Public Health Professionals Research Articles

Cross-Sectional Analysis of Demographic Factors Influencing Health Research Utilization in Nigeria

Health research utilization is essential for evidence-based policymaking and the implementation of effective health interventions. This cross-sectional study analyzes demographic factors influencing the utilization of health research in Nigeria, focusing on public health professionals and policymakers. The study employed a cross-sectional descriptive design and used a purposive sampling method to recruit participants from various public health and health policy platforms. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire administered via Google Survey. The study reveals a predominant participation of female respondents (56.5%) and a mean participant age of 41.5 years, with a significant concentration in the 41-50 years age group. The majority hold a master’s degree in public health (58.5%), reflecting the high academic qualifications within the sector. Despite this, the perceived utilization of research findings is overwhelmingly poor, highlighting a substantial gap between research production and practical application. The study finds significant relationships between age and perceptions of research utilization, suggesting that mid-career professionals may have different views on the challenges and opportunities for integrating research into health policy. These findings underscore the need for targeted strategies to enhance the practical application of health research, emphasizing the importance of improving access to research findings and ensuring their relevance to local contexts. This research contributes to understanding the barriers to effective knowledge translation and suggests avenues for fostering a more evidence-based approach to public health in Nigeria.

Visualizing Scholarly Trends in Stochastic Models for Disease Prediction.

Stochastic models play a pivotal role in disease prediction by accounting for randomness and uncertainty in biological systems. This study offers a visualization of trends in the application of stochastic models for disease prediction from 1990 to 2024, based on a bibliometric analysis of Scopus data. Key findings reveal a significant growth in research post-2014, largely driven by global health challenges like COVID-19. Despite these advancements, gaps remain in applying these models to non-communicable diseases and low-resource settings. By integrating computational techniques like machine learning, stochastic models hold promise for improving predictive accuracy. This study highlights the need for further international collaboration and interdisciplinary research, offering practical insights for researchers and public health professionals aiming to enhance disease prediction and intervention strategies.

Prevalence and risk factors of binge eating disorder among medical students: evidence from a cross-sectional study in Vietnam

Binge eating disorder (BED) is a significant public health problem worldwide. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of BED and its association among 411 medical students at a medical university in northern Vietnam. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using structured paper-based questionnaires in a classroom setting. The prevalence of BED symptoms among medical students was 9.5%. Among those with BED symptoms, 7.3% had moderate symptoms, and 2.2% had severe symptoms of BED. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that being female (AOR = 3.71; 95%CI: 1.48–9.34), being overweight/obese (AOR = 4.14; 95%CI: 1.39–12.32), and being depressed (AOR = 4.05; 95%CI: 1.97–8.33) were associated with an increased risk of BED. This is the first study to provide new insights into the prevalence of BED symptoms and contributing factors among Vietnamese medical students. The findings from this study may assist public health professionals in developing strategies to reduce the risks associated with BED.

Inference of human contact networks based on epidemic data

A key challenge in epidemic modeling is the lack of adequate data on population interactions (such as traffic flow or mobility patterns) which result in the spread of infectious diseases. Knowledge of social contact patterns is crucial for public health professionals to devise effective non-pharmaceutical interventions to control epidemics. This paper focuses on inferring social contact rates from reported infection counts during the spread of an infectious disease, addressing the increased difficulty that arises when dealing with “sparse” contact networks where only a small subset of the edges have non-zero weights. Specifically, a new geographically constrained lasso approach for network reconstruction for non-homogeneous mixing Susceptible-Infected-Removed (SIR) disease spread models is presented. The new network reconstruction method can explicitly account for the spatial proximity of network nodes in estimating the disease transmission rates and predicting the future evolution of the epidemic dynamics. Extensive numerical experiments are presented to show the proposed method outperforms existing approaches in terms of accuracy of contact identification under various graph topologies. A case study based on real data from the COVID-19 pandemic is presented to demonstrate the application of the approach for inferring contact structures and a counterfactual scenario analysis to assess effectiveness of containment strategies.

