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PubMed2005

Symptoms of distress and posttraumatic stress among South African former political detainees.

Considerable debate has centred on the question of traumatisation among individuals who have survived human rights violations in societies that have undergone political conflict. In order to gain an estimate of the extent of long-term traumatisation among political activists who experienced torture and abuse in detention during the apartheid era in South Africa, a sample of 148 survivors of such experiences were recruited in a cross-sectional study and asked to complete the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL), the Impact of Event Scale (IES), and the Trauma Symptoms section of the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ). The proportions of the sample that scored above the clinical cut-points on these measures were calculated. On the HSCL, 14.19% of the sample scored above the cut-point for clinical significance of 44; on the IES, 17.57% scored above the clinical cut-point of 44; and on the HTQ, 37.83% scored above the cut-point of 75. Moreover, the sample's mean scores were significantly higher than the cut-point for clinically significant distress on the HSCL (p < 0.001); significantly lower than the cut-point for severe traumatisation on the IES (p < 0.001); and non-significantly lower than the cut-point for clinically significant traumatisation on the HTQ (p = 0.074). These results are considered in terms of current theoretical debates on the relevance and applicability of posttraumatic stress disorder as a circumscribed nosological entity in developing countries that are in the process of coming to terms with a history of political conflict.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Christian bioethics and the Church's political worship.

Christian bioethics springs from the worship that is the response of the Church to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Such worship is distinctively political in nature, in that it acknowledges Christ as Lord. Because it is a political worship, it can recognize no other lords and no other prior claims on its allegiance: these include the claims of an allegedly universal ethics and politics determined from outside the Church. However the Church is called not just to be a contrast society, but also to witness to the freeing of the world from salvific pretensions in order that it may embrace its proper temporality. The implications of this for the distinctiveness of Christian bioethics are brought out in three movements: first, the Church's itself learning how it is to conceive bioethics; second, the Church's role in unmasking the idols of secular bioethics; and third, the Church's witnessing to the freeing of medicine from idolatrous aspirations.

Bioethical Issues↗
PubMed1982

Is sociobiology reactionary? The political implications of inclusive-fitness theory.

Is inclusive fitness theory, popularly called "sociobiology," necessarily conservative or reactionary? While this criticism is usually focused on the extension of evolutionary reasoning to human behavior, it implies that contemporary biological theory is ideologically biased. Historical, logical, and empirical evidence shows, however, that models of natural selection based on reproductive success--particularly when redefined in terms of inclusive fitness--are not incompatible with scientific objectivity. This approach is a cost-benefit analysis of social behavior, akin to "rational actor" models in economics, game theory, and public-choice theory. Derived from the "social-contract" tradition in Western political philosophy, epitomized by such varied thinkers as Thrasymachus, Hobbes, and Rousseau, such a calculus of individual advantage has had as broad a range of ideological overtones as the contrasting "'sociological" tradition of Aristotle, Marx, and Durkheim. Previous evolutionary explanations of human society have likewise suggested diverse political conclusions. Indeed, if inclusive-fitness models do have political implications, they could well challenge existing sociopolitical beliefs and institutions rather than support them.

Altruism↗
PubMed2001

Politically correct labels and schizophrenia: a rose by any other name?

This study investigated the role of politically correct labels in emotional reactions, attributions regarding illness, behavioral intentions, and knowledge of schizophrenia symptoms. Two samples, undergraduate students and community members, were asked to rate a target individual on various scales using one of four labels varying in "political correctness": consumer of mental health services, person with severe mental illness, person with schizophrenia, and schizophrenic. Results showed that the label "consumer of mental health services" was associated with less negative reactions and was considered to be reflective of a condition more likely to change relative to the other, less politically correct labels. However, this label did not result in greater behavioral intention to interact with persons with a psychiatric disorder. Furthermore, participants receiving this label identified fewer symptoms associated with DSM-IV criteria of schizophrenia and were more likely to attribute responsibility for the condition to the target person, relative to the other labels.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Normalization and rehabilitation as objects of socio-political measures concerning the mentally retarded in Denmark and the Federal Republic of Germany: an intercultural comparative study.

