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Exclusive Papers Collection of Editorial Board Members in Section Health Communication and Informatics

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Communication and Informatics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 12767

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Guest Editor
Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
Interests: design and evaluation of interventions using digital technologies; improving health equity through marketing and communication; social norms, social and behavior change (SBC); social marketing
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As the Editor-in-Chief of Section "Health Communication and Informatics", I am pleased to announce this Collection titled “Exclusive Papers Collection of Editorial Board Members in Section ‘Health Communication and Informatics’”. This issue will be a collection of papers from our Section Editorial Board Members and researchers invited by the Editorial Board Members. The aim is to provide a venue for networking and communication between IJERPH and scholars in the field of Health Communication and Informatics. All papers will be published with fully open access after peer review.

Prof. Dr. William Douglas Evans
Guest Editor

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Review

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14 pages, 2201 KiB  
Review
Digital Media for Behavior Change: Review of an Emerging Field of Study
by William Douglas Evans, Lorien C. Abroms, David Broniatowski, Melissa A. Napolitano, Jeanie Arnold, Megumi Ichimiya and Sohail Agha
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 9129; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159129 - 26 Jul 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5276
Abstract
Digital media are omnipresent in modern life, but the science on the impact of digital media on behavior is still in its infancy. There is an emerging evidence base of how to use digital media for behavior change. Strategies to change behavior implemented [...] Read more.
Digital media are omnipresent in modern life, but the science on the impact of digital media on behavior is still in its infancy. There is an emerging evidence base of how to use digital media for behavior change. Strategies to change behavior implemented using digital technology have included a variety of platforms and program strategies, all of which are potentially more effective with increased frequency, intensity, interactivity, and feedback. It is critical to accelerate the pace of research on digital platforms, including social media, to understand and address its effects on human behavior. The purpose of the current paper is to provide an overview and describe methods in this emerging field, present use cases, describe a future agenda, and raise central questions to be addressed in future digital health research for behavior change. Digital media for behavior change employs three main methods: (1) digital media interventions, (2) formative research using digital media, and (3) digital media used to conduct evaluations. We examine use cases across several content areas including healthy weight management, tobacco control, and vaccination uptake, to describe and illustrate the methods and potential impact of this emerging field of study. In the discussion, we note that digital media interventions need to explore the full range of functionality of digital devices and their near-constant role in personal self-management and day-to-day living to maximize opportunities for behavior change. Future experimental research should rigorously examine the effects of variable levels of engagement with, and frequency and intensity of exposure to, multiple forms of digital media for behavior change. Full article
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12 pages, 545 KiB  
Perspective
Pandemic Preparedness among Big Energy Companies: Call to Research and Action
by Maria Rosaria Gualano, Leonardo Villani and Walter Ricciardi
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 2771; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20042771 - 4 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1859
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, as a global phenomenon, has affected all the working realities, worldwide, with the same issues. The aim of the present work is to assess the experiences of management and their preparedness during the pandemic among big companies, in particular, in [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic, as a global phenomenon, has affected all the working realities, worldwide, with the same issues. The aim of the present work is to assess the experiences of management and their preparedness during the pandemic among big companies, in particular, in the energy sector. Based on an overview of scientific evidence and grey literature, we found that big companies followed evidence-based decision-making practices and offered preparedness and information plans. Specifically, these plans contained recommendations and best practices to be followed to avoid the risk of infection in the workplaces, as well as in the field of epidemiological surveillance and vaccination. Nevertheless, many research efforts are required, and it is important that a large number of big companies and corporations address these challenges worldwide, adopting a new sustainable approach that includes both the productivity and health of the workers. A Call to Action was then issued in order to achieve evidence-based leadership to address current and future public health emergency scenarios. Full article
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7 pages, 597 KiB  
Systematic Review
Psychological and Mental Sequelae in Elite Athletes with Previous SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Systematic Review
by Valerio Flavio Corona, Maria Rosaria Gualano, Maria Francesca Rossi, Angelica Valz Gris, Carlotta Amantea, Umberto Moscato and Walter Ricciardi
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(24), 16377; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416377 - 7 Dec 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2630
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many athletes from several sporting disciplines were infected with the SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this systematic review is to summarize the current scientific evidence on the psychological sequelae and mental health of elite athletes who have been infected by [...] Read more.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many athletes from several sporting disciplines were infected with the SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this systematic review is to summarize the current scientific evidence on the psychological sequelae and mental health of elite athletes who have been infected by the virus. The review was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Statement; three databases were searched: PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, and Scopus. The initial search resulted in 2420 studies; after duplicate removal and screening by title and abstract, 41 articles were screened by full-text. A total of four eligible articles were included in the review. All included articles measured depression and anxiety in athletes who had suffered from COVID-19, while in three papers levels of stress were measured. Overall, the only two questionnaires used in more than one study were the DASS-21 and the APSQ. In our systematic review, we highlighted that mental and psychological health in elite athletes has the same importance as physical health. This statement suggests that these examinations should be introduced and performed during the competitive sports’ medical examinations conducted at the start of the sporting season, which currently consists only of the examination of physical parameters. Due to lack of studies on the topic, the results of our review show that mental health in athletes with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection is an issue that requires more investigation, considering the evidence of clinical consequences. The importance of post-infection psychological sequelae is significant in assessing possible repercussions on the athletes’ sporting performance. Full article
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5 pages, 280 KiB  
Brief Report
“Because This Is an Evidence-Based Program”: The Learning Experience of Croatia with the Lions Quest Skills for Adolescence, Implemented In-Person and Online
by Ziad El-Khatib, Alma Rovis Brandic, Ali Yassine, Zana Glavendekic and Wadih Maalouf
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(22), 14938; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192214938 - 13 Nov 2022
Viewed by 2102
Abstract
Background: The Lions Quest Skills for Adolescence (LQSFA) is an evidence-based social and emotional learning program for school students. It is implemented as a teacher-led extracurricular activity for children aged 10–15 years. From 2019 to 2022, the United Nations Office on Drugs [...] Read more.
Background: The Lions Quest Skills for Adolescence (LQSFA) is an evidence-based social and emotional learning program for school students. It is implemented as a teacher-led extracurricular activity for children aged 10–15 years. From 2019 to 2022, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, in collaboration with Lions Clubs International Foundation, implemented the LQSFA in 41 schools in Croatia. Due to the COVID-19 lockdown measures, the intervention was adjusted into a hybrid modality (in-class and online). We evaluated the experience that the teachers had with the LQSFA in a hybrid modality. Methods: We used a focus-group discussion approach to evaluate the experience of five LQSFA teachers. Results: Three themes emerged: (1) the appreciation of evidence-based programs by the teachers, (2) the benefit of the LQSFA on the parents, and (3) the length of the online version of the questionnaire tool that was used to assess pre- and post-LQSFA experiences among students was too long. These results indicate that the LQSFA is undergoing a scaling on a national level in Croatia, even when implemented in a hybrid setting. Conclusions: Using an evidence-based program such as the LQSFA was rewarding for teachers, despite the challenges in the administrative adjustments regarding the online and in-person class teaching. LQSFA filled an important gap during COVID19-related stress. Full article
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