Public Health Institute Journal (LJMU)
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No full textWelcome to the seventh issue of the PHI journal. Our guest editorial comes from Chloe Smith who has completed both her BSc and MSc within public health at Liverpool John Moores University. Chloe is now working as a researcher within the School of Nursing and Advanced Practice.
Throughout my time at university, I developed a growing interest in research and found my assignments to be interesting, but I never truly had a passion for it until I started my BSc dissertation. My BSc dissertation explored misinformation on Instagram regarding diet and food habits and how this impacted people’s body image and weight-related behaviours. Having been exposed to online diet culture and falling victim to celebrity-endorsed diet myths myself, I knew it was important to explore just how influential these messages are, particularly as they are shared with a wide audience. Conducting qualitative research as part of my BSc dissertation, and subsequently my MSc dissertation, proved to me how important research is and how powerful it can be to give participants a voice on topics and issues that affect them. Research is now a huge part of my life, and I am grateful to work at LJMU to conduct research which informs service delivery and practice across the UK.
The word “dissertation” is often veiled by a sense of apprehension, and rightly so, as it is one of the biggest challenges that a student must face during their time at university. Whilst it can be daunting at first, it can truly be an enjoyable and motivating experience. I found that choosing a topic that I genuinely cared about was the key to enjoying my dissertation. Writing a dissertation allows students to develop a wealth of skills, including organisation, communication, critical thinking, and time management, which are crucial when leading a successful career in Public Health.
The challenges to Public Health are ever-changing, as we have all experienced in recent years with COVID-19 and the fallout from the pandemic. This journal is a clear example of some of the key Public Health challenges that we face today, and it highlights that students have been able to identify critical questions to explore. The abstracts included are a fantastic representation of the hard work that students put into their dissertations and provides us with valuable insights and perspectives into a range of issues, which will undoubtedly benefit the future of Public Health discourse and efforts. This journal provides students with the opportunity to acknowledge and share their achievements at LJMU and I extend my congratulations to all the students for their exceptional work and wish them every success in their future careers
A qualitative study of evacuating Saudi Arabian students from the United Kingdom during COVID-19
No full textThis study investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent evacuation of Saudi Arabian students attending British schools, with a focus on their academic motivation, support structures, and health and well-being. In particular, the study explores the students’ subjective experiences, perspectives, and attitudes toward the evacuation process during the COVID-19 pandemic. A qualitative research design was used to explore and understand the experiences of people in their natural settings. The study utilized snowball sampling that recruited seven participants who share the experience of being Saudi Arabian citizens studying in the UK who were evacuated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study obtained official approval from Liverpool John Moores University’s ethics committee before the researcher started data collection. A record of oral consent, participant recruitment email and participant information sheet were used to assure the participants that their participation was voluntary and needed only for purposes of academic research. Data were analysed using thematic analysis to examine the data for the purpose of identifying common themes that include ideas, topics, and patterns of meanings that come up repeatedly. The study found that all the respondents were subject to emotional and negative hardship, suffered feelings of isolation and loneliness as well as travel restrictions because of the pandemic. They were happy with the support provided by the Saudi government throughout the evacuation process and revealed great appreciation and gratitude for the substantial care provided by authorities. The study concluded with recommendations to researchers, policymakers and higher education institutions in how to respond to and handle future potential pandemics and evacuations
The relationship between social media use and mental wellbeing amongst university students
No full textThis dissertation uses age, gender, and academic year as major demographic variables to investigate the effects of social media use on the mental health of UK university students. The study is centred around four primary research questions: (1) How many times a day do students at universities use social media platforms? (2) What are the main reasons behind university students\u27 use of social media? (3) Which particular social media sites are used by university students, and to what extent? and (4) How do social media usage habits relate to mental health as determined by the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS)? Using a mixed-methods approach, the study collects data from a sample of 18–36-year-old university students, both quantitative and qualitative. In addition to the answers to the questions mentioned above, participant demographic data, such as age, gender, and academic year, is gathered. Participants shared details about their experiences of mental health, and social media usage via an online questionnaire.
