Implementation Of Action Plan Research Articles

A guide for policy and decision makers on health literacy policies

Abstract Supported by supranational organizations such as the WHO or the European Union, governments across the world have begun to work systematically on developing and implementing action plans, strategies and policies to improve the health literacy of their citizens and the health literacy friendliness/responsiveness of health organizations. In 2023, a first project on evidence-based policies and practices was initiated by the WHO Action Network on Measuring Population and Organizational Health Literacy (M-POHL) and financially supported by the Swiss Ministry of Health. In this project a guide on how health literacy policies can be developed and implemented was developed by an international working group. This guide brings together insights from existing literature on national health literacy strategies, action plans and interventions, including an expert snowball search within the M-POHL network and among other partners, experiences and case examples collected from M-POHL members and other countries. Feedback on the guide was collected in interactive webinars with policy representatives and decision-makers and addressed. The structure of the guide follows an adapted version of the Public Health Action Cycle model, assisting step-by-step action on health literacy policy development: situation analysis; agenda setting; developing policies, strategies and interventions; implementation; evaluation and monitoring. Each phase is described, and best practices and recommendations provided. The guide closes with a checklist for self-assessment which follows the structure of this document. It supports reflection on the state of policies in a country. This innovative guide contributes to supporting evidence-informed policies and practice. This can be of interest to experts and practitioners who have data on challenges relating to the health literacy levels of population groups and who wish to develop or adjust their policies, services and communications accordingly.

Perspectives on the Regional Strategy for Implementation of National Action Plans on Antimicrobial Resistance in the WHO African Region.

Background: The WHO Regional Office for Africa developed a Member States (MS)-endorsed regional strategy to fast-track the implementation of MS' national action plans (NAP) on Antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study explored the perspectives of AMR's national focal points in MS on the implementation of the priority interventions of the regional strategy in their countries. Methods: An online survey consisting of ratings and discussions covering the implementation of the six priority interventions was conducted. Sums of the scores per priority intervention were obtained, and their percentage to the total possible scores were calculated to categorize the implementation as inadequate (0-25%), basic (26-50%), intermediate (51-75%), or advanced (76-100%). Results: Thirty-six of the forty-seven national AMR focal points responded to the survey between 12 November 2023 and 8 January 2024. The implementations were rated as 37-62% (basic-to-intermediate), with the multisectoral coordination and collaboration committee receiving the highest overall rating (62%, 421/684), while the promotion of sustainable investment for the NAP on AMR received the least overall rating (37%, 257/700). The focal points mainly recommended awareness campaigns, capacity building, and regulations and guidelines to improve the implementation of the AMR strategy. Conclusions: The survey revealed a need to enhance awareness campaigns, support the establishment and functioning of AMR evaluation and monitoring systems, and build the capacity of AMR staff with cost-benefit analysis and budgeting skills. It also showed the necessity to improve awareness and conduct education on AMR, streamline evidence generation through One Health Surveillance systems, integrate initiatives to reduce hospital-acquired infections in the antimicrobial stewardship programs, and enhance regulations and guidelines to optimize the use of antimicrobials.

Emergency Action Planning in United States High Schools.

Rates of emergency action plan (EAP) implementation and compliance with EAP guidelines vary in United States secondary schools. There are limited data on emergency preparedness in schools without athletic trainers (ATs). Rural and high poverty schools have poor emergency preparedness for high school athletic events due to financial barriers and lack of ATs. Cross-sectional study. Level 5. A web-based questionnaire was emailed by each State High School Athletics Association to ATs, athletic directors, and coaches of recipient schools to assess emergency preparedness. A total of 686 responses were received (response rate ~3.5%). Schools with an AT on staff were more likely to have an EAP (P < 0.01). Schools with a higher enrollment were more likely to have an EAP (P < 0.01), an AT on staff (P < 0.01), require additional training for coaches (P < 0.01), and have an automated external defibrillator (AED) onsite for all events (P < 0.01). Urban (odds ratio [OR], 3.514; 95% CI [2.242, 5.507]; P < 0.01) and suburban (OR, 4.950; 95% CI [3.287, 7.454]; P < 0.01) districts were more likely than rural districts to have an AT on staff. High poverty districts were less likely to have an AED (OR, 0.660; 95% CI [0.452, 0.964]; P = 0.03) or EAP (OR, 0.511; 95% CI [0.306, 0.853]; P < 0.01) at athletic venues. Lower enrollment, high poverty, and rural schools are less prepared for athletic emergencies than their higher enrollment, low poverty, and suburban counterparts as these schools are generally less likely to have an AT on staff, AEDs, and EAPs and less likely to provide additional training to coaches and other staff. This study assesses athletic emergency preparedness-a critical component of ensuring athlete safety and recovery after injury.

