• Title/Summary/Keyword: Public health officials

Search Result 121, Processing Time 0.019 seconds

Health System Preparedness for Tobacco Control: Situational Analysis of Existing Health Programs in Andhra Pradesh, India

  • Panda, Rajmohan;Mathur, Manu Raj;Divya, Persai;Srivastava, Swati;Ramachandra, Srikrishna Sulgodu
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
    • /
    • v.13 no.12
    • /
    • pp.5969-5973
    • /
    • 2012
  • Introduction: Andhra Pradesh (AP) is one of the largest tobacco producing states in India. About 29% of adults in AP currently use tobacco in some form. Almost 24% of males and 4% of females are smokers. The prevalence of tobacco use in the state is higher than the national average of 15% for male and 2% for female smokers. However, few attempts have been made to understand the current situation of tobacco control resources, activities and strategies in the context of such a high tobacco prevalence state. The present study aimed to identify the gaps in existing tobacco control program and areas where tobacco control efforts can be integrated. Methods: Data were collected using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with a total of 95 key officials of state health departments, program managers, and project directors in six districts to understand ongoing tobacco control efforts. To facilitate the interviews, semi-structured guides were developed. Simple descriptive statistical analysis was conducted on the quantitative data using SPSS version 17. Results: The results of the situational analysis suggest that a sufficient health workforce and infrastructure with the potential to integrate tobacco control activities is available in the surveyed districts. However, lack of integration of the tobacco control program intothe tuberculosis control program and the National Rural Health Mission was observed. Information, education and communication activities were lacking at block level health facilities. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that lack of trained health professionals, paucity of dedicated funds, lack of information, education and communication materials and low priority given to tobacco control activities are some of the factors which impede integration of tobacco control into existing health and developmental programmes in the districts of Andhra Pradesh, India.

Community Participation in Cholangiocarcinoma Prevention in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand: Relations with Age and Health Behavior

  • Songserm, Nopparat;Bureelerd, Onanong;Thongprung, Sumaporn;Woradet, Somkiattiyos;Promthet, Supannee
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
    • /
    • v.16 no.16
    • /
    • pp.7375-7379
    • /
    • 2015
  • A high prevalence of Opisthorchis viverrini infection is usually found in wetland geographical areas of Thailand where people have traditional behavior of eating uncooked freshwater fish dishes which results in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) development. There were several approaches for reducing opisthorchiasis-linked CCA, but the prevalence remains high. To develop community participation as a suitable model for CCA prevention is, firstly, to know what factors are related. We therefore aimed to investigate factors associated with the community participation in CCA prevention among rural residents in wetland areas of Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand. This was a cross-sectional analytic study. All participants were 30-69 years of age, and only one member per house was invited to participate. A total of 906 participants were interviewed and asked to complete questionnaires. Independent variables were socio-demographic parameters, knowledge, health belief and behavior to prevent CCA. The dependent variable was community participation for CCA prevention. Descriptive statistics were computed as number, percentage, mean and standard deviation. Associations were assessed using logistic regression analysis with a P-value <0.05 considered statistically significant. Of all the participants, more than 60% had regularly participated in activities to prevent CCA following health officials advice. Age and health behavior to prevent CCA were factors associated with community participation for CCA (p<0.001). Both factors will be taken into consideration for community participation approaches for CCA prevention through participatory action research (PAR) in future studies.

Remote Medical Equipment Training for Public Health Doctors in Vulnerable Medical Areas Using Smart Glasses (스마트 글래스를 활용한 공중보건의 대상 의료장비 원격교육)

  • Jongmyung Choi;So-Eun Choi;Ji Hyun Moon
    • Journal of Internet of Things and Convergence
    • /
    • v.9 no.3
    • /
    • pp.75-80
    • /
    • 2023
  • In medically vulnerable areas in Korea, public health doctors play a significant role in providing not only general medical care but also emergency medical services to the local residents. However, it has been observed that public health doctors generally lack field experience, resulting in insufficient ability to handle emergency patients and to effectively use medical equipment. This study confirmed the effectiveness of education after conducting remote education using smart glasses on how to use medical equipment necessary for public health doctors. Specifically, real wear was used for smart glasses for medical equipment utilization education, and 10 public health officials in 10 islands in Shinan-gun were targeted. After the training, both the effect of using the equipment and the level of satisfaction were 3 or higher. Therefore, it was confirmed that remote education using smart glasses can be usefully used for public health doctors in medically vulnerable areas.

