Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Health”

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 1,081 records · Page 60Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Role of primary health care in health promotion].

HEALTH PROMOTION AND DISEASE PREVENTION: In the mid '80s the World Health Organization initiated the "Health Promotion" program considered as an essential strategy in achieving the general objective "Health for all"--health promotion for the population. Promotional and preventive measures require support from the community, health politics and multisectoral approach. THE ROLE OF HEALTH SECTOR: Health sector has an essential role in health promotion and disease prevention. It requires reorientation of work, education and financing towards these levels of prevention. THE ROLE OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE: Primary health care (PHC) is on essential part of health care and its main principles are equity, health promotion and disease prevention, community participation, appropriate health technology and multisectoral approach. Organizational and management key elements of PHC are strategic management, decentralization, coordination and development of strategic systems.

Health Promotion↗
PubMed2000

Audit of a diabetic health education program at a large Primary Health Care Center in Asir region.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the health education program in a large Primary Health Care Center, to find out the problems faced by the staff and to suggest the practical and relevant solutions. METHODS: This study was carried out at Wasat Abha Primary Health Care Center, Asir region during 1997. The files of diabetics who attended the center were evaluated for health education topics by using a checklist. The essential structure of diabetic health education program was assessed by using another check list designed by the investigators. Data entry and analysis was carried out through SPSS package. Chi-square test was applied wherever necessary. RESULTS: The total number of diabetics who attended Wasat Abha Primary Health Care Center was 198. The duration of diabetes mellitus was 7.7+5.8 years. Ninety percent of these were married, 50.5% were educated and 79% were employed. Compliance to appointment was good in 60% and poor in 30% of diabetics. About 73% of the diabetics received at least one health education topic while 27% did not receive any health education at all. Only 33% of diabetic patients had adequate health education. Ninety one percent were provided with diabetic identification cards, 80% were explained about diabetes and 77% were educated about the role of diet. Essential structure for diabetes education program was found to be unsatisfactory. CONCLUSION: Effective diabetic health education program needs the availability of all essential structures, community participation and integration of the government and private sectors. The deficiencies in the structures and the process of health education programs in our practice are almost universal to other Primary Health Care Centers in the Asir region. Providing the Primary Health Care Centers with all essential structures and annual auditing are complimentary to a successful diabetic health education program.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Factors related to the white collar workers' health behavior and the degree of their health practice in a metropolitan city].

This study attempted to identify the factors related to health behavior and the degree of health practice among the employee of security investment companies in Pusan. The survey data used in the study were collected from 203 white collar employee in 21 companies. The factors considered in the health behavior and the degree of health practice were selected from Pender's model of health promoting behavior and Backer's model of health preventive behavior model. The major findings of the study could be summarized as followings: 1. The most closely associated factors with health behavior were identified as perceived control of disease (r = .393), importance of health (r = .350), pattern of family health care (r = .302), and options of health promotion (r = .215). 2. The study explored that the most closely related factors to the degree of health care practice were annual physical examination and the control of illegal and habitual drug in order. Other behaviors such as hand washing at each return to home, avoidance of indirect smoking, no exchange of glasses, regular exercise, stop or reduction of drinking and smoking, control of high cholesterol food were identified as less effective in the health promotion. 3. The most important factors associated with the less effective behaviors for health promotion were identified as their laziness in continuous practice and the limited time for their habituation. 4. The most important agent contributing to the knowledge and practice of health was identified as mass media.

