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The Lancet. Public Health Oct 2023Healthy sleep is essential for physical and mental health, and social wellbeing; however, across the globe, and particularly in developing countries, national public... (Review)
Review
Healthy sleep is essential for physical and mental health, and social wellbeing; however, across the globe, and particularly in developing countries, national public health agendas rarely consider sleep health. Sleep should be promoted as an essential pillar of health, equivalent to nutrition and physical activity. To improve sleep health across the globe, a focus on education and awareness, research, and targeted public health policies are needed. We recommend developing sleep health educational programmes and awareness campaigns; increasing, standardising, and centralising data on sleep quantity and quality in every country across the globe; and developing and implementing sleep health policies across sectors of society. Efforts are needed to ensure equity and inclusivity for all people, particularly those who are most socially and economically vulnerable, and historically excluded.
Topics: Humans; Public Health; Public Policy; Health Education; Health Policy; Sleep
PubMed: 37777291
DOI: 10.1016/S2468-2667(23)00182-2 -
The Lancet. Public Health Dec 2023Chinese men consume around 40% of the world's cigarettes, causing a substantial and growing burden of tobacco-attributed death and disease. In 2005, the Chinese... (Review)
Review
Chinese men consume around 40% of the world's cigarettes, causing a substantial and growing burden of tobacco-attributed death and disease. In 2005, the Chinese Government ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and tobacco control measures have since increased nationwide. To assess tobacco control progress, obstacles, and opportunities, this Review describes the long-term evolution of cigarette consumption and the associated disease burden in mainland China, and the implementation of five important tobacco control strategies advocated by WHO. These strategies covered tobacco taxation; package warnings; advertising, promotion, and sponsorship bans; public smoking bans; and cessation services. Although only 2% of women in China now smoke, half of all adult men smoke cigarettes. By the 2010s, smoking accounted for about a fifth of all adult male deaths, and this proportion is rising, following a trajectory similar to that seen in the USA 40 years earlier. The self-regulating national tobacco monopoly and its influence on policy, the country's relatively low tobacco tax, and its weak package warnings and enforcement of other tobacco control strategies all highlight challenges in tobacco control. However, these challenges can also provide opportunities to discourage smoking initiation in young women and encourage cessation in men, assisting China's long march towards better health.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Male; Female; Tobacco Control; Tobacco Products; Smoke-Free Policy; Smoking Prevention; China
PubMed: 38000880
DOI: 10.1016/S2468-2667(23)00242-6 -
Health Systems in Transition Sep 2023The Health Systems in Transition (HiT) country reports provide an analytical description of each health system and of reform initiatives in progress or under...
The Health Systems in Transition (HiT) country reports provide an analytical description of each health system and of reform initiatives in progress or under development. They aim to provide relevant comparative information to support policy-makers and analysts in the development of health systems and reforms in the countries of the WHO European Region and beyond. The HiTs are building blocks that can be used: to learn in detail about different approaches to the financing, organization and delivery of health services; to describe accurately the process, content and implementation of health reform programmes; to highlight common challenges and areas that require more in-depth analysis; and to provide a tool for the dissemination of information on health systems and the exchange of experiences of reform strategies between policy-makers and analysts in countries of the WHO European Region. This analysis of the Swedish health system reviews recent developments in organization and governance, health financing, health care provision, health reforms and health system performance. This series is an ongoing initiative and material is updated at regular intervals.