This is a report on first results of a research project which tries to develop statements concerning the transferability of the concept of normalization as a basis of the care for the mentally handicapped from the Scandinavian into the German context. The intercultural comparative study is chosen as the appropriate method. This is done on the basis of a socio-political comparison of the situation and practice of public services in both countries, as well as on the basis of a comparison of selected service regions. In this paper we do report on results on that socio-political comparison. There is a difference between the comparison of structural characteristics of social systems, the comparison of socio-political measures and the comparison of social tendencies and problems which have effects on the situation of the mentally retarded. In the centre of this statement is a nearby aspect of the structures' comparison, that is the comparison of the objects of public care for the mentally handicapped in Denmark and the FRG. These aims are defined within the specific arguments for legislative standardisations. In Denmark this aim is paraphrased by the term "normalization", which means to arrange the life of a handicapped as normal as possible. In Germany there is an alignment about the objective "rehabilitation", which is formulated most comprehensively as the integration of the handicapped into work, profession and society. An analysis of the normative contents shows a close conformity in the conceptions of the aims. In contrast to this we find practically basic organisational and structural differences in the systems of public services which in essence are connected with the different social systems of both countries and the different development of reform processes in this subject.

Cross-Cultural Comparison↗
PubMed2006

How to improve cooperation with political leaders and other decision-makers to improve prevention of cardiovascular disease: lessons from Poland.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the main health problem in Poland. We decided to use modern social marketing methods to present the current epidemiological situation to political and key opinion leaders in Poland. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The surveys were carried out in the following groups: members of the Polish parliament, members of the executive bodies of the two largest trades unions in Poland, participants at the Polish Hygiene Society Congress, representatives of the health insurance board in the district of Pomerania, and press and radio journalists. The study consisted of a questionnaire, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure measurements, and cholesterol and glucose level tests. The results were presented to examined subjects individually and in the form of an educational conference held on the same day. RESULTS: In the examined groups of political and opinion leaders awareness of one's own blood pressure was declared by 40.6-86% of the subjects, increased blood pressure was found in 36-43.5%, overweight or obesity (body mass index 25 kg/m) in 40.6-67.3%, smoking was declared by 16.5-30%. The results were compared with those obtained in corresponding age groups in the general population. CONCLUSION: The idea of presenting the current epidemiological burden caused by CVD in Poland by means of an assessment of individual and collective CVD risk among political and opinion leaders appeared to be an effective method of education and constructive lobbying for the fight against an epidemic of myocardial infarctions and strokes in Poland.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗
PubMed1997

Political changes and trends in cardiovascular risk factors in the Czech Republic, 1985-92.

BACKGROUND: Mortality from cardiovascular diseases is substantially higher in central and eastern Europe than in the west. After the fall of communism, these countries have undergone radical changes in their political, social, and economic environments but little is known about the impact of these changes on health behaviours or risk factors. Data from the Czech Republic, a country whose mortality rates from cardiovascular diseases are among the highest, were analysed in this report. OBJECTIVES: To examine the trends in cardiovascular risk factors in Czech population over the last decade during which a major and sudden change of the political and social system occurred in 1989, and whether the trends differed in relation to age and educational group. DESIGN AND SETTING: Data from three cross sectional surveys conducted in 1985, 1988, and 1992 as a part of the MONICA project were analysed. The surveys examined random samples of men and women aged 25-64 in six Czech districts and measured the following risk factors: smoking, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and total and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. RESULTS: The numbers of subjects (response rate) examined were 2573 (84%) in 1985, 2769 (87%) in 1988, and 2353 (73%) in 1992. Total cholesterol and body mass index increased between 1985 and 1988 and decreased between 1988 and 1992. The prevalence of smoking was declining slightly in men between 1985 and 1992 but remained stable in women. There were only small changes in blood pressure. The decline in cholesterol and BMI in 1988-92 may be related to changes in foods consumption after the price deregulation in 1991. An improvement in risk profile was more pronounced in younger age groups, and the declines in cholesterol and obesity were substantially larger in men and women with higher education. By contrast, there was an increase in smoking in women educated only to primary level. CONCLUSION: Substantial changes in cholesterol, obesity, and women's smoking occurred in the Czech population after the political changes in 1989. Although a causal association cannot be claimed, national trends in foods consumption are consistent with changes in blood lipids and obesity. Further monitoring of trends is required to confirm these trends.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Socioeconomic and political issues in radiology: a historical analysis.

