Mobile technology for obesity prevention: a randomized pilot study in racial- and ethnic-minority girls.

Background: Mobile technologies have wide-scale reach and disseminability, but no known studies have examined mobile technologies as a stand-alone tool to improve obesity-related behaviors of at-risk youth.

Purpose: To test a 12-week mobile technology intervention for use and estimate effect sizes for a fully powered trial.

Methods: Fifty-one low-income, racial/ethnic-minority girls aged 9-14 years were randomized to a mobile technology (n=26) or control (n=25) condition.

Headstrong intervention for pediatric migraine headache: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a self-guided CD-ROM program ("Headstrong") containing cognitive-behavioral self-management strategies versus an educational CD-ROM program for treating headaches, headache-related disability, and quality of life.

Methods: Participants were 35 children ages 7-12 years with migraine recruited from one university medical center and two children's hospital headache clinics. Participants were randomly assigned to complete the Headstrong or educational control CD-ROM program over a 4-week period.

Relationship between daily mood and migraine in children.

Background: Retrospective and cross-sectional studies have suggested a bidirectional relationship between migraine and mood disturbance.

Objective: The present prospective daily diary study examined the prevalence and temporal associations between migraine and daily mood, mood and next-day headache, and headache and next-day mood.

Methods: Sixty-nine children (50 females, 19 males) between the ages of 7 and 12 years and their parents attending neurology clinic appointments and having a diagnosis of migraine as defined by International Headache Classification 2nd edition criteria completed measures on the quality of life, headache disability, child emotions, and child behaviors.

Massage on experimental pain in healthy females: a randomized controlled trial.

This randomized controlled study evaluated the effect of massage on affect, relaxation, and experimental pain induced by electrical stimulation. Participants were 96 healthy women (M age = 20.13 ± 5.

Development and functionality of a handheld computer program to improve fruit and vegetable intake among low-income youth.

Mobile technologies hold promise for improving diet and physical activity, but little attention is given to creating programs that adolescents like and will use. This study developed a personal digital assistant (PDA) program to promote increased intake of fruits and vegetables (FV) in predominately low-income, ethnic minority girls. This study used a three-phase community-engaged process, including (i) engagement of a Student Advisory Board (SAB) to determine comfort with PDAs; (ii) early testing of Prototype I and rapid re-design by the SAB and (iii) feasibility testing of Prototype II in a new sample of girls.

Developing a standardized approach to the assessment of pain in children and youth presenting to pediatric rheumatology providers: a Delphi survey and consensus conference process followed by feasibility testing.

Background: Pain in children with rheumatic conditions such as arthritis is common. However, there is currently no standardized method for the assessment of this pain in children presenting to pediatric rheumatologists. A more consistent and comprehensive approach is needed to effectively assess, treat and monitor pain outcomes in the pediatric rheumatology population.

The program evaluation of services in a primary care clinic: attaining a medical home.

A program evaluation of a pediatric primary care training clinic was conducted using the criteria of a "medical home" set forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). A total of 107 parents completed questionnaires regarding demographics, satisfaction with care, and questions related to the definition of medical home. Medical providers completed questionnaires regarding demographics, job satisfaction, and community resources.

The efficacy of adherence interventions for chronically ill children: a meta-analytic review.

Objectives: To provide quantitative information about the overall effectiveness of adherence interventions to improve adherence and health outcomes for children with chronic illnesses. To evaluate statistically the potential moderators.

Methods: A meta-analysis was performed on 71 adherence intervention studies.

Attrition in randomized controlled trials for pediatric chronic conditions.

Objective: To examine attrition variables in randomized controlled trials of cognitive behavioral interventions for children with chronic illnesses.

Methods: We examined attrition rates reported on 40 randomized cognitive behavioral interventions published in six pediatric research journals, during the years 2002-2007. Intervention focus was limited to children with a chronic medical condition, such as asthma, obesity, arthritis, diabetes, cancer, sickle cell disease, and cystic fibrosis.

Editorial: Journal of Pediatric Psychology statement of purpose: section on single-subject studies.

Objective: The purpose of this editorial is to introduce a new special section on single-subject designs that is designed to encourage the submission of papers to the Journal of Pediatric Psychology that utilizes single-subject methodology to investigate the efficacy of treatments for improving the health, mental health, and quality of life for children and adolescents.

Methods: and Results We review the case for using single subject designs in pediatric psychology research and provide examples from the literature of the three most commonly used designs: the reversal or withdrawal, multiple baseline, and changing criterion. We also describe limitations of single subject designs.

