The FRESHAIR4Life study: Global implementation research on non-communicable disease prevention targeting adolescents’ exposure to tobacco and air pollution in disadvantaged populations

npj Primary Care Respiratory Medicine, vol. 34, pp. 14

Abstract

The FRESHAIR4Life study aims to reduce the non-communicable disease (NCD) burden by implementing preventive interventions targeting adolescents' exposure to tobacco use and air pollution (AP) worldwide. This paper presents the FRESHAIR4Life methodology and initial rapid review results. The rapid review, using various databases and PubMed, aimed to guide decision-making on risk factor focus, target areas, and populations. It showed variable NCD mortality rates related to tobacco use and AP across the participating countries, with tobacco as the main risk factor in the Kyrgyz Republic, Greece, and Romania, and AP prevailing in Pakistan and Uganda. Adolescent exposure levels, sources, and correlates varied. The study will continue with an in-depth situational analysis to guide the selection, adaptation, and integration of evidence-based interventions into the FRESHAIR4Life prevention package. This package will be implemented, evaluated, assessed for cost-effectiveness, and iteratively refined. The research places a strong emphasis on co-creation, capacity building, and comprehensive communication and dissemination.

Authors 18

1. Charlotte M. Hoffman corresponding Aachen Department of Public Health and Primary Care

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. c.m.hoffman@lumc.nl

   Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

2. Anke Versluis Aachen Department of Public Health and Primary Care

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

3. Sergiu Ioachim Chirila

   Ovidius University

   Affiliation as printed

   Faculty of Medicine, Ovidius University of Constanta, Constanta, Romania

4. Bruce Kirenga

   Makerere University

   Affiliation as printed

   Lung Institute & Department of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda

5. Amina Khan
   Affiliation as printed

   The Initiative, Islamabad, Pakistan

6. Saima Saeed

   Indus Hospital

   Affiliation as printed

   Indus Hospital and Health Network, Karachi, Pakistan

7. Talant Sooronbaev

   National Center of Cardiology and Internal Medicine

   Affiliation as printed

   National Center of Cardiology and Internal Medicine named after academician Mirrakhimov, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

8. Ioanna Tsiligianni

   University of Crete

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Social Medicine, University of Crete, Rethymno, Greece

9. D. K. Arvind

   University of Edinburgh

   Affiliation as printed

   School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

10. Linda Bauld

    University of Edinburgh

    Affiliation as printed

    Usher Institute and SPECTRUM Consortium, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

11. Floor A van den Brand

    Maastricht University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

12. Niels Henrik Chavannes Aachen Department of Public Health and Primary Care

    Leiden University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

13. Hilary Pinnock

    University of Edinburgh

    Affiliation as printed

    Allergy and Respiratory Research Group, Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

14. Pippa Powell

    European Lung Foundation

    Affiliation as printed

    European Lung Foundation, Sheffield, UK

15. Jurjen van der Schans

    University Medical Center Groningen · University of Groningen

    Affiliation as printed

    Unit of Global Health, Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

16. Kamran Siddiqi

    University of York

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK

17. Siân Williams
    Affiliation as printed

    International Primary Care Respiratory Group, London, UK

18. Rianne van der Kleij Aachen Department of Public Health and Primary Care

    Leiden University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands