{"title":"Allergy prevention-a new public health perspective.","authors":"Tari Haahtela, Pekka Puska","doi":"10.1093/eurpub/ckaf258","DOIUrl":"10.1093/eurpub/ckaf258","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12059,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Public Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13017764/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145892259","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Trends in cost-related forgone care among older adults in Switzerland: a repeated cross-sectional study.","authors":"Mathieu Jendly, Stéphane Cullati, Cornelia Wagner, Axelle Braggion, Valérie Santschi, Arnaud Chiolero","doi":"10.1093/eurpub/ckag010","DOIUrl":"10.1093/eurpub/ckag010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Ensuring equitable healthcare provision is key in ageing societies, yet it may be hindered by financial barriers. We assessed trends and socioeconomic disparities in cost-related forgone medical care among Swiss adults aged 65 years and older between 2017 and 2024.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used data from the 2017, 2021, and 2024 waves of the 'International Health Policy Survey', a population-based study of randomly sampled adults aged 65 or older (n = 2570, 1888, and 1948, respectively). Participants reported whether they had forgone medical prescriptions, consultations, medical tests, treatments or follow-up consultations, and dental visits due to cost. Weighted prevalence estimates were computed for services covered by the basic insurance and for dental care. Disparities by education and income were assessed using stratified analyses and the index of disparity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants' characteristics were stable across all waves (mean age 75; 54% women). In 2024, 20% reported forgoing at least one service due to cost (13% forgoing dental care, 13% insurance-covered services). Forgone care was similar in 2017 (21%) and lower in 2021 (16%). Forgone care was more frequent among men and participants aged 65-79 years. The index of disparity showed widening income-related disparities over time, while disparities by education remained stable. Dental care consistently showed the largest disparities.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Despite Switzerland's compulsory health insurance, one in five older adults still forgo care for financial reasons. Rates of forgone care remained stable, but income disparities have widened since 2017.</p>","PeriodicalId":12059,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Public Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13017530/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146178388","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yvonne B Suijkerbuijk, Frederieke G Schaafsma, Lyanne P Jansen, Karen Nieuwenhuijsen
{"title":"Assessing the return-to-work mode of precarious workers with mental health issues: reliability, validity, and usability of the REMODE-tool.","authors":"Yvonne B Suijkerbuijk, Frederieke G Schaafsma, Lyanne P Jansen, Karen Nieuwenhuijsen","doi":"10.1093/eurpub/ckag014","DOIUrl":"10.1093/eurpub/ckag014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mental health issues are highly prevalent among precarious workers, often leading to prolonged sickness absence and unemployment. A worker's perceptions and attitudes about return-to-work are important determinants of work resumption and can be categorized into three modes: an expectant, an ambivalent-uncertain, and an active return-to-work mode. To support professionals in identifying these modes, we developed the REturn-to-work MODe Evaluation (REMODE) tool. This study evaluated REMODE's inter-rater agreement, inter-item consistency, content validity, and usability. In a vignette study, 71 occupational health professionals from a Dutch social security institute viewed six videos of consultations between insurance physicians and precarious workers. They then used REMODE to assess the worker's return-to-work mode and need for occupational support. Participants also rated REMODE's validity and usability with 5-point Likert scale questions based on the Content Validity Index and System Usability Scale. We used a generalized linear mixed model to analyse inter-rater agreement and inter-item consistency. The professionals highly agreed on the REMODE-score [ICC 0.87 (95% CI 0.63-0.97)] and corresponding return-to-work mode [ICC 0.83 (0.54-0.95), Κω 0.75 (0.74-0.75)]. Their agreement on need for occupational support was moderate [ICC 0.65 (0.30-0.89), Κω 0.57 (0.56-0.57)]. REMODE's internal consistency demonstrated excellence (Cronbach's alpha 0.92), and the content validity index (0.83) and system usability scale (76) were acceptable. REMODE is a promising tool for occupational health professionals as it supports identification of the return-to-work mode of precarious workers with mental health issues. We propose a refined version of RE-MODE for use in occupational healthcare and research.</p>","PeriodicalId":12059,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Public Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13017679/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146141598","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kerstin Sell, Stefanie Nigg, Anna Leibinger, Stephan Voss, Carmen Klinger, Eva Rehfuess
