Public Health in Practice最新文献

{"title":"Examining the reach of a diabetes screening program in an urban emergency department","authors":"Ruth A. Pobee ,&nbsp;Kirstie K. Danielson ,&nbsp;Angela Kong ,&nbsp;Yuval Eisenberg ,&nbsp;Brian T. Layden ,&nbsp;Janet Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.puhip.2024.100577","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.puhip.2024.100577","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Screening for diabetes in non-traditional settings like emergency departments (ED) can enhance early detection among patients at higher risk for diabetes. This study aims to assess the reach of an ED-based screening program by examining the characteristics of patients screen-detected for diabetes or prediabetes.</div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>Retrospective cross-sectional study.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, race and ethnicity, insurance, zip code) of patients who were screened for diabetes using hemoglobin A1c test (A1c) were examined. The distribution of prediabetes and diabetes within each race/ethnicity, age, and gender groups were determined. ArcGIS Pro 2.9.0 was used to geocode patient zip codes, to generate heat maps of high occurrences of prediabetes and diabetes.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Of the 5997 individuals screened in the ED, 49 % were non-Hispanic Black, 27 % Hispanic, 15 % non-Hispanic White, 5 % non-Hispanic Asian, and 4 % non-Hispanic Other/unknown. Almost half (47 %, n = 2808) had elevated A1c levels indicative of prediabetes (n = 2070; A1c: 5.7–6.4 %) or diabetes (n = 738; A1c: ≥6.5 %). Non-Hispanic Black females had a higher prevalence of both prediabetes (54 %) and diabetes (55 %) diagnoses as compared to other race/ethnic or gender categories; whereas non-Hispanic Asians had a lower prevalence of both prediabetes and diabetes except for those ≥65 years or older. Furthermore, most patients screened for prediabetes and diabetes reside in resource poor neighborhoods on the west and south sides of Chicago.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The burden of prediabetes and diabetes were greater among non-Hispanic Black females, with a high prevalence of prediabetes observed among younger individuals, particularly those residing in resource poor neighborhoods in the west and south sides of Chicago. More investment in resources for diabetes prevention and management for these groups may be warranted.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34141,"journal":{"name":"Public Health in Practice","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100577"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11773073/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143060758","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Heat-health messaging in Canada: A review and content analysis of public health authority webpages and resources","authors":"Emily J. Tetzlaff ,&nbsp;Katie E. Wagar ,&nbsp;Sarah J.I. Johnson ,&nbsp;Melissa Gorman ,&nbsp;Glen P. Kenny","doi":"10.1016/j.puhip.2024.100576","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.puhip.2024.100576","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>With the growing threat posed by extreme heat, heat-health messaging communicated by public health authorities is critical for raising community awareness and action. This study sought to (i) identify what heat-health content is shared online by Canadian public health authorities and (ii) analyse the material to develop an understanding of the content included within the resources.</div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>Qualitative content analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We reviewed public health authority websites in Canada (n = 99) and extracted all available heat-health content. Content analysis of each resource was performed using descriptive codes related to three categories - populations at greater risk, actions to reduce risk and awareness and knowledge.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Within the public health authority websites searched, 417 webpages and online resources were identified (range: 1–43). Over half of the material came from regional health authorities (56 %), primarily located in Ontario and British Columbia (60 %). At least one population at greater risk of heat stress (e.g., older adults, children) (range: 0–24) was mentioned in 59 % of the materials, 81 % mentioned at least one action or behaviour to reduce risk (e.g., stay hydrated) (range: 0–40), and 91 % provided material related to raising awareness and knowledge (range: 0–12).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Although a wide array of webpages and online resources were identified, the material content and availability varied considerably across authorities and provinces and territories. These results provide important insights into the composition of heat-health webpages and online resources within Canada and can help guide relevant revisions and additions to the existing heat-health materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34141,"journal":{"name":"Public Health in Practice","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100576"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-12-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11773029/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143060768","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Creating a family health history interview protocol for use with undergraduate health professional students: A scoping review","authors":"Ronica N. Rooks ,&nbsp;Cassandra D. Ford ,&nbsp;Jenna Bennett ,&nbsp;Tyrone Braxton","doi":"10.1016/j.puhip.2024.100568","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.puhip.2024.100568","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Family health history can be used as a health promotion tool to assess health risk, improve data collection and disease prevention, initiate interventions, and motivate behavioral change, but its utility as a public health tool has not been fully explored. Collecting information for a family health history can be a challenging task. However, it is an important skill for undergraduate students to learn, particularly those in pre-health majors. Our aim was to create a family interview protocol for students' successful family health history collection using findings from students' research papers and a scoping review.</div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>We summarized and listed suggestions from students' papers. Our scoping review followed Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) review process and the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Review checklist (2018).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We used Medline, CINAHL (EBSCO), ERIC (ProQuest), Web of Science, and Academic Search Premiere databases and Google. Using Covidence, we included peer-reviewed, English, journal articles and grey literature, narrowing our key term combinations to terms like family health history, interview or protocol, and undergraduate or health professional student.