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American Journal of Preventive Medicine Dec 2023Although the use of tobacco has declined among youth, ENDS has the potential to disrupt or reverse these trends. Policies for tobacco and ENDS may have an impact on...
INTRODUCTION
Although the use of tobacco has declined among youth, ENDS has the potential to disrupt or reverse these trends. Policies for tobacco and ENDS may have an impact on adolescent ENDS use. The impacts of state-level policies were examined for both tobacco and ENDS indoor use bans, excise taxes, and age-of-purchase laws on past-month adolescent ENDS use from 2013 to 2019.
METHODS
This study used cohort data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study and policy data from the Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation repository-3 policies for ENDS and 2 policies for tobacco products. Policies included comprehensive indoor vaping/smoking bans, purchase-age restrictions, and excise taxes. Hybrid panel models were estimated in 2022 using data merged from the 2 longitudinal sources on past-month vaping. The analytic sample (observations=26,008) included adolescents aged 12-17 years, yielding a total of 72,684 observations.
RESULTS
The odds of adolescent ENDS use were 21.4% lower when the state had an ENDS purchase-age restriction and 55.0% lower when the state had a comprehensive tobacco smoking ban than in the years when the state did not have the ban.
CONCLUSIONS
During a period of significant growth in ENDS use among U.S. youth, ENDS purchase-age restrictions and smoking bans reduced the odds of past-month vaping among adolescents. Wider implementation of policies may help intervene in youth vaping.
Topics: Adolescent; Humans; Tobacco Control; Vaping; Smoke-Free Policy; Non-Smokers; Taxes
PubMed: 37482258
DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2023.07.010 -
PloS One 2023The enduring discourse regarding the effectiveness of interest rate policy in mitigating inflation within developing economies is characterized by the interplay of...
The enduring discourse regarding the effectiveness of interest rate policy in mitigating inflation within developing economies is characterized by the interplay of structural and supply-side determinants. Moreover, extant academic literature fails to resolve the direction of causality between inflation and interest rates. Nevertheless, the prevalent adoption of interest rate-based monetary policies in numerous developing economies raises a fundamental inquiry: What motivates central banks in these nations to consistently espouse this strategy? To address this inquiry, our study leverages wavelet transformation to dissect interest rate and inflation data across a spectrum of frequency scales. This innovative methodology paves the way for a meticulous exploration of the intricate causal interplay between these pivotal macroeconomic variables for twenty-two developing economies using monthly data from 1992 to 2022. Traditional literature on causality tends to focus on short- and long-run timescales, yet our study posits that numerous uncharted time and frequency scales exist between these extremes. These intermediate scales may wield substantial influence over the causal relationship and its direction. Our research thus extends the boundaries of existing causality literature and presents fresh insights into the complexities of monetary policy in developing economies. Traditional wisdom suggests that central banks should raise interest rates to combat inflation. However, our study uncovers a contrasting reality in developing economies. It demonstrates a positive causal link between the policy rate and inflation, where an increase in the central bank's interest rates leads to an upsurge in price levels. Paradoxically, in response to escalating prices, the central bank continues to heighten the policy rate, thereby perpetuating this cyclical pattern. Given this observed positive causal relationship in developing economies, central banks must explore structural and supply-side factors to break this cycle and regain control over inflation.
Topics: Inflation, Economic; Policy
PubMed: 38079420
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295453 -
Nutrients Mar 2024Food security is a concept with evolving definitions and meanings, shaped by contested knowledge and changing contexts. The way in which food security is understood by...
Food security is a concept with evolving definitions and meanings, shaped by contested knowledge and changing contexts. The way in which food security is understood by governments impacts how it is addressed in public policy. This research investigates the evolution of discourses and practices in Tasmanian food and nutrition policies from 1994 to 2023. Four foundational documents were analysed using qualitative document analysis, revealing persistent food insecurity issues over three decades. The analysis identified a duality in addressing the persistent policy challenges of nutrition-related health issues and food insecurity: the balancing act between advancing public health improvements and safeguarding Tasmania's economy. The research revealed that from 1994 to 2023, Tasmania's food and nutrition policies and strategies have been characterised by various transitions and tensions. Traditional approaches, predominantly emphasising food availability and, to a limited extent, access, have persisted for over thirty years. The transition towards a more contemporary approach to food security, incorporating dimensions of utilisation, stability, sustainability, and agency, has been markedly slow, indicating systemic inertia. This points to an opportunity for future policy evolution, to move towards a dynamic and comprehensive approach. Such an approach would move beyond the narrow focus of food availability to address the complex multi-dimensional nature of food security.
