bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
2.Y.1. Communication in participatory health research with refugees and migrants
Authors:   Organised by: ICPHR, EUPHA-MIG,   Chair persons: Bernadette Kumar (EUPHA-MIG), Ana Gama (Portugal)
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Innovative approaches are needed to transform public health research and address health inequities. Participatory Health Research (PHR) is one such approach, which aims to maximize the participation of those whose life or work is the subject of the research in all stages of the research process. PHR has advantages for both research outcomes, including increased relevance, meaningfulness and impact of research, as well as for those involved, in terms of ownership and empowerment to address their health priorities. PHR with migrants has potential to reduce health inequities through the active involvement of migrants in research about their health. In a framework for refugee and migrant health in the WHO European Region, MacFarlane et al. (2022) recommend the research field of migration and health to adopt PHR as the norm, for ethical reasons and to support effective research-policy-practice translation. PHR with migrants is increasingly used but is still rare and adhoc in the field of migration health research. There are also potential practical and ethical challenges that warrant critical reflection. One persistent challenge is communication, where differences in culture, language and knowledge areas need to be considered in multiple ways, for example, in the development of participatory partnerships, in the conduct of data collection that takes place as a result of such participatory partnerships and in dissemination processes. The aim of the workshop is to share different approaches on PHR with migrants and propose solutions to common challenges in communication. The workshop will be structured in a first part where presenters will draw upon their experience in PHR with refugees and migrants covering a broad range of topics relating to communication, and a second part of open discussion with presenters and the audience. The workshop will address two key questions: what challenges have we experienced, and lessons learnt.
Anne MacFarlane presents emerging evidence about music and singing as culturally attuned arts based methods that can create innovative opportunities for communication for partnership building, fieldwork and dissemination. Ana Gama presents on using idea-generation workshops with vignettes representing migrants with diverse health-literacy profiles and its potential to address communication challenges.

Key messages
• Participatory health research with migrants warrants critical reflection around communication, ethics and partnership-building.
• In participatory health research, using innovative and creative methods can create opportunities to overcome communication barriers and build meaningful collaborations.

Speakers/Panelists
Anne MacFarlane
University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
Ana Gama
IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
Implementation of the international health regulations – global challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Vasconcelos R , Pulido Valente F , Pinto H , Santos M M , Travassos S , Saldanha Resendes D , Crisóstomo E , Pacheco I , Godinho M , Carvalho J M 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
The International Health Regulations (IHR) govern how 196 countries and the World Health Organization (WHO) collectively manage global disease spread while preserving international travel and commercial trade. The COVID-19 pandemic set an unprecedented challenge to the IHR commitments. To address this gap, two scoping reviews were conducted: one identifying global challenges in IHR implementation and the other analyzing challenges, successes and limitations of the IHR during the COVID-19 pandemic. The scoping reviews followed Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and PRISMA methodology, utilizing the PubMed, Medline, World of Science, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar databases, plus backwards citation chaining. Data selection and analysis were guided by pretest forms. From 128 articles screened, 52 met inclusion criteria for the IHR implementation review. 135 challenges were identified, in these categories: (1) requirement of financial and technical resources, (2) lack of enforcement and accountability mechanisms, (3) need for rules clarification, (4) deterrents to reporting, (5) inadequate governance, (6) insufficient cooperation between countries, (7) sovereignty issues, (8) scarcity of guidance and technical support from WHO, (9) lack of inclusion of roles for relevant non-state actors, (10) conflicts and emergencies. In the COVID-19 review, 15 articles were included. Although the role of the IHR during Health Emergencies was acknowledged, most countries faced limitations in its implementation during the pandemic. Key lessons included reinforcing the global health security strategy, reviewing the IHR to address current challenges and strengthening countries and states’ commitment to resolutions compliance. The ongoing debate over IHR updates confirms the need for its revision to safeguard global health. A more effective response grounded on the IHR is needed to face upcoming and expected events of COVID-19’s magnitude and severity.
3.X.1. Health literacy in Europe: Building a comparative database for shaping public health policy
Authors:   Organised by: Austrian National Public Health Institute (Austria), EUPHA-HL, WHO/Europe, JA PreventNCD,   Chair persons: Robert Griebler (Austria), Christopher Le (Norway)
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Health literacy (HL) is a key determinant of health and a lever for health equity. It refers to the extent to which individuals are able to deal with health-related information, communicate with health professionals, and navigate the health care system to restore, maintain, protect, and improve their health and well-being. It is the result of an interplay between personal motivation, individual competencies and the health information and service environment. HL is strongly related to health behaviors and issues such as obesity, the social determinants of health, and the use of health systems, which have been under pressure since COVID-19. The development and implementation of targeted public health interventions to promote HL in the European Region require reliable and comparable data on population HL to identify the main HL challenges and the most affected population groups. The WHO Action Network on Measuring Population and Organizational Health Literacy (M-POHL) has started monitoring population HL and conducted the first M-POHL Health Literacy Survey (HLS19) in 17 countries in the WHO European Region between 2019 and 2021. In preparation for the 2nd M-POHL Health Literacy Survey (2024-2026; HLS24), the HLS19 instruments were further improved and supplemented by a new measure on mental HL. These instruments are also of interest to the European Joint Action PreventNCD with its specific task on HL and non-communicable diseases (7.4). The workshop will provide insights into the M-POHL HLS24, the largest HL survey in Europe, and the HL instruments used. It consists of four presentations, one describing the M-POHL HLS24 project and three on specific HL instruments used to assess different aspects of HL in the European general population: HLS24-DIGI for digital HL; HLS24-COM-P for communicative HL; HLS24-NAV for navigational HL.
Each presentation will describe the revised item set and results from pretests. We invite the audience to ask questions and to engage in a (cross-cutting) discussion with the presenters. Expected impact: The presentations will provide a comprehensive overview of the advanced family of instruments used in the HLS24 study, their quality, and the expected HL data for Europe. They will provide a deeper understanding of how HL will be measured in the M-POHL HLS24 project.

