bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of a tool to assess the compliance of canteen menus with the Mediterranean Diet
Authors: Neto B , Ferreira L , Rocha A , Viegas C
Published: October 2024

The Mediterranean Diet (MD) is one of the healthiest food patterns associated with important health benefits. Acknowledging this, it’s important to understand how the dietary patterns of the consumers align with the MD. Over time, different authors have formulated several indexes for this purpose. However, current indexes lack standardization, and they only evaluate the quality of the diet of individuals to be used by health professionals and political decision-makers. Although there are indexes to assess the food options at the restaurants, none of them assess the menu compliance with the MD. Due to the importance of the food services in the food choices and dietary patterns of the consumers, this research developed an index to assess the alignment of the food availability with the MD key points. To address this gap, after reviewing the existing indexes in the literature, the authors created a tool that assesses the degree of compliance of menus with the MD - MedCIn. This index is divided into 4 dimensions, the first one assesses the availability (part A) and variety (part B) of the food/food groups. The second dimension assesses the nutritional quality of the menus based on the nutritional declaration, the third dimension assesses the food portions and culinary options, and the fourth dimension allows the verification of the previous information on site. Although the use of all dimensions allows for a more comprehensive menu evaluation, dimension one can be used as a first approach MD compliance. The index is meant to be applied in a 4-week cycle, though it can be adapted for each food service. Validation of this tool included construct validity, internal consistency and inter-rater reliability, all of which returned high values (alpha-Cronbach=0.88; Coheńs Kappa=0.92). The researchers consider this a reliable tool to easily assess compliance of menus with MD key points, allowing for the identification of issues to be addressed and improved
Students’ Perceptions of Food Offer in Portuguese Canteens and Adherence to Mediterranean Diets
Authors: Souza C , Prada M
Published: October 2024

Adherence to healthy eating behaviors, as in the Mediterranean Diet, is related to a better quality of life, better educational performance, and reduced risk of physical illness among higher education students. The provision of good quality and sustainable food is imperative in university environments. Nevertheless, the availability of healthy options tends to be limited across campuses (e.g., affordable fast food; the convenience of high-sugary foods in vending machines), including university canteens. Understanding students’ views on canteens and the factors that prevent them from embracing healthy eating habits may help to improve the food supply on campuses. In the present study, we aimed to examine students’ perceptions of canteen services and its food supply and to verify students’ knowledge and promptness to comply with a Mediterranean Diet menu. A large sample of academic students from Portuguese universities answered an online survey with a mixed approach. Specifically, participants were requested to characterize their dietary practices and report their perceptions about food services and offers in campus canteens. Additionally, students were asked about their knowledge, perceptions, and adherence to Mediterranean Diet. Our findings allow us to map perceptions and attitudes regarding food offered in university canteens and to identify the potential to adhere to more sustainable and healthier food patterns according to individual. Moreover, we identified the main psychological and environmental barriers to adhering Mediterranean Diet. Correlational data indicated a relationship between health-related measures and food-related factors. Advancing data about modifiable factors associated with better adherence to healthy dietary habits in the university context informs the development of actions/interventions to prevent unhealthy food choices and overcome limited and unhealthy food offers in canteen campuses.
Tailoring vaccination interventions for the Turkish and Moroccan communities in the Netherlands
Authors: De Zeeuw J , Van Enter B , Vervoort H , Boersma C , Schloemer T
Published: October 2024

Background

People with a Turkish or Moroccan migration background in the Netherlands have low HPV vaccination uptake. Health system barriers, including a lack of awareness raising initiatives on HPV, health care professionals being insufficiently trained to provide tailored care and insufficient delivery of HPV (vaccination) information, contribute to low uptake. To understand which promising interventions could be transferred, the interventions were discussed with a variety of stakeholders including community members.

Methods

By interviews and focus groups 33 key stakeholders were engaged to discuss on the promising evidence-based interventions. The interventions were extensively discussed on their effectiveness, cultural appropriateness, and potential transferability for which the Population-Intervention-Environment-Transfer Model of Transferability (PIET-T) model was used.

Results

Two interventions will be implemented of which one is focusing on the use of health promotors (trusted community members) who will provide parents of vaccine-eligible children with information on HPV and HPV vaccination. The educational sessions will be held together with health professionals in, for example, community centers or at schools. The other intervention focuses on training of healthcare professionals.

