Showing papers in "Journal of Public Health Policy in 2006"
TL;DR: This discussion encompasses differing risk perceptions of terrorist threats and consequences of attacks, and how fear and anxiety interact with behavioural responses to amplify or attenuate perceptions that can be modified through risk communication undertaken by authorities.
Abstract: Governments and commentators perceive the public to be prone to panic in response to terrorist attacks – conventional or involving chemical, biological or radiological weapons. Evidence from five such incidents suggests that the public is not prone to panic, although people can change their behaviours and attitudes to reduce the risk of themselves being exposed to a terrorist incident. Behavioural responses may be divided into acts of omission, such as not making unnecessary journeys, and acts of commission, such as taking prophylactic medication despite the inherent risk of side effects. Evidence suggests that the public are aware of these differences, and tend to adopt responses proportionate to the risk. Drawing upon the literature in the social and natural sciences, our discussion encompasses differing risk perceptions of terrorist threats and consequences of attacks. How do fear and anxiety interact with behavioural responses to amplify or attenuate perceptions that can be modified through risk communication undertaken by authorities?
77 citations
TL;DR: The notion of seasonality is introduced by outlining several of its factors, using as illustrations respiratory and enteric water- or food-borne infections.
Abstract: Seasonality, a systematic periodic occurrence of events over the course of a year, is a well-known phenomenon in life and health sciences. Understanding seasonal fluctuations in diseases patterns presents us with a major challenge. To develop efficient strategies for disease prevention and control, we need to grasp the main determinants of temporal variations and their interactions. This paper will introduce the notion of seasonality by outlining several of its factors, using as illustrations respiratory and enteric water- or food-borne infections.
68 citations
TL;DR: Strong evidence for newsworthiness is found, and a tendency for coverage to highlight policy approaches to tackling tobacco, and areas where tobacco control efforts seem to pushing against ideological boundaries are revealed.
Abstract: Media advocacy, or advocacy seeking media attention, can shape the policy environment, but the relationship between the nature of news media coverage of public health topics and policy outcomes has received insufficient research attention. We present the first large-scale study of news coverage of tobacco to focus on the potential impact for policy outcomes. Through our analysis of 9859 tobacco-focused news articles from ioo leading US daily newspapers between 2001 and 2003 we examined whether tobacco issues are newsworthy, and if so, whether coverage is favorable to policy progress. We found strong evidence for news-worthiness, and a tendency for coverage to highlight policy approaches to tackling tobacco. Coverage emphasized successes rather than setbacks, and newspaper editors lent support to tobacco control positions. There were, however, areas that did not garner sufficient attention to sustain a meaningful policy message. Our analysis of coverage of controversial issues also revealed areas where tobacco control efforts seem to pushing against ideological boundaries.
62 citations
TL;DR: In 2005, at the request of the World Health Organization, field comparisons of the promises and practices of two leading food companies, McDonald’s and Kraft Foods, as expressed in the United States are conducted.
Abstract: Non-communicable conditions such as heart disease and cancer now account for the majority of all deaths worldwide (1). Obesity contributes to these conditions and its rising rates, especially among children, elicit much concern. In the United States, obesity rates among children have more than doubled since the late 1970s (2), and similar trends are occurring in most other countries (3). At issue are the causes of childhood obesity and the actions needed to reverse these trends. As a result of increasing evidence that advertising induces children to eat too much of the wrong kinds of food (4), food marketing has emerged as an obvious target for action. Food (including beverage) companies have come under increasing pressure to produce more nutritious products and to market them more responsibly, and many have promised to do so. No agency, however, holds food companies accountable for such promises. In 2005, at the request of the World Health Organization (WHO), we conducted field comparisons of the promises and practices of two leading food companies, McDonald’s and Kraft Foods, as expressed in the United States. This paper describes the rationale for these comparisons, our findings, and their implications for national policies to prevent childhood obesity.
58 citations
TL;DR: Examination of the impact of obesity on the prevalence of four doctor-diagnosed chronic diseases in Senegal and South Africa reveals that obese respondents were 4.7, 2.8, and 4.8% more likely to face the risks of arthritis, diabetes, and heart diseases in South Africa and Senegal than their lean counterparts.
