February 2016 · Issue 166
In this issue:
- Upcoming webinars from the NCCMT
- New from Public Health+
- News from the NCCAH
- Upcoming webinars from HealthEvidence.org
- Get the latest highlights from the OutbreakHelp bulletin
Upcoming webinars from the NCCMT
Contextualizing Guidance Workbook
March 9, 2016
1:00 – 2:30pm (EST)
Looking for a tool to apply recommendations from a guidance document to your context? Developed in concert with the World Health Organization, the Contextualizing Guidance Workbook is appropriate for use in any public health program area. This tool outlines how to contextualize policy recommendations from research evidence for the development of local policy recommendations and decisions. The tool includes an overview of the steps for contextualizing health systems guidance, examples of how the steps can be applied, and worksheets for applying the steps. Register and join to learn more!
Click here to register: http://ow.ly/YqC4K
Mental Health-Focused Methods and Tools to Support Evidence-Informed Decision-Making
March 29, 2016
1:00 – 2:30pm (EST)
Do you work in a mental health field? This webinar on evidence-informed decision-making draws on NCCMT's seven-step process, with reference to methods and tools that are designed for mental health practitioners!
Click here to register: http://ow.ly/YZ5Xs
New from Public Health+
Systematic Review of the Mediterranean Diet for Long-term Weight Loss.
BACKGROUND: Although the long-term health benefits of the Mediterranean diet are well established, its efficacy for weight loss at >/=12 months in overweight or obese individuals is unclear. We therefore conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to determine the effect of the Mediterranean diet on weight loss and cardiovascular risk factor levels after >/=12 months. METHODS: We systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library of Clinical Trials for RCTs published in English or French and with follow-up >/=12 months that examined the effect of the Mediterranean diet on weight loss and cardiovascular risk factor levels in overweight or obese individuals trying to lose weight. RESULTS: Five RCTs (n = 998) met our inclusion criteria. Trials compared the Mediterranean diet to a low-fat diet (4 treatment arms), a low-carbohydrate diet (2 treatment arms), and the American Diabetes Association diet (1 treatment arm). The Mediterranean diet resulted in greater weight loss than the low-fat diet at >/=12 months (range of mean values: -4.1 to -10.1 kg vs 2.9 to -5.0 kg), but produced similar weight loss as other comparator diets (range of mean values: -4.1 to -10.1 kg vs -4.7 to -7.7 kg). Moreover, the Mediterranean diet was generally similar to comparator diets at improving other cardiovascular risk factor levels, including blood pressure and lipid levels. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the Mediterranean diet results in similar weight loss and cardiovascular risk factor level reduction as comparator diets in overweight or obese individuals trying to lose weight.
The full text may be available from PubMed
Lifestyle intervention to limit gestational weight gain: the Norwegian Fit for Delivery randomised controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether a lifestyle intervention in pregnancy limits gestational weight gain (GWG) and provides measurable health benefits for mother and newborn. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Healthcare clinics of southern Norway. POPULATION: Healthy, non-diabetic, nulliparous women, aged >/=18 years, with a body mass index of >/=19 kg/m2 , and with a singleton pregnancy at </=20 weeks of gestation. METHODS: Women were randomised to an intervention group (with dietary counselling twice by telephone and access to twice-weekly exercise groups) or to a control group (with standard prenatal care). Participants were measured three times during pregnancy and at delivery, and newborns were measured at delivery. Hospital records were reviewed for outcomes of pregnancy and delivery. Assessors were blinded to group allocation. Analysis was performed by intention to treat, assessing GWG using the Student`s t-test and linear mixed models, and comparing proportions using the chi-square test. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: GWG, rates of pregnancy complications and operative deliveries, and newborn birthweight. RESULTS: A total of 606 women were randomised. Of these, 591 were analysed, with 296 in the intervention group and 295 in the control group. At term, the mean GWG from pre-pregnancy was 14.4 kg for the intervention group and 15.8 kg for the control group (mean difference 1.3 kg; 95% confidence interval, 95% CI 0.3-2.3 kg; P = 0.009). There was no significant difference between groups in the frequency of pregnancy complications or operative deliveries. The intervention demonstrated no effect on the mean birthweight of term infants, or on the proportion of large newborns. CONCLUSIONS: The Norwegian Fit for Delivery lifestyle intervention in pregnancy had no measurable effect on obstetrical or neonatal outcomes, despite a modest but significant decrease in GWG. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Norwegian Fit for Delivery RCT: reduced gestational weight gain, unchanged birthweight and obstetric outcomes.
