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At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Consumer involvement in Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) projects - lessons from Australia.

BACKGROUND: It is essential that knowledge gained through health services research is collated and made available for evaluation, for policy purposes and to enable collaboration between people working in similar areas (capacity building). The Australian Quality Use of Medicine (QUM) on-line, web-based project database, known as the QUMmap, was designed to meet these needs for a specific sub-section of health services research related to improving the use of medicines. Australia's National Strategy for Quality Use of Medicines identifies the primacy of consumers as a major principle for quality use of medicines, and aims to support consumer led research. The aim of this study was to determine how consumers as a group have been represented in QUM projects in Australia. A secondary aim was to investigate how the projects with consumer involvement fit into Australia's QUM policy framework. METHOD: Using the web-based QUMmap, all projects which claimed consumer involvement were identified and stratified into four categories, projects undertaken by; (a) consumers for consumers, (b) health professionals for consumers, (c) health professionals for health professionals, and (d) other. Projects in the first two categories were then classified according to the policy 'building blocks' considered necessary to achieve QUM. RESULTS: Of the 143 'consumer' projects identified, the majority stated to be 'for consumers' were either actually by health professionals for health professionals (c) or by health professionals for consumers (b) (47% and 40% respectively). Only 12 projects (9%) were directly undertaken by consumers or consumer groups for consumers (a). The majority of the health professionals for consumers (b) projects were directed at the provision of services and interventions, but were not focusing on the education, training or skill development of consumers. CONCLUSION: Health services research relating to QUM is active in Australia and the projects are collated and searchable on the web-based interactive QUMmap. Healthcare professionals appear to be dominating nominally 'consumer focussed' research, with less than half of these projects actively involving the consumers or directly benefiting consumers. The QUMmap provides a valuable tool for policy analysis and for provision of future directions through identification of QUM initiatives.

Australia↗
PubMed2003

Health impact assessment needs in south-east Asian countries.

A situation analysis was undertaken to assess impediments to health impact assessment (HIA) in the South-East Asia Region of WHO (SEARO). The countries of the region were assessed on the policy framework and procedures for HIA, existing infrastructure required to support HIA, the capacity for undertaking HIA, and the potential for intersectoral collaboration. The findings show that environmental impact assessment (EIA) is being used implicitly as a substitute for HIA, which is not explicitly or routinely conducted in virtually all countries of the Region. Therefore, policy, infrastructure, capacity, and intersectoral collaboration need strengthening for the routine implementation of HIA.

Asia, Southeastern↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Making women and men matter: the Philippine POPCOM experience.

To reorient population policies and programs and make population workers more gender-responsive was the challenge faced by the Philippine Population Commission (POPCOM), the government's central policymaking and coordinating body for population concerns. This paper traces the history of population policies in the Philippines and describes the factors that helped create a climate conducive to a rethinking of POPCOM's policies. POPCOM first conducted an institutional assessment to determine the levels of awareness of its population officers about gender, reproductive health, and population and development issues. A gender-responsive population policy framework with a reproductive health perspective was then developed to guide training programs, information management strategies, and pilot community-based action research programs. Problems anticipated in integrating a gender and reproductive health perspective include the Catholic Church, different priorities of government, and a reluctant Congress. Suggested strategies are (a) formation of a critical mass of various groups to demand policy shifts; (b) for women, development, and environment nongovernmental organizations to identify allies in government and international organizations; (c) regular dialogues between donors and the government's central planning agency; and (d) working through the media.

Catholicism↗
PubMed2000

[Conclusions of the Canary Islands Nutrition Survey (1997-98). Foundations for a nutrition policy in Canary Islands].

The principal findings of the Canary Island Nutrition survey (ENCA). 1997-98 are presented. This survey was realised to obtain the following objectives: to evaluate eating habits and nutritional status utilising dietary, anthropometric and biochemical indicators in the Canary Island population along with determining lifestyle factors and the prevalence of the main cardiovascular risk factors. Additionally, a survey evaluating food-related knowledge and attitudes was also carried out. To attain this end, a cross-sectional study was realised in a representative sample of the Canary Island population aged 6 to 75 years (n = 1,747). This article summarises the key findings related to study objectives as well as study-derived recommendations to be realised within a Canary Island health and nutrition policy framework. For this purpose, the development of food based dietary guidelines addressed to meet target nutrients is needed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Communications with research participants and communities: foundations for best practices.

