Papers by Dr. James Gomes
Revue interdisciplinaire des sciences de la santé - Interdisciplinary Journal of Health Sciences, 2018
Radon is a known carcinogen found in indoor air that exists at higher than the federal reference ... more Radon is a known carcinogen found in indoor air that exists at higher than the federal reference level (200 Bq/m3) in about 10% of Canadian homes. Every year, over 3,000 people die from radon-induced lung cancer, which accounts for 16% of annual lung cancer deaths in Canada. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among non-smokers and is second among smokers. Children, women, and smokers from lower income groups are disproportionately affected. Although the Federal Government has reset the guideline (from the previous 600 Bq/m3 down to 200 Bq/m3) and provincial governments revised the building codes to limit exposure, there remain controversies with the latest scientific development in adopting strategies of radon management in Canada. This review applies an Integrated Population Health Framework to look at the relationships and interactions between population health determinants such as biology and genetics, environment and occupation, and social and economic factors, tha...
Revue interdisciplinaire des sciences de la santé - Interdisciplinary Journal of Health Sciences, 2010
Social media holds considerable potential for health promotion and other health intervention acti... more Social media holds considerable potential for health promotion and other health intervention activities, as it addresses some of the limitations in traditional health communication by increasing accessibility, interaction, engagement, empowerment and customization. The use of social media increases the potential for easy access to preventive medicine, interaction with health care providers, interprofessional communication in emergency management, and public health. However, more research is needed to determine its long term effectiveness and to maximize the strategic presence of health organizations on social networking websites. This paper provides encouraging information about the possibilities of using social media to improve access to health information and health care providers, as well as to promote positive health behaviour change. It is essential for health promotion organizations to capitalize on the opportunities provided by social media, in order to modernize strategies t...
Aerobiologia, 1997
The aim of this study, was to determine the prevalence of some respiratory symptoms and possible ... more The aim of this study, was to determine the prevalence of some respiratory symptoms and possible diseases among taxi drivers and manual workers. This prospective study was performed on 165 Pakistani male drivers, (mean age: 34.5 + 7.8 years) and 165 Pakistani male manual workers not exposed to dust or fumes, without occupational exposure to driving employed in the Water and Electricity Department and recruited as controls (mean age: 34.6 + 7.6 years and mean height and weight 169.8 + 6.0 cm and 71.9 + 10.9 kg). The data on chronic respiratory symptoms showed that taxi drivers had higher prevalence of symptoms than manual workers, being significantly greater for asthma (RR = 1.72; 95% CI = 1.00-2.88, P = 0.037); allergic rhinitis (RR = 2.41; 95~ CI = 1.46-3.94, P=0.0006); dyspnea (RR = 2.13; 95% CI = 1.22-3.71, P=0.009); and nasal catarrh (RR = 2.19; 95% CI = 1.22-3.91, P = 0.0106). Thirty percent of taxi drivers and 27~ of manual workers were smokers, there was no significant differences in the prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms between smokers and non-smokers. Lung function parameters in the taxi drivers were significantly lower than in manual workers group (P < 0.0001) except PEF parameter. When comparing the measured mean values of lung function parameters in the drivers among smokers and nonsmokers, there was no significant differences between smokers and nonsmokers. Also, a comparison of ventilatory capacity of paired predicted values with measured normal values showed statistically significant differences between predicted and measured values for taxi drivers and manual workers for FVC, FEV~, FEFz5 75 and PEF parameters except for FEV1/FVC test in manual workers. In conclusion, the results of the present study provide evidence regarding effects of such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and gases exposures on taxi drivers and long-term driving, which may be associated with the development of chronic respiratory symptoms and lung function impairment. 9 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B, 2008
