bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Good health information for people with a migration background
Authors: Ecker S , Weigl M , Gaiswinkler S 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Background
Studies show that people with a migration background are often uncertain concerning the kinds of health services that are offered and where to turn to with which health concerns. Some factors, like fears or obstacles (e.g. deductibles), lead to the health system not being used (on time). This is particularly true for those who are socioeconomically or socially disadvantaged. The aim of the project was to get an insight into the information needs of this population group as a basis for producing and disseminating good health information in the future.

Methods
In this qualitative study co-researchers conducted guided focus groups (separated by sex) or interviews in their first languages. In total, more than 100 people from 16 different countries of origin were involved in the survey.

Results
In general, a substantial need for multilingual health information prepared in easy-to-understand language was expressed. Some health topics (e.g. the Austrian health system, mental health and available support) were mentioned by many participants. Other issues were relevant for few groups only (e.g. TCM). Gender differences can be seen in some groups but not in all. Besides acquaintances/relatives, general practitioners were named as main source of information. Indications can be derived on how health information should be prepared, designed and distributed. Besides multilingual health information, translation services are needed during appointments but also for the medical reports.

Conclusions
When searching for health information, but also when trying to understand it, language barriers are a major obstacle. Multilingual and culture-sensitive explainer videos on selected topics are an appropriate medium for reaching a broad group of people. Low-threshold multilingual regional contact points could provide an important contribution to health equity, as a guide in the health system, providing information and translation services, and setting health promotion offers.

Key messages
• Language barriers represent a major obstacle for vulnerable population groups with migration background in all stages of the health care process.
• There is a substantial need for adequately prepared multilingual health information.
The influence of social support on subjective health among people with selected citizenships
Authors: Bug M , Kajikhina K , Hövener C , Koschollek C 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Background
Social support as a psychosocial resource has a significant impact on health. However, data on the association between social support and subjective health among people with a migration history is scarce. The aim of this analysis was to examine this association among a sample of people with selected citizenships in consideration of socio-demographic and migration-related factors.

Methods
Data from the project “Improving Health Monitoring in Migrant Populations (IMIRA)” was used, including people with Croatian, Polish, Romanian, Syrian, and Turkish citizenship. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were conducted to analyse the effect of socio-demographic (gender, age, socio-economic status (SES)) and migration-related factors (length of residence, residence status, German language proficiency) on the association between social support and subjective health (very good/good).

Results
A total of 60.8% of participants with a low level of social support, indicated good subjective health in comparison to 78.8% among those who reported strong support. Participants with a length of residence of over 20 years (aOR=0,29) and (very) poor German language proficiency (aOR=0,39) were less likely to report good health. A high SES had the strongest impact on good subjective health (aOR=5,42).

Conclusions
Overall, the results confirm the findings for the general population in a sample of people with selected citizenships. The fact that people with a migration history more often face structural and health related barriers and that the existence of resources is helpful in overcoming these, a differentiated consideration of the relationship between social support and subjective health seems necessary in order to establish targeted prevention measures.

Key messages
• Among people with selected citizenships, good social support has a positive impact on subjective health.
• Results remain consistent when considering socio-economic and migration-related factors.
eHealth solutions for trans* persons: a systematic literature review of research from 2000 till 2021
Authors: Gahbauer S , Haluza D 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Though familiarity with trans* personś needs has increased in the new millennium, still, addressing their specific health issues is challenging. In and outside of complex interdisciplinary settings with trans* persons and health care workers, ICT solutions are used to remind trans* persons of their hormone injection or to conduct voice training. Hence, we reviewed the pertinent literature to shed light on what kind of eHealth solutions are investigated, what diagnosis and treatment are eHealth solutions related to, and how are trans* persons enacted within these eHealth solutions. We conducted a systematic literature review analyzing peer reviewed articles presenting all kind of studies except literature reviews. Using the electronic databases PubMed and Scopus, we analyzed data from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2021. For screening purposes we used the PRISMA checklist and, data extraction followed the PICO (Population, Intervention, Control, Outcome, and Improvement) model. We also analyzed studies covering aspects of the impact on the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, we identified 322 records, 187 from Scopus and 135 from PubMed. Removing 117 duplicated and 47 records for other reasons, 158 reports were assessed for eligibility. Our results show that trans* persons were often presented as subsamples in larger samples of non-binary populations. Also, eHealth solutions related to very different technological solutions and to a wide range of treatment models, with the vast majority relating to sexual health. Hence, we could also see that trans* women were the more interesting group in the research included in this review. We found 23 studies relating to COVID-19. eHealth solutions have great potential to contribute to a better healthcare for trans* persons but the needs of different groups during healthcare have to be taken into account in further research. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for research on eHealth solutions for trans* persons came into focus.