Impact of traffic simulation parameters on the estimation of noise exposure in an urban environment

Since road traffic is the most impactful noise source in the European cities, the evaluation of citizens' exposure is crucial. Although the noise map accuracy is affected by uncertainties in traffic volume, to perform extensive traffic monitoring is not practical and expensive, even in small cities. Traffic simulation software uses routing algorithms to suggest the fastest path to distribute vehicles from an origin through a network to a desired destination which interacts within the urban environment. Therefore, it could represent an important tool for noise mapping in the critical task to fill the data gaps in traffic volumes, also for implementing action plans using a suitable traffic management approach. However, there is a lack of evidence on how the choice of traffic simulation parameters influences noise estimation. In this work, we design a simulation framework to evaluate the impact of routing algorithms on the estimation of population noise exposure in an urban area. Using an open-source pipeline based on public databases and open-source software SUMO and NoiseModelling, we evaluated the implication on the traffic distribution and resulting noise exposure for a set of traffic model key parameters.

Dementia Friendly communities (DFCs) to improve quality of life for people with dementia: a realist review

BackgroundCurrently, there are more than 55 million people living with dementia worldwide. Supporting people with dementia to live as independently as possible in their communities is a global public health objective. There is limited research exploring the implementation of such interventions in the community context. The aim of the review was to create and refine programme theory – in the form of context mechanism-outcome configurations – on how the characteristics of dementia-friendly communities (DFCs) as geographical locations interact with their social and organisational contexts to understand what works for whom and why.MethodsThis realist review sourced literature from 5 electronic databases: Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Medline, Scopus, PsychINFO and Google Scholar, as well as relevant websites such as Alzheimer’s Society to identify grey literature. Methodological rigour was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool.ResultsSeven papers were included in this realist review that focused on DFCs in a geographical context The implementation of DFC interventions emerged as a process characterised by two pivotal implementation phases, intricately linked with sub-interventions. The first intervention, termed Hierarchy Commitment (I1a/b), involves the formalisation of agreements by businesses and organizations, along with the implementation of dementia-friendly action plans. Additionally, Educational Resources (I1c) play a significant role in this phase, engaging individuals with dementia and their caregivers in educational initiatives. The second phase, Geographical/Environmental Requirements (I2), encompasses the establishment of effective dementia-friendly signage, accessible meeting places, and community support.ConclusionsThis realist review highlighted a theoretical framework that might guide the development of dementia-friendly communities to enhance the experiences of individuals with dementia and their caregivers within DFCs. Emphasising the need for a theoretical framework in developing geographical DFCs, the review outlines contextual elements, mechanisms, and outcomes, providing a foundation for future studies. The ultimate goal is to establish a robust body of evidence for the sustainable implementation of dementia-friendly communities, thereby improving the quality of life for those with dementia.Study registrationThis study is registered as PROSPERO 2022 CRD42022317784.

The branding pyramidical tool kit for enhancing actors’ agency in regional energy transitions within the Nordic Battery Belt

This article investigates how to enhance the agency of regional actors in the branding of the ‘Nordic Battery Belt’ (NBB), the region where the industry, considered a new green path, is emerging. Branding will enhance the attraction of skilled workforce, investment, market, and increased public awareness of the industry’s contribution to decarbonization. While national battery strategies have been developed to promote the industry, the tool kit that can enhance the implementation of the strategic branding action plan is underexplored. Firstly, this article develops a tool kit based on the directed content analysis, which ensures the use of existing branding theory and its pyramidic components: attention, awareness, associations, attitudes, and relationships. Regional actors can leverage the tool kit as it reduces oversight and increases lucidity and conciseness. Secondly, the paper develops a conceptual framework through a multidisciplinary approach to elaborate on the importance of the tool kit for enhancing actors’ agency in regional branding. The paper is relevant for regional actors, e.g., development agencies within the Nordic region that are saddled with the responsibility of place branding.

