Positive youth development is thought to be essential to the prevention of adolescent risk behavior and the promotion of thriving. This meta-analysis examined the effects of positive youth development interventions in promoting positive outcomes and reducing risk behavior. Ten databases and grey literature were scanned using a predefined search strategy. We included studies that focused on young people aged 10-19 years, implemented a positive youth development intervention, were outside school hours, and utilized a randomized controlled design. Twenty-four studies, involving 23,258 participants, met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. The impact of the interventions on outcomes including behavioral problems, sexual risk behavior, academic achievement, prosocial behavior and psychological adjustment were assessed. Positive youth development interventions had a small but significant effect on academic achievement and psychological adjustment. No significant effects were found for sexual risk behaviors, problem behavior or positive social behaviors. Intervention effects were independent of program characteristics and participant age. Low-risk young people derived more benefit from positive youth development interventions than high-risk youth. The studies examined had several methodological flaws, which weakened the ability to draw conclusions. Substantial progress has been made in the theoretical understanding of youth development in the past two decades. This progress needs to be matched in the intervention literature, through the use of high-quality evaluation research of positive youth development programs.

IntroductionHepatitis C virus (HCV) is the second largest contributor to liver disease in the UK, with injecting drug use as the main risk factor among the estimated 200 000 people currently infected. Despite effective prevention interventions, chronic HCV prevalence remains around 40% among people who inject drugs (PWID). New direct-acting antiviral (DAA) HCV therapies combine high cure rates (>90%) and short treatment duration (8 to 12 weeks). Theoretical mathematical modelling evidence suggests HCV treatment scale-up can prevent transmission and substantially reduce HCV prevalence/incidence among PWID. Our primary aim is to generate empirical evidence on the effectiveness of HCV ‘Treatment as Prevention’ (TasP) in PWID.Methods and analysisWe plan to establish a natural experiment with Tayside, Scotland, as a single intervention site where HCV care pathways are being expanded (including specialist drug treatment clinics, needle and syringe programmes (NSPs), pharmacies and prison) and HCV treatment for PWID is being rapidly scaled-up. Other sites in Scotland and England will act as potential controls. Over 2 years from 2017/2018, at least 500 PWID will be treated in Tayside, which simulation studies project will reduce chronic HCV prevalence among PWID by 62% (from 26% to 10%) and HCV incidence will fall by approximately 2/3 (from 4.2 per 100 person-years (p100py) to 1.4 p100py). Treatment response and re-infection rates will be monitored. We will conduct focus groups and interviews with service providers and patients that accept and decline treatment to identify barriers and facilitators in implementing TasP. We will conduct longitudinal interviews with up to 40 PWID to assess whether successful HCV treatment alters their perspectives on and engagement with drug treatment and recovery. Trained peer researchers will be involved in data collection and dissemination. The primary outcome – chronic HCV prevalence in PWID – is measured using information from the Needle Exchange Surveillance Initiative survey in Scotland and the Unlinked Anonymous Monitoring Programme in England, conducted at least four times before and three times during and after the intervention. We will adapt Bayesian synthetic control methods (specifically the Causal Impact Method) to generate the cumulative impact of the intervention on chronic HCV prevalence and incidence. We will use a dynamic HCV transmission and economic model to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the HCV TasP intervention, and to estimate the contribution of the scale-up in HCV treatment to observe changes in HCV prevalence. Through the qualitative data we will systematically explore key mechanisms of TasP real world implementation from provider and patient perspectives to develop a manual for scaling up HCV treatment in other settings. We will compare qualitative accounts of drug treatment and recovery with a ‘virtual cohort’ of PWID linking information on HCV treatment with Scottish Drug treatment databases to test whether DAA treatment improves drug treatment outcomes.Ethics and disseminationExtending HCV community care pathways is covered by ethics (ERADICATE C,ISRCTN27564683, Super DOT C Trial clinicaltrials.gov:NCT02706223). Ethical approval for extra data collection from patients including health utilities and qualitative interviews has been granted (REC ref: 18/ES/0128) and ISCRCTN registration has been completed (ISRCTN72038467). Our findings will have direct National Health Service and patient relevance; informing prioritisation given to early HCV treatment for PWID. We will present findings to practitioners and policymakers, and support design of an evaluation of HCV TasP in England.

Introduction Sexual dysfunction in men is common, and optimal treatment is complex. Although several systematic reviews concerning treatment approaches exist, a comprehensive overview without limitations concerning the population, interventions, or outcomes is lacking. Aim To conduct a “review of reviews” to compare the effectiveness of pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic, and combined interventions. Methods 9 electronic databases, relevant journals, and reference lists up to July 2018 were searched. For each intervention, only the most recent and comprehensive meta-analysis or systematic review was included. The methodologic quality of the reviews was appraised using the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews–2 tool. Main Outcome Measure Sexual functioning (via intravaginal ejaculatory latency time and international index of erectile function), sexual satisfaction, and adverse effects. Results 30 systematic reviews were included. For premature ejaculation, several treatments, including oral pharmacotherapy (selective serotonin inhibitors, phosphodiesterase type 5 [PDE5] inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, and opioid analgesics), topical anesthetics, and combined drug and behavioral therapies demonstrated significant improvements of 1–5 minutes in the intravaginal ejaculatory latency time. Pharmacologic interventions (PDE5 inhibitors, penile injection, and testosterone), shockwave therapy, lifestyle modifications, and combined therapies (PDE5 inhibitors and psychological intervention) were effective in treating erectile dysfunction. Most pharmacologic therapies were associated with adverse effects. Conclusions There is suggestive evidence that pharmacologic interventions or combined therapies are more effective than non-pharmacologic interventions for treating sexual dysfunction in men; however, a range of treatment options should be presented to individual patients so they may consider the risks and benefits of treatments differently. Evidence related to behavioral and psychological interventions is insufficient compared with that related to drug trials, highlighting the necessity for larger and better randomized controlled trials. Ciocanel O, Power K, Eriksen A. Interventions to Treat Erectile Dysfunction and Premature Ejaculation: An Overview of Systematic Reviews. Sex Med 2019;7:251–269.