RESET-APP: an app-based promotion of self-regulation for secondary school students-acceptance and usage behavior

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had an immense impact on psychic health. Children and adolescents are considered especially vulnerable which is why health promotion and prevention programs are important and should be designed in a motivating way to be attractive to this age group. The aim of this work is to investigate whether young people can be reached with the help of innovative digital formats for health promotion. Methods: An app-based training to promote self-regulation was offered to adolescents in lower secondary education in autumn 2020. Data were collected using an app. The types of motivation to participate in the training were analyzed. In addition, the students were able to rate the attractiveness of the training with the help of a self-designed evaluation sheet. Results: Of the 91 registered participants, 39.56% completed the study. In all, 40.91% of the students stated that the training was "very" helpful and 36.36% rated it as "quite" helpful. Although 50% of the respondents found the app-based training "modern and motivating", the other half would have preferred more personal support. Conclusion: The results confirm previous study results with health apps in children and adolescents. This age group is interested in digital formats, but health apps are not used continuously in this age group unless obligatory.

Cancer care services face unprecedented challenges post-pandemic

An introduction to articles in the issue is presented on topics including the importance of safety in relation to medication errors and the need for more care when discussing other sensitive issues.

The experience of countries in implementing the principles of "one health". Comparative review

Relevance: The global consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic emphasize today the importance of the concept of "One Health" for the health system, which provides for the use of a coordinated, joint, interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach to eliminate potential or existing risks arising at the interface of the "environment-animal-human-ecosystem". The aim of the work is to study the experience of countries in implementing the concept of "One Health". Search strategy: comparative analysis of publications on the research topic, sources indexed in the databases of the electronic library e-Library, Google Academy, Pubmed, Web of Science, Scopus. 26 countries from the European Union, South America and Africa were subject to analysis. The criteria defined are: institutional framework;mechanisms of intersectoral interaction and programs/tools for the implementation of the concept of "One Health". Results: The literature review provides a comparative analysis of the experience of implementing the concept of "One Health" in 26 countries. Realizing the importance of "One Health" in the general concept of public safety, countries have launched an active policy to promote it in the last decade. Characteristic features of country policies are the intersectoral approach with appropriate support from the government of the country, the activity of all participants in promoting the initiative and their investment.

The Benefits and Costs of Using Social Distancing to Flatten the Curve for COVID-19

We examine the net benefits of social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19 in USA. Social distancing saves lives but imposes large costs on society due to reduced economic activity. We use epidemiological and economic forecasting to perform a rapid benefit–cost analysis of controlling the COVID-19 outbreak. Assuming that social distancing measures can substantially reduce contacts among individuals, we find net benefits of about $5.2 trillion in our benchmark case. We examine the magnitude of the critical parameters that might imply negative net benefits, including the value of statistical life and the discount rate. A key unknown factor is the speed of economic recovery with and without social distancing measures in place. A series of robustness checks also highlight the key role of the value of mortality risk reductions and discounting in the analysis and point to a need for effective economic stimulus when the outbreak has passed.

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 immunization on a breast screening programme

BACKGROUND: A common secondary effect after SARS-CoV-2 immunization is an increased in size of the axillary lymph nodes ipsilateral to the vaccinated site. Eventually, an increased in size of the axillary lymph nodes may lead to a misinterpretation of the breast screening mammogram, performed in asymptomatic women between the age 50 to 69 years old for early breast cancer diagnosis. The aim of our research was to evaluate the impact of the vaccination for SARS-CoV-2 in the breast screening programmes in terms of recall rates and number of false positive results. As a secondary purpose we would analysed the protocols adopted by different breast screening units around the world after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. METHODS: Observational and retrospective study analysing breast screening mammograms from a single Breast Cancer Screening Unit in Madrid. The mammograms of previously vaccinated women were analysed, reviewing the axillary lymph nodes and the re-call rate secondary to axillary lymphadenopathies. RESULTS: Four hundred and twenty three screening mammograms were performed in May 2021 in the University Hospital Ramon y Cajal in Madrid, which is part of the Breast Screening Programme in Madrid, Spain. None of the women previously vaccinated for SARS-CoV-2 were recalled for complementary studies due to an increased in the axillary lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS: The protocol stablished by the Spanish Society of Breast Image that stands up for a routine breast screening mammogram after SARS-CoV-2 immunization, has no increase in the recall rate or increase in number of false positives.

