health action process approach

Practical, legal, and ethical reasons necessitate the development of methods to replace animal experiments. Computational techniques to acquire information that traditionally relied on animal testing are considered a crucial pillar among these so-called new approach methodologies. In this light, we recently introduced the Bio-QSAR concept for multispecies aquatic toxicity regression tasks. These machine learning models, trained on both chemical and biological information, are capable of both cross-chemical and cross-species predictions...

INTRODUCTION: Colorectal cancer is a growing global health concern and the number of reported cases has increased over the years. Early detection through screening is critical to improve outcomes for patients with colorectal cancer. In Malaysia, there is an urgent need to optimize the colorectal cancer screening program as uptake is limited by multiple challenges. This study aims to systematically identify and address gaps in screening service delivery to optimize the Malaysian colorectal cancer screening program...

International development work involves external partners bringing expertise, resources, and management for local interventions in LMICs, but there is often a gap in understandings of relevant local shared values. There is a widespread need to better design interventions which accommodate relevant elements of local culture, as emphasised by recent discussions in global health research regarding neo-colonialism. One recent innovation is the concept of producing 'cultural protocols' to precede and guide community engagement or intervention design, but without suggestions for generating them...

This case study describes, for the time frame of June 2021 through August 2022, the U.S. Veterans Health Administration (VHA) organizational response to a manufacturer's recall of positive airway pressure devices used in the treatment of sleep disordered breathing. VHA estimated it could take over a year for Veterans to receive replacement devices. Veterans awaiting a replacement faced a dilemma. They could continue using the recalled devices and bear the product safety risks that led to the recall, or they could stop using them and bear the risks of untreated sleep disordered breathing...

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a very heterogeneous disease with multiple symptoms and clinical manifestations. MM affects mainly elderly patients and is difficult to manage in the presence of comorbidities, polypharmacy, frailty and adverse events of disease-targeted drugs. The rapid changes in MM treatment resulting from constant innovations in this area, together with the introduction of numerous new drugs with distinct mechanisms of action and toxicity profiles, have led to an increased complexity in the therapeutic decision-making and patient management processes...

Total alpha and beta activities and Rn-222 concentrations were determined in water from different sections of seven aqueducts belonging to the water supply system of Campania region (Italy), known worldwide for its volcanism. Statistical analysis was performed on data to account for their variability across the aqueduct sections, and results were discussed considering the geology of reservoirs, the potential mixing processes occurring along the pipe network, the building/constituting materials of the aqueduct sections, and the integrity of the infrastructure...

BACKGROUND: This case study details the experience of the Proyecto Precancer in applying the Integrative Systems Praxis for Implementation Research (INSPIRE) methodology to guide the co-development, planning, implementation, adoption, and sustainment of new technologies and screening practices in a cervical cancer screening and management (CCSM) program in the Peruvian Amazon. We briefly describe the theoretical grounding of the INSPIRE framework, the phases of the INSPIRE process, the activities within each phase, and the RE-AIM outcomes used to evaluate program outcomes...

Endocrine disruptors (EDs) pose a serious threat to human health and the environment and require a comprehensive evaluation to be identified. The identification of EDs require a substantial amount of data, both in vitro and in vivo, due to the current scientific criteria in the EU. At the same time, the EU strives to reduce animal testing due to concerns regarding animal welfare and sensitivity of animal studies to adequately detect adverse effects relevant for human health. Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) is a persistent organic pollutant that is suspected to be an ED based on academic research, however it is not identified as such from a regulatory perspective...

Increasing evidence suggests that urban health objectives are best achieved through a multisectoral approach. This approach requires multiple sectors to consider health and well-being as a central aspect of their policy development and implementation, recognising that numerous determinants of health lie outside (or beyond the confines of) the health sector. However, collaboration across sectors remains scarce and multisectoral interventions to support health are lacking in Africa. To address this gap in research, we conducted a mixed-method systematic review of multisectoral interventions aimed at enhancing health, with a particular focus on non-communicable diseases in urban African settings...

BACKGROUND: Existing research highlights the role of social determinants of health, such as education and housing, in predicting health outcomes and the challenges that arise from deficiencies in these areas, often linked to societal inequities. Gender and income are recognized as social determinants of health, yet the complexities of their interplay, particularly for women with low income seeking health and social services in Canada, need more exploration. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates how gender and income intersect to affect access to health and social services for Canadian women with low income...

