Pharmacology and Therapeutics Education in the European Union Needs Harmonization and Modernization: A Cross-sectional Survey Among 185 Medical Schools in 27 Countries

ObjectivesTo examine the association between electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use and smoking cessation in the European Union (EU) in 2017 according to e-cigarette use frequency and smoking cessation duration.DesignCross-sectional survey of EU citizens, representative of the population (Special Eurobarometer 458). Weighted proportions (95% CI) and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) were calculated.SettingEU.Participants13 057 EU citizens aged ≥15 years (6904 current and 6153 former smokers).ResultsCurrent daily e-cigarette use was reported by 2.4% (1.8%–3.1%) of current and 3.3% (2.5%–4.2%) of former smokers (p=0.002), while former daily use was reported by 5.6% (4.7%–6.8%) and 1.9% (1.3%–2.7%), respectively (p<0.001). More than half of all former smokers had quit for >10 years. Current daily e-cigarette use was rare among former smokers of >10 years (0.2%, 0.1%–0.6%) and was more prevalent in former smokers of ≤2 and 3–5 years (12.9%, 9.1%–17.9% and 9.0%, 5.8%–13.7%, respectively). Compared with never use, current daily e-cigarette use was associated with being a former smoker of ≤2 (aPR 4.96, 95% CI 3.57 to 6.90) and 3–5 years (aPR 3.20, 95% CI 2.10 to 4.87). Former daily e-cigarette use was associated with being a former smoker of ≤2 years (aPR 1.96, 95% CI 1.21 to 3.12). Current daily e-cigarette use was negatively associated with being a former smoker of 5–10 and >10 years.ConclusionsCurrent daily e-cigarette use in the EU in 2017 was rare among former smokers of >10 years and was positively associated with recent (≤5 years) smoking cessation. Former daily e-cigarette use was also positively associated with recent (≤2 years) smoking cessation.

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What Attitudes Toward Refugees Do Future European Teachers Have? A Comparative Analysis between France and Spain

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11113066 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 3066

Author(s):

Encarnación Soriano ◽

Verónica C. Cala

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

Teaching Staff ◽

The European Union ◽

International Conflicts ◽

Future Teachers ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Perception Of Threat ◽

European Citizenship ◽

Spanish Women

(1) Background. The increase in international conflicts and humanitarian crises has led to an increase in the movement of people to Europe. The legal and moral commitments of the European Union require the incorporation and integration of such refugees. In this sense, the school and its teaching staff are a key agent in the challenge of integrating newly arrived students. This research analyses attitudes towards inclusive European citizenship, the recognition of rights, and feelings of threat and affective reactions, experienced by future teachers towards refugees in France and Spain. (2) Methods. The investigation was carried out through a cross-sectional survey. There were 851 participants of Spanish and French nationality. (3) Results. The French future teachers showed a lower perception of any threat, and a better predisposition towards the reception of refugees than their Spanish counterparts. Women are those who show a greater recognition of the rights of refugees, and a better predisposition to their integration in Europe. French women feel less of a threat than Spanish women, and are more affective towards refugees. The main predictor of inclusive European citizenship is a low perception of threat related to refugees. (4) Conclusions. Future teachers showed sensitivity towards the accommodation of refugees, but programs that prevent growing xenophobia and discredit towards the European Union are still necessary.

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Electronic Health Use in the European Union and the Effect of Multimorbidity: Cross-Sectional Survey

Journal of Medical Internet Research ◽

10.2196/jmir.7299 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 20 (5) ◽

pp. e165 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Francisco Lupiáñez-Villanueva ◽

Dimitra Anastasiadou ◽

Cristiano Codagnone ◽

Roberto Nuño-Solinís ◽

Maria Begona Garcia-Zapirain Soto

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

The European Union ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Electronic Health

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Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Training among Medical Schools in the United States

Journal of Primary Care & Community Health ◽

10.1177/21501327211028713 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

pp. 215013272110287

Author(s):

Robert L. Cooper ◽

Mohammad Tabatabai ◽

Paul D. Juarez ◽

Aramandla Ramesh ◽

Matthew C. Morris ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Hiv Prevention ◽

