Research --
'Examples of Annotations'
1. Eakin E., Reeves M., Winkler E., Lawler S., & Owen, N. (2010). Maintenance of physical activity and dietary change following a telephone-delivered intervention.
Health Psychology, 29(6), 566-573.
A randomised controlled trial was conducted and 434 patients with Type 2 diabetes or hypertension were recruited from ten primary care practices in a disadvantaged community. Five practices were randomised to a telephone-counselling intervention (n = 228) and five practices to usual care (n= 206). The aim was to examine the maintenance of behavioural changes six months after a telephone-delivered physical activity and diet intervention.
Participants received 18 phone calls, a workbook with information on physical activity and healthy eating that followed the 5 A’s approach, and a pedometer. The usual care group received brief feedback on their assessment and health related brochures. The main outcome measures included the use of validated, self-report measures of physical activity and diet. Data was collected at baseline, twelve months, and 18 months (months post intervention). The findings showed both interventions were found to show significantly improved behaviour changes particularly in those who adhered to the study. The research is relevant for managing people with type 2 diabetes and hypertension living in disadvantaged communities. The researchers concluded that telephone-delivered interventions promoted maintenance of health behaviour change but studies with longer term follow-up are needed to determine how intervention duration and intensity might enhance maintenance.
2. Guo, R., Pittler, M.H., & Ernst, E. (2008). Hawthorn extract for treating chronic heart failure. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD005312. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD005312.pub2.
A systematic review of double-blinded randomised controlled trials conducted by the Cochrane Heart Group members in 2008 assessed the benefits and harms of hawthorn extract compared to placebo for chronic heart failure patients. A comprehensive search of electronic databases included, CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library (issue 2, 2006), MEDLINE (1951 to June 2006), EMBASE (1974 to June 2006), CINAHL (1982 to June 2006) and AMED (1985 to June 2006). Studies used hawthorn leaf and flower extract mono-preparations. Two reviewers collected the data, independently selected the studies, conducted data extraction and assessed the quality of the studies. Data were analysed using RevMan software. The results included fourteen trials reporting hawthorn being used as an adjunct to conventional treatment. Ten trials including 855 patients with chronic heart failure underwent meta-analysis. Outcome measures included physiologic outcome of maximal workload, exercise tolerance, pressure–heart rate product, shortness of breath and fatigue. All showed significant beneficial results. Adverse events were found to be transient, mild and infrequent. A limitation was the methodological rigour varied among the trials. In conclusion, significant benefits were found using hawthorn extract as an adjunctive treatment for chronic heart failure in relation to symptom control and physiologic outcomes.
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