Articles tagged with Control Groups
A study by Stanford psychologists found that a 60-minute social-belonging exercise significantly improved the GPAs of black freshmen, reducing the minority achievement gap by 52 percent. The exercise helped students internalize that adjustments are tough for everyone and increased feelings of belonging, happiness, and health.
Researchers found that asking participants to predict their future behavior breaks their habits, but this only works for behaviors with strong personal goals. For behaviors without personal norms, predicting the past behavior reinforces existing habits.
Research reveals that specific gene variants, particularly IVS5-13insC, are linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes in individuals of white European ancestry. The study's findings suggest that these genetic variations could serve as early predictive markers for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
A new study in Psychological Science reports that thinking about a partner's support for goals can decrease motivation and increase procrastination. However, this phenomenon, known as self-regulatory outsourcing, can also lead to positive relationship outcomes if done consciously.
A new study found that patients with implanted wireless devices to monitor pulmonary artery pressure had a 39% reduction in heart-failure related hospitalisations compared to those receiving standard care. This innovative approach shows promise for reducing healthcare costs and improving patient management.
A combination of IPTc and insecticide-treated bednets can substantially reduce the incidence of severe malaria in children, with a protective efficacy of up to 70%. IPTc also reduced the prevalence of malaria infection at the end of the transmission season by 73%.
In Pakistan, community health workers known as Lady Health Workers (LHWs) reduced stillbirths by 21% and newborn deaths by 15%, despite low coverage. The LHWs delivered a package of preventive and promotive maternal and newborn care interventions, including antenatal care promotion and clean delivery kits.
A Swedish study found that PSA screening nearly halves prostate cancer mortality after 14 years. However, the screening was associated with a risk of impotence and urinary incontinence, albeit at lower rates than expected.
A study by the Rakai Health Sciences Program in Uganda found that male circumcision significantly reduced high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in female partners of HIV-negative men. The protection is partial, and safe sex practices remain essential. Circumcision also increased clearance of HPV infections in women.
A randomized controlled trial found that parent education programs increased parent-child interactions and reduced media exposure in infants in at-risk families. The Video Interaction Project and Building Blocks interventions improved verbal interactions and reading activities, while also decreasing TV time.
Researchers investigated indoor plant intervention on pulmonary and coronary patients' health, finding improved overall physical and mental health. Patients in the 'plant intervention group' reported larger increases in well-being during their rehabilitation programs.
Targeted messages and mailings have shown promise in increasing colorectal cancer screening rates, especially among those overdue for screenings. However, the long-term effect remains unclear due to other promotional activities and varying patient resistance.
A new study from Purdue University found that in-person discussions about organ donation increased registration rates by 13.6%, while a low-intensity approach led to only a 3% increase.
A weight lifting program did not increase the risk of arm swelling in breast cancer survivors, according to a new study. The study found that women who participated in a 1-year weight lifting intervention had a lower risk of developing lymphedema compared to those who did not exercise.
The Asthma Self-Management for Adolescents (ASMA) program, an eight-week intervention, significantly improves asthma management and quality of life among participating students. ASMA participants reported reduced asthma-related activity restrictions, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations.
A combination of aerobic exercise and resistance training was associated with improved glycemic levels among patients with type 2 diabetes. The level of improvement was not seen among patients who performed either aerobic exercise or resistance training alone. The study found that the combination group had a greater reduction in hemogl...
A new study suggests that a personalized multimedia program can reduce falls among older hospital patients without cognitive impairment. The program, which combines videos with one-on-one follow-up, was associated with fewer falls and lower injury rates compared to usual care.
A six-month music-based multitask exercise program improved gait, balance, and reduced falls in community-dwelling elderly individuals. The study found a significant reduction in falls and risk of falling among participants, suggesting that this program may be useful for fall prevention and rehabilitation.
A new Cochrane systematic review found that changing family behavior can help prevent relapses in people with schizophrenia. The study analyzed data from 53 trials involving over 4,700 patients and showed significant benefits of family interventions, including reduced hospital admissions and improved social functioning.
A randomized controlled study found that encouraging African-American women aged 60 or over to exercise alongside scripture reading and group prayer led to a significant increase in physical activity. The intervention resulted in a 78% increase in steps per week, four times greater than the control group.
