British medical bulletin
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British medical bulletin · Mar 2019
ReviewTraumatic stress within disaster-exposed occupations: overview of the literature and suggestions for the management of traumatic stress in the workplace.
Many people who experience a disaster will do so as part of an occupational group, either by chance or due to the nature of their role. ⋯ The development and evaluation of workplace interventions designed to help managers facilitate psychological resilience in their workforce is a priority. Successful interventions could substantially increase resilience and reduce the risk of long-term mental health problems in trauma-exposed employees.
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British medical bulletin · Mar 2019
ReviewThe West African Ebola emergency and reconstruction; lessons from Public Health England.
West African governments, the WHO and wider international community were caught unprepared for the world's largest Ebola outbreak of 2014-16. This was an unprecedented challenge to local services and international agencies, since the emergency required high-tech molecular diagnostic services operated by specialist staff and a coordinated emergency response in addition to humanitarian support, which was not available at the beginning of the outbreak. Public Health England (PHE), as a new national public health agency was well placed to provide support for these needs. After the outbreak, PHE supported reconstruction to ensure diagnostic and emergency planning capability remained in place in the immediate aftermath of the outbreak and build necessary public health infrastructure for the future. The article describes the role PHE played as a national public health agency supporting reconstruction and long-term development through the UK Government (Department for International Development) programme called 'Resilient Zero'. ⋯ How best to support sustainable high-tech molecular technology in West Africa and modules for emergency planning relevant to the context; evidence for long term versus short-term support for highly complex diagnostic capabilities; relevance to maintaining individual country public health infrastructure to ensuring global health security; benefits of overseas work for employee of a national agency.
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British medical bulletin · Mar 2019
ReviewScientific evidence on natural disasters and health emergency and disaster risk management in Asian rural-based area.
Disaster epidemiological studies indicate that Asia has the highest frequency of natural disasters. Rural communities are heavily impacted by natural disasters and have different healthcare needs to urban ones. Referencing Asian countries, this paper's objective is to provide an overview of health impacts and the current evidence for designing programmes and policies related to rural health emergency and disaster risk management (health-EDRM). ⋯ To support global policy development, urgent evidence is needed on the intervention effectiveness, long-term health outcomes, local and cultural relevance as well as sustainability of health relief produced by Health-EDRM programmes in rural areas.
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British medical bulletin · Mar 2019
ReviewSickness presenteeism at work: prevalence, costs and management.
Presenteeism is defined as continuing to attend work during illness. As a growing health concern, awareness of the factors that encourage presenteeism and the risks of this behaviour is needed. ⋯ Measuring presenteeism as well as absenteeism will provide more accurate information about employee health. Raising awareness of the risks of working while sick and the economic, moral, cultural and social pressures on employees to do so appears crucial. Systemic interventions to manage presenteeism based on research evidence are required.
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British medical bulletin · Mar 2019
An alternative to sexual reproduction: artificial gametes and their implications for society.
Artificial gametes (AGs) are cells that have been 'reprogrammed' to function as sperm or eggs. Such cells may in the future enable people who cannot produce gametes, to have genetically-related offspring. In this paper, I consider the prospect of AGs in the context of declining birthrates and postponed parenthood across the Western world. ⋯ More research into the development of AGs is required. There is a need for close analysis of the possible causes of declining fertility and the ways in which societies might respond to these challenges.