Sensitivity and responsiveness to change for the Brazilian version of the child perceptions questionnaire for 8- to 10-year-old children

Aim

This study aimed to investigate the sensitivity and responsiveness to change for the Brazilian version of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ_8–10) after dental caries treatment.

Subject and methods

Thirty children aged 8 to 10 years old with untreated dental caries were randomly selected from public schools. They responded to the CPQ_8–10 before and 1 month after finishing treatment for dental caries. Sensitivity was assessed by determining distribution changes using paired t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Responsiveness to change was evaluated by effect size (ES) and standardized response mean (SRM). Minimally important differences (MIDs) were also evaluated.

Results

Mean/median pre-treatment values for the total CPQ_8–10 score and subscales were significantly higher than the post-treatment values (p < 0.05). ES was large (effect size ≥ 0.8) for the total CPQ_8–10 score and oral symptoms (OS), functional limitations (FL) and emotional wellbeing (EW) subscales and moderate (effect size 0.3–0.7) for the social wellbeing (SW) subscale. SRM values were moderate (0.3–0.7) for the total CPQ_8–10 score and FL, EW and SW subscales and high (≥ 0.8) for the OS subscale. MID values for the total CPQ_8–10 score and all subscales were lower than the mean score change.

Conclusion

The Brazilian version of the CPQ_8–10 is sensitive and responsive enough to detect changes brought about by dental caries treatment.

     

Assessing body composition among 3- to 8-year-old children: anthropometry, BIA, and DXA

OBJECTIVE: To examine the inter-relationships of body composition variables derived from simple anthropometry [BMI and skinfolds (SFs)], bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and dual energy x-ray (DXA) in young children. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Seventy-five children (41 girls, 34 boys) 3 to 8 years of age were assessed for body composition by the following methods: BMI, SF thickness, BIA, and DXA. DXA served as the criterion measure. Predicted percentage body fat (%BF), fat-free mass (FFM; kilograms), and fat mass (FM; kilograms) were derived from SF equations [Slaughter (SL)1 and SL2, Deurenberg (D) and Dezenberg] and BIA. Indices of truncal fatness were also determined from anthropometry. RESULTS: Repeated measures ANOVA showed significant differences among the methods for %BF, FFM, and FM. All methods, except the D equation (p = 0.08), significantly underestimated measured %BF (p < 0.05). In general, correlations between the BMI and estimated %BF were moderate (r = 0.61 to 0.75). Estimated %BF from the SL2 also showed a high correlation with DXA %BF (r = 0.82). In contrast, estimated %BF derived from SFs showed a low correlation with estimated %BF derived from BIA (r = 0.38); likewise, the correlation between DXA %BF and BIA %BF was low (r = 0.30). Correlations among indicators of truncal fatness ranged from 0.43 to 0.98. DISCUSSION: The results suggest that BIA has limited utility in estimating body composition, whereas BMI and SFs seem to be more useful in estimating body composition during the adiposity rebound. However, all methods significantly underestimated body fatness as determined by DXA, and, overall, the various methods and prediction equations are not interchangeable.     

Developing the IDEFICS community-based intervention program to enhance eating behaviors in 2- to 8-year-old children: findings from focus groups with children and parents

One purpose of 'identification and prevention of dietary- and lifestyle-induced health effects in children and infants' (IDEFICS) is to implement a standardized community-based multi-component healthy eating intervention for younger children in eight different countries. The present study describes important influencing factors for dietary behaviors among children aged 2-8 years old in order to determine the best approaches for developing the dietary components of the standardized intervention. Twenty focus groups with children (74 boys, 81 girls) and 36 focus groups with 189 parents (28 men, 161 women) were conducted. Only in two countries, children mentioned receiving nutrition education at school. Rules at home and at school ranged from not allowing the consumption of unhealthy products to allowing everything. The same diversity was found for availability of (un)healthy products at home and school. Parents mentioned personal (lack of time, financial constraints, preferences), socio-environmental (family, peer influences), institutional (school policies) and physical-environmental (availability of unhealthy products, price, season) barriers for healthy eating. This focus group research provided valuable information to guide the first phase in the IDEFICS intervention development. There was a large variability in findings within countries. Interventions should be tailored at the personal and environmental level to increase the likelihood of behavioral change.     

