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BMJ (Clinical research ed.). 01/2013; 346:f3716.
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ABSTRACT: In 2007 the European Commission issued the White Paper: "Together for Health". Considered the EU Health Strategy for the years 2008-2013, it offers the cornerstones for setting priorities in EU health actions.
The public health framework offered in this strategy is explicitly built on shared values--including the overarching values of universality, access to good quality care, equity and solidarity that reacted to certain health care challenges within the EU. This article analyses the Health Strategy via its ethical scope and considers implications for future health policy making.
The Health Strategy and related documents are scrutinised to explore how the mentioned values are defined and enfolded. Additionally, scientific databases are searched for critical discussions of the value base of the Health Strategy. The results are discussed and reasoned from a public health ethical perspective.
The Health Strategy is barely documented and discussed in the scientific literature. Furthermore, no attention was given to the value base of the Health Strategy. Our analysis shows that the mentioned values are particularly focussed on health care in general rather than on public health in particular. Besides this, the given values of the Health Strategy are redundant.
An additional consideration of consequentialist public health ethics values would normatively strengthen a population-based health approach of EU health policy making.
Central European journal of public health 06/2012; 20(2):95-100.
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ABSTRACT: Darf die moderne Medizin alles, was sie kann und bei weitergehendem medizinisch- technischem Fortschritt im Zeitalter der
Genomforschung können wird? Welche Entwicklungen sind durch die molekulare Medizin zu erwarten, und wo sind sie zu fördern,
wo ihnen Grenzen zu setzen und durch wen? Wo endet die Verantwortung jedes Einzelnen für gesundheitliche Beeinträchtigungen,
und wofür hat die Gemeinschaft der Versicherten oder Steuerzahler einzustehen? Was kann die molekulare Medizin konkret zu
einer effektiveren und effizienteren Gesundheitsversorgung beitragen, und welche maßgeblichen Weichen der Präventivmedizin,
öffentlichen Gesundheitsvorsorge und Gesundheitssicherung können bereits zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt seitens der Sozial und Gesundheitspolitik
gestellt werden? Auf all diese Fragen versucht Public Health Genomics (PHG) Antworten zu geben. Die Integration genombasierten
Wissens in die Ansätze von Public Health wird Public Health Genomics (PHG) genannt und ist definiert als "the responsible
and effective translation of genome-based knowledge and technologies into public policy and health services for the benefit
of population health".
Which consequences can be drawn from genome-based knowledge and how can it be responsibly and timely translated into policies
and practice? What are recent developments in genetics and molecular biology, what are the challenges, what are the risks
of these developments? Which policies can provide an acceptable balance between providing strong protection of individuals'interests
and needs while enabling society to benefit from the genomic advances and empowering individuals? How can molecular medicine
contribute to more effective and efficient health care services, and what infrastructures and policies can already now be
implemented to assure a benefit for population health? Thus, Public Health Genomics (PHG) tries to answer these challenging
questions. This integration of genomics into the aims of public health is called Public Health Genomics (PHG) and is defined
as "the responsible and effective translation of genome-based knowledge and technologies into public policy and health services
for the benefit of population health".
Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz 04/2012; 50(2):135-144. · 0.66 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The European Commission (EU) has launched the strategy "Europe 2020" aimed to turn the EU into a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy delivering high levels of employment, productivity and social cohesion. A prerequisite for the success of Europe 2020 is the availability of a healthy population and a healthy work force. An action worth highlighting is raising corporate social responsibility (CSR). The aim of this paper is to present how health literacy can become a strategic asset in CSR through the introduction of the Collaborative Venture on Health Literacy and the development of a business case on health literacy meeting targets of Europe 2020. A scope study revealed that a majority of companies within the network of CSR Europe already show health-related employee programs on their corporate websites, but only a few are focused specifically on advancing health literacy. The gap leaves potential opportunities for interventions based on research and good practices, where businesses through CSR can create a health-friendly environment and stimulate the workforce to manage their own health, seek information, and make decisions in terms of promoting health and well-being, thereby transforming information into knowledge and increased awareness among employees.
Journal of Health Communication 09/2011; 16 Suppl 3:322-7. · 1.61 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We aimed to assess the extent and the socioeconomic correlates of witnessed parental physical violence among university students in Albania, a country in transition from rigidly structured socialism to a market-oriented system.
