193 research outputs found
Identifying âat riskâ women and the impact of maternal obesity on National Health Service maternity services
The tuck shop purchasing practices of grade 4 learners at selected primary schools in Pietermar[it]zburg, South Africa.
Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.Aim: To determine whether the tuck shop purchasing habits of Grade 4 learners were
contributing towards the development of childhood overweight and obesity.
Objectives: To assess the nutritional quality of the food and beverages available for learners to
purchase; items regularly purchased from the tuck shop as well as factors influencing the
learnerâs decision to purchase these items; the anthropometric and socio-demographic
characteristics of grade 4 learners as well as their nutrition knowledge related to the tuck shop items purchased.
Method: A survey administered to 11 tuck shop managers, a questionnaire administered to 311
Grade 4 learners and two single-sex focus groups of 5 learners each were conducted.
Results: Fifty six percent of the sample were female (n=173) and 44% were male (n=138).
Twenty seven percent of the study sample was overweight (n = 83) and 27% were obese (n = 85).
Eighty six percent of learners (n = 266) claimed to buy from their school tuck shop. Twenty two
percent of learners purchased from their tuck shop at least three times per week (n =58). Learners
who purchased from the tuck shop had a significantly higher BMI than those who did not (p = 0.020). Learners who purchased from the tuck shop spent on average R8,38 per day with a
minimum of R1 and a maximum of R40 (standard deviation R5.39). The most popular reasons
for visiting the tuck shop included âthis is my favourite thing to eat or drinkâ (66.5%, n = 177)
and âI only have enough money to buy this itemâ (47.0%, n = 125).
Savoury pies were the most popular "lunch" item for all learners for both food breaks (45%, n = 5 schools and 27.3%, n = 3 schools) selling the most number of units (43) per day at eight of the
eleven schools (72.7%). Iced popsicles were sold at almost every school, ranked as the cheapest
beverage and also sold the most number of units (40.7). Healthy beverages sold included canned
fruit juice and water, while healthy snacks consisted of dried fruit, fruit salad, bananas, yoghurt
and health muffins. The average healthy snack contained almost half the kilojoules of its
unhealthy counterpart (465kJ vs 806kJ). Nutritional analyses of the healthy lunch options
revealed total fat contents that exceeded the DRI and South African recommended limit.
Perceived barriers to stocking healthy items included cost and refrigeration restrictions. The average score for the food groups was only 33% indicating that learners were not familiar
with the Food Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDG). Further analyses showed that the total
knowledge scores of those learners that reported to buy from the tuck shop frequently, was
significantly lower when compared to the total knowledge scores of those learners who bought
from the tuck shop less frequently (13.0 ± 3.9 and 11.6 ± 3.1, respectively; p < 0.05). Logistic
regression analysis confirmed that the total knowledge of a learner could be used to predict
whether he or she is more likely to make purchases from the tuck shop (significance = 0.017).
Focus group results revealed that learners are aware of âhealthyâ and âunhealthyâ tuck shop
items. Most learners stated that they would continue to purchase items from their tuck shop if all âunhealthyâ items were removed.
Conclusion: Primary school tuck shops of well resourced schools in Pietermaritzburg are
contributing to childhood overweight and obesity through a combination of factors. These
include the poor nutritional quality of the items stocked at the tuck shop as well as the poor tuck
shop purchasing practices. Much consultation is required amongst dieticians, school principals
and privatised tuck shop managers to overcome barriers to stocking healthy items. School
management and government have an important role to play in imposing restrictions on the sale
of unhealthy items; along with improving the quality of the nutrition education curriculum to
ensure that learners are able to translate their knowledge into healthier purchasing practices
Multi-centre randomised controlled trial of integrated therapist and online CBT for depression in primary care (INTERACT):Statistical Analysis Plan
GPsâ and patientsâ views on the value of diagnosing anxiety disorders in primary care:a qualitative interview study
The nutrient quality and labelling of ready-to-eat snack foods with health and/or nutrition claims
Background: Nutrition claims on food labels are used to attract attention to products. Inaccurate claims on ready-to-eat (RTE) snack food products may mislead consumers into consuming a higher volume of a seemingly âhealthyâ product.Objectives: A study was undertaken to determine the following surrounding the packaging of RTE snack food products: (i) compliance of health and or nutrient claims; (ii) average nutrient content per snack category; (iii) accuracy of the total energy content; (iv) eligibility to make claims once the R429 legislation is implemented.Outcome measures: Nutrient content per 100 g and serving size was analysed. Claims related to nutrient content were audited.Design: An analysis was undertaken of the labels of 93 South African-produced RTE snack food products from 10 categories, displaying health and or nutrition claims.Results: Ninety-one products displayed nutrient content claims. Twenty-three (25.3%) nutrient content claims were noncompliant with the R146 legislation. Twenty-one (22.6%) displayed negative claims, three (14.3%) were ineligible. Eighteen products (19.4%) displayed endorsement claims, four (4.4%) were eligible. Sixty-four products (68.8%) displayed a higher total energy content when applying the conversion factors to the displayed macronutrient values. Only 22 (23.7%) products would be eligible to make health and/or nutrition claims once the R429 legislation is promulgated.Conclusion: A higher proportion of eligible claims were found. More than 70% of food manufacturers will need to make changes to the nutrient content or labels once the R429 legislation is implemented. A two-pronged approach of manufacturer compliance and consumer education may improve food choices and reduce the incidence of obesity and NCDs
Trends in the recording of anxiety in UK primary care:a multi-method approach
PURPOSE: Anxiety disorders are common. Between 1998 and 2008, in the UK, GP recording of anxiety symptoms increased, but the recording of anxiety disorders decreased. We do not know whether such trends have continued. This study examined recent trends in the recording of anxiety and explored factors that may influence GPsâ coding of anxiety. METHODS: We used data from adults (nâ=â2,569,153) registered with UK general practices (nâ=â176) that contributed to the Clinical Practice Research Datalink between 2003 and 2018. Incidence rates and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for recorded anxiety symptoms and diagnoses and were stratified by age and gender. Joinpoint regression was used to estimate the years trends changed. In addition, in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 GPs to explore their views and management of anxiety. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. RESULTS: The incidence of anxiety symptoms rose from 6.2/1000 person-years at risk (PYAR) in 2003 to 14.7/1000 PYAR in 2018. Between 2003 and 2008, the incidence of anxiety diagnoses fell from 13.2 to 10.1/1000 PYAR; markedly increasing between 2013 and 2018 to 15.3/1000 PYAR. GPs mentioned that they preferred using symptom codes to diagnostic codes to avoid assigning potentially stigmatising or unhelpful labels, and commented on a rise in anxiety in recent years, especially in young adults. CONCLUSION: Recent increases in the recording of both anxiety diagnoses and symptoms may reflect increased presentation to primary care, especially in young adults. There is a clear need to understand the reasons for this, and this knowledge may be critical in the prevention and treatment of anxiety. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00127-021-02131-8
Identifying patients at risk of psychosis:a qualitative study of GP views in South West England
Background
Early intervention in people with an at-risk mental state for psychosis can decrease the rates of transition to psychosis. GPs play a key role in the identification of this patient group but very few studies have explored GPâs awareness of patients at-risk of psychosis.
