scholarly journals Analysing aggregate clinical data to support evaluation of the Tackling Indigenous Smoking program, 2014–16

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 441
Author(s):  
Alyson Wright ◽  
Helen Cameron ◽  
Yvette Roe ◽  
Ray Lovett
Keyword(s):  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Smoking Status ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Negative Binomial Regression ◽  
Reporting Rate ◽  
Client Population ◽  
Torres Strait ◽  
Changes Over Time ◽  
Over Time

Objective The aim of this study was to assess the change in recording of client population smoking attributes (smoking status recorded and smoking status) in Tackling Indigenous Smoking (TIS)-funded services compared with non-funded services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, 2014–16. Methods The study included a cohort of 152 Aboriginal-community controlled services with aggregate client smoking data from 2014 to 2016. Negative binomial regression was used to assess change in smoking status recorded and smoking status between TIS and non-TIS funded organisations. The models controlled for size of client population, jurisdiction and remoteness. Results From 2014 to 2016, the overall reporting rate (change in recording of smoking status) of client smoking status was 1.58-fold higher (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.30–1.91; P<0.001) in TIS-funded than non-TIS-funded services after controlling for year, remoteness and their interaction. The highest change in reporting of client smoking status was for TIS-funded services in remote areas (reporting ratio 6.55; 95% CI 5.18–8.27; P<0.001). In 2016, TIS-funded services reported higher overall levels of recording client smoking status (current, ex- and non-smokers) than non-TIS funded services (RR 1.11; 95% CI 1.00–1.28; P<0.001). There was no significant change in the reporting of smokers, ex-smokers or non-smokers over the three reporting periods. Conclusion The analysis shows higher reporting of the proportion of the service client population for services funded under the TIS program compared with non-TIS-funded services. Existing evidence suggests that following-up smokers with targeted clinical interventions once they have had smoking status recorded could reduce smoking rates in the long term. The public health contribution of this study has defined one method for assessing smoking attributes when using aggregate health service data. This method could be applied to future tobacco control programs in health services. What is known about the topic? Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smoking prevalence is high. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary healthcare providers’ national key performance indicators (nKPIs) are one data source that can track changes over time in smoking in clients of these services. What does this paper add? This paper presents the first analytical study and evaluation of the nKPI dataset items on smoking. What are the implications for practitioners? There is value in analysing routinely collected data in program evaluations. The method used in this paper demonstrates one approach that could be used to assess smoking indicators and their changes over time in TIS program evaluation.

scholarly journals A Qualitative Study Exploring the Experiences and Perspectives of Australian Aboriginal Women on Oral Health during Pregnancy

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 8061
Author(s):  
Ariana Kong ◽  
Michelle Dickson ◽  
Lucie Ramjan ◽  
Mariana S. Sousa ◽  
Joanne Goulding ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Aboriginal Health ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Aboriginal Women ◽  
Torres Strait

The aim of this study was to explore whether oral health was an important consideration for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women during pregnancy, whether oral health could be promoted by Aboriginal health staff, and strategies that would be appropriate to use in a new model of care. A qualitative descriptive methodology underpinned the study. All participants in this study identified as Aboriginal, with no Torres Strait Islander participants, and were from New South Wales, Australia. The interviews were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. From the data, two themes were constructed. The first theme identified that oral health was not always the first priority for participants as poor accessibility alongside other competing commitments were challenges to accessing oral health services. The second theme highlighted how relationships with personal networks and healthcare providers were essential and could be used to support maternal oral health during pregnancy. Effective strategies to promote oral health during pregnancy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women should involve key stakeholders and health care providers, like Aboriginal Health Workers, to facilitate culturally safe support and tailored oral health advice.

What’s the Rush?

