Action Research: a valuable research technique for service delivery development

The evaluation of healthcare practice and service delivery is fraught with difficulties. Service development and / or delivery occurs within socially dynamic settings which are in a continual state of change. Service development also often involves large elements of improvisation. The action research approach is useful for health service research, as it supports collaboration between researchers and practitioners, and not only allows but makes explicit that the action researcher has both roles within the setting being studied. This paper discusses action research methodology and offers insight into principles that favor its use for service delivery development. This includes consideration of the interactive variables within studies of health care systems and the importance of evaluating relationships between stakeholders to understand how these factors or variables, which cannot be controlled for, are responsible for successful development of the service. Action research facilitates change and helps bridge the heory--practice gap. With the current dynamic changes within both the pharmacy profession and national health services, researchers may find the action research technique of value when considering new roles and innovative ways of engaging in collaborative, multi-disciplinary working to improve delivery of patient care.Accepted july 2004     

老年冠心病患者实施健康教育的远期效果分析

目的：探讨老年冠心病患者实施健康教育的远期效果。方法：110例老年冠心病患者被随机分为健康教育组（教育组）及对照组，每组各55例。在常规治疗的基础上教育组在住院期间及出院后4年内给予健康教育处方结合口头卫生宣教及科普板报知识等经常性的健康教育活动，而对照组不予健康教育。结果：教育组患者对冠心病知识的了解情况、饮食控制情况、规律服药治疗情况比对照组好（P＜0．01），出院后再次住院次数比对照组少（P＜0．01）。而情绪及吸烟量控制两组无显著性差异（P＞0．05）。结论：对老年冠心病患者实施经常性的健康教育是控制疾病恶化的重要措施。     

高血压的社区管理与医院内科门诊管理效果比较

目的 评价健康教育在社区高血压患者管理中的效果。方法 随机抽取北京复兴医院月坛社区卫生服务中心管理的高血压患者603例作为研究对象,以同期该院三里河内科门诊就诊的高血压患者617例作为对照,进行血压测量和问卷调查。结果 社区高血压患者高血压知识知晓率明显好于内科门诊高血压患者(P<0.01);其生活方式(遵医行为、体育锻炼、食盐量等)较好;血压控制情况也好于门诊患者(P<0.01)。结论 规范、定期的健康教育可以提高高血压患者对高血压知识的知晓情况,改善高血压患者的不良行为习惯;利用社区卫生服务站固定的合作关系及新型医患模式有利于健康教育、健康知识普及和取得治疗成效。     

护理健康教育模式的研究及应用

借鉴国外先进护理模式，研制适合我国医疗制度改革需要的护理健康教育工作模式，推行高质量、高效率工作方法，建立标准化护理健康教育工作程序、管理及评价体系、工作职责条文、记录表格等，并选择5家省、市级医院作为主要试点对象，对全国10个省、市、地区医院的3000名护理人员进行随机抽样调查。结果 93％省级医院和84％市级医院护士对研制的护理健康教育模式满意，80％地区级医院护士认为模式中的主要项目可以应用。结论：研制的护理健康教育模式可以在不同等级医院和社会应用推广。     

Special needs of adolescent and young women in accessing reproductive health: promoting partnerships between young people and health care providers.

This article considers the unique challenges and opportunities that health care providers (HCPs) face when they address the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young women accessing services. Some of the difficulties that HCPs encounter in their work are highlighted, including poor remuneration, the impact of their personal biases and the effect of an under-equipped working environment. The financial, logistical and emotional challenges young people face in accessing services are also described, as well as some small changes that could promote fruitful partnerships between HCPs and their young clientele. Also considered is how international documents concerning reproductive health can be utilized as advocacy tools to ensure that, when governments speak of making young people's needs a priority, resources are also made a priority-so that reproductive health can become a reality for all young people.     

黑龙江省2006年卫生总费用筹资水平和结构分析

目的为了反映黑龙江省卫生总费用的筹资水平、构成,对黑龙江省2006年卫生总费用进行测算,并对测算结果进行分析,进而提出相应的政策建议。方法本研究运用卫生总费用核算方法中的筹资来源法核算黑龙江省卫生总费用。结果黑龙江省的卫生总费用筹资总额2006年达到了264.98亿元,人均卫生总费用达到了693.12元;卫生总费用占GDP比重为4.28%;政府预算卫生支出占卫生总费用比重为16.11%;社会卫生支出占24.71%;居民个人现金卫生支出占59.18%。就卫生总费用占GDP比重和人均卫生总费用这两项指标来看,与全国相比,黑龙江省表现为双低现象。结论黑龙江省在发展经济的同时,应进一步增加政府对卫生事业的投入;调整黑龙江省卫生总费用筹资结构,平衡政府、社会以及个人在卫生筹资中的责任;进一步完善医疗保障制度,通过各种途径减轻城乡居民的疾病经济负担。     

Immunomodulatory activity of Asparagus racemosus on systemic Th1/Th2 immunity: Implications for immunoadjuvant potential

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Roots of Asparagus racemosus Willd (Shatavari in vernacular) are widely used in Ayurveda as Rasayana for immunostimulation, galactogogue as also in treatment of conditions like ulcers and cancer. Various studies have indicated immunomodulatory properties of Shatavari root extracts and formulations.

