Pub Date : 2026-02-09DOI: 10.1016/s2468-2667(26)00009-5
Prof Habib Benzian PhD, Prof Matthew P Fox DSc, Prof Sudeshni Naidoo PhD
Public health operates in an era of unprecedented data availability and analytical sophistication, yet action on well-established health challenges is frequently delayed. We argue that evidence increasingly functions as an alibi—a means of legitimising deferral of decisions and displacing responsibility onto uncertainty rather than being a guide for decision making. Drawing on recent policy experience, we discuss how expanding evidence requirements can generate analysis paralysis, privileging refinement over implementation. We argue that many contemporary health challenges require timely action under imperfect knowledge and that public health systems should be designed to act, learn, and adapt, rather than wait for unattainable certainty.
{"title":"Paralysis in public health and policy: when evidence becomes an alibi","authors":"Prof Habib Benzian PhD, Prof Matthew P Fox DSc, Prof Sudeshni Naidoo PhD","doi":"10.1016/s2468-2667(26)00009-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/s2468-2667(26)00009-5","url":null,"abstract":"Public health operates in an era of unprecedented data availability and analytical sophistication, yet action on well-established health challenges is frequently delayed. We argue that evidence increasingly functions as an alibi—a means of legitimising deferral of decisions and displacing responsibility onto uncertainty rather than being a guide for decision making. Drawing on recent policy experience, we discuss how expanding evidence requirements can generate analysis paralysis, privileging refinement over implementation. We argue that many contemporary health challenges require timely action under imperfect knowledge and that public health systems should be designed to act, learn, and adapt, rather than wait for unattainable certainty.","PeriodicalId":56027,"journal":{"name":"Lancet Public Health","volume":"160 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":50.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146146646","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-06DOI: 10.1016/s2468-2667(25)00324-x
Fereshteh Mehrabi, Mary Louise Pomeroy, Emiel O Hoogendijk, Thomas K M Cudjoe, Mark Oremus, Karen Bandeen-Roche, Charity Oga-Omenka
Ageing populations face increasing burdens from frailty and social isolation, which are two inter-related public health challenges that increase the risk of dementia, hospitalisation, and mortality. Despite health systems' potential to intervene, the co-occurrence of frailty and social isolation remains overlooked in policy, research, and routine care, leading to fragmented and insufficient responses. Structural barriers (eg, cultural and linguistic obstacles, low health literacy, complex system navigation, financial constraints, geographical isolation, and care coordination) further limit access. In this Viewpoint, we highlight four priorities to address these challenges: (1) screening in primary and acute care; (2) integrated medical and social care; (3) social prescribing; and (4) equity-focused policy and research within ageing strategies. Coordinated and cross-sector action that addresses social determinants of health and embeds frailty prevention and social wellbeing as core health system functions is urgently needed to enable healthy ageing.
{"title":"Rethinking health-care systems to tackle social isolation and frailty","authors":"Fereshteh Mehrabi, Mary Louise Pomeroy, Emiel O Hoogendijk, Thomas K M Cudjoe, Mark Oremus, Karen Bandeen-Roche, Charity Oga-Omenka","doi":"10.1016/s2468-2667(25)00324-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/s2468-2667(25)00324-x","url":null,"abstract":"Ageing populations face increasing burdens from frailty and social isolation, which are two inter-related public health challenges that increase the risk of dementia, hospitalisation, and mortality. Despite health systems' potential to intervene, the co-occurrence of frailty and social isolation remains overlooked in policy, research, and routine care, leading to fragmented and insufficient responses. Structural barriers (eg, cultural and linguistic obstacles, low health literacy, complex system navigation, financial constraints, geographical isolation, and care coordination) further limit access. In this Viewpoint, we highlight four priorities to address these challenges: (1) screening in primary and acute care; (2) integrated medical and social care; (3) social prescribing; and (4) equity-focused policy and research within ageing strategies. Coordinated and cross-sector action that addresses social determinants of health and embeds frailty prevention and social wellbeing as core health system functions is urgently needed to enable healthy ageing.","PeriodicalId":56027,"journal":{"name":"Lancet Public Health","volume":"92 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":50.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146134135","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-05DOI: 10.1016/s2468-2667(26)00024-1
One month after Australia's ban on social media to under 16 year olds, January saw the UK and France voting for similar legislation, and more countries are likely to follow. Despite the introduction of the EU Digital Services Act (2024) and the UK Online Safety Act (2023), overwhelming evidence now suggests that the regulation of digital content available to young people is an urgent and neglected public health priority—even emergency. With billions of hours of content produced daily, digital literacy, parental supervision, and existing regulations are proving insufficient to protect young people from dangerous health-harming content.