2021 ◽  
pp. 94-113
Author(s):  
Louise Marie Roth
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Labor Induction ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Early Term ◽  
Elective Induction ◽  
Liability Risk ◽  
Term Births ◽  
Changes Over Time ◽  
Over Time

This chapter analyzes changes over time in early-term births. Labor induction rates have risen over time and many experts speculate that at least half of inductions are elective. Popular accounts suggest that pregnant women are driving this by requesting inductions. Healthcare providers are also part of the story because they can refuse women’s requests, but hospitals and OB/GYN practices benefit enormously from scheduling births even though they pose medical risks. Analyses of early-term births in low-risk pregnancies reveal that providers are more likely to take unnecessary risks in states with tort reforms that limit their liability risk. This effect was strongest during the period before 2009, when the strength of professional recommendations against early elective induction had eroded.

scholarly journals Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among people experiencing homelessness in Toronto during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linh Luong ◽  
Michaela Beder ◽  
Rosane Nisenbaum ◽  
Aaron Orkin ◽  
Jonathan Wong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Negative Binomial Regression ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Individual Site ◽  
Site Characteristics ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Binomial Regression ◽  
Great Heterogeneity ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Over Time

Background: People experiencing homelessness are at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study reports the point prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection during testing conducted at sites serving people experiencing homelessness in Toronto during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also explored the association between site characteristics and prevalence rates. Methods: The study included individuals who were staying at shelters, encampments, COVID-19 physical distancing sites, and drop-in and respite sites and completed outreach-based testing for SARS-CoV-2 during the period April 17 to July 31, 2020. We examined test positivity rates over time and compared them to rates in the general population of Toronto. Negative binomial regression was used to examine the relationship between each shelter-level characteristic and SARS-CoV-2 positivity rates. We also compared the rates across 3 time periods (T1: April 17-April 25; T2: April 26-May 23; T3: May 24-June 25). Results: The overall prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 8.5% (394/4657). Site-specific rates showed great heterogeneity with infection rates ranging from 0% to 70.6%. Compared to T1, positivity rates were 0.21 times lower (95% CI: 0.06, 0.75) during T2 and 0.14 times lower (95% CI: 0.043, 0.44) during T3. Most cases were detected during outbreak testing (384/394 [97.5%]) rather than active case finding. Interpretation: During the first wave of the pandemic, rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection at sites for people experiencing homelessness in Toronto varied significantly over time. The observation of lower rates at certain sites may be attributable to overall time trends, expansion of outreach-based testing to include sites without known outbreaks and/or individual site characteristics.

scholarly journals Educative Power and the Respectful Curricular Inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music

2021 ◽  
pp. 71-86
Author(s):  
Michael Webb ◽  
Clint Bracknell
Keyword(s):  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Music Teachers ◽  
Music Educators ◽  
Nation State ◽  
Indigenous Cultures ◽  
Indigenous Music ◽  
Torres Strait ◽  
Musical Renaissance ◽  
Over Time ◽  
The Way

AbstractThis chapter argues for the full, respectful curricular inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music in order to promote a more balanced and equitable social and cultural vision of the nation-state in Australian schools. It challenges views that claim Indigenous cultures have been irretrievably lost or are doomed to extinction, as well as the fixation on musical authenticity. We propose that the gradual broadening of Indigenous musical expressions over time and the musical renaissance of the new millennium have created an unprecedented opportunity for current music educators to experience the educative power of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music. This means that culturally nonexposed music teachers can employ familiar musical-technical approaches to the music even as they begin to more fully investigate the music’s cultural-contextual meanings. The chapter considers issues that impinge on the music’s educative power, especially those relating to its definition, its intended audiences, and pedagogies. It aims to help clear the way for the classroom to become an environment in which students can sense the depth and vitality of contemporary Australian Indigenous music.

scholarly journals Tobacco Related Attitudes and Behaviours in Relation to Exposure to the Tackling Indigenous Smoking Program: Evidence from the Mayi Kuwayu Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (20) ◽  
pp. 10962
Author(s):  
Rubijayne Cohen ◽  
Raglan Maddox ◽  
Mikala Sedgwick ◽  
Katherine A. Thurber ◽  
Makayla-May Brinckley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Health Program ◽  
Second Hand Smoke ◽  
Quit Smoking ◽  
Analysis Of Change ◽  
Torres Strait ◽  
Multi Mode ◽  
Smoking Attitudes ◽  
Over Time