Radiology literature indexes were searched for articles concerning socioeconomic and political issues published during two 21-year periods: 1920-1940 and 1970-1990. Of 200 articles found, 96 were considered appropriate for study, 40 from 1920-1940 and 56 from 1970-1990. All except two of the articles were from Radiology or the American Journal of Roentgenology. The articles were organized into 16 categories. By quantifying the number of times these socioeconomic and political issues appeared and comparing quotations from the articles, the authors demonstrated many common issues in the two periods, despite drastic differences in radiology practice. Analysis of historical literature provides perspective on current socioeconomic and political issues and may help formulate solutions to current problems. Documentation of such issues facilitates historical analysis and is an important function of the radiology literature.

Bibliometrics↗
PubMed1994

Health politics meets post-modernism: its meaning and implications for community health organizing.

In this article, post-modern theory is described and applied to health politics with examples from community health organizing, social movements, and health promotion. Post-modernism questions conventional assumptions about concepts such as representation, participation, empowerment, community, identity, causality, accountability, responsibility, authority, and roles in community health promotion (those of expert, leader, and organizer). I compare post-modern social movements with their modern counterparts: the organizational forms, leadership styles, and substantive intellectual orientations of the two differ. I explain the social planning, community development, and social action models of community health organizing, comparing them with the priorities of post-modern social movements, and show the similarities and differences between them as to structural preferences, process, and strategies. Finally, and most importantly, I present the implicit lessons that post-modernism offers to health politics and outline the strengths and weaknesses of this approach to health politics.

Community Health Services↗
PubMed2026

Religious beliefs and practices, political orientation, and distrust in healthcare predict attitudes toward mRNA vaccines in the United States.

Religion has contributed to societal divides regarding COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. In this study, we conducted a secondary analysis of a survey of U.S. adults (N&#x2009;=&#x2009;4939) focused on how religious affiliations, beliefs, and practices impact attitudes toward genetic and genomic activities, one of which was mRNA vaccines. The dataset included large samples of participants from six religious groups in the U.S. (Black Protestant, Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Jewish, Mainline Protestant, and Muslim), as well as individuals who were atheist, agnostic, or spiritual. ANCOVA results indicated that Evangelical Protestant participants showed significantly less support for mRNA vaccines than other groups, while atheist participants were the most supportive. Muslim participants had the highest concerns, whereas atheist participants had the lowest. Regression analyses indicated the strongest predictors of support for mRNA vaccines were more spiritual community support for community health, followed by higher acceptance of evolution, more liberal political orientation, less distrust toward the healthcare system, higher frequency of attending religious activities, higher income, lower fundamentalist religious beliefs, and more spiritual community support for liberal reproductive and end of life views. The strongest predictors of concerns about mRNA vaccines were more distrust toward the healthcare system and more conservative political orientation, followed by less spiritual community support for community health, stronger beliefs about God in the body, more fundamentalist religious beliefs, and lower knowledge of genetics. The large sample size and examination of a broad array of religious variables alongside distrust and political orientation offer new insights. These findings add to the literature on the culture wars surrounding mRNA vaccines, and can perhaps aid in future efforts to build trust and relationships between public health and religious communities.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

[Elements of the Political Professional Project of the Brazilian Graduate Nurses National Association present in the Annaes de Enfermagem].

