Garth Reid

What works with men? A systematic review of health promoting interventions targeting men

BackgroundEncouraging men to make more effective use of (preventive) health services is considered one way of improving their health. The aim of this study was to appraise the available evidence of effective interventions aimed at improving mens health.MethodsSystematic review of relevant studies identified through 14 electronic databases and other information resources. Results were pooled within health topic and described qualitatively.ResultsOf 11,749 citations screened, 338 articles were assessed and 27 met our inclusion criteria. Most studies were male sex-specific, i.e. prostate cancer screening and testicular self-examination. Other topics included alcohol, cardiovascular disease, diet and physical activity, skin cancer and smoking cessation. Twenty-three interventions were effective or partially effective and 18 studies satisfied all quality criteria.ConclusionMost of the existing evidence relates to male sex-specific health problems as opposed to general health concerns relevant to both men and women. There is little published evidence on how to improve mens uptake of services. We cannot conclude from this review that targeting men works better than providing services for all people. Large-scale studies are required to help produce evidence that is sufficiently robust to add to the small evidence base that currently exists in this field.

Key health promotion factors among male members of staff at a higher educational institution : A cross-sectional postal survey

BackgroundMens lifestyles are generally less healthy than womens. This study identifies associations between health-related behaviour in different groups of men working in a Higher Education (HE) institution. In addition, men were asked whether they regarded their health-related behaviours as a concern. This article highlights smoking, consumption of alcohol and physical activity as most common mens health-related lifestyle behaviours.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among all male staff employed by a Higher Education institute in Scotland using a postal self-completed questionnaire. A total of 1,335 questionnaires were distributed and 501 were returned completed (38% return rate). The data were analysed using SPSS 13.0 for Windows.ResultsLess than 10% currently smoked and almost 44% of these smokers were light smokers. Marital status, job title, consumption of alcohol and physical activity level were the major factors associated with smoking behaviour. Men in manual jobs were far more likely to smoke. Nearly all (90%) consumed alcohol, and almost 37% had more than recommended eight units of alcohol per day at least once a week and 16% had more than 21 units weekly. Younger men reported higher amount of units of alcohol on their heaviest day and per week. Approximately 80% were physically active, but less than 40% met the current Government guidelines for moderate physical activity. Most men wanted to increase their activity level.ConclusionThere are areas of health-related behaviour, which should be addressed in populations of this kind. Needs assessment could indicate which public health interventions would be most appropriately aimed at this target group. However, the low response rate calls for some caution in interpreting our findings.

The reality of partnership working when undertaking an evaluation of a national Well Men's Service

Abstract Background: Partnership working has been a key tenet of health policy in Scotland since 1997. Much has been written about the benefits of partnership working, but it has been difficult to prove its effectiveness. This paper describes the reality of working in partnership when undertaking an evaluation of a complex intervention aimed at engaging with hard-to-reach men to improve their health. Methods: A collaborative model of working was used to develop an evaluation tool to assess the effectiveness of the intervention. Six phases were used in the developmental process each involving a different group of stakeholders. The progress through these phases was not linear; it involved numerous iterative feedback loops. A number of challenges were faced at each phase and steps were taken to overcome them. Results: Four lessons emerged which are more generally applicable. Collaborative working is a slow process, a fact which key advocates in the field have failed to recognise. Study participants need to b...Background Partnership working has been a key tenet of health policy in Scotland since 1997. Much has been written about the benefits of partnership working, but it has been difficult to prove its effectiveness. This paper describes the reality of working in partnership when undertaking an evaluation of a complex intervention aimed at engaging with hard-to-reach men to improve their health.

Delivery of alcohol brief interventions in community-based youth work settings: exploring feasibility and acceptability in a qualitative study

BackgroundAlcohol Brief Interventions (ABIs) are increasingly being delivered in community-based youth work settings. However, little attention has been paid to how they are being implemented in such settings, or to their feasibility and acceptability for practitioners or young people. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the context, feasibility and acceptability of ABI delivery in youth work projects across Scotland.MethodsIndividual, paired and group interviews were conducted with practitioners and young people in nine community projects that were either involved in the delivery of ABIs or were considering doing so in the near future. A thematic analysis approach was used to analyse data.ResultsABIs were delivered in a diverse range of youth work settings including the side of football pitches, on the streets as part of outreach activities, and in sexual health drop-in centres for young people. ABI delivery differed in a number of important ways from delivery in other health settings such as primary care, particularly in being largely opportunistic and flexible in nature. ABIs were adapted by staff in line with the ethos of their project and their own roles, and to avoid jeopardising their relationships with young people. Young people reacted positively to the idea of having conversations about alcohol with youth project workers, but confirmed practitioners’ views about the importance of these conversations taking place in the context of an existing trusting relationship.ConclusionABIs were feasible in a range of youth work settings with some adaptation. Acceptability to staff was strongly influenced by perceived benefits, and the extent to which ABIs fitted with their project’s ethos. Young people were largely comfortable with such conversations. Future implementation efforts should be based on detailed consideration of current practice and contexts. Flexible models of delivery, where professional judgement can be exercised over defined but adaptable content, may be better appreciated by staff and encourage further development of ABI activity.

