Publications by authors named "Hagai Levine"
Background: There have been reports of sharp declines in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study aims to assess nationwide ACS emergency department (ED) visit rates across age and sex subgroups and the general population, with a comparison before and throughout the pandemic's various phases.
Methods: A multiple interrupted time series analysis was used to assess 61 349 ACS nationwide hospital visits from January 2018 to December 2021 at monthly intervals.
Collective ambiguous loss can arise in communities facing the unresolved absence or presence of loved ones, marked by uncertainty and confusion. This study examines the impact of such loss on the general public in Israel after 251 individuals were taken hostage by Hamas on October 7 2023. A diverse sample of 740 participants (ages 18-85, 58.
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- The Jerusalem Community-Academic Partnership (J-CAP) was created to tackle local health issues identified through a population survey, integrating public health students into the process for training purposes.
- Over three years, the program involved mapping health promotion initiatives in Jerusalem and conducting a participatory assessment of a selected neighborhood with a predominantly Ultra-Orthodox community.
- The intervention programs developed by students, focusing on nutrition and physical activity, aimed to address identified barriers to a healthy lifestyle, while strengthening community partnerships and enhancing students' real-world public health understanding.
Article Synopsis
- IQOS is a heated tobacco product promoted as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes and has received FDA approval for its reduced exposure claims.
- A study of 84 interviews revealed varied perceptions about IQOS's advertising claims, with many participants interpreting claims of reduced exposure and risk differently and questioning the credibility of the studies backing those claims.
- The findings suggest a need for regulators and researchers to closely monitor how harm reduction messages are conveyed to prevent misunderstandings among consumers.
Kidnapped But Not Kids: A Case Series of Three Octogenarian Hostages Held in Captivity by Hamas.
Rambam Maimonides Med J
October 2024
Article Synopsis
- On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an attack from Gaza into Israel, resulting in around 1,200 civilian deaths and 255 people taken hostage, including many elderly individuals.
- Among the hostages, 13% were over the age of 65, with some being over 80 years old, highlighting the vulnerability of older individuals in this crisis.
- The text presents case histories of three elderly abductees, detailing their extreme vulnerabilities and the severe psychological and physical stresses they endure, marking this as a significant instance of elder abuse in modern history.
Article Synopsis
- Exposure to the Israel-Hamas conflict negatively affected the health of women, especially those in hostage families, who reported the worst impacts on both physical and mental health compared to crisis volunteers and the general population.
- A cross-sectional survey of 318 Hebrew-speaking women revealed increased rates of poor physical health, mental health issues, and unhealthy lifestyle choices during the conflict, with hostage families showing the highest levels of distress.
- The findings highlight the urgent need for mental health support, particularly for hostage families, as they reported significant deterioration in well-being and a high demand for assistance during this challenging period.
Article Synopsis
- The study aims to evaluate the competency profiles of Public Health (PH) training programs in Israel using a new curriculum mapping tool focused on 57 competencies across six domains.
- It assessed five Israeli Health Education Institutions (HEIs) offering MPH or BPH degrees, revealing that core curricula addressed 45-84% of the competencies, with strengths in Methods and Socioeconomic Determinants of Health but weaknesses in Environmental Determinants and Health Policy domains.
- The findings highlighted variability in PH curricula across institutions and prompted a reassessment to improve and harmonize PH training to better prepare graduates for contemporary challenges in the field.
IQOS point-of-sale marketing: a comparison between Arab and Jewish neighborhoods in Israel.
Isr J Health Policy Res
August 2024
Article Synopsis
- Philip Morris International's IQOS, the top heated tobacco product globally, has a higher usage rate among Arabs compared to Jews in Israel, prompting a study to analyze marketing strategies and regulatory compliance in both communities.
- The research integrated data from surveys and audits of IQOS retailers in different neighborhoods, comparing marketing practices post the implementation of a points-of-sale display ban in January 2020.
- Findings revealed that while most marketing strategies were similar, Arab neighborhood retailers had higher rates of being invited to promotional events and reported more direct communication with Philip Morris representatives; audits also suggested that these Arab points-of-sale showed better compliance with the display ban regulations.
Article Synopsis
- Indicators of male fertility are decreasing worldwide, with environmental factors suspected but not fully understood.
- A study analyzed seminal plasma from 100 males to identify pollutants impacting sperm health, focusing on various organic chemicals.
- Results showed that certain chemicals, particularly etriadizole and -nitrosodiethylamine, were linked to lower sperm count and mobility, suggesting they could be harmful to male reproductive health.
Article Synopsis
- Philip Morris International's IQOS, a popular heated tobacco product, was analyzed in the context of its presence in Israel, revealing higher usage among the Arab population compared to Jews.
- The study reviewed articles from January to October 2020, finding that media targeting Arab and Ultra-orthodox Jewish communities portrayed PMI and IQOS more positively than articles aimed at the general public.
- Specifically, Arab media focused on IQOS' retail locations and social benefits, suggesting a need for monitoring and regulating media content, particularly for minority audiences.
Article Synopsis
- Tobacco companies, particularly those selling IQOS in Israel, showed low compliance with display bans, but adhered more closely to plain packaging and advertisement restrictions.
- After the implementation of these regulations, there was a notable rise in internal advertisements for IQOS, many of which avoided explicit brand naming but used generic signs instead.
- The study suggests that while some regulations are effective, there is a need for more detailed legislation and enforcement strategies to ensure compliance and prevent marketing circumvention.
Article Synopsis
- - A systematic review of global studies examined how exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) during pregnancy affects birth weight, finding substantial inconsistencies and unexplained variability among research results.
