scholarly journals XarxaSalut, network of municipalities for health, Valencia Region (Spain): policy process evaluation

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Peiró Pérez ◽  
E Pérez Sanz ◽  
E Legaz Sanchez ◽  
J Quiles Izquierdo ◽  
Grupo XarxaSalut
Keyword(s):  
Process Evaluation ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Policy Process ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Common Language ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Open Questions ◽  
Economic Support ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
The Impact

Abstract “XarxaSalut” started in 2017, with the municipalities that have taken the commitment to boost the Promotion of Health (HP) at the local level through community participation, intersectorality and equity perspective. The objective is to present a policy process evaluation (2'5 years) of the implementation of XarxaSalut. Different approaches have been used; a questionnaire addressed to the municipalities at the time of adhesion including data on intersectorality, participation, HP actions and open questions; description of instruments that Regional Public Health Authorities (RPHA) has mobilized and an analysis of barriers and strengths made by the coordination office. In 2017, 17 municipalities were joined, being 197 in February 2020 (70% of the population). 65% are in a process of an organizational change through the intersectoral, decision making and participative working group. 35% are doing analysis of determinants and /or health situation, assets maps and a prioritization of HP actions. The main barriers identified by municipalities are lack of economic and personal resources, and difficulties in achieve citizen participation. The main benefits were the optimization of resources, the exchange of experiences, training, or economic support from the RPHA. Some support instruments develop for RPHA are a collection of guides for community development, funds that the municipalities can apply to support actions related with training, HP action on vulnerable population, on asset maps, participation processes, vulnerable neighborhoods, etc.; Community actions have been included in the “Health Observatory” to give visibility and social support to XarxaSalut. Interdisciplinary training processes with health and municipal professionals have been made in order to develop a common language and strength the competences for HP. Lesson learned: The need to improve coordination and a common language between different types of participants and professionals Key messages The decision makers and professionals in the municipalities understand the impact in health of the policies developed at local level but needs guide and support to deal with it. The coordination between different administrations and primary health at local level and the misunderstandings about health and their determinants are the main aspect to reinforce.

scholarly journals The Impact of Covid-19 Public Health Policies on Persons with Disability and their Caregivers in Malta

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 25-37
Author(s):  
Andrew Camilleri ◽  
Samantha Pace Gasan ◽  
Andrew Azzopardi
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
World Health Organisation ◽  
World Health ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Essential Services ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Restrictive Measures ◽  
The Impact

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a global health pandemic, due to the spread of a novel coronavirus, later named “Covid-19”. The spread of Covid-19 led to social isolation, distancing and a number of restrictive measures in Malta.  The aim of this paper is to analyse the impact of Covid-19 and the subsequent restrictive measures on persons with disability and their caregivers and families in Malta. Using thematic analysis, the study found that a variety of impacts ranging from a sense of isolation, lack of essential services being provided, additional difficulties encountered at the place of work and education and measures that were not sufficiently tailored for persons with disability issued by public health authorities. Underlying the additional difficulties brought about by Covid-19, structural difficulties to access essential services as well as ignorance from policy makers and politicians and the added “vulnerable-ization” of persons with disabilities were found to be highly impacting factors that pervade the experience of persons with disabilities and their caregivers.

scholarly journals Geospatial Analysis and Mapping Strategies for Fine Grained and Detailed COVID-19 Data With Geographic Information Systems

