Artificial Intelligence and Unemployment: Impacts on Public Health

Artificial Intelligence and Unemployment: Impacts on Public Health

Mohamed Farouk Allam, MPH, PhD (1,2)

1. Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

2. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain.

Authorea. November 13, 2025.

DOI: 10.22541/au.176281458.88689829/v2

Abstract

Extensive research has demonstrated a strong link between socioeconomic status, particularly employment and income, and public health outcomes. The accelerating reliance on AI technologies raises urgent questions about the future of work and its implications for public health. Will widespread automation lead to sustained unemployment and, ultimately, a public health crisis? Could AI contribute to a decline in mental well-being or erode the social value of human labour and intelligence? Are we approaching a future of “dark factories,” fully automated and devoid of human workers? These concerns are no longer speculative; they represent an unfolding reality that demands immediate policy attention. Without adaptive regulation, the convergence of automation and inequality may precipitate simultaneous crises in employment and health.

Keywords: Artificial intelligence; Public Health, employment, Chronic diseases, Human labour.

Mohamed Farouk Allam. Artificial Intelligence and Unemployment: Impacts on Public Health. Authorea. November 13, 2025.

https://www.authorea.com/users/318163/articles/1358223-artificial-intelligence-and-unemployment-impacts-on-public-health?commit=9283cc44dbd19d6ea3913e0426e8b958844eeccf

Development of Practice Guidelines for Peripartum Depression in Primary Healthcare

Development of Practice Guidelines for Peripartum Depression in Primary Healthcare

Wafaa Mohamed Korany (1), Diaa Marzouk Abd el-Hamid (1,2), Inas Abd El Rahim Ali (3), Mohamed Farouk Allam (1,2)
 
1. Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
2. Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
3. Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Misr University for Science and Technology MUST, Giza, Egypt.
 
Liaquat National Journal of Primary Care 2025;7(4):1-.

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.37184/lnjpc.2707-3521.7.68
 
ABSTRACT
Background: Peripartum depression significantly impacts maternal health but often goes undiagnosed and untreated.
Objective: This study aims to develop practice guidelines for addressing peripartum depression in Primary Healthcare (PHC) settings in Egypt.
Methods: A qualitative study was conducted from October 2020 to August 2021.The Delphi technique was employed, engaging 13 experts in psychiatry and family medicine from Egyptian universities, the Ministry of Health and Population, WHO, and the World Organization of Family Doctors. Three email-based Delphi rounds were conducted.
Results: Key recommendations included: 1) Prevention: Health education on exercise, telephone peer support for antenatal depression, and family therapy for postpartum depression. 2) Screening: Use the Patient Health Questionnaire II every trimester for pregnant women and the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale at well-child visits during the first postpartum year. 3) Diagnosis: Employ the Beck Depression Inventory II for antenatal depression and the Postpartum Depression Screening Scale for postnatal cases. 4) Treatment: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for mild cases; CBT with sertraline (half-dose for antenatal, full-dose for postnatal) for moderate cases; no hormonal therapy for postpartum depression. 5) Referral: For severe cases, comorbidities, suicidal thoughts, psychosis, or substance abuse.
Conclusion: These guidelines should be implemented across PHC facilities in Egypt with comprehensive training for family physicians to ensure effective application.
Keywords: Peripartum depression, guidelines, primary healthcare, Delphi technique, qualitative research.
 
Liaquat National Journal of Primary Care 2025;7(4):1-.
 
https://journals.lnh.edu.pk/lnjpc/Home/article?uid=0bc2a242-a7a1-4693-9903-e281928210a4

Finasteride in Young Men: Effects on Semen and Hormones?

 Finasteride in Young Men: Effects on Semen and Hormones?

Mohamed Farouk Allam, MPH, PhD (1,2)

1. Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

2. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain.

