Implementation Of Public Health Strategies Research Articles

Addressing Health Disparities in Violence

Abstract Purpose of Review Healthcare disparities exist throughout the medical field and are highly pronounced concerning violence in the Black community. Addressing it involves not just an understanding of the problem, but the ability to enact widespread interventions at multiple levels, particularly the systemic level. Recent Findings Historically, investigations into the drivers of firearm violence have been largely at the individual or interpersonal level, but recent research has centered social determinants of health and structural racism as potential drivers of disparities in firearm violence. Understanding these potential contributors of these disparities allows for targeted solutions to combat violence and promote health equity. Summary A full investigation into the drivers of disparities is the key to successful implementation of public health strategies that promote health equity.

Covid-19 emergency management and preparedness in cross-border territories. Collection of experiences, needs and public health strategies in the framework of interreg GESTI.S.CO. project.

The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted management difficulties in neighboring territories. The aim of the paper is to report the needs of different stakeholders during, before and after Covid-19 emergency with specific regard to challenges faced by public administrators in confined territories. In the framework of Interreg GESTI.S.CO. project the study has been designed with two methodological steps: i) a co-design workshop and ii) a web-based survey. The workshop includes both an audience interaction session and focus groups. Then, starting from the focus group results, the survey has been designed with 30 questions and submitted to the 227 municipalities located between Italy and Switzerland to understand the implementation of Public Health strategies in local emergency planning. The interactive session highlighted that most of the critical issues are related to the lack of communication and planning in Public Health policies. The survey highlighted that the local emergency plans rarely integrate a section on health emergencies (30% Italy and 50% Switzerland). Only 20% of the respondents dedicated a section for Covid-19 emergency management. Most of them did not activate initiatives to support mental health. 90% of the municipalities did not cooperate with the neighboring country, but half of them think that it would have been much more useful. The 55% of the Italian respondents are currently updating their emergency plan and will implement it with some Public Health input. The study provides insights that can support policy makers in improving their strategy in responding to future pandemic. (www.actabiomedica.it).

Vaccination as a social practice: towards a definition of personal, community, population, and organizational vaccine literacy

BackgroundA comprehensive and agreed-upon definition of vaccine literacy (VL) could support the understanding of vaccination and help policy-makers and individuals make informed decisions about vaccines.MethodsTo shed some light on this debate and provide clarity, a scoping review was conducted to collect, summarize, and analyse available definitions of VL. Based on the findings of the scoping review, a new and comprehensive definition was proposed by a panel of experts.ResultsFifty-three articles were included, and two of them appeared to be the milestones around which the other definitions were grouped. The new definition proposed by the panel of experts included not only the personal perspective, but also the community, population, and organizational perspectives. Moreover, due to the increasing complexity of the social context with respect to the ability to navigate, understand, and use information and services, the definition of organizational vaccine literacy and the attributes of a vaccine literate healthcare organization have been proposed.ConclusionThe new definition can contribute to the overall paradigm of health literacy and its distinct component of vaccine literacy, possibly improving the implementation of public health strategies to allow vaccination to be understood as a social practice by the entire community. This study describes the conceptual foundations, the competencies, and the civic orientation to be considered when developing measurement tools devoted to assessing VL at the different levels and in different contexts.

Cross Sectional and Case-Control Study to Assess Time Trend, Gender Differences and Factors Associated with Physical Activity among Adults with Diabetes: Analysis of the European Health Interview Surveys for Spain (2014 & 2020).

