A Digital Platform to Crowdsource, Define, and Support Community Needs Throughout COVID-19 (Preprint)

BACKGROUND The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has placed strains on communities. In the midst of this public health crisis, health systems have created remote methods of monitoring symptom progression and delivering care virtually. OBJECTIVE Using a text message-based system, we sought to build and test a remote model to explore community needs, connect individuals to curated resources, and facilitate community health worker intervention when needed during COVID-19. The primary aims of this pilot study were to establish the feasibility (ie, engagement with the text line) and acceptability (ie, participant ratings of resources and service) of delivering automated wellbeing resources via smartphone technology. METHODS Eligible patients (18 years or older, cell phone with SMS capability, and recent ED visit) were identified using the EHR. Patients were consented to enroll and begin receiving COVID-19 related information and links to community resources. We collected open- and close-ended resource and mood ratings. We calculated the frequencies and conducted thematic review of open-ended responses. RESULTS In seven weeks, 356 participants were enrolled; 13,917 messages were exchanged including 333 resource ratings (mean 4) and 673 well-being scores (mean 6.8). We received and coded 386 open-ended responses, most elaborated upon their self-reported mood score (29%). Overall, 77% of our participants rated the platform as a service they would highly recommend to a family member or friend. CONCLUSIONS This approach is designed to broaden the reach of health systems, tailor to community needs in real-time, and connect at-risk individuals with robust community health support.

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Eating NAFTA

10.1525/california/9780520291805.001.0001 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Alyshia Gálvez

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Chronic Disease ◽

Low Income ◽

Food System ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Trade Agreement ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Crisis ◽

The North ◽

The World

In the two decades since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) went into effect, Mexico has seen an epidemic of diet-related illness. While globalization has been associated with an increase in chronic disease around the world, in Mexico, the speed and scope of the rise has been called a public health emergency. The shift in Mexican foodways is happening at a moment when the country’s ancestral cuisine is now more popular and appreciated around the world than ever. What does it mean for their health and well-being when many Mexicans eat fewer tortillas and more instant noodles, while global elites demand tacos made with handmade corn tortillas? This book examines the transformation of the Mexican food system since NAFTA and how it has made it harder for people to eat as they once did. The book contextualizes NAFTA within Mexico’s approach to economic development since the Revolution, noticing the role envisioned for rural and low-income people in the path to modernization. Examination of anti-poverty and public health policies in Mexico reveal how it has become easier for people to consume processed foods and beverages, even when to do so can be harmful to health. The book critiques Mexico’s strategy for addressing the public health crisis generated by rising rates of chronic disease for blaming the dietary habits of those whose lives have been upended by the economic and political shifts of NAFTA.

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COVID-19: Africa needs unprecedented attention to strengthen community health systems

The Lancet ◽

10.1016/s0140-6736(20)31532-4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 396 (10245) ◽

pp. 150-152

Author(s):

Lyudmila Nepomnyashchiy ◽

Bernice Dahn ◽

Rachel Saykpah ◽

Mallika Raghavan

Keyword(s):

Community Health ◽

Health Systems ◽

Community Health Systems

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Leveraging Twitter Using Artificial Intelligence to Explore Mental Health Insights in the UK During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.32449 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Christopher Marshall ◽

Kate Lanyi ◽

Rhiannon Green ◽

Georgie Wilkins ◽

Fiona Pearson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Artificial Intelligence ◽

Language Processing ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Well Being ◽

Research Activity ◽

Health Crisis ◽

Key Topics ◽

The Uk ◽

The Impact

BACKGROUND There is increasing need to explore the value of soft-intelligence, leveraged using the latest artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP) techniques, as a source of analysed evidence to support public health research activity and decision-making. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to further explore the value of soft-intelligence analysed using AI through a case study, which examined a large collection of UK tweets relating to mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS A search strategy comprising a list of terms related to mental health, COVID-19, and lockdown restrictions was developed to prospectively collate relevant tweets via Twitter’s advanced search application programming interface over a 24-week period. We deployed a specialist NLP platform to explore tweet frequency and sentiment across the UK and identify key topics of discussion. A series of keyword filters were used to clean the initial data retrieved and also set up to track specific mental health problems. Qualitative document analysis was carried out to further explore and expand upon the results generated by the NLP platform. All collated tweets were anonymised RESULTS We identified and analysed 286,902 tweets posted from UK user accounts from 23 July 2020 to 6 January 2021. The average sentiment score was 50%, suggesting overall neutral sentiment across all tweets over the study period. Major fluctuations in volume and sentiment appeared to coincide with key changes to any local and/or national social-distancing measures. Tweets around mental health were polarising, discussed with both positive and negative sentiment. Key topics of consistent discussion over the study period included the impact of the pandemic on people’s mental health (both positively and negatively), fear and anxiety over lockdowns, and anger and mistrust toward the government. CONCLUSIONS Through the primary use of an AI-based NLP platform, we were able to rapidly mine and analyse emerging health-related insights from UK tweets into how the pandemic may be impacting people’s mental health and well-being. This type of real-time analysed evidence could act as a useful intelligence source that agencies, local leaders, and health care decision makers can potentially draw from, particularly during a health crisis.

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Translating Social Ecological Theory into Guidelines for Community Health Promotion

American Journal of Health Promotion ◽

10.4278/0890-1171-10.4.282 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 282-298 ◽

Cited By ~ 1276

Author(s):

Daniel Stokols

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Community Health ◽

Lifestyle Modification ◽

Ecological Theory ◽

Well Being ◽

Future Health ◽

Community Health Promotion ◽

Social Ecological ◽

Health Promotion Programs ◽

Social Ecological Theory

Health promotion programs often lack a clearly specified theoretical foundation or are based on narrowly conceived conceptual models. For example, lifestyle modification programs typically emphasize individually focused behavior change strategies, while neglecting the environmental underpinnings of health and illness. This article compares three distinct, yet complementary, theoretical perspectives on health promotion: behavioral change, environmental enhancement, and social ecological models. Key strengths and limitations of each perspective are examined, and core principles of social ecological theory are used to derive practical guidelines for designing and evaluating community health promotion programs. Directions for future health promotion research are discussed, including studies examining the role of intermediaries (e.g., corporate decision-makers, legislators) in promoting the well-being of others, and those evaluating the duration and scope of intervention outcomes.

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Educação em Saúde de Agentes Comunitários de Saúde para Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos

Revista de Ensino Educação e Ciências Humanas ◽

10.17921/2447-8733.2019v20n3p254-259 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (3) ◽

pp. 254

Author(s):

Artur Eduardo Alves Castro ◽

Ivair Donizeti Gonçalves ◽

Alejandra Hortencia Miranda González ◽

Paulo Henrique D'Alpino

Keyword(s):

