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Author(s): Chris Rissel [sup.1] , Santosh Khanal [sup.1] , Jane Raymond [sup.2] , Vanessa Clements [sup.2] , Kit Leung [sup.2] , Michael Nicholl [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (Aff1) NSW Office of [...], Objectives Get Healthy in Pregnancy (GHiP) is a telephone based lifestyle coaching service for pregnant women, in New South Wales, Australia. GHiP had two service options; a telephone-based health coaching program consisting of up to 10 calls and information only (including one call). This study sought to compare the outcomes of the two GHiP options, to determine the characteristics of women likely to use the service and to explore the feedback from women and health professionals. Methods A pragmatic stratified clustered randomised controlled trial was conducted. Two metro and three rural hospitals were randomised into health coaching or information only arms. Self-reported measures of height and weight and health behaviours (dietary and physical activity) were collected at baseline and 36 weeks gestation. Process evaluation included descriptive analysis of routine program data, and semi-structured interviews with participants and health professionals. Results Of 3736 women screened, 1589 (42.5%) were eligible to participate, and of those eligible, 923 (58.1%) were recruited. More women in the health coaching arm gained weight within the target range for their BMI at 36 weeks gestation (42.9%) compared with information only (31.9%). Women found GHiP to be useful and supportive and midwives and doctors said that it facilitated conversations about weight with pregnant women. Conclusions for Practice Telephone-based lifestyle programs integrated with routine clinical care show promise in helping pregnant women achieve healthy gestational weight gain, but in this case was not significantly different from one information telephone call. Strong positive feedback suggests that scaled-up service delivery would be well received. Trial Registration ACTRN12615000397516 (retrospectively registered).

Author(s): Parisa Ghanouni [sup.1] , Tal Jarus [sup.2] , Jill G. Zwicker [sup.2] [sup.3] [sup.4] [sup.5] [sup.6] , Joseph Lucyshyn [sup.7] , Kristin Mow [sup.2] , Alyssa Ledingham [sup.2] Author [...], Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects socio-emotional skills and perspective-taking abilities. Although social stories in a form of virtual reality program can help children with ASD, developing them and identifying appropriate responses might be subjective and thus challenging. Using Delphi method, and guided by general case training, we involved 63 parents and clinicians of individuals with ASD, in two rounds of online iteration to refine the stories. Scenarios that reached a 75% agreement level were accepted. This project is the first study to develop and validate a library of 75 short socio-emotional stories that illustrate various types and intensities of emotion in three social contexts of home, school, and community as the content of a virtual reality program.

Author(s): Ramzi Shawahna [sup.1] [sup.2] [sup.3] , Basel Fahed [sup.3] , Dana Qadri [sup.3] , Lamees Sharawi [sup.3] , Mai Soroghli [sup.3] , Maen Dweik [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) 0000 [...], Pharmacists are trusted and easily accessible healthcare providers. We assessed awareness and knowledge of symptoms, etiology, and treatment of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) among pharmacists practicing in Palestine. The pharmacists reported low familiarity with ASDs. The median score on the 12-item knowledge section was 50.0% with an interquartile range of 16.7%. Having course(s) or lecture(s) on ASDs during pharmacy degree program was significantly associated with familiarity (p value

Physician burnout is the new catch phrase. Recognized as a problem for years, burnout has now become more relevant. It is the sheer volume of cases that has beccome a [...]

Introduction: Few eligible children participate in early intervention (El) programs. The objective of this study was to determine feasibility and outcomes of a novel patient navigation program on El referrals [...]

Author(s): Helen E. Young[sup.1] , Ruth A. Falco[sup.1] , Makoto Hanita[sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) Department of Special Education, Graduate School of Education, Portland State University, P.O. Box 751, 97207-0751, Portland, [...], This randomized, controlled trial, comparing the Comprehensive Autism Program (CAP) and business as usual programs, studied outcomes for 3-5 year old students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Participants included 84 teachers and 302 students with ASD and their parents. CAP utilized specialized curricula and training components to implement specific evidence-based practices both at school and home. A comprehensive set of outcome areas was studied. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to estimate the treatment impact. CAP had small positive impacts on the students' receptive language (effect size of .13) and on their social skills as rated by teachers (effect size of .19). Treatment effects were moderated by severity of ASD.

