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Implications for practice and research This study underscores the importance of building baby-friendly communities in improving breastfeeding knowledge and breastfeeding self-efficacy. The authors highlight the need for research on how communities can better support breastfeeding outcomes.
Commentary on: Lok K. Y. W., Fan H. S. L., Ip H. L., et al. Building a baby-friendly community: Development, strategy, implementation and evaluation of a BFCI program. Journal of Advanced Nursing.2024;1–12. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.16267
It is recommended that breastfeeding is initiated within the first hour after birth and continued exclusively for 6 months of life.
Commentary on: Grummitt L, Baldwin JR, Lafoa'i J, et al. Burden of mental disorders and suicide attributable to childhood maltreatment. JAMA Psychiatry. 2024;81(8):782–88.
IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH 29% of mental health conditions in Australia could be attributed to experiences of abuse and/or neglect in childhood, a finding highlighting a significant public health concern. Addressing childhood maltreatment could prevent over 1.8 million cases of worsening mental health, emphasising the need to reduce its incidents and effects.
Mental health conditions could affect up to 13% of the population.
Commentary on: Jin T, Seo J, Ye S, et al. Suicide mortality following the implementation of tobacco packaging and pricing policies in Korea: an interrupted time-series analysis. BMC Med. 2024;22(1):180. doi:10.1186/s12916-024-03372-5
Implications for practice and research Integrating smoking cessation policies within mental health prevention programmes could be a vital option for improving mental health and reducing suicidal acts. Public Health Campaigns could target more vulnerable populations based on their age (eg, younger individuals), gender (eg, males responded less well than females) or geographical area (eg, urban areas showed more resistance to these policies than rural areas).
The smoking rate in Korea in 2020 was 20.6%, which is higher than the global average of 17%.
Commentary on: Safford M, Cummings M, Halladay J et al. Practice facilitation and peer coaching for uncontrolled hypertension among black individuals: A randomised clinical trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2024; 184(5):538–546. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2024.0047
Implications for practice and research Hypertension interventions that address individual socioeconomical barriers may improve health outcomes. Research on the efficacy of hypertension interventions for African Americans may inform management strategies that improve quality of life.
Uncontrolled hypertension, an epidemic around the globe, is common among African Americans, especially those who have unmet social determinants of health and/or reside in areas where access to healthcare is limited.
Commentary on: Down L, Barlow M, Bailey SER, et al. Association between patient ethnicity and prostate cancer diagnosis following a prostate-specific antigen test: a cohort study of 730,000 men in primary care in the UK. BMC Med 2024 Mar 1;22(1):82.
Implications for practice and research Clinicians should consider ethnic differences when interpreting prostate-specific antigen test results, particularly for black men, to ensure timely prostate cancer diagnosis and avoid overtreatment or undertreatment. Further studies are needed to explore genetic, environmental and healthcare access factors that contribute to ethnic differences in prostate cancer incidence and progression.
Prostate cancer is a common cancer worldwide, with incidence and mortality varying significantly across ethnic groups.
Commentary on: Chauhan A, Newman B, Manias E, et al. Creating safer cancer care with ethnic minority patients: A qualitative analysis of the experiences of cancer service staff. Health Expect. 2024 Jan 30;27(1):e13979.
Implementing culturally competent communication strategies, including interpreters and culturally adapted materials, can enhance patient safety and engagement. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of communication tools and strategies in improving safety outcomes for ethnic minority patients with cancer.
This qualitative study explores the experiences of healthcare staff in creating safer cancer care environments for ethnic minority patients. People from ethnic minority groups, who face an increased risk of safety events, often encounter barriers such as language and cultural differences.
Commentary on: Heslop, P., Lauer, E. (2024). Strategies to prevent or reduce inequalities in specific avoidable causes of death for adults with intellectual disability: A systematic review. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 52(2), pp.312-349.
Implications for practice and research Preventative interventions and reasonable adjustments are required to address health inequalities experienced by adults with intellectual disability. Future research should focus on policy, population and individual interventions that reduce health inequalities and avoidable deaths.
There is well-established research evidence regarding the substantial health inequalities experienced by many adults with intellectual disabilities, with significant implications for their health, well-being and quality of life. Despite this evidence, many continue to die prematurely from conditions amenable to early interventions and preventative strategies. Limited knowledge, skills and confidence regarding the needs of adults with intellectual disabilities by some health professionals is evident. Reasonable adjustments can contribute positively...
Commentary to: Woodward A, Nimmons D, Davies N, et al. A qualitative exploration of the barriers and facilitators to self-managing multiple long-term conditions amongst people experiencing socioeconomic deprivation. Health Expect 2024;27(2):e14046. doi: 10.1111/hex.14046.
