Adam Briggs Profile picture
Sep 24, 2020 10 tweets 4 min read Read on X
Remarkable pre-print on adherence to Test & Trace guidance from @SusanMichie @louisesmith142.

TL/DR: 50% surveyed correctly recognise symptoms, 12% get a test, 18% isolate, 76% intend to share contacts, 11% of contacts isolate.

*not yet peer reviewed*

medrxiv.org/content/10.110…
Longitudinal survey including 31,737 people over 5 months from March.

Just 50% know COVID symptoms (no change over time)

Of those with COVID symptoms - just 18% isolated (getting worse over time) and 12% requested test (no change over time despite increasing test availability) ImageImageImage
Although 76% did say they would share details of close contacts (not far off T&T data but note, this is intended behaviour only, not actual) Image
Most disappointing, and what the gov is targeting with payments for those on low incomes and fines for non-compliance, is just 11% of contacts quarantined after being told by T&T that they're a contact.

With no change over time. Image
And the impact on inequalities that goes with everything COVID touches is here again.

Non adherence generally associated with being male, younger, having a dependent child, lower socioeconomic group, greater hardship, knowing less about the guidance, being a key worker.
Puts to population I tweet about every week into perspective.

They're a really selective group - choosing to get tested, to speak with T&T, to share contact information.

The reality is that many aren't getting tests (or can't), aren't isolating etc.

The reasons are going to be complex - can't afford to, need social/economic support, pressure to work, caring responsibilities, not being informed or trusting information, etc.
In summary, through to the beginning of August, half those surveyed correctly recognise symptoms, 12% request a test, 18% isolate when symptomatic, 76% intend to share contacts, and 11% of contacts isolate.
The discussion is great on teasing out the policy implications, but generally better information, financial support, social support, easy access to tests, and more trust in the guidance are going to help.

It's not about being defeatist, it's about doing things better. Image
We say some of this here.

I hope that policies aimed at increasing isolation & improving T&T have ongoing evaluations with published results, so we can see how effective policies are, their impact on inequalities, and to design betters ones next time.

health.org.uk/publications/l…

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More from @ADMBriggs

Jun 28, 2023
Out in @Telegraph today (no ££-wall)

Tl,dr: Scotland has shown that minimum unit pricing works but as deaths from alcohol rise, the government remains silent on alcohol policy in England.

telegraph.co.uk/global-health/…
Yesterday, the Scottish government published the final Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) evaluation report.

It showed:
- alcohol deaths ⬇️13%
- hospital admissions ⬇️4%
-⬇️inequalities
- no obv impact on business

publichealthscotland.scot/publications/e…
Public Health Scotland now supports MUP and Wales implemented it in 2020.

But England hasn't had a national alcohol strategy since 2012.

gov.uk/government/pub…
Read 16 tweets
Jun 17, 2023
I know I'm late to this news and shouldn't be in any way surprised, but it is still so utterly infuriating.

Delayed again until 2025 pending a review.

Very short🧵

bbc.co.uk/news/uk-659367…
Gov data shows how price promos are more likely to be applied to unhealthy junk food rather than healthier foods.

And rather than saving people ££, they can lead to around 22% *more* purchases than would otherwise happen, with *more* money spent and *more* consumption. Image
That's why companies use these promotions.

That's also why the policy was in the obesity strategy in the first place. The irony being that it is more likely to help than hinder the impact of the cost of living crisis on individuals and families.
Read 11 tweets
Mar 10, 2023
In today's @Telegraph, Sally O'Brien & I discuss @HealthFdn / @IpsosUK polling results on public attitudes to gov policy on alcohol, tobacco, & unhealthy food (no £-wall🔓)

🧵Tl,dr: While gov has a preference for individual responsibility, the public still think gov should act.
Gains in healthy life-expectancy have stalled, childhood obesity continues to rise, alcohol-related hospital admissions are up, and tobacco still causes over 500,000 admissions a year.

And there are huge inequalities with more deprived areas disproportionately impacted. ImageImageImageImage
Yet the recent trend of unwinding public health policy continues.

The tobacco control plan is unpublished, junk food ad bans have been delayed, plans for a national approach to health inequalities have gone & there's been nothing on alcohol since 2012.

health.org.uk/news-and-comme…
Read 19 tweets
Oct 27, 2022
This week's @UKHSA COVID and Flu surveillance report came out today.

tl,dr: COVID rates are falling but Flu case rates on the up, as is RSV.

gov.uk/government/sta…
First the good news. COVID cases in hospital clearly falling, in all ages, regions (except perhaps still plateauing in Yorkshire and Humber).

There's still a lag on cases in intensive care and on deaths, but they'll drop soon as well.
Flu, however, seems to be on the rise.

Overall case & admission rates are relatively low, but trending up.

And with a higher % of lab respiratory samples (sent in by dr from people with chest symptoms) testing for flu than at the same time in the past 5 yrs. i.e., it's early
Read 12 tweets
Oct 26, 2022
This is a really helpful and timely piece of work by @davidfinchthf.

Along with last week's @TheIFS report on how government ££ are spent, it's clear that we need to do more to align public health funding with local needs. 🧵

ifs.org.uk/publications/d…
Over the last decade, gains in life expectancy in England have stalled.
And it will be no surprise that the impact has not been felt evenly by everyone.

While life expectancy continues to increase for people living in the least deprived parts of the country, people from the most deprived communities are dying earlier.

It's entirely avoidable.
Read 22 tweets
Sep 13, 2022
This type of shortsighted policy review has reared its head again.

Health is an *asset* & the types of obesity policies being looked at here are exactly the ones that are both most effective AND most likely to narrow inequalities. 🧵

theguardian.com/politics/2022/…
Rates of obesity and overweight among children took a huge jump during the pandemic - particularly among more deprived communities.

In an average yr 6 class of 30, 12 will have overweight or obesity.

This thread discusses the data in detail 👇
Image
The government is aiming to halve childhood obesity by 2030 and reduce inequalities.

As have said previously, obesity is complex and multifaceted. No one policy will do it and instead it needs a multifaceted solution.

health.org.uk/publications/r…
Read 13 tweets

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