Program for healthier school cafeterias in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil : protocol for a community-based randomized trial

Background: School cafeterias can promote poor eating habits, as these retail outlets have a variety of foods considered to be nonnutritive and unhealthy. However, despite the need for effective preventive strategies, there is still disagreement on the best approach due to the lack of evidence on interventions to prevent and treat obesity in the school settings. Objective: We aim to verify the efficacy of an educational intervention program to improve the hygienic conditions and the composition of the menu offered in school cafeterias in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Methods: We will conduct a randomized, parallel, two-arm, community-based controlled study. Elementary and high schools, both public and private, in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, that have a cafeteria will be eligible. Schools will be recruited and randomly assigned to the intervention (n=27) or control (n=27) group. The intervention group will receive an educational intervention program based on the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health of Brazil, consisting of a 160-hour distance-learning qualification course, for 10 weeks, and using the Moodle platform and WhatsApp app. The intervention targets the owners and people in charge of the cafeterias, food handlers, principals, vice principals, teachers, pedagogical coordinators, dietitians, representatives of students' parents, and students over 16 years old. Meanwhile, the control group will receive only a printed copy of the book containing the guidelines used. The efficacy of the intervention will be determined by the hygienic conditions of the cafeteria and the composition of the menu offered, also considering the levels of processing of food sold. All outcomes will be analyzed as intention-to-treat and per-protocol. We will use covariance analysis or a generalized linear model for continuous data and ordinal logistic regression for ordinal categorical data. The level of statistical significance considered will be P<.05 for a 95% CI. Results: This project was funded in early 2018. We administered the intervention program in 2019. All data have already been collected, and we are analyzing the data. The results are expected in 2021. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this may be the first randomized controlled study in school cafeterias held in Brazil. The results will provide evidence for the formulation of public food and nutritional security policies and for the development of effective strategies to provide safe and healthy school meals

Implementando Lean UX em uma pequena equipe com rotatividade no contexto de um grupo de pesquisa universitário: relato de experiência

Os métodos de desenvolvimento que consideram a experiência do usuário (UX) são cada vez mais evidentes nas organizações. No entanto, existe um contexto desafiador em pequenas equipes com rotatividade de membros, como ocorre em grupos de pesquisa universitários, em que as equipes geralmente são formadas por pesquisadores, alunos de graduação e pós-graduação durante o período de seus cursos e bolsas. Nessa perspectiva, aplicou-se o Lean UX a uma pequena equipe de um grupo de pesquisa universitária. O estudo visou a levantar melhorias para os projetos mantidos pelo grupo, adotando uma padronização de métodos de desenvolvimento. Duas versões de uma interface gráfica foram desenvolvidas de acordo com os procedimentos Lean UX. Foram utilizadas técnicas de observação e questionários para analisar os resultados. Como resultados, foram observadas melhorias no tempo de execução dos experimentos, bem como aumento da satisfação do usuário com a interface, que foi considerada mais intuitiva, ágil e limpa. Em relação à equipe, houve relatos de maior satisfação e engajamento no processo de desenvolvimento

Kinesiotherapy With Exergaming as a Potential Modulator of Epigenetic Marks and Clinical Functional Variables of Older Women: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study

BackgroundKinesiotherapy is an option to mitigate worsening neuropsychomotor function due to human aging. Moreover, exergames are beneficial for the practice of physical therapy by older patients. Physical exercise interventions are known to alter the epigenome, but little is known about their association with exergames. ObjectiveWe aim to evaluate the effects of kinesiotherapy with exergaming on older women’s epigenetic marks and cognitive ability, as well as on their clinical functional variables. Our hypothesis states that this kind of therapy can elicit equal or even better outcomes than conventional therapy. MethodsWe will develop a virtual clinic exergame with 8 types of kinesiotherapy exercises. Afterward, we will conduct a 1:1 randomized clinical trial to compare the practice of kinesiotherapy with exergames (intervention group) against conventional kinesiotherapy (control group). A total of 24 older women will be enrolled for 1-hour sessions performed twice a week, for 6 weeks, totaling 12 sessions. We will assess outcomes using epigenetic blood tests, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test, the Timed Up and Go test, muscle strength grading in a hydraulic dynamometer, and the Game Experience Questionnaire at various stages. ResultsThe project was funded in October 2019. Game development took place in 2020. Patient recruitment and a clinical trial are planned for 2021. ConclusionsResearch on this topic is likely to significantly expand the understanding of kinesiotherapy and the impact of exergames. To the best of our knowledge, this may be one of the first studies exploring epigenetic outcomes of exergaming interventions. Trial RegistrationBrazilian Clinical Trials Registry/Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos (ReBEC) RBR-9tdrmw; https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-9tdrmw. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/3272

Navigating the Multidimensional Impact of Living with Hidradenitis Suppurativa: An In-Depth Netnographic Study on Social Media Platforms

Abstract Introduction Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic skin condition causing considerable distress. It impacts mobility, social interaction, and quality of life. In Brazil, there is a notable gap in epidemiological data and patient experiences regarding HS. Methods This study, spanning 2019 to 2022, employed netnography to probe the experiences of Brazilian patients with HS. This approach gleans insights from online interactions, offering a direct view into patients’ lives. Results Notably, the data illuminated the challenges patients face, such as difficulties in obtaining a diagnosis and the complexities involved in managing a chronic, and often debilitating, condition. Furthermore, patients’ experiences with various treatments, encompassing antibiotics, biologic agents, lifestyle alterations, surgical procedures, and alternative remedies, were also examined. Conclusion By undertaking a longitudinal analysis of patient interactions, the study aimed to offer a richer understanding of HS, from its diagnosis to its treatment. It underscores the necessity for a more patient-centered approach when managing this condition. We hope that this enhanced understanding can facilitate better care for those affected by HS