Lancet
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The COVID-19 pandemic had direct and indirect effects on health. Indirect effects on long term medical conditions (LTCs) are unclear. We examined trends in recorded incidences of LTCs and quantified differences between expected rates and observed rates from 2020 onwards. ⋯ This work was supported by the Wales COVID-19 Evidence Centre, funded by Health and Care Research Wales.
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In 2019, the UK lost its WHO measles-free status, due to circulating measles virus and suboptimal coverage with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The National Health Service (NHS) schedule recommends MMR vaccines at age 12 and 40 months. In England in 2020-21, MMR coverage did not meet the 95% target for herd immunity. This work is part of a project to develop a vaccination intervention delivered in the paediatric emergency department (PED). The aim of this study was to quantify unmet MMR-related vaccination need among PED attendees. ⋯ None.
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A decade of cuts to public services and the COVID pandemic have impacted the social infrastructure supporting connection and networking among communities. Although UK Levelling Up agendas advocate investment in physical infrastructure for economic prosperity, there are calls for a greater focus on the creation of community-led social infrastructure to address growing public health concerns, such as social isolation and loneliness. This paper explores the role of community-led organisations in creating social infrastructure and its impacts on the health and wellbeing of disadvantaged populations. ⋯ Medical Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council, National Lottery Community Fund.
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Review
Preconception health and care policies and guidelines in the UK and Ireland: a scoping review.
Preconception health and care strategies can substantially improve maternal and infant outcomes, and thus optimise intergenerational health. Given the burden of high-risk preconception health and social risk factors, as well as the absence of a review of preconception health and care policies and recommendations in the UK and Ireland since 2013, an update is now warranted. We undertook a scoping review to assess the nature of and summarise preconception health and care strategies, policies, guidelines, frameworks, and recommendations available in the UK and Ireland. ⋯ Department for the Economy Northern Ireland, and National Institute for Health and Social Care Research Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (IS-BRC-1215-20004).
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The Peer Education Project to improve mental health literacy in secondary school students in England: a qualitative realist evaluation.
Worsening of adolescent mental health and exacerbated health inequalities after the COVID-19 pandemic calls for universal preventative strategies. The Mental Health Foundation's school-based Peer Education Project seeks to improve students' mental health literacy through peer educators (aged 14-18 years) teaching peer learners (aged 11-13 years) to recognise good and bad mental health, identify risk and protective factors, and seek help accordingly. Although previous before and after quantitative assessments have found the intervention to be effective, this realist evaluation aimed to qualitatively develop the theory of change, exploring how the mechanisms played out in different contexts to achieve the desired outcomes. ⋯ National Institute for Health and Care Research School for Public Health Research.