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
ÁNGEL MIRAMONTES CARBALLADA ◽  
JOSE BALSA-BARREIRO
Keyword(s):  
Geographic Location ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Temporal Behaviour ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Media Reports ◽  
Predictive Risk ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The CoVID-19 pandemic is showing a dramatic impact across the world. To the tragedy of the loss of human lives, we must add the great uncertainty that the new coronavirus is causing to our lives. Governments and public health authorities must be able to respond this emergency by taking the appropriate decisions for minimizing the impact of the virus. In the absence of an immediate solution, governments have concentrated their efforts on adopting non-pharmaceutical interventions for restricting the mobility of people and reducing the social contact. Health authorities are publishing most of data for supporting their interventions and policies. The geographic location of the cases is a vital information with exceptional value for analysing the spatio-temporal behaviour of the virus, doing feasible to anticipate potential outbreaks and to elaborate predictive risk mapping. In fact, a great number of media reports, research papers, and web-browsers have presented the COVID-19 disease spreading by using maps. However, processing and visualization of this sort of data presents some aspects that must be carefully reviewed. Based on our experience with fine-grained and detailed data related to COVID-19 in a Spanish region, we present a bunch of mapping strategies and good practices using geospatial tools. The ultimate goal is create appropriate maps at any spatial scale while avoiding conflicts with data such as those related to patients’ privacy.

scholarly journals Impact of data accuracy on the evaluation of COVID-19 mitigation policies

Data & Policy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Starnini ◽  
Alberto Aleta ◽  
Michele Tizzoni ◽  
Yamir Moreno
Keyword(s):  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Surveillance Data ◽  
Inaccurate Data ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
The Social ◽  
Containment Measures ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Nonpharmaceutical Interventions ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Extreme Care

Abstract Evaluating the effectiveness of nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic is crucial to maximize the epidemic containment while minimizing the social and economic impact of these measures. However, this endeavor crucially relies on surveillance data publicly released by health authorities that can hide several limitations. In this article, we quantify the impact of inaccurate data on the estimation of the time-varying reproduction number $ R(t) $ , a pivotal quantity to gauge the variation of the transmissibility originated by the implementation of different NPIs. We focus on Italy and Spain, two European countries among the most severely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. For these two countries, we highlight several biases of case-based surveillance data and temporal and spatial limitations in the data regarding the implementation of NPIs. We also demonstrate that a nonbiased estimation of $ R(t) $ could have had direct consequences on the decisions taken by the Spanish and Italian governments during the first wave of the pandemic. Our study shows that extreme care should be taken when evaluating intervention policies through publicly available epidemiological data and call for an improvement in the process of COVID-19 data collection, management, storage, and release. Better data policies will allow a more precise evaluation of the effects of containment measures, empowering public health authorities to take more informed decisions.

scholarly journals The importance of sustained compliance with physical distancing during COVID-19 vaccination rollout

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Teslya ◽  
Ganna Rozhnova ◽  
Thi Mui Pham ◽  
Daphne van Wees ◽  
Hendrik Nunner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vaccination Coverage ◽  
Vaccine Coverage ◽  
Transmission Model ◽  
Cumulative Number ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Contact Rates ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Vaccination Campaigns ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Mass vaccination campaigns against SARS-CoV-2 are under way in many countries with the hope that increasing vaccination coverage will enable reducing current physical distancing measures. Compliance with these measures is waning, while more transmissible virus variants such as B.1.1.7 have emerged. Using SARS-CoV-2 transmission model we investigated the impact of the feedback between compliance, the incidence of infection, and vaccination coverage on the success of a vaccination programme in the population where waning of compliance depends on vaccine coverage. Our results suggest that the combination of fast waning compliance, slow vaccination rates, and more transmissible variants may result in a higher cumulative number of infections than in a situation without vaccination. These adverse effects can be alleviated if vaccinated individuals do not revert to pre-pandemic contact rates, and if non-vaccinated individuals remain compliant with physical distancing measures. Both require convincing, clear and appropriately targeted communication strategies by public health authorities.

scholarly journals Examining trends in gun violence injuries before and during the COVID-19 pandemic across six trauma centers

2022 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. e000801
Author(s):  
Constance McGraw ◽  
Stephanie Jarvis ◽  
Matthew Carrick ◽  
Mark Lieser ◽  
Robert M Madayag ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Trauma Centers ◽  
National Guidelines ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Level I ◽  
The Impact ◽  
At Home

