Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Health Priorities”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 667 records · Page 37Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Marrying foreign policy and health: feasible or doomed to fail?

Although there appears to be no Australian foreign policy statement on health, much of our existing foreign policy has health implications, ranging across security, economic, political and humanitarian objectives. Humanitarian motives have influenced Australia's foreign-aid policy, but our aid program, like our wider foreign policy, has a large national interest component. A generalised approach to health and foreign policy activities is difficult given the disparate direct and indirect links between foreign policy and global health issues, and the various official and unofficial interests and responsibilities involved. The greatest benefit may come from the health community making its own judgements on health priorities and seeking to engage in specific terms with foreign policy makers.

Altruism↗
PubMed2001

["Target groups 1-3" must be granted priority access to health care services. Health care needs of somatically and mentally disabled persons in Robetsfors].

People with serious functional disabilities do not always call attention to their needs for care, and are therefore a vulnerable group in our society. In Sweden, The Act Concerning Support and Service for Persons with Certain Functional Impairments (LSS) is intended to provide for them. Our research found that people with serious physical or psychiatric disability suffer more often from intercurrent disease and have more problems with their eyesight, hearing and dental health than do other individuals. The responsibility for their respective health care needs must be clarified, so that the group is given priority access to the health care system and services for rehabilitation.

Community Health Services↗
PubMed2002

The emergence of global disease control priorities.

How do global disease control priorities emerge? This paper examines the post-World War II histories of efforts to control three diseases--polio, malaria and tuberculosis--to investigate this issue. The paper draws from the policy studies literature to evaluate three models of the priority generation process. A rational model suggests logical selection based on global burden and the availability of cost-effective interventions. An incremental model suggests a drawn out process in which health priorities emerge gradually and interventions reach affected populations through slow diffusion. A punctuated equilibrium model suggests a more complex pattern: long periods of stability during which interventions are available only to select populations, punctuated by bursts of attention as these interventions spread across the globe in concentrated periods of time. The paper finds that the punctuated equilibrium model corresponds most closely to efforts to control these three diseases. Bursts are associated with the convergence of three conditions: the widespread acceptance of the disease as a threat; a perception that human interventions can control disease transmission; and the formation of a transnational coalition of health actors concerned with fighting the disease. The generation of each condition requires considerable groundwork, the reason for long periods of stability. Initiatives take off rapidly when the conditions couple, the reason for bursts. The paper aims to spark additional research on the subject of global disease control agenda setting, a neglected issue in the health policy literature.

Communicable Disease Control↗
PubMed1995

The future role of the mental health nurse.

In the light of rapidly changing mental health care provision, education programmes need to adequately prepare practitioners for the future. Legislative and policy initiatives, the professional and research literature, and local mental health priorities are reviewed to guide educational developments. The reliance on skill development associated primarily with problem removal and short term care is questioned. Current and future trends in mental health nursing education challenge educationalists to place greater emphasis on the development of skills to empower clients with severe and persistent mental health problems in diverse care settings.

Forecasting↗
PubMed2026

Interest holder-driven research priorities in sexual and reproductive health for migrant and refugee adolescents and young adults in Australia.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and prioritise sexual and reproductive health research priorities for migrant and refugee adolescents and young adults in Australia using a priority setting partnership approach. METHODS: A James Lind Alliance priority setting partnership was conducted with 92 interest holders: 31 youth from migrant and refugee backgrounds and 61 professionals (healthcare providers, researchers, policymakers and community leaders), recruited online and in-person. The priority setting partnership process included a rapid evidence scan, an online uncertainty survey, evidence verification, interim prioritisation and a final consensus workshop. RESULTS: Eighty-three research uncertainties yielded 11 final priorities across four sexual and reproductive health domains: sexual and reproductive health literacy, sexual violence prevention, accessible services and maternal health. A striking divergence emerged between youth and professional priorities only 3 achieved combined high-priority consensus. Youth prioritised a broader range of topics, including abortion access (rated high by youth but low by professionals), while professionals prioritised fewer areas. Two priorities achieved consensus: community-based maternal health support and barriers to reporting gender-based violence. CONCLUSION: This is the first priority setting partnership to identify sexual and reproductive health research priorities for migrant and refugee youth in Australia and to uniquely highlight substantial misalignment between youth and professional priorities. IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH: These identified priorities provide a foundation for targeted research, culturally responsive policy and more equitable sexual and reproductive health service provision for migrant and refugee adolescents and young adults.

