bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ethnic disparity in cancer mortality in adult Fijian women, 2013-17
Authors: Dearie C , Figueroa C , Linhart C , Rafai E , Dobbins T , Morrell S , Taylor R 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Background
Fiji, population 884,887 (2017 census), is a Pacific Island country with two dominant ethnic groups: 62% Indigenous Fijians (i-Taukei) and 31% Fijians of Indian descent (FID). Cancer mortality by ethnicity for women aged 30-69 years was investigated.

Methods
Proportional mortality and probability of dying (PoD30-70) from cancer (ICD-10: C00-D48) for women aged 30-69 years were calculated from empirical unit mortality data by ethnicity. PoD30-70 is the cumulative mortality risk derived from the cumulative rate, from mortality rates by 5-year age group.

Results
Cancer was reported as the underlying cause in 21% of deaths of Fijian women aged 30-69 years; 25% for i-Taukei and 14% for FID women. This ethnic disparity was consistent across cancer sites, including breast, cervical/uterine and ovarian cancers. Empirically derived PoD30-70 from all cancers (ICD-10 C00-D48) was 9.6% (95%CI: 9.1-10.1%) for Fijian women; higher for i-Taukei (12.1%; 95%CI: 11.4-12.8%) than FID women (6.6%; 95%CI: 5.9-7.2%). Globocan 2020 estimates the highest PoD30-70 from all cancers in women was 10.8% in Malawi; for Fiji, Globocan estimates of 9.2%, from 2008-2012 mortality rates applied to the 2020 population, are comparable to empirically derived PoD30-70. From empirical data, PoD30-70 from breast cancer for Fijian women was 2.9% (95%CI: 2.6-3.1%), higher in i-Taukei (3.8%; 95%CI: 3.4-4.2%) and lower in FID women (1.7%; 95%CI: 1.4-2.1%). Globocan 2020 estimates of PoD30-70 due to breast cancer was highest in Barbados (3.6%), followed by Fiji (3.4%). PoD30-70 due to cervical/uterine and ovarian cancer was approximately double for i-Taukei (3·2 and 1·0%) compared to FID women (1·5 and 0·5%).

Conclusions
PoD30-70 due to breast cancer and all cancers was higher in i-Taukei Fijian women than in other countries and was double that of FID women. High incidence and late diagnosis contribute to high cancer mortality; differences between i-Taukei and FID women require further investigation.

Key messages
• Probability of dying due to breast cancer, and all cancers, was higher for i-Taukei women in Fiji than for women in other countries, and double that of Fijian women of Indian descent.
• High incidence and late diagnosis contribute to high cancer mortality; further investigation is required to determine how these, and other potential factors, contribute to ethnic differences.
Virtual Reality simulation training improves health professionals’ knowledge in STEMI critical care
Authors: Licata S , Deroma L , Fresco C , Di Chiara A 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Background
In Friuli-Venezia Giulia (FVG, Italy, 1.2M inhabitants), the STEMI network has been implemented with a regional educational programme since 2018. However, each step leading to a fast-track reperfusion needs specific interactions between critical care teams on the scene and in hospital that theoretical training cannot provide.

Objectives
A new educational tool, based on virtual reality (VR), was developed to train emergency nurses and doctors on the STEMI pathway. Each training session consisted of a VR simulation, dynamically driven by an instructor, where a nurse-doctor pair had to provide first aid to a patient with chest pain. A plenary debriefing followed each session. Before and after the training, all participants filled out a questionnaire on the STEMI pathway (21 multiple-choice items on technical and organizational issues) to evaluate the course theoretical effectiveness. This research is part of the EASY-NET program, co-funded by the Ministry of Health and the participating Regions (NET-2016-02364191).

Results
Between Oct ’22 and Jan ’23, 48 nurses and 14 doctors were trained and filled in both pre- and post-training questionnaires. Before the training, the median number of correct answers was 15 (IQR 13-16), after the course it rose to 16 (IQR 15-17, p &lt; 0.0001); doctors performed better than nurses both at pre- (16, IQR 15-17 and 14.5, IQR 12.5-16, respectively; p = 0.017) and post-test (18, IQR 15-18 vs 16, IQR 15-17; p &lt; 0,0001) but both categories significantly improved their scores (p = 0.019 and p = 0.0001). The main improvement was observed for items concerning the Case Manager's actions after ECG, (right answers: 58 post-test vs 45 pre, p = 0.0016), morphine administration, (37 vs 25, p = 0.0073), and therapy in vagal reaction (46 vs 35, p = 0.0116).

Conclusions
An innovative VR simulation training improves the theoretical knowledge of the critical care pathway of STEMI in healthcare teams, which may lead to a better approach to this disease.