Key messages
• The advanced family of HL instruments used in the M-POHL HLS24 project enables comprehensive HL monitoring in Europe.
• The data collected in HLS24 will provide a solid database for shaping public health policy to strengthen population HL and promote health equity in Europe.
Measuring digital health literacy in Europe – developing a new tool to capture innovation
Authors: Levin-Zamir D , Arabska Y , Bíró É , Krajnovic D , Le C , Link T , Mancini J , Ochaba R , Schaeffer D , Van den Broucke S 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Rapid advancement of digital resources for health and healthcare in Europe has widened the scope of opportunities to promote health, but also raises concerns about accessibility and health equity. Measuring digital health literacy (DHL) in populations is critical for assessing digital resource appropriateness in general and specifically among vulnerable populations. The DHL measure used in the M-POHL Health Literacy Survey 2019-2021 (HLS19) in 13 countries showed inadequate DHL in large parts of the population, reflecting a social gradient. As digital resources become increasingly interactive, potentially widening the digital divide, a need to refine the DHL HLS19 tool was evident.

Methods
Building on the HLS19 tool, an additional measure was developed to assess interactive aspects of DHL by representatives from 16 countries in a co-productive way, based on discussions about the diverse digital challenges. The additional scale was to be generic enough to be relevant for all countries, yet specific enough to discern the diverse needs regarding various public health/healthcare service formats across Europe.

Results
The new tool is divided into 2 parts: a scale measuring the skills to access, understand, appraise, and apply digital health information as applied and validated in HLS19, and a new set of items assessing the use and ease of use of interactive digital resources including health promotion apps, digital tools for managing health/medical conditions, navigating the healthcare system, and communicating online with health professionals. The tool has been translated into several languages and is currently undergoing piloting/cognitive testing.

Conclusions
Collaborative work among countries is essential for developing relevant measurement tools on the European level. Just as the technology undergoes rapid change, likewise tools for assessing DHL must be updated acknowledging the diversity of digital resources and needs on country levels.
Measuring navigational health literacy – an extension of the HLS19-NAV scale
Authors: Griese L , Schaeffer D , Arabska Y , Bonaccorsi G , De Gani S M , Guttersrud Ø , Kučera Z , Strassmayr C , Touzani R , Vrbovšek S 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
European healthcare systems are characterized by a high complexity and intransparency. Finding one’s way through the multitude of services requires navigational health literacy (NAV-HL). NAV-HL is defined as the ability to maneuver the healthcare system and deal with information necessary to do so at the system, organizational, and interactive levels. Using a newly developed scale, the European health literacy population survey 2019-2021 (HLS19) measured NAV-HL across multiple countries. To better capture the complexity of the construct and enhance scale validity, the aim was to improve it by generating additional items on the interactive level.

Methods
An international panel of health literacy experts from ten countries generated additional items that specifically covered tasks related to interactions with healthcare professionals. These skills are important for ensuring continuity of healthcare and navigating the healthcare system. The items were generated in an iterative process, translated, and tested in cognitive interviews.

