Background
Recognition of the police department’s role in shaping HIV spread and prevention has generated interest in educational interventions targeting law enforcement. With input from civil society, trainings covering HIV prevention science, policy, and occupational safety were developed and delivered to cadets and active-duty police across Kyrgyzstan.
Methods
We administered a multi-site cross-sectional survey of Kyrgyz police to assess whether undergoing HIV trainings was associated with improved legal and public health knowledge, positive attitudes towards public health programs and policies, occupational safety awareness, and intended practices targeting vulnerable groups.
Results
In 313-officer sample, 38% reported undergoing the training. In multivariate analysis, training was associated with being significantly more likely to support referring individuals to harm reduction organizations (aOR 2.21; 95%CI 1.33–3.68), expressing no intent to extrajudicially confiscate syringes (aOR 1.92; 95%CI 1.09–3.39), and better understanding sex worker detention procedure (aOR 2.23; 95%CI 1.19–4.46), although trainee knowledge of policy on routine identification checks for sex workers was significantly lower (aOR 3.0; 95%CI 1.78–5.05). Training was also associated with improved occupational safety knowledge (aOR 3.85; 95%CI 1.66–8.95).
Conclusion
Kyrgyzstan’s experience suggest that police trainings have the potential to improve the integration of policing and public health efforts targeting at-risk groups. Regardless of the legal environment, such structural approaches should be considered elsewhere in Central Asia and beyond. As these initiatives gain acceptance, further research is needed to inform their design and tailoring.
This research was undertaken to inform future telehealth policy directions regarding the socioeconomic impact of telehealth. Fifty-seven sources were identified and analyzed through a comprehensive literature search of electronic databases, the Internet, journals, conference proceedings, as well as personal communication with consultants in the field. The review revealed a focus on certain socioeconomic indicators such as cost, access, and satisfaction. It also identified areas of opportunity for further research and policy analysis and development (e.g., social isolation, life stress, poverty), along with various barriers and challenges to the advancement of telehealth. These included confidentiality, reimbursement, and legal and ethical considerations. To become fully integrated into the health care system, telehealth must be viewed as more than an add-on service. This paper offers 19 general and 20 subject-specific telehealth recommendations, as well as seven policy strategies.
Frostbite represents a spectrum of injuries that can have long term, permanent sequelae, resulting in lifelong disability of otherwise young, fit, economically active individuals. Furthermore, it is generally preventable. Military personnel are put at risk of this condition by the nature of their occupation. With preventative measures, early recognition, appropriate evacuation and repatriation to a medical facility, the impact of this condition can be minimised.This article describes a case series of Royal Marines who were medically evacuated due to frostbite during an exercise, and a review of current evidence supporting the management of frostbite in the field environment through to definitive care.
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