Conclusions

By engagement of key stakeholders including community members following the PIET-T model, final interventions could be developed that are tailored to the specific needs and contexts of people with a Turkish or Moroccan migration background in the Netherlands.
Bridges between evidence on vaccination intervention and Ukrainian migrant community needs in Poland
Authors: Ganczak M , Kalinowski P , Kowalska M , Nyankowskyy S , Schloemer T
Published: October 2024

Background

Vaccination coverage in Ukrainian migrants’ (UM) children is lower compared to their Polish counterparts. We aimed to identify and adapt effective evidence-based interventions which would address health system barriers to HPV/MMR vaccination in this community.

Methods

With the help of the Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach, 4 researchers, 6 experts, 6 UM, 7 Ukrainian GPs and 3 teachers identified and discussed transferability of promising HPV/MMR vaccination interventions and their adaptation from the Polish and contextual perspective. The Population-Intervention-Environment-Transfer Model of Transferability (PIET-T) model was used to accompany the steps for determining transferability.

Results

Three intervention elements were considered as capable for increasing HPV/MMR vaccination uptake: a health promoter, group educational sessions and an online provider training. Adaptations were needed to make them consistent with the contextual needs. The intervention was adapted to involve Ukrainian GPs delivering culturally sensitive education and a Ukrainian coordinator offering navigation support; barriers (lack of information/language barrier) were addressed. The education sessions for parents were taken into account as having potential to increase knowledge and facilitate making informed decisions regarding vaccination. The online education course was assessed as a strategy to possibly enhance GPs knowledge to let them make strong HPV/MMR vaccine recommendations to UMs.

Conclusions

Both, community-based PAR approach, and the PIET-T model, facilitated the assessment of intervention transferability and adaptation in terms of covering the individual context, pattern and needs of UMs community in Poland, to finally increase HPV/MMR vaccination uptake.
Tailoring intervention targeting HPV vaccination in marginalized Roma communities in Slovakia
Authors: Filakovska Bobakova D , Plavnicka J , Urbancikova I , Schloemer T
Published: October 2024

Background

Marginalized Roma communities (MRCs) are among underserved groups facing limited access to vaccination services and presumably low HPV vaccination rates. The most significant health system barriers to HPV vaccination include financial costs, lack of appropriate information and restricted capacities of healthcare providers. Two interventions identified as promising for implementation in the context of MRCs were discussed with a variety of stakeholders and community members to tailor intervention that would be well accepted and effective to increase HPV vaccination rates in MRCs.

Methods

The first intervention uses health promoters - trusted and trained community members to address cultural and language barriers and serve as a vital link between healthcare providers and community members. The second multilevel intervention is providing education, navigation, and vaccine access. Initial discussions were conducted with 23 stakeholders, and follow-up discussions were held with 16 stakeholders, including representatives of healthcare professionals, schools, local authorities, and community members.

Results

An intervention to be implemented in Slovakia focuses on the use of Roma health mediators who will provide parents and vaccine-eligible children (12-14 years old) from MRCs with information on HPV and HPV vaccination, invite them to educational sessions organized in community centres and at schools and navigate them through the vaccination process. The intervention also combines components such as videos and discussions with healthcare professionals, aligning with the needs and wishes of the target group.

Conclusions

This intervention will help to deliver reliable and understandable information on vaccination and enable people from MRCs to make informed decisions about vaccination. Roma health mediators will take the burden of providing information from overloaded healthcare providers and navigate community members through the vaccination process.
Future-Proofing Analysis of the 2017 EU AMR Action Plan
Authors: Parkinson S
Published: October 2024

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious public health concern and has been deemed a top priority amongst public health authorities internationally. AMR is a complex issue, which is affected by a wide range of diverse factors including antimicrobial use, vaccines, surveillance, climate change and global conflicts. In thinking about how to address AMR, it is important to not only consider how multiple factors interact to contribute to the issue, but also how these factors may develop in the future. In 2017, the European Commission published the European One Health Action Plan against AMR, which set out objectives and priory areas for actions across EU/EEA Member States. This presentation will discuss the results of a future proofing study of this Plan. The study included a series of scenarios for how AMR might develop over the next ten years, in order to gather stakeholder perspectives on how the Plan can be improved to mitigate against future risks, take advantage of future opportunities and move towards more favorable futures. In particular, this presentation will focus on how this futures method was used to arrive at specific and actionable recommendations about how to better prepare for the future of AMR.
Public Health Challenges for 2050 in the Netherlands
Authors: Den Broeder L , Couwenbergh C , Dekker L , Hilderink H , Janssen-van Eijndt T , Spijkerman A , Staatsen B , Van Zoonen K
Published: October 2024

