PUBLIC HEALTH REVIEWSPub Date : 2026-06-24eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.3389/phrs.2026.1608243
Kyoo-Man Ha
{"title":"A post-PHEIC review of cultural awareness in the COVID-19 response.","authors":"Kyoo-Man Ha","doi":"10.3389/phrs.2026.1608243","DOIUrl":"10.3389/phrs.2026.1608243","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The PHEIC status of COVID-19 was officially lifted by the WHO on May 5, 2023. However, many nations continue to grapple with its impacts, particularly those that have not fully embraced the emergency culture. This study aims to explore ways to enhance emergency culture that rose during the COVID-19 response, ultimately contributing to effective pandemic management.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic literature review, including the PRISMA 2020 flow diagram and checklist, was used to compare cultural unawareness with cultural awareness across six nations: Japan, Sweden, South Africa, the United States, Brazil, and Australia.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>To varying degrees, all six nations exhibited cultural unawareness during their COVID-19 responses, which manifested in issues such as personal responsibilities, herd immunity, inequalities, individualism, economic priorities, language barriers, and other factors.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These six nations must adaptively transform their cultural unawareness into cultural awareness while enhancing leadership, communication, cultural competence, emergency preparedness, and international cooperation. This study offers a comprehensive perspective on the emergency culture surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, emphasizing the critical importance of cultural awareness.</p>","PeriodicalId":35944,"journal":{"name":"PUBLIC HEALTH REVIEWS","volume":"47 ","pages":"1608243"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13341569/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148412984","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}
PUBLIC HEALTH REVIEWSPub Date : 2026-06-24eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.3389/phrs.2026.1609639
Sarah Cuschieri
{"title":"From commitment to capacity: strengthening Europe's public health response to cardiovascular disease and diabetes through life-course prevention.","authors":"Sarah Cuschieri","doi":"10.3389/phrs.2026.1609639","DOIUrl":"10.3389/phrs.2026.1609639","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cardiovascular disease and diabetes remain the leading causes of premature mortality in Europe, despite longstanding political commitments and the availability of cost-effective preventive interventions. As the global public health community approaches the 40th anniversary of the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, persistent gaps between prevention principles and implementation require renewed policy focus.</p><p><strong>Analysis: </strong>This policy brief synthesises evidence from international reports and European initiatives to examine why prevention efforts for cardiovascular disease and diabetes have not achieved sufficient scale or impact. It highlights the role of obesity, diabetes, and early-life risk exposure in shaping cardiovascular risk, alongside fragmented surveillance systems and continued reliance on reactive, treatment-centred care. While current policy frameworks demonstrate ambition, implementation and accountability remain inconsistent.</p><p><strong>Policy options: </strong>Priority actions include embedding life-course prevention across cardiovascular and diabetes strategies, strengthening primary and community-based prevention, investing in equity-oriented surveillance, and scaling collaborative initiatives such as JACARDI and JA PreventNCD.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Achieving equitable prevention of cardiovascular disease and diabetes requires a shift from reactive care to sustained life-course prevention.</p>","PeriodicalId":35944,"journal":{"name":"PUBLIC HEALTH REVIEWS","volume":"47 ","pages":"1609639"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13341570/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148412979","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":"Preventive Measures and Crowd Management Strategies to Mitigate the Risk of Stampedes in Public Gatherings: A Systematic Review.","authors":"Rahul Singh Chowhan, Ramesh Kumar Hudda, Arun Kumar Sharma, Pankaj Bhardwaj","doi":"10.3389/phrs.2026.1609310","DOIUrl":"10.3389/phrs.2026.1609310","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To evaluate crowd-management strategies used at mass public gatherings and to identify the evidence gaps and priorities that reduce the risk of stampedes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Following PRISMA 2020 and PRISMA-S guidelines, the paper searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar (gray literature), and the WHO Global Health Library (gray literature) published between January 1, 2010 and December 30, 2025. Eligible studies included observational, quasi-experimental, and simulation-based evaluations of crowd-safety interventions. Two reviewers independently screened records, extracted data, and appraised study quality using ROBINS-I and JBI checklist. A narrative (thematic) synthesis grouped interventions into engineering, operational, technology, and communication approaches.