2797 students (93% of all students) at the Medical Faculty, Tirana, filled out an anonymous structured questionnaire in April-June 2009. Information on witnessed father-to-mother physical violence during childhood and/or adolescence and sociodemographic and socioeconomic data were collected. The association of witnessed parental violence with socioeconomic factors was assessed with multivariable-adjusted logistic regression.
736 (26.7%) of students witnessed father-to-mother physical violence, and 36 (1.3%) reported 'very often' witnessing episodes. In multivariable-adjusted models, independent predictors of witnessed violence were: low family income [odds ratio (OR) = 2.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.7-3.2], rural origin (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.5-2.5), father's lower education and unemployment (OR = 5.4, 95% CI = 4.1-7.1 and OR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.9-3.2, respectively) and mother's educational and employment advantage compared with the spouse (OR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.9-3.8 and OR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.6-2.8, respectively).
Father's socioeconomic disadvantage and mother's socioeconomic empowerment were each independently related to increased risk for witnessed father-to-mother physical violence among university students in this transitional patriarchal society. Health professionals in post-communist Albania should be aware of the ways in which witnessed domestic violence influences physical and psychological health of young adults.
Journal of Public Health 03/2011; 33(1):22-30. · 2.06 Impact Factor
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Public Health Genomics 01/2011; 14(4-5):193-4. · 2.33 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The complexity and novelty of public health genomics poses a challenge to ensure effective and responsible translation of genome-based information for the benefit of population health. The aim of this article is to provide literature-based insight into how the concept of health literacy can act as a catalyst for the translation process and to comment on the necessity to adapt new perspectives in a rapidly changing world, such as e.g. the health literacy-friendly approach of Google. Taking advantage of the potential of health literacy in the population along with a recognized role of health professionals as knowledge brokers and 'nudges' will benefit the efficiency and responsibility of translating genome-based knowledge.
Public Health Genomics 01/2011; 14(4-5):195-200. · 2.33 Impact Factor
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The European Journal of Public Health 08/2010; 20(4):367-8. · 2.73 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The results of the study Benchmarking Regional Health Management II suggest that compulsory measles immunisation is a good practice in public health management. Yet, the potential achievement of the desired health outcome alone is not a sufficient reason to make the immunisation obligatory. Rather, compulsory measles immunisation is a morally challenging measure. In this article, compulsory measles immunisation is critically evaluated from a public health ethics point of view. For this evaluation, a set of ethical criteria is proposed: respect for autonomy, health maximisation, efficiency, proportionality and social justice. The authors suggest it should not be taken for granted that compulsory measles immunisation should be championed, rather, health policy makers in the European Union should try to raise immunisation rates with non-compulsory means.
Central European journal of public health 12/2009; 17(4):183-6.
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ABSTRACT: In 2005, WHO Europe reconfirmed the objective of eradicating measles and fixed a strategy plan for the years 2005 up to 2010. While a downward trend of measles infections in Germany between 2001 and 2004 could be observed, as many as 780 cases of measles were reported in 2005 and in 2006 even 2.281 cases. These high figures in 2006 were almost exclusively caused by an outbreak in the German region of North Rhine-Westphalia. This case study describes how a reference framework for good health management of measles prevention was applied for this region. As a result, various recommendations for action could be given, among them the recommendation to implement individual vaccination reminder systems for parents and bonus systems for parents. Based on these results, a comprehensive policy concept has been drawn up and has become the subject of a political agreement process in this region. Thus this case study shows a paradigm how reference frameworks for good health management can be utilised in practice.
Central European journal of public health 12/2009; 17(4):187-90.
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ABSTRACT: Whereas medicine is currently undergoing remarkable developments from its morphological and phenotype orientation to a molecular and genotype orientation, promoting the importance of prognosis and prediction, the discussion about the role of genome-based information for epidemiological research and public health still is at the beginning. Public Health Genomics (PHG) contributes to this discussion by focussing on the use of genome-based information for epidemiological research, surveillance systems, health policy development, individual health information management and effective health services. The article focuses on the role of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphisms in non-cancer diseases to demonstrate the urgent need for a responsible and systematic translation of genome-based information into health policy and healthcare.
Mutation Research/Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 11/2008; 667(1-2):27-34. · 2.85 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Health-related cooperation between neighbouring countries has a long tradition in the European Union, especially in the transfrontier structures well-known under the label of Euregio or Euroregion.
Overview and analysis of cross-border health-related activities in the Euregios.
The EU-funded project "EUREGIO" carried out a systematic inventory analysis of cross-border health projects. It is based on written surveys among 53 Interreg IIIA secretariats, 67 Euregios and 328 project bodies. The responses of 122 health projects were considered.
