“The Magic Glasses Philippines”: a cluster randomised controlled trial of a health education package for the prevention of intestinal worm infections in schoolchildren

Summary: Background: Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) cause substantial disease and disability globally. Health education has proven complementary to school-based drug administration programs for STH control. We determined the generalizability of the impact of “The Magic Glasses” health education p...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mary Lorraine S Mationg, Gail M Williams, Veronica L Tallo, Remigio M Olveda, Eindra Aung, Portia Alday, Mark Donald Reñosa, Chona Mae Daga, Jhoys Landicho, Maria Paz Demonteverde, Eunice Diane Santos, Thea Andrea Bravo, Franziska Angly Bieri, Andrew Bedford, Yuesheng Li, Archie C A Clements, Peter Steinmann, Kate Halton, Donald E Stewart, Donald P McManus, Darren J Gray
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2022-01-01
Series:The Lancet Regional Health. Western Pacific
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666606521002212
_version_ 1818972610492366848
author Mary Lorraine S Mationg
Gail M Williams
Veronica L Tallo
Remigio M Olveda
Eindra Aung
Portia Alday
Mark Donald Reñosa
Chona Mae Daga
Jhoys Landicho
Maria Paz Demonteverde
Eunice Diane Santos
Thea Andrea Bravo
Franziska Angly Bieri
Andrew Bedford
Yuesheng Li
Archie C A Clements
Peter Steinmann
Kate Halton
Donald E Stewart
Donald P McManus
Darren J Gray
author_facet Mary Lorraine S Mationg
Gail M Williams
Veronica L Tallo
Remigio M Olveda
Eindra Aung
Portia Alday
Mark Donald Reñosa
Chona Mae Daga
Jhoys Landicho
Maria Paz Demonteverde
Eunice Diane Santos
Thea Andrea Bravo
Franziska Angly Bieri
Andrew Bedford
Yuesheng Li
Archie C A Clements
Peter Steinmann
Kate Halton
Donald E Stewart
Donald P McManus
Darren J Gray
author_sort Mary Lorraine S Mationg
collection DOAJ
description Summary: Background: Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) cause substantial disease and disability globally. Health education has proven complementary to school-based drug administration programs for STH control. We determined the generalizability of the impact of “The Magic Glasses” health education package for STH prevention in schoolchildren in Laguna province, the Philippines, having previously shown its positive impact in China. Methods: We conducted a cluster-randomised controlled trial, in schoolchildren, aged 9–10 years, across 40 schools over one year. Schools were randomly assigned either to the “Magic Glasses Philippines” health education intervention package (consisting of a cartoon video, classroom discussions, drawing and essay competition) complementing the standard health education activities of the Philippines Departments of Health and Education, or to a control group, which involved only the standard health education activities. The primary trial outcomes were the proportion of STH infected schoolchildren and their knowledge, attitude and behaviour of STH assessed in both groups at baseline and through two follow-up surveys undertaken immediately prior to the semi-annual national mass administration of albendazole. The outcomes between the study arms were compared using generalized estimating equation models, accounting for clustering at the school level. The trial is registered with Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry number: ACTRN12616000508471. Findings: At follow-up assessments, the mean knowledge and behaviour scores in the intervention group were, respectively, 5·3 (95% confidence interval [CI]:4·26·5; p=<0.001) and 1·1 (95% CI: 0·41·7; p=0.002) percentage points higher than the control group. There was no overall effect on helminth infections (any STH; adjusted odds ratio [aOR]:1·0; 95% CI: 0·81·3; p=0·856), Ascaris lumbricoides; aOR:1·0; 95% CI: 0·71·6; p=0·894, or Trichuris trichiura; aOR:1·7; 95% CI: 0·91·6; p=0·315) but sub-group analysis showed a 60% reduction in the odds of any STH infection resulting from the “Magic Glasses” intervention in schools with a baseline prevalence ≤15% (aOR: 0·4; 95% CI: 0·20·7; p=0·001). Interpretation: The health-education package demonstrated a modest but statistically significant impact on the students’ overall STH knowledge and changes in their behaviour but was only effective in preventing STH infections in intervention schools where the baseline prevalence was ≤15%. Funding: National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia, and the UBS-Optimus Foundation, Switzerland.