Hope and perceptions of parental role among parents assessed as maltreating their children

The present study is anchored in the view that hope is a resource that fosters better coping and parenting. It examines the self‐perceived hope and parental role of parents whom the welfare services in Israel have assessed as maltreating their children. The parents were recruited in 2010 through facilities for maltreated children. The study sample consisted of 262 parents (68.4% response rate), divided into those who had at least one child removed from home and those whose children were all at home. Both groups of parents reported moderately high basic and family hope and sense of pathways and agency, and moderate perceived parental role, with no significant group differences. Differences were found, however, in the role of hope in mediating between parents’ sociodemographic features and their perceived parental role. The mediation was more substantial among the parents whose children were at home and differed in content. Only among parents whose children were at home did religiosity (β = 0.20, P < 0.05) and living with a partner (β = 0.18, P < 0.05) lead to greater hope, which increased the perceived parental role. Moreover, the findings underscore the lack of role of family hope and sense of agency among parents whose children were not at home. In both the groups, higher income led to greater hope (β = 0.18, P < 0.05 for at home; β = 0.16, P < 0.05 for in placement), which increased the self‐perceived parental role but the mediation was effected differently. The findings suggest that professionals working with parents who maltreat their children can use the parents’ hope as a resource to help them improve their parenting, especially where the child was removed from home.     

Possible personality problems among 10-year-old spina bifida children

Forty-four 10-year-old spina bifida children and 52 non-disabled controls completed the Rogers Personal Adjustment Inventory and their teachers assessed their school behaviour on the Bristol Social Adjustment Guide. Spina bifida children and the controls had similar school adjustment scores but the former appeared to have significantly more emotional problems on the Rogers Inventory suggesting that they have private worries not revealed by characteristic behaviour in school. Factors associated with apparent emotional upset are considered and implications for support discussed.     

Everyday and medical life choices: decision-making among 8- to 15-year-old school students

Summary How much do young patients expect to be involved in medical decisions affecting them? We are investigating this question during interviews with 8- to 15-year-olds having orthopaedic surgery. Many youngsters taking part in our research project on consent to surgery are more than usually dependent on their parents. We wondered how their views would compare with those of their peers at school. This paper reports a schools survey carried out as a background to the research with young people in hospital. Students in seven schools answered questionnaires on choices about late-night television viewing, new friends, timing homework, seeing their family doctor and consenting to surgery. They were asked about agreement with their parents, how they negotiate disagreement, and when they think they were/will be old enough to make everyday and medical decisions without their parents' help.     

Sweet preferences and sugar consumption of 4- and 5-year-old children: role of parents

We investigated the relationships in children between rules that restrict consumption of mono- and disaccharides (MDS), consumption of MDS and preferences for sucrose-containing orangeade. The background ideas of restriction rules we also investigated. To this end, 44 children (5.1+/-0.5 years) performed a rank-order and paired-comparison test of preference for five orangeades, which differed in sucrose concentration (0.14, 0.20, 0.29, 0.42, 0.61 M sucrose). Parents filled out a questionnaire concerning restriction rules and their children's consumption of MDS-containing foods. Stronger restriction rules were related to a lower consumption of beverages that contained MDS and to a lower consumption of MDS-containing foods during breakfast and lunch. The most freedom to choose foods that contain MDS was given during the afternoon. Fifty-five percent of the children who were highly restricted showed a preference for the highest concentration of sucrose in orangeade. None of these children preferred the orangeade with the lowest concentration of sucrose. While 19% of the children who were little restricted preferred the beverage with the lowest concentration of sucrose, 33% preferred the beverage with the highest concentration. These parents generally believed that sugar has a bad effect on health and had similar background ideas concerning restriction rules.     