Communities and research participants increasingly feel that they have rights to be equal partners with researchers and to have access to the results of studies to which they have contributed. Concurrently, research sponsors have become aware of legal liabilities, societal repercussions, and credibility impacts of ignoring research communication responsibilities. However, issues related to research communications are rarely discussed at professional meetings or taught in academic programs. As a result, individual investigators may not be clear about their duties to communicate the results of their research. It is important to address this gap between expectations and abilities, because researchers' lack of communication fosters a climate of distrust in science and implies disinterest or disrespect for participants and communities. Ethical, legal, and professional frameworks and practices were reviewed to develop insights about principles, guidelines, and means that can be used to promote best practices. A review of general research guidance and specific requests for proposals revealed sponsors' communication priorities. While there are barriers to research communication, there is an increasing awareness among sponsors and investigators that effective and responsive communication is not a cheap or uniform add-on to a project or proposal. Communications must be tailored to the project considering all potential stakeholders, and resources need to be allocated specifically for communication activities within projects. Researchers, sponsors, professional societies and academia all have opportunities to improve principles, policies, frameworks, guidelines and strategies to foster "best practice" communication of research results.

Australia↗
PubMed2005

Identification, assessment and intervention--Implications of an audit on dyslexia policy and practice in Scotland.

This article reports on research commissioned by the Scottish Executive Education Department (SEED). It aimed to establish the range and extent of policy and provision in the area of specific learning difficulties (SpLD) and dyslexia throughout Scotland. The research was conducted between January and June 2004 by a team from the University of Edinburgh. The information was gathered from a questionnaire sent to all education authorities (100% response rate was achieved). Additional information was also obtained from supplementary interviews and additional materials provided by education authorities. The results indicated that nine education authorities in Scotland (out of 32) have explicit policies on dyslexia and eight authorities have policies on SpLD. It was noted however that most authorities catered for dyslexia and SpLD within a more generic policy framework covering aspects of Special Educational Needs or within documentation on 'effective learning'. In relation to identification thirty-six specific tests, or procedures, were mentioned. Classroom observation, as a procedure was rated high by most authorities. Eleven authorities operated a formal staged process combining identification and intervention. Generally, authorities supported a broader understanding of the role of identification and assessment and the use of standardized tests was only part of a wider assessment process. It was however noted that good practice in identification and intervention was not necessarily dependent on the existence of a dedicated policy on SpLD/dyslexia. Over fifty different intervention strategies/programmes were noted in the responses. Twenty-four authorities indicated that they had developed examples of good practice. The results have implications for teachers and parents as well as those involved in staff development. Pointers are provided for effective practice and the results reflect some of the issues on the current debate on dyslexia particularly relating to early identification.

Aptitude Tests↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Failure of enforcement controlled substance laws in health policy for prescribing opiate medications: a painful assessment of morbidity and mortality.

Controlled substances can be used for legitimate medical purposes to relieve pain and suffering, and allow management of medical and surgical conditions, whether acute or chronic in duration. However, because these are attractive, addicting drugs, diversion from sources such as physicians and pharmacists can lead to serious health problems. Of importance is that addiction to opiate medications can interfere with treatment of the original pain condition, and can lead to life threatening states because of poor judgment and depressed mood in the users. Consequently, the public has a vested interest in protecting the medical uses of these medications on the one hand, although reducing the morbidity and mortality from their diversion and addictive use. The controlled substance laws contain 3 sources of policy framework that governs the medical use and diversion of controlled substances: (1) international treaties, (2) federal laws and regulations, and (3) state laws and regulations. These laws are aimed at balancing the need to controlling use with adverse consequences against the therapeutic benefits opiate medications provide the public.

Analgesics, Opioid↗
PubMed2006

On the choice of farm management practices after the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy in 2003.

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was fundamentally reformed in 2003. From 2005, farmers will receive decoupled income support payments instead of production premiums if basic standards for environment, food safety, animal health and welfare are met. Farmers are likely to adjust production and management practices to the new policy framework. We describe how this reform fits into the EU strategy of making agricultural production more environmentally friendly by concentrating on the financial aspects of the reforms. Using an agricultural sector model for Austria, we show that the reform will further decrease agricultural outputs, reduce farm inputs, lessen nitrogen surpluses and make environmentally friendly management practices more attractive for farmers.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1999

[The rights of patients--medical concerns].