Every 4 years, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) carries out the Dutch Public Health Foresight Study, commissioned by the Ministry of Health. The ninth edition (PHFS-2024) compiles an outlook on future public health and the health care system in the Netherlands. It combines a business-as-usual Trend Scenario with literature study and a range of qualitative and mixed-methods approaches. The Trend Scenario comprises projections up to 2050 for a broad range of epidemiological indicators. Such as (healthy) life expectancy, disease burden, life style factors. The qualitative and mixed methods approaches supported an incremental intersubjective process. Methods were a focus groups study, stakeholder sessions and workshops. An important innovation in this study was the Citizen Council and Panel. The outcomes show that demographic development, in particular growth of the group people at high age with multimorbidity, will lead to high pressure on the formal and informal health care system but also on e.g. mental health. A life course approach applied shows that decreasing mental health of youth will have long term consequences. Also, overweight will deeply impact older people’s health in the future. Lastly, climate change in combination with e.g. energy transition will deeply affect our society and living environment. Next to these challenges, there will also be opportunities to improve health. Building a climate-proof living environment that also stimulates healthy life styles and social interaction is one of them. However, improving health has linkages with policy areas outside the traditional public health domain as well and requires, firstly, a Health in/for All Policies approach. Secondly a whole-of-society approach in which companies and civil organizations take action is needed. All these efforts can only be effective if people and communities are put at the core of all health policies.
The future of public health in Europe
Authors: Costongs C , Wagenführ-Leroyer A , Eliasen B , Gallen P , Jerez Pombo J
Published: October 2024

EuroHealthNet - in collaboration with the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies - has conducted a Foresight study to collect insights and identify risks and opportunities. The study investigates the role of public health by 2035 in achieving health equity through health promotion and prevention, in the context of the digital and green transition. The multi-round study ran from June to November 2023. It consisted of a workshop, a kick-off meeting, two rounds of surveys using the Delphi method, and a final back-casting expert panel. The Foresight exercise involved 35 experts across Europe and covered six themes: public health policy and governance; public health financing and spending; sustainability and the green transition; health promotion and disease prevention; equity and society; digitalisation in public health. The presentation will highlight some of the outcomes, recommendations as well as experiences from this Foresight exercise and how it can be applied in practice.
8.Q. Skills building seminar: “The Church of Fail”: Learning from Our Mistakes in Co-Creation
Authors:   Organised by: Aarhus University (Denmark), Glasgow Caledonian University (UK), VIA University College (Denmark), Health Cascade,   Chair persons: Knud Ryom (Denmark), Danielle Agnello (UK)
Published: October 2024

When delving into the co-creation research literature, it might seem that researchers consistently attain success in their projects without any exceptions. At the extremes, co-creation might even be portrayed as a quasi-moral scientific approach, where the results are inherently positive and beneficial to all participants. Rarely do researchers openly discuss failures or mistakes encountered during co-creation projects, despite the well-established understanding that co-creation presents significant challenges and demands for those involved. Therefore, we aim to use the well-established “Church of Fail” method to underscore the importance of learning from failures, particularly within the dynamic and demanding landscape of co-creation. Therefore, we invite participants to embrace the inevitability of failures, emphasizing that the key lies in deriving valuable lessons from these. Failures present the greatest potential for professional growth and innovation. Reasons for the workshop: Ensuring the professional growth of researchers and practitioners is vital to unlocking the full potential of co-creation and participatory methodologies. It may appear that success in co-creation is guaranteed by applying principles such as building ownership or fostering shared understanding. However, in reality, co-creation demands significant effort, resources, and dedication from everyone involved. One way to avoid mistakes or failures is to embrace them and learn from them, thereby fostering professional growth and innovation.

Objectives

This workshop will: 1) Increase awareness of co-creation as a methodology within public health, by generating an open and safe learning environment for professional growth; 2) Exchange experiences with failure, to learn and encourage professional growth. The presenters will engage the participants with cases that illustrate different known pitfalls within co-creation, such as power imbalance, participation fatigue, recruitment strategies, and aligning objectives; 3) Discuss important consideration on co-creation approaches, to achieve the best possibility for success in such research projects in public health in the future.

Key messages

• Failure is not a flaw, but an opportunity to learn and innovate.