(1) Background: We aim to assess the time trend from 2014 to 2020 in the prevalence of physical activity (PA), identify gender differences and sociodemographic and health-related factors associated with PA among people with diabetes, and compare PA between people with and without diabetes. (2) Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional and a case-control study using as data source the European Health Interview Surveys for Spain (EHISS) conducted in years 2014 and 2020. The presence of diabetes and PA were self-reported. Covariates included socio-demographic characteristics, health-related variables, and lifestyles. To compare people with and without diabetes, we matched individuals by age and sex. (3) Results: The number of participants aged ≥18 years with self-reported diabetes were 1852 and 1889 in the EHISS2014 and EHISS2020, respectively. The proportion of people with diabetes that had a medium or high frequency of PA improved from 48.3% in 2014 to 52.6% in 2020 (p = 0.009), with 68.5% in 2014 and 77.7% in 2020 being engaged in two or more days of PA (p < 0.001). Males with diabetes reported more PA than females with diabetes in both surveys. After matching by age and gender, participants with diabetes showed significantly lower engagement in PA than those without diabetes. Among adults with diabetes, multivariable logistic regression showed confirmation that PA improved significantly from 2014 to 2020 and that male sex, higher educational level, and better self-rated health were variables associated to more PA. However, self-reported comorbidities, smoking, or BMI > 30 were associated to less PA. (4) Conclusions: The time trend of PA among Spanish adults with diabetes is favorable but insufficient. The prevalence of PA in this diabetes population is low and does not reach the levels of the general population. Gender differences were found with significantly more PA among males with diabetes. Our result could help to improve the design and implementation of public health strategies to improve PA among people with diabetes.

1368. Stakeholders Perceptions on Barriers and Facilitators to Opt-Out Infectious Diseases Care in Jails

Abstract Background Despite national guidelines on infectious disease testing and vaccination in prisons, there is heterogeneity in operationalization. Previous literature has shown that using the “opt-out approach” to infectious diseases testing increases equitable access. Although opt-out testing is endorsed by national guidelines, there is little research on the acceptability from key stakeholders in jail healthcare. Additionally, perspectives on using the opt-out approach to vaccination are unknown. Interview Themes Themes and quotes that came out of semi-structured qualitative interviews. Methods We developed an interview guide based on the Theoretic Domains Framework. Guided by the 7Ps framework for stakeholder engagement, we conducted semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders in jail healthcare, including people incarcerated in Hampden County jail, clinicians working in jail and community settings, corrections officers, and representatives from public health, government, and industry. All persons eligible to receive a stipend were offered $50 for participation. Interviews were offered in the jail in English and in Spanish. Results Between July 2021—March 2022, 48/108 (44%) of people approached agreed to be interviewed including 13 incarcerated men. Most stakeholders agreed that infectious diseases testing and vaccination in jails are essential tools for mitigating the spread of disease. Major themes that emerged from stakeholder interviews included confusion about the wording of the “opt-out” approach, reluctance to operationalize “opt-out” testing because of concerns for coercion, and concern that it gives people any “easy out” from taking the test or vaccines. People who supported the operationalization of opt-out testing were more often stakeholders from the community, including public health experts, researchers, and clinicians. Conclusion Although “opt-out” testing is evidence-based, we found that key stakeholders who work and are incarcerated in jails did not understand the concept and did not support implementation. Our work is further evidence that successful implementation of public health strategies requires vetting from all key stakeholders in jail healthcare, especially people working and incarcerated in jail when developing strategies to improve healthcare. Disclosures Curt Beckwith, MD, Gilead Sciences, Inc: Grant/Research Support.

24-hour movement behaviour profiles and their transition in children aged 5.5 and 8\u2009years \u2013 findings from a prospective cohort study