Salty-snack eating, television or video-game viewing, and asthma symptoms among 10- to 12-year-old children: the PANACEA study

Background

Salty-snack consumption, as well as the amount of time children spend watching television or playing video games, have been implicated in the development of asthma; however, results are still conflicting.

Objective

The aim of this work was to evaluate the association of salty-snack eating and television/video-game viewing with childhood asthma symptoms.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Settings

Seven hundred children (323 male), 10 to 12 years old, from 18 schools located in the greater area of Athens were enrolled. Children and their parents completed questionnaires, which evaluated, among other things, dietary habits. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was evaluated using the KIDMED (Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for Children and Adolescents) score.

Statistical analysis

The association of children's characteristics with asthma symptoms was performed by calculating the odds ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals.

Results

Overall lifetime prevalence of asthma symptoms was 23.7% (27.6% boys, 20.4% girls; P=0.03). Forty-eight percent of children reported salty-snack consumption (≥1 times/week). Salty-snack consumption was positively associated with the hours of television/video-game viewing (P=0.04) and inversely with the KIDMED score (P=0.02). Consumption of salty snacks (>3 times/week vs never/rare) was associated with a 4.8-times higher likelihood of having asthma symptoms (95% confidence interval: 1.50 to 15.8), irrespective of potential confounders. The associations of salty-snack eating and asthma symptoms were more prominent in children who watched television or played video games >2 hours/day. In addition, adherence to the Mediterranean diet was inversely associated with the likelihood of asthma symptoms.

Conclusions

Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, such as salty-snack eating and television/video-game viewing were strongly associated with the presence of asthma symptoms. Future interventions and public health messages should be focused on changing these behaviors from the early stages of life.     

Family meals and body mass index among adolescents: effects of gender

Family meals have been identified as a protective factor against obesity among youth. However, gender specificities with respect to the relationship between the frequency of family meals and body mass index (BMI) have not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the frequency of family meals and BMI in male and female adolescents, while controlling for potential confounding factors associated with BMI, such as parental education, adolescent's age, and snack-food eating. Research participants were 734 male and 1030 female students (mean age, 14.12 years, SD = 1.62) recruited from middle schools and high schools in the capital region of Canada. Participants completed validated, self-report measures to assess the frequency of family meals and the risk factors associated with increased BMI, which was derived from objective measures of height and weight. After controlling for proposed confounding variables, a higher frequency of family meals was associated with lower BMI in females, but not in males. A Z-transformation test of the homogeneity of adjusted correlation coefficients showed a significant trend (p = 0.06), indicating that the relationship between family meals and BMI is stronger in females than males, consistent with our regression analyses. Our findings suggest that eating together as a family may be a protective factor against obesity in female adolescents, but not in male adolescents. Findings from this study have important implications for parents and health care practitioners advocating for more frequent family meals as part of a comprehensive obesity prevention and treatment program for female adolescents.     

Influences on diet and physical activity among middle-class African American 8- to 10-year-old girls at risk of becoming obese

OBJECTIVE: To understand diet, physical activity, and inactivity influences among preadolescent African American girls at risk of becoming obese. DESIGN: Interviews and group qualitative discussions (i.e., mixed qualitative research method) were conducted separately with 8- to 10-year-old African American girls and their parents. Setting: Greater Houston, Texas. PARTICIPANTS: Eight- to 10-year-old African American girls above the 50th percentile body mass index with a home computer (n = 82) and a parent (n = 74). Variables Measured: Influences on dietary practices and physical activity/inactivity among preadolescent African American girls. ANALYSIS: Discussions were audiotaped, manually recorded, transcribed, and coded. The primary coder analyzed the transcribed notes. The secondary coder reviewed and critiqued the initial coding. RESULTS: Parents and girls were concerned about overweight and viewed physical activity as a weight control practice. Mothers facilitated daughters' physical activity, while fathers and siblings were coparticipants. Girls had access to physical activity equipment and facilities. Snack food items and carbonated beverages were often limited by the parents, and water consumption was encouraged. Discrepancies were apparent between girls' and parents' responses. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Parental convenience and girls' food preferences influenced dietary intake. Obesity prevention programs should capitalize on parental motivation for their child's health and provide practical strategies to facilitate healthful eating and physical activity.     

