Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “interventions”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,333 records · Page 74Linked to original sources
PubMed2007

Multifaceted psychosocial intervention program for breast cancer patients after first recurrence: feasibility study.

We developed a novel multifaceted psychosocial intervention program which involves screening for psychological distress and comprehensive support including individually tailored psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy provided by mental health professionals. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the feasibility of the intervention program and its preliminary usefulness for reducing clinical psychological distress experienced by patients with recurrent breast cancer. The subjects who participated in the 3 months intervention program completed psychiatric diagnostic interview and several self-reported measures regarding psychological distress, traumatic stress, and quality of life. The assessments were conducted before the intervention (T1), after the intervention (T2), and 3 months after the intervention (T3). A total of 50 patients participated in the study. The rates of participation in and adherence to the intervention program were 85 and 86%, respectively. While the proportion of psychiatric disorders at T2 (11.6%) was not significantly different from that at T1 (22.0%) (p = 0.15), the proportion of that at T3 (7.7%) had significantly decreased compared with that at T1 (p = 0.005). The novel intervention program is feasible, is a promising strategy for reducing clinically manifested psychological distress and further controlled studies are warranted.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Changes in the nutrient content of school lunches: results from the CATCH Eat Smart Food service Intervention.

BACKGROUND: The Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health (CATCH) tested the effectiveness of a multilevel intervention aimed at promoting a healthful school environment and positive eating and physical activity behaviors in children. The CATCH Eat Smart Program targeted the school food service staff and aimed to lower the total fat, saturated fat, and sodium content of school meals. METHODS: The Eat Smart intervention was conducted in 56 intervention schools over a 2(1/2)-year period.+Five consecutive days of school menu, recipe, and vendor product information were collected from intervention and control schools at three intervals, Fall 1991, Spring 1993, and Spring 1994, to assess the nutrient content of school menus as offered. RESULTS: There was a significantly greater mean reduction in the percentage of calories from total fat (adjusted mean difference -4.1%; P < 0.0001) and saturated fat (adjusted mean difference -1.3%; P = 0.003) in intervention compared with control schools from baseline to follow-up. Although the sodium content of school lunches increased in both conditions, the mean increase was significantly lower in intervention schools (adjusted mean difference -89 mg; P = 0.034). There were no statistically significant differences for total amounts of cholesterol, carbohydrate, protein, dietary fiber, total sugars, calcium, iron, vitamin A value, and vitamin C. Average total calories decreased significantly; however, the mean total calories (683 kcal) for intervention schools remained above one-third of the Recommended Dietary Allowances for this age group. CONCLUSIONS: The CATCH Eat Smart intervention successfully lowered the total fat and saturated fat content of school lunches as offered, while maintaining recommended amounts of calories and essential nutrients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Evaluation of a motivational smoking cessation intervention for women in public health clinics.