Key messages
• A new Virtual Reality simulation tool is useful for the training of doctors and nurses in patients with STEMI.
• Simulation tools based on Virtual Reality can improve health professionals’ theoretical knowledge in critical care pathways.
Body dissatisfaction in the classroom context and adolescent psychological complaints
Authors: Granvik Saminathen M , Wahlström J , Låftman S B , Modin B , Rajaleid K , Löfstedt P 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Background
Body dissatisfaction, which refers to negative feelings towards one's own body shape, size, weight, or appearance, has been indicated to be a risk factor for a range of adverse health-related outcomes among youth. Although previous research has investigated the link between adolescents’ own body image and psychological outcomes, the contextual effect of body dissatisfaction on individual health has not been explored. The purpose of this study was to examine if the concentration of students with a negative body image in the classroom was associated with individual students’ psychological complaints.

Methods
Data was obtained from the 2017/18 Swedish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, a cross-sectional survey among 13- and 15-year-olds (n = 2,619 in 145 school classes). Body image was captured by one question on perceived body size and one question on weight change attitude/behaviour. Psychological complaints were measured by self-reports on the frequency of feeling low, irritable, nervous, and having difficulties falling asleep, which were summed to an index. Gender, school grade, socioeconomic status, and immigration background were included as covariates. Two-level random intercept linear regression models were performed.

Results
The proportion of students in the classroom with a negative body image was associated with higher levels of psychological complaints (dissatisfaction with perceived body size b = 0.02, p &lt; 0.05; desire/attempts to change weight b = 0.02, p &lt; 0.01), even when adjusting for the corresponding measures at the student level. These associations were driven by the class-level dissatisfaction related to perceiving oneself as too fat or wanting to lose weight.

Conclusions
The study found that body dissatisfaction among classmates was associated with psychological complaints in individual students. Reducing body dissatisfaction among adolescents could improve the well-being not only of the individual but also of their peers.

Key messages
• The study found that the proportion of classmates who reported body dissatisfaction was associated with individual-level psychological complaints.
• Interventions aimed at reducing body dissatisfaction among adolescents have the potential to improve the well-being of both the individual and their peers.
Behind the screens: What underlies the experience of social media as a stressor among adolescents
Authors: Andersen AIO , Finserås T R , Hjetland G J , Sivertsen B , Skogen J C 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Background
Social media (SOME) use has been linked to psychological problems in some studies, but the results are mixed. Digital stress may explain the link between SOME and mental health, but the underlying components that constitute the subjective stress experience that may stem from SOME use remain uncertain. Different conceptualizations of digital stress have been proposed, and frequent suggestions include aspects of availability stress, approval anxiety, fear of missing out (FOMO) and time-wasting.

Method
A survey was conducted with 3568 students (62% girls) at upper secondary schools, to explore potential underlying components related to SOME as a perceived stressor among Norwegian adolescents. The study used linear regression models to analyze predictors of SOME as a stressor, grouped into two main composite measures: ‘FOMO and affected by use’ and ‘Addiction and interference'. In a nested longitudinal sample (n = 432), a first-differencing model was estimated to test the longitudinal associations between the factors and SOME as a perceived stressor.

Results
SOME was perceived as a stressor at least sometimes for 31 % of the adolescents, with 16 % for girls and 6 % of boys reporting SOME as a considerable stressor. Collectively, ‘FOMO and affected by use’ and ‘Addiction and interference’ explained 38% of the variance SOME as a perceived stressor. In longitudinal analyses, a one unit increase in the composite score ‘FOMO and affected by use’ yielded a 0.52 (p &lt; 0.001) standard deviation increase in SOME as a perceived stressor, while the corresponding estimate was 0.30 (p &lt; 0.001) for ‘Addiction and interference'.

Conclusions
Our findings highlight important aspects of SOME use that may underlie the subjective stress experience - both in cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Our results are consistent with previous findings and indicate that those aspects are important targets for action for both girls and boys.

Key messages
• Our study sheds light on the components that contribute to social media as a perceived stressor among adolescents, highlighting important targets for action.
• The findings suggest that fear of missing out, affected by use, subjective addiction and interference are significant predictors of social media stress, with implications for both girls and boys.
Future-self vividness influences acceptance of camera-based active and assisted living technologies
Authors: Tham N , Brady A-M , Dinsmore J 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Background
Camera-based active and assisted living (AAL) technologies are an eminent solution to the accruing burdens of population ageing but are hardly accepted by older adults. The technology's privacy implications and perceived usefulness are established antecedents to its acceptance. However, one understudied barrier to acceptance is a failure in future self-identification. Specifically, to the extent that the wellbeing benefits of camera-based AAL technologies largely accrue to the future (rather than the present) self, older adults who have less (versus more) vivid impressions of their future selves may be less willing to accept the technology today.

