Category: Asthma

Public Health

Current Awareness

Girls’ Attitudes Survey 2022.
Girlguiding; 2022.
https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/girls-making-change/girls-attitudes-survey/
(This 2022 survey asks girls and young women how they feel about their daily lives and society after the pandemic, their safety, their experiences of sexism and stereotypes, their involvement in social and community action and their mental health. To delve deeper into these findings, we’ve reported on a regional basis for the first time.)

Tracking the price of the lowest-cost grocery items, UK, experimental analysis: April 2021 to September 2022.
Office for National Statistics (ONS); 2022.
https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/articles/trackingthelowestcostgroceryitemsukexperimentalanalysis/april2021toseptember2022
(How the prices of the lowest-cost products for 30 everyday items have changed since April 2021. The figures highlight how poorer families are bearing the brunt of the cost of living crisis, with prices for some budget grocery items soaring far ahead of the official 10.1% rate of inflation, which is at a 40-year high. Pasta prices rose 60%, tea jumped 65% and chips went up 39%. There were also large price increases for other everyday low-cost items including milk, biscuits and bread.)

BReATHE interventions (Beating Regional Asthma Through Health Education):an innovative approach to children’s asthma care in the North East and North Cumbria, UK: an interventional study.
Townshend J. Archives of Disease in Childhood 2022;107(5):500-504.
(BReATHE (Beating Regional Asthma Through Health Education) is a new, innovative approach to improving asthma care and outcomes for CYP (children and young people) across the North East and North Cumbria, co-designed with patients, families, local authorities and health professionals and guided by the NRAD recommendations. The impact on the unplanned hospital admission rates in children due to asthma in Newcastle-upon-Tyne hospitals is highlighted.) Accessible with Open Athens

People with complex emotional needs and their views of community mental health services.
The Mental Elf; 2022.
https://www.nationalelfservice.net/mental-health/personality-disorder/complex-emotional-needs-community-mental-health/
(Emmeline Lagunes Cordoba summarises a co-produced qualitative interview study on service user perspectives of community mental health services for people with complex emotional needs.)


Cannabis use in college: genetic predispositions less influential than social environment.
The Mental Elf; 2022.
https://www.nationalelfservice.net/mental-health/substance-misuse/cannabis-use-in-college/
(Sally Turner reviews a recent study exploring cannabis use in college, which provides useful evidence relating to how universities could promote a sense of community, belonging and support to students who use cannabis.)

Public Health

Current Awareness Updates

Reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in the workplace UK Health Security Agency; April 14 2022

(Public health principles for reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in the workplace.)

Out of Area Placements in Mental Health Services, January 2022 NHS Digital; April 14 2022

(Publication of adult acute mental health patients being treated outside their provider of usual treatment in January 2022. Statistics are presented nationally and at regional, sustainability and transformation partnership (STP) footprint, clinical commissioning group (CCG) and provider level.)

Mental Health Services Monthly Statistics , Performance January, Provisional February 2022 NHS Digital; April 14 2022

(This publication provides the most timely statistics available relating to NHS funded secondary mental health, learning disabilities and autism services in England. This information will be of use to people needing access to information quickly for operational decision making and other purposes. These statistics are derived from submissions made using version 4.1 of the Mental Health Services Dataset (MHSDS))

Thunderstorm asthma and public health – looking back to move forward UK Health Security Agency; March 18 2022

(In June 2021, the UK Health Security Agency detected a potential episode of
thunderstorm asthma; an increase in people reporting asthma symptoms linked to thunderstorm activity. In this blog post they look at the interplay between the weather and our health and how they can use their scientific surveillance systems to inform future public health responses.)

Integrated health and care services for people experiencing homelessness NICE Talks

(In this episode of NICE Talks they discuss NICE’s recently published guideline on integrated health and social care services for people experiencing homelessness.

The guideline was developed in partnership with the Centre for Homelessness Impact and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. The guideline outlines how people experiencing homelessness can access services tailored for their needs. It highlights that more effort and targeted approaches are often needed to ensure that people experiencing homelessness have access to the same standard of health and social care as the general population.)

Public Health

Current awareness updates

Are we Improving Access to Psychological Treatment for everyone?
The Mental Elf; 2021.
[Bibire Baykeens reviews a general population cohort study which suggests that recent migrants are less likely to use the Improving Access to Psychological Treatment programme.]

Flu in prisons and secure settings.
UK Health Security Agency; 2021.
[This guidance, updated for 2021/22, details how to respond to cases of seasonal flu in prisons and other secure settings (e.g. immigration removal centres; secure training centres), including vaccination, treatment and managing outbreaks.]

Flu in the children and young people’s secure estate.
UK Health Security Agency; 2021.
[This guidance, updated for 2021/22, details how to respond to cases of seasonal flu in the children and young people’s secure estate (e.g. young offender institutions, secure training centres, secure children’s homes), including vaccination, treatment and managing outbreaks.]

Flu vaccination in schools.
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC); 2021.
[Flu vaccination guidance and resources for schools.]