Topics: Humans; Health Care Reform; Delivery of Health Care; Sweden; Health Policy; Government Regulation
PubMed: 38230685
DOI: No ID Found -
PloS One 2023Globally, alcohol consumption causes significant societal harm and is a leading risk factor for death and disability in adults. In India, 3.7% of all deaths and 3.1%... (Review)
Review
Globally, alcohol consumption causes significant societal harm and is a leading risk factor for death and disability in adults. In India, 3.7% of all deaths and 3.1% disability adjusted life years (DALYs) can be attributed to alcohol. In the context of rapid economic development and emphasized by the COVID-19 pandemic, India's lack of a consolidated and comprehensive alcohol policy has posed significant challenges to addressing this harm. In this context, the aim of our review was to undertake a comprehensive mapping of the State and national policy environment surrounding alcohol and its use in India, based on an analysis of policy documents. We did this though a scoping review of academic and grey literature, which helped to iteratively identify the websites of 15 international organizations, 21 Indian non-governmental organizations, and eight Indian Federal governmental organizations as well as State/Union Territory government sites, to search for relevant policy documents. We identified 19 Federal policy documents and 36 State level policy documents within which we have identified the specific policy measures which address the 10 categories of the World Health Organization's Global Action Plan to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol. We found that there are major gaps in regulation of marketing and price controls, with much of this controlled by the States. In addition, regulation of availability of alcohol varies widely throughout the country, which is also a policy area controlled locally by States. Through the clear elucidation of the current policy environment surrounding alcohol in India, policy makers, researchers and advocates can create a clearer roadmap for future reform.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Health Policy; Pandemics; Public Policy; Alcohol Drinking; India
PubMed: 37976246
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294392 -
Tobacco Control Mar 2024
Topics: Humans; Policy; Smoking; Tobacco Control; Tobacco Industry
PubMed: 38503442
DOI: 10.1136/tc-2024-058662 -
Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal =... Jul 2023In addition to the general question about what works, policymakers consider whether health interventions will work in their context, and consider the social values such... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
In addition to the general question about what works, policymakers consider whether health interventions will work in their context, and consider the social values such as affordability, acceptability, equity, equality, and human rights.
AIMS
To highlight the importance of having and using an evidence governance system to inform health policymaking in Oman.
METHODS
We reviewed the literature and analysed local documents on evidence governance systems in Oman.
RESULTS
The Government of Oman has shown increasing interest in research and innovation in the past few decades. This interest was reinforced through the announcement in November 2021 of the intention to establish a decision-making support unit. Oman's strategies for evidence-informed policymaking provide direct and well-integrated channels for expert advice, however, the capacity for implementation remains challenging, and there is a lack of clarity in the evidence use mandate. It is not clear how evidence was selected, synthesized and used to inform some of the government policies on health. This can limit the scope of operation and subsequent achievements.
CONCLUSION
Efforts to strengthen evidence-informed policymaking should focus on building a system for good governance of evidence to ensure that rigorous, systematic, and technically valid evidence is used for policymaking.
Topics: Oman; Decision Making; Policy Making; Health Policy; Humans
PubMed: 37553739
DOI: 10.26719/emhj.23.081 -
Nature Food Apr 2024For both research and practice, it is paramount to understand what, where and when agri-environmental policies have been put in place. Here we present a database of... (Review)
Review
For both research and practice, it is paramount to understand what, where and when agri-environmental policies have been put in place. Here we present a database of 6,124 agri-environmental policies implemented between 1960 and 2022 in about 200 countries. The database comprises a wide range of policy types (including regulations and payment schemes) and goals (such as biodiversity conservation, safer pesticide use and reducing nutrient pollution). We illustrate the application of the database by exploring the association between economic development and agri-environmental policies and between the soil-related, agri-environmental policies of countries and their border discontinuities in cropland erosion. A strong, positive link between economic development and implemented agri-environmental policies is revealed, and it is found that 43% of all global border discontinuities in soil erosion between countries can be explained by differences in their policies.
Topics: Humans; Agriculture; Biodiversity; Conservation of Natural Resources; Economic Development; Environmental Policy; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Soil
PubMed: 38519597
DOI: 10.1038/s43016-024-00945-8 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2023This paper aims to emphasize the need to acknowledge unique cultural and contextual meanings of physical activity to improve health outcomes in different communities.... (Review)
Review
This paper aims to emphasize the need to acknowledge unique cultural and contextual meanings of physical activity to improve health outcomes in different communities. Leininger's Sunrise Model was used as the theoretical base to understand the complex cultural and contextual factors that influence physical activity. Beliefs and practices surrounding physical activity are influenced by a variety of cultural and contextual factors. Providing culturally relevant contexts to the meaning of physical activity allows opportunities for improving policies or programs that would engage individuals and communities in physical activity in culturally meaningful ways. Incorporating cultural and contextual factors is critical to promote physical activity, especially in minority and vulnerable communities.