first_indexed 2024-12-20T15:11:00Z
format Article
id doaj.art-cc7681dc1574421f941820b813dcb482
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2666-6065
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-20T15:11:00Z
publishDate 2022-01-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series The Lancet Regional Health. Western Pacific
spelling doaj.art-cc7681dc1574421f941820b813dcb4822022-12-21T19:36:19ZengElsevierThe Lancet Regional Health. Western Pacific2666-60652022-01-0118100312“The Magic Glasses Philippines”: a cluster randomised controlled trial of a health education package for the prevention of intestinal worm infections in schoolchildrenMary Lorraine S Mationg0Gail M Williams1Veronica L Tallo2Remigio M Olveda3Eindra Aung4Portia Alday5Mark Donald Reñosa6Chona Mae Daga7Jhoys Landicho8Maria Paz Demonteverde9Eunice Diane Santos10Thea Andrea Bravo11Franziska Angly Bieri12Andrew Bedford13Yuesheng Li14Archie C A Clements15Peter Steinmann16Kate Halton17Donald E Stewart18Donald P McManus19Darren J Gray20Research School of Population Heath, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Manila, PhilippinesSchool of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, AustraliaDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Manila, PhilippinesDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Manila, PhilippinesResearch School of Population Heath, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, AustraliaDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Manila, PhilippinesDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Manila, PhilippinesDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Manila, PhilippinesDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Manila, PhilippinesDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Manila, PhilippinesDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Manila, PhilippinesDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Manila, PhilippinesResearch School of Population Heath, The Australian National University, Canberra, AustraliaResearch School of Population Heath, The Australian National University, Canberra, AustraliaMolecular Parasitology Laboratory, Infectious Diseases Division, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia; Hunan Institute of Parasitic Diseases, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research and Control on Schistosomiasis in Lake Region, Yueyang, ChinaFaculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, AustraliaSwiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, SwitzerlandSchool of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, AustraliaResearch School of Population Heath, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia; School of Medicine, Griffith University, Brisbane, AustraliaMolecular Parasitology Laboratory, Infectious Diseases Division, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia; Corresponding Author: Donald P McManus, DSc, Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Infectious Diseases Division, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Rd Herston Queensland, Brisbane, 4006, AustraliaResearch School of Population Heath, The Australian National University, Canberra, AustraliaSummary: Background: Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) cause substantial disease and disability globally. Health education has proven complementary to school-based drug administration programs for STH control. We determined the generalizability of the impact of “The Magic Glasses” health education package for STH prevention in schoolchildren in Laguna province, the Philippines, having previously shown its positive impact in China. Methods: We conducted a cluster-randomised controlled trial, in schoolchildren, aged 9–10 years, across 40 schools over one year. Schools were randomly assigned either to the “Magic Glasses Philippines” health education intervention package (consisting of a cartoon video, classroom discussions, drawing and essay competition) complementing the standard health education activities of the Philippines Departments of Health and Education, or to a control group, which involved only the standard health education activities. The primary trial outcomes were the proportion of STH infected schoolchildren and their knowledge, attitude and behaviour of STH assessed in both groups at baseline and through two follow-up surveys undertaken immediately prior to the semi-annual national mass administration of albendazole. The outcomes between the study arms were compared using generalized estimating equation models, accounting for clustering at the school level. The trial is registered with Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry number: ACTRN12616000508471. Findings: At follow-up assessments, the mean knowledge and behaviour scores in the intervention group were, respectively, 5·3 (95% confidence interval [CI]:4·26·5; p=<0.001) and 1·1 (95% CI: 0·41·7; p=0.002) percentage points higher than the control group. There was no overall effect on helminth infections (any STH; adjusted odds ratio [aOR]:1·0; 95% CI: 0·81·3; p=0·856), Ascaris lumbricoides; aOR:1·0; 95% CI: 0·71·6; p=0·894, or Trichuris trichiura; aOR:1·7; 95% CI: 0·91·6; p=0·315) but sub-group analysis showed a 60% reduction in the odds of any STH infection resulting from the “Magic Glasses” intervention in schools with a baseline prevalence ≤15% (aOR: 0·4; 95% CI: 0·20·7; p=0·001). Interpretation: The health-education package demonstrated a modest but statistically significant impact on the students’ overall STH knowledge and changes in their behaviour but was only effective in preventing STH infections in intervention schools where the baseline prevalence was ≤15%. Funding: National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia, and the UBS-Optimus Foundation, Switzerland.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666606521002212Soil-transmitted helminthsrandomised controlled trialschool-based health education interventionMagic Glasses Philippinesintegrated control