37 Euregios or similar cross-border structures established health-relevant working groups, working circles, forums or projects. The cross-border health projects cover a wide spectrum of issues, e.g., education and training, patient care, prevention, and disaster control. Target groups were in most cases medical personnel, patients or decision-making bodies. Four official criteria for cooperation (joint project development, implementation, staffing and financing) are met by the great majority of projects. However, the survey shows a lack of information, publication and evaluation.
Cross-border cooperation in health is underrepresented in many regions. The project results point to great potentials which should be further developed both in terms of quantitative and qualitative aspects. Recommendations are given for project actors and stakeholders.
Health Policy 06/2008; 86(2-3):245-54. · 1.51 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Public health practice has to date concerned itself with environmental or social determinants of health and disease and has paid scant attention to genomic variations within the population. The advances brought about by genomics are changing these perceptions. In the long run, this knowledge will enable health promotion messages and disease prevention programmes to be specifically directed at susceptible individuals and families, or at subgroups of the population, based on their genomic risk profile. As the controversial discourse in science and health politics shows, the integration of genomics into public health research, policy and practice is one of the major challenges that our health-care system is currently facing.
European Journal of HumanGenetics 02/2008; 16(1):5-13. · 4.40 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Public health practice has to date concerned itself with environmental or social determinants of health and disease and has paid scant attention to genomic variations within the population. The advances brought about by genomics are changing these perceptions. In the long run, this knowledge will enable health promotion messages and disease prevention programmes to be specifically directed at susceptible individuals and families, or at subgroups of the population, based on their genomic risk profile. As the controversial discourse in science and health politics shows, the integration of genomics into public health research, policy and practice is one of the major challenges that our health-care system is currently facing.Keywords: public health genomics, genetics, genomics and population health, prevention, health policy, inequalities in health and social exclusion, public health ethics
European Journal of HumanGenetics 10/2007; 16(1):5-13. · 4.40 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Which consequences can be drawn from genome-based knowledge and how can it be responsibly and timely translated into policies and practice? What are recent developments in genetics and molecular biology, what are the challenges, what are the risks of these developments? Which policies can provide an acceptable balance between providing strong protection of individuals'interests and needs while enabling society to benefit from the genomic advances and empowering individuals? How can molecular medicine contribute to more effective and efficient health care services, and what infrastructures and policies can already now be implemented to assure a benefit for population health? Thus, Public Health Genomics (PHG) tries to answer these challenging questions. This integration of genomics into the aims of public health is called Public Health Genomics (PHG) and is defined as "the responsible and effective translation of genome-based knowledge and technologies into public policy and health services for the benefit of population health".
Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz 03/2007; 50(2):135-44. · 0.66 Impact Factor
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Helmut Brand,
Peter Schröder,
John K Davies,
Ixhel Escamilla,
Caroline Hall,
Kieran Hickey,
Eleni Jelastopulu,
Reli Mechtler,
Wendy Tse Yared,
Jaroslav Volf,
Birgit Weihrauch
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ABSTRACT: This paper presents reference frameworks which order effective and feasible policies and interventions for the health management of measles, breast cancer and diabetes (type II). These reference frameworks can be used to rapidly appraise regional health policy documents and existing health management systems. Furthermore, the reference frameworks can serve health policy makers for the planning of health management measures.
Central European journal of public health 04/2006; 14(1):39-45.
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ABSTRACT: The integration of genomics into public health research, policy and practice will be one of the most important future challenges that our health care systems will face. The next decade will provide a window of opportunity to establish infrastructures that will enable the scientific advances to be translated into evidence-based policies and interventions that improve population health. Approaches for national, European and international institutionalization of public health genomics are shown that aim to champion these challenges.
Community Genetics 02/2006; 9(1):67-71. · 1.32 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: An outbreak of meningococcal disease, caused by Neisseria meningitidis, occurred following an international youth football tournament in the summer of 1997, affecting individuals from four European countries. This paper describes the outbreak, focusing on international co-operation in detection, investigation, control and follow-up, identifying weaknesses and exploring opportunities for improved co-operation. Data came from interviews, reports and related documents. The detection and management of the outbreak in each country is analysed. Eleven cases were linked to this outbreak and serotyped as C:2a:P1.5. Control measures varied in each country, reflecting different national guidelines. The outbreak illustrated deficiencies in management of international outbreaks but also demonstrated benefits of international co-operation.
International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health 06/2002; 205(4):291-6. · 3.81 Impact Factor