Community pharmacy experience in SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection testing programs

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 infection was an unprecedented pandemic with unprecedented global health and socio-economic impact. More than 13 million cases had been confirmed in Spain by August 2022, and diagnostic testing to detect cases of infection in the country has helped to partially mitigate the spread of the virus. In 2021, the first self-testing antigen tests were marketed for dispensing in community pharmacies, and over-the-counter dispensing was allowed from July of that year. The network of community pharmacies played a key role, not only in the informed dispensing of these tests, but also in actively participating in the performance, supervision and reporting of results to the health authorities, and even in the issuing of digital certificates. A compilation has been made of all the available data on the subject, with a deadline of 13 February 2022, which is considered to be the end of the sixth wave of the epidemic in Spain. The results of the action taken by community pharmacies in twelve Autonomous Communities, which somehow participated in these initiatives by carrying out or supervising a total of 1,043,800 tests, from which 109,570 positive cases (10.5% of the total) were detected and reported to the National Health System, are presented in this article. Although the results are provisional, because many of the programmes are still ongoing, they are a clear demonstration of the potential that community pharmacies can play in Public Health work.

Compassionate mental healthcare relies on a valued workforce

A healthy and valued workforce is vital for safe and compassionate mental healthcare. That was my take-home from the recent senior leadership symposium on advancing and sustaining the mental health nursing workforce.

The effect of COVID-19 on students' mental health during quarantine and isolation

The COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in a global public health and mental health disaster and a massive negative psychosocial experience for students. The counteractive measures are mainly on epidemiology, prevention, and management of the COVID-19 infection, with little attention on mental health. From this background, this study sought to assess the effect of COVID-19 on students ' mental health during quarantine and isolation. An exploratory qualitative research design was applied to determine how COVID-19 affected students' mental health during quarantine and isolation. Purposive sampling was used to obtain cases deemed rich in information to ensure that saturation was reached. Thus, 12 students participated in the study. Data was collected through semi-structured face-to-face interviews. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using Tesch's method of data analysis. The trustworthiness of data was ensured through credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability. The study revealed that participants experienced behavioural changes during quarantine and isolation. Irregular sleeping patterns, difficulty in sleeping, and decreased appetite were the behavioural changes that the participants reported. The study also highlighted the coping techniques used by the participants during their quarantine and isolation periods. Religion and support from healthcare workers, family, and friends were some coping strategies that most participants believed to be beneficial. It is concluded that the COVID-19 pandemic poses an unprecedented threat to students ' mental health during quarantine and isolation.

Smallpox Immunization in Colonial America: All Too Relevant Today

Smallpox Immunization in Colonial America: All Too Relevant Today The Contagion of Liberty: The Politics of Smallpox in the American Revolution By Andrew Wehrman Baltimore, MD:Johns Hopkins Press;2022 Hardcover: 401 pp;$32.00 ISBN-10: 1-4214-4466-6 ISBN-13: 978-1-4214-4466-6

Impact of an automated reminder for HIV testing in general practice patient monitoring software during the COVID-19 pandemic

In 2017, the French National Health Authority (HAS) reassessed its human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening strategy and in 2018, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) set the goal of screening 95% of people living with HIV by 2030. The HAS recommends an approach based on target population and gives the general practitioner (GP) a key role in its implementation. It is therefore important to facilitate HIV testing by GPs and to reduce missed opportunities. To this end, a pilot study was conducted on a panel of 2,000 GPs over a 10-month period in 2020 in order to evaluate the impact of a pop-up displayed within prescription assistance software reminding about the frequency of targeted screening recommended by the HAS. The pop-up was displayed for patients with a history of sexually transmitted infection and/or hepatitis C and/or tuberculosis in the previous 12 months and without a known HIV serology or diagnosis. The impact was measured by comparing the prospective follow-up of consultations made during the "pilot" in 2020 with the retrospective follow-up of consultations made during the "pre-pilot" period in 2019. The results showed a significant increase in HIV serology prescriptions during the pilot study, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Difficulties in objectively identifying target patient profiles and in organizing regular follow-ups to HIV testing were also revealed. This pop-up tool represents an additional means of facilitating the prescription of HIV testing by GPs.

