scholarly journals Meeting Needs of Diverse Older Adults and Caregivers During Public Health Emergencies: What Can We Learn From COVID-19?

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 233-233
Author(s):  
Alycia Bayne ◽  
Rachel Singer ◽  
Candace Spradley ◽  
Lauren Isaacs ◽  
Eva Jeffers ◽  
...  

Abstract With support from the CDC Foundation and technical assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NORC at the University of Chicago conducted studies to examine the needs and concerns of older adults and unpaid caregivers during COVID-19, including their trusted sources of COVID-19 information and available public health interventions. Methods included a nationally representative survey of 1,030 adults aged 50+ years using computer-assisted telephone and web interviewing; online focus groups with older adults and caregivers in Spanish and English; a survey and interviews with stakeholder organizations; secondary analysis of U.S. caregiver surveys; analysis of public social media posts; and searches of peer-reviewed and grey literature in Spanish and English to identify interventions. Results suggest that needs and concerns differed among older adult subpopulations, including racial and ethnic minority populations, people with lower incomes, rural and tribal populations, people with limited English proficiency, and people with disabilities as well as caregivers. Older adults perceived news media, the internet, and healthcare providers as important resources for COVID-19 information, although trusted sources varied by race and ethnicity, urbanicity, and income. Findings suggested the need to increase awareness of existing public health interventions and resources to support older adults and caregivers during public health emergencies like COVID-19. Strategies for tailoring communication for diverse older adults and caregivers include partnering with national organizations, leveraging community-level infrastructure, and disseminating information through trusted sources. Studying the needs of older adults and caregivers during COVID-19 can inform future public health emergency response priorities.

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
K Klimiuk

Abstract Introduction Even though smoking can cause numerous threats to the developing foetus, it is nevertheless the most common addiction in Polish women of reproductive age. Pregnant women feel an intense conflict when someone smokes in their surroundings and little research has been done to assess the relations and support in an exclusive group of pregnant women. Most studies undertake to examine the subject using focus methodology of opposing second-hand smoking or creating tools to reprimand pregnant women more effectively. The aim of our study was to determine the profile of a pregnant woman who is willing to oppose smoking of another pregnant woman. Methods The survey was shared on Polish websites for expecting parents with a request for completion that was addressed at pregnant women, regardless of pregnancy trimester, Study was conducted from November 2016 to April 2017. Participants: Complete questionnaires were collected from 11,448 pregnant women. The cross-cutting research was conducted using an original questionnaire. A computer-assisted web interviewing (CAWI) was used to reach the respondents. The snowball sampling method was used to collect the questionnaires. The logistic regression model was used to determine the probability. Results Predictors of drawing other pregnant women attention to the fact that smoking is harmful were: mental work (OR1,1136) and study (OR1,363), involvement of the child's father (OR1,377), contact with social campaigns (OR1,150) and knowledge about the consequences of smoking, as well as talking to the midwife about the harmfulness of cigarettes during pregnancy (OR1,655). Conclusions Interpersonal relationships leave scope for public health interventions. It is worth enhancing criticism against smoking by specialists through information and education campaigns. Key messages The conducted research shows that actions aimed at raising awareness of the harmfulness of smoking in pregnancy have a positive effect. Interpersonal relationships leave scope for public health interventions.


Author(s):  
Mariusz Duplaga

Background: Public health and health promotion rely on many different interventions, which range from health education and communication, through community mobilisation and changes to environmental conditions, to legal and fiscal actions. The introduction of the increased tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), popularly called sugar tax (ST), and a mandatory programme of vaccinations are the strategies inciting the most vivid discussions in Polish society. The study was intended to assess the determinants of the attitudes of Polish society regarding the ST and to vaccinations. Methods: For the analysis, the data originating from the survey of a representative adult sample of Polish society (n = 1000) was used. The survey was based on computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI). The assessment of the relationships between the selected variables and the opinions about the introduction of the ST and the safety and effectiveness of vaccinations were carried out using the chi2 test and univariate logistic regression models. Results: The acceptance of the ST and vaccination showed a significant relationship to the level of health literacy (HL) but not to eHealth literacy (eHL). Respondents having a higher rather than lower HL; older rather than younger; married rather than singles; retired, or on a disability pension, rather than vocationally active and nonusers of the Internet rather than users were more likely to show an acceptance for both interventions. Those more frequently using health care services and those with chronic diseases showed a greater belief in the safety and effectiveness of vaccinations. Conclusions: The relationship between the opinions of the two public health interventions analysed and the sociodemographic variables demonstrated similar patterns. Interestingly, the opinions were associated only with HL and not with eHL and users of the Internet were more sceptical about the interventions.