Community Health ◽

Disease Process ◽

Family Health ◽

Home Visits ◽

Well Being ◽

Chronic Patients ◽

Self Medication ◽

Health Strategy ◽

Medicines Use ◽

Family Health Strategy

Apesar de o uso de medicamentos ser considerado o principal instrumento terapêutico utilizado no processo saúde-doença, inúmeras são as dúvidas e os riscos quanto à administração de medicamentos, especialmente, quanto à posologia. O presente estudo objetivou revisar a literatura disponibilizada pelo Ministério da Saúde sobre o uso de medicamentos, bem como a atuação dos Agentes Comunitários de Saúde (ACSs) na educação em saúde sobre este tema, e propor uma orientação junto à população em geral por meio de tópicos mais relevantes, que estimulem e despertem a curiosidade e a tomada de decisão pela adesão ao uso racional de medicamentos. Após uma introdução e definições sobre a política nacional de saúde, este artigo considera a importância de identificar tópicos importantes quanto aos riscos da automedicação, incorreta utilização, bem como a interrupção de tratamentos, especialmente, de doenças crônicas. Propôs-se, ainda, o uso de um folheto a ser distribuído no momento da dispensação e nas visitas domiciliares para orientação e controle do uso dos medicamentos em termos de suas posologias. Dessa forma, os ACSs são importantes membros da equipe da Estratégia Saúde da Família para fornecer informações sobre o uso seguro e eficaz de medicamentos pelo vínculo estabelecido com a comunidade, especialmente por meio das visitas domiciliares. Conclui-se que o foco dos ACSs, entre tantas atribuições, enquanto educadores em saúde são fundamentais para o estabelecimento de rotinas seguras e eficazes em relação ao uso de medicamentos utilizados pela comunidade, que certamente refletirá na cura de doenças pontuais e/ou bem-estar de pacientes crônicos. Palavras-chave: Agentes Comunitários de Saúde. Estratégia Saúde da Família. Assistência Farmacêutica. AbstractAlthough drug use is considered the main therapeutic tool used in the health-disease process, there are many doubts and risks regarding the administration of medications, especially regarding dosage. This study aimed to review the literature provided by the Ministry of Health about the use of medicines, as well as the action of Community Health Agents (ACSs) in health education on this topic, and to propose guidance to the general population through more relevant topics to stimulate curiosity, and the decision making by adhering to the rational medicines use. Following an introduction and definitions on national health policy, this article considers the importance of identifying important topics regarding the risks of self-medication, incorrect use, and discontinuation of treatments, especially regarding chronic diseases. It was also proposed the use of a flyer to be distributed at the time of dispensing and at home visits for orientation and control of the medicines use in terms of their dosages. Thus, ACSs are important members of the Family Health Strategy team to provide information about the safe and effective use of drugs through the established link with the community, especially through home visits. It can be concluded that the focus of ACSs, among many attributions, as health educators are fundamental for the establishment of safe and effective routines regarding the use of medicines used by the community which will certainly reflect in the cure of specific diseases and/or the well-being of chronic patients. Keywords: Community Health Agents, Family Health Strategy. Pharmaceutical Assistance, Medicine.

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Health literacy needs among unemployed adults: Triangulating interview and scoping review data

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckab164.368 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 31 (Supplement_3) ◽

Author(s):

F Samkange-Zeeb ◽

H Singh ◽

M Lakeberg ◽

J Kolschen ◽

B Schüz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Health Literacy ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Mental Health Literacy ◽

Intervention Development ◽

Well Being ◽

Related Information ◽

Health Related ◽

Nutrition And Physical Activity

Abstract Disadvantaged populations, including unemployed adults, often exhibit low levels of health literacy. Exploring subjectively perceived health literacy needs in these populations can serve as an entry point for participatory intervention development. We aimed to assess health literacy needs of unemployed adults by triangulating qualitative interviews data and a scoping review. Using a parallel approach, we combined results of an interview study with 10 participants of a job-reintegration program in Germany and a scoping review. The interviews, conducted in early 2021, focused on health topics of interest to the participants and their sources of health-related information. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. For the scoping review, we searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycInfo and SCOPUS up to January 2021 for studies containing “unemployed” AND “health literacy” in titles/abstracts. Study selection and data extraction were done independently by two researchers. Nutrition and physical activity emerged as core themes during the interviews, with some participants referring to the importance of both for mental health. Doctors and the institution running the job-reintegration program were the sources of health-related information often mentioned. The Corona pandemic was reported to have limited physical activity and affected psycho-social well-being. Five out of 2696 studies were included in the review. Four focused on mental health literacy, the fifth assessed information seeking practices in unemployed adults. The qualitative analysis revealed that health literacy needs of unemployed adults go beyond mental health literacy. As nutrition and physical activity impact mental health, interventions targeting such topics might also improve mental health literacy in unemployed adults. Study findings will be discussed with unemployed persons and social workers in co-production workshops that aim to identify and prioritize health literacy needs for intervention development. Key messages Health literacy programs for unemployed adults should target nutrition and physical activity. Workforce re-integration programs play a pivotal role in improving health literacy of unemployed adults.

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Iraq: children's and adolescents' mental health under conditions of continuous turmoil

International Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/s1749367600006135 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 4-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

AbdulKareem AlObaidi

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Health Systems ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Family Members ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Problems ◽

Civil Unrest ◽

Education And Health

Children and adolescents constitute half of Iraq's population of over 30 million. Mental health problems experienced by Iraqi children and adolescents are a hidden problem. Many factors contribute to the mental health problems of young Iraqis, including being victims and witnesses to violence, seeing family members become victims, being displaced from their homes, and experiencing the instability that still plagues their nation. Iraqis have experienced severe deprivation caused by many years of war, economic embargoes and civil unrest. Violence, poverty and the failure of the education and health systems have severely undermined the well-being of Iraqis, especially children (AlObaidi et al, 2009).