Abstract: While inadequate food and communicable infectious diseases have been a concern of researchers and policy makers in Africa, little attention has been given to obesity and chronic, non-communicable diseases. Africa is not usually associated with obesity and chronic diseases. Yet there has been a sharp rise in the incidence of obesity and chronic diseases, a major public health problem in many countries. The paper examines the impact of obesity on the prevalence of four doctor-diagnosed chronic diseases in Senegal and South Africa. The results reveal that obese respondents were 4.7, 2.8, and 4.8% more likely to face the risks of arthritis, diabetes, and heart diseases in South Africa and 6.5 and 7.4% more likely to face the risks of heart disease and asthma in Senegal than their lean counterparts. Obesity imposes a real and substantial danger, affecting the prevalence of chronic diseases. Unchecked it can be a major public health problem, impose a serious challenge to the health sector, and can jeopardize future developments.
58 citations
TL;DR: Light is shed on the tobacco industry's strategy to have governments reducing their tobacco tax and Quebec offers an example of how tobacco control activists can transform defeat into the cornerstone of a comprehensive tobacco control policy.
Abstract: We identify factors that led a regional government (Quebec, Canada) to opt for a reduction of its tobacco tax to combat tobacco smuggling. Then we explore the fallout of Quebec's tobacco-tax rollback on its tobacco control policy. We conducted qualitative research using a case-study design and multiple sources of data. We applied the Advocacy Coalition Framework in respect of data collection and analysis. Advocates of the tobacco-tax rollback framed the contraband problem in a way that won the support of an array of actors. However, anti-tobacco activists succeeded in convincing the government to invest more in tobacco control. The new resources were instrumental in enhancing the activists' ability to promote legislative measures. Our approach sheds light on the tobacco industry's strategy to have governments reducing their tobacco tax. Quebec offers an example of how tobacco control activists can transform defeat into the cornerstone of a comprehensive tobacco control policy.
41 citations
TL;DR: There was a statistically significant decrease in mortality among all subgroups of children in both sexes and the slopes are greater among the younger children (0–4, 5–9 years) than the older ones (10–14 years).
Abstract: Of interest is how some countries have achieved a profound reduction of child injury mortality. Still little is reported on the impact of a combination of urban planning, social welfare development and safety measures. We therefore present trends in childhood (0-14 years) injury mortality in Sweden 1966-2001 and discuss the factors behind any reductions observed. Annual total and cause-specific injury mortality rates were computed by age subgroups and gender. Trend analyses were performed with year as independent and mortality rate as dependent variable. A piecewise linear function was fitted to the annual mortality rates. Data were categorized into five 7-year intervals. In total, there were 5264 deaths due to injury in the study population during the period 1966-2001, of which 3368 (64%) were of boys and 1896 (36%) girls. The most frequent external cause of death was transport injury (48%), drowning (14%), homicide (5.8%), fire (5%), and fall (2.7%). About 66% (n=3474) of deaths occurred during the first half of the study period (1966-1981) with an average incidence rate of mortality 13.0 compared to 5.6 per 100,000 inhabitants during the second half of the period (1982-2001). For total injuries, there was a statistically significant decrease in mortality among all subgroups of children in both sexes. The slopes are greater among the younger children (0-4, 5-9 years) than the older ones (10-14 years). Several factors behind this strong decline of childhood injury mortality of interest to evaluate are (i) the implementation of the functionalist architectural style including transport separation, legislation and safety in cars; (ii) the expansion of public child day-care centers including more organized leisure activities; (iii) the establishment of long-term nationwide mandatory program for swim training among school children and (iv) local child-safety programs considering differences in exposure to risk between urban and rural areas.
35 citations
TL;DR: It is recommended that environmental and occupational links to cancer be given serious consideration by individuals and institutions concerned with cancer prevention, particularly those involved in research and public education.
Abstract: We recently completed a review of scientific evidence, particularly epidemiologic evidence, regarding the contribution of environmental and occupational exposures to the overall cancer burden in the US. We evaluated the efforts to estimate the proportion of cancer due to these involuntary exposures, including the ambitious effort by Doll and Peto and an update by a group of authors at the Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention. In this paper, we critique these efforts, and their resulting estimates of the proportion of cancer due to various factors. We also provide an alternative interpretation of the evidence and a caution against the very idea of attributing specific fractions or proportions of cancer to particular factors. We conclude by recommending that environmental and occupational links to cancer be given serious consideration by individuals and institutions concerned with cancer prevention, particularly those involved in research and public education. We support the new initiative in the European Union to evaluate chemicals more fully before they reach the market.
30 citations
TL;DR: The historical significance of military organizations and national security concerns for vaccine development in the United States are examined.
Abstract: World War II marked a watershed in the history of vaccine development as the military, in collaboration with academia and industry, achieved unprecedented levels of innovation in response to war-enhanced disease threats such as influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia. In the 1940s alone, wartime programs contributed to the development of new or significantly improved vaccines for 10 of the 28 vaccine-preventable diseases identified in the 20th century. This article examines the historical significance of military organizations and national security concerns for vaccine development in the United States.
