Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:01:11 BST CiteULike: Tag publichealth http://www.citeulike.org/tag/publichealth CiteULike.org en-gb Copyright © 2004-2008 citeulike.org http://www.citeulike.org/user/teachingaging/article/1137519 <i>BMJ, Vol. 333, No. 7582. (23 December 2006), pp. 1283-1284.</i> How Web 2.0 is changing medicine. D Giustini doi:10.1136/bmj.39062.555405.80 BMJ, Vol. 333, No. 7582. (23 December 2006), pp. 1283-1284. 2007-03-03T02:34:06-00:00 2006 BMJ 1468-5833 333 7582 1283 1284 ehealth health internet publichealth web20 http://www.citeulike.org/user/teachingaging/article/1894902 <i>International Journal of Health Geographics, Vol. 4, No. 1. (2005)</i><br /><br />This eye-opener article aims at introducing the health GIS community to the emerging online consumer geoinformatics services from Google and Microsoft (MSN), and their potential utility in creating custom online interactive health maps. Using the programmable interfaces provided by Google and MSN, we created three interactive demonstrator maps of England's Strategic Health Authorities. These can be browsed online at http://www.healthcybermap.org/GoogleMapsAPI/ - Google Maps API (Application Programming Interface) version, http://www.healthcybermap.org/GoogleEarthKML/ - Google Earth KML (Keyhole Markup Language) version, and http://www.healthcybermap.org/MSNVirtualEarth/ - MSN Virtual Earth Map Control version. Google and MSN's worldwide distribution of "free" geospatial tools, imagery, and maps is to be commended as a significant step towards the ultimate "wikification" of maps and GIS. A discussion is provided of these emerging online mapping trends, their expected future implications and development directions, and associated individual privacy, national security and copyrights issues. Although ESRI have announced their planned response to Google (and MSN), it remains to be seen how their envisaged plans will materialize and compare to the offerings from Google and MSN, and also how Google and MSN mapping tools will further evolve in the near future. Web GIS in practice III: creating a simple interactive map of England's Strategic Health Authorities using Google Maps API, Google Earth KML, and MSN Virtual Earth Map Control Maged Boulos doi:10.1186/1476-072X-4-22 International Journal of Health Geographics, Vol. 4, No. 1. (2005) 2007-11-10T16:32:22-00:00 2005 International Journal of Health Geographics 4 1 gis health publichealth technology http://www.citeulike.org/user/suze/article/2074266 <i>Health Place, Vol. 13, No. 1. (March 2007), pp. 72-86.</i><br /><br />This paper examines the prospects for integrating Internet platform GIS or 'web-GIS' into environmental justice and related public health research. Specifically, we document the development of a web-GIS created for investigating relationships between health, air quality and socioeconomic factors in Hamilton, Canada. After development of the web-GIS site, we assembled a focus group of public health professionals to test functionality and render opinions about the potential of the site and geographic information in their program implementation. Results show overwhelming support for the further integration of GIS into public health practice. The results also underscore the potential of web-GIS to alleviate concerns of cost and data availability that often limit the use of GIS in community debates centred on environmental justice issues. Mapping health on the internet: a new tool for environmental justice and public health research. JC Maclachlan M Jerrett T Abernathy M Sears MJ Bunch doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2005.09.012 Health Place, Vol. 13, No. 1. (March 2007), pp. 72-86. 2007-12-07T18:06:07-00:00 2007 Health Place 1353-8292 13 1 72 86 gis internet publichealth webmapping http://www.citeulike.org/user/suze/article/801372 <i>Annu Rev Public Health, Vol. 24 (2003), pp. 57-82.</i><br /><br />Internet access and use of georeferenced public health information for GIS application will be an important and exciting development for the nation's Department of Health and Human Services and other health agencies in this new millennium. Technological progress toward public health geospatial data integration, analysis, and visualization of space-time events using the Web portends eventual robust use of GIS by public health and other sectors of the economy. Increasing Web resources from distributed spatial data portals and global geospatial libraries, and a growing suite of Web integration tools, will provide new opportunities to advance disease surveillance, control, and prevention, and insure public access and community empowerment in public health decision making. Emerging supercomputing, data mining, compression, and transmission technologies will play increasingly critical roles in national emergency, catastrophic planning and response, and risk management. Web-enabled public health GIS will be guided by Federal Geographic Data Committee spatial metadata, OpenGIS Web interoperability, and GML/XML geospatial Web content standards. Public health will become a responsive and integral part of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure. Public health, GIS, and the internet. CM Croner doi:10.1146/annurev.publhealth.24.012902.140835 Annu Rev Public Health, Vol. 24 (2003), pp. 57-82. 