BackgroundTime spent in movement behaviours, including physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviour (SB) and sleep, across the 24-h day may have distinct health consequences. We aimed to describe 24-h movement behaviour (24 h-MB) profiles in children and how profile membership changed from age 5.5 to 8 years.MethodsChildren in the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) cohort were asked to wear an accelerometer (ActiGraph-GT3X+) on their wrist for seven consecutive days at ages 5.5 and 8 years to measure 24 h-MB patterns. Time spent in night sleep, inactivity (proxy for SB), light PA, moderate PA (MPA), and vigorous PA (VPA) per day were calculated using the R-package GGIR 2.0. Using latent profile analyses (n = 442) we identified 24 h-MB profiles, which were given animal names to convey key characteristics. Latent transition analyses were used to describe the profile membership transition from ages 5.5 to 8 years. Associations with sex and ethnicity were examined.ResultsWe identified four profiles, “Rabbits” (very high-MPA/VPA, low-inactivity and average-night-sleep), “Chimpanzees” (high-MPA, low-inactivity and average-night-sleep), “Pandas” (low-PA, high-inactivity and high-night-sleep) and “Owls” (low-PA, high-inactivity and low-night-sleep), among children at both time points. At ages 5.5 and 8 years, the majority of children were classified into profiles of “Chimpanzees” (51 and 39%, respectively) and “Pandas” (24 and 37%). Half of the sample (49%), particularly “Rabbits”, remained in the same profile at ages 5.5 and 8 years: among children who changed profile the predominant transitions occurred from “Chimpanzees” (27%) and “Owls” (56%) profiles to “Pandas”. Sex, but not ethnicity, was associated with profile membership: compared to girls, boys were more likely to be in the “Rabbits” profile (adjusted OR [95% CI]: 3.6 [1.4, 9.7] and 4.5 [1.8, 10.9] at ages 5.5 and 8 years, respectively) and less likely to be in the “Pandas” profile (0.5 [0.3, 0.9] and 0.4 [0.2, 0.6]) at both ages.ConclusionsWith increasing age about half the children stayed in the same of four 24 h-MB profiles, while the predominant transition for the remaining children was towards lower PA, higher inactivity and longer sleep duration. These findings can aid development and implementation of public health strategies to promote better health.Study registrationThis study was registered on 4th August 2010 and is available online at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01174875.

Sleep and circadian rhythm characteristics in individuals from the general population during the French COVID-19 full lockdown.

SummaryThe full 2‐month lockdown to fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic in 2020 led to substantial disruption of daily life and routines. The present study aimed to comprehensively identify the lockdown’s effects on sleep, daily rhythms and emotions of the French population. A survey was published online during the last week of the 2‐month full lockdown and 1,627 individuals completed the online survey. The survey was self‐administered and included standardised questionnaires. Sleep schedules were delayed during lockdown in more than half of the participants. New severe delayed sleep phase affected 10% of participants with sleep schedules delayed by ≥3 hr during the lockdown compared to before. A significant decrease in exposure to morning (p < 0.001) and evening natural light (p < 0.001), a significant increase in screen exposure time (with a significant screen exposure >3 hr during the evening for 45% of the participants during lockdown versus 18% before lockdown, p < 0.001), an increase in substance use for one‐quarter of participants, a poorer sleep quality in 56% of participants, and less regular sleep schedules in 48% of participants were observed. We also found a poorer sleep quality in women than men during lockdown (p = 0.004). The French full lockdown had a severe impact on sleep quality, sleep–wake rhythms, and sleep behaviours. The implementation of public health strategies for the prevention and care of sleep–wake cycles during lockdown are therefore essential.

Intersectional tension: a qualitative study of the effects of the COVID-19 response on survivors of violence against women in urban India

ObjectivesThere is a concern worldwide that efforts to address the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic have affected the frequency and intensity of domestic violence against women. Residents of urban informal settlements faced particularly...

Public-Private Partnerships With Unhealthy Commodity Industries: Are They Undermining Real Progress in Non-communicable Disease Prevention? Comment on "Competing Frames in Global Health Governance: An Analysis of Stakeholder Influence on the Political Declaration on Non-communicable Diseases".

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) and whole-of-society approaches are increasingly common in public health promotion and non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention, despite a lack of evidence in favour of their effectiveness in improving health outcomes. While PPPs may have advantages, they also give industry actors more influence over the design and implementation of public health strategies and interventions. Partnering with unhealthy commodity industries in particular - including the alcohol and ultra-processed food and beverages industries - can pose significant risks to public health due to these industries' deep-rooted conflicts of interest. In this commentary, I reiterate Suzuki and colleagues' message about the importance of assessing and managing conflicts of interest before engaging with non-state actors through PPPs or other forms of engagement.

Implementing Public Health Strategies-The Need for Educational Initiatives: A Systematic Review.

