ijerph-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Announcements

1 August 2025
World Breastfeeding Week—“Invest in Breastfeeding, Invest in the Future”, 1–7 August 2025


World Breastfeeding Week 2025, celebrated in the first week of August, calls on us to recognise breastfeeding as a powerful foundation for lifelong health, development, and equity. This year’s theme shines a spotlight on the critical gaps in the support systems that women and babies need throughout their breastfeeding journey. From access to timely information and quality care, to creating supportive environments at home, in healthcare settings, and in the workplace—women deserve to be empowered to breastfeed for as long as they choose.

Aligned with WHO’s “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures” initiative, breastfeeding is more than a personal choice, it is also a public health imperative. It delivers hope not only for individual children, but for communities and nations: reducing healthcare costs, supporting cognitive development, strengthening economies, and giving every child a healthier start in life.

In recognition of this global observance, we invite you to explore a curated collection of articles and Special Issues from selected MDPI journals. These open access resources offer critical insights into the barriers to breastfeeding initiation and continuation, including the roles of sociodemographic inequities, maternal physical and mental health, and long-term child health outcomes. These insights aim to support researchers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers in building systems that uplift and protect the breastfeeding journey, from the first latch to the final feed.

Together, through science, education, and empathy, we can foster a more inclusive world where mothers and babies thrive.

Breastfeeding and Intersectionality in the Deep South: Race, Class, Gender and Community Context in Coastal Mississippi
by John P. Bartkowski, Katherine Klee, Xiaohe Xu, Jacinda B. Roach and Shakeizia (Kezi) Jones
Women 2025, 5(2), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/women5020021

Influence of Perceived Maternal Self-Efficacy on Exclusive Breastfeeding Initiation and Consolidation: A Systematic Review
by Steven Saavedra Sanchez, Isabel Rodríguez-Gallego, Fatima Leon-Larios, Elena Andina-Diaz, Rosa Perez-Contreras and Juan D. Gonzalez-Sanz
Healthcare 2024, 12(23), 2347; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12232347

Subcutaneous Semaglutide during Breastfeeding: Infant Safety Regarding Drug Transfer into Human Milk
by Hanin Diab, Taylor Fuquay, Palika Datta, Ulrich Bickel, Jonathan Thompson and Kaytlin Krutsch
Nutrients 2024, 16(17), 2886; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16172886

Can Breastfeeding Prevent Long-Term Overweight and Obesity in Children? A Population-Based Cohort Study
by Carolina Roldão, Rita Lopes, Joana Matos Silva, Natália Neves, Joana Costa Gomes, Cristina Gavina and Tiago Taveira-Gomes
Nutrients 2024, 16(16), 2728; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16162728

Association of Breastfeeding and Early Childhood Caries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Sheetal Kiran Shrestha, Amit Arora, Narendar Manohar, Kanchana Ekanayake and Jann Foster
Nutrients 2024, 16(9), 1355; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16091355

Australian Women’s Experiences of Establishing Breastfeeding after Caesarean Birth
by Sharon L. Perrella, Sarah G. Abelha, Philip Vlaskovsky, Jacki L. McEachran, Stuart A. Prosser and Donna T. Geddes
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(3), 296; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21030296

Factors Influencing Duration of Breastfeeding: Insights from a Prospective Study of Maternal Health Literacy and Obstetric Practices
by Rafael Vila-Candel, Francisco Javier Soriano-Vidal, Cristina Franco-Antonio, Oscar Garcia-Algar, Vicente Andreu-Fernandez and Desirée Mena-Tudela
Nutrients 2024, 16(5), 690; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16050690                                          

The Impact of Mode of Delivery and Postpartum Conditions on Breastfeeding: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Anita Hulman, Annamária Pakai, Tímea Csákvári, Viola Keczeli and Katalin Varga
Healthcare 2024, 12(2), 248; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12020248

Examining the Role of Interpersonal Violence in Racial Disparities in Breastfeeding in North Dakota (ND PRAMS 2017–2019)
by MichaeLynn Kanichy (Makah), Lexie Schmidt, RaeAnn Anderson, Grace Njau, Amy Stiffarm (Aaniiih), Matthew Schmidt, Anastasia Stepanov and Andrew Williams
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(8), 5445; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20085445

Knowledge, Attitudes, Behavior, Acceptance, and Hesitancy in Relation to the COVID-19 Vaccine among Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women: A Systematic Review Protocol
by Vincenza Gianfredi, Alessandro Berti, Marilena D’Amico, Viola De Lorenzo and Silvana Castaldi
Women 2023, 3(1), 73-81; https://doi.org/10.3390/women3010006

Effects of Diet During Breastfeeding on Infants
Guest Editor: Dr. Giorgia Sebastiani
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2025

What’s New in Breastfeeding?
Guest Editor: Dr. Patricia Markham Risica
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 December 2025

 

1 August 2025
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | An Interview with the Author—Dr. Liam O’Neill


Name: Dr. Liam O’Neill
Affiliations: Department of Rehabilitation and Health Services, College of Health and Public Service, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA
Interests: mental health and law enforcement encounters; health disparities in vulnerable populations

“The Role of Mental Health, Recent Trauma, and Suicidal Behavior in Officer-Involved Shootings: A Public Health Perspective”
by Liam O’Neill
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(6), 945; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22060945
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/6/945

The following is a short interview with Dr. Liam O’Neill:

  1. Congratulations on your recent publication. Could you briefly introduce yourself and your current research focus?

My name is Liam O’Neill, and I am an associate professor at the University of North Texas. When the pandemic arrived in 2020, I began working on COVID-19 and its impact on children. I recently published a paper on the impact of COVID-19 on the homeless population.  However, now there is not as much emphasis on COVID-19, and the number of publications in this area has declined rapidly. And so, I began to research the urgent problem of gun violence in the US from a public health perspective. A huge obstacle for researchers is the lack of quality data about gun violence, especially the type of “big data” that is needed for this research. That is a theme of the current paper, including how hospital databases can fill this gap.  Gun violence is a huge topic, so I narrowed it down to focus on officer-involved shootings. This is my focus right now, and there are many interesting follow-up questions from this paper, such as the alarming increase in the use of the drug “crystal meth” and officer-involved shootings. This data set is unique, as it contains detailed data on both mental health and substance use. So, I approached this problem from a public health perspective, as opposed to law enforcement or psychology.

  1. Your recent studies tackle complex public health emergencies. What role do you see for real-time big data analytics in predicting and mitigating future health crises—whether infectious diseases or mental health emergencies?

