Clinical Research Directory

Efficacy of the Proactive Automatized Lifestyle Intervention

Background: Individual brief behavior change interventions often do not sufficiently address the common co-occurrence of multiple health risk behaviors among people. In addition, many interventions often fail to reach the majority of the target population and particularly those people who need them the most. To address these core challenges of individual prevention research, the "Proactive Automatised Lifestyle intervention (PAL)" was developed, a proactive screening and brief intervention driven by psychological health behavior change theory to motivate participants for behavior change. The trial ePAL aims to investigate the efficacy of the multi-behavior change intervention adressing tobacco smoking, alcohol use, diet and physical activity among general hospital patients over 2 years; and to investigate differential efficacy in different subgroups of patients. Methods: All patients admitted to non-intensive care wards on five medical departments within the University Medicine Hospital Greifswald (internal medicine A \& B, surgery, trauma surgery, ear-nose-throat) and aged 18 to 64 years are systematically approached by study assistants and asked to first participate in a survey and then in the randomizd controlled trial, irrespective of their reason of admission. A total of 788 participants is allocated to two study groups. The intervention group receives individualized feedback on all four health risk behaviors to enhance motivation to change identified health risk behaviors. The feedback is driven by psychological behavior change theory, tailored to the participants' current stages of change and delivered after baseline and at months 1 and 3. The control group receives routine care and minimal assessment only. Follow-ups are conducted at months 6, 12 and 24 after baseline; and more are planned for. Efficacy will be measured concerning self-reported change in health risk behaviors, health and motivation to change measures using latent growth curve modelling. Discussion: The trial will provide information on the efficacy of a population-based and individually tailored brief intervention to systematically provide individualized feedback to each patient for a healthy living. When found to be effective and implemented widely, such interventions may contribute to the prevention of widespread non-communicable diseases.

Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy of an HIV Prevention Intervention for Older Black Women

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether a group-based HIV prevention program can improve HIV knowledge, prevention behaviors, and testing in older Black women aged 50 and older who live in subsidized housing. The study focuses on improving how HIV prevention programs address the unique needs and life experiences of older Black women. The main questions it aims to answer are: Can a revised HIV prevention intervention tailored to reproductive health histories improve HIV knowledge, condom use, and testing in older Black women? Is the intervention feasible, acceptable, and engaging for participants? The PI will compare a group of participants receiving the Woman-2-Woman (W2W) intervention to a wait-listed control group to see if the intervention leads to better HIV prevention outcomes. Participants will: Join a group-based HIV prevention program designed for older Black women Be randomly assigned to either: Start the intervention right away, or Join a waitlist and start the program 4 weeks later Take part in four weekly sessions that include group discussions, education, and skill-building activities Share information about their reproductive health histories and sexual health decisions during focus groups or surveys Complete questionnaires at the start, after the program ends, and 4 weeks later to assess HIV knowledge, condom use, and testing behavior This research aims to create a culturally tailored, evidence-based HIV intervention that fits the lives and needs of older Black women and can be used in future, larger studies.

Association Between Sleep Disorders, Neck Pain, and Depression

This cross-sectional observational study investigates the association between sleep quality, neck pain-related disability, and depression symptoms in young adults aged 18-28. The research reveals that poor sleep quality is significantly associated with higher depression scores and increased neck disability, emphasizing the need for integrative approaches targeting sleep quality to improve mental and musculoskeletal health outcomes.

A Prospective Study for the Early Diagnosis of Lung Cancer in Korean Females

This is a single-arm prospective pilot study in a single institution. The target accrual is 200 participants of Korean, female sex, never smoker status, and family history of lung cancer. The study will aim to enroll 200 participants in two years.

Removing Barriers: Community Partnering for Innovative Solutions to the Opioid Crisis

The opioid epidemic has become one of America's deadliest crises, surpassing car crashes, firearms, and HIV/AIDS as a leading cause of death for Americans under fifty years of age. People trying to recover from opioid-use disorder face many obstacles. Obstacles such as minor legal problems (e.g., arrest warrants for failure to pay a fine, failure to appear in court, or late child support payments) can undermine the stability needed to overcome opioid dependence. Outstanding legal obligations make it difficult to find jobs and to secure housing. They can result in removal from treatment programs as well as incarceration. Resolving these legal problems requires coordination, organization, preparation, travel, and time-expectations that may be problematic for many people in the early stages of recovery. Technology has the potential to make resolving these legal problems much easier. Online platform technology is now available that can guide people in recovery through the resolution of many legal problems at no cost and without an attorney, potentially doing so quickly, remotely, and at any time of day. This study of individuals in treatment in Michigan tests whether resolving outstanding legal issues improves drug treatment outcomes. The research also examines whether and to what extent resolving legal issues supports family reunification, reduces future criminal behavior, and improves access to jobs and housing for clients in treatment for opioid use disorder. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is used to determine the effects of resolving legal issues on these outcomes. For identification, the investigators leverage the random assignment of legal services to treatment center clients, along with the random assignment of clients to treatment centers by birth month. We assemble a novel longitudinal dataset of hundreds of clients in treatment for substance use disorder and link these clients to several administrative datasets and qualitative data, which allows for measurement of: (1) substance use behaviors and (2) justice-system involvement, including civil and criminal legal system encounters. This study also uses linked client and administrative data to research the population in opioid treatment centers, follow-up behaviors, and whether the consequences of providing no-cost legal services differ by client background. Findings from this research will improve America's understanding of the acute socio-legal needs faced by those experiencing opioid use disorder and provide recommendations to help target resources toward the areas that best support long-term abstinence from opioids and other drugs.

The African-PREDICT Study

The African-PREDICT study aims to (i) generate new knowledge on the early pathophysiology accompanying hypertension development in black South Africans; and (ii) to identify early novel markers or predictors for the development of hypertension and cardiovascular outcome. By employing also in Africa the latest cutting-edge scientific technologies to measure single and multiple biomarkers proven to predict hypertension and cardiovascular outcome (such as multiplex analyses, proteomics and metabolomics), precision medicine may have the potential to lead to novel strategies in preventing and treating hypertension in Africa.

Patient Trajectories for Older Adults Admitted to Hospital for Alcohol-related Problems

Alcohol is contributing to many health problems and disorders, as well as accidents and social problems. Alcohol consumption has been on the rise the past 25 years, especially in Norway. The highest increase is found in older adults, in line with the development in most other countries in the western world. Older adults have a higher risk for alcohol related health problems, due to age related physiological changes, medical conditions and medications. Still, alcohol use is seldom addressed for older people. This means that older people rarely receive help to change alcohol habits. Norwegian health authorities have issued mandates ordering the regional health trusts to implement strategies in somatic hospital wards, mental health services and drug treatment services to identify and treat alcohol and drug problems affecting the patients' health. In this observational study we will explore patient trajectories three years prior to and three years after an admittance to hospital where risky or harmful alcohol consumption is identified and brief interventions are delivered. Hospitals that have implemented such strategies are invited to the study. Patient trajectories are studied in national health registries. This will provide important knowledge on what characterizes the patients identified, and what happens after they have received a brief intervention related to a hospital admittance.

Nutrition Recommendation Intervention trialS in Children's Healthcare

NuRISH is a suite of clinical trials for children from low-income families which will determine whether primary healthcare prescription for: 1) Optimal breastfeeding with support from a mobile lactation consultant vs. usual care and 2) High-quality childcare starting at 1 year vs. usual care can prevent childhood obesity, and improve cardiovascular, developmental and mental health at 2 years of age.