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Gurdasani D, Pagel C, McKee M, Michie S, Greenhalgh T, Yates C, Scally G, Ziauddeen H. Covid-19 in the UK: policy on children and schools. BMJ 2022. [DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2022-071234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Black D, Ayres S, Bondy K, Brierley R, Campbell R, Carhart N, Coggon J, Eaton E, Fichera E, Gibson A, Hatleskog E, Hickman M, Hicks B, Hunt A, Pain K, Pearce N, Pilkington P, Rosenberg G, Scally G. Tackling Root Causes Upstream of Unhealthy Urban Development (TRUUD): Protocol of a five-year prevention research consortium. Wellcome Open Res 2022; 6:30. [PMID: 35919506 PMCID: PMC9296993 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16382.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Poor quality urban environments substantially increase non-communicable disease. Responsibility for associated decision-making is dispersed across multiple agents and systems: fast growing urban authorities are the primary gatekeepers of new development and change in the UK, yet the driving forces are remote private sector interests supported by a political economy focused on short-termism and consumption-based growth. Economic valuation of externalities is widely thought to be fundamental, yet evidence on how to value and integrate it into urban development decision-making is limited, and it forms only a part of the decision-making landscape. Researchers must find new ways of integrating socio-environmental costs at numerous key leverage points across multiple complex systems. This mixed-methods study comprises of six highly integrated work packages. It aims to develop and test a multi-action intervention in two urban areas: one on large-scale mixed-use development, the other on major transport. The core intervention is the co-production with key stakeholders through interviews, workshops, and participatory action research, of three areas of evidence: economic valuations of changed health outcomes; community-led media on health inequalities; and routes to potential impact mapped through co-production with key decision-makers, advisors and the lay public. This will be achieved by: mapping system of actors and processes involved in each case study; developing, testing and refining the combined intervention; evaluating the extent to which policy and practice changes amongst our target users, and the likelihood of impact on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) downstream. The integration of such diverse disciplines and sectors presents multiple practical/operational issues. The programme is testing new approaches to research, notably with regards practitioner-researcher integration and transdisciplinary research co-leadership. Other critical risks relate to urban development timescales, uncertainties in upstream-downstream causality, and the demonstration of impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Black
- Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1UD, UK
| | - Sarah Ayres
- School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TZ, UK
| | - Krista Bondy
- School of Management, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Rachel Brierley
- Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1UD, UK
| | - Rona Campbell
- Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1UD, UK
| | - Neil Carhart
- Faculty of Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TR, UK
| | - John Coggon
- Bristol Law School, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1RJ, UK
| | - Eleanor Eaton
- Department of Economics, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | | | - Andy Gibson
- Health and Social Sciences, UWE Bristol, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK
| | - Eli Hatleskog
- Faculty of Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TR, UK
| | - Matthew Hickman
- Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1UD, UK
| | - Ben Hicks
- Faculty of Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TR, UK
| | - Alistair Hunt
- Department of Economics, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Kathy Pain
- Henley Business School, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6UD, UK
| | - Nick Pearce
- Institute of Policy Research, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Paul Pilkington
- Health and Social Sciences, UWE Bristol, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK
| | - Ges Rosenberg
- Faculty of Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TR, UK
| | - Gabriel Scally
- Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1UD, UK
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Dempster M, O'Connell N, Graham CD, O'Connor C, Zgaga L, Burke E, Mather L, Nicolson G, Barry J, Scally G, Nolan A, Tobin K, Crowley P, Darker CD. Non-adherence to COVID-19 containment behaviours: results from an all-Ireland telephone survey. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:898. [PMID: 35513803 PMCID: PMC9070967 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13322-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 public health measures like handwashing and social distancing can help stem the spread of the virus. Adherence to guidelines varies between individuals. This study aims to identify predictors of non-adherence to social distancing and handwashing guidelines. METHODS A cross-sectional weekly telephone survey was conducted over eight weeks (11/06/2020-05/08/2020). The sample included adults resident on the island of Ireland (75:25 split between ROI and NI). Data were collected on demographics, threat perceptions, fear of COVID-19, response efficacy and self-efficacy, response cost and social norms, COVID-19 behaviours, mood, loneliness, and self-reported health. RESULTS 3011 participants were surveyed. Handwashing non-adherers were more likely to be male (OR: 5.2, 95% CI: 2.4 - 11.3), to have higher levels of loneliness (OR: 1.86, 95% CI: 1.1 - 3.1), and higher perceptions of handwashing costs (OR: 3.4, 95% CI: 2.2 - 5.2). Those reporting rarely engaging in social distancing were more likely to be members of lower socioeconomic groups, to be younger (OR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.96 - 0.98), male (OR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.1 - 2.5), healthcare workers (OR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.1 - 3.4), to report lower mood (OR: 1.72, 95% CI: 1.3 - 2.2), were less likely to live in households with people aged under-18 (OR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.6 - 0.9), and to have lower fear of COVID-19 (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.6 - 0.9). CONCLUSIONS Non-adherers to handwashing differ to social distancing non-adherers. Public health messages should target specific demographic groups and different messages are necessary to improve adherence to each behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Dempster
- School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, 18-30 Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 5BN, UK. .,Discipline of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, Tallaght Cross, Dublin, D24 DH74, Ireland.
