Evolution of smoking rates among immigrants in France in the context of comprehensive tobacco control measures, and a decrease in the overall prevalence.

BACKGROUND: The evolution of smoking rates according to migrant status has not been examined in France, despite a recent reduction in overall smoking rates. METHODS: DePICT is a two waves (2016: n = 4356; 2017: n = 4114) nationwide telephone survey, representative of the French adult population. We compared smoking-related behaviors before and after implementation of tobacco-control measures (2017), according to the geographical region of birth. RESULTS: Compared to 2016, individuals originating from Africa or the Middle East had a slightly higher smoking prevalence in 2017 (34.7% vs 31.3%), despite a higher intention to quit or attempt in the preceding year (adjusted OR(ORa) = 2.72[1.90; 3.90]) compared to non-immigrants. They were also less likely to experience an unsuccessful quit attempt (ORa = 1.76[1.18; 2.62]). CONCLUSION: Tobacco-control measures could have widened smoking inequalities related to migrant status. The evolution of smoking-related behaviors among immigrants should be examined when studying the long-term effects of such policies.

Are male immigrants in Denmark at lower or higher risk of tobacco-related cancers? A Danish nationwide cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco-related cancers (TRC) represent approximately a third of the cancer incidence in Denmark. However, tobacco consumption levels in immigrants may differ to the native population. We compared incidence rates of nine TRCs among male immigrants of first and second generation in Denmark with those among males of the native population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We used an established cohort of all Danish men (1978-2010) and calculated standardized incidence ratios (SIR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) to compare incidence by immigration status and region of birth for nine TRCs. RESULTS: We identified 131,317 incident cases of TRCs among 3,508,204 men (280,526 first generation and 129,056 second generation immigrants). Overall, immigrants of both generations experienced approximately 15% lower incidence of TRC than natives, however, with large variations by country of birth and type of TRC. Compared to natives, lung cancer incidence in first and second generation immigrants was 10% and 27% lower, respectively. However, lung cancer incidence increased in first generation immigrants reaching the level of native Danes in the late 2000s. First generation immigrants experienced approximately 50% lower incidence of lower urinary tract cancer than natives. However, only liver and stomach cancer had higher SIRs in immigrants. CONCLUSION: Overall TRC incidence was lower among immigrants than in native Danes. Lower urinary tract cancer among first generation immigrants warrants further investigation.

Operating room organization and surgical performance: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Organizational factors may influence surgical outcomes, regardless of extensively studied factors such as patient preoperative risk and surgical complexity. This study was designed to explore how operating room organization determines surgical performance and to identify gaps in the literature that necessitate further investigation. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review according to PRISMA guidelines to identify original studies in Pubmed and Scopus from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2019. Studies evaluating the association between five determinants (team composition, stability, teamwork, work scheduling, disturbing elements) and three outcomes (operative time, patient safety, costs) were included. Methodology was assessed based on criteria such as multicentric investigation, accurate population description, and study design. RESULTS: Out of 2625 studies, 76 met inclusion criteria. Of these, 34 (44.7%) investigated surgical team composition, 15 (19.7%) team stability, 11 (14.5%) teamwork, 9 (11.8%) scheduling, and 7 (9.2%) examined the occurrence of disturbing elements in the operating room. The participation of surgical residents appeared to impact patient outcomes. Employing specialized and stable teams in dedicated operating rooms showed improvements in outcomes. Optimization of teamwork reduced operative time, while poor teamwork increased morbidity and costs. Disturbances and communication failures in the operating room negatively affected operative time and surgical safety. CONCLUSION: While limited, existing scientific evidence suggests that operating room staffing and environment significantly influences patient outcomes. Prioritizing further research on these organizational drivers is key to enhancing surgical performance.

[Smoking and smoking cessation among migrants in France: A qualitative study]. / « Un bien pour un mal ¼. Consommation et arrêt du tabac chez les migrants en France : une étude qualitative (TATAMI).