The journal Annaes de Enfermagem was created to publish ideas, concepts, results of scientific production, reflections and, mainly to expose the Political Professional Project of the Associagao Nacional de Enfermeiras Diplomadas Brasileiras (Brazilian Graduate Nurses National Association). This study aimed at describing and characterizing that elements as they were present in the referred journal in the periodo from 1932 up to 1941. This is a qualitative study based on the historical method. Main elements of the political project comprehends the desired attributes for the nurse as altruism, abnegation, patriotism, humantary sense, professional progress linked to education, art, ideal, ethics and components of Christian religion. These elements made part of a political project that aimed at integrating nursing in the health national context by that time.

Brazil↗
PubMed2003

[Social and political actors in the formulation of health reform in Spain].

An analysis of the participation of social and political actors in the process of formulating health policy allows one to understand the specific characteristics of the organization and operation of a health system. This study analyzes the drafting process for the General Health Act (LGS) in Spain with the purpose of establishing the relationship between social, political, and economic actors in both the formulation of the Act itself and the organization of the Spanish Health System. A case study was carried out from 1982 through 1986. Documentary parliamentary data, the medical press, national magazines and journals, and press reports by political, social, and public health actors were analyzed. The first version of the General Health Act presented by the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) proposed a health system with funding and public administration aimed at achieving universal health coverage, integrated care, community participation, and health education. This proposal was submitted to a complex negotiating process with business groups, unions, and health professionals. The General Health Act as finally approved excludes the principles of equity and incorporates private interests in health: "free choice of doctor and hospital", public funding and private administration of the health system, and the establishment of Social Security as the core of the entire health system.

English Abstract↗
PubMed1982

Citizen participation in neighborhood health centers for the poor: the politics of reform organizational change, 1965-77.

Through a longitudinal study of neighborhood health centers for the poor in the United States, this paper presents an analysis of the political economy of change within reform organizations. In the final accounting, we seek to explain the shift in the role of poor people participating in health care decision making from that of program developer and change agent to the role of program restrictor. We conceptualize the neighborhood health center (NHC) as a reform organization whose initial objective was to use health care as a tool for achieving political and economic development within low-income rural and urban communities. The analysis, based on a prospective study of NHCs between 1965 and 1977, using interviews with citizen board members, NHC project administrators, NHC physicians, HEW decision elites, and oral history interviews with former Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) administrators and directors, exemplifies the generic social organizational problem of how social, political, economic, and ideological forces shape the emergence and performance of a new reform organization.

Community Health Centers↗
PubMed2004

Transnational capital and confessional politics: the paradox of the health care system in Lebanon.

For the past two decades there has been a debate over the implementation of structural adjustment policies in the health sector of developing countries, much of it focusing on the political and economic relevance of the reform process for public health provision. However, very few studies have been able to assess the relevance of the private sector, which has had a central role in the restructuring of health services worldwide. Lebanon provides just such a case, with a predominantly private provider and the role of the state relegated to financing, with few controls over supply. This situation has ensured the systematic destruction of what remained of public provision in the 1970s. The country is now faced with one of the most expensive health services in the world, and one in which much of the population continues to live under conditions of considerable economic deprivation. The unique situation of Lebanon is maintained by its politics of confessionalism, with sociopolitical relations dominated by primordial ties of family, tribe, and kin, which does not seem to be an obstacle to the process of globalization. The authors suggest that this context reinforces the gross inequalities in access to health care; they explore the complex relationship between state, finance capital, and confessional politics in the context of health sector reform, in particular the financing of health care.

Financing, Government↗
PubMed1984

Politics and health: an emerging technology. The 1984 Harvey Cushing oration.

