Public Health RSS feed: Articles in Press. Public Health is an international, multidisciplinary peer-reviewed journal. It publishes original papers, reviews and short reports on all aspects of the science, philosophy, and practice of public health. It is aimed at all public health practitioners and researchers and those who manage public health services and systems. This includes public health doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, demographers, epidemiologists, health education and promotion specialists, environmental health specialists, and other specialists and scientists in the field of public health. It will also be of interest to anyone involved in provision of public health programmes, the care of populations or communities and those who contribute to public health systems in any way. Published monthly, Public Health considers submissions on any aspect of public health across age groups and settings. These include: • Public health practice and impact • Epidemiology (environmental & toxicological) - fundamental and applied • Need or impact assessments • Health service effectiveness, management and re-design • Health Protection including control of communicable diseases • Screening • Health promotion and disease prevention • Evaluation of public health programmes or interventions • Public health governance, audit and quality • Public health law • Public health policy and comparisons • Capacity in public health systems and workforce This is not an exhaustive list and the Editors will consider articles on any issue relating to public health. Public Health also publishes invited articles, reviews and supplements from leading experts on topical issues http://www.publichealthjrnl.com//inpress?rss=yesElsevier Inc.en © 2010 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Public Health0033-35062010-03-08 © 2010 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. healthpermissions@elsevier.comhttp://www.publichealthjrnl.com/article/PIIS0033350610000314/abstract?rss=yesSummary: Objectives: To establish the theoretical and perceived links between area regeneration and health in a Scottish context in order to inform a comprehensive evaluation of regeneration activity. The evaluation will include health outcomes.Study design: Mixed method combining and comparing key informant interviews with policy analysis.Methods: Analysis of identified links between elements of regeneration activity and health was undertaken of published policies and strategies which described regeneration for Scotland and the city of Glasgow. Interviews with key informants explored their understanding of the inputs to regeneration, and the pathways between regeneration and better health outcomes.Results: The policy analysis and interviews revealed a holistic approach to a complex problem. Both identified a need for action to improve housing, neighbourhoods and services, education, employment, community participation and social issues. Improved health was identified as an emergent property. Interviewees identified a need to augment the established structural components with a more person-centred approach, fostering confidence and higher aspirations, but were uncertain how to achieve this. The interviews revealed a lack of confidence that current practice would deliver all the components of the holistic model.Conclusions: A holistic model of regeneration appears to inform policy, but is proving difficult to deliver. Improved health and reduced health inequalities were not primary objectives but emergent properties. In light of this, the ability of regeneration to actively maximize positive health impacts, particularly if this requires focused planning or opportunity costs to other activities, is questioned.How will area regeneration impact on health? Learning from the GoWell study - Corrected ProofS.A. Beck, P.W. Hanlon, C.E. Tannahill, F.A. Crawford, R.M. Ogilvie, A.J. Kearns10.1016/j.puhe.2010.02.004Public Health (2010)2010-03-08Public Health2010-03-08ORIGINAL RESEARCHhttp://www.publichealthjrnl.com/article/PIIS0033350610000211/abstract?rss=yesDespite numerous studies to investigate intimate partner violence (IPV) among heterosexual couples in Hong Kong and other parts of Asia, no empirical studies have been undertaken to date focusing on same-sex IPV. Due to heterosexism and the belief that partner abuse is perpetrated solely by men towards women, same-sex IPV is hardly visible. The present study is the first to investigate the prevalence of various forms of same-sex IPV in Asia.Prevalence of same-sex intimate partner violence in Hong Kong - Corrected ProofW.W.S. Mak, E.S.K. Chong, M.M.F. Kwong10.1016/j.puhe.2010.02.002Public Health (2010)2010-03-04Public Health2010-03-04SHORT COMMUNICATIONhttp://www.publichealthjrnl.com/article/PIIS0033350610000119/abstract?rss=yesSummary: Objectives: To describe the background to the inclusion of health impact assessment (HIA) in the development process for the London mayoral strategies, the HIA processes developed, how these evolved, and the role of HIA in identifying synergies between and conflicting priorities of different strategies.Study design: Case series.Methods: Early HIAs had just a few weeks for the whole HIA process. A rapid appraisal approach was developed. Stages included: scoping, reviewing published evidence, a stakeholder workshop, drafting a report, review of the report by the London Health Commission, and submission of the final report to the Mayor. The process evolved as more assessments were conducted. More