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PubMed1992

Mental illness topics in popular periodicals.

Recent emphases on educating the general public about mental illness have included the encouragement of the publication of plainly written, lay-oriented information about mental disorders and their treatment in popular periodicals. To examine the extent to which coverage of mental health topics in popular magazines is being accomplished, the present study looked at the numbers and types of articles related to mental health indexed in the Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature and changes in indexed articles between 1965 and 1988. The number of articles and number of headings related to mental illness and treatment have increased significantly since 1965, particularly those describing specific disorders. In addition, many of the changes in headings used by the Readers' Guide are consistent with changes in the field (e.g., the introduction of new diagnostic categories) and with desired changes in terminology (e.g., using less stigmatizing terms). These general findings are encouraging for mental health education advocates, although more detailed analysis of the content of articles is needed to be sure that the increased periodical information available to the public is accurate and up-to-date.

Health Education↗
PubMed1990

Perceptions of popularity among a group of high-functioning adults with autism.

The purpose of this study was to determine how a group of adults with autism perceived one another's interpersonal attributes and popularity. Five female and 11 male high-functioning autistic adults, 18-45 years old, participated in a social skills group together for several years. A sociogram and a questionnaire designed to determine perceptions of best looking, most athletic, and most humorous group members were administered to group members and nonhandicapped group leaders. Independent assessments of intelligence and empathy also were taken. Results indicated that perceived attractiveness and sense of humor were correlated with popularity, but group members' assessments of these attributes differed from those of the nonhandicapped group leaders. Differences between group members and group leaders responses and the implications of the results of the study for social skills training with high-functioning autistic adolescents and adults are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

The tooth-worm: historical aspects of a popular medical belief.

The concept of a tooth-worm, which according to popular belief, caused caries and periodontitis, has existed in diverse cultures and across the ages. During the Enlightenment, however, the theory of the tooth-worm was assigned by medical doctors almost exclusively to superstition. Even so, the idea that toothache was caused by gnawing worms held on even into this century. There were many different ideas with regard to the appearance of tooth-worms. In England, for instance, it was thought that the tooth-worm looked like an eel. In Northern Germany, people supposed the tooth-worm to be red, blue, and gray and in many cases the worm was compared to a maggot. The gnawing worm was held responsible for many evils and, in particular, was blamed for toothache provoked by caries. The question is discussed of how the belief in the existence of the tooth-worm in former times can be explained. In popular medicine, numerous therapies were applied in order to eradicate the tooth-worm. In addition to the fumigations with henbane seeds, which allowed the "tooth-worm" to develop in the form of burst seeds, there were also magical formulas and oaths.

Arab World↗
PubMed2004

The placebo effect in popular culture.

This paper gives an overview of the placebo effect in popular culture, especially as it pertains to the work of authors Patrick O'Brian and Sinclair Lewis. The beloved physician as placebo, and the clinician scientist as villain are themes that respectively inform the novels, The Hundred Days and Arrowsmith. Excerpts from the novels, and from film show how the placebo effect, and the randomized clinical trial, have emerged into popular culture, and evolved over time.

Biomedical Research↗
PubMed1988

The concept of flow in Rwandan popular medicine.

This paper examines Rwandan popular concepts of health and physiology focusing upon notions which concern the bodily secretions: blood, saliva, semen, and maternal milk. Through the analysis of a female patient's description of an illness caused by "poisoning', the author demonstrates that Rwandan notions of individual health, social order, and the cosmos manifest the principle of homology. Liquid substances participate in several important processes in Rwandan social life, including those of production, exchange, and reproduction. Pathology arises where the flow of liquids becomes perturbed, hence a contrast is drawn between "flow' and "anomic flow'. Ritually controlling "flow' was once the responsibility of the Rwandan divine king (mwami). Today, although Rwanda is no longer a monarchy, symbolic constructs related to the "flow/anomic flow' dialectic continue to permeate Rwandan popular medicine and this is evinced in the discourse of patients and healers. In this particular instance, the patient uses this symbolic model to express feelings of malaise which run the gamut from "micro' level phenomena--herself and her household--to "macro' level phenomena--political strife at the national level.

Anthropology, Cultural↗
PubMed1992

The limits of lifestyle: re-assessing 'fatalism' in the popular culture of illness prevention.

