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Good Health (good + health)
Terms modified by Good Health Selected AbstractsThe health promotion model as assessed by ageing workersJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 2 2006Paula Naumanen PhD Aims., This study describes qualitatively ageing workers and their health promotion. It also describes quantitatively the importance of individual, workplace and occupational health promoting factors, the impact of health promotion and the contributions of the other co-partners promoting the health of ageing workers. These form the foundation for a model of health promotion. Background., Very little is known about the health promotion factors exclusively focused at ageing workers. Methods., A pretested questionnaire with structured and some open-ended questions were devised to form the basis of qualitative data and sent to 150 ageing workers, of whom 93 (62%) returned it. Qualitative data were analysed by content analysis. Statistical analyses were performed using frequencies and means. Results., Over 90% of respondents stated that health habits, individual arrangements at the workplace, a good workplace spirit, health checks, counselling and access to nursing care were important factors for health promotion. Better health (99%), work satisfaction (95%) and motivation of employees (96%) were the factors impacting on health promotion. Ageing workers stated that health and safety organization (94%) and rehabilitation institutes (93%) were the most important co-partners. Conclusions., This study confirms extremely high importance of different health promotion factors, their impact and some co-partners. Health problems, early retirement and work absenteeism are rather common in ageing workers. If we are to avoid these problems, it is important to support their work ability effectively and systematically to allow these workers to stay employed until the normal retirement age. Relevance to clinical practice., It is necessary, that management appreciate the benefits of ageing workers; they have to take a positive attitude toward these workers and participate more effectively in their health promotion. Occupational health professionals play a key role in training workers and management to undertake the required measures. [source] A whole diet approach to healthy eatingNUTRITION BULLETIN, Issue 1 2004Hannah, Theobald E. Summary This paper reviews the importance of a whole diet approach to healthy eating, detailing the development of the Balance of Good Health and explaining why such a healthy eating model works for the UK population. Comparisons are made between dietary recommendations (from the Balance of Good Health) and current eating patterns in the UK. This paper also discusses why it is important to consume foods from each of the four major food groups and discusses the health issues associated with cutting out a food group from the diet, as occurs in a number of popular diets. [source] Economic Growth, Health and Poverty: An Exploratory Study for IndiaDEVELOPMENT POLICY REVIEW, Issue 2 2004Indrani Gupta This article analyses the possible links between economic growth, poverty and health, using panel data for the Indian states. The findings indicate that, though growth tends to reduce poverty, significant improvements in health status are also necessary for poverty to decrease. Also, economic growth and health status are positively correlated and have a two-way relationship, suggesting that better health enhances growth by improving productivity, and higher growth allows better human capital formation. Health expenditure is an important determinant of both higher growth and better health status, and is therefore a key tool available to policy-makers. Among other exogenous variables, literacy and industrialisation seem to improve both health outcomes and growth, and to reduce poverty. [source] Changes and predictors of change in the physical health status of heroin users over 24 monthsADDICTION, Issue 3 2009Anna Williamson ABSTRACT Aims (i) To describe the course of physical health among the ATOS cohort over 24 months; and (ii) to examine the effects of treatment, drug use patterns and social and psychological factors on health status over 24 months. Design Longitudinal cohort. Setting Sydney, Australia. Participants A total of 615 heroin users recruited for the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS). Findings The general health of the cohort improved significantly over 24 months. Significant predictors of poor health over 24 months were: being older, being female, past month heroin, other opiate and tobacco use, past month unemployment and current major depression. Spending a greater proportion of time in residential rehabilitation (RR) was associated with better health over 24 months. No other treatment factors demonstrated a significant, independent relationship with health. Conclusions The physical health of dependent heroin users is affected by drug use and psychosocial problems. RR treatment appears to be particularly beneficial to the health of heroin users, suggesting the importance of a comprehensive approach to improving health among this group. [source] TESTING THE