Implementing healthy food policies in health sector settings: New Zealand stakeholder perspectives

BackgroundIn 2016, a voluntary National Healthy Food and Drink Policy was released to improve the healthiness of food and drinks for sale in New Zealand health sector organisations. The Policy aims to role model healthy eating and demonstrate commitment to health and well-being of hospital staff and visitors and the general public. This study aimed to understand the experiences of hospital food providers and public health dietitians/staff in implementing the Policy, and identify tools and resources needed to assist with the implementation.MethodsA maximum variation purposive sampling strategy (based on a health district’s population size and food outlet type) was used to recruit participants by email. Video conference or email semi-structured interviews included 15 open-ended questions that focused on awareness, understanding of, and attitudes towards the Policy; level of support received; perceived customer response; tools and resources needed to support implementation; and unintended or unforeseen consequences. Data was analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis approach.ResultsTwelve participants (eight food providers and four public health dietitians/staff) were interviewed; three from small (< 100,000 people), four from medium (100,000-300,000 people) and five from large (> 300,000 people) health districts. There was agreement that hospitals should role model healthy eating for the wider community. Three themes were identified relating to the implementation of the Policy: (1) Complexities of operating food outlets under a healthy food and drink policy in public health sector settings; (2) Adoption, implementation, and monitoring of the Policy as a series of incoherent ad-hoc actions; and (3) Policy is (currently) not achieving the desired impact. Concerns about increased food waste, loss of profits and an uneven playing field between food providers were related to the voluntary nature of the unsupported Policy. Three tools could enable implementation: a digital monitoring tool, a web-based database of compliant products, and customer communication materials.ConclusionsAdopting a single, mandatory Policy, provision of funding for implementation actions and supportive tools, and good communication with customers could facilitate implementation. Despite the relatively small sample size and views from only two stakeholder groups, strategies identified are relevant to policy makers, healthcare providers and public health professionals.

Sustaining the mobile medical units to bring equity in healthcare: a PLS-SEM approach

BackgroundEquitable access to healthcare for rural, tribal, and underprivileged people has been an emerging area of interest for researchers, academicians, and policymakers worldwide. Improving equitable access to healthcare requires innovative interventions. This calls for clarifying which operational model of a service innovation needs to be strengthened to achieve transformative change and bring sustainability to public health interventions. The current study aimed to identify the components of an operational model of mobile medical units (MMUs) as an innovative intervention to provide equitable access to healthcare.MethodsThe study empirically examined the impact of scalability, affordability, replicability (SAR), and immunization performance on the sustainability of MMUs to develop a framework for primary healthcare in the future. Data were collected via a survey answered by 207 healthcare professionals from six states in India. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was conducted to empirically determine the interrelationships among various constructs.ResultsThe standardized path coefficients revealed that three factors (SAR) significantly influenced immunization performance as independent variables. Comparing the three hypothesized relationships demonstrates that replicability has the most substantial impact, followed by scalability and affordability. Immunization performance was found to have a significant direct effect on sustainability. For evaluating sustainability, MMUs constitute an essential component and an enabler of a sustainable healthcare system and universal health coverage.ConclusionThis study equips policymakers and public health professionals with the critical components of the MMU operational model leading toward sustainability. The research framework provides reliable grounds for examining the impact of scalability, affordability, and replicability on immunization coverage as the primary public healthcare outcome.

Wars and the search for a safer world. The role of healthcare.

Wars destroy human rights, promoting violence as a means to resolve conflicts and cause profound direct and indirect health consequences for people. As important as it is that healthcare does not enter into the merits of the responsibilities for wars, it is equally important that healthcare places itself, in principle, in opposition to war. Despite the enormous impacts of wars and armed conflicts, global public health is poorly prepared to mitigate the threats of wars and armed conflicts. The tragedies, challenges and public health consequences of war are often overlooked and do not receive adequate attention from the international community. Healthcare should globally recognize wars and armed conflicts as a public health emergency and provide the required level of attention. Public health professionals should be aware of the impacts of wars, represent a single voice and coordinate in concerted efforts globally to stand in solidarity, without any discrimination, with conflict-affected communities by understanding their critical needs. Together we can be the voice that says "stop", striving to build a safer world for all.

Comprehensive review of toxicological risks in wild game consumption

The consumption of wild game meat, rooted in cultural traditions and increasingly favored as a natural food source, presents both nutritional benefits and toxicological challenges. While wild game offers a rich source of protein and essential nutrients, it also carries unique risks associated with environmental contaminants, naturally occurring toxins, and zoonotic diseases. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of these toxicological hazards, drawing from a wide range of scientific literature. It examines the origins of toxins in wild game, including heavy metals, pesticides, and other environmental pollutants, as well as the risks posed by animals' natural diets and traditional hunting methods. Additionally, the review addresses the public health implications of consuming contaminated wild game and offers strategies for mitigating these risks. By exploring the complex interplay between wild game consumption and toxicology, this review aims to inform both consumers and public health professionals, emphasizing the importance of safe practices in the handling and preparation of wild game meat to minimize potential health hazards.