I am very optimistic about it! I have taught health information systems since the 1990s.  For as long as I can remember, there has been a lot of hype surrounding the use of Electronic Health Records. For the longest time, the hype has outpaced the reality, which has led to a lot of frustration along the way.  With a lot of technology, it takes a long time to develop. Starting around 2012, there was a huge investment in health information technology. Around 2016, we finally made the transition from ICD9 to ICD10.  That was a game-changer, and it has been quite helpful to researchers. So, there has been a lot of improvement on the data side, and the quality of the data has been getting a lot better.  And it is only going to improve.  So it is really on the verge of becoming a disruptive innovation.

However, there are still definitely problems in terms of getting access to the data or certain kinds of data, such as the E-codes that pertain to social determinants. But I think that it is very promising for a whole bunch of things, such as predicting accidents and even the health effects of climate change. With the officer-involved shooting, it is similar to a plane crash because a plane crash is extremely rare. It is not a question of one thing going wrong, but, say, five things going wrong at once.  If four out of five go wrong, you are OK. But if that fifth thing goes wrong, then you have the accident.  In the vast majority of police encounters, there is no violence.  And even if there is violence, normally it is not going to escalate to the point of a shooting. There are also less lethal means of restraint.

As far as real-time data, there is about a one-year lag in data availability, as I am just now getting the data from 20204.

I am very optimistic. The quality and quantity of data have improved significantly over the years, and the pace of change is accelerating. Artificial intelligence is also a huge game-changer.

For years, the bottleneck has not been the data itself, but the shortage of people with the analytical skills to derive meaningful insights from the data. For many years, much of the top talent in data analytics has gone to big tech firms, such as Google or Amazon. Some of my former students went to work for Epic in Wisconsin, and they have performed quite well. More recently, health care has begun to attract some of the top talent in IT. One of my former students is now a Chief Information Officer at a large health care system. There are many interesting problems in health care to work on right now.

  1. Did you encounter any significant challenges while you were carrying out this research? And if so, how did you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges was the amount of data required. I needed almost 20 million hospital records. So that is why I had to use 7.5 years of data in order to get a sufficient sample size.

If I only have two years of data, I have only got about 20 officer-involved shootings. That is just not enough observations, in terms of statistical power.

Also, writing the computer code takes a lot of work. To operationalize the variables requires thousands and thousands of lines of code. And each step must be validated. For each variable, there could be 15 - 20 (ICD10-CM) codes associated with it.   

In terms of methods, there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes. You are limited in the methods section because it can be somewhat boring for the reader. The important thing is to include enough detail so that others can replicate your findings. What the reader wants to know is: “What are the findings?” and “Why does it matter?”.

  1. Could you share what your vision is for the future of your research and the kind of contributions you aspire to make in your field in the future?

There is a lot of exciting work being done on the boundaries between disciplines. For example, there is much potential to apply the tools of health economics to other areas, such as law enforcement and psychology. However, this approach requires a lot of data. The same basic methodology that has been used to identify the risk factors for COVID-19 in children can be used to identify the risk factors for officer-involved shootings. The methods are quite well-developed. It can also be used to address other questions, such as: What are the key differences between persons who are obsessed with suicide, also called “suicidal ideation”, as compared to those who take the next step and attempt suicide? These are hugely important questions! Moreover, there is an extensive literature in psychology about these issues. Yet there is not much research from the perspective of behavioral economics.

The importance of negative results is often overlooked, especially from a publication perspective. For example, at the onset of the pandemic, childhood asthma was thought to be a risk factor for developing COVID-19. Many parents kept their kids out of school based on these early guidelines. Further research found that children with asthma were not at greater risk for COVID-19. However, this was only clear in hindsight. With regards to officer-involved shootings, it is important to know what NOT to focus on. For example, the risk of an OIS drops significantly after age 60. Whereas dementia may be a huge problem for society, it does not appear to be a significant issue with regard to OIS. So, it is important to focus on those few causes that are associated with the majority of OIS incidents.

Many of these officer-involved shootings could be prevented. The evidence supports that most events were precipitated by a mental health crisis, such as the loss of a family member. If people had access to mental health services and access to medications to manage schizophrenia and addiction, many of these incidents could be prevented. By the time someone goes to Walmart and starts waving a knife around, by then it may be too late. However, it is still possible that crisis intervention teams could de-escalate the situation. What the evidence shows is that, in many cases, the subject is having a psychotic episode.  

  1. What motivated you to choose IJERPH for your submission, and how would you characterize your experience during the publication journey?

I have heard that this is a good journal, and I have read articles in this journal before; it has a good reputation, it has a good impact factor, and the fact that it is international is good.  They also do not get many articles about officer-involved shootings, because in most countries, that is not a problem.

The United States is unique in having so many officer-involved shootings. But I also mentioned in the paper that there were also firearm injuries to police officers in the database, because guns shoot in both directions. And so, I tried hard to be objective and unbiased. It is a very political issue. So, I just presented the evidence, based on what the data showed, and let the reader decide.

For example, homeless people accounted for more than three percent of the OIS incidents.  In my view, this is a huge problem for society, and I think we can do much better. Some may disagree, and that is fine. All I can do is bring attention to the problem and shine a light on what is happening.

My experience was quite good in terms of the journal. I thought the reviews were constructive and helpful.  I gave a thorough response to the reviews. I felt that they got it, like, in terms of my vision for the paper.  The publication process was timely, which is always a good thing.  I was also impressed with the proofreading stage they went through, line by line, to identify any potential errors. So, I appreciate that, because I am sure that it is going to end up improving the quality of the paper at the end of the day.

We sincerely appreciate Dr. O’Neill for sharing his valuable research on applying big data analytics to address critical public health challenges. His work provides important insights into data-driven approaches for improving health care outcomes and community safety. The journal wishes him continued success in his important contributions to advancing evidence-based solutions in these vital research areas.

31 July 2025
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO's Letter #25 - 8,000 Staff Worldwide, Korea Visit, 100,000 Preprints, Malaysia Roundtable, Canada Consortium Deal

Welcome to the MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter.

In these monthly letters, I will showcase two key aspects of our work at MDPI: our commitment to empowering researchers and our determination to facilitating open scientific exchange.


Opening Thoughts

Talent Drives Our Progress

For the first time in MDPI’s history, we now have over 8,000 colleagues across the company. I would like to take a moment to celebrate this milestone and acknowledge the driving force behind our growth and success: our people.

As the world’s leading fully open access publisher, MDPI has grown thanks to the dedication, talent, and teamwork of colleagues across the company. Already halfway through 2025, we’ve welcomed nearly 2,000 new colleagues. 