| | - Nicola O'Connell
- School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, 18-30 Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 5BN, UK
| | - Christopher D Graham
- School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, 18-30 Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 5BN, UK
| | - Cliodhna O'Connor
- School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, 18-30 Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 5BN, UK
| | - Lina Zgaga
- Discipline of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, Tallaght Cross, Dublin, D24 DH74, Ireland
| | - Emma Burke
- Discipline of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, Tallaght Cross, Dublin, D24 DH74, Ireland
| | - Luke Mather
- Discipline of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, Tallaght Cross, Dublin, D24 DH74, Ireland
| | - Gail Nicolson
- Discipline of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, Tallaght Cross, Dublin, D24 DH74, Ireland
| | - Joe Barry
- Discipline of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, Tallaght Cross, Dublin, D24 DH74, Ireland
| | - Gabriel Scally
- School of Medicine, University of Bristol, Tyndall Venue, Bristol, BS8 1TH, UK
| | - Ann Nolan
- Trinity Centre for Global Health, Trinity College Dublin, 7-9 Leinster Street South, Dublin, D02 K104, Ireland
| | - Katy Tobin
- School of Medicine, Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Lloyd Building, Dublin, D02 PN40, Ireland
| | - Philip Crowley
- Quality Improvement, Health Service Executive, Dr Steevens' Hospital, Dublin, D08 W2A8, Ireland
| | - Catherine D Darker
- Discipline of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, Tallaght Cross, Dublin, D24 DH74, Ireland
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McKee M, Altmann D, Costello A, Friston K, Haque Z, Khunti K, Michie S, Oni T, Pagel C, Pillay D, Reicher S, Salisbury H, Scally G, Yates K, Bauld L, Bear L, Drury J, Parker M, Phoenix A, Stokoe E, West R. Open science communication: the first year of the UK's Independent Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies. Health Policy 2022; 126:234-244. [PMID: 35140018 PMCID: PMC8760632 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2022.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a light on the complex relationship between science and policy. Policymakers have had to make decisions at speed in conditions of uncertainty, implementing policies that have had profound consequences for people's lives. Yet this process has sometimes been characterised by fragmentation, opacity and a disconnect between evidence and policy. In the United Kingdom, concerns about the secrecy that initially surrounded this process led to the creation of Independent SAGE, an unofficial group of scientists from different disciplines that came together to ask policy-relevant questions, review the evolving evidence, and make evidence-based recommendations. The group took a public health approach with a population perspective, worked in a holistic transdisciplinary way, and were committed to public engagement. In this paper, we review the lessons learned during its first year. These include the importance of learning from local expertise, the value of learning from other countries, the role of civil society as a critical friend to government, finding appropriate relationships between science and policy, and recognising the necessity of viewing issues through an equity lens.
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Gurdasani D, Akrami A, Bradley VC, Costello A, Greenhalgh T, Flaxman S, McKee M, Michie S, Pagel C, Rasmussen S, Scally G, Yates C, Ziauddeen H. Long COVID in children. Lancet Child Adolesc Health 2022; 6:e2. [PMID: 34921807 PMCID: PMC8673872 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-4642(21)00342-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Deepti Gurdasani
- William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK.
| | - Athena Akrami
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Anthony Costello
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Trisha Greenhalgh
- Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Seth Flaxman
- Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Martin McKee
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Susan Michie
- Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Christina Pagel
- Clinical Operational Research Unit, Department of Mathematics, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sarah Rasmussen
- Department of Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Gabriel Scally
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical Schoo l, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Christian Yates
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Hisham Ziauddeen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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Gurdasani D, Bhatt S, Costello A, Denaxas S, Flaxman S, Greenhalgh T, Griffin S, Hyde Z, Katzourakis A, McKee M, Michie S, Ratmann O, Reicher S, Scally G, Tomlinson C, Yates C, Ziauddeen H, Pagel C. Vaccinating adolescents against SARS-CoV-2 in England: a risk-benefit analysis. J R Soc Med 2021; 114:513-524. [PMID: 34723680 PMCID: PMC8649477 DOI: 10.1177/01410768211052589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To offer a quantitative risk-benefit analysis of two doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination among adolescents in England. SETTING England. DESIGN Following the risk-benefit analysis methodology carried out by the US Centers for Disease Control, we calculated historical rates of hospital admission, Intensive Care Unit admission and death for ascertained SARS-CoV-2 cases in children aged 12-17 in England. We then used these rates alongside a range of estimates for incidence of long COVID, vaccine efficacy and vaccine-induced myocarditis, to estimate hospital and Intensive Care Unit admissions, deaths and cases of long COVID over a period of 16 weeks under assumptions of high and low case incidence. PARTICIPANTS All 12-17 year olds with a record of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in England between 1 July 2020 and 31 March 2021 using national linked electronic health records, accessed through the British Heart Foundation Data Science Centre. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Hospitalisations, Intensive Care Unit admissions, deaths and cases of long COVID averted by vaccinating all 12-17 year olds in England over a 16-week period under different estimates of future case incidence. RESULTS At high future case incidence of 1000/100,000 population/week over 16 weeks, vaccination could avert 4430 hospital admissions and 36 deaths over 16 weeks. At the low incidence of 50/100,000/week, vaccination could avert 70 hospital admissions and two deaths over 16 weeks. The benefit of vaccination in terms of hospitalisations in adolescents outweighs risks unless case rates are sustainably very low (below 30/100,000 teenagers/week). Benefit of vaccination exists at any case rate for the outcomes of death and long COVID, since neither have been associated with vaccination to date. CONCLUSIONS Given the current (as at 15 September 2021) high case rates (680/100,000 population/week in 10-19 year olds) in England, our findings support vaccination of adolescents against SARS-CoV2.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Zoë Hyde
- University of Western Australia,
Crawley WA 6009, Australia
| | | | - Martin McKee
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical
Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
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Bar-Yam Y, Gurdasani D, Baker MG, Scally G, George S, Kvalsvig A, Fhaoláin SN, Chiou ST, Drury J, Duckett S, Ding EL, Gershenson C, Gibson C, Greenhalgh T, Hamdy A, Hyde Z, James T, Jimenez JL, McKee M, Michie S, Pagel C, Philippe C, Prather K, Raina SK, Ricciardi W, Rubin M, Ryan T, Schneider MF, Staines A, West R, Ziauddeen H. The World Health Network: a global citizens' initiative. Lancet 2021; 398:1567-1568. [PMID: 34755625 PMCID: PMC8553262 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(21)02246-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yaneer Bar-Yam
- New England Complex Systems Institute, Boston, MA 02139, USA.
