bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Improving transparency: Development of reporting guidelines for burden of disease studies
Authors: Devleesschauwer B , Gorasso V , Charalampous P , Haagsma J A 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
The burden of disease (BOD) approach, originating with the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study in the 1990s, has become a cornerstone for population health monitoring. Despite the widespread use of the Disability-Adjusted Life Year (DALY) metric, variations in methodological approaches and reporting inconsistencies hinder comparability across studies. To tackle this issue, we set out to develop guidelines for reporting DALY calculation studies to improve the transparency and comparability of BOD estimates. The development of the STROBOD statement began within the European Burden of Disease Network, evolving from initial concepts discussed in workshops and training sessions focused on critical analysis of BOD studies. In 2021, a working group was formed to refine the preliminary version into the final Standardised Reporting of Burden of Disease studies (STROBOD) statement, consisting of 28 items structured across six main sections. These sections cover the title, abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and open science, aiming to ensure transparency and standardization in reporting BOD studies. Notably, the methods section of the STROBOD checklist encompasses aspects such as study setting, data inputs and adjustments, DALY calculation methods, uncertainty analyses, and recommendations for reproducibility and transparency. A pilot phase was conducted to test the efficacy of the STROBOD statement, highlighting the importance of providing clear explanations and examples for each reporting item. The inaugural STROBOD statement offers a crucial framework for standardizing reporting in BOD research, with plans for ongoing evaluation and potential revisions based on user feedback. While the current version focuses on general BOD methodology, future iterations may include specialized checklists for distinct applications such as injury or risk factor estimation, reflecting the dynamic nature of this field.
Cancer Prevention in People Experiencing Mental Ill-Health: A co-designed Patient Navigation Concept
Authors: Schäfer K , Mües H M , Dalma A , Papaioannou A , Mancebo Salas N , Wrzesińska M , Wieczorkowska M , Sanna L , Grabovac I 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Introduction
People experiencing mental ill-health have greater disparities in cancer specific morbidity and mortality. Factors influencing cancer prevention include increased risk behaviours and frequent encounters with barriers to health care utilization. The Patient Navigation Model (PNM) has been proven to reduce barriers in accessing cancer preventive care in vulnerable populations. To facilitate successful implementation, the conceptual features of the PNM were co-designed with patients and other relevant stakeholders.

Methods
Twelve focus groups were conducted in January 2024 at four pilot sites in Austria, Greece, Poland, and Spain. Iterative focus group discussions were carried out following key considerations for the PNM as outlined by DeGroff et al., audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analysed deductively using a directed content analysis while allowing for potential inductive emergence of codes and topics. A total of 50 participants attended, representing five groups (individuals with mental ill-health, care givers, care team members, representatives of mental health organizations, and representatives of service managers).

Results
The co-design focus groups allowed for the PNM to be contextually adapted to each pilot site, but similarities in the approach emerged within the following four themes: 1) the requirement for a person-centred approach, 2) consideration of both person-specific and context-specific needs, 3) flexibility and competencies of navigators and 4) variation of navigation services (e.g., improving health literacy, promoting a healthy lifestyle, and providing practical support).

Conclusions
Participatory approaches in co-designing interventions allow for context specific development of interventions to meet the requirements of people with complex needs. Co-designing the PNM is part of activities of the CO-CAPTAIN project funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Programme (GA 101104784).

Key messages
• The Patient Navigation Model for Primary Cancer Prevention is a tailored intervention aiming to meet the needs of individuals experiencing mental ill-health.
• The conceptual features of the Patient Navigation Model for Primary Cancer Prevention were co-designed with patients and other relevant stakeholders.
Co-producing evidence to inform universal health coverage implementation in Ireland: 2019-2024
Authors: Burke S , Parker S , Bruen C , Schulmann K , Siersbaek R , Mac Conghail L 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
In 2017, Ireland’s parliamentary health committee published a ten-year health reform plan, entitled Sláintecare, with the aim of delivering universal healthcare. Endorsed by government in 2018, progressing Sláintecare remains government policy in 2024. In 2019, Prof Burke was awarded public funding to co-produce knowledge for the design and implementation of the regions, a key aspect of Sláintecare. In 2020, with the arrival of COVID-19, regional reform was paused and the research pivoted to capture the learning from the COVID-19 health system response to inform Sláintecare. In 2022/3, the research returned to focus on the regions.

Methods
Foundations’ research resulted in 14 peer-reviewed publications between 2019 and 2023. These were mixed-methods using qualitative and quantitative data and analysis. Coproduction with health system leaders that were devising and implementing the regions and the COVID-19 health system response underpinned the research.