Aim of the study

To study the effect of standardized Asparagus racemosus root aqueous extract (ARE) on systemic Th1/Th2 immunity of SRBC sensitized animals.

Materials and methods

We used HPTLC to quantify steroidal saponins (Shatavarin IV, Immunoside^®) and flow cytometry to study effects of ARE on Th1/Th2 immunity. SRBC specific antibody titres and DTH responses were also monitored as markers of Th2 and Th1 responses, respectively. We also studied lymphocyte proliferation. Cyclosporin, cyclophosphamide and levamisole were used as controls.

Results

Treatment with ARE (100 mg/(kg b.w. p.o.)) resulted in significant increase of CD3⁺ and CD4/CD8⁺ percentages suggesting its effect on T cell activation. ARE treated animals showed significant up-regulation of Th1 (IL-2, IFN-g) and Th2 (IL-4) cytokines suggesting its mixed Th1/Th2 adjuvant activity. Consistent to this, ARE also showed higher antibody titres and DTH responses. ARE, in combination with LPS, Con A or SRBC, produced a significant proliferation suggesting effect on activated lymphocytes.

Conclusion

The study suggests mixed Th1/Th2 activity of ARE supports its immunoadjuvant potential.     

Parental education and children's online health information seeking: Beyond the digital divide debate

Research has shown that increasing numbers of teenagers are going online to find health information, but it is unclear whether there are disparities in the prevalence of online health seeking among young Internet users associated with social and economic conditions. Existing literature on Internet uses by adults indicates that low income, less educated, and minority individuals are less likely to be online health seekers. Based on the analysis of data from the Pew Internet and American Life Project for the US, this study finds that teens of low education parents are either as likely as or even more likely than teens of high education parents to seek online health information. Multiple regression analysis shows that the higher engagement in health seeking by teens of low education parents is related to a lower prevalence of parental Internet use, suggesting that some of these teens may be seeking online health information on behalf of their low education parents. Implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the issues of the digital divide and digital empowerment.     

多模式临床支持系统的研究进展

目的探讨多模式临床支持系统的研究进展。方法通过了解国际多模式临床支持系统发展和运作情况,并与传统的临床支持系统进行对比,探讨多模式临床支持系统的国际研究进展情况。结果在多模式临床支持系统概念、目的及特点认识的基础上,了解了多模式临床支持系统的国际进展情况。结论临床支持系统模式的发展和演变,为多学科协作诊治模式提供了新的临床辅助,加强了循证医学的临床实践和相应的提升体系,但临床支持系统项目在目前我国医院的应用还需要进一步探讨和研究。     

Rhinitis Symptom Utility Index (RSUI) in Chinese Subjects: A Multiattribute Patient-preference Approach

Background: The Rhinitis Symptom Utility Index (RSUI), originally developed in the United States, consists of a patient-preference weighting scheme and a 10-item questionnaire measuring the severity and frequency of rhinitis related symptoms over a 14-day period. This study aimed to determine whether the Chinese RSUI could adopt the US-based multi-attribute utility function (MAUF) in scoring rhinitis symptoms. Methods: In a Hong Kong study, 116 Chinese adults with allergic rhinitis completed the RSUI questionnaire and 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) after they had been seen by two otorhinolaryngologists for disease-severity ratings. Respondents then completed computer-administered direct preference measures, i.e., visual analogue scale (VAS) and standard gamble (SG) assessments. The VAS and SG data were used to estimate a MAUF for the Chinese-based RSUI. Results: The derived MAUF was somewhat different than the one developed for the US RSUI. Test–retest reliability for the Chinese RSUI was satisfactory (ICC = 0.71, p<0.001). Scores differentiated among cases with mild, moderate, and severe symptoms (p<0.001); and between those who did and did not require medications to control symptoms (p = 0.031). Findings were significantly correlated with SF-36 domain scores (r = 0.19 to 0.37; p=0.041 to <0.001). When the US-based scoring function was applied to the Chinese subjects, the resulting mean RSUI score was significantly lower (p<0.001). Comparisons between directly measured VAS and SG scores between the US and Chinese samples, demonstrated significant differences (all p<0.05), with the US subjects consistently rating rhinitis symptoms as worse than Chinese subjects. Conclusions: The Chinese RSUI has good measurement properties that reflect patient preferences from the Chinese. Results suggest that there are differences in preference rating between US and Chinese subjects and that use of the US-based preference function for the RSUI would bias the measurement of rhinitis symptom outcomes in Chinese subjects.