Improving quality of family life among Christian parents of children with low vision in Nsukka catholic diocese using rational emotive family health therapy

Background:Most Christian parents living with children with low vision have reported to be experiencing psychological disturbances that are affecting the family health. As a result, the quality of family life is being impaired. The experience of parents catering for children with low vision is mainly influenced by psychosocial factors that could determine the quality of family life of such parents. This present study is to investigate the efficacy of rational emotive family health therapy in reducing poor quality of family life among Christian parents of children with low vision in Nsukka Catholic Dioceses.Method:This is a randomized pretest and posttest control trial. Participants were 88 parents of children living with low vision in Nsukka Catholic Dioceses, Nigeria. The power of the sample size was determined using Gpower statistical software. The participants in rational emotive family health therapy programme-group were exposed to a 12-session treatment programme whereas their counterparts in waitlisted control group did not receive anything. A family quality of life scale was utilized in assessing the participants. Data analyses were performed using repeated measures ANOVA.Results:It was found that rational emotive family health therapy had a significant positive effect on increasing quality of family life among the study participants compared to those in the waitlisted control group.Conclusion:This study contributed and validated the efficacy of rational emotive family health therapy in improving quality of family life among parents of children with low vision.     

Rational emotive occupational health coaching for quality of work-life among primary school administrators

Background:This study aimed at investigating the effect of rational emotive occupational health coaching on quality of work-life among primary school administrators.Method:This is a double blinded and randomized control design study. A total of 158 administrators were sampled, half of them were exposed to rational emotive occupational health treatment package that lasted for 12 sessions. Two self-report measures were utilized in assessing the participants using quality of work life scale. Data collected were analyzed using MANOVA statistical tool.Result:The results showed that rational emotive occupational health coaching is effective in improving perception of quality of work-life among public administrators. A follow-up result showed that rational emotive occupational health coaching had a significant effect on primary school administrators’ quality of work life.Conclusion:This study concluded rational emotive occupation health coaching is useful therapeutic strategy in improving quality of work of primary school administrators, hence, future researchers and clinical practitioners should adopt cognitive-behavioral techniques and principles in helping employers as well as employees. Based on the primary findings and limitations of this study, future studies, occupational psychotherapists should qualitatively explore the clinical relevance of rational emotive occupational health practice across cultures using different populations     

Academic burnout among undergraduate history students: Effect of an intervention

Background:This study aimed to examine the effect of an online psychological intervention on academic burnout of undergraduate history students in Nigeria.Method:The sample for the study consists of burned-out undergraduate history students selected randomly from public universities. A total of 18 undergraduate history students with moderate to high burnout symptoms were randomly allocated to the online intervention group, while 17 were randomly assigned to the waitlist control group.Results:The use of online rational emotive behavior therapy (online REBT) effectively reduced academic burnout and sustained this significant reduction among Nigerian undergraduate history students compared with a waitlist control condition.Conclusion:Online rational emotive behavior therapy intervention delivered to undergraduate history students brought about a significant decrease in academic burnout. Further studies should expand the benefits of online psychological intervention for burnout treatment among Nigerian undergraduate history students.     

Rational emotive education for reducing stress of undergraduate students of religious education program: An experimental study

Background:Rational emotive education (REE) program aims to improve the behavioral and mental health of students. This study objective was to evaluate the effect of an REE program on stress among undergraduate students of religious education program in Nigerian Universities.Method:One hundred and fifty (150) religious education undergraduates who had high level of stress participated in the study. Participants were assigned to 2 different groups. The treatment group had 75 participants and while control group also had 75 participants. Data collection was done using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) while data analysis was done using independent sample t test and paired t test statistics at .05 probability level.Results:The REE program resulted in a significant decrease in level of stress among undergraduate students of religious education program in the treatment group compared with those students in the control group. Also, the effect of the REE program was maintained during the follow-up among undergraduate students of religious education program exposed to it.Conclusion:The REE program can be used to assist undergraduate students of religious education program to manage their stress.     