In the absence of a specific treatment or vaccines, public health strategies are the main measures to use in the initial stages of a pandemic to allow surveillance of infectious diseases. During the ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), several countries initiated various public health strategies, such as contact tracing and quarantine. The present study aims to conduct a systematic literature review to identify the presence of educational initiatives that promote the implementation of public health strategies before public health emergencies, with a special focus on contact tracing applications. Using Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus, and Gothenburg University search engines, all published scientific articles were included, while conference, reports, and non-scientific papers were excluded. The outcomes of the reviewed studies indicate that the effective implementation of public health strategies depends on the peoples’ willingness to participate and collaborate with local authorities. Several factors may influence such willingness, of which ethical, psychological, and practical factors seem to be the most important and frequently discussed. Moreover, individual willingness and readiness of a community may also vary based on the acquired level of knowledge about the incident and its cause and available management options. Educational initiatives, proper communication, and timely information at the community level were found to be the necessary steps to counteract misinformation and to promote a successful implementation of public health strategies and attenuate the effects of a pandemic. The systematic review conducted as a part of this study would benefit the relevant stakeholders and policy makers and assist with effective designing and implementation.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis in Implementation Science: a Research Agenda and Call for Wider Application.

Purpose of ReviewCost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) can help identify the trade-offs decision makers face when confronted with alternative courses of action for the implementation of public health strategies. Application of CEA alongside implementation scientific studies remains limited. We aimed to identify areas for future development in order to enhance the uptake and impact of model-based CEA in implementation scientific research.Recent FindingsImportant questions remain about how to broadly implement evidence-based public health interventions in routine practice. Establishing population-level implementation strategy components and distinct implementation phases, including planning for implementation, the time required to scale-up programs, and sustainment efforts required to maintain them, can help determine the data needed to quantify each of these elements. Model-based CEA can use these data to determine the added value associated with each of these elements across systems, settings, population subgroups, and levels of implementation to provide tailored guidance for evidence-based public health action. There is a need to integrate implementation science explicitly into CEA to adequately capture diverse real-world delivery contexts and make detailed, informed recommendations on the aspects of the implementation process that provide good value.SummaryWe describe examples of how model-based CEA can integrate implementation scientific concepts and evidence to help tailor evaluations to local context. We also propose six distinct domains for methodological advancement in order to enhance the uptake and impact of model-based cost-effectiveness analysis in implementation scientific research.

Significant amelioration of hepatitis C virus infection in a hyperendemic area: longitudinal evidence from the COMPACT Study in Taiwan

ObjectivesHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the leading cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide. Tzukuan, located in the southwestern area of Taiwan, is an HCV hyperendemic area (>30%). This...

Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 Lineage - United States, December 29, 2020-January 12, 2021.

On December 14, 2020, the United Kingdom reported a SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern (VOC), lineage B.1.1.7, also referred to as VOC 202012/01 or 20I/501Y.V1.* The B.1.1.7 variant is estimated to have emerged in September 2020 and has quickly become the dominant circulating SARS-CoV-2 variant in England (1). B.1.1.7 has been detected in over 30 countries, including the United States. As of January 13, 2021, approximately 76 cases of B.1.1.7 have been detected in 12 U.S. states.† Multiple lines of evidence indicate that B.1.1.7 is more efficiently transmitted than are other SARS-CoV-2 variants (1-3). The modeled trajectory of this variant in the U.S. exhibits rapid growth in early 2021, becoming the predominant variant in March. Increased SARS-CoV-2 transmission might threaten strained health care resources, require extended and more rigorous implementation of public health strategies (4), and increase the percentage of population immunity required for pandemic control. Taking measures to reduce transmission now can lessen the potential impact of B.1.1.7 and allow critical time to increase vaccination coverage. Collectively, enhanced genomic surveillance combined with continued compliance with effective public health measures, including vaccination, physical distancing, use of masks, hand hygiene, and isolation and quarantine, will be essential to limiting the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Strategic testing of persons without symptoms but at higher risk of infection, such as those exposed to SARS-CoV-2 or who have frequent unavoidable contact with the public, provides another opportunity to limit ongoing spread.

Effects of environmental variability on superspreading transmission events in stochastic epidemic models.