“Our achievements are also about the people behind them”

We now manage over 475 journals, with 298 receiving an Impact Factor, and hundreds more indexed in major databases, including 343 in Scopus, and 92 by PubMed. As the reach and impact of our journals continues to grow, so does the need for dedicated and qualified teams to support that growth. Thus, attracting and retaining exceptional talent remains a cornerstone of our success.

Our achievements are not just about the results of journal expansion, however: they’re about the people behind them. From our hardworking editors to our meticulous English editing and production teams – from our journal relationship specialists, public relations, marketing and communications professionals to our conference teams and the project teams behind Preprints, Scilit, SciProfiles, JAMS and more. Our success reflects the work of thousands of people showing up each day, taking pride in their work, and committed to excellence and service.

What we’re doing to support talent:

  • Investing in onboarding and training to help new colleagues feel welcomed and empowered to thrive.
  • Creating clearer career paths across all functions, from editorial to communications and beyond.
  • Launching mentorship programs and internal knowledge-sharing sessions to promote growth and collaboration.
  • Evolving our recognition and rewards programs to better celebrate your contributions.
  • Expanding our training systems and platforms.

MDPI’s in-house training department offers over 215 training courses, covering topics from editorial development to cross-cultural collaboration. In 2024 alone, we had 44 full-time trainers and 196 part-time training assistants supporting the learning and development needs of colleagues worldwide. These efforts ensure our teams are equipped with the skills and confidence to grow professionally and contribute meaningfully.

Over two-thirds of our workforce is editorial, and of our more than 5,400 editors, 87% hold a Master’s degree and 6% a PhD. Their collective contributions are central to delivering a high-quality publishing experience and supporting global academic communication.

As we celebrate this milestone, we also aim to continue on a path of steady and sustainable growth, one that balances journal expansion with investment in people, outreach, processes, and innovation. Together, we are shaping the future of open access and academic publishing. Thank you for your hard work, your ideas, and your commitment to serving the global research community.

Let’s continue working together to create a culture where great talent grows and every colleague feels valued.

Impactful Research

Visiting South Korea: Building Connections and Supporting the MDPI Seoul Office

In July, I had the opportunity to visit our team in Seoul and engage directly with academic communities in South Korea. The visit focused on deepening MDPI’s relationships with local universities, institutions, and partners, and supporting the great work of our colleagues at the MDPI Seoul office.

Korea Association of Private University Libraries (KAPUL) Conference

A highlight of the visit was our participation in the Korea Association of Private University Libraries (KAPUL) Conference, where we presented to over 100 academic librarians. I delivered a keynote speech titled “The Evolving Publishing Landscape: Open Access and Beyond,” while my colleague Dr. Jisuk Kang (Public Affairs Specialist) shared insights in her presentation, “Inside MDPI: Editorial Practices & Research Integrity.”

Facts & Figures: South Korea

  • South Korea is MDPI’s sixth-largest publishing country by article volume (over 90,000 MDPI papers published to date).
  • In 2024, Korea ranked 16th globally by total publications, and 6th (among these top 20 countries) by citation impact.
  • 52% of Korean publications in 2024 were OA – and 73% of those were Gold OA.
  • MDPI published about 20% of all OA papers from Korea in 2024.
  • Over 2,000 active Editorial Board Members from South Korea contribute to MDPI journals, with 11 Section Editors-in-Chief.
  • We currently have 11 Institutional Open Access Program agreements and two society partnerships in Korea:
    • Korean Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology (with MDPI journal Pharmaceutics)
    • Korean Tribology Society (with MDPI journal Coatings)

MDPI Seoul Office and the First Korea Salon

Our Seoul office serves as a regional hub for marketing, communications, and community engagement. It continues to grow in size and influence, prioritizing supporting scholar visits, conference sponsorships, and outreach events such as the recent MDPI Korea Salon.

The inaugural Salon, themed “Exploring Research Trends in Medical Publishing, Ethics, and AI,” brought together over 20 scholars and Editorial Board members serving MDPI journals.

Thank you to our guest speakers including Professors Young-Joon Surh of Seoul National University, Kwang-Sig Lee of Korea University, and Jin-Won Noh of Yonsei University who presented on the landscape of medicine in South Korea and across the globe. The Salon also included presentations from MDPI colleagues on Open Access, ethics, and how the IOAP can support researchers in this field.

“Our Seoul office continues to grow in size and influence”

Looking Ahead

MDPI is already the leading OA publisher in South Korea, yet challenges and misconceptions around OA and APCs remain. Visits like this one, along with the ongoing efforts of our Seoul office, are important to building understanding, trust, and long-term relationships with the local academic community.

A big thank-you to our colleagues in Seoul for their warm hospitality, professionalism, and energy! Our new office is well situated, staffed, and ready to grow. This visit marked an important step forward in our continued mission to support global research communities and advance Open Science.

Inside MDPI

Preprints.org Reaches 100,000 Preprints: A Major Milestone for MDPI and Open Science

In case you missed it, Preprints.org recently surpassed 100,000 preprints posted. This is a major milestone for our platform and one worth celebrating.

Preprints are a key pillar of the Open Science movement, which promotes transparency, equity, and faster knowledge-sharing through initiatives such as Open Access, Open Data, Open Source, and Open Peer Review. The benefits of Open Science extend beyond researchers, as they support funders, educators, policymakers, and the public in advancing discovery and innovation.

What is behind the 100,000 preprints milestone?

Since its launch in 2016, Preprints.org has grown into one of the world’s leading preprint platforms, now ranked fifth globally by publication volume.

More than 350,000 researchers have contributed, helping shape this dynamic and collaborative space for sharing early-stage research across all disciplines.

Read the full announcement here:
https://www.mdpi.com/about/announcements/12202

“Preprints.org has grown into one of the world’s leading preprint platforms”

Some quick facts worth noting:

  • About 56% of the preprints on Preprints.org are later published in peer-reviewed journals.
  • The platform is now indexed in Web of Science (Preprint Citation Index), Europe PMC, and Crossref, helping improve visibility and trust in the preprints shared.
  • Recent upgrades – including a revamped website, new features such as search subscriptions, curated reading lists, and community feedback tools (PREreview) – show our commitment to developing Preprints.org in line with researchers’ needs.

This growth and progress would not be possible without the dedication of the Preprints.org team, our Advisory Board members, screeners, and colleagues across MDPI who support the platform’s development. This milestone is a reminder of our shared mission: to accelerate scientific communication and build a more open, transparent, and inclusive research ecosystem.

I’m excited to see what’s ahead as we approach Preprints.org’s 10-year anniversary in 2026!

