Drug cartels respond to the pandemic

COVID-19: What do we know?

Transmission of infection from non-isolated patients with COVID-19 to healthcare workers

SARS-CoV-2's origin should be investigated worldwide for pandemic prevention

BackgroundMental health problems among young peoples are a growing public health issue around the world. In low- income countries health systems are characterized by lack of facilities, human resources and primary health care is rarely an integrated part of overall health care services. This study aims at exploring how primary health care professionals in Nicaragua perceive young people’s mental health problems, suicidal problems and help–seeking behaviour.MethodsTwelve in-depth interviews were conducted with nurses and doctors working in primary health care services in León, Nicaragua. A qualitative research design was applied. Data was analysed using thematic analysis approach.ResultsThis study revealed that doctors and nurses were reluctant to deal with young people presenting with suicidal problems at the primary health care. This was more likely to stem from feelings of incompetence rather than from negative attitudes. Other barriers in providing appropriate care to young people with mental health problems were identified such as lack of time, lack of privacy, lack of human resources, lack of trained professionals and difficulties in communicating with young people. The primary health care (PHC) professionals suggested different solutions to improve care for young people with suicidal problems.ConclusionPHC doctors and nurses in Nicaragua felt that providing skilled mental health services to young people was a priority for them but they also identified a number of barriers to be able to do so. They discussed ways to improve young people’s willingness to share sensitive issues with them and suggested ways to make PHC more appreciated by young people.

SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine induces robust specific and cross-reactive IgG and unequal neutralizing antibodies in naive and previously infected people

Utilization of deceased donors during a pandemic: argument against using SARS-CoV-2-positive donors.

Background and objectives Tobacco use among healthcare professionals (HCPs) is a public health concern due to their role in tobacco control. Reducing smoking rates in this group is essential to decreasing tobacco use in the general population. This study aimed to assess smoking trends among primary care professionals in Cantabria from 2004 to 2024 and compare them with prevalence in the general population. Methods In 2004, a stratified survey (N = 280) was conducted through interviews based on profession, sex, age, and type of tobacco, ensuring a precision of ± 2% and a 95% confidence level. In 2024, the survey was extended to all HCPs (N = 852). Smokers were defined as individuals who reported smoking at the time of the survey. Smoking prevalence in the general population was obtained from the 2003 National Health Survey and the 2020 European Health Survey. Data were analyzed using SPSS v25. Results Response rate exceeded 80% in both surveys. The proportion of women increased from 64.3% in 2004 to 82.0% in 2024. Between 2004 and 2024, smoking prevalence among HCPs decreased from 25.0% to 9.0% (22.1% to 6.9% in physicians; 28.6% to 11.2% in nurses). In both years, smoking rates were higher among men than women (2004: 26.3% vs. 17.6% in physicians; 35.0% vs. 27.4% in nurses; 2024: 9.9% vs. 5.8% in physicians; 11.9% vs. 11.1% in nurses). The proportion of never smokers increased from 40.9% to 59.6% in physicians and from 33.3% to 48.3% in nurses. In 2024, 2.9% of smoking HCPs also used heated tobacco products (3.5% physicians; 4.2% nurses), and 2.2% reported regular use of electronic cigarettes (3.6% physicians; 4.3% nurses). Conclusions Between 2004 and 2024, smoking prevalence among primary care HCPs in Cantabria declined by 16 percentage points. A parallel decrease was observed in the general population, from 30.2% in 2003 to 19.75% in 2020. Sustained public health measures are needed to consolidate this downward trend and promote further reductions in tobacco use. Key messages • From 2004 to 2024, smoking prevalence among primary health care professionals in Cantabria declined from 25% to 9%, aligning with a significant reduction in the general population. • In 2024, smoking rates among physicians (6.9%) and nurses (11.2%) indicate a substantial behavioral shift, reinforcing the impact of sustained tobacco control efforts.

During the last two decades Greece has moved towards a national health system. However, in a country with limited economic resources the necessity for reducing the increasing costs of the health care services by an effective use of available human resources, such as community volunteers, becomes inevitable. This paper reports the findings of a pilot study on attitudes and perceptions of primary-care staff towards voluntary work for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients. Of the 300 primary-care professionals who are serving the health centres of the largest area of Athens, a sample of 153 was selected. The population surveyed was predominately female (n = 104, 69.3%) and most of them (n = 77, 50.7%) were between 31 and 40 years of age. A 28-item questionnaire was used, especially designed to investigate attitudes and perceptions of primary health care (PHC) professionals regarding the contribution of volunteers to HIV/AIDS-related programmes. Most of the respondents (n = 131, 85.6%) reported little or no experience of caring for HIV/AIDS patients and only 14 (9%) reported participation in any voluntary programmes. Eighty-eight per cent of patients (n = 135) consider the participation of volunteers in AIDS programmes as very useful and the vast majority of the participants pointed out the usefulness of the participation of health professionals and other influencing persons in voluntary programmes. Participants also suggested that sharing time with HIV patients and families, offering emotional support and practical help and distributing information leaflets for the general population should be the volunteers' contribution in AIDS-related programmes. The PHC professionals' role in voluntary programmes is considered by the 91 respondents (59.5%) as 'planning and organizing', for 66 (43.1%), 'coordinating' and for 37 (24.2%), 'supporting'. Although the majority of the participants (n = 90, 58.8%) said they would participate as a volunteer in an AIDS-related programme, only one-third of the total sample (n = 48, 31.4%) agree with the statement that they have a professional duty to support such a type of programme. Primary-care workers present little experience in caring for HIV/AIDS patients or participating in volunteer programmes and mainly positive attitudes and perceptions to voluntary work. Continuing educational programmes together with awareness activities may increase the involvement of primary-care professionals in the effective management of AIDS in Greece.

