The Community Acute Respiratory Infection surveillance programme: an evaluation of a newly established surveillance programme in Scotland.

The Community Acute Respiratory Infection (CARI) surveillance programme, established by Public Health Scotland (PHS) in November 2021, aims to monitor respiratory infections in communities, replacing prior schemes to ensure early detection of outbreaks and inform public health interventions. Positioned as a cornerstone of PHS's national infectious respiratory diseases plan, CARI is pivotal for safeguarding public health. This study presents key findings from the 2022/23 CARI season and evaluates the programme's performance during this period.

Recruiting and retaining healthcare workers in Scotland to a longitudinal COVID-19 study: a descriptive analysis.

Background: Rapid timescales for the design and delivery of research were common during the COVID-19 pandemic. The recruitment and retention of healthcare workers (HCWs) as participants in research studies are notoriously challenging, but this was exacerbated during the pandemic by the unprecedented demand placed on the workforce. The SARS-CoV-2 Immunity and Reinfection Evaluation (SIREN study) is a prospective multicentre cohort study following HCWs in the UK.

Breastfeeding frequency and incidence of type 2 diabetes among women with previous gestational diabetes compared to those without: a historical cohort study in the UK.

Background: There is a growing body of research to suggest that women with gestational diabetes are less likely to initiate and continue breastfeeding than those who have not had however findings are mixed. There is limited research in the UK assessing the frequency of breastfeeding in women with gestational diabetes, none reporting the association of breastfeeding with incidence of type 2 diabetes and existing research has not adequately adjusted for potential confounders. This study aims to assess frequency of breastfeeding among women with gestational diabetes compared to those without, and to explore how breastfeeding influences risk of future type 2 diabetes in women with gestational diabetes while adjusting for known confounders.

Prevalence and impact of persistent symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers: A cross-sectional survey in the SIREN cohort.

Introduction: Following SARS-CoV-2 infection, some patients experience a range of long-lasting symptoms, with a specific burden on their lives and ability to work.

Aim: We describe the prevalence and impact of persistent symptoms pre-/post-vaccination in SIREN study participants.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of SARS-CoV-2 positive participants was carried out within SIREN, a frequently tested UK healthcare worker cohort with vaccination and demographic data available.

Interim 2023/2024 Season Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness in Primary and Secondary Care in the United Kingdom.

Background: We report 2023/2024 season interim influenza vaccine effectiveness for three studies, namely, primary care in Great Britain, hospital settings in Scotland and hospital settings in England.

Methods: A test negative design was used to estimate vaccine effectiveness.

Results: Estimated vaccine effectiveness against all influenzas ranged from 63% (95% confidence interval 46 to 75%) to 65% (41 to 79%) among children aged 2-17, from 36% (20 to 49%) to 55% (43 to 65%) among adults 18-64 and from 40% (29 to 50%) to 55% (32 to 70%) among adults aged 65 and over.

End of 2022/23 Season Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness in Primary Care in Great Britain.

Background: The 2022/23 influenza season in the United Kingdom saw the return of influenza to prepandemic levels following two seasons with low influenza activity. The early season was dominated by A(H3N2), with cocirculation of A(H1N1), reaching a peak late December 2022, while influenza B circulated at low levels during the latter part of the season. From September to March 2022/23, influenza vaccines were offered, free of charge, to all aged 2-13 (and 14-15 in Scotland and Wales), adults up to 49 years of age with clinical risk conditions and adults aged 50 and above across the mainland United Kingdom.

Prevalence of gestational diabetes in the United States and Canada: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: An understanding of the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus among pregnant women is essential at local, national and international level so that appropriate health care interventions can be planned, financed and delivered.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of primary research reporting the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus in Canada or the United States were carried out according to Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. Four electronic databases were systematically searched in June 2023 to identify articles that reported gestational diabetes mellitus prevalence using universal screening in pregnant women from eligible general population samples.

Enhanced surveillance of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Europe: an evaluation of the I-MOVE-COVID-19 surveillance network.

Background: A pre-existing, well-established European influenza surveillance network known as I-MOVE enabled the rapid implementation of a European multi-country COVID-19 hospital surveillance network for surveillance of hospitalized COVID-19 cases in early 2020. This network included 257 hospitals in 11 surveillance sites across nine countries. We aimed to identify whether the surveillance objectives were relevant to public health actions, whether the surveillance system met its objectives, where and how shortcomings could be improved, and whether the system was sustainable.

A standardised protocol for relative SARS-CoV-2 variant severity assessment, applied to Omicron BA.1 and Delta in six European countries, October 2021 to February 2022.

Several SARS-CoV-2 variants that evolved during the COVID-19 pandemic have appeared to differ in severity, based on analyses of single-country datasets. With decreased testing and sequencing, international collaborative studies will become increasingly important for timely assessment of the severity of new variants. Therefore, a joint WHO Regional Office for Europe and ECDC working group was formed to produce and pilot a standardised study protocol to estimate relative case-severity of SARS-CoV-2 variants during periods when two variants were co-circulating.

Enhanced surveillance of hospitalised COVID-19 patients in Europe: I-MOVE-COVID-19 surveillance network, February 2020 to December 2021.

BackgroundIn early 2020, the I-MOVE-COVID-19 hospital surveillance system was adapted from an existing influenza surveillance system to include hospitalised COVID-19 cases.AimTo describe trends in the demographic and clinical characteristics of hospitalised COVID-19 cases across Europe during the first 2 years of the pandemic, and to identify associations between sex, age and chronic conditions with admission to intensive care or high dependency units (ICU/HDU) and in-hospital mortality.MethodsWe pooled pseudonymised data from all hospitalised COVID-19 cases in 11 surveillance sites in nine European countries, collected between 1 February 2020 and 31 December 2021.

