scholarly journals Effectiveness of Prevailing Flush Guidelines to Prevent Exposure to Lead in Tap Water

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. 1537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrienne Katner ◽  
Kelsey Pieper ◽  
Komal Brown ◽  
Hui-Yi Lin ◽  
Jeffrey Parks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
New Orleans ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Sample Type ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Prevention Measure ◽  
Public Health Messages ◽  
High Lead

Flushing tap water is promoted as a low cost approach to reducing water lead exposures. This study evaluated lead reduction when prevailing flush guidelines (30 s–2 min) are implemented in a city compliant with lead-associated water regulations (New Orleans, LA, USA). Water samples (n = 1497) collected from a convenience sample of 376 residential sites (2015–2017) were analyzed for lead. Samples were collected at (1) first draw (n = 375) and after incremental flushes of (2) 30–45 s (n = 375); (3) 2.5–3 min (n = 373), and (4) 5.5–6 min (n = 218). There was a small but significant increase in water lead after the 30 s flush (vs. first draw lead). There was no significant lead reduction until the 6 min flush (p < 0.05); but of these samples, 52% still had detectable lead (≥1 ppb). Older homes (pre-1950) and low occupancy sites had significantly higher water lead (p < 0.05). Each sample type had health-based standard exceedances in over 50% of sites sampled (max: 58 ppb). While flushing may be an effective short-term approach to remediate high lead, prevailing flush recommendations are an inconsistently effective exposure prevention measure that may inadvertently increase exposures. Public health messages should be modified to ensure appropriate application of flushing, while acknowledging its short-comings and practical limitations.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of Prevailing Flush Guidelines to Prevent Exposure to Lead in Water

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrienne Katner ◽  
Kelsey Pieper ◽  
Komal Brown ◽  
Hui-Yi Lin ◽  
Jeffrey Parks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Orleans ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Lead Level ◽  
Sample Type ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Prevention Measure ◽  
Public Health Messages ◽  
High Lead

Flushing tap water is often promoted as a simple and low cost approach to reducing water lead exposures. This study evaluated lead reduction when prevailing flush guidelines (30 seconds-2 minutes) are implemented in a city compliant with lead-associated water regulations (New Orleans, LA). Water samples (n=1,497) collected from a convenience sample of 376 residential sites (2015-2017) were analyzed for lead in samples collected: at 1) first draw (n=375), and after incremental flushes of 2) 30-45 seconds (n=375), 3) 2.5-3 minutes (n=373), and 4) 5.5-6 minutes (n=218). There was no significant reduction when compared to the first draw lead level, until the 6 minute flush (p&lt;0.05); but most sites (52%) still had detectable lead (&ge;1 ppb) after 6 minutes. Older homes (pre-1950) and low occupancy sites had significantly higher WLLs (p&lt;0.05).Each sample type had health-based standard exceedances at over 50% of sites sampled (max: 58 ppb). While flushing is an effective short-term approach to remediate high lead, prevailing flush recommendations are an inconsistently effective exposure prevention measure that can often inadvertently increase exposures. Public health messages should be modified to ensure appropriate application of flushing for specific cities, while acknowledging its short-comings and practical limitations.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of Prevailing Flush Guidelines to Prevent Exposure to Lead in Water

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrienne Katner ◽  
Kelsey Pieper ◽  
Komal Brown ◽  
Hui-Yi Lin ◽  
Jeffrey Parks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Orleans ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Lead Level ◽  
Sample Type ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Prevention Measure ◽  
Public Health Messages ◽  
High Lead

Flushing tap water is often promoted as a simple and low cost approach to reducing water lead exposures. This study evaluated lead reduction when prevailing flush guidelines (30 seconds-2 minutes) are implemented in a city compliant with lead-associated water regulations (New Orleans, LA). Water samples (n=1,497) collected from a convenience sample of 376 residential sites (2015-2017) were analyzed for lead in samples collected: at 1) first draw (n=375), and after incremental flushes of 2) 30-45 seconds (n=375), 3) 2.5-3 minutes (n=373), and 4) 5.5-6 minutes (n=218). There was no significant reduction when compared to the first draw lead level, until the 6 minute flush (p&lt;0.05); but most sites (52%) still had detectable lead (&ge;1 ppb) after 6 minutes. Older homes (pre-1950) and low occupancy sites had significantly higher WLLs (p&lt;0.05).Each sample type had health-based standard exceedances at over 50% of sites sampled (max: 58 ppb). While flushing is an effective short-term approach to remediate high lead, prevailing flush recommendations are an inconsistently effective exposure prevention measure that can often inadvertently increase exposures. Public health messages should be modified to ensure appropriate application of flushing for specific cities, while acknowledging its short-comings and practical limitations.