recently, an integrated impact assessment (IIA) method has been developed that fuses the key aspects of this HIA method with sustainability assessment, strategic environmental assessment and equalities assessment.Results: Whilst some of the early strategy drafts encompassed some elements of health, health was not a priority. Conducting HIAs was important both to ensure that the strategies reflected health concerns and to raise awareness about health and its determinants within the Greater London Authority (GLA). HIA recommendations were useful for identifying synergies and conflicts between strategies. HIA can be successfully integrated into other impact assessment processes.Conclusions: The HIAs ensured that health became more integral to the strategies and increased understanding of determinants of health and how the GLA impacts on health and health inequalities. Inclusion of HIA within IIA ensures that health and health inequalities impacts are considered robustly within statutory impact assessments.Institutionalizing health impact assessment in London as a public health tool for increasing synergy between policies in other areas - Corrected ProofJ. Mindell, C. Bowen, N. Herriot, G. Findlay, S. Atkinson10.1016/j.puhe.2010.01.007Public Health (2010)2010-03-02Public Health2010-03-02ORIGINAL RESEARCHhttp://www.publichealthjrnl.com/article/PIIS0033350610000028/abstract?rss=yesSummary: Objectives: Changes in gender ratio generally reflect differences in mortality rates in men and women. Female mortality rates, on the other hand, can be used as an index of the trends in women's health. This study looks at the trend in the population gender ratio from 1956 to 2006, with a focus on analysing mortality rates and hence the overall health of Iranian women over the last 50 years.Study design: Cohort-type analysis using data from the last five population censuses in Iran.Methods: Data were used to calculate gender ratios and analyse their trends over the 50-year period from 1956 to 2006.Results: According to the 1956 Census, there were 98 men for every 100 women in the 25–34 years age group (male:female ratio=0.98). In the next census, conducted 10 years later (1966), the gender ratio increased to 121 in the 39–44 years age group. The discrepancy increased in later censuses; this trend indicates that mortality in the 25–34 years age group was significantly higher in 1956–1966 compared with subsequent decades. The social and economic crises of the 1940s probably left women of reproductive age exceptionally vulnerable to a wide range of adverse health outcomes. The fact that the trend ceased in 1976 with no further increase in the gender ratio may be due to improving social conditions and greater effectiveness of healthcare programmes directed at women.Conclusion: As life expectancy is calculated on the basis of the conditional probability of death over specific intervals, the apparent discrepancy between the current gender ratios and life expectancy data may be due to higher female death rates before 1976.Women's health: Explaining the trend in gender ratio in Iran over half a century (1956–2006) - Corrected ProofF. Farzadi, B. Ahmadi, B. Shariati, M. Alimohamadian, K. Mohamad10.1016/j.puhe.2010.01.001Public Health (2010)2010-02-24Public Health2010-02-24ORIGINAL RESEARCHhttp://www.publichealthjrnl.com/article/PIIS0033350610000053/abstract?rss=yesSummary: Objective: To investigate the association between marital status and daily smoking, adjusting for economic conditions and trust.Study design: Cross-sectional study.Methods: In total, 27,757 individuals aged 18–80 years answered a postal questionnaire, which represents 59% of the random sample. A logistic regression model was used to investigate the association between marital status and daily smoking, adjusting for economic (material) conditions and trust. A multivariate analysis was performed to investigate the importance of possible confounders concerning the differences in daily smoking according to marital status.Results: Smoking prevalence was 14.9% among men and 18.1% among women. The odds ratios of daily smoking for middle-aged respondents, born abroad, medium/low education, problems paying bills, low trust, and unmarried and (particularly) divorced respondents were significantly higher than those for their reference groups. Low trust was significantly higher among divorced and unmarried respondents compared with married/cohabitating respondents. Adjustment for economic conditions reduced the odds ratios of daily smoking among divorced subjects; this was not seen following adjustment for trust.Conclusions: Never-married subjects and (particularly) divorced subjects showed a significantly higher prevalence of daily smoking than married/cohabitating respondents. Economic conditions have a significant effect on the association between marital status and daily smoking, but this was not seen for trust.Social capital, economic conditions, marital status and daily smoking: A population-based study - Corrected ProofMartin Lindström10.1016/j.puhe.2010.01.003Public Health (2010)2010-02-24Public Health2010-02-24ORIGINAL RESEARCHhttp://www.publichealthjrnl.com/article/PIIS0033350610000077/abstract?rss=yesSummary: Objectives: Little is known about the health status of older migrants living in Europe. Using detailed data collected in 2003, this study investigated differences in health status by country of origin within the older immigrant population living in France using a self-rated health measure.Study