May 2014 · Issue 84
In this issue:
- Have you seen NCCMTs Understanding Research Evidence videos?
- Highlight from the Registry of Methods and Tools
- New from Public Health+
- Health Evidence Webinar
Have you seen NCCMTs Understanding Research Evidence videos?
Can you help us evaluate them?
We are evaluating the Understanding Research Evidence (URE) videos to learn about Canadian public health professionals’ experience watching the videos.If you are a public health professional in Canada, we invite you to help us evaluate the videos. If you have already seen a URE video on odds ratios, clinical significance, confidence intervals, or forest plots, please take a moment to complete our online survey (The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete).
Click here to link to the survey: https://nccmt.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_3s1uLnEb0aeT5YN
Your participation will help us improve resources available to support evidence-informed practice in the public health community. All participants will be entered in a draw to win one of two $50 gift cards.
Please complete the survey by June 25th, 2014.
For more information about this evaluation, please stop by our outreach booth at CPHA Public Health 2014 or contact Linda Chan at lmy.chan@mail.utoronto.ca or at 905-525-9140 ext. 20450.
Highlight from the Registry of Methods and Tools
Looking for examples of planning tools that can be used at the local public health level?
Check out Sudbury & District Health Unit OPHS Planning Path
Developed by the Sudbury & District Health Unit (SDHU), this toolkit provides a four-step approach for local program planning in support of the Ontario Public Health Standards (OPHS). The OPHS Planning Path promotes a systematic, equity-focused and evidence-informed approach to decision making.
The toolkit includes templates, tracking forms and resources for the following steps:
- Assessment "Gather evidence"
- Action planning "Use evidence to plan the standards and activities"
- Implementation "Act on the evidence"
- Evaluation and monitoring "Generate new evidence"
For more info, check out: http://www.nccmt.ca/registry/view/eng/105.html
New from Public Health+
Effects of a Pediatric Weight Management Program With and Without Active Video Games: A Randomized Trial.
IMPORTANCE Active video games may offer an effective strategy to increase physical activity in overweight and obese children. However, the specific effects of active gaming when delivered within the context of a pediatric weight management program are unknown. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of active video gaming on physical activity and weight loss in children participating in an evidence-based weight management program delivered in the community. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Group-randomized clinical trial conducted during a 16-week period in YMCAs and schools located in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Texas. Seventy-five overweight or obese children (41 girls [55%], 34 whites [45%], 20 Hispanics [27%], and 17 blacks [23%]) enrolled in a community-based pediatric weight management program. Mean (SD) age of the participants was 10.0 (1.7) years; body mass index (BMI) z score, 2.15 (0.40); and percentage overweight from the median BMI for age and sex, 64.3% (19.9%). INTERVENTIONS All participants received a comprehensive family-based pediatric weight management program (JOIN for ME). Participants in the program and active gaming group received hardware consisting of a game console and motion capture device and 1 active game at their second treatment session and a second game in week 9 of the program. Participants in the program-only group were given the hardware and 2 games at the completion of the 16-week program. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Objectively measured daily moderate-to-vigorous and vigorous physical activity, percentage overweight, and BMI z score. RESULTS Participants in the program and active gaming group exhibited significant increases in moderate-to-vigorous (mean [SD], 7.4 [2.7] min/d) and vigorous (2.8 [0.9] min/d) physical activity at week 16 (P < .05). In the program-only group, a decline or no change was observed in the moderate-to-vigorous (mean [SD] net difference, 8.0 [3.8] min/d; P = .04) and vigorous (3.1 [1.3] min/d; P = .02) physical activity. Participants in both groups exhibited significant reductions in percentage overweight and BMI z scores at week 16. However, the program and active gaming group exhibited significantly greater reductions in percentage overweight (mean [SD], -10.9% [1.6%] vs -5.5% [1.5%]; P = .02) and BMI z score (-0.25 [0.03] vs -0.11 [0.03]; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Incorporating active video gaming into an evidence-based pediatric weight management program has positive effects on physical activity and relative weight. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01757925.
The full text may be available from PubMed
Age-Specific Strategies for Immunization Reminders and Recalls: A Registry-Based Randomized Trial.
BACKGROUND: Although previous studies have found reminder/recall to be effective in increasing immunization rates, little guidance exists regarding the specific ages at which it is optimal to send reminder/recall notices. PURPOSE: To assess the relative effectiveness of centralized reminder/recall strategies targeting age-specific vaccination milestones among children in urban areas during June 2008-June 2009. METHODS: Three reminder/recall strategies used capabilities of the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR), a statewide immunization information system: a 7-month recall strategy, a 12-month reminder strategy, and a 19-month recall strategy. Eligible children were randomized to notification (intervention) or no notification groups (control). Primary study outcomes included MCIR-recorded immunization activity (administration of >/=1 new dose, entry of >/=1 historic dose, entry of immunization waiver) within 60 days following each notification cycle. RESULTS: A total of 10,175 children were included: 2,072 for the 7-month recall, 3,502 for the 12-month reminder, and 4,601 for the 19-month recall. Immunization activity was similar between notification versus no notification groups at both 7 and 12 months. Significantly more 19-month-old children in the recall group (26%) had immunization activity compared to their counterparts that did not receive a recall notification (19%). CONCLUSIONS: Although recall notifications can positively affect immunization activity, the effect may vary by targeted age group. Many 7- and 12-month-olds had immunization activity following reminder/recall; however, levels of activity were similar irrespective of notification, suggesting that these groups were likely to receive medical care or immunization services without prompting.
The full text may be available from PubMed
Health Evidence Webinar
the impact of tailored, knowledge translation and exchange interventions on EIDM
June 10th
12 pm EDT
From 2009-2013, Health Evidence partnered with three Ontario health departments on a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) “Partnerships for Health System Improvement” grant, studying the impact of tailored, knowledge translation and exchange interventions on evidence-informed decision making in public health. Dr. Maureen Dobbins will present the results from this study and lead an interactive discussion on the implications for this work to a broader public health and knowledge translation audience.
Health Evidence will post a recording of the webinar on their website for those unable to register for the live session.
