A scoping review of public building accessibility

BackgroundThe built environment needs to be designed so that all people can participate in the activities they want and need to do. Yet, accessibility is difficult to put into practice, and accessibility issues tend to be overlooked in the building and planning processes.ObjectivesThe aim of this scoping review was to summarize the research front in the area of accessibility to public buildings. Specific aims were to identify knowledge gaps, to identify access activities in relation to environmental features and to link to predominant activities in terms of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).MethodsA literature search was performed in PubMed, PsycINFO, Inspec, Embase and Cochrane databases. Articles in English based on original empirical studies investigating accessibility of public buildings for adults aged ≥18 years with functional limitations were considered.ResultsOf the 40 articles included, ten involved study participants, while 30 only examined buildings using instruments to assess accessibility. In addition, the psychometric properties were only tested for a few of them. All articles concerned mobility and several visual limitations, while few addressed cognitive or hearing limitations. Ten main access activities were identified, from using parking/drop-off area to exiting building.ConclusionsBy using the ICF and theoretically relating the accessibility problems to activities, the results revealed that there are large knowledge gaps about accessibility to public buildings for older people and people with functional limitations and that there is a need for more methodological considerations in this area of research.     

Activity spaces in studies of the environment and physical activity: A review and synthesis of implications for causality

Activity spaces are increasingly used to understand how people interact with their environment and engage in activity but their use may raise challenges regarding causal inference. We conducted a systematic review of findings and the methodological, analytical and conceptual issues relevant to causal inference. Studies were included if they comprised a spatial summary of locations visited, assessed any part of the causal pathway between the environment, physical activity and health, and used quantitative or qualitative methods. We searched seven electronic databases in January 2018 and screened 11910 articles for eligibility. Forty-seven studies were included for review. Studies answered research questions about features of or environmental features within activity spaces using a range of spatial and temporal summary techniques. The conceptual challenge of using activity spaces to strengthen causal inference was rarely considered, although some studies discussed circularity, temporality, and plausibility. Future studies should use longitudinal and experimental designs and consider the potential and actual use of spaces for physical activity, and their relationship with total levels of activity.     

Targeted eco-pharmacovigilance as an optimized management strategy for adverse effects of pharmaceuticals in the environment

From a perspective of drug administration, eco-pharmacovigilance (EPV) has been proposed as a new approach to prevent the environmental risks posed by pharmaceutical emerging contaminants. However, it is impracticable to practice unitary and rigor EPV process for all the pharmaceutical substances with complex and diversified chemical, biological or toxicological properties. We proposed the “targeted EPV” that is the science and activities associated with the targeted detection, evaluation, understanding, and prevention of adverse effects of high-priority hazardous pharmaceuticals in the environment, especially focusing on the control of main anthropogenic sources of pharmaceutical emission among key stakeholders in high-risk areas could be used as an optimized management strategy for pharmaceutical pollution. “Targeted EPV” implementation should focus on the targeted monitoring of the occurrence of high-priority pharmaceuticals in environmental samples, the targeted reporting of over-standard discharge, the targeted management for main emission sources, the targeted legislation and researches on high-priority pharmaceutical pollutants, as well as the targeted educational strategies for specific key populations.     

医院环境文化的本质解读

医院文化的本质就是人文环境和文化氛围的交融。通过其精神文化、物质文化、制度文化、宣传文化和行为文化等相互作用、不断循环、整合，从而构成了一个动态的文化有机复合体，即医院环境文化。医院环境文化发展创新的本质就是利用医院文化的五个组成部分的不断整合、相互影响，培育出具有业务精湛、职业道德高尚、综合素质高的医务人员，最终更人性、更有效地为解除患者病痛、解救患者生命服务。     

Evaluation of Educational Environment for Medical Students of a Tertiary Pediatric Hospital in Tehran,Using DREEM Questionnaire

Background:

Tertiary pediatric hospitals usually provide excellent clinical services, but such centers have a lot to do for educational perfection.