A randomized trial found that 30 months of supervised exercise followed by voluntary home training significantly reduced the risk of fractures in high-risk elderly women. The study also showed improved balance and gait, as well as lower mortality rates, compared to a control group.
Researchers at Florida State University found that people with Parkinson's disease alter their gait when asked to perform verbal tasks while walking, increasing the risk of falls. Even healthy adults without a neurological impairment demonstrated similar difficulties walking and talking, highlighting the need for healthcare professiona...
A study found that fourth-year medical students who participated in an educational intervention were more likely to seek, identify, and incorporate into care patient circumstances requiring variation from standard care. The intervention improved their skills in identifying patient context and decreasing contextual errors.
A study of US resident physicians found that reminding them of the sacrifices made for education increased the acceptance of gifts from industry. Most residents disagreed with suggested rationalization, but exposure to it further normalized gift perception.
A three-year lifestyle intervention program with exercise training and diet counseling improved quality-of-life measurements in adults at moderate to high risk for heart disease. The intervention also showed a net savings of $47 per participant due to reduced healthcare use.
Children exposed to nevirapine at birth who achieved viral suppression later switched to nevirapine showed better virologic suppression compared to those on protease inhibitors. This could lead to cost savings and improved adherence in low-resource settings.
A home-based intervention targeting modifiable stressors improved outcomes for patients with dementia and their caregivers at 4 months, but not at 9 months. The COPE program boosted functionality, reduced caregiver burden, and enhanced well-being.
Researchers found that smokers who try to suppress their thoughts of smoking tend to smoke more than usual when they stop, a phenomenon known as behavioral rebound. This suggests that techniques like thought suppression may not be effective in quitting smoking and could even lead to increased consumption.
A large, randomized controlled trial found that a surgically implanted antibiotic sponge did not reduce the rate of sternal wound infections after cardiac surgery. The study contradicts previous results and suggests ethnic and regional differences may have contributed to the differing outcomes.
A Cochrane Systematic Review found that telemonitoring reduces mortality in patients with chronic heart failure, while structured telephone support has no significant benefit on mortality. Both technologies significantly reduced hospitalizations due to worsening of heart failure.
Researchers found that brief interventions delivered by therapists or computers in emergency departments can lead to significant reductions in peer violence and alcohol misuse among adolescents. The studies show that these interventions are clinically meaningful and could be translated into routine clinical practice.
A study suggests that chronic sleep restriction can have lasting effects on neurobehavioral deficits, even with adequate recovery sleep. Researchers found that participants who experienced severe sleep restriction showed persistent impairments in attention and reaction times after a single night of extended sleep.
A 14-year randomized controlled trial shows that prostate cancer screening significantly reduces mortality rates. The study found that men screened for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) had a lower risk of dying from prostate cancer compared to those not screened.
A six-week hip strengthening regimen significantly reduced patellofemoral pain (PFP) in female runners, with most participants experiencing no pain. The study suggests that stronger hips can correct running form errors contributing to PFP.
Hypertension control increased from 27.3% in 1988-1994 to 50.1% in 2007-2008, with blood pressure decreases among patients with hypertension. However, hypertension prevalence has not decreased in recent years and remains high at approximately 65 million individuals in the US.
Researchers found that traditional aerobic fitness training improved systolic blood pressure, rating of perceived exertion, and peak VO2 levels compared to pedometer-based walking programs. Participants in the supervised fitness program also showed greater adherence rates.
Researchers evaluated outcomes of 218 patients who participated in non-recommended activities after TKA surgery and found no significant differences in implant durability or radiological results. The study showed that such activities might actually improve clinical scores, contradicting industry recommendations.
A recent study found a connection between genetic variations of the NRF2 gene and endurance performance. Elite endurance athletes had higher frequencies of specific genetic variants compared to elite sprinters, suggesting that these variations might contribute to their endurance abilities.
A randomized controlled trial found that an abstinence-only program targeting reduced sexual intercourse was associated with lower rates of sexual involvement among African American sixth- and seventh-graders. After 24 months, 33.5% of participants in the abstinence-only group had engaged in sex, compared to 48.5% in the control group.
A new study by the University of Pennsylvania shows that an abstinence-only intervention for pre-teens can delay the onset of sexual activity. The program reduced self-reported sexual intercourse by 33% compared to a control group, with fewer reports of recent sexual activity among participants.
