OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop an index for oral hygiene behavior (OHB) and to examine potential predictors of this actual behavior based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Measures of oral health knowledge (OHK) and the expected effect of having healthy teeth on social relationships were included too.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Using an Internet questionnaire, 487 participants were asked about actual OHB, attitudes (ATT), social norms (SN), perceived behavioral control (PBC), OHK, and expected social outcomes (ESO). Based on a Delphi method involving oral health professionals, a new index for OHB was developed, including tooth brushing, interdental cleaning, and tongue cleaning.RESULTS: Regression analysis revealed that the TPB variables (ATT, SN, and PBC) and OHK explained 32.3% of the variance in self-reported OHB.CONCLUSION: The present findings indicate that socio-psychological consequences play a role in oral health care.
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The global epidemic of overweight and obesity results from individual factors and from meso- and macro environmental factors. Adolescents are especially vulnerable to unhealthy changes in life style. One major influence on health behavior in this age group is represented by friends in peer groups. Young people tend to select and mimic each other with respect to both eating behavior and physical exercise. Peer groups are a close and important source of influence on health behavior and social media strengthens this influence. New research and interventions should take account of the influence of the peer group and social media.
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De verdediging hiervan was op 26 september. Background: The insertion of fixed orthodontic appliances increases the risk of dental caries, particularly in adolescents. Caries can be prevented through good oral health behavior. To support adolescents with fixed orthodontic appliances and for promoting oral health behavior, we developed a theory- and evidence-based mHealth program, the WhiteTeeth app. Objective: The objective of our paper was to describe the systematic development and content of the WhiteTeeth app. Methods: For systematic development of the program, we used the intervention mapping (IM) approach. In this paper, we present the results of applying the first 5 steps of IM to the design of an mHealth program: (1) identifying target behaviors and determinants through problem analysis, including a literature search, a survey study, and semistructured interviews, to explore adolescent oral health behavior during orthodontic therapy; (2) defining program outcomes and objectives; (3) selecting theoretical methods and translating them into practical strategies for the program design; (4) producing the program, including a pilot test with 28 adolescents testing the acceptability and usability of the WhiteTeeth app; and (5) planning implementation and adoption. Auteurs: Scheerman, J.F.M., van Empelen, P., van Loveren, C., & van Meijel, B. (2018)
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Goed slapen is van belang voor de gezondheid, de alertheid en stressreductie van mensen. Echter kampen veel mensen met slaapproblemen, waarbij chronisch slecht slapen kan leiden tot o.a. cognitieve problemen (depressie en dementie) en het heeft een negatief effect op de kwaliteit van leven. Kwaliteit van slapen hangt samen met hoe de slaap wordt ervaren en of iemand voldoende uitrust en tevreden is over de slaap, echter is 63% van de Nederlanders ontevreden over de eigen slaapkwaliteit. Dit project richt zich op volwassenen met slaapproblemen. Door middel van co-creatie wordt er gewerkt aan een digitale slaapcoach, als verlengstuk van een slaapexpert. Uitgangspunt van de coach is de eerder ontwikkelde voedingscoach Halloliz. De nieuwe slaapcoach helpt bij het in kaart brengen van individuele factoren die de slaapkwaliteit verminderen, bij het verbeteren van slaapgedrag en bij het bestendigen hiervan. Er wordt gebruik gemaakt van Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Insomnia, waarbij het effect van interventies op slaapgedrag direct wordt verwerkt in een aangepast slaapplan. Het project richt zich op het ontwikkelen van een slaapcoach rekening houdend met adoptie en motivatie van de doelgroep om de coach te gebruiken. Adoptie hangt onder andere samen met de vorm en uitstraling van de slaapcoach, maar ook met de bereidheid van de gebruiker om het gedrag te veranderen. Daarnaast speelt motivatie een belangrijke rol bij het bestendigen van gedragsverandering. In het project wordt de patient journey in kaart gebracht en wordt uitgezocht hoe het ontwerp van de coach kan worden geoptimaliseerd richting adoptie, motivatie en uiteindelijk de gewenste gedragsverandering. Een consortium van experts in het ontwerpen (co-creatie) van eHealth oplossingen en gebruikersonderzoek zal het project uitvoeren. Deze worden bijgestaan door een klankbordgroep bestaande uit onder andere slaapexperts.
CRISPR/Cas genome engineering unleashed a scientific revolution, but entails socio-ethical dilemmas as genetic changes might affect evolution and objections exist against genetically modified organisms. CRISPR-mediated epigenetic editing offers an alternative to reprogram gene functioning long-term, without changing the genetic sequence. Although preclinical studies indicate effective gene expression modulation, long-term effects are unpredictable. This limited understanding of epigenetics and transcription dynamics hampers straightforward applications and prevents full exploitation of epigenetic editing in biotechnological and health/medical applications.Epi-Guide-Edit will analyse existing and newly-generated screening data to predict long-term responsiveness to epigenetic editing (cancer cells, plant protoplasts). Robust rules to achieve long-term epigenetic reprogramming will be distilled based on i) responsiveness to various epigenetic effector domains targeting selected genes, ii) (epi)genetic/chromatin composition before/after editing, and iii) transcription dynamics. Sustained reprogramming will be examined in complex systems (2/3D fibroblast/immune/cancer co-cultures; tomato plants), providing insights for improving tumor/immune responses, skin care or crop breeding. The iterative optimisations of Epi-Guide-Edit rules to non-genetically reprogram eventually any gene of interest will enable exploitation of gene regulation in diverse biological models addressing major societal challenges.The optimally balanced consortium of (applied) universities, ethical and industrial experts facilitates timely socioeconomic impact. Specifically, the developed knowledge/tools will be shared with a wide-spectrum of students/teachers ensuring training of next-generation professionals. Epi-Guide-Edit will thus result in widely applicable effective epigenetic editing tools, whilst training next-generation scientists, and guiding public acceptance.
A world where technology is ubiquitous and embedded in our daily lives is becoming increasingly likely. To prepare our students to live and work in such a future, we propose to turn Saxion’s Epy-Drost building into a living lab environment. This will entail setting up and drafting the proper infrastructure and agreements to collect people’s location and building data (e.g. temperature, humidity) in Epy-Drost, and making the data appropriately available to student and research projects within Saxion. With regards to this project’s effect on education, we envision the proposal of several derived student projects which will provide students the opportunity to work with huge amounts of data and state-of-the-art natural interaction interfaces. Through these projects, students will acquire skills and knowledge that are necessary in the current and future labor-market, as well as get experience in working with topics of great importance now and in the near future. This is not only aligned with the Creative Media and Game Technologies (CMGT) study program’s new vision and focus on interactive technology, but also with many other education programs within Saxion. In terms of research, the candidate Postdoc will study if and how the data, together with the building’s infrastructure, can be leveraged to promote healthy behavior through playful strategies. In other words, whether we can persuade people in the building to be more physically active and engage more in social interactions through data-based gamification and building actuation. This fits very well with the Ambient Intelligence (AmI) research group’s agenda in Augmented Interaction, and CMGT’s User Experience line. Overall, this project will help spark and solidify lasting collaboration links between AmI and CMGT, give body to AmI’s new Augmented Interaction line, and increase Saxion’s level of education through the dissemination of knowledge between researchers, teachers and students.