Topics: Humans; Exercise; Minority Groups; Policy; Health Promotion; Healthy Lifestyle; Culture
PubMed: 37601221
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1223919 -
Health Systems in Transition Feb 2024This analysis of the Danish health system reviews recent developments in organization and governance, health financing, health care provision, health reforms and health... (Review)
Review
This analysis of the Danish health system reviews recent developments in organization and governance, health financing, health care provision, health reforms and health system performance. Population health in Denmark is good and improving, with life expectancy above the European Union (EU) average but is, however, lagging behind the other Nordic countries. Denmark has a universal and tax-financed health system, providing coverage for a comprehensive package of health services. Notable exclusions to the benefits package include outpatient prescription drugs and adult dental care, which require co-payment and are the main causes of out-of-pocket spending. The hospital sector has been transformed during the past 15 years through a process of consolidating hospitals and the centralization of medical specialties. However, in recent years, there has been a move towards decentralization to increase the volume and quality of care provided outside hospitals in primary and local care settings. The Danish health care system is, to a very high degree, based on digital solutions that health care providers, citizens and institutions all use. Ensuring the availability of health care in all parts of Denmark is increasingly seen as a priority issue. Ensuring sufficient health workers, especially nurses, poses a significant challenge to the Danish health system's sustainability and resilience. While a comprehensive package of policies has been put in place to increase the number of nurses being trained and retain those already working in the system, such measures need time to work. Addressing staffing shortages requires long-term action. Profound changes in working practices and working environments will be required to ensure the sustainability of the health workforce and, by extension, the health system into the future.
Topics: Humans; Denmark; Delivery of Health Care; Health Care Reform; Healthcare Financing; Health Policy
PubMed: 38841877
DOI: No ID Found -
Health Research Policy and Systems Nov 2023Place-based approaches are increasingly applied to address the determinants of health, many of which are complex problems, to ultimately improve population health...
BACKGROUND
Place-based approaches are increasingly applied to address the determinants of health, many of which are complex problems, to ultimately improve population health outcomes. Through public policy, government actions can affect the effectiveness of place-based approaches by influencing the conceptualisation, development, implementation, governance, and/or evaluation of place-based approaches. Despite the important role of public policy, there has been limited examination of public policy related to place-based approaches. We add to the limited knowledge base by analysing Australian national public policy, to explore: (1) the definitions, conceptualisations, and characteristics of place-based approaches in public policy; (2) the government's perception and communication of its role in place-based approaches; and (3) the extent to which government policy reflects the necessary conditions for successful place-based governance developed by Marsh and colleagues, namely localised context, embedded learning, and reciprocal accountability.
METHODS
This research was underpinned by the Theory of Systems Change and methodologically informed by the READ approach to document analysis. Ritchie and Spencer's framework method was utilised to analyse the data.
RESULTS
We identified and reviewed 67 policy documents. In terms of conceptualisation, common characteristics of place-based approaches related to collaboration, including community in decision-making, responsiveness to community needs, and suitability of place-based approaches to address complex problems and socio-economic determinants of health. Three roles of government were identified: funder, partner, and creator of a supportive policy environment. From the three criteria for successful place-based governance, localised context was the most dominant across the documents and reciprocal accountability the least.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on our findings, we drew key implications for public policy and research. There was a disproportionate emphasis on the bottom-up approach across the documents, which presents the risk of diminishing government interest in place-based approaches, potentially burdening communities experiencing disadvantage beyond their capacities. Governments engaged in place-based approaches should work towards a more balanced hybrid approach to place-based approaches that maintain the central functions of government while allowing for successful place-based governance. This could be achieved by promoting consistency in conceptualisations of 'place-based', employing an active role in trust building, advancing the creation of a supportive policy environment, and embedding 'learning' across place-based approaches.
Topics: Humans; Australia; Government; Public Policy; Health Policy
PubMed: 38031069
DOI: 10.1186/s12961-023-01074-7