PUBLIC HEALTH REVIEWS最新文献

Background: Schools serve not only as centers of education but also as critical environments for social development and promoting health and well-being of children and adolescents. Conducting health-related research in school settings offers valuable opportunities to identify current health challenges and assess preventive and interventional strategies.

Analysis: Researchers face several challenges when conducting health-related research in schools, including communication barriers, complex coordination among relevant stakeholders, and limited resources.

Policy options: This policy brief, with a special focus on Switzerland, highlighted main challenges and presented options derived from literature, semi-structured interviews, and a stakeholder dialogue to address them. The dialogue included representatives from youth, parents, teachers, school principals, school authorities, and researchers. The results emphasize key options in three main areas: (i) recruitment and motivation, (ii) retention and incentives, and (iii) partnerships and collaboration.

Conclusion: Many of the proposed options do not require large-scale political shifts nor national-level policy changes but can directly be applied in schools and research settings, emphasizing their practical applicability and potential for immediate impact. Ultimately, implementing these options in health-related research in schools can contribute to long-term health and well-being of future generations.

Objectives: Timely detection of infectious disease outbreaks is essential to limit health, social, and economic impacts, yet diagnostic and surveillance gaps persist across Africa. This review applies the 7-1-7 global target framework-detect within 7 days, notify within 1, and respond within 7-to assess strategies for strengthening early detection capacities across African countries.

Methods: We conducted a review of peer-reviewed literature, institutional reports, and field evidence published without time span limitations. Key themes were organized around five strategic pillars: diagnostic preparedness, surveillance, workforce development, community engagement, and governance.

Results: Identified bottlenecks include limited diagnostic networks capacity, fragmented surveillance systems, workforce shortages, and underinvestment in digital infrastructure. Promising solutions include diagnostic network optimization, deployment of point-of-care molecular tools, integration of event- and indicator-based surveillance through interoperable platforms, and AI-enabled early warning systems. Field examples from Uganda, Senegal, and Nigeria demonstrate improved timeliness where coordinated investments and multisectoral collaboration have been implemented.

Conclusion: Meeting the 7-1-7 detection target requires integrated, country-owned strategies that align diagnostics, surveillance, workforce, and governance within resilient national health security frameworks, underpinned by sustained domestic investment.

Objectives: We aim to investigate the association between family relationships and mental health conditions in adults aged 18+.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review on associations of family relationships and mental health conditions by searching in databases MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, PsycINFO, Sociological Abstracts (ProQuest), and PTSDPubs. We calculated the Pearson correlation coefficients and I2 statistics using a random-effects model. Additionally, we investigated publication bias using funnel plots.

Results: Of the 3,707 records screened, 40 with n = 35,634 participants met the inclusion criteria (38.5% male, 59.5% female, mean age 39.57), were conducted mostly in North America (n = 27). Positive family relationships were investigated in 33 studies, negative relationships in 12 studies. Positive family relationships were not statistically significantly associated with depression [r = -0.071 (-0.256, 0.119), p = 0.463, anxiety r = 0.026 (-0.032, 0.084), p = 0.375] or alcohol abuse [r = 0.035 (-0.103, 0.0034), p=0.326]. Positive family relationships were statistically significantly associated with illicit drug use [r = 0.061 (0.025, 0.096), p = 0.001]. Negative family relationships were statistically significantly associated with anxiety [r = 0.075 (0.019, 0.130), p = 0.009], and with depression [r = 0.111 (0.033, 0.188), p = 0.005].

Conclusion: Interventions reducing negative family relationships can potentially strengthen positive mental health.

Objectives: This protocol outlines the development of a systematic evidence map (SEM) on genetic and epigenetic alterations associated with human prenatal tobacco exposure. The SEM will identify and synthetize epidemiological data on periconceptional and prenatal tobacco exposure associated with genetic (e.g., DNA damage) and epigenetic (e.g., DNA methylation) outcomes. Furthermore, it will describe the available evidence, highlight knowledge clusters, and identify gaps for future research.

Methods: Bibliographic databases and grey literature sources will be searched, complemented by reference mining. Predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria will guide study inclusion. Data extraction will include population, exposure, comparator, outcome, funding, study design, confounding factors, and statistical methods. Summarization will include a narrative review, graphical visualization, and an interactive, queryable and open-access table.

Results: A pilot study assessed the protocol's feasibility, testing key components, including screening, data extraction, and eligibility criteria. Findings confirmed that the methodology is workable and reliable.

Conclusion: This protocol supports a rigorous, reproducible, transparent SEM, aligned with international standards. The comprehensive mapping will support research prioritization and inform public health policies targeting maternal and child health.