Cold weather plan: action cards for cold weather alert service.
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC); 2021.
[These action cards summarise advice on how different organisations need to respond to cold weather alert levels 0 through 4.]

Access to palliative care: the primacy of public health partnerships and community participation.
Mills J. The Lancet Public Health 2021;:doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(21)00213-9.
[This viewpoint highlights that palliative care is a public-health concern and the need to promote equity in access to palliative care through public-health partnerships that prioritise community development and participation in end of life care.]

Forthcoming UK asthma guidelines: an opportunity to improve asthma outcomes.
Bush A. The Lancet 2021;:doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02244-3.
[Comment proposes the guideline committees set SMART objectives, e.g. reporting of patients who access less than 80% of their inhaled corticosteroid requirements, suggesting adoption of their proposed strategies could help the guidelines group rise to the challenge of improving asthma outcomes.]

A public health approach to estimating the need for long COVID services.
Journal of Public Health; 2021.
[This paper illustrates how a public health approach was used to influence and inform the development of post-COVID services across two Integrated Care Systems (ICSs). The findings have been valuable in informing early service developments, engaging with managers and clinicians, and supporting applications for funding at a local level.]

Self-Care Readiness Index.
Global Self Care Federation; 2021.
[The Self-Care Readiness Index (SCRI) is a research and policy initiative by the Global Self Care Federation and supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO). It explores enablers of self care across the health systems of 10 countries, including the UK.]

Online services in general practice: patterns of use and barriers to uptake.
Public Health England (PHE); 2021.
[This project is in line with the national ambition to support the adoption of a range of technology initiatives in general practice. The aims were to understand the needs of the population relating to the effectiveness of online services to support general practice, and identifying groups and exploring barriers and enablers to the use of GP online services. The report is mainly intended for commissioners and providers of GP services.]

Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Health and Wellbeing Programme: An evaluation.
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC); 2021.
[An independent evaluation of the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Health and Wellbeing Programme.]

Best foot forward: exploring the barriers and enablers to active travel among 50–70 year olds.
Centre for Ageing Better; 2021.
[This report finds that too many people in their 50s and 60s will remain physically inactive unless we redesign our neighbourhoods to encourage walking and cycling. The report, which looked at the barriers people in this age group face to walking and cycling, says that action is needed from national and local government, service providers and health systems to get people moving.]

Adult social care in England, monthly statistics: October 2021.
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC); 2021.
[Experimental statistics on a range of topics including infection control measures, coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations and testing for COVID-19 in adult social care settings.]

Transport initiatives to increase uptake of breast screening programmes.
Carried out by Frankie Marcelline from Brighton and Sussex on 12/10/2021
[The evidence search report covers studies on the links between breast cancer screening uptake and ease of transport to appointments. In Tower Hamlets an initiative for encouraging uptake of breast cancer screening appointments includes transport-related support.]


Public Health

Current Awareness Updates

Asthma: diagnosis, monitoring and chronic asthma management.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE); 2021.

(This guideline covers diagnosing, monitoring and managing asthma in adults, young people and children. It aims to improve the accuracy of diagnosis, help people to control their asthma and reduce the risk of asthma attacks. It does not cover managing severe asthma or acute asthma attacks. In March 2021, we highlighted the importance of including advice in the personalised action plan on minimising indoor air pollution and reducing exposure to outdoor air pollution.)

Support for people with a learning disability.
House of Commons Library; 2021.

(A description of recent changes to policy and services for people with a learning disability in England. Briefing paper.)

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic: a year like no other.
Office for National Statistics (ONS); 2021.

(Analysis of data from a variety of sources on the way life, society and the economy changed during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and how the period compares with other years.)

Coronavirus and the different effects on men and women in the UK: March 2020 to February 2021.
Office for National Statistics (ONS); 2021.

(Brings together different sources to examine how men and women have been affected differently throughout the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Includes information on physical health, mental health, paid work, unpaid work, home-schooling, and loneliness.)

Every action counts.
NHS England; 2021.

(Persuading everyone – staff, patients and visitors – to follow good practice in COVID-19 infection prevention and control is key to keeping healthcare settings as safe as possible. Every Action Counts draws on behavioural expertise to support local NHS organisations with resources on awareness, leadership, morale and wellbeing, training, and operational interventions.)

Global report on Ageism World Health Organisation (WHO); 18th March 2021

(The Global report on ageism outlines a framework for action to reduce ageism including specific recommendations for different actors (e.g. government, UN agencies, civil society organizations, private sector). It brings together the best available evidence on the nature and magnitude of ageism, its determinants and its impact. It outlines what strategies work to prevent and counter ageism, identifies gaps and proposes future lines of research to improve our understanding of ageism.)

Inclusive and sustainable economies: leaving no-one behind Public Health England (PHE); 25th March 2021

(A report and data catalogue from PHE supporting place-based action to reduce health inequalities and build back better. It addresses the social, economic and environmental determinants of health and wellbeing to help achieve healthy people, thriving communities and increased prosperity.)