bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
COVID-19 fake news, conspiracy beliefs and the role of eHealth literacy: an Italian nationwide survey
Authors: Lo Moro G , Bert F , Minutiello E , Zacchero AL , Sinigaglia T , Colli G , Tatti R , Scaioli G , Siliquini R 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background
The pandemic has been accompanied by an infodemic, which includes false information that can lead to harmful consequences. Additionally, conspiracy theories have been linked to lower preventive behaviors. This work mainly aims to explore the skill in identifying COVID-19 fake news and the conspiracies beliefs.

Methods
A cross-sectional study has been conducted amongst a convenience sample throughout Italy, using a Computer-Assisted Web Interview method (from 12 April 2021-ongoing). The survey included the Single-Item Literacy Screener (SILS), the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS), a Fake News Score (FNS: percentage of misclassified news), a Conspiracy Score (CS: score from 1 to 5). Multivariable linear regressions were run (p &lt; 0.05 as significant).

Results
Up to date, participants were 1252. The median FNS and CS were: 25% (IQR=19-44) and 2.8 (IQR=2.2-3.4). For instance, 54% thought ibuprofen worsens COVID-19 symptoms and 50% agreed with “politicians usually do not tell us the motives for their decisions”. The 17% had low health literacy (SILS) and 41% low eHealth literacy (eHEALS). COVID-19 vaccine hesitant people were 13%. The multivariable models identified many significant relationships. Low economic status and vaccine hesitancy were positively associated with FNS and CS. Higher education had a negative association with FNS and CS. Age was positively associated with FNS. Low health and eHealth literacy were positively associated with FNS. Low eHealth literacy had a negative association with CS. FNS was positively associated with CS.

Conclusions
Associations between news misclassification, conspiracy beliefs and vaccine hesitancy might suggest shared determinants. EHealth literacy had a conflicting role. Attention should be paid to the mass media COVID-19 coverage as key information source for the general population. Public health campaigns should be planned to fight beliefs that hinder the reduction of transmission and might cause additional damages.

Key messages
The median percentage of misclassified news was 25% (IQR=19-44) and the median Conspiracy Score was 2.8 (IQR=2.2-3.4). COVID-19 vaccine hesitant people were 13% and 41% had a low eHealth literacy. News misclassification, conspiracy beliefs and vaccine hesitancy were associated. EHealth literacy had conflicting associations with fake news and conspiracy beliefs.
Syrian refugees perspectives on substance use
Authors: Lindert J , Schäfer Ingo 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background
Little is known about Syrian refugees ‘perspectives on substance use. Syrians have been the largest groups of refugees in Germany since 2014. To investigate Syrian refugees’ perspectives on substance use we applied a qualitative study design.

Methods
Five semi-structured focus group discussions with a total of 19 refugees were conducted in 2019 among the difficult to reach population of Syrian refugees. Audio recordings were translated and transcribed, and inductive thematic was analysis conducted.

Results
The following common themes were identified: (a) perception that substances are widely accepted and available in Germany; (b) availability of substances is linked to rules and norms in Germany which are different in Syria, (c) and to the intention to escape not only the past (d) but the present and finally that (e) mental health professional treatment for substance use is associated with shame.

Conclusions
Findings support Syrian refugees ‘perspectives of substance use as a way of escaping past and present in a socio-ecological understanding which includes past and present exposures. Understanding the explanatory model of Syrian refugees can inform future interventions to prevent substance abuse and design tailored interventions. Further studies with Syrian refugees in more countries are needed to better understand resettled refugees’ perspectives on substance use.

Messages
The intention to escape past and present elucidates links between the context of using substances and context of feeling rejected. Context specific knowledge of substance use is necessary which includes past and present factors.
The health workforce: central to an effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
Authors: Zapata T , Buchan J , Azzopardi-Muscat N 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background
COVID-19 has reinforced the centrality of health workers at the core of a well performing and resilient health system. It has concomitantly exposed the risks of staffing and skills shortages and the importance of protecting the health workforce. This paper focuses on highlighting some of the lessons learnt, challenges and future needs of the health workforce in Europe in the context of COVID-19.

Methods
We use secondary sources and expert information.

