bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of temperature and humidity on airway obstruction in a cohort of elderly women
Authors: Areal A , Singh N , Schikowski T 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Temperature and relative humidity (RH) impact human health. However, little is known about the combined association between temperature and RH on respiratory health in the elderly. In this study, we evaluated the interactive associations of temperature and RH on airway obstruction in elderly German women.

Methods
Using data from the second follow-up (2007-2010) of the German SALIA cohort study, we assessed the short-term (Lag0-8) combined association between maximum and minimum temperature (Tmax, Tmin) and RH on airway obstruction. Airway obstruction was defined as the ratio of first second of forced expiration (FEV1) / forced vital capacity (FVC) &lt; 0.70. Multivariable logistic regression with a distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) was constructed for the interaction between temperature and RH and adjusted for a single pollutant, location, socioeconomic status and smoking status.

Results
735 elderly women with an average (±SD) age of 73.46 (±3.09) years were included. Around 16.73% of them had airway obstruction. For non-linear antagonistic Tmax and RH interaction models, we found a U-shaped relationship from Lag 0-8, with an immediate adverse association from Lag0-1 and a significant delayed adverse association from Lag7-8. For non-linear antagonistic Tmin and RH interaction models, the relationship was U-shaped and showed an immediate adverse association from Lag0-1, while there was also a significant delayed association from Lag6-8.

Conclusions
Climate change increases the likelihood of exposure to adverse temperatures and weather conditions. Vulnerable populations like the elderly are more susceptible to the adverse associations of climate change. In this epidemiological study, we found that exposure to Tmax/Tmin and RH had immediate and delayed adverse associations by increasing respiratory obstruction in elderly women. Increasing public awareness of the danger of interactions between non-optimum temperature and RH on respiratory health is crucial.

Key messages
• Elderly women’s respiratory health is impacted by temperature and humidity interactions, requiring awareness and proactive measures.
• Climate change heightens risk for vulnerable groups, emphasising the need to address environmental impacts on health.
Family Vulnerability: From concept to a scale validity and application
Authors: Eshriqui I , de Almeida L Y , de Souza E L , Nascimento V E , de Mendonça JMT , Neto FTP , Rebustini F , de Medeiros E B , de Sousa AAF , Bonfim D 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
This activity will last 20 minutes. An interactive presentation will be structured at three steps. First, a debate will be facilitated to engage participants on the following questions: i. What is family vulnerability? ii. Why should we measure family vulnerability at the context of Primary Health Care (PHC)? Second, once concepts are aligned, a brief presentation about the Vulnerability Family Scale for Brazil (EVFAM-BR) will be performed. At this time, participants will have the opportunity to know about the process of development, validation and the final version of EVFAM-BR (Souza et al., 2023, available at https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280857). Third, presenters will share step by step how EVFAM-BR can be implemented into PHC, considering two real-world experiences in Brazil, Southeast and North regions, and will discuss about possible strategies to tailor it at different cultural and geographic context, from settings with higher vulnerability and low resources to high technology settings.
6.E. Practice session: Using European environmental data in public health: datasets and applications
Authors:   Organised by: European Environment Agency,   Chair persons: Gerardo Sanchez Martinez (Denmark)
Published: October 2024

Abstract

The European Environment Agency collects, quality-assures and quality-checks data on environment, climate and sustainability. It does so through its network and other institutional partners across 38 European countries. Most of these validated environmental data are publicly available and many can be used by practitioners to assess environmental risks to the health of their communities, as well as for designing and evaluating policies’ effectiveness. The objective of this workshop is to provide public health practitioners and scientists with an overview of the EEA data streams of public health relevance, including on air pollution, noise, water pollution, industrial emissions and climate impacts, among others. It will also highlight existing examples of local and national assessments and communication products based on these data, as well as demonstrating how specifically data on air pollution can be used for a quick health impact evaluation. The format of the workshop will be a practice session of 60 minutes with four presentations, the last being a live example demonstration, and an ample session of questions and answers.