The full text may be available from PubMed
Interventions for preventing unintended pregnancies among adolescents.
BACKGROUND: Unintended pregnancy among adolescents represents an important public health challenge in high-income countries, as well as middle- and low-income countries. Numerous prevention strategies such as health education, skills-building and improving accessibility to contraceptives have been employed by countries across the world, in an effort to address this problem. However, there is uncertainty regarding the effects of these interventions, hence the need to review the evidence-base. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of primary prevention interventions (school-based, community/home-based, clinic-based, and faith-based) on unintended pregnancies among adolescents. SEARCH METHODS: We searched all relevant studies regardless of language or publication status up to November 2015. We searched the Cochrane Fertility Regulation Group Specialised trial register, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2015 Issue 11), MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, Social Science Citation Index and Science Citation Index, Dissertations Abstracts Online, The Gray Literature Network, HealthStar, PsycINFO, CINAHL and POPLINE and the reference lists of articles. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included both individual and cluster randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating any interventions that aimed to increase knowledge and attitudes relating to risk of unintended pregnancies, promote delay in the initiation of sexual intercourse and encourage consistent use of birth control methods to reduce unintended pregnancies in adolescents aged 10 years to 19 years. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently assessed trial eligibility and risk of bias, and extracted data. Where appropriate, binary outcomes were pooled using a random-effects model with a 95% confidence interval (Cl). Where appropriate, we combined data in meta-analyses and assessed the quality of the evidence using the GRADE approach. MAIN RESULTS: We included 53 RCTs that enrolled 105,368 adolescents. Participants were ethnically diverse. Eighteen studies randomised individuals, 32 randomised clusters (schools (20), classrooms (6), and communities/neighbourhoods (6). Three studies were mixed (individually and cluster randomised). The length of follow up varied from three months to seven years with more than 12 months being the most common duration. Four trials were conducted in low- and middle- income countries, and all others were conducted in high-income countries. Multiple interventionsResults showed that multiple interventions (combination of educational and contraceptive-promoting interventions) lowered the risk of unintended pregnancy among adolescents significantly (RR 0.66, 95% CI 0.50 to 0.87; 4 individual RCTs, 1905 participants, moderate quality evidence. However, this reduction was not statistically significant from cluster RCTs. Evidence on the possible effects of interventions on secondary outcomes (initiation of sexual intercourse, use of birth control methods, abortion, childbirth, sexually transmitted diseases) was not conclusive.Methodological strengths included a relatively large sample size and statistical control for baseline differences, while limitations included lack of biological outcomes, possible self-report bias, analysis neglecting clustered randomisation and the use of different statistical tests in reporting outcomes. Educational interventionsEducational interventions were unlikely to significantly delay the initiation of sexual intercourse among adolescents compared to controls (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.71 to 1.27; 2 studies, 672 participants, low quality evidence).Educational interventions significantly increased reported condom use at last sex in adolescents compared to controls who did not receive the intervention (RR 1.18, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.32; 2 studies, 1431 participants, moderate quality evidence).However, it is not clear if the educational interventions had any effect on unintended pregnancy as this was not reported by any of the included studies. Contraceptive-promoting interventionsFor adolescents who received contraceptive-promoting interventions, there was little or no difference in the risk of unintended first pregnancy compared to controls (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.26; 2 studies, 3,440 participants, moderate quality evidence).The use of hormonal contraceptives was significantly higher in adolescents in the intervention group compared to those in the control group (RR 2.22, 95% CI 1.07 to 4.62; 2 studies, 3,091 participants, high quality evidence) AUTHORS` CONCLUSIONS: A combination of educational and contraceptive-promoting interventions appears to reduce unintended pregnancy among adolescents. Evidence for programme effects on biological measures is limited. The variability in study populations, interventions and outcomes of included trials, and the paucity of studies directly comparing different interventions preclude a definitive conclusion regarding which type of intervention is
The full text may be available from PubMed
Interventions by Health Care Professionals Who Provide Routine Child Health Care to Reduce Tobacco Smoke Exposure in Children: A Review and Meta-analysis.