American men have a lifetime risk of about 18% for prostate cancer diagnosis. Large international... more American men have a lifetime risk of about 18% for prostate cancer diagnosis. Large international variations in prostate cancer risks and increased risks among migrants from low-to high-risk countries indicate important roles for environmental factors. Major known risk factors include age, family history and country/ethnicity. Type 2 diabetes appears to reduce risk while high birth weight and adult height are linked to increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer. Limited evidence supports an association with a history of sexually transmitted infections. A meta-analysis of 8 cohort studies indicated no associations with plasma androgen, estrogen or sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels. However, there were dose-response relationships with baseline plasma testosterone levels in 2 studies that adjusted for other serum hormones and obesity. Finasteride (a drug that blocks testosterone activation) reduced prostate cancer risk by 25%. Low-frequency genes linked to familial prostate cancer only explain a small fraction of all cases. Sporadic cases were linked to relatively common polymorphisms of genes involved in (1) androgen synthesis, activation, inactivation and excretion, (2) hormone and vitamin D receptors, (3) carcinogen metabolism and (4) DNA repair. Epidemiologic evidence supports protective roles for dietary selenium, vitamin E, pulses, tomatoes/lycopene and soy foods and high plasma 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels. There is inadequate evidence that vegetables, fruit, carotenoids and vitamins A and C reduce risk and that animal fat, α-linoleic acid, meat, coffee and tea increase risk. Two major cohort studies found dose-response relationships with dietary calcium intake. Total dietary energy intake may enhance risk. Limited evidence supports a protective role for ! 4 ! 5 physical activity and elevated risk for farmers and other men with occupational pesticide exposure, particularly organochlorine compounds and phenoxy herbicides. There is inadequate evidence for a relationship with alcohol or smoking. Most known or suspected external risk factors may act through hormonal mechanisms but our review found little supporting evidence and substantial further research is needed.
Canadian Journal of Public Health, 2018
Canadians have reason to care about indoor air quality as they spend over 90% of the time indoors... more Canadians have reason to care about indoor air quality as they spend over 90% of the time indoors. Although indoor radon causes more deaths than any other environmental hazard, only 55% of Canadians have heard of it, and of these, 6% have taken action. The gap between residents' risk awareness and adoption of actual protective behaviour presents a challenge to public health practitioners. Residents' perception of the risk should inform health communication that targets motivation for action. In Canada, research about the public perception of radon health risk is lacking. The aim of this study was to describe residents' perceptions of radon health risks and, applying a theoretical lens, evaluate how perceptions correlate with protection behaviours. We conducted a mixed online and face-to-face survey (N = 557) with both homeowners and tenants in Ottawa-Gatineau census metropolitan area. Descriptive, correlation, and regression analyses addressed the research questions. Compared to the gravity of the risk, public perception remained low. While 32% of residents expressed some concern about radon health risk, 12% of them tested and only 3% mitigated their homes for radon. Residents' perceptions of the probability and severity of the risk, social influence, care for children, and smoking in home correlated significantly with their intention to test; these factors also predicted their behaviours for testing and mitigation. Health risk communication programs need to consider the affective aspects of risk perception in addition to rational cognition to improve protection behaviours. A qualitative study can explore the reasons behind the gap between testing and mitigation.
Global Journal of Health Science; Vol. 11, No. 2; 2019 ISSN 1916-9736 E-ISSN 1916-9744 Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education, 2019
Background: A devastating drought is ravaging Africa, with Ethiopia being the worst-hit country. ... more Background: A devastating drought is ravaging Africa, with Ethiopia being the worst-hit country. Ethiopia’s
economy is predominantly reliant on rain-fed farming and livestock. The agriculture sector contributes up to 85%
of the country’s livelihoods. The drought has threatened agro-economy and health of over 15 million
agro-pastoralist population who herd the largest livestock in Africa. Some governments announced its
commitment in the UN to extend support for the drought-affected people. The Sendai framework for Disaster Risk
Reduction prioritizes proactive rather than reactive relief response that can promote health resilience. Applying
population health matrices can serve the purpose by exploring the determinants of health, their impacts on the
differential health outcomes for population sub-groups and to improve the overall health of the population by
addressing the health inequity.
Objective: This study aims to identify the critical population health outcomes, underlying determinants, and the
leverage points for actions that can guide effective policies and interventions for building health resilience for the
vulnerable agro-pastoralist population in Ethiopia.
Methods: Two researchers searched nine academic and grey literature bibliographic databases for drought
literature and related health interventions. We used the PRISMA checklist to synthesize data and Hamilton tools to
evaluate individual study quality. We analyzed data employing disaster vulnerability and WHO’s social
determinants of health and health equity frameworks. Socioeconomic, political and cultural backgrounds are
examined to identify policy and leverage points for effective population health interventions.