COVID-19 response survey study on health personnel in Jeju Special Self-governing Province (제주특별자치도 코로나19 대응 보건인력 대상 설문조사 연구)

  • Nam-Hun Kang;Jong-Myon Bae
    • Journal of Medicine and Life Science
    • /
    • v.21 no.1
    • /
    • pp.1-10
    • /
    • 2024
  • The purpose of this study is to determine the issues of supplementation and improvement to prepare for the outbreak of new infectious diseases such as new variants of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to guide work for a strategic new response to infectious disease. Public officials of Jeju Special Self-governing Province and health personnel responding to COVID-19, working at six public health centers in Jeju-do region were administered a survey about additional preparations to be made in the future, based on the period when COVID-19 was treated legally as a first-class infectious disease. Frequency analysis was conducted on the collected data. The Likert 5-point scale and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to compare the scores for effective response to emerging infectious diseases according to demographics. Among the important factors identified for effective response to new infectious diseases, 'facilitation of cooperation with public institutions' and 'facilitation of cooperation with private institutions' had the highest scores. In the future, when a patient presents with a new infectious disease, the step that needs to be supplemented in each phase of the public health center's response is 'immediate response team operation'. Further, public health centers responded that 'expansion of dedicated personnel related to infectious diseases' needs to be improved to respond to new infectious diseases. Along with the results of this study, considering the difficulties experienced by health personnel responding to new infectious diseases in preparation for future outbreaks of new infectious diseases, and to respond effectively, detailed and clear guidelines for responding to quarantine of patients of new infectious diseases will be needed.

Recognition of Traditional Korean Medical Public Health Program in Public Health Oriental Medical Doctors (한의약 공공보건사업에 대한 공중보건한의사들의 인식)

  • Lee, Jang-Suk;Lee, Eun-Kyoung;Lee, Ki-Nam;Chong, Myong-Soo
    • Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
    • /
    • v.15 no.2
    • /
    • pp.115-130
    • /
    • 2011
  • Objective : This study aimed qualitative change of traditional korean medical public health programs (TKM-PHP) by the research of present condition, problems and improvement direction about TKM-PHP. Methods : Data were collected from 222 of 996 public health oriental medical doctors(PHOMD) using the structured questionnaire by e-mail. Collected data were analyzed through frequency analysis, T-test, and ANOVA using SPSS 12.0 and significant level was 0.05. Results : 59.5% of the respondents said that the TKM-PHP are not efficiently executed because there are not enough motivations to entice oriental medical doctors in charge of the programs and because PHOMD and the government officials in charge lack in relevant experiences and skills. A majority of the PHOMD recognize a need for activating the TKM-PHP but less actively participate in the programs since there is not a good rewarding system and there are neither standard manuals nor methodological guidelines for the programs. In order to activate the TKM-PHP, it is urgent to employ full-time oriental medical doctors and to continually and systematically appoint the professional manpower in charge. And it is also needed for the state to secure an adequate budget and prepare schemes for persistently train such professionals. Conclusion : Activating the TKM-PHP will lead to the development of TKM, but there are still such problems as lack of the professional manpower in charge, an excessive burden of the duties of PHOMD, lack of program manuals, and a poor system for evaluation. To solve these problems, it is advised to construct foundations for administerial supports, draw up a standard manual, prepare a system for evaluation in consideration of the characteristics of TKM, and hire professionals to ensure sustainable programs.

Actual Conditions of Smoking of Public Workers within Nonsmoking Areas (공공기관 근무자의 금연구역내 흡연실태)

  • 백윤자;정문숙;권진희
    • Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
    • /
    • v.17 no.2
    • /
    • pp.229-237
    • /
    • 2000
  • The purpose of this study was to be useful in working out plans for improving national health by identifying public workers' knowledge of and attitude to smoking, actual conditions of smoking within nonsmoking areas, and related factors. For the purpose, the questionnaire was carried out with 761 public officials of the division manager-level and lower working in Taegu Metropolitan City Hall in september, 1998. The results are summarized as follows; Smokers of the subject group accounted for 55.1%, and the smoking rate had a significant relation with age and religion. In view of the time when smokers started smoking, smokers who started smoking after graduation from a high school accounted for 70.6%. Smokers who smoke one pack of cigarettes per day and a cigarette to its two-thirds length was the most. In the smoking place of smokers at home, 54.9% of the smokers responded that they smoke in an outdoor space The rate of smoking in an office was 68.3% and the rate of smoking within the nonsmoking areas of other public institutions was 43.0%. The results of multiple regression analysis with the actual state of smoking within the nonsmoking area of other public institutions as an independent variable revealed that smokers who check for a nonsmoking area before smoking in the public institutions and who do not smoke in an office do not smoke within the nonsmoking areas of other public institutions. In conclusion, more smoking and health education for public workers is needed to reduce the rate of national smoking and allow people to have a good smoking attitude, and it is required to arrange an institutional system who can strictly control public workers' smoking in their offices or public places and to stress a function of surveillance and monitoring by nonsmokers.

