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At least 703 records · Page 39Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

[Use of various bibliometric methods in operative evaluation of research activities of the research institutions of medico- biological profile].

Based on the analysis of the indices accepted for the evaluation of scientific work in research institutes, a suggestion was proposed that the putative instead of realized value of the scientific product should be evaluated. This implies employment of such bibliometric techniques of analysis of the volume and quality of the used information as: total number of references in scientific works, reference to the most recent publications and foreign sources, and the interdisciplinary index rated according to the subject-relation of the cited works. Studies of selected indices based on the analysis of one-year scientific journal publications and of manuscripts sent for print, as well as of reports made by the Kiev Research Institute of Otorhinolaryngology of UkrSSR Ministry of Health and by the Research Institute of Hematology of BSSR Ministry of Health, paralleled with a comprehensive consideration of the reference peculiarities and expert evaluation of the scientific material proper, allowed for making a conclusion on the importance of the role played by the bibliometric data in making the expert formal and objective and in operative evaluation of the activity of scientific communities and/or trends. This is of special significance for information and scientific policy making. Such investigations may be carried out by expert information workers.

Academies and Institutes↗
PubMed2003

Renewing governance.

Globalization's profound influence on social and political institutions need not be negative. Critics of globalization have often referred to the "Impossible Trinity" because decision-making must 1. respect national sovereignty, 2. develop and implement firm regulation, and 3. allow capital markets to be as free as possible. To many, such goals are mutually exclusive because history conditions us to view policy-making and governance in traditional molds. Thus, transnational governance merely appears impossible because current forms of governance were not designed to provide it. The world needs new tools for governing, and its citizens must seize the opportunity to help develop them. The rise of a global society requires a greater level of generality and inclusion than is found in most policy bodies today. Politicians need to re-examine key assumptions about government. States must develop ways to discharge their regulatory responsibilities across borders and collaborate with neighboring jurisdictions, multilateral bodies, and business. Concepts such as multilateralism and tripartism show great promise. Governments must engage civil society in the spirit of shared responsibility and democratic decision-making. Such changes will result in a renewal of the state's purpose and better use of international resources and expertise in governance.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Defining 'mental illness' in mental health policy.

Mental health policy is shaped fundamentally by the definition of mental illness associated with the policy. Changing policies reflect changing definitions. At various times, the definition may be narrow or broad with respect to the scope of conditions covered by a specific policy. The priority accorded to impairment severity is the most crucial and enduring policy issue related to the definition of mental illness and the scope of that definition. This paper explores the role of definitions in framing mental health policy, using examples from the history of policy making over the past half-century.

Advisory Committees↗
PubMed2004

[Processes and strategies for developing public health nurse directed community health projects in municipalities of Japan--focusing on setting agendas and making project alternatives].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore processes and strategies for developing community health projects directed by public health nurses (PHNs) in municipalities of Japan. METHOD: Yin's case study design was adopted into the 5-step Policy Making Process Model as the theoretical framework. The first two steps involving agenda setting and project planning were the focus of this study. PHNs who had developed new community health projects in municipalities were interviewed as study participants. In order to maintain the quality of projects at a certain level, only these approved officially by municipalities with a program and budget were selected. RESULTS: Common strategies emerged for developing community health projects in the cases presented by the 5 PHNs. Out of 891 codes, twenty-six sub-categories were identified and integrated into 9 categories. When categories were analyzed in a time series, the following common processes were found: integration of related data, identification of the health problems in the community and recognition of project needs (Phase 1); refining the concept and characteristics of the project plan (Phase 2); and assuring that resources were available for the optimal implementation of the project by consolidating ideas (Phase 3). In Phase 1, PHNs integrated the information about previous experimental cases or social circumstances to identify community health problems needing solution. PHNs' thoughts were given to problems of existing projects and daily practices were grouped to make comprehensive plans for improvement. In Phase 2, PHNs discussed ideas for the project plans and considered resources and strategies that were necessary for putting new projects into place. In Phase 3, PHNs were attentive to the factors reviewed in Phase 2, kept account of necessary resources, and made certain of timing for immediate implementation of plans. The dual roles of PHNs, both as nurses and public servants, helped to clarify and solve the community health problems. CONCLUSION: Common strategies of developing programs were explored; "Identifying the community health problems through analyzing the causes of difficult cases," "Recognizing the necessity of coverall-projects which will improve the existing projects," "Understanding the awareness of those involved and discuss ideas for the project plan." The findings have based solely on the experiences of PHNs, they can provide suggestions that are keys to efficient development of new projects.