Implications for practice and research Addressing socioeconomic barriers is crucial to develop patient-centred care models to help self-managing multiple long-term conditions (MLTCs). Managing MLTCs is not solely an individual responsibility, and community-based interventions should aim to strengthen social support networks and reduce social isolation. The extent of the beneficial effects of social support networks on health outcomes and MLTCs self-management should also be addressed in research.
Worldwide, one in three adults lives with multiple long-term conditions (MLTCs) and requires ongoing management and self-management. Socioeconomic deprivation exacerbates health inequalities due to limited resources and opportunities. In England, people living in deprived areas tend to develop MLTCs earlier and have a...
Commentary on: Nerek, A, Wesołowska-Górniak, K, & Czarkowska-Paczek, B (2024). Enhancing feedback by health coaching: the effectiveness of mixed methods approach to long-term physical activity changes in nurses. An intervention study. BMC nursing, 23(1), 196. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-024-01815-1
Tailoring interventions for individual motivations and workplace challenges is crucial for promoting physical activity among nurses and improving their well-being. Future research should explore the long-term effectiveness and broader health outcomes of mixed-methods interventions, guiding evidence-based strategies in healthcare practice.
Despite the benefits of regular physical activity, many nurses have low activity levels, leading to higher risks of chronic diseases and absenteeism. Over 30% of nurses are overweight or obese, often due to stressful work conditions and night shifts, increasing the risk of metabolic disorders.
Commentary on: Ekezie W, Maxwell A, Byron M, Czyznikowska B, Osman I, Moylan K, Gong S, Pareek M. Health communication and inequalities in primary care access during COVID-19 pandemic among ethnic minorities in the United Kingdom: lived experiences and recommendations. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19:15166. doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192215166.
Implications for practice and research To improve primary health access, reduce social inequalities and disinformation, and overcome challenges to accessibility, it is crucial to develop evidence-based and community-oriented healthcare initiatives to inform the public and provide health access, especially for ethnic minorities. Future research should focus on developing clear, consistent, effective and global health communication strategies to address primary care access during pandemics, especially for ethnic minority communities.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a tremendous impact on daily lives globally, healthcare access and healthcare utilisation, especially for individuals who are traditionally underserved by the...
Commentary on: Yao MM, Vy VPT, Chen TH, Hsu HH, Hsu GC, Lee CS, Lin LJ, Chia SL, Wu CC, Chan WP, Yen AM. Performance measures of 8,169,869 examinations in the National Breast Cancer Screening Program in Taiwan, 2004-2020. BMC Med. 2023 Dec 15;21(1):497. doi: 10.1186/s12916-023-03217-7.
Implications for practice and research The effectiveness of Taiwan’s Breast Cancer Screening Programme provides valuable insights for health policy-makers to enhance and expand the screening initiatives for breast cancer worldwide. To ensure the effectiveness of screening programmes, it is highly encouraged to use mobile units, broaden the age ranges and healthcare providers must uphold high standards of quality assurance and diagnostic accuracy.
Breast cancer continues to be a major public health concern, affecting millions of women globally each year.
Commentary on: Purba AK, Thomson RM, Henery PM, et al. Social media use and health risk behaviours in young people: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2023;383:e073552.
Implications for practice and research Social media is part of young peoples’ (YP) everyday life including interacting with peers and sourcing information. Multimodal methods such as online health literacy education and promoting positive health behaviours could contribute to safe social media use in YP.
Worldwide, young people (YP) have a notable online presence with the majority of Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) users 1 Although YP have a noticeable online presence, the impact on health behaviours remains unclear. The systematic review by Purba et al
Commentary on: Hocking SL et al. Intensive Lifestyle Intervention for Remission of Early Type 2 Diabetes in Primary Care in Australia: DiRECT-Aus. Diabetes Care 2024;47:66–70.
Implications for practice and research Intensive lifestyle intervention in primary care can safely achieve type 2 diabetes (T2D) remission at 12 months in around half of selected participants with short-duration, well-controlled T2D. Research on the effectiveness and acceptability of strategies to improve durability of remission is needed.
Although previously thought to be inevitably progressive, evidence is growing that type 2 diabetes (T2D) can be brought into remission with weight loss.
This study by Hocking et al
Commentary on: Yoshimoto, H., Kawaida, K., Dobashi, S. et al. Effect of provision of non-alcoholic beverages on alcohol consumption: a randomized controlled study. BMC Med 2023; 21, 379. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-023-03085-1
Implications for practice and research There is scope for public health to consider non-alcoholic beverages as a potential strategy to reduce alcohol consumption in adults who drink excessively. Future research should explore whether non-alcoholic beverages can reduce alcohol consumption in a wider range of countries and in different population groups, such as individuals with a diagnosis of alcohol dependence.
Alcohol is a risk factor in over 200 health conditions, and 2016 data shows it accounts for 5.3% of overall deaths worldwide.
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