{"title":"Commercial determinants of health-a scoping review of research 'made in Germany'.","authors":"Kerstin Sell, Stefanie Nigg, Anna Leibinger, Stephan Voss, Carmen Klinger, Eva Rehfuess","doi":"10.1093/eurpub/ckag030","DOIUrl":"10.1093/eurpub/ckag030","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Commercial products such as tobacco, alcohol, ultra-processed food and fossil fuels drive the global burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and the escalating climate crisis. The concept 'commercial determinants of health' (CDOH) offers a framework for understanding the ways in which commercial actors, processes, and products influence health. With most CDOH research originating from Anglo-Saxon countries, we sought to map Germany's CDOH research landscape and related scientific discourse. We conducted a scoping review according to a pre-registered protocol. Records were identified through systematic searches in Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, last updated 6 December 2024, and by searching seminal CDOH literature. We included peer-reviewed articles (co-)authored by researchers affiliated with German institutions, which examined the public health effects of corporate sector practices; results were presented in an evidence map. We included 136 articles, comprising 64 original research articles (47.1%), 36 overview type articles (26.5%), and 17 opinion pieces (12.5%). Fifteen mentioned the 'commercial determinants of health' (11.0%). Research activities focused on the tobacco, alcohol, food, and pharmaceutical industries; articles were primarily concerned with political, scientific, marketing, and reputational management practices. A supplementary social network analysis showed fragmented authorship networks. CDOH are key upstream determinants to consider in the prevention of NCDs. Germany faces a substantial and growing burden of disease from NCDs but the country's research on the CDOH is limited. We suggest that researchers embrace the scholarship on CDOH, and that practitioners harness relevant insights in addressing the commercially driven NCD burden.</p>","PeriodicalId":12059,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Public Health","volume":"36 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13017704/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147480240","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Erica Jonsson, Devy L Elling, Jonas Landberg, Magnus Helgesson, Andreas Lundin, Emelie Thern
{"title":"Health's influence on alcohol use-a longitudinal study of working adults in Sweden.","authors":"Erica Jonsson, Devy L Elling, Jonas Landberg, Magnus Helgesson, Andreas Lundin, Emelie Thern","doi":"10.1093/eurpub/ckag037","DOIUrl":"10.1093/eurpub/ckag037","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>While alcohol's health effects are well documented, less is known about how health influences alcohol use and whether this varies by socioeconomic position (SEP). This study investigated the association between health-related quality of life (HRQoL), mental health, and alcohol use, and whether SEP moderates these associations. Baseline data from 7097 participants in the 2010 Stockholm Public Health Cohort were used. The exposures were HRQoL and mental health (good, moderate, poor); Outcomes (2014) were heavy episodic drinking (HED: ≥5 units/≥2 times/month) and heavy drinking (men: ≥21 units/week; women: ≥14 units/week). Logistic regression estimated odds ratios (OR), with interaction assessed using relative excess risk of interaction (RERI) and attributable proportion (AP). Joint exposure analyses used good health and high SEP as the reference group. Compared with good HRQoL, moderate (OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.02-1.56) and poor HRQoL (OR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.08-1.78) were associated with higher odds of heavy drinking. Moderate HRQoL and low SEP had increased odds of HED (OR: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.02-2.15) and heavy drinking (OR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.01-2.60), with evidence of additive interaction (RERI: 0.79; AP: 0.49). Mental health findings were less consistent: good mental health and low SEP was associated with increased HED (OR: 1.35), while moderate mental health and intermediate SEP was associated with decreased HED (OR: 0.66). Findings suggest a dose-response relationship between HRQoL and self-reported heavy drinking and an interaction between moderate HRQoL and low SEP. Associations with mental health were weaker and inconsistent.</p>","PeriodicalId":12059,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Public Health","volume":"36 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13017360/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147493405","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rachel Greenley, Anneli Uusküla, Pia Kirkegaard, Marc Bardou, Martin McKee