Topics: Humans; Nutrition Policy; Food; Government; Knowledge; Nutrition Disorders
PubMed: 38612952
DOI: 10.3390/nu16070918 -
Journal of Environmental Management Aug 2023Promoting green financial reform is an important measure to support environmentally-biased technological progress (EBTP) and achieve sustainable economic and social...
Promoting green financial reform is an important measure to support environmentally-biased technological progress (EBTP) and achieve sustainable economic and social development. Although China launched a green finance reform and innovation pilot zone (GFRIPZ) policy in 2017, little is known about whether and how such a policy affects EBTP. Based on mathematical deduction, this paper studies the mechanism through which green financial reform influences EBTP. The analysis employs panel data of Chinese prefecture-level cities and a generalized synthetic control method to examine the policy effect of the establishment of GFRIPZ in EBTP. It is found that establishing GFRIPZ significantly promotes EBTP, and that the policy effect shows "ahead-of-policy" and dynamically increasing features. Potential mechanisms reside in the pilot policy's easing of financing constraints and upgrading of industrial structure. Further heterogeneity analyses reveal that great disparities exist in the policy effects of different pilot zones, with a steadily increasing policy effect in Zhejiang and Guangdong, a lagging policy effect in Jiangxi and Guizhou, and an inverse U-shaped policy effect in Xinjiang. Policy effects are much stronger in regions with a higher degree of marketization and a higher level of attention to education. Additional tests of economic performance indicate that the pilot policy, interweaved with its driving effect on EBTP, is conducive to promoting an energy-conservation and low-carbon-energy transition. The findings shed light on applying green financial reform to encourage environment-friendly technological research and development.
Topics: Carbon; China; Cities; Industry; Policy; Economic Development
PubMed: 37058925
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117915 -
International Journal of Environmental... Oct 2023Worldwide, 200 million children experience disability, with the vast majority living in low- and middle-income countries. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of... (Review)
Review
Worldwide, 200 million children experience disability, with the vast majority living in low- and middle-income countries. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) places great importance on the rights of all children for the opportunities for survival, growth, health, and development. A subsequent document, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), identifies children with disabilities as rights bearers who should be considered in all policies and programming worldwide. Nigeria, in 1991 and 2010, ratified the CRC and the CRPD, respectively. Nonetheless, knowledge of the extent to which their disability and child-directed policies considers these two key conventions, in ensuring that children and children with disabilities have access to care within their right remains limited. This study examined the extent to which Nigeria's current disability and childhood policies have integrated the two child and disability related conventions from the UN. Using a structured search of databases and Nigerian federal and state government websites, we conducted a policy review to identify their disability and child-related disability policies. We also included the CRC and CRPD reports submitted by the Nigerian government to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) (2008 and 2010 cyclical year). A thematic analysis, based on the CRC and CRPD report, identified the following six themes: participation, support systems, awareness raising, factors associated with adherence to the CRC, laws and rights, and services. The review showed that the available Nigerian disability policies were federal, with some state policies which aligned with the CRC and CRPD. Also identified was the lack of disability policies specific to children and their families. We concluded that, to ensure proper inclusion of the rights of all children, including those with disabilities, in Nigeria there is a need for a more optimal uptake of recommendations of the CRC and CRPD as laid out by the UN.
Topics: Child; Humans; Black People; Disabled Children; Nigeria; Policy; Human Rights
PubMed: 37947554
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20216996 -
Journal of Public Health Policy Dec 2023
Topics: Health Policy; Artificial Intelligence
PubMed: 37689732
DOI: 10.1057/s41271-023-00438-1 -
The American Journal of Managed Care Jul 2023Awareness of the presence and significance of disparities in American health outcomes is growing. Equitable access to appropriate medication-pharmacoequity-is...
