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Commentary on: Tomalin E, Sadgrove J, Summers R. Health, faith and therapeutic landscapes: places of worship as black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) public health settings in the United Kingdom. Soc Sci Med 2019;230:57–65.
Further research is needed to understand how faith can influence health behaviours of members of faith-based communities. Public health professionals should recognise that places of worship provide a point for people from same faith and especially for those from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities (in the UK context) to come together.
Individuals’ faith plays an important role in their ways of living and day-to-day choices. The relationship between faith and improved health outcomes, especially with regard to individuals from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) community has been a focus of recent research.
Commentary on: Sanders CJ, Lindenmeyer MA, Marriott J. A meta-ethnography of adult smokers’ exploring the meanings of tobacco dependency medications adherence behaviours during smoking cessation. J Adv Nurs 2019. doi: 10.1111/jan.14146. [Epub ahead of print: 09 Jul 2019].
Understanding smokers’ perspectives and willpower are necessary for effective health communications and smoking cessation practices. Further research is needed to understand resistance to tobacco dependence medications and tailored smoking cessation interventions.
The detrimental effect of smoking on health is well known. Over 8 million deaths worldwide are associated with smoking; 7 million deaths result from direct tobacco use.
Commentary on: Harris T, Limb ES, Hosking F, et al. Effect of pedometer-based walking interventions on long-term health outcomes: prospective 4-year follow-up of two randomised controlled trials using routine primary care data. PLoS Med 2019;16:e1002836.
A primary care pedometer-based intervention can be an effective and scalable approach for increasing physical activity, and potentially improving long-term health outcomes. Further research is needed for testing the effects of comparable physical activity to identify if outcomes differ across diseases depending on the length of follow-up and change in the physical activity levels.
Long-term diseases are a priority health concern globally, and associated with considerable disease burden,
Commentary on: Ward LM, Cooper SA, Hughes-McCormack L, et al. Oral health of adults with intellectual disabilities: a systematic review. J Intellet Disabil Res 2019;63:1359–78. doi:10.1111/jir.12632
Larger, higher-quality studies are needed to investigate the oral health needs of adults with intellectual disabilities. Specific training in oral hygiene care and oral disease management should be given when working with adults with intellectual disabilities.
Poor oral health can have a harmful influence on an individual’s self-esteem, self-image, social interaction, stress, mood and can cause other health problems.
Commentary on: Hajek P, Phillips-Waller A, Przulj D, et al. A randomized trial of E-cigarettes versus nicotine-replacement therapy. N Engl J Med 2019;380:629-37. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1808779.
Nurses need to design evidence-based research studies on the prevention of smoking using e-cigarettes or nicotine-replacement therapy to improve health. Nurses should support patients’ treatment preferences and values, based on evidence-based practice guidelines for smoking cessation.
A total of 34.3 million people are smokers in the USA.
Eight hundred and eighty-six participants underwent randomisation by assigning two groups from...
Commentary on: Heslehurst N, Vieira R, Akhter Z, et al. The association between maternal body mass index and child obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS Medicine 2019;16:e1002817. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002817.
When designing strategies to prevent childhood obesity, the weight status of women prepregnancy is a potential target for intervention. Research is needed to identify interventions that are effective in reducing the prevalence of maternal prepregnancy obesity.
Obesity is associated with adverse health outcomes across life. The rise in its global prevalence is therefore one of the most important public health challenges of our time.
Obesity tracks across life and so interventions to reduce its prevalence and minimise its lifelong consequences need to commence early in life.
Commentary on: Harris KM, Kneale D, Lasserson TJ, et al. School-based self-management interventions for asthma in children and adolescents: a mixed methods systematic review. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2019;1:CD011651. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD011651.pub2.
School intervention programmes directed towards self-management of asthma among school-aged children helped to improve knowledge and attitudes towards asthma. The programmes lead to a decrease in length of the hospitalisation and admission to emergency units, as well as alleviation in severity and complications of asthma symptoms, thereby improving school performance and attendance. Future research should focus on studying the effect of asthma-friendly school settings as a supportive learning environment for asthma school-aged children in improving their health status and school performance.
Asthma is a common chronic disease that is estimated to affect as many as 339 million people worldwide and is a leading cause of morbidity...
Commentary on: Franse CB, van Grieken A, Alhambra-Borrás T, et al. The effectiveness of a coordinated preventive care approach for healthy ageing (UHCE) among older persons in five European cities: a pre-post controlled trial. Int J Nurs Stud. 2018; 88:153–162. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2018.
Primary healthcare service coordination among independent older adults can improve the effectiveness, safety and efficiency of a healthcare system and deliver safer and more effective care. Research to examine the cumulative effects of coordinated preventive care, implemented at age 65 for a period of 5–10 years may reveal a legacy effect related to early health intervention.
The health of older adults can become more complex with each passing year. Multiple comorbidities and decreased capacity can lead to frequent health system use and increased healthcare costs.
Commentary on: Brewer A. "We were on our own": Mothers’ experiences navigating the fragmented system of professional care for autism. Soc Sci Med 2018; 215:61-8.
Managing conditions like autism disorder requires a multidisciplinary approach that effectively integrates subsections of medical and other professionals and facilitating patients’ and caregivers’ access to required services. The consequences of the rising trend of super-specialisation and sub-specialisation of medical professions on patients and their caregivers need to be studied in future studies.