Key messages
• Our analyzes showed that research on eHealth solutions for trans* persons takes place in complex interdisciplinary settings which need to be taken into account in further research.
• The COVID-19 pandemic crisis lead to an uptake of eHealth interventions in mental, endocrinological, and sexual health care, especially in younger groups and in the frame of routine clinical care.
Health interventions for migrants and refugees in host Southeast Asian countries: a systematic review
Authors: Sappyabanphot J , Aye TT , Shreedhar P , Wasko Z , Antia K , Winkler V 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Background
Understanding the different types of health interventions that have been conducted for migrants and refugees is crucial for the improvement and implementation of future health interventions for these populations. This systematic review aimed to identify and to look at the scope and outcomes of health interventions focused on migrants and refugees in the main host counties in Southeast Asia which are Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia.

Methods
This study was conducted in line with the PRISMA guidelines and its protocol has been submitted to PROSPERO. The following databases were searched until June 2021: PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, Cochrane, and Google Scholar. Studies were excluded if: 1) they were conducted outside Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia; 2) had only had qualitative results; 3) were non-peer reviewed; 4) not written in English.

Results
The search yielded 8,266 studies, out of which 33 were included in the review. The majority of the studies (79%) were conducted in Thailand of which most were focused on migrants or refugees from Myanmar (85%). Besides two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of mental health interventions, most Thai studies were observational (81%) and focused on infectious disease-related interventions (33%) or the evaluation of health-related programs (29%). Six studies were conducted in Malaysia (18%) of which 4 assessed mental health interventions in refugees. Three of these studies were RCTs, whereas 1 was an observational study. Only 1 study was situated in Singapore and was an RCT evaluating treatments for COVID-19 in migrant workers. Even in studies with similar interventions, outcomes were too diverse to conduct a meta-analysis.

Conclusions
The low number of studies highlights the gap in literature on health interventions for migrants and refugees, especially in Malaysia and Singapore. More rigorous and cohesive intervention-related research needs to be conducted in Southeast Asia.

Key messages
• More intervention-related research for migrant and refugee populations in the main Southeast Asian host countries is needed.
• Interventions for migrant and refugee populations in host countries in Southeast Asia often do not follow the gold standard RCT study design, limiting the knowledge on their effectiveness.
National belonging and psychological strain among Finnish migrant populations
Authors: Seppänen A , Kuusio H , Mäkipää L , Lilja E , Rask S , Castaneda A 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Background
National identities are socially constructed and imaginary groups with real-life consequences. Migrants are in a heightened risk to be treated as ‘others’ who do not belong to society. It remains unclear, to what extent national belonging is experienced among Finnish migrants and what consequences on health this has. We study migrants’ sense of belonging to Finns, how it’s manifested in sociodemographic groups and whether it’s associated with psychological strain.

Methods
We used nationally representative data from the cross-sectional Survey on Well-Being among Foreign-Born Population (FinMonik, n = 6836). National belonging was assessed by the item “Finns” in question “which of the following areas or groups you feel you belong to?”. Response options fully and quite a lot were coded to indicate sense of belonging. Logistic regression was used to test the association between belonging, sociodemographic factors and psychological strain (MHI-5). Weights were used to correct the sample.

Results
51% reported sense of belonging to Finns. 46% of those aged 30-44 reported sense of belonging to Finns, whereas the youngest and oldest age groups yielded highest prevalences (18-29=53% and 45-64=58%, p&lt;.001). Married persons reported sense of belonging to Finns more than those who weren't (55% vs. 48%, p&lt;.01). Country group accounted for the variation in Finnish identification with a p-value of less than 0.001. Only 27 percent of those born in East Asia reported sense of belonging to Finns, whereas almost 60% of those born in Middle East and North Africa sensed belonging to Finns. Those with sense of belonging to Finns were twice as likely to report lack of psychological strain than those with no sense of belonging to Finns (p&lt;.001).

Conclusions
Achieving national belonging to the receiving society seems to be more difficult or non-appealing for some migrant populations than others. Lack of national belonging poses risk of deterioration of mental health.