Factors Affecting Health Research Utilization Among Health Professionals in Nigeria

The utilization of health research in clinical practice is hindered by individual, organizational, and systemic barriers, including insufficient research literacy and unsupportive organizational cultures. Enhancing research literacy, fostering supportive environments, and implementing evidence-based policies are crucial for bridging the gap between research and practice, ultimately improving patient outcomes. This study investigates the factors affecting health research utilization among health professionals in Nigeria, an essential aspect for advancing healthcare systems and patient outcomes. Utilizing a cross-sectional descriptive design, data were collected via an online survey distributed to public health professionals and policymakers. The survey explored demographics, research utilization, dissemination effectiveness, barriers, and recommendations for improvement. Key findings indicate significant demographic disparities, with a higher proportion of younger and non-public health degree holders reporting unused research findings. The study identified major barriers, including inadequate communication, poor dissemination practices, and lack of access to research findings. Despite 87.6% of respondents conducting potentially impactful research, only 13.6% reported actual utilization of their findings. The recommendations for improvement emphasized the role of knowledge brokers, fostering research-attuned and decision-relevant cultures, enhancing communication and interaction between researchers and users, and building capacity among all stakeholders. Additionally, establishing effective dissemination systems, securing funding, and promoting international collaboration were highlighted as critical strategies. The study underscores the necessity of addressing structural, cultural, and communicative barriers to improve the practical application of health research in Nigeria, aligning with global trends and literature advocating for a multifaceted approach to enhance health outcomes.

Mapping competency profiles of schools of public health: implications for public health workforce education and training in Israel.

Competency frameworks are essential for analyzing capabilities of Schools of Public Health to adequately prepare public health (PH) professionals to address contemporary challenges. This study maps the competency profiles of PH training programs in Israel using a novel curriculum mapping tool. This study assessed all five Israeli Health Education Institutions (HEIs) offering MPH or Bachelors in Public Health (BPH) degrees across 57 competencies in six domains to determine the extent to which competencies were addressed in the curriculum. The competencies list was based on the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER) List of Core Competences for the Public Health Professional, adapted for Israeli HEIs. The core curricula in the four MPH programs addressed 45-84% of all competencies. The BPH program addressed 79% of competencies. In MPH programs, the core curricula addressed most or all competencies in the Methods and the Socioeconomic Determinants of Health domains. Competencies in the domains of Environmental Determinants of Health, Health Policy, Economics & Organization, and Health Promotion and Prevention were less comprehensively addressed in most core curricula. Students' opportunities to broaden their exposure to competencies outside the core curricula were context dependent. The curriculum competencies mapping tool that was developed served to assess both strengths and shortcomings in PH education in Israel. The findings demonstrate a highly variable array of PH curriculum models in Israeli HEIs, as well as overall shortcomings in the Environmental, Health Policy Economics and Organization, and Health Promotion and Prevention domains. This analysis has already led to reassessment of the curriculum, and will continue to guide the next steps to increase the harmonization of PH training curricula and to better meet PH challenges in Israel.

A competency model for basic public health professionals in public health emergencies.

To develop and validate a comprehensive competency model for basic public health professionals to enhance their response to public health emergencies. Staff working in basic public health institutions such as the Centre for Disease Control, community health services and township health centres were selected as the study population. Through an integrative literature review, structured questionnaire survey (n = 1310), exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, we developed and validated a competency model. Exploratory factor analysis was utilized to extract common factors, and confirmatory factor analysis was employed to establish the model and ensure its robustness. Identified competencies by exploratory factor analysis encompass professional and technical skills, medical professionalism, specialized medical knowledge, cognitive and managerial aptitude, public health service competence, emergency response proficiency and physical and mental quality. The model displayed high validity, with a Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin score of 0.933, the χ2 value of Bartlett's test of sphericity was 4169.238 at 889 degrees of freedom (df) (p < 0.001) and the cumulative contribution rate was 60.7%. The confirmatory analysis yielded a final model fit (χ2/df = 2.461) with satisfactory adjusted fit indicators. This validated competency model provides a robust framework for selecting, training and evaluating basic public health professionals, potentially enhancing overall emergency response capabilities.