Pregnancy is a critical stage of life requiring urgent attention when taking a lifespan approach to obesity prevention. Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) is highly predictive of overweight and obesity later in life for women and their offspring. This discussion describes the challenges faced by health professionals (general practitioners, midwives, allied health) in primary care in Australia when addressing GWG, presents evidence that supports re-prioritising GWG and highlights strategies that can be used to address GWG. The revised National Health and Medical Research Council antenatal care guidelines (to be formally released in early 2018) indicate it will be the responsibility of health professionals in antenatal care to initiate conversations about GWG with women. Women are open to discussing this sensitive topic and health professionals in primary care have an opportunity to be proactive in addressing barriers that have hindered conversations about GWG in the past so that women are supported to manage their weight during pregnancy.

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore perceptions of successful collaboration by a group of professionals in primary health care, using service-dominant logic (SDL) as a theoretical framework.Design/methodology/approachThis study carries out secondary analysis of the results from a Norwegian national survey on collaboration amongst professionals in primary health care services.FindingsFindings illustrate that SDL can provide a theoretical framework for understanding health and social care services. The study provides evidence for the relevance of the theory at micro level. Viewing primary care through the lens of SDL enables an understanding of the applicability of market principles to health and social care. The study illustrates the relevance of the following principles: services are the fundamental basis of exchange; indirect exchange can mask the fundamental basis of exchange. Operant resources are the fundamental source of strategic benefit; actors cannot deliver value but can participate in the creation and offering of value propositions.Social implicationsAwareness of the use of SDL in health care services can be positive for service provision and it could be incorporated as a supplementary perspective in educational programs for health care professionals.Originality/valueApplying principles from SDL as a theoretical framework for primary care services challenges the conventional understanding of marketing in health services. This paper responds to the need for a more in-depth understanding of how SDL can help health care professionals recognize their role as participants in providing seamless health care at micro level.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 screening to augment dental office and patient safety

Although it may seem paradoxical, primary care and mental health professionals develop prejudices and discriminatory attitudes towards people with mental health problems in a very similar way to the rest of the population. The main objective of this project was to design, implement and evaluate two awareness-raising interventions respectively tailored to reduce stigmatising beliefs and attitudes towards persons with a mental health diagnosis among primary care (PC) and mental health (MH) professionals. These interventions were developed by Obertament, the Catalan alliance against stigma and discrimination in mental health. Activists from this organisation with lived experience of mental health diagnosis carried out awareness-raising interventions in PC and MH health centres. The Targeted, Local, Credible, Continuous Contact (TLC3) methodology was adapted to the Catalan healthcare context. The efficacy of these interventions was evaluated using two prospective double-blind cluster-randomised-controlled trials. Stigmatizing beliefs and behaviours were measured with the Opening Minds Stigma Scale for Health Care Providers in PC centres and with the Beliefs and Attitudes towards Mental Health Service users’ rights in MH centres. Reductions in both PC and MH professionals’ stigmatising beliefs and attitudes were found in the 1-month follow-up, although a ‘rebound effect’ at the 3-month follow up was detected. This emphasizes the importance of the continuity of the presence of anti-stigma activities and messages. Attrition rates were high, which can hamper the reliability of the results. Further follow-up studies should enquiry effects of long-term interventions aimed at reducing stigmatising beliefs and attitudes among primary care and mental health professionals using assessment systems that include the measurement of knowledge acquired and actual behavioural change.

SARS-CoV-2 antibody response eight months after vaccination with mRNA vaccines. Influence of prior SARS-CoV-2 exposure

Objective To examine whether the communication process between diabetes health professionals and people intensively self-managing their type 1 diabetes influenced behavioural change. Design Telephone interviews to provide insight into the communication process and its influence on diabetes intensive self-management behaviour. Setting Interviewees’ own homes. Method A sub-group of 10 people from a questionnaire survey were contacted to participate in a telephone interview. The taped interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically, both manually and using computer software, to identify common themes in the texts. Results The process of change and maintenance of diabetes self-management behaviours for the majority of participants was enabled by current available intensive treatments and information, education and support from health professionals in primary care, rather than diabetes health professionals specifically. Conclusions Individuals intensively self-managing their diabetes have a high degree of motivation to improve glycaemic control, but also require the assistance of health professionals in primary and secondary care to enable this to take place.

AGA Institute Rapid Review and Recommendations on the Role of Pre-Procedure SARS-CoV-2 Testing and Endoscopy