Christina Cheng, Shandell Elmer, Roy Batterham, Melanie Hawkins, Richard H Osborne
{"title":"Measuring health literacy to inform actions to address health inequities: a cluster analysis approach based on the Australian national health literacy survey.","authors":"Christina Cheng, Shandell Elmer, Roy Batterham, Melanie Hawkins, Richard H Osborne","doi":"10.1093/pubmed/fdae165","DOIUrl":"10.1093/pubmed/fdae165","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Measuring health literacy can inform interventions to address health inequities. This study used cluster analysis to examine health literacy data to determine if it can provide more insightful information than standard descriptive analysis to better inform intervention development.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using data from the Australian National Health Survey (2018), this study compared descriptive analysis and cluster analysis results of two states-New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria-generated from the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ). Based on the nine scale scores of the HLQ, a hierarchical cluster analysis using Ward's method for linkage was undertaken.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The number of NSW and Victoria respondents was 1018 and 923, respectively. The nine HLQ scale full sample mean scores from both states were similar. However, the cluster analyses identified 11 clusters for NSW and 12 clusters for Victoria. While six clusters from each state presented similar health literacy patterns, five and six clusters from NSW and Victoria, respectively, displayed unique health literacy patterns.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The results demonstrate that descriptive analysis only provides an overview and may lead to one-size-fits-all interventions. The varying health literacy patterns among subgroups resulting from the cluster analysis pave the way to inform tailored actions to improve health equity.</p>","PeriodicalId":94107,"journal":{"name":"Journal of public health (Oxford, England)","volume":" ","pages":"e663-e674"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11637599/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141891434","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}
Sebastián Blanco, María C Frutos, Lorena Spinsanti, Sandra V Gallego
{"title":"Silent St. Louis encephalitis virus circulation evidence by a haemovigilance survey in a centralized blood bank.","authors":"Sebastián Blanco, María C Frutos, Lorena Spinsanti, Sandra V Gallego","doi":"10.1093/pubmed/fdae303","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdae303","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Saint Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) re-emergence and its geographical expansion, evidenced by its emergence in previously unaffected areas, have raised significant public health concerns. We aimed to show the usefulness of haemovigilance as an effective tool to fill arboviruses surveillance gaps to track trends and identify hotspots.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Within the framework of a blood bank haemovigilance program, we performed a survey to evaluate the potential threat of circulating mosquito-borne infections for transfusion safety. SLEV was detected by a PCR targeting the conserved NS5-gene region, and the PCR-product was subjected to direct nucleotide sequencing reaction.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The SLEV-strain detected in the blood donor (OR236721) clustered with previously reported CbaAr-4005, 79 V-2533, and MN413675 isolated in Córdoba (2005, epidemic), Santa Fe (1979, non-epidemic) and Buenos Aires (2013, non-epidemic), with 97% identity.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Herein, we show the usefulness of haemovigilance in uncovering the silent circulation of arboviral infections. Implementing this systematic surveillance approach would allow for monitoring the distribution and incidence of vector-borne diseases, providing information that could prevent the spread of the virus and its introduction into novel biomes. Ultimately, leveraging haemovigilance enables timely identification of potential outbreaks and empowers policymakers to make well-informed decisions to safeguard public health.</p>","PeriodicalId":94107,"journal":{"name":"Journal of public health (Oxford, England)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142752709","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aqsa Bashir, Henry Völzke, Vivien Henck, Sabine Schipf, Marcus Dörr, Matthias Nauck, Carsten Oliver Schmidt, Ali Aghdassi, Muhammad N K Khattak, Marcello R P Markus, Till Ittermann
{"title":"Prevalence trends of type 2 diabetes treatment, dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis in Northeast Germany.","authors":"Aqsa Bashir, Henry Völzke, Vivien Henck, Sabine Schipf, Marcus Dörr, Matthias Nauck, Carsten Oliver Schmidt, Ali Aghdassi, Muhammad N K Khattak, Marcello R P Markus, Till Ittermann","doi":"10.1093/pubmed/fdae302","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdae302","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The investigation of prevalence trends of metabolic cardiovascular risk factors is important for appropriate planning of future health programs aiming to prevent cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In a previous study, we demonstrated an increase in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) between 2000 and 2010 in Northeast Germany. The purpose of this study is to investigate prevalence trends of T2D treatment, dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis in Northeast Germany.