{"title":"Fishing with skis, digging with noodles: Resolving task-and-tool mismatches in efforts to advance health equity","authors":"Katrina Plamondon , Sana Z. Shahram","doi":"10.1016/j.dialog.2024.100200","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dialog.2024.100200","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>When it comes to advancing equity, across the health sciences, efforts repeatedly target interventions on those most burdened by inequities rather than the systems or structures that give rise to inequities. This mismatch, in and of itself, is an important determinant of equity. While many conceptual models draw collective attention to deeper, structural causes (e.g., social, political, and commercial determinants of health) as the 'what', inattention to questions of 'how'–or the collective practices that serve to connect what is known with what is done–are like a wedge holding this gap in place. In this article, we use an exaggerated metaphor of mismatched task-and-tool to provoke critically reflective dialogue about collective attachment to scholarship and practices incoherent with our own body of knowledge. We offer a set of five practices easily integrated in any aspect of work related to advancing equity, through everyday actions anyone (anywhere) can take to purposefully act from an evidence and equity-informed position.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72803,"journal":{"name":"Dialogues in health","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100200"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142744563","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}
Zoya Ejaz , Faizan Masood , Arsalan Nadeem , Abdullah Ahmed , Eeman Ahmad , Mahrukh Chaudhry
{"title":"Blurred vision: The ophthalmological effect of smog in Pakistan","authors":"Zoya Ejaz , Faizan Masood , Arsalan Nadeem , Abdullah Ahmed , Eeman Ahmad , Mahrukh Chaudhry","doi":"10.1016/j.dialog.2024.100199","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dialog.2024.100199","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This article discusses the growing burden of smog in Pakistan, tracing its origins to vehicular emissions, industrial pollutants, and agricultural practices. It highlights current national initiatives and advocates for enhanced government interventions to mitigate smog's adverse effects on ocular health. It also emphasizes the need for collective action to safeguard ocular health amid rising smog pollution in Pakistan.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72803,"journal":{"name":"Dialogues in health","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100199"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142719890","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":"Correlation between fall experience and life functions among community-dwelling older adults in Japan","authors":"Koshi Sumigawa , Yuji Koike","doi":"10.1016/j.dialog.2024.100198","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dialog.2024.100198","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>This study investigated the correlation between the risk of falls and life functions, including motor function, cognitive function, and urinary disorders, among older adults residing in small cities in the metropolitan areas of Japan and evaluated the contents of fall prevention instructions.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Sixty-nine older adults residing at home participated in this case-control study conducted between September and October 2019. The survey items included questions pertaining to the history of falls; grip strength; the 30-s Chair Stand Test (CS-30), Functional Reach Test (FRT), and Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) scores; mental and cognitive functions [Test Your Memory-Japanese version test (TYM-J)]; living conditions; and urination status [Core Lower Urinary Tract Symptom Score (CLSS)].</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Participants with a history of falls had significantly lower CS-30 and FRT scores, and significantly higher TUG scores and CLSS than those with no history of falls. Grip strength bore significant correlations with the CS-30 and TUG scores. The CS-30 scores were correlated with the FRT and TUG scores. The FRT scores were correlated with the TUG and French State Activity Index (FAI) scores. The TUG scores were correlated with the TYM-J and FAI scores. The CLSS showed no significant correlations with the remaining items. The FRT scores and CLSS exerted a significant effect on the risk of experiencing falls.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Both balancing ability and micturition status affect fall risk and should be considered in treatment strategies for urinary disorders in fall prevention programs for older adults.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72803,"journal":{"name":"Dialogues in health","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100198"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142654195","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}
Dialogues in healthPub Date : 2024-10-29eCollection Date: 2024-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.dialog.2024.100197