Superspreaders (individuals with a high propensity for disease spread) have played a pivotal role in recent emerging and re-emerging diseases. In disease outbreak studies, host heterogeneity based on demographic (e.g. age, sex, vaccination status) and environmental (e.g. climate, urban/rural residence, clinics) factors are critical for the spread of infectious diseases, such as Ebola and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). Transmission rates can vary as demographic and environmental factors are altered naturally or due to modified behaviors in response to the implementation of public health strategies. In this work, we develop stochastic models to explore the effects of demographic and environmental variability on human-to-human disease transmission rates among superspreaders in the case of Ebola and MERS. We show that the addition of environmental variability results in reduced probability of outbreak occurrence, however the severity of outbreaks that do occur increases. These observations have implications for public health strategies that aim to control environmental variables.

Effectiveness of tests to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus, and antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, to inform COVID-19 diagnosis: a rapid systematic review

ObjectivesWe undertook a rapid systematic review with the aim of identifying evidence that could be used to answer the following research questions: (1) What is the clinical effectiveness of tests...

Vital Signs: Prescription Opioid Pain Reliever Use During Pregnancy — 34 U.S. Jurisdictions, 2019

Prescription opioid use during pregnancy has been associated with poor outcomes for mothers and infants. Studies using administrative data have estimated that 14%-22% of women filled a prescription for opioids during pregnancy; however, data on self-reported prescription opioid use during pregnancy are limited. CDC analyzed 2019 data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) survey in 32 jurisdictions and maternal and infant health surveys in two additional jurisdictions not participating in PRAMS to estimate self-reported prescription opioid pain reliever (prescription opioid) use during pregnancy overall and by maternal characteristics among women with a recent live birth. This study describes source of prescription opioids, reasons for use, want or need to cut down or stop use, and receipt of health care provider counseling on how use during pregnancy can affect an infant. An estimated 6.6% of respondents reported prescription opioid use during pregnancy. Among these women, 21.2% reported misuse (a source other than a health care provider or a reason for use other than pain), 27.1% indicated wanting or needing to cut down or stop using, and 68.1% received counseling from a provider on how prescription opioid use during pregnancy could affect an infant. Among respondents reporting opioid use during pregnancy, most indicated receiving prescription opioids from a health care provider and using for pain reasons; however, answers from one in five women indicated misuse. Improved screening for opioid misuse and treatment of opioid use disorder in pregnant patients might prevent adverse outcomes. Implementation of public health strategies (e.g., improving state prescription drug monitoring program use and enhancing provider training) can support delivery of evidence-based care for pregnant women.

The Effectiveness of Tests to Detect the Presence of SARS-CoV-2 Virus, and Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, to Inform COVID-19 Diagnosis: A Rapid Systematic Review

Background: In response to the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the subsequent COVID-19 pandemic, a number of tests have been rapidly developed to assist with COVID-19 diagnosis and management. Here we review the evidence on their effectiveness. Methods: We systematically searched for all published evidence on the effectiveness of tests for the presence of SARS-Cov-2 virus, or antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, up to 4 May 2020, and assessed relevant studies for risks of bias using the QUADAS-2 framework. Findings: 38 studies on SARS-CoV-2 virus testing and 25 studies on SARS-Cov-2 antibody testing were identified. The majority were in hospital settings, in patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection. Pooled analysis of 16 studies (3818 patients) estimated a sensitivity of 87·8% (95% CI 81·5% to 92·2%) for an initial RT-PCR test. For antibody tests, ten studies reported diagnostic accuracy outcomes: sensitivity ranged from 18·4% to 96·1% and specificity 88·9% to 100%. However, the lack of a true reference standard for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis makes it challenging to assess the true diagnostic accuracy of these tests. Interpretation: Evidence is rapidly emerging on the effectiveness of tests for COVID-19 diagnosis and management, but important uncertainties about their effectiveness and most appropriate application remain. More information is needed about testing outside of hospital settings and in mild or asymptomatic cases. Implementation of public health strategies centred on COVID-19 testing provides opportunities to explore these important areas of research. Funding: None. Declaration of Interests: None.

Global consensus on nutritional rickets: Implications for Australia.