| | - Deepti Gurdasani
- William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Michael G Baker
- Department of Public Health, University of Otago Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Gabriel Scally
- Department of Public Health, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Amanda Kvalsvig
- Department of Public Health, University of Otago Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | | | - Shu-Ti Chiou
- Health and Sustainable Development Foundation, Yilan, Taiwan; College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - John Drury
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | - Stephen Duckett
- Health and Aged Care program, Grattan Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Eric L Ding
- New England Complex Systems Institute, Boston, MA 02139, USA; Federation of American Scientists, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Carlos Gershenson
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Matemáticas Aplicadas y Sistemas and Centro de Ciencias de la Complejidad, Universidad Nacional Autonóma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Christine Gibson
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Trisha Greenhalgh
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Zoë Hyde
- Western Australian Centre for Health and Ageing, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | | | - Jose L Jimenez
- Department of Chemistry and Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Martin McKee
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Susan Michie
- Centre for Behaviour Change, University College London, London, UK
| | - Christina Pagel
- Clinical Operational Research Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Kim Prather
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Sunil K Raina
- Community Medicine, Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Walter Ricciardi
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Tomás Ryan
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Anthony Staines
- School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Robert West
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Hisham Ziauddeen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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Nolan A, Burke S, Burke E, Darker C, Barry J, Dempster M, Graham C, Crowley P, O'Connell N, Scally G. The politics of COVID-19 on the island of Ireland. Eur J Public Health 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckab164.594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Political systems are the means through which the science of public health achieves its objectives. This is a qualitative study of public health policies for COVID-19 in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland that seeks to establish if inter-jurisdictional commitments have led to co-ordination and co-operation on the island of Ireland.
Methods
10 indicators from the OxCGRT codebook directed data collection with directed qualitative content analysis supporting comprehensive reading of policy documents. Cross-case and within-case analysis of policy alignment and divergence across ten OxCGRT indicators was undertaken.
Results
Closing Schools Republic of Ireland: 12th March 2020 Northern Ireland: 23rd March 2020; Workplace Closing - Republic of Ireland: 12th and 15th March and 24th March 2020. Northern Ireland: 20th March 2020 followed by mandatory closure on 28th March 2020. Cancelling events and mass gatherings (St Patrick's Day, 17th March)-Republic of Ireland: 9th March 2020-Northern Ireland: 9th March 2020;Lockdown/Shelter-in-place policies. Republic of Ireland: 27th March 2020- Northern Ireland: 28th March 2020; Restrictions on Internal Movement Republic of Ireland: 27th March 2020 Northern Ireland: 28th March 2020. Physical Distancing Measures -Republic of Ireland: 2-metres 24th March 2020 Northern Ireland: 2 metres 23rd March 2020. Mandatory Face Masks in Enclosed Spaces-Republic of Ireland: 10th August 2020 -Northern Ireland: 10th August 2020.
Conclusions
The historical and constitutional politics of the island of Ireland is the obstacle to an all-island response to COVID-19 and this has almost certainly been compounded by Brexit. Defying the odds, however, this study has demonstrated substantial public health policy alignment brought about through ongoing dialogue and co-operation between the health administrations in each jurisdiction.
Key messages
Historical and constitutional politics of the island of Ireland is the obstacle to an all-island response to COVID-19. Even pandemics cannot overcome realpolitik.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Nolan
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - S Burke
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - E Burke
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - C Darker
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - J Barry
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - M Dempster
- School of Psychology, Queens University, Belfast, Ireland
| | - C Graham
- School of Psychology, Queens University, Belfast, Ireland
| | - P Crowley
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - N O'Connell
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - G Scally
- School of Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, Ireland
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O’Connor C, O’Connell N, Burke E, Nolan A, Dempster M, Graham CD, Nicolson G, Barry J, Scally G, Crowley P, Zgaga L, Mather L, Darker CD. Media Representations of Science during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Analysis of News and Social Media on the Island of Ireland. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18:9542. [PMID: 34574465 PMCID: PMC8470699 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18189542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
COVID-19 is arguably the most critical science communication challenge of a generation, yet comes in the wake of a purported populist turn against scientific expertise in western societies. This study advances understanding of science-society relations during the COVID-19 pandemic by analysing how science was represented in news and social media coverage of COVID-19 on the island of Ireland. Thematic analysis was performed on a dataset comprising 952 news articles and 603 tweets published between 1 January and 31 May 2020. Three themes characterised the range of meanings attached to science: 'Defining science: Its subjects, practice and process', 'Relating to science: Between veneration and suspicion' and 'Using science: As solution, policy and rhetoric'. The analysis suggested that the COVID-19 pandemic represented a platform to highlight the value, philosophy, process and day-to-day activity of scientific research. However, the study also identified risks the pandemic might pose to science communication, including feeding public alienation by disparaging lay understandings, reinforcing stereotypical images of scientists, and amplifying the politicisation of scientific statements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cliodhna O’Connor
- School of Psychology, University College Dublin, D04 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Nicola O’Connell
- Discipline of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, D02 Dublin, Ireland; (N.O.); (E.B.); (G.N.); (J.B.); (L.Z.); (L.M.); (C.D.D.)
| | - Emma Burke
- Discipline of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, D02 Dublin, Ireland; (N.O.); (E.B.); (G.N.); (J.B.); (L.Z.); (L.M.); (C.D.D.)