This paper is concerned with the development of preventive medicine in the field of Coronary Heart Disease. It is based on an in-depth, ethnographic investigation into the popular culture of prophylactic behaviour carried out in South Wales (U.K.) during 1988 and 1989. The focus of the data and analysis presented here is the operation of cultural norms and practices related to the understanding and explanation of the cause and distribution of illness and death from heart ailments. The paper illustrates how the everyday cultural practice of 'lay epidemiology' is involved in accounting for illness misfortune and in assessing the potential benefits of prophylactic behaviour change. A central issue dealt with here is the relationship of lifestyle to environment in the popular understanding of chronic disease. Lay notions of luck, fate, destiny, randomness and chaos in the distribution of heart disease are explored. In conclusion, some implications for health education in this field are put forward.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Reconsidering the popularity of primary health centers in India: a case study from rural Maharashtra.

Most evaluations of India's primary health care (PHC) program have been critical of the ways government primary health centers have been functioning. It has been commonly noted that utilization of health services is poor and community participation in the PHC outreach program low. Additionally, medical officers and health center staff are often accused of being negligent in their duties. In this paper I argue that it is worthwhile examining how a popular primary health center functions in a context marked by a growing demand for Western medicines. Attention is drawn to the ingenious ways in which health personnel respond to client demands and government medicine shortages. The case of a popular primary health center in rural Maharashtra is presented. This health center is both the site of public and private health care. Discussed is the manner in which rural populations in India maximize available health care options given time, cash and transportation constraints. Current thinking about community health financing is considered in light of existing health care utilization patterns, community evaluation of free services, perceptions of entitlement and the likely response of practitioners to such schemes.

Community Health Centers↗
PubMed2006

Plants popularly used for loosing weight purposes in Porto Alegre, South Brazil.

In this study, 14 herbalists (herb sellers) were interviewed about popular use of plants with weight loss purpose in Porto Alegre, a South Brazil city. For all identified species, scientific data were reviewed aiming to establish a correlation between popular use and biological properties. Seventy-eight samples were reported as having weigh loss properties. These samples come from 23 species and Asteraceae encompasses the greatest number of representatives. The greatest number of herbalist's citations was Baccharis articulata. The majority of plants have traditional use in Brazil but none is explicitly cited for loosing weight purposes. The pharmacological data are mainly from animal and in vitro studies and do not straight related to obesity. Only Ilex paraguariensis presents clinical data of efficacy in the treatment of obesity. Seven species present pre-clinical data that indicate a potential role in the control of certain conditions which are associated with obesity, such as hyperlipidemia (Campomanesia xanthocarpa, Cuphea carthagenensis, Cynara scolymus, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Ilex paraguariensis) and high levels of blood glucose (Achyrocline satureioides, Baccharis trimera, Campomanesia xanthocarpa). In conclusion, scientific data found are insufficient to guarantee the efficacy and safety of these plants for treating obesity. However, some of them present activities which could be useful to treat certain obesity comorbidities and deserve further studies.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Oil development and health in the Amazon basin of Ecuador: the popular epidemiology process.

Recent decades have witnessed an increasing corporate access to and control over natural resources resulting in environmental degradation, inequalities and ill health. Since 1972, oil companies have extracted more than two billion barrels of crude oil from the Ecuadorian Amazon. During this process, millions of gallons of untreated toxic wastes, gas and oil have been released into the environment. Indigenous federations, peasant's movements and environmental groups have claimed that contamination has caused widespread damage to both people and the environment. This article tells the story of how the relationship between local organisations and research institutions developed around an epidemiological study constructed to address communities' concerns. Local organisations set the agenda of the research: they were involved in the hypothesis formulation, consulted in each step during the study and responsible of the dissemination of the findings. This process is known as popular epidemiology. Practical and personal issues and dilemmas faced during the research process are discussed with emphasis on the communication and dissemination of the findings. The article concludes the need of alliances between communities and researchers in order to protect health and environment. Popular epidemiology is an essential approach for public health researchers to reaffirm their roots in improving public health as a primary value.

