Relationship between the use of inhaled steroids for chronic respiratory diseases and early outcomes in community-acquired pneumonia.

Background The role of inhaled steroids in patients with chronic respiratory diseases is a matter of debate due to the potential effect on the development and prognosis of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). We assessed whether treatment with inhaled steroids in patients with chronic bronchitis, COPD or asthma and CAP may affect early outcome of the acute pneumonic episode. Methods Over 1-year period, all population-based cases of CAP in patients with chronic bronchitis, COPD or asthma were registered. Use of inhaled steroids were registered and patients were followed up to 30 days after diagnosis to assess severity of CAP and clinical course (hospital admission, ICU admission and mortality). Results Of 473 patients who fulfilled the selection criteria, inhaled steroids were regularly used by 109 (23%). In the overall sample, inhaled steroids were associated with a higher risk of hospitalization (OR=1.96, p = 0.002) in the bivariate analysis, but this effect disappeared after adjusting by other severity-related factors (adjusted OR=1.08, p=0.787). This effect on hospitalization also disappeared when considering only patients with asthma (OR=1.38, p=0.542), with COPD alone (OR=4.68, p=0.194), but a protective effect was observed in CB patients (OR=0.15, p=0.027). Inhaled steroids showed no association with ICU admission, days to clinical recovery and mortality in the overall sample and in any disease subgroup. Conclusions Treatment with inhaled steroids is not a prognostic factor in COPD and asthmatic patients with CAP, but could prevent hospitalization for CAP in patients with clinical criteria of chronic bronchitis

What Now: The Role of Attitude and Communicative Actions When Making Decisions During a Disease Crisis

During a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations often communicate about a risk to encourage people to take particular protective actions, and the decision-making process about protective actions can be especially complex. It is important to determine how organizations can encourage specific behaviors and, as such, this study sought to investigate how attitudes and communicative actions influenced behavior related to recommendations from the CDC during the COVID-19 pandemic. To address the purpose of this study, an online quantitative survey was distributed to United States residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results from this study reveal that attitude and transmission and acquisition communicative actions are good predictors of behavior. Organizations should prioritize improving target audience’s attitude toward the organization since this will likely lead to supportive behaviors during an infectious disease outbreak

A Cardiology Exhibit at a Science Museum, Viewed as Speech Acts in Sequence

An exhibit about cardiology at a science museum is an elaborate form of health communication, with messaging happening across text, pictures, models, and videos. This qualitative case study uses concepts of speech act sequencing and interpellation to explain a series of multimodal exhibits about cardiovascular health. Health exhibits are described as verbal and audiovisual arguments combining assertions of information; directives to change behavior, and designations of risk candidacy—or sequences of assertive, directive, and declarative speech acts. Visitors are targeted as heart disease candidates according to their risk factors, such as hypertension, overweight, and inactivity. Communication research focused on health exhibits is rare, and this article presents a new way of looking at them that contributes to the current discussions about controlling language. Implications for health communication scholars and multimedia message designers are explored

A Role for Health Communication in the Continuum of HIV Care, Treatment, and Prevention

Health communication has played a pivotal role in HIV prevention efforts since the beginning of the epidemic. The recent paradigm of combination prevention, which integrates behavioral, biomedical, and structural interventions, offers new opportunities for employing health communication approaches across the entire continuum of care. We describe key areas where health communication can significantly enhance HIV treatment, care, and prevention, presenting evidence from interventions that include health communication components. These interventions rely primarily on interpersonal communication, especially individual and group counseling, both within and beyond clinical settings to enhance the uptake of and continued engagement in care. Many successful interventions mobilize a network of trained community supporters or accompagnateurs, who provide education, counseling, psychosocial support, treatment supervision, and other pragmatic assistance across the care continuum. Community treatment supporters reduce the burden on overworked medical providers, engage a wider segment of the community, and offer a more sustainable model for supporting people living with HIV. Additionally, mobile technologies are increasingly seen as promising avenues for ongoing cost-effective communication throughout the treatment cascade. A broader range of communication approaches, traditionally employed in HIV prevention efforts, that address community and sociopolitical levels through mass media, school- or workplace-based education, and entertainment modalities may be useful to interventions seeking to address the full care continuum. Future interventions would benefit from development of a framework that maps appropriate communication theories and approaches onto each step of the care continuum to evaluate the efficacy of communication components on treatment outcomes

Análisis de la comunicación de la resistencia a antibióticos en la prensa digital española. Efecto de la aprobación del Plan Nacional de Resistencia a Antibióticos

