Implementation Of Health Policies Research Articles

Correlation of geopolitics, education, democracy with COVID-19 vaccination rate

IntroductionVaccine hesitancy is an ongoing problem and determining the factors that increase the vaccination rate in various countries of the world might be useful for further implementation of efficient public health policies and negating anti-vaccination campaigns.Materials and methodsHuman Development Index (HDI), Education Index (EI), Democracy Index (DI), COVID-19 vaccination rates, COVID-19 data were collected from public sources such as UNDP - Human Development Reports, UNESCO - Education Index, Economist Intelligence, WHO– COVID-19 Dashboard, Our World In Data, The Financial Times COVID-19 Dashboard. Statistical analysis such as Pearson correlation, and linear regression analyses were done to determine a relation between the above-mentioned indices and COVID-19 vaccination rates (1-dose, 2-dose, booster, and combined).ResultsHDI had the strongest positive correlation with the vaccination rates (1-dose– r (181) = 0.632, p < 0.001, 2-dose– r (181) = 0.671, p < 0.001, booster– r (181) = 0.718, p < 0.001, combined– 0.703, p < 0.001). EI (1-dose– r (177) = 0.560, p < 0.001, 2-dose– r (177) = 0.599, p < 0.001, booster– r (177) = 0.642, p < 0.001, combined– 0.626, p < 0.001), DI (1-dose– r (163) = 0.445, p < 0.001, 2-dose– r (163) = 0.479, p < 0.001, booster– r (163) = 0.534, p < 0.001, combined– 0.508, p < 0.001), as well as Geographic location (1-dose– η (Eta) = 0.610 p < 0.001, 2-dose– η (Eta) = 0.633 p < 0.001, booster– η (Eta) = 0.657, p < 0.001, combined– η (Eta) = 0.645, p < 0.001) had positive correlation with vaccination rates.ConclusionThere is a strong positive correlation of COVID-19 vaccination rates with HDI and EI.

Àgô Sankofa: an overview of the progression of sickle cell disease in Brazil in the past two decades.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an emblematic case of historical health neglect in Brazil and reflects how institutional racism produces health inequalities. This article engaged in a historical journey of this disease, showing the delayed implementation of health policies for people with sickle cell disease, often concealed in Public Power's (in)actions and omissions. The lack of commitment to implement the recommendations of the Brazilian Ministry of Health, such as neonatal screening, and the difficulty in incorporating technologies for health care result from this modus operandi. The advances and setbacks in programmatic actions and the constant pressure on several governmental entities have characterized the reported saga in the last twenty years. The present text discusses the policies for people with SCD, appropriating the Sankofa symbol, meaning that building the present is only possible by remembering past mistakes. Thus, we recognize this trajectory and this historical moment in which there is a concrete possibility of moving forward and achieving the longed-for comprehensive care for people with SCD. There is an invitation to glance at a new perspective, one in which hope is the trigger for the movements needed to guarantee the rights of people with SCD.

Non-pharmaceutical interventions to reduce COVID-19 transmission in the UK: a rapid mapping review and interactive evidence gap map.

Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) were crucial in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, although uncertainties about their effectiveness remain. This work aimed to better understand the evidence generated during the pandemic on the effectiveness of NPIs implemented in the UK. We conducted a rapid mapping review (search date: 1 March 2023) to identify primary studies reporting on the effectiveness of NPIs to reduce COVID-19 transmission. Included studies were displayed in an interactive evidence gap map. After removal of duplicates, 11752 records were screened. Of these, 151 were included, including 100 modelling studies but only 2 randomized controlled trials and 10 longitudinal observational studies.Most studies reported on NPIs to identify and isolate those who are or may become infectious, and on NPIs to reduce the number of contacts. There was an evidence gap for hand and respiratory hygiene, ventilation and cleaning. Our findings show that despite the large number of studies published, there is still a lack of robust evaluations of the NPIs implemented in the UK. There is a need to build evaluation into the design and implementation of public health interventions and policies from the start of any future pandemic or other public health emergency.

