Prevalence, trends and distribution of lifestyle cancer risk factors in Uganda: a 20-year systematic review.

Background: Cancer is becoming an important public health problem in Uganda. Cancer control requires surveillance of lifestyle risk factors to inform targeted interventions. However, only one national Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) risk factor survey has been conducted in Uganda.

European-wide policymaking at the urban level: a qualitative study.

Background: Inter-urban area (UA) health inequalities can be as dramatic as those between high and low-income countries. Policies need to focus on the determinants of health specific to UAs to effect change. This study therefore aimed to determine the degree to which policymakers from different countries could make autonomous health and wellbeing policy decisions for their urban jurisdiction area.

The effectiveness of omega-3 supplementation in reducing ADHD associated symptoms in children as measured by the Conners' rating scales: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Omega-3 supplements are considered to have anti-inflammatory effects which may be beneficial as inflammation has been linked to ADHD. The aim of this review is to examine the effectiveness of omega-3 supplementation at reducing ADHD symptoms in children and adolescents. Medline, Cinahl+, PsycINFO, Cochrane and Embase were searched for trials investigating the effects of omega-3 supplementation in children and adolescents with ADHD.

A systematic review of the relationship of physical activity and health status in adolescents.

Reduced physical activity is a known risk factor for many illnesses. Research in adolescent populations found increased physical activity levels improves objective health outcomes, but there is conflicting evidence regarding the relationship between physical activity levels and self-reported health status. To synthesise current evidence on the association between physical activity and self-reported health status in adolescents.

Collecting standardised urban health indicator data at an individual level for adults living in urban areas: methodology from EURO-URHIS 2.

An aim of the EURO-URHIS 2 project was to collect standardised data on urban health indicators (UHIs) relevant to the health of adults resident in European urban areas. This article details development of the survey instruments and methodologies to meet this aim. 32 urban areas from 11 countries conducted the adult surveys.

Definitions of urban areas feasible for examining urban health in the European Union.

As part of the EU-funded project, European Urban Health Indicator System (EURO-URHIS), a definition of urban areas (UAs) and of urban populations was needed to be able to identify comparable UAs in all member states. A literature review on existing definitions, as well as those used by other relevant projects, was performed. A survey of national experts in public health or land planning was also conducted.

Developing a European urban health indicator system: results of EURO-URHIS 1.

More than half of the world's population now live in cities, including over 70% in Europe. Cities bring opportunities but can be unhealthy places to live. The poorest urban dwellers live in the worst environments and are at the greatest risk of poor health outcomes.

The use of locally based aggregate measures in urban health policy making in European urban areas.

National and international policy makers require data at the local level to inform evidence-based policy making and evaluate the impact of policies; however, much data are only published at national level. Data collected at local level could be used to create aggregate measures to help inform health policy. Interviews were conducted with representatives of governmental public health agencies in eight European countries to assess the availability of local data and the extent to which local data was used to help decision making in nine urban areas (UAs).

Population Impact Analysis: a framework for assessing the population impact of a risk or intervention.

Background: To describe an organizing framework, Population Impact Analysis, for applying the findings of systematic reviews of public health literature to estimating the impact on a local population, with the aim of implementing evidence-based decision-making.

Methods: A framework using population impact measures to demonstrate how resource allocation decisions may be influenced by using evidence-based medicine and local data. An example of influenza vaccination in the over 65s in Trafford to reduce hospital admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is used.

Innovations: evidence-based practices: establishing the evidence base for psychiatric services: estimating the impact on the population.

The impact of evidence-based interventions for individual patients is clear, but a broader approach is needed. The authors describe a six-step method for calculating the population impact of introducing a new evidence-based intervention. The steps involve identifying the prevalence of a condition, the proportion of persons in the larger population eligible for the intervention, and the baseline risk that the intervention is meant to address.

Measuring children and monitoring obesity: surveys of English Primary Care Trusts 2004-06.

Background: Child obesity has unclear determinants and consequences. A precautionary approach requires best-guess interventions and large-scale surveillance. This study was to determine the current measurement activities and the information systems required for child obesity surveillance.

Helping to prioritise interventions for depression and schizophrenia: use of Population Impact Measures.

Background: To demonstrate the potential of Population Impact Measures in helping to prioritise alternative interventions for psychiatry, this paper estimates the number of relapses and hospital readmissions prevented for depression and schizophrenia by adopting best practice recommendations. The results are designed to relate to particular local populations.

Methods: Literature-based estimates of disease prevalence, relapse and re-admission rates, current and best practice treatment rates, levels of adherence with interventions and relative risk reduction associated with different interventions were obtained and calculations made of the Number of Events Prevented in your Population (NEPP).

Generating pre-test probabilities: a neglected area in clinical decision making.

Objective: To assess the accuracy and variability of clinicians' estimates of pre-test probability for three common clinical scenarios.

Design: Postal questionnaire survey conducted between April and October 2001 eliciting pre-test probability estimates from scenarios for risk of ischaemic heart disease (IHD), deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and stroke.

Participants And Setting: Physicians and general practitioners randomly drawn from College membership lists for New South Wales and north-west England.

GPs' and physicians' interpretation of risks, benefits and diagnostic test results.

Background: Understanding pre-test probability and baseline risks helps to interpret the results of diagnostic tests and the benefits of treatment, but how good is the understanding of these concepts?

Objectives: Our aim was to assess the ability of GPs and consultant physicians to make accurate estimates and understand the application of pre-test probability and baseline risk for two common clinical conditions.

Methods: A two-stage questionnaire survey based on case scenarios of patients with angina and congestive heart failure was carried out of 202 physicians, randomly selected from the members of the Royal College of Physicians in the NW of England, 205 GPs randomly chosen from the practice list of the NW Health Authorities and 128 MRCGP examiners attending an examiners meeting. A total of 115, 106 and 81 members of these groups, respectively, responded to the first stage, and 44, 46 and 64 to the second.

Public health in Primary Care Trusts: a resource needs assessment.

Background: This study was commissioned by the UK Health Development Agency to provide a snapshot of how, at the outset of the 2002 NHS reorganisation, Primary Care Trust (PCT) staff and Professional Executive Committee (PEC) members perceived their public health roles and functions, the opportunities and barriers to delivering those roles and functions and the development needs in order to fulfill them.

Methods: Taped group interviews were conducted with PECs of eight PCTs (covering a range of settings, size and stage of organisational development), followed up by structured telephone interviews with 35 frontline staff from four of the PCTs. Analysis was through content analysis and counting of themes including a quantitative assessment of the occurrence of themes and comparison between different categories of participants.