2006-08-14T20:43:08-00:00 2003 Annu Rev Public Health 0163-7525 24 57 82 gis health internet publichealth webmapping http://www.citeulike.org/user/scholz/article/305815 <i>(01 June 2005)</i><br /><br />When environmental health problems arise in a community, policymakers must be able to reconcile the first-hand experience of local residents with recommendations by scientists. In this highly original look at environmental health policymaking, Jason Corburn shows the ways that local knowledge can be combined with professional techniques to achieve better solutions for environmental health problems. He traces the efforts of a low-income community in Brooklyn to deal with environmental health problems in its midst and offers a framework for understanding "street science" -- decision making that draws on community knowledge and contributes to environmental justice.<br /> <br /> Like many other low-income urban communities, the Greenpoint/Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn suffers more than its share of environmental problems, with a concentration of polluting facilities and elevated levels of localized air pollutants. Corburn looks at four instances of street science in Greenpoint/Williamsburg, where community members and professionals combined forces to address the risks from subsistence fishing from the polluted East River, the asthma epidemic in the Latino community, childhood lead poisoning, and local sources of air pollution. These episodes highlight both the successes and the limits of street science and demonstrate ways residents can establish their own credibility when working with scientists. Street science, Corburn argues, does not devalue science; it revalues other kinds of information and democratizes the inquiry and decision making processes. Street Science : Community Knowledge and Environmental Health Justice (Urban and Industrial Environments) Jason Corburn (01 June 2005) 2005-08-27T20:54:58-00:00 2005 The MIT Press environmentalsociology publichealth http://www.citeulike.org/user/qiuyl/article/488771 <i>Nature, Vol. 439, No. 7076. (February 2006), pp. 576-579.</i> Malaria early warnings based on seasonal climate forecasts from multi-model ensembles MC Thomson FJ Doblas-Reyes SJ Mason R Hagedorn SJ Connor T Phindela AP Morse TN Palmer doi:10.1038/nature04503 Nature, Vol. 439, No. 7076. (February 2006), pp. 576-579. 2006-02-01T18:12:44-00:00 2006 Nature 0028-0836 439 7076 576 579 Nature Publishing Group publichealth http://www.citeulike.org/user/qiuyl/article/2406315 <i>Nature, Vol. 451, No. 7181. (20 February 2008), pp. 898-899.</i> Epidemiology: Emerging diseases go global Mark Woolhouse doi:10.1038/451898a Nature, Vol. 451, No. 7181. (20 February 2008), pp. 898-899. 2008-02-21T13:23:22-00:00 2008 Nature 0028-0836 451 7181 898 899 Nature Publishing Group publichealth http://www.citeulike.org/user/qiuyl/article/2406299 <i>Nature, Vol. 451, No. 7181. (21 February 2008), pp. 990-993.</i> Global trends in emerging infectious diseases Kate Jones Nikkita Patel Marc Levy Adam Storeygard Deborah Balk John Gittleman Peter Daszak doi:10.1038/nature06536 Nature, Vol. 451, No. 7181. (21 February 2008), pp. 990-993. 2008-02-21T13:23:19-00:00 2008 Nature 0028-0836 451 7181 990 993 Nature Publishing Group publichealth http://www.citeulike.org/user/qiuyl/article/2475338 <i>Journal of Urban Health, Vol. 84, No. 4. (16 July 2007), pp. 469-471.</i> Community Engagement in Urban Health Research Alan Fleischman doi:10.1007/s11524-007-9166-6 Journal of Urban Health, Vol. 84, No. 4. (16 July 2007), pp. 469-471. 2008-03-05T21:16:32-00:00 2007 Journal of Urban Health 84 4 469 471 publichealth urban http://www.citeulike.org/user/qiuyl/article/2885759 <i>International Journal of Health Geographics, Vol. 7 (11 June 2008), 30.</i> Spatial and multidimensional visualization of Indonesia's village health statistics Bambang Parmanto Maria Paramita Wayan Sugiantara Gede Pramana Matthew Scotch Donald Burke doi:10.1186/1476-072X-7-30 International Journal of Health Geographics, Vol. 7 (11 June 2008), 30. 2008-06-12T07:02:56-00:00 2008 International Journal of Health Geographics 1476-072X 7 30 multidimensional publichealth http://www.citeulike.org/user/qiuyl/article/2475302 <i>Journal of Urban Health, Vol. 85, No. 1. (19 January 2008), pp. 1-2.</i> What Transition Means for India’s City Poor David Sharp doi:10.1007/s11524-007-9242-y Journal of Urban Health, Vol. 85, No. 1. (19 January 2008), pp. 1-2. 2008-03-05T21:07:32-00:00 2008 Journal of Urban Health 85 1 1 2 india publichealth http://www.citeulike.org/user/markup/article/1542770 <i></i> Health Care der Zukunft. Eine Herausforderung für Medizin, Architektur und Ökonomie Christine Nickl-Weller Christine Weller 2007-08-08T09:00:05-00:00 Mwv Medizinisch Wissenschaftliche Verlagsges. klinik publichealth http://www.citeulike.org/user/madhadron/article/825727 <i>PLoS Med, Vol. 3, No. 8. (August 2006)</i><br /><br />BACKGROUND: Development of new, effective, and affordable tuberculosis (TB) therapies has been identified as a critical priority for global TB control. As new candidates emerge from the global TB drug pipeline, the potential impacts of novel, shorter regimens on TB incidence and mortality have not yet been examined. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We used a mathematical model of TB to evaluate the expected benefits of shortening the duration of effective chemotherapy for active pulmonary TB. First, we considered general relationships between treatment duration and TB dynamics. Next, as a specific example, we calibrated the model to reflect the current situation in the South-East Asia region. We found that even with continued and rapid progress in scaling up the World Health Organization's DOTS strategy of directly observed, short-course chemotherapy, the benefits of reducing treatment duration would be substantial. Compared to a baseline of continuing DOTS coverage at current levels, and with currently available tools, a 2-mo regimen introduced by 2012 could prevent around 20% (range 13%-28%) of new cases and 25% (range 19%-29%) of TB deaths in South-East Asia between 2012 and 2030. If effective treatment with existing drugs expands rapidly, overall incremental benefits of shorter regimens would be lower, but would remain considerable (13% [range 8%-19%] and 19% [range 15%-23%] reductions in incidence and mortality, respectively, between 2012 and 2030). A ten-year delay in the introduction of new drugs would erase nearly three-fourths of the total expected benefits in this region through 2030. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of new, shorter treatment regimens could dramatically accelerate the reductions in TB incidence and mortality that are expected under current regimens-with up to 2- or 3-fold increases in rates of decline if shorter regimens are accompanied by enhanced case detection. Continued progress in reducing the global TB burden will require a balanced approach to pursuing new technologies while promoting wider implementation of proven strategies. Prospects for advancing tuberculosis control efforts through novel therapies. JA Salomon JO Lloyd-Smith WM Getz S Resch MS Sánchez TC Porco MW Borgdorff doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0030273 PLoS Med, Vol. 3, No. 8. (August 2006) 2006-09-02T14:24:39-00:00 2006 PLoS Med 1549-1676 3 8 mtuberculosis publichealth http://www.citeulike.org/user/madhadron/article/1080805 <i>Arch Intern Med, Vol. 163, No. 9. (12 May 2003), pp. 1009-1021.</i><br /><br />BACKGROUND: The increasing global burden of tuberculosis (TB) is linked to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. METHODS: We reviewed data from notifications of TB cases, cohort treatment outcomes, surveys of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, and HIV prevalence in patients with TB and other subgroups. Information was collated from published literature and databases held by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (UNAIDS), the US Census Bureau, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. RESULTS: There were an estimated 8.3 million (5th-95th centiles, 7.3-9.2 million) new TB cases in 2000 (137/100,000 population; range, 121/100,000-151/100,000). Tuberculosis incidence rates were highest in the WHO African Region (290/100,000 per year; range, 265/100,000-331/100,000), as was the annual rate of increase in the number of cases (6%). Nine percent (7%-12%) of all new TB cases in adults (aged 15-49 years) were attributable to HIV infection, but the proportion was much greater in the WHO African Region (31%) and some industrialized countries, notably the United States (26%). There were an estimated 1.8 million (5th-95th centiles, 1.6-2.2 million) deaths from TB, of which 12% (226 000) were attributable to HIV. Tuberculosis was the cause of 11% of all adult AIDS deaths. The prevalence of M tuberculosis-HIV coinfection in adults was 0.36% (11 million people). Coinfection prevalence rates equaled or exceeded 5% in 8 African countries. In South Africa alone there were 2 million coinfected adults. CONCLUSIONS: The HIV pandemic presents a massive challenge to global TB control. The prevention of HIV and TB, the extension of WHO DOTS programs, and a focused effort to control HIV-related TB in areas of high HIV prevalence are matters of great urgency. The growing burden of tuberculosis: global trends and interactions with the HIV epidemic. EL Corbett CJ Watt N Walker D Maher BG Williams MC Raviglione C Dye doi:10.1001/archinte.163.9.1009 Arch Intern Med, Vol. 163, No. 9. (12 May 2003), pp. 1009-1021. 2007-01-31T20:32:32-00:00 2003 Arch Intern Med 0003-9926 163 9 1009 1021 epidemiology mtuberculosis publichealth trp tuberculosis http://www.citeulike.org/user/madhadron/article/903894 <i>Lancet, Vol. 367, No. 9514. (18 March 2006), pp. 926-937.</i><br /><br />Rapid scale-up of antiretroviral treatment programmes is happening in Africa, driven by international advocacy and policy directives and supported by unprecedented donor funding and technical assistance. This welcome development offers hope to millions of HIV-infected Africans, among whom tuberculosis is the major cause of serious illness and death. Little in the way of HIV diagnosis or care was previously offered to patients with tuberculosis, by either national tuberculosis or AIDS control programmes, with tuberculosis services focused exclusively on diagnosis and treatment of rising numbers of patients. Tuberculosis control in Africa has yet to adapt to the new climate of antiretroviral availability. Many barriers exist, from drug interactions to historic differences in the way that tuberculosis and HIV are perceived, but failure to successfully integrate HIV and tuberculosis control will threaten the viability of both programmes. Here, we review tuberculosis epidemiology in Africa and policy implications of HIV/AIDS treatment scale-up. Tuberculosis in sub-Saharan Africa: opportunities, challenges, and change in the era of antiretroviral treatment. EL Corbett B Marston GJ Churchyard KM De Cock doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(06)68383-9 Lancet, Vol. 367, No. 9514. (18 March 2006), pp. 926-937. 