Vision for a Global Registry of Anticipated Public Health Studies (GRAPHS)

Background: Use of snus and snus-like nicotine products is increasing, in particular among young people, in several Nordic countries and Estonia, while snus is legally on the market only in Sweden and Norway. Snus is available in a great variety of tastes and packaging particularly catering for young users. Recently, strong snus-resembling nicotine pouches have emerged on the market. This research investigates the regulatory means to counteract this development. Methods: European Union (EU) and national tobacco control legislation, case law of the European Court of Justice (CJEU) and relevant public health studies are analysed. Results: The research finds that the judgement of the CJEU relating to the sale of snus on Finnish ferries has not been enforced. Permitted large traveller imports for personal use have contributed to wide availability of snus in Finland. Even if the legislation in Sweden is in conformity with the exemption it obtained in the Accession Treaty, the public health impact of snus use for young people in its neighbouring countries has become considerable. Nicotine pouches, -which are not regarded as medical products in terms of medicine legislation, lack harmonised EU-wide regulation. Controlling smuggling across open borders is challenging. Conclusions: The legislation at the EU and national levels should be able to protect young people from new tobacco and nicotine products. It is urgent to harmonise regulation relating to new tobacco and nicotine products taking as a base a high level of protection of health as required in the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.

Download Full-text

Quantifying the Relative Importance of Predictors in Multiple Linear Regression Analyses for Public Health Studies

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene ◽

10.1080/15459620802225481 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 5 (8) ◽

pp. 519-529 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Yi-Chun E. Chao ◽

Yue Zhao ◽

Lawrence L. Kupper ◽

Leena A. Nylander-French

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Linear Regression ◽

Multiple Linear Regression ◽

Relative Importance ◽

Regression Analyses ◽

Health Studies

Download Full-text

Googling for Ticks and Borreliosis in Germany: Nationwide Google Search Analysis From 2015 to 2018 (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.18581 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Cora Scheerer ◽

Melvin Rüth ◽

Linda Tizek ◽

Martin Köberle ◽

Tilo Biedermann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Infectious Diseases ◽

Tick Bite ◽

German Population ◽

Internet Search ◽

Tick Bites ◽

Federal States ◽

Search Terms ◽

Health Studies ◽

Very High

BACKGROUND Borreliosis is the most frequently transmitted tick-borne disease in Europe. It is difficult to estimate the incidence of tick bites and associated diseases in the German population due to the lack of an obligation to register across all 16 federal states of Germany. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to show that Google data can be used to generate general trends of infectious diseases on the basis of borreliosis and tick bites. In addition, the possibility of using Google AdWord data to estimate incidences of infectious diseases, where there is inconsistency in the obligation to notify authorities, is investigated with the perspective to facilitate public health studies. METHODS Google AdWords Keyword Planner was used to identify search terms related to ticks and borreliosis in Germany from January 2015 to December 2018. The search volume data from the identified search terms was assessed using Excel version 15.23. In addition, SPSS version 24.0 was used to calculate the correlation between search volumes, registered cases, and temperature. RESULTS A total of 1999 tick-related and 542 borreliosis-related search terms were identified, with a total of 209,679,640 Google searches in all 16 German federal states in the period under review. The analysis showed a high correlation between temperature and borreliosis (r=0.88), and temperature and tick bite (r=0.83), and a very high correlation between borreliosis and tick bite (r=0.94). Furthermore, a high to very high correlation between Google searches and registered cases in each federal state was observed (Brandenburg r=0.80, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania r= 0.77, Saxony r= 0.74, and Saxony-Anhalt r=0.90; all P<.001). CONCLUSIONS Our study provides insight into annual trends concerning interest in ticks and borreliosis that are relevant to the German population exemplary in the data of a large internet search engine. Public health studies collecting incidence data may benefit from the results indicating a significant correlation between internet search data and incidences of infectious diseases.

Download Full-text

Der digital turn in Public Health. ePublic Health und Digital Public Health Studies

Public Health - Sozialwissenschaftliche Gesundheitsforschung ◽

10.1007/978-3-658-30377-8_10 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 163-177

Author(s):

Monika Urban

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Studies

Download Full-text

Health and mass unemployment events—developing a framework for preparedness and response

Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/pubmed/fdy174 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 41 (4) ◽

pp. 665-673

Author(s):

A R Davies ◽

L Homolova ◽

C N B Grey ◽

M A Bellis

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Population Health ◽

Early Warning System ◽

Qualitative Data ◽

Warning System ◽

Adverse Impact ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Health Studies ◽

The Impact ◽

Detrimental Impact

Abstract Background Mass unemployment events are not uncommon yet the impact on health is not well recognised. There is a need for a preparedness and response framework, as exists for other events that threaten population health. Methods Framework informed by a narrative review of the impact of mass unemployment on health (studies published in English from 1990 to 2016), and qualitative data from 23 semi-structured interviews with individuals connected to historical national and international events, addressing gaps in published literature on lessons learnt from past responses. Results Economic and employment shock triggered by mass unemployment events have a detrimental impact on workers, families and communities. We present a public health informed response framework which includes (i) identify areas at risk, (ii) develop an early warning system, (iii) mobilise multi-sector action including health and community, (iv) provision of support across employment, finance and health (v) proportionate to need, (vi) extend support to family members and (vii) communities and (viii) evaluate and learn. Conclusion Mass unemployment events have an adverse impact on the health, financial and social circumstances of workers, families, and communities. This is the first framework for action to mitigate and address the detrimental impact of mass unemployment events on population health.

Download Full-text