The relational underpinnings of quality internal auditing in medical clinics in Israel

Internal auditing is a key mechanism in enhancing organizational reliability. However, research on the ways quality internal auditing is enabled through learning, deterrence, motivation and process improvement is scant. In particular, the relational underpinnings of internal auditing have been understudied. This study attempts to address this need by examining how organizational trust, perceived organizational support and psychological safety enable internal auditing. Data collected from employees in medical clinics of one of the largest healthcare organizations in Israel at two points in time six months apart. Our results show that organizational trust and perceived organizational support are positively related to psychological safety (measured at time 1), which, in turn, is associated with internal auditing (measured at time 2).     

Lung cancer in Israel, 1962–1982 I. Jews and Arabs

The magnitude and dynamics of lung cancer incidence in Jews and Arabs in Israel between the years 1962 and 1982 were studied. In general, age-standardized incidence rates increased consistently between the years 1962 and 1976 among Jewish (24% increase) and Arab (39%) males, and to a lesser degree among Jewish females (15%). Arab females had the highest (77%) increase. From 1977 to 1982 a general decrease in incidence rates, which was largest among Arab males (19%) and females (15%), was noted. Rates among Jewish males are currently 26% higher than among Arab males, and are 162% higher among Jewish females than in Arab females. Lung cancer rates in both males and females in Istrael (Jews and Arabs) are lower than in most developed countries in the world. Among the possible reasons are differences in the population risk factors profile, availability of health care and the level of diagnosis and ascertainment of cases.     

What really matters in the social network–mortality association? A multivariate examination among older Jewish-Israelis

The aim of the inquiry was to examine the social network–mortality association within a wider multivariate context that accounts for the effects of background framing forces and psychobiological pathways. The inquiry was based upon the Berkman et al. (2000) conceptual model of the determinants of health. Its main purpose was to identify the salient network correlates of 7-year all cause mortality among Jewish men and women, aged 70 and over, in Israel (n = 1,811). The investigation utilized baseline data from a national household survey of older adults from 1997 that was linked to records from the National Death Registry, updated through 2004. At the time of the study, 38% of the sample had died. Multivariate Cox hazard regressions identified two main network-related components as predictors of survival: contact with friends, a social network interaction variable, and attendance at a synagogue, a social engagement variable. Friendship ties are seen to uniquely reduce mortality risk because they are based on choice in nature, and reflect a sense of personal control. Synagogue attendance is seen to promote survival mainly through its function as a source of communal attachment and, perhaps, as a reflection of spirituality as well. Other possibly network-related correlates of mortality were also noted in the current analysis—the receipt of instrumental support and the state of childlessness. The study on which this article is based was made possible by grants from the Israel Ministry of Science and Technology to the Israel Gerontological Data Center.     

Pregnant dreaming: Search for a typology of a proposed dream genre

Dreams during pregnancy were collected from post-partum women on the maternity ward of an Israeli hospital. Our data indicate that primipara women and women with complicated obstetrical histories were more likely to report increased dreaming during pregnancy. The collected dream corpus suggests that dreams during pregnancy can be viewed as a distinct dream genre. This paper develops a tentative typology of that genre. In addition, the authors argue that the context of disclosure was highly relevant to the sorts of manifest contents that were reported.     

Use of the Child Behavior Checklist in an Israeli adolescent psychiatric unit

This article deals with the Hebrew version of an instrument for the diagnosis of psychopathology in young adolescents: the Child Behavior Checklist and the associated Child Behavior Profile developed by Achenbach (1978). We report on a study of the reliability and validity of the checklist and its suitability for use with severely disturbed adolescents in Israel. Parents of 130 adolescents, 89 healthy and 41 sick, participated in the research. The scales were found to be valid in that two-thirds of the items were correctly assigned by clinicians in Israel to their respective scales; it is internally consistent as measured by the Cronbach coefficient; and it is reliable in distinguishing between patient and control groups. Scores for control adolescents in Israel were found to be very similar to norms in the United States, the Netherlands and Chile. This finding may have important implications for cross-cultural research.     