Coming Together for Science

Malaysia Media Roundtable: Educating on Open Access and MDPI’s Presence in Southeast Asia

At the end of June, I had the opportunity to participate in a strategic media roundtable in Kuala Lumpur, focused on raising awareness about the importance of Open Access (OA) and on MDPI’s growing presence in Southeast Asia.

We welcomed five Malaysian media outlets for an engaging private session that included presentations and open discussion.

I gave an overview of the benefits of Open Access, MDPI’s global developments, and our collaborations in Malaysia.

My colleague Yu Nwe Soe (Public Relations Specialist), presented on our editorial process, helping to clarify how MDPI supports authors and maintains research quality.

We were also joined by two local Editorial Board Members (EBMs) who offered first-hand insights into their experiences working with MDPI and how OA has shaped their publishing choices.

The discussion covered a range of questions from the press, from OA publishing models to editorial standards, and highlighted MDPI’s unique contribution to accelerating scientific communication in the region.

As the leading fully OA publisher, we see it as our responsibility to continue educating research communities and the broader public on the impact of OA, especially in emerging and high-growth academic markets.

Spotlight on Malaysia

Malaysia continues to rise as a regional research hub, with five universities ranked in the global top 200 and 11 subjects in the global top 50. In 2024, Malaysia ranked 2nd in Southeast Asia in total publication output, 10th in Asia, and 25th globally.

MDPI’s presence in Malaysia:

  • Over 21,000 research articles published to date from Malaysian institutions
  • More than 1,100 articles published in 2024 alone
  • In the period 2020–2024, 54% of Malaysia’s total publications were OA
  • 36 EBMs from Malaysia, across 27 MDPI journals
  • Around 100 conferences sponsored in Malaysia in the past five years
  • MDPI is hosting the 2nd International Conference on AI Sensors and Transducers in Kuala Lumpur (29 July- 3 August 2025)

Media Coverage & Editorial Voices

Following the roundtable, we saw positive coverage across several local outlets, with articles highlighting MDPI’s role in empowering Malaysian researchers. Notable pieces included:

Our local EBMs also shared their perspectives:

Prof. Denny Ng Kok Sum (Sunway University, EBM of MDPI journal Processes) and Prof. Lee (EBM of MDPI journal Bacteria) share their experiences with MDPI and the role Open Access plays in their publication decisions.

“We see it as our responsibility to continue educating research communities on the impact of OA”

“I didn’t want my work stuck behind a paywall.”
— Prof. Denny Ng Kok Sum, Sunway University, Processes Editorial Board Member

“Open Access opens doors for collaboration and visibility, especially in fast-developing regions like ours.”
— Prof. Lee, Bacteria Editorial Board Member

This roundtable marked another step in building trust, understanding, and collaboration in Southeast Asia. A big thank-you to the MDPI Malaysia team and all those who contributed to the event’s success.

Closing Thoughts

MDPI Signs First North American Agreement with Canadian Consortium

We are proud to announce a major milestone for MDPI Canada and an important step forward for OA in North America.

In July, our Toronto office finalized MDPI’s first North American consortium agreement with the Federal Science Libraries Network (FSLN). This is a significant achievement that strengthens our expansion in Canada and reinforces our global commitment to supporting Open Science.

This two-year agreement gives Canadian federal agencies access to MDPI’s IOAP, including discounted article processing charges for affiliated researchers across our portfolio of over 475 OA journals. It lowers barriers for Canadian scientists to share their work more openly and reach a global audience.


Ryan Siu, Institutional Partnerships Manager at MDPI.

“The Open Science landscape in Canada is rapidly evolving, with the Tri-Agency Open Access Policy set for renewal by the end of 2025. This reflects ongoing efforts to foster greater scientific transparency and accessibility at a national policy level,” says Ryan Siu, Institutional Partnerships Manager at MDPI.

“Our new agreement with FSLN represents our shared commitment to further these efforts and foster wider readership. By aligning with these initiatives, we make progress towards research that’s both inclusive and impactful, benefiting local and global communities alike.”

Participating FSLN institutions include:

  • Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
  • Environment and Climate Change Canada
  • Health Canada
  • National Research Council Canada
  • Natural Resources Canada

By partnering with some of Canada’s largest science-based agencies, we reaffirm our goal of advancing OA across continents. We look forward to developing our support for Canadian researchers and continuing to drive progress in Open Science across North America and beyond.

Stefan Tochev
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG

31 July 2025
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | An Interview with One of the Authors—Prof. Dr. Arthur Frank


Name: Prof. Dr. Arthur Frank
Affiliations: Department of EOH, Drexel University School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA

“Epidemiological Trends in Mesothelioma Mortality in Colombia (1997–2022): A Retrospective National Study”
by Luisa F. Moyano-Ariza, Guillermo Villamizar, Giana Henríquez-Mendoza, Arthur Frank and Gabriel Camero
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(5), 787; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22050787
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/5/787

The following is a brief interview with Prof. Dr. Arthur Frank:

1. Congratulations on your recent publication! Could you briefly introduce yourself and your current research focus?
Yes, my name is Arthur Frank. I am a clinical professor and chair emeritus at the Drexel University School of Public Health. But I am also a professor of medicine and a professor of civil, architectural and environmental engineering.
My main focus of research for more than 50 years now has been the health effects of asbestos. I started as a medical student at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, which was actively involved in asbestos-related research. I started there in the first class when the school opened in 1968 and have been engaged in asbestos research ever since, and that is what the publications are all about. I have been an academic physician my whole career.

2. What’s one major challenge in addressing environmental cancer risks that your work helps tackle?
Well, the major challenge from a public health standpoint is that only about 70 countries out of about 200 in the world have banned the use of asbestos. It is a material that nobody needs. There are certainly available substitutes and other materials that can be used. Even here in the United States, we have had no official ban except for certain products, and even now the industry is fighting; they have just gone to court to overturn and put on hold for the moment the most recent ban put in place, which was only for one fibre type. There are six fibre types of asbestos, and only for six conditions of use of that one fibre type was banned, and even that was too much for the industry to put up with.
So, they are fighting to put that ban recently put in place aside; they managed in 1989 to put a major ban aside. Countries in the EU and many mid-level and developing countries have used asbestos in the past, but have now banned it, and we know that the major user of asbestos is now the country of India, where, I believe, last year, they had about 1.4 million tonnes of asbestos. They have replaced China as the world’s No.1 user, and Russia continues to be the No.1 producer, with other major production in Kazakhstan and a few other countries. So, the biggest problem is stopping the use so that people will no longer get preventable diseases.
What we know is that even if we stopped it all over the world today, there would still be disease for at least 50 years forward because of the long latency of disease caused by asbestos. We no longer have any questions about whether it is a toxic material if it is a carcinogenic material. There are still some scientific questions of interest from a scientific point of view, not from a public health point of view; do the different fibres have equal or different abilities to cause disease? There are some cancers that some of us believe do occur, while others are still questioning. And a major issue around the world is the millions and millions of miles of asbestos cement pipes, which release asbestos fibres into drinking water, and many of us believe can cause gastrointestinal, kidney and other cancers potentially.

