Explore the vast range of titles available.

High vaccination coverage is considered to be key in dealing with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. However, vaccine hesitancy can limit uptake. We examined the specific coronavirus beliefs that persons have regarding COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines and to what extent these beliefs explain COVID-19 vaccination intentions. We conducted a survey among 4,033 residents of the Netherlands that examined COVID-19 vaccination intentions and various beliefs. Random forest regression analysis explained 76% of the variance in vaccination intentions. The strongest determinant in the model was the belief the COVID-19 crisis will only end if many persons get vaccinated. Other strong determinants were beliefs about safety of vaccines, specifically in relation to vaccine development and approval process; (social) benefits of vaccination; social norms regarding vaccination behavior; and effectiveness of vaccines. We propose to address these specific beliefs in communications about COVID-19 vaccinations to stimulate vaccine uptake.

Background Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth most frequently diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. Immigrant women are often disproportionately affected by CC but show low participation in CC screening and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. Methods We conducted a scoping review on immigrant women’s information needs regarding CC screening participation and HPV vaccination uptake. A total of 584 articles were found on Embase.com, PsychINFO, and CINAHL, of which 87 articles were included. Results This review revealed that immigrant women indicate a need for more personalized information regarding CC screening and HPV vaccination. We identified barriers to obtaining, processing, and understanding the information, which included overall practical, emotional, cultural and religious aspects (e.g., shame, taboo, lack of trust, fatalism, and cultural norms and values regarding sexual activity). Facilitators, such as translation services, receiving information from people with similar cultural and/or religious backgrounds, encouraging other women or family, and using home visits as an outreach strategy, were also identified. Conclusions Our review provides a comprehensive overview of the information needs and preferences of immigrant women, which could be used to tailor interventions, considering the contextual nuances in which these women are situated. The needs and preferences of immigrant women should be taken into account during the development of new information materials or other interventions. This would help immigrant women make informed decisions regarding participation in CC screening and HPV vaccination.

Worldwide, non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) were implemented during the COVID-19 crisis, which heavily impacted the daily lives of citizens. This study considers public perspectives on whether and how public engagement (PE) can contribute to future decision-making about NPIs. An online survey was conducted among a representative sample of the public in the Netherlands from 27 October to 9 November 2021. Perceptions and preferences about PE in decision-making on NPIs to control COVID-19 were collected. Preferences regarding four NPIs were studied: Nightly curfew (NC); Digital Covid Certificate (DCC); Closure of elementary schools and daycares (CED); and physical distancing (1.5M). Engagement was surveyed based on the five participation modes of the IAP2 Spectrum of Public Participation, namely inform, consult, advice, collaborate and empower. Of the 4981 respondents, 25% expressed a desire to engage in decision-making, as they thought engagement could improve their understanding and the quality of NPIs, as well as increase their trust in the government. Especially for the NPIs DCC and NC, respondents found it valuable to engage and provide their perspective on trade-offs in values (e.g. opening up society versus division in society by vaccination status). Respondents agreed that the main responsibility in decision-making should stay with experts and policy-makers. 50% of respondents did not want to engage, as they felt no need to engage or considered themselves insufficiently knowledgeable. Inform was deemed the most preferred mode of engagement, and empower the least preferred mode of engagement. We reveal large variations in public preferences regarding engagement in NPI decision-making. With 25% of respondents expressing an explicit desire to engage, and considering the benefit of PE in other areas of (public) health, opportunities for PE in NPI decision-making might have been overlooked during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results provide guidance into when and how to execute PE in future outbreaks.

Long-term fatigue with detrimental effects on daily functioning often occurs following acute Q-fever. Following the 2007-2010 Q-fever outbreak in the Netherlands with over 4000 notified cases, the emphasis on long-term consequences of Q-fever increased. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of all relevant available literature, and to identify knowledge gaps regarding the definition, diagnosis, background, description, aetiology, prevention, therapy, and prognosis, of fatigue following acute Q-fever. A systematic review was conducted through searching Pubmed, Embase, and PsycInfo for relevant literature up to 26th May 2015. References of included articles were hand searched for additional documents, and included articles were quality assessed. Fifty-seven articles were included and four documents classified as grey literature. The quality of most studies was low. The studies suggest that although most patients recover from fatigue within 6-12 months after acute Q-fever, approximately 20% remain chronically fatigued. Several names are used indicating fatigue following acute Q-fever, of which Q-fever fatigue syndrome (QFS) is most customary. Although QFS is described to occur frequently in many countries, a uniform definition is lacking. The studies report major health and work-related consequences, and is frequently accompanied by nonspecific complaints. There is no consensus with regard to aetiology, prevention, treatment, and prognosis. Long-term fatigue following acute Q-fever, generally referred to as QFS, has major health-related consequences. However, information on aetiology, prevention, treatment, and prognosis of QFS is underrepresented in the international literature. In order to facilitate comparison of findings, and as platform for future studies, a uniform definition and diagnostic work-up and uniform measurement tools for QFS are proposed.