Cities↗
PubMed1999

Increasing public involvement in enriching our fish stocks through genetic enhancement.

A total of 70%, of the world's conventional commercial fish species are now fully exploited, overexploited, depleted or recovering from depletion. This dramatic crash in the capture world fisheries production has led to problems in foods distribution, balance of payments, employment, and ecological depletion. Public support for breeding programs with terrestrial farm animals and plants in agriculture have revolutionized this industry over the past few hundred years. However, new genetic rearing technologies to improve marine animal production through aquaculture that utilize modern biology to obtain sustainable aquaculture and preserve biodiversity provide a promise to address these problems. However aquaculture has not been subject to public discussion and approval. Public involvement, not necessarily acquiescence, provide value added in the decision making process. Public understanding and involvement involves three stages. (i) Public concern over the pool of genetic information; (ii) if aquaculture is to respond to the fisheries crises with innovation, the knowledge gap between public understanding and scientific information must be bridged; and (iii) strategies must be developed for achieving this. Release of recombinant DNA to the environment, and handling exotic species, are useful case studies. Illustrations will be given of communication bridges to the public and ways to involve the public in making policy decisions.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Images and realities of alcohol.

The paper discusses the relationship between the images of alcohol and society, on one hand, and the reality of drinking and drinking problems on the other hand, from the point of view of policy-relevant research. Images of alcohol influence policy but they also depend on the social and cultural environment of policy-making. The epidemiological total consumption theory of alcohol-related problems is used as an example. The theory is embedded in the modern welfare state's ideals and its policy relevance presupposes that these ideals--universalism, consequentialism and public planning--are respected. If the approach today receives less attention by policy-makers than its empirical validity merits, it may be due to an erosion of these ideals, not of the epidemiological model itself. Images of alcohol influence behaviour and drinking problems but they also articulate the social context in which the images are constructed. This paper demonstrates the point, applying Lévi-Straussian cultural theory to an analysis of a recent beer advertisement addressed to young people. The advertisement not only reflects the images associated with youthful drinking but also the ambiguous status of youth as non-adults in contemporary society. The author stresses that for social and cultural research alcohol is a two-way window, to look at society through alcohol and to look at alcohol through society. Both directions are necessary for policy-relevant research.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Using the National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership to improve public health.

The National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership (NNIP), a collaborative effort, uses local information in community building and policy making. A local intermediary in 19 NNIP partnership cities builds local data systems. Partners have learned five important lessons: (1) neighborhood-level data are essential for developing public policy, (2) technological advances have made it possible to maintain detailed local databases at relatively low cost, (3) various types of local organizations can serve as local partners, (4) good leadership is critical to building bridges across agencies, and (5) providing data is only the first step. Data must be used in ways that are visible, useful, and responsive to the community if the project is to succeed.

Community Health Planning↗
PubMed2001

Strengthening user participation through health sector reform in Colombia: a study of institutional change and social representation.

The challenge of achieving community participation as a component of health sector reform is especially great in low- and middle-income countries where there is limited experience of community participation in social policy making. This paper concentrates on the social representations of different actors at different levels of the health care system in Colombia that may hinder or enable effective implementation of the participatory policy. The study took place in Cali, Colombia and focused on two institutional mechanisms created by the state to channel citizen participation into the health sector, i.e. user associations and customer service offices. This is a case study with multiple sources of evidence using a combination of quantitative and qualitative social science methods. The analysis of respondents' representations revealed a range of practical concerns and considerable degree of scepticism among public and private sector institutions, consumer groups and individual citizens about user participation. Although participation in Colombia has been introduced on political, managerial and ethical grounds, this study has found that health care users do not yet have a meaningful seat around the table of decision-making bodies.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed2004

Epidemiologic approaches to identifying environmental causes of birth defects.

Epidemiology can be used to elucidate environmental causes of birth defects. This paper discusses 1) different types of environmental causes; 2) the difficulties in comparing the prevalence of birth defects between populations, including the need for a population base and the implications of prenatal diagnosis; 3) the main study designs for observational epidemiological studies and the various sources of bias; 4) how statistical power can be increased by meta-analysis or multicentric studies, and improved grouping of birth defects into etiologically more homogeneous subgroups; 5) the distinction between association and causation; 6) the interpretation of clusters in time and space in relation to local environmental causes; and 7) the potential of genetic epidemiology to help elucidate environmental causes. While further research continues into the environmental causes of birth defects, the epidemiologic evidence base for policy making and clinical practice is poor in many areas. The epidemiologic approach is important not only to elucidate environmental causes but also to assess the implementation of existing research into policy and practice for the prevention of birth defects.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nursing education at the crossroads: political passages.