Results
Four items were generated according to the four cognitive domains of the underlying conceptual model. These items concern the proficiency to: a) obtain information from health-care professionals about further healthcare services, b) understand this information and c) assess it in relation to one’s own preferences, and d) use it to make decisions about further healthcare. Using cognitive interviews, the four new items have been found to be meaningful and comprehensible. Only minor adjustments were made.

Conclusions
The HLS19-NAV scale has already been successfully applied and validated in eight countries of the HLS19. The new items capturing the interactive level enhance the validity of the existing HLS19-NAV scale. The psychometric properties of the new (sub)scale will be explored.
Statistics on disability pensioners is important for assessing injury burden
Authors: Lund J 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Introduction
We have little information about long term effects of injuries resulting in disability. In addition to human suffering and reduced quality of life, these consequences of injuries inflict a heavy burden on the national economy. All persons in Norway aged 16 - 66 years are entitled to disability pension benefits from the National Insurance Administration (NIA) if their working capacity is permanently reduced by at least 50 % due to disease, injury or defect. The burden of injuries in terms of “New disability pensioners” (NDP) related to traffic injuries was assessed in a study for the years 1992-97 and in a follow up study for 2005-12.

Methods
Each year, a number of persons will be registered as NDP in the Disability register of NIA. Between 1992 and 2012 accident types were classified by an additional code, one of them denoting traffic injury. To calculate rates, the number of NDP are related to the number of persons in Norway on the 1st of January minus the number of persons holding a disability pension at that time (risk population) and are shown as NDP pr 100 000 of the risk population.

Results
The rates for NDP due to traffic injuries increased from 16.8 in 1992 to 23.0 in 1997, an average annual increase of 7.4 %. These rates were compared with the mortality rates in the age group 15-64 years due to traffic injuries from 1988-1993. The average time lag between an injury and getting a disability pension is 4 years. These rates were 9.3 in 1988 and 6.4 in 1993, an average annual decrease of 6.2 %. The follow up study for 2005-2017 confirmed more or less this increasing trend in NDP due to traffic injuries.

Conclusions
The rate of NDP due to traffic injuries is increasing while mortality rates for same age group is decreasing. This might reflect that our emergency medicine now saves more and more lives, however many of them ending up as disabled. We need to get valid statistics on disability enabling us to describe the burden of traffic injuries.
4.X.1. Health literacy policies – how can they be developed and implemented?
Authors:   Organised by: Austrian National Public Health Institute (Austria), M-POHL,   Chair persons: Christina Dietscher (Austria), Angelika Schlacher (Austria)
Published: October 2024

Abstract

In Europe and beyond, there is political recognition of health literacy being an important factor for good health and well-being. As health literacy is considered critical to achieving health and as limited health literacy is still a widespread phenomenon, the topic is steadily attracting more attention among policy and decision makers. To meet growing demand from decision makers, a policy guide was initiated by M POHL, the World Health Organization (WHO) Action Network on Measuring Population and Organizational Health Literacy. The guide aims to support awareness-raising, the building of commitment and the implementation of effective policies to improve health literacy. It mainly addresses decision-makers in health policy and administration, but may also inspire researchers and other relevant stakeholders in the health literacy area.

Objectives of the workshop
This skills building seminar seeks to contribute to capacity building and to offer time for exchange and discussion on health literacy policy work. More specifically, the objectives of the workshop are to: - provide an overview on national health literacy policy implementation; - increase the knowledge of participants on what countries are doing already and identify needs for further support; - support participants in reflecting, initiating, developing and implementing effective measures to improve population and organizational health literacy.

Methods of the workshop
The workshop will start off by a presentation introducing the guide “Health literacy policies - how can they be developed and implemented?’ and sharing some national experiences in implementing health literacy policies, strategies, and interventions. After these impulses attendees will be divided into groups to enable exchange. A checklist for self-assessment will be provided as a tool to guide the discussion and to identify and address potential challenges in implementing health literacy policies and interventions. The input and identified needs will be captured. They will support M-POHL’s continuing efforts to support policy makers and administrators in their work.

