Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene最新文献

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 has underscored the critical need to enhance the ONE HEALTH approach which recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. In this review we report on various animal species that were infected by SARS-CoV-2 virus during the pandemic with the aim to contribute to the One Health approach. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has highlighted the devastating consequences of zoonotic diseases such as COVID19 and has reiterated the critical role that the health of wildlife, domestic animals, and the environment plays in human health. The pandemic is a lesson learnt on the urgent need for an enhanced ONE HEALTH approach by developing a robust and interconnected global health strategy to effectively prevent and control zoonotic diseases and protect the health of all species on our planet. These efforts are crucial for a sustainable and resilient future for both human and ecological systems.

Background: Ensuring uninterrupted and free access to health services highlights the critical need for sustainable health financing. Given that tax revenues are essential for achieving universal health coverage, this study, conducted in 2024, aims to identify strategies for generating sustainable financial resources through taxation.

Methods: This qualitative study gathered data through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 10 experts. Participant selection continued until data saturation was achieved, using purposeful and snowball sampling to ensure maximum diversity. Thematic analysis was employed for data analysis, using Atlas.ti software (version 8).

Findings: The study identified strategies for generating tax-based sustainable financial resources across five main topics: transportation, services, production, individuals, and 11 subtopics. These subtopics include traffic control schemes, highway and road tolls, taxes on urban and intercity transportation systems, fines for traffic violations and vehicle inspection deficiencies, equipment and device imports, corporate sales and revenue, health-damaging products, environmental pollutants, industrial production and petroleum products, businesses and occupations, and long-term exit or migration taxes for health professionals.

Conclusions: Implementing tax policies on the identified items requires strong political support, fostering a shared understanding among stakeholders at various levels of policy-making and implementation, and aligning executive program designs with existing infrastructure. Enhancing regulatory systems and increasing transparency in resource allocation are also essential to improving the implementation of health-related tax policies. Further research should carefully examine the economic and social side effects of these taxes on different sectors of society.

Background: Lung cancer is a significant contributor to mortality worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess the level of lung cancer awareness among the Lebanese general population.

Methods: An online-based questionnaire was completed by 410 participants all over Lebanon. A validated Lung Cancer Awareness Measurement tool was used. Multivariate analysis using Generalized Linear model and post-hoc analysis were performed after assessing validity and reliability of the scale.

Results: Only 13.7% correctly identified age-related lung cancer risk, while 60.7% thought age was unrelated. Warning signs were poorly recalled, with persistent cough being the most remembered (58%), and coughing up blood being highly recognized (87.8%). Participants struggled to recognize persistent shoulder pain (28.7%) and finger/nail changes (29.51%) as possible warning signs of lung cancer. Multivariate analysis showed that governorates, educational level, and occupation significantly affected warning sign-scores. Post-hoc analysis revealed that people residing in Bekaa scored lower warning sign recognition scales compared with participants residing in Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and North. Postgraduates and medical field workers showed higher symptom recognition, with the latter scoring higher recall scales as well. Smoking was the most recalled and recognized risk factor (82% and 95.6%). Females, postgraduates, and medical workers showed higher risk factor recognition. While 75% were willing to seek medical attention for lung cancer suspicion, 58% lacked confidence in identifying warning signs.

Conclusions: Extensive awareness campaigns focusing on age-related misconceptions, warning signs, and risk factors hold immense promise for improved therapeutic outcomes.

Introduction: The introduction of process innovations in healthcare organizations faces challenges in knowledge sharing and incorporating best practices due to a strong professional autonomy, leading to resistance to change. The healthcare paradigm is shifting towards value-based organizations with a patient-centered approach, requiring multidisciplinary care. Change management is crucial, but current approaches are often limited. This study proposes a conceptual framework to support change management in healthcare services redesign.

Methods: The proposed conceptual framework was developed applying Jabareen's multidimensional and multi-method approach. The methodology involved 8 steps consisting in literature review, thematic and content analyses, concepts deconstruction and aggregation, graphical design of the framework, external validation and revision.

Results: The framework integrates 53 evidences from the literature, 3 macro areas of interest and 42 change management models applied to the healthcare context, through 244 implementation actions. Aggregation of concepts led to 15 macro topics applicable to all levels of change and composing the proposed framework. Interviews validated the framework, emphasizing the importance of people-focused approaches and addressing resistance to change. Moreover, steps most and less cited in the literature are highlighted and differences between developed countries and economies in transition or developing countries are explored.