Studies have shown that increasing fragmentation of the healthcare system leads to systemic deficiencies, lack of coordination between professionals from collaborating disciplines, increased expenditure, inequalities and deprofessionalisation.
Commentary on: Middleton P, Gomersall JC, Gould JF, et al. Omega-3 fatty acid addition during pregnancy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2018;210. Art. No: CD003402. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003402.pub3
Increasing omega-3 intake during pregnancy may reduce the incidence of preterm birth. No further studies comparing omega-3 with placebo are required. Future research should ensure inclusion of wider socioeconomic populations and assess longer term maternal and child outcomes.
The WHO defines preterm births as babies born alive before 37 weeks of pregnancy; 10.6% of all live births globally are preterm, and it is the leading cause of death for children aged 1 2
Commentary on: Krogsbøll LT, Jørgensen KJ, Gøtzsche PC. General health checks in adults for reducing morbidity and mortality from disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019;1:CD009009. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD009009.pub3.
Current evidence does not support continuing trials of health checks in general population and could lead to unnecessary tests and treatments. Future research should examine effects of structural public health interventions including effects of higher tax on cigarettes and alcohol on reducing disease.
General health check programmes screen asymptomatic groups with the aim of detecting disease or risk factors at an earlier stage to prevent future illness and improve health outcomes.
This was an update...
Commentary on: Peltola M, Isotalus P, Åstedt-Kurki P, et al. Patients’ interpersonal communication experiences in the context of type 2 diabetes care. Qual Health Res 2018;28:1267–82.
The quality of healthcare practitioner versus patient relational communication may have a negative or positive impact on patient-centred diabetes care. More research is required on approaches to preventing negative patient–practitioner interpersonal communication experiences.
The shift in nature and pattern of disease that has resulted from increased life span and lifestyle changes has led to patient empowerment as a paradigm shift from the traditional approach to long-term condition management.
The purpose of the study
Commentary on: Zerbo O, et al. Vaccination patterns in children after autism spectrum disorder diagnosis and in their younger siblings. JAMA Pediatr 2018;172(5):469
The younger siblings of children who received an autism spectrum diagnosis are shown to have lower vaccination rates than the younger siblings of children who have not received an autism spectrum diagnosis. The benefit of applying this knowledge in practice would be to take steps to target this subpopulation. The research is novel in that previous studies were not as large or focused. The retrospective matched cohort study uses ‘Vaccine Safety Datalink’ information from six integrated healthcare delivery systems across the USA. Future research could explore strategies for engaging with parents who have received an autism spectrum diagnosis for older children when considering vaccinating younger siblings.
Much interest has been placed on the reasons...
Commentary on: Gibson CJ, Huang AJ, McCaw B, et al. Associations of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and posttraumatic stress disorder with menopause symptoms among midlife and older women. JAMA Intern Med 2019;179(1):80–7.
Healthcare professionals need to be aware of the impact of intimate partner violence (IPV) experienced by mid-life and older women as IPV experiences and post-tramautic stress disorder (PTSD) can have an impact on menopausal symptoms Further robust and longitudinal research is needed to explore the impact of IPV on mid-life and older women’s lives.
IPV is a major public health problem which intersects ethnic, religious, societal and geographical boundaries and results in serious physical and psychological consequences for those affected. IPV can exist in same sex relationships and men can also be victims of IPV, however, the frequency and severity of IPV experienced by women is...
Commentary on: Bareham BK, Kaner E, Spencer LP et al. Drinking in later life: a systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative studies exploring older people’s perceptions and experiences. Age Ageing 2019; 48:134-146.
Healthcare professionals should incorporate alcohol health promotion during routine health checks with older adults who identify as responsible drinkers. Personalised interventions should also consider the positive role that alcohol plays in maintaining social connections and cultural identity. More research that explores the gender differences in consumption over time is required.
Over the last 15 years, alcohol-specific mortality in older adults has risen by approximately 45%.
Commentary on: Brody H, et al. Preventive parenting intervention during childhood and young black adults' unhealthful behaviors: a randomised controlled trial. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2018 Sep 11. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.12968
Targeted improvements for reducing smoking, alcohol intake and drug use are required amongst disadvantaged groups to reduce rates of morbidity and mortality. Future research needs to consider factors associated with engagement in supportive parenting programmes.
Supporting early childhood development across the life course is a fundamental component of the UN sustainable development goals framework.
Commentary on: Smith-Marek EN, Baptist J, Lasley C, et al. "I don’t like being that hyperaware of my body": Women survivors of sexual violence and their experience of exercise. Qual Health Res 2018;28:1692–707. doi: 10.1177/1049732318786482.
The type of exercise that each individual feels comfortable in doing, the stage of recovery and the level of safety one feels at should be established before promoting exercise and yoga for survivors of sexual violence (SV). Further research including the use of randomised controlled trials is needed in order to make conclusive assertions regarding the benefits of exercise and yoga for survivors of SV.
Survivors of SV are confronted by trauma-related consequences including fear, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. There has been a growth in the promotion of non-pharmacological (NP) interventions such as physical exercise and yoga to enhance recovery from SV....
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