Key messages
• The EEA collects and publishes large, validated datasets of public health from across 38 member countries, including on air and water pollution, industrial emissions, noise and climate change.
• These data can be directly used by practitioners to assess environmental risks to the health of their communities, and to design and evaluate policies, with publicly available models and tools.
Using EEA data to calculate health impacts of air pollution via the AirQ+ model: a practical example
Authors: Mudu Pierpaolo 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
The AirQ+ software tool for health risk assessment of air pollution, developed by the World Health Organization, helps quantify the effects of exposure to air pollution. Specifically, AirQ+ can estimate the effects of short-term changes in air pollution (based on risk estimates from time-series studies) and the effects of long-term exposures (using life-tables approach and based on risk estimates from cohort studies). AirQ+ is available in English, French, German and Russian. In this presentation, AirQ+ will be loaded with air pollution data from the European Environment Agency datasets for a quick evaluation of health effects from air pollution in an European city.
Health literacy from the perspectives of children and adolescents - a meta-ethnography
Authors: Sommer I , Seidl K , Affengruber L , Stauch L , Rojatz D , Wahl A , Gugglberger L , Okan O , Griebler U 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
The current literature on health literacy rarely considers the views of children and adolescents. The aim of our qualitative evidence synthesis was therefore to develop a child- and adolescent-centered conceptualization of health literacy.

Methods
We conducted a meta-ethnography of qualitative studies. Our iterative literature search considered the literature up to November 2023. We dually screened 1596 abstracts and 97 full texts, assessed the methodological limitations of the 32 included studies, and considered 21 data-rich studies in the analysis. We extracted first- and second-order constructs, translated the studies into each other, and developed a coherent argumentation. We dually assessed the trustworthiness of the evidence.

Results
The resulting model comprises micro-, meso-, macro- and chronosystems. It highlights the influence of demographic, cognitive and psychological factors on the development of health literacy in children and adolescents at the micro level, the social environment, including family, friends, peers, teachers, and health professionals at the meso level, and the media and internet, the health and education system, the living environment, and the social narrative about health at the macro level. The chronosystem shows the impact of upbringing, development, and experience. Children absorb health information actively and passively, employing various strategies to evaluate its trustworthiness. They seek advice from their social environment, which acts as a source of information and influencing factor. Different types of information are weighed up and ranked before action is not taken.

Conclusions
Existing models of health literacy are too one-dimensional to be applied to children and adolescents and do not consider their social and living environment. The proposed model offers a comprehensive understanding of health literacy in children and adolescents. It can be used as a basis for future interventions to improve health literacy.

Key messages
• Health literacy of children and adolescents is significantly influenced by a combination of internal and external factors.
• By incorporating the perspectives of children and adolescents, we have developed a more inclusive and nuanced understanding of health literacy.
Stress Resilience And Resilience Factors Across 9 European Samples During The COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Petri-Romão P , Kalisch R 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
While many describe changes in mental health over the pandemic, we investigate change in resilience over time during the pandemic. Stress resilience can be operationalised as stressor reactivity, that is, how much a person’s mental health is affected by the stressors that they experience. Utilising the individual participant data (IPD) meta-analyses megadataset available we first define and quantify how many stressors individuals. We then regress this stressor exposure on mental health within each sample to compute each sample’s normative stressor reactivity. Each person’s individual stressor reactivity is then calculated as the residual to this line at each time points. Resilient outcomes can be understood as lower reactivity as this indicates lower susceptibility to stressors. Stressor reactivity (SR) scores control for individual stressor exposure, therefore allowing us to investigate resilience factors during a time in which exposure to macro and micro stressors varied greatly between individuals. Further, SR scores are a harmonised outcome that can easily compared across different samples in the IPD dataset. Using this outcome, we present findings on resilience trajectories and identify factors that are associated with resilient outcomes. We also disentangle the role of current stressor exposure and prior stressors, showing that prior exposure to stressors increases vulnerability in subsequent exposures. Our findings show that stressor reactivity over time was more stable than mental health symptoms during the pandemic, therefore indicating that SR as an outcome offers new insights into the impact of the pandemic.
Stressors and symptoms explaining sexual orientation inequalities in mental health services usage: A longitudinal study with young adults
Authors: Pachankis J , Bränström R , Roxo L 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Sexual minority (i.e., lesbian, gay, and bisexual [LGB], and other non-heterosexual) individuals are more likely to use mental health services than heterosexuals; however, evidence is scarce about factors contributing to this difference.

Methods
This study uses longitudinal data from a population-based sample of young adults (aged 18- 36) in Sweden (N = 1,137). We use mediation analysis to examine whether common mental health symptoms (i.e., depressive, anxiety and social anxiety symptoms, suicidality, and alcohol use) mediate sexual orientation differences in mental health services use; and to understand whether adding general stressors (i.e., low social support, loneliness, and perceived stress) to these models increases the total effect explained. Afterwards, we use logistic regression models to understand how minority-specific stressors (e.g., family reaction and dimensions of sexual minority identity) predict mental health service use among sexual minority individuals (N = 498), adjusting for common mental health symptoms.

