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PubMed2006

Parental report of health conditions and health care use among children with and without autism: National Survey of Children's Health.

OBJECTIVE: To compare parent-reported prevalence of health conditions and health care use between children with and without autism. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of the 2003 to 2004 National Survey of Children's Health. SETTING: Population-based sample across the United States. PARTICIPANTS: More than 100 000 parents. The main exposure was "autism" (not further defined), from response to the question: "Has a doctor or health professional ever told you that your child has autism?" MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Medical and mental health conditions and measures of health care use. RESULTS: Autism prevalence among children aged 3 to 17 years was 53 per 10 000 (95% confidence interval, 45-61 per 10,000), equating to a national estimate of 324 000 children (95% confidence interval, 274,000-375,000 children). Children with autism had a significantly (P<.001) higher prevalence of depression or anxiety problems (38.9% vs 4.2%) and behavioral or conduct problems (58.9% vs 5.2%) than children without autism. Respiratory, food, and skin allergies were reported by parents more often for children with autism, with food allergies having the strongest relative difference between the groups (odds ratio, 4.5; 95% confidence interval, 3.0-7.0). Children with autism had significantly (P<.001) higher mean physician visits over 12 months for preventive care, nonemergency care, and hospital emergency care, and were far more likely than children without autism to receive physical, occupational, or speech therapy (76.0% vs 6.3%), to need treatment or counseling for an emotional, developmental, or behavioral problem (75.4% vs 7.0%), and, among those taking a prescribed medication, to be using a medication long-term (51.4% vs 14.5%). CONCLUSION: We found markedly higher reports of concurrent conditions and health care use associated with childhood autism in this study.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

The changing roles of health care personnel in health and health care management.

Health care reform has become a global phenomenon. Countries are experiencing similar problems with their health care systems and are reaching for similar solutions. Management is seen as crucial in many countries as the principal means of securing supply-side reforms. Many of these centre on establishing a new relationship between professionals, notably the medical profession, and the state. The aim has been to exercise greater influence over how professionals practice and use resources. The application of new public management principles based on industrial sector practices and concepts of management has created tensions within professional groups who feel themselves, and their craft, to be under attack. But the new managerialism has to be seen within a context of rapid social and economic change. It is not possible to predict what the impact of such change is likely to be on health services in the future or on those who provide them. The paper offers an overview of health care reforms and assesses how it is shaping, or re-shaping, the roles and tasks of health care personnel. One conclusion is the mismatch between the management style favoured by policy-makers and reformers and the necessary flexibility required in skill mix and organization of work. High-trust relations lie at the heart of professional forms of organisation whereas the new managerialism appears to be based on the expectation of low-trust relations. The paper concludes with a brief look at the implications of all these developments for training and education and finds that there is still a long way to go before there is any real prospect of providing and equipping health care personnel with the requisite skills to enable them to meet the complex challenges that are a common characteristic of health care systems.

Delivery of Health Care↗
PubMed2000

Preliminary explorations of the harmful interactive effects of widowhood and marital harmony on health, health service use, and health care costs.

This study examined effects of widowhood and marital harmony on health, health service use, and health care costs. The Americans Changing Lives data set contains 694 subjects who remained married and 61 subjects who became widowed between 1986 and 1989. Estimated annual mean 1989 health costs, adjusting for 1986 costs, age, sex, socioeconomic status, mental/physical health, 1989 health insurance, and selection biases are: $2,384 for widowed, $1,498 for married subjects. Adjusted annual 1989 estimates are: $2,766 for those widowed after harmonious marriages; $2,100 for those widowed after discordant marriages; $1,790 for spouses in discordant marriages; $1,228 for spouses in harmonious marriages. Harmonious marriages appear protective until widowhood, after which higher health costs result.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The Local Public Health System Assessment of MAPP/The National Public Health Performance Standards Local Tool: a community-based, public health practice and academic collaborative approach to implementation.

The Local Public Health System Assessment (LPHSA) in Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP), and the Local Tool of the National Public Health Performance Standards Program (LT/NPHPSP)--which are one in the same-attempt to assess the capacity to provide the essential public health services. Both tools have been utilized in various public health practice settings; however, users have been challenged with the complexity of the tools and time and human resource investment necessary to complete them. The recent Journal of Public Health Management and Practice issue focus on MAPP provided several examples of LPHSA implementation, both as a component of MAPP and as a stand-alone activity in the context of performance standards. The uniqueness in our approach involved a collaborative between a community-based organization, a public health academic program, and a governmental public health agency which conducted the LPHSA in a manner that did not require actual modification of the tool itself, was practical and feasible, and was of benefit and value to all partners.

