Steps Towards Comprehensive Heat Communication in the Frame of a Heat Health Warning System in Slovenia

Occupational heat stress has an important negative impact on the well-being, health and productivity of workers and should; therefore, be recognized as a public health issue in Europe. There is no comprehensive heat health warning system in Slovenia combining public health measures with meteorological forecasts. The aim of this research was to provide insight into the development of such a system in Slovenia, turning the communication from the current meteoalarm into a broader system that has more information for different social groups. To achieve this goal, the following steps were used: Analysis of summer temperatures and issued meteoalarms, a survey of the general knowledge about heat among the public, organization and management of two stakeholder symposia, and a final survey on workers’ opinions on heat stress and measures, supplemented by interviews with employers. Summer average daily temperature distributions in Slovenia changed during the investigated period (1961–2019) and the mean values increased over time by 2–3 °C. Additionally, the number of days with fulfilled yellow (potentially dangerous) and especially orange (dangerous) meteoalarm conditions increased significantly after 1990. The survey of the general public about heat stress and warnings showed that efforts to raise awareness of heat issues need to be intensified and that public health measures should effectively target vulnerable groups. Stakeholder symposia and further surveys have shown that awareness and understanding of the negative effects of heat stress on health and productivity are still quite low, so effective ways of disseminating information to different sectors while striking the best balance between efficiency, feasibility and economic cost have to be found.

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An Occupational Heat–Health Warning System for Europe: The HEAT-SHIELD Platform

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16162890 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (16) ◽

pp. 2890 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Marco Morabito ◽

Alessandro Messeri ◽

Pascal Noti ◽

Ana Casanueva ◽

Alfonso Crisci ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heat Stress ◽

Warning System ◽

Heat Shield ◽

Vulnerable Groups ◽

Daily Maximum ◽

Heat Acclimatization ◽

Maximum Probability ◽

Maximum Heat ◽

Health Warning ◽

The Impact

Existing heat–health warning systems focus on warning vulnerable groups in order to reduce mortality. However, human health and performance are affected at much lower environmental heat strain levels than those directly associated with higher mortality. Moreover, workers are at elevated health risks when exposed to prolonged heat. This study describes the multilingual “HEAT-SHIELD occupational warning system” platform (https://heatshield.zonalab.it/) operating for Europe and developed within the framework of the HEAT-SHIELD project. This system is based on probabilistic medium-range forecasts calibrated on approximately 1800 meteorological stations in Europe and provides the ensemble forecast of the daily maximum heat stress. The platform provides a non-customized output represented by a map showing the weekly maximum probability of exceeding a specific heat stress condition, for each of the four upcoming weeks. Customized output allows the forecast of the personalized local heat-stress-risk based on workers’ physical, clothing and behavioral characteristics and the work environment (outdoors in the sun or shade), also taking into account heat acclimatization. Personal daily heat stress risk levels and behavioral suggestions (hydration and work breaks recommended) to be taken into consideration in the short term (5 days) are provided together with long-term heat risk forecasts (up to 46 days), all which are useful for planning work activities. The HEAT-SHIELD platform provides adaptation strategies for “managing” the impact of global warming.

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Changes in Care Provision During COVID-19 Impact Patient Well-Being

Journal of Patient Experience ◽

10.1177/23743735211034068 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. 237437352110340

Author(s):

Judy J Wang ◽

Jessica R Levi ◽

Heather A Edwards

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Medical Care ◽

Large Scale ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Public Health Emergency ◽

Care Provision ◽

Health Measures ◽

Routine Medical Care ◽

The Impact

The fast onset and extensive impact of COVID-19 necessitated strict public health measures and temporary diversion of personnel and resources from other types of medical care. This study examined the prevalence of such disruptions and their impacts on patient-perceived well-being using an untargeted survey. The majority of surveyed patients experienced changes in their routine medical care. Of those whose appointments were postponed or canceled, most patients indicated an overall negative impact on their emotional and physical well-being. We highlighted the impact of disruptions in nonurgent medical care during a large-scale public health emergency.