Objectives
To assess the unique contribution of future self-vividness to the prediction of older adults’ acceptance of camera-based AAL technologies.

Methods
A cross-sectional online survey collected data from n = 183 community-dwelling older adults (mean age = 64.2, 51.9% male). Hierarchical logistic regression was used to evaluate the association of future self-vividness and acceptance, independent of demographics, privacy concerns, and the perceived usefulness of camera-based AAL technologies.

Results
Future self-vividness was positively associated with an increased likelihood of acceptance (OR = 2.54, 95% CI 1.26-5.11) even after controlling for the effects of demographics, perceived usefulness, and privacy concerns. Compared to a demographics-only model (Nagelkerke R2 = .256) and subsequent model that included privacy concerns and perceived usefulness as additional predictors (Nalgekerke R2 = .439), the addition of future self-vividness added significantly to the prediction of acceptance (χ2 = 7.58, p = .006, Nalgekerke R2 = .495).

Conclusions
Acceptance of camera-based AAL technologies is uniquely influenced by future self-vividness. Enhancing the vividness with which older adults envisage their future selves may be an important strategy to promote acceptance and use of camera-based AAL technologies.

Key messages
• Future self-vividness is uniquely associated with the acceptance of camera-based AAL technologies.
• Interventions that enhance future self-vividness may promote acceptance of AAL technologies.
Fifty shades of food colours – Associations with cancer risk in a French cohort
Authors: Srour B , Javaux G , Coumoul X , Huybrechts I , Hercberg S , Deschasaux-Tanguy M , Touvier M 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Background
Colour additives are frequently used in foods. A randomised controlled trial showed that some of them resulted in increased hyperactivity in children. Experimental studies suggested the activation of inflammation, oxidative stress, and genotoxicity. Since estimating dietary exposure to colour additives is challenging, no prospective epidemiological study had investigated their association with cancer risk so far.

Methods
This study included 102,485 French adults from the NutriNet-Santé cohort (78.8% female, 2009-2022). Exposure to food colours was estimated using repeated 24h dietary records linked to comprehensive, brand-specific food composition databases on additives. Associations with incident cancer risk were assessed using multivariable Cox models adjusted for common confounders.

Results
3,511 incident cancer cases were diagnosed during the follow-up (including 1,026 breast, 431 prostate, and 279 colorectal cancers). Exposure to total food colour additives was associated with higher overall and breast cancer risks: HR higher vs non-exposure = 1.11 (1.02-1.22) and 1.25 (1.05-1.48), respectively. Positive associations with overall cancer were also observed with carotenoids food additives E160 (HR = 1.15 (1.05-1.25)) and curcumin E100 (HR = 1.10 (1.10-1.20)). Positive associations with breast cancer risk were observed with carotenoid additives (HR = 1.21 (1.04-1.42)) and carmine E120 (HR = 1.27 (1.08-1.49)). Plain caramel E150a was positively associated with colorectal cancer risk (HR = 1.52 (1.08-2.14)).

Conclusions
In this large cohort, we observed positive associations between the exposure to several types of food colour additives and overall, breast and colorectal cancer risks.

Key messages
• These findings provide pioneering epidemiological evidence regarding the link between food colours and cancer risk.
• Should they be corroborated, these results could have significant public health implications, given the widespread presence of these cosmetic additives in ultra-processed foods.
Stalling life expectancy trends in Europe and decomposition analysis of mortality data
Authors: Kabir Z , O'Brien S 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Background
Life expectancy (LE) is an important population health metric over the life course. LE has increased significantly, over the past two centuries but has showed signs of slowing recently in Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Several drivers have been suggested to be causing the slowdown, including slowing improvements in cardiovascular mortality. We set out to investigate trends in LE across Europe from 1990-2019, and how deaths from different causes have contributed to annual average change in LE across two time periods: 2007-2009 to 2012-2014 and 2012-2014 to 2017-2019.

Methods
Data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019, which are in public domain. The GBD Study is a comprehensive global epidemiologic data resource employing standardized methodology for comparability. Joinpoint regression analysis was utilised to identify trends. The Arriaga decomposition method was applied to produce estimates of the contribution of different age groups and underlying causes of death to changes in LE at birth for the two periods.