Smoking is the leading contributor to the burden of disease and mortality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, with an estimated 37% of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander deaths attributed to smoking. The Tackling Indigenous Smoking (TIS) program was implemented to support people to quit smoking, prevent initiation, and reduce exposure to second-hand smoke. Analysis of baseline (2018–2020) data from a large-scale cohort study was conducted to quantify smoking-related attitudes and behaviours among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults, overall and in relation to exposure to the TIS program. Most results were similar for TIS and non-TIS, but there was a significantly lower prevalence of smoking inside households (PR0.95; 95% CI: 0.74, 0.97), smoking ≥21 cigarettes per day (PR0.79; 95% CI: 0.62, <1.00), and smoking a first cigarette within 5 min of waking (PR0.87; 95% CI: 0.76, <1.00) in TIS-funded compared to non-TIS-funded areas. Findings from the analysis highlight encouraging anti-smoking attitudes and behaviours across TIS-funded and non-TIS-funded areas, and serve as a basis for future analysis of change in outcomes over time associated with exposure to a large multi-mode population health program (TIS).

scholarly journals Measuring the effectiveness of COVID-19 containment policies in Italian regions: are we doing enough?

2021 ◽  
pp. 75-80
Author(s):  
Demetrio Panarello ◽  
Giorgio Tassinari
Keyword(s):  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Negative Binomial Regression ◽  
Current Phase ◽  
Mobility Limitations ◽  
Italian Regions ◽  
Binomial Regression ◽  
Stringency Level ◽  
Restrictive Measures ◽  
Second Wave ◽  
Over Time

A successful fight against COVID-19 greatly depends on citizens’ adherence to the restrictive measures, which may not suffice alone. Making use of a containment index, data on sanctions, and Google’s movement trends across Italian regions, complemented by other sources, we investigate the extent to which compliance with the mobility limitations has affected the number of deaths over time in the period from the 24th of February 2020 to the 9th of November 2020, by using panel data for Italian regions, analysed through a negative binomial regression method. We also differentiated the study period, estimating two distinct models on two subsamples: until the 13th of September and since the 14th of September. In so doing, we show how the pandemic dynamics have changed between the first and the second wave of the emergency. Our results highlight that the importance of the restrictive measures and of citizens’ accord on their abidance has greatly increased since the end of the summer, also because the stringency level of the adopted measures has critically declined. Informing citizens about the effects and purposes of the restrictive measures is of paramount importance, especially in the current phase of the pandemic.

Factors associated with attendance and attendance patterns in a population-based mammographic screening program

2020 ◽  
pp. 096914132093294
Author(s):  
Marthe Larsen ◽  
Nataliia Moshina ◽  
Silje Sagstad ◽  
Solveig Hofvind
Keyword(s):  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Screening Program ◽  
Smoking Status ◽  
Negative Binomial Regression ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Education Level ◽  
Attendance Rate ◽  
Late Afternoon ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Attendance Pattern

Objective To explore the factors associated with attendance and attendance pattern in BreastScreen Norway. Methods We evaluated the number of invitations (n = 1,253,995) and attendances, 2015–2019, stratified by age, invitation method, screening unit and time of appointment. Attendance pattern was analysed for women invited 10 times (n = 47,979), 1996–2019. The association of education level, body mass index, physical activity and smoking status with attendance was analysed for a sub-sample of women (n = 37,930). Descriptive statistics were used to analyse attendance, and negative binomial regression was used to analyse the association between the total number of attendances and education level and lifestyle factors. Results The attendance rate was 76.0%, 2015–2019. The rate was 78.0% for women aged >64 and 73.9% for those <55 . We found a rate of 82.0% for women who received a digital invitation, while it was 73.7% for those invited by post. The rate was 78.1% for invitations in the late afternoon, 3–6 p.m., while later appointments reached a rate of 73.7%. Half of the women invited 10 times attended all times. The predicted total number of attendances was 9 out of 10 for the factors investigated. Conclusion The highest attendance rates were shown for women aged >64, those who received digital invitations and those having appointments in late afternoon. The differences in predicted number of attendances between the investigated factors were minor. Overall, BreastScreen Norway has a high attendance rate. However, efforts aimed at increasing the attendance in specific groups should be considered.