3. What common misconception about environmental links to health risk would you most like to clarify for the public?
I think the most common misconception is the untrue information. Some are telling people there is no such thing as climate change, that asbestos is not a hazard; it has been called by some people a hoax, which it is not. It was shown to be a disease-causing entity as far back as more than a hundred years ago, long before the country they accused ever got involved with the issue. Cancer has been known for about 80 years in terms of our ability to produce cancer. So, I feel that the biggest problem those of us have in the public health arena is to be honest. Scientifically supported information out there. We see that it is under attack in many ways, literally. Several days ago, the vaccine group for the CDC here in the United States met and decided to ban a material that no one has shown to be harmful, as it is used in vaccines. Fortunately, it only effects less than 5% of the vaccine supply for the flu vaccine here in the United States, but there is so much misinformation and so much unwillingness to admit in the world of environmental science and environmental health that there are real dangers to the planet and they will continually and most acutely affect the poorest people and the poorest nations around the world. In countries like Bangladesh, much of the arable land will be under water Islands, all over the world, we will see populations having to move because they will be underwater and to not recognise that the increasing heat in the planet comes from man-made activities which we need to reverse is the saddest thing that we see now in the field of environmental health.

4. Did you encounter any significant challenges while conducting your research? If so, how did you overcome them?
Well, there are always challenges in doing research. I find it interesting as a scientist (and I have worked at foreign academic institutions.) that there is a certain, and I do not mean this in a real negative sense, but a certain arrogance we have as scientists to ask people or companies or others to give us money because we have ideas and to support research, be it basic research, be it translational research. We ask for funding and for our support to come from not building things necessarily, not making widgets, even as a physician, not doing clinical care, which I have done most of my career, but we have, as researchers, ideas that we want to fund and we have to do proper science to answer certain questions, which then can lead to the betterment of mankind.
The other problem is that there has never been in my career sufficient stable funding that goes on and on. We see funding for research under attack right now, and personally, even about 40 years ago or longer, I was in the midst of a three-year project which, when a new administration came in, because a whole series of projects had been given funding under “special topics” as the headline, decided they did not need anything that was “special” and took away the grant funds in the middle of wherever anybody's grant was. So, I had an educational grant to educate physicians about occupational and environmental health, which, to this day, 40 years later, they still know very little about and get very little training in medical education.
It is the long-term stability and recognition of the importance of funding that, over the long term, saves lives and makes all of our societies better.

5. Could you share your experience of publishing in IJERPH?
It was one of the easier journals to be published in. I have been publishing ever since I was a college student. I published my first paper back in the 1960s, as someone who has above 200 or 250 publications. Now, some journals make it easy, some make it hard. This publication was pretty straightforward. What I found was that in the old days, you would send in a typescript, much easier than what is asked of us now, it would be typeset, and you would get a set of galleys; you could correct those.

We thank Dr. Frank for taking the time and sharing his expertise, and we look forward to seeing his continued efforts in contributing to a safer and healthier future. Wishing him all the best with his research and upcoming publications!

30 July 2025
MDPI’s Journal Cluster of Healthcare Sciences and Services

Healthcare sciences and services is an interdisciplinary field focused on improving medical care and patient wellbeing by integrating research, technology, policy, management, and clinical practice. The primary aim of this field is to improve the quality and safety of care not only for individuals but also the wider global community by addressing public health challenges. By focusing on a wide range of topics such as disease prevention, treatment and long-term care, healthcare management, and informatics and digital health, this field ensures that care is effective, efficient, and centred around the needs of patients.

MDPI’s healthcare sciences and services cluster of journals has the mission to publish innovative research that will advance and improve how healthcare is delivered and managed. This cluster provides researchers and professionals with diverse publishing opportunities, ensuring that their work reaches the most relevant audiences and makes a meaningful impact across the field of health sciences and services.

The seven participating journals are as follows:

  • Geriatrics (ISSN: 2308-3417) focuses on the health and healthcare of older people, with special emphasis on geriatric biology, geriatric health services research, geriatric medicine research, geriatric neurology, stroke, cognition and oncology, geriatric surgery, geriatric physical functioning, physical health and activity, geriatric psychiatry and psychology, geriatric nutrition, geriatric epidemiology, and geriatric rehabilitation. Geriatrics is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Ralf Lobmann (Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Geriatrics, Clinical Centre Stuttgart—Katharinenhospital, Germany);
  • The Journal of Ageing and Longevity (JAL, ISSN: 2673-9259) focuses on ageing, longevity, and gerontology, with special emphasis on the biology of ageing, the neurological aspects of ageing, the medical aspects of ageing, the physical aspects and issues of ageing, the psychological aspects of ageing, the public health and epidemiology of ageing, healthcare in ageing, and gerontechnology. JAL is led by Editors-in-Chief, Prof. Dr. Graham P. Pawelec (1Department of Immunology, University of Tübingen, Germany; 2Health Sciences North Research Institute, Sudbury, Canada) and Prof. Dr. Mark A. Tully (School of Medicine, Ulster University, UK);
  • Healthcare (ISSN: 2227-9032) publishes original theoretical and empirical work in the interdisciplinary area of all aspects of medicine and healthcare research. This journal covers topics related to all aspects of medicine and healthcare research, including nursing, health assessment, early diagnosis, intensive care, health informatics, digital healthcare, mental health, patient safety, healthcare and sustainability, and health policy, as well as the treatment of short-term but severe illnesses, injuries, or other health conditions. Healthcare is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Lorraine S. Evangelista (Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, University of California, USA);
  • Hospitals (ISSN: 2813-4524) covers all aspects of hospitals and healthcare institutions, including administration, clinical care, infrastructure, technology, economics, and workforce management. It emphasizes innovations in patient care, digital transformation, ethical practices, and public health roles, particularly in crisis response and global health equity. The scope also addresses challenges in low-resource settings, policy impacts, and strategies for sustainable, high-quality healthcare delivery. Hospitals is led by Editor-in-Chief Dr. Francisco Epelde (Internal Medicine Department, Hospital de Sabadell, University Autonoma of Barcelona, Spain);
  • Hygiene (ISSN: 2673-947X) focuses on healthcare epidemiology, public health, and environment-related hygiene, with special emphasis on hygiene and epidemiology, global and environmental health, the surveillance and prevention of healthcare-associated infections, and infection prevention and control. We also welcome submissions with a focus on best practices that help maintain health and prevent the spread of diseases. Hygiene is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Fernando Pérez-Rodríguez (Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Veterinary, Agrifood Campus of International Excellence, University of Cordoba, Spain);
  • The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH, ISSN: 1660-4601) focuses on content related to health promotion and disease prevention, with special emphasis on global health, healthcare sciences, behavioural and mental health, infectious diseases, chronic diseases and disease prevention, exercise and health-related quality of life, and environmental health and environmental sciences. IJERPH is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Paul B. Tchounwou (RCMI Center for Urban Health Disparities Research and Innovation, Richard N. Dixon Research Center, Morgan State University, USA);
  • Nursing Reports (ISSN: 2039-4403) aims to influence the art and science of nursing by making rigorously conducted research accessible and understood to the full spectrum of practicing nurses, academics, educators, and interested members of the public. The journal aims to make a unique and important contribution to nursing and the broader healthcare community by addressing topics, theories, and issues that concern the discipline of nursing, including research, practice, policy, and education. Nursing Reports is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Richard Gray (School of Nursing and Midwifery, La Trobe University, Australia).