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Protocol suggestions included having appropriate settings and preparation to conduct interviews with questions on socio-demographics, cultural and family relationship dynamics, health behaviors, and acute and chronic condition questions for family members. Students' papers addressed preparation for conducting interviews and obtaining better data from existing family trees and extended relatives to maximize learning about risk assessment. The scoping review revealed two themes associated with family health history, including creating genograms and interview methods used with history taking.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Implementing the protocol for future assignments will provide students with a training opportunity to identify their own disease risks, improve their family health history knowledge, and collect family health history data relevant to prevention and interventions focused on understanding chronic conditions and their management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34141,"journal":{"name":"Public Health in Practice","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100568"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-12-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11772959/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143060754","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Analysis of orthopaedic private healthcare patterns in England: A potential emerging two-tier system","authors":"Lucy McCann ,&nbsp;Ian Holdroyd ,&nbsp;Rowan Emberson ,&nbsp;Helena Painter ,&nbsp;John Ford","doi":"10.1016/j.puhip.2024.100578","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.puhip.2024.100578","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>Private healthcare is a rapidly growing industry in the UK, particularly for surgical procedures, due to extensive waiting times in publicly funded health care. The NHS also commissions private healthcare to provide procedures for NHS patients to alleviate waiting times. We aimed to explore the trends and geographical variations between the North and South of England in privately funded and NHS-funded privately delivered orthopaedic procedures compared to NHS waiting times.</div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>A longitudinal study using quarterly national data between 2019 and 2023 in England.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We analysed orthopaedic surgical volumes per 10,000 people using Private Healthcare Information Network data in England from 2019 to 2023 and compared them with waiting times in publicly funded health care provided by the NHS. We stratified by geographical location and time period to compare the North-South divide in England.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The south of England performed almost double the number of privately funded procedures (23 vs 12/10,000), but there were fewer NHS-funded private procedures (40 vs 45/10,000). The north of England has consistently shorter waiting times than the South, with considerable variation across regions. London had fewer NHS-funded procedures compared to other regions.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The time-trend patterns indicate considerable geographical inequalities of access to orthopaedic private healthcare between regions within England, with a potential emergence of a two-tier healthcare system. Relying on the private sector to reduce waiting lists, without oversight, may exacerbate regional and socioeconomic differences. Policymakers should consider how the unequal distribution of funding and NHS-funded procedures could perpetuate inequalities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34141,"journal":{"name":"Public Health in Practice","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100578"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11754485/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143029667","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The application of One Health concept in China and its practice and innovation in cross-sector cooperation","authors":"Yang Gao ,&nbsp;Chengyue Li ,&nbsp;Qingyu Zhou ,&nbsp;Mo Hao","doi":"10.1016/j.puhip.2024.100574","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.puhip.2024.100574","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>This study explores the opportunities and challenges associated with the One Health concept in China. Taking the practice of multi-sector health collaboration in China as an example, this study analyses the possible obstacles and opportunities.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>From June to August 2023, 30 semi-structured interviews were conducted with experts from the Health Commission, Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Department of Transportation, Administration for Market Regulation, and other departments. Qualitative analysis of the interview data was performed using NVivo12.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The One Health concept has universal appeal and application potential, but there are many challenges in practice. First of all, cross-departmental cooperation requires clear departmental responsibilities and coordination strategies, but in reality, it is often due to the overlapping of functions between departments or the lack of effective communication mechanism, resulting in insufficient cooperation. Secondly, the low two-way interaction and the lack of effective information exchange and data sharing mechanisms also limit the full implementation of the One Health concept. In addition, the shortage of professional human resources further exacerbates the problem, and finally, the degree of awareness and emphasis of society on public Health is also a key factor affecting the implementation of the One Health concept.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The concept of One Health has shown great potential and necessity in the collaborative work of multiple departments in China, but there are still significant obstacles in the implementation process of One Health concept in multiple departments. However, to fully realize this concept, more efforts are still needed in the areas of cooperation mechanisms, professional talent training, information exchange and social awareness. Future work should focus on strengthening intersectoral communication and coordination, raising public health awareness, and optimizing relevant policies and strategies to better address global public health challenges.