IMPORTANCE: Reducing child exposure to tobacco smoke is a public health priority. Guidelines recommend that health care professionals in child health settings should address tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) in children. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of interventions delivered by health care professionals who provide routine child health care in reducing TSE in children. DATA SOURCES: A secondary analysis of 57 trials included in a 2014 Cochrane review and a subsequent extended search was performed. Controlled trials (published through June 2015) of interventions that focused on reducing child TSE, with no restrictions placed on who delivered the interventions, were identified. Secondary data extraction was performed in August 2015. STUDY SELECTION: Controlled trials of routine child health care delivered by health care professionals (physicians, nurses, medical assistants, health educators, and dieticians) that addressed the outcomes of interest (TSE reduction in children and parental smoking behaviors) were eligible for inclusion in this review and meta-analysis. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Study details and quality characteristics were independently extracted by 2 authors. If outcome measures were sufficiently similar, meta-analysis was performed using the random-effects model by DerSimonian and Laird. Otherwise, the results were described narratively. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was reduction in child TSE. Secondary outcomes of interest were parental smoking cessation, parental smoking reduction, and maternal postpartum smoking relapse prevention. RESULTS: Sixteen studies met the selection criteria. Narrative analysis of the 6 trials that measured child TSE indicated no intervention effects relative to comparison groups. Similarly, meta-analysis of 9 trials that measured parental smoking cessation demonstrated no overall intervention effect (n = 6399) (risk ratio 1.05; 95% CI, 0.74-1.50; P = .78). Meta-analysis of the 3 trials that measured maternal postpartum smoking relapse prevention demonstrated a significant overall intervention effect (n = 1293) (risk ratio 1.53; 95% CI, 1.10-2.14; P = .01). High levels of study heterogeneity likely resulted from variability in outcome measures, length of follow up, intervention strategies, and unknown intervention fidelity. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Interventions delivered by health care professionals who provide routine child health care may be effective in preventing maternal smoking relapse. Further research is required to improve the effectiveness of such interventions in reducing child TSE and increasing parental smoking cessation. The findings of this meta-analysis have policy and practice implications relating to interventions by routine pediatric health care professionals that aim to reduce child exposure to tobacco smoke.
The full text may be available from PubMed
A Comprehensive Lifestyle Peer Group-Based Intervention on Cardiovascular Risk Factors: The Randomized Controlled Fifty-Fifty Program.
BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases stem from modifiable risk factors. Peer support is a proven strategy for many chronic illnesses. Randomized trials assessing the efficacy of this strategy for global cardiovascular risk factor modification are lacking. OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the hypothesis that a peer group strategy would help improve healthy behaviors in individuals with cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: A total of 543 adults 25 to 50 years of age with at least 1 risk factor were recruited; risk factors included hypertension (20%), overweight (82%), smoking (31%), and physical inactivity (81%). Subjects were randomized 1:1 to a peer group-based intervention group (IG) or a self-management control group (CG) for 12 months. Peer-elected leaders moderated monthly meetings involving role-play, brainstorming, and activities to address emotions, diet, and exercise. The primary outcome was mean change in a composite score related to blood pressure, exercise, weight, alimentation, and tobacco (Fuster-BEWAT score, 0 to 15). Multilevel models with municipality as a cluster variable were applied to assess differences between groups. RESULTS: Participants` mean age was 42 +/- 6 years, 71% were female, and they had a mean baseline Fuster-BEWAT score of 8.42 +/- 2.35. After 1 year, the mean scores were significantly higher in the IG (n = 277) than in the CG (n = 266) (IG mean score: 8.84; 95% confidence interval (CI): 8.37 to 9.32; CG mean score: 8.17; 95% CI: 7.55 to 8.79; p = 0.02). The increase in the overall score was significantly larger in the IG compared with the CG (difference: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.32 to 1.18; p = 0.02). The mean improvement in the individual components was uniformly greater in the IG, with a significant difference for the tobacco component. CONCLUSIONS: The peer group intervention had beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk factors, with significant improvements in the overall score and specifically on tobacco cessation. A follow-up assessment will be performed 1 year after the final assessment reported here to determine long-term sustainability of the improvements associated with peer group intervention. (Peer-Group-Based Intervention Program [Fifty-Fifty]; NCT02367963).
The full text may be available from PubMed
Body Mass Index, Abdominal Fatness, and Heart Failure Incidence and Mortality: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies.