design: The database used in this research was the Passage à la Retraite des Immigrés survey, conducted from November 2002 to February 2003 on a sample of 6211 migrants aged 45–70 years and living in France at the time of the survey.Methods: A difficulty with a self-rated outcome is that it may not be comparable between different origin groups, particularly because of cultural and linguistic differences. Therefore, generalized ordered Probit models were estimated, and an indicator of health, net of cross-cultural effects was constructed for each respondent.Results: This study found that male immigrants from southern Africa and Asia, and female immigrants from northern Europe, southern Africa and Asia are more likely to be in good health, while the health status is lower among immigrants from Eastern Europe living in France.Conclusion: The diversity in health status within the immigrant population is large in France. These results are helpful in order to target the more disadvantaged origin groups and to adjust the provision of health care.Origin differences in self-reported health among older migrants living in France - Corrected ProofN. Vaillant, F.C. Wolff10.1016/j.puhe.2010.01.005Public Health (2010)2010-02-24Public Health2010-02-24ORIGINAL RESEARCHhttp://www.publichealthjrnl.com/article/PIIS0033350610000120/abstract?rss=yesSummary: Objectives: Little research has evaluated changes in the association between area deprivation and suicidal behaviour over time. This study investigated patterns in suicide attempts and suicide mortality according to material deprivation in the province of Québec, Canada between 1990 and 2005.Study design: Ecological analysis.Methods: Data on suicide attempts were extracted from the hospital discharge summary database (n=47,516) and data on suicides were extracted from the Québec death file (n=20,851). Gender- and age-specific (10–24, 25–44, 45–64 and ≥65 years) suicide attempt and mortality rates were calculated for four time periods (1990–1993, 1994–1997, 1998–2001 and 2002–2005) for the entire Québec population aged 10 years and older residing in 162 communities ranked by decile of material deprivation. Absolute and relative measures of inequality were calculated to summarize differences between the most and least materially deprived areas. Commonly used methods of suicidal behaviour were examined.Results: Differentials in suicide attempt hospitalization between the most and least deprived areas were present for all age groups, and these decreased slightly among males and increased among females over time. Inequalities in suicide attempts were greatest among young adults (age 25–44 years) for both genders, and were smallest among the elderly (≥65 years). For suicide mortality, differentials increased among females but not males; these differentials were greatest among males and 25–44 year olds, and smallest among the elderly. Differentials in commonly used methods were evident for poisoning hospitalizations in both genders and for hanging deaths among males.Conclusions: In Québec, differences in suicide attempts and mortality between the most and least materially deprived areas persisted or even increased over time. Inequalities were more pronounced for suicide attempts than for suicide mortality, and were greatest among adults of working age. Strategies to reduce socio-economic differences in suicidal behaviour may be important.Socio-economic inequalities in suicide attempts and suicide mortality in Québec, Canada, 1990–2005 - Corrected ProofS. Burrows, N. Auger, M. Roy, C. Alix10.1016/j.puhe.2010.01.008Public Health (2010)2010-02-24Public Health2010-02-24ORIGINAL RESEARCHhttp://www.publichealthjrnl.com/article/PIIS0033350610000089/abstract?rss=yesIn this new edition of Research Methods in Health: Investigating Health and Health Services, not only does Bowling manage to cover a broad range of research methods (quantitative, qualitative and mixed methodology) but also considers the multi-disciplinary nature of health research and explores the philosophical principles underlying its practice. The four main approaches to health service research are clearly covered in detail: evaluation; social research; health needs and their assessment; and health economics. However, despite being extremely comprehensive and detailed, one major omission is the current paradigm of study type hierarchy so often utilised in evidence based medicine practice.Corrected ProofCatherine Johnman10.1016/j.puhe.2010.01.006Public Health (2010)2010-02-22Public Health2010-02-22BOOK REVIEW(S)http://www.publichealthjrnl.com/article/PIIS0033350610000132/abstract?rss=yesIn February 2000, hot on the heels of several other international declarations and charters that were being promulgated to coincide with the millennium, the attendees at the World Summit Against Cancer signed the Charter of Paris. For those not familiar with the Charter, it sets out a human rights-based approach to cancer research, cancer prevention and cancer services. The signatories set themselves – and the organisations they represented – a significant challenge when they stated:“We, the undersigned, in order to prevent and cure cancer, and to maintain the highest quality of life for those living with and dying from this disease fully commit and hold ourselves accountable to the principles and practices outlined herein.”What difference can a decade make? - Corrected ProofP. Mackie, F. Sim10.1016/j.puhe.2010.01.009Public Health (2010)2010-02-22Public