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34141,"journal":{"name":"Public Health in Practice","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100574"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11745810/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143013049","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Managing pre and postpartum mental health issues of refugee women from fragile and conflict-affected countries: A systematic review","authors":"Saraban Tahura Ether ,&nbsp;Sadia Afrin ,&nbsp;Nawal Noshin Habib ,&nbsp;Fahmida Akter ,&nbsp;Anika Tasneem Chowdhury ,&nbsp;Abu Sayeed ,&nbsp;Sahar Raza ,&nbsp;Anisuddin Ahmed ,&nbsp;KM Saif-Ur-Rahman","doi":"10.1016/j.puhip.2024.100573","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.puhip.2024.100573","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Refugee or immigrant women residing in conflict prone countries portray elevated mental health related vulnerabilities during their peripartum periods and require effective interventions for improved maternal and child well-being. The objective of this systematic review is to generate evidence on effective interventions for managing peripartum mental health issues among refugee women from conflicted settings.</div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>Systematic review.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>Three databases MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (core collection) were searched and Rayyan was used to perform screening. RoBANS tool was used to assess the risk of bias and narrative synthesis was conducted to narrate the result.</div></div><div><h3>Result</h3><div>5425 potential articles were identified and seven studies were included for data extraction after a rigorous screening process. Four (n = 4), out of seven studies discussed improved Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores, reduced perinatal distress and depression, increased self-esteem, and knowledge about pregnancy and child development, etc. due to home visits during the antepartum and postpartum period. Two studies asserted the importance of group sessions and social support and found social support was negatively correlated with postpartum depression (r = −0.49, p &lt; 0.0001). Formal/informal, public, private, or volunteered supports were explored to be important for increasing knowledge about maternal well-being, stress management, and childcare processes for refugee women.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The absence of limited experimental studies opens the opportunity for conducting further research on this topic. Besides, development partners can focus on this review to prioritise the intervention components during designing programmes on this related issue.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34141,"journal":{"name":"Public Health in Practice","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100573"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11743345/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143013005","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Non-employment over the working life: Implications for cognitive function and decline in later life","authors":"A.J. Sizer ,&nbsp;A. Sacker ,&nbsp;R.E. Lacey ,&nbsp;M. Richards","doi":"10.1016/j.puhip.2024.100563","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.puhip.2024.100563","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>Disuse theory predicts that cognitive function is vulnerable to transitions that remove factors that support cognitive skills. We sought to investigate whether non-employment over the working life was associated with cognitive function and decline in later life (≥60 years old), and possible gender differences in the association.</div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>Longitudinal study.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>We used data from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD). Cognitive function was measured by verbal memory and processing speed. Linear regression was used to test associations between non-employment duration and cognitive function at age 60–64, and conditional change models were used to examine associations between non-employment and cognitive decline from age 60–64 to 69. Gender specific models were adjusted for childhood factors and educational attainment, adult occupational features, and adult health and lifestyle indicators. Missing data was accounted for using multiple imputation by chained equations.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In fully adjusted models &gt;15 years non-employment was associated with lower cognitive function at age 60–64 in men (verbal memory: −0.72, 95%CI −1.18, −0.26; processing speed: −0.61, 95%CI -1.00, −0.28), but not women. Fully adjusted models also indicated that long-term and intermediate lengths of non-employment were associated with faster decline in verbal memory (−0.38, 95%CI -0.75, −0.02) and processing speed (−0.28, 95%CI -0.52, −0.03) in men. There was no association between non-employment and cognitive decline among women.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Long-term non-employment in men, but not women, is associated with accelerated cognitive ageing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34141,"journal":{"name":"Public Health in Practice","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100563"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11758421/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143048056","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy of shared decision making in tobacco cessation among health facilities of Haryana, India – A double blinded, parallel group Randomized Controlled trial Protocol","authors":"Pranav Kshtriya ,&nbsp;Sonu Goel ,&nbsp;Abhishek Ghosh","doi":"10.1016/j.puhip.2024.100581","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.puhip.2024.100581","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Shared decision-making (SDM) incorporates evidence, patient values, and preferences into medical decision-making. SDM and decision aids might promote health professional engagement and patient knowledge of tobacco cessation therapy, improving usage and results. The SDM facilitates talks that lead to better-informed judgements that align with patients' priorities, unlike individual decision-making. Thus, the study will attempt to identify the efficacy of shared decision making in tobacco dependence treatment.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>1) <strong>Design</strong>: a two-arm parallel group randomized controlled trial (RCT) 2) <strong>Setting:</strong> Three selected government health centers of Haryana, India. 3) <strong>Participants:</strong> 596 tobacco users aged ≥18 visiting the outpatient department/Tobacco cessation centers (TCC) of selected health centers. 4) <strong>Intervention and Comparator:</strong> The intervention group will receive shared decision process for prescribing pharmacotherapy (Nicotine replacement therapy, Bupropion) using specially designed decision aid based on three-talk model for tobacco cessation, while the control group will get standard care. 5) <strong>Measurements:</strong> Primary outcomes include urinary cotinine analysis for evaluating 7-day point prevalence abstinence. Secondary outcomes include patient satisfaction questionnaire PSQ-18 score, cumulative days of tobacco abstinence, self-reported number of quit attempts, and the rate of withdrawal. The outcomes such as change in behavior status i.e. tobacco cessation will be compared between the intervention and the comparator groups. When comparing the two groups, differences between proportions will be assessed by chi-square test, differences between means with <em>t</em>-test. An intention to treat analysis will be done when comparing outcomes in both arms.