Results
Common mental health symptoms only partially mediate the associations and the direct effect for sexual orientation remain significant (β = 0.11, p &lt; 0.01). Adding general stressors to these models only slightly increase the total effect explained and the direct effect remained significant (β = 0.11, p &lt; 0.01). Among sexual minority individuals, after adjusting for common mental health symptoms, a difficult process of coming out (β = 0.12, p &lt; 0.05) and negative family reaction towards one’s sexual orientation (β = 0.15, p &lt; 0.05) predicted use of mental health services.

Conclusions
Overall, these results show that minority-specific stressors contribute to help-seeking behaviours among sexual minority individuals, regardless of psychiatric morbidity, highlighting the potential role of mental health services empowering sexual minority individuals to cope with minority stress.
Patients’ and professionals’ experiences with remote care during COVID-19: a qualitative study
Authors: Kollmann J , Sana S , Merkelbach I , Kocken P L , Denktas S 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
There are concerns about access to remote care for patients from low-income neighborhoods, as their first point of contact in Dutch health care is the general practitioner (GP). Now that general practice professionals have returned to the pre-pandemic ways of health care delivery, this paper looks back at experiences with remote care during COVID-19. It investigates experiences of both patients and general practice professionals with the approachability and appropriateness of remote care, and their satisfaction.

Methods
In this qualitative study, interviews were conducted with 78 patients and 18 GPs, 7 nurse practitioners and 6 mental health professionals from general practices in low-income neighborhoods. Interviews took place by phone or in person in the native language of participants.

Results
Patients from low-income neighborhoods generally found remote care to be approachable, especially telephone consultation. In contrast, video calling was rarely used. Most patients thought remote care was possible for minor ailments but still wanted to see the doctor face-to-face regularly. Patients were generally satisfied with remote care at the time, but this did not necessarily reflect their willingness to continue using it in the future. Moreover, there was lack in consensus among general practice professionals on the appropriateness of remote care for certain physical and mental complaints. Nurse practitioners and mental health professionals had a negative attitude toward remote care.

Conclusions
Integrating remote care in general practices in low-income neighborhoods is not only important in times of crisis, but also for the future where care is becoming increasingly digitalized. To achieve full integration of remote care in general practices, it is important to take opinions and barriers of patients and providers into account. It is also recommended to create guidelines for reaching consensus on the cases in which remote care can be appropriately used.

Key messages
• Take opinions and barriers regarding remote care of GP patients and providers into account.
• Create guidelines to reach consensus on the appropriate use of remote care for GP patients’ health problems.
The firearms industry challenges progress on SDGs in the Middle East
Authors: Makhoul J , Saad M , Nehme R 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Firearms violence is a grave public health issue globally. Relevant public health outcomes include in addition to death, long term disability, and mental health harms. Further adverse effects on public health in armed conflicts include forced displacement, destruction of life supporting infrastructure and natural resources, in addition to adverse outcomes on civilian populations caught up in wars and protracted crises, who bear the burden more if located in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) of the world. Firearms violence is understudied beyond recent research which focuses on gun violence at an individual level in the context of the Global North, such as in the US, and which rarely addresses the marketing and lobbying strategies of the firearms industry globally to increase sales and consumption of its products. This focus on civilian level gun ownership and violence obscures the influence of the underlying commercial determinant, the firearms industry. Armed conflicts globally are fueled to a great extent by the weapons produced by the firearms industry and their trade, the majority of which are manufactured in industrialized countries, such as the US, UK and China. Based on the above and through the commercial determinants of health framework, this presentation will illustrate using the Middle East as a case, how the firearms industry gravely undermines and threatens the majority of SGDs, 3 (health and well-being), 10 (inequality reduction) and 16 (peace and justice) directly, and several of the others indirectly. Implications for research are also discussed.
Digital health divide and digital technologies for treating substance-related disorders in Argentina
Authors: Badino M 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Argentina is a country located in the South American region with more than 45 million inhabitants. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses, over 92% of the population lives in urban areas. Additionally, 47% households do not have access to computers, and 12% lack availability of the internet. The present case study demonstrates the effects of the digital divide regarding the use and access to digital technologies in patients who underwent virtual treatment for substance-related disorders in a mental health service in the city of Córdoba, Argentina. This treatment modality included virtual consultation with a psychologist and WhatsApp groups for mutual support. The data obtained is part of a larger research project aimed at evaluating access to digital healthcare treatment, quality of life and patient satisfaction with the use of digital tools for treating substance-related disorders. Participants were adults between 25 and 60 years. The majority of the patients who were surveyed presented cognitive impairment and unemployment status. Those who completed secondary school (79%), stated that virtual consultation was easy to conduct (83%) and WhatsApp group texting information for mutual support was very difficult to comprehend for participating actively (63%). On the other hand, participants who only reached primary school (21%) declared that virtual consultation was easy to do (71%) and WhatsApp group texting information for mutual support was very difficult to comprehend for participating actively (87%). Concerning access, 78% of participants answered that they have difficulties with the availability of digital devices (i.e., smartphones, computers, or tablets), internet connectivity and privacy at home or work for undergoing digital treatment.
Joining forces to accelerate cancer and NCD prevention in Europe
Authors: Klepp K I 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