28 citations
25 citations
TL;DR: An overview of policies and administrative structures in Quebec to support public health and address socially determined inequalities in health is provided and insight to their core content is offered.
Abstract: While Canada's international leadership in the area of health promotion has been widely acknowledged in the past, Quebec's approach could be better known. Canada's second largest province has indeed developed a comprehensive public health infrastructure and adopted a population health approach which features an integrated set of legislative, organizational and programmatic policy instruments. These instruments not only ensure the core functions of public health, but also foster public intervention on the social determinants of health. In addition, Quebec's policy is supported by a solid research infrastructure, networked expertise and a mobilized workforce among health professionals. In spite of the interest it represents for the larger public health community in Canada and elsewhere, this largely French-speaking province's approach remains little known because of language and cultural barriers between Quebec and Anglo-Saxon countries, and it has yet to be systematically discussed in the English-language literature. This article provides an overview of policies and administrative structures in Quebec to support public health and address socially determined inequalities in health. It analyzes the development of these policies over the past decade and offers insight to their core content.
TL;DR: To support other countries beyond conveying the lessons, Cuba now offers specially trained personnel to cooperate immediately with any country suffering a natural disaster, and to improve protection of developing countries from an increasing onslaught of natural disasters.
Abstract: Inadequate preparation for national disasters is frequently particularly devastating in lower income countries. The Cuba's location has a diversity of potential natural disasters, including hurricanes, non-tropical depressions, tropical storms, tropical cyclones, and severe local storms, all with intense rains and winds, earthquakes and droughts. Cuban preparation, at all levels, is geared to these predominant threats. Planning for natural disasters is integral to the political and economic life of Cuba, nationally and locally. On several occasions, United Nations (UN) officials have pointed to Cuba as a model for developing countries preparing for hurricanes and other natural disasters. A global policy for managing the risks of natural disasters could improve continuity of assistance for development and reduce the necessity of humanitarian aid. Planning in advance of disasters is a feasible way of helping people, by reducing expenses of emergencies, recuperation, and reconstruction. As climate changes accelerate, many researchers fear a period of irreversible and uncontrollable change. While the atmosphere continues to warm, it generates more intense rains, more frequent heat waves, and more ferocious storms. Thus, achieving better protection of developing countries from an increasing onslaught of natural disasters will only grow in importance. Even though Cuba's contribution to know-how has been recognized by United Nations' officials, progress toward more adequate preparation worldwide has been slow. To support other countries beyond conveying the lessons, Cuba now offers specially trained personnel to cooperate immediately with any country suffering a natural disaster.
TL;DR: It is argued that it is premature to conclude that BSE is ineffective, and policymakers and health professionals are cautioned that a prudent approach to BSE promotion should be taken.
Abstract: Breast cancer is a serious health concern and a disease that is not well understood. Early detection remains the best way to prevent debilitation and death. Traditionally, mammography, clinical breast examination (CBE), and breast self examination (BSE) have been accepted as legitimate breast screening modalities. Over the past 5 years, academics, health professionals, and policymakers have seriously questioned the usefulness of BSE after influential organizations such as the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care downgraded their BSE recommendation citing fair evidence of no benefit and good evidence of harm. We briefly review the three large BSE trials, highlighting methodological weaknesses limiting their ability to evaluate its effectiveness, as well as critique the 2001 Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care report on BSE. We argue that it is premature to conclude that BSE is ineffective. Given that most women find their own breast cancer, this article cautions policymakers and health professionals that a prudent approach to BSE promotion should be taken.
TL;DR: The issues involved in some of the changes made in the Bush Administration's reproductive health policies are discussed, and the implications for future policy and women's health are considered.
Abstract: The current Bush Administration has made dramatic changes in US domestic and international reproductive health policies. This paper discusses the issues involved in some of these changes, and it considers likely developments in this area during the remainder of George W. Bush's second term. The first section of the paper defines the term reproductive health and presents a framework for classifying reproductive health policies. The second section examines changes that the Administration has made in domestic family planning policies. The third section looks at analogous changes in American assistance for reproductive health internationally. The final section considers the implications of these trends for future policy and women's health.
TL;DR: The rise of corruption risk assessment in the health sector in kosovo, the russo japanese war in history and mini camera md80 manual.
