Public participation in public health decisions

The capture–recapture method was used to estimate the sensitivity of case finding in two national STD surveillance systems: (1) STD registration at municipal health services (STD-MHS); (2) statutory notification by clinicians (NNS). To identify those cases common to both surveillance systems, cases from 1995 were compared using individual identifiers. Estimated sensitivities for syphilis were: STD-MHS 31% (95% CI: 27–35%), NNS 64% (56–71%); and for gonorrhoea: STD-MHS 15% (14–18%), NNS 22% (19–25%). The combined sensitivity of both systems was 76% for syphilis and 34% for gonorrhoea. Differences in the sensitivity of the systems were significant. The NNS was more sensitive than the STD-MHS, and the identification of cases was significantly more sensitive for syphilis than for gonorrhoea. A stratified analysis showed comparable results for the two sexes. Knowledge on the sensitivity of surveillance systems is useful for public health decisions and essential for international comparisons.

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Avoidance of Complexity

Denying to the Grave ◽

10.1093/oso/9780197547458.003.0006 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 195-236

Author(s):

Sara E. Gorman ◽

Jack M. Gorman

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Scientific Method ◽

The Other ◽

Scientific Thinking ◽

Health Decisions ◽

The Right ◽

Health Experts ◽

Do So

This chapter describes another reason people succumb to unscientific notions—the discomfort people have with complexity. It is not that people are incapable of learning the facts but rather they are reluctant to put in the time and effort to do so. This retreat from complexity is similar to the other reasons for science denial in that it is in many ways a useful and adaptive stance. But when making health decisions, the inability to tackle scientific details can leave one prone to accepting craftily packaged inaccuracies and slogans. Scientists, doctors, and public health experts are often not helpful in this regard because they frequently refuse to explain things clearly and interestingly. The chapter then argues that scientists need to work much harder on figuring out the best ways to communicate facts to non-scientists. It proposes some possible methods to make scientific thinking more intuitive. By focusing on the scientific method, one can begin to educate people about how to accept complexity and uncertainty, how to be skeptical, and how to ask the right questions.

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An Introduction to Parks, Recreation, and Public Health: Collaborative Frameworks for Promoting Physical Activity

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.4.s1.s1 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 4 (s1) ◽

pp. S1-S13 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

John Librett ◽

Karla Henderson ◽

Geoffrey Godbey ◽

James R. Morrow

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Quality Of Life ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Learning Curve ◽

Health Professions ◽

Health Decisions ◽

Parks And Recreation ◽

Knowledge Based ◽

Missed Opportunity

The purpose of parks and recreation as well as public health is to seek the highest possible quality of life for individuals and communities. Unfortunately, little discourse has occurred between the parks and recreation and public health professions. This missed opportunity has resulted in an incomplete understanding of the spectrum of issues shared by the fields, a slow transdisciplinary learning curve, and a dearth of knowledge-based linkages between science and practice. The goal of the 2006 Cooper Institute Conference on Parks, Recreation, and Public Health: Collaborative Frameworks for Promoting Physical Activity was to highlight opportunities and advance cooperation between parks, recreation, and public health researchers and practitioners that result in collaborations that influence public health decisions at the macro (agency) and micro (individual) levels. This article introduces the discussion on scientific and practice issues in parks, recreation, and public health. By establishing a baseline of frameworks for strengthening collaboration we hope to improve the health and quality of life through parks and recreation-based physical activity.

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COVID-19 crisis risks deeper European rifts on privacy

Emerald Expert Briefings ◽

10.1108/oxan-db252185 ◽

2020 ◽

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Public Participation ◽

Contact Tracing ◽

Health Crisis ◽

Content Type ◽

Public Health Crisis ◽

Travel Restrictions ◽

Digital Strategy ◽

Mass Surveillance ◽

The Eu

Subject New privacy guidelines. Significance The EU wants contact tracing apps for tackling COVID-19 to be effective, secure and privacy-compliant. Its efforts have exposed how its existing rules on data are adapting (or not) to the extraordinary public health crisis. Impacts Fear of mass surveillance and data breaches will reduce public participation in tracer apps, casting doubts over their effectiveness. The EU’s digital strategy, notably in terms of reviewing the effectiveness of GDPR, may be rethought in response to the COVID-19 crisis. If tracer apps are not inter-operable across national borders, lifting intra-EU travel restrictions will become harder.

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