Einstein's combinatory play: A promising practice for creativity and well-being among public health professionals

The purpose of this commentary is to describe combinatory play as a practice for elevating creativity and well-being among public health professionals. Albert Einstein introduced combinatory play in a letter to a colleague, and, in this commentary, we define it as engagement in an intrinsically enjoyable, cognitively stimulating artistic activity that is distinct from one's job tasks and conducive to connecting ideas toward insight and creative problem-solving. Combinatory play aligns with empirical and experiential evidence demonstrating connections between art and science. We present combinatory play in the context of research on creativity and well-being, including the growing issue of work-related stress among public health professionals. To provide an example of combinatory play, we recount how Robert Frost's poem “Mending Wall” inspired email blackout periods and an intervention for health researchers. Finally, we outline concrete strategies for public health professionals to integrate combinatory play into their lives. Overall, combinatory play is a promising practice for catalyzing novel solutions to public health issues while fueling the well-being of public health professionals themselves.

War and peace in public health education and training: a scoping review

BackgroundArmed conflict and war are public health disasters. Public health action has a crucial role in conflict-related emergencies and rehabilitation but also in war prevention and peace promotion. Translating this into public health training and competencies has just started to emerge, especially in Europe.MethodsWe conducted a Scoping Review to map and identify the role of public health education and training of public health workforce relating to the prevention of war and promoting peace, as reflected in the scientific literature. We searched in PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Embase, Web of Science Core Collections as well as the reference list of included material in English, German and Polish. Focusing initially on the European region, we later expanded the search outside of Europe.ResultsWe included 7 publications from opinion pieces to an empirical assessment of curricula and training. The educational programs were predominantly short-term and extra-curricular in postgraduate courses addressing both public health professionals in conflict-affected countries as well as countries not directly affected by war. Publications focused on public health action in times of war, without specifying the context and type of war or armed conflict. Competencies taught focused on emergency response and multi-disciplinary collaboration during emergencies, frequently drawing on experience and examples from natural disaster and disease outbreak management.ConclusionsThe scientific discourse on competences in public health education for times of war and for the promotion of peace, predominately focuses on immediate emergency response actions. The prevention of war and the promotion of peace are missing foci, that need to feature more prominently in public health training. Public Health Education and training should ensure that war prevention and peace promotion, as well as public health action in times of war, are included in their competencies for public health professionals.

Acceptability of the use of health related quality of life measurements for decision-making in healthcare science in Vietnam: a qualitative study

ObjectiveThis study was conducted with the objective of exploring the usage of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes and willingness of health technology assessment (HTA) and public health stakeholders to...

Views and experiences of involuntary civil commitment of people who use drugs in Massachusetts (Section 35)

BackgroundInvoluntary civil commitment (ICC) is a court-mandated process to place people who use drugs (PWUD) into substance use treatment. Research on ICC effectiveness is mixed, but suggests that coercive drug treatment like ICC is harmful and can produce a number of adverse outcomes. We qualitatively examined the experiences and outcomes of ICC among PWUD in Massachusetts. MethodsData for this analysis were collected between 2017 and 2023 as part of a mixed-methods study of Massachusetts residents who disclosed illicit drug use in the past 30-days. We examined the transcripts of 42 participants who completed in-depth interviews and self-reported ICC. Transcripts were coded and thematically analysed using inductive and deductive approaches to understand the diversity of ICC experiences. ResultsParticipants were predominantly male (57 %), white (71 %), age 31–40 (50 %), and stably housed (67 %). All participants experienced ICC at least once; half reported multiple ICCs. Participants highlighted perceptions of ICC for substance use treatment in Massachusetts. Themes surrounding ICC experience included: positive and negative treatment experience’s, strategies for evading ICC, disrupting access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), and contributing to continued substance use and risk following release. ConclusionsPWUD experience farther-reaching health and social consequences beyond the immediate outcomes of an ICC. Findings suggest opportunities to amend ICC to facilitate more positive outcomes and experiences, such as providing sufficient access to MOUD and de-criminalizing the ICC processes. Policymakers, public health, and criminal justice professionals should consider possible unintended consequences of ICC on PWUD.

