Public health
-
In 2004, Lithuania started the Nationwide Cervical Cancer Screening Programme. The aim of the study was to estimate the trend in the uptake of cervical cancer (CC) screening in Lithuania during 2006-2014 and to identify sociodemographic and lifestyle factors associated with non-attendance for screening. ⋯ Established social and behavioural determinants of non-attendance for CC screening should be used for optimising CC prevention in Lithuania. The implementation of organised screening programme using innovative screening methods might increase attendance and reduce inequalities.
-
Oral history (OH) and digital storytelling (DST) have been used in a range of ways in public health, including educating populations about health-protecting practices, advocating for improved clinical care and reflecting on public health efforts to combat infectious disease. Yet, these methods are rarely recognized for their potential to contribute to public health research and practice. The aim of this article is to assess how OH and DST have been used in the health fields and to provide examples of ways that these methods have contributed to work in several domains of public health. ⋯ Despite the time, resources, and training required to do OH and DST well, we argue that these methods have substantial potential for supplementing public health activities, allowing the field to glean additional lessons from its experiences, to educate its practitioners further, and to better learn from the experiences of communities affected by public health problems.
-
Highlight the importance of teamwork in health care institutions by performing a review and discussion of the relevant literature. ⋯ Teamwork is known to improve outcomes in medicine, whether at the clinical, organizational, or scientific level. Teamwork in health care institutions must increasingly be encouraged, given that individual effort is often insufficient for optimal clinical outcome.
-
To identify barriers and enablers that impact access to early screening, detection, and diagnosis of breast cancer both globally and more specifically in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region (with a specific focus on Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates [UAE], and Kuwait) with a specific focus on the health system. ⋯ There are a number of system changes that can be made to remove barriers to breast cancer screening. Some of these system changes apply directly to MENA countries. A larger health system assessment of a country is warranted to determine which health system changes should be made to most efficiently and effectively improve access to breast cancer screening.
-
Earthquakes have substantial impacts on mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). The academic evidence base to support Disaster Risk Reduction activities in LMIC settings is, however, limited. We sought to address this gap by identifying the health and healthcare impacts of earthquakes in LMICs and to identify the implications of these findings for future earthquake preparedness. ⋯ Whilst there are a range of health and healthcare impacts of earthquakes, common themes emerged in different settings and from different earthquake events. Preparedness of healthcare systems is essential and possible, in order to mitigate the adverse health impacts of earthquakes in LMIC settings. Preparedness is needed at the community, organisational and system levels.