Public Health Institute Journal (LJMU)
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A qualitative study: Knowledge and attitudes of a sample of addiction professionals throughout Ireland to heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) and its relation to opioid agonist therapy treatment (OAT).
No full textBackground: This research study examined addiction professionals’ knowledge and views on the current provision of opioid-agonist treatment and whether there is a role for HAT in the overall model. There are currently an estimated 19,875 problematic drug users in Ireland. Of these, 11,445 are receiving some type of OAT, which suggests that more treatment options should be made available.
Methods: Nine semi-structured interviews were used as the research method for this study, which was conducted using a qualitative approach. Participants were chosen from both rural and urban settings and were working in fields of homelessness, abstinence-based and harm reduction models of care.
Results: The study\u27s findings indicate that the professional community is not well-versed in the use of HAT. Many participants acknowledged the significance that present OAT medications play in treating people who inject drugs, but they felt that there was not enough funding or support for the proper implementation of current harm reduction policies.
Conclusion: Stigma was a major theme in all interviews, while none of the people questioned thought that HAT would be implemented in Ireland anytime soon, citing the controversy surrounding the establishment of Ireland\u27s first safe injection rooms
A qualitative study exploring the factors that enable students with adverse childhood experiences to achieve successful educational outcomes.
No full textBackground: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) describe the stressful and potentially traumatic events or situations that occur during childhood and/or adolescence, which threaten a child or young person’s sense of safety, security and trust. These experiences can result in detrimental impacts on the mental, physical, emotional and social health of young people, and can continue into adulthood. Individuals with ACEs often experience poor outcomes in life, including poor academic achievement, unemployment, violence, poor work performance, contact with the criminal justice system and low mental well-being and life satisfaction. Despite a vast body of existing literature on ACEs and its relationship with these various outcomes, there is a gap in research, and particularly qualitative research that explores the role of protective factors for ACEs which enable individuals to overcome barriers and challenges and go on to achieve successful life outcomes. This study therefore aimed to address this gap by identifying and exploring those protective factors that enable individuals who have been impacted by ACEs to enter higher education and achieve successful educational outcomes.
Methods: A qualitative online questionnaire was utilised asking open-ended questions which aimed to obtain the perspectives of individuals who had managed to overcome barriers and challenges associated with ACEs to enter higher education and achieve successful educational outcomes.
Results: Findings indicate that strong peer relationships, professional support, resilience, aspiration and recreational activities/hobbies act as significant protective factors for individuals in overcoming challenges and barriers associated with ACEs. Personal resilience was a key finding, attributed to the individual’s own personal strength and motivation, but clearly these factors overlap, and resilience would be facilitated by aspiration, peer relationships and other influences.
Conclusion: These protective factors help enable individuals with ACEs to enter higher education and achieve successful educational outcomes, with individuals expressing positive perspectives throughout their studies at university. They provide guidance and recommendations for interventions that would benefit a greater number of children who have adverse experiences. The perspectives of students with ACEs throughout university also appear to be generally positive, although it is thought that further emotional, academic and mental support from both health and social care and educational services is needed
A survey of Liverpool John Moores University Public Health Students’ views on the menopause.
No full textBackground: Menopause is one of the biologically determined conditions in females\u27 lives. It is the responsibility of people who learn and work in the field of public health to initiate public health approaches to support females with menopausal issues. This study intended to assess the knowledge and attitudes of Public Health Institute (PHI) students at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) towards menopause.
Methods: An exploratory quantitative survey was carried out by using an online questionnaire administered via students’ official university emails. The data was collected over a period of four weeks. A total of fifty-one participants completed the online survey.
Results: Most of the participants who were very much informed about menopause (87.5%) were international students. Among all who reported that they were taught menopause with a lot of explanation at school, were overseas students (87.5%). Of the respondents many of them have looked to health professionals (54.9%) as a reliable source for information on menopause, followed by family (45.1%) and others who discussed menopause around them (45.1%). Irregular period (72%) and fatigue (72%) were the most common physical symptoms that were known by the respondents while anxiety (60%), low mood (60%) and poor concentration (60%) were the frequently known psychological symptoms. Forty-seven percent of female students mentioned <50 years as the onset of women’s menopause, whereas more males (53.8%) declared the same as 50+ years. Forty- nine percentage of the students declared that school was the best place to teach about menopause. Nearly equal proportions of males (53.8%) and females (52.6%) declared that they would be able to talk about menopause when it happened to them or a close friend/family member or their partners. Further, most of the respondents (90%) agreed the statements on attitudes “It is important to educate men about menopause across all ages” and “Setting up of public health menopausal clinics are essential to support menopausal women”.