ObjectivesThe onset of the national stay-at-home orders accompanied by a surge in firearm sales has elevated the concerns of clinicians and public health authorities. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the stay-at-home orders among gunshot wound (GSW) trauma admissions.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study at six level I trauma centers across four states. Patients admitted after the onset of COVID-19 restrictions (March 16, 2020–June 30, 2020) were compared with those admitted during the same period in 2019. We compared (1) rate of patients with GSW and (2) characteristics of patients with GSW, by period using Χ2 tests or Fisher’s exact tests, as appropriate.ResultsThere were 6996 trauma admissions across the study period; 3707 (53%) in 2019 and 3289 (47%) in 2020. From 2019 to 2020, there was a significant increase in GSW admissions (4% vs. 6%, p=0.001); 4 weeks specifically had significant increases (March 16–March 23: 4%, April 1–April 8: 5%, April 9–April 16: 6%, and May 11–May 18: 5%). Of the 334 GSWs, there were significant increases in patients with mental illness (5% vs. 11%, p=0.03), alcohol use disorder (2% vs. 10%, p=0.003), substance use disorder (11% vs. 25%, p=0.001), and a significant decrease in mortality (14% vs. 7%, p=0.03) in 2020. No other significant differences between time periods were identified.ConclusionOur data suggest that trauma centers admitted significantly more patients with GSW following the national guidelines, including an increase in those with mental illness and substance use-related disorders. This could be attributable to the stay-at-home orders.Level of evidenceLevel III, retrospective study.

scholarly journals Syntax and Semantics of Learning Object Meta-data

10.28945/2905 ◽  
2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennie L. Mitchell ◽  
Nicholas Farha
Keyword(s):  
Local Level ◽  
Learning Objects ◽  
Learning Object ◽  
Common Language ◽  
Federated Search ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Best Fit ◽  
Repository Software ◽  
Search Capability

Initially, many repositories developed their own tools to facilitate the indexing of learning objects, adopting the standard that best fit their users at the time. Although metadata should be the common language of learning objects, without a common standard compliance system, one repository may not interact well with another. With the increased emphasis on sharing learning objects, metadata schemas are being asked to do more than just index a learning object at a local level. This chapter reviews some of the leading object repository software, the push for RSS services, federated search capability, a clear interpretation of the fields, and the need to count usage as well as the impact on learning.

scholarly journals Covid-19-induced fear in infoveillance studies: a meta-analysis (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Styliani Geronikolou ◽  
George Chrousos
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
World Health ◽  
Forest Plot ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Prophylactic Measures ◽  
The Social ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Impact

UNSTRUCTURED The World Health Organization named the phenomenon of misinformation spread through the social media “infodemics”, and recognized the need to curb it. Misinformation infodemics undermine not only population safety, but also compliance to the suggestions/prophylactic measures recommended in pandemics. The aim of this study was to review the impact of social media on general population fear in “infoveillance” studies during the COVID-19 pandemic. PRISMA protocol was followed and six out of twenty studies were retrieved, meta-analyzed, and had their findings presented in the form of a Forest plot. The summary random and significant event rate was 0.298, 95% CI respectively 0.213 and 0.400, suggesting that social media-circulated misinformation related to COVID-19 triggered public fear and other manifestations. These findings merit special attention by public health authorities. Thus, “infodemiology” and Infoveillance are valid tools in the hands of epidemiologists to help prevent dissemination of false information, with potentially damaging effects.

scholarly journals Current capacities and challenges for equity-oriented municipal health promotion in Europe

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
C Plantz ◽  
E Quilling
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Health Equity ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Promising Practices ◽  
Existing Structures ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Self Assessments ◽  
Regional Public Health ◽  
Municipal Health

