scholarly journals Uptake of influenza vaccination and risk reduction behaviour for respiratory infections: a survey of optometrists in New Zealand

2014 ◽  
Vol 97 (5) ◽  
pp. 418-421
Author(s):  
Albert Vosseler ◽  
Graham A Wilson ◽  
Nick Wilson
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Risk Reduction Behaviour ◽  
Reduction Behaviour

Food hazard characteristics and risk reduction behaviour

2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (10) ◽  
pp. 875-891 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary McCarthy ◽  
Mary Brennan ◽  
Christopher Ritson ◽  
Martine de Boer
Keyword(s):  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Risk Reduction Behaviour ◽  
Reduction Behaviour

scholarly journals General population perspectives of dementia risk reduction and the implications for intervention: A systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative evidence

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. e0257540
Author(s):  
Eleanor Curran ◽  
Terence W. H. Chong ◽  
Kali Godbee ◽  
Charles Abraham ◽  
Nicola T. Lautenschlager ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
General Population ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Behaviour Change ◽  
Integrated Model ◽  
Thematic Synthesis ◽  
Risk Reduction Behaviour ◽  
Dementia Risk ◽  
Reduction Behaviour ◽  
Guide Intervention

Background Evidence for the potential prevention of dementia through lifestyle risk factor modification is growing and has prompted examination of implementation approaches. Understanding the general population’s perspectives regarding dementia risk reduction is key to implementation. This may provide useful insights into more effective and efficient ways to help people change relevant beliefs, motivations and behaviour patterns. We conducted a systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative evidence to develop an integrated model of general population dementia risk reduction perspectives and the implications for intervention in research and implementation contexts. Methods and findings We searched electronic databases, supplemented by lateral search techniques, to identify studies published since 1995 reporting qualitative dementia risk reduction perspectives of the non-expert general population who do not have dementia. Thematic synthesis, incorporating an expert panel discussion, was used to identify overarching themes and develop an integrated model to guide intervention to support individuals to adopt and maintain dementia risk reduction behaviour patterns. Quality of included studies and confidence in review findings were systematically appraised. We included 50 papers, reflecting the views of more than 4,500 individuals. Main themes were: 1) The need for effective education about a complex topic to prevent confusion and facilitate understanding and empowerment; 2) Personally relevant short- and long-term benefits of dementia risk reduction behaviour patterns can generate value and facilitate action; 3) Individuals benefit from trusted, reliable and sensitive support to convert understanding to personal commitment to relevant behaviour change; 4) Choice, control and relevant self-regulatory supports help individuals take-action and direct their own progress; 5) Collaborative and empowering social opportunities can facilitate and propagate dementia risk reduction behaviour change; 6) Individual behaviour patterns occur in social contexts that influence beliefs through heuristic processes and need to be understood. Findings indicate that, for intervention: 1) education is key, but both content and delivery need to be tailored; 2) complementary interventions to support self-regulation mechanisms and social processes will increase education effectiveness; 3) co-design principles should guide intervention design and delivery processes; 4) all interventions need to be supported by context-specific data. Conclusions This systematic review and thematic synthesis provides a comprehensive, integrated model of the dementia risk reduction perspectives of the general population and intervention approaches to support behaviour change that can be applied in clinical trial and real-world implementation settings. Findings extend existing knowledge and may assist more effective intervention design and delivery.

Parental risk perception of mycotoxins and risk reduction behaviour

2014 ◽  
Vol 116 (6) ◽  
pp. 1014-1030 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Niens ◽  
Micha Strack ◽  
Rainer Marggraf
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perception ◽  
Child Health ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Optimistic Bias ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Risk Reduction Behaviour ◽  
Reduction Behaviour ◽  
And Control

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the parental risk perception of mycotoxins (mould toxins) related to child health in Germany. It ascertains the parental risk reduction behaviour operationalised as parental additional willingness to pay (aWTP) for special child products. It investigates the interrelationships between parental risk perceptions and risk reduction behaviour. Design/methodology/approach – Altogether, 771 questionnaires were sent to 17 day-care centres in Lower Saxony, Germany. A total of 238 questionnaires were completed. The Perceived Food Risk Index was used to identify the main dimensions of parental risk perception of mycotoxins. Open and closed questions measured aWTP for risk reduction and parental risk estimates. Findings – The respondents believed that mycotoxins posed a moderate health risk for children in Germany. However, parental risk assessment was found to be subjected to an optimistic bias. Nevertheless, the parents were willing to pay a premium to protect their children's health against mycotoxins. Parental risk perception of mycotoxins could be described by two dimensions named “Dread” and “Control”. “Dread” and “Control” predicted aWTP for risk reduction as well as being involved in the genesis of optimistic bias. Research limitations/implications – Information regarding mycotoxins provided in the questionnaire probably influenced parental responses. This limits the generalisation of the findings. Originality/value – This research provides initial findings regarding parental risk perceptions of mycotoxins and its impact on risk reduction behaviour. The results are useful for the development of effective risk management and thus for the protection of child health.

