bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Access to services among migrant origin persons during COVID-19 pandemic: Finnish MigCOVID Survey
Authors: Skogberg N , Kuusio H , Lilja E , Austero S , Castaneda AE 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background
Compared with the general population, migrant origin persons had more difficulties in access to services already prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examines the impact of the pandemic on the need and access to healthcare and social services among persons of migrant origin.

Methods
Data from the population-based Impact of the Coronavirus on the Wellbeing of the Foreign Born Population (MigCOVID) Survey was used. The survey was conducted in Finland among persons aged 20 to 66 years (n = 3 668 participated in the survey, participation rate 60%) between October 2020 and February 2021 with electronic and postal questionnaires and telephone interviews. Logistic regression was applied to examine age and sex-adjusted prevalence and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) for self-reported need and sufficiency of services (physician, nurse, dentist, mental health services and family services).

Results
Healthcare and family services were needed by 69.2% (95% CI 66.3-72.0). Services provided by the physician, dentist and nurse were needed most frequently. Women (74.5%, 95% CI 70.6-78.1) were more likely to report the need for health and family services than men (64.4%, 95% CI 60.0-68.5). Out of those who needed services, 34.9% (95% CI 36.1-38.3) reported that the received services were insufficient. Highest barriers were observed for mental health (45.5%, 95% CI 36.4-55.0) and dentist (33.9, 95% CI 29.6-38.6) services. Although difficulties were highly prevalent in a number of regional groups, persons originating from East, South and Central Asia had persistently high barriers in access to services.

Conclusions
Findings suggest that barriers in access to services have at least somewhat increased among persons of migrant origin during the COVID-19 pandemic. This may have both short and long-term consequences on the health and wellbeing of the migrant origin population. Of particular concern were high perceived barriers in access to mental health services.

Key messages
Barriers in access were reported by a third of persons of migrant origin who needed services. Particular difficulties were experienced in access to mental health services. The gap in access to needs to be acutely addressed to reduce both the short and long-term consequences of COVID-19 on the health and wellbeing of the population.
4.A. Workshop: Developing a European planetary health curriculum model. Can we adapt Ireland's approach?
Authors:   Organised by: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland,   Chair persons: Callum Swift (Ireland)
Published: October 2021

Abstract

The climate crisis is reaching an irreversible tipping point. If the planet continues on its current trajectory of rising global temperatures and increasing ecological instability, then humans will be faced with catastrophic environmental and health effects. In acknowledgement of the interface between environmental change and human health, there is an increasing international mandate to integrate themes of sustainability, climate change and ecological instability into the health professional curriculum. As a result, planetary health is a growing field in health and medicine, but despite this, those working in the field are facing a number of challenges to its implementation that need to be overcome. The aim of this workshop is to explore examples of planetary health curricula development and to examine how best to implement such curricula for undergraduate health professionals across Europe. The workshop will open with a brief overview of the concept of planetary heath and the role of the health professional in responding to the climate crisis, summarising the current evidence in the field, before participating panellists each present the work they are undertaking in their own universities to develop planetary health curricula for undergraduate health professionals. Firstly they will briefly describe material covered in the curriculum before identifying any barriers and facilitators to implementation they have encountered. The panel discussion will then focus on the potential to develop shared undergraduate curricula in planetary health across European countries. To conclude there will be an opportunity for the audience to participate in Q and A. Participating panel members include Dr Sofia Hammarstrand, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Gothenburg University, Sweden, Dr Debbi Stanistreet, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dr Heather Baid, The University of Brighton, and Dr Peter Blankestijn, The University Medical Centre Utrecht.

Speakers/Panelists
Deborah Stanistreet Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland Peter Blankestijn University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands Heather Baid University of Brighton, Brighton, UK

Key messages
Participants will become familiar with examples of planetary health curricula for student health professionals. Participants will be able to identify challenges to implementing planetary health curricula and opportunities for an integrated approach across Europe.
Developing a planetary health curriculum for undergraduate medicine in Ireland
Authors: Hammarstrand Sofia 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
This presentation will describe the process and outcome of developing a planetary health curriculum for undergraduate medicine across the island of Ireland through cross-collaboration with all the island's Medical Schools. It will also present the final agreed curriculum content to participants before moving into the main workshop activities where participants will consider the potential to adapt this medical undergraduate curriculum in planetary health to other European countries and also to other health professions.
4.B. Workshop: Data collection during COVID-19 pandemic and its policy impacts
Authors:   Organised by: EUPHA-PMH,   Chair persons: Jutta Lindert (EUPHA-PMH), Marija Jakubauskiene (EUPHA-PMH)
Published: October 2021

