Journal of the Royal Society of Health最新文献

A total of 3,184 paediatric patients with sporadic pharyngitis was studied at King Khalid University Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In addition, 478 children without pharyngitis who were matched for age and sex were included as controls. Group A beta-haemolytic streptococci (beta HS) were detected significantly more often among the children with pharyngitis than among the controls (8.4% vs 2.3%; p < 0.0001). In contrast, total non-group A and group C beta HS were isolated at lower frequency from the sick than control children (0.9% vs 2.5% and 0.2% vs 1.2% respectively; p < 0.01) while other non-group A beta HS such as groups B, G and F were each isolated in similar frequency from both the sick and control children. We conclude that non-group A beta HS appear not to be as important as aetiological agents of sporadic pharyngitis in these children.

The present study was conducted to examine the perception of participating physicians in hospital and primary health care (PHC) on the nature of illness that requires home visits, type and job description of health personnel that should make home visits and other prerequisites needed for successful home visits. A predesigned questionnaire consisting of demographic and professional characteristics of doctors was sent confidentially to randomly selected PHC and hospital doctors during the period January to June 1994. The respondents were asked to give their opinion on the categories of health problems that necessitate home visits, job descriptions of various professionals needed and the prerequisites for the successful running of home visits. Three hundred and ninety-six PHC and 238 hospital doctors participated in the study. PHC doctors were younger, having more females and less qualified than hospital doctors. Both PHC doctors and hospital doctors gave priority to bed-ridden patients and lowest priority to mobile chronically ill patients. PHC doctors were more keen on home visits than hospital doctors. More PHC doctors than their hospital counterparts would like nurses and health visitors to be involved in nursing procedures performed at home except when it comes to notifying doctors about patients' problems. In case of stroke more hospital doctors would like physiotherapists to be involved than PHC doctors and vice versa in the case of osteoarthritis. Most PHC doctors preferred occupational therapists involvement in training patients and the modification of their environment to lead independent lives. More hospital doctors than their PHC counterparts preferred afternoon sessions for home visits. The respondents' views in the present study can be made use of in establishing a home visit programme to the Saudi elderly to need of such services. In addition, the number, qualifications and responsibilities of the various professionals involved in the visit should be re-evaluated after adequate implementation.

A total of 400 subjects was randomly selected from 40 villages in the Uruan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State for the study. The purposes of the study were to: i. identify the 'established benefits' of female circumcision; ii. identify the health hazards that accompany the practice; and iii. create awareness among community members of the ill-effects of the practice. The study discovered a strong belief in the established benefits and poor appreciation of the health hazards of female circumcision by the participants. Recommendations were made for more efforts in public health education programmes on the ill-effects of the practice. Studies were also recommended to be conducted in other parts of the country to assess the level of awareness on the ill-effects of such an operation and the institution of educational programmes where applicable.

There is a longstanding debate on the contribution of social marketing to public health in general, and to health education and health promotion in particular. This paper presents further discussion from a public health point of view and concludes that priority should be given to health-oriented approaches rather than market-oriented strategies. It is argued that, at best, social marketing is a tool not a solution for health education's and health promotion's problems. To communicate health education messages effectively and efficiently, health needs assessment is recommended as a way forward. It is a public health approach and contains a range of flexible methods in the implementation of health education/promotion programmes.

This paper considers many of the aspects of work-related stress, including problems of definition, the legal duties and responsibilities of employers towards their employees concerning stress. It includes an outline of some of the possible financial consequences (and legal penalties) if employers do not, so far as is reasonably practicable, take appropriate action to remove, reduce or alleviate work-related stressors affecting their employees' health. The paper concludes with a summary of a range of coping strategies which will assist employers to comply with legislative requirements and duties.