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Performances of Limited Area Models for the WORKLIMATE Heat–Health Warning System to Protect Worker’s Health and Productivity in Italy

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18189940 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (18) ◽

pp. 9940

Author(s):

Daniele Grifoni ◽

Alessandro Messeri ◽

Alfonso Crisci ◽

Michela Bonafede ◽

Francesco Pasi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heat Stress ◽

Warning System ◽

Outdoor Environment ◽

Limited Area ◽

Warning Systems ◽

Stress Indicators ◽

Climate Conditions ◽

Health Warning ◽

Globe Temperature ◽

Meteorological Models

Outdoor workers are particularly exposed to climate conditions, and in particular, the increase of environmental temperature directly affects their health and productivity. For these reasons, in recent years, heat-health warning systems have been developed for workers generally using heat stress indicators obtained by the combination of meteorological parameters to describe the thermal stress induced by the outdoor environment on the human body. There are several studies on the verification of the parameters predicted by meteorological models, but very few relating to the validation of heat stress indicators. This study aims to verify the performance of two limited area models, with different spatial resolution, potentially applicable in the occupational heat health warning system developed within the WORKLIMATE project for the Italian territory. A comparison between the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature predicted by the models and that obtained by data from 28 weather stations was carried out over about three summer seasons in different daily time slots, using the most common skill of performance. The two meteorological models were overall comparable for much of the Italian explored territory, while major limits have emerged in areas with complex topography. This study demonstrated the applicability of limited area models in occupational heat health warning systems.

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The psychosocial impact on society of the COVID-19 epidemic

Vestnik of Russian military medical Academy ◽

10.17816/brmma63658 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 225-232

Author(s):

Vasily N. Bolekhan ◽

Igor M. Ulyukin ◽

Ekaterina V. Shulyatyeva

Keyword(s):

Social Interactions ◽

Service Sector ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Information Support ◽

Vulnerable Groups ◽

Chronic Respiratory Diseases ◽

Social Interventions ◽

Snake Bites ◽

Long Time

The issues of psychosocial and other impact of COVID-19 on the epidemiological specificity of the disease are considered in the interests of effective medical, psychological and social interventions to preserve the epidemiological well-being in society during the period of the COVID-19. It is shown that the spread of this disease had a sharply negative impact on the economy, in particular, of our country, since for a long time certain industries that served as sources of budget revenues were paralyzed, and the populations ability to pay sharply decreased, the volume of financial inflows into the service sector decreased, which is reflected in the field of public health. Therefore, within the framework of the anti-crisis COVID-19 measures, one can single out such areas as education, employment, support for vulnerable groups and information support, which are carried out in various countries based on the existing practices, methods and financial capabilities. In addition, the fact that the current outbreak of COVID-19 provokes stigmatization and discriminatory behavior of society towards representatives of certain ethnic groups, as well as towards people suspected of having contact with carriers of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection, is of great epidemiological significance. The widespread prevalence of COVID-19 is believed to be not a pandemic, but a syndemia (not just comorbidity, but an integration that identifies biological and social interactions important for prognosis, treatment and health policy), characterized by biological and social interactions between conditions and conditions, interactions that increase a persons susceptibility to harm or worsen their health. Thus, in the case of COVID-19, the fight against non-communicable diseases (hypertension, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases, cancer, snake bites, epilepsy, kidney disease and sickle cell anemia) and socioeconomic inequality will also become a prerequisite for its successful containment.

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Obesity in obstetric and gynaecological practice

Oxford Textbook of Obstetrics and Gynaecology ◽

10.1093/med/9780198766360.003.0007 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 96-106

Author(s):

Sukhwinder Sahota ◽

Tahir Mahmood

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Well Being ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Public Health Issue ◽

Social Emotional ◽

Major Public Health Issue ◽

Health And Well Being

Obesity is a complex multifactorial disorder, which has reached epidemic proportions worldwide. It affects all aspects of an individual’s life: physical, social, emotional, and psychological. Although it is largely preventable, obesity is now a major public health issue and has a significant impact on the health and well-being of an individual throughout their lifespan. Obesity is associated with multiple adverse outcomes not only during the reproductive phase of a woman’s life but during the post-reproductive era as well. Obesity also increases risks for non-obstetrical and gynaecological illnesses such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and non-gynaecological cancers. Obesity thus is a cause of major societal economic burden.