衢州市8~10岁儿童碘营养状况

了解衢州市学龄儿童碘营养状况及甲状腺患病情况,为探索改进碘缺乏病监测模式与方法提供依据.方法 整群随机抽取衢州市6个县(市、区)30所小学的8~10岁儿童进行甲状腺B超检查,同时采集食用盐和尿液进行盐碘和尿碘检测.结果 衢州市1 236名学龄儿童家中食用盐碘中位数为22.4 mg/kg,碘盐覆盖率为98.46%,碘盐合格率为89.89%,合格碘盐食用率为88.51%.1 227份尿样尿碘中位数为189.2 μg/'L,不同尿碘水平学生的甲状腺结节率差异无统计学意义(x2=2.028,P>0.05).B超检测627人,甲状腺肿大率为1.91%;常规触诊587人,肿大率为0.34%,2种检测结果差异有统计学意义(x2=6.582,P<0.05).不同性别和不同年龄学生甲状腺肿大和结节检出率差异无统计学意义.结论 学龄儿童碘营养状况良好,但甲状腺结节率偏高.甲状腺触诊不能满足学生的评价指标要求,应推广使用B超法开展甲状腺监测.     

Neuropsychological measures of attention and impulse control among 8-year-old children exposed prenatally to organochlorines

Background: We previously reported associations between organochlorines and behaviors related to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder among boys and girls at 8 years of age using a teacher’s rating scale for a birth cohort in New Bedford, Massachusetts (USA).Objectives: Our goal was to corroborate these findings using neuropsychological measures of inattentive and impulsive behaviors.Methods: We investigated the association between cord serum polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and p,p´-dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethylene (p,p´-DDE) and attention and impulse control using a Continuous Performance Test (CPT) and components of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, 3rd edition (WISC-III). Participants came from a prospective cohort of children born during 1993–1998 to mothers residing near a PCB-contaminated harbor in New Bedford. Median (range) cord serum levels for the sum of four prevalent PCBs [congeners 118, 138, 153, and 180 (ΣPCB₄)] and p,p´-DDE were 0.19 (0.01–2.59) and 0.31 (0–14.93) ng/g serum, respectively.Results: We detected associations between PCBs and neuropsychological deficits for 578 and 584 children with CPT and WISC-III measures, respectively, but only among boys. For example, boys with higher exposure to ΣPCB₄ had a higher rate of CPT errors of omission [rate ratio for the exposure interquartile range (IQR) = 1.12; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.98, 1.27] and slower WISC-III Processing Speed (change in score for the IQR = –2.0; 95% CI: –3.5, –0.4). Weaker associations were found for p,p´-DDE. For girls, associations were in the opposite direction for the CPT and null for the WISC-III.Conclusions: These results support an association between organochlorines (mainly PCBs) and neuropsychological measures of attention among boys only. Sex-specific effects should be considered in studies of organochlorines and neurodevelopment.     