The results show that university students use social media in a variety of ways, with differences seen across age groups, genders, and academic years. The most popular platforms are Instagram, which is followed by Snapchat and TikTok. Communication, entertainment, and information consumption are the main drivers of social media use in this study. The study also finds links between social media use habits and mental health, which has consequences for intervention and support plans that are geared towards demographic groups. In summary, this research advances our knowledge of the intricate relationship between university students\u27 use of social media and mental health. The demographic factors of age, gender, and academic year are integrated to offer significant insights into the complex dynamics influencing students\u27 digital behaviours and psychological well-being
A qualitative study exploring LJMU students’ vaping habits
No full textAn e-cigarette is defined as ‘an electronic hand-held vaping device that produces for inhalation by a person an aerosol formed by heating a liquid’ and its use has increased internationally in recent years among young people. It is important to note, there are two routes of access for people who want to quit smoking via use of e-cigarettes, or vaping with access via purchasing from commercial markets being by far the most popular. Less common however, is access via health care professionals. In the UK, both medical and commercial approaches have been embraced due to public health bodies acknowledging e-cigarettes or vaping’s potential for assisting smoking cessation and supporting e-cigarette use for this purpose. This study employed qualitative methods to explore vaping behaviour of LJMU students. Interviews were employed as they were an appropriate tool to elicit individual vaping behaviour. Understanding individual behaviour gives a deeper and more meaningful understanding of what shapes or characterises this behaviour and in essence can equip health promoters with pertinent information to know what behaviour to target in the bid to promote health or behaviour change.
A convenience sampling method was employed which purposefully targeted current LJMU students who vape at least occasionally. A recruitment email was posted on LJMU canvas and those who were interested in taking part in the research study contacted the researcher via LJMU email. Five participants took part in individual interviews conducted on Microsoft Teams. Prior to commencement of interviews oral consent was read out to participants and once the participants were satisfied and happy to proceed the interviews were commenced. Data was transcribed and emerging themes were identified; ultimately those emerging themes were applied to this research and available evidence in relation to the research question.
The results show there is more appeal to using e-cigarettes or vaping compared to smoking combustible cigarettes. The results also show the way e-cigarettes are designed and marketed appear to target young people and in essence young people are drawn to these products. Most importantly, e-cigarettes or vaping is seen as an effective tool in helping smokers of combustible cigarettes to quit smoking in favour of e-cigarettes. They are also viewed as safer than smoking combustible cigarettes. The results also highlight peer influence as the main driver in determining one’s vaping behaviour or habits. The end goal for those that took part in the study was to eventually quit using e-cigarettes/ vaping altogether but did acknowledge the challenges of nicotine addiction. Future research should seek to establish LJMU vaping behaviour as a whole or university wide as opposed to only those students based within health disciplines. Moreso, future research should aim to be more diverse as this research only had one female participant with the rest being male, and all participants were of white ethnicity
Dentists’ attitudes and knowledge regarding smoking cessation advice and vaping in India: A cross-sectional study.
No full textBackground: In 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that annual tobacco-related deaths in India would exceed 1.5 million. India stands second in terms of global consumption of tobacco, with consumption figures being twice the consumption of the European Union. Tobacco use is a key public health issue in India because it is responsible for increasing the burden of chronic diseases, cancers, and associated mortality. WHO estimates that 1% of India’s GDP is lost to early deaths and diseases associated with tobacco use. While smoking cessation remains a public health challenge in India, a new dilemma facing dental health professionals in India is the use of vapes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the attitude and knowledge of dentists in India regarding smoking cessation advice and vaping.
Methods: This study followed a quantitative design and gathered data through an online survey. The questionnaire included demographic questions and two Likert scale questions. Data was analysed using SPSS and Microsoft Excel. Frequency analysis was conducted for all questions to identify the frequency and corresponding percentage of responses. This was followed by a cross-tabulation of Likert scale questions with the demographic questions, combined with a chi-square analysis to test the association between variables. The charts and tables were developed using Microsoft Excel.