QUALITY OF A CARRIER: A FIELD EXPERIMENT ON LIZARD SIGNALERSEVOLUTION, Issue 3 2009Mats Olsson In the Australian painted dragon lizard (Ctenophorus pictus), males occur in two different morphs with respect to gular color, with or without a yellow bib. Males without a bib lost within-clutch paternity significantly more often to rivals than bibbed males. Thus, it appears that bibs identify some phenotypic advantage linked to competitive ability. To test whether this could be related to whole-organism capacity to withstand an increased workload (due to better health and vigor, or evolved differences in self-maintenance), we implanted males with a lead pellet (loaded), Styrofoam pellet (controls), or sham-operated males without implants (shams), and compared male categories with respect to how they maintained body mass during the mating season. Somewhat unexpectedly, bibbed males consistently lost more body weight across all treatments and controls, although we could not verify that this translated into higher mortality in this short-lived animal (about 80% survive for one year only). However, bibbed males may invest more into "mating success" than nonbibbed males, which agrees with our experimental results and paternity data. [source] Impact evaluation of India's ,Yeshasvini' community-based health insurance programmeHEALTH ECONOMICS, Issue S1 2010Aradhna Aggarwal Abstract Using propensity score matching techniques, the study evaluates the impact of India's Yeshasvini community-based health insurance programme on health-care utilisation, financial protection, treatment outcomes and economic well-being. The programme offers free out-patient diagnosis and lab tests at discounted rates when ill, but, more importantly, it covers highly catastrophic and less discretionary in-patient surgical procedures. For its impact evaluation, 4109 randomly selected households in villages in rural Karnataka, an Indian state, were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. A comprehensive set of indicators was developed and the quality of matching was tested. Generally, the programme is found to have increased utilisation of health-care services, reduced out-of-pocket spending, and ensured better health and economic outcomes. More specifically, however, these effects vary across socio-economic groups and medical episodes. The programme operates by bringing the direct price of health-care down but the extent to which this effectively occurs across medical episodes is an empirical issue. Further, the effects are more pronounced for the better-off households. The article demonstrates that community insurance presents a workable model for providing high-end services in resource-poor settings through an emphasis on accountability and local management. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Health status and labour force participation: evidence from AustraliaHEALTH ECONOMICS, Issue 3 2006Lixin Cai Abstract This paper examines the effect of health on labour force participation using the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey. The potential endogeneity of health, especially self-assessed health, in the labour force participation equation is addressed by estimating the health equation and the labour force participation equation simultaneously. Taking into account the correlation between the error terms in the two equations, the estimation is conducted separately for males aged 15,49, males aged 50,64, females aged 15,49 and females aged 50,60. The results indicate that better health increases the probability of labour force participation for all four groups. However, the effect is larger for the older groups and for women. As for the feedback effect, it is found that labour force participation has a significant positive impact on older females' health, and a significant negative effect on younger males' health. For younger females and older males, the impact of labour force participation on health is not significant. The null-hypothesis of exogeneity of health to labour force participation is rejected for all groups. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Better informed for better health and better care: an information literacy framework to support health care in ScotlandHEALTH INFORMATION & LIBRARIES JOURNAL, Issue 1 2009Eilean Craig First page of article [source] The carotenoid-based plumage coloration of adult Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus correlates with the health status of their broodIBIS, Issue 4 2006SERGIO HIDALGO-GARCIA The Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus is a passerine bird in which both sexes provide substantial care to the offspring and display conspicuous carotenoid-based plumage coloration. It has been shown that carotenoid-based coloration in birds reflects both individual quality and foraging ability. Because the body condition of nestlings usually depends on the capacity of their parents to feed them, I predicted that, independent of sex, those individuals with the most exaggerated carotenoid-based plumage coloration should raise offspring in better health. I found that although, in my study population, the smallest females were paired with the largest males, the