PUBLIC HEALTH REVIEWS最新文献

Objectives: Despite Switzerland's aging population increasingly wishes to age in place in familiar homes, many dwellings are not barrier-free. Retrofitting of vertical lift systems as home adaptations in private housing can support aging-in-place but are still rarely installed. Thus, this study examines the association between lift systems in the home environment and health outcomes among community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: A rapid review was conducted to identify and summarize existing evidence. Seventeen studies were included and the results clustered into the categories presence of lifts, usage of lifts and health outcomes.

Results: The review shows that lifts in private housing are scarce and frequently fail to meet the specific needs of users. Usage depends on age, gender, health status, technical and financial aspects. Positive health outcomes include improved mobility, autonomy, safety and quality of life, while lack of lifts can restrict mobility and autonomy.

Conclusion: The results highlight the need for affordable, individualized lift systems supported by advice and policy measures. Such innovations can help reduce inequalities and enable older adults to remain safely in their homes and communities.

Objectives: To map the recent literature on digital health in informal caregiving, identify commonly used technologies, their functions and impact, as well as barriers and facilitators.

Methods: We searched Medline, Web of Science, and CINAHL for randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental, observational, and qualitative studies, published in English between 2019 and 2024.

Results: 110 studies were included, most of which targeted informal caregivers in dementia care and used moderately complex, consumer-facing technologies for education and caregiving support. Positive impact was reported on various outcomes such as caregiver burden, psychological wellbeing, caregiver competence, quality of life, caregiver-patient relationships, as well as care coordination and efficiency. Barriers included limited digital literacy, technical issues, low accessibility, caregiving burden, and data security concerns. Facilitators were good digital skills, social and emotional support, user-friendly designs, and perceived usefulness.

Conclusion: Digital informal care is emerging and shows promise in supporting informal caregivers by improving their wellbeing, skills, and connectedness. However, barriers and knowledge gaps remain, highlighting the need for additional research as well as more inclusive and person-centred digital informal care approaches.

Objectives: This review aimed to synthesize evidence on community-based interventions designed to improve eye health among older adults.

Methods: Eleven electronic databases and reference lists of relevant studies were systematically searched. Two reviewers independently screened records, extracted data, and assessed study quality. Pooled effect sizes were calculated using a random-effects model with standardized mean differences (SMD) and relative risks. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I² and Chi-square tests, with subgroup, sensitivity, and publication bias analyses performed.

Results: Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria, and 13 were included in the meta-analysis. Interventions included educational, telephone-based, and health promotion programs. Educational programs significantly improved attitudes toward eye health (SMD = 3.91) and general eye health behaviors (SMD = 8.20). Structured teaching interventions had the greatest effect on knowledge (SMD = 4.04), while community-based support groups improved eye examination uptake (SMD = 4.33). Subgroup and meta-regression analyses found no significant moderators, with persistent heterogeneity.

Conclusion: Community-based interventions appear to enhance eye health knowledge and behaviors among older adults, but evidence remains limited and heterogeneous, warranting cautious interpretation.

Systematic review registration: PROSPERO: Identifier CRD42023434652.

Objective: To identify and synthesize the barriers and facilitators to accessing and using maternal healthcare (MHC) services by women living in rural Bangladesh.

Methods: A structured literature search was conducted using six databases in 2024. Studies were synthesized using a thematic approach, underpinned by the Social-Ecological Model.

Results: Searches returned 3,619 studies, of which 37 were included in this review. Findings related to barriers and facilitators were categorized into four themes: individual, family, social and community, and organizational levels. Key barriers to accessing and using MHC services included illiteracy, lack of family support, cultural taboo to pregnancy disclosure, distance to health facilities, and lack of quality services. Key facilitators to accessing and using MHC services were higher literacy levels, family support, NGO support and mass media exposure, and free healthcare services.

Conclusion: Based on the findings of the review, to improve Bangladeshi women's access to and use of MHC services, improvements in women's literacy levels, village roads, family support, and service-related skills of healthcare providers are necessary.

Background: The increase in patients' needs and demands resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an assessment of whether health systems were performant enough. Health system performance refers as how far health systems achieve their desired goals. Measuring the Swiss health system performance taking into account its ability to prepare, manage and learn from a crisis will allow to better interpret the assessment.

Analysis: Assessments of the Swiss health system performance appear not to fully align to recent developments on conceptual thinking of the WHO and the OECD, notably regarding the assessment of the resilience of a health system, and need to be modified to better reflect current developments.

Policy options: Recommendations include considering resilience as a core concept, standardizing a framework integrating resilience, considering resilience indicators, and enhancing data collection and sharing.

Conclusion: To ensure long-term resilience and performance, Switzerland must act decisively to unify its data systems, institutionalize regular performance reviews including resilience indicators, and build a common framework and language for resilience.

Objectives: This research aimed to determine the state of the art of health promotion actions in higher education institutions of European Union member countries.

Methods: To achieve the proposed objective, an integrative literature review was conducted. The collection of analyzed articles was carried out across four databases and a data compilation, where studies published between 2016 and 2022 were reviewed. The analysis was conducted through the description of the actions in health promotion (HP).

Results: Fourteen articles were selected for analysis. The HP actions described primarily target students. Some of the main topics covered in the studies are health habits related to gender differences, recreational substances and health education.

Conclusion: Although research in this area is increasing, it appears necessary to further disseminate the principles of the health promotion universities movement to raise awareness across the entire academic community. This could more easily lead to the development of more effective HP actions directed at the entire academic community and those outside the institutions.

Background: Public health is under pressure from rising populism, disinformation, and weakened global institutions, threatening cooperation, equity, and trust in science.

Analysis: Populism politicises health, suppresses evidence, and marginalises vulnerable groups. Public health diplomacy must adapt, becoming more politically aware, ethically grounded, and resilient.

Policy options: We propose nine ways forward: create diplomacy labs for crisis simulation; empower non-state actors like cities and NGOs; strengthen ethical communication and listening; protect health workers; build alternative accountability systems; reframe health as a diplomatic priority; decentralise and diversify funding; develop a new diplomacy curriculum; reinvent and defend multilateralism.

Conclusion: Public health diplomacy must evolve into a bold, inclusive, and strategic force. By defending evidence, empowering diverse actors, and reforming institutions, it can safeguard health as a foundation for peace and global progress.

Objectives: This study aims to compare methods used to measure burnout, fatigue, stress, and resilience, as well as resilience-building interventions among healthcare personnel (HCP) in Southern and South-eastern Asia. Even before COVID-19, HCP faced high levels of burnout and stress, exacerbated by the pandemic. Identifying effective resilience-building strategies is essential to supporting a healthier workforce.

Methods: Studies published from January 2016 to December 2021 focusing on burnout, stress, fatigue, and resilience were included. COVIDENCE software was used for screening.

Results: A total of 55 studies were included in the review. Of these 55 studies, 51 measured burnout, stress, fatigue, or resilience, using 77 different instruments. The MBI-HSS, PSS-10, BRS, Brief-COPE, and CD-RISC were the most common tools to assess burnout, stress, and individual resilience. Four studies evaluated resilience interventions, using mindfulness training, meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, and yoga.

Conclusion: There are many studies assessing burnout, stress, and resilience among HCP in Southern and South-eastern Asia, yet gaps remain in identifying effective resilience-building interventions. Further research is needed to assess the impact of individual resilience on health systems resilience.