Community-Based Healthcare for Migrants and Refugees: A Scoping Literature Review of Best Practices.

BACKGROUND: Strengthening community-based healthcare is a valuable strategy to reduce health inequalities and improve the integration of migrants and refugees into local communities in the European Union. However, little is known about how to effectively develop and run community-based healthcare models for migrants and refugees. Aiming at identifying the most-promising best practices, we performed a scoping review of the international academic literature into effective community-based healthcare models and interventions for migrants and refugees as part of the Mig-HealthCare project. METHODS: A systematic search in PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus databases was conducted in March 2018 following the PRISMA methodology. Data extraction from eligible publications included information on general study characteristics, a brief description of the intervention/model, and reported outcomes in terms of effectiveness and challenges. Subsequently, we critically assessed the available evidence per type of healthcare service according to specific criteria to establish a shortlist of the most promising best practices. RESULTS: In total, 118 academic publications were critically reviewed and categorized in the thematic areas of mental health (n = 53), general health services (n = 36), noncommunicable diseases (n = 13), primary healthcare (n = 9), and women's maternal and child health (n = 7). CONCLUSION: A set of 15 of the most-promising best practices and tools in community-based healthcare for migrants and refugees were identified that include several intervention approaches per thematic category. The elements of good communication, the linguistic barriers and the cultural differences, played crucial roles in the effective application of the interventions. The close collaboration of the various stakeholders, the local communities, the migrant/refugee communities, and the partnerships is a key element in the successful implementation of primary healthcare provision.

National Dietary Guidelines of Greece for children and adolescents: a tool for promoting healthy eating habits.

OBJECTIVE: Dietary guidelines are an essential policy tool for facilitating optimal dietary patterns and healthy eating behaviours. We report: (i) the methodological approach adopted for developing the National Dietary Guidelines of Greece (NDGGr) for Infants, Children and Adolescents; and (ii) the guidelines for children aged 1-18 years. DESIGN: An evidence-based approach was employed to develop food-based recommendations according to the methodologies of the WHO, FAO and European Food Safety Authority. Physical activity recommendations were also compiled. Food education, healthy eating tips and suggestions were also provided. SETTING: The NDGGr encompass food-based nutritional and physical activity recommendations for promoting healthy dietary patterns and eating behaviours and secondarily to serve as a helpful tool for the prevention of childhood overweight and obesity. RESULTS: The NDGGr include food-based recommendations, food education and health promotion messages regarding: (i) fruits; (ii) vegetables; (iii) milk and dairy products; (iv) cereals; (v) red and white meat; (vi) fish and seafood; (vii) eggs; (viii) legumes; (ix) added lipids, olives, and nuts; (x) added sugars and salt; (xi) water and beverages, and (xii) physical activity. A Nutrition Wheel, consisting of the ten most pivotal key messages, was developed to enhance the adoption of optimal dietary patterns and a healthy lifestyle. The NDGGr additionally provide recommendations regarding the optimal frequency and serving sizes of main meals, based on the traditional Greek diet. CONCLUSIONS: As a policy tool for promoting healthy eating, the NDGGr have been disseminated in public schools across Greece.

Use of Protective Eyewear During Recreational Activities in Adults of the United States: Analysis from the 2016 National Health Interview Survey.

PURPOSE: Eye injuries occur frequently in the United States resulting in vision loss. Protective eyewear (PE) is a simple, effective way to prevent these injuries. The study aims to evaluate characteristics associated with no PE usage in hopes to better understand factors that may be targeted to alleviate future injuries. METHODS: Individuals from the 2016 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) who performed recreational activities that could cause eye injury were divided into two groups - those with and without PE usage during these activities - and compared on several variables consisting of age group, gender, race, family income, ability to afford eyeglasses, employment, wearing of corrective lenses, and visitation with general and eye care providers. Statistical analyses were performed with SAS controlling for the complex same design via chi-square tests and logistic regression. RESULTS: From a total of 8,199 subjects, those who are female, Asian, black, Hispanic, ages 18-24 years old, have a family income <$35,000, unemployed, not wearers of corrective lenses, and have not seen a general or eye care provider showed increased no PE usage according to chi-square analysis. With multivariate analysis, only race, gender, age, and wearing of corrective lenses correlated to PE usage. CONCLUSIONS: Comparing 2002 and 2016 NHIS, PE usage had increased from 34.7% to 65.1%. Individuals who were younger, female, of a minority race, or who did not wear corrective lenses had increased odds of not using PE during recreational activities. Prevention should target these associated groups in efforts to reduce recreational eye injuries.