bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An Irish public health policy research team: impact and lessons learned, one year on
Authors: Norris M , McDowell C , Power V , Spillane S , Ryan M , O’Neill M 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Issue
In 2023, in Ireland, a public health policy research team was established in the Health Information and Quality Authority to conduct evidence syntheses and provide evidence-based advice to inform national decision-making, at the request of the Department of Health. One year on, we reflect on the impact of this team and outline lessons learned. These findings may support other countries in creating and developing public health policy research teams.

Description of the problem
We aim to answer the following questions: What impact can a public health policy research team have and what are the lessons learned, one year on? Projects completed by the team in 2023 were reviewed for stakeholder engagement (such as expert and public and patient involvement) and impact (feedback from policymakers, resulting public health actions or policies and online report downloads).

Results
Seven public health projects were completed in 2023, in areas including: Long COVID, public health reform, rapid multiplex testing, and medical countermeasure stockpiling. National and international stakeholders were engaged with via expert advisory group membership, document review and project presentations. Patient representatives were included from Long COVID Advocacy Ireland and Rare Diseases Ireland. Project reports were downloaded a total of 281 times. Positive feedback was received from all stakeholders. Project findings were presented to policymakers to inform national public health and rare disease strategy development, and the Long COVID model of care in Ireland.

Lessons
Early and ongoing stakeholder engagement is key when translating research to practice, via policy. Innovative methods of engagement, including public and patient involvement, can ensure meaningful collaboration. Adapting methodologies to meet stakeholder needs, such as rapid evidence synthesis, enhances impact. Lastly, research impact on policy takes time, and an understanding of national policy development is required.

Key messages
• A public health policy research team provides impactful evidence synthesis to advise national policymakers.
• Stakeholder engagement is key to developing impactful policy advice.
Proton-pump inhibitor use in older adults: Public vs. Private Prescribing in Portugal
Authors: Romano S , Teixeira Rodrigues A , Torre C , Perelman J 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are frequently overprescribed, posing challenges to patients and healthcare systems. In Portugal, the publicly funded National Health Service (NHS) provides universal coverage and reimburses the cost of medications regardless of the prescription origin. If private practices may benefit from longer consultation times allowing better prescription, they do not face any incentive to avoid over-prescription. We aimed to compare outpatient prescription trends, patterns, and costs of PPI among older adults in private and public sectors.

Methods
Nationwide retrospective ecological study on PPI prescribed for older adults in Portugal 2020-2022. Data on defined daily doses (DDD) and costs were obtained from a national public database by healthcare sector, sex (female/male), and age group (65-74, ≥75). We analysed trends, market share of DDD per 1000 older adults per day (DID), and mean cost per DDD (€/DDD) for all PPI substances.

Results
We observed a decrease in prescribed PPI from 349.0 DID in 2020 to 341.9 DID in 2022. Omeprazole (reference and cheaper substance) was the most prescribed drug for females and pantoprazole for males in the public sector. Similar pattern was observed among those aged ≥75 in the private sector while for those aged 65-74, esomeprazole was the most prescribed drug. Overall, the private sector prescribed PPI with a 20% higher price (0.126 €/DDD) than the public (0.106 €/DDD), with greater differences among the most expensive substances (rabeprazole +0.032 €/DDD; lansoprazole +0.029 €/DDD; esomeprazole +0.021 €/DDD).

Conclusions
PPI prescription followed similar trends in both sectors, but private practitioners tend to prescribe more expensive drugs, because their patients can afford them and because there is no incentive for more rational prescription. Since the NHS financially supports drugs prescribed in private practices, financial incentives towards rationale prescription should also fall in this sector.

Key messages
• Overall, the private sector prescribed PPI with a 20% higher price (0.126 €/DDD) than the public (0.106 €/DDD), with greater differences among the most expensive substances.
• Since the National Health Service financially supports drugs prescribed in private practices, financial incentives towards rationale prescription should also fall in this sector.
Can more CVD prevention increase life expectancy in Germany? Analysis with European data 2000-2019
Authors: Stolpe S , Kowall B 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Life expectancy (LE) in Europe is increasing since long - while mortality from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) declines, attributed to advances in therapy and prevention. Whether this is still applies the last 20 years is unclear. Recently, Germany’s low LE compared to other Western European countries (2019: 81.3 yrs; Spain: 84, Italy 83.6) was seen as result of high CVD mortality due to insufficient prevention. This led to the establishment of the German Federal Institute for Prevention and Education in Medicine, aimed at reducing CVD and -in the long term - narrowing the gap in LE. We explore whether data on CVD mortality and morbidity support this idea.