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>SDM in tobacco cessation therapies in healthcare settings is understudied, thereby this study looks at comparable interventions in different settings to add to the evidence. This suggests that this study on SDM in tobacco cessation therapy, which includes healthcare professionals, aims to assist patients in making evidence- and value-based medical decisions.</div></div><div><h3>Trial registration</h3><div>This protocol has been registered under the registration number CTRI/2022/10/046793 with the Clinical Trials Registry in India.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34141,"journal":{"name":"Public Health in Practice","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100581"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11742332/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143012948","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing the impact of HIV self-testing on diagnosis rates in vulnerable groups in belo horizonte, Brazil: A cross-sectional analysis","authors":"João Vitor Innecco Arêas,&nbsp;Gabriela Bragança Costa e Moreira,&nbsp;Gabriela Picchioni Baêta,&nbsp;João Vitor Levindo Coelho Novaes,&nbsp;Luísa Castro de Sousa Pires,&nbsp;Luara Isabela dos Santos","doi":"10.1016/j.puhip.2024.100567","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.puhip.2024.100567","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>In recent years, HIV self-testing (HIVST) has emerged as a promising approach to enhance accessibility and uptake of HIV testing, particularly among populations at high risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Despite its potential benefits, the effectiveness, and challenges of HIVST warrant careful examination to inform public health strategies effectively. This study investigates the effectiveness and challenges of HIV self-testing (HIVST) in populations at high risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). <strong>Study design</strong>: Cross-sectional study.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We employed questionnaires, HIVST, and standard tests for HIV, Hepatitis C, and Syphilis, in patients exhibiting STI risk behaviors in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, between August and November of 2019.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We engaged 125 individuals, median age of 33.5 years, with most participants (61 %) deviating significantly during self-testing. Despite this, HIVST was generally perceived as user-friendly. From the perspective of health professionals, there was 100 % agreement between HIVST and the gold standard HIV testing results. Notably, among those seeking solely HIV testing, 19.2 % tested positive for Syphilis, and 4.8 % for Hepatitis C. Only a minority (4.8 %) were aware of the HIV window period.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>While HIVST presents benefits, the evidence does not yet support its widespread adoption as a standalone public health policy. Moreover, exclusive reliance on HIVST might mask the prevalence of other STIs. We advocate for a holistic approach to HIV and STI testing, incorporating education, counseling, and comprehensive healthcare access in public health initiatives.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34141,"journal":{"name":"Public Health in Practice","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100567"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11742301/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143013002","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"“If children don't feel safe, they won't come back”: A qualitative exploration of parents' perceptions of health coordinators in a family-based programme in socially disadvantaged communities","authors":"Lisette Farias ,&nbsp;Mai-Lis Hellenius ,&nbsp;Gisela Nyberg ,&nbsp;Susanne Andermo","doi":"10.1016/j.puhip.2024.100575","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.puhip.2024.100575","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Families residing in disadvantaged communities encounter inequalities that restrict their engagement in physical activity. Family-based interventions and health coordinators have been proposed as promising approaches to encourage physical activity among parents and children. However, there is a paucity of knowledge regarding family experiences of such programmes and the ways health coordinators facilitate continued participation in programmes delivered in disadvantaged communities. The study aimed to explore parents’ perceptions of health coordinators in a family-based physical activity programme, Open Activities, delivered in disadvantaged communities in Sweden.</div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>An exploratory design with a qualitative ethnographic approach.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Multiple methods, including 12 interviews, 15 observations and field notes, and prolonged researcher engagement between February 2022 and December 2023, were used to obtain complementary insights into parents’ perceptions and experiences in the Open Activities programme. Data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A main theme and three sub-themes emerged from the analysis. The sub-themes reflect participants’ perceptions of how health coordinators provide a sense of safety for parents and children, making them feel appreciated and motivated to continue participating in the programme. The sub-themes also reflect the struggles that families encounter with security and social disorders in their neighbourhoods and how these difficulties influence their participation in outdoor activities and trust in outside people, including health coordinators. This required health coordinators to demonstrate a deep commitment to their communities, cultivate trust and fairness, and take a more assertive role in enforcing rules and ensuring respect.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The involvement of health coordinators, aware of the issues facing disadvantaged communities, could represent a promising avenue for advancing health equity through physical activity. Failure to consider the potential of health coordinators to promote safety can compromise programmes’ sustainability and even exacerbate existing disparities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34141,"journal":{"name":"Public Health in Practice","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100575"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11732226/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142984927","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}