Key messages
• The socially constructed boundaries of national belonging can be exclusionary and have negative consequences for the health of migrant populations.
• Experiencing a sense of national belonging to the country of residence has positive associations with mental wellbeing.
Vaccinating The Invisibles, the COVID-19 vaccination of irregular migrants in Rome
Authors: Punzo O , Ferrara C , Pierconti S 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Background
The death toll of the COVID-19 pandemic has been hugely downsized by the advent of the currently available vaccines, at least in high-income countries. Nevertheless, there is a huge gap between countries and within countries with respect to vaccination access and coverage. In June 2021, several non-governmental non-profit organizations responded to a call issued by Regione Lazio to help organize and enrol for vaccination vulnerable people such as irregular migrants and migrants living in temporary or informal settlements. Through a huge effort, non-profit voluntary organizations Nonna Roma and Intersos enabled the vaccination of thousands of immigrants from different countries, age and residence status.

Methods
We obtained a dataset regarding part of the people these NGOs facilitated in accessing the vaccination booking. We had information regarding age, sex, country of origin, nationality and type of document.

Results
These populations were from different ethnic backgrounds, in majority males and below 50 years old on average. We found an association between the continent of origin and holding any document and between age and holding any document, both at a significant level (p &lt; 0.05). Coming from Asia, as opposed to coming to any other continent, and being younger, i.e. under 25 years of age, were associated with holding any type of document.

Conclusions
We reflect on the need of rethinking the services for this population, having in mind article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but also, more practically, that often these people work in our elderly homes as caregivers or as cleaners in our offices. Therefore, making it easier to access health services would be in any country’s interest, especially during a pandemic. Policy efforts directed at facilitating migrant access to health services would ultimately help create a safer community for both migrants and residents, for whom migrants often work as strategic employees.

Key messages
• Irregular migrants have not been included in national vaccination plans everywhere, despite WHO and other entities recommendations.
• An integrated national plan for irregular migrants vaccination would be useful for protecting other vulnerable populations such as elderly.
Ethnic disparities in clinical severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) upon admission
Authors: Goldschmidt M , Norredam M , Benfield T 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Background
Reports from all over the world have shown great ethnic disparities in COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. Recent European studies have found discrepancies between higher risk of admission and intensive care treatment among ethnic minorities but lower mortality rates compared to the ethnic majority. This study will elucidate the ethnic differences in disease severity upon admission as a possible factor in explaining these discrepancies.

Methods
A retrospective cohort study of 1442 patients admitted with COVID-19 at three hospitals in Copenhagen, Denmark, between 1st February 2020 and 31st May 2022. Clinical, demographic and ethnicity data were extracted from health care records and collected using REDCap. Severity upon admission (&lt; 24 hours) was assessed as 1) oxygen need, 2) oxygen administration and 3) need for intensive care.

Results
Ethnicity was registered on 1341 patients (57,0% Danish, 34,8% non-Western). Over all, preliminary descriptive analyses show patients of non-Western origin had symptoms of COVID-19 for a longer period (8,0 vs 6,7 days, p &lt; 0,0001) and had a higher oxygen need (7,0L vs 5,2L, p = 0,02) upon admission compared to patients of Danish origin. A higher percentage of patients of non-Western origin needed high flow oxygen administration upon admission (30,2% vs 22,9%, p = 0,006) and were transferred to the ICU within the first 24 hours (4,9% vs 2,2 %, p = 0,02) compared to patients of Danish origin. Further analysis will be done, including biochemistry and link to registers in order of obtaining more accurate info on country of birth and migration status. We will do logistic regression regarding ethnic differences in severity of COVID-19 upon admission adjusting for comorbidities, age, sex and BMI.

Conclusions
Preliminary data on disease severity of COVID-19 upon admission show some ethnic disparities. Language barriers, low health literacy or the fear of stigma might explain this. Further analyses are needed.

Key messages
• Preliminary data from this cohort study suggest that patients of non-Western origin had symptoms of COVID-19 for a longer period before being admitted compared to patients of Danish origin.
• Preliminary data on disease severity of COVID-19 upon admission show ethnic disparities with regard to oxygen need, oxygen administration and need for intensive care.
Alcohol industry’s arguments against French pregnancy warning labels: a press coverage analysis
Authors: Millot A , Serra M , Gallopel-Morvan K 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Background
Alcohol drinking during pregnancy has harmful consequences. Warnings displayed on alcohol bottles are an effective measure to inform people about these risks and have been put in place in France. However, the alcohol industry (AI) resisted this measure when it was introduced in 2007 and during an expansion project in 2018. This study aims to identify arguments used by the AI against warnings targeting pregnant women.

Methods
A documentary method was used to analyse these arguments disseminated by the AI and its partners (elected representatives of wine-producing regions, etc.) in the French mainstream press (the national, regional and specialised press) from 2000 to 2020 through the Europresse documentary database. A quantitative analysis (number and evolution of press articles, mapping of the actors of AI who expressed themselves) and an inductive thematic content analysis (analytical framework of the arguments identified) using NVivo Software were carried out.

