BackgroundAlcohol-related harm is a major global health issue, and controls on alcohol marketing are one intervention utilized by governments. This study investigated the use of Google Street View (GSV) as a novel research method for collecting alcohol-related data in the urban environment.MethodsThe efficacy of GSV and on-street observation by observer teams was compared by surveying 400 m stretches of 12 streets in Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. Data on alcohol sale, alcohol-related advertising, health promotion materials, regulatory information and visible alcohol consumption were collected.ResultsA total of 403 retailers with evidence of alcohol sales and 1161 items of alcohol-related communication were identified in on-street observation. Of the latter, 1028 items (89 %) were for alcohol marketing and 133 (11 %) were for alcohol-related health promotion and alcohol regulation. GSV was found to be a less sensitive tool than on-street observation with only 50 % of the alcohol venues identified and 52 % of the venue-associated brand marketing identified. A high degree of inter-observer reliability was generally found between pairs of observers e.g., for the detection of alcohol retail venues the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.93 (95 % CI: 0.78 to 0.98) for on-street observation and 0.85 (95 % CI: 0.49 to 0.96) for using GSV.ConclusionsGSV does not seem suitable for the comprehensive study of the influences on alcohol consumption in the urban streetscape. However, it may still have value for large, static objects in the environment and be more time efficient than traditional on-street observation measures, especially when used to collect data across a wide geographical area. Furthermore, GSV might become a more useful research tool in settings with better image quality (such as more ‘footpath views’) and with more regularly updated GSV imagery.
Self-harm is one of the top five causes of acute medical admission for adolescents in the UK. Maddie Burton explains how practice nurses can recognize and respond to this vulnerable patient group
Children and young people are increasingly experiencing mental health problems, including self-harm and suicidal behaviour. Maddie Burton explores the triggers of these two conditions and explains what practice nurses can do for their patients Children and young people’s mental health continues to be a cause for concern at a time of reduced mental health service provision. Worryingly, suicide and self-harm rates continue to rise. An estimated two hundred children and young people lose their lives annually through completed suicide. Half of that number will have a previous self-harm history. Practice nurses are often favoured by young people as being less stigmatising; therefore they can potentially provide opportunities for early help through being vigilant, informed, hearing the young person’s story and then knowing how to support and appropriately respond and signpost. This article explores both the differences between self-harm and suicidal behaviour, and how they are connected.
Eating disorders can have devastating effects on individuals and families. Maddie Burton explains the crucial role practice nurses can play in identifying and supporting patients Children and young people's mental health conditions have continued to increase. The NHS Digital 2017 survey found that 1 in 8 children have a diagnosable mental health condition. During the current COVID-19 pandemic numbers are set to increase. Eating disorders make up a relatively small proportion of these statistics but have some of the most devastating effects on individuals and families. Anorexia nervosa, as discussed here, has the highest morbidity of any mental health condition. The issues are complex and a challenge to understand for both professionals and families, over typically a protracted period of illness. However, all work with children, young people and their families presents a ‘window of opportunity’ in being able to resolve issues within a developmental phase prior to the more concrete adult phase. The risk is highest for young people between the ages of 13 and 17 years. There are several theoretical models that aid understanding of how and why eating disorders emerge and are maintained. Practice nurses in primary care can have a crucial role in early identification and can be found to be less stigmatising than mental health professionals. Practice nurses can have an ongoing role in remaining involved with the young person and their family and as part of the wider specialist support system.
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