Conclusion: It is essential to include in-depth learning and training on menopause in the official curriculum of PHI to produce proactive future public health professionals and thereby support menopausal women
To what extent are the views and experiences around disordered eating pathology or behaviours considered in the current qualitative research around obesity prevention in the United Kingdom?
No full textBackground: Eating disorders affect a large portion of the population of globally and within the United Kingdom, and so must be considered as a public health problem. While the topic of obesity is well explored from a public health perspective, eating disorders historically have not been. Literature suggests there may be a link between models of obesity and disordered eating behaviour, particularly Binge Eating Disorder. There has also been recent media attention around the introduction of obesity prevention legislation to make calorie labelling on food menu’s mandatory, particularly how this will affect the eating disorder community. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the extent to which eating disorders are considered within obesity prevention research. The study aimed to synthesize the current research on obesity prevention, under the lens of whether any considerations toward the eating disorder community have been made in study designs and discussion, to identifying gaps in the literature and the absence of nuance in obesity prevention considering the complex relationship between obesity and eating disorders.
Methods: A PICO (Population, Intervention, Control, Outcomes) framework was used to refine key search terms by population, phenomenon of interest and context. Following this, searches were conducted across five databases to produce a list of articles which were then screened by title/abstract for relevance to search terms. The subsequent list was screened by full text for relevancy to the review question. A critical appraisal skills programme qualitative checklist was used to assess the quality of papers included in the final review. The final papers were then coded inductively to produce categories. Categories were then reviewed to create overarching themes, the relationship between categories and themes was then examined to produce the key findings of the results.
Results: Only one direct reference to eating disorders was identified from the data analysed. Four overarching themes were identified: holistic approaches to weight management, obesity stigma, responsibility and rationale for interventions.
Conclusion: There are significant gaps in the literature examining the relationship between eating disorders and obesity. Further research is required to examine the role of obesity-stigma as a barrier to accessing weight management services and the extent to which it exists amongst healthcare professionals
A qualitative study aiming to explore the impact of gender on individuals\u27 perception of risk when engaging in the night-time economy in Liverpool.
No full textBackground: The night-time economy has become an area of public health concern, due to stress and anxieties relating to the potential ‘risks’ individuals may encounter. These anxieties are not experienced equally, as gender significantly influences perceptions of risk in these public spaces, with women disproportionately more fearful than men. Despite great concern about safety and violence in the night- time economy, there has been little discussion of how young men and women feel about their safety on a night out, or how they acquire a sense of safety in a supposedly \u27risky\u27 social setting.
Methods: A qualitative research design method was used to investigate this concept, via semi-structured focus groups. Using a purposive sampling technique, a sample of 16 participants, 8 men and 8 women, was collected. The focus group discussions were then transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis, to highlight key themes and patterns.
Results: Findings show that women are more fearful in the night-time economy than men, with safety concerns overwhelmingly relating to men and the possibility of sexual assault, while men felt more at risk of physical assault and personal theft. Nonetheless, epidemiological data on actual risks, highlight often perceived risks felt by both male and females in the night-time economy, do not always reflect reality.
Conclusion: Overall, this study highlights that men and women experience fear of the night-time economy very differently, with both genders facing their own perceived risks. There was a significant gap in knowledge regarding existing risk minimisation strategies in this sector. Future research and public health action need to focus on raising awareness and improving social marketing techniques of existing risk minimisation measures to improve public wellbeing. Furthermore, promoting gender equality by adapting traditional gendered social and cultural norms will help facilitate a more culturally accepting society
A quantitative study on the knowledge, behaviour and attitude towards vaping among Liverpool John Moores University female students.
No full textBackground: Vaping has gained popularity among young adults, including college students, raising concerns about potential health risks and addictive behaviours. This study aims to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours towards vaping among female college students, focusing on the prevalence of vaping, awareness of health risks, and perceptions of addiction and harm reduction associated with vaping.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among female college students (N=63) to collect data on their vaping behaviours, attitudes, and knowledge about vaping products. The survey included questions on vaping initiation, frequency, and reasons for use, as well as perceptions of vaping compared to traditional smoking. Demographic information was also collected.
Results: The study revealed a relatively high prevalence of vaping among female college students, with 18 participants (28.6% of the total) reporting current vaping behaviour. Participants demonstrated diverse attitudes towards vaping, with some perceiving it as less harmful than traditional smoking, while others were uncertain about its health effects. Additionally, misconceptions about vaping were prevalent among participants, indicating the need for targeted health education campaigns. Interestingly, age groups did not significantly influence perceptions of vaping addictiveness, challenging previous research findings.