Objectives:

This study was performed to address under-graduate educational deficits and find feasible solutions.

Patients and Methods:

This cross-sectional study was done in a target population of 77 sixth year undergraduate medical students (response rate = 78%) who spent their 3-month pediatric rotation in the Children’s Medical Center, the Pediatrics Center of Excellence in Tehran, Iran. The Dundee ready educational environment measure (DREEM) instrument was used for assessing educational environment of this subspecialized pediatric hospital.

Results:

Among 60 students who answered the questionnaires, 24 were male (40%). Participants’ age ranged from 23 to 24 years. The mean total score was 95.8 (48%). Comparison of scores based on students’ knowledge showed no significant difference. Problematic areas were learning, academic self-perception, and social self-perception.

Conclusions:

Having an accurate schedule to train general practitioner, using new teaching methods, and providing a non-stressful atmosphere were suggested solutions.     

常州市有螺环境现状调查分析

目的 调查常州市有螺环境改造现状,为螺情监测提供依据.方法 收集全市有螺环境资料,对所有有螺环境进行现场调查并进行环境分类,建立数据库分析各类环境特点,并应用Google Earth软件绘制分布图.结果 常州市有螺环境共计6 174个,面积3 911.97万m2,分布于7市(县、区)的51个乡(镇)、414个村.根据环境分类,Ⅱ类环境最多,Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ类环境面积的构成比分别为24.8％、54.4％、11.3％、9.5％.金坛市、武进区、溧阳市的有螺环境面积最大,分别占全市总面积的31.0％、24.4％、24.0％.金坛市、溧阳市、武进区、新北区以现况Ⅱ类环境居多,天宁区、钟楼区、戚墅堰区以现况Ⅰ类环境居多.Ⅳ类环境主要分布在武进区和新北区,分别占68.3％、25.9％.江湖滩、内陆和山丘3种类型流行区有螺环境面积的构成比分别为9.9％、49.8％、40.3％.3种类型流行区均以Ⅱ类环境居多,面积分别占52.3％、50.1％、60.2％,Ⅳ类环境所占比例分别为22.5％、14.1％、0.7％.结论 常州市有螺环境分布广,面积大,应重点加强对Ⅲ类、ⅣV类环境的监测.     

Walkable school neighborhoods are not playable neighborhoods

The objectives were to determine whether: (1) playability features differed across walkable and non-walkable school neighborhoods, and (2) physical activity differed in children living in walkable and non-walkable school neighborhoods. A total of 3912 grade 6–8 students from 132 school neighborhoods were studied. There was more developed park space in high walkability neighborhoods than low walkability neighborhoods. Other playability features were more preferable in the low (e.g., undeveloped treed and water areas) and moderate (e.g., physical disorder/esthetics) walkability neighborhoods. Children from low walkability neighborhoods were more likely to engage in free-time physical activity outside of school and to achieve recommended levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity than were children from high walkability neighborhoods.     

Alcohol outlet density and related use in an urban Black population in Philadelphia public housing communities

Adolescent alcohol use behaviors are influenced by familial patterns and neighborhood factors. This work explored the influence of individual, family, and environment on alcohol use. Baseline data from a randomized controlled trial with Black mothers son dyads (n=382) were paired with census tract and alcohol control board data. Among mothers, younger age, along with neighborhood factors of alcohol outlet density, race, and education were significantly associated with use. Among sons, older age and alcohol outlet density in the neighborhood predicted use. Findings highlight neighborhood influence, beyond family qualities, as a significant determinant of disadvantaged Black mothers’ alcohol use. Implications for public health policy are discussed.     

Environmental exposures,breast development and cancer risk: Through the looking glass of breast cancer prevention

This review summarizes the report entitled: Breast Cancer and the Environment: Prioritizing Prevention, highlights research gaps and the importance of focusing on early life exposures for breast development and breast cancer risk.