bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Creating smoke free environments by local policy
Authors: Rouwenhorst S , Koornstra A 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

In The Netherlands, around 20.000 people die each year from the effects of smoking and passive smoking. Every week, hundreds of children become addicted to smoking. To improve the overall public health in the Netherlands, it is important to substantially reduce the prevalence of smokers. Until recent years, municipalities played next to no role in helping to reduce smoking in the Netherlands. The start of a large campaign that aims a smokefree generation by 2040 has changed that. Part of that campaign is to create smoke-free environments. In a two-year program, 90% of the Dutch municipalities started policy and actions to ban smoking from public places, as part of the National Prevention Agreement. The participating municipalities were supported by all 25 Regional Health Services (GGDs) by providing knowledge and manpower on a regional level, together with national, regional and local organisations. The project has a number of successful elements: the GGD received a (very small) budget to actively participate in the region; knowledge was shared between the regions and from national to local level and legal issues were dealt with by the Nat Assoc of Municipalities (VNG). In 2021, 317 out of 352 Dutch municipalities were active in this project. There is a significant increase of smoke-free environments, mostly schoolyards, playgrounds, sports facilities, smoke-free bus stops and municipal institutions. Other results are integrated plans for smoking cessation care and accessible stop smoking service, e.g. in GGD Fryslan the number of registrations for smoking cessation care increased dramatically and 80% actually quit smoking. All parties involved agree that the strength of this project is its positive approach and the broad social support it generates for the Smokefree Generation. It is about persuasion, not compulsion. Working from a national focus towards a smoke-free environment, while taking into account local differences and needs, makes this project a success.

Key messages
• This project resulted in more local and regional partnerships and an increase of smoke-free environments, bringing the ultimate goal of a Smokefree Generation closer.
• 90% of Dutch municipalities have created smoke-free environments with the guidance of the regional GGD, financed by Ministry of Health: multilevel governance works.
Global market trends of flavour capsule and menthol cigarettes in 78 countries, 2010-2020
Authors: Kyriakos CN , Qi D , Chang K , Laverty AA , Filippidis FT 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Background
Flavoured tobacco products, including innovative flavour capsule cigarettes (FCCs) and menthol cigarettes, can increase appeal and encourage smoking initiation and use. Global epidemiological data on these products are scarce.

Methods
This study examined market trends of FCCs and menthol (non-capsule) cigarettes across 78 countries from 2010 to 2020 and assessed ecological-level factors associated with market shares of these products. Market share and retail volume data came from Euromonitor Passport and country-specific sociodemographic data come from the WHO and World Bank. Adjusted linear fixed effects panel regression analyses were used to evaluate the relationship between predictors variables and market outcomes.

Results
Global total retail volume of FCCs increased over time (0.2% in 2010 to 4.5% in 2020) and market share was associated with year and unemployment rate and inversely associated with % urban population and smoking prevalence (p &lt; 0.001). In contrast, menthol retail volume decreased over time (5.0% to 3.8%) and market share was associated with % urban population (p = 0.001) and inversely associated with year (p = 0.004) and unemployment rate (p = 0.017). The greatest market increase of FCCs was observed in the Americas region and among upper-middle income countries. In Europe, there was a decrease of 0.64 percentage points from 2019 to 2020.

Conclusions
Overall, FCCs experienced substantial global growth in the recent decade, with the exception of Europe whose slight decrease may be attributable to the European Union ban on flavours in cigarettes. Findings indicate that there is a need for increased efforts to address flavours and innovative features used in tobacco products, which are known to appeal to youth.

Key messages
• This study contributes to global monitoring of tobacco products.
• Findings can be used by advocates and policy makers to support countries in adopting measures to ban flavoured tobacco products.
Effectiveness of Behavior Change interventions for smoking cessation among expectant and new fathers
Authors: Khanal Bhattarai S , Miani C , Finne E , Morawe JM , Boeckmann M 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Background
The perinatal period is an optimal time to intervene for achieving smoking cessation in expectant parents and offers multiple health benefits for women and the newborn. While Behavior Change Technique (BCT) interventions are a promising approach to support pregnant smokers to quit smoking, effectiveness of these interventions among expectant and new fathers is not equally well documented. Better understanding of the potential utility of these BCT interventions for this group is important for the development of effective gender-sensitive programmes.