Journals

Launch Year

Impact Factor (2024)

CiteScore (2024)

Time to First Decision (Median)

APC (CHF)

2016

2.1

3.4

19.5 days

1800

2021

/

/

23.3 days

1000

2013

2.7

4.7

21.5 days

2700

2024

/

/

19 days

1000

2021

/

2.6

18.1 days

1000

2004

/

8.5

27.8 days

2500

2011

2.0

2.8

27.5 days

1800

MDPI’s mission and values:

As a pioneer in academic open access publishing, MDPI has been serving the scientific community since 1996. Our aim is to foster scientific exchange in all forms and across all disciplines. MDPI's guidelines for disseminating open science are based on the following values and guiding principles:

  • Open Access—All our content is published in open access format and distributed under a Creative Commons License, providing free access to the latest research and allowing articles to be freely shared and content to be re-used with proper attribution;
  • Timeliness and Efficiency—We rapidly publish novel research through a thorough editorial process, ensuring that a first decision is provided to authors in under 32 days and that papers are published within 7–10 days upon acceptance;
  • Simplicity—We offer user-friendly tools and services on our integrated system to enhance the efficiency of our editorial process;
  • High-Quality Service—We support scholars and their work by providing a range of options, such as publication in journals at mdpi.com, early publication at preprints.org, and the publication of conferences at sciforum.net, to positively impact research;
  • Flexibility—We adapt and develop new tools and services to meet the changing needs of the research community, driven by feedback from authors, editors, and readers;
  • Rooted in Sustainability—We ensure the long-term preservation of published papers and support the future of science through partnerships, sponsorships, and awards.

By adhering to these values and principles, MDPI remains committed to advancing scientific knowledge and promoting open science practices.

Selected Topics:

Selected Articles:

Geriatrics
Pulmonary Diseases in Older Patients: Understanding and Addressing the Challenges
by Pushpa Raj Joshi
Geriatrics 2024, 9(2), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics9020034

Journal of Ageing and Longevity
Association between Malnutrition Risk Factors and Physical Function in Community-Dwelling Adults ≥80 Years
by Sussi F. Buhl, Pia Ø. Olsen, Trine Thilsing and Paolo Caserotti
J. Ageing Longev. 2023, 3(1), 33-45; https://doi.org/10.3390/jal3010003

Healthcare
Overcoming Barriers: A Comprehensive Review of Chronic Pain Management and Accessibility Challenges in Rural America
by Maxwell B. Baker, Eileen C. Liu, Micaiah A. Bully, Adam Hsieh, Ala Nozari, Marissa Tuler and Dhanesh D. Binda
Healthcare 2024, 12(17), 1765; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12171765

Hospitals
Does Hospital–Physician Integration Improve Hospital Performance? Results from a USA Longitudinal Study
by Soumya Upadhyay, Randyl A. Cochran and William Opoku-Agyeman
Hospitals 2024, 1(2), 172-184; https://doi.org/10.3390/hospitals1020014

Hygiene
The Antimicrobial Resistance Pandemic Is Here: Implementation Challenges and the Need for the One Health Approach
by Elena Ponzo, Silvia De Gaetano, Angelina Midiri, Giuseppe Mancuso, Presti Giovanna, Danna Giuliana, Sebastiana Zummo and Carmelo Biondo
Hygiene 2024, 4(3), 297-316; https://doi.org/10.3390/hygiene4030024

IJERPH
An Evidence-Based Guide for Delivering Mental Healthcare Services in Farming Communities: A Qualitative Study of Providers’ Perspectives
by Rebecca Purc-Stephenson, Nicole Roy, Adachukwu Chimaobi and Deanna Hood
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(6), 791; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21060791

Nursing Reports
Moral Resilience Reduces Levels of Quiet Quitting, Job Burnout, and Turnover Intention among Nurses: Evidence in the Post COVID-19 Era
by Petros Galanis, Ioannis Moisoglou, Aglaia Katsiroumpa, Irene Vraka, Olga Siskou, Olympia Konstantakopoulou and Daphne Kaitelidou
Nurs. Rep. 2024, 14(1), 254-266; https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep14010020

29 July 2025
Meet Us at the 61st Annual Meeting European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD 2025), 15–19 September 2025, Vienna, Austria


Conference: 61st Annual Meeting European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD 2025)
Date: 15–19 September 2025
Location: Vienna, Austria

MDPI will be attending the 61st Annual Meeting European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD 2025), which will be held from 15 to 19 September 2025, as an exhibitor. We welcome researchers from diverse backgrounds to attend and share their latest ideas with us.

The EASD Annual Meeting is an excellent opportunity to stay up to date with recent developments in the diabetes field. The programme features groundbreaking basic research, cutting-edge clinical trial results and in-depth expert debates. We are pleased to attend the conference and also meet with colleagues from around the world and be part of the key discussions that will shape the future of diabetes research and care. Your participation will significantly contribute to the medical discourse and enhance the conference’s impact within the diabetes field.

The following open access journals will be represented at the conference:

  • Biomedicines;
  • Diabetology;
  • JCM;
  • Medicina;
  • IJERPH;
  • Obesities;
  • Nutrients;
  • Biomolecules;
  • LabMed;
  • Lipidology;
  • Metabolites;
  • Endocrines.