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to identify factors related to smoking and smoking cessation as well as preferences for cessation methods reported by migrants in France. METHODS: Qualitative study using semi-directive interviews with migrants in the Parisian area thematically analyzed using an inductive approach. RESULTS: Sixteen interviews conducted. The stress and isolation induced by migration favor the increase of tobacco consumption. These two factors, as well as the lack of information on the resources available for quitting smoking, were identified as obstacles to cessation. The main motivations for quitting are the identified or experienced effects of smoking on their health and pressure from family members, especially children. Quitting is essentially a personal strategy centered on the true will to quit. The most popular method identified by the participants as the most effective in helping them to quit, is follow-up or therapy by a health professional combining listening and psychological support. DISCUSSION: For migrants, smoking is a resource to combat stress that increases during the migration process and upon arrival in the host country and presents a psychosocial dimension for the most isolated individuals. Smoking cessation must be accompanied and must take into account the specificities of this population as well as the expressed need for psychosocial support, as suggested by our results, to be most effective.

Substance Use Among Residents of Homeless Shelters During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings From France.

Objectives: To record the prevalence and risk factors of substance use amongst homeless persons during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The ECHO study consisted in two independent cross-sectional waves of data collection in the regions of Paris, Lyon, and Strasbourg during the Spring of 2020 (n = 530) and 2021 (n = 319). Factors associated with substance use were explored using generalised logistic regression models. Results: The most prevalent substance used was tobacco (38%-43%), followed by alcohol (26%-34%). The use of both substances positively associated with each other, although risk factors varied depending on the substance. The only factors consistently associated with alcohol and tobacco use were being male, exposure to theft/assault and participants' region of origin. Whilst the rate of tobacco use was relatively stable between Spring 2020 and 2021, alcohol use was more common in 2021. Conclusion: These findings highlight a high prevalence of substance use amongst homeless persons. People experiencing homelessness face specific challenges in the context of the pandemic, alongside greater vulnerability to illness and low healthcare access, therefore the need to improve prevention and support services for substance abuse within this population is vital.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerable groups, including homeless persons and migrants, in France: A qualitative study.

Social inequalities tended to increase in the context of the pandemic, particularly in relation to the measures taken to manage and reduce the risk of COVID-19. When lockdown measures required the general population "to stay home", what were homeless people expected to do? The ECHO study is a cross-sectional, descriptive study with a convergent mixed-method design. Data were collected across shelters in France both during and immediately following the lockdown (April - June 2020). This article presents the study's qualitative findings, with a focus on understanding both the experiences and perceptions among these populations of the measures taken to limit the COVID-19 infection. A total of 26 semi-directed individual interviews were conducted across seven shelters in both Lyon (42%) and Paris (58%). Data were analysed using thematic content analysis with partial blinded coding. Four key themes were identified: 1- Reactions to the introduction of lockdown: a sudden implementation reminiscent of prior violent or traumatic circumstances amongst participants, 2- Accommodation during lockdown: participants' conflicting visions of the shelter, 3- Influence of the media and public communication: an abundant flow of information impacting participant's wellbeing and representations on the pandemic, and 4- The individual impact of lockdown: perceived health and limitations to daily life activities. The most vulnerable populations have borne the heaviest burden during the pandemic. It is therefore crucial that we improve both the availability of information, and the health literacy of, all groups within the national population.

Use of tobacco cessation aids and likelihood of smoking cessation: A French population-based study.

Although smoking prevalence has been decreasing worldwide, sustained tobacco cessation remains a challenging goal for many smokers. Several types of tobacco cessation aids are available such as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and electronic cigarette, the effectiveness of the latter is still a matter of debate. This study aims to test differences in successful smoking cessation according to the type of aid used, considering selection and confounding factors. We used data from the 2017 French Health Barometer, a cross-sectional survey conducted by France's Public Health Agency. We studied the relationship between e-cigarette and NRT use and three distinct outcomes collected retrospectively: smoking status 6, 12 and 24 months after the cessation attempt (yes vs no). All results were weighted to be nationally-representative and controlled for propensity scores included via overlap weighting (OW). The use of an e-cigarette was significantly associated with tobacco cessation at 6 months (OWeighted OR = 1.38, 95 % CI: 1.03-1.99) as well as at 12 months (OWeighted OR = 1.61, 95 % CI: 1.13-2.27) and 24 months (OWeighted OR = 1.61, 95 % CI: 1.01-2.57). The use of NRT was negatively associated with tobacco cessation at 12 months (OWeighted OR = 0.62, 95 % CI: 0.43-0.89) and 24 months (OWeighted OR = 0.57, 95 % CI: 0.35-0.92). While the use of an e-cigarette alone or combined with NRT is associated with an increase in the likelihood of smoking cessation, the effects of the use of NRT alone on long-term smoking abstinence are probably limited.