brightest females were paired with the brightest and most intensely coloured males. I used body condition and T-cell-mediated immune response of nestlings as measures of their health status. Generalized mixed models showed that brighter and more-yellow adults reared offspring in better than average condition and immune response. Older males and smaller females were also able to raise offspring with better immune response. All these results suggest that the carotenoid-based plumage coloration of parents is somehow linked with individual quality, as it presents a significant and positive correlation with the health status of their growing chicks. Thus, the brightest and more intensely coloured individuals raised the healthiest offspring. [source] Perceived oral health: changes over 5 years in one Swedish age-cohortINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DENTAL HYGIENE, Issue 3 2004K Stĺhlnacke Objective:,The purpose of this study was to investigate if a change in the social gradients in perceived oral health occurred over a 5-year period, 1992,1997, using a cohort population from two Swedish counties.Methods:,In 1992, a cross-sectional mail questionnaire was sent to all 50-year-old persons in two counties in Sweden, Örebro and Östergötland, and altogether there were 8888 persons. In 1997, the same population was sent a new questionnaire. The cohort, comprising the same respondents from 1992 and 1997, was of 5363 persons. An index of perceived oral health was constructed out of three questionnaire variables: satisfaction with teeth, chewing ability and the number of remaining teeth. This index value was set as a dependent variable in a regression model. Reports of toothache were investigated in a separate logistic regression model.Results:,There were obvious social gradients in the perceived oral health index both in 1992 and in 1997. Marital status, foreign birth, education and occupation were all substantially related to the perceived oral health. The change in perceived oral health was analysed. Almost half of the cohort (47.4%) showed no change at all. Those with increased and those with decreased health were rather evenly distributed on both sides, with 22.0% with better health in 1997 and 30.6% with worse health. Gender and education were related to toothache experience. Conclusion: Changes have been moderate in the perceived oral health in this cohort, despite the rather drastic changes in the remuneration of dental care during this study time. However, this also means that the social differences remain, despite the official goals of increased equity. [source] Comparative Effectiveness Research Priorities at Federal Agencies: The View from the Department of Veterans Affairs, National Institute on Aging, and Agency for Healthcare Research and QualityJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 6 2010Timothy J. O'Leary MD In the last year, attention has been focused on translating federally sponsored health research into better health for Americans. Since the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) on February 17, 2009, ARRA funds to support Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) have increased this focus. A large proportion of topical areas of interest in CER affects the older segment of the population. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the National Institute on Aging (NIA), and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) have supported robust research portfolios focused on aging populations that meet the varying definitions of CER. This short article briefly describes the research missions of the AHRQ, NIA, and VA. The various definitions of CER as the Congressional Budget Office, the Institute of Medicine, and the ARRA-established Federal Coordinating Council have put forward, as well as important topics for which CER is particularly needed, are then reviewed. Finally, approaches in which the three agencies support CER involving the aging population are set forth and opportunities for future CER research outlined. [source] Overall self-rated health: a new quality indicator for primary careJOURNAL OF EVALUATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 1 2007James E. Rohrer PhD Abstract Rationale, aims and objectives, Patient ,empowerment' gives patients choices about their own care and about the outcomes they would most prefer. Many patients can be presumed to regard overall self-rated health as an important outcome. Therefore, overall self-rated health can be considered a relevant and important outcome measure for a patient-centred medical clinic. The purpose of this study was to use this new outcome measure as a dependent variable and to test the hypothesis that patients who are confident about their ability to manage their health will have better health, in comparison to more dependent patients. Methods, We conducted a randomized cross-sectional postal survey of 500 veteran patients from the Panhandle of Texas and the surrounding areas; and 302 participated in the study. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to test the hypothesis that health confidence is positively related to self-rated health, controlling for obesity, cigarette smoking and participation in recreational activities. Results, Veterans who strongly disagreed with the statement that they usually could overcome illnesses on their own were less likely to report good, very good or excellent self-rated health (adjusted odds ratio = 0.25). Conclusions, Overall self-rated health as measured by a single question proved to be significantly related to behavioural risk factors in this sample of primary care patients, attesting to its validity as an outcome indicator. Furthermore, health confidence was associated with better health. Most primary providers believe that they can, through good communication and providing self-care tools, increase healthy behaviours in their patients. If we are indeed able to increase health confidence in our patients, this study would suggest that self-rated health would improve. [source] Four-Year Cost-Utility Analyses of Sealed and Nonsealed First Permanent Molars in Iowa Medicaid-Enrolled ChildrenJOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTRY, Issue 4 2007Patita Bhuridej DDS Abstract Objectives: Dental sealants, by their ability to prevent caries and maintain teeth in better health, have some inherent utility to individuals, programs, or society. This study assessed the 4-year incremental cost utility of sealing first permanent molars of 6-year-old Iowa Medicaid enrollees from a societal perspective and identified the group of teeth or children in whom sealants are most cost effective. Methods: Dental services for first permanent molars were assessed using claims and encounter data for a group of continuously enrolled Medicaid enrollees who turned 6 between 1996 and 1999. Previously published utilities were used to weight the different health states. The weighted sum of outcomes [Quality-Adjusted Tooth-Years (QATYs)] was the measure of effectiveness. Costs and QATYs were discounted to the time of the child's sixth birthday. Results: For all first molars, the cost of treatment associated with sealed teeth was higher but the utility was also slightly higher over the 4-year period. The relative incremental cost per 0.19 QATY ratio [changing the health state from a restored tooth (utility=0.81) to a nonrestored tooth (utility =1)] by sealing the molar ranged from $36.7 to $83.5 per 0.19 QATY. The incremental cost/QATY ratio was lower for sealing lower utilizers and for mandibular versus maxillary molars. Conclusions: Sealants improved overall utility of first permanent molars after 4 years. The 4-year cost/QATY ratio of sealing the first permanent molar varied by arch and type of utilizers. Sealing first permanent molars in lower dental utilizers is the most cost-effective approach for prioritizing limited resources. [source] Potential benefits of improved protein intake in older peopleNUTRITION & DIETETICS, Issue 2 2008Beryl DAWSON Abstract Ageing is associated with an increased incidence of diabetes, impaired immunity and numerous physiological, social and economic changes. Another under-recognised change to significantly impact on health outcomes and quality of life is the drastic loss of lean body mass. New concepts have recently emerged which indicate that different types of protein sources supply constituents differentially according to digestion rate, and that amino acids have roles additional to muscle synthesis. This review explores the benefits of higher protein intakes in older people and how the protein source may provide differential benefits. In particular, whey protein is more quickly digested than either casein or soy, and provides a faster and potentially greater net source of available nutrients and essential amino acids essential for maintaining better health. [source] Marketing the dietetics profession to consumers and stakeholders: A social and professional imperativeNUTRITION & DIETETICS, Issue 4 2005Suzan Burton Abstract (Nutr Diet 2005;62:158,160) In the present paper we argue that despite the potential impact of dietetic practice on public health, the use of professional dietetic services appears to be stagnant. To redress this position, dietitians may need to increase their use of marketing activities to promote the value of the profession. We discuss the different roles of the Dietitians Association of Australia and of individual members in marketing activities, provide an overview of the key components of a marketing plan and strategy, and outline specific steps that dietitians can take to actively promote their services. We argue that promotion of the dietetic profession may ultimately contribute to better health through nutrition for the Australian population. [source] Social Determinants and Their Unequal Distribution: Clarifying Policy UnderstandingsTHE MILBANK QUARTERLY, Issue 1 2004HILARY GRAHAM Public health policy in older industrialized societies is being reconfigured to improve population health and to address inequalities in the social distribution of health. The concept of social determinants is central to these policies, with tackling the social influences on health seen as a way to reduce health inequalities. But the social factors promoting and undermining the health of individuals and populations should not be confused with the social processes