scholarly journals Persuasive Messaging to Encourage COVID-19 Risk Reduction

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Bokemper ◽  
Gregory Huber ◽  
Erin James ◽  
Alan Gerber ◽  
Saad Omer
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Campaigns ◽  
Randomized Experiments ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Public Health Messages ◽  
Public Health Message ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Public Health Campaigns ◽  
Effective Public Health

Abstract What types of public health messages are effective at changing people’s beliefs and intentions to practice social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19? We conducted two randomized experiments that assigned respondents to read a public health message and then measured their beliefs and behavioral intentions across a wide variety of outcomes. Using both a convenience sample and a nationally representative sample of Americans, we find that a message that reframes bravery as recklessness and a message that highlights the need for everyone to take action to protect others are the most effective at increasing beliefs and intentions related to social distancing. These results provide an evidentiary basis for building effective public health campaigns to increase social distancing during flu pandemics.

Identification of Current Best Practices for Short-term Medical Mission Trips and Adherence to Current Common Principles and Guidelines

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-82
Author(s):  
Susan Andrews
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Global Health ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Survey Methodology ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Final Analysis ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Operational Practices ◽  
Descriptive Survey

Background:  Recent reviews of published guidelines for conducting short-term medical missions (STMM) identify significant concerns about the lack of adherence and of formal regulations concurrent with the increasing number of individuals and organizations participating in STMM. Method: A descriptive survey methodology was used. A 44-item survey that identifies current practices utilized by healthcare providers (HCP) who have participated in STMM was used based on the literature and prior research, and distributed electronically to HCP participating in STTM to identify current best practices and compare findings with the most recent recommendations for short-term global health activities. A focus on current operational practices was surveyed and analyzed to develop operational recommendations for the ethical and safe care provided during STMM. Results: Eighty-seven surveys were included in the final analysis, with 33% (N=29) serving as coordinators for the trip. The majority of the respondents were female (67%) and the primary roles represented were: MD (N=17; 20%), nurse practitioner (N=20; 23%), and registered nurse (N=18; 21%). A majority (N=48; 67%) traveled to South America or Latin America, with 38% (N=33) having participated in four or more STMM. Language proficiency was reported as deficient (N=35; 40%) along with little or no knowledge of the basic culture (N=39; 45%). Additional data were collected on trip preparation, clinic operations, and outcomes follow up. Conclusions: Using a convenience sample, the results of the survey provide information on the current best practices utilized by HCP who have participated in STMM and compare the findings to assess for adherence with the most recent recommendations for short-term global health activities. There was variation in the degree to which HCP were knowledgeable about specific aspects related to knowledge of local culture, language proficiency, and adherence to recommended practices for STMM. Additional research on STMM is needed, along with further exploration of how evidence based practices for STMM can be implemented to improve access and safety to the care provided while in the host country.

Some Experimental Discussion of Accuracies in Quantitative Virus Assessment for Water Supply

1985 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 127-138
Author(s):  
Hisashi Sumitomo
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Lake Biwa ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Statistical Procedure ◽  
Statistical Nature ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Risk ◽  
Precise Assessment

Chlorination has been believed to be the best sterilization method in water supply engineering for many years. However, the recent carcinogenic problem of trihalomethanes (THM) formed from organic compounds by chlorination requires us to assess the public health risk of THM. The author tried an assessment of a suitable chlorination technique considering both the effects of THM and viruses on human health, using Lake Biwa as a representative example of a water resource in Japan. Statistical handling of data was revealed to be important because of the statistical nature of the data. In other words, since both concentrations are very low in tap water, we need to quantify both the effects and concentrations with probabilities. In the first part of this paper, a statistical procedure and numerical results of the assessment of virus and THM risks are shown. In the second part some results of accuracies in virus experiments are briefly shown. These experiments concerning statistical problems are particularly important for more precise assessment of the public risk of viruses in tap water.

India as a Pioneer of Innovation

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health System ◽  
Informal Economy ◽  
Urban Poor ◽  
Public Health System ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Specific Context ◽  
Innovation Project ◽  
Context Specific

What does innovation mean to and in India? What are the predominant areas of innovation for India, and under what situations do they succeed or fail? This book addresses these all-important questions arising within diverse Indian contexts: informal economy, low-cost settings, large business groups, entertainment and copyright-based industries, an evolving pharma sector, a poorly organized and appallingly underfunded public health system, social enterprises for the urban poor, and innovations for the millions. It explores the issues that promote and those that hinder the country’s rise as an innovation leader. The book’s balanced perspective on India’s promises and failings makes it a valuable addition for those who believe that India’s future banks heavily on its ability to leapfrog using innovation, as well as those sceptical of the Indian state’s belief in the potential of private enterprise and innovation. It also provides critical insights on innovation in general, the most important of which being the highly context-specific, context-driven character of the innovation project.