合理情绪疗法对反复住院晚期血吸虫病患者负性情绪的干预效果

目的探讨合理情绪疗法对反复住院晚期血吸虫病(晚血)患者负性情绪的干预效果。方法选取在湖南省血吸虫病防治所湘岳医院97例住院≥3次且合并焦虑或(和)抑郁情绪的晚血患者为研究对象,在常规护理的基础上给予持续4周的合理情绪疗法干预。采用焦虑自评量表(SAS)、抑郁自评量表(SDS)、WHO生存质量测定量表简表(WHO-QOL-BREF)比较干预前和干预4周后晚血患者焦虑、抑郁和生活质量评分。结果干预4周后,晚血患者SAS和SDS评分分别为(45.40±7.77)分和(51.48±8.01)分,显著低于干预前的(59.25±9.29)分和(63.93±9.59)分(t=14.021、12.991,P均<0.01);干预4周后,中、重度焦虑、抑郁患者比例均较干预前显著降低(χ^2=82.019、62.698,P均<0.01),生活质量各领域评分均较干预前显著提高(P均<0.01)。结论合理情绪疗法可以改善反复住院晚血患者负性情绪,提高其生活质量。     

Irrational career beliefs in agricultural education students,demographics, impacts,and rational career education intervention

Background:Studies have shown that a good number of students admitted into Agricultural Science Education program in Nigerian universities exhibit irrational career interest which affects their perceptions, feelings, and academic behaviors. This study, therefore, explored the effect of rational emotive career education on irrational career beliefs among students enrolled in agricultural education program in federal universities in Enugu state. Three null hypotheses guided the study.Method:Of the population (N = 79 students) targeted for the study and who underwent a screening exercise, 61 students were recruited as participants/sample size for the study. Sequence allocation software was used to assign 31 students into experimental groups and 30 into waitlisted control group. Participants in the intervention group received a rational emotive career education program that lasted for 12 sessions while those in waitlisted group did not receive the intervention. The participants in both groups were assessed at three points (Time 1, Time 2, and Time 3) using rational and irrational belief scale. A repeated measure (ANOVA) and partial eta square statistical tools were used to analyze the data collected.Result:This study result showed that rational emotive career education significantly reduced irrational career beliefs among students enrolled in Agricultural Science Education program exposed to intervention group compared to those in waitlisted control group. It also showed that there was time × group interaction for irrational career beliefs. The follow-up assessment indicated that the efficacy of rational emotive career education was sustained overtime.Conclusion:This study concluded that rational emotive career education is beneficial in reducing irrational career beliefs of university students enrolled in Agricultural Science Education program. Recommendations were also made in line with the results.     

Intervention for stress management among skilled construction workers

Objective:Previous studies have demonstrated the need for a stress management intervention among construction workers. Construction workers, despite their degree of stress, are expected to contribute to the accomplishment of projects on construction sites. This study aimed to ascertain the effect of a group rational emotive behavior therapy (group REBT) on stress management among a select sample of skilled construction workers in construction industry in Nigeria.Methods:With a randomized controlled trial design, 160 skilled construction workers completed the study and responded to the perceived stress scale-14 and work-related irrational beliefs questionnaire. Participants were randomly allocated to either the intervention group (n = 80) or the control group (n = 80). The main method of data analysis used in the study was repeated measures within-between subjects analysis of variance statistic.Results:Results show that group REBT significantly improved stress and work-related irrational beliefs scores of the skilled construction workers after they were exposed to the intervention and compared with their colleagues in the control group. The significant reduction in stress and work-related irrational beliefs scores of the treatment group were also sustained at follow-up.Conclusion:Group REBT was significant in reducing stress and work-related irrational beliefs among the skilled construction workers.     