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 833 unique records identified, 13 studies met the inclusion criteria. Included studies were mainly observational analyses, simulation/modeling studies, or quasi-experiments from diverse settings (pilgrimages, festivals, sports events). Multi-modal strategies combining environmental design (one-way flows, barriers), operational controls, real-time monitoring, and trained personnel were consistently associated with improved crowd-flow indicators (shorter evacuation times).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Integrated crowd-management approaches can mitigate stampede risks, but require high-quality empirical evaluations and standardized outcome metrics to strengthen evidence for policy and practice.</p><p><strong>Systematic review registration: </strong>https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251142906, identifier CRD420251142906.</p>","PeriodicalId":35944,"journal":{"name":"PUBLIC HEALTH REVIEWS","volume":"47 ","pages":"1609310"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13370754/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148457002","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":"Job performance among health professionals in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Hailemariam Gezie, Mekuriaw Wuhib, Dagnew Tigabu, Habtam Gelaye","doi":"10.3389/phrs.2026.1609470","DOIUrl":"10.3389/phrs.2026.1609470","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to explore the pooled estimate of good job performance among health professionals in Ethiopia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We searched multiple databases, such as PubMed, African Journals Online, Hinari, Google Scholar, and repositories, by combining keywords using the Boolean operators \"AND\" and \"OR.\" Observational studies that reported job performance were screened by their title, abstract, and full texts and included in this review. Data were extracted using a standardized Excel template and analyzed using STATA 17 software. We pooled good job performance in the random effects model. Heterogeneity was checked using the Galbraith plot, I<sup>2</sup>, and Q statistics and identified by subgroup and sensitivity analyses. Publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The meta-analysis revealed a 66% (CI: 55, 77) pooled prevalence of good job performance among Ethiopian health professionals. Higher estimates were observed in studies with a sample size of <350 (72%), conducted in Addis Ababa (76%), after 2020 (65%), and among nurses (69%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Only two-thirds of Ethiopian health professionals demonstrated good job performance, highlighting the need for implementing targeted performance improvement interventions.</p><p><strong>Systematic review registration: </strong>https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251013239, identifier CRD420251013239.</p>","PeriodicalId":35944,"journal":{"name":"PUBLIC HEALTH REVIEWS","volume":"47 ","pages":"1609470"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13318800/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148370147","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}
PUBLIC HEALTH REVIEWSPub Date : 2026-06-15eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.3389/phrs.2026.1609517
Mark Avery, Suzanne Babich, Katarzyna Czabanowska, Laura Magaña, Mindaugas Stankunas
{"title":"Transformative public health education - are we there, yet?","authors":"Mark Avery, Suzanne Babich, Katarzyna Czabanowska, Laura Magaña, Mindaugas Stankunas","doi":"10.3389/phrs.2026.1609517","DOIUrl":"10.3389/phrs.2026.1609517","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":35944,"journal":{"name":"PUBLIC HEALTH REVIEWS","volume":"47 ","pages":"1609517"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13310805/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148354074","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}
PUBLIC HEALTH REVIEWSPub Date : 2026-06-10eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.3389/phrs.2026.1609708
Martin Ernst, Lars Münter, Adam Skali, Eva Turk