Author(s): Nora Wells[sup.1] , Suzanne Bronheim[sup.2] , Stephen Zyzanski[sup.3] , Clarissa Hoover[sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) Family Voices, Inc., Albuquerque, NM, USA (2) Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA (3) Case Western [...], The objective of this study was to create a psychometrically sound measure of family-centered care, the Family-Centered Care Assessment (FCCA), developed through a process led by families in collaboration with maternal and child health leaders. The items for the FCCA scale were initially developed by families of children and youth with special needs in partnership with pediatric providers and researchers. Using an Institutional Review Board-approved research protocol, the questions were revised based on input from focus groups of diverse parents in three states. Parental responses (N = 790) to the revised 59-item survey were collected online from families in 49 states. Item distributions uniformly showed excellent spread. A principal axes factor analysis confirmed the existence of a single factor. Rasch modeling item analyses identified a reduced subset of 24 items that demonstrated excellent psychometric properties. All items met the criteria for a linear Rasch scale. Empirical evidence in support of the construct validity of the 24-item measure was derived: all items had a positive and substantial item-total correlation; person alpha scale reliability was >0.80 and the item reliability was >0.90; both separation indices were >2.0; infit and outfit statistics were within 0.5-1.5; and item difficulties ranged between -2 and +2 logits. Strong rank-ordered associations and large effect sizes were observed for six indicators of quality of care. This study's family-led process produced a tool, the FCCA, to measure families' experience of care with excellent psychometric properties.

Author(s): Mary H. Hodges[sup.1] , Fatmata F. Sesay[sup.1] , Habib I. Kamara[sup.1] , Emmanuel D. Nyorkor[sup.1] , Mariama Bah[sup.1] , Aminata S. Koroma[sup.2] , Joseph N. Kandeh[sup.3] [sup.4] , Rasmata [...], Since 2004, twice-yearly mass vitamin A supplementation (VAS) has equitably reached over 85 % of children 6-59 months old in Sierra Leone. However infants who turn 6 months after the event may wait until they are 11 months old to receive their first dose. The effectiveness of integrating VAS at 6 months into the Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI) in a revised child health card was studied. Health facilities matched according to staff cadre and work load were assigned to provide either a &apos;mini package&apos; of VAS and infant and young child feeding (IYCF), a &apos;full package&apos; of VAS, IYCF and family planning (FP), or &apos;child health card&apos; only. 400 neonates were enrolled into each group, caregivers given the new child health card and followed until they were 12 months old. More infants in the full: 74.5 % and mini: 71.7 % group received VAS between 6 and 7 months of age compared with the new CH card only group: 60.2 % (p = 0.002, p < 0.001 respectively). FP commodities were provided to 44.5 % of caregivers in the full compared with

Author(s): Renata E. Howland[sup.1] , Ann M. Madsen[sup.1] , Amita Toprani[sup.1] [sup.2] , Melissa Gambatese[sup.1] , Candace Mulready-Ward[sup.1] , Elizabeth Begier[sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) New York City Department of Health [...], National birth registration guidelines were revised in 2003 to improve data quality; however, few studies have evaluated the impact on local jurisdictions and their data users. In New York City (NYC), approximately 125,000 births are registered annually with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and data are used routinely by the department&apos;s maternal and child health (MCH) programs. In order to better meet MCH program needs, we used Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to assess birth data usefulness, simplicity, data quality, timeliness and representativeness. We interviewed birth registration and MCH program staff, reviewed a 2009 survey of birth registrars (n = 39), and analyzed 2008-2011 birth records for timeliness and completeness (n = 502,274). Thirteen MCH programs use birth registration data for eligibility determination, needs assessment, program evaluation, and surveillance. Demographic variables are used frequently, nearly 100 % complete, and considered the gold standard by programs; in contrast, medical variables&apos; use and validity varies widely. Seventy-seven percent of surveyed birth registrars reported [greater than or equal to]1 problematic items in the system; 64.1 % requested further training. During 2008-2011, the median interval between birth and registration was 5 days (range 0-260 days); 11/13 programs were satisfied with timeliness. The NYC birth registration system provides local MCH programs useful, timely, and representative data. However, some medical items are difficult to collect, of low quality, and rarely used. We recommend enhancing training for birth registrars, continuing quality improvement efforts, increasing collaboration with program users, and removing consistently low-quality and low-use variables.