Variation of surface solar radiation components from 2016 to 2020 in China: Perspective from geostationary satellite observation with a high spatiotemporal resolution

At present, traditional satellite datasets still grapple with inadequacies in terms of capturing solar radiation with fine spatiotemporal granularity. This study utilizes the high spatiotemporal resolution of CARE data, which is developed based on geostationary satellite observations, and employs multivariate analysis techniques to conduct an in-depth investigation into the multidimensional spatiotemporal variations of different types of solar radiation across various regions in China from 2016 to 2020. In addition, the potential of solar energy resources was also assessed using cluster analysis method. The results revealed an upward trend in different components of solar radiation across most of China, with shortwave radiation exhibiting a significantly negative correlation with PM2.5 concentrations (R = −0.91, p < 0.05). This finding suggests that the increase in SWR may be attributed to the effective implementation of China's Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan. It suggests that China's endeavors to mitigate air pollution have not only resulted in improvements in national air quality but have also had an indirect positive effect on enhancing the potential for photovoltaic power generation. The assessment of solar energy resources potential indicated, with 99 % statistical confidence, that western China constitutes the core region for solar energy resources development, whereas northeastern and southeastern regions face certain constraints in solar energy resources utilization. Furthermore, we examined the specific influence of atmospheric circulation patterns on solar energy resources, uncovering that the El Niño phenomenon, by altering cloud distribution and variability, indirectly affects solar radiation intensity in specific regions. This study aids in understanding China's solar radiation variations, crucial for shaping effective energy policies towards carbon neutrality.

Salinity tolerance of the invasive blue crab Callinectes sapidus: From global to local, a new tool for implementing management strategy

The latest report from the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) raises concerns about the global proliferation of non-native species (NIS) driven by increasing temperatures. In 2023, the invasive blue crab Callinectes sapidus experienced a significant range expansion in the French Mediterranean lagoons, now present in over 20 lagoons and numerous estuaries with different invasion gradients. It has been established that this species is eurytherm (tolerates a wide range of temperatures; 0–40 °C), rendering temperature a non-limiting factor for its proliferation. On the other hand, salinity is a critical factor to consider, as C. sapidus requires brackish water for copulation and saline water for egg maturation. In this study, we present the salinity tolerance of C. sapidus using the metabolic performance to define the tolerance of the species to a large range of salinities (13 levels from 0 to 65 psu). Results showed that C. sapidus tolerates a large range of salinities with a minimum critical threshold (CTmin) at 0 psu, an optimum at 18.5 psu, and a CTmax at 62.4 psu. Using the performance curve equation, we applied the curve to real salinity data measured each month in 2023 in 20 lagoons invaded. Using this approach, we were able to map, on a fine spatial scale, the distribution of suitable habitats for C. sapidus in the year 2023. Additionally, we have developed a tool to prioritize the lagoons based on their suitability, thereby providing a decision-making framework for management measures in each lagoon. It emerged that 50 % of lagoons were priority areas, 10 % were intermediate and 40 % required monitoring. On the basis of this approach, we can respond to European regulations to help decision-makers implement action plans and/or early detection programs for invasive species management.

A Stochastic Model to Predict Road Accidents in Albania

The importance of predicting accident rates lies in the improvement of road infrastructure and the effective implementation of laws and traffic regulations. The statistical change of many phenomena over time is described by time series. This paper aims to forecast the number of individuals involved in road accidents in Albania by applying SARIMA model approach. This study used monthly number of individuals involved in road traffic accidents in Albania from 2016 to 2023. Using forecasting techniques for the number of traffic accidents can serve as a valuable strategy for achieving various objectives including the implementation of traffic safety campaigns, strategies, and action plans outlined in traffic safety initiatives. The model was found to be effective in capturing the underlying patterns and trends in the data, providing valuable insights for understanding and forecasting traffic accident occurrences in Albania.