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Heat Stress in Indoor Environments of Scandinavian Urban Areas: A Literature Review

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16040560 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 560 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Karin Lundgren Kownacki ◽

Chuansi Gao ◽

Kalev Kuklane ◽

Aneta Wierzbicka

Keyword(s):

Heat Stress ◽

Literature Review ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Heat Waves ◽

Well Being ◽

Heat Index ◽

Vulnerable Groups ◽

Heat Radiation ◽

Indoor Environments ◽

Promising Alternative

Climate change increases the risks of heat stress, especially in urban areas where urban heat islands can develop. This literature review aims to describe how severe heat can occur and be identified in urban indoor environments, and what actions can be taken on the local scale. There is a connection between the outdoor and the indoor climate in buildings without air conditioning, but the pathways leading to the development of severe heat levels indoors are complex. These depend, for example, on the type of building, window placement, the residential area’s thermal outdoor conditions, and the residents’ influence and behavior. This review shows that only few studies have focused on the thermal environment indoors during heat waves, despite the fact that people commonly spend most of their time indoors and are likely to experience increased heat stress indoors in the future. Among reviewed studies, it was found that the indoor temperature can reach levels 50% higher in °C than the outdoor temperature, which highlights the importance of assessment and remediation of heat indoors. Further, most Heat-Health Warning Systems (HHWS) are based on the outdoor climate only, which can lead to a misleading interpretation of the health effects and associated solutions. In order to identify severe heat, six factors need to be taken into account, including air temperature, heat radiation, humidity, and air movement as well as the physical activity and the clothes worn by the individual. Heat stress can be identified using a heat index that includes these six factors. This paper presents some examples of practical and easy to use heat indices that are relevant for indoor environments as well as models that can be applied in indoor environments at the city level. However, existing indexes are developed for healthy workers and do not account for vulnerable groups, different uses, and daily variations. As a result, this paper highlights the need for the development of a heat index or the adjustment of current thresholds to apply specifically to indoor environments, its different uses, and vulnerable groups. There are several actions that can be taken to reduce heat indoors and thus improve the health and well-being of the population in urban areas. Examples of effective measures to reduce heat stress indoors include the use of shading devices such as blinds and vegetation as well as personal cooling techniques such as the use of fans and cooling vests. Additionally, the integration of innovative Phase Change Materials (PCM) into facades, roofs, floors, and windows can be a promising alternative once no negative health and environmental effects of PCM can be ensured.

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Physician Wellness Is an Ethical and Public Health Issue

Otolaryngology ◽

10.1177/0194599818773296 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 158 (6) ◽

pp. 970-971 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Rosandra Walker ◽

Harold Pine

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Well Being ◽

Public Health Issue ◽

Health And Wellness ◽

Physician Burnout ◽

Sustainable Change ◽

Ethical Implications ◽

Physician Wellness ◽

Hospital Systems ◽

The Impact

Attention to physician well-being has traditionally focused on substance abuse, usually with disciplinary implications. But, in recent years, greater notice has been granted toward physician burnout and overall wellness. Burnout and its sequelae not only affect physicians and physicians-in-training as individuals, but the impact then multiplies as it affects these physicians’ patients, colleagues, and hospital systems. In addition, the American Medical Association Code of Medical Ethics charges physicians with a responsibility to maintain their own health and wellness as well as promote that of their colleagues. Therefore, the question of physician wellness has both public health and ethical implications. The causes of burnout are multifactorial, and the solutions to sustainable change are multitiered.