| | - Ann Nolan
- Trinity Centre for Global Health, Trinity College Dublin, D02 Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Martin Dempster
- School of Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5BN, UK; (M.D.); (C.D.G.)
| | - Christopher D. Graham
- School of Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5BN, UK; (M.D.); (C.D.G.)
| | - Gail Nicolson
- Discipline of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, D02 Dublin, Ireland; (N.O.); (E.B.); (G.N.); (J.B.); (L.Z.); (L.M.); (C.D.D.)
| | - Joseph Barry
- Discipline of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, D02 Dublin, Ireland; (N.O.); (E.B.); (G.N.); (J.B.); (L.Z.); (L.M.); (C.D.D.)
| | - Gabriel Scally
- School of Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1QU, UK;
| | - Philip Crowley
- Quality Improvement, Health Service Executive, D08 Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Lina Zgaga
- Discipline of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, D02 Dublin, Ireland; (N.O.); (E.B.); (G.N.); (J.B.); (L.Z.); (L.M.); (C.D.D.)
| | - Luke Mather
- Discipline of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, D02 Dublin, Ireland; (N.O.); (E.B.); (G.N.); (J.B.); (L.Z.); (L.M.); (C.D.D.)
| | - Catherine D. Darker
- Discipline of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, D02 Dublin, Ireland; (N.O.); (E.B.); (G.N.); (J.B.); (L.Z.); (L.M.); (C.D.D.)
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O'Connor C, O'Connell N, Burke E, Dempster M, Graham CD, Scally G, Zgaga L, Nolan A, Nicolson G, Mather L, Barry J, Crowley P, Darker CD. Bordering on crisis: A qualitative analysis of focus group, social media, and news media perspectives on the Republic of Ireland-Northern Ireland border during the 'first wave' of the COVID-19 pandemic. Soc Sci Med 2021; 282:114111. [PMID: 34147919 PMCID: PMC8412461 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE International border controls were among the earliest and most effective of measures to constrain transmission of COVID-19. However, such measures are complex when established borders are open yet politically contested, as for the border that divides the Republic of Ireland (ROI) from Northern Ireland (NI). Understanding how this border affected the everyday lives of both populations during the pandemic is important for informing the continued development of effective responses to COVID-19 and future health crises. OBJECTIVE This multi-methods study aimed to explore public perspectives on how the ROI-NI border affected experiences of and responses to the 'first wave' of the pandemic. METHOD The study collated data from focus groups (n = 8), news articles (n = 967), and Twitter posts (n = 356) on the island of Ireland, which mentioned the ROI-NI border in relation to COVID-19. Thematic analysis was used to explore the range of perspectives on the role played by the border during the early months of the pandemic. RESULTS Analysis identified three themes: Cross-Border Interdependencies illustrated the complexity and challenges of living near the border; Interpretations of Cross-Border Policy Disparities showed that lay publics perceived NI and ROI policy approaches as discordant and politicised; and Responses to Cross-Border Policy Disparities revealed alternating calls to either strengthen border controls, or pursue a unified all-island approach. CONCLUSIONS Results reveal clear public appetite for greater synchronisation of cross-border pandemic responses, emphasise the specific vulnerability of communities living near the border, and highlight the risk of long-term socio-political repercussions of border management decisions taken during the pandemic. Findings will inform implementation of pandemic responses and public health policies in jurisdictions that share a porous land border.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicola O'Connell
- Discipline of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Emma Burke
- Discipline of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Martin Dempster
- School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.
| | | | - Gabriel Scally
- Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, England, UK.
| | - Lina Zgaga
- Discipline of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Ann Nolan
- Trinity Centre for Global Health, Trinity College Dubin, Ireland.
| | - Gail Nicolson
- Discipline of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Luke Mather
- Discipline of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Joseph Barry
- Discipline of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
| | | | - Catherine D Darker
- Discipline of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
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Scally G, Black D, Pilkington P, Williams B, Ige-Elegbede J, Prestwood E. The Application of 'Elite Interviewing' Methodology in Transdisciplinary Research: a Record of Process and Lessons Learned during a 3-Year Pilot in Urban Planetary Health Research. J Urban Health 2021; 98:404-414. [PMID: 33988827 PMCID: PMC8190191 DOI: 10.1007/s11524-021-00542-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
This paper sets out the rationale and process for the interviewing methodology utilized during a 3-year research pilot, 'Moving Health Upstream in Urban Development' (UPSTREAM). The project had two primary aims: firstly, to attempt to value economically the health cost benefits associated with the quality of urban environments and secondly, to engage with those in control of urban development in the UK in order to determine what are the barriers to and opportunities for creating healthy urban environments, including those identified through the utilisation of economic valuation. Engagement at senior level with those who have most control over key facets of planning and development implementation-such as land disposal, investment, development delivery and planning permission-was central to the approach, which encompassed the adoption of 'elite interviewing', a method developed in the USA in the 1950s and used in the political sciences but relatively unutilized in the health and environmental sciences [1]. Two rounds of semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 15 senior decision-makers from the UK's main urban development delivery agencies, both public and private. The 'elite interviewing' approach successfully enabled the UPSTREAM project to capture and analyse the information received from the interviewees, all of whom held influential or leadership posts in organisations that are important actors in the process of planning, developing and constructing the built environment in the UK. Having academic and practitioner research leads on an equal footing created some minor tensions, but it also appeared to strengthen the rigor of the approach through a broad knowledge of context 'in-house'. This form of co-production at times challenged academic traditions in qualitative analysis, but it also appeared to build trust with interviewees and provided greater clarity of the real-world context under investigation. Findings from this study are written up in a separate paper.