Health Behavior↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of a health promotion program on sustaining health behaviors in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Controversy exists regarding the optimal way to provide health promotion education to the elderly. This prospective randomized study evaluated the effectiveness of individualized assessment and counseling coupled with the receipt of a written health plan on client adherence to health behavior recommendations. METHODS: Two hundred thirty-seven ethnically diverse and predominantly low-income adults 60 and older, participating for the first time in an established statewide public health prevention program delivered in both rural and urban clinics, were recruited and randomly assigned to treatment and control groups. All participants received a standardized assessment that included a health history, nutrition assessment, and limited physical exam from a public health nurse. The treatment group additionally received a written personal health plan and individualized counseling to support implementation of the plan. Both groups were interviewed after one year to determine their adherence to the original recommendations. RESULTS: Seventeen preventive services and health behaviors were evaluated. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups on health care use and previous health behaviors at baseline. Using logistic regression and controlling for socioeconomic and demographic variables, we found that the treatment group that received a personal health plan and counseling completed significantly more preventive referrals and health behavior changes (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: A client-centered planning process with supportive counseling by public health nurses, combined with health plans provided to clients, can significantly increase the prevention measures taken by older adults.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Developing primary health clinical teams for public oral health services in Tasmania.

This paper reviews the problem of socio-economic health inequalities and highlights the relevance of these issues for the delivery of public oral health services in the Australian island State of Tasmania. It contends that unless there is reform of existing public oral health systems, inequities in oral health care linked to socio-economic factors and geographic location will remain. The challenge is, firstly, to understand the current situation and why it has occurred. Secondly, we need to ensure that this understanding is shared across educational and professional sectors for the development of innovative approaches to the problem. Thirdly, we must carry out preliminary research and evaluation for any reforms. Using a combination of approaches, i.e., primary health care, a 'common risk' approach and increasing workforce numbers has been identified as a method showing the most potential to improve access to equitable oral health care. An outline of a current research project evaluating the impact of the integration of primary oral health care clinical teams into public oral health services is provided. The clinical teams combine the skills of the dentist and an expanded role for dual trained dental therapists/dental hygienists. The teams focus on the development of innovative clinical practice in the management and prevention of common oral diseases that take into account the broader determinants of oral health inequality. This project will be conducted in Tasmania, where the dominance of small rural and remote communities, adverse socio-economic factors and shortage of oral health professionals are key issues to consider in planning public oral health services and programmes. The results of the evaluation of the Tasmanian pilot model will contribute to the evidence base that will support the introduction of new approaches to public oral health care.

Delivery of Health Care, Integrated↗
PubMed2003

The need for integrated primary health care to enhance the effectiveness of health services.

With the increasing prevalence of chronic illnesses and health compromising behaviours, health care expenditure is escalating with the expansion of hospital services. Integrated primary health care would enhance the cost effectiveness of health care delivery. Recent studies on primary care health services research in Hong Kong indicated that there is a high level of inappropriate utilisation of hospital emergency services, a high prevalence of youth health risk behaviours particularly mental health which would lead to a heavy burden on health services in the future. The community based rehabilitation provided a better quality of life for chronic illness patients, better drug compliance for chronic illness patients in family practice, and a disproportionate amount of budget is spent on law reinforcement and treatment for drug abuse rather than on prevention and education. The findings strongly indicate the need to have a strong primary health care team with well trained family physicians and trained health professionals as primary care practitioners to provide services on health promotion; curative; rehabilitation and supporting services; supporting self help activities of individuals, families and groups. This would minimize compartmentalisation in health care delivery, and is also a cost effective way of providing high quality holistic and comprehensive care that meets the needs of the majority of the population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

A systematic review of the effectiveness of health promotion aimed at improving oral health.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the quality of oral health promotion research evidence and to assess the effectiveness of health promotion, aimed at improving oral health using a systematic and scientifically defensible methodology. BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN: Systematic review of oral health promotion research evidence using electronic searching, iterative hand-searching, critical appraisal and data synthesis. CLINICAL SETTING: The settings of the primary research reviewed were clinical, community, schools or other institutions. The participants were children, the elderly, adults and people with handicaps and disabilities. INTERVENTIONS: Only studies which reported an evaluative component were included. Theoretical and purely descriptive papers were excluded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The review examined the evidence of effectiveness of oral health promotion on caries, oral hygiene, oral health related knowledge, attitudes and behaviours. RESULTS: Very few definitive conclusions about the effectiveness of oral health promotion can be drawn from the currently available evidence. Caries and periodontal disease can be controlled by regular toothbrushing with a fluoride toothpaste but a cost-effective method for reliably promoting such behaviour has not yet been established. Knowledge levels can almost always be improved by oral health promotion initiatives but whether these shifts in knowledge and attitudes can be causally related to changes in behaviour or clinical indices of disease has also not been established. CONCLUSIONS: Oral health promotion which brings about the use of fluoride is effective for reducing caries. Chairside oral health promotion has been shown to be effective more consistently than other methods of health promotion. Mass media programmes have not been shown to be effective. The quality of oral health promotion evaluation research needs to be improved.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[A change of attitude among health personnel: a function of the schools of public health].