Abstract

The workshop has the aims to review practices for reliable and robust data collection during disaster such as the COVID-19 pandemic and to develop implementation practices. Study conduct is even more necessary in times of crises and at the same time more challenging. We review existing practices by bringing together three aspects of study conduct in times of crises: 1) experiences with sampling methods, 2) experiences with exposure assessment and 3) development of evidence based policy guidelines. First, experiences with different sampling approaches to collect longitudinal data on in a multicentre study during the COVID19 pandemic are presented (Felix Sisenop). Second, exposure assessment methods in different cultural traditions are presented and reflected (Edvaldo Begotaraj). Third, the challenge of rapid evidence based policy development will be reviewed (Marija Jakubauskiene). It will be shown, how data gathered in an international consortium can have impact on a national level through policy advisory. Ensuring the ability to provide robust and reliable data on psychosocial and mental health service responses to crises is an important step for emergency preparedness. The lessons learnt will be discussed with workshop participants.

Key messages
Rapid study conduct is necessary in times of crises. Methods of rapid study conduct need further development.
4.C. Round table: Recovering from the COVID-19 Pandemic: Identifying and Acting Upon Lessons Learned
Authors:   Organised by: ECDC,   Chair persons: Jonathan Suk (Sweden), Paul Riley (Sweden)
Published: October 2021

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed many gaps and vulnerabilities in health systems and pandemic preparedness in European countries. It has also led to innovation and rapid improvements in certain elements of public health practice. One defining characteristic of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the rapid advance of scientific knowledge, accompanied by high degrees of scientific uncertainty. Each phase (or “wave”) of the pandemic has presented unique challenges. This workshop involves public health practitioners from multiple European countries. They will reflect upon some over-arching lessons learned through their experiences in the field, while also alluding to important innovations in public health that should be safeguarded for the future. The panellists will also discuss how lessons learned can be systematically identified and acted upon, through approaches such as after-action reviews (AARs), in order to optimise the public health response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as well as to future ones. The panel discussion format of this workshop adds value to EUPHA 2021 participant through hearing, in a relatively informal format, the experiences from senior staff at national public health agencies from a variety of European countries and contexts. This approach keeps a coherence between speakers will also highlighting the unique challenges posed by specific national contexts. This workshop will also consider how processes such as AARs can be formalised to become routine aspects of public health practice. Particular attention will be paid to challenges and solutions that are similar across national boundaries. During the workshop, the moderator will ensure that the panelists responses are short and succinct. The final 15 minutes will be dedicated to questions from the audience.

Speakers/Panelists
Flavia Riccardo ISS, Rome, Italy Ute Rexroth RKI, Berlin, Germany Tanya Melillo Directorate of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, MSIDA, Malta Mario Fafangel National Institute of Public Health, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Key messages
In order to guide the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as to future pandemics, it is essential to systematically identify lessons learned as well as innovative good practices. Identifying lessons learned, however, is only a first step as it is essential to develop action plans that are supported and endorsed across a wide range of stakeholders.
Prevalence and control status of T2DM in Bangladesh: finding from a nationally representative survey
Authors: Sutradhar I , Ikpeme M , Weldegiorgis M , Hasan M , Mridha MK , Sarker M , Gregg E 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background
With around 10 million diagnosed patients, Bangladesh remains at the forefront of the global type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) epidemic. A comprehensive understanding of the current T2DM scenario is required to curb the disease burden. In this study, we aimed to identify the prevalence, associated factors, and control status of T2DM in Bangladesh.

Methods
This cross-sectional survey was conducted in 15 randomly selected community-based clusters in Bangladesh. Around 1,000 adults aged ≥18 years from each cluster were selected. Face-to-face interviews, anthropometric measurement, biospecimen collection, and point of care blood test were performed. Individuals with Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) ≥126 mg/dl or previously diagnosed with T2DM by a qualified health provider were considered T2DM cases. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with T2DM.