A PRESCRIPTION FOR CALAMITY: WHY THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR'S PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FALLS SHORT AS A SINGULAR SOLUTION TO THE U.S. OPIOID CRISIS

The purpose of this Note is to create a holistic solution for the U.S. Department of Labor to apply amidst the United States ongoing opioid crisis, which will serve to both prevent addiction before it can develop and treat existing cases of addiction. To this aim, this Note examines and analyzes the connections between the opioid crisis and another co-existing public health crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the procurement procedures taken to resolve them. The argument is developed throughout three sections. First, this Note provides background information demonstrating the detrimental impact of opioid misuse and addiction, as well as the impact that COVID-19 in particular has had on rates of misuse and addiction in the United States. ally, this section introduces efforts taken to resolve the crisis, including the Department of Labors Pharmacy Benefit Management program, which is the subject of this Note. Second, this Note examines the Department of Labors Pharmacy Benefit Program, addressing the singularly preventative nature of the program, which fails to support a holistic solution. Additionally, this Note addresses concerns relating to the use of pharmacy benefit management services in general, particularly the cost-increasing nature of such mechanisms. In the final section, following an examination of the procurement procedure used to acquire COVID-19 vaccines, this Note proposes the application of a similar pharmaceutical procurement approach to combatting the opioid crisis. To conclude, this Note argues that by contracting with pharmaceutical companies to develop a safer and less addictive treatment plan, the Department of Labor would be able to prevent, as well as treat, opioid addiction.

India's policy and programmatic response to mental health of young people: A narrative review

India's response to meet the mental health needs of 252 million young people between 15 and 24 years is guided by the Mental Healthcare Act 2017 (MHCA), which advocates a rights-based approach to receiving mental healthcare, the National Mental Health Policy 2014, and the National Mental Health Program operational since 1982. We undertook a comprehensive narrative review of policies, programs, and legislations across five ministries of the Government of India-Health and Family Welfare, Education, Women and Child Development, Youth Affairs and Sports, and Social Justice and Empowerment-over the last ten years to map their approach and identify enablers and barriers for promoting youth mental health in India. Our work builds on the previous reviews on children and adolescents' mental health in India and captures the rapidly advancing policy landscape amidst the new challenges and opportunities presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially the increasing acceptability of digital health interventions including tele-consultations. We note that all the five ministries recognized mental health as an important aspect of overall development and well-being of young people. However, their approach is fragmented and a comprehensive approach to youth mental health is missing in the Indian context. Having said that, many enablers for integration of preventive, promotive, and curative mental health interventions exist especially as mental health is increasingly being recognized as an integral part of the comprehensive primary healthcare. However, much needs to be done in terms of strategic planning for screening, early detection and treatment, and developing strong referral systems between community, schools and mental healthcare services. Effective implementation of MHCA, sustainable intersectoral integration of mental health across youth-oriented services, empowerment of young people, and judicious use of digital technology hold the key to reimagining the approach to advance young people's mental health in India.Copyright © 2022 The Authors

Developing public health capacities of frontline public health workforce in Uttarakhand

Recent COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of increase in the ability of public health workforce to detect and respond to the public health threats. For timely implementation of an adequate response and mitigation measure, the standardized and sustainable capacity building programme for frontline public health workforce is the need of hour. National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in partnership with U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), developed a three-month in-service Basic Epidemiology Training programme. This is a tailor-made programme for frontline public health workforce to strengthen epidemiological skills. This training was a practical interactive approach to field epidemiology for three months on the job training for frontline public health workforce that addressed the critical skills needed to conduct surveillance effectively at the local level while focusing on improving disease detection, reporting and feedback. The training also demonstrated the role of learning model in form of interaction between the mentor and the mentees. The importance of handhold support given by the mentors to the mentees in quality outbreak investigations and documentation.

A survey on the use of remote consultation for people with intellectual disability: The experience of community intellectual disability teams

Since COVID-19, remote consultation (by telephone and video) has become widespread. This study investigated the experience of using remote consultation in Specialist Intellectual Disability Community services. A total of 126 health staff working across eight Specialist Intellectual Disability Community teams in the NHS Health Board of Greater Glasgow and Clyde were asked to complete a short Likert-scale survey about remote consultation. There were 61 (48%) respondents from a range of disciplines. Overall, respondents were positive about remote consultation but found it was often inadequate to complete a full patient assessment. Moving forwards, respondents wanted around 60% of all consultations to remain face-to-face. It was significantly more difficult to engage and communicate with patients with more severe levels of disability. Remote consultation has been successful, but there is still a need for face-to-face assessment in intellectual disability services, particularly when working with people with more severe levels of disability.