- - Out of 2,677 articles, 84 met the criteria for detailed analysis, indicating a stronger link between low birth weight (LBW) and PM exposure, particularly in Europe compared to Asia and the US.
- - The study concludes that factors like geographical region contribute to the varying impact of PM on birth weight, suggesting that local data should inform policies rather than relying on combined summary statistics.
Article Synopsis
- * Findings showed that non-users found HTPs less appealing, while current users (mostly also cigarette or e-cigarette users) reported greater appeal, particularly among those who use both cigarettes and e-cigarettes.
- * Perceptions varied on the benefits of IQOS over traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes, with research indicating that marketing targets young people and those seeking alternatives, highlighting the need for ongoing regulation and monitoring.
Article Synopsis
- This study explores how different sources, such as media and social connections, impact awareness and usage of heated tobacco products (HTPs) among adults in the US and Israel.
- The research found that exposure to advertisements and non-advertising content through digital platforms and social settings significantly influences both current use and intentions to use HTPs.
- Results indicate that greater interaction with media and having acquaintances who use HTPs are linked to increased awareness, usage, and intentions to use these products; no major differences were noted between the two countries.
Article Synopsis
- Heated tobacco products (HTPs), like IQOS, are seen as stylish alternatives to traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes, but their reception among new users needs more exploration.
- A study analyzed data from 1914 adults in the U.S. and Israel to understand how people perceive HTPs compared to other smoking products and how these perceptions influence their willingness to try HTPs.
- Results showed that positive views on HTPs' design and health benefits make individuals more likely to try them and recommend them to friends who smoke, highlighting the importance of monitoring public perceptions of these products.
Article Synopsis
- Philip Morris International's IQOS product, which dominates the heated tobacco market, shows a higher usage rate among Arabs than Jews in Israel, prompting a study on its marketing strategies and regulatory compliance in different neighborhoods.
- The study conducted surveys and audits in Arab and Jewish areas of five Israeli cities, focusing on retail compliance with recent marketing restrictions (like point-of-sale display bans) after these regulations were enacted in January 2020.
- Results revealed that while many marketing strategies were similar across both communities, Arab neighborhood retailers were more involved in promotional activities and were better at complying with display ban requirements, although less compliant with plain packaging rules.
Psychological Health in Late Effects of Poliomyelitis: Ten-Year Follow-Up.
Healthcare (Basel)
December 2023
Article Synopsis
- * The study analyzed 82 individuals to assess their functional status, emotional health, hope levels, work status, and life satisfaction through various questionnaires and statistical methods.
- * Results indicated significant functional decline over 10 years, but psychological health remained stable, positively correlated with hope and life satisfaction; employment status also contributed to better psychological outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- * Eleven high-quality observational studies were reviewed, and results indicated early-term deliveries are linked to a 19% higher risk of type 1 diabetes, while the association with obesity was less significant.
- * The findings underscore the importance of avoiding elective early-term deliveries whenever possible, as they may pose risks to the child's long-term health.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how different marketing strategies for e-cigarettes affect adult exposure and use, focusing on the US and Israel using data from 2021 with 2222 participants.
- Findings reveal that 20.3% of adults reported using e-cigarettes in the past month, with significant correlations between advertisement exposure in digital and traditional media as well as social media and increased e-cigarette use.
- Interestingly, some advertising types were associated with lower perceptions of e-cigarette addictiveness and harm, while retail setting advertisements linked to reduced e-cigarette use overall.
Background: Health warning labels (HWLs) are evidence-based tobacco control strategies; however, their application to e-cigarettes and related impacts (e.g. on perceived risk), including across countries with different regulations, are understudied.
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- Health warning labels (HWLs) on heated tobacco products (HTPs) were studied to see how they affect tobacco users' intentions to use HTPs and their perceptions of risk, with a survey sample of 424 US and Israeli adults.
- Among those who saw the HWLs, 27.7% felt more concerned about HTP use, while 22.6% felt reassured, but nearly half reported no effect; certain demographics, like female participants and those who used other tobacco products, were more likely to express concern.
- The study found that increased concern and feelings of reassurance about HTPs were positively linked to intentions to use these products, though there were no significant
Article Synopsis
- The study analyzed tobacco product use among adults in the US and Israel using 2021 data, focusing on seven types of products and consumer values like innovation and conscientiousness.
- Latent class analysis identified distinct usage profiles in both countries, revealing variations in preferences and demographics among users.
- Findings indicated that higher innovation correlated with non-cigarette product use in the US, while lower conscientiousness linked to specific product segments in Israel, suggesting tobacco consumption patterns reflect different consumer values and marketing strategies.
Article Synopsis
- * It found that both low and high levels of PM exposure are associated with higher risks of PTB compared to moderate exposure levels, with hazard ratios indicating increased risk.
- * Additionally, ambient temperature played a significant role, where low temperatures increased risks for PM exposure, but high temperatures showed a reversed trend, highlighting the importance of considering climate factors in understanding the risk of PTB due to PM exposure.
Theory-based correlates of cannabis use and intentions among US and Israeli adults: a mixed methods study.
Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy
September 2023
Article Synopsis
- In the US and Israel, while non-medical cannabis use is illegal nationwide, actual use rates are high, prompting a need for theory-based interventions focused on youth prevention as decriminalization and legalization efforts grow.
- A mixed-methods study involving over 2,200 adults (1,128 from the US and 1,094 from Israel) analyzed survey data and qualitative interviews to examine factors influencing cannabis use and intentions, finding that lower risk perception and stronger social norms were linked to higher past-month use.
- Results showed a higher prevalence of cannabis use among US participants, but Israelis expressed greater intentions to use if legal; common concerns about cannabis focused on health risks, societal impacts, and potential benefits of legalization, emphasizing that perceived