The effectiveness of parenting programmes: a review of Campbell reviews

Parenting practices predict important outcomes for children, and parenting programmes are potentially effective means of supporting parents to promote optimal parenting for pre-adolescent children. The aim of this review was to evaluate the effectiveness of parenting programmes by summarising findings of relevant systematic reviews published in the Campbell Library. Six Campbell systematic reviews evaluated the effectiveness of a range of parenting programmes in the primary and secondary prevention of behavioural problems (among children aged 0 – 3 years), early onset conduct disorder (among children aged 3 – 12 years), outcomes for parents and children with ADHD, outcomes for particular groups of parents and children (i.e., with intellectual disabilities and teenagers), and the psychosocial functioning of parents. The findings of these reviews show that parenting programmes can be effective in improving the emotional and behavioural adjustment of children in the first 12 years of life, in addition to enhancing the psychosocial wellbeing of their parents. The findings also suggest that further research is needed to assess effectiveness of programmes for specific subgroups of parents (e.g., fathers, teenagers, parents with intellectual disabilities) and to assess the long-term effectiveness of parenting programmes

An examination of the impacts of volunteering and community contribution at a community festival through the lens of the Five Ways to Wellbeing

The aim of this study was to examine the perceptions, motivations and wellbeing impacts for volunteers and contributors to Broadstairs Folk Week. The study utilised questionnaires with a mix of quantitative and qualitative measures, within a single cohort (n = 152). Analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS 24 to produce descriptive statistics, and cross-tabulations were used to interrogate key variables. NVivo 11 software was used to analyse qualitative comments. A thematic analysis (thematic development) approach further identified codes and themes that fitted well with the Five Ways to Wellbeing (Aked, J., Marks, N., Cordon, C. and Thompson, S. (2008). Five ways to wellbeing: a report presented to the Foresight Project on communicating the evidence base for improving people's well-being, New Economics Foundation. Retrieved from https://b.3cdn.net/nefoundation/8984c5089d5c2285ee_t4m6bhqq5.pdf). Findings demonstrate that older-adult festival volunteers had a higher sense of subjective wellbeing prior to the festival than might ordinarily be expected in a similar group. Participants reported their sense of wellbeing increased during the festival. The Five Ways to Wellbeing model is suggested as a useful way to frame the results, linking a sense of 'connection' and 'giving' as participant motivators. This paper argues that festival volunteers derive personal benefits, including sense of connection and reciprocity, and access to resources with potential health and wellbeing benefits. This may be beneficial to the public health agenda of community development, reducing isolation and supporting healthy ageing. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42413-021-00154-2. [Abstract copyright: © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021.

Human sensitivity to gearshift loads

This paper describes an investigation of the ability of humans to distinguish different levels of gearlever load. A test rig with a forward-backward moving gearshift lever was constructed using the typical interior dimensions of European B segment automobiles. The rig used a system of weights and pulleys to provide a load which could be varied in steps of 1%. Four reference loads were chosen which were considered representative of automotive gearshift operation: 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 5.0 kg. Twenty subjects took part in the study. Using a variation on the psychophysical method of limits, the subjects were asked to respond whether a test load was heavier or lighter than a reference load. The Weber Fraction was found to decrease monotonically from a value of 0.036 for the 0.5 kg reference load to a value of 0.029 at the 5.0 kg reference load. The average value across all reference loads was 0.032. Measurements of the gearshift force made by means of a knob containing a load cell suggested that the variation in the measured Weber Fraction might be attributable to the time behaviour of the force exchanged between the human subject and the control surface

Interventions for promoting reintegration and reducing harmful behaviour and lifestyles in street-connected children and young people (Review)