Results
Overall, LE in Europe was 72.6 years in 1990- increasing to 78.3 years in 2019, with significant variations within EU countries. However, LE showed a slower pace from 2012 onwards in Europe- much slower in Western Europe, and more pronounced among females. LE in females fell from an annual increase of 0.38% between 2003-2012 to 0.16% between 2012-2019, and LE in males showed a similar pattern (from 0.66% between 2004-2012 to 0.26% between 2012-1019). Overall, improvements in mortality from almost all causes of death slowed, with LE contributions from improvements in ischemic heart disease (IHD) reduced by half.

Conclusions
LE is slowing down in Europe, especially in the Western region. Females and the elderly are facing the brunt of the slowdown. Slowing improvements in IHD mortality are the primary driver of the LE slowdown.

Key messages
• Life expectancy has overall improved in Europe but has slowed down from 2012 onwards- more pronounced among females and in Western Europe.
• The decomposition analyses showed that improvements in mortality from all causes of death slowed, life expectancy contributions from improvements in ischemic heart disease (IHD) reduced by half.
Understanding Ukrainian refugees’ wellbeing and adaptation in Denmark
Authors: Vereshchakina V , Castaner M M , Schonemann A M , Norredam M 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Background
Since the Russian invasion in Ukraine, nearly 8 million of Ukrainians have feld to EU countries. From the beginning of the crisis, local authorities in the Denmark have facilitated the resettlement of over 30,000 Ukrainian refugees. Denmark, has implemented a special law to speed up the asylum process, access to healthcare, and integration. Yet, there is limited knowledge about whether and how these efforts work in practice and how Ukrainian refugees experience adapting to the Nordic Country.

Aims and methods
Grounded in participatory research this study aimed to understand the health and psychosocial needs of Ukrainian refugees living in Denmark and to generate strategies for improving their psychosocial wellbeing. We have conducted two workshops (N = 11 participants) and 15 in depth interviews (in progress) with Ukrainian refugees living in Copenhagen. The workshop and interviews inquired about experiences of fleeing and settling in Denmark, living conditions, psychosocial needs, and experiences accessing healthcare and integration services, and actions to improve their adaptation. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic network analysis.

Results
Informed by from Ryan's Resource Based model of refugee adaptation, preliminary results show three main aspects that challenge the adaptation of Ukrainians. Mismatch between the state's integration demands and refugees needs and goals, difficulties navigating healthcare system, housing conditions and mistreatment by housing staff. These challenges are particularly relevant for refugees that lack a network in Denmark, and contribute to experiences of accumulated daily stress and worry.

Conclusions
Results show how despite the increase efforts to support aces to healthcare, housings, and integration services; challenges remain. Findings will help to identify strategies in these three areas to improve the wellbeing and adaptation of Ukrainian refugees.

Key messages
• We identified several obstacles to Ukrainian refugees’ access to health care in a Danish context.
• Obstacles in access to healthcare lead to re-stress and may have devastating consequences to Ukrainian refugeeś health.
Building towards vaccine acceptance: Community
co-design framework
Authors: Creagh Piper S , McCallum A , Naboulet J P 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Background
Vaccine hesitancy is a global public health threat. As the COVID-19 pandemic progressed, vaccines, particularly mRNA vaccines, have reduced overall disease severity and death but population coverage has fallen short and uncertainty about vaccination grown. Miscommunication, neglect of health inequities, failure to address vaccine access and other concerns sufficiently have affected trust between populations and healthcare systems. We built on existing models of increasing vaccine acceptance to develop a more comprehensive explanatory model for testing and evaluation.

Methods
We reviewed the literature on vaccine hesitancy/acceptance models in English and French from PUBMED, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar. We explored their application using the Irish case study, including the Irish tailored communication model, and used the findings to build our model.

Results
Previous models had gaps in issues considered, planning and implementation. Many neglected wider determinants or health system responsibilities, treating vaccine acceptance as a one-dimensional issue not a continuum. While the need for vaccination programmes to be redesigned to counter known health inequities, gaps in health literacy, access difficulties, exclusionary practices and mistrust of authorities was recognised, few studies addressed these issues. Our analysis also identified the importance of co-creating delivery models with communities. The resulting model supports prioritisation of communities and individuals in line with need, exposure risk and barriers to immunisation.

Conclusions
Emergency vaccination programmes require greater depth of shared communication and decision making between populations, practitioners, and policy makers. Our model, which incorporates tailored communication, provides a framework for building vaccine acceptance, widening and welcoming participation in development, design, delivery, and improvement.

Key messages
• Improving vaccine acceptance requires a whole system approach, addressing issues identified in the literature and in practice to improve the design of immunisation programmes.
• To establish an active/robust two-way communication mechanisms which provide rapid feedback between communities and health authorities, to improve programmes and tailor them to meet emerging needs.