{"title":"Diplomatic monocultures in public health diplomacy: a narrative review on conference equity, participation and visibility.","authors":"Martin Ernst, Lars Münter, Adam Skali, Eva Turk","doi":"10.3389/phrs.2026.1609708","DOIUrl":"10.3389/phrs.2026.1609708","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Public health diplomacy increasingly unfolds under polycrisis conditions shaped by pandemics, conflict, demographic change, climate-related shocks, governance turbulence, and the infodemic. This narrative review examines conference equity, participation, and visibility as governance-relevant mechanisms within public health diplomacy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a narrative synthesis of recent literature on global health governance, public health diplomacy, conference participation, diversity and inclusion, digital and hybrid convening, and equity-oriented capacity building.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The synthesis indicates that participation and visibility gaps across gender, geography, country income context, career stage, language, mobility, and institutional resources can shape whose expertise is recognized, which agendas become prominent, and which coalitions form. We conceptualize these patterns as \"diplomatic monocultures\" that may narrow policy imagination, weaken legitimacy, and constrain capacity building. The review further identifies digital and hybrid formats as potential equity mechanisms only when designed to support comparable visibility, interaction, and influence.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Conference equity should be treated as a public health diplomacy lever. We propose a multi-level roadmap for organizers, institutions, funders, and governance actors to strengthen equitable participation and more context-responsive global health governance.</p>","PeriodicalId":35944,"journal":{"name":"PUBLIC HEALTH REVIEWS","volume":"47 ","pages":"1609708"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13291656/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148333437","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}
PUBLIC HEALTH REVIEWSPub Date : 2026-06-01eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.3389/phrs.2026.1608655
Fatemeh Ehteshami, Anna Verjans, Rachel Cassidy, Fabrizio Tediosi, Günther Fink, Daniel Cobos Muñoz
{"title":"A realist review to understand the complexity of effective management of type 2 diabetes and hypertension.","authors":"Fatemeh Ehteshami, Anna Verjans, Rachel Cassidy, Fabrizio Tediosi, Günther Fink, Daniel Cobos Muñoz","doi":"10.3389/phrs.2026.1608655","DOIUrl":"10.3389/phrs.2026.1608655","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>We aimed to disentangle the mechanisms that govern the effective management of diabetes and/or hypertension in various contexts in low- and middle-income countries.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a realist review guided by the Realist and MEta-narrative Evidence Syntheses Evolving Standards. We systematically searched electronic databases to examine in what contexts, how, and for whom programs targeting diabetes and/or hypertension care work through context-mechanism-outcome (CMO) configurations and then revised an initial program theory to a refined program theory.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identified four CMO configurations. (1) Cross-sectoral partnerships activate the mechanisms of resource pooling and mobilization, improving healthcare services coverage and fostering sustainable local buy-in (2) Integration of disease-specific programs facilitates coordinated care, resulting in treatment adherence (3) Digitalized infrastructure and literacy enable the mechanisms of mHealth and eHealth implementation and clinical decentralization, improving access, coordination, and treatment adherence (4) Patient-centered care triggers the mechanisms of patient-provider communication and personalized care, leading to patient engagement and health education.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This review provides insights into the relevance of contexts and their associated mechanisms for operationalizing successful models of care for diabetes and/or hypertension that enhance health outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":35944,"journal":{"name":"PUBLIC HEALTH REVIEWS","volume":"47 ","pages":"1608655"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13266464/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148266500","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}
PUBLIC HEALTH REVIEWSPub Date : 2026-05-28eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.3389/phrs.2026.1608969
Kristof Santa, Rosie Gordon, Buket Kara, Jorg Huber, Henry Pollock, Heather Catt, Prabhad Jayakody, Koser Khan, Andrew Harding, Anna Kenyon, Jade Swain-Veneziale, Amalia Theophilou, Grace Robson, Barbara Mezes