Conclusion: The study provides valuable insights into the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours towards vaping among female college students. The findings highlight the importance of addressing misconceptions about vaping and the need for evidence-based cessation programs to support individuals who wish to quit vaping. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the significance of considering gender-specific factors in developing public health interventions and policies related to vaping
The experiences of sexual violence among teenagers and adolescents in West Africa: A systematic review.
No full textBackground: Child sexual abuse (CSA) and other related sexual violence, despite being regarded as a taboo subject in most African homes, has continued to remain prominent in Nigeria and other West African regions. The prevalence of child sexual abuse in West Africa has been recorded as high, but the exact figure cannot be determined. Among other reasons, this crime may be far worse due to the low level of disclosure due to fear of the perpetrator, the shame felt by the victim\u27s family, and a complete lack of awareness that the victim is being abused. Therefore, this systematic review study explores the experiences of child sexual abuse among children and adolescents in West Africa, focusing on the consequences of abuse, societal responses, and coping methods employed by the victims.
Methods: A qualitative synthesised review approach was adopted to identify patterns and themes across the evidence that would be challenging to discern in a single study. The review utilised the SPIDER framework to structure the research. The databases searched include Medline, The Criminal Justice Abstracts database, and Education Resources Information Centre (ERIC) through EBSCOhost. Studies meeting the inclusion criteria were systematically assessed for quality using the CASP (Critical Appraisal Skills Programme) Qualitative Checklist. Thematic synthesis was employed to analyse the extracted data, leading to analytical themes that offer a comprehensive understanding of the impact of child sexual abuse in the region.
Results: The analysis involved thirty-one initial codes, which evolved into ten descriptive themes, culminating in four overarching themes. The themes revealed the complexity of these incidents and the influence of cultural and societal factors. Barriers to disclosure and help-seeking are significant challenges.
Conclusion: Comprehensive interventions and support services are essential to prevent sexual violence and aid survivors\u27 recovery
Exploring the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours of young adults in Liverpool regarding electronic cigarette use: A quantitative study.
No full textBackground: In recent years, there has been a concerning rise in electronic- cigarettes/vaping among young adults, despite uncertainties about its long-term health effects, especially for non-smokers. This trend of vaping acceptance in society resembles the historical acceptance of cigarette smoking, which was widespread for decades despite known health risks. The prevalence of vaping can be attributed to a lack of awareness about its potential dangers, particularly among those not well-informed about its health outcomes. Vaping, initially promoted as a safer nicotine option with diverse flavours and convenience, has seen a sharp rise in the UK. In 2022, the vaping rate reached 8.6%, up from 4% in 2021 and 4.8% in 2020, even among young non-smokers. Disposable vaping devices have surged to 52.8% in 2022, compared to 7.8% in 2021 and 5.3% in 2020. This underscores the importance of studying young adults\u27 attitudes and behaviours toward vaping in Liverpool to inform public health efforts. This highlights the need to study young adults\u27 knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours towards vaping in Liverpool to guide public health efforts.
Methods: This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee at Liverpool John Moores University. The research employed a quantitative online survey design to explore young adults\u27 vaping experiences in Liverpool. This approach, consisting of a descriptive online cross-sectional survey, involved 60 participants. A well-structured questionnaire with 18 questions, predominantly closed-ended and scaled for simplicity of analysis, was developed. Closed questions were preferred for their consistency in responses. The study aimed to reach young adults aged 18 and above in Liverpool, enrolling 100 participants through convenience sampling for its efficiency and accessibility. Data analysis was conducted in Microsoft Excel, with responses coded into numerical values for statistical analysis and visualisation. This approach allowed for efficient data analysis and presentation, including the creation of graphs to illustrate common responses, enhancing the study\u27s reliability and validity.
Results: In this study of 60 Liverpool participants aged 18 to 30, the average age was 24.2 years. Most were full-time workers (53.7%), with others being part-time workers (10.4%), unemployed (10.4%), or students (25.4%). Smoking habits varied, with 28.3% non-smokers, 28.3% smokers, 21.7% occasional smokers, and 21.7% former smokers. Vaping patterns included 36.7% vaping for over two years, 26.7% for 6 months to one year, 25% for one to two years, and 11.6% for less than six months. Daily vaping was observed for 45% of males and 36.7% of females. Motivations for vaping, preferences for disposable vapes, device lifespans, and the influence of stressors on vaping frequency were examined. Weekly vaping expenditure varied by device type and gender. Participants\u27 beliefs about vaping and addiction, perceptions of safety, and the association between vaping and depression symptoms were also explored.
