Washing away Ebola : environmental stress, rumor, and ethnomedical response in a deadly epidemic

Summary Emerging infectious diseases are a critical issue in contemporary global environmental health. The 2014/15 Ebola epidemic in West Africa has become the large most widespread outbreak of the disease to date, Among its various impacts, the epidemic triggered a proliferation of emergent ethnomedical cultural responses. With the appearance of cases in Nigeria, information about these practices quickly spread through social media and other communication channels into neighboring Cameroon as people attempted to assuage their uncertainty and significant fear of the disease. We assess this process of information-sharing about ethnomedical practices like salt-water baths and drinking as an Ebola preventive in light of theories on the spread of rumors. Rumors are mechanisms groups use to help order their experience of reality during times of environmental uncertainty and growing confusion; however, rumors can also impact public attitudes and behaviors in ways that expose individuals to greater risk. Based on data collected from 90 interviews with participants in two cities in Cameroon, we demonstrate that information on the prophylactic use of salt-water baths and drinking spread quickly and widely. This case affirms that people do not remain passive during times of an environmental emergency and that work in environmental health must pay heed to processes of rumor formation, spread, and impact. Keywords: Ebola; social stress;rumor; epidemics; ethnomedicin

Factors associated with hepatitis B vaccine series completion in a randomized trial for injection drug users reached through syringe exchange programs in three US cities

juillet 19311931/07 (T8,A1931)-1931/12.Appartient à l’ensemble documentaire : PACA

Getting the message straight: effects of a brief hepatitis prevention intervention among injection drug users

To redress gaps in injection drug users' (IDUs) knowledge about hepatitis risk and prevention, we developed a brief intervention to be delivered to IDUs at syringe exchange programs (SEPs) in three US cities. Following a month-long campaign in which intervention packets containing novel injection hygiene supplies and written materials were distributed to every client at each visit, intervention effectiveness was evaluated by comparing exposed and unexposed participants' self-reported injection practices. Over one-quarter of the exposed group began using the novel hygiene supplies which included an absorbent pad ("Safety Square") to stanch blood flow post-injection. Compared to those unexposed to the intervention, a smaller but still substantial number of exposed participants continued to inappropriately use alcohol pads post-injection despite exposure to written messages to the contrary (22.8% vs. 30.0%). It should also be noted that for those exposed to the intervention, 8% may have misused Safety Squares as part of pre-injection preparation of their injection site; attention should be paid to providing explicit and accurate instruction on the use of any health promotion materials being distributed. While this study indicates that passive introduction of risk reduction materials in injection drug users through syringe exchange programs can be an economical and relatively simple method of changing behaviors, discussions with SEP clients regarding explicit instructions about injection hygiene and appropriate use of novel risk reduction materials is also needed in order to optimize the potential for adoption of health promotion behaviors. The study results suggest that SEP staff should provide their clients with brief, frequent verbal reminders about the appropriate use when distributing risk reduction materials. Issues related to format and language of written materials are discussed

Baseline Severity as Predictor of Change in St George's Respiratory Questionnaire Scores in Trials of Long-acting Bronchodilators with COPD Patients.

Background: In trials oflong-acting bronchodilators, health status is an important trial outcome, however the influence of baseline severity on response measured by St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) is not known. We have compared SGRQ changes between patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) of mild-moderate severity or dyspnea (Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung disease [GOLD] grades 1 and 2; modified Medical Research Council [mMRC] grades 1 and 2) to those with severe-very severe severity or dyspnea (GOLD grades 3 and 4; mMRC grades 3 and 4). Methods: Combined individual patient data from the COPD Biomarkers Qualification Consortium database (trials of long-acting bronchodilators) were used comprising of patients from short-term (≤1-year duration; n=10802) and medium-term (2-4 years' duration; n=8963) studies. A repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the effects of baseline severity (GOLD/mMRC) on SGRQ response to treatment. All treatment arms were combined. Results: In short-term studies, milder patients showed a greater response than those with more severe disease in terms of GOLD grade (partial Eta(2) = 0.03, p < 0.0001) and mMRC grade (partial Eta(2) = 0.05, p < 0.0001). Similar results were seen in the medium-term studies (partial Eta(2) = 0.02, p < 0.0001; mMRC: partial Eta(2) = 0.05, p < 0.0001,). Conclusions: Patients with less severe airflow limitation and less severe dyspnea showed larger improvements in SGRQ score than more severely obstructed or dyspneic patients. Although these severity influences are small (2%-5% of the variance in SGRQ score), they do suggest that pre-specified separate analyses are warranted to test for differences in response, based on baseline severity

Responder Analyses for Treatment Effects in COPD Using the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire.