Introduction: Antibiotic resistance and the emergence of resistant bacteria have been cataloged as a global public health threat by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union. The article that is presented shows a study on the informative coverage in digital media of this matter. Objective: To analyze the coverage presence of antibiotic resistance in digital media. Methods: This descriptive study quantifies the number of news appearing in four media, El País, El Mundo, ABC and 20 minutes before and after the approval in 2014 of the National Antibiotic Resistance Plan. Results: The results showed an unequal treatment according to the number of informative pieces in the four digital newspapers but on the rise since the approval of the plan. Conclusions: The informative treatment of antibiotic resistance according to the number of quantified news is increasing every year although unevenly in each medium.Introducción: La resistencia a los antibióticos (AMR, por sus siglas en inglés, Antimicrobial resistance) y la aparición de bacterias resistentes han sido catalogadas como una amenaza de salud pública mundial, tanto por la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) como por la Unión Europea. El artículo que se presenta muestra un estudio sobre la cobertura informativa en medios digitales de dicho asunto. Objetivo: Analizar la cobertura de la presencia de la resistencia a antibióticos en medios digitales. Metodología: Mediante un estudio descriptivo se cuantificó el número de noticias aparecidas en cuatro medios: El País, El Mundo, ABC y 20 minutos, antes y después de la aprobación del Plan Nacional de Resistencia a Antibióticos en el año 2014. Resultados: Los resultados demostraron un tratamiento desigual según el número de piezas informativas en los cuatro diarios digitales, pero en ascenso desde la aprobación de dicho plan. Conclusiones: El tratamiento informativo de la resistencia a antibióticos, según el número de noticias cuantificadas, se va incrementando cada año de forma desigual en cada medio

A Culture of Fire: Identifying Community Risk Perceptions Surrounding Prescribed Burning in the Flint Hills, Kansas

In the Flint Hills region of eastern Kansas, there is a long tradition of spring prescribed burns. However, air quality concerns in downwind communities have sparked conversation regarding the environmental and social impacts of these burns. This study aimed to identify the risk perceptions associated with prescribed burns using two theoretical frameworks: the social amplification of risk framework and the protective action decision model. In April 2022, we conducted 18 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Flint Hills community members from different social stations. Participants identified several benefits of prescribed burns: cattle production gains, invasive species management, prairie ecological health maintenance, and wildfire prevention. Some participants viewed prescribed burning as a protective response. However, risk perceptions differed between rural and urban participants: rural community members were primarily concerned with prescribed fires that went out of control, while those in downwind cities were primarily concerned with smoke exposure. Participants sometimes used protective actions to mitigate their risks, but also explained the complexities of changing burn practices that are integral to the local culture, economies, and greater society. Additionally, formal communication of health and safety risks from prescribed burns is not uniform across Kansas counties. We therefore recommend systematic county and statewide communication of burn practices and protective behaviors. Understanding community perceptions of the risks and effects of prescribed burns, and any protective actions taken, can inform how professional communicators approach burning in similar agricultural and ranching communities

An Elective Course in Women's Health Issues

Purpose: To develop, implement, and evaluate an elective course for the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) curriculum that provides students with a comprehensive overview of women's health across the lifespan and exposes them to social and economic issues that impact women's health. Case Study: At the time of this writing, the class has been delivered 3 times to a total of 56 students. Students read and discussed (both in-class and online) timely articles in women's health issues on topics including sex-based biology; women in clinical trials; maternal and child health; women's health coverage and access to care in the United States; gender and health communication; abuse and the role of healthcare professionals; and international issues in women's health and women's rights. Students completed a pre- and post-test; developed seminar presentations regarding women's health issues; wrote reflective essays about the course; and designed and implemented health promotion projects for National Women's Health Week (NWHW). At the end of the course, the number of correct answers on the post-test significantly improved from the pre-test (p<0.001). Through anonymous course evaluations, students indicated that the assignments fulfilled the learning objectives (mean 4.68 on a 5-point Likert scale) and the exercises were useful in helping their understanding of the material (mean 4.66 on a 5-point Likert scale). Over 500 women from the campus and community participated in the NWHW projects. Implications: An elective course was designed to educate pharmacy students regarding women's health issues and to provide students with an opportunity to perform community outreach.   Type: Case Stud

Exploring the use of health communication in health policy implementation : response to the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone

Background: During 2014 and 2015, Sierra Leone suffered the worst Ebola outbreak registered, which also affected Guinea and Liberia. The Government of Sierra Leone, supported by the World Health Organization, issued an accelerated response plan to reduce morbidity and mortality due to Ebola. This plan was initially built on previous experiences in Ebola outbreaks in other countries, albeit much less severe than this current outbreak. The response plan included Communication and Social Mobilization as one of its pillars. Aim: The aim of this degree project was to explore the use and contribution of health communication during the implementation of a health policy. This was achieved through identifying the health communications strategies used in Sierra Leone during the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak, in the context of other implementation activities. Methods: This is a qualitative exploratory single case study covering a timeframe from April 2014 to April 2015 using thematic content analysis. Data from high-profile key informants was collected using semi-structured interviews. Documents from UNICEF and UNMEER were also analysed. Results: Health communication was used actively in the Ebola response in Sierra Leone, and its utilization changed over time in order to adapt to the outbreak situation and lessons learnt. The interviews highlighted moments and decision making during the response and jointly with the documents enabled identifying trends in strategies. It was possible to understand the rationale and context behind health communication decisions, studying communication styles changes over time and identifying particular lessons learned. Conclusion: Five main phases were identified in health communication usage during the Ebola response in Sierra Leone, each one characterized by a unique communication style, specific messages according to the outbreak situation or a different approach in the implementation of the response plan. Some best practices from the studied Ebola response in Sierra Leone were also highlighted.Undersöka användningen av hälsokommunikation i genomförandet hälso- och sjukvårdspolitik: svar på utbrottet Ebola i Sierra Leon