A political scientist examines the worlds of advanced medicine and the modern research university. Both elements are affected by the growth in the role of government. Central government had sharply limited powers early in this century, but by the middle third their powers were enlarged, particularly in the spheres of the economy and social welfare. The last third of the century will reveal what the governed want of the government. The scientific and technological aspects of World War II plunged the universities into the limelight as the main producers of vital knowledge and as objects of national policy. This power of knowledge expanded from national security to public health and welfare. Governmental patronage fostered basic medical research and revolution in biology. With advanced research there marched advanced training. America's leading research universities became stronger and flourished for a few decades, to be confronted suddenly by a shift in government priorities. Governmental fiscal support has dwindled while governmental regulation has increased. The medical profession passed from an early position of opposing the role of government to a position in which it paid inadequate attention to the adverse consequences of the systems that were adopted. Physicians who practice in a variety of settings have a variety of interests which account for the division within the profession. In a political setting it is advantageous and more important to have a clear view of central common interests. The speaker's advice to his colleagues in education is applicable to medicine, to act now in a manner to serve as a model for a vision of a "plausible future." The measure of success in the future depends upon the ability to preserve those values, practices, and habits of mind that account for our value to society. The primacy of scholarly judgments over political judgments is not always easy to achieve in dealings with governments.

Economics, Medical↗
PubMed1997

Politeness and memory for the wording of remarks.

Three experiments were conducted to examine whether people spontaneously remember the wording used to convey politeness. In all experiments, subjects heard statements varying in politeness that had been made by either a high-status (e.g., a professor) or equal-status (e.g., another student) speaker. Subjects' incidental memory for these statements was then tested with either a recognition (Experiments 1 and 3) or a recall (Experiment 2) procedure. As expected, there was evidence of significant memory for wording that conveyed politeness, and subjects were more likely to remember forms that were incongruous with the speaker's status. There was also some evidence that subjects encoded the politeneess of a remark even when they were unable to recall the specific remark. The results demonstrate the role of the interpersonal dimension in the processing of language in context.

Adult↗
PubMed2026

Religious beliefs and practices, political orientation, and distrust in healthcare predict attitudes toward mRNA vaccines in the United States.

Religion has contributed to societal divides regarding COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. In this study, we conducted a secondary analysis of a survey of U.S. adults (N=4939) focused on how religious affiliations, beliefs, and practices impact attitudes toward genetic and genomic activities, one of which was mRNA vaccines. The dataset included large samples of participants from six religious groups in the U.S. (Black Protestant, Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Jewish, Mainline Protestant, and Muslim), as well as individuals who were atheist, agnostic, or spiritual. ANCOVA results indicated that Evangelical Protestant participants showed significantly less support for mRNA vaccines than other groups, while atheist participants were the most supportive. Muslim participants had the highest concerns, whereas atheist participants had the lowest. Regression analyses indicated the strongest predictors of support for mRNA vaccines were more spiritual community support for community health, followed by higher acceptance of evolution, more liberal political orientation, less distrust toward the healthcare system, higher frequency of attending religious activities, higher income, lower fundamentalist religious beliefs, and more spiritual community support for liberal reproductive and end of life views. The strongest predictors of concerns about mRNA vaccines were more distrust toward the healthcare system and more conservative political orientation, followed by less spiritual community support for community health, stronger beliefs about God in the body, more fundamentalist religious beliefs, and lower knowledge of genetics. The large sample size, and examination of a broad array of religious variables alongside distrust and political orientation offer new insights. These findings add to the literature on the culture wars surrounding mRNA vaccines, and can perhaps aid in future efforts to build trust and relationships between public health and religious communities.

genomic medicine↗
PubMed2000

The political economy of nephrology.

An issue of Seminars devoted to "The Economics of Nephrology" requires consideration not only of the narrow economic issues affecting the specialty but also the public policies that establish its economic parameters. Some economic issues involve only the balancing of costs and revenues in a dialysis unit. Others turn on the ESRD policies of Medicare. Still others hinge on action by the US Congress and, by definition, are political in character. In nephrology, economics are intertwined with politics, hence the political economy of nephrology.

Humans↗