Methods
This systematic review examines the existing evidence on effectiveness of BCTs on smoking cessation outcomes when offered to expectant and new fathers (child &lt; 1 year) both through individual and/or couple-based interventions. Eight databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles. Studies were subjected to systematic retrieval and quality-assessment by two independent reviewers.

Results
We identified 9 randomised control trial studies (including 4,681 men) that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. In terms of quit outcome data, 8 studies reported biochemically verified quit rates for men. While 5 BCT interventions targeted expectant/new fathers, 3 were directed to couples and 1 primarily focused on women with a component directed at men. Though most of the interventions were found to be effective, they showed small significant positive effects on cessation outcomes. Findings are suggestive of gender specific interventions being more likely to have positive outcomes. High heterogeneity across the studies made it difficult to determine the most effective BCT approach.

Conclusions
This review suggests that use of BCT interventions for smoking cessation among expectant and new fathers is effective in achieving positive quit rates; however, these studies are limited. Further research is needed to determine the most effective BCT approach associated with smoking cessation among this group.

Key messages
• BCT interventions for smoking cessation among expectant and new fathers are a promising approach to increase quit rates.
• Future research needs to develop evidence based BCT interventions for smoking cessation specifically targeting expectant and new fathers to inform policy and practice.
How did the covid-19 pandemic affect lower respiratory tract infections in young children in England?
Authors: Foley KA , Maile EJ , Bottle A , Neale FK , Viner RM , Kenny SE , Majeed A , Hargreaves DS , Saxena S 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Background
Social distancing policies to reduce transmission of covid-19 also reduced children's exposures to endemic respiratory viruses. We aimed to examine the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on lower respiratory tract infections in under 5s presenting to primary care in England.

Methods
Longitudinal trends analysis using electronic health records from a nationally representative primary care database. Our target population was children aged &lt;5 years registered with a primary care practice from January 2015 to March 2021.
Our main outcome was total weekly contacts with primary care for a lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). We defined three pandemic phases from March 2020 - March 2021: i) first national lockdown (late March to early June 2020), ii) childcare settings reopened and second national lockdown with schools open (mid-June to mid-December 2020) and iii) third national lockdown with schools closed (late December 2020 to end of March 2021). We compared outcomes during each of the three phases with corresponding calendar weeks during pre-pandemic years 2015 to 2019.

Results
Our study population included 843 020 children &lt;5 years who had 1 076 181 contacts with primary care for LRTIs. During the first phase (first lockdown) there were falls of 79.3% (95% CI: 73.6 to 84.5) from an average of 28 547 primary care contacts for LRTI in 2015 - 2019 to 5915 in 2020; there was a 78.9% (95% CI: 73.7 to 83.9) fall in phase two (childcare settings reopened and second lockdown) from 107 873 to 22 792 contacts; and a 77.7% (95% CI: 73.5 to 81.4) fall in phase three (third lockdown) from 57 200 to 12 764 contacts.

Conclusions
Children under 5 in England had fewer contacts with primary care for LRTIs during the covid-19 pandemic. This change likely reflects lower prevalence of respiratory illness due to fewer social contacts. This may impact on future health service use as these children have had less exposure, and therefore may have less immunity, to respiratory diseases.

Key messages
• Children under 5 had fewer contacts with primary care for lower respiratory tract infections during the covid-19 pandemic in England likely due to the restrictions in place to reduce social contacts.
• The falls in lower respiratory tract infections during the covid-19 pandemic in under 5s may mean they have less immunity to respiratory viruses which may impact upon their future health service use.
Country-level social mobility and inequalities in adolescent health behaviours in 32 countries
Authors: Schmengler H , Peeters M , Stevens GWJM , Kunst AE , Delaruelle K , Dierckens M , Charrier L , Weinberg D , Oldehinkel AJ , Vollebergh WAM 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Background
Higher family affluence is associated with healthier behaviours in adolescents, but the strength of this association varies across countries. Differences in social mobility at the country-level, i.e. the extent to which adolescents develop a different socioeconomic status (SES) than their parents, may partially explain why the association between family affluence and adolescent health behaviours is stronger in some countries than in others.

Methods
Using data from adolescents aged 11-15 years from 32 different countries, participating in the 2017/2018 wave of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study (N = 185,086), we employed multilevel regression models with cross-level interactions to examine whether country-level social mobility moderates the association between family affluence and adolescent health behaviours (i.e. moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, vigorous physical activity, healthy foods consumed, unhealthy foods consumed, having breakfast regularly, weekly smoking).