Community-Institutional Relations↗
PubMed2001

Popular diets: correlation to health, nutrition, and obesity.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between a range of health and nutrition indicators and popular diets. DESIGN: The Continuing Survey of Food Intake by Individuals (CSFII) 1994-1996 data were used to examine the relationship between prototype popular diets and diet quality as measured by the healthy eating index (HEI), consumption patterns, and body mass index (BMI). The prototype diets included vegetarian (no meat, poultry, or fish on day of survey) and non-vegetarian. The nonvegetarian group was further subdivided into low carbohydrate (less than 30% of energy from carbohydrate), medium (30% to 55%), and high (greater than 55% of energy). Within the high carbohydrate group, participants were classified as having Pyramid or non-Pyramid eating patterns. The Pyramid group was defined as 30% or less of energy from fat and at least one serving from the five major food groups in the USDA Food Guide Pyramid. Finally, the non-Pyramid group was further subdivided into low fat (less than 15% of energy from fat) and moderate fat (15% to 30% of energy from fat). In addition, a review of the published scientific literature was conducted; all studies identified were included in the review. SUBJECTS: 10,014 adults, aged 19 years and older, from the 1994-1996 CSFII were included in the analyses of extant data. More than 200 individual studies were included in the review of the literature. RESULTS: Analyses of the CSFII indicate that diet quality as measured by HEI was highest for the high carbohydrate Pyramid group (82.9) and lowest for the low carbohydrate group (44.6). Energy intakes were low for the vegetarians (1,606 kcals) and high carbohydrate/low fat group (1360 kcals). BMIs were lowest for women in the vegetarian group (24.6) and the high carbohydrate/low fat group (24.4); for men, the lowest BMIs were observed for vegetarians (25.2) and the high carbohydrate Pyramid group (25.2). Review of the literature suggests that weight loss is independent of diet composition. Energy restriction is the key variable associated with weight reduction in the short term. CONCLUSIONS: Diets that are high in carbohydrate and low to moderate in fat tend to be lower in energy. The lowest energy intakes were observed for those on a vegetarian diet. The diet quality as measured by HEI was highest for the high carbohydrate groups and lowest for the low carbohydrate groups. The BMIs were significantly lower for men and women on the high carbohydrate diet; the highest BMIs were noted for those on a low carbohydrate diet.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

The role of puberty, media and popularity with peers on strategies to increase weight, decrease weight and increase muscle tone among adolescent boys and girls.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was concerned with the impact of pubertal development, relationships with peers and perceived pressure from the media on body dissatisfaction and body change behaviors among adolescent boys and girls. In particular, the study investigated the underresearched area of strategies to increase weight and muscle. The exploration of body change strategies among adolescent boys has been a neglected area of research. METHODS: Respondents were 1185 adolescents (527 males, 598 females) who were enrolled in Grades 7 and 9. Participants completed measures of pubertal development, media and peer influence, body dissatisfaction and strategies to lose weight, increase weight and to increase muscle. RESULTS: The findings demonstrated that girls were more likely than boys to adopt strategies to lose weight, whereas boys were more likely to adopt strategies to increase muscle tone (but not weight). For boys in both Years 7 and 9, the main predictors of body change strategies were puberty and, to a lesser extent, perceived popularity with peers. The major influences for Years 7 and 9 girls were puberty and the media, but these mainly focused on weight loss. For Year 9 girls, perceived popularity with opposite-sex peers also predicted body dissatisfaction and strategies to increase muscle tone. CONCLUSION: The implications of these findings for understanding factors related to a range of body change strategies for adolescent boys and girls are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Relationship of students' perceptions of faculty to scholastic achievement: are popular instructors better educators?

Student evaluation of the faculty is a standard practice in most medical schools. Implied in these evaluations is the motion that popular instructors (ie, those considered outstanding by the students) are better educators, whose teaching translates into higher scores for their students on examinations. We tested this hypothesis by comparing students' evaluations of the faculty with levels of academic achievement in a second-year pathology course. Objective measures of academic achievement included scores on final comprehensive examinations, final course grade, and performance on the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). During the 4 years studied (1990 to 1995), students belonging to groups with the highest ratings for their instruction performed no better than those with the poorest ratings. There was no correlation between students' perceptions of quality in teaching and their academic achievement. Our results indicate that students' evaluations of the faculty are subjective and do not correlate with objective results used in the assessment of student knowledge. Popular instructors are not necessarily better educators.

Educational Measurement↗
PubMed2003

The evolution of current medical and popular attitudes toward ultraviolet light exposure: part 3.