{"title":"Social media ban: a band-aid on digital wounds?","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/s2468-2667(26)00024-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/s2468-2667(26)00024-1","url":null,"abstract":"One month after <span><span>Australia's ban on social media</span><svg aria-label=\"Opens in new window\" focusable=\"false\" height=\"20\" viewbox=\"0 0 8 8\"><path d=\"M1.12949 2.1072V1H7V6.85795H5.89111V2.90281L0.784057 8L0 7.21635L5.11902 2.1072H1.12949Z\"></path></svg></span> to under 16 year olds, January saw the UK and France voting for similar legislation, and more countries are likely to follow. Despite the introduction of the <span><span>EU Digital Services Act</span><svg aria-label=\"Opens in new window\" focusable=\"false\" height=\"20\" viewbox=\"0 0 8 8\"><path d=\"M1.12949 2.1072V1H7V6.85795H5.89111V2.90281L0.784057 8L0 7.21635L5.11902 2.1072H1.12949Z\"></path></svg></span> (2024) and the <span><span>UK Online Safety Act</span><svg aria-label=\"Opens in new window\" focusable=\"false\" height=\"20\" viewbox=\"0 0 8 8\"><path d=\"M1.12949 2.1072V1H7V6.85795H5.89111V2.90281L0.784057 8L0 7.21635L5.11902 2.1072H1.12949Z\"></path></svg></span> (2023), overwhelming evidence now suggests that the regulation of digital content available to young people is an urgent and neglected public health priority—even emergency. With billions of hours of content produced daily, digital literacy, parental supervision, and existing regulations are proving insufficient to protect young people from dangerous health-harming content.","PeriodicalId":56027,"journal":{"name":"Lancet Public Health","volume":"143 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":50.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146122071","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-03DOI: 10.1016/s2468-2667(26)00005-8
Megan A Smith, James Killen, Lisa Jamieson, Xavier O'Farrell, Diep T N Nguyen, Gail Garvey, Karen Canfell, Lisa J Whop
{"title":"Accelerating cervical cancer elimination in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women: a modelling study","authors":"Megan A Smith, James Killen, Lisa Jamieson, Xavier O'Farrell, Diep T N Nguyen, Gail Garvey, Karen Canfell, Lisa J Whop","doi":"10.1016/s2468-2667(26)00005-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/s2468-2667(26)00005-8","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":56027,"journal":{"name":"Lancet Public Health","volume":"87 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":50.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146109970","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/s2468-2667(25)00305-6
Jaime Berumen, Pablo Kuri-Morales, Jason M Torres, Elizabeth Barrera, Paulina Baca, Fernando Rivas, Laura Alejandra Ramirez-Tirado, Carlos Gonzalez-Carballo, Alberto Zarza, Georgina Del Vecchyo-Tenorio, Oscar Pérez-Flores, Carlos Pantoja-Melendez, Raúl Ramírez, Diego Aguilar-Ramirez, Louisa Gnatiuc Friedrichs, Jonathan R Emberson, Jesús Alegre-Diaz, Roberto Tapia-Conyer
{"title":"The effect of Indigenous American genomic ancestry on type 2 diabetes in Mexico: an analysis of 134 548 individuals from the Mexico City Prospective Study","authors":"Jaime Berumen, Pablo Kuri-Morales, Jason M Torres, Elizabeth Barrera, Paulina Baca, Fernando Rivas, Laura Alejandra Ramirez-Tirado, Carlos Gonzalez-Carballo, Alberto Zarza, Georgina Del Vecchyo-Tenorio, Oscar Pérez-Flores, Carlos Pantoja-Melendez, Raúl Ramírez, Diego Aguilar-Ramirez, Louisa Gnatiuc Friedrichs, Jonathan R Emberson, Jesús Alegre-Diaz, Roberto Tapia-Conyer","doi":"10.1016/s2468-2667(25)00305-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/s2468-2667(25)00305-6","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":56027,"journal":{"name":"Lancet Public Health","volume":"44 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":50.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146072244","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/s2468-2667(25)00321-4