Results
Higher family affluence was more strongly associated with higher levels of physical activity in countries characterized by high levels of social mobility (cross-level interaction linear regression coefficient 0.34; 95% CI 0.08 to 0.60; p = 0.009 for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and 0.31; 0.11 to 0.50; p = 0.002 for vigorous physical activity). No cross-level interactions were found for any of the other health behaviours.

Conclusions
Our findings suggest that differences in social mobility at the country-level may contribute to cross-national variations in socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent physical activity. Further research can shed light on the mechanisms linking country-level social mobility to inequalities in adolescent physical activity to identify targets for policy and interventions.

Key messages
• This is one of the first studies to investigate country-level social mobility in relation to health equity. Inequalities in adolescent physical activity were steeper in socially mobile countries.
• Stronger efforts to engage adolescents from low-affluent families in physical activity may be necessary in countries characterized by high levels of social mobility.
The longitudinal impact of social media use on adolescent mental health in the UK
Authors: Plackett R , Sheringham J , Dykxhoorn J 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Background
Cross-sectional studies have suggested a relationship between social media use and depression and anxiety in young people. We examined the longitudinal relationship between social media use and young people's mental health and the role of self-esteem and social connectedness as potential mediators.

Methods
The sample comprised 3,228 young people from the UK Longitudinal Household Study (waves 1-10). Mental health at age 14 or 15 was measured by the SDQ Total Difficulties score. The number of hours spent on social media was measured at age 12 or 13. Self-esteem at age 13 or 14 was measured via eight questions and social connectedness was measured by two questions. Multilevel linear regression models explored whether social media use at age 12 or 13 predicted mental health at age 14 or 15. Path analysis with structural equation modelling investigated the mediation pathways.

Results
In unadjusted analysis, for those who spent 7 or more hours on social media vs none, their mental health problems trended upwards by 3.87 (95% CI, 0.71-7.03) but this relationship was attenuated after including covariates. In unadjusted path analysis, more social media use was associated with lower self-esteem (b=-0.10, p &lt; 0.05), which in turn was associated with more mental health problems (b=-6.80, p &lt; 0.001). The indirect effect (b = 0.70, p &lt; 0.05) showed that 68% of the effect of social media use on mental health two years later was mediated by self-esteem. This relationship was attenuated after adjusting for covariates and in imputed data, and social connectedness was not associated.

Conclusions
This study shows the importance of longitudinal evidence, as we found there was little evidence to suggest a causal relationship between social media use and mental health issues two years later. Interventions that address social media use alone may not improve young people's mental health but those that consider factors like self-esteem may be more effective.

Key messages
• Longitudinal data suggests there is limited evidence that high social media use causes poorer mental health in adolescents despite indications from cross-sectional analyses.
• Policy makers should consider that targeting social media use alone is unlikely to prevent poor adolescent mental health and factors like self-esteem may be more important prevention targets.
Young men’s gambling and violence perpetration in Mwanza, Tanzania
Authors: Stöckl H , Brambilla R , Mshana G , Malibwa D , Sichalwe S , Kapiga S 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Background
The prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) in Tanzania is one of the highest in the sub-Saharan African region. Studies have shown that traditionally “manly” behaviours, such as risk-taking, are at the root of IPV perpetration. Only few studies investigated the co-occurrence of gambling and IPV, and none from LMICs.

Methods
Cross-sectional survey data of 1002 men aged 18-24 from Mwanza, Tanzania were analysed. Physical, sexual, emotional and economic IPV perpetration were measured using acts-based questions. Gambling was assessed through a question on whether the man bet or spent money on gambling or gambling machines. Consequences of gambling behaviours were assessed through four further questions. We conducted multivariate logistic regressions to control for potential confounders.

Results
21% of the men in the sample confirmed they had bet or spent money on gambling in the previous 12 months; the prevalence raises to 24% for men who had been in a relationship in the previous 12 months (N = 755). Of these, 23% had ever perpetrated physical IPV, 29% sexual IPV, 56% emotional IPV and 37% economic IPV in their lifetimes. Of those who gambled, 24% had ever perpetrated physical IPV, 46% ever committed sexual IPV, 66% emotional IPV and 45% economic IPV. Gambling was statistically significantly associated sexual IPV (aOR: 2.39; 95% CI: 1.66-3.45) and emotional IPV (aOR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.03-2.14) even after controlling for age, alcohol use, depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. Gambling was not associated with physical and economic IPV after adjusting for those confounders.