{"title":"Health equity under siege: the populist challenge to women's health in Europe.","authors":"Rachel Greenley, Anneli Uusküla, Pia Kirkegaard, Marc Bardou, Martin McKee","doi":"10.1093/eurpub/ckaf266","DOIUrl":"10.1093/eurpub/ckaf266","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12059,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Public Health","volume":"36 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13012893/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147510562","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Robert Vander Stichele, Joseph Roumier, Dirk Van Nimwegen, Dipak Kalra, Argiris Gkogkidis, Nicole Vegiotti, Yuri Quintana, Petra Wilson
{"title":"Regulations for international non-proprietary name prescribing and substitution, relevant for cross-border ePrescribing and eDispensation services in the European Union.","authors":"Robert Vander Stichele, Joseph Roumier, Dirk Van Nimwegen, Dipak Kalra, Argiris Gkogkidis, Nicole Vegiotti, Yuri Quintana, Petra Wilson","doi":"10.1093/eurpub/ckaf235","DOIUrl":"10.1093/eurpub/ckaf235","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Prescribing by international non-proprietary name (INN) and substitution rules are advocated in the education and practice of rational prescribing, and for cost containment policy. Regulations that restrict or foster INN prescribing and substitution exist in all member states. The aim of this study is to describe the national regulations in European Union (EU) countries, to nation-specific tools for ePrescribing and eDispensation systems based on the standards for Identification of Medicinal Products (IDMP) in the European Health Data Space. A survey was sent to the policy makers from national competent authorities, active in UNICOM, and responsible for writing and monitoring national regulations. Data were collected from 14 EU countries. INN prescribing is mandatory in Greece, Portugal, and Estonia. It is allowed in Germany, Belgium, Norway, Spain, the Netherlands, and Italy (seldom used). Substitution based on precise substance and dose form is mandatory in Finland and Sweden, and allowed in Ireland (with a positive list). In Austria and Croatia, only brand substitution is possible. Rules for a substitution module in the cross-border ePrescribing and eDispensing services can be set up, with three possible levels of equivalent lists: brand substitution, PhPID substitution, and INN substitution. Harmonization of national rules is needed, also for exemptions and the possibility of physician's veto. This may be facilitated by the implementation of IDMP. The European Commission has the legal basis to foster this harmonization. It will have major implications for research, handling of drug shortages, and clinical care.</p>","PeriodicalId":12059,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Public Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13064843/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145774050","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pieter Vynckier, Masja Schmidt, Sarah Nayani, Leonor Guariguata, Brecht Devleesschauwer, Nick Verhaeghe
{"title":"The economic burden of alcohol in Belgium: incremental healthcare costs and lost productivity.","authors":"Pieter Vynckier, Masja Schmidt, Sarah Nayani, Leonor Guariguata, Brecht Devleesschauwer, Nick Verhaeghe","doi":"10.1093/eurpub/ckaf254","DOIUrl":"10.1093/eurpub/ckaf254","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Alcohol use is associated with a high burden of disease, resulting in economic consequences. In Belgium, 77% of the population over the age of 15 regularly consume alcohol. Therefore, the objective of this study is to provide updated estimates of the annual healthcare costs and productivity losses among the Belgian population. Data from the 2018 Belgian Health Interview Survey (BHIS) were linked with health insurance claims data. Healthcare costs were calculated on individuals' alcohol use patterns (current, former, abstainer). Lost productivity costs were calculated by multiplying the number of absence days by the national average wage cost per day. Univariate and multivariable regression analysis with negative binomial distribution and log link were performed to evaluate the average healthcare costs and indirect costs in relation to alcohol use, sociodemographic characteristics, and (behavioural) risk factors. Data from 10 829 individuals were available, of which 47.7% were men. A total of 76% subjects indicated that they currently drink alcohol. Compared to abstainers, significantly lower costs were found for current drinkers (€-470; P = .002). When looking at former drinkers, a significantly higher cost (€889; P = .02) was found compared with individuals who indicated that they never used alcohol. Taking into account that 7% of the Belgian population were former drinkers in 2018, the national costs for former drinkers equates to €711 288 900. Results of our study show that alcohol use has a large economic impact on the Belgian society. Especially former drinkers have a substantial impact on direct medical costs.</p>","PeriodicalId":12059,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Public Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13064487/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146104511","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kate M Lewis, Vincent G Nguyen, Ruth Gilbert, Bianca De Stavola, Lorraine Dearden, Ayana Cant, Johnny Downs, Laura Gimeno, William Farr, Tamsin Ford, Katie Harron, Matthew Lilliman, Stuart Logan, Jacob Matthews, Jugnoo Rahi, Jennifer Saxton, Isaac Winterburn We Thank Ruth Blackburn, Milagros Ruiz, Matthew Jay, Antony Stone, Farzan Ramzan