Influence of intraoperative neuromonitoring on surgeons' technique during thyroidectomy.

BACKGROUND: When assessing the value of intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) during routine thyroidectomy, it is necessary to consider its influence on the surgeon's dissection technique. We investigated the effect of IONM on individual surgeon performance by determining the learning curve associated with this tool. METHODS: A one-year prospective study was conducted between May 2008 and April 2009 within a team of three experienced endocrine surgeons. The measure of surgical performance was based on the detection of immediate postoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy by laryngoscopy. Individual learning curves associated with IONM acquisition were drawn with the cumulative sum (CUSUM) chart. Each surgeon was questioned about possible changes he had experienced in his own surgical technique after the introduction of IONM. RESULTS: A total of 475 consecutive patients who underwent thyroid surgery with IONM were included. The pattern of learning curves varied among surgeons and ranged from 35 to 304 procedures required for complete IONM acquisition. The surgeon with the longest learning curve also described a drastic modification of his technique related to nerve dissection. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative nerve monitoring can induce changes in surgical practice. The different learning curve patterns among surgeons may reflect the variable degree to which surgeons will modify their own dissection technique. Such an effect on learning must be considered when assessing the impact of using IONM on patient safety.

Depression during the COVID-19 pandemic amongst residents of homeless shelters in France.

BACKGROUND: Accumulating evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected global mental health and well-being. However, the impact amongst homeless persons has not been fully evaluated. The ECHO study reports factors associated with depression amongst the homeless population living in shelters in France during the spring of 2020. METHODS: Interview data were collected from 527 participants living in temporary and/or emergency accommodation following France's first lockdown (02/05/20 - 07/06/20), in the metropolitan regions of Paris (74%), Lyon (19%) and Strasbourg (7%). Interviews were conducted in French, English, or with interpreters (33% of participants, ∼20 languages). Presence of depression was ascertained using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). RESULTS: Amongst ECHO study participants, 30% had symptoms of moderate to severe depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 10). Multivariate analysis revealed depression to be associated with being female (aOR: 2.15; CI: 1.26-3.69), single (aOR: 1.60; CI: 1.01-2.52), chronically ill (aOR: 2.32; CI: 1.43: 3.78), facing food insecurity (aOR: 2.12; CI: 1.40-3.22) and participants' region of origin. Persons born African and Eastern Mediterranean regions showed higher levels of depression (30-33% of participants) than those migrating from other European countries (14%). Reduced rates of depression were observed amongst participants aged 30-49 (aOR: 0.60; CI: 0.38-0.95) and over 50 (aOR: 0.28; CI: 0.13-0.64), compared to 18-29-year-olds. LIMITATIONS: These data are cross-sectional, only providing information on a given moment in time. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate high levels of depression amongst homeless persons during the COVID-19 pandemic. Predicted future instability and economic repercussions could particularly impact the mental health of this vulnerable group.

Fostering international collaboration in implementation science and research: a concept mapping exploratory study.

OBJECTIVE: International collaboration in science has received increasing attention given emphases on relevance, generalizability, and impact of research. Implementation science (IS) is a growing discipline that aims to translate clinical research findings into health services. Research is needed to identify efficient and effective ways to foster international collaboration in IS. Concept-mapping (CM) was utilized with a targeted sample for preliminary exploration of fostering international collaboration. Concept-mapping is a mixed-method approach (qualitative/quantitative) particularly suited for identifying essential themes and action items to facilitate planning among diverse stakeholders. We sought to identify key factors likely to facilitate productive and rewarding international collaborations in implementation research. RESULTS: We identified eleven dimensions: Strategic Planning; Practicality; Define Common Principles; Technological Tools for Collaboration; Funding; Disseminate Importance of Fostering International Collaboration in IS; Knowledge Sharing; Innovative & Adaptive Research; Training IS Researchers; Networking & Shared Identity; Facilitate Meetings. Strategic Planning and Funding were highest rated for importance and Strategic Planning and Networking and Shared Identity were rated most feasible to institute. Fostering international collaboration in IS can accelerate the efficiency, relevance, and generalizability of implementation research. Strategies should be developed and tested to improve international collaborations and engage junior and experienced investigators in collaborations advancing implementation science and practice.