This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the effectiveness of physical activity interventions on undergraduate students’ mental health. Seven databases were searched and a total of 59 studies were included. Studies with a comparable control group were meta-analysed, and remaining studies were narratively synthesized. The included studies scored very low GRADE and had a high risk of bias. Meta-analyses indicated physical activity interventions are effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety (n = 20, standardized mean difference (SMD) = −0.88, 95% CI [−1.23, −0.52]), depression (n = 14, SMD = −0.73, 95% CI [−1.00, −0.47]) and stress (n = 10, SMD = −0.61, 95% CI [−0.94, −0.28]); however, there was considerable heterogeneity (anxiety, I² = 90.29%; depression I² = 49.66%; stress I² = 86.97%). The narrative synthesis had mixed findings. Only five studies reported being informed by a behavioural change theory and only 30 reported intervention fidelity. Our review provides evidence supporting the potential of physical activity interventions in enhancing the mental health of undergraduate students. More robust intervention design and implementation are required to better understand the effectiveness of PA interventions on mental health outcomes.

Journal of Medical Internet Research - International Scientific Journal for Medical Research, Information and Communication on the Internet

Interprofessional education facilitates collaborative practice, which promotes high-quality patient care and patient safety. Interprofessional education (IPE) experiences within clinical settings provide an opportunity for the development of interprofessional collaborative practice competence. The aim of this systematic review was to review the literature evaluating interprofessional education for health professional students within clinical settings and summarize the behavioral outcomes. Databases searched were PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Taylor & Francis Online, ERIC and PsycINFO. Full-text articles were independently screened by two reviewers and included if agreed. Outcomes were analyzed using Kirkpatrick’s model modified for IPE. Studies with behavioral change outcomes were analyzed and synthesized using narrative methods. Included studies provided evidence that IPE experiences in clinical settings can enable students to develop and integrate interprofessional collaborative practice competencies, across diverse types of settings. Key tasks enabling students to achieve these learning outcomes included synchronous patient consultations, collaborative development of integrative health-care plans outside of patient consultations, and participation in socialization with health-care teams. There were limitations in the methodological design of the included studies, with limited use of comparator groups and validated tools, high usage of self-report data and serious risk of bias identified across all quantitative included studies. In conclusion, high-quality research designed to measure the construct of behavioral change is lacking. Such research could further investigate the key tasks in IPE experiences in clinical settings that are necessary for students to develop the range of required collaborative practice competencies and integrate these. This could provide clarification regarding if and how this could be achieved across different types of clinical placements.

Introduction: Management of osteoarthritis (OA) includes the use of non-pharmacological and pharmacological therapies. Although walking is commonly recommended for reducing pain and increasing physical function in people with OA, glucosamine sulphate has also been used to alleviate pain and slow the progression of OA. This study evaluated the effects of a progressive walking program and glucosamine sulphate intake on OA symptoms and physical activity participation in people with mild to moderate hip or knee OA. Methods: Thirty-six low active participants (aged 42 to 73 years) were provided with 1500 mg glucosamine sulphate per day for 6 weeks, after which they began a 12-week progressive walking program, while continuing to take glucosamine. They were randomized to walk 3 or 5 days per week and given a pedometer to monitor step counts. For both groups, step level of walking was gradually increased to 3000 steps/day during the first 6 weeks of walking, and to 6000 steps/day for the next 6 weeks. Primary outcomes included physical activity levels, physical function (self-paced step test), and the WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index for pain, stiffness and physical function. Assessments were conducted at baseline and at 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-week follow-ups. The Mann Whitney Test was used to examine differences in outcome measures between groups at each assessment, and the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test was used to examine differences in outcome measures between assessments. Results: During the first 6 weeks of the study (glucosamine supplementation only), physical activity levels, physical function, and total WOMAC scores improved (P < 0.05). Between the start of the walking program (Week 6) and the final follow-up (Week 24), further improvements were seen in these outcomes (P < 0.05) although most improvements were seen between Weeks 6 and 12. No significant differences were found between walking groups. Conclusions: In people with hip or knee OA, walking a minimum of 3000 steps (~30 minutes), at least 3 days/week, in combination with glucosamine sulphate, may reduce OA symptoms. A more robust study with a larger sample is needed to support these preliminary findings. Trial Registration: Australian Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN012607000159459.

The aim of this prospective cohort study was to compare changes in lifestyle behaviours over nine years in women who were and were not diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA). Data were from the 1945–51 cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (aged 50–55 in 2001) who completed written surveys in 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2010. The sample included 610 women who were, and 3810 women who were not diagnosed with OA between 2004 and 2007. Descriptive statistics were used to assess changes in lifestyle behaviours (weight, sitting time, physical activity, alcohol and smoking) in the two groups, over three survey intervals: from 2001–2004 (prior to diagnosis); from 2004–2007 (around diagnosis); and from 2007–2010 (following diagnosis). Compared with women without OA (28%), a greater proportion of women with OA (38%) made at least one positive lifestyle change (p < 0.001). These included losing > 5 kg (9.8% vs. 14.4%, p < 0.001), and reducing sitting time by an hour (29.5% vs. 39.1%, p < 0.001) following diagnosis. However, women with OA also made negative lifestyle changes (35% vs. 29%, p < 0.001), for example, gaining > 5 kg around the time of diagnosis (21.4% vs. 14.5%, p < 0.001) and increasing sitting time by an hour following diagnosis (38.4% vs. 32.3%, p = 0.003). More women with OA also started smoking following diagnosis (8.9% vs. 0.8%, p < 0.001). While some women made positive changes in lifestyle behaviours during and following OA diagnosis, others made negative changes. Consistent support from clinicians for managing OA symptoms may enable patients to make more positive changes in lifestyle behaviours.