BACKGROUND: A multicomponent motivational smoking cessation intervention was evaluated in 33 prenatal, family planning, and pediatric services in 12 public health clinics. Clinic-based intervention components were implemented by clinic personnel as part of routine medical visits. METHODS: The evaluation design included pre- and postintervention measurements of multiple study outcomes in a baseline (all clinics prior to the start of the intervention) and an experimental period (matchedpair random assignment of clinics to intervention or control conditions). Subjects were 683 (baseline) and 1,064 (experimental) smokers with measurements of smoking outcomes at both times. Mixed-effects regressions analyzed individual outcomes clustered within clinics and services. RESULTS: Control and intervention clinics had similar outcomes in the baseline period. In the experiment, outcomes improved in the intervention but not in the control clinics. Compared to controls, smokers exposed to the intervention were more likely to have quit (14.5 versus 7.7%) or take actions toward quitting and had higher mean action, stage of readiness, and motivation to quit scores. These positive effects persisted when clustering within clinics and services was controlled. CONCLUSIONS: This intervention, implemented by clinic personnel as part of routine medical visits, was effective under these natural conditions across different types of clinic service.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A sustainable behavioral intervention to increase condom use and reduce gonorrhea among sex workers in Singapore: 2-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Prostitution is the most important source of transmission of AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases in Asia. We developed and evaluated the sustainability of an intervention to increase condom use and reduce gonorrhea among brothel-based sex workers in Singapore. The intervention focused on developing sex workers' negotiation skills, educating clients, and mobilizing support from peers and health staff in promoting condom use. METHODS: A pretest-posttest design with one intervention site (n = 124) and another comparable control site (n = 122) was maintained for 5 months followed by a time series design to follow up the intervention group for 2 years. RESULTS: At 5 months, the intervention group improved significantly in negotiation skills and were almost twice as likely as controls to always refuse unprotected sex (adjusted rate ratio 1.90, 95% CI 1.22-2.94). Gonorrhea incidence declined considerably by 77.1% in the intervention group compared with 37.6% in the controls. Consistent refusals of unprotected sex in the intervention group increased from 44.4% at baseline to 65.2% at 5 months, 73.6% at 1 year, and 90.5% at 2 years with a corresponding decline in gonorrhea. CONCLUSION: Sustained condom use with a corresponding decline in gonorrhea was achieved by a behavioral and environmental intervention for sex workers.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Effectiveness of brief interventions to reduce alcohol intake in primary health care populations: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Earlier meta-analyses have not made a distinction between very brief (5- to 20-min) interventions and extended (several visits) brief interventions. METHODS: Literature searches identified seven publications, comprising 14 data sets, meeting the inclusion criteria: sampling from primary care populations, random allocation to intervention and to control groups, and follow-up time 6-12 months. RESULTS: For very brief interventions, the change in alcohol consumption was not significant among men nor among women. For extended brief interventions, the pooled effect estimate of change in alcohol intake was -51 g of alcohol per week (95% confidence interval -74, -29) among women. Among men the estimate was of similar magnitude, but significant lack of statistical homogeneity implied that the summary estimate was not meaningful. Significant statistical heterogeneity was observed when data on very brief interventions among men and women were pooled. That was the case also for gamma-glutamyltransferase activity. CONCLUSIONS: Extended brief interventions were effective among women. Other brief interventions seem to be effective sometimes, but not always, and the average effect cannot be reliably estimated. The reasons for the lack of uniform effectiveness should be explored.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

A randomized trial of a brief intervention to increase fruit and vegetable intake: a replication study among callers to the CIS.

BACKGROUND: Results are reported from a large randomized trial designed to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among callers to the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service (CIS) (n = 1,717). METHODS: CIS callers assigned to the intervention group (n = 861) received a brief proactive educational intervention over the telephone at the end of usual service, with two follow-up mailouts. Key educational messages and print material derived from the NCI 5 A Day for Better Health program were provided to intervention participants. Participants were interviewed by telephone at 4 weeks (n = 1,307), 4 months (n = 1,180), and 12 months for follow-up (n = 1,016). RESULTS: Results obtained from a single-item measure of fruit and vegetable consumption indicate a significant intervention effect of 0.88 servings per day at 4 weeks follow-up (P < 0.001), 0.63 servings per day at 4 months follow-up (P < 0.001), and 0.43 servings per day at 12 months follow-up (P < 0.001). Using a 7-item food frequency measure, an intervention effect of 0.63 servings per day was obtained at 4 weeks follow-up (P < 0.001), compared with 0.39 servings per day at 4 months follow-up (P = 0.002) and 0.44 servings per day at 12 months follow-up (P = 0.002). A 24-h recall assessment included in the 4-month interviews also yielded a significant intervention effect of 0.67 servings per day (P = 0.015). The vast majority of callers (90%) endorsed the strategy of providing 5 A Day information proactively within the CIS. CONCLUSIONS: This brief educational intervention was associated with higher levels of self-reported fruit and vegetable intake at both short- and long-term follow-up. Additional research is recommended to test this or a similar intervention in diverse populations.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

The Sydney intervention trial: a controlled trial of relatives' counselling to reduce schizophrenic relapse.

The result of a psychosocial intervention which aimed to reduce schizophrenic relapse through relatives' counselling is presented. Thirty-six schizophrenic patients living in high Expressed Emotion (EE) parental households were randomly allocated to an intervention or control group. The parents of patients allocated to the intervention were offered ten weekly sessions of counselling. The patient was not included in these sessions. Patients in both groups received standard after-care of medication and support. Relapses in the intervention group, although fewer, were not significantly different from the control group. Given the impressive evidence in favour of family interventions in reducing relapse rates in schizophrenic patients possible reasons for this result are discussed. Aspects of the intervention described here, exclusion of the patient, no control over the patients' medication or involvement with their management, short duration of intervention and lack of individual assessment, could explain this finding. This negative result is important in indicating what factors should be included in an effective psychosocial intervention.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Intervention strategies to improve compliance with medical regimens by ambulatory hemodialysis patients.