Awareness of the presence and significance of disparities in American health outcomes is growing. Equitable access to appropriate medication-pharmacoequity-is foundational to equitable health care, with medication formularies representing a key determinant of medication access. Critical formulary design elements include clinical criteria, prescription processes, and patient access policies. Facets of each can be refined to ensure more equitable access to medications, including avoidance of prior authorization requirements, awareness of the complex determinants of human behavior, streamlined authorization processes, and optimized costs and convenience for patients. Optimizing these factors for proven treatments of conditions disproportionately borne by vulnerable communities is especially critical in the pursuit of equitable access. For policy makers at payer and pharmacy benefit manager organizations to successfully pursue corresponding changes in formulary policy, it is critical that teams educate leadership regarding the importance of policy change, invest in comprehensive patient data, and engage community members in their efforts.
Topics: Humans; United States; Health Equity; Pharmacy; Pharmaceutical Services; Health Services Accessibility; Policy; Health Policy
PubMed: 37523750
DOI: 10.37765/ajmc.2023.89393 -
Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine Sep 2023There has been growing concern about doctors' conflicts of interests (COIs) but it is unclear what processes and tools exist to enable the consistent declaration and...
OBJECTIVES
There has been growing concern about doctors' conflicts of interests (COIs) but it is unclear what processes and tools exist to enable the consistent declaration and management of such interests. This study mapped existing policies across a variety of organisations and settings to better understand the degree of variation and identify opportunities for improvement.
DESIGN
Thematic analysis.
SETTING
We studied the COI policies of 31 UK and international organisations which set or influence professional standards or engage doctors in healthcare commissioning and provision settings.
PARTICIPANTS
31 UK and international organisations.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Organisational policy similarities and differences.
RESULTS
Most policies (29/31) referred to the need for individuals to apply judgement when deciding whether an interest is a conflict, with just over half (18/31) advocating a low threshold. Policies differed on the perception of frequency of COI, the timings of declarations, the type of interests that needed to be declared, and how COI and policy breaches should be managed. Just 14/31 policies stated a duty to report concerns in relation to COI. Only 18/31 policies advised COI would be published, while three stated that any disclosures would remain confidential.
CONCLUSIONS
The analysis of organisational policies revealed wide variation in what interests should be declared, when and how. This variation suggests that the current system may not be adequate to maintain a high level of professional integrity in all settings and that there is a need for better standardisation that reduces the risk of errors while addressing the needs of doctors, organisations and the public.
Topics: Humans; Policy; Physicians; Conflict of Interest; Disclosure
PubMed: 37288549
DOI: 10.1177/01410768231181248 -
Health Promotion Journal of Australia :... Jul 2023Health in All Policies approaches support the integration of health considerations into the policies of traditionally siloed governance systems. These siloed systems are...
Health in All Policies approaches support the integration of health considerations into the policies of traditionally siloed governance systems. These siloed systems are often ignorant of the fact that health is created outside of the health system and starts long before you see a health professional. Thus, the purpose of Health in All Policies approaches is to raise the importance of the broad-based impacts on health from these public policies and to implement healthy public policy that delivers human rights for all. This approach requires significant adjustments to current economic and social policy settings. A well-being economy similarly aspires to create policy incentives that increase the importance of social and non-monetized outcomes, such as increased social cohesion environmental sustainability and health. These outcomes can evolve deliberately alongside economic benefits and are impacted by economic and market activities. The principles and functions underpinning Health in All Policies approaches, such as joined-up policy making can be helpful to transition towards a well-being economy. Governments will need to move beyond the currently held principle of "economic growth and profit above all else" if countries are to tackle growing societal inequity and catastrophic climate changes. Rapid digitization and globalization have further entrenched the focus on monetary economic outcomes rather than other aspects of human welfare. This has created an increasingly difficult context within which to prioritize social policies and efforts aimed to achieve primarily social and not profit-oriented goals. In the face of this larger context, alone, Health in All Policies approaches will not bring about the needed transformation to achieve healthy populations and economic transition. However, Health in All Policies approaches do offer lessons and a rationale that is aligned with, and can support the transition to, a well-being economy. Transforming current economic approaches to a well-being economy is imperative to achieve equitable population health, social security and climate sustainability.
Topics: Humans; Public Policy; Policy Making; Health Status
PubMed: 37379857
DOI: 10.1002/hpja.766 -
BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) Oct 2023
Topics: Humans; Public Policy; Health Policy; Climate; Climate Change; Public Health
PubMed: 37793690
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.p2236