The Contribution of Public Health and Improved Social Conditions to Increased Life Expectancy: An Analysis of Public Awareness

2014 ◽  
Vol 04 (05) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon B Lindsay Ray M Merrill
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Social Conditions

Strengthening of occupational health promotion by the German Prevention Health Care Act

2019 ◽  
pp. 188-190
Author(s):  
Diana Hart
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Primary Prevention ◽  
Occupational Health ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Occupational Health Promotion ◽  
And Control

All countries are faced with the problem of the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCD): implement prevention strategies eff ectively, keep up the momentum with long term benefi ts at the individual and the population level, at the same time tackling hea lth inequalities. Th e aff ordability of therapy and care including innovative therapies is going to be one of the key public health priorities in the years to come. Germany has taken in the prevention and control of NCDs. Germany’s health system has a long history of guaranteeing access to high-quality treatment through universal health care coverage. Th r ough their membership people are entitled to prevention and care services maintaining and restoring their health as well as long term follow-up. Like in many other countries general life expectancy has been increasing steadily in Germany. Currently, the average life expectancy is 83 and 79 years in women and men, respectively. Th e other side of the coin is that population aging is strongly associated with a growing burden of disease from NCDs. Already over 70 percent of all deaths in Germany are caused by four disease entities: cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease and diabetes. Th ese diseases all share four common risk factors: smoking, alcohol abuse, lack of physical activity and overweight. At the same time, more and more people become long term survivors of disease due to improved therapy and care. Th e German Government and public health decision makers are aware of the need for action and have responded by initiating and implementing a wide spectrum of activities. One instrument by strengthening primary prevention is the Prevention Health Care Act. Its overarching aim is to prevent NCDs before they can manifest themselves by strengthening primary prevention and health promotion in diff erent sett ings. One of the main emphasis of the Prevention Health Care Act is the occupational health promotion at the workplace.

Public Awareness of Preventive Measures against COVID-19: A Google Trends Analysis (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Mok ◽  
Oliver Oi Yat Mui ◽  
Kwan Pui Tang ◽  
Chi-Fai NG ◽  
Sunny Hei Wong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Temporal Trend ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Google Trends ◽  
Online Searching ◽  
Effective Measure ◽  
Heat Maps ◽  
Hand Sanitizer ◽  
Incidence Data

BACKGROUND The 2019 coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has led to increase in global awareness of related public health preventive measures. The public awareness can be reflected by online searching trends of major search engines, namely Google Trends. OBJECTIVE This study aims to interpret online searches of COVID-19 related public health preventive measures and to identify possible correlations between early search trends and progression of the pandemic. METHODS Search data from five queries “Mask”, “Hand Washing”, “Social Distancing”, “Hand Sanitizer”, and “Disinfectant” were extracted from Google Trends (GT) in the form of Relative Search Volumes (RSV). Global incidence data of COVID-19 was obtained from January 1st to June 30th 2020. Subsequently, the data were analyzed and illustrated in forms of a global temporal RSV trend diagram, a geographical RSV distribution chart, scatter graphs comparing regional RSV with average daily cases; and heat-maps comparing temporal trend of RSV with average daily cases. RESULTS Global temporal trend revealed multiple surges in RSV, which were temporally associated with certain COVID news events. Geographical distribution showed differences of query interests among regions. Although scatter graphs failed to illustrate strong correlations between regional RSV and average daily cases, the heat-maps were able to demonstrate patterns of early RSV peaks in countries with lower average daily cases, for queries “Mask”, “Hand Sanitizer”, and “Disinfectant”, upon incorporating with the temporal element into analysis. CONCLUSIONS Early public awareness of multiple preventive measures was observed in countries with lower daily average cases. Public health authorities may look into early public awareness as an effective measure for future disease control.

scholarly journals Examining public knowledge, attitudes and perceptions towards palliative care: a mixed method sequential study

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonja McIlfatrick ◽  
Paul Slater ◽  
Esther Beck ◽  
Olufikayo Bamidele ◽  
Sharon McCloskey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Public Understanding ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Public Health Approach ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey

Abstract Background Palliative care is recognised as a public health issue with the need for earlier integration in the wider healthcare system. However, research indicates that it continues to be accessed late in the course of an illness, public understanding of palliative care is limited, and common misconceptions prevail. Strategies to address this are needed in order to reduce barriers to palliative care delivery and improve access. Methods An explanatory sequential mixed methods study, comprising a cross-sectional survey and interviews was undertaken. Sociodemographic characteristics, public awareness, knowledge and perceptions of palliative care were examined and strategies to raise awareness and overcome barriers within a public health framework were identified. Survey data were analysed using SPSS v25 with factor analysis and non-parametric statistics and qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results A total of 1201 participants completed the survey (58.3% female, mean age 61 years) and 25 took part in interviews. A fifth of participants (20.1%) had previously heard about palliative care and had an accurate understanding of the term. Being female, higher educated, married, and older, increased respondents’ levels of awareness. The three most commonly held misconceptions included: Palliative care is exclusively for people who are in the last 6 months of life (55.4% answered incorrectly); A goal of palliative care is to address any psychological issues brought up by serious illness (42.2% answered incorrectly); and a goal of palliative care is to improve a person’s ability to participate in daily activities (39.6% answered incorrectly). Talking about palliative and end of life care was advocated but societal taboos restricted this occurring with exposure limited to personal experience. Conclusions Current knowledge gaps and misconceptions derived from limited ad hoc personal experiences and fear of engaging in taboo conversations may deter people from accessing integrated palliative care services early in a disease trajectory. The results indicate the need for public education programmes that move beyond merely raising awareness but provide key messages within a public health approach, which may change attitudes to palliative care thus ultimately improving end of life outcomes.

scholarly journals The Contribution of Avoidable Mortality to the Life Expectancy Gains in Korea between 1998 and 2017

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (18) ◽  
pp. 6499
Author(s):  
Jinwook Bahk ◽  
Kyunghee Jung-Choi
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Traffic Accidents ◽  
Causes Of Death ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cerebrovascular Diseases ◽  
Avoidable Mortality ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Major Factors

This study evaluated the contribution of avoidable causes of death to gains in life expectancy between 1998 and 2017 in Korea. This is a multi-year, cross-sectional study using national data. Death certificate data from 1998 to 2017 were obtained from Statistics Korea. The difference in life expectancy between 1998 and 2017 by age and cause of death were decomposed using Arriaga’s method. Life expectancy rose 7.73 years over 20 years in Korea, which was largely (more than 50%) due to changes in avoidable causes of death. As age increased, the contribution to changes in life expectancy increased, and the gain in life expectancy due to avoidable causes also tended to increase. The major factors that drove that gain in life expectancy were avoidable causes such as cerebrovascular diseases and traffic accidents. The gain in life expectancy from preventable diseases was greater in men than in women. The results of this study indicate that active public health programs have been effective in improving life expectancy in Korea. Moreover, avoidable mortality could be further improved with good public health policy. Health policy aimed at reducing amenable and preventable deaths should be further implemented to promote population health.

Too sick to vote? Public health and voter turnout in Russia during the 1990s

2003 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Therese C. Reitan
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Voter Turnout ◽  
Economic Resources ◽  
The Political ◽  
Aggregate Level ◽  
Regional Data ◽  
Political Climate ◽  
Political Resources ◽  
Electoral Turnout

Determinants of political participation and electoral turnout are still of great interest within political science and three broad types of factors have been found to influence turnout significantly; individual or area-specific traits, characteristics of the electoral systems, and features relating to the political climate in individual elections. Within the first group, socio-economic resources, typically education, income, and occupation, have been found to be particularly important. This article proposes that public health is also a relevant form of social and political resources at the aggregate level. Regional data on life expectancy and electoral turnout from Russia—a country with dramatically deteriorated public health during the 1990s—were therefore correlated with each other. Overall, correlations were positive and significant, and there is, then, reason to investigate further the possible relationship between public health and the propensity to turn out at elections.

Health inequalities: still making policy in a fog?

2006 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 427-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARTIN POWELL
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Health Inequalities ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Policy Perspective ◽  
What Works ◽  
Health Action ◽  
Policy Analysts ◽  
Unrealistic Expectations

What Works in Tackling Health Inequalities? Pathways, Policies and Practice through the Lifecourse S. Asthana and J. Halliday Bristol: Policy, Press, 2006Health Action Zones: Partnerships for Health Equity M. Barnes, L. Bauld, M. Benzeval, K. Judge, M. Mackenzie, H. Sullivan Abingdon: Routledge, 2005Health Inequality: An Introduction to Theories, Concepts and Methods M. Bartley Cambridge: Polity, 2004Status Syndrome: How your Social Standing Directly Affects your Health and Life Expectancy M. Marmot London: Bloomsbury, 2004These four texts on health inequalities are all very different books written by leading commentators with different academic backgrounds. This review will concentrate on the policy perspective that may be of most interest to many readers of this journal. It is also arguably the Achilles heel of the health inequalities literature. According to policy makers, much current research on health inequalities was of little use to policy making, and public health researchers have been criticized for political naivety, for lacking understanding of how policy is made, and for having unrealistic expectations (Petticrew et al., 2004: 815–816). Similarly, Klein (2003) points to the problems of ‘making policy in a fog’. The first two texts under review focus on policy and are written by policy analysts.

scholarly journals Evaluation of molecular characterization and phylogeny for quantification of Acanthamoeba and Naegleria fowleri in various water sources, Turkey

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0256659
Author(s):  
Mehmet Aykur ◽  
Hande Dagci
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
Quantitative Detection ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Specific Primers ◽  
Important Public Health Problem