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Efficacy of a brief online mindfulness-based intervention on the psychological well-being of health care professionals and trainees during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed method design

Health SA Gesondheid ◽

10.4102/hsag.v26i0.1682 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 ◽

Author(s):

Iram Osman ◽

Shaista Hamid ◽

Veena S. Singaram

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Health Care ◽

Mixed Method ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Well Being ◽

Personal Accomplishment ◽

Intervention Analysis ◽

Health Crisis ◽

The Impact

Background: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, health professionals were pushed to the front line of a global health crisis unprepared and resource constrained, which affected their mental well-being.Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a brief online mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) on stress and burnout for health professionals training and working in South Africa during the COVID-19 crisis.Setting: The context of the study is the overburdened, under-resourced health care system in South Africa during a global pandemic.Methods: A mixed method framework was adopted for this study. The quantitative data was analysed using descriptive analysis and the participants’ qualitative experiences were interpreted using interpretative phenomenological analysis.Results: Forty-seven participants took part in this study. The study found a statistically significant (p 0.05) reduction in stress levels and emotional exhaustion as well as an increase in mindful awareness and feelings of personal accomplishment after the intervention. The participants’ shared experiences were analysed in two parts. The pre-intervention analysis presented with central themes of loss of control and a sense of powerlessness because of COVID-19. The post-intervention analysis comprised themes of a sense of acquired control and empowerment through increased mindfulness.Conclusions: The study found that a brief online MBI can be associated with reduced levels of stress and burnout as well as an increased sense of control and empowerment, felt both personally and professionally, during a global crisis.Contribution: The impact of an online MBI for health care professionals amidst a pandemic has not been previously documented.

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Considerations for an Individual-Level Population Notification System for Pandemic Response: A Review and Prototype (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.19930 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Mohammad Nazmus Sakib ◽

Zahid A Butt ◽

Plinio Pelegrini Morita ◽

Mark Oremus ◽

Geoffrey T Fong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Text Message ◽

Unintended Consequences ◽

Prototype Model ◽

Health Crisis ◽

Notification System ◽

Individual Level ◽

The Public ◽

Pandemic Response ◽

Level 1 ◽

Threat Levels

UNSTRUCTURED The outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, spread worldwide after its emergence in China. Whether rich or poor, all nations are struggling to cope with this new global health crisis. The speed of the threat’s emergence and the quick response required from public health authorities and the public itself makes evident the need for a major reform in pandemic surveillance and notification systems. The development and implementation of a graded, individual-level pandemic notification system could be an effective tool to combat future threats of epidemics. This paper describes a prototype model of such a notification system and its potential advantages and challenges for implementation. Similar to other emergency alerts, this system would include a number of threat levels (level 1-5) with a higher level indicating increasing severity and intensity of safety measures (eg, level 1: general hygiene, level 2: enhanced hygiene, level 3: physical distancing, level 4: shelter in place, and level 5: lockdown). The notifications would be transmitted to cellular devices via text message (for lower threat levels) or push notification (for higher threat levels). The notification system would allow the public to be informed about the threat level in real time and act accordingly in an organized manner. New Zealand and the United Kingdom have recently launched similar alert systems designed to coordinate the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic response more efficiently. Implementing such a system, however, faces multiple challenges. Extensive preparation and coordination among all levels of government and relevant sectors are required. Additionally, such systems may be effective primarily in countries where there exists at least moderate trust in government. Advance and ongoing public education about the nature of the system and its steps would be an essential part of the system, such that all members of the public understand the meaning of each step in advance, similar to what has been established in systems for other emergency responses. This educational component is of utmost importance to minimize adverse public reaction and unintended consequences. The use of mass media and local communities could be considered where mobile phone penetration is low. The implementation of such a notification system would be more challenging in developing countries for several reasons, including inadequate technology, limited use of data plans, high population density, poverty, mistrust in government, and tendency to ignore or failure to understand the warning messages. Despite the challenges, an individual-level pandemic notification system could provide added benefits by giving an additional route for notification that would be complementary to existing platforms.

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