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Black D, Pilkington P, Williams B, Ige J, Prestwood E, Hunt A, Eaton E, Scally G. Overcoming Systemic Barriers Preventing Healthy Urban Development in the UK: Main Findings from Interviewing Senior Decision-Makers During a 3-Year Planetary Health Pilot. J Urban Health 2021; 98:415-427. [PMID: 33939069 PMCID: PMC8190222 DOI: 10.1007/s11524-021-00537-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
This paper sets out the main findings from two rounds of interviews with senior representatives from the UK's urban development industry: the third and final phase of a 3-year pilot, Moving Health Upstream in Urban Development' (UPSTREAM). The project had two primary aims: firstly, to attempt to value economically the health cost-benefits associated with the quality of urban environments and, secondly, to interview those in control of urban development in the UK in order to reveal the potential barriers to, and opportunities for, the creation of healthy urban environments, including their views on the use of economic valuation of (planetary) health outcomes. Much is known about the 'downstream' impact of urban environments on human and planetary health and about how to design and plan healthy towns and cities ('midstream'), but we understand relatively little about how health can be factored in at key governance tipping points further 'upstream', particularly within dominant private sector areas of control (e.g. land, finance, delivery) at sub-national level. Our findings suggest that both public and private sector appeared well aware of the major health challenges posed by poor-quality urban environments. Yet they also recognized that health is not factored adequately into the urban planning process, and there was considerable support for greater use of non-market economic valuation to help improve decision-making. There was no silver bullet however: 110 barriers and 76 opportunities were identified across a highly complex range of systems, actors and processes, including many possible points of targeted intervention for economic valuation. Eight main themes were identified as key areas for discussion and future focus. This findings paper is the second of two on this phase of the project: the first sets out the rationale, approach and methodological lessons learned.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Black
- Daniel Black + Associates | db+a, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Gabriel Scally
- University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Gabriel Scally Public Health Associates, Bristol, UK
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Darker CD, O'Connell N, Dempster M, Graham CD, O'Connor C, Zgaga L, Nolan A, Tobin K, Brennan N, Nicolson G, Burke E, Mather L, Crowley P, Scally G, Barry J. Study protocol for the COvid-19 Toolbox for All IslaNd (CONTAIN) project: A cross-border analysis in Ireland to disentangle psychological, behavioural, media and governmental responses to COVID-19. HRB Open Res 2021; 3:48. [PMID: 33659855 PMCID: PMC7898359 DOI: 10.12688/hrbopenres.13105.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 represents a serious challenge to governments and healthcare systems. In addition to testing/contact tracing, behavioural and social responses such as handwashing and social distancing or cocooning are effective tools for mitigating the spread of the disease. Psychological (e.g., risk perceptions, self-efficacy) and contextual factors (government, public health messaging, etc.) are likely to drive these behaviours. Collated real-time information of these indicators strengthens local, national and international public health advice and messaging. Further, understanding how well public health and government messages and measures are understood, communicated via (social) media and adhered to is vital. There are two governments and public health jurisdictions on the island of Ireland, the Republic of Ireland (ROI) and Northern Ireland (NI). This represents an opportunity to explore implications of differing measures and messaging across these two jurisdictions as they relate to COVID-19 on two similar populations. The expert research team are drawn from a range of disciplines in the two countries. This project has four nested studies: Assessment of key behavioural, social and psychological factors through a large, prospective representative telephone survey of individuals aged over-18 on a weekly basis over eight weeks (n=3072); and conduct qualitative focus groups over the same period.Interrogation of social media messaging and formal media responses in both jurisdictions to investigate the spread of (mis)information.Modelling data from Studies 1 and 2, plotting the psychosocial/behavioural and media messaging information with international, ROI and NI incidence and mortality data. Conducting an assessment of health policy transfer in an attempt to incorporate the most significant public health and political insights from each jurisdiction. The CONTAIN project will develop an evidence-based toolbox for targeting public health messaging and political leadership and will be created for use for the anticipated second wave of COVID-19, and subsequently for future epidemics/pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine D. Darker
- Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, D24 DH74, Ireland
| | - Nicola O'Connell
- Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, D24 DH74, Ireland
| | - Martin Dempster
- School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, 18-30 Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 5BN, UK
| | - Christopher D. Graham
- School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, 18-30 Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 5BN, UK
| | - Cliodhna O'Connor
- School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Newman Building, Belfield, D04 V1W8, Ireland
| | - Lina Zgaga
- Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, D24 DH74, Ireland
| | - Ann Nolan
- Trinity Centre for Global Health, Trinity College Dublin, 7-9 Leinster Street South, Dublin, D02 K104, Ireland
| | - Katy Tobin
- Trinity Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Lloyd Building, Dublin, D02 PN40, Ireland
| | - Niamh Brennan
- Trinity College Library, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, D02 PN40, Ireland
| | - Gail Nicolson
- Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, D24 DH74, Ireland
| | - Emma Burke
- Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, D24 DH74, Ireland
| | - Luke Mather
- Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, D24 DH74, Ireland
| | - Philip Crowley
- Quality Improvement, Health Service Executive, Dr Steevens’ Hospital, Dublin, D08 W2A8, Ireland
| | - Gabriel Scally
- School of Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, Tyndall Venue, BS8 1TH, UK
| | - Joseph Barry
- Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, D24 DH74, Ireland
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17