Conclusion: The study provides valuable insights into the smoking and vaping habits of young adults in Liverpool. It reveals diverse smoking behaviours, equal proportions of non-smokers, smokers, occasional smokers, and former smokers. In vaping, significant experience variations exist, with some participants vaping for over two years. Gender-based differences in vaping frequency were observed. Motivations for vaping include enjoyment, flavour preference, harm reduction, stress relief, and curiosity, with variations by gender. Disposable vapes were the preferred choice. Stressors impact vaping habits differently among participants. Differing perceptions exist regarding addiction, well-being, and safety associated with vaping. Overall, the research offers a comprehensive view of factors influencing smoking and vaping behaviours among Liverpool\u27s young adults
A quantitative survey study to explore how individuals working in hospitality perceive work impacts on their health.
No full textBackground: In the United Kingdom (UK), the hospitality industry is a major source of employment. However, although research has been conducted on the mental health effects of working in this industry, there is a lack of research on the physical and indirect effects. Therefore, this study employed a quantitative approach using surveys distributed through social media to investigate the perceptions of hospitality workers and their views on how their work affects their overall health and wellbeing.
Methods: An online survey was created using Google Forms and was distributed via the researcher’s personal social media accounts. The survey was completed by current or former hospitality workers of any gender, of all ages and from all areas of the UK. The survey asked questions regarding demographic characteristics, how participants felt that their work has impacted upon their health, and how sustainable they believe a career in the hospitality sector to be.
Results: The survey gathered responses from 71 individuals, and the main findings indicated that over half perceived negative effects on their sleep, diet, stress levels, social life, and overall health since beginning work in the hospitality industry. Additionally, most respondents (62%) reported using unhealthy coping mechanisms such as smoking or alcohol to deal with work-related stress. More than half of the participants (53.5%) reported insufficient time to attend to their personal needs outside of work, and a similar percentage (60.5%) felt that the demands of hospitality work had led to an inadequate work-life balance. Almost all participants (92.9%) reported experiencing joint and muscle pain because of their work in the hospitality sector.
Conclusion: The results of the survey suggest that working in the hospitality sector can have a significant impact not only on mental health, but also on physical health and overall wellbeing. The high proportion of respondents reporting negative impacts on sleep, diet, stress levels, social life, and general health, as well as their use of unhealthy coping mechanisms, highlights the need for increased attention to the health and wellbeing of hospitality workers. The finding that most respondents did not feel they had adequate time to attend to their personal needs outside of work and had poor work-life balance further emphasizes the importance of improving working conditions and practices in the industry. Overall, the study indicates that more efforts are needed to protect and support the health and wellbeing of workers in the hospitality sector
Experiences of menopause amongst LJMU staff: A qualitative study.
No full textBackground: Menopause is a natural biological process that occurs in people as they age and marks the end of their reproductive years; it is a gender-specific life stage that affects a certain percentage of the workforce and discussions around menopause in the workplace are becoming increasingly important as more women continue to work beyond the age of 50. However, most organisations do not view menopause and its related challenges as an issue. Employees are often afraid to speak up for fear of discrimination and being branded as problematic. Evidence has shown that menopause can impact quality of life in different ways. This study aims to explore the menopausal experiences of staff at LJMU.
Methods: A qualitative approach was used to gather data from eight participants employed at LJMU who were experiencing menopause. Participants (mean age 52) were purposively sampled, and semi-structured face-to-face and online interviews were conducted. The main themes were identified through reflexive thematic analysis.
Results: The result shows that most participants were unaware the symptoms experienced were menopause related. Several symptoms such as, hot flushes, fatigue, brain fog, and mood swings, which led to anxiety, and depression, causing a lot of discomfort and shame. Additionally, these symptoms impaired participants\u27 ability to concentrate while teaching. Among the key challenges identified in this study were office layout without ventilation and a lack of support and understanding from colleagues and managers. In managing symptoms, most participants reported using hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and others indicated self-medication with herbs. The study found that despite having a policy on menopause at LJMU, participants were generally unaware of it.
Conclusion: This research contributes to knowledge on menopause by providing insights into the experiences of menopausal people as there remains a knowledge gap from an organisational perspective on the actual health condition, behaviours, and challenges of those going through menopause, particularly in a university environment. More efforts are needed to increase awareness of menopause and its related policies at LJMU, providing maximum support that meets the unique needs of menopausal people within the workforce, gender equality in career progression, increased productivity, and job satisfaction
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