Transitions in the nation's health care and education systems demand the involvement of nurse educators in local, state, and national policy processes. The federal government's support of the Nurse Education Act (NEA) has been critical to the nursing profession. This article presents a case study of the Tri-Council for Nursing's political strategies during the 1991 to 1992 reauthorization of the NEA. Federal government participants had significantly different perceptions of organized nursing's political strategies than did the Tri-Council participants. Both political strengths and limitations of organized nursing in national policy-making are noted. Timely political implications and recommendations for nurse educators are provided.

Education, Nursing↗
PubMed1994

Research in general practice: international problems--international solutions.

Although research in primary care has a higher profile than ever before, its impact on professional practice and on government planning often seems less than it should be. In the first part of the paper, the different research agendas of governments, health departments, professional associations and colleges, and of universities are explored. In the second part of the paper a research project which attempts to define and measure quality of care given to patients with a 'marker' health problem (arthritic pain) is developed from the stage of asking questions to interpreting findings. In the third part of the paper, a number of conflicts between research agendas, styles of research, and needs and expectations of different 'purchasers' and 'providers' are explored using the themes and the details of the earlier parts of the paper as illustration, and a model is constructed to help explain why research, practice and policy making often live less easily together than is good for each. The importance of creating a supportive climate for research, of providing adequate infrastructure, and of making appropriate training available is emphasized.

Administrative Personnel↗
PubMed2001

Achieving better health through health impact assessment.

OBJECTIVE: Health Impact Assessment (HIA) provides a method of predicting the health impacts of policies and activities, in order to recommend changes that would improve health. We piloted approaches to health impact assessment and made recommendations for its use as part of the planning and policy making processes in Scotland. DESIGN: Two Health Impact Assessments were done as case studies. One assessed the City of Edinburgh Council's Local Transport Strategy. The other assessed North Edinburgh Area Renewal Housing Strategy. Both were done in partnership with the professionals responsible for developing the strategies. RESULTS: The main health impacts of transport strategy were in the areas of: accidents, pollution, access to amenities, jobs and social contacts, opportunities for physical activity in walking and cycling and impacts on community networks. Overall, housing strategy impacted most on mental health, especially stress and depression. The recommendations of both HIAs are being used in developing the strategies further. CONCLUSIONS: Health impact assessment can make explicit the health consequences of decisions in different sectors, including impacts on health inequalities. Health Impact Assessment should be done as part of community planning and other partnership activities. Consideration of health impacts should become part of routine decision making.

Community Participation↗
PubMed1991

Drug abuse and public health. A global perspective.

During the past 20 years there has been a substantial increase in the data available on the prevalence and consequences of the use of drugs which are liable to abuse. The body of data is sufficiently scientific, comprehensive and global in scope to enable an overall profile of the use patterns of these drugs to be drawn in this review. The studies evaluated include those which surveyed populations of hundreds, thousands, or even more, covering a range of common drugs of abuse and using specified research methods. The data are summarised for North America, Europe, Asia and the West Pacific, Africa and South America. A complex picture has emerged, confounded by an array of factors, which this review does not address in detail, such as youth alienation, the changing role of women and the increasing sophistication of criminal networks. From a global perspective, the evidence reviewed from the various regions indicates that the use of drugs with liability for abuse is widespread and associated with public health and social problems of great magnitude. The major set of problems appears to be related to primary pattern drugs such as alcohol, nicotine, cannabis and the opioids. Cocaine may also be a worldwide threat in view of the problems it has created in some regions. Drug abuse usually starts in adolescence, and both sexes now appear to be involved where in the recent past it was predominantly men who were affected. The concurrent use of multiple substances is now becoming the modal pattern, and drug-related problems correlate with one another and with somatic, psychiatric and social pathology. Opioid use now tends to be via intravenous administration, and the doses of cannabis and cocaine base which are used are increasing. Substances with therapeutic effects on DSM-III-R diagnosable disorders, such as antidepressants and benzodiazepines, require careful consideration by policymakers because the risk:benefit ratio is different to that of primary-pattern intoxicants, especially taking into consideration the broad and proven therapeutic use of these substances and the need for their availability for patients and physicians. In conclusion, the data presented in this review indicate that the scientific description of trends and consequences of drug abuse is an indispensable first step in rational policy making. The review also identifies areas for further study and research.