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Darker CD, O'Connell N, Dempster M, Graham CD, O'Connor C, Zgaga L, Nolan A, Tobin K, Brennan N, Nicolson G, Burke E, Mather L, Crowley P, Scally G, Barry J. Study protocol for the COvid-19 Toolbox for All IslaNd (CONTAIN) project: A cross-border analysis in Ireland to disentangle psychological, behavioural, media and governmental responses to COVID-19. HRB Open Res 2021; 3:48. [PMID: 33659855 PMCID: PMC7898359 DOI: 10.12688/hrbopenres.13105.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 represents a serious challenge to governments and healthcare systems. In addition to testing/contact tracing, behavioural and social responses such as handwashing and social distancing or cocooning are effective tools for mitigating the spread of the disease. Psychological (e.g., risk perceptions, self-efficacy) and contextual factors (government, public health messaging, etc.) are likely to drive these behaviours. Collated real-time information of these indicators strengthens local, national and international public health advice and messaging. Further, understanding how well public health and government messages and measures are understood, communicated via (social) media and adhered to is vital. There are two governments and public health jurisdictions on the island of Ireland, the Republic of Ireland (ROI) and Northern Ireland (NI). This represents an opportunity to explore implications of differing measures and messaging across these two jurisdictions as they relate to COVID-19 on two similar populations. The expert research team are drawn from a range of disciplines in the two countries. This project has four nested studies:
Assessment of key behavioural, social and psychological factors through a large, prospective representative telephone survey of individuals aged over-18 on a weekly basis over eight weeks (n=3072); and conduct qualitative focus groups over the same period. Interrogation of social media messaging and formal media responses in both jurisdictions to investigate the spread of (mis)information. Modelling data from Studies 1 and 2, plotting the psychosocial/behavioural and media messaging information with international, ROI and NI incidence and mortality data. Conducting an assessment of health policy transfer in an attempt to incorporate the most significant public health and political insights from each jurisdiction. The CONTAIN project will develop an evidence-based toolbox for targeting public health messaging and political leadership and will be created for use for the anticipated second wave of COVID-19, and subsequently for future epidemics/pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine D Darker
- Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, D24 DH74, Ireland
| | - Nicola O'Connell
- Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, D24 DH74, Ireland
| | - Martin Dempster
- School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, 18-30 Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 5BN, UK
| | - Christopher D Graham
- School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, 18-30 Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 5BN, UK
| | - Cliodhna O'Connor
- School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Newman Building, Belfield, D04 V1W8, Ireland
| | - Lina Zgaga
- Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, D24 DH74, Ireland
| | - Ann Nolan
- Trinity Centre for Global Health, Trinity College Dublin, 7-9 Leinster Street South, Dublin, D02 K104, Ireland
| | - Katy Tobin
- Trinity Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Lloyd Building, Dublin, D02 PN40, Ireland
| | - Niamh Brennan
- Trinity College Library, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, D02 PN40, Ireland
| | - Gail Nicolson
- Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, D24 DH74, Ireland
| | - Emma Burke
- Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, D24 DH74, Ireland
| | - Luke Mather
- Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, D24 DH74, Ireland
| | - Philip Crowley
- Quality Improvement, Health Service Executive, Dr Steevens' Hospital, Dublin, D08 W2A8, Ireland
| | - Gabriel Scally
- School of Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, Tyndall Venue, BS8 1TH, UK
| | - Joseph Barry
- Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, D24 DH74, Ireland
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Black D, Ayres S, Bondy K, Brierley R, Campbell R, Carhart N, Coggon J, Eaton E, Fichera E, Gibson A, Hatleskog E, Hickman M, Hicks B, Hunt A, Pain K, Pearce N, Pilkington P, Rosenberg G, Scally G. Tackling Root Causes Upstream of Unhealthy Urban Development (TRUUD): Protocol of a five-year prevention research consortium. Wellcome Open Res 2021; 6:30. [DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16382.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Poor quality urban environments substantially increase non-communicable disease. Responsibility for associated decision-making is dispersed across multiple agents and systems: fast growing urban authorities are the primary gatekeepers of new development and change in the UK, yet the driving forces are remote private sector interests supported by a political economy focused on short-termism and consumption-based growth. Economic valuation of externalities is widely thought to be fundamental, yet evidence on how to value and integrate it into urban development decision-making is limited, and it forms only a part of the decision-making landscape. Researchers must find new ways of integrating socio-environmental costs at numerous key leverage points across multiple complex systems. This mixed-methods study comprises of six highly integrated work packages. It aims to develop and test a multi-action intervention in two urban areas: one on large-scale mixed-use development, the other on major transport. The core intervention is the co-production with key stakeholders through interviews, workshops, and participatory action research, of three areas of evidence: economic valuations of changed health outcomes; community-led media on health inequalities; and routes to potential impact mapped through co-production with key decision-makers, advisors and the lay public. This will be achieved by: mapping system of actors and processes involved in each case study; developing, testing and refining the combined intervention; evaluating the extent to which policy and practice changes amongst our target users, and the likelihood of impact on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) downstream. The integration of such diverse disciplines and sectors presents multiple practical/operational issues. The programme is testing new approaches to research, notably with regards practitioner-researcher integration and transdisciplinary research co-leadership. Other critical risks relate to urban development timescales, uncertainties in upstream-downstream causality, and the demonstration of impact.