Results: The study found that the overall level of knowledge among dentists in India regarding smoking cessation advice and vaping is high. Moreover, dentists maintain a positive attitude towards offering smoking cessation advice to patients, whereas maintain a negative attitude towards prescribing e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool.
Conclusion: Dentists play an important role in offering smoking cessation advice and improving the cessation rates in India. Therefore, the key recommendation for this study is that dentists should be given training regarding the latest guidelines on smoking cessation. Awareness should also be increased among dentists regarding their role in increasing smoking cessation in India
A scoping review on the role of primary healthcare institutions in awareness, social behaviour and knowledge of antimicrobial resistance prevention in Nigeria.
No full textBackground: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health concern that requires comprehensive approaches for prevention and control. This scoping review aimed to explore the role of primary healthcare institutions in raising awareness, influencing social behaviour, and improving knowledge regarding AMR prevention in Nigeria. The objective of this scoping review was to map and analyse the existing literature to identify the key themes and insights related to the role of primary healthcare institutions in AMR prevention in Nigeria.
Methods: A systematic search was conducted in databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, and relevant grey literature sources. A total of 1,847 studies were identified, and after applying eligibility criteria, 16 studies were included in the review. Data were extracted and analysed using thematic synthesis.
Results: The included studies highlighted the crucial role of primary healthcare institutions in AMR prevention in Nigeria. Key themes identified were the effectiveness of educational campaigns, the role of healthcare providers in promoting responsible antibiotic use, community engagement strategies, and policy implications. The findings indicated that primary healthcare institutions can contribute significantly to increasing awareness, shaping social behaviour, and improving knowledge regarding AMR prevention in Nigeria.
Conclusion: Primary healthcare institutions in Nigeria have the potential to play a pivotal role in addressing AMR. The scoping review findings emphasize the importance of tailored interventions, multi-sectoral collaborations, and comprehensive policies to enhance awareness, promote responsible behaviour, and improve knowledge regarding AMR prevention. Further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of specific interventions and address gaps in knowledge to strengthen the role of primary healthcare institutions in mitigating the threat of AMR in Nigeria
The experiences of asylum seekers in the United Kingdom asylum system and the impacts on their health and wellbeing: A scoping review.
No full textBackground: International law, established following World War II, grants individuals the right to seek asylum. This led to the concept of asylum integration, which enables asylum seekers to become part of the host country, either as a group or as an individual. Based on this study, this study sought to examine the barriers to asylum seekers\u27 community integration in the United Kingdom and its effect on their quality of life and living standards which ultimately affects their health and wellbeing.
Methods: The study adopted a scoping review of existing literature thus only secondary data were used. Databases used included PubMed, JSTOR, Scopus, ResearchGate, Web of Science and Google Scholar. Ten articles were included. The studies identified were analysed using thematic analysis.
Results: The study revealed that the barriers to integration faced by asylum seekers in the United Kingdom were system challenges, communication challenges and financial challenges and these factors play a great role in impacting on their health and wellbeing. The barriers included a lack of political will, a lack of policies and inadequate housing conditions, language differences and the lack of funding. The study also revealed that the identified barriers affected the quality of life and living standard of asylum seekers in the United Kingdom. The study found that there is physical, psychological and socials effect. It included physical illness, deportation, anxiety and stress, stigmatisation, discrimination, poor immigration experiences and ineffective support for mental and health needs.
Conclusion: The study found that there are barriers in the UK asylum system that inhibits the smooth integration of asylum seekers and therefore, recommends that the United Kingdom Home Office work with international agencies like the European Union and United Nations to give financial support. This will help integrate more asylum seekers into the United Kingdom system thus reducing the long waiting months which cause anxiety. It is deemed that a comprehensive understanding of these challenges is paramount in shaping policy that could affect the quality of providing an equitable healthcare service
The current challenges in delivering school-based sex education in Indonesia: A scoping review.: International Public Health Dissertation Prize Winner
No full textBackground: School-based sex education is important in Indonesia because the incidence of sexual violence and risky sexual behaviour among children and adolescents is increasing. However, existing sex education remains inadequate with many obstacles to its implementation. The purpose of this scoping review was to examine the available evidence on the challenges in providing school-based sex education and to identify key themes and potential research gaps.