{"title":"Perceived barriers and facilitators of accessing statutory and non-statutory services, in disadvantaged communities, in England: a co-produced qualitative review.","authors":"Kristof Santa, Rosie Gordon, Buket Kara, Jorg Huber, Henry Pollock, Heather Catt, Prabhad Jayakody, Koser Khan, Andrew Harding, Anna Kenyon, Jade Swain-Veneziale, Amalia Theophilou, Grace Robson, Barbara Mezes","doi":"10.3389/phrs.2026.1608969","DOIUrl":"10.3389/phrs.2026.1608969","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This review explored the perceived barriers and facilitators to accessing statutory and non-statutory health and social care services among disadvantaged populations in England. Community-based services delivered by statutory bodies and the voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise (VCSFE) sector are critical for addressing social determinants of health, fostering resilience, and promoting equity. However, in disadvantaged areas, complex needs and structural exclusion frequently limit their effectiveness.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Co-produced with academics, VCFSE sector, and public contributors, this review synthesised qualitative research published since 2003, drawing on first-hand accounts of service users to explore how intersecting forms of disadvantage affect service access.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The review identified four themes influencing access to community-based services among disadvantaged groups: structural and informational barriers, the impact of cultural, social, and economic contexts, institutional trust and continuity, and emotional motivators and barriers.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Improving access to community-based services requires structural and cultural alignment with users' lives. Services ought to prioritise flexibility, trust, and navigational support while addressing emotional and institutional barriers.</p>","PeriodicalId":35944,"journal":{"name":"PUBLIC HEALTH REVIEWS","volume":"47 ","pages":"1608969"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13377981/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148580560","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}
PUBLIC HEALTH REVIEWSPub Date : 2026-05-26eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.3389/phrs.2026.1609722
Sophie Mae Harrington, Paul Louis Fiedler, Katerina Sidiroglou, Nadia Ahmed, Hannah Brunskill, Jennifer Hall, Ledia Lazëri, João Breda
{"title":"From tokenism to youth leadership in child and adolescent mental health research.","authors":"Sophie Mae Harrington, Paul Louis Fiedler, Katerina Sidiroglou, Nadia Ahmed, Hannah Brunskill, Jennifer Hall, Ledia Lazëri, João Breda","doi":"10.3389/phrs.2026.1609722","DOIUrl":"10.3389/phrs.2026.1609722","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":35944,"journal":{"name":"PUBLIC HEALTH REVIEWS","volume":"47 ","pages":"1609722"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13246456/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148220109","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}
PUBLIC HEALTH REVIEWSPub Date : 2026-05-26eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.3389/phrs.2026.1608894
Jannemiek Sonneveld, Lilian van der Ven, Janna Bruijning, Niek de Wit, Katarina Jerković-Ćosić
{"title":"Optimizing intersectoral collaboration and citizen participation in community-level health promotion: a scoping review.","authors":"Jannemiek Sonneveld, Lilian van der Ven, Janna Bruijning, Niek de Wit, Katarina Jerković-Ćosić","doi":"10.3389/phrs.2026.1608894","DOIUrl":"10.3389/phrs.2026.1608894","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>We aimed to map facilitators and barriers for both intersectoral collaboration (IC) and citizen participation (CP) in community-level health promotion.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this scoping review, we searched PubMed, Embase, PsycInfo, CINAHL, Scopus, Global Health, Sociological Abstracts, and Social Services Abstracts, using keywords pertaining to IC, CP, health promotion, and local context to identify studies published between January 2013 and March 2025.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We included 44 studies: 16 on IC, 16 on CP, and 12 on both. Facilitators and barriers can be divided into six overarching themes: Shared purpose, Operationalization, Relational dynamics, Adequate structure and support, Essential people at the table, and Personal drives. The frequency and interpretation of these themes differed between IC and CP.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Facilitators and barriers for both IC and CP in community-based health promotion can be divided into six themes, with both similarities and distinguishing differences existing between IC and CP. Our study presents a framework that reflects the realities of collaboration across sectors and with citizens, which can be used to initiate, sustain, evaluate, and optimize health promotion collaboration processes.</p>","PeriodicalId":35944,"journal":{"name":"PUBLIC HEALTH REVIEWS","volume":"47 ","pages":"1608894"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13329247/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148391877","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}