This research examined the relative efficacies of three intervention strategies designed to increase compliance to medical regimens in a group of ambulatory hemodialysis patients. The interventions examined included behavioral contracting (with or without the involvement of a family member or friend) and weekly telephone contacts with patients. Compliance was assessed with regard to following dietary restrictions and limiting fluid intake. Data were collected from 116 patients drawn from two outpatient clinics. Within clinics, patients were randomly assigned either to an intervention program or to a control group. The study employed a pretest-posttest control group design. Patients were interviewed before the intervention programs began (T1), after a 6-week intervention period (T2), and 3 months after completion of the intervention period (T3). Results showed that the interventions achieved substantial reductions in patients' serum potassium levels and in weight gains between dialysis treatments between T1 and T2. In general, however, these program effects tapered off to preintervention levels between T2 and T3. The findings thus indicate a need for long-term intervention programs.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1984

Children of disturbed parents: the interface between research and intervention.

This paper provides a review of high-risk studies and preventive interventions with children who have an increased likelihood of developing psychopathology because they are the offspring of emotionally disturbed parents. The research implications for preventive interventions are summarized in terms of selection of participants, goals for prevention, intervention methods, and intervention research methodology. Next, several preventive intervention programs are reviewed and evaluated for their responsiveness to the research literature. The review revealed that, despite theoretical and methodological diversity in the research literature, the findings provide many suggestions for the design of preventive interventions. On the other hand, intervention programs were most often found to have not used research findings in program design. This review concludes with suggestions for needed research and guidelines for future preventive interventions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Reducing HIV risk-associated sexual behavior among African American adolescents: testing the generality of intervention effects.

This randomized controlled trial tested the effects of a theory-based culture-sensitive HIV risk-reduction intervention among 496 inner-city African American adolescents (mean age = 13 years) and examined the generality of its effects as a function of the facilitator's race and gender and the gender composition of the intervention group. Adolescents who received the HIV risk-reduction intervention expressed more favorable behavioral beliefs about condoms, greater self-efficacy, and stronger condom-use intentions postintervention than did those who received a control intervention on other health issues. Six-month follow-up data collected on 93% of the adolescents revealed that those who received the HIV risk-reduction intervention reported less HIV risk-associated sexual behavior, including unprotected coitus, than did their counterparts in the control condition. Self-reported sexual behavior and changes in self-reported behavior were unrelated to scores on a standard measure of social desirability response bias. There was strong evidence for the generality of intervention effects. Moderator analyses testing eight specific interaction hypotheses and correlational analyses indicated that the effects of the HIV risk-reduction intervention did not vary as a function of the facilitator's race or gender, participant's gender, or the gender composition of the intervention group.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1996

Effectiveness of a consultation intervention to promote tobacco control policies in Northwest Indian tribes: integrating experimental evaluation and service delivery.

A quasi-experimental replication of an intervention for promoting tobacco control policies in Northwest Indian tribes is described and the process of intervention including issues of collaboration among research institutions and Indian organizations is discussed. The policy intervention was evaluated using a pretest-posttest design wherein 20 tribes that had served as wait-list controls now received the intervention. The intervention comprised a tribal representative attending a kickoff orientation; follow-up visits to the tribes; distribution of tobacco policy workbooks; and phone call consultations. Policy status and stringency were assessed by means of telephone interviews with two key contacts per tribe, and by a count of enacted policies. There were significant pre-post changes in the primary outcome measure, a composite summary score of tobacco policy stringency, and changes were also reflected in enacted policies. The intervention effects observed were similar to those found in the prior randomized trial and suggest a robust, disseminable intervention. Much of the success achieved was attributed to the role of an Indian organization in planning the project and implementing the intervention and evaluation protocols.

Follow-Up Studies↗
PubMed2006

Process evaluation of a Dutch community intervention to improve health related behaviour in deprived neighbourhoods.