Background: Patient-reported outcomes data in clinical trials are usually reported as mean values, interpreted in comparison to a minimum clinically important difference (MCID) and ignoring the possibility of a sizable proportion of patients experiencing a worthwhile benefit when the majority did not. This analysis tested the reliability of calculated responder rates (from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] patients) with the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) using a range of responder cut-points above and below the MCID (4 units). Methods: Individual patient data (i.e., data from long-acting bronchodilator [LAB] and inhaled corticosteroids [ICS]/long-acting beta2-agonist [LABA] randomized clinical studies) in the COPD Biomarker Qualification Consortium database were used: short-term (≤1-year duration; 14,814 patients,) and medium-term (2-4 years; 12,043 patients). Responder rates versus placebo across SGRQ score change thresholds ranging from -1.5 to -8.0 were tested; differences were expressed as the odds ratio (OR) of a patient exceeding the threshold versus no change or deterioration. Results: The ORs measuring benefit of active treatment were similar across thresholds in short-term studies (LAB, ORs 1.40-1.42; LABA/ICS, 1.50-1.56) and medium-term LAB studies (ORs 1.34-1.43), whereas ORs in medium-term studies with LABA/ICS intervention showed a trend for higher response rates at higher values of threshold cut-points (1.64-1.79). In short-term studies, different thresholds had little effect on the OR between active drugs versus a trend for lower ORs with lower thresholds in medium-term studies. Conclusions: The OR for a treatment effect compared with placebo appears consistent across a range of responder cut-points. In medium-term trials, the treatment difference between active drugs suggests that use of a lower threshold would not increase the odds of observing a measured treatment difference

St George's Respiratory Questionnaire Score Predicts Outcomes in Patients with COPD: Analysis of Individual Patient Data in the COPD Biomarkers Qualification Consortium Database.

Background: We aimed to estimate the usefulness of a disease specific health status measure, the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), to predict outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: Individual patient-data of 12043 patients from long-term randomized clinical trials (2-4 years' duration) in the COPD Biomarkers Qualification Consortium database were analyzed. The adverse COPD outcomes were: exacerbations of COPD, hospital admissions due to exacerbation and all-cause mortality. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate adjusted hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for quartiles of SGRQ scores at baseline and time to first event, and time from first to second event, where appropriate. Results: The risk of adverse COPD outcomes increased with each increasing quartile of SGRQ score for all time to first event analyses. When comparing the lowest versus the highest quartile, the event risk (HRs [95% CIs]) increased by 40% for exacerbations (1.40 [1.29, 1.51]); 2-fold for hospital admissions (2.01 [1.78, 2.28]) and more than 2-fold for all-cause mortality (2.30 [1.91, 2.78]). For second event analyses in a subset of eligible patients, these trends persisted albeit with reduced risk estimates for exacerbations. Conclusions: Among patients with COPD, health status measured by a SGRQ score predicted exacerbations of COPD, hospital admissions due to exacerbations and their recurrence and death after adjustment. These data support the rationale for a health status measure use as a drug development tool and suggest that a health status measure may also have a role in risk assessment for COPD patients in routine medical care

Socioeconomic Status as a Determinant of Health Status Treatment Response in COPD Trials.