Africa↗
PubMed1989

The importance of being ethical. Essential skills for effective leadership.

The healthcare industry today is in transition from a service industry subject to public regulation to one of self-regulation. The impact of deregulation is severe. Traditional values are being tested; new values are emerging. Can healthcare providers, particularly Catholic providers with their rich history and mission, afford to hang on to traditional values? How do administrators remain competent and compassionate at the same time? Perhaps the time is right to institute corporate ethics to serve as a lifeline for healthcare leaders much in the same way that clinical ethics has served clinicians. The mix of values to which a corporation is committed forms a foundation for practicing corporate ethics. For instance, a corporation can develop means for information gathering and ethical reflection that can shape policy and decisions. Six practical principles for exercising corporate ethics are (1) the chief executive officer is committed to corporate ethics as a management method, (2) the corporation's mission and values are continuously scrutinized to see that they are understood and owned, (3) those responsible for governance and management develop structures and leadership styles consistent with the corporation's value system, (4) the policy-making and decision-making processes include specific ways to ensure that the corporation carefully weighs values as part of business decisions, (5) the corporation evaluates and rewards all employees according to value-driven performance standards, and (6) corporate policy and performance are evaluated annually to determine where the corporation is consistent with its mission and values and where it needs improvement.

Decision Making↗
PubMed2001

Hydrosolidarity intergenerational challenges: long-term commitment for long-term issues.

The year 2000 Young Professionals Seminar focused on long-term intergenerational challenges. Water related problems are symptoms of complex and ultimately societal problems linked to human behaviour, political support and managerial and institutional structures. Although integrated water resources management is presented as a solution, it is not always well understood, and can create a sense of hopelessness among professionals. To make it operational requires long-term commitments among various professionals and the involvement of new actors. A number of key topics crystallised as needing further attention, including ethical dimensions in policy making, the development of a framework for a "Future Generation Impact Assessment" (FGIA), and efforts to achieve true dialogue among stakeholders. Young water professionals must become more involved in political processes and take active part in institutional changes. Such engagement will require changes in the working environment facing many young professionals that causes frustration due to inefficient and conservative hierarchical structures and the lack of transparency.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗
PubMed1999

Secondary analysis of survey data: a research method with potential for occupational therapists.

The secondary analysis of previously collected survey data can assist occupational therapists to focus research, make policy decisions and test theory. In this paper the authors outline the process of carrying out a secondary analysis using existing survey data. Steps include selecting the research question, and then locating, appraising, acquiring and analysing the data. To illustrate this process, the authors examined the relationships between accidents and mobility impairments among older adults using data previously collected in the National Population Health Survey. Finally, some further examples of occupational therapy research carried out using secondary analysis of survey data are considered.

Accidents↗
PubMed2005

Institutionalizing policy-level health impact assessment in Europe: is coupling health impact assessment with strategic environmental assessment the next step forward?

European Union (EU) Member States are interested in using health impact assessment (HIA) as a means of safeguarding their obligations to protect human health under the 1997 Treaty of Amsterdam. However, several have encountered difficulties institutionalizing HIA with the policy-making process. As a consequence, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe has suggested coupling HIA with strategic environmental assessment (SEA). Traditionally, the incorporation of HIA into other forms of impact assessment has been resisted, for fear of losing its focus on health issues to environmental concerns, and compromising its social model of health with the introduction of biophysical indicators. But can these fears be substantiated? In this paper, we investigate the grounds for such concerns by reviewing the relevant policy documents and departmental guidelines of four non-European countries that have considered the use of integrated assessment. We found that the case for associating HIA with SEA in Europe is strong, and offers potential solutions to problems of screening, theoretical framework, causal pathways and ready entry to the policy process. Coupling HIA with SEA may thus be the next step forward in a longer journey towards institutionalizing HIA as an independent policy-linked device.

Australia↗
PubMed1989

The 1988 polio epidemic in Israel: an analysis and consequences.

This article examines the health crisis that followed the diagnosis of 15 cases of poliomyelitis in Israel late in 1988. The article reviews the recommendations, decisions and activities undertaken by the health authorities during the episode. Consequently, it analyses the role in policy making of each of the principal players: the leadership of the Ministry of Health, the professional Advisory Committee and the executive level of the Public Health Service. The conclusion, that changes in policy are expedited by crises, appears to hold for every health system. In Israel those changes were reflected by the introduction of a new immunization policy and, most important, the establishment of a national Ministry of the Environment.

Disease Outbreaks↗