Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health

Original Articles

Modeling the Impact of Behavior Changes on Mortality Attributable to Non-communicable Diseases in Canada: Laurence Tanguay, Pierre Faivre, Saïd Mekari, Pierre Philippe Wilson Registe, Emily Richard, Jennifer Russell, Mathieu Belanger; J Prev Med Public Health. 2026;59(2):152-161. Published online March 17, 2026; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.25.663

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Abstract Summary PDF Supplementary Material: Objectives
In Canada, non-communicable diseases account for 88% of all deaths, most of which could be prevented through a healthier diet, regular physical activity (PA), smoking cessation, and reduced alcohol consumption. This study aims to estimate the number of deaths that could be prevented or delayed if (1) the average behaviors of Canadians aligned with recommendations for healthy behaviors, or if (2) the average behaviors of Canadians equaled those of residents in the provinces with the healthiest behaviors.
Methods
We used the Preventable Risk Integrated Model macrosimulation model to estimate the number of deaths that could be prevented through population-level behavioral changes. Information on Canadians’ health behaviors was obtained from the most recent edition of the Canadian Community Health Survey (2015), which reported diet (from 20 487 participants) as well as PA, alcohol consumption, smoking, and sedentary time (from 110 095 participants). Age-specific and gender-specific mortality data for 2015 were obtained from Canadian Vital Statistics, and 95% uncertainty intervals (UI) were calculated through Monte Carlo analyses.
Results
Following behavioral recommendations could have prevented 30 756 deaths (95% UI, 25 867 to 34 965) in 2015. Improving Canadians’ lifestyles to match the behaviors of the healthiest provinces could have prevented 6758 deaths (95% UI, 5062 to 8382). Improvements in fruit and vegetable intake alone could have prevented most of these deaths. Most preventable deaths were attributed to cardiovascular diseases.
Conclusions
These findings show that even modest, realistic lifestyle improvements at the population level could substantially reduce the burden of chronic disease in Canada.; Summary

Key Message
Small and realistic improvements in population-level fruits and vegetable consumption, physical activity level, avoidance of tobacco use, and reduction in salt ingestion could amount to nearly 7,000 lives saved per year in Canada. Given most of these lives saved could result from only a few behavioral improvements, the findings suggest that public health should prioritize interventions focused on increasing fruit and vegetable intake as well as promoting physical activity and smoking cessation.

Reliability of a Newly Developed Tool to Assess and Classify Work-related Stress (TAWS-16) for Indian Workforce: Gautham Melur Sukumar, Runalika Roy, Mariamma Philip, Gururaj Gopalkrishna; J Prev Med Public Health. 2023;56(5):407-412. Published online August 19, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.23.219

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Abstract Summary PDF: Objectives
Work stress is associated with non-communicable diseases, increased healthcare costs, and decreased work productivity among employees in the information technology sector. There is a need for regular work-stress screening among employees using valid and reliable tools. The Tool to Assess and Classify Work Stress (TAWS-16) was developed to overcome limitations in existing stress assessment tools in India. This study aimed to test the reliability of TAWS-16 in a sample of managerial-supervisory employees.
Methods
This observational reliability study included data from 62 employees. Test-retest and inter-method reliability were investigated using a TAWS-16 web application and interview by telephone, respectively. Kappa values and intra-class correlation coefficients were calculated. Internal consistency was assessed through Cronbach’s alpha.
Results
For both test-retest and inter-method reliability, the agreement for both work-related factors and symptoms suggestive of work stress exceeded 80%, and all kappa values were 0.40 or higher. Cronbach’s alpha for test-retest and inter-method reliability was 0.983 and 0.941, respectively.
Conclusions
TAWS-16 demonstrated acceptable reliability. It measured stressors, coping abilities, and psychosomatic symptoms associated with work stress. We recommend using TAWS-16 to holistically identify work stress among employees during periodical health check-ups in India.; Summary

Key Message
The study assessed test-retest and inter-method reliability of Tool to Assess Work Stress (TAWS – 16) developed by Centre for Public Health, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) on 62 employees in Bengaluru, India. Kappa statistics, Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cronbach’s alpha were calculated. TAWS – 16 demonstrated acceptable reliability, good internal consistency and can be used to identify work stress among employees during periodical health check-ups in Indian setting.

Special Article

Overview of Noncommunicable Diseases in Korean Children and Adolescents: Focus on Obesity and Its Effect on Metabolic Syndrome: Hye Ah Lee, Hyesook Park; J Prev Med Public Health. 2013;46(4):173-182. Published online July 31, 2013; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.2013.46.4.173

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7 Crossref

Abstract PDF

Obesity during childhood is a dominant risk factor for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), and is itself considered a disease that needs to be treated. Recently, the growth in childhood obesity in Korea has become stagnant; however, two in every ten children are still overweight. In addition, 60% or more of overweight children have at least one metabolic syndrome risk factor. Thus, childhood obesity should be controlled through lifestyle modification. This paper reviews studies of the modifiable risk factors of obesity in Korean children. According to the life-course approach, preschool-aged children (<5 years) are influenced by their parents rather than individual habits because they are under mostly parental care. Elementary school-aged children (6 to 11 years) are affected by overlapping individual and parental effects. This may mean that the establishment of individual behavior patterns begins during this period. The conditions of poor eating habits such as skipping meals, eating out, and high fat intake, along with low physical activity, facilitate increased obesity among adolescents (12 to 18 years). Notably, adolescent girls show high rates of both underweight and obesity, which may lead to the development of NCDs in their offspring. Therefore, the problem of NCDs is no longer limited to adults, but is also prevalent among children. In addition, early intervention offers cost-effective opportunities for preventing NCDs. Thus, children need primary consideration, adequate monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment to reduce the burden of NCDs later in adulthood.

Summary

Citations

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