Author(s): Suzanne D. Thomas[sup.1] , Jodi L. Hudgins[sup.2] , Donald E. Sutherland[sup.2] , Brittany L. Ange[sup.3] , Sandra C. Mobley[sup.4] [sup.5] Author Affiliations: (1) College of Nursing, Georgia Regents University, [...], The objective of this methodology note is to examine perinatal program evaluation methods as they relate to the life course health development model (LCHD) and risk reduction for poor birth outcomes. We searched PubMed, CDC, ERIC, and a list from the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) to identify sources. We included reports from theory, methodology, program reports, and instruments, as well as reviews of Healthy Start Programs and home visiting. Because our review focused upon evaluation methods we did not include reports that described the Healthy Start Program. The LCHD model demonstrates the non-linear relationships among epigenetic factors and environmental interactions, intentionality or worldview within a values framework, health practices, and observed outcomes in a lifelong developmental health trajectory. The maternal epigenetic and social environment during fetal development sets the stage for the infant&apos;s lifelong developmental arc. The LCHD model provides a framework to study challenging maternal child health problems. Research that tracks the long term maternal-infant health developmental trajectory is facilitated by multiple, linked public record systems. Two instruments, the life skills progression instrument and the prenatal risk overview are theoretically consistent with the LCHD and can be adapted for local or population-based use. A figure is included to demonstrate a method of reducing interaction among variables by sample definition. Both in-place local programs and tests of best practices in community-based research are needed to reduce unacceptably high infant mortality. Studies that follow published reporting standards strengthen evidence.

Author(s): Nicole A. Stadnick[sup.1] , Aubyn Stahmer[sup.1] [sup.2] , Lauren Brookman-Frazee[sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA (2) Department of Psychiatry [...], This is a pilot study of the effectiveness of Project ImPACT, a parent-mediated intervention for ASD delivered in a community program. The primary aim was to compare child and parent outcomes between the intervention group and a community comparison for 30 young children with ASD at baseline and 12 weeks. The secondary aim was to identify parent factors associated with changes in child outcomes. Results indicated significant improvement in child communication skills and a strong trend for parent intervention adherence for the intervention group from baseline to 12 weeks. Higher baseline parenting stress was negatively related to child social gains from baseline to 12 weeks. Findings provide further support for delivering parent-mediated interventions in community settings to children with ASD.

Recent rehabilitation counseling (RC) literature advocates for knowledge about the types of services that improve employment rates for persons with low employment outcomes, and discusses the need to demonstrate the [...], Leadership across the state-federal Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program must be strategic in demonstrating accountability for employment outcomes given ever-present internal and external challenges to its operations. In order to reach for excellence in performance, leadership must have a lens toward systems thinking and build the components of a high performing organization. The authors introduce rehabilitation professionals to a context of performance in the state-federal VR Program and discuss the planning processes involved to manage a system that addresses employment outcomes. We provide information on the components of high performance organizations; systems thinking; strategic development, implementation, and leadership; and tools for use in project planning and tracking effectiveness of state agency services and practices. We discuss training and practice implications.