Results
Among the 85 articles included in this study, a majority of the arguments used by the AI are against this measure. It argues that this measure (1) is a questionable measure because ineffective in changing behaviours, (2) will have counterproductive effects (on women and on the economy); and (3) there are other preferred alternatives than warnings (targeted prevention programs, etc.). A minority is nevertheless in favour of this measure. Among the actors who expressed themselves, a large majority comes from the winegrowing sector.

Conclusions
The analysis of these arguments will add new insights about AI lobbying against warnings, by analyzing the arguments over a 20 years period covering a failure and a success of industry lobbying. It will also be useful for public health advocacy to better counter this lobbying influence and these arguments, which are not necessarily evidence based.

Key messages
• Warnings displayed on alcohol bottles are an effective measure which is challenged by the alcohol industry.
• Analysing the arguments disseminated by the alcohol industry is useful for public health advocacy in order to counter them.
How does better regulation shape EU health policy? A case study of unhealthy advertising regulation
Authors: Lauber K , Brooks E 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Introduction
Better Regulation is a meta-regulatory tool designed to improve regulatory quality and reduce regulatory burden in the development of EU policy. Despite concerns by civil society that its operation may have a chilling effect on regulatory protections, its impact on health policy has not been researched systematically. Using provisions on high fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) food and alcohol advertising to children within the revision of the audiovisual media services directive (AVMSD) as a case study, we explore how the operation of Better Regulation affects EU health policy processes.

Methods
We employ a qualitative process tracing approach based on policy documents, Freedom of Information requests, media reporting, and expert interview data.

Results
After an evaluation in 2016, the revised AVMSD maintained a reliance on self- and co-regulation of alcohol and HFSS food advertising to children, despite significant evidence supportive of statutory measures and pressure from the public health community to strengthen provisions. This result aligns with calls from commercial actors to retain the status quo. Preliminary results indicate that pathways via which Better Regulation guidelines may have contributed to this outcome include, for instance, the structure and approach used in the impact assessment and the related scrutiny process, the design of the consultation strategy, and the evaluation criteria of the AVMSD proposal.

Conclusions
Considering how policymaking infrastructure - as a key political determinant of health - may shape the processes and dynamics underlying decision-making can support those working towards a policy environment which protects human and environmental health. In examining EU alcohol and HFSS food advertising provisions within the AVMSD revision through a focus on Better Regulation processes, we contribute a novel perspective towards explaining how measures to improve regulatory quality interact with actors’ agency to shape policy outputs.

Key messages
• The Better Regulation agenda should be understood as a key political determinant of health at the EU level.
• Understanding the ways in which governance tools such as Better Regulation can shape health policy is important for those engaged in promoting effective and evidence-informed public health action.
Categorising commercial sector practices to advance human and planetary health
Authors: Gilmore A , Fabbri A , Bondi K , Bertscher A , Lacy-Nichols J 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Background
There is growing interest in the commercial determinants of health, broadly understood as the ways in which commercial actors influence health & health equity. Such actors can impact on health & health inequity, positively or negatively, through two main routes: (1) producing & driving use of/access to products or services potentially damaging or beneficial to health. (2) through diverse commercial practices which range from marketing, through lobbying, to tax & labour practices. Practices are arguably of greater importance given the growing shift to private sector employment & because all industries, not just those whose products are harmful, engage in them. Yet their contribution to physical, mental & planetary ill health is generally under-recognised with a focus hitherto on unhealth commodities. We aim to develop a practical categorisation of commercial sector practices

Methods
Narrative review & content analysis of existing categorisations (those attempting to cover all practices), & taxonomies (those focused on specific practices (e.g., marketing), related academic &grey literatures.

Results
There is dualism between the business studies & public health literatures, the latter tending to dichotomise market & non-market strategies while the former sees this as an outdated approach. While some specific practices are well documented, others remain poorly understood & theorised. A simplified categorisation is proposed which attempts to identify key commercial sector practices that can impact on health, the ways in which they overlap & reinforce each other. Evidence-based taxonomies for specific practices are identified.

Conclusions
Our categorisation provides a simple approach through which the commercial practices that can harm human & planetary health & drive health equity can be understood & addressed. It draws attention to the diverse ways through which corporations can harm health, identifies areas for action & further research.

Key messages
• The ways in which commercial sector practices influence health and health equity are diverse yet poorly understood.
• We offer a simple categorisation of commercial practices which draws attention to the diverse ways through which they can harm health, helps identify solutions and areas for PH action.