Results
During the pandemic innovative and flexible approaches were implemented to meet increasing demand for health workers and new skills and responsibilities were adopted over a short period of time. We have seen the rapid adaptation and use of new technologies to deliver care. The pandemic has underlined the importance of valuing, protecting and caring for our health workforce and the need to invest appropriately and adequately in the health workforce to have sufficient, capable and well-motivated health workers. Some of the main challenges that lie ahead of us include the imperative for better investment, to need to improve recruitment and retraining whilst better retaining health workers, a focus on domestic sustainability, redeploying and developing new skills and competences among health workers, enabling more effective multi-professional collaboration and team work, improving the quality of education and training, increasing the public health focus and promoting ethical and sustainable international recruitment of health workers.

Conclusions
The WHO European Region through its European Programme of Work 2020-2025 is fully committed to support countries in their efforts to continue to respond to COVID-19 and whilst addressing upcoming health workforce challenges.
Health system resilience and health workforce capacities: health system responses during COVID-19
Authors: Burau V , Kuhlmann E , Falkenbach M , Neri S , Peckham S , Wallenburg I 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background
The present crisis offers a unique opportunity to better understanding the specific contribution of the health workforce to health system resilience, and more specifically to the adaptive, absorptive and transformative capacities that influence how health systems respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods
The study examined different capacities in the context of the health system as the central prerequisite of health system resilience. We compared health policies and services responses in Austria, Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the UK. The selection is based on differences in types of health care systems and pandemic burdens in the first wave. Country experts complied descriptive case studies using written secondary and primary sources.

Results
During the first wave of the pandemic, the contribution of the health workforce rested on a broad range of capacities. The absorptive capacity concerned the freeing up capacities for newly established Covid-19 wards in hospitals. The adaptive capacity focused on increasing health workers. The transformative capacity concerned new service offerings. The influence of health systems was most visible in relation to the substantive areas of health care delivery at play, and less so in relation to the specific range of capacities of the health workforce. The lack of distinct patterns was striking, considering the inclusion of health systems, which differ on many counts.

Conclusions
The study calls for a reconceptualization of the institutional perquisites of health system resilience to grasp more fully the manifold and unique health workforce contribution. Governance is the key to effective health system responses to the COVID-19 crisis, and health professions are part and parcel of governance as frontline workers and collective actors. This requires improving health workforce capacities and strengthening the integration of health professions in health governance.
An Evaluation of the Keeping Well at Home Booklet
Authors: Money A , McDermott J , Littlewood A , Todd C 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background
In the first wave of COVID-19, the UK Government relied heavily on digital channels to provide information to the public. This disproportionately excluded older people - one of the groups with least access to (or experience of) using the internet. Approximately 11.5 million people in the UK lack digital skills and 4.8 million people never go online, with around half (51%) of these being aged over 65. The Greater Manchester (GM) response was to work collaboratively with a number of key Ageing groups to develop Keeping Well at Home, a booklet providing evidence based health and wellbeing information and advice for older people during COVID-19 restrictions.

Methods
An evaluation of the booklet was undertaken during summer 2020 by the Healthy Ageing team at the Applied Research Collaboration GM. As national restrictions on movement remained in place at the time, a postal questionnaire was distributed to a sample of older adults in GM.

Results
Nearly 500 questionnaires were returned. The response was overwhelmingly positive; 92% found the information helpful; 90% agreed the booklet would help older people stay healthy during lockdown; 74% had used the home exercises section; 78% found the tips for keeping their mind well helpful. Around 50% of respondents did not have internet access. Paper based resources was the preferred choice for 92% of respondents with only 6% opting for digital versions.

Conclusions
The evidence from the evaluation challenges the growing trend towards communicating just through digital channels, and emphasises the need for tailored paper-based materials for older adults. The Keeping Well at Home booklet also shows the value of working with older adults to ensure the content and design are inviting to readers. Information, support and services must be made available in an offline equivalent and proactively disseminated to reach those who otherwise would not have access to it.