Community-based participatory research using community activation and peer support through churches

Participatory research involves working "with" rather than "on" communities. This chapter provides a case study to provide illustration of how effective partnerships can improve health outcomes within community settings. The partnership described in this chapter was developed between the Pasifika community living across Sydney and a university-based research team. The primary aim of this partnership was to work collaboratively on strategies to prevent diabetes and its harms through churches. This partnership was also available to help expedite COVID-19 awareness through this at-risk community, as well as other health initiatives. The chapter illustrates how participatory research frameworks guided the development and maintenance of the relationship with the community throughout the research program and beyond. In particular, the chapter focuses on the church setting and how this came to be identified as being the best setting to reach the Sydney Pasifika community. It also describes the initial steps in the relationship building with key community leaders and the planning of a church-based program to reduce the impact of diabetes in Pasifika communities, guided by a Pasifika community reference group. Last, the chapter explains how a long-term relationship has been maintained with the community to deliver an effective program together, and how further opportunities have been established for the research team to support the Pasifika community outside of the primary research program. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Can bigger health budgets cushion pandemics? An empirical test of COVID-19 deaths across the world

How has public healthcare spending prepared countries for tackling the COVID-19 pandemic? Arguably, spending is the primary policy tool of governments for providing effective health. We argue that the effectiveness of spending for reducing COVID deaths is conditional on the existence of healthcare equity and lower political corruption because the health sector is particularly susceptible to political spending. Our results, obtained using ordinary least squares and two-stage least squares estimations, suggest that higher spending targeted at reducing inequitable access to health has reduced COVID deaths. Consistent with the findings of others, our results indirectly suggest that health spending is necessary, but not sufficient unless accompanied by good governance and equitable access. Equitable health systems ease the effects of COVID presumably because they allow states to reach and treat people more effectively. Spending aimed at increasing health system capacity by increasing access thus seems a sound strategy for fighting the spread of disease, ultimately benefiting us all.

Helping students C.O.P.E.: Effects of a mental health program on adolescents with challenging behaviors

Mental health concerns are rising among adolescents and have intensified since the COVID-19 pandemic (APA, 2020). Specifically, externalizing behavior challenges perceived by adults as 'aggressive' place adolescents at an increased risk for negative outcomes, including poor academic achievement and involvement with the juvenile justice system (Skiba et al., 2014). Schools have a responsibility to respond to the mental health needs of adolescent students through the implementation of evidence-based intervention (Domitrovich et al., 2010). One program that has demonstrated effectiveness towards improving these outcomes is the seven-session Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment (COPE) Teen program, a cognitive-behavioral skills-building intervention. In this study, the COPE program was delivered virtually, through a culturally responsive lens, to three high school students with ongoing aggressive behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was hypothesized that the frequency and intensity of the aggressive behavior would decrease for each participant as a function of the COPE program. The behavior was operationally defined for each student and measured through direct observation by parents in the home setting. A single case multiple-baseline design was implemented. Visual analysis of data suggest that the frequency and intensity of aggressive behavior did not decrease as a function of the COPE program, indicating no intervention effect. Supplementary statistical analyses (e.g., log-response ratios) found varied intervention effects among students, ranging from no effects to small effects. Further, participants reported the COPE program as a helpful way to manage stress and would recommend it to their peers. The study results, limitations, and implications for future research are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Long Covid: definition, diagnosis and management

This article, the first in a three-part series on Long Covid, provides a definition of post-Covid-19 syndrome and Long Covid. It highlights the considerations for diagnosis and an overview of the management of commonly reported symptoms through the experience of one of the 90 NHS England commissioned post Covid (Long Covid) assessment clinics, in addition to lived experiences of persons with Long Covid (PwLC). The next two articles in this series will look at the use of digital technology in Long Covid self-management and virtual group assessments.

Child vaccination schedule: new risks and tackling hesitancy: Uptake of childhood vaccines shows a worrying fall due to several factors, but nurses can answer parents' questions and allay vaccination fears

New data show vaccination coverage for young children fell in 2021-22 for virtually all programmes. Uptake was falling before the pandemic, and COVID-19 is likely to have had a further effect on parents having their children vaccinated.