2006-10-18T18:30:39-00:00 2006 Lancet 1474-547X 367 9514 926 937 mtuberculosis publichealth http://www.citeulike.org/user/madhadron/article/1220895 <i>Am J Trop Med Hyg, Vol. 64, No. 1-2 Suppl. (b 2001), pp. 85-96.</i><br /><br />Malaria and poverty are intimately connected. Controlling for factors such as tropical location, colonial history, and geographical isolation, countries with intensive malaria had income levels in 1995 of only 33% that of countries without malaria, whether or not the countries were in Africa. The high levels of malaria in poor countries are not mainly a consequence of poverty. Malaria is geographically specific. The ecological conditions that support the more efficient malaria mosquito vectors primarily determine the distribution and intensity of the disease. Intensive efforts to eliminate malaria in the most severely affected tropical countries have been largely ineffective. Countries that have eliminated malaria in the past half century have all been either subtropical or islands. These countries' economic growth in the 5 years after eliminating malaria has usually been substantially higher than growth in the neighboring countries. Cross-country regressions for the 1965-1990 period confirm the relationship between malaria and economic growth. Taking into account initial poverty, economic policy, tropical location, and life expectancy, among other factors, countries with intensive malaria grew 1.3% less per person per year, and a 10% reduction in malaria was associated with 0.3% higher growth. Controlling for many other tropical diseases does not change the correlation of malaria with economic growth, and these diseases are not themselves significantly negatively correlated with economic growth. A second independent measure of malaria has a slightly higher correlation with economic growth in the 1980-1996 period. We speculate about the mechanisms that could cause malaria to have such a large impact on the economy, such as foreign investment and economic networks within the country. The economic burden of malaria. JL Gallup JD Sachs Am J Trop Med Hyg, Vol. 64, No. 1-2 Suppl. (b 2001), pp. 85-96. 2007-04-11T15:18:47-00:00 2001 Am J Trop Med Hyg 0002-9637 64 1-2 Suppl 85 96 epidemiology malaria publichealth http://www.citeulike.org/user/madhadron/article/1220894 <i>Science, Vol. 295, No. 5562. (15 March 2002), pp. 2036-2039.</i><br /><br />We analyzed the technical basis for a major global program to reduce disease among the poor. Effective interventions exist against the few diseases which most account for excess mortality among the poor. Achieving high coverage of effective interventions requires a well-functioning health system, as well as overcoming a set of financial and nonfinancial constraints. The annual incremental cost would be between $40 billion and $52 billion by 2015 in 83 low-income and sub-Saharan African countries. Such a program is feasible and would avoid millions of child, maternal, and adult deaths annually in poor countries. Improving the health of the global poor. P Jha A Mills K Hanson L Kumaranayake L Conteh C Kurowski SN Nguyen VO Cruz K Ranson LM Vaz S Yu O Morton JD Sachs doi:10.1126/science.295.5562.2036 Science, Vol. 295, No. 5562. (15 March 2002), pp. 2036-2039. 2007-04-11T15:18:30-00:00 2002 Science 1095-9203 295 5562 2036 2039 epidemiology publichealth http://www.citeulike.org/user/kharke/article/2052464 <i>J Epidemiol Community Health, Vol. 61, No. 12. (1 December 2007), pp. 1021-1027.</i><br /><br />BackgroundDespite the many triumphs of biomedical research over infectious diseases, human pathogens continue to impact profoundly populations deprived of social resources. Correspondingly, health researchers have advocated a social determinants approach to the study and prevention of infectious diseases. However, it is unknown whether this call has resulted in an increase in the number of studies examining social determinants of infectious outcomes. MethodsResearch on social determinants of infectious diseases was systematically quantified by assessing temporal trends in the published literature using MEDLINE, PsycINFO and ISI Web of Science. ResultsResults of the literature review spanning 19662005 show that socially related citations increased an annual average of 180.3 for neuropsychiatric conditions, 81.9 for chronic conditions, 44.7 for sexually transmitted diseases and 18.9 for non-sexually transmitted infectious diseases (p<0.0001). Of the 279 publications found to employ the term "social epidemiology", 15 (5.4%) investigated infectious outcomes. ConclusionsThe results of the literature review suggest a paucity of social research on infectious diseases. There is a need for increased dialogue and collaboration between infectious disease epidemiologists and social epidemiologists. 10.1136/jech.2006.057216 Analysis of social epidemiology research on infectious diseases: historical patterns and future opportunities Justin Cohen Mark Wilson Allison Aiello doi:10.1136/jech.2006.057216 J Epidemiol Community Health, Vol. 61, No. 12. (1 December 2007), pp. 1021-1027. 2007-12-03T20:49:10-00:00 2007 J Epidemiol Community Health 61 12 1021 1027 epidemiology publichealth http://www.citeulike.org/user/kharke/article/2052419 <i>Annals of Epidemiology, Vol. 17, No. 12. (December 2007), pp. 1011-1012.