The rehabilitation workforce in Brazil

BackgroundThe surge in individuals facing functional impairments has heightened the demand for rehabilitation services. Understanding the distribution of the rehabilitation workforce is pivotal for effective health system planning to address the population’s health needs.ObjectiveTo investigate the spatial and temporal dispersion of physical therapists, speech therapists, psychologists and occupational therapists across various tiers of care within Brazil’s Unified Health System and its regions.MethodThis is an ecological time series study on the supply of rehabilitation professionals. Data were obtained from the National Register of Health Establishments from 2007 to 2020. The density of professionals was calculated per 10,000 inhabitants annually for Brazil and its five regions. The Joinpoint regression model was used to analyze the temporal trends of the density of professionals, considering a 95% confidence interval.ResultsIn 2020, the most notable concentrations of psychologists, speech therapists, and occupational therapists in Brazil were observed in the domain of Specialized Health Care, with densities of 0.60, 0.20, and 0.16 professionals per 10,000 inhabitants, respectively. Conversely, the highest density of physical therapists was found within Hospital Health Care, with a density of 1.19 professionals per 10,000 inhabitants. Notably, variations in professional dispersion across different regions were apparent. Primary Health Care exhibited the highest density of professionals in the Northeast region, while the Southern region accounted for the highest densities in all professional categories within Specialized Health Care. The southeast region exhibited the largest workforce within Hospital Health Care. A marked upsurge in professional availability was noted across all categories, notably in the occupational therapy sector within hospital care (AAPC: 30.8), despite its initial low density.ConclusionThe implementation of public health policies played a significant role in the expansion of the rehabilitation workforce at all three levels of care in Brazil and its various regions from 2007 to 2020. Consequently, regional disparities and densities of professionals have emerged, mirroring patterns observed in low-income countries.

Analisis Penerapan Sistem Manajemen Keselamatan dan Kesehatan Kerja Di PT. PLN (Persero) Sektor Tambora Kabupaten Sumbawa Barat

Occupational Safety and Health Management System (SMK3) is part of a management system that includes the company's organizational structure, planning, responsibility, implementation, achievement, assessment and development of occupational safety and health policies. PLN Tambora West Sumbawa is a business unit of PT PLN (Persero) which manages the electricity system in West Nusa Tenggara Province PT PLN (PERSERO) Tambora sector. In the Tambora sector, it was found that the implementation of SMK3 is still not effective, which can cause occupational accidents and occupational diseases such as the use of coal as a flammable material, slipping, falling from a height, disturbance, electric shock, and coal ash residue (FABA) which, if inhaled continuously, will cause respiratory problems. Continuous inhalation will cause respiratory distress. Therefore, an analysis was carried out on the implementation of the occupational safety and health system (SMK3) at PT PLN (PERSERO) by using data in the form of a questionnaire related to the implementation of the company's K3 management towards ISO 45001: 2018 and processing the data using the Gap Analysis method, then providing recommendations for improvement. The results showed that the implementation of ISO 45001: 2018 amounted to 88%. There is a gap of 12% because there are 4 clauses that have not been implemented optimally, namely clause 4.2 concerning understanding the needs and expectations of workers and other interested parties, clause 5.3 concerning roles, responsibilities and organizational management, clause 5.4 concerning worker consultation and participation and clause 7.2 concerning competence, so improvements are proposed for each clause.

A Lesson for Sustainable Health Policy from the Past with Implications for the Future

