Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Hala Abou El Naja, Stefano Tempia, Amal Barakat, Amgad Elkholy, Amir Aman, Wasiq Khan, Abdinasir Abubakar
Summary: A study aimed to compare the influenza activity in the EM countries during the pre-pandemic period (2016-2019) and the pandemic period (2020-2021) showed a decrease of 89% in influenza positivity rate in the EMR.
Review
Oncology
Ibtihal Fadhil, Eman Alkhalawi, Rihab Nasr, Heba Fouad, Partha Basu, Rolando Camacho, Hafsa Alsaadoon
Summary: Cancer control planning is crucial in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region, where there is a significant increase in cancer incidence leading to substantial disease burden, premature deaths, and rising healthcare costs. However, there are significant challenges in the implementation of cancer plans, including weak governance structures, limited coordination mechanisms, and inadequate resources.
Article
Immunology
Tor Kristian Andersen, Johanna Bodin, Fredrik Oftung, Bjarne Bogen, Siri Mjaaland, Gunnveig Grodeland
Summary: The 2009 swine flu pandemic exposed the limitations of egg-based vaccines in terms of global supply, prompting the urgent need for efficient new vaccine platforms; DNA vaccines have since been developed as a temperature stable, cost-effective option for pandemic responses, capable of inducing rapid protective immune responses without the need for adjuvants.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Walter N. Harrington, Christina M. Kackos, Richard J. Webby
Summary: The long history of preparing for and fighting influenza pandemics can inform the response to novel coronaviruses like SARS-Cov-2. Global influenza surveillance networks and detailed risk assessment tools have proven successful in containing outbreaks, such as the H7N9 influenza in 2013, and could serve as models for managing coronaviruses with pandemic potential. Containment efforts must continually adapt and incorporate new research and information gathered from global crises.
EXPERIMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jeremy C. Jones, Hui-Ling Yen, Peter Adams, Kimberly Armstrong, Elena A. Govorkova
Summary: Effective antivirals play a crucial role in the early phase of an influenza pandemic, before vaccines are available. Currently, two classes of antiviral drugs are approved for influenza treatment, but resistance has been observed. Therefore, it is important to develop novel antiviral options that target both the virus and the host. This review explores the drawbacks of current antivirals and ongoing research on new agents or combination therapies to address these limitations.
ANTIVIRAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Richard Hodson
Summary: Researchers provide clear guidelines on what countries should do to prevent another disease outbreak with pandemic potential.
Article
Immunology
Norman W. W. Baylor, Jesse L. L. Goodman
Summary: The response to SARS-CoV-2 demonstrated the potential of vaccine research and development, but there is still room for improvement in combating pandemics. This review focuses on enhancing research and evaluation processes and emphasizes the importance of moving vaccine development and evaluation to the pre-pandemic period.
Review
Immunology
Steven Rockman, Beverly Taylor, John W. McCauley, Ian G. Barr, Ray Longstaff, Ranbir Bahra
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to rapid investigation and deployment of vaccine platforms never used before. Both new and existing vaccine platforms are likely to play a crucial role in combating future pandemics, especially influenza. The field of influenza vaccine manufacturing has a long history of successes and advancements in the past decade.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Merette Khalil, Awad Mataria, Hamid Ravaghi
Summary: The aim of this study is to share the lessons learnt from hospital responses to COVID-19 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Through a literature review, online surveys, and interviews, nine major themes were identified, including Preparedness, Leadership and Coordination, Communication, Human Resources, Supplies and Logistics, Surge Capacity and Essential Services, Clinical Management, Infection Prevention and Control, and Information and Research. The study emphasizes the importance of collaboration, building resilient hospital systems, and improving public health preparedness and emergency response.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Noha Fadl, Salah T. Al Awaidy, Abdelhamid Elshabrawy, Mona Sayed Aly Hassan Makhlouf, Sarah Assem Ibrahim, Suzan Abdel-Rahman, Nazir Ahmad Tookhy, Abdullah Alsalmani, Mays Al-Saeedi, Ibrahim Al-Sawalha, Mohammad Amin Aly El-Din, Janet Saad, Zainab Ayoob, Mohamed Khalil Rourou, Manahil Ali, Salha M. Tawati, Yahia Marwan Ahmed Gadain, Sara Yunis Al-saidi, Ghadeer Ali Hassan, Mariam Alsanafi, Leen Sandouk, Naglaa Youssef, Shaykhah Alothman, Saja Yazbek, Khlood Saleh Al-Ansi, Slimane Mehdad, Mohammed Fathelrahman Adam, Assem Gebreal, Ramy Mohamed Ghazy
Summary: A study in the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR) found that about half of the parents surveyed were hesitant about vaccinating their children against influenza. Factors such as older maternal age, rural residence, higher income, higher education, child age, comorbidities, routine vaccination status, COVID-19 vaccination status, and information sources were associated with vaccine hesitancy (VH).
