Examining Gambling Issues From a Public Health Perspective

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Korn
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Gambling Behavior ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Public Health Perspective ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Practitioners ◽  
General Adult Population ◽  
Negative Impacts

Public health has a tradition of addressing emerging and complex health matters that affect the whole population as well as specific groups. AIDS, environmental tobacco smoke and violence are examples of contemporary health concerns that have benefited from public health analysis and involvement. This article encourages the adoption of a public health perspective on gambling issues. Gambling has been studied from a number of perspectives, including economic, moral, addiction and mental health. The value of a public health viewpoint is that it examines the broad impact of gambling rather than focusing solely on problem and pathological gambling behavior in individuals. It takes into consideration the wider health, social and economic costs and benefits; it gives priority to the needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged people; and it emphasizes prevention and harm reduction. This paper looks at the public health foundations of epidemiology, disease control and healthy public policy, and applies them to gambling. Major public health issues are analyzed within a North American context, including problem gambling trends amongst the general adult population and youth, and their impact on other specific populations. There is significant opportunity for public health to contribute its skills, methodologies and experience to the range of gambling issues. By understanding gambling and its potential impacts on the public's health, policy makers, health practitioners and community leaders can minimize gambling's negative impacts and optimize its benefits.

scholarly journals A scorecard for local body election candidates in New Zealand

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
P Stone
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Voter Turnout ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Public Information ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Local Elections ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
District Health ◽  
Public Health Perspective ◽  
The Public

Abstract Local elections are held every 3 years in NZ for District Health Boards (DHB). The public has low capability to scrutinise candidates for their knowledge/experience in public health governance. As a result, there is low voting turn-out for elections. So, 3 PHA branches developed scorecards for 2019 candidates. Our aims addressed 3 problems: 1. How to raise public awareness about local DHB elections 2. How to engage voters and provide them with information about candidates from a public health perspective 3.Can we encourage candidates to discuss public health issues/ preventative measures publicly. We hoped to promote democracy by increasing informed voter turnout. Scorecards were based on candidates' responses to a survey with 3 dimensions: alignment with public health values; health sector governance experience; views on a specific public health issue (water fluoridation). Survey responses were scored by panels of branch members. Southern branch sent the survey to 28 DHB candidates across 2 DHBs, and 24 replied in time. Wellington branch sent it to 23 CCDHB candidates and 16 replied in time. Canterbury's response rate was just over 50%, 11 of 21 surveys were returned. We produced scorecards for results in formats for printing and sharing online. We shared them on PHA's website, social media and featured them in the e-newsletter. Each branch launched them at local Meet the DHB Candidate events where hundreds of paper copies were distributed. There was good online interest in the scorecards: 3453 previews, 287 downloads for further printing/distribution. Many candidates committed, if elected, to policy solutions presented them at our events. There was significant increase (684 in Southern, 698 in Wellington, 2006 in Canterbury) in DHB voter turnout in 2019, compared to last election with no scorecards. Not all top-scoring candidates were subsequently elected onto respective DHBs, but for Wellington and Southland all elected had high scores. Key messages PHANZ plays a role in supporting NZ democracy by filling a gap in public information about election candidates, whether they are fit for purpose when scrutinised through the public health lens. Election Scorecard are effective for raising public awareness, providing scrutiny of the candidates from a public health perspective, encouraging candidates to consider public health issues.

scholarly journals Sunbeds use – tanning pattern and UV protective behaviour of adults of the Turiec Region

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 13-19
Author(s):  
B Dvorstiakova ◽  
V Jakusova ◽  
R Ulbrichtova ◽  
H. Hudeckova
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
The Public ◽  
Adult Participants ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Serious Disease ◽  
Age Range ◽  
Skin Phototype

Abstract Introduction: Recent worldwide researches dealing with artificial sources of ultraviolet radiation have noticed an increased incidence of skin cancer, conjunctivitis, or decreased immunity. Melanoma is the most serious disease that may be caused by sunbeds. Goal: The main goal of the study was to coherently process public health issues of sunbeds and find out a level of information and attitude of adult population in the Turiec Region. Material and method: In the II. half of 2016 we carried out a questionnaire survey focused on information and attitude of adult population towards sunbeds and their negative effect on humans. The total sample consisted of 121 adult participants (74 females and 47 males) from the Turiec Region. Results: The age range of participants was 36 ± 6.5 years and the age range of sunbed users was 31 ± 4.8 (x ± SD). From the total sample of 121 participants 34 (28.1%) visit sunbed and 87 (71.9%) do not. Sunbeds are visited more by women (85.3%), but men (p 0.05) take longer sunbaths than women. Women (p 0.05) were more informed about their phototype than men. Only 51 (42.2%) of participants were aware of their skin phototype and better informed were participants with higher education. From the survey only 13 (38.2%) participants used the combination of protective sunglasses and sunscreens. Conclusion: The results show that visitors of sunbeds had a higher level of information than non-visitors. A negative aspect is that the participants didn’t know the phototype of their skin and didn’t use all protective aids. Most participants said that information on sunbed are inadequate. From the public health view it is very important to focus on prevention, spread information about diseases influenced by artificial source of UV radiation, and educate the population.