Including patients' experience-based knowledge in the development of clinical and public health guidelines has been shown to enhance the quality, relevance, and applicability of guidelines. However, the meaningful and methodologically sound inclusion of patient experiences remains a challenge. This study aimed to showcase the potential of NLP methods as an innovative tool for guideline development to gain insights into patients' experiential knowledge and to incorporate this into the guideline development process. For the revision of the Dutch public health guideline for scabies, we analyzed patients' experiences with scabies infestation shared on \"dokter.nl\", the Netherlands' largest online health community, between December 4, 2014, and May 19, 2023. Structural topic modelling was performed to discern thematic clusters from these patient experiences. We obtained 5781 unique posts on scabies and identified 13 major themes raised in forum conversations. The most prevalent themes revolved around community support (11.2%), uncertainty about treatment plans (11.1%) and coping with itching (11%). Recognizing scabies, alternative remedies, and decontamination measures were also issues frequently raised. The analysis highlighted the burden of disease and treatment-particularly the psychosocial burden-associated with scabies. This offered guideline developers an unprecedented insight into patients' experiences resulting in alterations to the Dutch public health guideline for scabies. Previous studies have highlighted the benefits of the integration of experiential knowledge for guideline development. Our study provides a novel method to make this type of knowledge accessible and usable for medical guideline development, without additionally burdening patients.

Background In the Netherlands, a low COVID-19 vaccination uptake was reported among Moroccan immigrants. This population also faced a higher risk of contracting COVID-19, as well as severe morbidity and mortality, compared to native Dutch. We aimed to explore the COVID-19 vaccination decision-making process and the process from vaccination intention to uptake among Moroccan immigrants in the Netherlands. Methods Between April and June 2022, an exploratory qualitative study was performed among Moroccan immigrants in the Netherlands ( n  = 29). Participants were recruited through community centres, mosques, and social media. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Results Seven themes were generated: (1) Attitudes shifted over time and the vaccination decision was postponed, (2) A personal multi-faceted risk-benefit assessment, rather than feelings of social responsibility, resulted in a decision to vaccinate or not, (3) Feelings of decisional or anticipated regret that accompanied the personal risk-benefit assessment influenced the vaccination decision, (4) Used information sources, (5) A perceived lack of trustworthiness of the information disclosed by the government and media had a direct or indirect negative influence on the decision-making process, (6) The social environment and its norms as support or burden in the decision-making process, and (7) Religious beliefs and values holding back and encouraging in the decision-making process. Conclusions Many participants described the COVID-19 vaccination decision as a personal risk-benefit assessment, rather than a social responsibility. Many participants experienced lack of transparency of information from the government and the media, inhibiting them from making a good decision. We recommend providing clear and transparent information that explains possible contradictions and acknowledges uncertainties and potential adverse effects. Religious beliefs and values, and the strong influence of children and parents in making the vaccination decision should also be carefully considered in communication strategies. Clinical trial number Not applicable.

Background People with intellectual disabilities (ID) face barriers in cancer care contributing to poorer oncological outcomes. Yet, understanding cancer risks in the ID population remains incomplete. Aim To provide an overview of cancer incidence and cancer risk assessments in the entire ID population as well as within ID‐related disorders. Methods This systematic review examined cancer risk in the entire ID population and ID‐related disorders. We systematically searched PubMed (MEDLINE) and EMBASE for literature from January 1, 2000 to July 15, 2022 using a search strategy combining terms related to cancer, incidence, and ID. Results We found 55 articles assessing cancer risks in the ID population at large groups or in subgroups with ID‐related syndromes, indicating that overall cancer risk in the ID population is lower or comparable with that of the general population, while specific disorders (e.g., Down's syndrome) and certain genetic mutations may elevate the risk for particular cancers. Discussion The heterogeneity within the ID population challenges precise cancer risk assessment at the population level. Nonetheless, within certain subgroups, such as individuals with specific ID‐related disorders or certain genetic mutations, a more distinct pattern of varying cancer risks compared to the general population becomes apparent. Conclusion More awareness, and personalized approach in cancer screening within the ID population is necessary.