Evidently, there are lessons to be learned on sustainable health policies from the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The past is a source of knowledge and experiences for the implementation and application of sustainable health policies in the future. This study has revealed doubts about the use of 7- and 14-days incidences, which have been applied as assessment approaches to the sustainable health policies used to control and monitor the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic across societies. Seven- and fourteen-day incidences have been used to determine measures and counter-measures against SARS-CoV-2 rather than infection rates. The research objective of this study was to assess the predictive abilities of infection rates versus 7- and 14-day incidences on SARS-CoV-2-related mortality and morbidity. The objective was also to assess the structural properties of a set of SARS-CoV-2-related variables. This study addressed the question of whether there is a lesson learned in terms of sustainable health policies on the use of 7- and 14-day incidences versus infection rates to predict SARS-CoV-2-related mortality and morbidity in a given context. We contend that there is at least one lesson to be learned on sustainable health policies from the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The infection rate was categorized as the independent manifest variable, as it is the one which is hypothesized to cause an effect on the outcome of the others in society regarding mortality and morbidity. Consequently, hospitalized patients, ICU patients and the deceased were categorized as dependent manifest variables. We tested the research model using Covariance-Based Structural Equation Modeling (CB-SEM) based on the first year of pandemic data before vaccines were used. This study indicates that the infection rates provided an enhanced predictability for SARS-CoV-2-related mortality and morbidity compared to 7- and 14-day incidences. The findings reported based on CB-SEM suggested that this has been a suitable way to assess the direct, indirect and mediating effects between a selection of SARS-CoV-2-related variables. We propose that our assessment approach to SARS-CoV-2 can be used as a complementary tool in decision-making on pandemic countermeasures to assess the health, social and economic costs of mortality and morbidity in a given context. We consider the finding that infection rates, rather than 7- and 14-day incidences, better predict SARS-CoV-2-related mortality and morbidity is a crucial lesson learned on sustainable health policies from the past, to be a crucial lesson for the future.

Assessing support for mental health policies among policy influencers and the general public in Alberta and Manitoba, Canada

BackgroundThere is a need to improve mental health policy in Canada to address the growing population burden of mental illness. Understanding support for policy options is critical for advocacy efforts to improve mental health policy. Our purpose was to describe support for population-level healthy public policies to improve mental health among policy influencers and the general public in Alberta and Manitoba; and, identify associations between levels of support and sociodemographic variables and relative to the Nuffield Bioethics Intervention Ladder framework.MethodsWe used data from the 2019 Chronic Disease Prevention Survey, which recruited a representative sample of the general public in Alberta (n = 1792) and Manitoba (n = 1909) and policy influencers in each province (Alberta n = 291, Manitoba n = 129). Level of support was described for 16 policy options using a Likert-style scale for mental health policy options by province, sample type, and sociodemographic variables using ordinal regression modelling. Policy options were coded using the Nuffield Council on Bioethics Intervention Ladder to classify support for policy options by level of intrusiveness.ResultsPolicy options were categorized as ‘Provide Information’ and ‘Enable Choice’ according to the Nuffield Intervention Ladder. There was high support for all policy options, and few differences between samples or provinces. Strong support was more common among women and among those who were more politically left (versus center). Immigrants were more likely to strongly support most of the policies. Those who were politically right leaning (versus center) were less likely to support any of the mental health policies. Mental health status, education, and Indigenous identity were also associated with support for some policy options.ConclusionsThere is strong support for mental health policy in Western Canada. Results demonstrate a gap between support and implementation of mental health policy and provide evidence for advocates and policy makers looking to improve the policy landscape in Canada.

Examining universal access to acute hospital care in Ireland during the first three months of COVID-19: Lessons from the policy process

Background The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the Irish state to address unprecedented challenges by prioritising public health and equitable access to care. Confronted with the threat of overwhelmed capacity in acute public hospitals, Ireland, initiated a historic Safety Net Agreement (SNA) with 19 private hospitals in March 2020, marking the inaugural establishment of universal single-tier access to hospital care in Ireland. This research aimed to comprehensively examine the policy process underlying the agreement, deriving insights for the implementation of Universal Healthcare. Methods Employing a retrospective qualitative case study approach, the research examined the policy process, including the content, context, actors, and mechanisms involved in the SNA’s implementation. The study used a dataset of 68 policy documents and conducted seven key informant interviews. Results Responding to the pandemic, Ireland classified COVID-19 as a notifiable infectious disease under the 1947 Health Act, exempting affected patients from public hospital charges. The government swiftly implemented health policy measures for universal access through the SNA, recognising challenges in public healthcare capacity and ethical dilemmas within the two-tier hospital system. The agreement's discontinuation was heavily influenced by private hospital consultants, revealing strained relationships and misunderstandings of the private sector. The ongoing policy drift since the pandemic highlights the need for a reassessment of private-sector strategies to alleviate capacity pressures in Ireland's public health system. The SNA also sparked the consideration of a Universal Health Insurance model for Ireland's hospital care. Conclusions Exploring the policy dynamics at the intersection of public and private healthcare, the study imparts lessons for health system reform. The insights have the potential to contribute to long-term goal alignment, robust governance practices, and trust-building mechanisms for effective public-private collaborations in a two-tier health system, offering valuable guidance for future healthcare policy and implementation.