Effects of rational emotive occupational health coaching on work stress among academic staff of science and social science education in Nigerian universities: A randomised trial evaluation

Background:This study determined the effects of rational emotive occupational health coaching on the management of work stress among academic staff of science and social science education in south east Nigerian universities.Method:A randomized controlled trial experimental design was adopted for the study with a sample size of 63 participants who were randomized into an intervention group (n = 32) and control group (n = 31). Occupational stress index and perceived stress scale were used for data collection. The intervention program was administered for 12 weeks after which posttest was administered and a 2-month follow-up measure followed. Mixed-design repeated analysis of variance was used to determine the within-groups and between-groups effects.Results:The findings of the study revealed that there was no significant difference between the baseline, and the nonintervention group did not change over time in their management of work stress. However, the mean stress of the intervention group decreased over time than that of the control group.Conclusion:Rational emotive occupational health coaching had significant effects on the management of work stress among academic staff of science and social science education.     

Behaviour therapy versus doctor's anti-smoking advice in diabetic patients

Abstract. Objectives. To evaluate the efficacy of a structured behaviour therapy programme on smoking cessation in diabetic patients. Design. Prospective, randomized, controlled intervention study. Setting. University out-patient diabetes clinic. Subjects. A total of 794 consecutive insulin-treated smoking diabetic patients were invited to participate in a smoking cessation programme. Eighty-nine patients agreed to participate and were randomized in two groups. Interventions. Forty-four patients were randomized to a structured extensive behaviour therapy anti-smoking intervention and 45 patients to a control group that received a single unstructured anti-smoking advice session given by a physician. Main outcome measures. After 6 months, nine patients were confirmed not to be smoking (i.e. urine cotinine concentration below 20 ng ml^?1, 2 [5%] in the behaviour therapy intervention group and 7 [16%] in the control group. Conclusions. In diabetic patients an extensive behaviour therapy intervention for smoking cessation is no more successful than an unstructured physician's advice.     

Impact of cognitive behavioural play therapy on social anxiety among school children with stuttering deficit: A cluster randomised trial with three months follow-up

Background:Stuttering is a speech deficit which is characterized by obstruction of speech eloquence and verbal expression in addition to involuntary flow of air during communication. School children with communication deficit often experience social anxiety in their immediate environment. Currently, reports show that a good number of children with communication deficits are prone to social maladjustment due to their being socially inept. And this has significantly affected their thought pattern, social behaviours and emotional responses. In view of this, we examined the impact of cognitive behavioural play therapy in reducing social anxiety among school children with stuttering.Method:This is a pretest-posttest randomized control group design. Participants were 178schoolchildren in inclusive schools in South east Nigeria. Participants in the intervention group were treated using cognitive behavioural play therapy programme (CBPT). Participants in the waitlist control group were only assessed at three points of assessment. Data analyses were completed using repeated measures ANOVA.Results:The results show that cognitive behavioural play therapy is beneficial in decreasing schoolchildren''s social anxiety scores. The intervention equally showed the considerable impacts on the children when exposed to cognitive behavioural play programme at different times of assessment compared to waitlisted control group.Conclusion:It is concluded that CBPT is a long-term psychotherapeutic programme that has significant impacts in reducing social anxiety among children with stuttering. This study makes a leading contribution on the limited scholarship focusing on the impact of CBPT on social anxiety of special population with stuttering deficits in developing countries.     

Religion,authority and their interplay in the shaping of antiretroviraltreatment in western Uganda

The article explores how religious actors have increasingly shaped the nature of antiretroviral treatment (ART) services in Kabarole district, western Uganda. As have the regular health services, Christian donors, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and churches in the district have also stepped up to provide money for antiretroviral drugs and care for people living with HIV. The article explains how, at the ground level, formal public structures in the district are sometimes superseded—both literally and figuratively—by religious actors: such as when ART services are attuned not only to the intentions of the Ministry of Health but also to those of the Catholic bishop, when ART service provision is restricted to the diocese's boundaries rather than those of the district, and when the coverage and nature of ART is discussed with NGOs and donors, both within and above the district-level, instead of with local government. Although Kabarole district's health department is formally involved as project owner, its position has been increasingly marginalised due to the power and wealth of religious actors.     