Progress and Challenges: Implementation of the UK Antimicrobial Resistance National Action Plan 2019-2024 within the Beef Cattle Sub-Sector.

The five-year UK antimicrobial resistance (AMR) National Action Plan (NAP) was published in 2019 focusing on reducing the need for, and unintentional exposure to antimicrobials (AMs); optimising the use of AMs; and investing in innovation, supply and access of AMs. This study aimed to evaluate the progress made in the beef cattle sub-sector in addressing specific NAP commitments related to improving animal health and welfare and responsible antimicrobial use (AMU). A thematic analysis was conducted of 21 semi-structured interviews with stakeholders from government organisations, farms, veterinary practices, levy boards and livestock associations. The findings indicate substantial progress, with various initiatives implemented targeting data collection, farmer and veterinarian engagement, and herd health planning. However, there remain a number of challenges and barriers that need to be addressed in order to assess the impacts of these initiatives, such as the availability of AMU and AMR data. Ensuring the adequacy of resources was found to be critical for the sustainability of effective initiatives, considering competing demands on people's time. Additionally, the importance of other outcomes from these initiatives such as developing and strengthening the farmer-veterinarian relationship should not be underestimated since it is fundamental to successfully addressing issues such as AMR.

Factors Affecting the Students’ Usage Intention towards Electric Transportation in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Abstract Emissions from vehicles are increasingly causing serious consequences to the environment. Therefore, most countries around the world have implemented action plans to reduce and prevent such a bad situation. One of the most popular solutions is electrification of the transportation system. Ho Chi Minh City is no exception to that trend by deploying electric transportation with a variety of vehicles. However, the level of social consumption of this friendly means of transportation is still limited, including among students. This current article is aimed at identifying factors that affect students’ intention to use electric transportation, including: (1) Personal factors (environmental attitude, green consumption attitude, knowledge, perception towards green products, environmental responsibility, capabilities), (2) interpersonal factors (social values) and (2) external factors (public policy, availability, price). By using questionnaires, the research carried out a direct survey of 300 students studying at Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City. Research results show that public policy, green consumption attitudes, environmental responsibility, and social values have a significant relationship with student’s intention to use electric transportation, in which public policy is the biggest motivator. From the research results, the paper is solutions to promote use aimed at improving environmental quality.

The epidemiology of antibiotic-resistant clinical pathogens in Uganda.

Antibiotic resistance (ABR) is a global challenge, and its control depends on robust evidence primarily derived from surveillance systems. We utilised a national surveillance data set to demonstrate how such evidence can be systematically generated. In doing so, we characterised the ABR profiles of priority clinical pathogens, identified associated factors, and drew inferences on antibiotic usage in Uganda. Of the 12 262 samples collected between 2019-21, we analysed 9033 with complete metadata. ABR was steadily increasing at a rate of 0.5% per year, with a surge in 2021 and the highest and lowest levels of penicillin and carbapenems detected in the northern (odds ratio (OR) = 2.26; P < 0.001) and the northeast (OR = 0.28; P < 0.001) regions of Uganda respectively. ABR was commonly observed with Escherichia coli (OR = 1.18; P < 0.001) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (OR = 1.25; P < 0.001) among older and male patients (61-70 years old) (OR = 1.88; P = 0.005). Multi-drug resistance (MDR) and ABR were disproportionately higher among bloodstream infections than respiratory tract infections and urinary tract infections, often caused by Acinetobacter baumannii. Co-occurrence of ABR suggests that cephalosporins such as ceftriaxone are in high use all over Uganda. ABR is indeed a silent pandemic, and our results suggest it is increasing at 0.5% per year, with a notable surge in 2021 likely due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Of concern, ABR and MDR are mainly associated with bloodstream and surgical wound infections, with a gender and age dimension. However, it is encouraging that carbapenem resistance remains relatively low. Such evidence is critical for contextualising the implementation and evaluation of national action plans.

ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ РАСШИРЕНИЯ УЧАСТИЯ РОССИЯН В ДЕСЯТИЛЕТИИ ООН ПО НАУКАМ ОБ ОКЕАНЕ

The article considers the state of participation of representatives of the Russian Federation in the implementation of Action Plan of the UN Decade of ocean science for sustainable development. Information is provided on the number of actions taken by different countries, varying from one call to action to the next. Shown are 11 projects submitted to the Action Plan by Russian scientists under the first call to action in 2021. There is low activity of Russians in submitting applications for all the following calls to action of the UN Decade. Ways are proposed to increase the level of participation of Russian representatives in the UN Decade. A wide range of areas of scientific research in the seas of Russia and the World Ocean allows to be involved in the implementation of almost any program already included in the UN Decade Implementation Plan.

Implementation and evaluation of a patient action plan for patients with atopic dermatitis

Implementation and evaluation of a patient action plan for patients with atopic dermatitis

Determinants of translating routine health information system data into action in Mozambique: a qualitative study

IntroductionRoutine health information systems (RHISs) are an essential source of data to inform decisions and actions around health facility performance, but RHIS data use is often limited in low and...

Spatial source, simulating improvement, and short-term health effect of high PM2.5 exposure during mutation event in the key urban agglomeration regions in China

Air quality in China has significantly improved owing to the effective implementation of pollution control measures. However, mutation events caused by short-term spikes in PM2.5 in urban agglomeration regions continue to occur frequently. Identifying the spatial sources and influencing factors, as well as improving the prediction accuracy of high PM2.5 during mutation events, are crucial for public health. In this study, we firstly introduced discrete wavelet transform (DWT) to identify the mutation events with high PM2.5 concentration in the four key urban agglomerations, and evaluated the spatial sources for the polluted scenario using Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model. Additionally, DWT was combined with a widely used artificial neural network (ANN) to improve the prediction accuracy of PM2.5 concentration seven days in advance (seven-day forecast). Results indicated that mutation events commonly occurred in the northern regions during winter time, which were under the control of both short-range transportation of dirty airmass as well as negative meteorology conditions. Compared with the ANN model alone, the average band errors decreased by 9% when using DWT-ANN model. The average correlation coefficient (R) and root mean square error (RMSE) obtained using the DWT-ANN improved by 10% and 12% compared to those obtained using the ANN, indicating the efficiency and accuracy of simulating PM2.5, by combining the DWT and ANN. The short-term mortality during mutation events was then calculated, with the total averted all-cause, cardiovascular, and respiratory deaths in the four regions, being 4751, 2554, and 582 persons, respectively. A declining trend in prevented deaths from 2018 to 2020 demonstrated that the pollution intensity during mutation events gradually decreased owing to the implementation of the Three-Year Action Plan to Win the Blue Sky Defense War. The method proposed in this study can be used by policymakers to take preventive measures in response to a sudden increase in PM2.5, thereby ensuring public health.

Enhancing energy efficiency in Asia-Pacific: Comprehensive energy policy analysis

The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region has undergone remarkable economic growth over the past three decades, significantly reducing poverty levels. However, the concurrent rise in energy consumption and its environmental impact necessitate the development of a sustainable energy system to sustain and accelerate this progress. Recognizing the critical role of energy efficiency, governments in the region have increasingly formulated and implemented energy policies, encompassing laws, regulations, and action plans. However, understanding the precise influence of these policies on energy efficiency remains a challenge. This study employs an endogenous stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) model using data from the Asia Pacific Energy Portal Policy database covering 23 emerging economies from 2000 to 2017 to assess how energy policies affect energy efficiency in the APAC region. The findings indicate that implementing energy policies correlates with an average increase in energy efficiency by 0.158%. However, the impact varies depending on whether the policies are laws, regulations, or strategies. Though the region's average energy efficiency standing is at 0.34, there has been a consistent upward trend observed from 2000 to 2017. Furthermore, optimizing aggregate energy policies has resulted in substantial energy savings, averaging 0.15 quadrillion Btu. In light of these results, we proposed some policy actions.

