The contribution of Dutch municipalities to stimulate smoke-free outdoor sports clubs: a qualitative study.

Local governments may play a key role in making outdoor sports clubs smoke free. This study aims to assess the activities, motives, challenges and strategies of Dutch municipalities regarding stimulating outdoor sports clubs to become smoke free. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 policy officers of different municipalities in the Netherlands. The included municipalities varied in terms of region, population size and degree of urbanization. Data were analyzed using content analysis. Municipalities stimulated sports clubs to become smoke free by providing information and support and, to a lesser extent, by using financial incentives. Motives of municipalities varied from facilitating a healthy living environment for youth, responding to denormalization of smoking and aligning with goals formulated in national prevention policy. Policy officers faced several challenges, including limited capacity and funds, a reluctance to interfere with sports clubs and little support within the municipal organization. These challenges were addressed by employing various strategies such as embedding smoke-free sports in a broader preventive policy, setting a good example by creating outdoor smoke-free areas around municipal buildings, and collaborating with stakeholders in the municipality to join forces in realizing smoke-free sports clubs. Municipalities demonstrated evident motivation to contribute to a smoke-free sports environment. Currently, most municipalities fulfil an informative and supportive role, while some municipalities still explore their role and position in relation to supporting sports clubs to become smoke free. Other municipalities have established, according to them, effective strategies.

Diffusion of smoke-free policies at outdoor sports clubs in the Netherlands.

BACKGROUND: Although outdoor smoke-free policies (SFPs) at sports clubs represent an important new area of tobacco control, the majority of sports clubs are not smoke free. This study aims to assess diffusion patterns of outdoor SFPs at sports clubs in the Netherlands. METHODS: Using a retrospective, registry-based design, an inventory was made of football, field hockey, tennis and korfball clubs that became smoke free between 2016 and 2020. We determined the type of sports, number of members and proportion of youth members. The degree of urbanisation and density of smoke-free sports clubs were measured at the municipality level. The association between sports clubs' characteristics, degree of urbanisation and SFP adoption was analysed using multilevel regression analysis. Horizontal diffusion was tested by analysing the association between the density and annual incidence of smoke-free sports clubs. RESULTS: Since 2016, the number of sports clubs with an outdoor SFP increased from 0.3% to 26.4%. Field hockey and korfball clubs and clubs with many (youth) members were more likely to be smoke-free. SFPs spread from the most urbanised to less urbanised municipalities, which could mostly be attributed to sports clubs' characteristics. A higher density of smoke-free sports clubs within municipalities was associated with an increased incidence of new SFPs in the following year. CONCLUSION: Outdoor SFPs at sports clubs in the Netherlands diffused across horizontal and hierarchical lines. National strategies for smoke-free sports should monitor clubs that are more likely to stay behind, such as football and tennis clubs, smaller clubs and clubs in less urbanised areas.

'Wait , let me tell you, if I worked for a boss, I would be on sick leave': A Qualitative Study of Self-Employed Workers in Physically Demanding Jobs in the Netherlands.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of self-employed workers with a physically demanding job on work participation. METHODS: We interviewed self-employed workers with a physically demanding job, using semi-structured interviews, which were audio recorded. The main topic addressed was the workers' health in relation with their work participation, work demands, and preventive measures. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded by three team members of the research team in several steps. We used the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) checklist to report our findings. RESULTS: We interviewed 18 self-employed workers: 83% male, 49 years (SD 7), self-employed for 18 years (SD 9) and the majority (n = 14) worked in the construction sector. Thematic analysis revealed facilitators and barriers for work participation across three main themes: personal factors, work factors, and healthcare. Personal factors compassed sub-themes such as health and financial consequences. Work factors included sub-themes related to work demands and adaptations and healthcare encompassed sub-themes associated with work-related care and medication. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first qualitative study that investigated the perspectives of self-employed workers in physically demanding jobs regarding work participation. While most facilitators and barriers were consistent with those described in the literature for employees, certain factors, such as financial consequences of ceasing work, emerged important factors for work participation among self-employed workers.

The effect of an animation video on consultation time, anxiety and satisfaction in women with abnormal cervical cytology: Animation video reduces colposcopy time.

The objective was to assess whether supplementing hospital-dependent standard information with a hospital-independent animation video might reduce consultation time, pre-colposcopy anxiety levels and increase post-colposcopy satisfaction. Between November 2016 and May 2018, women were included if they were referred to the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in one of the three participating hospitals in the Netherlands due to an abnormal cervical smear. Exclusion criteria were colposcopy in the medical history or inability to understand, speak or read Dutch. Two consecutive cohorts were created: a control group that received standard information and an intervention group that received the same plus the animation video. Outcome measures were consultation time, pre-colposcopy anxiety level and post-colposcopy satisfaction. Consultation time was measured using stopwatch. Anxiety was measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Satisfaction was measured with the Patient's Experience and Attitude Colposcopy Eindhoven questionnaire (PEACE-q). In total, 122 women were included, 61 in each group. Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups. Pre-colposcopy consultation time was significantly reduced in the intervention group (median 140 s) compared to the control group (median 269 s). However, overall consultation time was not reduced. The outcome measures anxiety and satisfaction were not significantly different. A hospital-independent animation video did significantly reduced pre-colposcopy consultation time but did not reduce anxiety or increase satisfaction in women with abnormal cervical cytology. Further research should focus on the effects of animation video in a primary care setting.