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The baseline examinations of the first Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) project were carried out from 1997 to 2001 (SHIP-START-0, 4308 subjects). A second, independent random sample of the same region was enrolled between 2008 and 2012 (SHIP-TREND-0, 4420 subjects). All data were standardized with post-stratification weighting derived from the adult population of the German federal state of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The prevalence of metformin intake increased from 2.1% to 4.1% and insulin use from 2.0% to 2.8%. While the prevalence of statin intake increased from 6.8% to 12.2%, the prevalence of dyslipidemia decreased slightly from 49.0% in SHIP-START-0 to 45.5% in SHIP-TREND-0. The prevalence of hepatic steatosis increased from 29.7% to 37.3%. This increase was most prominently observed in women and younger age groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>T2D, dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis are common and increasing health problems among adults in Northeast Germany. Reassuring healthy diet and controlling obesity may result in prevention of above-mentioned health problems.</p>","PeriodicalId":94107,"journal":{"name":"Journal of public health (Oxford, England)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142752708","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Correction to: When love hurts: emotional labor and hidden strains of intimate partner violence in toxic relationships.","authors":"","doi":"10.1093/pubmed/fdae305","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdae305","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94107,"journal":{"name":"Journal of public health (Oxford, England)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142752707","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Assessment of the link between life purpose and health.","authors":"Richard Sias, Harry J Turtle","doi":"10.1093/pubmed/fdae301","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdae301","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study examined the temporal relations between a decline in health and changes in life purpose to better understand the causal direction between life purpose and morbidity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Over a 16-year period, 7598 individuals completed up to four quadrennial surveys, which included information on 14 health metrics (lung function, grip strength, walking speed, balance and diagnoses of hypertension, diabetes, cancer, lung disease, heart condition, stroke, psychiatric problem, arthritis, dementia and Alzheimer's) and life purpose. Ordinary and logistic regressions were used to examine the temporal relations between changes in purpose and changes in health over both the same 4-year period and over the subsequent 8 years.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A decline in health was associated with a 5% standard deviation decline (95% confidence interval -0.08, -0.02) in purpose over the same 4-year period. In contrast, there was no evidence that a decline in purpose was associated with a subsequent decline in health.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The results fail to support the hypothesis that life purpose causes subsequent morbidity but support the hypothesis that a decline in health causes a decline in purpose. There is little evidence that life-purpose intervention policies will meaningfully impact subsequent morbidity.</p>","PeriodicalId":94107,"journal":{"name":"Journal of public health (Oxford, England)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142735304","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amina Suleiman Rajah, Umar Yunusa, Faiza Tijjani Tashi, Sidetu O Abdullahi, Abdulaziz Suleiman Tukuntawa
{"title":"Sustainable menstrual solutions: a scoping review of novel eco-friendly materials for reusable menstrual pads.","authors":"Amina Suleiman Rajah, Umar Yunusa, Faiza Tijjani Tashi, Sidetu O Abdullahi, Abdulaziz Suleiman Tukuntawa","doi":"10.1093/pubmed/fdae304","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdae304","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Reusable menstrual pads (RMPs) offer a sustainable alternative, but the effectiveness and properties of novel eco-friendly materials for RMPs remain unclear. The objective of this scoping review is to identify novel eco-friendly materials used for RMPs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This review adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. A comprehensive three-step search strategy was employed to locate both published and unpublished studies. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts using the software Covidence. Data were extracted and charted using a standardized form. This search was conducted in February, 2024.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The search yielded 479 studies, 37 studies were assessed for full-text review, which led to inclusion of 16 studies. A diverse array of eco-friendly materials were identified for RMPs. The top layer includes bamboo, banana, organic cotton and other natural fibers. The core layer, focused on absorbency, features materials like cotton terry cloth, hemp, bamboo wadding and bamboo kun. The bottom layer uses water-repellent materials, such as polyester, polyurethane laminate, nylon and bio-plastic sheets.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This review highlights the potential of plant-based fibers as eco-friendly materials for RMPs.</p>","PeriodicalId":94107,"journal":{"name":"Journal of public health (Oxford, England)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142735314","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Urban gardening, health, and Doughnut Economics in Amsterdam.","authors":"Ma Marilou S Ibita","doi":"10.1093/pubmed/fdae297","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdae297","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94107,"journal":{"name":"Journal of public health (Oxford, England)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142718066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Sources of bias in studies reporting birth prevalence of congenital anomalies: a scoping review and reporting checklist.","authors":"Sumedha Dharmarajan, Prajkta Bhide, Anita Kar","doi":"10.1093/pubmed/fdae299","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdae299","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Data on the birth prevalence of congenital anomalies in low- and middle-income countries report wide variations in prevalence estimates. We conducted a scoping review to identify the sources of bias in studies reporting birth prevalence of congenital anomalies in World Health Organization South-East Asia region (SEAR) countries.