scholarly journals Transforming Public Health Law: The Turning Point Model State Public Health Act

2006 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
James G. Hodge ◽  
Lawrence O. Gostin ◽  
Kristine Gebbie ◽  
Deborah L. Erickson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Public Health Agencies ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Agencies ◽  
Health Practitioners ◽  
Legal Foundations ◽  
New Policies ◽  
Public Health Practitioners ◽  
Health Laws

Protecting the public's health has recently regained prominence in political and public discussions. Threats of bioterrorism following September 11, 2001 and the deliberate dissemination of anthrax later that fall, the reemergence of novel or resurgent infectious diseases, (such as the West Nile Virus, SARS, influenza, avian flu) and rapid increases in diseases associated with sedentary lifestyles, poor diets, and smoking (e.g., heart disease, diabetes, cancer) have all raised the profile of public health. The U.S. government has responded with increased funding, reorganization, and new policies for the population's health, safety, and security. Politicians and the public more clearly understand the importance of law in improving the public's health. Recognizing that many public health laws have not been meaningfully reformed in decades, law- and policy-makers and public health practitioners have focused on the legal foundations for public health. Laws provide the mission, functions, and powers of public health agencies, set standards for their (and their partners’) actions, and safeguard individual rights.

scholarly journals The public health implications of assisted reproductive technologies

2010 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 119-124
Author(s):  
R. Deonandan
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Preterm Births ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Health Implications ◽  
The Public ◽  
Short And Long Term

Objective The public health implications of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) are largely unknown by researchers and policy makers alike. Outcomes need to be considered, not just as clinical issues, but in terms of effect on public health. Methods Using a qualitative key informant process involving interviews with selected professionals and a review of the medical literature, eight general themes of public health issues associated with ART were identified, and are discussed. Recommendations Short and long-term health outcomes of women undergoing ART procedures, and of their offspring, need to be considered, as do the epidemiological risks associated with donated gametes and the effect on health services of multiple and preterm births, both produced in higher rates by ART. A national surveillance system and greater inter-jurisdictional communication are important strategies for addressing these evolving concerns.

scholarly journals Analysis of corporate political activity strategies of the food industry: evidence from France

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (18) ◽  
pp. 3407-3421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Mialon ◽  
Jonathan Mialon
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Political Activity ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Corporate Political Activity ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Different Sources

AbstractObjectiveTo identify the corporate political activity (CPA) of major food industry actors in France.DesignWe followed an approach based on information available in the public domain. Different sources of information, freely accessible to the public, were monitored.Setting/SubjectsData were collected and analysed between March and August 2015. Five actors were selected: ANIA (Association Nationale des Industries Agroalimentaires/National Association of Agribusiness Industries); Coca-Cola; McDonald’s; Nestlé; and Carrefour.ResultsOur analysis shows that the main practices used by Coca-Cola and McDonald’s were the framing of diet and public health issues in ways favourable to the company, and their involvement in the community. ANIA primarily used the ‘information and messaging’ strategy (e.g. by promoting deregulation and shaping the evidence base on diet- and public health-related issues), as well as the ‘policy substitution’ strategy. Nestlé framed diet and public health issues, and shaped the evidence base on diet- and public health-related issues. Carrefour particularly sought involvement in the community.ConclusionsWe found that, in 2015, the food industry in France was using CPA practices that were also used by other industries in the past, such as the tobacco and alcohol industries. Because most, if not all, of these practices proved detrimental to public health when used by the tobacco industry, we propose that the precautionary principle should guide decisions when engaging or interacting with the food industry.

scholarly journals The therapeutic journey of families of children with respiratory diseases in the public health service

2012 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 453-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatriz Rosana Gonçalves de Oliveira ◽  
Neusa Collet ◽  
Débora Falleiros de Mello ◽  
Regina Aparecida Garcia de Lima
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Respiratory Diseases ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Public Health Services ◽  
The Public ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Therapeutic Encounters ◽  
Access To Medical Care

This study's purpose was to identify the therapeutic journey of families seeking health care for their children with respiratory diseases. This qualitative study had the participation of parents of children younger than five years old who were hospitalized with respiratory diseases. Path mapping was used as an instrument to collect data, which was analyzed through thematic analysis. The findings indicate that families sought the health services as soon as they perceived symptoms and had access to medical care, however such care was not decisive in resolving their health issues. Even though the families returned to the service at least another three times, the children had to be hospitalized. The attributes of primary health care were not observed in the public health services, while therapeutic encounters had no practical success.