</i> Critique of Epidemiology: Changing the Terms of the Debate Roberta Ness Richard Rothenberg doi:10.1016/j.annepidem.2007.10.001 Annals of Epidemiology, Vol. 17, No. 12. (December 2007), pp. 1011-1012. 2007-12-03T20:39:11-00:00 2007 Annals of Epidemiology 17 12 1011 1012 epidemiology publichealth http://www.citeulike.org/user/kharke/article/2849854 <i>J Public Health, Vol. 30, No. 2. (1 June 2008), pp. 213-215.</i><br /><br />10.1093/pubmed/fdn029 Issues raised in systematic reviews of complex multisectoral and community based interventions Jodie Doyle Rebecca Armstrong Elizabeth Waters doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdn029 J Public Health, Vol. 30, No. 2. (1 June 2008), pp. 213-215. 2008-05-30T17:18:58-00:00 2008 J Public Health 30 2 213 215 publichealth quality researchmethods systematic_reviews http://www.citeulike.org/user/kharke/article/2052412 <i>Annals of Epidemiology, Vol. 17, No. 7. (July 2007), pp. 564-568.</i><br /><br />We propose dynamic systems models as one component of the epidemiologic toolbox. Systems models reflect the fact that diseases are caused within complex molecular, biological, and social systems, with positive and negative feedback. Such models predict empiric observations, provide a framework for clarifying what new data is needed, allow for complex interactions between variables at levels from the subcellular to the community, and incorporate known feedbacks between systems elements at these various levels. In all of these ways, they have the capability to advance the science of epidemiology. Causal System Modeling in Chronic Disease Epidemiology: A Proposal Roberta Ness James Koopman Mark Roberts doi:10.1016/j.annepidem.2006.10.014 Annals of Epidemiology, Vol. 17, No. 7. (July 2007), pp. 564-568. 2007-12-03T20:38:26-00:00 2007 Annals of Epidemiology 17 7 564 568 epidemiology publichealth http://www.citeulike.org/user/kharke/article/2246409 <i>Am J Public Health, Vol. 98, No. 1. (1 January 2008), pp. 111-117.</i><br /><br />Objectives. We assessed the effect of the Texas Public School Nutrition Policy on middle school student lunchtime food consumption. Methods. Three years of lunch food records were collected from middle school students in southeast Texas: baseline (20012002), after local district changes (20022003), and 1 year after implementation of the Texas Public School Nutrition Policy (20052006). Students recorded amount and source of foods and beverages they consumed. Analysis of variance and covariance and nonparametric tests were used to compare intake after the policy change with intake during the 2 previous years. Results. After implementation of the nutrition policy, student lunch consumption of vegetables, milk, and several nutrients increased (protein, fiber, vitamins A and C, calcium, and sodium), and consumption of less desirable items (sweetened beverages, snack chips) decreased, as did percentage of energy from fat. Most of the desired nutrients and foods (vegetables and milk) were obtained from the National School Lunch Program meal. Fewer sweetened beverages, candy, chips, and dessert foods were purchased and consumed, but more of these items were brought from home and purchased from the snack bar. Conclusions. Overall, state school nutrition policies can improve the healthfulness of foods consumed by students at lunch. 10.2105/AJPH.2007.111765 Improvements in Middle School Student Dietary Intake After Implementation of the Texas Public School Nutrition Policy Karen Cullen Kathy Watson Issa Zakeri doi:10.2105/AJPH.2007.111765 Am J Public Health, Vol. 98, No. 1. (1 January 2008), pp. 111-117. 2008-01-17T17:09:15-00:00 2008 Am J Public Health 98 1 111 117 nutrition publichealth http://www.citeulike.org/user/kharke/article/2313620 <i>Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research, Vol. 32, No. 2. (February 2008), pp. 314-321.</i> Acculturation, Drinking, and Alcohol Abuse and Dependence Among Hispanics in the TexasMexico Border Caetano Raul Ramisetty-Mikler Suhasini Wallisch S Lynn Mcgrath Christine Spence T Richard doi:10.1111/j.1530-0277.2007.00576.x Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research, Vol. 32, No. 2. (February 2008), pp. 314-321. 2008-01-31T12:41:12-00:00 2008 Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research 0145-6008 32 2 314 321 Blackwell Publishing caetano publichealth ramisetty-miker http://www.citeulike.org/user/kharke/article/1574078 <i>Journal of Biomedical Informatics, Vol. 40, No. 4. (August 2007), pp. 410-421.</i><br /><br />The need for rapid access to information to support critical decisions in public health cannot be disputed; however, development of such systems requires an understanding of the actual information needs of public health professionals. This paper reports the results of a literature review focused on the information needs of public health professionals. The authors reviewed the public health literature to answer the following questions: (1) What are the information needs of public health professionals? (2) In what ways are those needs being met? (3) What are the barriers to meeting those needs? (4) What is the role of the Internet in meeting information needs? The review was undertaken in order to develop system requirements to inform the design and development of an interactive digital knowledge management system. The goal of the system is to support the collection, management, and retrieval of public