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Subjective well-being and community integration among clients of assertive community treatment.

Three aspects of community integration (i.e., physical, social, and psychological integration) were examined in relation to subjective well-being (SWB) in a sample of 92 persons with psychiatric disabilities receiving services from assertive community treatment (ACT) teams. Although two of the integration variables, namely physical and psychological integration, were related to SWB at the bivariate level, these relationships were not maintained following sequential multiple regression analysis. Findings support previously established relationships between SWB and psychiatric symptoms and between SWB and self-esteem. Results also emphasize the importance of client perceptions of social support that may be attributable, in part, to ACT services.

Adult↗

Commentary on a community-based approach to reproductive health care. Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health Team.

Reproductive care needs to be broadened beyond maternity care and family planning to include care for gynecological and sexual problems, safe abortion services, and sex and reproductive health education. Our epidemiologic study of rural women has shown a very high prevalence of gynecological diseases. We tried to develop a community-based approach to comprehensive reproductive care by undertaking participatory research, fostering mass education with the people's involvement, and by making care available through village-based female workers and improved referral services. We end with two appeals: "MCH" needs to be replaced by WCH: not merely Maternal and Child Health but Woman and Child Health. Care should be provided through a community-based participatory approach, not through narrow technocratic vertical programs. Let people shape their own lives!

Abortion, Illegal↗

Single daily dose of cefodizime in patients with community-acquired pneumonia: an open-label, controlled, randomized study. The Italian Multicentre Community-Acquired Pneumonia Group.

The objective of this study was to compare the clinical and bacteriologic efficacy and safety of cefodizime 1 g intramuscularly (IM) once daily (group A) versus cefodizime 1 g IM twice daily (group B) and versus ceftriaxone 1 g IM once daily (group C) in patients with community-acquired pneumonia. A total of 298 patients, affected by bronchopneumonia or pneumonia with known or suspected bacterial cause, new focal signs on examination of chest, and radiographic evidence of a recent infiltrate, were randomized in three comparable groups. The infection was rated as mild, moderate, or severe. A total of 283 patients were assessable for efficacy: 95 in group A, 94 in group B, and 94 in group C. Mean (+/- SD) duration of treatment was 5.96 +/- 1.39 days in group A, 6.24 +/- 1.57 days in group B, and 6.66 +/- 1.95 days in group C. Symptoms such as purulent sputum, cough, and dyspnea improved significantly after treatment in all groups; temperature normalized by about day 3. Clinical efficacy was rated good in 94.74% of patients in group A, in 92.55% in group B, and in 87.23% in group C. Positive bacteriologic cultures were obtained before treatment from 144 patients: bacteriologic responses were rated good in 98.11%, 98.08%, and 92.80% in groups A, B, and C, respectively. No significant differences were found between the three treatment groups for any measures of clinical efficacy. No serious adverse event occurred in any of the groups. We conclude that cefodizime 1 g IM once daily is an effective dosing regimen in the treatment of patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

Adolescent↗

Health information system for community-based multiple screening in Keelung, Taiwan (Keelung Community-based Integrated Screening No. 3).

BACKGROUND: Community-based multiple screening for common cancers and chronic diseases has increasingly gained attention. However, as infrastructure and evaluation system are more diversified and complicated compared with single screening, the development of a novel health information system is paramount. METHODS: The main goal of our health information system was to support the multiple screening program not only from technical aspect but also from a broad range of perspectives including quality assurance system, organized features appertaining to screening, economic evaluation (cost-effectiveness or cost-utility analysis), epidemiological applications, behavior risk factor surveillance system, and social impact due to the introduction of the Keelung Community-Based Integrated Screening (KCIS) program. RESULTS: Health information system was designed and programmed on the basis of the demand derived from KCIS within which five cancers and three chronic diseases were included. In addition to the detailed description of infrastructure and process, design, relevant database and security involved in health information system, an innovative and extensive evaluation system in accordance with the main goals was included in our health information system. CONCLUSION: Our information system proposed several aspects regarding organized screening system that has never been addressed in computerized system supporting for single screening. These included quality assurance system, organization features, co-morbidity profiles, epidemiological applications and social and economic considerations.

Community Health Services↗

The "new" drug-free therapeutic community. Challenging encounter of classic and open therapeutic communities.