 

Qeios (2025): https://www.qeios.com/read/16UWBQ

 

DOI: 10.32388/16UWBQ

 

Abstract

Finasteride is widely used to treat male androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and has been shown to significantly improve hair count and appearance compared to placebo. Despite its effectiveness, concerns remain about its potential sexual adverse effects. While some studies suggest these effects are rare and reversible, the evidence is inconsistent. Notably, the dosage appears to influence reproductive outcomes: the common 1 mg dose shows minimal impact on sperm parameters, whereas the higher 5 mg dose is linked to reduced sperm count, motility, and volume, highlighting a dose dependent effect and individual variability. A widely cited 2014 study by Irwig suggesting long-term sexual side effects has major flaws, including selection bias, lack of a control group, small sample size, and inadequate statistical methods. Most participants were recruited from a forum for users with negative experiences, making the findings unrepresentative. In contrast, a 2013 prospective study by Samplaski and collaborators found that most men saw improved sperm counts after stopping finasteride, with hormone levels and sperm quality remaining stable. Overall, while finasteride may affect fertility in some men, robust conclusions about long-term sexual side effects require larger, better-designed prospective studies to ensure accuracy and generalizability.

 

Keywords: Finasteride; semen parameters; androgen levels; 5-α-reductase inhibitors; sexual functions; review.

 

Mohamed Farouk Allam. (2025). Finasteride in Young Men: Effects on Semen and Hormones?. Qeios. doi:10.32388/16UWBQ.

 

https://www.qeios.com/read/16UWBQ

Open-Access Publishing and the Reviewer Crisis: Rethinking Incentives for Quality Peer Review

Open-Access Publishing and the Reviewer Crisis: Rethinking Incentives for Quality Peer Review

 

Mohamed Farouk Allam (1,2)

1. Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt; 2. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cordoba, Spain.

 

Qeios (2025): https://www.qeios.com/read/P3T1E1.

 

DOI:10.32388/P3T1E1

 

Abstract

 

Open-access journals often charge article publication fees, typically amounting to thousands of USD or Euros. Fee waivers are generally limited to manuscripts from low-income countries. The quality of published manuscripts, whether in open-access or APC-based journals, depends heavily on external reviewers and associated editors. Their critical role ensures originality, rigorous methodology, and impactful research. However, reviewers receive minimal rewards, such as a certificate, acknowledgment, or discounts on future publications. These incentives are usually insufficient to attract senior researchers, who frequently decline the numerous review requests they receive daily. As a result, the task often falls to junior researchers with fewer publications and limited experience in high-impact research. This lack of adequate recognition and tangible benefits for reviewers poses challenges in maintaining high-quality peer review standards. Considering the significant revenue journals earn from APCs, particularly in prestigious gold open-access models, offering substantial financial incentives to reviewers could be a prudent strategy. Such measures would encourage senior experts to contribute their time and expertise, ensuring a more rigorous and high-quality review process.

 

Keywords: Open-access journals; article processing charges; gold open access; review; Publication fees.

 

Mohamed Farouk Allam. (2025). Open-Access Publishing and the Reviewer Crisis: Rethinking Incentives for Quality Peer Review. Qeios. doi:10.32388/P3T1E1.

 

https://www.qeios.com/read/P3T1E1

Higher education students' perceptions of ChatGPT: A global study of early reactions

Higher education students' perceptions of ChatGPT: A global study of early reactions

 

Dejan Ravšelj (1), Damijana Keržič (1), Nina Tomaževič (1), Lan Umek (1), Nejc Brezovar (1), Noorminshah A Iahad (2), Ali Abdulla Abdulla (3), Anait Akopyan (4), Magdalena Waleska Aldana Segura (5,6), Jehan AlHumaid (7), Mohamed Farouk Allam (8), et al.  

 

1. Faculty of Public Administration, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

2. Department of Information Systems, Faculty of Management, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

3. Department of Computer Science and IT, State University of Zanzibar (SUZA), Zanzibar, Tanzania.

4. Department of English for the Humanities, Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia.

5. Education Department, Galileo University, Guatemala, Guatemala.

6. Physics Department, San Carlos de Guatemala University, Guatemala, Guatemala.

7. Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

8. Department of Family Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

 

PLoS One. 2025 Feb 5;20(2):e0315011. 

 

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0315011. 