This presentation examines the problem of certain attitudes of persons employed in health and other sectors, and of the beneficiary population itself which, though not blocking, at least make it difficult to promote the attainment of health for all based on primary care. The author describes the changes of attitude and behavior patterns needed both in the whole population, for whose sake the changes are needed, and in those charged with establishing policies and providing health care. At the same time, he identifies the functions that schools of public health may have to perform in order to promote and bring about those changes. With a precise idea of what the desirable changes are and what they consist of, the article examines in detail the principal areas of interest, which it distinguishes as follows: the meaning of health; the meaning of health care and health development; the scope of policy-making; intersectoral and multidisciplinary collaboration; community involvement and self-care; cost-containment of medical care; health system organization and operation; health management training, and health manpower development. The author concludes by underscoring the vital importance of understanding the meaning of health for all and of taking cognizance of the current deficiencies of the health education and service systems, but states that it is just as important to keep an optimistic and positive attitude.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Worksite health and safety climate: scale development and effects of a health promotion intervention.

BACKGROUND: Environmental influences on health and health behavior have an important place in research on worksite health promotion. We tested the validity and internal consistency of a new measure of organizational health and safety climate that was used in a large randomized trial of a worksite cancer prevention program (the Working Well Trial). The resulting scales then were applied to assess intervention effects. METHODS: This study uses data from a subset of 40 worksites in the Working Well Trial. Employees at 20 natural gas pipeline worksite and 20 rural electrical cooperatives completed a cross-sectional questionnaire at baseline and 3-year follow-up. RESULTS: A factor analysis of this self-report instrument produced a two-factor solution. The resulting health and safety climate scales had good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.74 and 0.82, respectively) and concurrent validity. The health climate scale was correlated more highly with organizational measures that were indicative of a supportive health climate than those indicating supportive safety climate, while the reverse was true of the safety climate scale. Changes in health climate were associated with the number of smoking and smokeless tobacco programs offered at the worksites at the time of the 3-year follow-up (r = 0.46 and 0.42, respectively). The scales were not correlated with most employee health behaviors. The health climate scores increased at intervention worksites, compared with scores at control worksites (F[1,36] = 7.57, P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: The health and safety climate scales developed for this study provide useful instruments for measuring organizational change related to worksite health promotion activities. The Working Well Intervention resulted in a significant improvement in worksite health climate.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMed1997

Multiplying health gains: the critical role of capacity-building within health promotion programs.

Health outcomes in populations are the product of three factors: (1) the size of effect of the intervention; (2) the reach or penetration of an intervention into a population and (3) the sustainability of the effect. The last factor is crucial. In recent years, many health promotion workers have moved the focus of their efforts away from the immediate population group or environment of interest towards making other health workers and other organisations responsible for, and more capable of, conducting health promotion programs, maintaining those programs and initiating others. 'Capacity-building' by health promotion workers to enhance the capacity of the system to prolong and multiply health effects thus represents a 'value added' dimension to the health outcomes offered by any particular health promotion program. The value of this activity will become apparent in the long term, with methods to detect multiple types of health outcomes. But in the short term its value will be difficult to assess unless we devise specific measures to detect it. At present the term 'capacity-building' is conceptualised and assessed in different ways in the health promotion literature. Development of reliable indicators of capacity-building which could be used both in program planning and in program evaluation will need to take this into account. Such work will provide health-decision makers with information about program potential at the conclusion of the funding period, which could be factored into resource allocation decisions, in addition to the usual information about a program's impact on health outcomes. By program potential, we mean ability to reap greater and wider health gains.