Depolarized by the Media? The Role of Heterogeneous and Homogeneous Traditional and Digital Media Diets in Issue Polarization Around COVID-19 in the United States

ABSTRACT Research suggests that a heterogeneous media diet can foster more objective information evaluations, reducing issue polarization as a result. These findings beg the question: Can increased news heterogeneity reduce issue polarization around COVID-19? Using data from a cross-sectional survey in the United States (N = 1,262), this study found that – in line with theoretical expectations – at high levels of homogeneity of traditional and digital news consumption, the difference in support for COVID-19 prevention between Biden and Trump supporters was significantly large. Conversely, this attitude gap narrowed at high news heterogeneity levels. Our results continue to advance research on the role of homogeneous and heterogeneous media diets and biased cognitive processing in issue polarization, a crucial endeavor as polarization poses a challenge to effective public health policy implementation and pandemic management. At the outset, the implications of our findings for pandemic communication (and health communication more generally) are discussed.

MENTAL HEALTH POLICIES: A COMPARATIVE REVIEW BETWEEN THE USA AND AFRICAN NATIONS

This comparative review examines mental health policies in the United States and various African nations, shedding light on the divergent approaches taken to address the complex challenges posed by mental health disorders. The analysis underscores the contextual nuances that shape mental health policy formulation and implementation in these distinct regions. In the United States, a comprehensive mental health policy framework has evolved over the years, characterized by a combination of federal and state initiatives. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, alongside the Affordable Care Act, has sought to integrate mental health services into mainstream healthcare, promoting accessibility and reducing stigma. Additionally, the National Institute of Mental Health plays a pivotal role in advancing research and evidence-based interventions. Contrastingly, African nations exhibit a wide spectrum of mental health policy landscapes, reflecting the diverse socioeconomic and cultural contexts across the continent. Some countries have made significant strides in policy development, emphasizing community-based approaches and integration with primary healthcare systems. However, challenges persist, including limited resources, mental health workforce shortages, and stigma associated with mental health conditions. The review explores the role of cultural factors in shaping mental health policies, emphasizing the need for culturally sensitive approaches in African nations. It also highlights the disparities in resource allocation and mental health infrastructure between the USA and African countries, contributing to variations in service accessibility and quality of care. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the importance of ongoing efforts to destigmatize mental health issues, improve public awareness, and strengthen community support systems. The review concludes by calling for increased international collaboration, knowledge exchange, and resource mobilization to address the mental health disparities between the USA and African nations, fostering a global commitment to holistic mental healthcare.&#x0D; Keywords: Health, Policies, Mental, Care, Stigmatize.

Mobilising Communities Prior to Healthcare Interventions: Reflections on the Role of Public Health Midwives Working With Vulnerable Communities of Sri Lanka.

Background: Public health midwives (PHMs) play a frontline role in the Sri Lankan public healthcare system, ensuring the health of children and women at the community level. However, cultural differences in diverse social contexts necessitate PHMs for customised interventions to ensure optimum child and maternal health, particularly in most vulnerable communities.Purpose: The objective of the present study is to explore how PHMs have adapted their roles as community change agents to facilitate community mobilisation before implementing healthcare interventions for children and mothers in the estate sector (a marginalised and vulnerable community) of Sri Lanka.Research Design and methods: Using an exploratory qualitative research design, data were collected through in-depth interviews with 16 participants. The thematic analysis revealed two main themes that describe how PHMs engage in community mobilisation in addition to their designated role as healthcare officials in the estate sector of Sri Lanka.Results: The first theme highlights PHMs'involvement in community mobilisation through context-relevant advocacy for effective service implementation. The second theme illustrates how PHMs'role has been reshaped as advocates to intervene in making the family a supportive institution for child and maternal health. PHMs who work in the estate sector in the country are morally committed to engaging in community mobilisation and advocacy. However, this obligation can be neglected due to the lack of formal arrangements and training in sociocultural determinants of health and working with vulnerable communities.Conclusions: The role of a PHM in the estate sector differs significantly from that in the urban and rural sectors, given the significance of their interventions in family health. Also, community mobilisation is a prerequisite for implementing health policies for child and maternal health in vulnerable communities. Both community-level and family-level advocacy interventions and mobilisation efforts are equally important to establishing a supportive environment, without which any child and maternal healthcare interventions are difficult to implement.