Results
Data of 13,674 individuals were analysed for this study. The overall prevalence of T2DM was 10.0%, among whom 29.2% were undiagnosed. Among previously diagnosed patients, 64.9% had uncontrolled diabetes (FBS≥126 mg/dl). The prevalence of uncontrolled diabetes was higher among elderly, female, and urban participants. Patients with hypertension, high waist-hip ratio and high serum cholesterol had 2.20 times (95% CI: 2.17-2.23, p &lt; 0.001), 3.53 times (95% CI: 3.47-3.59, p &lt; 0.001) and 2.53 times (95% CI: 2.48-2.59, p &lt; 0.001) higher odds of having T2DM, respectively.

Conclusions
One out of every ten adults in Bangladesh had T2DM, and a substantial proportion of them had undiagnosed and uncontrolled diabetes. This finding indicates the lack of preparedness of the country's health system to address the problem. Pertinent stakeholders should adopt a multi-sectoral approach to develop comprehensive policies and implement target-specific interventions, e.g., population-based screening program, primary care based T2DM service, and community mobilisation to combat the T2DM epidemic.

Key messages
As the T2DM burden is high in Bangladesh, policy makers should adopt a collaborative approach to develop and implement effective public health programs for prevention and control of T2DM. As the burden of uncontrolled T2DM is high in Bangladesh, the country’s health system should ensure early diagnosis and provision of quality care at affordable cost for T2DM patients.
Multimorbidity patterns and its associations with health literacy in chronic kidney disease patients
Authors: Gurgel do Amaral M , Reijneveld SA , Meems LMG , Almansa J , Navis GJ , de Winter AF 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background
Health literacy is the ability to deal with information related to one's health. Patients with low health literacy have poor disease-management skills for chronic diseases, such as chronic kidney disease (CKD). This could influence the number and combination of their diseases.

Methods
We included adult patients with CKD stages 1-5 from the Lifelines Study (n = 2,742). We assessed the association between low health literacy and the number and patterns of comorbidities, overall and by age and sex, using multinomial logistic regression and latent class analysis, respectively.

Results
Low health literacy was associated with a higher number of comorbidities in the crude models, and after adjustment for age, sex, eGFR, smoking, and BMI. In the crude model, the OR for low health literacy increased from 1.71 (1.25 to 2.33) for two comorbidities to 2.71 (2.00 to 3.68) for four comorbidities. In the fully-adjusted model, the associations remained significant with a maximum OR of 1.70 (1.16 to 2.49) for four comorbidities. The patterns of multimorbidity were similar for low and adequate health literacy, overall and by sex, and slightly different for patients older than 65. Older patients with low health literacy had higher comorbidity prevalence and a relatively greater share of cardiovascular, psychiatric, and central nervous system diseases.

Conclusions
This study showed that CKD patients have a high prevalence of comorbidities. Patients with low health literacy are more likely to have a higher number of comorbidities than patients with adequate health literacy. Moreover, the multimorbidity patterns are similar for both groups of health literacy, differing slightly at older ages. This age difference suggests that the negative effects of low health literacy develop when aging. Therefore, low health literacy could be an intervention target to decrease multimorbidity along the life course of CKD patients.