Results
There are 14 academic publications from the Foundations Research (2019-2023). At the core of co-production is trust and good working relationships. Co-producing research with senior policy makers and implementers has benefits and drawbacks. The benefits include access to resources and data and that the data and knowledge generated are more likely to be adopted. Drawbacks include control over areas researched, denial of access to data and lack of openness to research findings. Producing controversial findings, unpopular with government, minister or health system leaders can also lead to difficulties for the research team.

Discussion/conclusions
Details of the coproduction process with senior health system and policy leaders will be presented. It will detail specific examples of the research which were initiated by the health system and those that came from the academic research team. It will give examples of how the research influenced the policy making and implementation processes.

Key messages
• Co-producing research between academics and health system and policy leaders leads to better use of evidence.
• Trust and good workign relationships are key to co-producing research that is used in policy making and implementation processes.
Working on new topics: Estimation of the burden of zoonotic diseases
Authors: di Bari C , Devleesschauwer B 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Zoonoses, diseases naturally transmitted between vertebrates and humans, represent significant global health threats. These diseases not only affect human health but also impose a considerable burden on animal populations, emphasizing the need for a One Health approach that integrates strategies across human, animal, and environmental health sectors. The socioeconomic impacts of zoonoses are profound in low- and middle-income countries, disrupting production systems, impacting livelihoods, and compromising food security. Populations in these regions are excessively affected, highlighting the urgent need for a comprehensive approach. The disability-adjusted life year (DALY) quantifies disease burden in terms of morbidity and mortality. The zoonotic DALY (zDALY) expands this metric by incorporating the burden on animals through the ‘animal loss equivalents’, accounting for both fatal and non-fatal outcomes in livestock. However, zDALYs do not encompass broader economic impacts associated with prevention and treatment. Cost of illness (COI) studies further quantify the financial costs due to health issues; ad hoc approaches can be used to quantify other costs related to animal disease control and eradication, trade and movement Implications, or loss of consumer confidence. While few zoonoses, such as cystic echinococcosis and brucellosis, have comprehensive data across these metrics, most do not. While these metrics provide complementary insights, no holistic metric currently encompasses all necessary aspects to fully assess the burden of zoonoses within a One Health framework. This presentation aims to offer state-of-the-art estimates of the disease burdens of zoonoses, employing DALY, zDALY, and COI studies. It will explore how to integrate these metrics from a One Health perspective. Indeed, only by integrating health and economic metrics that consider the well-being of humans and animals, can the One Health approach effectively be developed for zoonotic diseases.
Assessment of a Therapeutic Education Program for Coronary Patients: Quasi-Experimental Study
Authors: Ghali H , ElHraiech A , Ben Cheikh A , Ben Souda H , Karray M , Bruno P , Zedini C 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Introduction
Therapeutic education is a patient-centered, approach aimed at addressing the patient’s needs and resources. It is intended not only to help the patient understand their illness and treatment but also to empower them to become autonomous. So far, in Tunisia, we lack structures for therapeutic education specifically tailored for coronary patients. In this context, we implemented a Therapeutic Education Program (TEP) for coronary patients visiting the cardiology department at Sahloul University Hospital with the aim of assessing the impact of this program in the short, medium (3 months), and long term (12 months).

Methods
We conducted a quasi-experimental study on TEP for patients with coronary artery disease over one year at Sahloul University Hospital. Patients were divided into two groups, intervention, and control. Outcome measures included major cardiovascular events, improvement in knowledge, and biological indicators, with statistical analysis performed using SPSS in accordance with ethical considerations.

Results
The study included 129 patients, of whom 38 underwent a therapeutic education program. TEP demonstrated a significant improvement in knowledge about coronary artery disease, with program satisfaction rated ≥8 on a scale of 0 to 10.Our program also showed improvement in biological parameters, particularly lipid profiles, within the educated group before and after 3 months, such as LDL cholesterol levels (2.53 vs 1.88, P &lt; 0.001), and compared to the control group (1.88 vs 2.9, P = 0.001).Moreover, it led to a significant reduction in long-term cardiovascular events compared to the control group (21.1% vs 59.3%, p &lt; 0.001).

Conclusions
this study underscores the crucial importance of therapeutic education in enhancing the care and quality of life of coronary patients, highlighting its central role in a proactive, personalized approach to medical management.

Key messages
• The significance of therapeutic education in empowering patients to understand their condition and become self-reliant.
• Need for Structured Programs specifically for coronary patients in Tunisia.
Prediction of subsequent CKD according to eGFR decline slope varies by the presence of hypertension
Authors: Miyamatsu N , Shima A , Matsuno F , Segawa H , Tatsumi Y , Morino A , Kiyohara M , Yamaguchi A , Kawatsu Y 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
We reported that a declining slope in eGFR evaluated from 3-year observation could predict subsequent CKD among the relatively healthy population, even adjusted for baseline eGFR. However, its certainty may vary depending on the presence of comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension, which are also recognized as the risk factors of CKD.

