianxiu Liu ◽  
Ming Yang ◽  
Zeshi Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Seventh Grade ◽  
Exercise Frequency ◽  
Psychological Constructs ◽  
Cohen’S D ◽  
School Day ◽  
Cohen's D

Purpose: The current study was intended to assess the effect of a facilitated behavioral intervention based on the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) on psychological constructs and physical activity among adolescents over a period of eight weeks. Methods: Students (n = 51, 12 ± 0.3 years of age) in the seventh grade at a junior middle school in China were randomly assigned to two groups: the intervention group (n = 24) and the control group (n = 27). Both groups were pre- and post-tested with the related psychological constructs of the extended TPB, along with behavioral measures of the Physical Activity Scale and ActiGraph accelerometer (model wGT3X-BT). The intervention group took part in 45 min classes once per week for 8 weeks, including five indoor theoretical courses and three outdoor basketball matches. The control group was not required to make any change to their normal school day. Also, 2 × 2 repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to compare the differences between the two groups, and then t-test was employed to compare the independent and paired differences. Results: Significant increases in pre–post subjective norms (SN) (p = 0.041, Cohen’s d = 0.62), perceived behavior control (PBC) (p = 0.023, Cohen’s d = 0.72), exercise intention (EI) (p = 0.043, Cohen’s d = 0.61), and self-efficacy (SE) (p = 0.035, Cohen’s d = 1.36) were observed in the intervention group. In addition, participants in the intervention group increased their exercise frequency (p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.25) and intensity (p = 0.028, Cohen’s d = 0.68), especially their time spent on light intensity physical activity (light-PA%; p = 0.031, Cohen’s d = 0.68), and their percentage of sedentary time (SB%) was also reduced (from 68% ± 10% to 58% ± 7%, p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.17). Furthermore, the intervention group showed significantly better performance in PBC (p = 0.032, Cohen’s d = 0.62), EI (p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.32), SE (p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.15), SB% (p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.22), light-PA% (p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.12), and total physical activity (TPA) (p = 0.015, Cohen’s d = 0.72) compared to the control group at the post-test. No significant pre post differences were observed for any psychological or behavioral variables in the control group, except for exercise frequency, but the values were still lower than those in the intervention group after the 8-week intervention (3.70 ± 0.72 versus 3.92 ± 0.83). Conclusion: The combined theory-based intervention was effective at improving psychological constructs and physical activity among seventh-grade adolescents in 8 weeks.

scholarly journals Effects of Theory-Based Behavioral Interventions on Physical Activity Among Overweight and Obese Female Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 226-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amerigo Rossi ◽  
Ciarán Friel ◽  
Leeja Carter ◽  
Carol Ewing Garber
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Cohen’S D ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Obese Female ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Cohen's D ◽  
Female Cancer Survivors

Purpose. To determine whether theory-based physical activity (PA) interventions for overweight and obese female cancer survivors lead to increased PA and improved health. Methods. This systematic review examined randomized controlled trials analyzing the impact of theory-based PA interventions on overweight and obese female cancer survivors through December 2016. Searches of 5 electronic databases revealed 10 articles that included 1351 participants who met the inclusion criteria. Results. Participants were primarily non-Hispanic white (74%-100%) breast or endometrial cancer survivors. Intervention characteristics and PA assessment tools varied greatly. Adherence (68%-99%) and retention (79%-100%) were relatively high. Social cognitive theory was utilized as the theoretical construct in 9 of the 10 studies. Home-based interventions led to small improvements in PA (Cohen’s d range = 0.25-0.31), whereas home-based plus center-based interventions led to moderate to large improvements (Cohen’s d range = 0.45-1.02). Only three of the studies assessed psychosocial behavioral processes associated with PA, and the results were mixed. Health-related outcomes included improvements in aerobic fitness (Cohen’s d = 0.32-1.1 in 5 studies), large absolute decreases in waist circumferences (>6 cm in 3 of 5 studies; Cohen’s d = −0.31 to −1.02), and no change in inflammatory biomarkers (in 2 studies). Only one serious adverse event (pelvic stress fracture) was attributed to the interventions. Conclusions. Theory-based PA interventions are safe and feasible for overweight and obese female cancer survivors. Interventions that include a center-based component showed moderate to large effect sizes for PA. Future studies should evaluate behavioral variables and more health-related clinical outcomes.