Abstract As a basis for implementing actions in the frame of Work package 6 - healthy living environments in the Joint Action Health Equity Europe, each of the 13 participating countries conducted a country assessment. Methods The country assessments were self-assessments conducted in the first quarter of 2019. Partners received templates that had been agreed upon beforehand. Most of them conducted the country assessments by themselves or with the help of colleagues from their institutions as a desk-based review, and validated results with external experts and stakeholders. The first part of the country assessment referred to how municipal health promotion capacities are currently developed in the countries. Through the second part of the country assessment, each of the 13 countries selected up to 4 promising practices. Results In most of the 13 countries, municipalities have a clear mandate to promote health. However, there is a big heterogeneity in resources, structures and capacities of municipal health promotion within and between countries. One key challenge is the self-government of municipalities and health promotion as a voluntary task. One of the main problems is a deficit in intersectoral working. It appears that poor municipalities are even more disadvantaged in terms of capacities for municipal health promotion. 33 promising practices were identified, covering programmes, strategies, tools and interventions mostly from the local level, with a big variety of topics and approaches for health equity. Conclusions There is a big fragmentation and heterogeneity in municipal health promotion between and within European countries. National and regional public health authorities are in the position to contribute a lot to support municipalities. This can include promoting quality development, providing data, integrating health equity in existing structures, plans and approaches or collaborating with the broad range of existing stakeholders and networks.

Key Communicable Diseases of Public Health Significance and UK Legislation

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Basarab
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Clinical Syndrome ◽  
Clinical Suspicion ◽  
Health Protection ◽  
Medical Practitioners ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Control And Prevention

Timely reporting to public health authorities of certain infections which are transmissible between individuals and/or are likely to have been acquired from a contaminated source is essential to prompt immediate action to reduce further spread. In England, Health Protection Teams (HPTs) effect health protection actions at local level. They act as the ‘proper officer’ carrying out the function of receiving notifications in relation to the statutory regulations for both attending registered medical practitioners and diagnostic laboratories (see Section 14.6 and Section 14.7). Notification to public health authorities is a legal requirement. It is critical to the control and prevention of outbreaks of communicable diseases and is an integral part of wider local and national infection surveillance. Clinical recognition is the first step and public health authorities should be notified on clinical suspicion before obtaining laboratory test results to look for causative pathogens. As soon as a notification has been made, public health risk assessment and appropriate measures can be initiated. These may include preventing others being exposed to cases or a possible source of contamination, offering chemoprophylaxis, vaccination, education, and closing down of premises. The intervention will depend on the clinical syndrome, the confirmed or presumed infectious agent involved, and any further supporting or refuting diagnostic laboratory results. Time is of the essence; there should be no delay in notifications. Health protection legislation is set out in the Health Protection (Notification) Regulations 2010. It requires both registered medical practitioners (RMPs) and laboratories to notify cases of infection or contamination that could present a significant risk to human health, on the basis of clinical suspicion or laboratory confirmation. The medical doctor (and no other healthcare professional) attending the patient with possible or probable or confirmed infection is responsible for notification to the public health authorities.

scholarly journals Germs on a Plane: The Transmission and Risks of Airplane-Borne Diseases

2018 ◽  
Vol 2672 (29) ◽  
pp. 93-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nereyda L. Sevilla
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Air Travel ◽  
Economic Consequences ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Pneumonic Plague ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
The Impact

This research explored the role of air travel in the spread of infectious diseases, specifically severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), H1N1, Ebola, and pneumonic plague. Air travel provides the means for such diseases to spread internationally at extraordinary rates because infected passengers jump from coast to coast and continent to continent within hours. Outbreaks of diseases that spread from person to person test the effectiveness of current public health responses. This research used a mixed methods approach, including use of the Spatiotemporal Epidemiological Modeler, to model the spread of diseases, evaluate the impact of air travel on disease spread, and analyze the effectiveness of different public health strategies and travel policies. Modeling showed that the spread of Ebola and pneumonic plague is minimal and should not be a major air travel concern if an individual becomes infected. H1N1 and SARS have higher infection rates and air travel will facilitate the spread of disease nationally and internationally. To contain the spread of infectious diseases, aviation and public health authorities should establish tailored preventive measures at airports, capture contact information for ticketed passengers, expand the definition of “close contact,” and conduct widespread educational programs. The measures will put in place a foundation for containing the spread of infectious diseases via air travel and minimize the panic and economic consequences that may occur during an outbreak.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document