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether a community intervention on health related behaviour in deprived neighbourhoods was delivered as planned and the extent of exposure to the intervention programme. METHODS: Data were gathered throughout the intervention period using minutes of meetings, registration forms and a postal questionnaire among residents in intervention and comparison neighbourhoods. RESULTS: Overall, the intervention was delivered according to the key principles of a "community approach", although community participation could have been improved. Neighbourhood coalitions organized more than 50 health related activities in the neighbourhoods over a two-year period. Most activities were directed at attracting attention, providing information, and increasing awareness and knowledge, and at changing behaviours. Programme awareness and programme participation were 24% respectively 3% among residents in the intervention neighbourhoods. CONCLUSIONS: The process evaluation indicated that it was feasible to implement a community intervention according to the key principles of the "community approach" in deprived neighbourhoods. However, it is unlikely that the total package of intervention activities had enough strength and sufficient exposure to attain community-wide health behaviour change.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[A factorial trial of six interventions for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting].

BACKGROUND: Untreated, one third of patients who undergo surgery will have postoperative nausea and vomiting. Although many trials have been conducted, the relative benefits of prophylactic antiemetic interventions given alone or in combination remain unknown. METHODS: In a randomized, controlled trial of factorial design, 5,199 patients at high risk for postoperative nausea and vomiting were randomly assigned to 1 of 64 possible combinations of 6 prophylactic interventions: 1) 4 mg of ondansetron or no ondansetron; 2) 4 mg of dexamethasone or no dexamethasone; 3) 1.25 mg of droperidol or no droperidol; 4) propofol or a volatile anesthetic; 5) nitrogen or nitrous oxide; 6) remifentanil or fentanyl. The primary aim parameter was nausea and vomiting within 24 h after surgery, which was evaluated blindly. RESULTS: Ondansetron, dexamethasone, and droperidol each reduced the risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting by about 26%, propofol reduced the risk by 19%, and nitrogen by 12%. The risk reduction with both of these agents (i.e., total intravenous anesthesia) was thus similar to that observed with each of the antiemetics alone. All the interventions acted independently of each other and independently of the patients' baseline risk. Consequently, the relative risks associated with the combined interventions could be estimated by multiplying the relative risks associated with each intervention. However, absolute risk reduction was a critical function of patients' baseline risk. CONCLUSIONS: Because antiemetic interventions are similarly effective and act independently, the safest or least expensive should be used first. Prophylaxis is rarely warranted in low-risk patients, moderate-risk patients may benefit from a single intervention, and multiple interventions should be reserved for high-risk patients.

Analgesics, Opioid↗
PubMed2000

Public belief systems about the helpfulness of interventions for depression: associations with history of depression and professional help-seeking.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has found that there are major differences between public and professional beliefs about the helpfulness of interventions for depression. The public appear to be guided by general belief systems about the helpfulness of medical, psychological and lifestyle interventions rather than by specific knowledge about what interventions are effective for depression. The present paper examines the effect that experiencing depression and receiving treatment might have on these beliefs. METHOD: The study involved a postal survey of 3109 adults from a region of New South Wales, Australia. Respondents were presented with a vignette describing a person with depression. They were asked to rate the likely helpfulness of various types of professional and non-professional help and of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for the person described in the vignette. Respondents also completed the Goldberg Depression Scale and were asked whether they had ever had an episode of depression and whether they had seen a counsellor or a doctor for it at the time. Structural equation modelling was used to investigate the associations of history of depression and professional help-seeking with belief systems. RESULTS: A three-factor model was found to fit the helpfulness ratings, with factors reflecting beliefs in medical, psychological and lifestyle interventions. People who had sought help for depression were less likely to believe in the helpfulness of lifestyle interventions and more likely to believe in medical interventions. As well as these general associations with belief systems, having sought help for depression had a number of specific associations with beliefs. Controlling for general belief systems, those who had sought help were more likely to rate antidepressants, holidays, massage and new recreational pursuits as helpful, and were less likely to rate ECT and family as helpful. Those who had a history of depression but had not sought help were more likely to rate counselling as helpful, and less likely to rate family as helpful. Those with current depressive symptoms were less likely to rate telephone counselling, family and friends as helpful. CONCLUSION: Having sought help for depression is associated with general belief systems about the helpfulness of lifestyle and medical interventions and also has some associations with specific beliefs that may reflect experiences with treatment (e.g. the helpfulness of antidepressants). Those currently depressed or with a history of depression are less likely to regard family as helpful, possibly due to poorer social support. Generally speaking, having sought help is associated with beliefs closer to those of professionals.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Balance board training: prevention of traumatic injuries of the lower extremities in female soccer players? A prospective randomized intervention study.