underlying their unequal distribution. This distinction is important because, despite better health and improvement in health determinants, social disparities persist. The article argues that more emphasis on social inequalities is required for a determinants-oriented approach to be able to inform policies to address health inequalities. [source] Age of puberty: Data from the United States of America,APMIS, Issue 2 2001Review article In an attempt to determine whether the secular trend toward an earlier onset of puberty has continued over recent decades in the United States of America, published reports concerning the age of attainment of pubertal events have been reviewed. Such reports are very limited and vary in both design and inclusive ages of study subjects. Among females, two recent large cross-sectional studies indicate that fifty percent of females in the United States attain Tanner breast stage 2 at 9.5 to 9.7 years of age. This is younger than previously thought, although adequate earlier studies of girls in the United States are not available for comparison. These two studies also indicate that about 14% of girls attain Tanner stage 2 while 8 years of age; one study extends earlier reporting that about 6% exhibit onset of breast development while 7 years of age. There is no evidence that the age of menarche or the attainment of adult (Tanner 5) breast development has decreased over the past 30 years. The data also suggest an earlier onset of Tanner stage 2 pubic hair but no change in attainment of stage 5. Among males, pubic hair may be appearing at younger ages, but data are inadequate or too inconsistent to allow firm interpretation. The lack of standardization of genital criteria of pubertal onset in the male makes any conclusions regarding secular trends impossible. In summary, earlier secular trends over recent decades related to better health, improved nutrition or socio-economic status, or any putative influence by endocrine disrupters cannot be verified. [source] Typology and psychological effects of adolescents' interpersonal relationships in TaiwanASIAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 2 2009Yuh-Huey Jou The present research explored Taiwanese adolescent students' interpersonal relationships and examined whether teachers' evaluations of these students' health and academic performances varied with the students' interpersonal relationship patterns. Data (n = 2310) were based on a panel study conducted by the Taiwan Youth Project in 2001 (eighth grade) and 2002 (ninth grade). Latent class models and hierarchical linear models were used to analyse the data. Adolescent students' interpersonal relationships were categorized as Multiple Contacts, Parents- and Peers-Close, Peers-Close, and Few Contacts. The research results showed that not only adolescents' self-reports of self-esteem and depressed mood but also teachers' evaluations of adolescents' health and academic performances varied with adolescents' interpersonal relationship patterns. An influence of teachers' character and work environment on their evaluations of students was found. Teachers who had more years of teaching and higher job satisfaction rated their students as having better health, and teachers who felt greater respect from their students reported that their students had better academic performance. The connection between adolescents' psychological well-being and the roles of parents, peers and teachers is also discussed. [source] Self-reported health and cardiovascular reactions to psychological stress in a large community sample: Cross-sectional and prospective associationsPSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 5 2009Anna C. Phillips Abstract Exaggerated cardiovascular reactions to acute psychological stress have been implicated in a number of adverse health outcomes. This study examined, in a large community sample, the cross-sectional and prospective associations between reactivity and self-reported health. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured at rest and in response to an arithmetic stress task. Self-reported health was assessed concurrently and 5 years later. In cross-sectional analyses, those with excellent/good self-reported health exhibited larger cardiovascular reactions than those with fair/poor subjective health. In prospective analyses, participants who had larger cardiovascular reactions to stress were more likely to report excellent/good health 5 years later, taking into account their reported health status at the earlier assessment. The findings suggest that greater cardiovascular reactivity may not always be associated with negative health outcomes. [source] Low income, social growth and good health: a history of twelve countries , By James C. RileyECONOMIC HISTORY REVIEW, Issue 1 2009BERNARD HARRIS No abstract is available for this article. [source] Cyst-based toxicity tests XIII,Development of a short chronic sediment toxicity test with the ostracod crustacean Heterocypris incongruens: Methodology and precisionENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 6 2002Belgis Chial Abstract Experiments were carried out with neonates of the freshwater ostracod Heterocypris incongruens to