{"title":"Local authority variation in school-recorded special educational needs and disability provision in Year 1 among children born in England, 2003-13.","authors":"Kate M Lewis, Vincent G Nguyen, Ruth Gilbert, Bianca De Stavola, Lorraine Dearden, Ayana Cant, Johnny Downs, Laura Gimeno, William Farr, Tamsin Ford, Katie Harron, Matthew Lilliman, Stuart Logan, Jacob Matthews, Jugnoo Rahi, Jennifer Saxton, Isaac Winterburn We Thank Ruth Blackburn, Milagros Ruiz, Matthew Jay, Antony Stone, Farzan Ramzan","doi":"10.1093/eurpub/ckaf116","DOIUrl":"10.1093/eurpub/ckaf116","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Evidence of disparities in special educational needs and disability (SEND) provision at local authority (LA) level in England is needed to guide policies for equitable provision. We described LA-level variation in recorded SEND provision using linked health-education records. We used linked hospital-primary school records (ECHILD - Education and Child Health Insights from Linked Data) to create a cohort of 3 729 265 children born in England between 2003/04-2012/13. LA of pupil's residential address and SEND provision [SEND support or Educational Health and Care Plan (EHCP)] were defined at Year 1 (5/6 years old). We compared single-level and multilevel logistic models, adjusting for individual-level sociodemographic, health indicators, and school governance, and stratifying by gestational age. In further multilevel models, we added LA characteristics. After accounting for individual-level characteristics, there was between 2.0% (SEND support compared with no SEND provision) and 5.8% (EHCPs compared with SEND support) residual unexplained variation between LAs across gestational age groups. Adding LA-level income deprivation reduced the between-LA variance for EHCPs by 14%-24% across gestational age groups; less so for other LA characteristics. Under 6% of the differences in school-recorded SEND provision in Year 1 between 2009/10 and 2018/19 was associated with the LA context. We need to carefully disentangle structural factors at the school and individual level to understand inequities in recorded SEND provision.</p>","PeriodicalId":12059,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Public Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13064508/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146131884","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tuomas S M Lehtola, Päivi Korhonen, Niko Wasenius, Hannu Kautiainen, Merja K Laine
{"title":"Long-term effects of early sports participation on health-related quality of life: a cross-sectional study in Finland.","authors":"Tuomas S M Lehtola, Päivi Korhonen, Niko Wasenius, Hannu Kautiainen, Merja K Laine","doi":"10.1093/eurpub/ckag018","DOIUrl":"10.1093/eurpub/ckag018","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The effects of sport participation (SP) are typically assessed over relatively short time frames, with limited information regarding long-term impacts. The aims of this study were to evaluate the relationship of SP during childhood or adolescence with physical activity (PA) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adulthood. We performed an observational cross-sectional study. A population survey was conducted in two rural Finnish towns during 2005-7. Apparently healthy cardiovascular risk subjects aged 45-70 years were identified, and information regarding current PA and HRQoL (36-item Short Form Health Survey) and childhood or adolescent SP were gathered using questionnaires. Current PA was measured in metabolic equivalent hours per week (MET-h/week). Participants (n = 2503; mean age 58 years) were divided into three groups based on their SP levels during childhood or adolescence: none (n = 338), hobby (n = 1713), and competitive (n = 452). The mean level of current PA was 8.1 (SD 6.8) MET-h/week in none group, 9.2 (7.1) in hobby group, and 10.4 (7.8) in competitive group (P < .001). Participants in the competitive group reported significantly better HRQoL compared to other groups (P < .001). Childhood or adolescent SP modified the relationship between adulthood PA and HRQoL. Individuals with high levels of SP during childhood or adolescence were more likely to remain active in adulthood. SP in early life modified the association between adulthood PA and HRQoL and was also associated with better HRQoL in adulthood especially in mental health-related domains. These findings highlight the importance of promoting PA from an early age.</p>","PeriodicalId":12059,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Public Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13064536/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146141651","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}