Conclusions: The article proposes a 15-step framework for change in healthcare services redesign. It integrates evidence from literature and change management models, emphasizing stakeholder involvement. A case study in South Africa highlights the importance of awareness, planning, communication, training, and continuous review. Further validation and adaptation are recommended.

Background: Early diagnosis of breast cancer is essential for effective treatment and improved survival rates. A longer gap between the appearance of symptoms and the initiation of therapy results in advanced disease and lower survival.Objectives: to assess factors associated with diagnosis delay among Sudanese women with breast cancer.

Methods: A prospective, descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at Radiation and Isotope Centre of Khartoum (RICK) in Khartoum, Sudan. Relationship between the independent variables and the main outcome of the study was determined by multivariate regression analysis.

Results: A total number of 149 women participated in the study. A total of 58.4% of patients delayed seeking medical advice for more than three months after noticing symptoms. The delay was associated with patient's area of residence and age. Women coming from outside Khartoum had a higher odd of having delayed diagnosis of breast cancer (AOR = 3.283, 95% CI: 1.113 9.687, p = .031). Likewise, older age was another predictor of delayed diagnosis of breast cancer among the study participants (AOR = 101.664, 95% CI: 4.839-2135.883, p = .003).

Conclusions: The present study showed that more than half of the women who participated had experienced delays in seeking medical attention for their breast cancer symptoms. This finding highlighted the impact of limited access to healthcare services as a contributing factor to such delays. These findings show the need for collaborative approaches to address the challenges surrounding breast cancer in Sudan.

Rabies is a zoonotic viral disease transmitted mainly by bites of infected animals, especially dogs, which are responsible for 99% of human cases. Despite being preventable, it remains a neglected disease in low-income countries, with approximately 60,000 deaths per year, mostly concentrated in Africa and Asia. The real worldwide burden of rabies is probably underestimated, as death-reporting systems are inadequate and active surveillance is limited. Rabies prevention implies two main, non-exclusive strategies: (i) dog vaccination, in order to interrupt virus transmission to humans, and (ii) human vaccination i.e. pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Esposure Prophylaxis (PEP) through the use of purified cell-culture and embryonated egg-based vaccines (CCEEVs). Rabipur^® is one of the available anti-rabies vaccines and is indicated for active immunization in individuals of all ages. Its efficacy and safety have been amply demonstrated. In rabies-free countries, PrEP is indicated for individuals who face occupational and/or travel-related exposure to the rabies virus in specific settings or over an extended period. Wider use of human rabies vaccination for PrEP and PEP in conjunction with programs to eradicate rabies from animal populations is the challenging goal in order to reduce the burden of disease and achieve zero rabies.

Introduction: Lassa fever (LF), a public health problem of great importance endemic in West Africa, is an acute and sometimes fatal viral haemorrhagic disease which leads to mortality. The current study assessed the knowledge, attitude and practice of Lassa fever prevention among adults in Bali Local Government Area, Taraba State, Nigeria.

Methods: Descriptive study design and Cross sectional study design was used for this study. A simple and systematic random sampling technique was used to draw samples of 399 participants for the study. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection after being validated and its reliability tested. The data collected was analysed using frequencies, percentage the hypotheses were tested using Data analysis was done using SPSS version 21, frequency, mean standard deviation, and chi square were performed to ascertain the value of the variables the hypotheses were tested using chi-square statistics at ≤ 0.05 level of significance.

Results: Findings from the study revealed that 75% of the respondents had knowledge of the Lassa fever and the preventive practices. It was also shown that about 66.7% were aware of the varied preventive measures at their disposal. The study further shows that 56% had positive attitudes that could affect their practice of preventive measures of Lassa fever. The acceptability level according to this study was very high (89%) among the adults of Bali L.G.A in Taraba state.

Conclusions: The study therefore, recommends that there should be a call for educational intervention to improve the knowledge of Lassa fever among community members in Bali LGA this will help towards its preventive practices. This is based on the expectation that good knowledge of Lassa fever can reduce the rate and spread of the Infection.

Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality and they're primarily caused by viruses such as rhinovirus, coronavirus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and to a lesser extent by bacteria like Streptococcus pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The study examines the impact of COVID-19 control measures on the circulation of respiratory pathogens, indicating a reduction in infections during the pandemic period. A retrospective study was conducted on 1,286 patients at the "G. Martino" University Hospital of Messina to evaluate the prevalence of respiratory pathogens. The results showed that SARS-CoV-2, rhinovirus, and RSV are the most frequently isolated pathogens, with a clear seasonality from December to March. Co-infections were detected in 14.1% of cases, predominantly in young children. The study suggests the need for enhanced surveillance strategies to improve the management of respiratory infections and healthcare resources.