Results: Health issues are diverse that revolve around the major determinants of health such as food security,
infrastructure, health systems, disaster preparedness, household productivity-income, livestock dependence and
access to the market economy. These determinants are further affected by socioeconomic, political and cultural
contexts. Despite dire vulnerability and health inequity, some potentials evolved from recent public health field
practices as the leverage points for policy actions and interventions.
Conclusion: The recommended interventions can be implemented through an interdisciplinary population health
approach to get the maximum impacts on health resilience. Evidence gathered from the worst drought niche in
Africa can be useful to tackle similar droughts induced health issues in other parts of the continent. Future
intervention research on the ground can generate robust evidence for action to build health resilience.
Canadian Journal of Public Health, A Publication of The Canadian Public Health Association, 2018
Objectives Canadians have reason to care about indoor air quality as they spend over 90% of the t... more Objectives Canadians have reason to care about indoor air quality as they spend over 90% of the time indoors. Although indoor
radon causes more deaths than any other environmental hazard, only 55% of Canadians have heard of it, and of these, 6% have
taken action. The gap between residents’ risk awareness and adoption of actual protective behaviour presents a challenge to
public health practitioners. Residents’ perception of the risk should inform health communication that targets motivation for
action. In Canada, research about the public perception of radon health risk is lacking. The aim of this study was to describe
residents’ perceptions of radon health risks and, applying a theoretical lens, evaluate how perceptions correlate with protection
behaviours.
Methods We conducted a mixed online and face-to-face survey (N = 557)with both homeowners and tenants inOttawa-Gatineau
census metropolitan area. Descriptive, correlation, and regression analyses addressed the research questions.
Results Compared to the gravity of the risk, public perception remained low. While 32% of residents expressed some concern
about radon health risk, 12% of them tested and only 3% mitigated their homes for radon. Residents’ perceptions of the
probability and severity of the risk, social influence, care for children, and smoking in home correlated significantly with their
intention to test; these factors also predicted their behaviours for testing and mitigation.
Conclusion Health risk communication programs need to consider the affective aspects of risk perception in addition to rational
cognition to improve protection behaviours. A qualitative study can explore the reasons behind the gap between testing and
mitigation.
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Papers by Dr. James Gomes
economy is predominantly reliant on rain-fed farming and livestock. The agriculture sector contributes up to 85%
of the country’s livelihoods. The drought has threatened agro-economy and health of over 15 million
agro-pastoralist population who herd the largest livestock in Africa. Some governments announced its
commitment in the UN to extend support for the drought-affected people. The Sendai framework for Disaster Risk
Reduction prioritizes proactive rather than reactive relief response that can promote health resilience. Applying
population health matrices can serve the purpose by exploring the determinants of health, their impacts on the
differential health outcomes for population sub-groups and to improve the overall health of the population by
addressing the health inequity.
Objective: This study aims to identify the critical population health outcomes, underlying determinants, and the
leverage points for actions that can guide effective policies and interventions for building health resilience for the
vulnerable agro-pastoralist population in Ethiopia.
Methods: Two researchers searched nine academic and grey literature bibliographic databases for drought
literature and related health interventions. We used the PRISMA checklist to synthesize data and Hamilton tools to
evaluate individual study quality. We analyzed data employing disaster vulnerability and WHO’s social
determinants of health and health equity frameworks. Socioeconomic, political and cultural backgrounds are
examined to identify policy and leverage points for effective population health interventions.
Results: Health issues are diverse that revolve around the major determinants of health such as food security,
infrastructure, health systems, disaster preparedness, household productivity-income, livestock dependence and
access to the market economy. These determinants are further affected by socioeconomic, political and cultural
contexts. Despite dire vulnerability and health inequity, some potentials evolved from recent public health field
practices as the leverage points for policy actions and interventions.
Conclusion: The recommended interventions can be implemented through an interdisciplinary population health
approach to get the maximum impacts on health resilience. Evidence gathered from the worst drought niche in
Africa can be useful to tackle similar droughts induced health issues in other parts of the continent. Future
intervention research on the ground can generate robust evidence for action to build health resilience.
radon causes more deaths than any other environmental hazard, only 55% of Canadians have heard of it, and of these, 6% have
taken action. The gap between residents’ risk awareness and adoption of actual protective behaviour presents a challenge to
public health practitioners. Residents’ perception of the risk should inform health communication that targets motivation for
action. In Canada, research about the public perception of radon health risk is lacking. The aim of this study was to describe
residents’ perceptions of radon health risks and, applying a theoretical lens, evaluate how perceptions correlate with protection
behaviours.