Community Participation↗
PubMed1989

Changes in national child health care policies and their effects on the public health nurse's work in child health care in Finland.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the public health nurse's work and decision-making process in child health care during the years 1976-1986. The first study was carried out in 1976 and a subsequent one in 1986. The population of both studies consisted of public health nurses working in child health care centres. During these years many reforms were implemented in national child health care policy. According to the results of the 1986 study the public health nurses used the decision-making process, as a whole, better than in the study of 1976. The content of the health care they provided had become more varied.

Child Health Services↗
PubMed1997

Predicting health care utilization in the very old. The role of physical health, mental health, attitudinal and social factors.

The purpose of this paper is to predict health care utilization in the very old from a combination of individual-based factors such as physical and mental health, health attitudes and beliefs, sociodemographic characteristics, and life circumstances. This study was conducted within the context of the Berlin Aging Study (BASE). Higher use of medications was most strongly predicted by more medical diagnoses, better cognitive status, and health attitudes. Physician contact was only weakly predicted by physical health variables, hypochondriasis, and living alone. In contrast, living alone was the greatest predictor of the utilization of increased levels of caregiving services, while having children nearby served as a protective factor against the need for more formal caregiving services. These results show that utilization of health care depends on interaction between physical and mental health, attitudinal, and social factors.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

The conceptual and empirical link between health behaviors, self reported health, and the use of home health care in later life.

The primary qualification for Medicare's home health care benefit is being homebound, typically by a chronic disability. Disability and functional ability in late-life are heavily influenced by the long-term practice of health behaviors. One of the goals of Healthy People 2000 is to increase the years of healthy life which are measured, in part, by self reported health status. This compression of morbidity would, in effect, reduce the need for long term care. This paper examines three conceptual models linking health behaviors to self reported health in a unique sample of older adults who have chosen to participate in a corporate sponsored wellness program. It is hoped that these findings will encourage further research on formulating empirical pathways from health behaviors to reduced need for home health care.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2005

[The effects of a health promotion program in rural elderly on health promotion lifestyle and health status].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identity the effects of a health promotion program for rural elderly on health promotion lifestyle and health status. METHOD: The study was a nonequivalent control group pre-post experimental design. Data collection was performed from April 12th, 2003 to August 2nd, 2003. The subjects were selected at Mari Myun Geochang Gun in Korea. 44 elders were in the experimental group and 45 elders were in the control group. The 16-week health promotion program was given to the experimental group. Data was analyzed by descriptive statistics, chi(2)-test, t-test, and ANCOVA test with SPSS/Win 10.0 program. RESULT: The experimental group showed higher scores of a health promotion lifestyle and perceived health status than the control group. In addition, systolic BP, heart rate, body fat and glucose of the experimental group were lower than the control group. Waist flexibility, left hand grip power, back strength and leg strength of the experimental group were higher than the control group. However, there were no significant differences in diastolic BP, total cholesterol and right hand grip power between the two groups. CONCLUSION: This health promotion program for rural elderly can be recommended as an effective nursing intervention in rural communities.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

The Rotterdam Local Health Information System 1987-2000: from Rebus and the health barometer to the health monitor.

In this article the development of the Rotterdam Local Health Information System is sketched. Started as an offspring of the Healthy Cities Project of the WHO, the focus was very much on neighbourhoods. The data were presented by a software program, REBUS Vision. It was relatively new to gather information at the neighbourhood level, so not much consideration was given to the relative importance of data for research questions. This led to the need to condense the vast amount of data into some summary figure, the health barometer, which chose the 27 most important available neighbourhood indicators and divided these data into six groups leading to six scores in which a neighbourhood could be compared with the city mean, other neighbourhoods, or itself in time. Although REBUS Vision and the health barometer were reasonably successful, a frequently occurring criticism was that there was too much emphasis on the signalling of public health problems. This has led to the development of a health monitor that not only signals public health problems but also tries to identify determinants and to offer solutions on a health policy and promotion level.

Community Health Planning↗
PubMed1985

Changing patterns of oral health and implications for oral health manpower: Part I. Report of a Working Group convened jointly by the Fédération Dentaire Internationale and the World Health Organisation.

