A combined course of primary health care practice and family medicine at the University of Gezira

The community-based course presented is a longitudinal course running through four semesters in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Gezira, Sudan. Students combine their regular work in primary health care centres with attachments to a number of families in Wad Medani town. They continue to visit these families regularly throughout their entire medical course with the aim of studying them and helping them with some of their medical and psychosocial problems.     

An analysis of the deep social structure preventing the development of a national policy for children and families in the United States

The United States is one of the few economically developed nations without a national policy supporting children and their families. This paper suggests that the United States has a unique national ideology, based on the “Calvinistic Ethic,” which results in opposition to not only social programs for children and families, but to all government supported welfare programs. Such an ethic is not found in European countries. Finally, since the United States does not have a national family policy, millions of children and their families go without health care, lack social services, and suffer from inadequate economic supports.     

The ability of ‘family friendly’ organizational resources to predict work–family conflict and job and family satisfaction

The effectiveness of organizational interventions in reducing the adverse consequences of work–family conflict has produced mixed findings. This paper examines the relationship between the use of organizational ‘family friendly’ resources (such as crèche facilities, flexible working hours, and job sharing), with levels of work–family conflict, and job and family satisfaction over time. Using structural equation modelling, these associations were tested in 398 employed men and women who each completed a self‐report questionnaire administered on two occasions. The use of organizational interventions directly predicted increased levels of concurrent (Time 1) work–family interference and increased levels of subsequent (Time 2) job satisfaction. Both organizational interventions and family interventions (i.e. support) positively predicted subsequent family satisfaction. The research demonstrates that the provision of organizational ‘family‐friendly’ practices will produce improved psychological outcomes for employees. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

单亲大学生心理健康状况及心理问题的教育对策研究

目的针对单亲大学生心理健康问题提供有效的教育对策．方法针对大学新生开展16PF调查并发现单亲大学生的心理问题。结果本次测查共测量被试8302人，删除部分无效量表．实际有效数据为7742人，问卷有效率为93．27％．以一般情况问卷中“是否是单亲家庭子女”回答“是”的．作为单亲大学生的认定标准，检出单亲家庭子女555人，占总人数的7．17%，其中男生占40．0％．女生60．0％．17．5％的单亲出现各种心理问题．调查表明．单亲家庭子女与非单亲家庭子女相比，在乐群性和怀疑性两个因子有显着区别。事实上也表现为与正常大学生心理健康状况的显着差异。结论单亲大学生心理问题表现为：自卑心理、怀旧心理、逆反心理、猜疑心理等等。教育对策：加强社会教育系统、学校教育系统、家庭教育对单亲大学生心理的干预与影响，同时．单亲大学生遗要加强心理健康的自我教育．以多元系统帮助他们形成健全人格。     

Relationship of early life stress and psychological functioning to adult C-reactive protein in the coronary artery risk development in young adults study.

BACKGROUND: Low socioeconomic status (SES) and a harsh family environment in childhood have been linked to mental and physical health disorders in adulthood. The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate a developmental model of pathways that may help explain these links and to relate them to C-reactive protein (CRP) in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) dataset. METHODS: Participants (n = 3248) in the CARDIA study, age 32 to 47 years, completed measures of childhood SES (CSES), early family environment (risky families [RF]), adult psychosocial functioning (PsyF, a latent factor measured by depression, mastery, and positive and negative social contacts), body mass index (BMI), and C-reactive protein. RESULTS: Structural equation modeling indicated that CSES and RF are associated with C-reactive protein via their association with PsyF (standardized path coefficients: CSES to RF, RF to PsyF, PsyF to CRP, CSES to CRP, all p < .05), with good overall model fit. The association between PsyF and CRP was partially mediated by BMI (PsyF to BMI, BMI to CRP, both p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Low childhood SES and a harsh early family environment appear to be related to elevated C-reactive protein in adulthood through pathways involving psychosocial dysfunction and high body mass index.     

Previous weight loss experiences of bariatric surgery candidates: how much have patients dieted prior to surgery?

OBJECTIVE: To describe the dieting histories of bariatric surgery candidates. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: One hundred seventy-seven individuals with extreme obesity who sought bariatric surgery completed the Weight and Lifestyle Inventory, a self-report instrument that assesses several variables, including weight and dieting history. Patients' dieting histories were further explored with an aided recall during a preoperative behavioral/psychological evaluation performed by a mental health professional. RESULTS: Participants who completed the Weight and Lifestyle Inventory reported an average of 4.7 +/- 2.9 successful dieting attempts, defined as those that resulted in a loss of 10 lbs (4.5 kg) or more. These individuals reported a mean total lifetime weight loss of 61.1 +/- 41.3 kg. Despite these efforts, their weight increased from 89.4 +/- 27.4 kg at the time of their first diet (age 21.2 +/- 10.1 years) to 144.5 +/- 30.8 kg at the time they underwent their behavioral/psychological evaluation (age 43.0 +/- 11.0 years). Results of the aided recall revealed that participants had made numerous other efforts to lose weight that were unsuccessful. Self-directed diets and commercial programs were used more frequently. DISCUSSION: Individuals who sought bariatric surgery reported an extensive history of dieting, beginning in adolescence, that was not successful in halting progressive weight gain. Thus, the recommendation often made by insurance companies that patients delay surgery to attempt more conservative treatment options may be unwarranted, particularly in the presence of significant obesity-related comorbidities. Weight loss histories should be routinely examined during a behavioral evaluation to determine whether additional attempts at non-surgical weight loss are advisable. Future studies also are needed to explore the potential relationship between dieting history and postoperative outcome.     

Family Stress and Functioning in Children: the Moderating Effects of Children''s Beliefs About Their Control Over Parental Conflict

While factors such as gender and SES have been studied as moderators of stress for children, their perceptions of control have received little attention. In the current study, children's domain-specific perceptions of their control during marital conflict were investigated as potential moderators of the impact of family stress on children's behavior problems, and perceptions of competence. Ninety-four children aged 6-12 years and mothers from families ranging in level of parental conflict from nondiscordant to discordant to physically violent were interviewed. Multiple regression analyses revealed that higher levels of conflict control beliefs acted as compensatory moderators of stress, being associated with lower levels of problem behaviors across stress levels. However, higher conflict control beliefs acted as vulnerability moderators with regard to children's perceptions of competence.     

深化医学教学改革为社区培养实用型医学人才的实践

为适应医学模式的转变，实现“人人享有卫生保健“的全球战略目标，培养和建设一支满足社区卫生服务急需的实用型医学人才。文章介绍了我院在深化医学教学改革过程中，采用多种综合性措施强化在校临床医学专业本科生的全科医学知识教育，为其将来从事社区卫生服务奠定基础。为满足当前我国社区卫生服务工作对实用型医学人才的急需，对于主要面向基层培养高级医学人才的地方性普通高等医学院校，应对在校学生提前有机地增加和融入社区全科医学知识教育，这有利于强化和巩固医学生的社区卫生服务观念和综合素质。