In view of a rapidly changing society, reflected in many changes within the drug-free Therapeutic Communities (TCs), the question has been raised: "What can and cannot be changed in this modality?" This question was addressed at a European conference of experienced therapeutic community workers, who concluded that many changes have occurred and will continue to occur, but some basic concepts should be preserved. The changes inherent in postmodern society are examined here in an effort to foresee their impact on the evolution of the TC. Necessary changes and additions are discussed.

Congresses as Topic↗

A cost-benefit analysis of the community-based injury prevention programme in Motala, Sweden--a WHO Safe Community.

The objective in this study was to calculate costs and benefits caused by a safe community injury prevention programme in Motala, Sweden. The study design was a quasi-experimental evaluation involving an intervention population and a non-random control population. All injuries were recorded before and after an intervention programme. The presented calculations show that costs of injuries in a societal perspective decreased from 116 million Swedish Crowns (SEK) to 96 million SEK, while the cost for the intervention was estimated at approximately 10 million SEK. Thus, the safe community injury prevention programme in Motala should be judged as cost-effective.

Accidents, Home↗

Community of Communities: an electronic link to integrating cultural diversity in nursing curriculum.

The inclusion of principles of diversity in nursing education has yet to reach expected levels of common understanding and value. Integration of human diversity is an expected outcome based on essentials for professional nursing education by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. This article describes one approach that used electronic networking to integrate cultural diversity content into a graduate nursing curriculum. Regional networking among schools of nursing about cultural diversity resulted in the Community of Communities (COC) web page. The COC is a common electronic network that contains information and case studies based on a cultural assessment model. Modules in on-line courses are linked to a cultural module in the COC. Several applications are described herein. The COC modules were evaluated to determine if participants gained knowledge and insight into another culture. Findings suggested that students perceived that the COC modules increased the awareness culture plays in health care.

Community Health Nursing↗

Risk factors for community-acquired pneumonia diagnosed by general practitioners in the community.

The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for pneumonia diagnosed in the community by general practitioners, using a case control study in 29 general practices in Nottingham, U.K. Patients with radiographically confirmed pneumonia were compared with adults randomly selected from electoral registers corresponding to the catchment areas of the general practices taking part in the study. Sixty-six cases and 489 controls participated. Significant risk factors in univariate analysis included age, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure and lifetime consumption of cigarettes. Multiple logistic regression analysis of these four variables showed that age [adjusted odds ratio = 2.69 (for 30 year increment), 95%CI = 1.66-4.35] and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (adjusted odds ratio= 1.99, 95%CI = 1.15-3.45) were independent risk factors. Only age and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were independent risk factors for pneumonia in this study. Since cigarette smoking is the major cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, these data suggest that cigarette smoking is the main avoidable risk factor for community-acquired pneumonia in adults.

Adolescent↗

[Evidence based community psychiatric community health care services in Germany: taking inventory].

PURPOSE AND METHODS: One of the outcomes of reforming mental health care in Germany has been the establishment of a range of community mental health services. However, current evidence for the effectiveness of these services is slight. Based on a literature search this article provides a systematic overview of empirical research in this sphere. In detail, social psychiatric services, crisis centres, psychosocial contact points, day care centres, and various models of supported housing and work/employment are assessed. Available results on effectiveness are classified according to their level of scientific evidence. RESULTS: The current state of research is characterised by the situation that effectiveness of the care approach provided by social psychiatric services and some types of supported housing and work/employment has been demonstrated at a medium level of scientific evidence. In contrast, the evidence level of mental health care provided in crisis centres, psychosocial contact points, and day care centres is poor. CONCLUSION: The major reasons for this lack of research are: heterogeneity of care models and staffing levels in the different community mental health services, lack of standardised documentation and reporting system in these services, and lack of research culture to utilise routine outcome data. The consequences of aiming at increasing the level of scientific evidence in this sphere would be to intensify funding of research projects and to implement high quality research designs such as randomised controlled trials.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

Applying service-learning through a community-academic partnership: depression screening at a federally funded community health center.

CONTEXT: Increasingly, health care facilities worldwide, particularly those that comprise the safety-net, are finding themselves understaffed and challenged to meet patients' needs. Identifying additional sources of support and resources is critical for facilities to be able to sustain current and develop new initiatives to improve patients' health. APPROACH: We present one community health center's reliance on a partnership with an academic medical/nursing institution to develop and initiate a depression screening and treatment project. Incorporating students to help implement or pilot a needed clinical service for a high prevalence condition presents significant rewards as well as challenges. Nevertheless, an academic-community partnership has the potential to initiate systems change at the clinical level. RESULTS: Using a service-learning modality, medical and nursing students worked with health center providers to initiate a pilot depression screening and treatment program based on the chronic disease model. Implementation of this initiative succeeded in poising the health center for participation in a large, federally supported collaborative on depression in primary care. While students gained insight into some of the challenges faced by safety net providers and their patients, discontinuity in student availability led to uneven pacing in project implementation. CONCLUSION: Curricula that employ a service-learning framework can enable health care facilities world-wide to gain additional resources for needed initiatives. Students' learning experiences can provide an excellent mutually beneficial opportunity as a "jumpstart" for new evidence-based clinical initiatives and demonstration projects. Such programs can help meet the needs of patients while enhancing students' education. However, students can neither make up for staffing shortages nor be expected to maintain programs. In order to be successful for the long term, service-learning projects must skirt the pitfalls of the inherent logistical incompatibilities e.g. schedules and length of commitment, between academic institutions and health care facilities.

Academic Medical Centers↗

Implementing a university-community-retail partnership model to facilitate community education on universal design.

PURPOSE: A collaborative partnership model was used to develop and implement a state-wide community education program on universal design. DESIGN AND METHODS: University faculty, extension professionals, older adult service agencies, service learning students, and a community retail chain made up the original partnership. RESULTS: This collaboration resulted in a five-stage partnership model. The model was used to develop and disseminate a consumer education program to promote aging in place. The five stages include (a) identifying partner strengths and shared learning, (b) program development, (c) implementing the universal design program, (d) facilitating collaborative outreach, and (e) shifting toward sustainable outreach. IMPLICATIONS: A lack of knowledge exists among consumers, builders, and health care professionals regarding strategies for aging in place. Collaborations between educators, outreach professionals, students, and a retail partner resulted in increased interest and awareness about universal design changes that enable seniors to age in place.

Commerce↗

Community-based questionnaires and health statistics as tools for the cost-efficient identification of communities at risk of urinary schistosomiasis.

Self-administered questionnaires, distributed by existing administrative channels to village party chairmen, head-teachers and schoolchildren, showed good diagnostic performance for the qualitative assessment of urinary schistosomiasis endemicity. At a cost 34 times below that of the WHO-recommended parasitological screening strategy, the schoolchildren's questionnaire allowed the screening of 75 out of 77 schools of a rural Tanzanian district in six weeks, and the exclusion of schools not at high risk for urinary schistosomiasis with over 90% confidence. The headteacher and party questionnaires made it possible to assess the perceived importance of a spectrum of diseases and symptoms, among which was schistosomiasis. The priority rank of schistosomiasis control was strongly correlated with the prevalence rate of the disease in the community. The questionnaires also looked for the prioritization of health among other community issues and thus contributed important information for planning at district level. Standardized monthly disease reports, sent by all primary health services, were also analysed. They allowed a zonal schistosomiasis endemicity classification.

Adolescent↗

A community-developed, community-based lead poisoning prevention program: Lead Awareness North Philly Style.

This work describes a demonstration/research project to implement and evaluate community-developed, community-based strategies that address childhood lead poisoning. The project will increase knowledge of childhood lead poisoning as an environmental health risk, as well as hazard, exposure, and outcome surveillance for lead as an environmental agent. At the end of the second year of this study the data indicate increased knowledge about lead poisoning and that more children are being tested for lead poisoning in the experimental census tracts (CTs), when compared with the control CTs, with lower lead levels.

Adult↗

Developing a web-based data mining application to impact community health improvement initiatives: the Virginia Atlas of Community Health.

This article describes how a team from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and the Virginia Center for Healthy Communities (VCHC) attended the UNC Management Academy for Public Health to learn skills to address Virginia's commitment to using technology to improve the public's health. After creating a business plan for a food-safety information Web site, team members used that experience as well as Management Academy training in information technology, the management of data and finances, and strategic partnering to create a comprehensive tool with which to place customizable population data in the hands of anyone interested in pursuing population health improvement. The Virginia Atlas of Community Health, launched through the VCHC in 2003, places clear, compelling data in the hands of those who can influence decisions at the local level and create the most impact for health. Since the program's inception, more than 2,000 individuals have registered as ongoing users of the Virginia Atlas. Initially funded by a Turning Point grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the program is sustained through a series of smaller grants and funding from the VDH.

Atlases as Topic↗

Combining the role of the nurse practitioner and the community health nurse. An educational model for implementing community-based primary health care.

With increasing health care costs, public health agencies and other institutions have a critical need for master's-prepared nurses who can provide health care for common health problems of individuals and families but also assess, plan, intervene, and evaluate the needs of communities. This article describes the development of a nursing master's degree program to meet that need which combines the traditional roles of the nurse practitioner and the community health nurse. The program is based on the global concept of primary health care as defined by the World Health Organization, which includes more emphasis on economic, political, environmental, and social factors.

Community Health Nursing↗

The BC Community Pharmacy Asthma Study: A study of clinical, economic and holistic outcomes influenced by an asthma care protocol provided by specially trained community pharmacists in British Columbia.

OBJECTIVES: Despite advances in recent years, asthma morbidity and mortality have been noted to be on the increase in the past decade. The present study examined the failures and recommendations of past studies and introduced a new milieu for asthma care--the community pharmacy. The study incorporated a care protocol with the important ingredients of asthma education on medications, triggers, self-monitoring and an asthma plan, with pharmacists taking responsibility for outcomes, assessment of a patient's readiness to change and tailoring education to that readiness, compliance monitoring and physician consultation to achieve asthma prescribing guidelines. METHODS: Thirty-three pharmacists in British Columbia, specially trained and certified in asthma care, agreed to participate in a study in which experienced pharmacists would have asthma patients allocated to enhanced (pharmaceutical) care (EC) or usual care (UC). Pharmacists less experienced were clustered by geography and had their pharmacies randomized to two levels of care; each pharmacy then had patients randomized to EC versus control, UC versus control or EC versus UC depending on their pharmacy randomization. Six hundred thirty-one patients provided consent, of which 225 in EC or UC were analyzed for all outcomes. Patients were followed for one year. RESULTS: Compared with patients in the UC group, the results of those in the EC group were as follows: symptom scores decreased by 50%; peak flow readings increased by 11%; days off work or school were reduced by approximately 0.6 days/month; use of inhaled beta-agonists was reduced by 50%; overall quality of life improved by 19%, and the specific domains of activity limitations, symptoms and emotional function also improved; initial knowledge scores doubled; emergency room visits decreased by 75%; and medical visits decreased by 75%. A patient satisfaction survey revealed that the population was extremely pleased with their pharmacy services. Cost analysis reinforces the EC model, which is more cost effective than UC in terms of most direct and indirect costs in asthma patients. CONCLUSION: Specially trained community pharmacists in Canada, using a pharmaceutical care-based protocol, can produce impressive improvements in clinical, economic and humanistic outcome measures in asthma patients. The health care system needs to produce incentives for such care.

Adolescent↗

Promoting community involvement in deinstitutionalization planning: the experience in one community.

The presence of large numbers of former mental patients in the community has forced municipal governments to become aware of the deinstitutionalization process. Many, such as in Asbury Park, New Jersey, have voiced strong criticism of the process and have resisted the influx of patients. In 1979 the city was selected by the state mental health authority to work with the Urban Health Institute, a nonprofit health care consulting firm, in a project designed to encourage local planning and resource development for deinstitutionalized mental patients. The authors describe how the project, using traditional community organizing techniques, worked to reduce conflict and to create an atmosphere in which positive local planning for these patients became possible.

Community Mental Health Services↗

Community and culture: a Chinese model of community care for the mentally ill.

Although psychiatric hospitals are thought to be the main focus of care for the mentally ill, China has not inherited the large asylums that were, and are, such a feature in the West. China has developed her own model of community care for the mentally ill, which is coherent with what are seen to be the available resources and fits into existing structures of social organisation. The elements in this model include small neighbourhood workstations, factory clinic liaison work, 'home beds' and neighbourhood care units. So far alternative accommodation schemes appear to have no part to play in the model. The reasons for this are discussed. However, while the Chinese model of community care for the mentally ill is quite well articulated, there appear to be major problems in ensuring its implementation.

Adult↗