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Silver Linings Reported by Australians Experiencing Public Health Restrictions during the First Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Report

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph182111406 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (21) ◽

pp. 11406

Author(s):

Narelle Campbell ◽

Sandra C. Thompson ◽

Anna Tynan ◽

Louise Townsin ◽

Lauren A. Booker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Qualitative Research ◽

Large Scale ◽

Well Being ◽

Rapid Identification ◽

National Study ◽

The Public ◽

Health Measures ◽

Negative Impacts ◽

Mental Well Being

This national study investigated the positives reported by residents experiencing the large-scale public health measures instituted in Australia to manage the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Most Australians had not previously experienced the traditional public health measures used (social distancing, hand hygiene and restriction of movement) and which could potentially impact negatively on mental well-being. The research design included qualitative semi-structured phone interviews where participants described their early pandemic experiences. Data analysis used a rapid identification of themes technique, well-suited to large-scale qualitative research. The ninety participants (mean age 48 years; 70 women) were distributed nationally. Analysis revealed five themes linked with mental well-being and the concept of silver linings: safety and security, gratitude and appreciation, social cohesion and connections, and opportunities to reset priorities and resilience. Participants demonstrated support for the public health measures and evidence of individual and community resilience. They were cognisant of positives despite personal curtailment and negative impacts of public health directives. Stories of hope, strength, and acceptance, innovative connections with others and focusing on priorities and opportunities within the hardship were important strategies that others could use in managing adversity.

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Immigrant Mental Health, A Public Health Issue: Looking Back and Moving Forward

10.32920/14639682.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Usha George ◽

Mary S. Thomson ◽

Ferzana Chaze ◽

Sepali Guruge

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Relevant Literature ◽

Well Being ◽

Ethnic Discrimination ◽

Holistic Health ◽

Public Health Issue ◽

Immigrants And Refugees ◽

Health And Wellbeing

The Mental Health Commission of Canada’s (MHCC) strategy calls for promoting the health and wellbeing of all Canadians and to improve mental health outcomes. Each year, one in every five Canadians experiences one or more mental health problems, creating a significant cost to the health system. Mental health is pivotal to holistic health and wellbeing. This paper presents the key findings of a comprehensive literature review of Canadian research on the relationship between settlement experiences and the mental health and well-being of immigrants and refugees. A scoping review was conducted following a framework provided by Arskey and O’Malley (Int J Soc Res Methodol 8:19–32, 2005). Over two decades of relevant literature on immigrants’ health in Canada was searched. These included English language peer-reviewed publications from relevant online databases Medline, Embase, PsycInfo, Healthstar, ERIC and CINAHL between 1990 and 2015. The findings revealed three important ways in which settlement affects the mental health of immigrants and refugees: through acculturation related stressors, economic uncertainty and ethnic discrimination. The recommendations for public health practice and policy are discussed.

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The Challenges of Being a Family Caregiver During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Canada

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.2105 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 552-552

Author(s):

Gwen McGhan ◽

Deirdre McCaughey

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

At Risk ◽

Family Member ◽

Well Being ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Chronic Health Conditions ◽

Health Conditions ◽

The Public ◽

Health Measures

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all of our lives, but the population most at risk are older adults. Canadians over the age of 60 account for 36% of all COVID-19 cases but 95% of the deaths, and over two-thirds of ICU admissions. Older adults with chronic health conditions are especially at risk. Prior to COVID-19, family caregivers (FCGs) for older adults were managing their caregiving duties at the limits of their emotional, physical and financial capacity. As such, FCGs need special consideration during these times of uncertainty to support them in their role and enable the continuation of care for their older adult family members. This symposium will report on independently conducted studies from across Canada that have examined how the pandemic and associated public health measures have influenced resource utilization by FCGs and the older adults for whom they provide care. McAiney et al’s study examines the deleterious effect of reduced services on community dwelling FCGs and the wellbeing of their family member with dementia. Parmar & Anderson examined the effect of pandemic restrictions on FCGs of frail older adults and found they were experiencing increased distress and decreased wellbeing. Flemons et al report on the experiences of FCGs managing caregiving without critical services and the effect of restrictive visiting policies and the well-being of the caregiving dyad (FCGs and family member with dementia). Finally, McGhan et al will share how FCGs evaluated the efficacy of public health measures and the public health messaging about the pandemic.

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