Background: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) often recruit patients from low and high socioeconomic status (SES) countries, but little is known about the effect of SES on clinical outcomes, particularly patient-centered measures of symptomatic benefit. Methods: Combined individual chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patient data from the placebo and long-acting bronchodilator arms of 17 RCTs (from the COPD Biomarkers Qualification Consortium database) were analyzed. Health status was measured using the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) (minimum clinically important difference [MCID]: 4 units). Trials were grouped into short-term (≤12 months) and medium-term (>12 months to 48 months). A participant's country of residence was categorized into Low/Medium or High SES using World Health Organization criteria. Results: Data from 19765 individuals (6109 Low/Medium SES) were available. Patients in Low/Medium SES countries had more severe disease at baseline. Improvement in SGRQ score with placebo was ≈2 units greater in Low/Medium than in High SES countries; at its greatest, the improvement from baseline exceeded the MCID in Low/Medium countries. This difference was maintained for at least 1 year. Improvement with bronchodilator was also greater in Low/Medium versus High SES countries; overall there was no evidence that the treatment effect versus placebo was different between countries of different SES status. Conclusions: Participants in Low/Medium SES countries experienced significantly larger treatment effects, irrespective of treatment group (placebo and bronchodilator). Despite this, COPD patients in Low/Medium SES countries experienced a health status gain from long-acting bronchodilator treatment that is similar to that seen in High SES countries

The COPD Biomarkers Qualification Consortium Database: Baseline Characteristics of the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire Dataset.

The COPD Biomarkers Qualification Consortium (CBQC) is a public-private partnership formed in 2010 with a goal of qualifying biomarkers and clinical assessment tools for use in clinical or nonclinical decision-making and particularly within the regulatory context. The St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) is a measure of health-related quality of life widely used in clinical research. The aim of the CBQC working group on SGRQ was to construct an individual patient level database of clinical trial data that included the SGRQ, to use this to confirm the reliability and validity of the SGRQ as an outcome measure of health status, and investigate its use as a predictor of future events (exacerbations and mortality). This manuscript describes the formulation of the CBQC database and presents the baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of the integrated SGRQ database overall, and by study type (short-term [≤1 year], medium-term [2-4 years] and observational studies). Distribution of baseline SGRQ scores varied little by demographic determinants except for income region in the observational data set (low-middle income countries +10 units compared with high income, p<0.0001) and this observation held across studies. SGRQ scores increased with increasing modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scores (mean differences ranged 6.9-17.9 units) and with increasing airflow limitations (Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease grades 1 to 4; differences ranged 4.5-16.1 units), consistent across study types. As a method of cross-sectional comparison, the SGRQ appears to be relatively free of bias from demographic factors although care should be taken when making cross sectional comparisons of scores between patients in countries at different levels of socio-economic development/

Risco frente ao HIV/Aids entre mulheres trabalhadoras do sexo que usam crack no sul do Brasil