Understanding Language Features in Loneliness Forum Posts that Elicit Comments (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anietie Andy
Keyword(s):  
Language Processing ◽  
Latent Dirichlet Allocation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Online Forums ◽  
Cohen’S D ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
Cohen's D ◽  
To Receive

BACKGROUND Loneliness is a threat to the well-being of individuals and in older adults is associated with increased risk of early mortality. Studies have shown that some individuals seek support around loneliness on online forums/social media platforms. A common challenge in online forums is that some posts do not receive comments. In some non-health related forums, posts not receiving comments may not be a serious concern, however, in an online health forum such as those focused on discussions around loneliness, posts not receiving comments could translate to individuals seeking support around loneliness not receiving adequate support. OBJECTIVE The aim of this work is to analyze posts published on an active online forum focused on discussions around loneliness (loneliness forum) to determine the language features associated with posts that elicit comments from members of the forum. METHODS For the analysis in this work, 15,012 posts published on an online loneliness forum by 9,956 users were analyzed. Of these posts, 6,450 received five or more comments, 13,221 received one or more comments, and 1,791 received no comments. Using the natural language processing method, latent dirichlet allocation (LDA) and a psycholinguistic dictionary, Linguistics Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC), the language features expressed in posts that elicit comments from members of the forum were determined. RESULTS The findings from this work show that posts related to topics themes on relationships (Cohen’s D = 0.319) and the use of negation words (Cohen’s D = 0.149) tend to receive one or more comments. Also, posts associated with LIWC categories on first person singular pronouns (Cohen’s D = 0.264) tend to elicit one or more comments. Posts on topic themes related to spending time around holidays/birthdays/year/time of day or week (Cohen’s D = 0.79) and affection relative to relationships (Cohen’s D = 0.102) tend to receive five or more comments. CONCLUSIONS This work identifies language features expressed in loneliness forum posts that elicit comments. The findings from this work can provide members of online loneliness forums tips on how to write posts that potentially elicit comments from members of the forum.

A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study using Mind–Body Interventions among Refugees in Sweden

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 19-34
Author(s):  
Kevin M. Cloninger ◽  
Alexandre Granjard ◽  
Nigel Lester ◽  
Erik Lindskär ◽  
Patricia Rosenberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Harm Avoidance ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
Cohen’S D ◽  
Coaching Intervention ◽  
Self Transcendence ◽  
Cohen's D

Background: Migration is one of the major challenges of the 21st century with many refugees being victims of torture and experiencing war and the collapse of their society. Sweden, for example, received about 169,520 refugees during 2015 and 20–30% of them were estimated to suffer from mental illness. Nevertheless, research shows that about 66.40% of refugees never reveal their traumatic experiences to a doctor and a majority refuse psychiatric help. Hence, we need innovative methods to promote the physical, mental, and social health of refugees. Objective: We examined the effects of Anthropedia’s Well-Being Coaching (i.e., a biopsychosocial approach to coaching) and Well-Being Spa (i.e., modern version of age-old Spa interventions) on the personality and health of a sample of refugees living in Sweden. Methodology: Participants were recruited as part of a health and employment project in Blekinge, Sweden. A total of 70 Syrian refugees were randomly assigned to a six-month intervention comprising either Well-Being Coaching, or Well-Being Spa, or both (i.e., Mind–Body). The participants reported personality (temperament and character), well-being (positive and negative affect, life satisfaction, and harmony in life), and ill-being (defeat and entrapment, and anxiety and depression) at the beginning and at the end of the six-month intervention period. Results: Participants assigned to the Well-Being Coaching intervention showed increases in self-directedness (Cohen’s d = 0.84), cooperativeness (Cohen’s d = 0.36), positive affect (Cohen’s d = 0.43), and life satisfaction (Cohen’s d = 0.56), and decreases in both negative affect (Cohen’s d = 0.38) and defeat (Cohen’s d = 0.89). Participants assigned to the Well-Being Spa intervention showed decreases in harm avoidance (Cohen’s d = 0.55), reward dependence (Cohen’s d = 0.69), negative affect (Cohen’s d = 0.82), anxiety (Cohen’s d = 0.53), defeat (Cohen’s d = 0.34), and external entrapment (Cohen’s d = 0.42). Participants assigned to the Mind–Body intervention showed significant decreases in harm avoidance (Cohen’s d = 0.47), anxiety (Cohen’s d = 0.61), depression (Cohen’s d = 0.34), defeat (Cohen’s d = 0.56), external entrapment (Cohen’s d = 0.44), and internal entrapment (Cohen’s d = 0.79) and increases in persistence (Cohen’s d = 0.27), self-directedness (Cohen’s d = 0.28), cooperativeness (Cohen’s d = 0.43), self-transcendence (Cohen’s d = 0.51), positive affect (Cohen’s d = 0.42), and harmony in life (Cohen’s d = 0.36). Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that Well-Being Coaching strengthens refugees’ character, while the Well-Being Spa treatments reduced participants’ tendency to worry and anxiety. Finally, the combination of these two interventions seems to promote the development of health-related traits, reduce ill-health, and stress, and increase well-being in a wider biopsychosocial perspective.