广州市10~12岁儿童口腔健康相关行为现状

了解广州市儿童六龄齿免费窝沟封闭项目开展2~3年后10~12岁儿童口腔健康行为状况,为制定口腔健康工作重点提供信息支持.方法 于2014年9月采用多阶段分层随机整群抽样方法,抽取广州市12个区(县级市)149所小学19 071名五、六年级学生进行口腔健康行为问卷调查.结果 60.3%的儿童每天刷牙2次及以上;33.2%的儿童报告听说过含氟牙膏,其中目前使用含氟牙膏者占44.73%;27.11%的儿童使用过牙线;71.50%的儿童接受过窝沟封闭预防龋齿治疗;30.97%的儿童过去1年内拜访过牙医.城区儿童每天刷牙2次及以上、使用牙线、接受窝沟封闭、过去1年内拜访过牙医的报告率均高于乡村儿童,乡村儿童使用含氟牙膏报告率高于城区儿童(P值均<0.01).城乡儿童末次牙科就诊主要原因分布差异有统计学意义(x2=130.911,P<0.01),城区儿童因定期牙科检查及预防性措施到牙科就诊的比例高于乡村儿童.仅有7.66%的儿童选择请牙科医生治疗应对牙龈(牙床)出血;采取不理会态度应对牙疼,认为挺一挺就过去了的儿童占42.13%.结论 在继续大力推动窝沟封闭预防龋齿治疗措施的同时,应加大氟化物防龋的宣传力度,加强学生、学生家长及教师的口腔保健知识宣传,工作重点应放在农村地区.     

Case-control study of risk factors for cedar pollinosis among parents of 3-year-old children

PURPOSE: To identify risk factors associated with cedar pollinosis among parents of three-year-old children. METHODS: The subjects were parents whose children underwent health examination at the age of three years in September and October 1997 in Tochigi prefecture. We distributed questionnaires to the examinees beforehand with the request that they be filled in and brought to the examination site. Information on parents' environmental factors (place of residence, type and structure of housing, and distance from roads with heavy traffic), and mothers' past history and family history of allergic diseases was obtained. We defined cedar pollinosis in terms of three symptoms, sneezing, nasal discharge, and nasal obstruction, between February and May. Controls were those who did not have any of the three symptoms. Environmental factors were assessed with univariate and multivariate analyses using unconditional logistic models. Maternal genetic factors were also analyzed with odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals calculated for each. We also compared odds ratios of environmental factors between groups with and without genetic factors. RESULTS: Of the parents of children taking the health examination, 90.2% took part (2,968 of 3,291 couples). Information was obtained from 2,846 mothers and 2,905 fathers. Mother and father cases were 312 and 229, and controls were 1,857 and 1,934, respectively. For the univariate analysis of environmental factors, place of residence (residential area/agricultural area), type of housing (apartment complex/solitary house), structure (reinforced concrete building/wooden house), and distance from heavy traffic (< 100 m/100 m+) were positively related to cedar pollinosis. For the multivariate analysis using unconditional logistic models, the odds ratio was significantly high for distance from heavy traffic (< 100 m/100 m+) among fathers. Mothers' past history and family history of allergic diseases showed high odds ratios for cedar pollinosis. We classified groups with and without past and family histories of allergic diseases (group with and without genetic factors) for assessment with multivariate analyses. Odds ratios for the group with an allergic history were higher than for those without such a history, but difference for factors such as, distance from heavy traffic type of housing, and structure were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Risk of cedar pollinosis increases with distance from heavy traffic among fathers. Mothers with histories of allergy show slightly elevated odds ratios for environmental factors, but without statistic significance.     

Legal blindness among 10-year-old children in Metropolitan Atlanta: prevalence, 1985 to 1987.

The prevalence of legal blindness in 10-year-olds in metropolitan Atlanta was 6.8 per 10,000 during 1985 to 1987. The prevalence was 8.8 per 10,000 in Black boys, 8.6 per 10,000 in White boys, 6.7 per 10,000 in White girls, and 1.8 per 10,000 in Black girls. Retinopathy of prematurity was the most common known cause (1.0 per 10,000). Of the 61 cases, 40 had other disabilities, including 14 with mental retardation, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy. The low prevalence among Black girls and the frequent occurrence of blindness with other disabilities are noteworthy.