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Dessinioti C, Stratigos AJ. An Epidemiological Update on Indoor Tanning and the Risk of Skin Cancers. Curr Oncol 2022; 29:8886-903. [PMID: 36421352 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol29110699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Indoor tanning (sunbeds, solarium) uses artificial ultraviolet radiation (UVR) to stimulate cosmetic tanning of the skin. Indoor tanning has been officially classified as a human carcinogen in 2009 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization (WHO). The differences in the prevalence of sunbed use across countries and over the years highlight underlying legislative, climatic, and cultural differences. Indoor tanning-seeking behaviors may be driven by motivations for an appealing appearance, largely influenced by gender and age, and several misconceptions that a prevacation tan safeguards the skin, that sunbeds can be used to treat acne or to increase vitamin D, or that tanning is a healthy habit. This review provides an epidemiological update on the prevalence of sunbed use, who tends to use sunbeds and why, and details the current evidence on the association of sunbeds with skin cancers, including cutaneous melanoma, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). A statistically significant higher risk of cutaneous melanoma, BCC and cSCC with the use of sunbeds has been consistently demonstrated. This risk of skin cancer is even higher with the more frequent use of sunbeds, underscoring a dose-response relationship, and in those first exposed to sunbeds at a younger age. Preventive measures against sunbed use include legislation restricting sunbed use, educational campaigns to inform and discourage from indoor tanning, as well as using the internet, online advertising messages and the social media to reach larger audiences and to promote an untanned appearance.
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Baram L, Dai Z, McDonald S, Bero LA. Disclosure of funding sources and conflicts of interest in evidence underpinning vitamin D and calcium recommendations in bone health guidelines. Public Health Nutr 2022; 25:1-8. [PMID: 35067274 PMCID: PMC9991793 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980022000246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The present study aims to examine the relationship between study funding sources, author conflicts of interest (COI) and conclusions in studies supporting vitamin D and Ca intake cited in bone health guideline recommendations. DESIGN Cross-sectional. SETTING Forty-seven global bone health guidelines with vitamin D and/or Ca recommendations for adults aged 40 years and above. PARTICIPANTS The evidence cited to support the recommendations was extracted by two independent reviewers and classified by type of recommendation, article characteristics, study design, types of funding sources and conflict of interest (COI) disclosure and direction of study conclusions. RESULTS Of 156 articles cited to support the bone health recommendations, 120 (77 %) disclosed a funding source, and 43 (28 %) declared that at least one author had a COI. Compared with articles with non-commercial or no funding source, those funded by commercial sponsors tended to have a study conclusion favourable towards vitamin D/Ca (relative risk (95 % CI): 1·32 (0·94, 1·87), P = 0·16), but the association was not statistically significant (Fisher's exact test). Compared to those with a COI disclosure statement, articles with missing or unclear COI disclosure were more likely to have favourable conclusions (1·56 (1·05, 2·31), P = 0·017) (Fisher's exact test). CONCLUSION In the evidence underpinning a sample of global bone health guidelines, COI disclosure was low and studies with missing or unclear COI disclosures were more likely to have favourable study conclusions than those with disclosures, suggesting a need for greater transparency of COI in bone health guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liora Baram
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, D17, The Hub, Camperdown, NSW2006, Australia
| | - Zhaoli Dai
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, D17, The Hub, Camperdown, NSW2006, Australia
| | - Sally McDonald
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, D17, The Hub, Camperdown, NSW2006, Australia
| | - Lisa A Bero
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, D17, The Hub, Camperdown, NSW2006, Australia
- School of Medicine and Colorado School of Public Health, Center for Bioethics and Humanities, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Mail Stop B137, 13080 E. 19th Ave, Aurora, CO80045, USA
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Reed G, Hendlin Y, Desikan A, MacKinney T, Berman E, Goldman GT. The disinformation playbook: how industry manipulates the science-policy process-and how to restore scientific integrity. J Public Health Policy 2021; 42:622-634. [PMID: 34811464 PMCID: PMC8651604 DOI: 10.1057/s41271-021-00318-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
For decades, corporate undermining of scientific consensus has eroded the scientific process worldwide. Guardrails for protecting science-informed processes, from peer review to regulatory decision making, have suffered sustained attacks, damaging public trust in the scientific enterprise and its aim to serve the public good. Government efforts to address corporate attacks have been inadequate. Researchers have cataloged corporate malfeasance that harms people's health across diverse industries. Well-known cases, like the tobacco industry's efforts to downplay the dangers of smoking, are representative of transnational industries, rather than unique. This contribution schematizes industry tactics to distort, delay, or distract the public from instituting measures that improve health-tactics that comprise the "disinformation playbook." Using a United States policy lens, we outline steps the scientific community should take to shield science from corporate interference, through individual actions (by scientists, peer reviewers, and editors) and collective initiatives (by research institutions, grant organizations, professional associations, and regulatory agencies).