Randomized Trial of PMTO in Foster Care: Six-Month Child Well-Being Outcomes

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 206-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Becci A. Akin ◽  
Kyle Lang ◽  
Thomas P. McDonald ◽  
Yueqi Yan ◽  
Todd Little
Keyword(s):  
Foster Care ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
High Risk Population ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
Prosocial Skills ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Cohen’S D ◽  
Children In Foster Care ◽  
Cohen's D

Objective: This study tested the effectiveness of Parent Management Training, Oregon (PMTO) model on child social–emotional well-being. Methods: Using a randomized controlled design and three measures of social–emotional well-being, the study investigated effectiveness of PMTO with families of children in foster care with serious emotional disturbance (SED). Participants included children (3–16 years) and parents who were randomly assigned to PMTO ( n = 461) or services as usual ( n = 457). Study condition was known to participants and assessors. Six months after baseline, analysis of covariance models examined the intervention’s overall effect and time interactions using intent-to-treat analysis. Follow-up analyses identified salient predictors of well-being. Results: PMTO demonstrated small but significant positive effects on three primary outcomes: social–emotional functioning (Cohen’s d = .31), problem behaviors (Cohen’s d = .09), and prosocial skills (Cohen’s d = .09). Conclusion: Results suggest that PMTO was effective at improving short-term social–emotional well-being in a high-risk population of children with SED.

scholarly journals The impact of a community based rehabilitation program in Afghanistan: a longitudinal analysis using propensity score matching and difference in difference analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Francois Trani ◽  
Juanita Vasquez-Escallon ◽  
Parul Bakhshi
Keyword(s):  
Daily Living ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Medium Effect ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
Cohen’S D ◽  
Community Based Rehabilitation ◽  
Medium Effect Size ◽  
Cohen's D ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background The 2006 United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities states that the achievement of equal rights, empowerment and social inclusion of people with disabilities requires comprehensive rehabilitation services encompassing all components of the World Health Organization Community based rehabilitation (CBR) matrix: health, education, livelihood, social and empowerment. CBR programs specifically aim to deliver such comprehensive interventions. In the present study, we investigate the impact of a CBR program in Afghanistan on all these components. Methods We enrolled 1861 newly recruited CBR participants with disabilities in the study, from 169 villages between July 2012 and December 2013 as well as 1132 controls with disabilities randomly selected through a two-stage process within 6000 households from 100 villages in the same provinces but outside the catchment area of the CBR program. We interviewed them again after one (midline) and two (end-line) years in the study. Using propensity score matching and difference in difference analysis, we estimated the impact of the CBR on outcomes of interest, namely mobility, activities of daily living, communication, participation in social and community life, emotional well-being and employment. Results Three years on average into the CBR program, participants showed a significant and close to medium effect size reduction in emotional (Cohen’s d = − 0.48, 95%CI[− 0.58--0.38]), and social participation challenges (Cohen’s d = − 0.45, 95%CI[− 0.53−− 0.36]); small to medium effect size reduction in unemployment (Cohen’s d = − 0.21, 95%CI[− 0.33--0.10]), activities of daily living (Cohen’s d = − 0.26, 95%CI[− 0.35--0.18]), mobility (Cohen’s d = − 0.36, 95%CI[− 0.44--.29]) and communication challenges (Cohen’s d = − 0.38, 95%CI[− 0.46--0.3]). Conclusions Our study indicates that a CBR program may provide positive rehabilitation outcomes for persons with disabilities even in a conflict context, and improve overall well-being of all participants with disabilities, whatever their impairment, individual characteristics and the CBR matrix components considered. Trial registration ISRCTN, ISRCTN50214054. Registered August 5th 2020 - retrospectively registered

scholarly journals Efecto y satisfacción de un programa de actividad física controlada por pulsómetro en el índice de masa corporal de escolares con sobrepeso-obesidad (Effect of and satisfaction with a program of physical activity controlled through heart rate monitors on

Retos ◽  
2017 ◽  
pp. 179-184
Author(s):  
Emilio J Martinez-López ◽  
Jesús Moreno-Cerceda ◽  
Sara Suarez-Manzano ◽  
Alberto Ruiz-Ariza
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Family Health ◽  
The Body ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Heart Rate Monitor ◽  
Sport Practice ◽  
Cohen’S D ◽  
Young Students ◽  
Cohen's D