If you are planning to attend the above conference, please do not hesitate to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at the booth and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://www.easd.org/annual-meeting/easd-2025.html.

24 July 2025
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | An Interview with One of the Authors—Dr. Barbara Snoeker


Name:
Dr. Barbara Snoeker
Affiliations: Center for Prevention, Lifestyle and Health, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, 3721 MA Bilthoven, the Netherlands
Interests: physical activity, public health, epidemiology

“Physical Activity Friendliness of Neighborhoods: Do Subjective and Objective Measures Correspond Within a Mid-Sized Dutch Town?”
by Thomas G. Kuijpers, H. Susan J. Picavet, Jeroen Lakerveld, Johannes Mark Noordzij, G.C. Wanda Wendel-Vos and Barbara A. M. Snoeker
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(4), 536; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040536
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/4/536

The following is a short interview with Dr. Barbara Snoeker:

1. Could you briefly introduce yourself and your current research to our readers?
My name is Dr. Barbara Snoeker, and I work as a clinical epidemiologist and senior researcher at the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment in the Netherlands. I have always been passionate about the role of physical activity and its impact on health. My current research focuses on the role of physical activity and public health. At the Institute, I am the project leader of several projects. The purpose of our projects is to combine scientific research, policy, and practice, in order to inform evidence-based policymaking in the Netherlands. One key focus is monitoring physical activity behavior among the Dutch population, currently through questionnaires, while exploring the potential of accelerometers as a more accurate method of data collection. Additionally, I lead research on 24/7 physical activity behavior patterns to better understand how people distribute their movement throughout the day and week, and how that impacts their health. We are also developing a model to estimate the impact of physical activity policies on public health, quality of life, and associated costs. Finally, in our most recent study, we examined how objective and subjective measures of physical activity-friendly environments relate to physical activity levels, with new findings forthcoming that integrate accelerometer data to measure actual physical activity.

2. What difficulties or innovations did you encounter in your research?
One major challenge in our research relates to the mismatch between objective and subjective measures of physical activity-friendly environments. While a neighborhood might appear ideal on paper—green spaces, playgrounds, safe paths—the reality experienced by residents may differ significantly. For instance, access might be restricted, or people may not use the facilities that objectively classify an area as physical activity-friendly. This disconnect underscores the need to supplement objective data with subjective perspectives to understand how people engage with their environment. Without subjective input, policymakers may overlook critical barriers to physical activity.
On a broader level, a persistent challenge in the field is encouraging people to be more active in a world where inactivity is often easier. Policymakers must not only provide supportive infrastructure, but also ensure environments are truly conducive to healthy behavior.

3. What motivated you to conduct research in this field?
I have always been passionate about the role of physical activity in health. It’s a simple yet powerful way to prevent many non-communicable diseases and improve overall well-being. Despite its clear benefits, it’s often undervalued, especially since many of its advantages unfold over time.
My work is driven by the desire to contribute to a healthier society—not just in the Netherlands, but globally. Helping people to make sustainable health choices and informing policymakers with strong evidence are what keep me motivated.

4. How do you evaluate current research trends in your field, and what advice would you give to early career researchers starting their PhD?
Our recent study reinforces findings from earlier research—namely, that subjective and objective measures often diverge. So instead of chasing novelty, I believe the field needs to shift toward practical impact. We should ask: “How can environments be made healthier in ways that people experience?”, and future research should listen more closely to the communities we study. Understanding people’s motivations and barriers through qualitative research is crucial. Combining quantitative data with interviews or focus groups—what we call mixed-methods research—offers a richer, more actionable picture. For new researchers, I’d advise finding a topic that genuinely excites you. Identify your niche, connect with others in the field, and stay focused on the impact your work can make. Pursue a PhD not just for the title, but because you care deeply about the questions you’re exploring.

5. How did you hear about IJERPH, and what was your impression of the publication process?
The first author of our manuscript recommended IJERPH based on a previous positive experience. I found the process very smooth. The submission system was user-friendly, communication was fast, and even when the turnaround felt a bit rushed, we were able to request more time. Overall, it was a very positive experience, and I would be happy to publish with IJERPH again.

23 July 2025
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | An Interview with One of the Authors—Ms. Sasha Johnston


Name: Ms. Sasha Johnston
Affiliations: Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 2JD, UK; South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol BS16 IDE, UK

Why Do Emergency Medical Service Employees (Not) Seek Organizational Help for Mental Health Support?: A Systematic Review
by Sasha Johnston, Polly Waite, Jasmine Laing, Layla Rashid, Abbie Wilkins, Chloe Hooper, Elizabeth Hindhaugh and Jennifer Wild
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(4), 629; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040629

  1. Could you briefly introduce yourself and your current research focus?
    Thank you. My name is Sasha Johnston, and I am a paramedic by profession, currently working with the South Western Ambulance Service in England. I’m also undertaking a Doctoral Fellowship funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research at the University of Oxford. My research focuses on employee well-being in emergency services, particularly examining the cultural barriers and facilitators that influence ambulance staff’s access to mental health support services. While support programs are increasingly available, their uptake remains low, despite the high prevalence of mental health challenges in this workforce. My work seeks to understand and improve this situation.
  2. What were the main challenges or breakthroughs in conducting this research?
    Conducting research in a live emergency environment is inherently difficult—there are constant 999 calls, staffing shortages, and high-pressure settings. The emergency services field is less mature in terms of research infrastructure compared to hospital or nursing contexts. Yet ambulance services play a critical role in patient outcomes, as about 50% of patients in UK hospital beds arrive via ambulance. This underlines the importance of developing a research base that is rooted in the unique realities of prehospital care, rather than relying solely on hospital-based findings.
  3. What motivates your research in this field?
    My motivation is deeply personal. After 17 years of work I loved, I experienced a traumatic incident that shifted my sense of safety. I was fortunate to have access to support services, but many colleagues have not been so lucky—some have died by suicide. Since 2018, we have recorded 55 such cases among ambulance staff in England. My goal is to foster a system where staff feel safe, supported, and empowered to seek help without stigma. Healthy staff deliver better patient care, and that connection drives my work.
  4. How would you describe current trends in your field, and what advice would you give to early-career researchers?
    We’re seeing a welcome shift toward integrated, multidisciplinary approaches—combining public health, social science, and frontline experience. There’s also an emphasis on co-production, where employees and stakeholders are involved from the start of the research process. For early-career researchers, I recommend attending conferences, networking, and saying yes to new opportunities. I’ve been lucky to receive NIHR support and work with incredible supervisors. Finding the right people and mentors is crucial, especially in under-researched fields like emergency services.
  5. What was your experience publishing with IJERPH, and why did you choose this journal?
    Choosing the right journal was important. IJERPH was a great fit for our systematic review, especially because of its relevance and open access model. The publishing process was smooth—reviewers understood our methodology and provided constructive feedback, particularly around balancing detail with clarity in the manuscript. Communication with the editorial team was excellent, and having this interview opportunity is a wonderful bonus. I’m already working on a follow-up qualitative study and would be happy to submit again to IJERPH or other MDPI journals.