• Success in co-creation is not a given, even though it sometimes seems so when reading the literature.
“The Church of Fail”: Learning from Our Mistakes in Co-Creation (part I)
Authors: Agnello D , Ryom K , Jacobsen J S , Laursen M G , McCaffrey L , Vogelsang M , Chastin S
Published: October 2024

Our workshop commences with a short presentation about what co-creation is, and the power that lies in learning from failures. Then, the facilitator will open the sharing session with the aim to set a safe space by presenting some ground rules for engagement. Then, the participants will be invited to step forward and share their story of failure. Each participant is invited to introduce themselves, and answer three simple questions: What did you fail at? How did you cope with it? What would you do differently? When the participant finishes their story, the facilitator will thank them and the audience will applaud them for sharing. This part of the workshop will go as long as there are people who want to share (with limitations).
Digital health literacy in schools: empirically navigating novel data from students and teachers
Authors: Okan O , Renninger D , Stauch L , Dadaczynski K
Published: October 2024

With the introduction of the Digital Competence Framework (DigComp+) by the European Commission, European schools have committed to promoting digital and media literacy systematically. DigComp+ shares several intersections with health literacy, e.g., information management, using digital tools, and taking action on the digital and commercial determinants of health, making it an ideal curriculum to teach digital health literacy in schools. However, internationally, not much is known about digital health literacy in schools. The aim of this study is to present data from a representative school study of students and teachers in 16 federal states in Germany. Data was collected using an online survey from a representative sample of N = 1,448 students (9-18 years) and a convenient sample of N = 1,600 teachers. With SPSS, descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and internal consistency were calculated. Cronbach’s alpha indicated good internal consistency for both tools. Low digital health literacy was reported by 52,9 of students and ∼39,3% of teachers. In students, low digital health literacy linked with younger age (X2 (2)=34.69, p = <.001), family affluence (X2 (4)=24.16, p = <.001), and parental education (X2 (2)=8.26, p=.016). In teachers, it was linked to age (p < .048), school position (p < .001), and their own digital health literacy DHL (p < .001). More than 45% of teachers reported not teaching digital health literacy in schools, while on average, 55% of students indicated they would not learn it in schools. Based on the first digital health literacy in schools study, results suggest DigComp+ is almost not used to teach digital health literacy and both students and teachers have significant deficits in their digital health literacy. Teachers should be trained in digital health literacy so that they can include it in their classroom teachings to promote the digital health literacy of students.
9.D. Practice session: Luton, a Marmot town – Lessons from using a whole-system approach to tackle health equity
Authors:   Organised by: Luton Borough Council (UK),   Chair persons: Laura Austin-Croft (UK), Jessica Allen (UK)
Published: October 2024

Objective

To share learnings from our Health Equity Town journey, including opportunities and challenges. To allow stimulating discussion on whole system approaches to health inequalities and the social determinants of health. To include discussion on where and how public health influences or leads, the importance of impact measures, and of shared vision.

Added value

Luton’s 2040 strategy, and being a health equity town, are long term visions. It has been 18 months since we launched Luton’s health equity ambition, and during that time we have taken great strides forward in how we deliver against the Marmot principles and create a movement around health equity in Luton. Organisations nationally and internationally are grappling with approaches to doing this. This workshop will provide an opportunity to discuss some of the key learnings, challenges and opportunities so far in taking this approach, and how to continue to maintain momentum and buy in across sectors at local level.

The workshop will include discussion on the following: 1. Taking a whole-system approach to health inequalities - working across system leaders and strategic partners including health, care, voluntary sector, businesses, housing, police and others, as well as across the local authority departments. This takes clear articulation of the problem and actions, as well as clarity on where public health professionals are most effective to support, influence, and lead. 2. There is increasing recognition of the building blocks of health and the importance of ensuring action to improve health outcomes is taken across the whole system to tackle health inequalities - including employment, education, and housing. Discussion on specific actions being taken in some of these areas to tackle health inequalities as part of the health equity town approach. 3. Working with the community to understand health inequalities. 4. How we will measure progress. 5. The concept of proportionate universalism is now well known, however making this a reality is a challenge. 6. East London Foundation Trust, the mental health provider in Luton, is also embedding Marmot Policy objectives across the Trust, and is a key partner in Luton. Work is underway to establish projects with joint aims such as skills passport to increase employment in mental health service users.

Format

Presentation followed by opportunity for question and answer and discussion with panel.

Key messages

• Whole system approaches to tackling health equity are possible through shared vision and coordinated approach.

• Action across the building blocks of health is vital, the complex and long term nature is challenging.
Changes in opinions on health insurance benefits deservingness in the Netherlands between 2013-2023
Authors: Meijer M A , Brabers AEM , De Jong J D
Published: October 2024

Background

In many European countries, including the Netherlands, the healthcare system is financed according to the principles of solidarity. Although people are generally highly supportive of collectively financed healthcare services, some groups are considered more deserving of health insurance benefits than others. Increasing knowledge of the health risks of certain lifestyle choices and pressure on healthcare systems may result in changing opinions on the allocation of resources. Our study looks into changes in citizen’s opinions on the deservingness of different groups between 2013 and 2023.