JA PreventNCD, a Joint Action to prevent cancer and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) aims to assist authorities in prioritizing the most effective prevention strategies and policies to reduce the burden of cancer and NCDs, focusing on both personal and societal risk factors. A key objective is to tackle social inequalities by addressing the root causes of NCD risk factors and adopting a life-course approach. Recognizing that health is created by policies in several sectors is key when addressing health determinants, including social and commercial determinants of health. Consolidated efforts across countries will be required to tackle some of these determinants. To achieve the project’s objectives, the JA PreventNCD will build a comprehensive European infrastructure for monitoring risk factors, disease burden, and the impact of policies and interventions. Rigorous evaluation will ensure that the project’s deliverables will have an impact at local, national and EU levels. Three technical work packages address common risk factors for NCDs through actions ranging from policies and structural measures at societal level to interventions targeting individuals. Another set of cross-cutting work packages address monitoring, social inequalities, and health in all policies. More than 100 partners across 25 countries are involved, with almost 100 pilots to be conducted over the course of the project’s four years. One way of ensuring sustainability of the project’s outcomes is the building of a sustainable governance structure through the establishment of an EU Consortium on Cancer Prevention. Furthermore, as a mechanism to ensure high policy relevance of this JA, a Policy Decision Maker’s Forum will be established to engage policymakers and ensure feasibility of the project’s recommended actions.

Speakers/Panelists
Claudia Habl
Austrian National Public Health Institute, Vienna, Austria
Ane Fullaondo
Biosistemak, Bilbao, Spain
Arnfinn Helleve
Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
7.H. Round table: Advancing societal goals through health systems: Insights from the Renewed HSPA Framework
Authors:   Organised by: European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies,   Chair persons: Rachel Greenley (UK), Dheepa Rajan (Belgium)
Published: October 2024

Abstract

The purpose of this workshop, entitled ‘Advancing societal goals through health systems: Insights from the renewed HSPA framework,’ is to take a deeper look at the intricate relationships between health systems and broader societal objectives. We will dissect the contributions of health systems to societal well-being, a concept that stretches beyond mere economic growth to include social cohesion, environmental sustainability, and economic development. The session will examine the renewed global Health System Performance Assessment Framework, which serves as a tool for policymakers to better understand how health systems fit together and explains how they perform. This framework allows for a clearer interpretation of health data and provides a pathway to pinpoint health system issues and design that are most likely to enhance performance and resilience. The workshop will delve into the three dimensions of societal well-being-social cohesion, economic development, and environmental sustainability-nested within the HSPA framework. We will explore the health system’s role in advancing these dimensions, such as fostering community bonds, supporting economic growth through a healthy workforce, and contributing to the sustainable management of environmental resources. Integrating health system performance into societal goals is a practical obligation to create a resilient, cohesive, and economically robust society. This workshop will engage stakeholders in a discourse to translate this integration into multisectoral and actionable policies, aligning health system goals with societal aspirations for a sustainable future. This workshop will focus on: How health system assessments can capture contributions to societal goals, underpinning sustainable economic and environmental practices. Real-world case studies showcasing health systems’ role in fostering societal well-being and advancing public health policies. Interactive discussions will shed light on how health systems can be pivotal in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in the face of modern challenges such as climate change, demographic shifts, and economic pressures.

Key messages
• Health systems play a pivotal role in advancing societal well-being beyond traditional health outcomes.
• The renewed HSPA framework is a robust tool for policymakers to align health system performance with broader societal goals.

Speakers/Panelists
Scott Greer
University of Michigan, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, Ann Arbor, USA
Andrea Schmidt
Austrian Public Health Institute, Vienna, Austria