Key messages
• Health literacy is steadily gaining more interest from policy- and decision-makers.
• In this seminar, participants will learn on how evidence-informed policies and practice can be supported.
A guide for policy and decision makers on health literacy policies
Authors: Schlacher A 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Supported by supranational organizations such as the WHO or the European Union, governments across the world have begun to work systematically on developing and implementing action plans, strategies and policies to improve the health literacy of their citizens and the health literacy friendliness/responsiveness of health organizations. In 2023, a first project on evidence-based policies and practices was initiated by the WHO Action Network on Measuring Population and Organizational Health Literacy (M-POHL) and financially supported by the Swiss Ministry of Health. In this project a guide on how health literacy policies can be developed and implemented was developed by an international working group. This guide brings together insights from existing literature on national health literacy strategies, action plans and interventions, including an expert snowball search within the M-POHL network and among other partners, experiences and case examples collected from M-POHL members and other countries. Feedback on the guide was collected in interactive webinars with policy representatives and decision-makers and addressed. The structure of the guide follows an adapted version of the Public Health Action Cycle model, assisting step-by-step action on health literacy policy development: situation analysis; agenda setting; developing policies, strategies and interventions; implementation; evaluation and monitoring. Each phase is described, and best practices and recommendations provided. The guide closes with a checklist for self-assessment which follows the structure of this document. It supports reflection on the state of policies in a country. This innovative guide contributes to supporting evidence-informed policies and practice. This can be of interest to experts and practitioners who have data on challenges relating to the health literacy levels of population groups and who wish to develop or adjust their policies, services and communications accordingly.
Improving RCCE-IM for LGBTQ+ migrants: Lessons learned from COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Gato J 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
To foster equity during a pandemic event, public health practitioners must be mindful of social and political circumstances that inform poor health. This is especially true for populations who are exposed to several factors that structure health inequity, such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or otherwise queer identifying (LGBTQ+) populations. We aim to report on the specific challenges of LGBTQ+ people, including those who belong to the migrant communities, during the COVID-19 pandemic and find out their needs in risk communication (RC), community engagement (CE) and infodemic management (IM).

Methods
We will first review findings of studies conducted in Portugal, UK, Italy, Brazil, Chile, and Sweden, between 2020-2023, in the context of “Project Global Queerantine”, then report on the additional challenges that LGBTQ+ people faced when living in migrant communities.

Results
LGBTQ+ individuals perceived their psychological wellbeing to have been greatly affected by the pandemic. Stressors included fear of the disease itself, and fear of spreading the virus, as well as the negative consequences of adhering to the recommendations of social distancing, which constantly interplayed with the marginalized position of being a LGBTQ+ person. Limited access to the LGBTQ+ community was a common stressor for trans individuals who faced prolonged waiting times for “gender dysphoria” assessment and hormone treatment. The intersectionality of vulnerability mechanisms experienced by LGBTQ+ migrants exacerbated all these issues, as did challenges in accessing and comprehending COVID-19-related information.

Conclusions
During health crises, it is critical for RCCE-IM efforts to consider the increased mental health issues and disruption of social support networks that LGBTQ+ people may face. Strategies and examples of good practices for RCCE-IM that are specifically tailored to LGBTQ+ migrants will be developed in collaboration with the workshop participants.
Sources and determinants of exposure to indoor air pollutants in schools and hospitals: a review
Authors: Teófilo V , Clemente M , Viegas S , Martins C 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is an important determinant of health. This study aimed to review the available scientific evidence about indoor pollutants and determinants of exposure in several settings, in the scope of the K-HEALTHinAIR project.

Methods
The systematic review was performed for the sources, concentrations, and determinants of pollutants in schools in the European region for 2013-2023. Articles were selected for data extraction if they were epidemiological studies, reported primary data for indoor air and pollutant levels, and, identified sources and determinants of exposure.

Results
The main pollutants affecting IAQ in schools and hospitals were carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds (e.g., formaldehyde, terpenes), particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, radon, ozone, and carbon monoxide. Besides the outdoor environment, several important indoor sources of emissions were identified such as occupancy, resuspension, cleaning products. Ventilation was the main determinant influencing the indoor levels of pollutants, stressing the importance of good planning, installation, and maintenance of mechanical ventilation systems in buildings. Other determinants were the number of occupants and their activities, and the building characteristics (e.g., type of floor, location, etc).

Conclusions
Results revealed indoor air quality as a public health concern since several pollutants are present in indoor settings. The identification of sources and determinants of exposure is fundamental for determining preventive measures in a public health perspective.
Acknowledgments: K-HEALTHinAIR team for screening and data extraction: Mariana Corda, Jose Fermoso, Alicia Aguado, Sandra Rodriguez, Hanns Moshammer, Mireia Ferri, Belén Costa, Leticia Pérez, Wojciech Hanke, Artur Badyda, Piotr Kepa, Katarzyna Affek, Nina Doskocz, Laura Martín, Oguz Mulayim, Cesar Mediavilla Martinez, Alba Gómez, Ruben González, Isaac Cano, Josep Roca, Simon de Leede.