The protection of patients rights is neither a new concern nor a limited to Belgium one. The study shows that, at all times, the doctors have been worried about the necessity of respect of the patients. This respect is inherent to the confidence patients have in the doctors. The study also explains that the policy framework on the rights of the patients has been developed in the world and in particular, in Europe, after World War II. In a third part, the belgian legislative initiatives are commented according to the opinions of famous legal writers. Finally, the study emphasizes the fact that it is necessary to stimulate dialogue-structures for doctors and patients and that we have to avoid too rigid rules.

Belgium↗
PubMed2004

African ILO meeting endorses efforts by employers' and workers' organizations to fight HIV/AIDS.

In December 2003, the Tenth African International Labour Organization (ILO) Regional Meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia adopted a resolution on HIV/AIDS calling on African governments to support the efforts of employers and workers to combat HIV/AIDS--by providing an enabling legal and policy framework for workplace action, by providing measures to oppose stigma and discrimination, and by strengthening national AIDS plans through the inclusion of a strategy for the world of work. The resolution also called on workers' and employers' organizations to increase their joint efforts to reduce the spread and impact of HIV/AIDS. Finally, the resolution called on the ILO to give greater priority to its efforts to combat the pandemic in Africa.

Africa↗
PubMed1998

A tale of two (low prevalence) cities: social movement organisations and the local policy response to HIV/AIDS.

In the field of HIV/AIDS, social movement organisations (SMOs) have been identified as powerful potential catalysts for change through their impact on formal organisational structures and the policy process. In addition, they have the capacity to be important providers of services in their own right, through the community resources they are capable of mobilising. In the United Kingdom, however, their role in policy formation is disputed. Previous studies have concluded that they have been most influential at national policy and ward level. At the level of local policy making, their influence has been found to be patchy and confined largely to securing recognition of HIV as an issue. Most previous research has, however, been conducted in high prevalence, metropolitan settings with functional SMOs. This paper presents the results of a comparative case study of two neighbouring provincial low prevalence district health authorities (HAs) in England. We describe the changing national policy context from 1986 to 1995 and use a strategic change model to analyse the local development of care and treatment services for people with HIV/AIDS, in particular the relationship between SMOs and HAs. Despite being demographically, socioeconomically and epidemiologically similar, and sharing an identical national policy framework, the two districts demonstrate completely divergent organisational responses to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. We conclude that the level of prior social movement mobilisation and the degree of receptivity for change within the HA are the key variables for explaining variations in the scale of strategic change observed in the two districts.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Transparent Democratic Foresight Strategies in the California EMF Program.

A California Department of Health Services program dealt with possible health effects from Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMF) from power lines. With the advice of stakeholders, and well before any risk determinations were made, transparent policy analyses about the power grid and schools asked the question, "How confident must one be of how big an effect before one would adopt cheap or expensive EMF avoidance measures?" A risk evaluation was carried out with features that promoted transparency. It was formatted to provide a policy-neutral "degree of certainty of causality" to adherents of utilitarian, environmental justice, and libertarian policy frameworks. Though the program had many features advocated by adherents of the precautionary principle, it might be better characterized as following "Transparent Democratic Foresight Strategies," since no single principle justifies the strategies used in this participatory program, and it examined the pros and cons of options but made no recommendations, precautionary or otherwise.

Advisory Committees↗
PubMed2002

Roots, shoots, but too little fruit: assessing the contribution of COPC in South Africa.

Community-oriented primary care (COPC) originated in South Africa during the 1940s and 1950s, where it served to inform local church-based and nongovernmental organization-based initiatives during the apartheid years. During the 1990s, COPC played an inspirational role in the process of national health policy formulation. Yet COPC's contribution to current health practice remains more symbolic than substantive. Despite a policy framework that favors the widespread introduction of COPC, various political, structural, managerial, and human resource obstacles constrain its effective implementation. Notwithstanding a rapidly changing health care environment and well-established health transition from infections and nutritional disorders to non-communicable diseases and injury, COPC and its variants remain abidingly relevant to South Africa's-and Africa's-health care reality.

Community Health Centers↗
PubMed2002

National policies for reducing social inequalities in health in Europe.