Injection Drug Users ◽

Drug Users ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Medical Schools ◽

The United States ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Exposure Prophylaxis

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) has been shown to be an effective method of HIV prevention for men who have sex with-men (MSM) and -transgender women (MSTGWs), serodiscordant couples, and injection drug users; however fewer than 50 000 individuals currently take this regimen. Knowledge of PrEP is low among healthcare providers and much of this lack of knowledge stems from the lack or exposure to PrEP in medical school. We conducted a cross sectional survey of medical schools in the United States to assess the degree to which PrEP for HIV prevention is taught. The survey consisted Likert scale questions assessing how well the students were prepared to perform each skill associated with PrEP delivery, as well as how PrEP education was delivered to students. We contacted 141 medical schools and 71 responded to the survey (50.4%). PrEP education was only reported to be offered at 38% of schools, and only 15.4% reported specific training for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) patients. The most common delivery methods of PrEP content were didactic sessions with 11 schools reporting this method followed by problem-based learning, direct patient contact, workshops, and small group discussions. Students were more prepared to provide PrEP to MSM compared to other high-risk patients. Few medical schools are preparing their students to prescribe PrEP upon graduation. Further, there is a need to increase the number of direct patient contacts or simulations for students to be better prepared.

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Cross-border mobility in European countries: associations between cross-border worker status and health outcomes

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-10564-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Lucas Nonnenmacher ◽

Michèle Baumann ◽

Etienne le Bihan ◽

Philippe Askenazy ◽

Louis Chauvel

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Chronic Diseases ◽

Reference Group ◽

Labour Force ◽

High Risk Population ◽

The European Union ◽

Health Index ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Border

Abstract Background Mobility of workers living in one country and working in a different country has increased in the European Union. Exposed to commuting factors, cross-border workers (CBWs) constitute a potential high-risk population. But the relationships between health and commuting abroad are under-documented. Our aims were to: (1) measure the prevalence of the perceived health status and the physical health outcomes (activity limitation, chronic diseases, disability and no leisure activities), (2) analyse their associations with commuting status as well as (3) with income and health index among CBWs. Methods Based on the ‘Enquête Emploi’, the French cross-sectional survey segment of the European Labour Force Survey (EU LFS), the population was composed of 2,546,802 workers. Inclusion criteria for the samples were aged between 20 and 60 years and living in the French cross-border departments of Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and Luxembourg. The Health Index is an additional measure obtained with five health variables. A logistic model was used to estimate the odds ratios of each group of CBWs, taking non-cross border workers (NCBWs) as the reference group, controlling by demographic background and labour status variables. Results A sample of 22,828 observations (2456 CBWs vs. 20,372 NCBWs) was retained. The CBW status is negatively associated with chronic diseases and disability. A marginal improvement of the health index is correlated with a wage premium for both NCBWs and CBWs. Commuters to Luxembourg have the best health outcomes, whereas commuters to Germany the worst. Conclusion CBWs are healthier and have more income. Interpretations suggest (1) a healthy cross-border phenomenon steming from a social selection and a positive association between income and the health index is confirmed; (2) the existence of major health disparities among CBWs; and (3) the rejection of the spillover phenomenon assumption for CBWs. The newly founded European Labour Authority (ELA) should take into account health policies as a promising way to support the cross-border mobility within the European Union.

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Career Intentions and Dropout Causes Among Medical Students in Kazakhstan

Medicina ◽

10.3390/medicina49060045 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 49 (6) ◽

pp. 45

Author(s):

Kamila Faizullina ◽

Galina Kausova ◽

Zhanna Kalmataeva ◽

Ardak Nurbakyt ◽

Saule Buzdaeva

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Human Resources ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Human Resources For Health ◽

Medical Schools ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Unequal Distribution ◽