Aiming to investigate small island resilience in public health emergencies, we found existing classifications of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) failed to provide a homogeneous group suitable for comparative studies. While SIDS classifications highlight small states’ challenges globally, they include countries with vast differences in geography, population, economy and health systems, making them ineffective for studying public health emergency resilience. Islands classified as Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) face similar challenges to SIDS. Considering both in comparative research offers deeper insights into shared vulnerabilities and strengths, policy effectiveness and the variability in response strategies. As global health efforts focus on pandemic preparedness, a more precise classification system is essential to identify patterns across similar small island contexts. To improve comparability for public health research, we propose an alternative classification method that integrates SIDS and OCTs, using clear, data-driven criteria.We applied three criteria to identify islands with comparable characteristics relevant to public health emergency resilience: population size≤1.5 million, insularity and Gross Domestic Product per capita≤US$30 000. This data-driven approach identified 51 islands forming a more homogeneous group for comparative analysis. Despite limitations in data availability, indicator reliability and the application of not universally standardised thresholds, our method offers a pragmatic response to the lack of uniform classification and highlights the need for standardised, context-sensitive data collection. While acknowledging the need for ongoing refinement and broader multidimensional indicators, this approach allows for more accurate research on public health emergency resilience, enabling small islands to better advocate for tailored support.

Data-driven strategies are increasingly integrated into infectious disease control (IDC), enabling professionals to act in a timely and proactive manner; however, their implementation requires alignment with professionals' needs. Little is known about professionals' views on data-driven IDC. This study aims to assess IDC professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions toward working in a data-driven manner, as well as their needs, facilitators, and barriers. We conducted exploratory online focus group discussions (FGDs) with IDC professionals from the Public Health Services (PHSs) in the Netherlands. FGDs were organized by profession, followed by a final mixed-group session that included medical doctors, nurses, infection preventionists, epidemiologists, policy advisors, project leaders, and managers working in IDC. The topic guide was based on the Attitude-Social Influence-Efficacy model and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, complemented with questions on current practices within the PHS related to data-driven work (DDW). Framework and thematic analyses were performed. Between September 2024 and January 2025, nine FGDs were conducted with 36 IDC professionals. Five main themes emerged: (1) context of the work environment, (2) interpretation of DDW in the context of IDC, (3) added value of DDW, (4) views on team participation, and (5) perspectives on development and implementation. While participants mentioned that some data-driven strategies were already implemented within the PHS, they observed that data were not often translated into action. Attitudes toward DDW varied across participants, particularly regarding its definition, application in daily practice, the importance of data interpretation by professionals, results, implementation, and added value. Participation in DDW varied within teams and was influenced by role, interest, workload, time, knowledge, and willingness to change. Participants also identified various facilitators, barriers, and needs at the individual, process, and organizational levels, such as a national approach of data-driven IDC guided by a shared vision, defined role assignments, and clear protocols for data registration. In this study, IDC professionals generally expressed a positive attitude toward DDW but also identified several barriers and needs for future implementation. The limited translation of data into action was viewed as untapped potential. To support effective data-driven IDC, we recommend investing in a supportive work environment that promotes a clear, shared definition of DDW, including defined roles and responsibilities. By doing so, IDC professionals can shift from reactive to strategic, data-informed action and be better equipped future public health threats.

Background To optimize the focus of future public information campaigns in The Netherlands promoting the uptake of vaccines among adults and children, we quantified the contribution of several attributes to the vaccination decision. Method We performed a discrete choice experiment (DCE) among Dutch adults including six attributes, i.e. vaccine effectiveness, vaccine-preventable burden of disease (specified in severity and frequency), accessibility of vaccination in terms of co-payment and prescription requirements, frequency of mild side-effects, population-level vaccination coverage and local vaccination coverage among family and friends. Participants answered the DCE from their own perspective (‘oneself’ group) or with regard to a vaccine decision for their youngest child (‘child’ group). The data was analysed by means of panel mixed logit models. Results We included 1547 adult participants (825 ‘oneself’ and 722 ‘child’). Vaccine effectiveness was the most important attribute in the ‘oneself’ group, followed by burden of disease (relative importance (RI) 78%) and accessibility (RI 76%). In the ‘child’ group, burden of disease was most important, but tied closely with vaccine effectiveness (RI 97%). Of less importance was the risk of mild vaccine-related side-effects and both population and local vaccination coverage. Interestingly, participants were more willing to vaccinate when uptake among the population or family and friends was high, indicating that social influence and social norms plays a role. Conclusions Vaccine effectiveness and disease severity are key attributes in vaccination decision-making for adults making a decision for themselves and for parents who decide for their children. Hence, public information campaigns for both adult and child vaccination should primarily focus on these two attributes. In addition, reinforcing social norms may be considered.