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Affiliation(s)
- Genna Reed
- Union of Concerned Scientists, 1825 K Street NW, Ste 800, Washington, DC, 20006, USA.
| | - Yogi Hendlin
- Dynamics of Inclusive Prosperity Initiative, Erasmus School of Philosophy, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Environmental Health Initiative, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Anita Desikan
- Union of Concerned Scientists, 1825 K Street NW, Ste 800, Washington, DC, 20006, USA
| | - Taryn MacKinney
- Union of Concerned Scientists, 1825 K Street NW, Ste 800, Washington, DC, 20006, USA
| | - Emily Berman
- Union of Concerned Scientists, 1825 K Street NW, Ste 800, Washington, DC, 20006, USA
| | - Gretchen T Goldman
- Union of Concerned Scientists, 1825 K Street NW, Ste 800, Washington, DC, 20006, USA
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Költő A, Rodriguez L, McAvoy H, Nic Gabhainn S. Sunburn, Sun Safety and Indoor Tanning Among Schoolchildren in Ireland. Int J Public Health 2021; 66:1604045. [PMID: 34335148 PMCID: PMC8284860 DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2021.1604045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: We present patterns of sunburn, sun safety behaviors and indoor tanning bed use in a nationally representative sample of schoolchildren aged 10–17. These behaviors were explored across gender, age, and social class groups. Methods: Within the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Ireland study, 10,271 young people (aged 13.54 ± 1.92, percentage girls 53.3%) reported frequency of sun safety behaviors, sunburn, and frequency and circumstances of indoor tanning bed use. Results: Children frequently experienced sunburn (90% lifetime, 74% last year), and 3% reported never using any sun protection. Applying sunscreen and wearing sunglasses were the most commonly used sun safety measures; other ways of sun protection were less popular. Indoor tanning bed use was reported by around 5%, and a large proportion of users were not advised of any indoor tanning safety measures. Sun safety behaviors varied by age and gender, with some socio-economic differences in tanning bed use. An association was found between frequency of family holidays abroad and sunburn. Conclusion: Targeted interventions are needed to increase sun safety behaviors and eliminate tanning bed use among children in Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- András Költő
- Health Promotion Research Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | | | | | - Saoirse Nic Gabhainn
- Health Promotion Research Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
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Vaidyam AN, Linggonegoro D, Torous J. Changes to the Psychiatric Chatbot Landscape: A Systematic Review of Conversational Agents in Serious Mental Illness: Changements du paysage psychiatrique des chatbots: une revue systématique des agents conversationnels dans la maladie mentale sérieuse. Can J Psychiatry 2021; 66:339-348. [PMID: 33063526 PMCID: PMC8172347 DOI: 10.1177/0706743720966429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The need for digital tools in mental health is clear, with insufficient access to mental health services. Conversational agents, also known as chatbots or voice assistants, are digital tools capable of holding natural language conversations. Since our last review in 2018, many new conversational agents and research have emerged, and we aimed to reassess the conversational agent landscape in this updated systematic review. METHODS A systematic literature search was conducted in January 2020 using the PubMed, Embase, PsychINFO, and Cochrane databases. Studies included were those that involved a conversational agent assessing serious mental illness: major depressive disorder, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder, or anxiety disorder. RESULTS Of the 247 references identified from selected databases, 7 studies met inclusion criteria. Overall, there were generally positive experiences with conversational agents in regard to diagnostic quality, therapeutic efficacy, or acceptability. There continues to be, however, a lack of standard measures that allow ease of comparison of studies in this space. There were several populations that lacked representation such as the pediatric population and those with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. While comparing 2018 to 2020 research offers useful insight into changes and growth, the high degree of heterogeneity between all studies in this space makes direct comparison challenging. CONCLUSIONS This review revealed few but generally positive outcomes regarding conversational agents' diagnostic quality, therapeutic efficacy, and acceptability, which may augment mental health care. Despite this increase in research activity, there continues to be a lack of standard measures for evaluating conversational agents as well as several neglected populations. We recommend that the standardization of conversational agent studies should include patient adherence and engagement, therapeutic efficacy, and clinician perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Nrusimha Vaidyam
- 1859Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Danny Linggonegoro
- 1859Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - John Torous
- 1859Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Stapleton JL, Hillhouse J. Industry influence in indoor tanning research. BMJ 2020; 368:m345. [PMID: 32019763 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.m345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jerod L Stapleton
- Department of Health, Behavior & Society, College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40508-0679, USA
| | - Joel Hillhouse
- Department of Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA
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