Lourdes Cantarero-Arévalo

Determinants in the Uptake of the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine: A Systematic Review Based on European Studies

Background Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer affecting women worldwide. Since 2006, two human papillomavirus vaccines (HPVV) have been licensed to protect women against the virus that causes cervical cancer. However, worldwide coverage remains unequal. Studies from the USA found strong evidence for differences in HPVV uptake by ethnicity and healthcare coverage. As the profile of ethnic groups and the healthcare system in the USA differ from countries in Europe where HPVV is free in most of the countries, we conducted a systematic review in order to analyze the determinants of HPVV uptake in Europe. Methods We performed a systematic Pubmed, Scopus, and Science Direct search to find articles published from HPVV availability in European countries until April 2014. No age restriction was applied. We included all studies assessing factors associated with HPVV uptake. Uptake refers to either initiation and/or completion of the three dose vaccination program. Results Out of the 23 eligible studies, 14 were retrospective reviews of data, six were cross-sectional surveys, and three were prospective cohort studies. Higher HPVV uptake was associated with ethnic majority populations, higher socio-economic status, regular cervical screening participation by the mother, and having received previous childhood vaccinations. Conclusion Since the vaccine is offered for free in most of the European countries, the findings suggest that ethno-cultural and educational factors play an important role when it comes to HPVV uptake. Girls who were undervaccinated had also a lower uptake of standard childhood vaccines and mothers who were less likely to attend cervical cancer screening. This may indicate that only few parents have specific concerns with HPVV, and that preventive health care should seek ways to target these vulnerable groups.

Inequalities in asthma treatment among children by country of birth and ancestry: a nationwide study in Denmark

Background Investigations in several Western countries have reported ethnic differences in asthma prevalence and treatment among children and in some countries these differences are increasing. The aim of this study was to analyse whether there are inequalities in asthma treatment by country of birth and ancestry among children residing in Denmark, and whether this potential association may vary between different household income groups. Methods Data were obtained by linking the Danish Civil Registration System, the Central Taxpayers’ Register and the Danish National Prescription Register. Population: the entire population of children in Denmark from 0 to 17 years of age in 2008 (n=1 209 091). Information on asthma treatment was obtained from the National Prescription Register. The analyses included multiple logistic regression models stratified by household income. Results Compared with ethnic Danes, immigrant children had the lowest OR for redeeming a prescription for asthma medication, both relief (OR 0.37; 95% CIs, 0.20 to 0.68) and preventive (OR 0.37; (0.22 to 0.59)). Similar associations were found among descendant children (OR for relief treatment 0.82 (0.79 to 0.89) and for preventive treatment 0.68 (0.61 to 0.75)). The pattern of the association remained after stratifying for household income. Conclusions We found that, inequalities that cannot be explained by household income alone exist in treatments to prevent asthma as well as to relieve symptoms in children residing in Denmark, by country of birth and ancestry. The difference between immigrants and descendants may indicate that unfamiliarity with the Danish healthcare system is a contributory cause of the inadequate treatment of asthma.

Ethnic differences in adverse drug reactions to asthma medications: a systematic review

Abstract Background: Information on ethnic diversity of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to asthma medications is rare despite evidence suggesting higher risk for African Americans when using β2-adrenergic receptor agonists. The objectives are to investigate how ethnic background was involved in ADR assessment and to examine the relationship between ethnic background and ADRs to asthma medications. Methods: MEDLINE was searched until March 2014. All types of studies reporting ADRs to asthma medications involving more than one ethnic group were included. Extracted information includes study designs, ethnic backgrounds, intervention, and types and severities of ADRs. Results: Among the selected 15 randomised clinical trials, six pooled analyses of randomized clinical trials, and five prospective observational studies, only six studies compared ADRs across different ethnic groups. The majority of the comparisons were either statistically insignificant or inconclusive. Conclusions: Ethnicity was largely overlooked. Most studies neglected to report ADRs by ethnicity. Lack of consistency in defining ethnicities complicated further pooled analyses. Despite the higher prevalence of asthma among specific ethnic minority groups, few studies disaggregated information by ethnic background, and reports of ADRs to asthma medications in different ethnic groups were rare. We suggest that the inclusion of ADR analysis by different ethnic backgrounds is desirable.

Immigrant background and medicine use for aches: national representative study of adolescents

ObjectivesThe aims of the study were to examine the association between immigrant background and medicine use for headache and stomach-ache among adolescents, and whether symptoms of headache and stomach-ache could explain the differences in medicine use.MethodsWe used data from the Danish contribution to the WHO-affiliated international cross-sectional survey Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) in 2006. Among boys, a total of 4170 ethnic Danes, 244 descendants of immigrants, and 224 immigrants participated. Among girls, 4310 ethnic Danes, 264 descendants of immigrants, and 232 immigrants were included. The associations between migrant background and medicine use for headache and stomach-ache by means of multilevel multivariate logistic regression analyses adjusted for age group, symptoms and the clustering effect of school and stratified by sex due to interactions.ResultsAmong boys, the risk of medicine use for stomach-ache was higher for immigrants (odds ratio (OR), 1.54; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 0.99-2.44)) and descendants (OR, 1.97 (1.33-2.94)) compared to ethnic Danes. Similar associations were found for use of medicine for stomach-ache for immigrant girls (OR, 1.55 (1.12-2.15) and use of medicine for headache among boys (immigrants (OR, 1.36 (1.02-1.97 and descendants (1.48 (1.12-1.97)). Symptoms of aches were all independently associated with medicine use. After adjusting for these factors the association between immigrant background and medicine use attenuated slightly.ConclusionAmong adolescents in Denmark, the risk of medicine use for headache and stomach-ache was higher for immigrants and descendants as compared to ethnic Danes, with the exception of medicine use for headache among girls.