Australia↗
PubMed1994

Histology and smoking history of lung cancer cases and implications for prevention in Thailand.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is now a major public health problem in Thailand. This descriptive study looked at the issue of whether tumor histology varied with smoking status among lung cancer patients in Bangkok, Thailand. METHODS: A retrospective descriptive study was made of the 1,600 Thai patients with histologically proven lung cancer admitted to University of Siriraj Hospital between 1967 and 1991. Cigarette smoking histories were obtained, and histologies were classified and related to tobacco consumption. RESULTS: Overall, 78% were smokers, 72% being heavy smokers. The male to female ratio was 13:1 for smokers and 0.4:1 for nonsmokers. There were 29% squamous cell, 29% adenocarcinoma, 24% large cell, and 13% small cell carcinomas. Squamous cell carcinoma was significantly more frequent among cases with a history of smoking Thai cigarettes, which are known (from other studies) to be high in tar and nicotine, than among nonsmoking cases. Among the 350 nonsmokers, 252 of whom were female, adenocarcinoma was the most common (58%). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that Thai smokers can reduce their risk for lung cancer by quitting smoking, or by substituting lower tar brands. Antismoking programs should therefore be a public health priority. Given the prevalence of adenocarcinoma among nonsmokers, further work should be done to identify environmental causes.

Adult↗
PubMed2007

Prioritizing health problems in women in developing countries: comparing the financial burden of reproductive tract infections, anaemia and depressive disorders in a community survey in India.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the health care and opportunity costs of three common health problems [depressive disorders, reproductive tract infections (RTIs) and anaemia] affecting women and their associated risks of catastrophic health expenditure (defined a priori as out-of-pocket expenditure on health care exceeding 10% of the total monthly household income). METHODS: Cross-sectional survey of 2494 women who consented to participate, from a randomly selected sample of 3000 women aged 18-50, living in the catchment area of a primary health centre in Goa, India. Depressive disorders were diagnosed with the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule; anaemia on the basis of a fingerprick sample of blood using the Haemocue system; and RTI using PCR, culture and microscopy with vaginal or urine specimens. Economic consequences were measured using the Costs of Illness Schedule and the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule. Health provision costs were calculated using previously derived unit costs for services for the main types of health care provider. RESULTS: Catastrophic health expenditure, defined a priori as >10% of total household income spent out of pocket on health in the previous month, was reported by 138 women (5.5%; CI: 4.7-6.5%); they were more likely to report economic difficulties, such as having gone hungry in the past 3 months because of lack of money (OR 1.99, CI 1.1-3.6, P = 0.02). Only depressive disorder was associated with significantly higher health care costs, lost time costs and risk of catastrophic health expenditure (OR 2.66, CI 1.6-4.4, P < 0.001, after adjustment for possible sociodemographic confounders and other physical health problems). There was a linear association between the psychological morbidity score (arranged into quintile groups) and the risk of catastrophic health expenditure (adjusted). CONCLUSIONS: If economic arguments were considered a key driver for global health policy, then depressive disorder should be considered a major health priority for women in developing countries.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Setting Priorities in Occupational Health Research in Vietnam.

To set priorities for occupational health research in Vietnam, the authors developed a questionnaire, using a consensus-conference approach. The questionnaire, which was composed of two parts (five main categories with subgroups), was distributed to 51 specialists in occupational safety and health (OSH) in Vietnam. The responses from 50 persons were analyzed. Among the main categories, the environmental impact of industrial activity was rated the most important, followed by ergonomics and engineering of OSH, incidence/prevalence of work-related diseases and identification of susceptible groups, social impact of industrial activity, and OSH problems of agricultural workers. Among the three problems in the subgroup "environmental impact of industrial activity," individual health effects was considered the most important. These results were evaluated to arrive at an understanding of the actual situation of OSH problems in Vietnam.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

An outbreak of syphilis in Alabama prisons: correctional health policy and communicable disease control.

OBJECTIVES: After syphilis outbreaks were reported at 3 Alabama State men's prisons in early 1999, we conducted an investigation to evaluate risk factors for syphilis infection and describe patterns of syphilis transmission. METHODS: We reviewed medical, patient interview, and prison transfer records and documented sexual networks. Presumptive source cases were identified. Odds of exposure to unscreened jail populations and transfer from other prisons were calculated for case patients at 1 prison. RESULTS: Thirty-nine case patients with early syphilis were identified from 3 prisons. Recent jail exposure (odds ratio [OR] = 8.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.3, 158.7, P = .14) and prison transfer (OR = 32.0, 95% CI = 1.6, 1668.1, P < .01) were associated with being a source case patient. CONCLUSIONS: Probable sources of syphilis introduction into and transmission within prisons included mixing of prisoners with unscreened jail populations, transfer of infected inmates between prisons, and multiple concurrent sexual partnerships. Reducing sexual transmission of disease in correctional settings is a public health priority and will require innovative prevention strategies.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1977

Community residents and mental health center staff: assessment of program and priorities.