Evidence-based assessment of adherence to medical treatments in pediatric psychology.

Objectives: Adherence to medical regimens for children and adolescents with chronic conditions is generally below 50% and is considered the single, greatest cause of treatment failure. As the prevalence of chronic illnesses in pediatric populations increases and awareness of the negative consequences of poor adherence become clearer, the need for reliable and valid measures of adherence has grown.

Methods: This review evaluated empirical evidence for 18 measures utilizing three assessment methods: (a) self-report or structured interviews, (b) daily diary methods, and (c) electronic monitors.

Improving adherence to medical regimens for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Poor adherence to medical regimens can compromise the efficacy of treatments for children and adolescents with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). The purpose of this review is to describe medical regimens for the treatment of JRA and the rates of adherence to these regimens. We also summarize and critically the few research studies aimed at improving adherence to regimens for JRA.

Headstrong: a pilot study of a CD-ROM intervention for recurrent pediatric headache.

Objectives: To empirically evaluate a minimal therapist contact CD-ROM pain management program for recurrent pediatric headache developed as part of this study.

Methods: Participants were 37 children aged 7-12 attending a pediatric neurology clinic for evaluation of recurrent headache. Children who were randomly assigned to the treatment group worked through the CD-ROM program on home computers for 4 weeks following baseline assessment, whereas those assigned to the wait-list group continued following the prescriptions of their neurologist.

Management of adherence and chronic rheumatic disease in children and adolescents.

Medical treatment regimens for pediatric rheumatic diseases are complex, have delayed beneficial effects, and require consistent adherence over a long period of time. All of these factors place patients at risk for non-adherence that can compromise the benefits of treatment and the long-term health and quality of life for patients. This chapter provides a definition of adherence and reviews the prevalence of non-adherence to regimens for pediatric rheumatic diseases.

Electronically monitored adherence to medications by newly diagnosed patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To describe patterns of adherence to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in newly diagnosed patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), and to examine demographic and disease-related variables as potential predictors of adherence.

Methods: Adherence to NSAIDs was monitored in 48 children with JRA (mean age 8.6 years) over 28 consecutive days using an electronic monitoring device.

Assessing health-related quality of life in children with recurrent headache: reliability and validity of the PedsQLTM 4.0 in a pediatric headache sample.

Objective: To evaluate the reliability and validity of a commonly used measure of health-related quality of life (HRQOL), the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL 4.0), in a sample of children with a recurrent headache syndrome.

Methods: Participants were 40 children aged 7-12 who completed measures of HRQOL, headache-related disability, and headache activity during a baseline period and following a self-directed cognitive-behavioral intervention.

The PedsQL in pediatric asthma: reliability and validity of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory generic core scales and asthma module.

The PedsQL is a modular instrument designed to measure health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children and adolescents ages 2-18. The PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales were developed to be integrated with the PedsQL Disease-Specific Modules.

Prevention of nonadherence to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications for newly diagnosed patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Adherence to medications for chronic pediatric diseases decreases overtime. This randomized controlled trial evaluated a clinic-based, nurse-administered educational and behavioral intervention to prevent the anticipated drop in adherence to nonsteroidal medications among newly diagnosed patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Thirty-four participants completed the study (mean age = 8.

Daily hassles and social support as predictors of adjustment in children with pediatric rheumatic disease.

Objective: To test hypotheses that social support moderates the effects of microstressors on the psychosocial adjustment of children with pediatric rheumatic diseases (PRDs) and that among multiple sources of support, classmate and parent support are significant predictors of adjustment, after controlling for demographic and disease severity variables.

Methods: Children with PRDs (N = 160 children; 8-17 years) were recruited from three pediatric rheumatology centers and completed measures of daily hassles, social support, depressive symptoms, and state and trait anxiety; their parents completed measures of internalizing and externalizing behaviors.

Results: Fewer daily hassles and higher social support predicted fewer adjustment problems.

Development of the Waldron/Varni pediatric pain coping inventory.

The standardized assessment of pediatric pain coping strategies may substantively contribute to the conceptual understanding of individual differences in pediatric pain perception and report. The Waldron/Varni Pediatric Pain Coping Inventory (PPCI) was developed to be a standardized questionnaire to assess systematically children's pain coping strategies. The PPCI was administered to 187 children and adolescents experiencing musculoskeletal pain associated with rheumatologic diseases.