A new study found that using procalcitonin levels to prescribe antibiotics in intensive care units can reduce antibiotic exposure while maintaining patient safety. The study showed a significant reduction in antibiotic-free days among patients treated with procalcitonin.
A randomized controlled trial of 36 adults found that reducing TV time by half increased energy expenditure and burned 119 more calories per day. While calorie intake remained unchanged, this intervention suggests that adults may respond differently to reductions in sedentary behaviors compared to children.
A new weight control method called Health-At-Every-Size (HAES) has been found to be effective in reducing certain eating behaviors. HAES focuses on a healthy lifestyle rather than weight loss, with an emphasis on size acceptance and non-dieting.
A study found that sleep deprivation causes individuals to shift from automatic to controlled processes of information categorization, leading to performance deficits. The study involved 49 West Point Cadets who performed an information-integration categorization task twice with or without sleep between sessions.
A new study found that obese children are more likely to experience major and minor respiratory complications after surgery to correct sleep disordered breathing. The likelihood of these complications increases with body mass index and in boys.
A study identified a genetic variation in humans that allows some people to require less sleep. Researchers created 'insomniac' mice with the same gene variation, which appeared to function normally despite less sleep. The discovery sheds light on two aspects of sleep: biological clocks and body homeostasis.
A study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that an interactive asthma education program reduced the need for emergency care and steroid use in children. The program, which included small-group interaction and personalized materials, improved asthma outcomes and caregiver burden.
Rafal Goebel, an Assistant Professor at Loyola University Chicago, will be honored with the SIAM Activity Group on Control and Systems Theory Prize for his contributions to hybrid systems and control theory. The prize recognizes his novel results on well-posedness of solutions and robustness of asymptotic stability in hybrid control sy...
A meta-analysis of 22 randomized controlled trials found that web- and computer-based smoking cessation programs increased abstinence rates by 1.5 times compared to control groups. After six to 10 months, intervention groups had an 11.7% quit rate, while control groups had a 7% rate.
A home-based diet and exercise program reduced the rate of functional decline among older, overweight long-term cancer survivors. The intervention group showed significant improvements in targeted behaviors and overall health-related quality of life compared to the control group.
A new study by Karolinska Institutet shows that extra support encourages more women to cycle to and from work, increasing daily physical activity levels. The intervention group achieved a larger proportion of cycling two kilometres or more per day than the control group.
A study by Ottawa researchers found that an interactive voice response system can effectively monitor patients taking anticoagulants like warfarin, reducing the workload of clinical staff. The system improved patient outcomes and efficiency in managing anticoagulation therapy.
A BUSM study found that using photographs of UV exposure motivates preteens to adopt better sun protection habits, resulting in a 36% lower reported sunburn rate compared to a control group. The UV photographs also helped identify high-risk students who benefited from the intervention.
A team of researchers at Northwestern University discovered a new approach to control movement in limbs by grouping muscles, which could simplify the restoration of muscle movements in people with paralysis. By reducing the number of variables, this method can achieve similar results as controlling individual muscles.
A study published in the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology found a classroom-based intervention reduced violent TV viewing among first- through fourth-grade children by 18%. The intervention, called The REViEW Project Curriculum, also decreased students' identification with violent superheroes.
A new study examines how environmental cues influence consumer behavior, finding that primed goals can sustain for a duration or fade away. Consumers who rate themselves as unfit are more likely to select fitness-enhancing drinks after exposure to relevant words.
Researchers found that repeated exposure to similar temptations can enhance self-control, while a single tempting experience can wear down resistance. The studies showed that participants who had previously faced similar options performed better in subsequent decisions.
A study found that stroke survivors who practiced tai chi improved their balance and reduced the risk of falls. Tai chi is a Chinese martial art that requires concentration and balance control, and can be taught to community centers or parks.
A new study suggests that when individuals share an identity with a group, they automatically feel positively toward members of that group, regardless of race. This effect was observed just minutes after participants joined a mixed-race group and even without meeting fellow members personally.
A study found that patients who gave up smoking before surgery experienced half as many complications as those who did not receive help to quit. The intervention group received support and nicotine replacement therapy, resulting in a higher success rate of quitting smoking.