Health2010-02-22EDITORIALhttp://www.publichealthjrnl.com/article/PIIS0033350610000144/abstract?rss=yesOur approach to climate change faces two major challenges. First is the need to shift from the margin to the mainstream – so that action on climate change underpins all aspects of our lives and our society. Second is the need to move from rhetoric to reality – to convert our good intentions to practical actions that make a real and lasting difference. So my approach, when asked to review this excellent book targeting health practitioners, was to consider whether these two challenges are helped by its publication.Corrected ProofPaul Cosford10.1016/j.puhe.2010.01.010Public Health (2010)2010-02-22Public Health2010-02-22BOOK REVIEWhttp://www.publichealthjrnl.com/article/PIIS0033350610000168/abstract?rss=yesSummary: Objectives: Culture has a number of potential impacts upon health and well-being. This project was undertaken to assess the potential impacts of the Liverpool 2008 European Capital of Culture programme upon mental well-being, so that positive effects can be maximized and negative impacts reduced, in order that health and well-being are promoted and inequalities are reduced.Study design: A mental well-being impact assessment (MWIA) toolkit has been developed, and was piloted in this study. MWIA uses a sequence of procedures designed to systematically assess the effect of projects, programmes and policies upon people's mental well-being and health.Methods: The MWIA toolkit was used to explore the potential positive and negative impacts on mental well-being of a sample of projects and policies from the European Capital of Culture programme. This was achieved by asking stakeholders to answer a series of questions, holding participative workshops, constructing a community profile and reviewing the research literature. Recommendations were developed which aim to enhance the impact of the programme on people's mental well-being.Results: As expected, both positive and negative impacts of the European Capital of Culture programme on mental well-being were identified. Fourteen themes were identified as emerging from the workshops, screening and reviewing the research evidence. Based on these data, 33 recommendations were developed by the project steering group and have been presented to the Liverpool Culture Company.Conclusions: The process of conducting the assessment, particularly its participatory nature and its awareness-raising role, had impacts upon mental well-being. The findings demonstrate the potential for the Culture Company programme to have a profound impact upon mental well-being, and highlight areas which could be addressed to optimize the impact of the programme.Creative potential: mental well-being impact assessment of the Liverpool 2008 European capital of culture programme - Corrected ProofH.M. West, A. Scott-Samuel10.1016/j.puhe.2010.01.012Public Health (2010)2010-02-22Public Health2010-02-22ORIGINAL RESEARCHhttp://www.publichealthjrnl.com/article/PIIS003335061000017X/abstract?rss=yesSummary: Objectives: To examine the outcome of the recent implementation of a smoke-free policy in drugstores in Thailand, comparing participants and non-participants of the 100% smoke-free drugstore campaign promoted by the Thai Pharmacy Network for Tobacco Control (TPNTC).Study design: A cross-sectional survey of 3600 drugstores in Thailand.Method: Smoking prevalence on the premises, the number of stores displaying no-smoking signs, and the number of stores selling cigarettes were examined.Results: In total, 1001 questionnaires were returned (27.8% response rate). Smoking prevalences inside and outside drugstores in the past month were 26.4% and 84.7%, respectively. Seven percent of drugstores had at least one staff member who smoked tobacco. Overall, 63.3% of drugstores displayed no-smoking signs, as required by law. Compared with non-participating drugstores, those which participated in the TPNTC smoke-free campaign more frequently reported that they had asked smokers to stop smoking/leave the premises, in addition to possessing and displaying no-smoking signs.Conclusion: Approximately one-third of drugstores in this survey did not meet the terms of the recent smoke-free regulation. The TPNTC campaign improved the compliance of drugstores with the law in various aspects. This study was considered a pilot study, and despite the low response rate, the findings suggest a need for further action to ensure that all drugstores comply with the law and are 100% smoke-free.Compliance of drugstores with a national smoke-free law: A pilot survey - Corrected ProofP. Nimpitakpong, T. Dhippayom, N. Chaiyakunapruk, J. Aromdee, S. Chotbunyong, S. Charnnarong10.1016/j.puhe.2010.01.013Public Health (2010)2010-02-22Public Health2010-02-22ORIGINAL RESEARCHhttp://www.publichealthjrnl.com/article/PIIS0033350609003709/abstract?rss=yesThere is a growing literature that evaluates the links between the food environment and dietary intake and health outcomes. Findings are highly contingent on constructed measures of the food environment, which vary substantially across studies. Furthermore, different measures assume different underlying relationships between the food environment and individual outcomes.Measuring the physical food environment and its relationship with obesity: Evidence from California - Corrected ProofK. Truong, M. Fernandes, R. An, V. Shier, R. Sturm10.1016/j.puhe.2009.12.004Public Health (2010)2010-02-19Public Health2010-02-19SHORT