Gaps in health between poor and rich countries, and between social groups within countries, are unacceptably large and may be widening. WHO has made the fight against inequities in health a priority in the European region, as part of the policy framework for health for all in the twenty-first century (HEALTH21), aimed at allowing all people to participate in social and economic life. It proposes a number of concrete steps, in order to promote access to health and reduce inequalities in health status. Equity should be everybody's concern, because inequities in health are everybody's loss. They harm many people, operate on a socioeconomic gradient, and put a strain on economic development and social cohesion. Equity is not something that is achieved once for all. A three-pronged approach to action includes: provision to all people of a "decent minimum" of assets and resources for creating and maintaining health and living; targeted additional support for disadvantaged groups in ways that respect their dignity and human rights; and appropriate policies, actions, and investments to secure opportunities and support at all levels of society. Genuine progress can be achieved by: * securing a champion and making action understood and attractive; * identifying and acting on needs; * working in partnership and at different levels - community, subnational, national, and international; * mobilizing investment for health; * building in accountability for health; * agreeing on policy choices, and reallocating resources and responsibilities accordingly; * learning and developing knowledge, and looking around and ahead.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Meeting the challenges of contemporary foster care.

Over the past two decades, the foster care system experienced an unprecedented rise in the number of children in out-of-home care, significant changes in the policy framework guiding foster care practice, and ongoing organizational impediments that complicate efforts to serve the children in foster care. This article discusses the current status of the foster care system and finds: Agencies often have difficulty providing adequate, accessible, and appropriate services for the families in their care. Children of color, particularly African-American children, are disproportionately represented in foster care, a situation which raises questions about the equity of the foster care system and threatens the developmental progress of children of color. Foster families can find the experience overwhelming and frustrating, causing many to leave foster parenting within their first year. Organizational problems such as large caseloads, high staff turnover, and data limitations compromise efforts to adequately serve and monitor families. The challenges before the foster care system are numerous, however the authors believe promising policies and practices aimed at strengthening families, supporting case workers, providing timely and adequate data, and infusing cultural competency throughout the system, can move the foster care system forward in the coming years.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Conversion of HMOs and hospitals: what's at stake?

Because for-profit conversions of nonprofit organizations are regulated under trust law at the state level, their health policy implications have generally not been part of the process. This paper provides a health policy framework for assessing conversions of hospitals and health maintenance organizations (HMOs). It begins with basic differences in ownership forms and identifies considerations on both sides of the conversion question. The analysis turns on the extent of the social benefits of nonprofits: the regulatory tool provided by tax exemptions, trustworthiness in the presence of informational asymmetries, and community benefit activities. The analysis and the evidence suggest that the nonprofit form continues to hold significant advantages in health care that bear consideration by policymakers faced with conversion proposals.

Health Facility Merger↗
PubMed1999

Drug education: a review of British Government policy and evidence on effectiveness.

British Government policy on drugs primary prevention is outlined and principal recommendations are identified. The review is organized under the four main providers: police, teachers, peers and parents. Current methods are reviewed within a British policy framework with a focus on British programmes which have been evaluated. Most programmes use a combination of information, resistance or life skills training and normative education. Evaluative research suggests these methods are generally most effective. The police have achieved a community-wide approach, teachers have managed to integrate drug education into the National Curriculum, peer approaches have considered the needs of their target audience and parent approaches have recruited influential educators. However, more evaluative research is required before we can identify which particular programmes are most effective in reducing drug use.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

The millennium development goals and road traffic injuries: exploring the linkages in South Asia.

In a major summit of the members of the United Nations (UN) in 2000, a Millennium Declaration was adopted which called for making the elimination of poverty and promotion of sustainable development a global priority. A road map was agreed upon to operationalize the declaration, and the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) were integrated within the document. The MDGs are now increasingly being used to assess the performance of countries, institutions and the global community. WHO declares that the MDGs provide "a set of outcomes that are relevant to the development of national health policy frameworks". It also states that although MDGs do not cover all the components of public health, when broadly interpreted "the goals provide an opportunity to address important cross-cutting issues and key constraints to health". Consistent with WHO's call for a broad interpretation of the MDGs, and building on the health linkages identified by WHO, this paper explores the linkages between the MDGs and the impact of road traffic injuries (RTI). This is done in the context of South Asia, one of the poorest and populated regions of the developing world.

Accidents, Traffic↗