Sydney Persaud, Michael Fitzgerald, Steven Hawken, Peter Tanuseputro, Lisa Boucher, William Petrcich, Martin Wellman, Colleen Webber, Esther Shoemaker, Robin Ducharme, Simone Dahrouge, Daniel Myran, Ahmed M Bayoumi, Susitha Wanigaratne, Gary Bloch, David Ponka, Brendan T Smith, Aisha Lofters, Austin Zygmunt, Krystal Kehoe MacLeod, Luke A Turcotte, Beate Sander, Michelle Howard, Sarah Funnell, Jennifer Rayner, Kurtis Kitagawa, Sureya Ibrahim, Claire E Kendall
{"title":"The association of combinations of social factors and SARs-CoV-2 infection: A retrospective population-based cohort study in Ontario, 2020-2021.","authors":"Sydney Persaud, Michael Fitzgerald, Steven Hawken, Peter Tanuseputro, Lisa Boucher, William Petrcich, Martin Wellman, Colleen Webber, Esther Shoemaker, Robin Ducharme, Simone Dahrouge, Daniel Myran, Ahmed M Bayoumi, Susitha Wanigaratne, Gary Bloch, David Ponka, Brendan T Smith, Aisha Lofters, Austin Zygmunt, Krystal Kehoe MacLeod, Luke A Turcotte, Beate Sander, Michelle Howard, Sarah Funnell, Jennifer Rayner, Kurtis Kitagawa, Sureya Ibrahim, Claire E Kendall","doi":"10.1016/j.dialog.2024.100197","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dialog.2024.100197","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted and exacerbated health inequities worldwide. While several studies have examined the impact of individual social factors on COVID infection, our objective was to examine how interactions of social factors were associated with the risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 during the first two years of the pandemic.</p><p><strong>Study design and setting: </strong>We conducted an observational cohort study using linked health administrative data for Ontarians tested for SARS-CoV-2 between January 1st, 2020, and December 31st, 2021. We constructed multivariable models to examine the association between SARS-CoV-2 positivity and key variables including immigration status (immigrants vs. other Ontarians), and neighbourhood variables for household size, income, essential worker status, and visible minority status. We report main and interaction effects using odds ratios and predicted probabilities, with age and sex controlled in all models.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 6,575,523 Ontarians in the cohort, 88.5 % tested negative, and 11.5 % tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. In all models, immigrants and those living in neighbourhoods with large average household sizes had greater odds of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2. The strength of these associations increased with increasing levels of neighbourhood marginalization for income, essential worker proportion and visible minority proportion. We observed little change in the probability of testing positive across neighbourhood income quintiles among other Ontarians who live in neighbourhoods with smaller households, but a large change in probability among other Ontarians who live in neighbourhoods with larger households.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our study found that SARS-CoV-2 positivity was greater among people with certain combinations of social factors, but in all cases the probability of testing positive was consistently greater for immigrants than for other Ontarians. Examining interactions of social factors can provide a more nuanced and more comprehensive understanding of health inequity than examining factors separately.</p>","PeriodicalId":72803,"journal":{"name":"Dialogues in health","volume":"5 ","pages":"100197"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11664076/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142883731","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":"Breaking barriers: A gender-based quota system in nursing school admission in Bangladesh","authors":"Shimpi Akter , Masuda Akter , Sopon Akter , Humayun Kabir","doi":"10.1016/j.dialog.2024.100196","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dialog.2024.100196","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":72803,"journal":{"name":"Dialogues in health","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100196"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142571500","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}
Reigner Jay B. Escartin , Rvin John T. Servillon , Jesille Mae A. Legarta , Stephanie Kate G. Arriola , Princess Faiqah A. Brahim , Dennis Louis M. Braza , Aireen V. Salva , Alfredo A. Hinay Jr
{"title":"Success rates and adherence to antiretroviral therapy among treatment-naïve patients in Davao City, Philippines: A ten-year retrospective cohort study","authors":"Reigner Jay B. Escartin , Rvin John T. Servillon , Jesille Mae A. Legarta , Stephanie Kate G. Arriola , Princess Faiqah A. Brahim , Dennis Louis M. Braza , Aireen V. Salva , Alfredo A. Hinay Jr","doi":"10.1016/j.dialog.2024.100195","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dialog.2024.100195","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has significantly improved the prognosis and quality of life of HIV/AIDS patients. However, ART success is greatly influenced by patient adherence to the treatment regimens. This study aimed to assess the association between patient adherence to ART and the treatment success rate among antiretroviral-naïve patients in Davao City, Philippines.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study utilized a 10-year retrospective cohort design, including 517 antiretroviral-naïve patients from an HIV treatment hub in Davao City, the Philippines. Using strict inclusion criteria, 183 antiretroviral-naïve patients were analyzed.