scholarly journals A short-term evaluation of a prototype disposable Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure (OPEP) device in a cohort of children with cystic fibrosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin J. O’Sullivan ◽  
Valerie Power ◽  
Barry Linnane ◽  
Deirdre McGrath ◽  
Magdalena Mulligan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Lung Function ◽  
Clinical Investigation ◽  
Mean Difference ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Intervention Participant ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Disposable Device ◽  
Positive Expiratory Pressure

Abstract Background Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure (OPEP) devices are important adjuncts to airway clearance therapy in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Current devices are typically reusable and require daily, or often more frequent, cleaning to prevent risk of infection by acting as reservoirs of potentially pathogenic organisms. In response, a daily disposable OPEP device, the UL-OPEP, was developed to mitigate the risk of contamination and eliminate the burdensome need for cleaning devices. Methods A convenience sample of 36 participants, all current OPEP device users, was recruited from a paediatric CF service. For one month, participants replaced their current OPEP device with a novel daily disposable device. Assessment included pre- and post-intervention lung function by spirometry, as well as Lung Clearance Index. Quality of life was assessed using the Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire – Revised, while user experience was evaluated with a post-study survey. Results 31 participants completed the study: 18 males; median age 10 years, range 4–16 years. Lung function (mean difference ± SD, %FEV1 = 1.69 ± 11.93; %FVC = 0.58 ± 10.04; FEV1: FVC = 0.01 ± 0.09), LCI (mean difference ± SD, 0.08 ± 1.13), six-minute walk test, and CFQ-R were unchanged post-intervention. Participant-reported experiences of the device were predominantly positive. Conclusions The disposable OPEP device maintained patients’ lung function during short term use (≤ 1 month), and was the subject of positive feedback regarding functionality while reducing the risk of airway contamination associated with ineffective cleaning. Registration The study was approved as a Clinical Investigation by the Irish Health Products Regulatory Authority (CRN-2209025-CI0085).

Non-stigmatising alternatives to anti-obesity public health messages: Consequences for health behaviour and well-being

2021 ◽  
pp. 135910532199970
Author(s):  
Joanne A Rathbone ◽  
Tegan Cruwys ◽  
Jolanda Jetten
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Messages ◽  
Total N ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Public Health Messages ◽  
Size Acceptance

This project investigated how alternative non-stigmatising public health messages influence people’s health behaviours and well-being, relative to traditional stigmatising weight-loss messages. We conducted three experimental studies (total N = 1281) that compared traditional weight-loss messages to weight-neutral messages (Study 1), weight-inclusive messages (Study 2) and size acceptance messages (Study 3). Results revealed that public health messages have differential effects on health behaviours and well-being, depending on the audience’s BMI or perceived weight. However, campaigns that challenge weight stigma and promote body positivity have positive effects on some psychological indicators of health and well-being for people of all body sizes.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Pandemic Optimism and Vaccine Willingness among an Online Sample of US Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 745
Author(s):  
Rob Stephenson ◽  
Stephen P. Sullivan ◽  
Renee A. Pitter ◽  
Alexis S. Hunter ◽  
Tanaka MD Chavanduka
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Binary Outcomes ◽  
Sex Partners ◽  
Black African ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Public Health Messages ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Living With Hiv

This paper presents data from an online sample of U.S gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), to explore the factors associated with three dimensions of vaccine beliefs: perception of the likelihood of a COVID-19 vaccine becoming available, perception of when a COVID-19 vaccine would become available, and the likelihood of taking a COVID-19 vaccine. Data are taken from the Love and Sex in the Time of COVID-19 study, collected from November 2020 to January 2021. A sample of 290 GBMSM is analyzed, modeling three binary outcomes: belief that there will be a COVID-19 vaccine, belief that the COVID-19 vaccine will be available in 6 months, and being very likely to take the COVID-19 vaccine. In contrast to other studies, Black/African Americans and GBMSM living with HIV had higher levels of pandemic optimism and were more likely to be willing to accept a vaccine. Men who perceived a higher prevalence of COVID-19 among their friends and sex partners, and those who had reduced their sex partners, were more likely to be willing to take a COVID-19 vaccine. There remained a small percentage of participants (14%) who did not think the pandemic would end, that there would not be a vaccine and were unlikely to take a vaccine. To reach the levels of vaccination necessary to control the pandemic, it is imperative to understand the characteristics of those experiencing vaccine hesitancy and then tailor public health messages to their unique set of barriers and motivations.

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