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Black D, Bates G, Gibson A, Hatleskog E, Fichera E, Hatchard J, Md Nazmul H, Rosenberg G, Larkin C, Brierley R, Kidger J, Bondy K, Hickman M, Pain K, Hicks B, Scally G, Verma A, Carhart N, Pilkington P, Hunt A, Ireland P. Pandemics, vulnerability, and prevention: time to fundamentally reassess how we value and communicate risk?: CITIES, HEALTH and COVID-19: Initial reflections and future challenges. Cities Health 2020; 5:S93-S96. [PMID: 38013679 PMCID: PMC10402659 DOI: 10.1080/23748834.2020.1811480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
For over a decade, pandemics have been on the UK National Risk Register as both the likeliest and most severe of threats. Non-infectious 'lifestyle' diseases were already crippling our healthcare services and our economy. COVID-19 has exposed two critical vulnerabilities: firstly, the UK's failure to adequately assess and communicate the severity of non-communicable disease; secondly, the health inequalities across our society, due not least to the poor quality of our urban environments. This suggests a potentially disastrous lack of preventative action and risk management more generally, notably with regards to the existential risks from the climate and ecological crises.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Charles Larkin
- University of Bath, Bath, UK
- Trinity College Dublin, Johns Hopkins University
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21
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Ige J, Pilkington P, Orme J, Williams B, Prestwood E, Black D, Carmichael L, Scally G. The relationship between buildings and health: a systematic review. J Public Health (Oxf) 2020; 41:e121-e132. [PMID: 30137569 PMCID: PMC6645246 DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdy138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Revised: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The built environment exerts one of the strongest directly measurable effects on physical and mental health, yet the evidence base underpinning the design of healthy urban planning is not fully developed. Method This study provides a systematic review of quantitative studies assessing the impact of buildings on health. In total, 7127 studies were identified from a structured search of eight databases combined with manual searching for grey literature. Only quantitative studies conducted between January 2000 and November 2016 were eligible for inclusion. Studies were assessed using the quality assessment tool for quantitative studies. Results In total, 39 studies were included in this review. Findings showed consistently that housing refurbishment and modifications, provision of adequate heating, improvements to ventilation and water supply were associated with improved respiratory outcomes, quality of life and mental health. Prioritization of housing for vulnerable groups led to improved wellbeing. However, the quality of the underpinning evidence and lack of methodological rigour in most of the studies makes it difficult to draw causal links. Conclusion This review identified evidence to demonstrate the strong association between certain features of housing and wellbeing such as adequate heating and ventilation. Our findings highlight the need for strengthening of the evidence base in order for meaningful conclusions to be drawn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet Ige
- Department of Health and Social Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
| | - Paul Pilkington
- Department of Health and Social Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
| | - Judy Orme
- Department of Health and Social Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
| | - Ben Williams
- Air Quality Management Resource Centre, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
| | - Emily Prestwood
- Air Quality Management Resource Centre, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
| | - D Black
- Daniel Black + Associates
- db+a, Bristol, UK
| | - Laurence Carmichael
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Urban Environments, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
| | - Gabriel Scally
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Urban Environments, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bobbie Jacobson
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MA, USA
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Alwan NA, Bhopal R, Burgess RA, Colburn T, Cuevas LE, Smith GD, Egger M, Eldridge S, Gallo V, Gilthorpe MS, Greenhalgh T, Griffiths C, Hunter PR, Jaffar S, Jepson R, Low N, Martineau A, McCoy D, Orcutt M, Pankhania B, Pikhart H, Pollock A, Scally G, Smith J, Sridhar D, Taylor S, Tennant PWG, Themistocleous Y, Wilson A. Evidence informing the UK's COVID-19 public health response must be transparent. Lancet 2020; 395:1036-1037. [PMID: 32197104 PMCID: PMC7270644 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(20)30667-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Raj Bhopal
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Rochelle A Burgess
- UCL Centre for Global Non-Communicable Diseases, London, UK; UCL Institute for Global Health, London, UK
| | | | - Luis E Cuevas
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Shabbar Jaffar
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK; Department of International Public Health, London, UK
| | | | | | | | - David McCoy
- Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | - James Smith
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Stephanie Taylor
- Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | | | | | - Anne Wilson
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
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Black D, Scally G, Orme J, Hunt A, Pilkington P, Lawrence R, Ebi K. Moving Health Upstream in Urban Development: Reflections on the Operationalization of a Transdisciplinary Case Study. Glob Chall 2019; 3:1700103. [PMID: 31069111 PMCID: PMC6450444 DOI: 10.1002/gch2.201700103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Revised: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
This paper describes the development, conceptualization, and implementation of a transdisciplinary research pilot, the aim of which is to understand how human and planetary health could become a priority for those who control the urban development process. Key challenges include a significant dislocation between academia and the real world, alongside systemic failures in valuation and assessment mechanisms. The National Institutes of Health four-phase model of transdisciplinary team-based research is drawn on and adapted to reflect on what has worked well and what has not operationally. Results underscore the need for experienced academics open to new collaborations and ways of working; clarity of leadership without compromising exploration; clarification of the poorly understood "impacts interface" and navigation toward effective real world impact; acknowledgement of the additional time and resource required for transdisciplinary research and "nonacademic" researchers. Having practitioner-researchers as part of the research leadership team requires rigourous reflective practice and effective management, but it can also ensure breadth in transdisciplinary outlook as well as constant course correction toward real-world impact. It is important for the research community to understand better the opportunities and limitations provided by knowledge intermediaries in terms of function, specialism, and experience.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Judy Orme
- UWE BristolColdharbour LaneBristolBS16 1QYUK
| | - Alistair Hunt
- Department of EconomicsUniversity of BathClaverton Down, BathBA2 7AYUK
| | | | - Roderick Lawrence
- Geneva School of Social SciencesInstitute of Environmental SciencesUniversity of Geneva66 Boulevard Carl‐Vogt1204GenevaSwitzerland
| | - Kristie Ebi
- Department of Global HealthSchool of Public HealthUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWA98195USA