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>PubMed and Google Scholar databases were screened for relevant literature. Data on study characteristics and sources of bias was extracted. A narrative synthesis of the data is reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews checklist. A checklist for reporting studies on birth prevalence of congenital anomalies (CD-Checklist) was developed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The literature search retrieved 47 articles. Birth prevalence varied from 0.21% to 9.68%. Sampling bias was evident as studies were single hospital studies, lacked relevant description of sample, did not justify sample size or describe the process of sampling. Information bias was identified as studies did not mention classification system used, and failed to clearly distinguish between number of malformations and babies with malformations. Observer and reporting bias were noted.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Several sources of bias introduce variations in birth prevalence reports of congenital anomalies in SEAR countries. A checklist (CD-Checklist) has been suggested which can guide investigators to minimize the risk of bias in studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":94107,"journal":{"name":"Journal of public health (Oxford, England)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142718063","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hind A Beydoun, Christian A Mayno Vieytes, May A Beydoun, Austin Lampros, Jack Tsai
{"title":"Identifying diagnosed major chronic diseases associated with recent housing instability among aging adults: data from the 'All of Us' research program.","authors":"Hind A Beydoun, Christian A Mayno Vieytes, May A Beydoun, Austin Lampros, Jack Tsai","doi":"10.1093/pubmed/fdae300","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdae300","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Housing instability is a known barrier to healthcare utilization potentially affecting the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases among diverse groups of adults. We examined the intersection of recent housing instability with prevalent cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and psychiatric diagnoses among aging adults.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Cross-sectional data on 147 465 participants of the 'All of Us' Research Program (6 May 2018-1 July 2022), ≥50 years of age at enrollment, were analyzed. Self-reported housing instability over the past 6 months was examined in relation to diagnosed conditions at age ≥50 years based on electronic health records. Multivariable logistic regression models sequentially adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics were constructed to estimate odds ratios (OR) with their 95% confidence intervals (CI).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After adjusting for confounders, past 6 months housing instability was associated with lower odds of diagnosed cardiovascular disease (OR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.87, 0.93) and cancer (OR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.78, 0.86), higher odds of diagnosed psychiatric (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.30, 1.40) conditions, but was unrelated to diagnosed diabetes (OR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.94, 1.01).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Recent housing instability among aging adults is positively associated with psychiatric diagnoses, but negatively associated with cardiovascular and cancer diagnoses, with implications for chronic disease prevention.</p>","PeriodicalId":94107,"journal":{"name":"Journal of public health (Oxford, England)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142718074","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"An evaluation of the impact of a national Minimum Unit Price on alcohol policy on alcohol behaviours.","authors":"Gretta Mohan","doi":"10.1093/pubmed/fdae288","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdae288","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In 2018, Scotland pioneered national legislation which set a Minimum Unit Price (MUP) of 50 pence (∼US$0.64, €0.59) per unit of UK alcohol sold (8 g/10 ml). To inform policy development, we examine the policy effect using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C), employing longitudinal data for over 17 200 individuals.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The effect of MUP on AUDIT-C scores is inferred by employing difference-in-difference regression. Pre- and post-intervention alcohol behaviours of individuals from Scotland are compared to a matched 'control' from England. Drinking at hazardous and harmful levels could be identified, as well as the frequency of alcohol consumption, number of drinks and heavy episodic drinking. Estimates adjust for demographic, socioeconomic and health characteristics. Potential inequalities by gender, age and household income are examined.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>MUP led to an estimated 5.3% reduction in the number of drinks consumed on drinking occasions, though a statistically significant effect on overall reported AUDIT-C scores or drinking at hazardous levels was not detected, with few differential effects for subgroups.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Differences in the findings of this research compared to other studies may be explained by differences in population coverage collected in the survey data, compared to more comprehensive, population-wide administrative data, as well as sample attrition.</p>","PeriodicalId":94107,"journal":{"name":"Journal of public health (Oxford, England)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142712298","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}