health documents, data, learning objects, and tools.Method: The search method extended beyond traditional information resources, such as bibliographic databases, tables of contents (TOC), and bibliographies, to include information resources public health practitioners routinely use or have need to use--for example, grey literature, government reports, Internet-based publications, and meeting abstracts.Results: Although few formal studies of information needs and information-seeking behaviors of public health professionals have been reported, the literature consistently indicated a critical need for comprehensive, coordinated, and accessible information to meet the needs of the public health workforce. Major barriers to information access include time, resource reliability, trustworthiness/credibility of information, and "information overload".Conclusions: Utilizing a novel search method that included the diversity of information resources public health practitioners use, has produced a richer and more useful picture of the information needs of the public health workforce than other literature reviews. There is a critical need for public health digital knowledge management systems designed to reflect the diversity of public health activities, to enable human communications, and to provide multiple access points to critical information resources. Public health librarians and other information specialists can serve a significant role in helping public health professionals meet their information needs through the development of evidence-based decision support systems, human-mediated expert searching and training in the use information retrieval systems. Understanding the information needs of public health practitioners: A literature review to inform design of an interactive digital knowledge management system Debra Revere Anne Turner Ann Madhavan Neil Rambo Paul Bugni Annmarie Kimball Sherrilynne Fuller doi:10.1016/j.jbi.2006.12.008 Journal of Biomedical Informatics, Vol. 40, No. 4. (August 2007), pp. 410-421. 2007-08-18T15:33:51-00:00 2007 Journal of Biomedical Informatics 40 4 410 421 informationbehavior publichealth http://www.citeulike.org/user/kharke/article/2414764 <i>J Public Health, Vol. 30, No. 1. (1 March 2008), pp. 103-109.</i><br /><br />BackgroundEvidence-based public health decision-making depends on high quality and transparent accounts of what interventions are effective, for whom, how and at what cost. Improving the quality of reporting of randomized and non-randomized study designs through the CONSORT and TREND statements has had a marked impact on the quality of study designs. However, public health users of systematic reviews have been concerned with the paucity of synthesized information on context, development and rationale, implementation processes and sustainability factors. MethodsThis paper examines the existing reporting frameworks for research against information sought by users of systematic reviews of public health interventions and suggests additional items that should be considered in future recommendations on the reporting of public health interventions. ResultsIntervention model, theoretical and ethical considerations, study design choice, integrity of intervention/process evaluation, context, differential effects and inequalities and sustainability are often overlooked in reports of public health interventions. ConclusionPopulation health policy makers need synthesized, detailed and high quality a priori accounts of effective interventions in order to make better progress in tackling population morbidities and inequalities. Adding simple criteria to reporting standards will significantly improve the quality and usefulness of published evidence and increase its impact on public health program planning. 10.1093/pubmed/fdm082 Improving the reporting of public health intervention research: advancing TREND and CONSORT Rebecca Armstrong Elizabeth Waters Laurence Moore Elisha Riggs Luis Cuervo Pisake Lumbiganon Penelope Hawe doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdm082 J Public Health, Vol. 30, No. 1. (1 March 2008), pp. 103-109. 2008-02-22T18:08:28-00:00 2008 J Public Health 30 1 103 109 publichealth http://www.citeulike.org/user/kharke/article/2863301 <i>J Public Health, Vol. 29, No. 3. (1 September 2007), pp. 322-327.</i><br /><br />Evidence-informed practice is a key component of public health and the focus of much discussion, of which the nature of evidence and how it is best gathered and appraised has formed a large part. Prospective registration of trials is now a key component of rigour and quality in clinical research and has been supported at an international level through the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Program. This paper discusses the scope and benefits of trial registration in clinical research, including greater transparency and reduced publication bias. It then considers the potential for a Prospective Public Health Intervention Studies Register specific to the needs of public health and aspects to be included in such a register. It is argued that this initiative has the potential to facilitate increased global cooperation and efficiency in the production of high quality evidence and ultimately in improved health outcomes for populations. 