Background Millions of street-connected children and young people worldwide live or work in street environments. They are vulnerable to many risks, whether or not they remain connected to families of origin, and despite many strengths and resiliencies, they are excluded from mainstream social structures and opportunities. Objectives Primary research objectives To evaluate and summarise the effectiveness of interventions for street-connected children and young people that aim to: • promote inclusion and reintegration; • increase literacy and numeracy; • facilitate access to education and employment; • promote mental health, including self esteem; • reduce harms associated with early sexual activity and substance misuse. Secondary research objectives • To explore whether effects of interventions differ within and between populations, and whether an equity gradient influences theseeffects, by extrapolating from all findings relevance for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) (Peters 2004). • To describe other health, educational, psychosocial and behavioural effects, when appropriate outcomes are reported. • To explore the influence of context in design, delivery and outcomes of interventions. Interventions for promoting reintegration and reducing harmful behaviour and lifestyles in street-connected children and young people 1 (Review) Copyright © 2016 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. To explore the relationship between numbers of components and duration and effects of interventions. • To highlight implications of these findings for further research and research methods to improve evidence in relation to the primary research objective. • To consider adverse or unintended outcomes. Search methods We searched the following bibliographic databases, searched for the original review, from inception to 2012, and various relevant non-governmental and organisational websites: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); MEDLINE and PreMEDLINE;EMBASE and EMBASE Classic; Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL); PsycINFO; Education Resource Information Center (ERIC); Sociological Abstracts; Social Services Abstracts; Social Work Abstracts; Healthstar; Latin American Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS); System for Grey literature in Europe (OpenGrey); ProQuest Dissertations and Theses; EconLit; IDEAS Economics and Finance Research; JOLIS Library Catalog of the holdings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Libraries; British Library for Development Studies (BLDS); Google and Google Scholar. We updated the search in April 2015 for the review update, using the same methods. Selection criteria This review includes data from harm reduction or reintegration intervention studies that used a comparison group study design; all were randomised or quasi-randomised studies. Studies were included if they evaluated interventions provided for street-connected children and young people, from birth to 24 years, in all contexts. Data collection and analysis Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias and other factors presented in the Discussion and Summary quality assessment (Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE)). We extracted data on intervention delivery, context, process factors, equity and outcomes, and grouped outcomes into psychosocial outcomes, risky sexual behaviours or substance use. We conducted meta-analyses for outcomes where the outcome measures were sufficiently similar. We evaluated other outcomes narratively. Main results We included 13 studies evaluating 19 interventions from high-income countries (HICs). We found no sufficiently robust evaluations conducted in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Study quality overall was low and measurements used by studies variable. Participants were classified as drop-in and shelter-based. No studies measured the primary outcome of reintegration and none reported on adverse effects.We found no consistent results on a range of relevant outcomes within domains of psychosocial health, substance misuse and sexually risky behaviours . Interventions evaluated consisted of time-limited therapeutically based programmes that proved no more effective than standard shelter or drop-in services and other control interventions used for most outcomes in most studies. Favourable changes from baseline were reported for outcomes for most participants following therapy interventions and standard services. We noted considerable heterogeneity between studies and inconsistent reporting of equity data. No studies measured the primary outcome of reintegration or reported on adverse effects. Authors’ conclusions Analysis revealed no consistently significant benefit for focused therapeutic interventions compared with standard services such as dropin centres, case management and other comparable interventions for street-connected children and young people. Commonly available services, however, were not rigorously evaluated. Robust evaluation of interventions, including comparison with no intervention, would establish a more reliable evidence base to inform service implementation. More robust research is needed in LMICs to examine interventions for street-connected children and young people with different backgrounds and service needs

Engagement-related process factors in services for street-connected children and young people in low and middle income countries: a thematic synthesis

A recent Cochrane/ Campbell systematic review of interventions for promoting reintegration and reducing harmful behaviour and lifestyles in street-connected children and young people, supported by the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie), identified 11 studies evaluating 12 different interventions which met the inclusion criteria (Coren et al. 2013). The research studies had to contain a comparison group and look at street-connected children and young people between the ages of 0 and 24. None of the included studies were from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), or involved process evaluations. The current thematic synthesis focused on engagement processes and strategies in studies pertaining to LMICs but excluded from the review on methodological grounds, complemented by studies identified through a search update conducted in March 2013. We included twenty-seven qualitative or mixed methods studies, which examined broad range of interventions and services adopted in 21 LMICs. The synthesis methods were primarily qualitative. On the basis of our findings, we conceptualised engagement as consisting of outreach and sustaining phases. Three separate dimensions emerged in the sustaining phases: meeting multiple needs, relations to adult service users, and community and family engagement. Our synthesis outlines challenges and dilemmas of engagement in each of these areas. The data also highlighted some common shortcomings in the service sector in LMICs, including lack of appropriate professional training and service development, lack of funding, and lack of co-operation with other relevant agencies. Innovative approaches to engagement, such as participatory initiatives and partnerships with universities, are also discussed