BACKGROUND: Paediatric lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are common experiences among school-aged children, with prevalence rates reaching as high as 20%. Paediatricians are often first-line stakeholders in providing treatment for these bothersome symptoms, yet there is no formal resource to support them with the treatment of LUTS. Evaluating paediatricians' experiences is an important step in informing health promotion efforts to improve health outcomes in children. This study aims to explore paediatricians' knowledge, beliefs, practice patterns, and perceived barriers and facilitators in providing LUTS care...

Thrombotic diseases impose a significant global health burden, and conventional drug-based thrombolytic therapies are encumbered by the risk of bleeding complications. In this study, we introduce a novel drug-free nanomedicine founded on tea polyphenols nanoparticles (TPNs), which exhibits multifaceted capabilities for localized photothermal thrombolysis. TPNs were synthesized through a one-pot process under mild conditions, deriving from the monomeric epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Within this process, indocyanine green (ICG) was effectively encapsulated, exploiting multiple intermolecular interactions between EGCG and ICG...

OBJECTIVE: Identify and analyze the role of nursing professionals in the development and care of adolescent health in Honduras, by analyzing the curricular content of the training provided to nursing students with respect to adolescent health, and by studying policies on adolescent health. METHODS: Mixed methods study, with a sequential explanatory approach, carried out from May to July 2023 through surveys of nursing schools, analysis of policy documents, a survey with nursing professionals, and a focus group...

Neurodegenerative disorders, which include Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), represent a significant and growing global health challenge. Current therapies predominantly focus on symptom management rather than altering disease progression. In this review, we discuss the major therapeutic strategies in practice for these disorders, highlighting their limitations. For AD, the mainstay treatments are cholinesterase inhibitors and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists...

Pacific Island Countries (PICs) collectively have the lowest rates of access to safely managed or basic drinking water and sanitation globally. They are also the least urbanised, have dynamic socioeconomic and increasing climate-linked challenges. Community-based water managers need to respond to variability in water availability and quality caused by a range of hazards. Water Safety Planning (WSP), a widely adopted approach to assessing water supply, offers a risk-based approach to mitigating both existing and future hazards...

Microcystins (MCs) constitute a significant threat to human and environmental health, urging the development of effective removal methods for these toxins. In this review, we explore the potential of MC-degrading bacteria as a solution for the removal of MCs from water. The review insights into the mechanisms of action employed by these bacteria, elucidating their ability to degrade and thus remove MCs. After, the review points out the influence of the structural conformation of MCs on their removal, particularly their stability at different water depths within different water bodies...

BACKGROUND: Ensuring the transition towards person-centred care is a growing focus in health and social care systems globally. Presented as an ethical framework for health and social care professionals, such a transition requires strong leadership and organisational changes. However, there is limited guidance available on how to assist health and social care leaders in promoting person-centred practices. In response to this, the Swedish Association of Health Professionals and the University of Gothenburg Centre for Person-Centred Care collaborated to develop an educational programme on person-centred leadership targeting health and social care leaders to support the transition towards person-centred care in Sweden...

Chain elongation technology utilises microorganisms in anaerobic digestion to transform waste biomass into medium-chain fatty acids that have greater economic value. This innovative technology expands upon traditional anaerobic digestion methods, requiring abundant substrates that serve as electron donors and acceptors, and inoculating microorganisms with chain elongation functions. While this process may result in the production of by-products and elicit competitive responses, toxicity suppression of microorganisms by substrates and products remains a significant obstacle to the industrialisation of chain elongation technology...

Photocatalysis is gaining prominence as a viable alternative to conventional biohazard treatment technologies. Two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials have become crucial for fabricating novel photocatalysts due to their nanosheet architectures, large surface areas, and remarkable physicochemical properties. Furthermore, a variety of applications are possible with 2D nanomaterials, either in combination with other functional nanoparticles or by utilizing their inherent properties. Henceforth, the review commences its exploration into the synthesis of these materials, delving into their inherent properties and assessing their biocompatibility...

BACKGROUND: Patient records, imaging, and residual biomaterial from clinical procedures are crucial resources for medical research. In the Netherlands, consent for secondary research has historically relied on opt-out consent. For ethical-legal experts who purport passive consent undermines patient autonomy, opt-in consent (wherein affirmative action is required) is seen as the preferred standard. To date, there is little empirical research exploring patient feasibility, organizational consequences, and the potential risks for research based on secondary data...