A multicentre survey of asthma-related quality-of-life and treatment in Egypt during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Asthma is a common chronic noncommunicable disease which can impair the health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) of patients.

Aims: To investigate treatment-related experiences and HRQOL of asthma patients in Egypt during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted from 21 July to 17 December 2020 in 3 teaching hospitals in Egypt among a convenience sample of asthma patients.

Exploration of health and health behaviours of undergraduate nursing students: a multi-methods study in two countries.

Background: Nurses play a vital role in health promotion, and there may be a link between a nurse's own lifestyle practices and how they educate others. Supporting health and well-being in student nurses is critical given they will be educating others once registered and practicing.

Objectives: To explore the health and health behaviours of undergraduate nursing and midwifery students considering the demands of their profession, their public health role and their ability to be role models.

Patients with XLP type 1 have variable numbers of NKT cells.

X-linked lymphoproliferative disease (XLP1) is a rare primary immunodeficiency that usually presents in early childhood. Patients with XLP1 have been reported to have absent NKT cells, and it has been suggested that this can be diagnostic for the disorder. Whilst NKT frequency in adults is variable, little is known about their frequency in children.

Violence experienced by undergraduate nursing students during clinical placements: An online survey at a Scottish University.

Aim: To assess the prevalence of violence and experiences of violence during clinical placements, among nursing students at a Higher Education Institution (HEI) in Scotland.

Design: Cross-sectional survey, using an opt-in online questionnaire.

Participants: All 950 undergraduate nursing students aged 18 + years were eligible.

Postpartum opportunistic advice in primary care for women who have had gestational diabetes: a qualitative study of health care professionals' views.

Background: Women who have had gestational diabetes during pregnancy are at very high risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life, but their understanding of the risks is often limited. In this study we explored the views of health care professionals regarding offering brief opportunistic advice to women after their pregnancy, during unrelated consultations in primary care, relating to reducing diabetes risk.

Methods: The study took place in three Health Boards in Scotland.

How does the self-reported health of undergraduate nursing students change during their degree programme? Survey results from a Scottish University.

Background: The lifestyle behaviours, and the physical and mental health of nurses, are poorer than those of other allied health professionals, and of the general population. However, these were no less favourable among first year undergraduate nursing students at a Scottish Higher Education Institution (HEI) than among similar people of the same age. We compared health and health behaviours among the same cohort of undergraduate nursing students over the course of their degree.

Is diagnosis of type 2 diabetes a "teachable moment"? A qualitative study.

Aims: To explore the potential of type 2 diabetes diagnosis to be a "teachable moment".

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 participants (10 people with type 2 diabetes, 13 relatives of people with type 2 diabetes) in Scotland, UK. They explored cognitive, emotional and behavioural changes following diagnosis of type 2 diabetes in oneself or in a relative.

Physical activity in paid work time for desk-based employees: a qualitative study of employers' and employees' perspectives.

Background: Poor physical and mental health of employees create significant problems in the workplace. Physical activity (PA) has been shown as an effective strategy for preventing and treating numerous physical and mental health issues as well as work performance outcomes. However, there are many barriers to taking part in PA (such as lack of time) with participation rates typically low.

Gender and diet management in type 2 diabetes.

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes is a chronic health condition that requires ongoing self-management. This often includes changes in diet, which may be open to influences from relatives. Family support in terms of diet may be linked with gender and the assumption that meal preparation is a traditionally female activity.

The development of an intervention for diabetes prevention among people with impaired glucose regulation: feasibility and acceptability of an intervention component.

Background: As part of the design process of a low-cost minimal-contact diabetes prevention intervention, we issued a blood glucose meter to people with impaired glucose regulation (who are at high risk of type 2 diabetes). We conducted a feasibility study to assess the acceptability of this intervention component and whether and how recipients engaged with it.

Methods: A blood glucose meter was given to 19 people identified through primary care, who were asked to use the meter in an exploratory way during a 4-week trial period, to try to understand the effect of different foods on the body.

Health and health behaviours among a cohort of first year nursing students in Scotland: A self-report survey.

The study aim was to collect data on the health and health-related behaviours of undergraduate nursing students at a Higher Education Institution in Scotland, to identify the need for potential health behaviour change interventions as part of their undergraduate course. An anonymous self-report questionnaire (with questions about physical activity, diet, sleep, alcohol, smoking, mental health) was administered to first year nursing students at a Scottish university. The response rate was 88%, with 207 respondents (26 male, 178 female, 3 other).

Self-monitoring of blood glucose in insulin-treated diabetes: a multicase study.

Objective: To explore how and why self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is carried out in a real-world context.

Research Design And Methods: We conducted a multicase study among ten people with type 1 and insulin-treated type 2 diabetes mellitus in Scotland, alongside seven nominated support people and four healthcare professionals. All participants were interviewed in depth and six participants provided SMBG diaries.

Texting to Reduce Alcohol Misuse (TRAM): main findings from a randomized controlled trial of a text message intervention to reduce binge drinking among disadvantaged men.

Aims: To test the effectiveness of a theoretically based text-message intervention to reduce binge drinking among socially disadvantaged men.

Design: A multi-centre parallel group, pragmatic, individually randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Community-based study conducted in four regions of Scotland.