In 2016, a global consensus on the prevention, diagnosis and management of nutritional rickets was published. The bone and mineral working group of the Australasian Paediatric Endocrine Group provides a summary and highlights differences to previous Australian and New Zealand (ANZ) guidelines on vitamin D deficiency and their implications for clinicians. Key points are: (i) The International Consensus document is focused on nutritional rickets, whereas the ANZ guidelines were focused on vitamin D deficiency. (ii) Definitions for the interpretation of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25OHD) levels do not differ between statements. (iii) The global consensus recommends that routine 25OHD screening should not be performed in healthy children and recommendations for vitamin D supplementation are not based solely on 25OHD levels. The Australasian Paediatric Endocrine Group bone and mineral working group supports that screening for vitamin D deficiency should be restricted to populations at risk. (iv) Recommendations from the global consensus for vitamin D dosages for the therapy of nutritional rickets (diagnosed based on history, physical examination, biochemical testing and a confirmation by X-rays) are higher than in ANZ publications. (v) The global consensus recommends the implementation of public health strategies such as universal supplementation with vitamin D from birth to 1 year of age and food fortification. We conclude that updated global recommendations for therapy of nutritional rickets complement previously published position statements for Australia and New Zealand. Screening, management and the implementation of public health strategies need to be further explored for Australia.

The epidemiology of myopia in school children worldwide.

AbstractPurposeBoth genetic and environmental factors play a role in the increasing prevalence of myopia. This modern rise mirrors the trend of children spending a considerable amount of time reading, studying or—more recently—being glued to computer and smartphone screens. The aim of this study is to present an update on the current epidemiology and risk factors for myopia in school children in different countries around the world.MethodologyPubMed and Medline were searched for the following keywords: prevalence, incidence, myopia, refractive error, risk factors, children and visual impairment. English language articles published between Jan 1, 2013 and Nov 30, 2018 were included in the study. Studies were critically reviewed for study methodology and robustness of data. Seventy‐nine studies were included in the review.ResultsPrevalence remains higher in Asia (60%) compared with Europe (40%) using cycloplegic refraction examinations. Studies reporting on non‐cycloplegic measurements show exceptionally high myopia prevalence rates in school children in East Asia (70%–80%) compared with North America (42.2%). Low prevalence under 10% was described in African and South American children. New risk factors, apart from outdoor time and near work exposure, such as dim light, the use of LED lamps for homework, low sleeping hours, reading distance less than 25 cm and living in an urban environment were described in recent studies.ConclusionsThe high rates of myopia prevalence among school children, especially Asian populations, are strongly influenced by particular lifestyle habits. Increase in outdoor time remains the best strategy to prevent myopia onset. Additional epidemiological studies should be carried out on implementation of public health strategies to tackle and avoid myopia onset. High‐risk populations with high myopia prevalence might need a combined approach of increased outdoor time, changes in near distance activities in preschool children and treatment to control myopia progression.

HIV prevalence, knowledge and self-perceived risk of HIV infection among tuberculosis patients in Serbia.

The aim of the study was to estimate the seroprevalence of HIV infection among TB patients, knowledge, self-perceived risks and testing practices related to HIV. We performed cross-sectional study from 10 May to 15 July 2011. Cluster sampling method was used to select 27 hospitals where 289 TB patients were consecutively recruited. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression methods were used to identify the factors associated with correct comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS. HIV prevalence among TB patients was 0.3%. Only 25.2% of the respondents presented comprehensive correct knowledge of HIV/AIDS. The percentage of correct answers to all questions related to knowledge about HIV/AIDS increases with educational status (χ2 = 5.42; p &lt; 0.05) and decreases with the age of respondents (χ2 = 8.53; p &gt; 0.05). The independent predictors of correct comprehensive knowledge were living without partner (OR = 4.45; CI = 1.59-12.95) and self-awareness of HIV risk (OR = 4.43; CI = 1.20-16.52). HIV prevalence among TB patients is higher than among general population in Serbia. The level of comprehensive correct knowledge of HIV/AIDS is low. There is a need for continuous implementation of public health strategy to successfully manage HIV and HIV/TB co-infection in Serbia.