Data on oral health, sugar consumption, fluoride availability and other preventive programmes from twenty selected developed and developing countries were reviewed to identify the changes in oral health in children and factors associated with these changes during the past 20 years. Nine developed (industrialized) countries showed apparent substantial reduction (30-50 per cent) in the prevalence of dental caries in 5- and 12-year-old children during the past decade. The countries are: Australia, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom and the USA. Caries in Thailand and Nigeria and other developing countries appears to have increased considerably. The most probable reasons for the decrease in dental caries in children in the developed countries were considered to be associated with: the widespread exposure to fluoridated water and/or fluoride supplements, especially the regular use of fluoride toothpaste; the provision of preventive oral health services; the increased 'dental awareness' through organized oral health education programmes; the ready availability of dental resources. The factor common to all countries with a substantial reduction in caries was fluoride, either as fluoridated water or toothpaste. Countries with decreased caries but no fluoridated water supplies had all experienced a rapid increase in the availability and the use of fluoride toothpaste during the past 10 years. The contribution of improved dental health programmes, other than those involving fluoride, could not be adequately assessed. These changes, which appear to be continuing, have relevance also to similar countries which might just be entering the reduction phase, or for which that phase may already have begun, though it is as yet unnoticed and unreported. They also have relevance to developing countries in indicating how caries and perhaps periodontal diseases have been controlled and prevented. It is inevitable that in developed countries with reducing dental caries there will be a decreased need for dental services and hence a change in the need for dental personnel. However, the lack of adequate data in most countries makes prediction of future changes in oral health and manpower needs a precarious procedure. The whole review indicates the urgent need for regular monitoring of oral health status in all countries and for better personnel planning and production in quantity and appropriate categories. Part II of this report will deal with a recommended process for achieving these urgent needs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[Sentinel public health offices--a new approach to determining public health relevant data by the public health service].

The discipline of environment-related health protection lacks continuously recorded data. Therefore, a three-year pilot project "Sentinel Public Health Offices" was initiated by the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Welfare of Baden-Württemberg in 1992. Selected public health offices were instructed to conduct a series of three cross-sectional surveys of biological and effect monitoring among children attending the fourth grade of primary schools. The surveys were coordinated by the Provincial Public Health Office. During the pilot project the system of " Sentinel Public Health Offices" has proved successful not only in the continuous recording of data relevant to health. Its continuation as a permanent institution is contemplated.

Child↗
PubMed1997

Young doctors' health--II. Health and health behaviour.

There is little published information on the health of young doctors, apart from a number of studies which show increased rates of psychiatric symptoms. Nor is there much known of their health behaviour. Anecdotal accounts suggest that doctors' own health care is poor, especially in terms of their willingness to consult other doctors. This paper presents data from a longitudinal study of a class cohort of young doctors first interviewed when they were students. Data show that they suffer from frequent minor physical ailments, with women reporting more ailments than men. Despite this, they took less sick leave. Overall, the doctors took very little time off work. Using the GHQ-28, with a threshold of 5/6, 30% of doctors fell into the "caseness" category for psychiatric symptoms. This is in keeping with findings elsewhere. From the doctors' own reported health behaviour, both in terms of their response to illness over the past year, as well as their predicted response to hypothetical illness, they have developed maladaptive patterns. These include continuing to go to work when unfit, self-prescribing, and consulting friends and colleagues rather than going for a formal consultation. This is seen as inappropriate, especially in cases of mental illness. A third of the young doctors are not registered with a local general practitioner and the majority have no clear idea of the role of the Occupational Health Service. The results are discussed in terms of the need to change attitudes to health care and to develop guidelines, staffing and services to enable doctors to take better care of themselves.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Quantifiable impact of the contract for health and wellness: health behaviors, health care costs, disability, and workers' compensation.

Current literature about the long-term impacts of corporate health and wellness programs has brought to light new evidence about the cost savings associated with health-promotion interventions. A critical element in these initiatives is attracting the participation of employees at risk for high benefits use. This study presents evidence that suggests accomplishing this task has economic savings implications to large employers. A health and wellness intervention program offered at GlaxoSmithKline, entitled the Contract for Health and Wellness, is examined. Focusing on a group of 6049 employees, the study examines the impact on health behaviors and on integrated health benefits use of this continuously employed population from 1996 to 2000. Total benefits costs are examined for participants and nonparticipants, and the annual savings associated with the isolated impact of the program are, on average, $613 per participant. Reductions in disability costs accounted for the majority of these savings.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Geographically-based approaches to the integration of health promotion into health systems: a comparative study of two Health Action zones in the UK.

Health Action Zones (HAZs) were introduced in the UK in the late 1990s as a whole system approach to public health and health care. Resources were targeted in historically deprived subregional units of England. Based on process evaluations undertaken in their fourth year of operation, the approaches taken by two HAZs were compared. Each had different histories of intersectoral cooperation and strategic approaches to integration. Both operated in a rapidly changing policy and organizational environment. This undermined attempts to sustain a consistent vision and eventually led to the demise of HAZs as subregional units. The approaches chosen by these two HAZs to integrate health promotion into health systems cannot be divorced from the political, historical and geographical contexts in which they were initiated. What the experiences of the two HAZs demonstrate is that while subregions and localities can potentially benefit from a whole systems perspective, there are deep-seated structural problems that constrain progress. Their experience demonstrates that context is of key importance in understanding the outcomes of any intervention aimed at promoting health.