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>The study found significant associations between the type of ART (<em>p</em> <em>=</em> 0.011) and the timing of ART initiation (<em>p</em> = 0.006) with both patient adherence and the ART success rate. Specifically, patients who achieved sustained viral suppression were predominantly those who initiated ART early, with 71.6 % (<em>n</em> = 131) of them prescribed a regimen consisting of 2 NRTIs and 1 NNRTI. Moreover, 73.8 % of patients demonstrated good adherence (<50 HIV copies/mL). Importantly, patient adherence to ART was strongly correlated with treatment success rate.</div></div><div><h3>Interpretation</h3><div>This study highlights the significance of adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) for successful treatment outcomes among antiretroviral-naïve patients living with HIV/AIDS. Early initiation of ART and consistent adherence to treatment regimens are essential for achieving sustained viral suppression and improving treatment effectiveness.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72803,"journal":{"name":"Dialogues in health","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100195"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142323139","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":"An overlooked risk for skin health: Less availability and higher cost of sunscreen for people with melanated skin","authors":"Emerson D. Basch , Grace C. Hillyer","doi":"10.1016/j.dialog.2024.100194","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dialog.2024.100194","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Sunscreen with a skin protection factor (SPF) of 30 or greater is recommended to reduce the risk of skin cancer and improve skin health for all people regardless of skin tone. Traditional sunscreen that creates a white cast on the skin is incompatible with melanated skin.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The number of products on the shelf, SPF level, application, coloration, and cost were recorded at three beauty supply chain stores and three pharmacy, health, and wellness stores in or near Harlem in New York City in the Spring of 2023. The number of skin tones for tinted sunscreen was visually matched to the Fitzpatrick Skin Phototypes scale.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 385 sunscreen products were identified; 78.7 % were traditional white sunscreen, followed by sheer (15.3 %) and tinted (6.0 %) products. Beauty supply stores offered more tinted sunscreen options than did pharmacy, health, and wellness stores (<em>n</em> = 17,15.3 % vs. <em>n</em> = 6, 2.2 %, <em>p</em> < 0.001). Of the tinted sunscreen products, 19 brands offered only a single tone. Tinted sunscreen was significantly more expensive with an average cost of $24.59 [SD $14.71] per ounce vs. $6.85 [SD 8.66] for traditional, and $9.38 [SD 8.92] for sheer suncreen.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Sunscreen that is tinted or sheer and compatible with melanated skin is less available and more costly than traditional white sunscreen in beauty and pharmacy chain stores in NYC. Availability and affordability of sunscreen matching the spectrum of skin tones are essential for optimal sun protection and skin health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72803,"journal":{"name":"Dialogues in health","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100194"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142358088","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":"Genomic analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 variants circulated in the Philippines, 2020–2024","authors":"Arnie Dimaano , Kiana Dominique Carreon , Giselle Sophia Camaya , Irvin Rondolo , Jarel Elgin Tolentino","doi":"10.1016/j.dialog.2024.100193","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dialog.2024.100193","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>Genomic sequencing has been an invaluable tool to determine the evolution of SARS-CoV-2. In the present study, we provided a comprehensive description of the SARS-CoV-2 variants circulated in the Philippines.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>The dataset from the human COVID-19 infections was acquired by downloading the sequences and their associated metadata spanning from March 2020 to April 2024. Then, we executed several filtering criteria to acquire the final dataset for the Philippine samples and performed spatial distribution analysis and phylogenetic tree construction of the reported SARS-CoV-2 sequences.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>A total of 16,679,203 SARS-CoV sequences were obtained, of which 17,393 (0.10 %) were sampled in the Philippines. Western Visayas reported the highest SARS-CoV-2 sequences (21.33 %), while the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao reported the least (0.48 %). The phylogenetic tree revealed the evolution of the detected SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating in the Philippines with 19 A as the first reported case (based on the GISAID submission), and 24 A (JN.1) as the currently circulating variant. Omicron variants have dominated the Philippines with 21 L (Omicron, BA.2) having 5102 cases (29.33 %), followed by 22B (BA.5) having 2184 cases (12.57 %). Using Pearson's Chi-square test of independence, we showed that there is a significant association between the age-groups and gender with the detection years.