A multidimensional approach to understanding vaccine hesitancy among first generation college students

Objective: Vaccine hesitancy has increased over the past several years limiting effectiveness. The primary objective of this study was to investigate which dimensions of vaccine hesitancy are most prominent among first generation college students (FGCS), an underexplored group. Secondly, this study explored sociodemographic differences in vaccine hesitancy within this population. Given that FGCS often function as health information gatekeepers for their family, increasing our understanding of these relationships may have far-reaching effects beyond the college setting. Materials and Methods: A sample of n = 339 undergraduate FGCS completed an online survey. Vaccine hesitancy was measured using the Multidimensional Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (MVHS) and sociodemographic variables were collected. Results: Cost, fear of physical pain, and long-term health risks associated with vaccination emerged as the leading factors of vaccine hesitancy for FGCS. Unexpectedly, low frequency social media FGCS reported significantly higher vaccine hesitancy scores compared to high users. Conclusions: Increasing our understanding of vaccine hesitancy will aid public health professionals in developing more efficacious vaccine interventions for this population.

“God is my vaccine”: the role of religion, conspiracy beliefs, and threat perception in relation to COVID-19 vaccination

AbstractReligious and conspiracy beliefs are based on the assumption that a potent force exists which is capable of affecting people’s destinies. According to compensatory control theory, the belief in such a potent external agent may serve to alleviate feelings of uncertainty and help restore a sense of control. This is of particular relevance and importance to attitudes and behaviour of religious individuals towards vaccinations during the Covid-19 pandemic, where a belief in such a potent external force controlling events and destinies may have lowered the sense of threat posed by Covid-19 and in turn reduced vaccination uptake. To test this, we conducted a cross-sectional study of highly religious adults in Poland (N = 213) and found that the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses taken was negatively predicted by conspiracy beliefs, perceived closeness to God, and frequency of church attendance, and positively predicted by the perceived COVID-19 threat. Furthermore, mediation analysis revealed that both conspiracy beliefs and perceived closeness to God were related to a decreased perception of the COVID-19 threat, which in turn led to a decreased number of vaccine doses received. Our study offers important insights for public health professionals and identifies further research pathways on conspiracy and religious beliefs in relation to health-related behaviours.

Empowerment through education: enhancing the capacity of public health professionals in the face of disparities.

Empowerment through education: enhancing the capacity of public health professionals in the face of disparities.

Theorizing epidemiology, the stories bodies tell, and embodied truths: a status update on contending 21st c CE epidemiological theories of disease distribution.

This critical review considers the status of 21st-century epidemiological theories of disease distribution, updating to 2024 prior analyses published up through 2014, and discusses the implications of these theories for research, practice, and pedagogy. Three key trends stand out: (a) the continued dominance of individualistic biomedical and lifestyle theories; (b) growth and elaboration of social epidemiological alternatives; and (c) the ongoing inattention to epidemiologic theories of disease distribution in the training of epidemiologists and public health professionals and in current efforts to improve the rigor of epidemiological research and causal inference. In a context of growing global political polarization, climate crisis, broader environmental and ecological crises, and stubbornly persistent health inequities within and between nations, producing actionable knowledge relevant to improving the people's health and advancing health justice will require much greater engagement with social epidemiologic theories of disease distribution in research, pedagogy, and practice. At issue is critically engaging with the embodied truths manifested in the stories bodies tell in population patterns of health, disease, and well-being.

Dialysis More Available Than Patient Education in Counties With High Diabetes Prevalence.

Poorly controlled diabetes is a principal cause of end stage renal disease (ESRD), generating an estimated 44% of new cases. Diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) has been documented to reduce adverse outcomes such as ESRD. Helping patients better manage their condition could ultimately reduce ESRD prevalence. We compared the county-level availability of DSMES and dialysis as of November 2022 sorted by the estimated prevalence of diabetes among residents aged 18 years or older. The locations of DSMES programs and ESRD dialysis facilities were obtained from 2 professional organizations and the Centers for Medicare & Medicade Services. Estimated diabetes prevalence was obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's PLACES data set. Counties were considered to have high diabetes prevalence if they fell into the top quartile for diabetes prevalence in 2019 (≥14.4% of adults). Analyses were conducted in 2023. DSMES was available in 41.0% of counties but in only 20.7% of counties with high diabetes prevalence versus 47.9% of low prevalence counties. Dialysis facilities were present in 59.2% of all counties, in 52.8% of all high diabetes prevalence counties, and in 61.4% of other counties. DSMES availability was linked to the presence of a hospital in the county, with only 6.3% of counties without a hospital offering the service. DSMES could play a role in reducing the prevalence of ESRD. Public health professionals need to be aware of the differing levels of local availability of this service and work to develop partnerships to provide DSMES in high-prevalence areas not currently served.