Implications
The analysis shows that young men's practice of gambling is an additional risk factor for IPV perpetration that needs to be addressed. More research is needed to understand how current prevention efforts can be expanded to include problem gambling treatment to curb the incidence of IPV and give couples conflict resolutions skills for issues that might arise from gambling.

Key messages
• Problem gambling has so far remained vastly under-researched in violence research.
• Gambling as well as drinking were associated with increased odds of physical and sexual IPV perpetration.
1.Q. Workshop: Summarising research evidence related to COVID-19 impact
Authors:   Organised by: PHIRI,   Chair persons: Maria João Forjaz (Spain), Paulo Nogueira (Portugal)
Published: October 2022

Abstract

After the first SARS-CoV-2 infections surge in late 2019, and its spreading worldwide, COVID-19 rapidly became a pandemic by March 2020. Facing a new public health crisis, the scientific community deployed research efforts to study this new disease, generating a large amount of scientific evidence in a very fast way. This research was developed in several directions, for instance, describing how COVID-19 impacts the population's health and well-being. Specifically, the research aimed at describing and evaluating the risk factors either for being infected or evolving toward adverse outcomes, such as hospitalisation or death. Moreover, the effectiveness of implemented public health measures was assessed since countries’ governments rapidly implemented them to mitigate the pandemic.Therefore, several literature reviews have been performed within the European Project ‘Population Health Information Research Infrastructure (PHIRI)’ to summarise and share the published COVID-19 evidence through a health information portal, where researchers and other stakeholders can exchange best practices and expertise. This workshop aims at sharing the collaborative work and experience of a large group of European researchers within the PHIRI consortium, consisting in preliminary results and lessons learnt with the scientific community. The workshop format consists of five presentations by PHIRI members, each one presenting their literature review work, followed by a discussion among the presenters and with the audience. The first workshop presentation will describe the methodological aspects of research conducted to assess the COVID-19 impact on the population's health and well-being, including research methods and statistical methods. The subject for the second talk will show a representative sample of health indicators used to evaluate the direct impact of COVID-19 in the scientific literature. The third presentation will elaborate on a short and long-term impact of COVID-19 crisis on population with frailty, multimorbidity or with different socioeconomic status; evidence derived from systematic literature reviews of population-based studies. The fourth presentation will describe the effectiveness and impact of tracking COVID-19 patients using digital contact tracing tools. The last presentation describes the methodological aspects of a systematic literature review conducted to gain an overview of the foresight studies that have been done throughout the World about COVID-19.

Key messages
• During the pandemic, a literature reviews provide an important tool to summarise the large amount of scientific evidence that was generated.
• This workshop aims at sharing the collaborative work and experience of a large group of European researchers participating at PHIRI, the results and lessons learned with the scientific community.
Foresight and Preparedness Studies on COVID-19 in the World: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Peyroteo M , Vukovic J , Lapão L 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
A foresight study refers to a broad range of methodologies to describe possible futures. Also, foresight can be described as ‘a university human capacity that allows people to think ahead and consider, model, create and respond to future eventualities’ (Foresight International, 2006). Foresight studies in public health are research tools to support the understanding of possible future developments, which is essential for policy makers to anticipate and possibly influence trends. Therefore, we aimed at providing an overview of COVID-19's foresight activities across Europe and beyond. A systematic literature review was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Methodology. The databases searched were Scopus and Web of Science Core Collection and the literature screening was conducted through March 2022. The exclusion and inclusion criteria were previously defined by the team and all the results had to be journal papers, published between 2019-2021 (except for “Foresight” query that was between 2015-2021) and written in English or Portuguese. The documents collected were only about Population Health and Non-Pharmaceutical Approaches. Among the topics under study (foresight, scenarios, modelling and preparation) it was possible to collect 9 550 articles. After removing duplicates and filtering out those that did not meet the inclusion criteria, 2 434 articles were selected for analysis. The literature review revealed that a large number of studies on the pandemic of COVID-19 have already been conducted using predictive methodologies, but that the focus of attention is on analysing how countries are prepared for the pandemic and what direction it will stat using mathematical modelling methods (e.g. in the short term). This study highlights the importance of predictive studies and that their use needs to be well-founded and cohesive if the conclusions drawn are to have impact and value in the future.