A comparison of efficacy and safety of complementary and alternative therapies for severe mycoplasma pneumonia in children: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:In recent years, the incidence rate of children with severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (SMPP) is increasing, which poses a great threat to children''s life and safety. There are some limitations in the existing drugs for the treatment of SMPP, and the supplementary and alternative therapy of SMPP plays an irreplaceable role in the treatment of this disease. This study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of various complementary and alternative therapies for SMPP by means of mesh meta-analysis. In order to provide the basis for clinical rational use.Methods:Two researchers will independently and comprehensively searched the Cochrane Central controlled trials registry, Cochrane Library, PubMed, web of science, EMBASE, CNKI, and Wanfang database to collect randomized controlled trials (RCT) studies on complementary and alternative therapies for SMPP. And the relevant references included in the systematic review/meta-analysis are screened. The retrieval time limit is from the establishment of the database to November 2020. We will use Revman 5.3 software for meta-analysis and use grade to grade the quality of evidence in the net meta-analysis (NMA).Results:The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of different complementary and alternative therapies in the treatment of SMPP, with a view to evaluating and ranking different interventions.Conclusion:The supplement and replacement therapy of SMPP can improve the clinical efficacy, relieve the clinical symptoms, improve the quality of life of children, and reduce adverse reactions, which can provide strong support for the rational use of clinicians.INPLASY registration number:INPLASY2020110079.     

A comparison of efficacy and safety of complementary and alternative therapies for children with asthma: A protocol for systematic review and meta analysis

Background:Bronchial Asthma is a chronic, hyperreactive inflammation of the airway that involves a variety of inflammatory cells. Due to the persistence of airway hyperresponsiveness, lung function is progressively damaged, making asthma more stubborn and difficult to heal. In recent years, the prevalence of childhood asthma is still on an increasing trend. Repeated asthma attacks not only affect children''s life and learning, but also bring greater economic and mental burden to children''s families, and even threaten children''s lives. Traditional treatment methods such as oral western medicine, atomization therapy has obvious limitations, and the complementary and alternative therapy is an effective method to treat asthma in children. This study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of various complementary and alternative therapies for children with asthma by means of mesh meta-analysis. In order to provide the basis for clinical rational use.Methods:Use the computer to search the self-built database until January 2021, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, Chinese Scientific Journals Database, China Biomedical Literature Database, PubMed, Cochrance Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, Clinical Trials and other electronic databases to collect RCT studies on complementary and alternative therapies for for children with asthma. We will screen the relevant literature included in the systematic review/meta analysis. At the same time, Revman 5.3 software will be used for meta-analysis, and grade will be used to grade the quality of evidence in the network meta-analysis.Results:This study will compare the efficacy and safety of different complementary and alternative therapies to treat childhood asthma, and evaluate and rank different interventions.Conclusion:The combined use of complementary and alternative therapies for childhood asthma on the basis of conventional basic treatment can improve clinical efficacy, reduce the occurrence of adverse reactions, improve the quality of life of children, and provide strong support for the rational use of clinicians.INPLASY registration number:INPLASY202120005     

Efficacy and safety of acupuncture treatment as an adjunctive therapy after knee replacement: Single-center,pragmatic, randomized,assessor blinded,pilot study

Introduction:Total knee replacement (TKR) is a surgical procedure that is being increasingly performed as a result of population aging and the increased average human life expectancy in South Korea. Consistent with the growing number of TKR procedures, the number of patients seeking acupuncture for relief from adverse effects, effective pain management, and the enhancement of rehabilitative therapy effects and bodily function after TKR has also been increasing. Thus, an objective examination of the evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of acupuncture treatments is essential. The aim of this study is to verify the hypothesis that the concurrent use of acupuncture treatment and usual care after TKR is more effective, safe, and cost-effective for the relief of TKR symptoms than usual care therapy alone.Methods/design:This is an open-label, parallel, assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial that includes 50 patients with TKR. After screening the patients and receiving informed consent, the patients are divided into two groups (usual care + acupuncture group and usual care group); the patients will then undergo TKR surgery and will be hospitalized for 2 weeks. The patients will receive a total of 8 acupuncture treatments over 2 weeks after surgery and will be followed up at 3, 4, and 12 weeks after the end of the intervention. The primary outcome is assessed using the Korean version of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (K-WOMAC), and the secondary outcome is measured using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Risk of Fall, and Range of Motion (ROM). Moreover, the cost per quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) is adopted as a primary economic outcome for economic evaluation, and the cost per NRS is adopted as a secondary economic outcome.Ethics and dissemination:This trial has received complete ethical approval from the Ethics Committee of Catholic Kwandong University International St. Mary''s Hospital (IS17ENSS0063). We intend to submit the results to a peer-reviewed journal and/or conferences.Trial registration:ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT03633097","term_id":"NCT03633097"}}NCT03633097.     

