Evidence-based Kernels: Fundamental Units of Behavioral Influence

This paper describes evidence-based kernels, fundamental units of behavioral influence that appear to underlie effective prevention and treatment for children, adults, and families. A kernel is a behavior–influence procedure shown through experimental analysis to affect a specific behavior and that is indivisible in the sense that removing any of its components would render it inert. Existing evidence shows that a variety of kernels can influence behavior in context, and some evidence suggests that frequent use or sufficient use of some kernels may produce longer lasting behavioral shifts. The analysis of kernels could contribute to an empirically based theory of behavioral influence, augment existing prevention or treatment efforts, facilitate the dissemination of effective prevention and treatment practices, clarify the active ingredients in existing interventions, and contribute to efficiently developing interventions that are more effective. Kernels involve one or more of the following mechanisms of behavior influence: reinforcement, altering antecedents, changing verbal relational responding, or changing physiological states directly. The paper describes 52 of these kernels, and details practical, theoretical, and research implications, including calling for a national database of kernels that influence human behavior

Obesity in children upon school entry in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

To monitor time trends of obesity in children, data from the school-entry screening programs (SEU) are widely used. By using data from the SEU in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany, from 1996 to 2008, it was investigated, if age distribution is changing over time and if changes influence the overall proportion of obese children in NRW. In addition, the time trend of obesity in three age groups of children before school entry is shown. Children who were examined during SEU are becoming younger (1996: 75.3 months; 2008: 71.3 months, on average). The observed stagnation of obesity in NRW in recent years also persists when the influence of different age patterns are taken into account. Younger children are less obese than older ones. A sustained increase in the proportion of younger children during SEU might influence the overall proportion of obese children in the future. Thus, it should be discussed which procedures should be used to increase the quality of the indicator that is used for public health reporting and is generated by data from SEU

Outbreak of wound botulism in injecting drug users

Between October and December 2005, 16 cases of wound botulism were notified to the health authorities of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. All patients were injecting drug users (IDU) and the epidemiological investigations suggested contaminated injection drugs as the most probable source of infection. Clostridium botulinum was cultivated from clinical samples of six patients and molecular typing revealed that the different isolates were clonally identical. Two samples of heroin, one of them provided by a patient, were examined but C. botulinum could not be isolated. This outbreak demonstrates that IDU are at risk for acquiring wound botulism by injecting contaminated drugs. A greater awareness of this disease is needed by physicians and a close cooperation between public health authorities, street workers, operators of sheltered injecting facilities, and medical centres focusing on IDU is essential to prevent and manage outbreaks in IDU in a timely manner

Voices of Transition: sharing experiences from the primary school

Transition has long been acknowledged to have an impact upon the academic, social and emotional development of learners, which can be long lasting in effect. Using an interpretive methodology, the voices of the three key stakeholders involved in primary education transition – learners, practitioners and parents/caregivers - were sought and recorded to inform good practice. Data was collected using online and paper questionnaires, interviews and focus groups. Findings concluded that to enable successful transition there is a need for all involved to: prepare and plan, engage in effective communication, foster positive relationships, and be responsive to individual needs