Evaluating a selective prevention programme for binge drinking among young adolescents: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial

Contains fulltext : 99319.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)Background In comparison to other Europe countries, Dutch adolescents are at the top in drinking frequency and binge drinking. A total of 75% of the Dutch 12 to 16 year olds who drink alcohol also engage in binge drinking. A prevention programme called Preventure was developed in Canada to prevent adolescents from binge drinking. This article describes a study that aims to assess the effects of this selective school-based prevention programme in the Netherlands. Methods A randomized controlled trial is being conducted among 13 to 15-year-old adolescents in secondary schools. Schools were randomly assigned to the intervention and control conditions. The intervention condition consisted of two 90 minute group sessions, carried out at the participants' schools and provided by a qualified counsellor and a co-facilitator. The intervention targeted young adolescents who demonstrated personality risk for alcohol abuse. The group sessions were adapted to four personality profiles. The control condition received no further intervention above the standard substance use education sessions provided in the Dutch national curriculum. The primary outcomes will be the percentage reduction in binge drinking, weekly drinking and drinking-related problems after three specified time periods. A screening survey collected data by means of an Internet questionnaire. Students have completed, or will complete, a post-treatment survey after 2, 6, and 12 months, also by means of an online questionnaire. Discussion This study protocol presents the design and current implementation of a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a selective alcohol prevention programme. We expect that a significantly lower number of adolescents will binge drink, drink weekly, and have drinking-related problems in the intervention condition compared to the control condition, as a result of this intervention.9 p

Cerebral Oxygenation During the First Days of Life in Preterm and Term Neonates:Differences Between Different Brain Regions

Near-infrared spectroscopy is a noninvasive method for monitoring brain oxygenation. The aim of the study was to investigate differences between cerebral oxygenation in different brain regions in newborns. In a prospective study, we monitored simultaneously left and right frontoparietal and temporo-occipital regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rScO(2)) and cerebral fractional tissue extraction (cFTOE: (arterial oxygen saturation (SaO(2)) - rScO(2))/SaO(2)) using near-infrared spectroscopy. A 2-h measurement was performed on d 1, 3, and 7. We included 10 very preterm (GA = 37 wk) neonates. Limits of agreement for difference of the measurements between different places were determined using the Bland-Altman method. In all subgroups, the rScO(2) and cFTOE values at different regions were not different. Limits of agreement were between +/- 14 and +/- 18% for all subgroups. Left-to-right differences were small between different postnatal and GAs. A decrease and increase over time for rScO(2) and cFTOE values was detected for all four brain regions, most pronounced for infants with G

The SafeBoosC Phase II Randomised Clinical Trial:A Treatment Guideline for Targeted Near-Infrared-Derived Cerebral Tissue Oxygenation versus Standard Treatment in Extremely Preterm Infants

<p>Near-infrared spectroscopy-derived regional tissue oxygen saturation of haemoglobin (rSto(2)) reflects venous oxygen saturation. If cerebral metabolism is stable, rSto(2) can be used as an estimate of cerebral oxygen delivery. The SafeBoosC phase II randomised clinical trial hypothesises that the burden of hypo- and hyperoxia can be reduced by the combined use of close monitoring of the cerebral rSto(2) and a treatment guideline to correct deviations in rSto(2) outside a predefined target range. Aims: To describe the rationale for and content of this treatment guideline. Methods: Review of the literature and assessment of the quality of evidence and the grade of recommendation for each of the interventions. Results and Conclusions: A clinical intervention algorithm based on the main determinants of cerebral perfusion-oxygenation changes during the first hours after birth was generated. The treatment guideline is presented to assist neonatologists in making decisions in relation to cerebral oximetry readings in preterm infants within the SafeBoosC phase II randomised clinical trial. The evidence grades were relatively low and the guideline cannot be recommended outside a research setting. (C) 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel</p>