 

Abstract

The paper presents the most comprehensive and large-scale global study to date on how higher education students perceived the use of ChatGPT in early 2024. With a sample of 23,218 students from 109 countries and territories, the study reveals that students primarily used ChatGPT for brainstorming, summarizing texts, and finding research articles, with a few using it for professional and creative writing. They found it useful for simplifying complex information and summarizing content, but less reliable for providing information and supporting classroom learning, though some considered its information clearer than that from peers and teachers. Moreover, students agreed on the need for AI regulations at all levels due to concerns about ChatGPT promoting cheating, plagiarism, and social isolation. However, they believed ChatGPT could potentially enhance their access to knowledge and improve their learning experience, study efficiency, and chances of achieving good grades. While ChatGPT was perceived as effective in potentially improving AI literacy, digital communication, and content creation skills, it was less useful for interpersonal communication, decision-making, numeracy, native language proficiency, and the development of critical thinking skills. Students also felt that ChatGPT would boost demand for AI-related skills and facilitate remote work without significantly impacting unemployment. Emotionally, students mostly felt positive using ChatGPT, with curiosity and calmness being the most common emotions. Further examinations reveal variations in students' perceptions across different socio-demographic and geographic factors, with key factors influencing students' use of ChatGPT also being identified. Higher education institutions' managers and teachers may benefit from these findings while formulating the curricula and instructions/regulations for ChatGPT use, as well as when designing the teaching methods and assessment tools. Moreover, policymakers may also consider the findings when formulating strategies for secondary and higher education system development, especially in light of changing labor market needs and related digital skills development.

Ravšelj D, Keržič D, Tomaževič N, Umek L, Brezovar N, A Iahad N, Abdulla AA, Akopyan A, Aldana Segura MW, AlHumaid J, Allam MF, Alló M, Andoh RPK, Andronic O, Arthur YD, Aydın F, Badran A, Balbontín-Alvarado R, Ben Saad H, Bencsik A, Benning I, Besimi A, Bezerra DDS, Buizza C, Burro R, Bwalya A, Cachero C, Castillo-Briceno P, Castro H, Chai CS, Charalambous C, Chiu TKF, Clipa O, Colombari R, Corral Escobedo LJH, Costa E, Crețulescu RG, Crispino M, Cucari N, Dalton F, Demir Kaya M, Dumić-Čule I, Dwidienawati D, Ebardo R, Egbenya DL, Faris ME, Fečko M, Ferrinho P, Florea A, Fong CY, Francis Z, Ghilardi A, González-Fernández B, Hau D, Hossain MS, Hug T, Inasius F, Ismail MJ, Jahić H, Jessa MO, Kapanadze M, Kar SK, Kateeb ET, Kaya F, Khadri HO, Kikuchi M, Kobets VM, Kostova KM, Krasmane E, Lau J, Law WHC, Lazăr F, Lazović-Pita L, Lee VWY, Li J, López-Aguilar DV, Luca A, Luciano RG, Machin-Mastromatteo JD, Madi M, Manguele AL, Manrique RF, Mapulanga T, Marimon F, Marinova GI, Mas-Machuca M, Mejía-Rodríguez O, Meletiou-Mavrotheris M, Méndez-Prado SM, Meza-Cano JM, Mirķe E, Mishra A, Mital O, Mollica C, Morariu DI, Mospan N, Mukuka A, Navarro Jiménez SG, Nikaj I, Nisheva MM, Nisiforou E, Njiku J, Nomnian S, Nuredini-Mehmedi L, Nyamekye E, Obadić A, Okela AH, Olenik-Shemesh D, Ostoj I, Peralta-Rizzo KJ, Peštek A, Pilav-Velić A, Pires DRM, Rabin E, Raccanello D, Ramie A, Rashid MMU, Reuter RAP, Reyes V, Rodrigues AS, Rodway P, Ručinská S, Sadzaglishvili S, Salem AAMS, Savić G, Schepman A, Shahpo SM, Snouber A, Soler E, Sonyel B, Stefanova E, Stone A, Strzelecki A, Tanaka T, Tapia Cortes C, Teira-Fachado A, Tilga H, Titko J, Tolmach M, Turmudi D, Varela-Candamio L, Vekiri I, Vicentini G, Woyo E, Yorulmaz Ö, Yunus SAS, Zamfir AM, Zhou M, Aristovnik A. Higher education students' perceptions of ChatGPT: A global study of early reactions. PLoS One. 2025 Feb 5;20(2):e0315011. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0315011

 

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0315011