  • PDF

A Study on the Evaluation and Improvement of an Integrated Health Promotion Program in the Local Community (지역사회 통합건강증진사업 평가와 개선방안)

  • Paek, Jong-Sup;Hong, Seong-Ae
    • Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
    • /
    • v.8 no.7
    • /
    • pp.131-139
    • /
    • 2017
  • The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of public health center's Integrated Health Promotion Program for the public officials who provide health promotion services to local residents. The survey was conducted from September 10 to October 5, 2015 using a structured questionnaire. Each of the 254 public health centers were sent two questionnaires but I only received 348 and 339 were used for the final analysis. As a result of this study, the all subjects were showed the average level of efficiency, autonomy, accountability, and the support of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the related organizations. Also, the evaluation of all the variables were positive when there was a dedicated department for integrated health promotion program within the health center and when the proportion of essential program was high. However, after the Integrated Health Promotion Program was included in the Health centers, the workload has increased and the implementation of the essential program does not fully reflect the regional health problems or local conditions. Based on these results, it is necessary to find a plan for the successful operation of the Integrated Health Promotion Program.

Saemaul Education for ImprovingRural Health in Korea (새마을 교육(敎育)과 농촌환경(農材環境) 및 보건위생(保健衛生))

  • Bang, Sook
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
    • /
    • v.15 no.1
    • /
    • pp.5-16
    • /
    • 1982
  • The Saemaul Undong has brought great improvements tothe life-style environment of rural communities, but it has not been able to focuson a health program. In order to improve rural health, develop human resources, and utilise the nation's manpower, the Saemaul Undong should focus on a community health project. Mobilizing the manpower for such a project can be done by providing opportunities for youth and young adults, especially village women, to betrained as primary health caretakers. This project can be achieved through the joint support of the Ministry of Horne Affairs, the Ministry of health and Social Affairs, and other Ministries. It will take decision and courage by government officials to implement such a grand plan, but it is a very crucial task to promote primary health care throughout the whole nation. This calls for top leader's concern & will to adovocate and support a 'Saemaul Movement for health', giving health asfirst priority to the Saemaul Undong as afresh political drive of the fifth Republic of Korea Government.

  • PDF

Effect of the Civil Servant's Suspension of Pension Payments on the Labor Supply and Suggestions on Developmental Alternatives of Suspension of Pension Payments (공무원연금의 지급정지제도가 가입자의 노동공급에 미치는 영향 및 지급정지제도의 발전방향 모색)

  • Ji, Eun-Jeong
    • Korean Journal of Social Welfare
    • /
    • v.57 no.2
    • /
    • pp.375-403
    • /
    • 2005
  • This Study reviews theoretical argument about the effect of retirement earnings test on the labor supply of the aged which is controversial issue in OECD countries and analyze the effect on the incidence of re-employment, re-employment period of suspended officials and the possibility of re-retirement through Government Employment Pension Corporation data. It consists of 178,363 public officials who received pension benefit or disability pension in January 2005. The main result of this research shows that public officials re-employed were 8,086 which is 4.5% of total retired, and median survival time of suspended pension payments is 3.3 years. Also the median re-employment period of 100% suspended officials is about 20 month shorter than that of 1/2 suspended officials and it is shown in regression analysis that the possibility of re-retirement by 100% suspended officials is statistically significant higher than those of 50%. It specially expects greater influence if includes in case taking lump-sum or no making effect of re-employment because current system withhold pension payments even by earned income itself. Therefore, this analysis suggests suspension of pension payment properly applied according to the age and income together with "Delayed Retirement Credit" or "Partial Pension" for developmental alternatives of civil servant's suspension of pension payments. Furthermore, It is urgently needed that distinctive quality data about re-employment including earnings to perform deep-empirical research for effective policy. Lastly, it is extremely necessary to reinforce management system of Government Employment Pension Corporation.

  • PDF

Alternate Dispute Resolution - Free and Speedy Complaints Redressal Framework using Technology: Ombudsmanship at Proverbial Doorsteps in Pakistan

  • Phatak, Sohail Ahmad;Chaudhary, Muhammad Azam Ishaq;Khattak, Muhammad Sajid;Naveed, Anjum
    • International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
    • /
    • v.22 no.3
    • /
    • pp.344-354
    • /
    • 2022
  • Ombudsmanship is the framework to provide the speedy administrative justice to poor man which is originated in Sweden in the 19th Century and the modus operandi with modernized arrangement of public grievance redressal. Pakistan has thirteen different Ombudsman Institutions at both Federal and Provincial level with limited public accessibility. This paper presents a collaboration framework for extending the outreach of Ombudsmanship at proverbial doorstep of complainants. This framework has three main components as collaborative arrangements, Proceedings and Resolution of the complaints that increased the public trust. A pilot project titles Swift Complaint Resolution (SCR) was constructed and executed by Federal Ombudsman Secretariat to materialize the concept of speedy redressal of complaints. The SCR project first affirmed the strength of the components of the framework. The concept of SCR was first presented in the Federal Advisory committee for Administrative Justice, which comprised of highest level of the Parliamentarians, Public Officials, NGOs and Civil Society where presented guidelines to be adopted for the free and speedy redressal of grievances at proverbial doorsteps in tehsils and district headquarters ultimately to the extended to the union councils. In SCR, the complaints were decided within 25 days even though the Law permitted 60 days that is itself a record in any judicial /quasi-judicial forum.