scholarly journals Exploring Agenda-Setting for Healthy Border 2010

2006 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles T. Kozel ◽  
Anne P. Hubbell ◽  
James Dearing ◽  
William M. Kane ◽  
Sharon Thompson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Agenda Setting ◽  
Border Health ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Public ◽  
Mexico Border ◽  
Paso Del Norte ◽  
Policy Agendas ◽  
The U.S

Policy makers take action largely on issues that attain the pinnacle of the policy agenda (Pertschuck, 2001). As a result, how decision makers choose which issues are important has been the subject of much research. Agenda-setting conceptualizes the process of how issues move from relative unimportance to the forefront of policymakers’ thoughts (Dearing & Rogers, 1996). An area within agenda-setting research, Health Promotion Agenda-Setting, provides Health Promotion practitioners with an innovative framework and strategy to set agendas for sustained courses of action (Kozel, Kane, Rogers, & Hammes, 1995). In this interdisciplinary and bi-national exploratory study, funded by the Center for Border Health Research of the Paso del Norte Health Foundation, we examine agenda-setting processes in the Paso del Norte Region and evaluates how the public health agenda is determined within the U.S.-Mexico border population. Integrating both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods, the current research is focused on identifying deficiencies in the public health infrastructure in the U.S.-Mexico border area, and identifying channels that exist for working toward the bi-national goals presented in Healthy Border 2010 (U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission, 2003). Research directions, design, and methodologies for exploring health promotion agenda-setting in applied settings, such as Healthy Border 2010, provide health practitioners and policy makers the potential to improve public health leadership by influencing the public health and policy agendas.

scholarly journals Diretrizes projetuais para sistemas de advertência em embalagens de alimentos ultraprocessados | Guidelines for Warning Labels on Ultra-processed Food Packaging

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 373-387
Author(s):  
Priscyla Falkenburger Melleu ◽  
Murilo Scóz
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Food Packaging ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Progressive Increase ◽  
Processed Food ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Semiotic Analysis ◽  
Warning Labels ◽  
The Public ◽  
Excessive Consumption

A ingestão exagerada de alimentos ultraprocessados pode ocasionar diferentes riscos para a saúde uma vez que muitas doenças foram relacionadas à uma dieta inadequada. Além de diminuir a qualidade de vida da população, um aumento endêmico na incidência dessas doenças vem onerando o sistema público de saúde e abrindo um debate sobre o impacto da inclusão desses alimentos nas dietas familiares. Órgãos ligados à saúde pública e à defesa dos consumidores têm buscado discutir com membros da indústria alimentícia novas normas de rotulagem específica para as embalagens de alimentos industrializados, buscando dar um maior acesso à informação nutricional ao consumidor e contribuindo para que ele possa tomar escolhas alimentares conscientes. Sabendo que diferentes soluções de selos nutricionais frontais já foram adotados internacionalmente em busca de advertir a população sobre a composição de determinados alimentos, o presente artigo procura fazer uma análise semiótica de três modelos de sistemas em vigência, avaliando as diferentes nuances que podem assumir as funções de advertir e informar o consumidor. As análises discursivas, segundo a semiótica de Julien Greimas (1968), buscam organizar e avaliar o conteúdo descritivos da enunciação dos selos, discorrendo sobre as diferentes formas de trabalhar a advertência nas embalagens de determinados alimentos industrializados.*****Ultra-processed food may cause different health issues since its excessive consumption indicate an endemic and progressive increase in the number of diseases linked to an inadequate diet. This scenario is reducing the quality of life and life expectancy of the population living in big cities and burdens the public health systems around the world. As trying to encourage healthier eating habits, public health bureaus have been insisting on reviewing food labeling laws in order to make consumers more aware of their diet. Different options of front-of-pack nutritional labels have been adopted worldwide in order to warn the population about the composition of certain foods. This article offers a semiotic analysis – according to the theories of Julien Greimas (1968) – of three models of front-of-pack warning labels already in use, evaluating the different forms of warming the consumer about the packaging information.

Towards European Modern Societies with Health Systems That Are Able to Add More Years to Life, But Also to Add More Life to Years

2016 ◽  
pp. 228-255
Author(s):  
Androutsou Lorena ◽  
Androutsou Foulvia
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Healthcare Access ◽  
National Level ◽  
World Population ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Quality Healthcare ◽  
Public Health Policies ◽  
The Public ◽  
European Public

The political context in Europe is changing including health. Among the priorities in seeking to influence the future of healthcare is a renewed attachment to health for all, health in all policies and a better coordination between social and health policy. Health issues are by definition international, and Europe has a duty to extend solidarity to the wider world population, in strategy and in delivery. Ensuring equitable access to high-quality healthcare constitutes a key challenge for health systems throughout Europe. The chapter will emphasise the importance of European public health policies. The chapter will offer a real opportunity to address public health areas and values such as right to access to healthcare into the detailed mechanisms of European policy. The chapter will form a tool for health leaders, to enrich their knowledge in the public health spectrum from a European perspective, to support, promote and improve healthcare access at a national level.

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