Notes floristiques. Observations faites au Luxembourg (2022-2023)

The most important records of vascular plant species made in Luxembourg in 2022 and 2023 are presented. In total, 122 taxa are mentioned. Adiantum aleuticum, Amaranthus blitoides, Bidens radiata, Centranthus calcitrapae, Chiastophyllum oppositifolium, Dipsacus laciniatus, Hibiscus trionum, Lagurus ovatus, Lepidium didymum, Rumex patientia and Sedum hispanicum, as well as the potentially invasive species Erigeron bonariensis, Erigeron karvinskianus, Erigeron sumatrensis and Lysichiton americanus are newly listed species found in Luxembourg. The discoveries of new or confirmed locations for Atriplex nitens, Callitriche obtusangula, Carex brizoides, Dysphania botrys, Filago arvensis, Fumaria parviflora, Hylotelephium telephium subsp. fabaria, Leersia oryzoides, Orchis simia, Panicum barbipulvinatum, Serratula tinctoria and Stachys annua are remarkable. The invasive species Ailanthus altissima, Cochlearia danica, Crassula helmsii, Prunus laurocerasus and Senecio inaequidens are spreading further. The implementation of national action plans for threatened species and habitats, as well as systematic fieldwork carried out over the last years, have resulted in the discoveries of new locations of endangered and/or protected species; other, previously known sites, were confirmed.

Strengthening person-centered care through quality improvement: a mixed-methods study examining implementation of the Person-Centered Care Assessment Tool in Zambian health facilities

Introduction Person-centered care (PCC) is considered a fundamental approach to address clients’ needs. There is a dearth of data on specific actions that HIV treatment providers identify as priorities to strengthen PCC. Objective This study team developed the Person-Centered Care Assessment Tool (PCC-AT), which measures PCC service delivery within HIV treatment settings. The PCC-AT, including subsequent group action planning, was implemented across 29 facilities in Zambia among 173 HIV treatment providers. Mixed-methods study objectives included: (1) identify types of PCC-strengthening activities prioritized based upon low and high PCC-AT scores; (2) identify common themes in PCC implementation challenges and action plan activities by low and high PCC-AT score; and (3) determine differences in priority actions by facility ART clinic volume or geographic type. Methods The study team conducted thematic analysis of action plan data and cross-tabulation queries to observe patterns across themes, PCC-AT scores, and key study variables. Results The qualitative analysis identified 39 themes across 29 action plans. A higher proportion of rural compared to urban facilities identified actions related to stigma and clients’ rights training; accessibility of educational materials and gender-based violence training. A higher proportion of urban and peri-urban compared to rural facilities identified actions related to community-led monitoring. Discussion Findings provide a basis to understand common PCC weaknesses and activities providers perceive as opportunities to strengthen experiences in care. Conclusion To effectively support clients across the care continuum, systematic assessment of PCC services, action planning, continuous quality improvement interventions and re-measurements may be an important approach.

Bioethical and Human Right Considerations during COVID-19 Pandemic Period: Reflections of Integrated Oncology Clinical Services from India

AbstractEver since the outbreak of COVID-19, the global health care systems are overwhelmed to cope up with the rapidly evolving disease paradigm through implementation of action plans at societal and medical domains. As per the directives from the World Health Organization and learned professional organizations, the international governments and states have formulated different protocols to prevent disease spread, for diagnosis and treatment of the disease and associated comorbidities, and to educate citizens during this crisis phase. Health care services across the world followed a “prioritizing strategy” for hospital population wherein the non-COVID cases were given less focus. Many hospitals opted for a conscious staff-sparing strategy to minimize exposure and protection of clinically valuable staff. Oncology services across the world reported a decline in the provision of clinical services to patients. There were medical concerns such as missed diagnosis, delayed diagnosis, delayed treatment, stoppage of screening programs, and differed follow-ups during the last 2 years of pandemic. The multidisciplinary oncology teams aim to ensure that cancer patients in the continuum of integrated cancer care pathway get globally accepted standards of optimum care. However, Beauchamp's ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and distributive justice were arguably compromised during the pandemic period. The articles of UNESCO Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights (UDBHR) declaration were possibly violated in cancer patients as a vulnerable population. This article analyses the bioethical and human right concerns with respect to medical and societal domains in oncology during the COVID-19 pandemic period.