COMMUNICATIONhttp://www.publichealthjrnl.com/article/PIIS0033350610000041/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: Objectives: The nature of public health evidence presents challenges for conventional systematic review processes, with increasing recognition of the need to include a broader range of work including observational studies and qualitative research, yet with methods to combine diverse sources remaining underdeveloped. The objective of this paper is to report the application of a new approach for review of evidence in the public health sphere. The method enables a diverse range of evidence types to be synthesized in order to examine potential relationships between a public health environment and outcomes.Study design: The study drew on previous work by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on conceptual frameworks. It applied and further extended this work to the synthesis of evidence relating to one particular public health area: the enhancement of employee mental well-being in the workplace.Methods: The approach utilized thematic analysis techniques from primary research, together with conceptual modelling, to explore potential relationships between factors and outcomes.Results: The method enabled a logic framework to be built from a diverse document set that illustrates how elements and associations between elements may impact on the well-being of employees.Conclusions: Whilst recognizing potential criticisms of the approach, it is suggested that logic models can be a useful way of examining the complexity of relationships between factors and outcomes in public health, and of highlighting potential areas for interventions and further research. The use of techniques from primary qualitative research may also be helpful in synthesizing diverse document types.Synthesizing diverse evidence: the use of primary qualitative data analysis methods and logic models in public health reviews - Corrected ProofS. Baxter, A. Killoran, M.P. Kelly, E. Goyder10.1016/j.puhe.2010.01.002Public Health (2010)2010-02-18Public Health2010-02-18ORIGINAL RESEARCHhttp://www.publichealthjrnl.com/article/PIIS0033350609003710/abstract?rss=yesPandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza is a highly contagious disease and is currently causing a wide spectrum of illness around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) raised its global pandemic alert level to Phase 6 on 11 June 2009. Designation of this phase indicates that a global pandemic is underway, and that it is no longer possible to contain the virus in a particular geographical area. Illness from this novel virus is mild in most cases, severe in some cases and moderate overall.Prison outbreak: Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in an Australian prison - Corrected ProofK.B. Turner, M.H. Levy10.1016/j.puhe.2009.12.005Public Health (2010)2010-02-11Public Health2010-02-11SHORT COMMUNICATIONhttp://www.publichealthjrnl.com/article/PIIS003335060900362X/abstract?rss=yesSummary: Objectives: There is considerable variability in progression from smoking initiation to established smoking. This paper addresses the extent to which different patterns of adolescent smoking, including periods of cessation, predict smoking status in young adults.Study design: Ten-year, eight-wave prospective cohort study of a state-wide community sample in Victoria, Australia.Methods: Participants were 1520 students from 44 secondary schools, initially aged 14 to 15 years. Adolescent smoking and quitting patterns were assessed during Waves 1–6 with self-reported frequency of use and a 7-day retrospective diary. The Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (ND) was used to assess ND at the age of 24 years (Wave 8).Results: The prevalence of ND in young adults was 16.9% for all adolescent smokers, with prevalence rates of 6.8% and 26.7% for adolescent non-daily and daily adolescent smokers, respectively. Maximum smoking levels, onset of daily smoking, duration of smoking, escalation time and duration of cessation during adolescence predicted later ND. Daily smokers who ceased smoking for at least two waves (≥12 months) had a level of risk similar to adolescents who had never smoked.Conclusions: Quitting smoking as an adolescent substantially alters the risk for later ND. For adolescents who become daily smokers, quitting for 12 months should be the aim in tobacco control and clinical interventions.Patterns of adolescent smoking and later nicotine dependence in young adults: A 10-year prospective study - Corrected ProofM.O.M. Van De Ven, P.A. Greenwood, R.C.M.E. Engels, C.A. Olsson, G.C. Patton10.1016/j.puhe.2009.11.009Public Health (2010)2010-01-11Public Health2010-01-11ORIGINAL RESEARCHhttp://www.publichealthjrnl.com/article/PIIS0033350609003126/abstract?rss=yesLow levels of folic acid and impairment in folate-mediated pathways increase the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs). Numerous prospective randomized trials have confirmed a 50–70% decrease in the incidence of NTDs with folic acid supplementation. The neural tube develops during the first 28 days of pregnancy, before many women know that they are pregnant1, making the optimal period for periconceptual folic acid supplementation 4 weeks before the last menstrual period and throughout the first 28 days of pregnancy.Sources of information for the use of periconceptual folic acid - Corrected ProofA.G. Lantz, J.G. Edmundson, S.R. Kisely, D.L. MacLellan10.1016/j.puhe.2009.10.017Public Health (2009)2009-12-14Public Health2009-12-14SHORT COMMUNICATION