Methods: A scoping review of literature from 2010 to 2023 was conducted in June 2023 using five major databases to identify relevant studies. Additional searches were conducted through manual reference searches and grey literature. The screening process involved evaluating studies based on their title, abstract, and full text against specific inclusion criteria. The scoping review followed the nine-stage methodology guidance provided by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). The data extracted were organised, categorised, analysed, and synthesised in charts, tables, and narrative format.
Results: After the screening process, 10 studies were incorporated into the review. The difficulties in providing sex education in Indonesia encompass various aspects at different levels. At the individual level, challenges arise from the characteristics of teachers, parents, and students. At the school level, issues include a lack of supportive leadership, materials and facilities, and inadequate implementation. At the system level, obstacles include the absence of national guidelines, political and cultural factors, gender disparities, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in more recent time.
Conclusion: This review emphasises the potential for improvements in addressing the challenges. It is crucial to initiate systemic and institutional changes, which will ultimately influence the individual level. Establishing a legal framework, curriculum, and national guidelines will provide the basis for implementation at the institutional level. Collaborative efforts among relevant stakeholders are also important for maximising program acceptance. Further initiatives are needed to enhance teachers\u27 capacity and motivation. Further research is required to examine perceptions and acceptance in different types of schools and cultural backgrounds. Furthermore, exploring which approaches are most effective in the Indonesian context is important
A quantitative study investigating LJMU students attitudes towards cannabis
No full textThis dissertation presents a quantitative analysis of the attitude, knowledge, and beliefs of Liverpool John Moores University students towards cannabis. Over the past decade, cannabis use has become increasingly normalized among young adults in the UK leading to an emerging public health concern. An online survey was distributed using convenience sample with 29 students recruited. Participant attitudes toward the government policy of legalising cannabis were supportive (86.2% for medicinal cannabis) with 68.9% of the participants supporting the idea that recreational cannabis should be legalized in the UK. When the prevalence of cannabis was measured, men were more likely to use than women. Conversely though women were more supportive for the legalisation of cannabis. Over eight in ten (82.7%) of the study sample were aware of the cannabis components with 48.2% being from the Faculty of Health, with the results demonstrating that the students from health backgrounds are more likely to be knowledgeable regarding cannabis when compared to other student cohorts. When the prevalence of use was assessed among different age groups, the students who were aged between 18 and 24 years of age were found to more likely to use cannabis, as well as having been previously offered.
Further research on factors influencing attitude toward cannabis is needed to understand how different cultures, religion and environments influence the behaviour, perception, and attitudes towards cannabis use. The researcher also suggests that the government should develop an evaluation approach to examine the effectiveness of the drug policy that are already implemented
How media influences public behaviour when a public health scare occurs: Commendation for Significant Achievement
No full textThis research delves into the influence of media portrayal regarding public responses to health threats and proposes strategies to improve future responses from the public. This is a literature review format, analysing past studies in peer- reviewed journals and books as well as historical news reports on certain health incidents. Three case studies, the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, the anthrax attacks in 2001, and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, are analysed to understand public reactions and moral panics, using Stanley Cohen\u27s model of moral panic. This model is an important method used when analysing the research in this literature and showing how each stage of the model is met in each instance to cause a social change and moral panic. The analysis focuses on how these events unfolded, their impact, and whether the media contributed to moral panic and negative behaviours being displayed. The study explores the role of media in shaping public behaviour during health crises. By understanding the media\u27s influence on moral panic and public behaviour, the research suggests harnessing media to prevent negative outcomes during future health scares would be beneficial. Recommendations include ensuring accurate media reporting to prevent speculation and regulating social media to combat misinformation and conspiracy theories. Successfully utilising social media could significantly improve public health management now and in the future. Overall, the research highlights the significant role of media reporting in instigating moral panic during health crises throughout history. It encourages harnessing media influence to eliminate negative impacts and improve public health responses. The findings demonstrate the importance of accurate reporting and regulating social media to effectively manage public health crises and mitigate the spread of misinformation
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