Nicolas A Menzies, Suzanne M Marks
{"title":"Better tuberculosis prevention for migrants: necessary but not sufficient","authors":"Nicolas A Menzies, Suzanne M Marks","doi":"10.1016/s2468-2667(25)00321-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/s2468-2667(25)00321-4","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":56027,"journal":{"name":"Lancet Public Health","volume":"279 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":50.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146072240","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/s2468-2667(25)00306-8
Mathilda Regan, Hening Cui, Nicole A Swartwood, Yunfei Li, Suzanne M Marks, Terrika Barham, Awal Khan, Carla A Winston, Ted Cohen, C Robert Horsburgh, Joshua A Salomon, Nicolas A Menzies
{"title":"The potential effect of a geographically focused intervention against tuberculosis in the USA: a simulation modelling study","authors":"Mathilda Regan, Hening Cui, Nicole A Swartwood, Yunfei Li, Suzanne M Marks, Terrika Barham, Awal Khan, Carla A Winston, Ted Cohen, C Robert Horsburgh, Joshua A Salomon, Nicolas A Menzies","doi":"10.1016/s2468-2667(25)00306-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/s2468-2667(25)00306-8","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":56027,"journal":{"name":"Lancet Public Health","volume":"188 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":50.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146072242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/s2468-2667(25)00304-4
Farhana Sultana, Megan Smith, Marion Saville, Deborah Bateson, David Roder, Vivienne Milch, Dejan Krstik, Kelly Hughes, Cassie Dalton, Lara Roeske, Jane Newman, Alison Brand, David Hawkes, Melanie Matheson, Dorota Gertig
{"title":"Uptake and performance of self-collection offered through primary care to all eligible participants in a national cervical screening programme in Australia: a retrospective cohort study","authors":"Farhana Sultana, Megan Smith, Marion Saville, Deborah Bateson, David Roder, Vivienne Milch, Dejan Krstik, Kelly Hughes, Cassie Dalton, Lara Roeske, Jane Newman, Alison Brand, David Hawkes, Melanie Matheson, Dorota Gertig","doi":"10.1016/s2468-2667(25)00304-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/s2468-2667(25)00304-4","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":56027,"journal":{"name":"Lancet Public Health","volume":"388 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":50.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146072245","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/s2468-2667(25)00300-7
Anna Lucie Fournier, Ntwali Placide Nsengiyumva, Aria Jordan, Benjamin Mappin-Kasirer, Karim AbouNader, Christina Greenaway, Jonathon R Campbell, Kevin Schwartzman
{"title":"Improving the tuberculosis infection care cascade among migrants in Canada: a cost-effectiveness modelling study","authors":"Anna Lucie Fournier, Ntwali Placide Nsengiyumva, Aria Jordan, Benjamin Mappin-Kasirer, Karim AbouNader, Christina Greenaway, Jonathon R Campbell, Kevin Schwartzman","doi":"10.1016/s2468-2667(25)00300-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/s2468-2667(25)00300-7","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":56027,"journal":{"name":"Lancet Public Health","volume":"93 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":50.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146072243","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/s2468-2667(26)00008-3
{"title":"Thank you to The Lancet Public Health's reviewers in 2025","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/s2468-2667(26)00008-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/s2468-2667(26)00008-3","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":56027,"journal":{"name":"Lancet Public Health","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":50.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146072246","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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