Mental health professionals have emphasized the importance of establishing priorities and goals and gearing the delivery of mental health services to the needs of area residents. Sound View-Throgs Neck Community Mental Health Center of New York has made such an effort to involve the community residents and the mental health center staff in establishing priorities for development of the new program for services in the community. We have outlined the methods of gathering such information, and implementation of the conclusions derived from the survey which has resulted in developing comprehensive children's services and a geriatric program in our catchment area.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Better late than never: reflections on the delayed prioritization of cervical cancer in international health.

Cervical cancer has disproportionately affected the world's most vulnerable women for generations, yet only recently has the disease become an international health priority. Using ethnographic evidence from a study in Iquitos, Peru, I identify three factors that have contributed to a historic blind spot regarding cervical cancer in underdeveloped regions: (a) transition theories predicting the emergence of cancer with increasing societal development, (b) chronic vs. infectious disease categories that miss the significance of infectious-associated cancers, and (c) dependence on epidemiologic statistics from underdeveloped regions for determining health care priorities. Implications for theory and education are discussed.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed2004

Communicable disease control: a 'Global Public Good' perspective.

Despite the increasing 'globalization' of health, the responsibility for it remains primarily national, generating a potential mismatch between global health problems and current institutions and mechanisms to deal with them. The 'Global Public Good' (GPG) concept has been suggested as a framework to address this mismatch in different areas of public policy. This paper considers the application of the GPG concept as an organizing principle for communicable disease control (CDC), considering in particular its potential to improve the health and welfare of the developing world. The paper concludes that there are significant limitations to the GPG concept's effectiveness as an organizing principle for global health priorities, with respect to CDC. More specifically, there are few areas of CDC which qualify as GPG, and even among those that can be considered GPGs, it is not necessarily appropriate to provide everything which can be considered a GPG. It is therefore suggested that it may be more useful to focus instead on the failure of 'collective action', where the GPG concept may then: (1) provide a rationale to raise funds additional to aid from developed countries' domestic budgets; (2) promote investment by developed countries in the health systems of developing countries; (3) promote strategic partnerships between developed and developing countries to tackle major global communicable diseases; and (4) guide the political process of establishing, and mechanisms for providing and financing, global CDC programmes with GPG characteristics, and GPGs which have benefits for CDC. In short, the GPG concept is not without limitations and weaknesses as an organizing principle, but does provide, at least in some areas, guidance in improving collective action at the international level for the improvement of global CDC.

Communicable Disease Control↗
PubMed2002

Evolution of WHO policies for tuberculosis control, 1948-2001.

We examine the evolution of WHO managerial policies for tuberculosis control during 1948-2001 to provide a new framework that will accelerate control expansion in the near future. In the first period (1948-63), a vertical approach to tuberculosis control was the policy adopted by WHO and the international community. However, although this approach was successful in more-developed countries, it largely failed in resource-poor settings. As a result, involvement of general health services was soon deemed essential. During 1989-98, a new framework for effective tuberculosis control was created and a new five-element strategy was branded with the name of DOTS. This period was characterised by the recognition of tuberculosis control as a public-health priority, the intensification of tuberculosis control efforts worldwide, and the return of tuberculosis to the political agenda of governments. However, although nominal adoption of DOTS increased rapidly due to massive promotion by WHO and partners, expansion to provide full access was too slow and only 23% of all infectious cases in 1999 were managed under DOTS. A truly multisectoral approach based on advocacy and social mobilisation, community involvement, and engagement of private-for-profit practitioners is becoming the way forward for tuberculosis control. HIV-associated tuberculosis and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis must be tackled as priority issues. We conclude that, based on the lessons of the past, the future of tuberculosis control should be focused on a pragmatic approach combining a specialised, well-defined management system with a fully integrated service delivery. A multisectoral approach that builds on global and national partnerships is the key to future tuberculosis control.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed2004

Designing randomized, controlled trials aimed at preventing or delaying functional decline and disability in frail, older persons: a consensus report.

The discovery of effective interventions to prevent or delay disability in older persons is a public health priority. Most likely to benefit from such interventions are frail individuals who are not yet disabled and those with early disability who are at high risk of progression. In spite of this frail older persons have often been excluded from research on the assumption that they would not tolerate testing or benefit from treatment. The Interventions on Frailty Working Group developed recommendations to screen, recruit, evaluate, and retain frail older persons in clinical trials. Specific recommendations are: Eligibility screening should include a multistage process, to quickly exclude those who are too well and those who are too sick. Inclusion criteria should target those most likely to benefit, be meaningful to clinicians, and reflect advancements in the frailty research area. Disability outcome measures should include self-reported, objective, and proxy measures. Strategies to improve retention and compliance and to monitor their effectiveness should be an integral part of the study design. Estimation of cost and sample size should contemplate high dropout rates and interference by competing outcomes. Additional research is needed to refine criteria for screening frail older persons, identify objective measures of disability that are reliable and valid in frail older persons, and improve the informed consent process for high-risk participants, recognizing that research in this subgroup is essential to improving their health outcomes.

Activities of Daily Living↗