HeRA Collection:

Evaluation of a web portal for improving public access to evidence-based health information and health literacy skills: a pragmatic trial.

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Evaluation of a web portal for improving public access to evidence-based health information and health literacy skills: a pragmatic trial. Authors: Austvoll-Dahlgren, Astrid; Bjørndal, Arild; Odgaard-Jensen, Jan; Helseth, Sølvi Abstract: Using the conceptual framework of shared decision-making and evidence-based practice, a web portal was developed to serve as a generic (non disease-specific) tailored intervention to improve the lay public's health literacy skills.; To evaluate the effects of the web portal compared to no intervention in a real-life setting.; A pragmatic randomised controlled parallel trial using simple randomisation of 96 parents who had children aged <4 years. Parents were allocated to receive either access to the portal or no intervention, and assigned three tasks to perform over a three-week period. These included a searching task, a critical appraisal task, and reporting on perceptions about participation. Data were collected from March through June 2011.; Use of the web portal was found to improve attitudes towards searching for health information. This variable was identified as the most important predictor of intention to search in both samples. Participants considered the web portal to have good usability, usefulness, and credibility. The intervention group showed slight increases in the use of evidence-based information, critical appraisal skills, and participation compared to the group receiving no intervention, but these differences were not statistically significant.; Despite the fact that the study was underpowered, we found that the web portal may have a positive effect on attitudes towards searching for health information. Furthermore, participants considered the web portal to be a relevant tool. It is important to continue experimenting with web-based resources in order to increase user participation in health care decision-making.; ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01266798.

The buffering effect of relationship satisfaction on emotional distress in couples.

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Title: The buffering effect of relationship satisfaction on emotional distress in couples. Authors: Røsand, Gun-Mette B; Slinning, Kari; Eberhard-Gran, Malin; Røysamb, Espen; Tambs, Kristian Abstract: Marital distress and depression frequently co-occur, and partnership quality is associated with depressive symptoms and mental disorders in both men and women. One aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of a set of risk factors for emotional distress among men and women in couples, with a special focus on satisfaction with partner relationship. The most important aim was to investigate the extent to which high relationship satisfaction in couples acts as a buffer against stressful events.; Pregnant women and their husbands (n = 62,956 couples) enrolled in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study completed a questionnaire with questions about emotional distress, relationship satisfaction, and other risk factors. Twelve potential risk factors were included in the analyses, including relationship satisfaction, demographic characteristics, and somatic diseases in men and women. Associations between the predictor variables and emotional distress were estimated by multiple linear regression analysis. Cross-spousal effects, in which data reported by one of the spouses predicted emotional distress in the other, were also investigated. Possible interaction effects between certain risk factors and self-reported and partner's relationship satisfaction were tested and further explored with regression analyses in subsamples stratified by relationship satisfaction scores.; The unique effects of relationship satisfaction were of similar sizes for both men and women: substantial for self-reported (β = -0.23 and β = -0.28, respectively) and weak for partner-reported satisfaction (β = -0.04 and β = -0.02, respectively). Other relatively strong risk factors were somatic disease, first-time motherhood, and unemployment. Self-reported as well as partner-reported relationship satisfaction appeared to strongly buffer the effects of a number of stressors.; Partner relationship dissatisfaction is strongly associated with emotional distress in men and women. Good partner relationship, both as perceived by the individual him(her)self and by the spouse, quite strongly moderates adverse effects of various types of emotional strain.

Effects of prenatal opiate exposure on brain development – a call for attention

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 09:07:15 GMT

Title: Effects of prenatal opiate exposure on brain development – a call for attention Authors: Walhovd, Kristine B.; Moe, Vibeke; Slinning, Kari; Siqveland, Torill; Fjell, Anders M.; Bjørnebekk, Astrid; Smith, Lars

Using a structured treatment, Friends for life, in Norwegian outpatient clinics. Results from a pilot study

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Using a structured treatment, Friends for life, in Norwegian outpatient clinics. Results from a pilot study Authors: Martinsen, Kristin; Aalberg, Marianne; Gere, Martina; Neumer, Simon-Peter Abstract: CBT treatment programmes for children and adolescents with anxiety disorders are promising as indicated by efficacy research. Replicating this research in ordinary clinical care is crucial in order to establish the validity of these results and disseminate empirically based treatments to practitioners. This paper presents the first experiences of using a structured programme, the Friends for Life manual, in ordinary clinical care in Norway targeting anxiety problems in children aged between 7 and 12 years. The effects of the treatment are presented as multiple single-case studies. Clinical meaningful change is considered from two perspectives; diagnostic change and changes in self-report measures. At a statistical significance level the treatment effect can be characterized as modest. Independent of the symptom reduction, the children, families and therapist are in the main satisfied with the structured approach indicating the acceptability of the programme.