Religiousness and Psychological Distress in Jewish and Christian Older Adults

ABSTRACT

Objectives: In this study, the authors explore how the association between religiousness and psychological distress varies by religious affiliation. Prior work has shown that the association between religious belief and psychological distress is stronger for Christians than Jews, while religious activity is associated with lower psychological distress for both groups.

Methods: Interviews were conducted using a community sample of 143 Christian and Jewish older adults, ages 65 and over. Quantitative measures were used to assess levels of organizational and intrinsic religiosity, as well as symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Results: Christians who are highly involved in the organizational aspects of their religion report fewer depressive symptoms than Jews who have high levels of organizational religiosity, and the opposite is the case at lower levels of organizational religiosity. No significant group differences were found in the relationship between religiousness and anxiety.

Conclusions: The results of this study indicate a difference between Jews and Christians in the reasons that they turn to their respective religious services, particularly in late life.     

Health behaviour change of people living with HIV after a comprehensive community-based HIV stigma reduction intervention in North-West Province in South Africa

Abstract

All over the world, health behaviour is considered a complex, far reaching and powerful phenomenon. People's lives are influenced by their own or others' health behaviour on a daily basis. Whether it has to do with smoking, drinking, pollution, global warming or HIV management, it touches lives and it challenges personal and community responses. Health behaviour, and health behaviour change, probably holds the key to many a person's immediate or prolonged life or death outcomes. The same can be said about communities, culture groups and nations. This SANPAD-funded study focused on research questions relating to health behaviour change for people living with HIV (PLWH) in the North-West Province in South Africa. It investigated whether a comprehensive community-based HIV stigma reduction intervention caused health behaviour change in PLWH. An quantitative single system research design with one pre- and four repetitive post-tests utilizing purposive sampling was used to test change-over-time in the health behaviour of 18 PLWH. The results of the study indicated statistical and/or practical significant change-over-time. The intervention not only addressed the health behaviour of PLWH, but also their HIV stigma experiences, HIV signs and symptoms and their quality of life in the context of being HIV positive. The recommendations include popularization of the comprehensive community-based HIV stigma reduction intervention and extending it to include a second intervention to strengthen health behaviour and quality of life for PLWH in the community at large.     

Effect of behavioural techniques and delivery mode on effectiveness of weight management: systematic review,meta‐analysis and meta‐regression

A systematic review, meta‐analysis and meta‐regression were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of behavioural weight management programmes and examine how programme characteristics affect mean weight loss. Randomized controlled trials of multicomponent behavioural weight management programmes in overweight and obese adults were included. References were obtained through systematic searches of electronic databases (conducted November 2012), screening reference lists and contacting experts. Two reviewers extracted data and evaluated risk of bias. Thirty‐seven studies, representing over 16,000 participants, were included. The pooled mean difference in weight loss at 12 months was ?2.8 kg (95% confidence interval [CI] ?3.6 to ?2.1, P < 0.001). I² indicated that 93% of the variability in outcome was due to differences in programme effectiveness. Meta‐analysis showed no evidence that supervised physical activity sessions (mean difference 1.1 kg, 95% CI ?2.65 to 4.79, P = 0.08), more frequent contact (mean difference ?0.3 kg, 95% CI ?0.7 to 0.2, P = 0.25) or in‐person contact (mean difference 0.0 kg, 95% CI ?1.8 to 1.8, P = 0.06) were related to programme effectiveness at 12 months. In meta‐regression, calorie counting (?3.3 kg, 95% CI ?4.6 to ?2.0, P = 0.027), contact with a dietitian (?1.5 kg, 95% CI ?2.9 to ?0.2, P < 0.001) and use of behaviour change techniques that compare participants' behaviour with others (?1.5 kg, 95% CI ?2.9 to ?0.1, P = 0.032) were associated with greater weight loss. There was no evidence that other programme characteristics were associated with programme effectiveness. Most but not all behavioural weight management programmes are effective. Programmes that support participants to count calories or include a dietitian may be more effective, but the programme characteristics explaining success are mainly unknown.     