Survey Tool

Background and Objective. The number of new entrants to higher medical schools of Kazakhstan increased by 1.6 times from 2007 to 2012. However, it is not known how it will affect the shortage of human resources for health. Additionally, human resources for health in rural areas of Kazakhstan are 4 times scarcer than in urban areas. The aim of the present study was to investigate the intentions of students toward their professional future and readiness to work in rural areas, as well as to determine the causes for dropping out from medical schools. Material and Methods. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2 medical universities in Almaty during the academic year 2011–2012. The study sample included medical students and interns. In total, 2388 students participated in the survey. The survey tool was an anonymous questionnaire. Results. The students of the first years of studies compared with those of later years of studies were more optimistic about the profession and had more intentions to work in the medical field. Only 8% of the students reported a wish to work in rural localities. On the other hand, 4% of the students did not plan to pursue the profession. On the average, every third medical student dropped out on his/her own request. Conclusions. Associations between intentions to work according to the profession and the year of studies, faculty, and residence area before enrolling in a medical school were documented. The majority of the students who came from rural areas preferred to stay and look for work in a city, which might contribute to an unequal distribution of physicians across the country.

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Do regulations protect workers from occupational exposures to carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic (CMR) agents in France?

Occupational and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.1136/oemed-2017-104586 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 75 (5) ◽

pp. 389-397

Author(s):

Nathalie Havet ◽

Alexis Penot ◽

Morgane Plantier ◽

Barbara Charbotel ◽

Magali Morelle ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Occupational Exposure ◽

Occupational Exposures ◽

International Agency ◽

The European Union ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Protection Measures ◽

Limit Value ◽

Logistic Regressions ◽

The Impact

ObjectiveThis article explores the impact of regulations on the implementation of collective protections in France to occupational exposure to carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic (CMR) agents.MethodsIndividual data from the French national cross-sectional survey of occupational hazards conducted in 2010 were analysed. We investigated whether stricter regulations and longer exposures were associated with higher level of collective protection using multivariate logistic regressions.ResultsGeneral ventilation, for which effect is limited as collective protection for CMR products, was present in 19% of situations involving CMR agents while isolation chambers, the most effective form of protection, were only very rarely implemented. Multilevel logistic regressions show that exposure situations to products classified as category 1 or 2 by the European Union do not have a higher probability of benefiting from a collective protection measures. Exposures to products with a Binding Occupational Exposure Limit Value selectively benefited from a better level of protection. Exposures to agents entered on the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) list of proven or probable carcinogens benefited more from effective collective protections than products suspected to be carcinogens but not yet classified by IARC.ConclusionsThese results suggest that the dissemination of evaluations of carcinogens by the IARC translate into improved protective measures even though the IARC classification has no mandatory impact on regulations.

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Cross-sectional survey of the undergraduate rheumatology curriculum in European medical schools: a EULAR School of Rheumatology initiative

RMD Open ◽

10.1136/rmdopen-2018-000743 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. e000743 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Abhishek Abhishek ◽

Annamaria Iagnocco ◽

J W J Bijlsma ◽

Michael Doherty ◽

Frédéric Lioté

Keyword(s):

Musculoskeletal Diseases ◽

Site Response ◽

Joint Infection ◽

Medical Schools ◽

Calcium Pyrophosphate ◽

Free Text ◽

Curriculum Content ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Additional Information

ObjectivesTo survey the undergraduate rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) curriculum content in a sample of medical schools across Europe.MethodsThe undergraduate musculoskeletal diseases and disability curriculum of University of Nottingham, UK, was used as a template to develop a questionnaire on curriculum content. The questionnaire elicited binary (yes/no) responses and included the option to provide additional information as free text. The survey was mailed to members of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) School of Rheumatology (Undergraduate Classroom) and to EULAR Standing Committee on Education and Training members in January 2017, with a reminder in February 2017.ResultsResponses were received from 21 schools belonging to 11 countries. Assessment of gait, hyperalgesic tender site response and hypermobility were not included in many curricula. Similarly, interpretation of investigations undertaken on synovial fluid was taught in only 16 schools. While disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and biological agents, and urate-lowering treatment were included in the curricula of 20 and 21 institutions, respectively, only curricula from 18 schools included core non-pharmacological interventions. Osteoarthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthropathy, polymyalgia rheumatica and lupus were included in the curriculum of all institutions. However, common RMDs such as calcium pyrophosphate deposition, fibromyalgia, giant cell arteritis and bone and joint infection were included in 19 curricula.ConclusionThis survey highlights areas of similarities and differences in undergraduate curricula across Europe. It is hoped that the results of this survey will catalyse the development and agreement of a minimum core European Curriculum for undergraduate education in RMDs.