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Rebecca Badra, Abdinasir Abubakar, Stefano Tempia, Noore Alam, Hala Abou ElNaja, Ghazi Kayali, Wasiq Khan
Summary: This review describes the state of avian influenza in the Eastern Mediterranean Region from 2011 to 2021. The analysis shows that while research on avian influenza has increased in the region, it is limited to a few countries and basic science research. Weaknesses in surveillance and reporting systems have led to underestimation of the disease burden. It is recommended to enhance surveillance, research, and reporting capacities to improve understanding and control of avian influenza in the region.
INFLUENZA AND OTHER RESPIRATORY VIRUSES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Ramy Mohamed Ghazy, Sarah Assem Ibrahim, Sarah Hamed N. Taha, Abdelhamid Elshabrawy, Sally Waheed Elkhadry, Suzan Abdel-Rahman, Mahmoud A. Hassaan, Noha Fadl
Summary: This study aimed to assess parental attitudes towards seasonal influenza vaccines (SIVs) in the Eastern Mediterranean region. The study found that approximately 50.8% of the respondents were hesitant to vaccinate their children against seasonal influenza. Parental vaccination status, mother's education level, living in low-income countries, health workers as a source of information, and other factors were closely associated with parental vaccine hesitancy.
Article
Immunology
Perrine Marcenac, Margaret McCarron, William Davis, Ledor S. Igboh, Joshua A. Mott, Kathryn E. Lafond, Weigong Zhou, Marjorie Sorrells, Myrna D. Charles, Philip Gould, Carmen Sofia Arriola, Vic Veguilla, Erica Guthrie, Vivien G. Dugan, Rebecca Kondor, Eric Gogstad, Timothy M. Uyeki, Sonja J. Olsen, Gideon O. Emukule, Siddhartha Saha, Carolyn Greene, Joseph S. Bresee, John Barnes, David E. Wentworth, Alicia M. Fry, Daniel B. Jernigan, Eduardo Azziz-Baumgartner
Summary: Countries utilized existing surveillance systems and resources to track, study, and respond to SARS-CoV-2 infections during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the importance of incorporating COVID-19 surveillance into global respiratory virus monitoring.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Emily Scire, Kyeong Yun Jeong, MaryKatherine Gaurke, Bernard Prusak, Daniel P. Sulmasy
Summary: US states developed crisis standards of care and pandemic preparedness plans in response to possible shortages caused by COVID-19. Some states incorporated controversial rationing standards based on age and/or life-years, which have ethical implications for the care of older adults and other vulnerable populations.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
N. M. K. Elden, A. M. A. Mandil, A. A. Hegazy, N. Nagy, R. M. Mabry, W. A. Khairy
Summary: This study documents the numerous health innovations developed in response to the COVID-19 crisis in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) using a scoping review approach. The results show that the majority of these innovations are digital and technology-based products and services, including health care delivery, public health informatics, and prevention.
JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Editorial Material
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Zaeem Ul Haq, Muhammad Safdar Rana
JOURNAL OF GLOBAL HEALTH
(2021)
Editorial Material
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Zaeem ul Haq, Zafar Mirza, Tajudeen Oyeyemi Oyewale, Faisal Sultan
JOURNAL OF GLOBAL HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Niklas Maximilian Auth, Matthew James Booker, Jennifer Wild, Ruth Riley
Summary: This study aims to explore the factors influencing the mental health and recovery of emergency service workers exposed to occupational trauma, as well as the barriers and facilitators to help-seeking behavior among trauma-exposed workers. The findings suggest that factors such as the need for downtime, peer support, and reassurance contribute to mental health, while stigma, the nature of interventions, and mental health literacy issues can influence help-seeking behavior.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Assad Hafeez, Ramesh Kumar, Ikhlaq Ahmed, Zaeem ul Haq
Summary: The We Care programme in Pakistan successfully trained 100,000 frontline healthcare workers, enhancing their safety and reducing the improper use of personal protective equipment.
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN HEALTH JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Louise Griffin, Ruth Riley
Summary: The objective of this study was to identify the psychological impact of working during the COVID-19 pandemic on medical and nursing students' psychological well-being and provide recommendations for future student well-being support. The study found that demanding working conditions, exposure to suffering and death, and lack of preparation had a significant negative impact on students' mental health. However, there were also positive experiences and meaningful outcomes.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Alice Dunning, Kevin Teoh, James Martin, Johanna Spiers, Marta Buszewicz, Carolyn Chew-Graham, Anna Kathryn Taylor, Anya Gopfert, Maria Van Hove, Louis Appleby, Ruth Riley
Summary: This study examined the mental health of junior doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic and found that working conditions significantly influenced their levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Therefore, interventions targeting the working environment are crucial for improving the mental health of junior doctors.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Hilary Causer, Johanna Spiers, Nikolaos Efstathiou, Stephanie Aston, Carolyn A. Chew-Graham, Anya Gopfert, Kathryn Grayling, Jill Maben, Maria van Hove, Ruth Riley
Summary: People bereaved by suicide are affected psychologically and physically, and the area of colleague suicide has been neglected with poorly developed postvention guidance. This critical review explores the impact of colleague suicide on surviving co-workers and the need for robust postvention support.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Johanna Spiers, Farina Kokab, Marta Buszewicz, Carolyn A. Chew-Graham, Alice Dunning, Anna K. Taylor, Anya Gopfert, Maria van Hove, Kevin Rui-Han Teoh, Louis Appleby, James Martin, Ruth Riley
Summary: This article presents a series of recommendations from the perspective of junior doctors and other relevant stakeholders, aimed at improving the working conditions and mental health of junior doctors.
BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
(2022)
Letter
Health Care Sciences & Services
Damien Ridge, Laurna Bullock, Hilary Causer, Tamsin Fisher, Samantha Hider, Tom Kingstone, Lauren Gray, Ruth Riley, Nina Smyth, Victoria Silverwood, Johanna Spiers, Jane Southam
HEALTH EXPECTATIONS
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Darya Ibrahim, Ruth Riley
Summary: In the UK, there is a higher number of women studying medicine than men, and many of them face sexism, but this issue is not well-researched. A qualitative study conducted interviews with female medical students to explore their experiences of sexism, its impact, barriers to reporting, and recommendations to address sexism. The study identified four themes: experiences of sexism, negative impacts, barriers to reporting, and recommendations. Female medical students face wide-ranging sexism that affects their well-being, training, and development. Urgent action is needed to address the barriers to reporting and to change attitudes and systems.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Niha Mariam Hussain, Johanna Spiers, Farina Kobab, Ruth Riley
Summary: Nearly half of NHS doctors in the UK are junior doctors, and many of them are women and/or from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. Discrimination against these doctors based on their race and gender has negative effects on their career outcomes and representation. We conducted a qualitative study to explore their experiences of workplace discrimination and its impact on their psychological distress. The findings showed various forms of discrimination, from explicit threats to subtle microaggressions, and highlighted elevated levels of psychological distress among the participants. Discrimination not only affects individual doctors but also has broader implications for workforce diversity and retention in NHS leadership. We recommend NHS hospitals to review their discrimination policies and implement in-person workshops to address and report workplace discrimination.