scholarly journals Collaborative networks enable the rapid establishment of serological assays for SARS-CoV-2 during nationwide lockdown in New Zealand

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9863 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reuben McGregor ◽  
Alana L. Whitcombe ◽  
Campbell R. Sheen ◽  
James M. Dickson ◽  
Catherine L. Day ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Serum Antibody ◽  
Clinical Diagnostics ◽  
Neutralising Antibodies ◽  
Past Infection ◽  
Travel History ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Collaborative Efforts ◽  
Prior Infection

Background Serological assays that detect antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 are critical for determining past infection and investigating immune responses in the COVID-19 pandemic. We established ELISA-based immunoassays using locally produced antigens when New Zealand went into a nationwide lockdown and the supply chain of diagnostic reagents was a widely held domestic concern. The relationship between serum antibody binding measured by ELISA and neutralising capacity was investigated using a surrogate viral neutralisation test (sVNT). Methods A pre-pandemic sera panel (n = 113), including respiratory infections with symptom overlap with COVID-19, was used to establish assay specificity. Sera from PCR‑confirmed SARS-CoV-2 patients (n = 21), and PCR-negative patients with respiratory symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 (n = 82) that presented to the two largest hospitals in Auckland during the lockdown period were included. A two-step IgG ELISA based on the receptor binding domain (RBD) and spike protein was adapted to determine seropositivity, and neutralising antibodies that block the RBD/hACE‑2 interaction were quantified by sVNT. Results The calculated cut-off (>0.2) in the two-step ELISA maximised specificity by classifying all pre-pandemic samples as negative. Sera from all PCR-confirmed COVID-19 patients were classified as seropositive by ELISA ≥7 days after symptom onset. There was 100% concordance between the two-step ELISA and the sVNT with all 7+ day sera from PCR‑confirmed COVID-19 patients also classified as positive with respect to neutralising antibodies. Of the symptomatic PCR-negative cohort, one individual with notable travel history was classified as positive by two-step ELISA and sVNT, demonstrating the value of serology in detecting prior infection. Conclusions These serological assays were established and assessed at a time when human activity was severely restricted in New Zealand. This was achieved by generous sharing of reagents and technical expertise by the international scientific community, and highly collaborative efforts of scientists and clinicians across the country. The assays have immediate utility in supporting clinical diagnostics, understanding transmission in high-risk cohorts and underpinning longer‑term ‘exit’ strategies based on effective vaccines and therapeutics.

scholarly journals Treatment of respiratory diseases with inhalation patches

2019 ◽  
pp. 89-94
Author(s):  
L S. Starostina
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Events ◽  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Mucous Membrane ◽  
Respiratory Diseases ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Early Age ◽  
Ciliated Epithelium ◽  
Constant Attention ◽  
High Incidence

The high incidence of respiratory infections at an early age requires constant attention of doctors of various specialties. It should be born in mind that the development of the respiratory tract in young children has unique features, and that different drugs can have different effects on the mucous membrane and ciliated epithelium. Also take into account the possibility of using different ways drugs can be administered to prevent and treat respiratory infections with due account for the age of the child, the effectiveness of action and adverse events risk reduction.

Relocalisation for degrowth and disaster risk reduction

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 877-891
Author(s):  
Oluwadunsin Moromoke Ajulo ◽  
Jason von Meding ◽  
Patrick Tang
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Economic System ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Disaster Risk Reduction ◽  
Wealth Distribution ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Vulnerability Reduction ◽  
Local Initiatives

PurposeVulnerability is understood as susceptibility to hazards born out of the complex interaction within the system scales. The current global economic system focuses on persistent growth and a top-down approach to wealth distribution, which not only puts a strain on the Earth's resources but also on communities by increasing vulnerability. Localised economy, on the other hand, uses a bottom-up approach to wealth distribution, whereby local resources are harnessed for sustainability of the local economy. Localising economies facilitate degrowth by shifting our focus to the quality of economies and the redefinition of growth and prosperity. The purpose of this study is to highlight the potentials of localisation and degrowth for vulnerability reduction.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, the authors conducted a case study of the Lyttelton community in New Zealand, their local initiatives and how these efforts have been used to build capacities and reduce vulnerabilities in the community. Data were sourced from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data were sourced through observation of the day-to-day running of the community and interviews with community members, while secondary data were sourced from existing literature on the community and related concepts.FindingsLyttelton community provides a good example of a community where bottom-up initiatives are particularly felt, and there is very limited dependence on the conventional economic system to solve their problems. The study shows that degrowth initiatives within the community have gained momentum because initiators see the value in their coming together as a community and doing what is right for themselves and the environment. Furthermore, localisation fosters innovation, personal growth and development and care for the environment.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the existing knowledge by discussing some local initiatives that serve an underlying purpose for degrowth based on a study carried out in Lyttelton, New Zealand. The study findings established that there is need for more focus on sensitisation about the risks of growth mania and the potential for degrowth in bringing about actual prosperity, for saving the environment and disaster risk reduction. Also, the encouragement of local production and existing institutions like the timebank, which give members access to the needed resources and skills contribute to vulnerability reduction.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document