Author(s): Dafna Merom 1,*, Erin Mathieu 2, Ester Cerin 3, Rachael L. Morton 4, Judy M. Simpson 2, Chris Rissel 2, Kaarin J. Anstey 5, Catherine Sherrington 6, Stephen R. [...], Background The prevention of falls among older people is a major public health challenge. Exercises that challenge balance are recognized as an efficacious fall prevention strategy. Given that small-scale trials have indicated that diverse dance styles can improve balance and gait of older adults, two of the strongest risk factors for falls in older people, this study aimed to determine whether social dance is effective in i) reducing the number of falls and ii) improving physical and cognitive fall-related risk factors. Methods and Findings A parallel two-arm cluster randomized controlled trial was undertaken in 23 self-care retirement villages (clusters) around Sydney, Australia. Eligible villages had to have an appropriate hall for dancing, house at least 60 residents, and not be currently offering dance as a village activity. Retirement villages were randomised using a computer generated randomisation method, constrained using minimisation. Eligible participants had to be a resident of the village, be able to walk at least 50 m, and agree to undergo physical and cognitive testing without cognitive impairment. Residents of intervention villages (12 clusters) were offered twice weekly one-hour social dancing classes (folk or ballroom dancing) over 12 mo (80 h in total). Programs were standardized across villages and were delivered by eight dance teachers. Participants in the control villages (11 clusters) were advised to continue with their regular activities. Main outcomes: falls during the 12 mo trial and Trail Making Tests. Secondary outcomes: The Physiological Performance Assessment (i.e., postural sway, proprioception, reaction time, leg strength) and the Short Physical Performance Battery; health-related physical and mental quality of life from the Short-Form 12 (SF-12) Survey. Data on falls were obtained from 522 of 530 (98%) randomised participants (mean age 78 y, 85% women) and 424 (80%) attended the 12-mo reassessment, which was lower among folk dance participants (71%) than ballroom dancing (82%) or control participants (82%, p = 0.04). Mean attendance at dance classes was 51%. During the period, 444 falls were recorded; there was no significant difference in fall rates between the control group (0.80 per person-year) and the dance group (1.03 per person-year). Using negative binomial regression with robust standard errors the adjusted Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) was 1.19 (95% CI: 95% CI = 0.83, 1.71). In exploratory post hoc subgroup analysis, the rate of falls was higher among dance participants with a history of multiple falls (IRR = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.15, 3.54, p = 0.23 for interaction) and with the folk dance intervention (IRR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.03, 2.73). There were no significant between-group differences in executive function test (TMT-B = 2.8 s, 95% CI: -6.2, 11.8). Intention to treat (ITT) analysis revealed no between-group differences at 12-mo follow-up in the secondary outcome measures, with the exception of postural sway, favouring the control group. Exploratory post hoc analysis by study completers and style indicated that ballroom dancing participants apparently improved their gait speed by 0.07 m/s relative to control participants (95% CI: 0.00, 0.14, p = 0.05). Study limitations included allocation to style based on logistical considerations rather than at random; insufficient power to detect differential impacts of different dance styles and smaller overall effects; variation of measurement conditions across villages; and no assessment of more complex balance tasks, which may be more sensitive to changes brought about by dancing. Conclusions Social dancing did not prevent falls or their associated risk factors among these retirement villages&apos; residents. Modified dance programmes that contain "training elements" to better approximate structured exercise programs, targeted at low and high-risk participants, warrant investigation. Trial Registration The Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12612000889853

Author(s): Jonathan Jay 1,*, Kent Buse 2, Marielle Hart 3, David Wilson 4, Robert Marten 5, Scott Kellerman 6, Morolake Odetoyinbo 7, Jonathan D. Quick 6,8, Timothy Evans 4, Peter [...]

Author(s): Agnes Binagwaho 1,2,3,*, Ida Kankindi 1, Eugenie Kayirangwa 4, Jean Pierre Nyemazi 1, Sabin Nsanzimana 1, Fernando Morales 5, Rose Kadende-Kaiser 4, Kirstin Woody Scott 2, Veronicah Mugisha 6, [...]

Author(s): Collins C. Iwuji 1,2,*, Joanna Orne-Gliemann 3,4, Joseph Larmarange 1,5, Nonhlanhla Okesola 1, Frank Tanser 1,6, Rodolphe Thiebaut 3,4, Claire Rekacewicz 7, Marie-Louise Newell 1,8, Francois Dabis 3,4, ANRS [...], Background The 2015 WHO recommendation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for all immediately following HIV diagnosis is partially based on the anticipated impact on HIV incidence in the surrounding population. We investigated this approach in a cluster-randomised trial in a high HIV prevalence setting in rural KwaZulu-Natal. We present findings from the first phase of the trial and report on uptake of home-based HIV testing, linkage to care, uptake of ART, and community attitudes about ART. Methods and Findings Between 9 March 2012 and 22 May 2014, five clusters in the intervention arm (immediate ART offered to all HIV-positive adults) and five clusters in the control arm (ART offered according to national guidelines, i.e., CD4 count [less than or equal to] 350 cells/[mu]l) contributed to the first phase of the trial. Households were visited every 6 mo. Following informed consent and administration of a study questionnaire, each resident adult ([greater than or equal to]16 y) was asked for a finger-prick blood sample, which was used to estimate HIV prevalence, and offered a rapid HIV test using a serial HIV testing algorithm. All HIV-positive adults were referred to the trial clinic in their cluster. Those not linked to care 3 mo after identification were contacted by a linkage-to-care team. Study procedures were not blinded. In all, 12,894 adults were registered as eligible for participation (5,790 in intervention arm; 7,104 in control arm), of whom 9,927 (77.0%) were contacted at least once during household visits. HIV status was ever ascertained for a total of 8,233/9,927 (82.9%), including 2,569 ascertained as HIV-positive (942 tested HIV-positive and 1,627 reported a known HIV-positive status). Of the 1,177 HIV-positive individuals not previously in care and followed for at least 6 mo in the trial, 559 (47.5%) visited their cluster trial clinic within 6 mo. In the intervention arm, 89% (194/218) initiated ART within 3 mo of their first clinic visit. In the control arm, 42.3% (83/196) had a CD4 count [less than or equal to] 350 cells/[mu]l at first visit, of whom 92.8% initiated ART within 3 mo. Regarding attitudes about ART, 93% (8,802/9,460) of participants agreed with the statement that they would want to start ART as soon as possible if HIV-positive. Estimated baseline HIV prevalence was 30.5% (2,028/6,656) (95% CI 25.0%, 37.0%). HIV prevalence, uptake of home-based HIV testing, linkage to care within 6 mo, and initiation of ART within 3 mo in those with CD4 count [less than or equal to] 350 cells/[mu]l did not differ significantly between the intervention and control clusters. Selection bias related to noncontact could not be entirely excluded. Conclusions Home-based HIV testing was well received in this rural population, although men were less easily contactable at home; immediate ART was acceptable, with good viral suppression and retention. However, only about half of HIV-positive people accessed care within 6 mo of being identified, with nearly two-thirds accessing care by 12 mo. The observed delay in linkage to care would limit the individual and public health ART benefits of universal testing and treatment in this population. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01509508