Developing countries' health policy: A critical review and pathway to effective healthcare systems

This paper provides a concise overview of a comprehensive review exploring the health policies of developing countries, critically assessing their strengths, weaknesses, and proposing pathways towards building effective healthcare systems. In developing countries, health policies play a pivotal role in determining the accessibility, quality, and equity of healthcare services. This critical review examines the current state of health policies in developing nations, acknowledging both achievements and shortcomings. The analysis encompasses key areas such as infrastructure, workforce capacity, disease prevention, and financial sustainability. The review identifies common challenges faced by developing countries, including limited financial resources, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and disparities in healthcare access among different socio-economic groups. It also sheds light on successful strategies employed by certain nations, emphasizing the importance of community-based healthcare, technology integration, and innovative financing models. Moreover, the review critically assesses the effectiveness of existing health policies in addressing prevalent health issues, such as infectious diseases, maternal and child health, and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases. It delves into the role of governance, political will, and international collaborations in shaping and implementing health policies. In proposing a pathway to effective healthcare systems, the review emphasizes the need for tailored, context-specific approaches that consider the unique challenges of each developing country. It advocates for increased investment in primary healthcare, capacity-building for healthcare professionals, and the harnessing of digital technologies to enhance healthcare delivery. Ultimately, this critical review aims to inform policymakers, healthcare professionals, and stakeholders in developing countries, providing insights to shape evidence-based health policies that lead to resilient, accessible, and equitable healthcare systems. By learning from both successes and failures, these countries can pave the way for transformative changes in their health policies, ensuring the well-being of their populations and contributing to global health advancement.

Marburg Virus Outbreak in Equatorial Guinea: Need for Speed.

The co-existence of deadly viral pandemics can be considered a nightmare for public health authorities. The surge of a Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak in Africa at a time when the coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic is partially controlled with its limited resources is an urgent call for concern. Over the past decades, several bouts of MVD outbreaks have occurred in Africa with an alarming case fatality rate. Despite this, little has been done to end its recurrence, and affected countries essentially depend on preventative rather than curative measures of management. The recent outbreak of MVD declared by the health officials of Equatorial Guinea, causing several deaths in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, signals the need for speed in the establishment and the implementation of appropriate health policies and health system strategies to contain, destroy, and prevent the spread of this deadly virus to other neighboring countries.

Mapping the Lobbying Footprint of Harmful Industries: 23 Years of Data From OpenSecrets.

Commercial lobbying is often a barrier to the development and implementation of public health policies. Yet, little is known about the similarities and differences in the lobbying practices of different industry sectors or types of commercial actors. This study compares the lobbying practices of four industry sectors that have been the focus of much public health research and advocacy: tobacco, alcohol, gambling, and ultraprocessed foods. Data on lobbying expenditures and lobbyist backgrounds were sourced from the OpenSecrets database, which monitors lobbying in the United States. Lobbying expenditure data were analyzed for the 1998-2020 period. We classified commercial actors as companies or trade associations. We used Power BI software to link, analyze, and visualize data sets. We found that the ultraprocessed food industry spent the most on lobbying ($1.15 billion), followed by gambling ($817 million), tobacco ($755 million), and alcohol ($541 million). Overall, companies were more active than trade associations, with associations being least active in the tobacco industry. Spending was often highly concentrated, with two organizations accounting for almost 60% of tobacco spending and four organizations accounting for more than half of alcohol spending. Lobbyists that had formerly worked in government were mainly employed by third-party lobby firms. Our study shows how comparing the lobbying practices of different industry sectors offers a deeper appreciation of the diversity and similarities of commercial actors. Understanding these patterns can help public health actors to develop effective counterstrategies.