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Altogether, this analysis showed the updated epidemiological trends of the reported SARS-CoV-2 variants in the Philippines. This increases the importance of conducting surveillance on viral infectious diseases such as COVID-19 to provide the scope and trajectory of viral spread in a country.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":72803,"journal":{"name":"Dialogues in health","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100193"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772653324000297/pdfft?md5=c2d3976b5c454541656dc2dae68e0f59&pid=1-s2.0-S2772653324000297-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142274399","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}
Rebecca Sophia Lais , Julia Fitzner , Yeon-Kyeng Lee , Verena Struckmann
{"title":"Open-sourced modeling and simulating tools for decision-makers during an emerging pandemic or epidemic – Systematic evaluation of utility and usability: A scoping review update","authors":"Rebecca Sophia Lais , Julia Fitzner , Yeon-Kyeng Lee , Verena Struckmann","doi":"10.1016/j.dialog.2024.100189","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dialog.2024.100189","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><p>The COVID-19 pandemic had devastating effects on health systems globally. Emerging infectious diseases and pandemics will persist as a global health threat and preparedness for an evidence based response becomes challenging for decision makers. Epidemiological modeling can and has supported decision-making throughout pandemics. This study provides an update of the review “Publicly available software tools for decision-makers during an emergent epidemic—Systematic evaluation of utility and usability”<sup>1.</sup></p></div><div><h3>Research question</h3><p>What epidemiological modeling tools for decision-makers are open-sourced available for the usage in emerging epidemics or pandemics and how useful and user-friendly are these tools?</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>A scoping review was conducted. We identified relevant studies through a search of peer-reviewed (Medline Ovid, Embase Ovid, PubMed, Cochrane) and gray literature databases, search engines such as Google, searches through stakeholder websites as well as expert consultations.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Of the 66 identified epidemiological modeling tools, 29 were included and qualitatively assessed using five-point-rating scales. The tools showed a good baseline of user-friendliness with variations in assessed components, features and utility. Room for improvement was found, specifically the capability to incorporate external data sources, detailed population descriptions, and geographic resolution.</p></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><p>Development efforts should prioritize clear communication of uncertainties and expert review processes. Trainings for specific tools should be considered.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Tool usage can enhance decision-making when adapted to the user's needs and purpose. They should be consulted critically rather than followed blindly.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":72803,"journal":{"name":"Dialogues in health","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100189"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S277265332400025X/pdfft?md5=90fc57683593d597334ea8e8daddfe2e&pid=1-s2.0-S277265332400025X-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142274398","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}
Cheryl Green, John Brennan, Lauren Koscal, Emma Sears, Jessica Munoz, Evelyn Jacovino, Lauren Thayer, Todd Allen Lane, Elizabeth Dos Santos
{"title":"The benefits of nursing professional governance nursing research and evidenced-based practice councils for new graduate nurses","authors":"Cheryl Green, John Brennan, Lauren Koscal, Emma Sears, Jessica Munoz, Evelyn Jacovino, Lauren Thayer, Todd Allen Lane, Elizabeth Dos Santos","doi":"10.1016/j.dialog.2024.100192","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dialog.2024.100192","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>New graduate nurses are an untapped population for nursing professional governance and nursing research and evidenced-based practice councils. New graduate nurses can offer new insights into the management of patient care and nursing workflow. By educating new graduate nurses about the benefits of nursing research and evidence-based practice councils at the start of their careers, an early standard of excellence in the empowerment of applying evidenced-based practice principles to improve patient care quality can occur. This narrative literature inquiry explores new graduate nurses perspective of research and evidence-based practice councils, with the targeted goal of engagement for professional and personal growth as a nurse leader.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":72803,"journal":{"name":"Dialogues in health","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100192"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772653324000285/pdfft?md5=db19ceee03a79b9ffa73856154636d0e&pid=1-s2.0-S2772653324000285-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142240408","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}