Key messages
Print-based communications are preferred over digital for some groups; ensuring inclusivity is critical as the ‘digital by default’ approach excludes large numbers of our population. Including target group representatives as co-editors to advise on content and stylistic design is key to ensure content is relevant and useful.
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on population mental health policy: A Swiss case study
Authors: Wieber F 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
This presentation will explore the mental health response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland with a focus on prevention and early intervention. To describe the pandemic context, the continuous literature screening on the secondary health impact of the pandemic measures on the mental health of children, adolescents and young adults in Switzerland will be used that Julia Dratva and the author lead on behalf of the Swiss School of Public Health and the Federal Office of Public Health. These findings will be complemented with selected results from the longitudinal Swiss Corona Stress Study that focuses on stress, anxiety and depression, the longitudinal COVID-19 Social Monitor that contains indicators on well-being and mental health, and the longitudinal &lt;&lt;Health in Students during the Corona Pandemic &gt;&gt; study that assesses student depression and anxiety during the pandemic. As a major finding, all three studies observed significant increases in psychological stress during the second Covid-19 wave. In the Swiss Corona Stress Study, for instance, 18% of participants reported severe depression symptoms in November 2020 relative to 12% in May, 9% in April during the lock-down, and 3% prior to the pandemic. The presentation will then describe the specific mental health responses. For instance, psychiatrists and psychotherapists were allowed to bill treatment by telephone and the recommendations and billing options have been regularly adapted in response to the developments. However, these changes have not yet affected medium-term mental health policies. Similarly, the continuous screening of the scientific literature is established as a short-term measure. It is reviewed periodically and extended only as needed. The presentation will discuss policy changes in relation to the long-term strategies and their present implementation state. Finally, it will draw initial comparisons with other European countries discuss implications for the future mental system in Switzerland.
The Health and wellbeing impacts of Home and agile working in Wales: A HIA Approach
Authors: Green L , Ashton K , Evans L , Morgan L , Lewis R , Azam S , Bellis MA 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
The SARS-COV-02 pandemic has globally resulted in a number of policies and interventions to address and reduce the transmission of the disease throughout the population. Mitigation measures have ranged from ‘Staying at Home' or ‘Lockdowns' to social distancing policies and requirements to work from home when you can. Whilst there are a number of papers which discuss the effects of home or remote working on employees and their families the large scale shift, accelerated pace and wider impacts of such a shift has not been well explored in the literature or has been focussed on specific topics, for example, productivity. HIA is promoted as a beneficial tool to identify the wider impacts of a policy, plan or intervention across a population and as such is well placed to examine and articulate who in a population may be affected and how, and the inequalities that may be created by an intervention such as home working. Using the lens of social determinants and equity focussed-HIA, this work examines the wider impact of home working in Wales during the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides a coherent overview of the major impacts on health and the particular populations affected. It articulates the process followed, the key evidence based findings, discusses the gaps in the evidence base that require further exploration and the impact and influence it has had to date. Finally, it shares the transferable learning, which will be of use to researchers, policy and decision makers, organisations and public health agencies.
The relationship between health literacy, health status and health outcomes among German 4th-graders
Authors: Bollweg T , Okan O , Freţian A , Janner C , Schulenkorf T , Kirchhoff S , Pinheiro P , Bauer U 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background
The WHO describes Health literacy (HL) as a critical determinant of health, and a number of studies among adults link low HL to adverse health outcomes. However, little research has been conducted on HL and health outcomes in younger populations. Thus, this study describes the relationship between HL, health behaviors, and health status among children in primary schools.

Methods
A cross-sectional pen-and-paper survey was conducted in a convenience sample of 4th-graders in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Self-report measures were used for subjective HL, health behaviors (freq. of brushing teeth, eating fruit, exercising, screen time), and health status (subj. health, chronic condition, freq. of doctor visits, feeling ill). Correlations and binary logistic regression for the outcome “at least one adverse health behavior” (e.g. brushing teeth &lt;2x a day; not eating fruit every day) are reported. Sex, age, family affluence, background of migration, numeracy, literacy, and health knowledge are included in the regression model.

Results
In our sample of n = 899 children (mean age 9,56 years), HL is significantly correlated with subj. health (ρ=.262**) doctor visits (ρ=.086*), feeling ill (ρ=-.078*), brushing teeth (ρ=.116**), eating fruit (ρ=.191**) exercising (ρ=.124**) and screen time (ρ=-.096**). Logistic regression (X2=29.237; p=.001, n = 648) shows that the relative risk for ≥1 adverse health behaviour is higher for boys (OR: 1.4; 95%-CI [1.016-1.927]) and children with lowest family affluence (1.7 [1.097-2.694]). Also, for one unit increase in HL (range 1-4), risk decreases by about 50% (0.472 [.298-.748]).

Conclusions
Already at a young age (9-10 years), HL is linked to a number of health outcomes. Further, HL has been found to be a potential predictor of adverse health behaviors after controlling for confounders.Thus, the promotion of HL might play an important role in mitigating adverse health behaviors early in the life course.
Female genital mutilation remains high in Senegal: an analysis of DHS 2018
Authors: Sougou NM , Seck I 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background
Female genital mutilation (FGM), also known as female genital cutting or female circumcision, threatens the health and well-being of millions of girls, women and their children across the globe. In Senegal, despite numerous health interventions, female genital mutilation is still a harmful practice. The objective of this study is to conduct a descriptive and analytical analysis of female genital mutilation practices in Senegal in 2018.