Population cigarette consumption in Great Britain: novel insights using retail sales data

BackgroundAccurate data to measure population cigarette consumption are vital for surveillance and for evaluating the impact of tobacco control policies. This study uses cigarette retail sales data to provide novel insights into trends and patterns in cigarette consumption in Great Britain.MethodsCigarette sales estimates derived from electronic sales from most large grocery stores and a weighted representative sample of smaller convenience stores were obtained from Nielsen. Data on the number of cigarette sticks sold per calendar month and per week were obtained for Scotland and England/Wales (combined) for the period January 2008 to December 2015. Cigarette consumption per adult smoker per month was calculated using survey-based smoking prevalence estimates and mid-year population estimates.ResultsPopulation cigarette consumption in Great Britain declined between 2008 and 2013. Cigarette sales have since stabilised at around 400 cigarettes per adult smoker per month. Cigarettes sold in 14- to 19-packs have substituted a sharp decline in 20-packs and now account for over half of all cigarettes sold in Great Britain. Cigarette consumption has been consistently higher in Scotland than England/Wales. This is due to higher sales of 20-packs in Scotland between 2008 and 2013, which has been substituted by higher sales of 14- to 19-packs in recent years.ConclusionsCigarette retail sales data provide unique insights into levels and patterns of cigarette consumption and should be used for monitoring and evaluating tobacco control policy in Great Britain.

Impact of early learning and child care on the parents of children pre-school children: results of a rapid systematic review

Abstract Background The Scottish Government aims to make Scotland the best place in the world to grow up in for children and families. To realise this vision, strategic policy changes intend to ensure that increased access to funded early learning and child care (ELC) is available. This will facilitate parental employment, or enable re-entry to education and training, while children are cared for in safe, stimulating environments. To inform this vision, the Public Health Evidence Network was asked to provide evidence on the impact of ELC on parental outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the impact of early learning and child care on parents with pre-school children across a broad range of countries. Methods A rapid systematic review was conducted from June 1 to Sept 30, 2016. Two reviewers independently assessed papers for eligibility, using a protocol aligned to the PRISMA-R guidelines. Databases searched were Medline, ERIC, EMBASE, EConLit, Education Abstracts, Education Source, Web of Science, ASSIA, Sociological Abstracts, IBSS, PsycINFO, and the British Education Index. Key and text words associated with early learning, child care, parents, young children, and employment were adapted for use across all databases. All English language publication types and research designs were sought, to enable inclusion of primary studies and expert (grey literature) reports. Because of heterogeneity of study type, methods, and outcome measures, meta-analysis and quality appraisal were not feasible. A narrative analysis, using a tabulated system that facilitated cross-checking of results across studies, was done to produce a fuller understanding of factors beyond cause and effect. Findings Of 5442 initial papers, 54 met the inclusion criteria. Analysis revealed two main areas of focus—namely, those pertaining to ELC provision (flexibility, availability, affordability, and quality), and those that related to parental impact (employability, socioeconomic issues, and health and wellbeing). Interpretation Our findings support the case that affordable and accessible ELC can potentially mitigate the impacts of economic and social disadvantage by facilitating parental, particularly maternal, employment and employability, thus serving a redistributive function. However, policy must ensure that affordability, flexibility, and availability meet the needs of a range of groups, including those at disadvantage. Funding UK Medical Research Council (MR/KO 023209/1), Chief Scientist Office, NHS Health Scotland.

Alcohol brief interventions in youth and social work settings in Scotland

Scotland has one of the highest liver cirrhosis mortality rates in Western Europe. The Scottish government has invested in a range of policies to address this and the wider harms from alcohol, including a national programme on alcohol brief interventions (ABIs). The initial focus of this work was primary care, accident and emergency care, and antenatal care but it was expanded in 2012 to include ABIs delivered in wider settings and with populations such as social work service users and young people. This process evaluation aims to explore the feasibility and acceptability of ABIs delivered to young people and in social work settings. The study involves two phases: one that maps existing projects providing ABIs in these areas and examines barriers and facilitators to their delivery, and a second that explores case study projects in depth and develops proposals for a potential future outcome evaluation. Phase 1 of the study involved conducting 24 semi-structured interviews with 28 professionals from 12 projects providing ABIs in the wider settings of social work and young peoples services between December 2012 and April 2013. Two field visit observations were also completed and documentation/data gathered from all projects, including numbers of clients and ABIs delivered where possible. A framework approach was used for coding and analysis of data. In addition to a detailed thematic analysis, 10 project case summaries were produced to retain the specificity of information about the diversity and similarities across the cases studied. Results from Phase 1 of the study will be presented and implications for policy and practice will be discussed.