This prospective randomized intervention investigated whether training on a balance board could reduce the amount of traumatic injuries of the lower extremities in female soccer players. A total of 221 female soccer players from 13 different teams playing in the second and third Swedish divisions volunteered to participate in the study. Seven teams (n = 121) were randomized to an intervention group and six teams (n = 100) to a control group and were followed during one outdoor season (April-October). Before and after the season muscle flexibility and balance/postural sway of the lower extremities were measured in the players. There were no significant differences in age, height, weight, muscle flexibility and balance/postural sway of the lower extremities between the intervention and the control group. During the season the players in the intervention group performed a special training program consisting of 10-15 min of balance board training in addition to their standard soccer practice and games. After a 37% drop-out the intervention group consisted of 62 players and the control group of 78 players. The results showed no significant differences between the groups with respect either to the number, incidence, or type of traumatic injuries of the lower extremities. The incidence rate of "major" injuries was higher in the intervention group than in the control group. Four of five anterior cruciate ligament injuries occurred in the intervention group, which means that we could not prevent severe knee injuries in female soccer players with balance board training. However, among the players who had been injured during the 3-month period prior to this investigation there were significantly more players from the control group than from the intervention group who sustained new injuries during the study period.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Lifestyle interventions to prevent osteoporotic fractures: a systematic review.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of lifestyle interventions for preventing osteoporotic fractures in people at high risk. Data sources were electronic bibliographic databases, reference lists of systematic reviews, meta-analyses and included trials, registers of trials and conference databases. There was no language restriction. Study selection comprised randomized controlled trials (RCTs), with appropriate comparator groups and at least 8 weeks of follow-up, reporting a fracture endpoint. Two reviewers independently abstracted data on the population, interventions evaluated, trial quality and outcomes of interest: fractures at any site, spinal, hip and wrist fractures. Six RCTs, enrolling over 1,656 participants, met the inclusion criteria. Overall, trials were of uncertain quality. We categorized trials by type of intervention: exercise (n=3), multifactorial interventions (environmental modifications, exercise programs and review of medical conditions, medication and aids) (n=2) and exposure to sunlight (n=1), and used random effects meta-analyses to combine data within these categories. Exercise was associated with a non-significantly lower risk of spinal fractures (RR=0.52, 95% CI=0.17 to 1.60). Multifactorial interventions were associated with a lower risk of hip fracture, which was of borderline statistical significance (RR=0.37, 95% CI=0.13 to 1.03). Exposure to sunlight was associated with a non-significantly lower risk of hip fracture (RR=0.17, 95% CI=0.02 to 1.35). While withdrawals from treatment were poorly reported, there was no indication of adverse effects of treatment. Multifactorial interventions may reduce the risk of hip fractures when delivered by residential care staff and health visitors. More RCTs of higher quality, recording fractures at all sites susceptible to osteoporotic fractures, are necessary to evaluate exercise interventions, exposure to sunlight and the place of lifestyle alongside pharmacological interventions.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Intervention for pleural effusions and ascites following liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Small volumes of fluid in the pleural and peritoneal cavities are common after paediatric liver transplantation. Occasionally, larger fluid collections develop and need intervention by aspiration or insertion of a drain. Objective. To assess the incidence of moderate and large pleural and peritoneal fluid collections following paediatric liver transplantation, the need for intervention and the outcome following radiological and non-radiological treatment, with the ultimate objective of recommending a treatment protocol for such post-operative fluid collections. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 184 consecutive liver grafts in 164 children were reviewed. RESULTS: Of 184 grafts, 31 (16.8%) developed excessive fluid collections requiring intervention (19 pleural effusions, 8 ascites and 4 effusions and ascites). The effusions were first diagnosed between days 1 and 44 after transplant and the ascites between days 1 and 14. The initial diagnosis was made radiologically in 21 (91%) of 23 pleural effusions and in 10 (83%) of 12 ascites. No identifiable cause or association was seen in 18 (58%) of 31 cases. The mean duration of the pleural effusions and ascites, from onset of treatment to resolution, ranged from 33 +/- 42 days (SD) to 35 +/- 48 days and from 36 +/- 47 days to 39 +/- 46 days respectively. Comparison of the modes of interventional treatment (i.e. unguided, radiological and surgical) showed no statistically significant difference in the outcome of the management. CONCLUSIONS: Post-transplantation pleural effusions and ascites requiring intervention are often without definite cause. They are more common with reduced grafts, but this cannot completely explain the occurrence or the protracted duration of accumulation in spite of combined interventional management. The outcome of treatment is not significantly influenced by the mode of intervention except in cases where surgical intervention is indicated. Patients could be managed effectively without resorting to chronic outpatient aspiration. US contributed significantly in the initial and follow-up evaluation of these patients, even in cases of pleural effusions, and we would recommend greater use of US in place of radiographs to reduce the radiation burden when fluid collections are protracted.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A review of the literature on the etiology of capsular contracture and a pilot study to determine the outcome of capsular contracture interventions.