Public Health ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 126 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Franks ◽  
N.R. Hardiker ◽  
M. McGrath ◽  
C. McQuarrie

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 2841
Author(s):  
Caroline Miller ◽  
Kerry Ettridge ◽  
Melanie Wakefield ◽  
Simone Pettigrew ◽  
John Coveney ◽  
...  

The need to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is widely accepted, but whether artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs) are a recommended alternative is a growing policy issue because of emerging evidence of potential health effects associated with excess consumption. This study aimed to establish the extent of the Australian population’s knowledge of the risks associated with consuming SSBs (e.g., soda) and ASBs (e.g., diet soda), which is essential for identifying which facets of knowledge to target with public health interventions. A national computer-assisted telephone survey of 3430 Australian adults was conducted in 2017. The survey included a range of measures to test associations between SSB and ASB knowledge and beliefs, demographic characteristics, and soda and diet soda consumption. Participants had an overall awareness that there were health risks associated with SSB and ASB consumption, but they lacked more detailed knowledge of health effects and nutritional composition of these drinks. These knowledge gaps are concerning given that SSBs and ASBs are consumed in large quantities in Australia. Public health interventions targeting consumers’ limited knowledge and perceptions of health risks associated with excess sugar, calorie intake and artificial sweeteners are essential in reducing the health burden of obesity.


2017 ◽  
Vol 76 (5) ◽  
pp. 595-608 ◽  
Author(s):  
Calum F Leask ◽  
Marlene Sandlund ◽  
Dawn A Skelton ◽  
Sebastien FM Chastin

Objective: The increasing health care costs associated with an ageing population and chronic disease burden are largely attributable to modifiable lifestyle factors that are complex and vary between individuals and settings. Traditional approaches to promoting healthy lifestyles have so far had limited success. Recently, co-creating public health interventions with end-users has been advocated to provide more effective and sustainable solutions. The aim of this study was to document and evaluate the co-creation of a public health intervention to reduce sedentary behaviour in older adults. Design: Community-dwelling older adults ( N = 11, mean age = 74 years) and academic researchers attended 10 interactive co-creation workshops together. Setting: Workshops took place on university campus and the co-creators completed fieldwork tasks outside the workshops. Method: Workshops were informed by the Participatory and Appreciative Action and Reflection methodology. Data were collected using field notes, video recording and worksheet tasks. Analysis was conducted using a qualitative content analysis approach. Results: The co-creators developed a tailored intervention delivered through a mode congruent with older adults’ lives. Key elements of the intervention included (1) education on sedentary behaviour, (2) resources to interrupt sedentary behaviour, (3) self-monitoring, (4) action planning and (5) evaluating the benefits of interrupting sedentary behaviour. Conclusion: Co-creation is a feasible approach to develop public health interventions; however, it is limited by the lack of a systematic framework to guide the process. Future work should aim to develop principles and recommendations to ensure co-creation can be conducted in a more scientific and reproducible way. The effectiveness and scalability of the intervention should be assessed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pooja Sengupta ◽  
Bhaswati Ganguli ◽  
Sugata SenRoy ◽  
Aditya Chatterjee

Abstract Background In this study we cluster the districts of India in terms of the spread of COVID-19 and related variables such as population density and the number of specialty hospitals. Simulation using a compartment model is used to provide insight into differences in response to public health interventions. Two case studies of interest from Nizamuddin and Dharavi provide contrasting pictures of the success in curbing spread. Methods A cluster analysis of the worst affected districts in India provides insight about the similarities between them. The effects of public health interventions in flattening the curve in their respective states is studied using the individual contact SEIQHRF model, a stochastic individual compartment model which simulates disease prevalence in the susceptible, infected, recovered and fatal compartments. Results The clustering of hotspot districts provide homogeneous groups that can be discriminated in terms of number of cases and related covariates. The cluster analysis reveal that the distribution of number of COVID-19 hospitals in the districts does not correlate with the distribution of confirmed COVID-19 cases. From the SEIQHRF model for Nizamuddin we observe in the second phase the number of infected individuals had seen a multitudinous increase in the states where Nizamuddin attendees returned, increasing the risk of the disease spread. However, the simulations reveal that implementing administrative interventions, flatten the curve. In Dharavi, through tracing, tracking, testing and treating, massive breakout of COVID-19 was brought under control. Conclusions The cluster analysis performed on the districts reveal homogeneous groups of districts that can be ranked based on the burden placed on the healthcare system in terms of number of confirmed cases, population density and number of hospitals dedicated to COVID-19 treatment. The study rounds up with two important case studies on Nizamuddin basti and Dharavi to illustrate the growth curve of COVID-19 in two very densely populated regions in India. In the case of Nizamuddin, the study showed that there was a manifold increase in the risk of infection. In contrast it is seen that there was a rapid decline in the number of cases in Dharavi within a span of about one month.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document