verify and complete previous choices of test parameters for a new culture/maintenance-free solid-phase microbiotest for freshwater sediments. From trials with increasing volumes of reference sediment, it was concluded that 300 ,L was the most appropriate amount of substrate to be put in 12-cup multiwell plates with 2 mL of standard freshwater. Tests in 3,9 replicates eventually showed that six parallels were needed to have good assay precision (repeatability). Application of the final test protocol to oil-contaminated sediments from the St. Lawrence River in Canada revealed that the 6-day chronic ostracod microbiotest had less variation in repeated tests than did the 10-day contact assay with Hyalella azteca and hence can be considered more precise. Based on the 95% confidence intervals for mortality and growth of the ostracods in the controls (reference sediment) of the 56 tests carried out for the Canadian project, a validity threshold of 20% for mortality was eventually selected, in analogy with the acceptability limits applied in many chronic bioassays. A minimum length of 600 ,m in the control sediment after 6 days' exposure was also taken as the threshold for good health of the test organisms and for reliable test conditions. The new microbiotest has been tailored in a handy and user-friendly new toxkit, the Ostracodtoxkit, which is particularly suited for cost-effective routine monitoring. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 17: 528,532, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/tox.10086 [source] Complexity of Family Life Among the Low-Income and Working Poor: Introduction to the Special IssueFAMILY RELATIONS, Issue 2 2004Patricia Hyjer Dyk Like all families, low-income and working-poor families need economic stability, safety, good health, and engagement in the larger community. However, the complexity of their lives is greatly impacted by limited economic resources. Three primary themes are explored by the 12 articles in this special issue: competing stressors and tensions, effective parenting, and economic stability and financial decision making. Key findings and program and policy implications identified by each set of authors are discussed. This body of work provides research-based practice and policy suggestions to guide future efforts in partnering with families to strengthen their families and communities for successful enhancement of child well-being. [source] A review on the interactions between gut microbiota and innate immunity of fishFEMS IMMUNOLOGY & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2008Geovanny D. Gómez Abstract Although fish immunology has progressed in the last few years, the contribution of the normal endogenous microbiota to the overall health status has been so far underestimated. In this context, the establishment of a normal or protective microbiota constitutes a key component to maintain good health, through competitive exclusion mechanisms, and has implications for the development and maturation of the immune system. The normal microbiota influences the innate immune system, which is of vital importance for the disease resistance of fish and is divided into physical barriers, humoral and cellular components. Innate humoral parameters include antimicrobial peptides, lysozyme, complement components, transferrin, pentraxins, lectins, antiproteases and natural antibodies, whereas nonspecific cytotoxic cells and phagocytes (monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils) constitute innate cellular immune effectors. Cytokines are an integral component of the adaptive and innate immune response, particularly IL-1,, interferon, tumor necrosis factor-,, transforming growth factor-, and several chemokines regulate innate immunity. This review covers the innate immune mechanisms of protection against pathogens, in relation with the installation and composition of the normal endogenous microbiota in fish and its role on health. Knowledge of such interaction may offer novel and useful means designing adequate therapeutic strategies for disease prevention and treatment. [source] Types and Patterns of Later-life MigrationGEOGRAFISKA ANNALER SERIES B: HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, Issue 3 2000William H. Walters This paper refines previous typologies of later-life mobility by explicitly evaluating the spatial migration patterns and household characteristics of retired American migrants. Migrants' lifecourse attributes (economic status, disability, presence of spouse), large-scale migration patterns (internal migration) and household characteristics (living arrangements, economic independence, residential independence) are used to identify three types of post-retirement mobility. The first type, amenity migration, has a distinctive spatial pattern that suggests a search for attractive climate and leisure amenities. The second type of mobility, assistance migration, can be traced to low income and the absence of a spouse in the household. It often results in residential and economic dependence , specifically, in co-residence with adult children or other labor force members. The third type of mobility, migration in response to severe disability and spouse