The etiology of capsular contracture is unclear and probably multifactorial. This review covers the literature on several proposed contracture factors, including filler material, implant placement, surface texture, and bacterial infection. The pilot study's goal was to test the feasibility of a data collection form, which could be used in a scaled-up study analyzing multiple surgeon's records. The goal of the expanded version of this study will be to determine the efficacy of available interventions for capsular contracture, including surveillance. The Breast Implant Public Health Project, LLC (BIPHP), piloted a retrospective review of outcomes in women who had interventions to relieve capsular contracture or had chosen a wait-and-watch approach. An evaluation of the efficacy of various treatments can help women decide if they want to pursue treatment at all and, if so, which treatment might offer them the best solution. BIPHP researchers (E.E.A., M.E.) developed a data collection form after reviewing records of three surgeons (B.C., W.P., V.L.Y.). During the data collection using the same records, we tested a randomization process to identify women with capsular contracture who underwent various interventions, including a wait-and-watch strategy, and those who had no mention of any intervention or waiting approach. Data were gathered on a total of 90 breasts with capsular contracture (scored Baker I-IV or qualitatively), of which 45 underwent a total of 102 interventions for capsular contracture. Interventions were classified as "closed capsulotomy," "surgical," or "watchful waiting." Closed capsulotomy was performed most often (47%), followed by surgery (29%) and watchful waiting (21%). Presurgical Baker scores averaged higher in breasts that underwent surgery (3.1) than for watchful waiting (2.5) or closed capsulotomy (2.3). Though closed capsulotomies had 100% of outcomes scoring "improved" or "same," 58% of the breasts underwent the procedure more than once, suggesting that the favorable outcome was short-lived. The wait-and-watch approach resulted in scores of either "same" or "worse"; surgery (open capsulotomy, repositioning, or capsulectomy) resulted in 79% improved, 16% same, and 5% worse outcomes in breasts with outcomes listed. In all intervention procedure categories, outcomes were frequently unavailable; they were noted only 60% of the time (52/87). The missing 40% may have resulted from the doctor's failure to note it in the chart, satisfied patients not returning for additional treatment, or dissatisfied patients seeking treatment elsewhere. Generally, the data collection forms and procedures were workable; however, we uncovered issues to address in the scale-up of this pilot study: (1) the outcome report rate was 60%; (2) though Baker scores are commonly used to evaluate the degree of capsular contracture, it seems that grade I may have different meanings for different surgeons, which would need to be clarified; (3) participating surgeons will need to divulge standard-of-care items that they may not have included in medical records, but routinely performed (e.g., patient massage, use of prophylactic antibiotics); and (4) records were initially separated by "implant," then researchers realized that a more useful collection would be by "breast." The latter approach captures the history of the breast in one record, which may be more important to contracture than the differences in implants. With the modifications discussed, the study can be scaled up to encompass as many records as necessary to achieve robust statistical power. These data will add to the existing literature regarding factors associated with capsular contracture and identify factors that affect the successful outcome of capsular contracture interventions.

Breast↗