spellingShingle Mary Lorraine S Mationg
Gail M Williams
Veronica L Tallo
Remigio M Olveda
Eindra Aung
Portia Alday
Mark Donald Reñosa
Chona Mae Daga
Jhoys Landicho
Maria Paz Demonteverde
Eunice Diane Santos
Thea Andrea Bravo
Franziska Angly Bieri
Andrew Bedford
Yuesheng Li
Archie C A Clements
Peter Steinmann
Kate Halton
Donald E Stewart
Donald P McManus
Darren J Gray
“The Magic Glasses Philippines”: a cluster randomised controlled trial of a health education package for the prevention of intestinal worm infections in schoolchildren
The Lancet Regional Health. Western Pacific
Soil-transmitted helminths
randomised controlled trial
school-based health education intervention
Magic Glasses Philippines
integrated control
title “The Magic Glasses Philippines”: a cluster randomised controlled trial of a health education package for the prevention of intestinal worm infections in schoolchildren
title_full “The Magic Glasses Philippines”: a cluster randomised controlled trial of a health education package for the prevention of intestinal worm infections in schoolchildren
title_fullStr “The Magic Glasses Philippines”: a cluster randomised controlled trial of a health education package for the prevention of intestinal worm infections in schoolchildren
title_full_unstemmed “The Magic Glasses Philippines”: a cluster randomised controlled trial of a health education package for the prevention of intestinal worm infections in schoolchildren
title_short “The Magic Glasses Philippines”: a cluster randomised controlled trial of a health education package for the prevention of intestinal worm infections in schoolchildren
title_sort the magic glasses philippines a cluster randomised controlled trial of a health education package for the prevention of intestinal worm infections in schoolchildren
topic Soil-transmitted helminths
randomised controlled trial
school-based health education intervention
Magic Glasses Philippines
integrated control
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666606521002212
work_keys_str_mv AT marylorrainesmationg themagicglassesphilippinesaclusterrandomisedcontrolledtrialofahealtheducationpackageforthepreventionofintestinalworminfectionsinschoolchildren
AT gailmwilliams themagicglassesphilippinesaclusterrandomisedcontrolledtrialofahealtheducationpackageforthepreventionofintestinalworminfectionsinschoolchildren
AT veronicaltallo themagicglassesphilippinesaclusterrandomisedcontrolledtrialofahealtheducationpackageforthepreventionofintestinalworminfectionsinschoolchildren
AT remigiomolveda themagicglassesphilippinesaclusterrandomisedcontrolledtrialofahealtheducationpackageforthepreventionofintestinalworminfectionsinschoolchildren
AT eindraaung themagicglassesphilippinesaclusterrandomisedcontrolledtrialofahealtheducationpackageforthepreventionofintestinalworminfectionsinschoolchildren
AT portiaalday themagicglassesphilippinesaclusterrandomisedcontrolledtrialofahealtheducationpackageforthepreventionofintestinalworminfectionsinschoolchildren
AT markdonaldrenosa themagicglassesphilippinesaclusterrandomisedcontrolledtrialofahealtheducationpackageforthepreventionofintestinalworminfectionsinschoolchildren
AT chonamaedaga themagicglassesphilippinesaclusterrandomisedcontrolledtrialofahealtheducationpackageforthepreventionofintestinalworminfectionsinschoolchildren
AT jhoyslandicho themagicglassesphilippinesaclusterrandomisedcontrolledtrialofahealtheducationpackageforthepreventionofintestinalworminfectionsinschoolchildren
AT mariapazdemonteverde themagicglassesphilippinesaclusterrandomisedcontrolledtrialofahealtheducationpackageforthepreventionofintestinalworminfectionsinschoolchildren
AT eunicedianesantos themagicglassesphilippinesaclusterrandomisedcontrolledtrialofahealtheducationpackageforthepreventionofintestinalworminfectionsinschoolchildren
AT theaandreabravo themagicglassesphilippinesaclusterrandomisedcontrolledtrialofahealtheducationpackageforthepreventionofintestinalworminfectionsinschoolchildren
AT franziskaanglybieri themagicglassesphilippinesaclusterrandomisedcontrolledtrialofahealtheducationpackageforthepreventionofintestinalworminfectionsinschoolchildren
AT andrewbedford themagicglassesphilippinesaclusterrandomisedcontrolledtrialofahealtheducationpackageforthepreventionofintestinalworminfectionsinschoolchildren
AT yueshengli themagicglassesphilippinesaclusterrandomisedcontrolledtrialofahealtheducationpackageforthepreventionofintestinalworminfectionsinschoolchildren
AT archiecaclements themagicglassesphilippinesaclusterrandomisedcontrolledtrialofahealtheducationpackageforthepreventionofintestinalworminfectionsinschoolchildren
AT petersteinmann themagicglassesphilippinesaclusterrandomisedcontrolledtrialofahealtheducationpackageforthepreventionofintestinalworminfectionsinschoolchildren
AT katehalton themagicglassesphilippinesaclusterrandomisedcontrolledtrialofahealtheducationpackageforthepreventionofintestinalworminfectionsinschoolchildren
AT donaldestewart themagicglassesphilippinesaclusterrandomisedcontrolledtrialofahealtheducationpackageforthepreventionofintestinalworminfectionsinschoolchildren
AT donaldpmcmanus themagicglassesphilippinesaclusterrandomisedcontrolledtrialofahealtheducationpackageforthepreventionofintestinalworminfectionsinschoolchildren
AT darrenjgray themagicglassesphilippinesaclusterrandomisedcontrolledtrialofahealtheducationpackageforthepreventionofintestinalworminfectionsinschoolchildren