Putting urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander food insecurity on the agenda

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leigh Bramwell ◽  
Wendy Foley ◽  
Tanya Shaw
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Torres Strait Islander People ◽  
Social Wellbeing ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Health Advice ◽  
Torres Strait ◽  
Primary Healthcare Providers

Food insecurity adversely affects diet quality, physical, mental and social wellbeing and the capacity to act on health advice recommended by primary healthcare providers. In this article, an overview of the neglected issue of food insecurity in urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is provided. Policy and action on food security for urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is reviewed, and it is argued that for primary health care to better address food insecurity, an evidence base is needed to understand the experiences of individuals and households and how to work effectively to support food insecure clients.

scholarly journals The Incidence of Intestinal Gastric Cancer among Resettlers in Germany—Do Resettlers Remain at an Elevated Risk in Comparison to the General Population?

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (24) ◽  
pp. 9215
Author(s):  
Anna Lindblad ◽  
Simone Kaucher ◽  
Philipp Jaehn ◽  
Hiltraud Kajüter ◽  
Bernd Holleczek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gastric Cancer ◽  
Soviet Union ◽  
General Population ◽  
Former Soviet Union ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Negative Binomial Regression ◽  
German Population ◽  
Pooled Data ◽  
Disease Pattern ◽  
Over Time

Objective: Previous studies have shown that the incidence of gastric cancer (GC), and particularly intestinal GC, is higher among resettlers from the former Soviet Union (FSU) than in the general German population. Our aim was to investigate if the higher risk remains over time. Methods: GC cases between 1994 and 2013, in a cohort of 32,972 resettlers, were identified by the respective federal cancer registry. Age-standardized rates (ASRs) and standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were analyzed in comparison to the general population for GC subtypes according to the Laurén classification. Additionally, the cohort was pooled with data from a second resettler cohort from Saarland to investigate time trends using negative binomial regression. Results: The incidence of intestinal GC was elevated among resettlers in comparison to the general population (SIR (men) 1.64, 95% CI: 1.09–2.37; SIR (women) 1.91, 95% CI: 1.15–2.98). The analysis with the pooled data confirmed an elevated SIR, which was stable over time. Conclusion: Resettlers’ higher risk of developing intestinal GC does not attenuate towards the incidence in the general German population. Dietary and lifestyle patterns might amplify the risk of GC, and we believe that further investigation of risk behaviors is needed to better understand the development of disease pattern among migrants.

scholarly journals Epidemiology of dengue virus infections in Nepal, 2006–2019

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Komal Raj Rijal ◽  
Bipin Adhikari ◽  
Bindu Ghimire ◽  
Binod Dhungel ◽  
Uttam Raj Pyakurel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Negative Binomial Regression ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Emerging Diseases ◽  
Virus Infections ◽  
Environmental Predictors ◽  
Standard Deviation Increase ◽  
Binomial Regression ◽  
Control Division ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Background Dengue is one of the newest emerging diseases in Nepal with increasing burden and geographic spread over the years. The main objective of this study was to explore the epidemiological patterns of dengue since its first outbreak (2006) to 2019 in Nepal. Methods This study is a retrospective analysis that covers the last 14 years (2006–2019) of reported dengue cases from Epidemiology Diseases Control Division (EDCD), Ministry of Health and Population, Government of Nepal. Reported cases were plotted over time and maps of reported case incidence were generated (from 2016 through 2019). An ecological analysis of environmental predictors of case incidence was conducted using negative binomial regression. Results While endemic dengue has been reported in Nepal since 2006, the case load has increased over time and in 2019 a total of 17 992 dengue cases were reported from 68 districts (from all seven provinces). Compared to the case incidence in 2016, incidence was approximately five times higher in 2018 [incidence rate ratio (IRR): 4.8; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5–15.3] and over 140 times higher in 2019 (IRR: 141.6; 95% CI 45.8–438.4). A one standard deviation increase in elevation was associated with a 90% decrease in reported case incidence (IRR: 0.10; 95% CI 0.01–0.20). However, the association between elevation and reported cases varied across the years. In 2018 there was a cluster of cases reported from high elevation Kaski District of Gandaki Province. Our results suggest that dengue infections are increasing in magnitude and expanding out of the lowland areas to higher elevations over time. Conclusions There is a high risk of dengue outbreak in the lowland Terai region, with increasing spread towards the mid-mountains and beyond as seen over the last 14 years. Urgent measures are required to increase the availability of diagnostics and resources to mitigate future dengue epidemics.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document