Key messages
Among CKD patients, low health literacy is associated with more multimorbidity. Health literacy does not affect patterns of multimorbidity in younger patients, but it does slightly in older ones.
Climate Change influence in fungi
Authors: Viegas C 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2013) and almost the entire scientific community agreed to consider the Mediterranean Area as one of the most vulnerable regions in the world to the impacts of global warming. In this scenario, heat waves, defined by the World Meteorological Organization as five or more consecutive days of heat reaching a daily maximum temperature at least 5 °C higher than the average maximum temperature, have been recently foreseen to be particularly frequent and intense in Portugal. As a consequence, agriculture constitutes one of the most sensitive sectors that could be affected by the climate change. Among the xenobiotics contaminating agricultural crops, mycotoxins (MY) are the most challenging since their presence represents an economic burden due to crops loss and a serious health effects related for animal and human with severe repercussions. Many fungal plant pathogens species from Aspergillus and Fusarium genera produce MY harmful to animal and human health. The contamination of cereals grains is commonly reported, and the climate change scenario can also influence significantly the contamination during postharvest phase having implications in food security and safety aspects. Additionally, it is foreseen that specific species increase due to climate change leading to higher use of azole-based fungicides. Azole-based fungicides are the most used antifungals to control fungi and MY production in crops. However, excessive and long-term use of azole fungicides in agriculture has led to the emergence of acquired azole resistance in some plant pathogenic fungi and also trigger in potential pathogenic fungi for humans and the toxigenic potential. Overall, climate changes can trigger crops contamination by toxigenic fungal species, increase human exposure to mycotoxins, promote the acquired azole resistance and, consequently, the occurence of life-threatening infections.
50 Global Actions to Manage the COVID-19 Infodemic: A WHO Framework
Authors: Mahajan A , Phuong L , Nguyen T , Czerniak C , Lamichhane J , Purnat T , Briand S 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Issue
The World Health Organization describes an infodemic as an “overabundance of information - good or bad - that makes it difficult for people to make decisions for their health.”

Description of the problem
On April 7-8, 2020, the WHO Information Network for Epidemics (EPI-WIN) held a global online to crowdsource ideas from an interdisciplinary group of experts to form a novel COVID-19 infodemic response framework. The online consultation comprised of four plenary sessions and a brainstorming session conducted entirely online. Nearly 1500 individuals from over 100 countries and territories spanning social scientists, epidemiologists, staff from ministries of health and institutes of public health, registered for the consultation.

Results
A set of 50 proposed actions for a framework for managing infodemics in health emergencies was developed that will provide guidance for governments and public health institutions to take in five key areas of action that emerged from the consultation:
strengthening evidence and information simplifying and explaining what is known fact-checking and addressing misinformation amplifying messages and reaching the communities and individuals who need the information quantifying and analysing the infodemic, including information flows, monitoring the acceptance of public health interventions, and assessing factors affecting behaviour at individual and population levels strengthening systems for infodemic management in health emergencies

Lessons
Everyone has a role to play
Read the Call for Action Sign the Call for Action
https://www.who.int/news/item/11-12-2020-call-for-action-managing-the-infode

Key messages
The confusion due to Infodemic can lead people to ignore public health measures and take risks that can cause serious harm. Recognizing this WHO convened an interdisciplinary group of experts 7-8 April 2020 virtually to form a novel COVID-19 infodemic response framework.
A digital health intervention for young refugees: intervention development and initial dropout rates
Authors: Fischer L , Kölligan V , Klein M 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background
Digital health interventions (DHI) have the potential to increase access to health care for vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations. As such, many refugees are at high-risk for mental health issues as well as underserved by health care systems of receiving countries, such as Germany. Interventions, digital or not, have shown to be more feasible and accepted if adapted to the specific needs of the targeted group. While evidence for the feasibility of DHIs among refugees is spare, studies show high dropout rates in DHIs in the general population.

Methods
In a participatory and interdisciplinary approach, we developed a DHI for indicated addiction prevention, targeting young refugees from Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan currently residing in Germany and with problematic use of alcohol and/or cannabis. This process consisted of a literature review, formative research, cultural adaptations of intervention elements, and ultimately the intervention's technical implementation following an iterative approach. The preliminary dropout rates immediately after download and during the baseline assessment were analysed using descriptive statistics.

Results
The DHI, in form of the BePrepared App, was successfully developed and launched in January 2021 for entering a single-armed feasibility study. Preliminary results show a dropout rate of 46,5% (n = 40) after download of the app and before entering the baseline assessment t0. Among the refugees reached and identified as such using the third item of t0, 73,3% (n = 11) completed t0 and started the intervention (compared to 83.3% (n = 25) of the users without a self-declared refugee status). The further intervention dropout is to be determined.

Conclusions
Adapting a DHI according to young refugees needs is to some extent possible. However, in accord with other DHI and regardless of the intervention content, dropout immediately after downloading the app (46.5%) and during the baseline assessment (58.1%) is high.

Key messages
Within a set of further urgently needed interventions, DHIs are a low-threshold service that can increase access for refugees to mental health and substance use services. Considering high and early dropout, further research on reducing dropout from app-based DHI for refugees and other specific target group is needed to increase the feasibility of digital interventions.