BACKGROUND: Obesity has been associated with increased risk of heart failure, but whether overweight also increases risk is unclear. It is also unclear whether abdominal adiposity is more strongly associated with heart failure risk than general adiposity. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies to clarify the strength and shape of the dose-response relationship between general and abdominal adiposity and the risk of heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: PubMed and Embase databases were searched up to October 10, 2014. Summary relative risks were calculated using random-effects models. A total of 28 studies (27 publications) were included. Twenty-three prospective studies with >15 905 incident cases among 647 388 participants were included in the analysis of body mass index and heart failure incidence, and 4 studies were included for heart failure mortality. The summary relative risk for a 5-unit increment in body mass index was 1.41 (95% confidence interval, 1.34-1.47; I(2)=83%) for heart failure incidence and 1.26 (95% confidence interval, 0.85-1.87; I(2)=95%) heart failure mortality. Although the test for nonlinearity was significant (P<0.0001), this appeared to be attributable to a threshold at a body mass index of approximately 23 to 24 kg/m(2); however, there was evidence of increased risk even in the overweight body mass index range. The summary relative risk for a 10-cm increase in waist circumference was 1.29 (95% confidence interval, 1.21-1.37; I(2)=89%) and per 0.1-unit increase in waist-to-hip ratio was 1.29 (95% confidence interval, 1.13-1.47; I(2)=82%). CONCLUSION: Overweight and obesity and abdominal adiposity are associated with increased risk of heart failure.
The full text may be available from PubMed
News from the NCCAH
NCCAH Annual Survey 2015-2016
The National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health (NCCAH) is asking you to support their 2015-16 evaluation by participating in a short online survey.
The results of this survey will help the NCCAH to understand and identify their impacts and chart their future course. The results of the survey will be for internal use only.
To participate in this survey, click here: http://ow.ly/YYVP2
If you have any questions about the survey or the evaluation please contact Donna Atkinson at donna.atkinson@unbc.ca.
NCCAH Webinar: Re-thinking Family Violence: Centering Indigenous Knowledges
March 10, 2016
1:00 – 3:00pm (EST)
This webinar will centre Indigenous worldviews in exploring the issue of 'family violence'. Based in Anishinabek knowledge about families, healthy relationships, holistic views of health and the relational nature of wellness, Leanne Simpson will provide teachings which will encourage a rethinking of family violence in the context of Indigenous worldviews. Using Anishinabek philosophies and storytelling, Dr. Simpson will discuss a de-colonial approach to addressing violence in Indigenous families that challenges western nuclear conceptions of 'family'.
Click here to register: http://ow.ly/YYP4E
Upcoming webinars from HealthEvidence.org
Daily oral iron supplementation during pregnancy: What's the evidence?
March 4, 2016
1:00 – 2:30pm (EST)
Join Luz Maria De-Regil, Director of Research and Evaluation at the Micronutrient Initiative, for an overview of findings from her latest Cochrane review examining the effectiveness of daily oral iron supplementation during pregnancy:
Peña-Rosas J.P., De-Regil L.M., Garcia-Casal M.N., & Dowswell T. (2015). Daily oral iron supplementation during pregnancy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2015(7), CD004736.
Click here to register: http://ow.ly/YqBhC
Interventions with potential to reduce sedentary time in adults: What's the evidence?
April 7, 2016
11:30 – 12:30pm (EST)
Join Anne Martin, Research Associate, Sport, Physical Education & Health Sciences (SPEHS), University of Edinburgh, for an overview of findings from her latest systematic review examining the effectiveness of interventions which include a sedentary behaviour outcome measure in adults:
Martin A., Fitzsimons C., Jepson R., Saunders D., van der Ploeg H.P., Teixeira P.J., et al. (2015). Interventions with potential to reduce sedentary time in adults: Systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 0, 1-10.
Click here to register: http://ow.ly/YqDsx
Get the latest highlights from the OutbreakHelp bulletin
Check out this month’s issue!
OutbreakHelp is an interactive platform for sharing information and resources gathered from around the world on Ebola prevention, management and control. In addition to a comprehensive search of both the published and unpublished literature, OutbreakHelp uses knowledge sharing activities such as social media, webinars, forums and an ‘ask the experts’ function to help promote discussion and facilitate an active exchange of information in this area. The website aims to be a one-stop shop for Ebola information relevant to health and allied professionals.
The OutbreakHelp monthly newsletter highlights what’s new in Ebola research, recently added resources and new Evidence Briefs and/or Executive Summaries. We will also let you know of any upcoming events hosted by OutbreakHelp. To sign up go to www.outbreakhelp.ca and enter your e-mail!