Free-living amoeba (FLA) is widely distributed in the natural environment. Since these amoebae are widely found in various waters, they pose an important public health problem. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of Acanthamoeba, B. mandrillaris, and N. fowleri in various water resources by qPCR in Izmir, Turkey. A total of (n = 27) 18.24% Acanthamoeba and (n = 4) 2.7% N. fowleri positives were detected in six different water sources using qPCR with ITS regions (ITS1) specific primers. The resulting concentrations varied in various water samples for Acanthamoeba in the range of 3.2x105-1.4x102 plasmid copies/l and for N. fowleri in the range of 8x103-11x102 plasmid copies/l. The highest concentration of Acanthamoeba and N. fowleri was found in seawater and damp samples respectively. All 27 Acanthamoeba isolates were identified in genotype level based on the 18S rRNA gene as T4 (51.85%), T5 (22.22%), T2 (14.81%) and T15 (11.11%). The four positive N. fowleri isolate was confirmed by sequencing the ITS1, ITS2 and 5.8S rRNA regions using specific primers. Four N. fowleri isolates were genotyped (three isolate as type 2 and one isolate as type 5) and detected for the first time from water sources in Turkey. Acanthamoeba and N. fowleri genotypes found in many natural environments are straightly related to human populations to have pathogenic potentials that may pose a risk to human health. Public health professionals should raise awareness on this issue, and public awareness education should be provided by the assistance of civil authorities. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on the quantitative detection and distribution of Acanthamoeba and N. fowleri genotypes in various water sources in Turkey.

scholarly journals YouTube as a source of public health information regarding COVID-19 vaccination: an assessment of reliability and quality of video content (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Calvin Chan ◽  
Viknesh Sounderajah ◽  
Elisabeth Daniels ◽  
Amish Acharya ◽  
Jonathan Clarke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
Medical Professionals ◽  
Video Content ◽  
Public Health Information ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Quality And Reliability

BACKGROUND Recent emergency authorisation and rollout of COVID-19 vaccines by regulatory bodies has generated global attention. As the most popular video-sharing platform globally, YouTube is a potent medium for dissemination of key public health information. Understanding the nature of available content regarding COVID-19 vaccination on this widely used platform is of substantial public health interest. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the reliability and quality of information of YouTube videos regarding COVID-19 vaccination. METHODS For this cross-sectional study, the phrases ‘coronavirus vaccine’ and ‘COVID-19 vaccine’ were searched on the UK version of YouTube on December 10, 2020. The 200 most-viewed videos of each search were extracted and screened for relevance and English language. Video content and characteristics were extracted and independently rated against Health on the Net Foundation Code of Conduct (HONCode) and DISCERN quality criteria for consumer health information by two authors. RESULTS Forty-eight videos, with a combined total view count of 30,100,561, were included in the analysis. Topics addressed comprised: vaccine science (58%), vaccine trials (58%), side effects (48%), efficacy (35%) and manufacturing (17%). Twenty-one percent of videos encouraged continued public health measures. Only 4.2% of videos made non-factual claims. Ninety-eight percent of video content was scored to have low (60%) or medium (38%) adherence to HONCode principles. Educational channels produced by both medical and non-medical professionals achieved significantly higher DISCERN scores than other categories. The highest DISCERN scores were achieved by educational videos produced by medical professionals (64.3 (58.5-66.3)) and the lowest scores by independent users (18 (18-20)). CONCLUSIONS Overall quality and reliability of information on YouTube regarding COVID-19 vaccines remains poor. Videos produced by educational channels, especially by medical professionals, were higher in quality and reliability than those produced by other sources, including health-related organisations. Collaboration between health-related organisations and established medical and educational YouTube content producers provide an opportunity for dissemination of high-quality information regarding COVID-19 vaccination. Such collaboration holds potential as a rapidly implementable public health intervention aiming to engage a wide audience and increase public awareness and knowledge.

The Role of Information Professionals in South Africa in the Provision of Information During COVID-19

2021 ◽  
pp. 266-283
Author(s):  
Nkholedzeni Sidney Netshakhuma
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Public Information ◽  
Information Resource ◽  
Health Awareness ◽  
Information Centre ◽  
Information Professionals ◽  
Role Of Information

The study sought to assess the role of information professionals in the provision information about the spread of COVID-19 in South Africa with the views of recommending best practices of disseminating public information. The qualitative approach was utilized to collect data from information officers. The researcher found that the majority of the public were not utilizing the information centre because of lack of awareness of information resource centre preserved by an information resource centre. The review found that information resources were not providing access to information centre effectively due to staff who lack appropriate skills and knowledge on public health awareness. It also appears that inadequate budget allocation to conduct public health awareness was lacking. Public awareness should be conducted in the Mpumalanga Provincial government. The research findings shed new lights on the perspective that information professional plays an essential role in promoting public health awareness.

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