absence, tends to result in nursing home residence. While amenity migration has long been associated with good health and favorable economic status, this analysis reveals that many disabled and lower-income retirees share the inmigration pattern typical of amenity migrants. In fact, amenity migration is the predominant type of mobility among those migrants with fewer than two unfavorable lifecourse attributes (low income, severe disability and spouse absence). Unlike previous lifecourse typologies, this study shows no clear relationship between moderate disability and co-residence with adult children. The results suggest that co-residence is primarily a strategy for reducing living costs rather than a means of coping with moderate disability. [source] Multilevel analysis of effects of individual characteristics and household factors on self-rated health among older adults in rural VietnamGERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2010Hoang Van Minh Aim: This paper aims to describe self-rated health (SRH) status among older adults in a rural community of Vietnam, and examine individual and household-level factors associated with good health rating among the study populations. Methods: The study was carried out in the Bavi district, a rural community located 60 km west of Hanoi, the capital, within the Epidemiological Field Laboratory of Bavi (FilaBavi) in Vietnam in 2006. All people aged 50 years and over who lived within the district were surveyed. Face-to-face household interviews were conducted by trained surveyors using standard World Health Organization/INDEPTH network questionnaire,summary version. A logistic multilevel modeling approach was applied to analyze the association between SRH and both individual and household-level factors. Results: The proportion of people aged 50 years and older in FilaBavi reported having good/very good health and poor/very poor health was 15.1% and 24.8%, respectively. SRH status was reported to be better among: (i) men; (ii) younger people; (iii) people with higher education; (iv) people who were currently in marital a partnership; (v) those from wealthier households; and (vi) those who were living in riverside/island or highland areas compared to those of other categories of the same variable. Conclusion: The findings reveal that there exist problems of inequality in health among older adults in the study setting by sex, age, education, wealth status and place of residence. We also found a considerable contribution of the household-level factors to SRH of the study populations.. [source] Healthy, wealthy and insured?HEALTH ECONOMICS, Issue 3 2008The role of self-assessed health in the demand for private health insurance Abstract Both adverse selection and moral hazard models predict a positive relationship between risk and insurance; yet the most common finding in empirical studies of insurance is that of a negative correlation. In this paper, we investigate the relationship between ex ante risk and private health insurance using Australian data. The institutional features of the Australian system make the effects of asymmetric information more readily identifiable than in most other countries. We find a strong positive association between self-assessed health and private health cover. By applying the Lokshin and Ravallion (J. Econ. Behav. Organ 2005; 56:141,172) technique we identify the factors responsible for this result and recover the conventional negative relationship predicted by adverse selection when using more objective indicators of health. Our results also provide support for the hypothesis that self-assessed health captures individual traits not necessarily related to risk of health expenditures, in particular, attitudes towards risk. Specifically, we find that those persons who engage in risk-taking behaviours are simultaneously less likely to be in good health and less likely to buy insurance. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The intention to switch health insurer and actual switching behaviour: are there differences between groups of people?HEALTH EXPECTATIONS, Issue 2 2010Michelle Hendriks PhD Abstract Background, Several western countries have introduced managed competition in their health care system. In the Netherlands, a new health insurance law was introduced in January 2006 making it easier to switch health insurer each year. Objective, The objective was to measure people's intention to switch health insurer and actual switching behaviour. We also examined whether some groups were less inclined to switch health insurer and/or had more difficulty to exert their intention to switch. Design, In October 2006, members of three Dutch panels indicated whether they intended to switch health insurer during that year's open enrolment period. In the beginning of 2007, the same people were asked whether they indeed switched health insurer. Results, Only 1% intended to switch health insurer. Women, older people, lower educated people, people who were insured for a longer period and people who reported a bad or moderate health were less inclined to switch health insurer. The amount of switching was higher among individuals who intended to switch (31%) than among