OBJECTIVE: To understand the social context of female sex workers who use crack and its impact on HIV/AIDS risk behaviors. METHODODOLOGICAL PROCEDURES: Qualitative study carried out in Foz do Iguaçu, Southern Brazil, in 2003. Twenty-six in-depth interviews and two focus groups were carried out with female commercial sex workers who frequently use crack. In-depth interviews with health providers, community leaders and public policy managers, as well as field observations were also conducted. Transcript data was entered into Atlas.ti software and grounded theory methodology was used to analyze the data and develop a conceptual model as a result of this study. ANALYSIS OF RESULTS: Female sex workers who use crack had low self-perceived HIV risk in spite of being engaged in risky behaviors (e.g. unprotected sex with multiple partners). Physical and sexual violence among clients, occasional and stable partners was widespread jeopardizing negotiation and consistent condom use. According to health providers, community leaders and public policy managers, several female sex workers who use crack are homeless or live in slums, and rarely have access to health services, voluntary counseling and testing, social support, pre-natal and reproductive care. CONCLUSIONS: Female sex workers who use crack experience a plethora of health and social problems, which apparently affect their risks for HIV infection. Low-threshold, user-friendly and gender-tailored interventions should be implemented, in order to increase the access to health and social-support services among this population. Those initiatives might also increase their access to reproductive health in general, and to preventive strategies focusing on HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections.OBJETIVO: Comprender el contexto social en el cual están insertadas trabajadoras del sexo que usan crack y su impacto en la adopción de comportamientos de riesgo frente al HIV/Sida. MÉTODOS: Se realizó estudio cualitativo en Foz de Iguacu (Sur de Brasil), en 2003. Se realizaron 26 encuestas con profundidad y dos grupos focales con trabajadoras del sexo que utilizan crack frecuentemente. También se realizaron encuestas con profundidad con profesionales de la salud, líderes comunitarios y gerentes de políticas públicas, además de observaciones de campo. Los datos transcritos fueron codificados con ayuda del software Atlas.ti y el método grounded theory (teoría fundamentada en datos) fue utilizada para analizar los datos y desarrollar un modelo conceptual como resultado de estudio. ANÁLISIS DE LOS RESULTADOS: Las trabajadoras del sexo que utilizan crack presentaron baja autopercepción del riesgo frente al HIV, a pesar de estar relacionadas con comportamientos de riesgo, como sexo desprotegido con múltiples parejas. Experiencias de violencia física y sexual con clientes, parejas ocasionales y estables fueron bastante frecuentes entre estas mujeres, perjudicando la negociación y el uso consistente de preservativos. Según los profesionales de la salud, los líderes comunitarios y los gerentes de políticas públicas, diversas trabajadoras del sexo usuarias de crack, viven en las calles o en barrios, raramente tienen acceso a los servicios de salud, de consejos y exámenes anónimos, de apoyo social y de salud reproductiva y pre-natal. CONCLUSIONES: Las profesionales del sexo que utilizan crack experimentaron varios problemas sociales y de salud que parecen influenciar sobre el riesgo a la infección por el HIV. Intervenciones de bajo umbral, amigables y dirigidas para cuestiones de género deben ser implementadas buscando facilitar el acceso a servicios de salud y de apoyo social en esa población. Tales iniciativas podrán también facilitar el acceso de ese grupo a servicios dirigidos a la salud reproductiva en general y estrategias específicamente dirigidas a la prevención del HIV/Sida y otras infecciones sexualmente transmisibles.OBJETIVO: Compreender o contexto social no qual estão inseridas trabalhadoras do sexo que usam crack e seu impacto na adoção de comportamentos de risco frente ao HIV/Aids. PROCEDIMENTOS METODOLÓGICOS: Estudo qualitativo realizado em Foz do Iguaçu (PR), em 2003. Foram realizadas 26 entrevistas em profundidade e dois grupos focais com trabalhadoras do sexo que utilizam crack freqüentemente. Também foram realizadas entrevistas em profundidade com profissionais de saúde, líderes comunitários e gerentes de políticas públicas, além de observações de campo. Os dados transcritos foram codificados com auxílio do software Atlas.ti e a metodologia grounded theory (teoria fundamentada em dados) foi utilizada para analisar os dados e desenvolver um modelo conceitual como resultado do estudo. ANÁLISE DOS RESULTADOS: As trabalhadoras do sexo que utilizam crack apresentaram baixa autopercepção de risco frente ao HIV, apesar de estarem envolvidas em comportamentos de risco, como sexo desprotegido com múltiplos parceiros. Experiências de violência física e sexual com clientes, parceiros ocasionais e estáveis foram bastante freqüentes entre estas mulheres, prejudicando a negociação e o uso consistente de preservativos. Segundo profissionais de saúde, líderes comunitários e gerentes de políticas públicas, diversas trabalhadoras do sexo usuárias de crack, são moradoras de rua ou favelas, raramente acessam serviços de saúde, de aconselhamento e testagem anônimos, de apoio social e de saúde reprodutiva e pré-natal. CONCLUSÕES: As profissionais do sexo que utilizam crack vivenciam vários problemas sociais e de saúde que parecem influenciar o risco à infecção pelo HIV. Intervenções de limiar baixo, amigáveis e voltadas para questões de gênero devem ser implementadas objetivando facilitar o acesso a serviços de saúde e de apoio social nessa população. Tais iniciativas poderão também facilitar o acesso deste grupo a serviços voltados para saúde reprodutiva em geral e estratégias especificamente voltadas para prevenção do HIV/Aids e demais infecções sexualmente transmissíveis