Prevalence and correlates of diphtheria toxoid antibodies in children and adults in Israel

A seroepidemiological study was performed to evaluate immunity to diphtheria and to determine the correlates of diphtheria toxoid antibody levels among children and adults in Israel. In total, 3,185 sera from an age-stratified sample of children and adults, obtained in 2000-2001, were tested for diphtheria toxoid antibodies by an in-house double-antigen ELISA. A level of or=0.1 IU/mL (full protection or seropositivity). Seronegativity increased significantly in subjects aged >50 years, reaching levels of 9.7%, 12.6% and 18.9% in the groups aged 50-54, 55-59 and >60 years, respectively (p 0.001), with rates of basic immunity following a similar pattern. Subjects born abroad had higher seronegativity rates than those born in Israel (7.7% vs. 4.9%; p 0.019). No difference in diphtheria toxoid antibody levels was found according to other demographical variables, such as gender, Jewish or Arab ethnicity, urban or rural settlements, and the subjects' place of residence. The level of immunity to diphtheria among children and adults in Israel was satisfactory, with the exception of individuals aged >50 years. The risk of diphtheria outbreaks is low, but sporadic cases may occur among individuals lacking basic immunity against the disease.     

Intimal changes associated with arterial spasm induced by periarterial application of calcium chloride

Arterial spasm was induced by application of calcium chloride to the adventitial surface of the rabbit common carotid artery in vivo. Sodium chloride (NaCl) was applied to the contralateral vessel as control. Vessels were fixed in situ by intravascular perfusion after 15 min, 1 hr, or 24 hr and prepared for light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). With SEM, the luminal surface at the site of calcium application showed severe longitudinal folding accompanied by endothelial desquamation with extensive platelet deposition on exposed subendothelium. The luminal cross-sectional area was reduced by 53 +/- 19.5% after 15 min and by 44 +/- 12% after 1 hr as compared with the contralateral control. Furthermore, the luminal area at the site of calcium application was found to be reduced by 42 +/- 8% after 1 hr when compared with segments of the same vessel distal to the site of calcium application. Blood flow rate, as measured by electromagnetic flow probe, was not reduced. Vessels examined after 24 hr showed a significant increase in luminal cross-sectional area as compared with contralateral control vessels (136 +/- 70%). Control vessels (NaCl) showed no significant change in luminal cross-sectional area and no endothelial desquamation or platelet deposition after 15 min, 1 hr, or 24 hr. Examination of histologic sections showed calcium precipitation within the attached thrombus after 15 min with calcium deposits also adherent to the adjacent luminal aspect of the internal elastic lamina (IEL). By 24 hr, this precipitation extended throughout the media. Marked deposition of leukocytes was seen after 24 hr which showed a preferential attachment for areas of endothelial damage and discontinuity of IEL.     

Genetically regulated human (T,G)-AL specific helper T cell replacing factors possess HLA-DR and Vh determinants

Human (T,G)-AL specific T cell helper factors secreted by in vitro activated peripheral blood lymphocytes of normal donors were characterized. Factors were passed through columns of Sepharose coupled either to antibodies against human immunoglobulin or antibodies against the variable region of the heavy (V_h) and light (V_l) chains of human immunoglobulin. In addition, the same factors were applied to columns of Sepharose coupled to anti-HLA-DR antibodies or to monoclonal antibodies against human Ia or β₂-microglobulin. The activity of the antigen specific factors was removed by the anti-V_h antibodies and not by anti-V_l or anti-human immunoglobulin antibodies. The factors passed through Sepharose coupled to anti-DR antibodies could be removed and eluted from columns of anti-DR antibodies relevant to the donors' DR antigens. The same factors were also removed by a monoclonal antibody (anti-Ia) which recognizes a monomorphic determinant on HLA-DR, but not by monoclonal anti-β₂-microglobulin. The results suggest that the genetically regulated (T,G)-AL specific helper factors possess HLA-DR as well as V_h determinants in their active moiety.     

“Together in a pressure cooker”: Parenting children with disabilities during the COVID-19 lockdown

BackgroundCOVID-19 has had a disproportionate and unprecedented impact on children with disabilities, their parents and families. This impact has been particularly evident during periods of lockdowns and severe restrictions.ObjectiveThis study employed the social model of disability to illuminate negative and positive experiences of Israeli parents of children with disabilities during the first COVID-19 lockdown, as well as the way social environments, particularly educational and welfare services, shape that experience.MethodsThe study draws upon thematic analysis of written responses of 80 Israeli parents to open-ended questions.ResultsThree main themes were found: (1) lack of responsiveness of both informal and formal supports to family needs, mainly in the educational and welfare systems; (2) juggling multiple roles and tasks along with the parents' routinely intensive caregiving role; and (3) the impact on the family's wellbeing and relationships.ConclusionThese results are discussed in light of the social model of disability, showing how social restrictions and barriers affect both negative and positive experiences of these families. Also discussed are practical implications for future crises.