Author(s): John Ly 1, Vidiya Sathananthan 2, Thomas Griffiths 2, Zahir Kanjee 3, Avi Kenny 2, Nicholas Gordon 2, Gaurab Basu 2,4,5, Dale Battistoli 6, Lorenzo Dorr 6, Breeanna Lorenzen [...], Background The Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic has threatened access to basic health services through facility closures, resource diversion, and decreased demand due to community fear and distrust. While modeling studies have attempted to estimate the impact of these disruptions, no studies have yet utilized population-based survey data. Methods and Findings We conducted a two-stage, cluster-sample household survey in Rivercess County, Liberia, in March-April 2015, which included a maternal and reproductive health module. We constructed a retrospective cohort of births beginning 4 y before the first day of survey administration (beginning March 24, 2011). We then fit logistic regression models to estimate associations between our primary outcome, facility-based delivery (FBD), and time period, defined as the pre-EVD period (March 24, 2011-June 14, 2014) or EVD period (June 15, 2014-April 13, 2015). We fit both univariable and multivariable models, adjusted for known predictors of facility delivery, accounting for clustering using linearized standard errors. To strengthen causal inference, we also conducted stratified analyses to assess changes in FBD by whether respondents believed that health facility attendance was an EVD risk factor. A total of 1,298 women from 941 households completed the survey. Median age at the time of survey was 29 y, and over 80% had a primary education or less. There were 686 births reported in the pre-EVD period and 212 in the EVD period. The unadjusted odds ratio of facility-based delivery in the EVD period was 0.66 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.48-0.90, p-value = 0.010). Adjustment for potential confounders did not change the observed association, either in the principal model (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.70, 95%CI 0.50-0.98, p = 0.037) or a fully adjusted model (AOR = 0.69, 95%CI 0.50-0.97, p = 0.033). The association was robust in sensitivity analyses. The reduction in FBD during the EVD period was observed among those reporting a belief that health facilities are or may be a source of Ebola transmission (AOR = 0.59, 95%CI 0.36-0.97, p = 0.038), but not those without such a belief (AOR = 0.90, 95%CI 0.59-1.37, p = 0.612). Limitations include the possibility of FBD secular trends coincident with the EVD period, recall errors, and social desirability bias. Conclusions We detected a 30% decreased odds of FBD after the start of EVD in a rural Liberian county with relatively few cases. Because health facilities never closed in Rivercess County, this estimate may under-approximate the effect seen in the most heavily affected areas. These are the first population-based survey data to show collateral disruptions to facility-based delivery caused by the West African EVD epidemic, and they reinforce the need to consider the full spectrum of implications caused by public health emergencies.

Author(s): Kwonjune J. Seung 1,2,3,4,*, Molly Franke 2,4, Stephen W. Linton 1 Summary Points Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) is one of the most serious public health problems facing North Korea, [...]