Three dimensional rotational angiography imaging of double aortic arch vascular ring

Three dimensional (3D) rotational angiography is a technique used increasingly for imaging in congenital heart disease. Here the use of this technique for imaging of double aortic arch vascular ring is described and the advantages of this modality. are discussed. 3D rotational angiography is an excellent tool for imaging of various vascular anomalies. It provides high quality accurate images through a quick and safe procedure.peer-reviewe

Individual and group based parenting programmes for improving psychosocial outcomes for teenage parents and their children.

BACKGROUND: Parenting programmes are a potentially important means of supporting teenage parents and improving outcomes for their children, and parenting support is a priority across most Western countries. This review updates the previous version published in 2001. OBJECTIVES: To examine the effectiveness of parenting programmes in improving psychosocial outcomes for teenage parents and developmental outcomes in their children. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched to find new studies for this updated review in January 2008 and May 2010 in CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, ASSIA, CINAHL, DARE, ERIC, PsycINFO, Sociological Abstracts and Social Science Citation Index. The National Research Register (NRR) was last searched in May 2005 and UK Clinical Research Network Portfolio Database in May 2010. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials assessing short-term parenting interventions aimed specifically at teenage parents and a control group (no-treatment, waiting list or treatment-as-usual). DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We assessed the risk of bias in each study. We standardised the treatment effect for each outcome in each study by dividing the mean difference in post-intervention scores between the intervention and control groups by the pooled standard deviation. MAIN RESULTS: We included eight studies with 513 participants, providing a total of 47 comparisons of outcome between intervention and control conditions. Nineteen comparisons were statistically significant, all favouring the intervention group. We conducted nine meta-analyses using data from four studies in total (each meta-analysis included data from two studies). Four meta-analyses showed statistically significant findings favouring the intervention group for the following outcomes: parent responsiveness to the child post-intervention (SMD -0.91, 95% CI -1.52 to -0.30, P = 0.04); infant responsiveness to mother at follow-up (SMD -0.65, 95% CI -1.25 to -0.06, P = 0.03); and an overall measure of parent-child interactions post-intervention (SMD -0.71, 95% CI -1.31 to -0.11, P = 0.02), and at follow-up (SMD -0.90, 95% CI -1.51 to -0.30, P = 0.004). The results of the remaining five meta-analyses were inconclusive. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Variation in the measures used, the included populations and interventions, and the risk of bias within the included studies limit the conclusions that can be reached. The findings provide some evidence to suggest that parenting programmes may be effective in improving a number of aspects of parent-child interaction both in the short- and long-term, but further research is now needed

Assortative human pair-bonding for partner ancestry and allelic variation of the dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) gene

The 7R allele of the dopamine receptor D4 gene has been associated with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and risk taking. On the cross-population scale, 7R allele frequencies have been shown to be higher in populations with more of a history of long-term migrations. It has also been shown that the 7R allele is associated with individuals having multiple-ancestries. Here we conduct a replication of this latter finding with two independent samples. Measures of subjects’ ancestry are used to examine past reproductive bonds. The individuals’ history of inter-racial/ancestral dating and their feelings about this are also assessed. Tentative support for an association between multiple ancestries and the 7R allele were found. These results are dependent upon the method of questioning subjects about their ancestries. Inter-racial dating and feelings about inter-racial pairing were not related to the presence of the 7R allele. This might be accounted for by secular trends that might have substantively altered the decision-making process employed when considering relationships with individuals from different groups. This study provides continued support for the 7R allele playing a role in migration and/or mate choice patterns. However, replications and extensions of this study are needed and must carefully consider how ancestry/race is assessed