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Brunt H, Barnes J, Jones SJ, Longhurst JWS, Scally G, Hayes E. Air pollution, deprivation and health: understanding relationships to add value to local air quality management policy and practice in Wales, UK. J Public Health (Oxf) 2018; 39:485-497. [PMID: 27613763 DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdw084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2016] [Accepted: 07/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Air pollution exposure reduces life expectancy. Air pollution, deprivation and poor-health status combinations can create increased and disproportionate disease burdens. Problems and solutions are rarely considered in a broad public health context, but doing so can add value to air quality management efforts by reducing air pollution risks, impacts and inequalities. Methods An ecological study assessed small-area associations between air pollution (nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter), deprivation status and health outcomes in Wales, UK. Results Air pollution concentrations were highest in 'most' deprived areas. When considered separately, deprivation-health associations were stronger than air pollution-health associations. Considered simultaneously, air pollution added to deprivation-health associations; interactions between air pollution and deprivation modified and strengthened associations with all-cause and respiratory disease mortality, especially in 'most' deprived areas where most-vulnerable people lived and where health needs were greatest. Conclusion There is a need to reduce air pollution-related risks for all. However, it is also the case that greater health gains can result from considering local air pollution problems and solutions in the context of wider health-determinants and acting on a better understanding of relationships. Informed and co-ordinated air pollution mitigation and public health action in high deprivation and pollution areas can reduce risks and inequalities. To achieve this, greater public health integration and collaboration in local air quality management policy and practice is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Brunt
- Air Quality Management Resource Centre, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK.,Health Protection Team, Public Health Wales, Cardiff, UK
| | - J Barnes
- Air Quality Management Resource Centre, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
| | - S J Jones
- Health Protection Team, Public Health Wales,Cardiff, UK
| | - J W S Longhurst
- Air Quality Management Resource Centre, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
| | - G Scally
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Urban Environments, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
| | - E Hayes
- Air Quality Management Resource Centre, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
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Black D, Scally G, Hunt A, Orme J. We must look further upstream to enable planetary health-literate urban development. Lancet Planet Health 2018; 2:e145-e146. [PMID: 29615213 DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(18)30045-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alistair Hunt
- Department of Economics, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Judy Orme
- Department of Health and Applied Sciences, UWE Bristol, Bristol, UK
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de Leeuw E, Green G, Tsouros A, Dyakova M, Farrington J, Faskunger J, Grant M, Ison E, Jackisch J, Lafond LJ, Lease H, Mackiewicz K, Ostergren PO, Palmer N, Ritsatakis A, Simos J, Spanswick L, Webster P, Zamaro G, Crown J, Kickbusch I, Rasmussen N, Scally G, Biddle M, Earl S, Petersen C, Devlin J. Healthy Cities Phase V evaluation: further synthesizing realism. Health Promot Int 2015; 30 Suppl 1:i118-i125. [DOI: 10.1093/heapro/dav047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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Collier S, Scally G. Can private providers be trusted to run NHS hospitals after Hinchingbrooke? BMJ 2015; 350:h289. [PMID: 25646837 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.h289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Burke-Garcia A, Scally G. Trending now: future directions in digital media for the public health sector. J Public Health (Oxf) 2014; 36:527-34. [DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdt125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Scally G. The graphic tale of how 'Obamacare' was won. J Public Health (Oxf) 2013. [DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdt089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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Scally G. Crunch time for the government on alcohol pricing in England: backtracking on the minimum unit price pledge would be a public health disaster. BMJ 2013; 346:f1784. [PMID: 23516151 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.f1784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Scally
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Urban Environments, University of the West of England.
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Scally G. Comment on Marchman Andersen et al.: Social inequality in health, responsibility and egalitarian justice. J Public Health (Oxf) 2013; 35:9-10. [DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdt013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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35
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Hopkinson NS, Moxham J, Montgomery H, West R, Scally G, McKee M, Spiro S, Bush A, Stradling J, Wells A, Chung KF, Durham SR, Martin FC, Congleton J, Roddy E, Dayer M, White P, Ind PW, Brown JL, Patel I, Lewis K, Hart N, Kemp S, Barker J, Hind M, Nicholl D, Stern M, Elkin S. Tobacco industry lobbyists and their health-care clients. Lancet 2013; 381:445. [PMID: 23399061 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(13)60236-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Scally
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Urban Environments, University of the West of England.
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Scally G. The Atmosphere of Heaven. Mike Jay. Int J Epidemiol 2010. [DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyq091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Scally G. Leave Jenner in peace. Assoc Med J 2010. [DOI: 10.1136/bmj.c1980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Scally G. Cholera and the Apollo. J Public Health (Oxf) 2008; 30:339. [DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdn043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE To explore the role of history in public health and its relevance to current practice and professional development. DESIGN An analysis of the issues surrounding the poor attention paid to the history of public health by its current practitioners. SETTING The paper is written from the perspective of practitioners in the UK but has wide applicability. MAIN RESULTS The paper makes the case that the current neglect of public health history is to the detriment of public health practice. CONCLUSIONS There is a strong case for more attention to be paid to public health history in professional formation, development, and communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Scally
- Regional Public Health Group, Government Office for the South West, 2 Rivergate, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6ED, UK.
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Abstract
In the context of efforts to reduce health inequalities, the health status of the Irish in England should be a major subject for concern. As England's longest standing and most numerous ethnic minority, the Irish have at times been regarded as a public health threat and have repeatedly been stereotyped in literature and image. There has also been a failure to recognise and celebrate the contributions to the improvement of public health made by members of the irish community such as Kitty Wilkinson. In recent years alarming evidence has emerged that the mortality of Irish people living in England appears to have worsened in successive generations. Comparison of available data on some of the key determinants of ill health shows that the Irish in England have a worse profile than the Irish living in Ireland. A concerted programme of action is needed to investigate why the Irish should have such poor health status and to develop a programme to address it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Scally
- Government Office for the South West, Temple Quay, Bristol
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Scally
- Regional Public Health Group, Government Office for the South West, BS1 6ED, Bristol, UK.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Scally
- National Health Service Executive, South West Region, Bristol, UK
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Scally G, Perkins C. Environment and health. Hosp Med 1998; 59:872-6. [PMID: 10197121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
There is a clear connection between environment and health. This article outlines the importance of the quality of the environment and the role of the public health function in working across the NHS and local government to improve population health.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Scally
- South and West Regional Office, NHS Executive, Bristol
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Affiliation(s)
- G Scally
- NHS Executive South and West, Bristol BS12 6SR.
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