individuals who did not know whether they would switch (7%) and individuals with no intention to switch (2%). Among those who intended to switch health insurer, women and people who reported a good health switched health insurer more often. The years of enrolment were also associated with actual switching behaviour. Discussion and Conclusions, We might have to temper the optimistic expectations on enhanced choice. Future research should determine why people do not switch health insurer when they intend to and which barriers they experience. [source] Do Commercial Managed Care Members Rate Their Health Plans Differently than Medicaid Managed Care Members?HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, Issue 4 2003Patrick J. Roohan Objective. To determine if members of commercial managed care and Medicaid managed care rate the experience with their health plans differently. Data Sources. Data from both commercial and Medicaid Consumer Assessment of Health Plan Surveys (CAHPS) in New York State. Study Design. Regression models were used to determine the effect of population (commercial or Medicaid) on a member's rating of their health plan, controlling for health status, age, gender, education, race/ethnicity, number of office visits, and place of residence. Data Collection. Managed care plans are required to submit to the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) results of the annual commercial CAHPS survey. The NYSDOH conducted a survey of Medicaid enrollees using Medicaid CAHPS. Principal Findings. Medicaid managed care members in excellent or very good health rate their health plan higher than commercial members in excellent or very good health. There is no difference in health plan rating for commercial and Medicaid members in good, fair, or poor health. Older, less educated, black, and Hispanic members who live outside New York City are more likely to rate their managed care plan higher. Conclusions. Medicaid members rating of their health care equals or exceeds ratings by commercial members. [source] Changes in family food habits: the role of migrationINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CONSUMER STUDIES, Issue 3 2000Clara Opare-Obisaw Abstract The food habits of people generally dictate their nutritional well-being, which subsequently affects their physical and mental health. A change in environment is one of the major factors that could bring about positive or negative changes in food consumption patterns. The food habits of 50 migrant families living in a suburb of Accra were studied to find out what changes have taken place as a result of a change in living environment. The homemaker in each family was interviewed to obtain information on socioeconomic characteristics, past and present food procurement and consumption patterns, food avoidances and factors that influence food selection and consumption. The findings revealed that, although the majority stuck to foods they were accustomed to, there were striking changes in sources of food procurement, the number of meals prepared at home and the relative frequency of consumption of some staple foods. One-third of the study group felt that their diets had become poorer as a result of the change in environment. Two factors, time and money, were associated with the changes that had taken place. The study provides some evidence for the existence of inadequate diets among migrant families. This might even reflect a more serious situation facing the numerous migrant youth, who have no families to cater for them and, hence, put their health at risk. Home economists and other related professionals could be instrumental in drawing up intervention programmes to ensure adequate selection and consumption of food to promote good health among migrants to the city. [source] Antioxidants in fruits and vegetables , the millennium's healthINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 7 2001Charanjit Kaur Some of the most exciting research in the last decade has been the discovery of a group of nutrients, which have protective effects against cell oxidation. These naturally occurring compounds impart bright colour to fruits and vegetables and act as antioxidants in the body by scavenging harmful free radicals, which are implicated in most degenerative diseases. Epidemiological studies have established a positive correlation between the intake of fruits and vegetables and prevention of diseases like atheroscelerosis, cancer, diabetes, arthritis and also ageing. So pronounced has been their effect on ageing that they have been called ,fountains of youth'. Fruits and vegetables have thus had conferred on them the status of ,functional foods', capable of promoting good health and preventing or alleviating diseases. Phenolic flavonoids, lycopene, carotenoids and glucosinolates are among the most thoroughly studied antioxidants. The present review highlights the potential of fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants, their health benefits and the effect of processing on the bioavailability of these nutrients. The paper also reviews some of the important methods used to determine the antioxidant activity. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||