Delivery of Health Care↗
PubMed1980

Public Health Service--health systems agencies and state health planning and development agencies; certificate of need reviews. Notice regarding certificate of need programs.

This Notice sets forth advance information regarding amendments to the regulations governing certificate of need reviews by health systems agencies and State health planning and development agencies. This Notice is intended to provide early guidance to States prior to publication of interim final regulations implementing the amendments to certificate of need provisions of the Public Health Service Act made by the Health Planning and Resources Development Amendments of 1979 (Pub. L 96-79). This early guidance will assist the States in beginning to revise their certificate of need laws. Under the amended provisions of the Public Health Service Act, the planning agencies are required to review and determine the need for proposed capital expenditures, institutional health services and major medical equipment. The Secretary intends to publish these interim final regulations within a few weeks. Following consideration of comments which will be solicited with regard to the interim regulations, the Secretary will publish an analysis of the comments and will revise those regulations as appropriate.

Certificate of Need↗
PubMed1999

Utilisation of oral health services, oral health needs and oral health status in a peri-urban informal settlement.

Interviews were conducted with 294 black residents (155 females and 138 males) of a peri-urban informal settlement in Gauteng to ascertain utilisation of oral health services, oral health needs and oral health status. Only 37 per cent of the sample had consulted a dentist or medical practitioner, usually for extractions. Teenagers and employed persons were significantly less likely to utilise dentists than the older age groups and unemployed persons. Forty per cent were currently experiencing oral health problems such as a sore mouth, tooth decay and bleeding/painful gums. Two hundred and twelve (73 per cent) interviewees wanted dental treatment or advice. Residents who rated their oral health status as fair or poor appeared to have the greatest need for oral health services. The use of interviews appears to be a cost-effective method of determining oral morbidity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

The Arkansas River Valley Rural Health Cooperative: building a three-pronged approach to improved health and health care.

This paper describes the Arkansas River Valley Rural Health Cooperative (ARVRHC), one of the Arkansas networks jump-started with support from the Southern Rural Access Program (SRAP). The initial goal of the network was to develop a subsidized health insurance program to provide affordable medical services for the uninsured population (23%) in the 3-county service area. When planning efforts called for the network to address broader needs, the ARVRHC crafted a more comprehensive 3-pronged program model consisting of 3 interrelated programs: (1) the Health Care Access Program (HCAP), (2) the Health Education and Disease Management Program (HE&DMP), and 3) the Information and Assistance Program (I&AP). The HCAP is designed to address the financial barriers to access through a community-based health plan. The HE&DMP focuses on improving the health of individuals through education, counseling, and preventive care. The I&AP links low-income families to existing public assistance programs (e.g., Medicaid) and social support services. The Prescription Drug Assistance Program is one of the I&AP programs that helps individuals without prescription coverage obtain drugs at no cost. A key lesson learned is the importance of combining technical assistance with funding. The ARVRHC has been successful in leveraging funding, having received over $1.7 million in grant funds since 1999. A critical challenge facing the network today is the need for ongoing subsidy funding. Proposed legislation for a federal demonstration of the HCAP and similar programs would enable full implementation and evaluation of this model.

Arkansas↗
PubMed1998

Obesity, health services use, and health care costs among members of a health maintenance organization.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is an independent risk factor for a variety of chronic diseases and is therefore a potential source of avoidable excess health care expenditures. Previous studies of obesity and health care costs have used group level data, applying estimates of population-attributable risks to estimates of US total costs of care for each obesity-related disease. OBJECTIVE: To quantify the association between body mass index (BMI) and health services use and costs stratified by age and use source at the patient level, a level of detail not previously reported. METHODS: In 17,118 respondents to a 1993 health survey of members of a large health maintenance organization, we ascertained through computerized databases all hospitalizations, laboratory services, outpatient visits, outpatient pharmacy and radiology services, and the direct costs of providing these services during 1993. RESULTS: There was an association between BMI and annual rates of inpatient days, number and costs of outpatient visits, costs of outpatient pharmacy and laboratory services, and total costs (P < or = .003). Relative to BMI of 20 to 24.9, mean annual total costs were 25% greater among those with BMI of 30 to 34.9 (rate ratio, 1.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-1.41), and 44% greater among those with BMI of 35 or greater (rate ratio, 1.44; 95% confidence interval, 1.22-1.71). The association between BMI and coronary heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes largely explained these elevated costs. CONCLUSION: Given the high prevalence of obesity and the associated elevated rates of health services use and costs, there is a significant potential for a reduction in health care expenditures through obesity prevention efforts.

Adult↗