Methods

Questionnaires were sent out to samples of 1.500 members of the Dutch Health Care Consumer Panel in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023. Response rates varied between 42% (2015) and 56% (2021). Deservingness was studied by asking respondents about their opinions on the amount of health insurance premium for different, opposing groups, for example older and younger people and those with a healthy and unhealthy lifestyle (group A should pay more, both groups should pay the same amount, or group B should pay more). Multinominal logistic regression models were used to examine changes in deservingness opinions over time.

Results

Our study showed year-to-year fluctuations in opinions on the premium amount for health insurance for different, opposing groups. However, no distinct increases or decreases were observed over the whole time period. This applies to both the general population and to people who do and do not belong to the different groups.

Conclusions

Although there are differences in the degree to which groups are considered deserving of health insurance benefits, deservingness opinions were found to be fairly stable in the Netherlands between 2013 and 2023. Our results do not point to increasing support for premium differentiation based on personal characteristics. This suggests that support for solidarity in healthcare financing is not in decline.

Key messages

• Opinions on the deservingness of health insurance benefits of different groups were found to be fairly stable in the Netherlands between 2013 and 2023.

• No evidence of increasing support for premium differentiation based on personal characteristics was found.
Work resumption and economic independence among women with paid employment one year after childbirth
Authors: Bertens LCM , Mohabier KSC , van der Meer L , Waelput AJM , Burdorf A , Steegers EAP
Published: October 2024

Background

In Europe, women are more likely to be unemployed compared to men. Also, they more often hold part-time employment. After pregnancy and childbirth, women often reduce their working hours further or even exit the workforce altogether. This not only impacts their individual career, financial stability, and economic independence, but also their own health and well-being and that of their offspring.

Objectives

We aim to study the patterns of women’s work resumption in the first year after childbirth, and if sick leave during pregnancy and birth outcomes small for gestational age (SGA) and preterm birth play a role in this. Data from Statistics Netherlands and the Dutch Perinatal Registry from 114,722 Dutch pregnant women in paid employment (2016) were used for the analyses. Next to descriptive analyses, multivariate regression was used to assess which factors contribute to economic independence one year after childbirth.

Results

After pregnancy, over 50% of women reduced their working hours, and 12% became unemployed. The largest reduction was found in the group working fulltime (from 31 to 11%), in contrast, the group working 20-25 hours per week increased from 19 to 28% one year after childbirth. Among the women with sick leave during pregnancy (11%), the decrease in working hours was more pronounced and almost 40% of them became unemployed. The percentage of women being economically independent changed from 88% at the onset of pregnancy to 78% one year after childbirth. Next to employment factors (working hours and contract type), migration background and lower education were associated with lower odds of economic independence. Moreover, sick leave during pregnancy and having a SGA baby also reduced the odds of economic independence.

Conclusions

After pregnancy, women tend to work less than before, or even exit the workforce, with considerable impact on their economic independence. This is even more pronounced in the group with sick leave during pregnancy.

Key messages

• Despite paid maternity leave, pregnancy and childbirth negatively impact work force participation in women.

• The need for sick leave during pregnancy is predictive of reduced work resumption and economic independence one year after pregnancy.
Sickness absence due to mental and somatic diagnoses by occupational class in Finland, 2011–2021
Authors: Blomgren J , Perhoniemi R
Published: October 2024

Background

Sickness absence (SA) due to mental disorders has strongly increased in Finland during recent years while sickness absence due to somatic diagnoses has continued to decrease. Research is lacking on recent trends in SA by occupational class, especially during years of increasing mental disorders. The aim of the study is to analyze these trends during 2011-2021.

Methods

National register data from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela), Statistics Finland and Finnish Centre for Pensions were linked for all employed Finns aged 25-64 for years 2011-2021 (yearly N about 2 million). SA was measured by sickness allowance, compensated by Kela after 10 days of absence. Age-standardized yearly prevalences of SA due to different diagnoses were calculated for women and men in four occupational classes over 2011-2021. Logistic regression was used to assess differences between occupational classes adjusted for age, marital status, education and region of residence.

Results

SA due to mental disorders has greatly increased in all occupational classes in Finland after year 2016 among both women and men, while SA due to musculoskeletal and other somatic diagnoses has continued to decrease. Increase in SA due to mental disorders has been largest among lower non-manual employees, especially among women, whereby also overall SA prevalence among female lower non-manual employees has reached the level of manual workers. Men show broadly similar trends but manual workers still have the highest overall SA prevalence. Relative adjusted differences between occupational classes decreased slightly between 2011 and 2021.