Methods
This study is a secondary analysis of the 2018 Senegal DHS. The analyses for this study were done on the Individual Records file. The DHS data covered 9414 women aged 15 to 49 years. A multivariate analysis was performed to consider confounding factors. The dependent variable was the existence of female genital mutilation in women. Data were analyzed with STATA 17 software.

Results
The prevalence of FGM was 17.18%. Women who had flesh removed from genital area represented 60.96% (1338), 29.39% (252) had genital area just nicked without removing any flesh, 6.88% (151) had genital area sown closed. Women who thought that FGM was justified by religion represented 11.52%. However, 80.59% of the women thought that it was a practice that should be stopped. The protective factors for the occurrence of FGM were women's empowerment factors (high level of education of the woman (primary ajOR=0.64 [0.50-0.83] and secondary ajOR=0.43 [0.32, 0.57]) and the fact that the head of the household is a woman ajOR (0.75 [0.59-0.97]); belonging to the central region of Senegal and the Christian religion (ajOr=0.05 [ 0.02-0.13]). The risk factors for female genital mutilation in Senegal were ethnicity and belonging to certain regions in the northeast and southeast of Senegal.

Conclusions
The prevalence of FGM in Senegal is still high. Ethnicity remains an important risk factor. Women's empowerment would allow the reduction of FGM. In the fight against FGM, politics should include women's autonomy strengthening like girls schooling.

Key messages
This study highlights the still significant extent of FGM. Women's empowerment factors would prevent these harmful traditional practices.
The caring perspective during a COVID pandemic
Authors: Mamo Julian 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Work as a private primary health care practitioner with a special interest in older persons has been a rollercoaster ride over the course of the pandemic with the need to improvise, provide a wider form of care and an inordinate amount of role changing. The initial recommendation was to stay away from any possible cases which may have remotely resembled COVID with a view to keeping physicians and their practice safe. This message was unheard after the start of the second wave as the health services struggled to cope, testing became ever more accessible and patients who did develop COVID-19 needed someone to care for them when state services were overstretched. Meanwhile, the availability of all forms of specialist care grew ever scarcer in the community and increasingly caregivers such as myself realised that boundaries were now blurred under such circumstances. As hospital wards became taken up with exclusively COVID-19 patients, other hospital care delivery became on an urgent only basis and this had an effect on care in the community for patients living with chronic diseases. Physicians such as myself became ever more involved in caring for persons with mental illness and with the plethora of anxiety prevalent in a community burdened with a pandemic, an overabundance of morbid media coverage and social media feeding on fear and doubt.
Using foresight methodologies to tackle SARS-COV-2 related health impacts
Authors: Tijhuis M , Delnord M , Moye Holz D , de Vries MA , Lapão LV , Peyroteo M , Hilderink H 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background
A better understanding of possible future developments is essential for policy makers to anticipate and influence these trends. Public health foresight studies (PHFS) are tools to support this. The current health crisis makes clear that PHFS are necessary more than ever to target possible future impacts resulting from SARS-COV-2 induced changes in e.g. regular health care services, lifestyle and socio-economic developments. To support European countries in doing their own foresight studies, PHIRI aims to strengthen foresight capacity.

Methods
PHIRI follows a 4-step approach: 1. Making an inventory of current PHFS capacities and capacity needs across European countries using desk research and an online survey; 2. Providing PHFS capacity building via a training course and workshops; 3. Supporting the development of public health scenarios for the short term (0-5 years) and longer-term (5-20 years); 4. Supporting the identification of promising policy strategies, using policy dialogues.

Results
The online survey was completed by participants of 21 countries and shed light on existing national PHFS and needs for capacity building. It also provided a basis for the development of a professional network on PHFS within the project. Literature research revealed a range of studies using stakeholder involvement and scenario analysis to explore alternative futures. A PHFS capacity building course was developed consisting of three parts: a general, introductory module; three advanced modules deepening on several PHFS elements; and a final module evaluating and preparing countries for developing scenarios together.

Conclusions
There is a lot of interest in using foresight in public health, especially in these times of crisis. PHIRI provides more insight in the wider public health impacts of the SARS-COV-2 pandemic and in translating this into policy options.