Australia↗
PubMed1997

Changing definitions of women's health: implications for health care and policy.

OBJECTIVES: To present an overview of how and why normative conceptions of women's health are changing and to discuss some implications of definitional shifts in the context of the changing U.S. health care system. METHOD: The paper describes the historical development of views of women's health and health care, contrasts the biomedical and biopsychosocial perspectives on women's health, and presents some evidence of challenges and opportunities for change in health care and policy. RESULTS: While women's health has generally been equated with reproductive functions, expanded definitions focus on health through the life span and in the context of women's multiple roles and diverse social circumstances. This expanded view highlights the limitations of health services and policy based on narrower conceptions and program mandates and the need for strategies for integrated, continuous care. There is evidence of change in women's health care, including in Title V programs. CONCLUSIONS: New understandings of women's health are particularly relevant to maternal and child health programs, which are positioned to provide model approaches for improving women's health care.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Primary health care: a preferred health service delivery option for women.

It is well known that gender is a determinant of health, but less understood is whether differences in health status attributable to gender can be mitigated through the implementation of primary health care. Primary health care, notably distinct from primary care, refers to a wide-ranging approach to the delivery of a comprehensive variety of health services. This article traces the similarities between primary health care and women-centred care from their overlapping philosophical foundations to the similar health, social, and economic benefits of both approaches. It is argued that investments in primary health care positively impact women's health, and, as such, should be a preferred option for the delivery of women's community health services. Several models of health service delivery that operate in accordance with principles of primary health care and also address the key tenets of women's-centred care are examined and their merits are compared. The article also identifies the major impediments to the adoption of both primary health care and women's-centred care approaches.

Canada↗
PubMed2006

Linguistic disparities in health care access and health status among older adults.

BACKGROUND: English proficiency may be important in explaining disparities in health and health care access among older adults. SUBJECTS: Population-based representative sample (N=18,659) of adults age 55 and older from the 2001 California Health Interview Survey. METHODS: We examined whether health care access and health status vary among older adults who have limited English proficiency (LEP), who are proficient in English but also speak another language at home (EP), and who speak English only (EO). Weighted bivariate and multivariate survey logit analyses were conducted to examine the role of language ability on 2 aspects of access to care (not having a usual source of care, delays in getting care) and 2 indicators of health status (self-rated general health and emotional health). RESULTS: Limited-English proficient adults were significantly worse off (1.68 to 2.49 times higher risk) than EO older adults in 3 of our 4 measures of access to care and health status. Limited-English proficient older adults had significantly worse access to care and health status than EP older adults except delays in care. English proficient adults had 52% increased risk of reporting poorer emotional health compared with EO speakers. CONCLUSIONS: Provision of language assistance services to patients and training of providers in cultural competence are 2 means by which health care systems could reduce linguistic barriers, improve access to care, and ultimately improve health status for these vulnerable populations.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Health status of children with special health care needs: measurement issues and instruments.

The methods for measuring health care outcomes and monitoring the health status of the child with a chronic health condition must be available, accessible, and meaningful. This review was evoked by this need to identify reliable and valid instruments for measuring the health status of children with special health care needs. The objectives are as follows: (1) to review the methodologic and substantive issues related to the selection of instruments and (2) to identify those instruments available currently for collecting data regarding health status of children with special health care needs. A Medline search of the literature published since 1966 through 1998 and restricted to human subjects and the English language was conducted. Indexing terms included health status, quality of life, outcome assessment, functional status, and patient satisfaction. Multiple reviewers selected instruments based on their usefulness in clinical settings as generic, disease nonspecific, child health status instruments. Few instruments were identified that can be used by pediatricians for tracking and monitoring the health status of children with special health care needs. In conclusion, to progress in the field of outcomes measurement of children with special health care needs, it will be necessary to develop new measurement tools. These instruments must (1) provide valid and reliable information on health status; (2) be useful in guiding the management of patients; and (3) not be a burden for physicians, patients, or patient's families.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