Conclusions

Clear occupational class differences persisted in diagnosis-specific SA throughout 2011-2021. However, the magnitude and order of the class differences changed along with increasing SA due to mental disorders. Occupational class differences should be taken into account when aiming to prevent further increases in SA due to mental disorders.

Key messages

• Sickness absence (SA) due to mental disorders has increased in all occupational classes in Finland after year 2016, while SA due to somatic diagnoses has continued to decrease.

• Increase in SA due to mental disorders has changed the overall occupational class differences in SA in Finland largely because the increase has been strongest among lower non-manual employees.
Ultra-processed food consumption and risk of coronary heart diseases: UK Whitehall II cohort study
Authors: Wang M E , LIewellyn C , Kastoulis M , Britton A
Published: October 2024

In recent decades, ultra-processed foods (UPFs) intake has increased drastically, sparking concerns about their potential impact on cardiometabolic diseases. However, large-scale cohort studies tracking UPF consumption at multiple time points remain limited. This study explores the prospective association between repeated measures of UPF intake and the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), along with its secondary endpoints, within the UK Whitehall II study. The analytical sample tracked 7,138 midlife British participants without CHD from baseline. UPF consumption was measured using validated food frequency questionnaire (127 items) and classified by the NOVA system during three phases: 1991/1994 (phase 3), 1997/1999 (phase 5), and 2002/2003 (phase 7). This study assessed the onset of CHD and its secondary endpoints, including CHD and all-cause mortality, through medical exams and hospital records up to 2016 and 2021, respectively. Cox proportional hazards regression models adjusted for socio-demographics, lifestyle factors and total energy intake were used to explore the prospective association between cumulative average UPF intake (in quintiles) and CHD outcomes. During a median follow-up of 13 and 19 years, 589 cases and 1,314 deaths were documented. In multivariable adjusted cox models, the highest UPF consumption quintile versus the lowest quintile was associated with higher CHD incidence [HR:1.26; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.02-1.55; p = 0.03]. Additional adjustment of total energy intake increased the CHD risk by 28% [HR:1.28; 95% CI: 1.03-1.58; p = 0.02]. No significant relationships were found between cumulative average UPF intake and CHD or all-cause mortality. In UK midlife adults, higher UPF intake is prospective associated with increased CHD risk. Although additional research is warranted, these findings emphasize the importance of public awareness and food policy interventions to reduce UPF intake for alleviating the population burden of CVD.

Key messages

• Our study suggests the need for increased efforts to implement population wide strategies on regulating food processing, such as taxation and front of package warning labelling of UPF.

• Our study emphasizes UPF’s role in cardiovascular prevention, highlighting the need for nutrition counseling on UPF consumption for those at risk of CVD.
Eating jetlag and risk of cardiovascular disease: prospective study of the NutriNet-Santé cohort
Authors: Le Folcalvez X , Obeid E , Palomar-Cros A , Bellicha A , Péneau S , Deschasaux-Tanguy M , Touvier M , Andreeva V A , Jacobi D , Srour B
Published: October 2024

Background

Social jetlag corresponds to the misalignment between biological circadian rhythms and the social rhythm imposed by society, resulting in discrepant activity/sleep schedules during work and free days. It has been associated with worsened biological parameters such as BMI or glycemic control. Eating jetlag is a related yet emerging concept defined as the difference of meal timing between free and work days. However, it has been little explored. This study aims to evaluate the association between eating jetlag and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods

Dietary, anthropometric, socio-demographic and health data of 104,837 participants (79% women, mean age=42.7 years (14.6 SD)) were collected from the NutriNet-Santé cohort. Eating jetlag was calculated using time of first and last meals on weekdays and weekends, from repeated 24 dietary records, averaged during the 2 first years. It was assessed as a continuous variable or as 3 categories: ‘Advance’, ‘Maintenance’, ‘Delay’, compared to work days. CVD was self-reported and validated against medical records. The associations between eating jetlag and CVD risk were assessed through adjusted Cox models.

Results

During a median follow-up time of 8.1 years, 2,368 CVD cases were diagnosed. Eating jetlag showed a U-shaped association with CVD risk (HR Advance vs. Maintenance=1.05(95% CI: 0.87-1.26); HR Delay vs. Maintenance=1.08(0.96-1.21)). When the absolute value of eating jetlag was considered, there was a linear association with CVD risk (HR per 1-hour increase=1.05(1.00-1.12)). These linear trends were confirmed in categorial models (Low: ≤1h; Moderate: 1h< to ≤ 2h; High: >2h): HR Moderate vs. Low=1.05(0.94-1.18), and HR High vs. Low=1.13(0.94-1.37); however, statistical significance was not reached.