The effectiveness and safety of Chuna manual therapy on scoliosis: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:Scoliosis is a spinal deformity and is diagnosed as Cobb angle being greater than 10°. Because it is accompanied with structural dysfunction, it can cause pain, worsen the patient''s general health and quality of life. The prevalence of scoliosis has been increasing and many treatments, including surgical treatment and conservative treatment, such as observation, bracing, physiotherapy, and Chuna manual therapy (CMT), have been suggested. CMT is a manual therapy in Korean medicine that provides effective stimulation to the patient''s body structure to treat structural dysfunction. After Korean national health insurance''s coverage of CMT in 2019, the application of CMT for scoliosis has increased, and many studies have been reported. There have been attempts to elucidate the effectiveness of CMT on scoliosis; however, its effectiveness still remains unconfirmed. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of CMT on scoliosis.Methods:The published randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effectiveness and safety of CMT for scoliosis will be searched for in multiple electronic databases without the limitation of country and language. Data on characteristics of studies, interventions, comparators, outcome measures, results, and information for assessment of study quality will be extracted. The primary outcome will be the Cobb angle and the secondary outcomes will be the scales of pain, function, quality of life and disability, and adverse events. Data synthesis and analysis will be conducted using the Review Manager software for Windows (RevMan ver. 5.3.; Copenhagen; The Nordic Cochrane Center, The Cochrane Collaboration, 2014). Subgroup analysis to identify the differences between different CMT maneuvers will also be performed. For risk of bias assessment, the “risk of bias” tool from Cochrane Collaboration will be used.Results:This study will present the clinical evidence on the effectiveness and safety of CMT on scoliosis.Conclusion:This study will propose useful evidence for treatment, further research, and health policies in the future.     

Community promotion and application of Wuqinxi combined with brief behavioral therapy for insomnia: A study protocol

Background:Brief behavioral therapy for insomnia (BBT-I) has been proven to be a simple and effective alternative to cognitive behavioral therapy. However, low adherence limits the application in Chinese primary medical institutions, resulting in delayed or irregular treatment for many patients. This study aimed to explore the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine external treatments on the adherence to behavioral therapy for insomnia in Chinese primary healthcare institutions, with a particular focus on patients who live in regions with weak healthcare systems.Methods:This randomized controlled clinical trial will be conducted in primary medical institutions and will recruit 98 adult participants with insomnia. BBT-I will be used as the base treatment. The participants will be divided into experimental (combined with Wuqinxi and other traditional Chinese medicine [TCM] external treatment n = 49) and control (combined with trazodone treatment, n = 49) groups, and each group will be treated for 4 consecutive weeks. The severity index of insomnia will be used as the main indicator of disease evaluation, with an 8-point reduction in the score considered as effective and a score <8 considered as cured. The secondary indicators of the disease evaluation will include the Pittsburgh sleep quality index, Zung''s self-rating anxiety scale, Zung''s self-rating depression scale, treatment adherence, and adverse event reports. All participants will be followed up at the time of enrollment, 4 weeks after treatment, and 3 months after the end of treatment.Discussion:This clinical trial will provide evidence for the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine external treatment on the adherence to behavioral therapy for insomnia in primary medical institutions. This cheap and accessible model may benefit insomnia patients in medically underserved areas.Trial registration:Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2100042845. Registered on 30 January 2021, dataset: http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=65691. Official scientific title of the research topic: Wuqinxi and other external treatment of Chinese Medicine combined with brief behavior therapy for insomnia.