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Health Activities (health + activity)
Selected AbstractsType 2 diabetes mellitus, impaired glucose tolerance and associated factors in a rural Palestinian villageDIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 10 2000A. Husseini SUMMARY Aims To investigate the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and to identify risk factors associated with diabetes in a rural Palestinian village. Methods A cross-sectional, population-based study investigating 500 adults aged 30,65 years (response rate 85%) determined the diabetes status using the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). A standard questionnaire, a simple clinical examination and laboratory tests assessed blood lipids, blood pressure, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), body mass index (BMI) and other risk factors for diabetes Results The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes was 9.8% (95% confidence interval 7.3,12.3) and IGT 8.6% (6.1,11.1), while the prevalence standardized to the European population was 11.6% (8.8,14.4) for Type 2 diabetes and 10.3% (7.6,13.0) for IGT. Age, positive family history, high triglycerides level, and high WHR were significantly associated with Type 2 diabetes. Conclusions Of the factors associated with diabetes, WHR and triglycerides levels are potentially modifiable, and should be addressed by preventive health activities. The high prevalence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus and its potential increase as a result of the ageing of the Palestinian population constitutes a major public health problem. [source] A systematic review of the use of simulated patients and pharmacy practice researchINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACY PRACTICE, Issue 2 2006Dr. MC Watson MRC fellow Objective The use of simulated patients to assess current practice, or to derive outcome measures for pharmacy practice research, has received much attention in recent years. A simulated patient is an individual who is trained to visit a pharmacy to enact a scenario testing specific behaviour of the pharmacist or pharmacy staff. The aim of this study was to provide a definitive review of the use of simulated patients as a methodological tool for pharmacy practice research. Method A systematic review was undertaken to identify all pharmacy practice studies that had used simulated patient methodology. The electronic databases searched to identify relevant studies were MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL. Articles fulfilling all the following criteria were considered for inclusion in the review: primary reports of trials conducted in community pharmacy and drug store settings which used simulated patients to derive outcome measures. The review was not restricted by language or by country. The review was restricted to publications from 1976 to May 2005. Key findings In total, 56 full publications were retrieved for further examination, of which 46 studies were included in the review, including: nine randomised controlled trials, three controlled trials, 30 cross-sectional, two time-series and two ,other' studies. Ten publications were excluded: seven reviews, one laboratory-based study, one telephone survey and one study presented only as an abstract. Conclusions There has been steady growth in the use of simulated patient methodology over the past 30 years. Although simulated patients have received negative attention in the pharmaceutical media, they can be a rigorous and robust method of measuring practice if used appropriately. This review demonstrates the range of activities for which this method can be used, including the assessment of counselling and advice provision, the treatment of minor and major illness, and the assessment of the public health activities of pharmacy and drug store staff. Simulated patient methodology has been used in developing countries to a similar, if not greater extent, than the developed world, demonstrating its versatility and applicability to pharmacy practice research globally. [source] Health Screening and Developmental DisabilitiesJOURNAL OF POLICY AND PRACTICE IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, Issue 3 2006Teresa Iacono Abstract, Adults with developmental disabilities often experience health disparities when compared with the general population. Early detection of risk of disease may help to reduce such disparities, but many adults often do not participate in preventive health care at recommended levels. The aim of the present study was to describe health screening activities involving a large group of adults and explore how factors, such as living arrangement, type and severity of disability, and age, influence reported rates of participation. The study involved administering surveys to adults with disabilities and their immediate support persons (parents, carers, and professional support workers) and asking whether adults had visited a general practitioner (GP) and what was their participation in preventive services during the previous 12-month period. Participation in preventive screening services ranged between 3% (screening for sexually transmitted infection) and 58% (screening for elevated blood pressure), and rates for certain services appeared low, particularly in comparison with equivalent screenings in the general population. Results showed a relationship between participation rates and living situation, type of disability, and age, but not severity of disability. The results suggest that higher rates of participation in preventative health activities among those enrolled in formal services may reflect a greater obligation or concern among paid workers and possibly a lack of awareness of health issues by families, and also that screening disparities may be attributed to GPs who may be applying guidelines from the general population but who are not aware of disability-specific issues when examining adults with disabilities. [source] Perceptions about menopause and health practises among women in northeast ThailandNURSING & HEALTH SCIENCES, Issue 3 2002Siriporn Chirawatkul PhD Abstract The purpose of the present qualitative study was to understand health perceptions and practises among Thai menopausal women. One hundred and forty-two women aged 45,59 participated in the study in 1999. Data gathered from observations, focus group discussions, and in depth interviews were analyzed by using the hermeneutic phenomenological method. Four main themes emerged as characteristic of the health perceptions, practises and worldviews of the participants. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of what it is like to be a menopausal woman, and why certain health activities are practised. [source] A question of balance: prioritizing public health responses to harm from gamblingADDICTION, Issue 5 2009Peter J. Adams ABSTRACT Aim To provide an overview on the nature and importance of public health approaches to the global expansion of commercial gambling. Method Three key areas of public health activity are examined: harm minimization, health promotion and the political determinants for change. Findings The rapid proliferation of gambling experienced in many countries is driven by the commercial development of new products orientated around continuous and rapid mass consumption. This is particularly the case with ongoing refinements to electronic gambling machines and the development of new gambling technologies using the internet and mobile telephones. So far responses to negative impacts have, on the whole, focused upon individualized treatment interventions. A public health approach to gambling offers a broad range of strategies to tackle the wider implications of gambling expansion: harm reduction provides evidence-based strategies for managing identifiable harm; health promotion focuses upon communities building their capacity, knowledge and resilience with regard to the attractions of gambling, and action on the political determinants sets out to increase the accountability and reduce the conflicts of interest that influence government resolve in managing their gambling environments. Conclusion In this new environment of mass consumption, efforts in developing treatment responses to problem gambling need to be balanced with, at least, equal efforts in developing public health responses. With the expansion of commercial gambling occurring globally, international agencies could play a critical role in supporting public health initiatives. [source] Public health needs a strong, well-planned advocacy programAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 5 2006Mike Daube Public health is the poor relation in the health system and attracted little additional funding from the 2006 Budget. A modest increase in the allocation to prevention would enable significant advances to be made across a wide range of public health activity and research areas. PHAA should take the lead in developing a planned and sustained advocacy program. [source] | ||||||||||