Conclusions

Our results suggest a potential role for meal timing regularity between free and work days in CVD etiology. They need to be replicated in other studies and mechanisms are yet to be fully understood.

Key messages

• Adopting regular meal timing schemes on work and free days could be associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases.

• Meal regularity between work and free days could play a role in cardiovascular health and should be further investigated.
Temporal trends 1990-2020 in youth suicide: a global analysis based on the WHO Mortality Database
Authors: Bertuccio P , Amerio A , Grande E , La Vecchia C , Aguglia A , Berardelli I , Serafini G , Amore M , Pompili M , Odone A
Published: October 2024

Suicide is a serious but preventable public health issue globally, with substantial geographical disparities. Although mortality from suicide is higher in older age groups, it ranks as the fourth leading cause of death among youth. This study analysed global suicide trends for the age group 10-24, from 1990 to 2020. Using data on certified deaths from suicide (codes ICD-9: E950-959; ICD-10: X60-X84, Y87.0) and population from the WHO mortality database for 52 countries with valid data, age-standardised suicide rates (ASR) were computed (by sex, country, and calendar year) and joinpoint regression analyses were carried out to identify significant changes in trends. High variability in suicide rates and trends was observed, with male-to-female ratios ranging from two to five. From 1990 to 2020, most European countries reported declining suicide trends, with some exceptions. Particularly concerning trends emerged in the United Kingdom, with increases of 2.5% per year among males since 2005 and 8.5% among females since 2012. Southern Europe exhibited the most favourable trends and lowest suicide rates, with 3.1/100,000 males in Italy (2020) and 3.5/100,000 males in Spain (2021), and 0.9/100,000 females in Italy (2020) and 1.1/100,000 females in Romania (2019) among females. Conversely, Central-Eastern Europe showed the highest rates, with 10.2/100,000 males in the Russian Federation (2019) and 10.0/100,000 males in Poland (2002). Non-European areas reported higher suicide rates and significant increases. The highest ASR was 15.5/100,000 males in the United States of America, with an increase of 3.8% per year among males from 2009 to 2020 and 6.7% among females from 2007 to 2017, followed by a levelling off. Youth suicide rates and trends vary widely globally. Interpretation of temporal and geographical comparisons in suicide mortality should be approached cautiously due to potential misclassification or under-reporting of suicide deaths in some countries.

Key messages

• Albeit data on suicide mortality should be interpreted with caution, the study reveals high variability in suicide rates and trends among youths aged 10-24 across different countries worldwide.

• Timely and accurate monitoring of epidemiological trends should support the planning, implementation, and evaluation of setting-specific health promotion strategies in mental health.
Empowering youths through citizen science to address health inequalities in adolescence
Authors: Arevalo Lourdes Cantarero
Published: October 2024

Citizen Science (CS) stands as a beacon of hope in the fight against inequalities in adolescent health, revolutionizing scientific research by involving individuals from diverse backgrounds. Unlike traditional methods, CS transcends academic boundaries, fostering inclusivity and collaboration irrespective of age, nationality, or social status. This approach has gained momentum in adolescent health research, empowering young people as co-researchers from project inception, thereby reducing disparities in health knowledge and access. Studies demonstrate its efficacy in enhancing empowerment and health literacy among participants. YouthChronic is an example of how CS can mitigate health inequalities among adolescents. The project ensures active participation in every research stage by engaging adolescents with chronic conditions as citizen scientists. Open-ended questions facilitate detailed responses, while participation in analysis and dissemination enhances their research involvement and sense of ownership. Through initiatives like YouthChronic, CS is reshaping the research landscape, making it more relevant and impactful to bridge the inequality gap. Young Citizen Scientists’ views on their participation: “As part of YouthChronic, we felt like our experiences with chronic conditions were finally being heard. The researchers were cool-they listened to us, let us be flexible with our participation, and even taught us some research skills. Learning from other peers’ experiences made us feel less alone and gave us new insights. But it’s frustrating that we’re limited by resources. We have big ideas, like running an advocacy campaign, but we need funding to make them happen”. In conclusion, by actively involving adolescents in the scientific process through CS initiatives like YouthChronic, we can reduce inequalities in adolescent health, empower marginalized voices, and pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive future in scientific exploration and discovery.
Ensuring the right to health care for detained adolescents: cross-sectoral strategies and policy innovations
Authors: Alves da Costa Filipa
Published: October 2024

