47 research outputs found
Design and development of a complex narrative intervention delivered by text messages to reduce binge drinking among socially disadvantaged men
Background:
Socially disadvantaged men are at high risk of suffering from alcohol-related harm. Disadvantaged groups are less likely to engage with health promotion. There is a need for interventions that reach large numbers at low cost and which promote high levels of engagement with the behaviour change process. The aim of this study was to design a theoretically and empirically based text message intervention to reduce binge drinking by socially disadvantaged men.
Results:
Following MRC guidance, the intervention was developed in four stages. Stage 1 developed a detailed behaviour change strategy based on existing literature and theory from several areas. These included the psychological theory that would underpin the intervention, alcohol brief interventions, text message interventions, effective behaviour change techniques, narratives in behaviour change interventions and communication theory. In addition, formative research was carried out. A logic model was developed to depict the pathways between intervention inputs, processes and outcomes for behaviour change. Stage 2 created a narrative which illustrated and modelled key steps in the strategy. Stage 3 rendered the intervention into a series of text messages and ensured that appropriate behavioural change techniques were incorporated. Stage 4 revised the messages to ensure comprehensive coverage of the behaviour change strategy and coherence of the narrative. It also piloted the intervention and made final revisions to it.
Conclusions:
The structured, systematic approach to design created a narrative intervention which had a strong theoretical and empirical basis. The use of a narrative helped make the intervention realistic and allowed key behaviour change techniques to be modelled by characters. The narrative was intended to promote engagement with the intervention. The intervention was rendered into a series of short text messages, and subsequent piloting showed they were acceptable in the target group. Delivery of an intervention by text message offers a low-cost, low-demand method that can reach large numbers of people. This approach provides a framework for the design of behaviour change interventions which could be used for interventions to tackle other health behaviours
Immigrant women’s experiences of maternity-care services in Canada: a systematic review using a narrative synthesis
Background: Canada’s diverse society and its statutory commitment to multiculturalism means that a synthesis of knowledge related to the healthcare experiences of immigrants is essential to realise the health potential for future Canadians. Although concerns about the maternity experiences of immigrants in Canada are relatively new, recent national guidelines explicitly call for the tailoring of services to user needs. We therefore assessed the experiences of immigrant women accessing maternity-care services in Canada. In particular, we investigated the experiences of immigrant women in Canada in accessing and navigating maternity and related healthcare services from conception to 6 months postpartum in Canada. Our focus was on (a) the accessibility and acceptability of maternity-care services for immigrant women and (b) the effects of the perceptions and experiences of these women on their birth and postnatal outcomes.
Methods: We conducted a systematic review using a systematic search and narrative synthesis of peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed reports of empirical research, with the aim of providing stakeholders with perspectives on maternity-care services as experienced by immigrant women. We partnered with key stakeholders (‘integrated knowledge users’) to ensure the relevancy of topics and to tailor recommendations for effective translation into future policy, practice and programming. Two search phases and a three-stage selection process for published and grey literature were conducted prior to appraisal of literature quality and narrative synthesis of the findings.
Results: Our knowledge synthesis of maternity care among immigrants to Canada provided a coherent evidence base for (a) eliciting a better understanding of the factors that generate disparities in accessibility, acceptability and outcomes during maternity care; and (b) improving culturally based competency in maternity care. Our synthesis also identified pertinent issues in multiple sectors that should be addressed to configure maternity services and programs appropriately.
Conclusions: Although immigrant women in Canada are generally given the opportunity to obtain necessary services, they face many barriers in accessing and utilising these services. These barriers include lack of information about or awareness of the services, insufficient supports to access these services and discordant expectations between the women and their service providers.
Systematic review registration: PROSPERO registration number: CRD42012002185
Fatores de risco cardiovascular e consumo alimentar em cadetes da Academia da Força Aérea Brasileira
Genetic modification of a baculovirus vector for increased expression in insect cells
Generating large amounts of recombinant
protein in transgenic animals is often challenging
and has a number of drawbacks compared to cell
culture systems. The baculovirus expression vector
system (BEVS) uses virus-infected insect cells to
produce recombinant proteins to high levels, and
these are usually processed in a similar way to the
native protein. Interestingly, since the development
of the BEVS, the virus most often used (Autographa
californica multi-nucleopolyhedovirus; AcMNPV)
has been little altered genetically from its wild-type
parental virus. In this study, we modified the
AcMNPV genome in an attempt to improve recombinant
protein yield, by deleting genes that are nonessential
in cell culture. We deleted the p26, p10 and
p74 genes from the virus genome, replacing them
with an antibiotic selection cassette, allowing us to
isolate recombinants. We screened and identified
recombinant viruses by restriction enzyme analysis,
PCR and Western blot. Cell viability analysis showed
that the deletions did not improve the viability of
infected cells, compared to non-deletion viruses.
However, expression studies showed that recombinant
protein levels for the deletion viruses were significantly
higher than the expression levels of nondeletion
viruses. These results confirm that there is
still great potential for improving the BEVS, further
increasing recombinant protein expression yields and
stability in insect cells