Methods
Annual health check-up data from a Japanese company spanning from 2009 to 2022 was used. The analyses included participants having 4 times continuous eGFR measurements for 3 years, undergoing health checkups at least once during a follow-up period, with negative for urinary protein (UP), and non-diabetic. Individual ‘eGFR slopes’ were calculated by the regression line with 4 times eGFR measurements. Participants with slopes of &lt; -5 per year were categorized as the “decreased” group and -5 or more were categorized as the “stable” group. The cases of positive UP or less than 45mL/min/1.73m2 in eGFR during a follow-up period were defined as CKD. Cox regression analyses adjusted for sex, age, and eGFR at baseline were performed to calculate the hazard ratios and 95% CIs for CKD in the decreased group (reference; stable), stratified by hypertension.

Results
Out of 5598 study participants(men 36%, mean age 48.2±10.1years, mean follow-up period 4.3 years), 260 CKD cases (4.6%) were observed. CKD cases accounted for 4.5% (235/5218) in the stable group and 6.6% (25/380) in the decreased group. Multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios [95%CIs] of CKD by eGFR decline was 1.50[0.99-2.27]. The eGFR decline increased the risk of CKD only in participants with hypertension (2.09[1.09-4.04]), but not in those without hypertension (1.25[0.73-2.13]). After excluding individuals with eGFR slopes exceeding 10 per year to consider for hyperfiltration of eGFR, the results were consistent.

Conclusions
The eGFR decline over a 3-year observation may predict subsequent CKD only in individuals with hypertension.

Key messages
• With a relatively short-term evaluation period of three years, eGFR decline can predict subsequent CKD only in hypertensive individuals.
• In middle-aged hypertensive patients, it would be important for the prevention of CKD to pay attention not only to low eGFR but also to the progression of eGFR decline.
The Effect of Text messages and Education on Cancer Screening in Women Aged 30-65
Authors: Kutman H , Kadıoğlu H 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Despite it is known that cancer screenings reduce cancer-related deaths, screening rates are still inadequate. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of text messaging and training on cancer screening in women aged 30-65.

Methods
This non-randomized controlled trial was conducted with 120 women aged 30-65 between November 2023 and April 2024 in Tekirdağ, Türkiye. Participants were divided into the text message group (TMG) (n = 60), the training group (TG) (n = 60), and the control group (CG) (n = 60). In the text message group, every participant received text messages about cancer and importance of screening procedures, one a day for ten days. The training group was educated for a session that lasted 45 min. Data was collected both before and 3 months after the intervention, using a questionnaire that included two parts (sociodemographic characteristics and stages of change for cancer screening practices). Data was analyzed using the Marginal Homogeneity test.

Results
The rates of those who had a pap smear test, breast self-examination (BSE), mammography, and stool occult blood screening were found to be significantly higher in both the text message group and the training group in the post-test than the pre-test. (p&lt;.001). In the text message group, there was an increased rate of 43.4% for pap smear test, 25% for BSE, 17.3% for mammography, and 10% for stool occult blood screening. In the training group, there was an increased rate of 31,7 % for pap smear test, 26,7% for BSE, 13,3% for mammography, and 23,4 % for stool occult blood screening. There was no change in the control group.

Conclusions
The results showed that both text messages and training about cancer screening are effective in increasing the rate of cervix, breast, and colorectal cancer screening.

Key messages
• Text messaging about cancer screening is as effective as training in increasing the rate of cervix, breast, and colorectal cancer screening.
• Text messaging interventions may be an effective and practical way to increase cancer screening rates in populations most affected by health disparities.
Assessment of Integrated Care Pathways for dementia in Italy according to the National Guidance
Authors: Marconi D , Pani S M , Salemme S , Lazzeri G , Sardu C , Bacigalupo I , Lorenzini P , Vanacore N , Bellomo G 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Italy counts 1 million people with dementia and 3 million caregivers. An integrated management system provides comprehensive care for people with non-communicable diseases, including dementia, through integrated care pathways (ICPs). Our study identified available dementia ICPs and assessed their compliance with the National Guidance on ICPs for People with Dementia (NGICPD). The project is carried out with the technical and financial support of the Ministry of Health (Chapter 2302).

Methods
We located ICPs by browsing all the websites of regions and Local Health Authorities (LHAs), contacting by email all LHAs, collecting ICPs from a survey carried out by the Dementia Observatory of the Italian National Institute of Health, and communicating with regional contacts. We included the ICPs produced after the NGICPD by the end of 2023. We applied a checklist developed on NGICPD consisting of 3 domains: Reference framework (0-15), Elements of the ICP (0-14), Construction of the ICP (0-14). ICPs were assessed by two researchers; a third solved the conflict points. The concordance was expressed by the intra-class correlation coefficient.