10.1093/pubmed/fdm039 The role of a Prospective Public Health Intervention Study Register in building public health evidence: proposal for content and use Elizabeth Waters Naomi Priest Rebecca Armstrong Sandy Oliver Philip Baker David Mcqueen Carolyn Summerbell Michael Kelly Boyd Swinburn doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdm039 J Public Health, Vol. 29, No. 3. (1 September 2007), pp. 322-327. 2008-06-05T03:08:19-00:00 2007 J Public Health 29 3 322 327 evidence-based publichealth researchmethods systematic_reviews http://www.citeulike.org/user/kharke/article/2609101 <i>Annual Review of Public Health, Vol. 29, No. 1. (2008), pp. 235-252.</i><br /><br />Eliminating health disparities is a fundamental, though not always explicit, goal of public health research and practice. There is a burgeoning literature in this area, but a number of unresolved issues remain. These include the definition of what constitutes a disparity, the relationship of different bases of disadvantage, the ability to attribute cause from association, and the establishment of the mechanisms by which social disadvantage affects biological processes that get into the body, resulting in disease. We examine current definitions and empirical research on health disparities, particularly disparities associated with race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status, and discuss data structures and analytic strategies that allow causal inference about the health impacts of these and associated factors. We show that although health is consistently worse for individuals with few resources and for blacks as compared with whites, the extent of health disparities varies by outcome, time, and geographic location within the United States. Empirical work also demonstrates the importance of a joint consideration of race/ethnicity and social class. Finally, we discuss potential pathways, including exposure to chronic stress and resulting psychosocial and physiological responses to stress, that serve as mechanisms by which social disadvantage results in health disparities. U.S. Disparities in Health: Descriptions, Causes, and Mechanisms Nancy Adler David Rehkopf doi:10.1146/annurev.publhealth.29.020907.090852 Annual Review of Public Health, Vol. 29, No. 1. (2008), pp. 235-252. 2008-03-28T18:28:38-00:00 2008 Annual Review of Public Health 29 1 235 252 health_disparities publichealth http://www.citeulike.org/user/kharke/article/2609087 <i>Annual Review of Public Health, Vol. 29, No. 1. (2008), pp. 383-397.</i><br /><br />Cost-effectiveness analysis as an aid to decision making has been increasingly publicized and discussed during the past two to three decades. However, the total body of cost-effectiveness analyses in health care is actually rather small, and high-quality studies are rather rare. Furthermore, the applications of economic analysis to health policy have been hampered by a number of problems, including those that are methodological and contextual. We consider a number of areas of public health policy but pay special attention to a growing area of inquiry and application: the overall coverage of health services. Cost-effectiveness analysis has played a relatively small role in general coverage decisions, but in recent years, it has been applied increasingly to decisions concerning pharmaceutical coverage. We speculate on concerning reasons for this particular focus in cost-effectiveness analysis. Future progress will depend heavily on discussion and consensus building. Public Health Services and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis David Banta Ardine de Wit doi:10.1146/annurev.publhealth.29.020907.090808 Annual Review of Public Health, Vol. 29, No. 1. (2008), pp. 383-397. 2008-03-28T18:22:18-00:00 2008 Annual Review of Public Health 29 1 383 397 publichealth http://www.citeulike.org/user/jasonbobe/article/1321081 <i>The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, Vol. 35, No. 2. (2007), pp. 295-299.</i><br /><br />This paper considers the morally relevant ways in which population-based research is a distinct type of human subjects research that have unique moral considerations relevant for public health practitioners and researchers. By defining population-based research, the authors distinguish it from public health practice and then consider, in more detail, the ways in which population-based research differs from clinical human subjects research. Based upon the distinctions between these types of research and practice, they identify five important issues that arise in the design and conduct of certain kinds of population-based research. The authors hope that public health practitioners find these distinctions useful in determining when their work may actually be population-based research and that public health researchers use them to identify the areas where ethical issues in their research may arise. Ethics of Population-Based Research Holly Taylor Summer Johnson doi:10.1111/j.1748-720X.2007.00138.x The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, Vol. 35, No. 2. (2007), pp. 295-299. 2007-05-23T11:22:35-00:00 2007 The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 35 2 295 299 design populationstudies publichealth research review studydesign http://www.citeulike.org/user/jasonbobe/article/447296 <i>CMAJ, Vol. 173, No. 10. (8 November 2005), pp. 1185-1186.</i> Of genomics and public health: Building public "goods"? BM Knoppers doi:10.1503/cmaj.050325 CMAJ, Vol. 173, No. 10. (8 November 2005), pp. 1185-1186. 