Sustituir el tiempo sedentario por la práctica sistemática de actividad física (AF) es uno de los grandes retos  educativos y sociales dirigidos a jóvenes con sobrepeso-obesidad. El objetivo principal fue analizar el efecto en el índice de masa corporal (IMC) de un programa de AF extraescolar que empleó el pulsómetro como mecanismo para cuantificar el volumen e intensidad del ejercicio. Participaron 69 escolares con sobrepeso-obesidad de 9 a 12 años. La muestra se aleatorizó en grupo con programa y pulsómetro (GE1, n=23), grupo con solo programa (GE2, n=23), y grupo control que no realizó programa ni empleó pulsómetro (GC, n=23). Los resultados mostraron que GE1 había disminuido el IMC respecto al GC a los dos y tres meses de intervención (-1.65 kg/m2; p=.037, d de Cohen=.786; y -2.02 kg/m2, p=.006, d de Cohen=.895, respectivamente). GE1 incrementó significativamente el tiempo diario de intensidad máxima de AF medida por el pulsómetro (p=.028). El 86.9% y el 60.8% de los alumnos del GE1 y GE2 respectivamente afirmaron estar bastante o totalmente de acuerdo con el ítem “He comprobado que realizo más actividad física diaria que antes”. La mayoría de niños y padres del GE1 consideraron la experiencia como positiva y motivante para realizar más AF. Se concluye que un programa dirigido desde la Educación Física, que combina AF extraescolar y emplea el pulsómetro como mecanismo de control, disminuye el IMC en jóvenes con sobrepeso-obesidad después de dos meses de aplicación, aumenta la motivación por la práctica físico-deportiva, e implica cambios positivos en los hábitos de salud familiares. Abstract. Replacing sedentary time with systematic practice of PA is one of the major social and health challenges of globalized world. The main aim of this research was to analyze the effect of a program based on extracurricular PA, using heart rate monitor to quantify the volume and intensity of PA, on the body mass index (BMI). 69 young students with overweight-obesity aged nine to 12 years participated in this study. The sample was randomly split in two groups: PA program and heart rate monitor (EG1, n=23), PA program without heart rate monitor (EG2, n=23), and control group, whose members did not carry out any program nor used any heart rate monitor (CG, n=23). Results showed that GE1 decreased BMI more than CG after two and three months of intervention (-1.65 kg/m2; p=.037, Cohen’s d=.786; y -2.02 kg/m2, p=.006, Cohen’s d =.895, respectively). G1 significantly increased the daily time of PA at maximum intensity measured by the heart rate monitor (p=.028). 86.9% and 60.8% of students in EG1 and EG2 respectively, were quite or totally in agreement with the item "I have verified that I carry out more physical activity daily than before". The majority of children and parents in EG1 considered the experience as positive and motivating to practice more PA. A program focused on Physical Education and combining extracurricular PA and heart rate monitor as a control mechanism, decreases BMI in overweight-obese young students after two months of application, increases motivation towards PA and sport practice, and implies positive changes in family health habits.

scholarly journals Dancing With Health: Quality of Life and Physical Improvements From an EU Collaborative Dance Programme With Women Following Breast Cancer Treatment

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vicky Karkou ◽  
Irene Dudley-Swarbrick ◽  
Jennifer Starkey ◽  
Ailsa Parsons ◽  
Supritha Aithal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Radiation Treatment ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Dance Movement ◽  
Cohen’S D ◽  
Cohen's D

Background: Women's health has received renewed attention in the last few years including health rehabilitation options for women affected by breast cancer. Dancing has often been regarded as one attractive option for supporting women's well-being and health, but research with women recovering from breast cancer is still in its infancy. Dancing with Health is multi-site pilot study that aimed to evaluate a dance programme for women in recovery from breast cancer across five European countries.Methods: A standardized 32 h dance protocol introduced a range of Latin American dances presented within a sports and exercise framework with influences from dance movement therapy. Fifty-four women (M age 53.51; SD 7.99) participated in the study who had a breast cancer diagnosis &lt;3 years, chemotherapy &gt;6 weeks, no indication of metastasis, or scheduled surgery/chemotherapy/radiation treatment for the duration of the intervention. Primary outcome data was collected for anthropometric and fitness measures next to cancer-related quality of life. T-tests and Wilcoxon signed ranked tests were used to establish differences pre and post intervention. Cohen's d was also calculated to determine the effect size of the intervention.Results: Statistically significant changes were found for: (i) weight, right and left forearm circumference and hip; (ii) 6 min walking, right and left handgrip, sit-to-stand and sit-and-reach; (iii) the EORTC-QLQ C30 summary score as well as the subscales of emotional and social functioning and symptoms. In all cases the direction of change was positive, while Cohen's d calculated showed that the effect of the intervention for these parameters ranged from intermediate to large.Conclusion: Changes on the above anthropometric, fitness and quality of life measures suggest that the intervention was of value to the participating women recovering from breast cancer. Results also advocate collaborative efforts across countries to further research.

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