Publications by authors named "Gussy M"

Rural communities have unique mental health needs and challenges which are often related to the uniqueness of the community itself. On a per-capita basis, the investment in rural mental health research is far less than that in urban communities. Added to this, rural communities are often at risk of researchers, based in large urban universities, visiting, conducting the research with minimal engagement with local stakeholders and limited understanding of the community's social-service-environmental context.

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Background: Alternative sources of oral health information are likely to be of benefit to the public, particularly where access to dental services is limited. There is evidence that community pharmacists are willing to advocate for oral health, but it is unclear what is needed to develop this role.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to obtain the views of community pharmacy staff on the frequency and type of oral health conditions they encounter challenges in management and training/research priorities.

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Existing evidence often indicates higher cancer incidence and mortality rates, later diagnosis, lower screening uptake and poorer long-term survival for people living in rural compared to more urbanised areas. Despite wide inequities and variation in cancer care and outcomes across Europe, much of the scientific literature explicitly exploring the impact of rurality on cancer continues to come from Australia and North America. The European Code of Cancer Practice or "The Code" is a citizen and patient-centred statement of the most salient requirements for good clinical cancer practice and has been extensively co-produced by cancer patients, cancer professionals and patient advocates.

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Objective: Paramedic assessment data have not been used for research on avoidable calls. Paramedic impression codes are designated by paramedics on responding to a 911/999 medical emergency after an assessment of the presenting condition. Ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) are non-acute health conditions not needing hospital admission when properly managed.

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Article Synopsis
  • The 'Living with Cancer' (LWC) programme was launched in Lincolnshire to enhance support for cancer survivors in rural and coastal areas, addressing unique challenges they face.
  • Established in 2016, the programme focuses on developing person-centered care through community engagement and tackling health inequalities, while incorporating 8 key themes tied to rural living.
  • The initiative has been recognized for its innovative approach and successful outcomes, including securing long-term funding and receiving a national award for integration excellence in cancer care.
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Background: Most COVID-19 vulnerability indices rely on measures that are biased by rates of exposure or are retrospective like mortality rates that offer little opportunity for intervention. The Moore-Hill Vulnerability Index (MHVI) is a precision public health early warning alternative to traditional infection fatality rates that presents avenues for mortality prevention.

Methods: We produced an infection-severity vulnerability index by calculating the proportion of all recorded positive cases that were severe and attended by ambulances at small area scale for the East Midlands of the UK between May 2020 and April 2022.

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Vaccine hesitancy has been identified as one of the top 10 threats to global health. The causes of low vaccine uptake are many and vary at micro and macro levels. However, rural and remote coastal areas in the UK experience unique vaccine inequalities due to high levels of deprivation and their unique and complex access-related problems.

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Background: The purpose of the study was to explore, analyse, and describe the patterns of public dental service utilisation among the refugee populations in Victoria, Australia, and determine their predictors at the individual and contextual levels.

Methods: Data on the refugees who attended Victorian public dental services between July 2016 to June 2020 was gathered from the Dental Health Program dataset. Latent profile analysis was used to identify discrete groups among the refugee clientele with similar mean utilisation patterns across six indicator variables describing the attributes of dental services received and the site of care provision, over the study period.

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Background: Telehealth usage has been promoted in all settings but has been identified as a panacea to issues of access and equity in the rural context. However, uptake and widespread integration of telehealth across all parts of the health system has been slow, with a myriad of barriers documented, including in rural settings. The crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, saw barriers rapidly overturned with the unprecedented and exponential rise in telehealth usage.

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Aim: To compare health-promoting behaviours among rural and urban residents following primary treatment for cancer.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey collecting demographic variables and data pertaining to health-promoting behaviours, documented using the 52-item Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II) measure, which is categorised into six subscales: (1) health responsibility, (2) spiritual growth, (3) physical activity, (4) interpersonal relations, (5) nutrition, and (6) stress management. Residence was defined using the U.

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Objective: To systematically identify and explore the existing evidence to inform the development of web-based interventions to support people affected by cancer (PABC).

Design: A rapid review design was employed in accordance with the guidance produced by the Cochrane Rapid Reviews Methods Group and reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist. A rapid review was chosen due to the need for a timely evidence synthesis to underpin the subsequent development of a digital resource (Shared Lives: Cancer) as part of an ongoing funded project.