Methods
With data from OECD, WHO and IHME (GBD 2021), we calculated the mean annual change in LE and in age-standardised mortality (ASM) for CVD for 2000-2019 for European countries by sex. We estimated the linear association (adj R²) between the mean annual change in LE and ASM for CVD for West- and East-Europe, and -country-specific- between incidence and ASM from CVD.

Results
For 2000-2019, mean annual change in LE was lower in West- than in East-Europe: 0.25 yrs vs. 0.30 in men and 0.17 vs 0.22 in women; for ASM in CVD, it was about half as large: -6.6/100.000 vs. -11.1 for men and -4.1 vs. -8.0 for women. Similarly, the adj R² for the association between mean annual change in LE and in ASM for CVD was lower in West- compared to East-Europe: 0.43 vs. 0.24 in men and 0.21 vs. no association (adj R² -0.01) in women. Courses of CVD incidence were heterogeneous (linearly or wave-shaped in- or decreasing, stable or u-shaped). In Germany, it decreased wave-shaped, with an adj R² for linear association with ASM for CVD of 0.79 in women and 0.63 in men. The association between LE and ASM for CVD is low in West-European countries. Even if amplified prevention lowers CVD mortality, a positive effect on LE is questionable. Differences in LE are stable since long. Non-morbidity related factors might decisively effect LE.

Key messages
• Life expectancy in Europe-and it’s mean annual change since 2000 is not associated with age-standardised CVD mortality in women, and only moderate in men in West-Europe, in contrast to East-Europe.
• Course of CVD incidence is country-specific and very heterogeneous and reveals no overall association with CVD mortality rates.
The adoption of a place-based framework to inform municipal health strategies
Authors: Freitas A , Almendra R , Santana P 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Health is a place-based issue. Research shows that inequalities in health are significantly influenced by social, economic, and environmental factors, making local policies related to these domains critical determinants. Yet, place-based health planning remains underutilized by local practitioners, not receiving adequate attention from policy-makers. Departing from the Municipal Health Strategy of Coimbra, this presentation aims to showcase the framework used for guiding municipal health planning, addressing multidimensional factors, geographic analysis, intersectoral collaboration and participatory approaches.

Methods
The conceptual and methodological framework followed a population health approach with a geographic lens, looking at how the health outcomes and health determinants were geographically distributed across the municipality (data disaggregated at sub-municipal level), as well as the extent to which policies from multiple sectors can address them. The planning cycle followed an iterative seven-stage process based in five key actions: 1 - Assess (Health Profile), 2 - Prioritize (Priorities), 3 - Plan (Objectives and Strategies), 4 - Implement (Action Plan) and 5 - Monitor (Targets and Measures, Monitoring Plan). Participatory processes were conducted involving local stakeholders and citizens to identify needs, establish priorities and actions.

Results
The framework for action integrates 14 goals and 94 actions across six policy domains: Sustainable Mobility and Public Places, Safe and Adequate Housing, Accessible Healthcare, Social Cohesion and Participation, Education and Health Literacy and Intersectoral and Collaborative Leadership.

Conclusions
Adopting a place-based framework to health planning, involving a geographical and multidimensional health assessment as well as the participation of local stakeholders and citizens, was considered effective in turning evidence into practice.

Key messages
• Municipal health strategies should be developed with a place-based perspective, prioritizing health as the focal point across various intersectoral municipal policies.
• The integrated framework shed light on the experience of co-creation to inform health-oriented planning, ensuring that actions address specific needs of localities.
Analyzing Public Discourse on the Affordable Care Act through YouTube Comments
Authors: McKelvy T , Garman J , Green K , Mongeaux J , Ivanitskaya L , Bizri-Baryak R 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Introduction
Social media’s pervasive role in daily life provides a unique avenue for understanding public sentiments. This study utilizes YouTube comments on an MSNBC video about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to explore public opinions on the policy and its political implications.

Methods
A qualitative analysis of YouTube comments on an MSNBC video was conducted. Netlytic, a scraping tool, gathered 1,949 comments. Thematic analysis, based on a coding framework derived from Semetko and Valkenburg’s frames, identified three predominant frames: Responsibility, Human Interest, and Economic Consequences.