In the 1930s, attitudes toward ultraviolet (UV) light exposure began to change significantly within the medical profession. UV radiation had been promoted as healthful since the century's start, and particularly after the discovery of its role in vitamin-D metabolism. Increasingly, however, attention would focus on the risks of UV light exposure from sunlamps and sunbathing. During this time, the American Medical Association established guidelines for the approval of UV lamps and the appropriate therapeutic uses of phototherapy. The landmark experiments of Findlay and other researchers, in which malignant skin tumors were induced in rodents after exposure to UV lamps or sunlight, would lead to widespread recognition of the carcinogenicity of UV radiation. The role of sunlight in the etiology of skin cancer was increasingly mentioned in articles in popular magazines in the 1940s and 1950s. There was rapid growth of the sunscreen industry as well, although product efficacy remained highly variable. In the 1950s, interest developed in the use of 8-methoxypsoralen ("the suntan pill") and dihyroxyacetone ("suntan in a bottle"). In spite of the known risks of UV exposure and attempts by physicians and other health professionals to educate the public and modify behavior, suntanning has remained tenaciously popular. Today, excessive UV light exposure is recognized as the major cause of the approximately 1.3 million cases of skin cancer in the United States each year.

Attitude↗
PubMed2001

Rise in popularity of complementary and alternative medicine: reasons and consequences for vaccination.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has become a popular form of healthcare and the predictions are that, it will increase further. The reasons for this level of popularity are highly diverse, and much of the motivation to turn to CAM pertains to a deeply felt criticism of mainstream medicine - many people (are led to) believe that conventional interventions, including immunisation, are associated with the potential to do more harm than good. Thus, it is hardly surprising that CAM also lends support to the "anti-vaccination movement". In particular, sections of the chiropractors, the (non-medically trained) homoeopaths and naturopaths tend to advise their clients against immunisation. The reasons for this attitude are complex and lie, at least in part in the early philosophies which form the basis of these professions. The negative attitude of some providers of CAM towards immunisation constitutes an important example of indirect risks associated with this form of healthcare. The best way forward, it seems, would be a campaign to clarify the risk-benefit profile of immunisations for both users and providers of CAM.

Chiropractic↗
PubMed1999

Mixed messages about the meanings of breast-feeding representations in the Australian press and popular magazines.

The popular press is an influential medium for the communication of messages and meanings about health and lifestyle issues (Lupton 1993). Through language and images, the print media present selected phenomena, events and issues to readers. The choice and connections between works used can impress upon the reader specific images of the world and the attitudes toward the presented issues and ideas (Nunan 1993). Discourse analysis is used in this study to examine representations of breast feeding in articles published in the Australian press and popular magazines over a six-month period. Discourse analysis is a method of inquiry that focuses on sociocultural and political contexts in which communication occurs (Lupton 1992). Discourses revealed mixed messages and meanings. Breast feeding was seen as natural and the best way of feeding but also as problematic in practice. Dominant ideologies of power and persuasion were also evident. The media portrayed predominantly negative views about breast feeding. Such discourses may influence decisions to breast feed and have wider implications for midwives in their roles as supporters and educators of women and their families.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1999

Popular weight loss diets. Health and exercise implications.

Obesity is a serious problem in the United States. More than 50% of adult Americans have body mass indices equal to or greater than 25--the new criteria for being overweight. US Government health organizations have recently issued clinical guidelines for the identification, evaluation, and treatment of obesity, and criteria for evaluating weight loss programs. Despite all this, overweight individuals often turn for guidance to weight loss books and programs promoted in the popular press rather than healthcare professionals. A review of some of the most popular diet programs reveals that they fall along a continuum from "anticarbohydrate" to "anti-fat." Several of these diets are discussed and evaluated based on the criteria proposed by obesity experts.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Absinthe: enjoying a new popularity among young people?

Absinthe, an alcoholic drink used in certain artistic circles and considered the inspiring muse of many famous artists because it was reputed to stimulate creativity and possess exciting, aphrodisiacal and healing properties, in the past enjoyed enormous popularity so much so that it led to a real collective abuse so causing its prohibition in many countries, is again enjoying a new period of popularity. Also in Italy there is increasing information about the use and abuse of this drink. We received a request to analyse and determine the nature of two samples of alcoholic drinks, obtained by macerating Artemisia absinthium leaves in ethanol. Analyses of extracts by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) identified beta-thujone, which is responsible for the activity and toxic effects on the CNS of absinthe, in both alcohol samples.

Absinthe↗
PubMed1996

What are popular magazines telling young women about pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and parenting?

Popular magazines are an important source of health and lifestyle information for young women. This study aimed to investigate the extent and nature of the information presented about pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and parenting. Content analysis of four monthly popular magazines over a period of one year reveals that references to pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding were contained in thirty-six (75%) of the forty-eight magazines reviewed. Many of these references represent a useful source of information, but there are a number of meddlesome or destructive themes, specifically weight gain in pregnancy, lack of control in your life, the 'agony' of childbirth and the negative impact childbirth has on marital relationships and career.

Breast Feeding↗