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TL;DR: This review of several dimensions of health priority setting in nine countries sheds light on the interrelationship between convergence and embeddedness and reconfirms that within a co-existence of convergence and divergence, there are clusters of convergence, primarily at the ideational and social value levels.
Abstract: Recently, various theories of convergence of health care systems have been presented. This review of several dimensions of health priority setting in nine countries sheds light on the interrelationship between convergence and embeddedness. It reconfirms that within a co-existence of convergence and divergence, there are clusters of convergence, primarily at the ideational and social value levels. However, our findings suggest that the variation across different substantive levels is less clear cut than suggested by others. Moreover, the variation between different procedural aspects of convergence appears more significant. Certain ideas involving the need for rationing, the role of market mechanisms, and cost containment have gained recognition by health policy makers across countries, but this has not guaranteed their adoption. Our analysis demonstrates that despite these signs of a convergence at the conceptual level, policy content and the preferred policy instruments for implementing such policy continue to vary widely across these countries.
TL;DR: In post-conflict period, medical journals have a responsibility to participate in peace-building and reconciliation efforts by publishing good scientific articles regardless of their place or country of origin, re-establishing contacts with colleagues from the opposing sides, striving for the multiethnic or multinational Editorial and Advisory Boards, and engaging in collaborative research and regional initiatives.
Abstract: Medical journals and their editors have a unique responsibility in armed conflicts. The experience of the Croatian Medical Journal during and after the 1991–1995 war in Croatia shows how a medical journal can survive, help others and learn in times of war. The first duty of a medical journal in such circumstances is to publish scientific articles on various aspects of war medicine, and to document cases of human rights abuses. In small scientific communities, editors can offer their expertise and assist authors in writing and publishing war-related research and reports. In post-conflict period, medical journals have a responsibility to participate in peace-building and reconciliation efforts. They can do so by publishing good scientific articles regardless of their place or country of origin, re-establishing contacts with colleagues from the opposing sides, striving for the multiethnic or multinational Editorial and Advisory Boards, and engaging in collaborative research and regional initiatives.
TL;DR: Research on the effects of heavy drinking on next-day neurocognitive and simulated occupational performance is mixed and suggests that further research is needed to determine the safety of current “bottle-to-throttle” times.
Abstract: Current US federal regulations on occupational alcohol use for safety-sensitive jobs do not account for impairment from low doses of alcohol and next day effects of heavy drinking. Research on the effects of low doses of alcohol on neurocognitive and simulated occupational tasks suggests that the current per se level of these regulations is set too high. Research on the effects of heavy drinking on next-day neurocognitive and simulated occupational performance is mixed and suggests that further research is needed to determine the safety of current “bottle-to-throttle” times. Although low-dose and residual drinking effects may pose low relative risk for occupational error, the aggregate contribution of these exposures to workplace problems may be substantial, given the number of people exposed.
TL;DR: One of the books that can be recommended for new readers is crusade to immunize the world s children, which is not kind of difficult book to read.
Abstract: Preparing the books to read every day is enjoyable for many people. However, there are still many people who also don't like reading. This is a problem. But, when you can support others to start reading, it will be better. One of the books that can be recommended for new readers is crusade to immunize the world s children. This book is not kind of difficult book to read. It can be read and understand by the new readers.
TL;DR: The author of a recent book inferred that the slowed decline in US vehicle fatality rates in the 1990 s relative to other industrialized countries resulted from too much emphasis on vehicle factors, and claimed that Canada had the same vehicle mix but a lower fatality rate.
Abstract: The author of a recent book inferred that the slowed decline in US vehicle fatality rates in the 1990 s relative to other industrialized countries resulted from too much emphasis on vehicle factors. He claimed that Canada had the same vehicle mix but a lower fatality rate. Actually, US death rates by make and model applied to Canadian vehicle sales indicates that Canada's death rate would be the same as the US if Canada had the same vehicle mix and annual miles driven. The US had much greater growth in sales of large SUVs and pickup trucks that are heavier and stiffer than passenger cars, contributing to excess deaths of other road users in collisions. They are also more unstable, contributing to excess deaths of their occupants in rollovers. Lack of policy regarding these vehicle characteristics is the primary reason for the attenuated decline in vehicular fatality rates.
TL;DR: The importance of reframing child pedestrian injury risk as a livability issue is discussed, increasing awareness about the potential impact of environmental changes to improve public safety, and the need for a formal efficient process to facilitate communication between local government and other stakeholders is discussed.