Results
Of the 1949 comments posted in response to the ACA video on YouTube, 488 were analyzed. Three media frames were used to categorize the comments. Among the analyzed comments, 42% fell within the Responsibility Frame, indicating that 205 comments attributed responsibility for ACA-related issues, healthcare access, and costs to political parties, individual politicians, and government entities. The Human-Interest Frame accounted for 11% of the comments, with 53 remarks reflecting individual experiences related to healthcare access and costs. Additionally, 26% of the comments fell within the Economic Consequences Frame, signifying those 125 comments included remarks concerning the economic impacts of the ACA, such as increased healthcare access, taxes, and penalties. The remaining 21% of comments did not align with the three frames.

Conclusions
This study embarked on a comprehensive exploration of public discourse surrounding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) within the context of the 2024 presidential election, utilizing YouTube comments as a rich source of qualitative data. Through a meticulous methodological approach, which included thematic framing analysis and intercoder reliability assessments, valuable insights into the diverse perspectives and sentiments expressed by social media users regarding this critical healthcare legislation were gained.

Key messages
• Social media allows for real-time understanding of people’s thoughts, beliefs, opinions, and ideas, as well as serves as a useful tool that fosters broad, unfiltered data/content.
• Researchers conducted a qualitative analysis of public discourse on YouTube to explore the range of sentiments regarding the ACA.
Body composition trajectories before the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Whitehall II study
Authors: Major D , Fazekas-Pongor V , Hung W Y , Singh-Manoux A , Brunner E J , Kivimaki M , Tabak A G 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
The trajectories of anthropometric and body composition measures (important predictors of diabetes) are rarely explored before diabetes diagnosis. Our study aimed to compare trajectories of fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM), body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC) preceding type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to aging trajectories of individuals without diabetes during follow-up.

Methods
We used data from the Whitehall II study, a prospective cohort of British civil servants. 5-yearly BMI and WC were available for up to 20 years, while 5-yearly FM and FFM measures were available for up to 10 years. Linear mixed models with a backward timescale (from diabetes diagnosis or end of follow-up) were performed stratified by sex and adjusted for age, occupational grade, ethnicity, and lifestyle factors.

Results
A total of 1674/990 (anthropometric/body composition analysis) women (233/81 incident diabetes) and 3917/2710 men (479/217 incident diabetes) 49.81 [0.08]/60.91 [0.9] (mean [SE]) years of age at baseline were included. All outcomes were higher in cases compared to controls. Women’s FM, BMI, and WC followed a quadratic increase in both groups with a faster increase among incident diabetes cases (dBMI 0.04 [0.01] kg/m2/year, dFM 0.19 [0.09] kg/year, dWC 0.2 cm/year [0.05]). FFM decreased linearly with similar slopes in cases and controls. Men’s FM, BMI, and WC also showed a quadratic increase with faster increase in incident cases compared to controls (dBMI 0.03 [0.01] kg/m2/year, dFM 0.23 [0.04] kg/year, dWC 0.08 [0.02] cm/year). FFM followed a quadratic decrease in both groups with a slower rate (0.06 [0.03] kg/year) in incident cases.

Conclusions
Incident diabetes cases have higher anthropometric and body composition measures 10-20 years before diabetes diagnosis compared to controls. Furthermore, incident cases showed faster increases in these measures except for FFM that decreased during follow-up with similar or lower speeds in cases than controls.

Key messages
• Traditional anthropometric measures do not capture the underlying changes in body composition.
• The inclusion of body composition in risk calculators may result in more precise diabetes prediction.
Adolescent well-being in time of crisis: The role of social and residential contexts
Authors: Bitar S , Minary L , Lalloué B , Kestens Y , Manneville F , O’Loughlin J , Ligier F , Agrinier N 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
It is unknown whether social or residential context during the COVID-19 lockdowns may impact mental well-being. We identified classes of each of social and residential context during the lockdown and examined their associations with mental well-being among French adolescents one-year after the first lockdown.

Methods
We used data collected in a cross-sectional study design in 2021 from 387 adolescents ages 12 to 15 years enrolled in the school-based pilot study for EXIST. Participants reported social and residential characteristics during the lockdown retrospectively, and current mental well-being in self-report questionnaires. We used latent class analysis to identify classes of social and residential contexts, and linear regression models to study their association with mental well-being.