This presentation will draw attention to the health concerns of adolescents deprived of liberty, stressing that incarceration of minors should be a last resort. Notwithstanding, when governments allow for incarceration of minors, they must guarantee this does not translate into deprivation of basic human rights and that international treaties are respected, including access to high quality healthcare. This talk outlines the development of a policy brief based on data from the UN global study, which identifies essential health interventions for minors in various forms of detention-migration, youth detention, and adult detention where children reside with their parents. Using case studies from Greece, India, and the United States, shortcomings in existing health systems in detention contexts are stressed. A more recent policy brief focusing exclusively on children detained in the context of migration will be used to provide good practice case studies, where appropriate actions such as changes in legislation were put in place, namely in Canada, South Africa, Ukraine and Ireland. A key focus of the presentation will be the importance of cross-ministerial collaboration, as healthcare in the criminal justice system frequently falls under the jurisdiction of ministries other than health, complicating health policy implementation. The speaker will discuss integrated approaches that involve various sectors to ensure the health rights of detained youth are addressed. The presentation aims to illuminate the systemic changes needed to protect the health of detained adolescents, urging policymakers, healthcare providers, and advocates to adopt holistic and inter-sectoral strategies. The talk will also refer to policy actions and recommendations for Member States to support them in addressing challenges so they may achieve the principles of equivalent care and continuity of care that reflects the recommendations of the United Nations Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty.
9.P. Scientific session: National perspective on knowledge translation to bridge the gap between research and policy
Authors:   Organised by: Sciensano (Belgium),   Chair persons: Robby De Pauw (Belgium), Brecht Devleesschauwer (Belgium)
Published: October 2024

National and international public health institutions play a crucial role in guiding public health policies. However, a key challenge in this process is to bridge the gap between the data collected and the insights required to guide decision-makers, commonly referred to as knowledge translation (KT). Various models have been proposed to facilitate the KT process in public health, and one of the widely recognized models is the Data-Information-Knowledge-Wisdom (DIKW) model, also known as the knowledge pyramid or information hierarchy. In this workshop, we provide insight into the Belgian perspective on the implementation of the DIKW pyramid, using the Belgian health status website as an example https://www.healthybelgium.be. The workshop will tackle the four distinct layers of KT, including data, information, knowledge, and wisdom. The first one involves the data collection process, and the importance of considering potential biases that may arise during this process. Information revolves around the data analysis and the translation of data into meaningful information. Knowledge builds on data-driven information by contextualizing public health analysis results. Finally, wisdom reflects the end-result of the DIKW model, highlighting the need to utilize knowledge for action and achieving results based on the analysis performed. The DIKW model provides a valuable platform by delineating the different layers required to move from raw data to knowledge and wisdom. This process is crucial in achieving an impact on public health, where the data analyzed by public health researchers informs the end-users, including policymakers and the public. Nonetheless, the DIKW model and its applicability to knowledge translation are the subjects of many debates. Within this workshop, the national perspective of the national public health institute in Belgium, Sciensano, on each level of the DIKW pyramid will offer participants concrete examples that might spark an initial step towards their nationwide implementation of the DIKW pyramid for KT. The workshop will offer a step-by-step presentation on the different KT layers, whereby the attendees will gain unique insights into the system implemented in Belgium. This presentation will foster a discussion for generating ideas and stimulating other countries to implement the DIKW pyramid.

Key messages

• The DIKW pyramid offers a valuable framework to guide knowledge translation in public health, which is a key task for public health institutes.

• Attendees will receive an overview and a practical example of how the DIKW-model could be applied in a national context, including a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the pyramid.
The knowledge layer: the role of key messages for translating data into meaning
Authors: Scohy A , Gorasso V , Van den Borre L , Schmidt M , Devleesschauwer B , De Pauw R
Published: October 2024

The large volume of data generated by health information systems often remains siloed within the institutions that produce it, posing significant challenges to its reuse and interpretation. This fragmentation can result in conflicting information on critical health topics, complicating the decision-making process for policymakers. To address this issue, Belgium has initiated the ‘Health Status Report’ website, hosted at healthybelgium.be. This website aims to synthesize and present health data in a manner that supports evidence-based policy formulation. The website adopts a structured approach to data integration and interpretation: initially, we identify and prioritize key health topics based on their relevance and the quality of available data. Subsequently, we merge and analyze data from diverse sources to discern patterns and trends that are crucial for public health monitoring. The insights gained are then presented through both narrative texts and interactive visualizations, facilitating access and understanding for a broad audience. Crucial to this process is ongoing communication with experts and stakeholders, ensuring that the data is not only accurately interpreted but also aligns with the needs and expectations of its users. We also aim to translate the raw data into meaningful key messages by consulting with internal and external experts. This interactive platform thus serves as a critical tool for translating complex health data into actionable knowledge, enabling informed public health strategies and interventions.