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Objectives: To identify, appraise and synthesize the published evidence from quantitative studies on the individual and contextual-level factors determining access to dental care among refugees worldwide.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted until the last week of February 2022 in four electronic databases - MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science (all databases) and APA PsycINFO - without any restrictions. Quantitative studies published in English language and meeting the a priori eligibility criteria were reviewed and data extracted.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has caused considerable disruption to cancer care and may have exacerbated existing challenges already faced by cancer survivors from rural areas. This has created a need for a rapid evidence synthesis to inform the development of tailored interventions that address the specific needs of rural cancer survivors who continue to be affected by the pandemic. The review was conducted following guidance from the Cochrane Rapid Review Methods Group.

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Objectives: To examine the spatial accessibility to public dental services (PDS) relative to the estimated oral health needs of refugee populations within the state of Victoria, Australia.

Methods: The study employed enhanced two-step floating catchment area method to measure spatial accessibility to PDS by driving and public transit modes at statistical area level 2 (SA2). Principal component analysis of select census-derived socioeconomic variables specific to the refugee population was conducted to derive an area-based indicator of refugee oral health needs, also at SA2 level.

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Objective: In the context of increasing demand for ambulance services, emergency mental health cases are among the most difficult for ambulance clinicians to attend, partly because the cases often involve referring patients to other services. We describe the characteristics of mental health emergencies in the East Midlands region of the United Kingdom. We explore the association between 999 (i.

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Objective: To investigate and compare self-management in people living with cancer following treatment, from rural and urban areas in the United Kingdom where there is a significant evidence gap.

Methods: A cross-sectional explanatory sequential mixed methods design. This involved a self-completion questionnaire that collected data on demographics, self-management using the PAM-13 and rural-urban residence and 34 in-depth interviews that aimed to explore and compare the barriers and facilitators to self-management in rural and urban settings.

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Background: People with poorly managed diabetes are at greater risk of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease that is not effectively managed can affect glycaemic levels. Diabetes care providers, including general practitioners and diabetes educators, are encouraged to promote oral health of their clients.

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Rural cancer survivors have poorer experiences and health outcomes compared to their urban counterparts. There is limited research on the post-treatment experiences of UK cancer survivors residing in rural areas. This study aimed to provide an understanding of the specific challenges and opportunities faced by rural cancer survivors and to provide insight into how rurality influences experiences post-primary treatment, ultimately to inform service provision.

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Background: Human microbiomes assemble in an ordered, reproducible manner yet there is limited information about early colonisation and development of bacterial communities that constitute the oral microbiome.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of exposure to breastmilk on assembly of the infant oral microbiome during the first 20 months of life.

Methods: The oral microbiomes of 39 infants, 13 who were never breastfed and 26 who were breastfed for more than 10 months, from the longitudinal VicGeneration birth cohort study, were determined at four ages.

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The widespread psychological effects of contagion mitigation measures associated with the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are well known. Phases of "lockdown" have increased levels of anxiety and depression globally. Most research uses methods such as self-reporting that highlight the greater impact of the pandemic on the mental health of females.

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Aim: The aim of this overview is to identify and collate evidence from existing published systematic review (SR) articles evaluating various methodological approaches used at each stage of an SR.

Methods: The search was conducted in five electronic databases from inception to November 2020 and updated in February 2022: MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and APA PsycINFO. Title and abstract screening were performed in two stages by one reviewer, supported by a second reviewer.

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The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and associated mitigation strategies such as "lockdown" are having widespread adverse psychological effects, including increased levels of anxiety and depression. Most research using self-reported data highlights the pandemic's impact on the psychological well-being of females, whereas data for mental health emergency presentations may reflect the impact on male mental health more accurately. We analyzed records of male mental health emergencies occurring in the East Midlands of the United Kingdom during the first national "lockdown.

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Surveillance of people's health takes on an important meaning in the practice of public health because it allows monitoring of diseases and prompt response to change in proportions and rates at which diseases occur in populations. Improving health of populations requires establishment of an effective public health system. Population level data and analysis is critically important in government policy and program development and monitoring.

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