Formative evaluation of a parental involvement program for obesity prevention with low-income elementary school children

This study addresses the responses to a postcard campaign with health messages targeting the parents of children in a sample of low-income elementary schools and assesses the feasibility and areas of possible improvements in such a project. The campaign was implemented in Spring 2009 with 4 th grade students (n=1070) in fifteen economically disadvantaged elementary schools in Travis County, Texas. Postcards were sent home with children, and parents filled out a feedback card that the children returned to school. Response data, in the form of self-administered feedback cards (n=2665) and one-on-one teacher interviews (n=8), were qualitatively analyzed using NVivo 8 software. Postcard reception and points of improvement were then identified from the significant themes that emerged including health, cessation or reduction of unhealthy behaviors, motivation, family, and the comprehension of abstract health concepts. ^ Responses to the postcard campaign were almost completely positive, with less than 1% of responses reporting some sort of dislike, and many parents reported a modification of their behavior. However, possible improvements that could be made to the campaign are: increased focus of the postcards on the parents as the target population, increased information about serving size, greater emphasis on the link between obesity and health, alteration of certain skin tones used in the graphical depiction of people on the cards, and smaller but more frequent incentives to return the feedback cards for the students. The program appears to be an effective method of communicating health messages to the parents of 4th grade children.^

Process evaluation of intervention program for prevention of early sexual activity and alcohol use among Hispanic teenagers

Hispanic teens are a high-risk population for initiation of early sexual activity and alcohol use which in turn has numerous social and health consequences. One strategy to address prevention of these behaviors is to implement a capacity building intervention that promotes parent child communication, encompasses their cultural values and community participation. This study describes the process evaluation of a pilot intervention program amongst Hispanic teens and their families living along the Texas-Mexico border. “Girls Lets Talk” is a small group intervention with 10-14 year old teens and their female adult family members that involves education regarding effects of alcohol use and sexual activity as well as activities for monitoring and refusal skills to prevent risky behaviors. Two waves of the program each consisting of at least seven mother daughter dyads were conducted. During the designing process, community advisory board meetings and focus groups were held to review course materials and ensure they were appropriate to the Mexican American culture. Parent and adolescent surveys were administered at the beginning and end of the intervention to assess for psychosocial outcome variables. All sessions received high mean satisfactory scores (mean of 4.00 or better on a five point scale) for both adult and adolescent participants. Qualitative feedback was obtained via debriefing sessions to evaluate experience as well as alter recruitment strategies. A Wilcoxon Sign Rank analysis of the pre and post intervention surveys was done that showed significant changes in some outcome variables such as intentions and confidence for monitoring behaviors for adults and beliefs regarding sexual activity. “Girls Lets Talk” is a promising example of how a process evaluation plan can help develop a theory based health promotion program using the community based participatory research approach. The intervention may also be effective in altering intentions and enhancing self-efficacy among parents and teens in order to decrease risky behaviors such as early sexual activity and alcohol use.^

Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Included in a Pregnancy Exercise Program Is Effective in Primary Prevention of Urinary Incontinence: A Randomized Controlled Trial

AIMS: To investigate the effect of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) taught in a general exercise class during pregnancy on the prevention of urinary incontinence (UI) in nulliparous continent pregnant women. METHODS: This was a unicenter two armed randomized controlled trial. One hundred sixty-nine women were randomized by a central computer system to an exercise group (EG) (exercise class including PFMT) (n = 73) or a control group (CG) (n = 96). 10.1% loss to follow-up: 10 from EG and 7 from CG. The intervention consisted of 70-75 sessions (22 weeks, three times per week, 55-60 min/session including 10 min of PFMT). The CG received usual care (which included follow up by midwifes including information about PFMT). Questions on prevalence and degree of UI were posed before (week 10-14) and after intervention (week 36-39) using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF). RESULTS: At the end of the intervention, there was a statistically significant difference in favor of the EG. Reported frequency of UI [Never: CG: 54/60.7%, EG: 60/95.2% (P < 0.001)]. Amount of leakage [None: CG: 45/60.7%, EG: 60/95.2% (P < 0.001)]. There was also a statistically significant difference in ICIQ-UI SF Score between groups after the intervention period [CG: 2.7 (SD 4.1), EG: 0.2 (SD 1.2) (P < 0.001)]. The estimated effect size was 0.8. CONCLUSION: PFMT taught in a general exercise class three times per week for at least 22 weeks, without former assessment of ability to perform a correct contraction was effective in primary prevention of UI in primiparous pregnant women.

Developing a Citizen Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program for the Flathead Basin in Northwestern Montana for the early Detection and Prevention of the Introduction of Zebra Mussels and other Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)

Preventing the introduction of aquatic invasive species (AIS) like zebra and quagga mussels in the U.S. is a high priority. This Capstone demonstrates zebra and quagga mussels are of concern as aquatic invasive species and a volunteer monitoring and intervention program is an effective means for early detection of AIS. This Capstone developed an AIS citizen volunteer lake monitoring program consistent with other programs concerned about AIS prevention and early detection. This Capstone concludes implementing such a voluntary program will help reduce the spread of zebra and quagga mussels and will provide early detection information to appropriate agencies empowered with response actions if species are found.

National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month: program planner. Strengthening safe communities.

Mode of access: Internet.

The community prevention coalitions demonstration grant program.

"Catalog of federal domestic assistance no. 93.194."

Drug alliance program activities in neighborhood-based illicit drug abuse prevention /

"Submitted under contract number 90-043-1003."

Drug alliance program activities in neighborhood-based illicit drug abuse prevention :

"Submitted under contract number 90-043-1003."

Retired Senior Volunteer Program activities in alcohol and drug abuse prevention and education /

Mode of access: Internet.

Delaware River watershed: New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. Program for run-off and waterflow retardation and soil erosion prevention.

Report includes appendices, survey report.

A family response to the drug problem : a family program for the prevention of chemical dependence.

Mode of access: Internet.

1980 plan for Commission on Delinquency Prevention : phase II, program statement.

Mode of access: Internet.

Pollution prevention internship program ... project abstracts /

Mode of access: Internet.

Prevention, a resource guide for program development /

Funded by the Illinois Dept. of Mental Health, and Developmental Disabilities, Division of Alcoholism.

State agency review and initial recommendations report : recommendations of policy and program changes to support suicide prevention.

In addition to the development and implementation of an Illinois Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan, the alliance was charged with reviewing the statutorily prescribed missions, policies and procedures of the Illinois departments of Public Health, Human Services and Aging and the State Board of Education. This report is a compilation of that review and includes recommendations to incorporate suicide prevention in the missions, policies and procedures of these state agencies.