Parental knowledge of antibiotic use in children with respiratory infections: a systematic review

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an increasing global problem. AMR threatens the effective prevention and treatment of an ever‐increasing range of infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi. The misuse and overuse of antibiotics (AB) is the major contributor to the emergence of resistant bacteria in humans. To present and describe characteristics in parents’ knowledge about when and how to use AB for an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), their attitudes towards doctors and AB use in general, and their behaviour when their child suffers from an URTI.

Ethnic background and human papillomavirus vaccine uptake in Denmark: A countrywide retrospective cohort study including 274,154 women aged 19–28 years

Aim We examined ethnicity-related differences in the uptake of a temporary free-of-charge HPV vaccine (HPVV) catch-up programme offered in Denmark from August 2012 to December 2013 to women born from 1985–1992 and compared it with the previous self-payment system in place. Methods We conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort study. We performed logistic regression analyses to examine the relationship between ethnic background and HPV vaccine (HPVV) programme initiation. Results The free programme increased the vaccination uptake from 16% to 75%. Descendants (Denmark-born women with both parents of foreign origin) and immigrants in Denmark for more than 5 years were less likely to initiate the free HPVV programme than Denmark-born women ((aOR=0.56; 95% CI: 0.54–0.59) and (aOR=0.39; 95% CI: 0.38–0.40), respectively). The likelihood of HPVV programme initiation among immigrants increased with time in Denmark ((aOR=2.28; 95% CI: 2.11–2.48) for immigrants living in Denmark for 16–20 years compared to 6–10 years)). Conclusion The initiation of the free-of-charge HPVV programme was satisfactory. However, large differences in uptake were demonstrated, indicating that some target groups are harder to reach than others. The integration process (as related to use of health services) occurs over many years where differences between the different population groups seem to vanish.

Ethnic and migrant differences in the use of anti-asthmatic medication for children: the effect of place of residence

Ethnic differences in the use of anti‐asthmatic medication have been reported, with ethnic minorities being at a higher risk of suboptimal asthma control. As contextual socioeconomic characteristics may play a role, we analysed whether ethnic differences in the use of anti‐asthmatic medication among children residing in the Capital Region of Denmark varied by place of residence.

Young Muslim Women Living with Asthma in Denmark: A Link between Religion and Self-Efficacy

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that can be controlled with appropriate medicinal treatment. Adherence to pharmacological treatment is therefore critical. Self-efficacy plays a key role in adherence to medicine in chronic diseases, including asthma. Additionally, ethnic minorities have poor adherence to medicines. However, the impact of religion on self-efficacy and adherence is understudied. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the role of self-efficacy in adherence to asthma medicine treatment and the influence of religion on self-efficacy among young, Muslim minority women. A focus group and individual interviews with 10 Muslim minority women (14–24 years of age) living in Denmark were conducted. Data analysis was deductive using Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy and modes of agency. Overall, religion was shown to affect self-efficacy. The women reported changes in self-perceived self-efficacy during the holy month of Ramadan. In addition, praying was used as an alternative to medicine for controlling asthma symptoms. However, the women did not perceive religion and treating asthma with medicine as mutually exclusive, but rather as coexisting for the shared goal of controlling asthma symptoms. It is important for healthcare professionals (HCPs) to be aware of the link between self-efficacy, religion and adherence to asthma medicine treatment. This awareness can aid HCPs in giving advice regarding adherence to asthma treatment, and when monitoring treatment to improve the quality of asthma care for young Muslim minority women.

Erratum to: Ethnic Differences in Persistence with COPD Medications: a Register-Based Study

Patients (N, %) 306 (27.1) 642 (56.9) 181 (16.0) 1129 Age 36–50 years old, % 6.5 11.7 9.4 9.9 51–65 years old, % 33.3 35.5 29.3 33.9 66–75 years old, % 33.7 32.9 39.8 34.2 > 75 years old, % 26.5 19.9 21.6 22.0 Sex Males, % 40.2 42.4 47.0 42.5 Females, % 59.8 57.6 53.0 57.5 Ethnicity Danes, % 94.1 92.4 95.0 93.3 Ethnicminorities,% 5.9 7.6 5.0 6.7 Education Higher education (>10 year), % 38.6 39.6 39.8 39.3

Social Pharmacy Research in Copenhagen—Maintaining a Broad Approach

Social Pharmacy (SP) is a multidisciplinary field to promote the adequate use of medicine. The field of SP is increasingly important due to a numbers of new trends all posing challenges to society. The SP group at the University of Copenhagen has for several years used a broad approach to SP teaching and research, often illustrated by the four levels: individual, group, organizational, and societal. In this paper the relevance of maintaining a broad approach to SP research is argued for and examples of the importance of such type of research is presented.