Background: The global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic posed exceptional challenges for society and healthcare systems, with adverse effects on population's mental health. Understanding the pandemic's impact on mental health and service use in Switzerland is a priority, along with outlining evidence-based recommendations to improve access and support for those in need.

Analysis: Studies from Switzerland report a growing burden of psychological distress, especially among vulnerable groups such as children, adolescents, young women, socially isolated individuals, and those with pre-existing health conditions. The pandemic also caused variations in mental health service use across the country.

Policy options: [1] Strengthening mental health services for vulnerable populations. [2] Re-structuring mental health services and their capacity to cope with the increasing demand. [3] Enhancing prevention and promotion of mental health and wellbeing.

Conclusion: In the aftermath of the pandemic, there is a need to strengthen and restructure mental health services, enhance prevention and promotion efforts, and integrate mental health into pandemic preparedness to mitigate the long-term impacts of future public health emergencies.

Objectives: As the aging population grows, Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) present a major public health challenge. Environmental noise, linked to stress and sleep disruption, may increase ADRD risk. We aimed to summarize the research literature on long-term noise exposure and ADRD.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies investigating the association of long-term (≥1 year) noise exposure and ADRD assessed with standardized diagnostic criteria. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. Eligible studies reported hazard ratios (HR) or similar effect estimates with confidence intervals.

Results: A multilevel random-effects meta-analysis of six longitudinal studies using 13 effect sizes found a significant association between long-term noise exposure and incident ADRD (HR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.03-1.28). Interaction effects between noise source and dementia subtype were not statistically significant.

Conclusion: Long-term noise exposure may contribute to ADRD risk. Heterogeneity between studies highlights the need for standardized exposure assessment and consideration of other environmental factors. Future research should include the exposome approach for identifying environmental drivers of dementia.

Objectives: This study aimed to review the healthcare systems and the educational public health (PH) the workforce structures in six countries: the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United States of America (USA), the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the United Kingdom (UK), Canada, and Singapore.

Methods: This review was developed by searching databases from the World Health Organization and the World Bank, official data from each country's respective ministries of health and National Bureaus of Statistics, the European Public Health Association, and studies conducted by educational institutions.

Results: The USA, the UK, and the KSA showed an insufficient concentration of PH specialists and educational opportunities. In contrast, Singapore and Canada incentivized citizens to pursue PH education, resulting in more PH physicians and specialists. The UAE (Abu Dhabi) was found to remain in its early stages of development.

Conclusion: To strengthen and advance the public health workforce in the UAE (Abu Dhabi) and the countries described, the concept needs to be defined and integrated fully into the entire health system, from academia to the transversal structures of the Ministries of Health.

Objectives: Sports-related concussions (SRCs) in adolescents may pose severe health consequences, which underscores the importance of adequate prevention, early detection, and management. This systematic literature review and meta-analysis aims to synthesize findings from studies evaluating SRC communication and education interventions targeting adolescent athletes and/or their caregivers.

Methods: We included original, peer-reviewed studies published in English between 2014 and 2024. For studies reporting on comparable outcomes, we conducted a meta-analysis based on mean differences between pre- and post-assessment.

Results: Of 2,974 identified records, 22 were included. Most SRC communication and education interventions focused on the North American context, targeted adolescent athletes, and combined digital and in-person communication Interventions were generally more effective in increasing knowledge or awareness than in shifting attitudes or reporting behaviors. The quality of the included studies varied considerably. The studies tended to be short-term and effects appeared independent of the target group, features, or outcome assessments.

Conclusion: Given the findings of this review and meta-analysis, future interventions should aim towards long-lasting attitude change fostering intentions to and behaviours promoting the prevention and early detection of SRCs.

Objectives: Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality and impacts resource-limited settings with limited capacity for diagnosis and treatment. This review provides context for the magnitude of the problem, describes screening methods to prevent stroke, and factors that impact outcomes.

Methods: A narrative review was conducted. Topics included background information on SCA, its clinical characteristics, complications including primary stroke, and available treatment options. Social, economic, and political factors in East and Central Africa were described.

Results: A total of 37 publications were categorized into four themes: morbidity and mortality of SCA in sub-Saharan Africa; TCD screening for risk of primary stroke in children; treatment of children with SCA in resource-limited settings; and approaches to capacity gaps.

Conclusion: SCA represents a public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa. TCD screening with hydroxyurea treatment can improve outcomes and prevent primary stroke. Multiple barriers exist, including limited diagnostic screening, inconsistent availability of and access to hydroxyurea, and knowledge gaps. These barriers are influenced by social, economic and policy factors that can be addressed to build capacity and improve outcomes.