Aim
To explore GPsâ views and experiences of identifying patients with an at-risk mental state for psychosis, and the barriers and facilitators to identification.
Design and setting
In-depth semi-structured interviews were held with GPs working in the South West of England.
Method
A topic guide was used to ensure consistency across interviews. This guide was revised to incorporate a definition of the at-risk mental state for psychosis, as after conducting a few interviews it became clear that some GPs were not familiar with this construct. The interviews were audio-recorded and analysed thematically.
Results
Twenty GPs were interviewed. Some GPs were not familiar with the concept of being at-risk of developing psychosis, and they perceived that they may not have the right skills to identify this patient group. Other barriers related to patients not presenting or disclosing psychotic symptoms, and limitations imposed by scarce resources on the structure and provision of NHS services such as lack of continuity of care and high thresholds for accessing specialised services.
Conclusion
Identifying people at-risk of psychosis in primary care is difficult. Provision of training for GPs, development of policies that support continuity of care and improved access to specialised services could help improve the identification of this patient group
Relationship between nutritional status and treatment-related neutropenia in children with nephroblastoma
Background: Assessment of nutritional status of paediatric oncology patients is crucial, as it may influence treatment and clinical outcomes. Concurrent malnutrition and cancer in children may lead to reduced chemotherapy delivery due to impaired tolerance and increased toxicity.
Aim: This study aimed to determine the relationship between nutritional status and the prevalence, frequency and duration of treatment-related neutropenia in a cohort of South African children with nephroblastoma.
Methods: Seventy-seven children between the ages of 1 and 12 years diagnosed with nephroblastoma at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital (IALCH), Durban, between 2004 and 2012, were studied prospectively. Nutritional status was assessed using weight, height, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), triceps skinfold thickness (TSFT) and serum albumin. The administration of filgastrim (NeupogenÂź) was used as a surrogate for neutropenia and the frequency and duration of its use was recorded.
Results: There was a significant relationship between the prevalence of treatment-induced neutropenia and malnutrition defined by MUAC. The mean frequency and duration of neutropenia was significantly higher in those classified as malnourished using MUAC. There was a positive correlation between frequency and duration of neutropenia.
Conclusions: Malnutrition was prevalent among children with nephroblastoma. The prevalence of treatment-induced neutropenia was higher in those with poor nutritional status, identified by MUAC. Poor nutritional status according to MUAC was also linked to an increased frequency and duration of neutropenia. It is important to include MUAC in the nutritional assessment of children with nephroblastoma
Multi-centre randomised controlled trial of integrated therapist and online CBT for depression in primary care (INTERACT RCT):Health Economics Analysis Plan
Nutritional status of children with Wilmsâ tumour on admission to a South African hospital and its influence on outcome
BackgroundIn developing countries up to 77% of children with cancer have been shown to be malnourished on admission. High rates of malnutrition occur due to factors such as poverty and advanced disease. Weight can be an inaccurate parameter for nutritional assessment of children with solid tumours as it is influenced by tumour mass. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of malnutrition amongst children with Wilms tumour (WT), the level of nutritional support received on admission and the influence of nutritional status on outcome.MethodsSeventyâsix children diagnosed with WT and admitted to Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital between 2004 and 2012 were studied prospectively. Nutritional assessment was conducted using weight, height, midâupper arm circumference (MUAC) and triceps skinfold thickness (TSFT) prior to initiating treatment. Outcome was determined 2 years after admission. Time until commencement of nutritional resuscitation and nature, thereof, were recorded.ResultsStunting and wasting was evident in 12% and 15% of patients, respectively. The prevalence of malnutrition was 66% when MUAC, TSFT and albumin were used. Malnutrition was not a predictor of poor outcome and did not predict advanced disease. The majority of patients (84%) received nutritional resuscitation within 2 weeks of admission.ConclusionsWhen classifying nutritional status in children with WT, the utilisation of weight and height in isolation can lead to an underestimation of the prevalence of malnutrition. Nutritional assessment of children with WT should also include MUAC and TSFT. Early aggressive nutritional resuscitation is recommended.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/137198/1/pbc26382.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/137198/2/pbc26382_am.pd
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