The mental health needs of healthcare workers: When evidence does not guide policy. A comparative assessment of selected European countries.

The healthcare workforce (HCWF) globally is facing high stress levels and deteriorating mental health due to workplace, labour market and policy deficiencies that further exacerbate the existing crisis. However, comprehensive and effective action is missing. We adopt a health system and governance perspective to address the mental health needs of healthcare workers (HCWs), considering the nature of interventions and the levels and actors involved in governance. The aim is to move the debate forward by identifying governance gaps hampering the implementation of health workforce policies and exploring strategies to effectively increase mental health support. A qualitative comparative methodology is applied based on a case study design utilising a multi-level intersectoral governance matrix. We conducted a rapid assessment of HCWF developments in the European context (Germany, Portugal, Romania, Switzerland and the United Kingdom), drawing on secondary sources and country experts. Awareness of mental health threats among HCWs increased, but policy discourse is driven by service delivery and labour market demands. The attention to HCWs' needs is stronger on the international level and weakest at national/regional levels. Although organisations and professions demonstrate varying degrees of activity, their efforts are scattered and lack sustainability. Similar challenges were identified across healthcare systems, including limited action, disconnected actors, missing coordination, and a lack of attention to governance gaps and system weaknesses. Adopting a health system approach is important but not sufficient. Successful mental health policy implementation needs multi-level governance and coherent coordination mechanisms.

Remote area nurses' experiences of workplace safety in very remote primary health clinics: A qualitative study.

To explore Remote Area Nurses' experiences of the implementation of workplace health and safety policies and risk mitigation strategies in Australian very remote primary health clinics. This qualitative study used online semi-structured interviews, with participants purposively sampled to maximize variation in work location and service type. Data were analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis approach. Coding was carried out inductively, with NVivo 12 aiding data management. The interviews were conducted from 24 Februrary 2021 to 06 March 2021 with Remote Area Nurses from very remote primary health clinics in Australia. Fifteen Remote Area Nurses participated in the study. Thematic analysis revealed varied approaches to workplace safety among the different health services and regions. While the spread of 'never alone' policies in many clinics addressed one of the significant risks faced by Remote Area Nurses, gaps remained even for hazards specifically highlighted in existing work health and safety legislation. Meaningful collaboration with staff and the community, local orientation, preparation for the role and providing quality care were protective factors for staff safety. Understaffing, unsafe infrastructure and inadequate equipment were common concerns among Remote Area Nurses. Health services need to prioritize workplace safety and take a continuous quality improvement approach to its implementation. This will include ensuring safety strategies are appropriate for the local context, improving infrastructure maintenance, and establishing sustainable second responder systems such as a pool of drivers with local knowledge. Poor personal safety contributes to burnout and high turnover of staff. Nurses' insights into the barriers and enablers of current workplace safety strategies will aid policymakers and employers in future improvements. COREQ reporting guidelines were followed. A panel of six Remote Area Nurses collaborated in the development of this project.

Burdens of stomach and esophageal cancer from 1990 to 2019 and projection to 2030 in China: Findings from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease Study.