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Electronic Health Use in the European Union and the Effect of Multimorbidity: Cross-Sectional Survey (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.7299 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Francisco Lupiáñez-Villanueva ◽

Dimitra Anastasiadou ◽

Cristiano Codagnone ◽

Roberto Nuño-Solinís ◽

Maria Begona Garcia-Zapirain Soto

Keyword(s):

Health Care Professionals ◽

Online Survey ◽

New Technologies ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Health Problems ◽

Exploratory Research ◽

The European Union ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Electronic Health

BACKGROUND Multimorbidity is becoming increasingly common and is a leading challenge currently faced by societies with aging populations. The presence of multimorbidity requires patients to coordinate, understand, and use the information obtained from different health care professionals, while simultaneously striving to distinguish the symptoms of different diseases and self-manage their sometimes conflicting health problems. Electronic health (eHealth) tools provide a means to disseminate health information and education for both patients and health professionals and hold promise for more efficient and cost-effective care processes. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to analyze the use of eHealth tools, taking into account the citizens’ sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and above all, the presence of multimorbidity. METHODS Cross-sectional and exploratory research was conducted using online survey data from July 2011 to August 2011. Participants included a total of 14,000 citizens from 14 European countries aged 16 to 74 years, who had used an eHealth tool in the past 3 months. The variables studied were sociodemographic variables of the participants, the questionnaire items assessing the frequency of using eHealth tools, the degree of morbidity, and the eHealth adoption gradient. Chi-square tests were conducted to examine the relationship between the sociodemographic and clinical variables of participants and the group the participants were assigned to according to their frequency of eHealth use (eHealth user group). A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) allowed for assessing the differences in the eHealth adoption gradient average between different groups of individuals according to their morbidity level. A two-way between-groups ANOVA was performed to explore the effects of multimorbidity and age group on the eHealth adoption gradient. RESULTS According to the eHealth adoption gradient, most participants (68.15%, 9541/14,000) were labeled as rare users, with the majority of them (55.1%, 508/921) being in the age range of 25 to 54 years, with upper secondary education (50.3%, 464/921), currently employed (49.3%, 454/921), and living in medium-sized cities (40.7%, 375/921). Results of the one-way ANOVA showed that the number of health problems significantly affected the use of eHealth tools (F2,13996=11.584; P<.001). The two-way ANOVA demonstrated that there was a statistically significant interaction between the effects of age and number of health problems on the eHealth adoption gradient (F4,11991=7.936; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS The eHealth adoption gradient has proven to be a reliable way to measure different aspects of eHealth use. Multimorbidity is associated with a more intense use of eHealth, with younger Internet users using new technologies for health purposes more frequently than older groups with the same level of morbidity. These findings suggest the need to consider different strategies aimed at making eHealth tools more sensitive to the characteristics of older populations to reduce digital disadvantages.

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Are CO2 emissions converging in the European Union? Policy implications

Notas Económicas ◽

10.14195/2183-203x_49_5 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 63-82

Author(s):

Rafael Morales-Lage ◽

Aurelia Bengochea-Morancho ◽

Immaculada Martínez-Zarzoso

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

Co2 Emissions ◽

Agricultural Sector ◽

Industrial Sector ◽

Policy Implications ◽

Transport Sector ◽

The European Union ◽

Conditional Convergence ◽

European Union Policy ◽

Cross Sectional

This paper focuses on the process of convergence in per capita CO2 emissions that would occur if the measures taken by the European Union to meet the Kyoto Protocol commitments had been effective. We apply a time series and cross-sectional analysis to test for the existence of convergence among countries and for different economic sectors. The sample covers data for the 28 member countries from 1960 to 2012. The results show weak absolute convergence across countries but clear evidence of conditional convergence, with GDP, the weight of industrial sector and the use of renewable energies being the main drivers of divergence. Concerning sectors, there is an increase of emissions in the agricultural sector, but a reduction in the industrial and energy sectors. Different patterns arise in the energy subsectors where manufacturing and electricity notably reduced their emissions while the transport sector increased them in all countries.

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