The validity of self-rated health as a measure of health status among young military personnel: evidence from a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Single item questions about self ratings of overall health status are widely used in both military and civilian surveys. Limited information is available to date that examines what relationships exist between self-rated health, health status and health related behaviors among relatively young, healthy individuals. METHODS: The current study uses the population of active duty United States Air Force recruits (N = 31,108). Participants completed surveys that asked about health behaviors and health states and were rated their health on a continuum from poor to excellent. RESULTS: Ratings of health were consistently lower for those who used tobacco (F = 241.7, p < .001), reported binge drinking (F = 69.0, p < .001), reported drinking and driving (F = 19.4, p < .001), reported taking health risks (F = 109.4, p < .001), were depressed (F = 256.1, p < .001) and were overweight (F = 39.5, p < .001). CONCLUSION: Given the consistent relationship between self-rated overall health and factors important to military health and fitness, self-rated health appears to be a valid measure of health status among young military troops.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Designing a successful health fair to promote individual, family, and community health.

A health fair is a community health strategy used to meet community members' needs for health promotion, education, and prevention. In this article we focus on the importance of partnerships in designing a health fair; essential components; and steps in planning, implementing, and evaluating a health fair. The Healthy People 2000 framework can be used to guide the development of objectives and content for a health fair. We present a list of topics for exhibits and a Health Fair Evaluation Questionnaire used to measure outcomes of a health fair on participants' health beliefs and practices. Implications for nursing practice, education, and research include increasing nurses' awareness of community problems, health beliefs, and practices; networking opportunities that provide knowledge of new resources; service learning experiences for students; and opportunities for research on how health fairs meet health care needs and promote changes in health knowledge, beliefs, and practices.

Community Health Nursing↗
PubMed2001

Privatization and the scope of public health: a national survey of local health department directors.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to obtain and analyze nationally representative data on (1) privatization of local health department services, (2) local health department directors' beliefs and perspectives on the desirable role and focus of health departments, and (3) the influence of these views on privatization practices. METHODS: A stratified representative national sample of 380 local health department directors was drawn, and 347 directors were interviewed by telephone. Logistic regression established the independent effects of various factors on decisions to privatize. RESULTS: Almost three quarters (73%) of the local health departments privatized public health services of some type. The 12% of the directors who believed that local health departments should be restricted to the core public health functions and move entirely out of direct provision of personal health care were more likely to privatize services. The 77% of the directors who believed that local health departments should be involved in an increasing array of social problems were more likely to privatize. CONCLUSIONS: Privatization has quietly and quickly become commonplace in public health, and privatization practices are intimately related to divergent conceptions of public health and the role of local health departments.

Administrative Personnel↗
PubMed2002

Relationship of health services to medical expenses for the national health insurance and certification rate for long-term care insurance services in municipalities.

In many municipalities, implementation rates of health services mandated by the Health and Medical Service Law for the Elderly have not reached the national goal that was set at the start. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of health services using medical expenses for the National Health Insurance (NHI) and certification rate for long-term care insurance services in 99 municipalities in Gifu Prefecture as indices. Both indices were standardized by the age composition of the population. Among the health services, visit rates for health examinations or implementation rates for health education or health counseling correlated negatively with medical expenses for each insured person. The visit rate for gastric cancer screening correlated negatively with medical expenses for malignant neoplasms of the stomach. Implementation rates of health education or health counseling, or ratios of public health nurses correlated positively with certification rates for long-term support need and care need grade 1, and negatively with those for long-term care need grades 2, 3, and 4. The author concluded that medical expenses are reduced by the implementation of available health services, that early detection and prevention of aggravation of disease is essential for those who need long-term care services, and that health services must be reinforced with primary prevention.

Adult↗