Stomach and esophageal cancer exhibit high morbidity and mortality rate in China, resulting in substantial disease burdens. It is imperative to identify the temporal trends of stomach and esophageal cancer from 1990 to 2019 and project future trends until 2030, which can provide valuable information for planning effective management and prevention strategies. We collected and analysed data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) between 1990 and 2019, including incidence, mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), age-standardised incidence rate (ASIR), mortality rate (ASMR) and DALYs rate. We also calculated and reported the proportion of mortality and DALYs attributable to risk factors by sex in China and different regions. The Bayesian age-period-cohort model was applied to project future trends until 2030. The new cases, deaths and DALYs of stomach and esophageal cancer increased from 1990 to 2019. However, the ASIR, ASMR and age-standardised DALYs rates for stomach and esophageal cancer all decreased during the same period. These changes may be related to risks, such as smoking and diet. Furthermore, we utilised the projection model to estimate that the ASIR and ASMR of stomach and esophageal cancer among females will likely follow steady downward trends, while the ASMR of stomach cancer among males is expected to exhibit a significant decline. However, the ASIR of stomach and esophageal cancer and the ASMR of esophageal cancer among males are projected to display slight upward trends until 2030. The analysis of stomach and esophageal cancer trends in China from 1990 to 2030 reveals a general decline. However, it is crucial to acknowledge the persistent high burden of both cancers in the country. Adopting healthy lifestyle practices, including the reduction of tobacco and alcohol intake, avoidance of moldy foods and increased consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables can contribute to mitigating the risk of stomach and esophageal cancer. Significantly, the formulation and implementation of well-founded and efficacious public health policies are imperative for alleviating the disease burden in China.

Challenges in Collecting and Reporting Health Statistics in Kosovo.

Statistical data play a crucial role in research, planning and decision making in the health system, especially in the formulation and implementation of health policies. Health policy, adequate health legislation and sustainable financing of the health system remain serious challenges for countries in transition and especially for the Republic of Kosovo. To analyze the challenges of collection, accuracy and accurate reporting and the impact of the accuracy of these health statistics on the creation of appropriate public health policies in Kosovo. This research is mainly based on a combination of qualitative, quantitative, deductive, analytical and comparative methods conducted by health workers at all three levels of the health organization and IT experts who were actively involved in some of the important components of our research. It is interesting to note that respondents gave typical scores for the security and confidentiality of medical data and statistics during the cycle of their collection and processing, with one score being 3 and the other 5, and 50% of respondents gave a score of 5 for the successful fulfilment of the mission and tasks established by the Law on the rational use of medical data and statistics to support public health policy. The research and findings provide sufficient evidence that Kosovar health data and statistics system suffers from serious deficiencies ranging from the legal framework, organizational structure, functional organization, segregation of duties and responsibilities, to a pronounced lack of human resources, professional profiles in the health statistics service and the necessary technology to perform the basic tasks in a timely and high quality manner.

Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration in Health Policy Implementation: Lessons Learned

Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration in Health Policy Implementation: Lessons Learned

Pandemic fatigue and clinical front-line medical staff health, job status during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey after the lifting of epidemic restrictions.

This study aimed to measure pandemic fatigue, physical and mental health, and job status of front-line medical staff in Ningbo. And to identify factors associated with pandemic fatigue. There was an acute increase in fatigue symptoms at the COVID-19 pandemic onset. The front-line medical staff is particularly vulnerable to fatigue due to their high-intensity work. This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted using an online survey that included demographic data, investigation of COVID-19 history and job status. The Fatigue Assessment Scale, GAD-7 score and Sleep Quality Scale were used to collect data from 479 front-line medical staff. The study involved 479 front-line medical staff in Ningbo, China. The survey was conducted using an online questionnaire that included demographic data, investigation of COVID-19 history and job status. The Fatigue Assessment Scale, GAD-7 score and Sleep Quality Scale were used to collect data. The results showed that of the 479 participants, 393 (82%) reported pandemic fatigue, 393 (82%) reported job satisfaction and 433 (90.4%) identified with their sense of job value. Sleep quality, work with a fever, economic subsidies for fighting COVID-19 and recognizing professional value were significantly correlated with pandemic fatigue. As the COVID-19 pandemic challenges front-line medical workers, implementing measures is essential. Health policy implementers could provide sufficient front-line medical staff to ensure rest in case of infection, promote sleep quality and foster professional value and financial subsidies in units. The study shows how pandemic fatigue affects front-line medical staff during the COVID-19 pandemic and suggests measures to support them, including promoting sleep quality, providing rest for infected staff, fostering professional value and financial subsidies. The recommendations are relevant to clinical practice as they help support medical staff and ensure high-quality care for patients during the pandemic. No Patient or Public Contribution. Not applicable.