Public health
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In school-age asthmatics, an increase in hospitalizations has been reported in early autumn. This increase in admissions is conjectured to be associated with the return back to school. In the UK schools in England complete their summer vacations 2 weeks later than in Scotland and so there should be a lag between the two countries in the increase in asthma episode. ⋯ There are peaks in hospitalization after the return back to school for both Aberdeen and Doncaster with the peak for Doncaster appearing 2 weeks after Aberdeen. This study has demonstrated peaks in admissions in school-age children around the return back to school in two cities where different school return dates were reflected in a 2-week lag effect. These data therefore provide strong evidence that peaks in admissions are associated with the end of the summer holidays.
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The purpose of this study was to develop a more detailed understanding of the characteristics of occasional smokers, and how the characteristics of occasional smokers differ from those of daily smokers. This information can then be used in youth smoking programmes to better address these differences in a manner that would target appropriate youth with appropriate cessation methods. ⋯ This study demonstrates substantial differences between occasional and daily smokers. If effective future smoking prevention and cessation programmes that target youth are going to be developed, data like those gathered in this study are critical. Basic information regarding cigarette consumption patterns, while important, is insufficient to understand behaviour and key factors that trigger smoking among the youth population.
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The brief for this study was to produce a practical, evidence based, financial planning tool, which could be used to present an economic argument for funding a public health-based prevention programme in coronary heart disease (CHD) related illness on the same basis as treatment interventions. ⋯ This study is not presented as the definitive approach to predicting the economic consequences of investment in public health on the cost of secondary care. It is simply a logical, systematic approach to quantifying these issues in order to present a business case for such investment. The research team do not know if the predicted savings would accrue from such investments; it is theoretical at this stage. The point is, however, that if the predictions are correct then the savings will accrue from over 4000 people, from an adult population of around 185,000 not having a heart attack or a stroke or an acute exacerbation of heart failure.
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The increasing policy focus on sustainable development offers new opportunities to align the public health narrative with that of sustainable development to promote both sustainable health for the population, and a sustainable health care system for England. This paper provides some insights into ways in which potential linkages between the two areas can be made meaningful across a wide range of policies at a national level.