Results
Four social context classes were identified: class 1 ‘Low opportunities for social contacts at home’, class 2 ‘Moderate opportunities for social contact at home”, class 3 ‘High opportunities for social contact at home’, and class 4 ‘Very high opportunities for social contact at home’. Compared to class 4, lower levels of mental well-being were observed among adolescents in class 1 (b= -4.08, 95% CI [-8.06; -0.10]) one year after the lockdown. We identified four residential context classes, with differences across classes in proximity to nature, type of residence (e.g., apartment, house), and level of neighborhood deprivation. No association was found between residential context during the lockdown and adolescent mental well-being one year later.

Conclusions
An unsupportive social environment during the lockdown may have long-term effects on mental well-being among adolescents. Given the observed disparities in social support, future intervention should aim to strengthen social support for adolescents living in unsupportive environments (e.g., remote homework assistance, support for isolated parents, provision of virtual chat rooms for adolescents).

Key messages
• Mental well-being was challenged among youth with lower levels of social connectedness and support during lockdown, residential context was not associated with adolescent well-being after one year.
• During crisis, a critical need among adolescents does not pertain to the physical attributes of their living environment, but rather to social support from friends or family within and outside home.
Involuntary singlehood, gender equality and mental health in contemporary Sweden
Authors: Wemrell M 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

In recent years, acts of violence against women have been tied to online communities of men who self-identify as involuntary celibates or ‘incels’. These men experience an inability to enter intimate relationships with women, attributing the issue to a gynocentric order in which women hold power and men are victims. This is while evidence suggests that in contemporary societies at large, growing numbers of men live without, or face difficulties in forming, intimate relationships with women, and while many men in Sweden, particularly young ones, report loneliness. At the same time, in Sweden we see a growing polarization between men and women regarding views on gender equality, especially among youth, as young men express gender conservative values and the notion that feminism is to blame for some men’s feelings of societal marginalization. Increased knowledge about these issues, and how they may be connected, is of strong importance for public mental health. In an ongoing research project, we take the incels phenomenon as our starting-point and as one area of attention, while also directing focus toward involuntary singlehood and celibacy among men and women in Sweden more broadly. The latter is investigated through a survey, which is the focus of this presentation. The survey explores the prevalence of short- and long-term experiences of involuntary singlehood and celibacy among men and women in the general population (n = 5000), and how such experiences are made sense of. Any correlations between such experiences and self-rated mental health and satisfaction with life, and attitudes towards gender equality and violence against women, are investigated, including any noteworthy differences along lines of gender, age and socioeconomic background. Experienced loneliness, irrespective of relationship status, is also assessed. The presentation will discuss preliminary results of the survey study and discuss their implications for public mental health.

Key messages
• Involuntary singlehood among men is a public health issue warranting further investigation.
• Correlations between involuntary singlehood and mental health as well as attitudes towards gender equality will be discussed.
Rising Mental Health Issues from Remote Work Challenges in South Korea Amid COVID-19
Authors: Sim J H , Yun B Y , Park H J , Oh J Y , Yoon J H 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased remote work, raising concerns about its impact on mental health. This study assessed the relationship between the challenges of remote work during the pandemic and mental health outcomes such as anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders. An online survey was conducted among South Korean adults, with data from 507 participants analyzed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale (GAD-7), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Results indicated that participants in the ‘difficult’ remote work category experienced higher rates of anxiety (26.6%), sleep disorders (37.3%), and depressive symptoms (38.4%) compared to the ‘non-difficult’ category (14.1% anxiety, 24.8% sleep disorder, and 24.8% depressive symptoms), with all differences statistically significant (p ≤ 0.005). Logistic regression models adjusted for demographics and socio-economic factors revealed increased odds of mental health issues in the ‘difficult’ group (ORs ranging from 2.241 to 3.210). Sub-group analysis highlighted significant disparities, particularly among blue-collar workers and men. The findings underscore the need for organizational strategies to mitigate the mental health challenges of remote work. Interventions should include improving technological infrastructure, enhancing workspace ergonomics, and fostering robust communication channels to replace in-person interactions. Additionally, policies should address the differential impacts observed between genders and industries, tailoring support to diverse needs. On a personal level, promoting regular indoor exercise could help workers manage stress and enhance their well-being in remote work settings. This study calls for a comprehensive approach to managing the complex impacts of remote work on mental health.

Key messages
• This study calls for a comprehensive approach to managing the complex impacts of remote work on mental health.
• The findings underscore the need for organizational strategies to mitigate the mental health challenges of remote work.