Abstract: Local-level public health interventions require action from multiple agencies, organizations and individuals, yet little is known about how best to work with stakeholders to facilitate change. We sought local stakeholders' perspectives on how best to address impediments to implementing interventions designed to reduce child pedestrian injury by improving the pedestrian environment. We conducted 20 in-person, key informant interviews with people who would be the likely advocates for environmental change to improve the pedestrian environment in one US city, Baltimore, Maryland. We discuss the importance of reframing child pedestrian injury risk as a livability issue, increasing awareness about the potential impact of environmental changes to improve public safety, and the need for a formal efficient process to facilitate communication between local government and other stakeholders. These findings provide public health professionals and advocates with useful insight into how local stakeholders view the issue and their perspectives on how best to achieve change.
TL;DR: Arkansas' legislative initiatives to reduce childhood obesity since the Arkansas Legislature passed Act 1220 in 2003, as described in ACHI, are described.
Abstract: To the Editors: As recognized in your special section entitled ''Legal Approaches to the Obesity Epidemic'' in Vol. 25, the relentless increase in childhood obesity demands that we intensify legal intervention efforts. Improvement (ACHI), described Arkansas' legislative initiatives to reduce childhood obesity since the Arkansas Legislature passed Act 1220 in 2003. In brief, Act 1220 established the Arkansas Child Health Advisory Committee to make nutrition and physical activity policy recommendations to the State Board of Education and the State Board of Health. It prohibited vending machines in all elementary schools. It required schools to report all money received from food and beverage contracts, mandated the creation of community advisory committees, and called for the incorporation of nutrition and physical activity goals in school planning and reporting. Most notably, the Act requires that body mass index (BMI) measurements of all Arkansas school children be taken and reported to parents/guardians.
TL;DR: Bernier et al. as discussed by the authors provided an in-depth analysis of the public health infrastructure and mechanisms in Quebec to ensure progressive public health policies, and pointed out that placing the main responsibility for social inequalities on the shoulders of public health can lead to an important unanticipated and adverse outcome, the disengagement of the government's jurisdictions other than health from any responsibility for action on conditions that affect health improvement.
Abstract: Quebec has a distinctive character among the Canadian provinces not only because of its majority French-speaking population, its culture, its social democratic values, and its institutions, but also because of the flamboyant style of its public policies and legislation. The article by Bernier in the last issue of the Journal stresses this distinctive character as applied to public health and healthcare (i). Leaning on rigorous and meticulous research, Bernier provides an in-depth analysis of the public health infrastructure and mechanisms in Quebec to ensure progressive public health policies. The close integration of health and social services and a comprehensive view of public health that encompasses social determinants of health have served as a framework for planning and implementing progressive public policies. Placing the main responsibility for social and economic inequalities on the shoulders of public health can, however, lead to an important unanticipated and adverse outcome, the disengagement of the government's jurisdictions other than health from any responsibility for action on conditions that affect health improvement. As public health is located within the jurisdictional domain of healthcare, there are limits on its potential for action. It lacks the levers to intervene effectively in other jurisdictions. Legislation giving the Minister of Health and Social Services the right to advise other Ministers on their policies that may affect population health is not fully operational. Ironically, the law is not reciprocal. The Minister of Health and Social Services need not seek advice from
TL;DR: This paper addresses three questions: What relevant legislation on prevention currently exists, and why should public health policy, practice, and research focus not only causes of disease and injuries, but also on factors promoting health.
Abstract: Prevention in Norway and in Europe more generally, is a multidisciplinary collaboration between many professions, organized largely in municipalities, villages, and counties. This paper addresses three questions:
What relevant legislation on prevention currently exists?
What are the perspectives of ongoing activities and their intentions?
What are the strategic issues?
TL;DR: An NIH consensus panel should be convened to set standards, analogous to Common Toxicity Criteria (CTC) criteria, to classify the severity of different types of indirect, non-research-related risk, and case-based training modules should be developed and incorporated into public health research ethics courses and training programs.
Abstract: The paper presents an analysis of policy directives needed to respond to threats of harm (e.g., violence against third parties) that may arise in the course of conducting descriptive epidemiological research with high-risk populations. It identifies two key areas where new policies must be developed to guide researchers conducting such investigations. The paper recommends that: (1) an NIH consensus panel be convened to set standards, analogous to Common Toxicity Criteria (CTC) criteria, to classify the severity of different types of indirect, non-research-related risk; and (2) case-based training modules be developed and incorporated into public health research ethics courses and training programs, to enhance researcher judgments in determining the likelihood of harm in different situations. In addition, researchers, Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) and community advisory groups must consider the issue of staff safety and the effectiveness of available responses to reduce the threat of harm. The author reviews and discusses implications for informed consent and IRB review.