The influence of a song on school children’s knowledge growth for sustainable malaria prevention

Music as a potential prevention strategy can play a pivotal role in developing behavioural changes and creating awareness about malaria and malaria prevention. The study was conducted in a moderate-risk malaria district in sub-Saharan Africa. A comparative analysis and pre-and post-intervention evaluation of three teaching intervention methods to teach and educate young children about malaria, e.g., song intervention, drama intervention, and song-and-drama combination, was evaluated. Data were collected by means of pre-and post-intervention interviews with Grade 3 primary school children and teachers, as well as a post-intervention questionnaire with teachers, parents, guardians, and caregivers. The purpose of the study was to investigate knowledge gains on malaria in relation to malaria awareness interventions. The results revealed that the songonly intervention was the most effective learning intervention strategy in this population and that behavioural changes and knowledge growth occurred regarding malaria and malaria prevention in this population. Independent of the teaching styles of each teacher in teaching the song to the children, the findings established that culturally and age-appropriate songs contributed to increasing children’s knowledge growth regarding sustainable malaria prevention.https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainabilityam2023Educational PsychologySchool of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH

Retrospective analysis of language-related cultural disparity trends in acute rehabilitation: Implications for health communication

Resúmen Objetivo: El propósito de este estudio fué el examinar retrospectivamente los datos para determinar si las disparidades existen en los resultados de la Fisioterapia para pacientes en rehabilitación aguda. Materiales y Métodos: Se hizo una comparación entre los pacientes de diferentes grupos étnicos o lingüisticos y las disparidades se midieron através de un test conocido como Functional Independent Measures® (FIM). Resultados: En este estudio fueron analizados los registros de tres mil ciento noventa y siete pacientes admitidos a un centro de rehabilitación en los Estados Unidos en un periodo de seis años. De los veintitres grupos lingüisticos representados, los grupos más grandes y que se tomaron para el analisis fueron el Inglés, el Español y las lenguas del Sureste Asiatico (Hmong, Khemer, Laotian, y Cambodian) con un total de 2.253 sujetos. Se encontró que los tres grupos no tenian diferencias estadisticas significativas en términos de la duración de su estadia en el centro de rehabilitación (F=2.30, p=.101), edad (F=2.52, p=.081), o número de co-enfermedades (F=2.93, p=.054). Sinembargo el test FIM® de admisión (F=54.94, p<.001), el FIM® proyectado (F=56.67, p<.001) y el test FIM® de salida (F=44.81, p<.001) reportaron diferencias significativas, siendo los de habla Inglesa los que tuvieron puntajes más bajos en los tres puntos de medición de los terapistas. Conclusiones: Los resultados de este studio demuestran la importancia de las barreras culturales y lingüisticas que afectan las interacciones de la communicación en salud. Además, este estudio provee áreas de reflexión para los profesionales en salud internacional sobre las variaciones cros-culturales en las barreras lingüisticas y su efecto en los resultados de los estudios.Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine retrospective data to determine if disparities existed in physical therapy outcomes for acute rehabilitation patients. Materials and Methods: Patients from different ethnic/language groups were compared and disparities were measured by comparing Functional Independent Measures® (FIM) scores. Results: Records of three thousand one hundred and ninety-seven patients admitted to a large acute rehabilitation center in the United States over a six year period were analyzed. Of the 23 language groups represented, the largest three language groups, English, Span- ish, and South East (SE) Asian (Hmong, Khmer, Laotian, and Cambodian) languages were analyzed with a total of 2,253 subjects. It was found that the three groups were not significantly different, in terms of their length of stay in the rehabilitation setting (F=2.30, p=.101), age (F=2.52, p=.081), or number of comorbidities (F=2.93, p=.054). However, admis- sion FIM® (F=54.94, p<.001), projected FIM® goal (F=56.67, p<.001) and discharge FIM® (F=44.81, p<.001) were all significantly different, with the non-English speakers scoring lower at all three rating points by therapists. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate the importance of the effect of cultur- al and linguistic barriers on health communication interactions. In addition, this study provides insights to international health professionals on the issues of cross-cultural variations in the presentation of language barriers and their impact on potential research outcomes