Editorial Material
Nursing
Ruth Riley, Hilary Causer, Leanne Patrick, Rayna Rogowsky
JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Alexander Hodkinson, Anli Zhou, Judith Johnson, Keith Geraghty, Ruth Riley, Andrew Zhou, Efharis Panagopoulou, Carolyn A. Chew-Graham, David Peters, Aneez Esmail, Maria Panagioti
Summary: Physician burnout is closely associated with job satisfaction, career choice regret, turnover intention, productivity loss, patient safety incidents, low professionalism, and patient satisfaction, with varying degrees of impact in different circumstances.
BMJ-BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Rachel Adams, Rachel Jordan, Peymane Adab, Tim Barrett, Sheriden Bevan, Lucy Cooper, Ingrid DuRand, Pollyanna Hardy, Nicola Heneghan, Kate Jolly, Sue Jowett, Tom Marshall, Margaret O'Hara, Kiran Rai, Hugh Rickards, Ruth Riley, Steven Sadhra, Sarah Tearne, Gareth Walters, Elizabeth Sapey
Summary: This study aims to reduce absenteeism and presenteeism among NHS staff through an employee health screening clinic, evaluating its clinical and cost-effectiveness through a randomized controlled trial. The trial will recruit 480 participants and evaluate a range of outcomes, including recruitment, referrals, and uptake of recommended services.
PILOT AND FEASIBILITY STUDIES
(2022)
Article
Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary
Ruth Riley, Johanna Spiers, Viv Gordon
Summary: This paper discusses a theater-based production informed by research, depicting the life of a distressed General Practitioner on the verge of breaking down and burning out. The authors highlight the importance of collaboration between researchers and artists, as well as the value of using theater to disseminate research findings.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUALITATIVE METHODS
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Rodrigo C. Menezes, Isabella B. B. Ferreira, Luciana Sobral, Stefania L. Garcia, Hugo N. Pustilnik, Mariana Araujo-Pereira, Bruno B. Andrade
Summary: This study aimed to identify the clinical features associated with viral pathogens responsible for severe lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in children. The study found that different viral agents have distinct associations with clinical features in children.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2024)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ambrina Khatoon, Syed F. Hussain, Syed M. Shahid, Santosh Kumar Sidhwani, Salman Ahmed Khan, Omer Ahmed Shaikh, Abdulqadir J. Nashwan
Summary: Despite the increasing incidence of Staphylococcus aureus infection and dissemination in Pakistan, research on the epidemiology of different Staphylococcus aureus clones has been limited. This study used multilocus sequence typing (MLST) to analyze the epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus in the area, finding high diversity of locally circulating clones defined by their geographic epidemiology.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2024)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Amir Khorram-Manesh, Krzysztof Goniewicz, Frederick M. Burkle Jr
Summary: This article discusses the management approach for globalized diseases in a globalized world. Through literature review and analysis, key focuses including data-driven decision-making, robust technology infrastructure, global cooperation, and ongoing public health education are identified. The weaknesses of current pandemic management systems are revealed, and recommendations for strengthening future pandemic management are provided.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2024)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Mst S. Munira, Yuta Okada, Hiroshi Nishiura
Summary: This study estimates the life expectancy at birth in Japan at the end of 2022 using death datasets from Aichi and Fukui prefectures. The results suggest that the impact of the pandemic on life expectancy was relatively small by the end of 2022.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2024)