23 July 2025
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | An Interview with Authors—Ms. Paulien Tensen and Ms. Francisca Gaifém


Name: Ms. Paulien Tensen
Affiliations: 1 Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands; 2 Amsterdam Health & Technology Institute, 1105 BP Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Name: Ms. Francisca Gaifém
Affiliations: Research Unit for Global Health, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark

Electronic Personal Health Records for Mobile Populations: A Rapid Systematic Literature Review
by Paulien Tensen, Francisca Gaifém, Simeon Kintu Paul, Frederick Murunga Wekesah, Princess Ruhama Acheampong, Maria Bach Nikolajsen, Ulrik Bak Kirk, Ellis Owusu-Dabo, Per Kallestrup, Charles Agyemang and Steven van de Vijver
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(4), 488; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040488

The following is a short interview with Ms. Paulien Tensen and Ms. Francisca Gaifém:

1. Congratulations on your recent publication! Could you briefly introduce yourself and your current research focus?

Francisca Gaifém: I am currently a research assistant at the Global Health Research Unit at Aarhus University in Denmark. My academic background is in pharmaceutical sciences and global health. Over the years, I have been involved in a number of research projects addressing migration and health, including topics such as sexual and reproductive health, mental health, healthcare equity and, most recently, digital health. My research interests are rooted in understanding and addressing barriers to healthcare for populations living in vulnerable circumstances.

Paulien Tensen: I am a PhD student working on the use of electronic personal health records to improve the continuity of care for mobile populations. I am also actively involved in developing and piloting an EPHR initiative called HealthEmove (www.healthemove.org) at the Amsterdam Health & Technology Institute (Ahti), which is currently being piloted in Amsterdam. In addition to my academic work, I have experience working directly with undocumented migrants in the Netherlands, particularly through my involvement with Doctors of the World, where I supported undocumented migrants in accessing healthcare services and my current volunteer work at the LOA foundation where we do blood pressure monitoring in churches. These practical experiences have deeply informed my research.

2. What are some of the key challenges and innovations in this area of research?

Paulien Tensen: One of the main challenges we identified is the overall lack of research in this field. During our systematic review, we searched three databases and found that only a limited number of studies directly addressed the use of EPHRs for mobile populations. There is very little existing literature on crucial aspects such as user experiences, the creation and management of medical records for mobile groups, and the technical requirements for cross-border data sharing.

Francisca Gaifém: Yes, we also found a lack of studies specifically investigating the impact of EPHRs on health outcomes for mobile populations. I would add that this is closely tied to the broader issue of a lack of prioritization. Despite the clear needs, this topic has not received sufficient attention in policy or health system planning. This may be due in part to the complexity of the issue, including legal, ethical, and infrastructural barriers. Nevertheless, it is essential that this area receives greater recognition in both research and policymaking.

3. What motivated you to pursue this topic?

Francisca Gaifém: My motivation stems from witnessing the significant barriers to healthcare that migrants face—both in terms of access and quality. Through both academic research and personal engagement with civil society organizations, I have encountered many examples of the difficulties experienced by mobile populations. These experiences have reinforced my motivation to contribute to research that aims to address these gaps.

Paulien Tensen: My motivation is similar. Through my volunteer work with Doctors of the World, I have seen first-hand how patients often lack access to their previous medical histories. In some cases, individuals carry only paper records—or no records at all. This makes it extremely difficult for healthcare providers to deliver effective care. These challenges inspired me to focus on digital solutions like EPHRs that can potentially improve continuity of care for this vulnerable population.

4. What research trends are you observing in this field, and what advice would you offer to early career researchers or PhD students?

Paulien Tensen: One important trend is the growing use of digital health technologies. However, we are also seeing that digital health often exacerbates existing health inequalities rather than mitigating them. In a previous publication on “Digital health for all: How digital health could reduce inequality and increase universal health coverage”, we argue to develop digital health to reduce—rather than increase—existing inequalities in health. For early career researchers, I would recommend focusing on how these tools, such as EPHRs, can be adapted to truly support marginalized populations. More specifically, I believe there is a great need for research on how EPHRs influence healthcare outcomes and how they are experienced by users, especially among mobile and undocumented groups.

Francisca Gaifém: I would strongly encourage researchers to engage in international and cross-country collaborations. Since the challenge of maintaining health records for mobile populations is inherently transnational, such collaborations are invaluable for understanding legal and technical barriers and for co-developing culturally appropriate and context-sensitive solutions. Working in diverse, interdisciplinary teams can significantly strengthen both the research process and its outcomes.

5. How did you hear about IJERPH, and what was your experience like with the publication process?

Francisca Gaifém: We were introduced to the journal through colleagues at Aarhus University, some of whom have served as Guest Editors for Special Issues in IJERPH. It was through this network that we learned about the opportunity to submit our work. The submission and review process was smooth and efficient, and we appreciated clear communication throughout.

Paulien Tensen: I completely agree. We were pleased with the speed and clarity of the process. It was a very positive publishing experience overall.

15 July 2025
Meet Us at the 21st European Burns Association Congress, 3–6 September 2025, Berlin, Germany


MDPI and the European Burn Journal (EBJ, ISSN: 2673-1991) will be attending the 21st European Burns Association Congress, which will take place from 3 to 6 September 2025 at the Estrel Congress Center (ECC), Berlin, Germany.

The European Burn Journal is owned by the European Burns Association (EBA) and is published quarterly online by MDPI. The EBA congress is aimed at all members of the multidisciplinary burn team: (plastic) surgeons, intensivists, anesthesiologists, nurses, scientists, and other burn health care professionals and those in training for one of these specialisms from all over Europe and beyond.

MDPI is excited to participate in this prestigious event. We invite you to visit our booth, where you will be able to hold face-to-face conversations with our representatives, learn more about our open access publishing services, and receive special gifts.

The following open access journals will be represented at the conference:

If you are planning to attend the above event, we encourage you to visit our booth and speak to our representatives. We are eager to meet you in person and assist you with any queries that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the official website: https://www.eba2025.org/.

Back to TopTop