Public Health

Compassion fatigue is a well-documented hazard among healthcare and veterinary professionals, yet the psychological toll on informal caregivers of feral cat colonies, likely numbering several tens of thousands in Portugal, remains largely unexplored. This cross-sectional study examines internal and external factors associated with the secondary traumatic stress component of compassion fatigue among 172 informal caregivers in Portugal. Secondary traumatic stress refers to work-related secondary e...

BackgroundHealth behaviors established during young adulthood significantly shape the long-term risk of non-communicable diseases and mental health disorders. Although behaviors such as diet, physical activity, sleep, and substance use are often targeted individually, growing evidence suggests these behaviors function as an interconnected system. However, the organization of lifestyle behaviors at the system level, and which behaviors exert the greatest structural influence, remains poorly under...

ObjectiveExplore self-reported racial discrimination in healthcare. MethodsRepresentative population sample, Switzerland, repeated cross-sectional data 2016 to 2024 (N=15,525). ResultsContrary to expectation, respondents from the migration-related population (foreign citizens, foreign born, migration background, first/second generation) report less racial discrimination than members of the majority population. Over time, we see an increase in the non migration-related population reporting (rac...

BackgroundWorking while sick (presenteeism) with an infectious disease contributes to the spread of infections and is detrimental to productivity. Respiratory illnesses are a common cause of sickness in the working population and understanding the prevalence of presenteeism linked to respiratory illness is therefore important. MethodsWinter Covid Infection Study (WCIS) panel members in work aged 18-64 were surveyed in February - March 2024 and asked about presenteeism in the previous 28 days. M...

ObjectivesTo examine associations between cardiometabolic conditions and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and to evaluate whether condition-associated HRQoL changed from 2001 to 2022. MethodsWe analyzed nationally representative data from U.S. adults aged [≥]18 years in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2001-2022. Survey years without BMI data (2017, 2019, 2021) were excluded. EQ-5D utilities were mapped from SF-12 scores using a validated algorithm. For each survey year, survey-we...

Background: Nursing interns are at high risk of psychological distress due to academic and clinical stressors. While poor sleep quality is linked to anxiety and depression, the buffering role of social support remains underexplored in this population. Aims: To explore the role of social support in regulating the relationship between sleep and mental health among nursing interns. Methods: A total of 396 nursing interns completed self-administered questionnaires including the Pittsburgh Sleep Qual...

BackgroundCommunity safety is a key determinant of mental well-being, yet racially and ethnically minoritised communities in the UK often face higher exposure to violence alongside barriers to formal protection and support. In these contexts, informal support networks may play a critical role in shaping how safety is experienced and how distress is managed. Although such networks are widely recognised as protective for mental well-being, there is limited qualitative research examining how they o...

BackgroundHome disciplinary practices shape childrens health and development. Yet, comprehensive, up-to-date global evidence on their levels, trends, and socioeconomic and regional inequalities remains limited. This study provides the first global prevalence estimates of both violent and non-violent forms of discipline, examining regional disparities, variations by child and family characteristics, and changes over time. MethodsWe drew from 176 nationally-representative Multiple Indicator Clust...

Childhood adversities are common and linked to increased risk of premature mortality, including deaths from accidents in early adulthood. We examined associations between childhood adversity and specific types of lethal accidents using nationwide register data from 1,282,636 individuals in the DANish LIFE course (DANLIFE) cohort born between Jan 1, 1980, and Dec 31, 2001, who did not die or emigrate before age 16. Individuals were classified into five trajectory groups based on annual exposure t...

ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine the prevalence of occupational fatigue and identify its primary risk factors among long-distance truck drivers operating along the key Kenya-Uganda transport corridor, a vital artery for regional commerce where comprehensive data has been limited. MethodsA cross-sectional analytical study was conducted with 207 exclusively male long-distance truck drivers at the Busia and Malaba border points. Participants completed structured questionnaires capturing dem...

BackgroundMental well-being encompasses positive psychological functioning, life satisfaction, and engagement with daily activities. It is influenced by multiple interrelated factors, including symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression, and psychological inflexibility. Network analysis provides a data-driven framework for examining the complex interconnections between these components and for identifying elements that may play a central role in the mental well-being system. The present study aimed...

IntroductionNational trends in youth suicide risk may mask significant regional variations within a country. This article attempts to account for spatio-temporal trends through a comparative analysis across South America and Europe. This paper analyzes the spatiotemporal patterns in suicide mortality among young people (10-29 years) in Argentina, Chile, Spain, and Uruguay during the period 1997-2021. MethodsOfficial data from vital statistics and population censuses of the four countries were a...

BackgroundArticle 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control requires Parties to protect policies from tobacco industry interference, yet implementation remains weak internationally. Aotearoa New Zealands (Aotearoa NZ) is seen as a leader in tobacco control, yet little is known about its implementation of Article 5.3 protections. This study examines these protections as well as existing transparency measures in light of the 2024 repeal of world-leading tobacco control policies. Meth...

Background. Although health mediation is widely studied in the U.S. through community health worker programs, evidence on their effectiveness in promoting cancer screening in Europe is limited. Since 2022, the "13 en Sante" program has implemented a multicomponent health mediation intervention -combining educational activities, outreach strategies, and navigation support- in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods of Marseille, France. This study evaluates the effectiveness of this progra...

IntroductionClimate change is a global adverse phenomenon affecting the health and wellbeing of all humans, and timely awareness can help mitigate these health effects. ObjectiveTo understand the knowledge and attitudes of Sri Lankan adults towards climate change and its effects on human health. MethodsA web based cross-sectional survey was conducted using a structured, pretested, web based, self-administered questionnaire, using a respondent driven sampling technique, among Sri Lankan adults....

ObjectiveThe objective of this analysis was to explore temporal and regional trends in breast pump prescription claims in outpatient settings in Germany, and to characterize the types of pumps covered. Study designWe conducted a nationwide secondary analysis of outpatient statutory health insurance billing data for breast pump prescriptions from 2011 to 2024, covering nearly 90% of the German population. Billing data from community pharmacies were scaled to full national coverage using regional...

ObjectivesTo quantify patterns of preventable death in Australian coronial findings, measure government compliance with coroner recommendations across jurisdictions, and identify case characteristics associated with recommendation issuance and acceptance. DesignCross-sectional computational text analysis of publicly available coronial findings using unsupervised topic modelling and rule-based classification. SettingAustralian coronial system, all eight state and territory jurisdictions, findin...

BackgroundApproximately 300 million people worldwide live with a rare disease, and the majority of rare diseases manifest in childhood. For families, the period before diagnosis is often protracted and distressing, marked by repeated consultations, inconclusive investigations, conflicting medical opinions, and the absence of a recognisable name for their childs condition. While the clinical and epidemiological dimensions of the diagnostic odyssey have been documented, the narrative and experient...

Introduction Heat waves are increasingly frequent and linked to higher mortality risks in Hong Kong. However, estimates of total excess mortality associated with heat waves remain unavailable. This study quantifies excess deaths associated with heat waves in Hong Kong from 2014 to 2023. Methods Daily age- and sex-specific mortality rates and population data were obtained from the Hong Kong Life Tables and Census and Statistics Department. Temperature data came from the Hong Kong Observatory, and...

Background: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survival depends on timely bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and quick defibrillation via automated external defibrillator (AED). However, access to CPR education and willingness to intervene are not equitably distributed. Within the Muslim community, intersecting religious identity, language, immigration-related concerns, and other social determinants of health may affect CPR/AED education, bystander response, and ultimately OHCA out...