Methods We conducted a mixed online and face-to-face survey (N = 557)with both homeowners and tenants inOttawa-Gatineau
census metropolitan area. Descriptive, correlation, and regression analyses addressed the research questions.
Results Compared to the gravity of the risk, public perception remained low. While 32% of residents expressed some concern
about radon health risk, 12% of them tested and only 3% mitigated their homes for radon. Residents’ perceptions of the
probability and severity of the risk, social influence, care for children, and smoking in home correlated significantly with their
intention to test; these factors also predicted their behaviours for testing and mitigation.
Conclusion Health risk communication programs need to consider the affective aspects of risk perception in addition to rational
cognition to improve protection behaviours. A qualitative study can explore the reasons behind the gap between testing and
mitigation.
economy is predominantly reliant on rain-fed farming and livestock. The agriculture sector contributes up to 85%
of the country’s livelihoods. The drought has threatened agro-economy and health of over 15 million
agro-pastoralist population who herd the largest livestock in Africa. Some governments announced its
commitment in the UN to extend support for the drought-affected people. The Sendai framework for Disaster Risk
Reduction prioritizes proactive rather than reactive relief response that can promote health resilience. Applying
population health matrices can serve the purpose by exploring the determinants of health, their impacts on the
differential health outcomes for population sub-groups and to improve the overall health of the population by
addressing the health inequity.
Objective: This study aims to identify the critical population health outcomes, underlying determinants, and the
leverage points for actions that can guide effective policies and interventions for building health resilience for the
vulnerable agro-pastoralist population in Ethiopia.
Methods: Two researchers searched nine academic and grey literature bibliographic databases for drought
literature and related health interventions. We used the PRISMA checklist to synthesize data and Hamilton tools to
evaluate individual study quality. We analyzed data employing disaster vulnerability and WHO’s social
determinants of health and health equity frameworks. Socioeconomic, political and cultural backgrounds are
examined to identify policy and leverage points for effective population health interventions.
Results: Health issues are diverse that revolve around the major determinants of health such as food security,
infrastructure, health systems, disaster preparedness, household productivity-income, livestock dependence and
access to the market economy. These determinants are further affected by socioeconomic, political and cultural
contexts. Despite dire vulnerability and health inequity, some potentials evolved from recent public health field
practices as the leverage points for policy actions and interventions.
Conclusion: The recommended interventions can be implemented through an interdisciplinary population health
approach to get the maximum impacts on health resilience. Evidence gathered from the worst drought niche in
Africa can be useful to tackle similar droughts induced health issues in other parts of the continent. Future
intervention research on the ground can generate robust evidence for action to build health resilience.
radon causes more deaths than any other environmental hazard, only 55% of Canadians have heard of it, and of these, 6% have
taken action. The gap between residents’ risk awareness and adoption of actual protective behaviour presents a challenge to
public health practitioners. Residents’ perception of the risk should inform health communication that targets motivation for
action. In Canada, research about the public perception of radon health risk is lacking. The aim of this study was to describe
residents’ perceptions of radon health risks and, applying a theoretical lens, evaluate how perceptions correlate with protection
behaviours.
Methods We conducted a mixed online and face-to-face survey (N = 557)with both homeowners and tenants inOttawa-Gatineau
census metropolitan area. Descriptive, correlation, and regression analyses addressed the research questions.
Results Compared to the gravity of the risk, public perception remained low. While 32% of residents expressed some concern
about radon health risk, 12% of them tested and only 3% mitigated their homes for radon. Residents’ perceptions of the
probability and severity of the risk, social influence, care for children, and smoking in home correlated significantly with their
intention to test; these factors also predicted their behaviours for testing and mitigation.
Conclusion Health risk communication programs need to consider the affective aspects of risk perception in addition to rational
cognition to improve protection behaviours. A qualitative study can explore the reasons behind the gap between testing and
mitigation.