Changes in socio-economic differences in adolescent self-reported health between 15 and 19 years of age: A longitudinal study

摘要

At the tail end of one of the wettest winters much of the northern hemisphere has ever seen in the modern era it is good to see some papers addressing the role of health care in improving the health of the public. We start with a paper that describes the evaluation of an initiative in community pharmacies to screen and advise about alcohol use. Still in health care, an economic analysis of home-based management of chronic skin conditions, which may well have implications for other services for patients that could be provided closer to patients or in their own homes. From New York we are reminded of the medical complications, some due to error, that affect health outcomes for a sizeable proportion of patients - whilst a culture of openness and candour is being encouraged, it seems likely that we have some way to go in most countries. The cost of road accidents is the focus of a paper from Scotland. There has been interest in obstetric outcomes in low income countries in the lay press of late — here we have an article about a model of community intervention aimed at reducing delay in accessing emergency obstetric care and another on the impact of education on maternal mortality. Two papers consider the prevalence of chronic diseases in relation to socio-economic status and place of birth. In health protection, we have articles on hand, foot and mouth disease and on Campylobacter. Finally, dealing with uncertainty in public health: essential reading for all of us involved in this endeavour.