2005-12-22T18:41:19-00:00 2005 CMAJ 1488-2329 173 10 1185 1186 commons genetics publichealth http://www.citeulike.org/user/jannon/article/591682 <i>International Journal of Epidemiology, Vol. 35, No. 2. (April 2006), pp. 213-216.</i><br /><br />The most recent report from the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) provided compelling evidence on the effect of human release of greenhouse gases from fossil fuels and deforestation on the global climate change.1 The IPCC estimate that since the mid-19th century there has been an increase in average temperature of 0.6°C, most of this increase occurring at the end of 20th century. In addition, it provides evidence of changes in the patterns of precipitation, aridification, and humidity. Events occurring since the publication of the IPCC report in 2001 have added substantial new evidence. The average concentration of carbon dioxide has reached 375 p.p.m. (almost 100 p.p.m. above the interglacial levels) (Figure 1); polar and alpine ice is melting at faster rates than expected2 and mean sea level has been observed to rise by 30 cm during the 20th century.3 Circumpolar winds are accelerating, probably . . . Global climate change, widening health inequalities, and epidemiology Sunyer Jordi Grimalt Joan doi:10.1093/ije/dyl025 International Journal of Epidemiology, Vol. 35, No. 2. (April 2006), pp. 213-216. 2006-04-20T06:17:54-00:00 2006 International Journal of Epidemiology 0300-5771 35 2 213 216 Oxford University Press biology change climate climatechange disparity economics epidemiology globalization governance health inequality medicine policy population publichealth http://www.citeulike.org/user/downtown/article/2997587 <i>Health policy (Amsterdam, Netherlands), Vol. 82, No. 2. (July 2007), pp. 200-211.</i><br /><br />Despite the increased popularity of contracting-out of health services in developing countries, its effectiveness on overall health system performance is not yet conclusive. Except for substantial evidence of contracting-out's positive effect on access to health services and some evidence on improved equity in access, there is little evidence of contracting-out's impact on quality and efficiency. Most studies on the subject evaluate specific contracting-out projects against narrowly specified project objectives, not against more broadly defined health system goals. For this reason, conclusions of positive effects pertaining to project level may not hold at system level. This paper presents a conceptual framework that is expected to facilitate comprehensive, rigorous, and standardized evaluation of contracting-out at health system level. Specifically, this framework supports: full and standardized description of contracting-out interventions, study of the determinants of effectiveness, examination of provider and purchaser responses, assessment of the impact of contracting-out on all dimensions of health system performance, and cross-project analyses. The impact of contracting-out on health system performance: a conceptual framework. X Liu DR Hotchkiss S Bose doi:10.1016/j.healthpol.2006.09.012 Health policy (Amsterdam, Netherlands), Vol. 82, No. 2. (July 2007), pp. 200-211. 2008-07-13T21:49:12-00:00 2007 Health policy (Amsterdam, Netherlands) 0168-8510 82 2 200 211 contracting-out publichealth remuneration http://www.citeulike.org/user/allenherman/article/967006 <i>Social Science & Medicine, Vol. 47, No. 9. (November 1998), pp. 1181-1188.</i><br /><br />Public health and its "basic science", epidemiology, have become colonised by the individualistic ethic of medicine and economics. Despite a history in public health dating back to John Snow that underlined the importance of social systems for health, an imbalance has developed in the attention given to generating "social capital" compared to such things as modification of individual's risk factors. In an illustrative analysis comparing the potential of six progressively less individualised and more community-focused interventions to prevent deaths from heart disease, social support and measures to increase social cohesion fared well against more individual medical care approaches. In the face of such evidence public health professionals and epidemiologists have an ethical and strategic decision concerning the relative effort they give to increasing social cohesion in communities vs expanding access for individuals to traditional public health programs. Practitioners' relative efforts will be influenced by the kind of research that is being produced by epidemiologists and by the political climate of acceptability for voluntary individual "treatment" approaches vs universal policies to build "social capital". For epidemiologists to further our emerging understanding of the link between social capital and health they must confront issues in measurement, study design and analysis. For public health advocates to sensitise the political environment to the potential dividend from building social capital, they must confront the values that focus on individual-level causal models rather than models of social structure (dis)integration. The evolution of explanations for inequalities in health is used to illustrate the nature of the change in values. Social capital and health: Implications for public health and epidemiology Jonathan Lomas doi:10.1016/S0277-9536(98)00190-7 Social Science & Medicine, Vol. 47, No. 9. (November 1998), pp. 1181-1188. 2006-11-29T16:14:49-00:00 1998 Social Science & Medicine 47 9 1181 1188 epidemiology health publichealth social-capital