Results
We analysed 39 ICPs (11 regional, 28 LHAs) out of 87 collected. 15/21 regions and 30/110 LHAs developed an ICP. The observed mean total score was 23.5±7.9 for the regional ICPs and 23.1±5 for the LHAs ICPs. We observed low compliance with NGICPD, particularly in domain 3. The development of a health information system was included in 5/11 of regional and 12/28 of ICPs of LHAs; a monitoring system was present in 8/11 of regional and 25/28 LHAs ICPs. Concordance analysis showed an excellent correlation for regional ICPs and good for LHAs ICPs.

Conclusions
Our analysis highlighted low compliance of ICPs with the NGICPD and critical issues in monitoring. Our analysis stresses the need for all regions and LHAs to develop or update ICPs in line with NGICPD and the Italian Guidance on diagnosis and treatment of dementia.

Key messages
• Developing a pathway of efficient and coordinated care is essential to guarantee the quality of care for people with dementia and their families. All regions and LHAs must develop or update ICPs.
• Monitoring ICP with indicators is crucial to planning cost-effective healthcare services.
Association between the education level and heatwaves mortality in Slovenia, 2015-2022
Authors: Percic S , Pohar M , Bitenc K , Medved A , Krosel M , Hrzenjak V V , Hojs A 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
So far only a few studies have addressed the heat related mortality risks associated with socioeconomic factors. The study aimed to determine whether low education is associated with more deaths during heat waves, which in turn leads to health inequalities linked to climate change.

Methods
In this time series study, we assessed the association between the level of education in three Slovenian climate regions and mortality during the heatwaves from 2015 to 2022. We estimated the relative risks (RR) with 95 % confidence interval for the number of deaths due to all causes among persons with three different levels of education associated with heatwaves in three Slovenian climate regions independently, comparing the number of deaths during heat waves with the reference days.

Results
Continental and Littoral Climate: We found no statistically significant association in the number of deaths due to all causes during heatwaves according to the three levels of education. When comparing these three levels to each other (Relative Risk Ratio), we found no statistically significant differences between them. Transitional Climate: For the second education level (middle education) we found statistically significant increase in number of deaths due to all causes (12%; 95% CI: 2%, 23%). When comparing the three education levels to each other, we found statistically significant decreased number of deaths in the first education level (low education) compared to second (-13%; 95% CI: -24%, -1%).

Conclusions
When assessing the effects of climate change on health and planning preventive measures, it is necessary to consider both socioeconomic factors and the characteristics of different climate regions in Slovenia. Further studies are needed.

Key messages
• Heatwaves will contiue to be more intense, longer and more frequent also in Europe.
• Not many studies assessed association between social status and mortality durin heatwaves. WE found statistically significant more deaths in middle class education group. Further studies are needed.
Greening the mind: exploring the link between vertical gardens, urban forests, and mental health
Authors: Urbano T , Akkawi S , Brînzac M G , Savoia C , Cadeddu C 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Mental disorders impose a significant global burden, affecting millions of individuals, contributing to disability, reduced quality of life, and economic costs worldwide. Between 1990 and 2019, the global number of disability-adjusted life-years due to mental disorders increased from 80.8 million to 125.3 million. The economic costs are projected to rise to 6,000 billion euros by 2030. Urbanization has been associated with a worsening of mental disorders over the years due to various factors, such as increased stress, social isolation, reduced access to green spaces, and higher levels of pollution. Decades of research have instead shown that exposure to green space may promote psychological well-being, regulate stress, and endorse social health across the lifespan. In this systematic review, we aim to investigate how proximity to vertical gardens or urban forests, specifically, may affect mental health.

Methods
The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) were followed. The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024517969) with the following PECOS question: Is there an association between vertical gardens or urban forests and mental health?

Results
After performing searches on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, and duplicate removal, we retrieved 556 articles. The main reasons for exclusion after title/abstract screening were mainly wrong outcome (not mental health) and wrong study type (not observational/intervention/cross-sectional studies). The selection of full texts is expected to end shortly and results will be available for November 2024. Preliminary findings support the role of green environmental assets in facilitating physical activity, social contact, and stress reduction.

Conclusions
In summary, mental disorders are exacerbated by urbanization’s stressors. Our review will further elucidate the potential benefits of urban green spaces like vertical gardens and urban forests on mental health.

Key messages
• Urbanization exacerbates the issue of mental disorders global burden.
• Exposure to urban forests and vertical gardens may promote physiological well-being and mental health.