Are different health promotion interventions required to prevent young men and women binge-drinking?

via Alcohol Research UK – Are different health promotion interventions required to prevent young men and women binge-drinking?.

This Alcohol Insight summarises the end-of-award report for a study funded by Comic Relief and Alcohol Research UK.

There is widespread concern about health and social consequences of excessive alcohol consumption among young people. Although young men are more likely than women to binge drink, sex differences are decreasing because more young women are binge drinking. Given this, it is important to better understand how gender attributes and attitudes affect young men’s and women’s alcohol use, and whether different health promotion interventions are required for young men and women.

Alcohol consumption may be particularly important to identity during adolescence and early adulthood, with drinking being a part of socialisation into adult roles. The meaning and importance of alcohol may vary as a function of: age (e.g., whether individuals are above the legal age to purchase alcohol); beliefs about gender; and perceived peer drinking norms and peer pressure. This may create a need for different health promotion interventions for different age groups.

The aim of this study was to expand on our own and others’ recent research into young people and alcohol by examining age and sex differences in young people’s beliefs about alcohol consumption and interventions to combat alcohol misuse.

Data collection was conducted in the South-East of England among 13-25 year olds. We conducted 30 in-depth individual interviews and 6 group interviews which focused on:

• perceptions of cultural expectations related to drinking
• motives for drinking
• personal experiences of alcohol use
• concerns about downsides of excessive alcohol use
• recollections of, and responses to, public health campaigns
• beliefs about how to increase the impact of alcohol-related health promotion

 

Child deaths: Preventable infections ‘the leading cause’

Most deaths of young children around the world are from mainly preventable infectious causes, experts have said.

via BBC News – Child deaths: Preventable infections ‘the leading cause’.

The full research can be viewed by clicking here. An Athens account may be required.

 

Payment to help quit smoking “works,” says study

via Payment to help quit smoking “works,” says study | BMJ.

 

An NHS Athens account may be required to view this article in full. 

A scheme that offers a payment of £12.50 (€15; $20) a week to encourage people living in deprived circumstances to give up smoking is being hailed a success.

 

 

 

NHS ‘can’t cope’ with multi-disease patients

The health system in the UK cannot cope with the rising number of under-65s with long-term medical conditions and needs “radical change”, says a study in The Lancet.

via BBC News – NHS ‘can’t cope’ with multi-disease patients.

The full research can be accessed by clicking here . An Athens account may be required to view.

PCTs failing to implement continence guidance

via PCTs failing to implement continence guidance | News | Health Service Journal.

 

This article is solely the work of the HSJ. For a full copy of the article please contact the library.

Primary care trusts are neglecting to assess need and implement national guidance when it comes to continence services, according to a national audit.

NHS report calls for joined up plan to cut falls by elderly

A more joined-up strategy, driven at the local rather than national level, is needed to cut falls by the elderly, says an NHS Confederation report

via BBC News – NHS report calls for joined up plan to cut falls by elderly.

Social determinants of health and well-being among young people. Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study

WHO/Europe | Social determinants of health and well-being among young people. Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study.

Through this international report on the results of its most recent survey, the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study supplies the up-to-date information needed by policy-makers at various levels of government, nongovernmental organizations, and professionals in sectors such as health, education, social services, justice and recreation.

Emergency contraception: pill or coil? – Health News – NHS Choices

Emergency contraception: pill or coil? – Health News – NHS Choices.

NHS Choices examines the science behind the newspaper headlines.

Conclusion

This systematic review of IUD use in emergency contraception provides useful estimates of pregnancy rates following insertion after unprotected sex. To assess the issue it drew upon studies in several different countries, although the studies were primarily carried out in China. The results of the study suggest that IUDs are a highly effective form of emergency contraception, with a very low failure rate of around 0.09%.

It should be noted that the research primarily estimates how likely it is that a woman would become pregnant after having unprotected sex and having an IUD fitted. It does not, however, tell us important related factors such as how available IUDs are after unprotected sex, nor does it confirm that they are necessarily a better option than emergency contraceptive pills. For example, women can obtain emergency contraceptive pills from specially trained pharmacists, whereas an IUD needs to be fitted by a trained clinician. This is not to say that either is better or more practical, rather that there are particular considerations to take into account with each form or contraception beyond overall failure rate.

Draft bill on social care announced

A draft bill on overhauling care and support for elderly and disabled people in England has been announced in the Queen’s Speech.

via BBC News – Queen’s speech 2012: Draft bill on social care announced.

Local commissioning board offices will be fewer than planned

via Local commissioning board offices will be fewer than planned | News | Health Service Journal.

 

This article is solely the work of the HSJ. For a full copy of the article please contact the library.

The NHS Commissioning Board has announced it is rethinking the structure of its local offices to avoid “crowding out” clinical commissioning groups.