A Study of Social Network Interactions amongst Women with Dysthymia

The aim of this work was to study the higher incidence of dysthymia amongst women and to further explore the theory of gender inequality from the point of the sufferer's difference to other women. This is in contrast to the majority of health studies which have considered women as a homogenous group with little regard for individual characteristic differences. The thesis considered, `What are the mental health implications of women socialised to be different to men, but the same as other women, in a male dominated society?' Four women (21-49 years) with a diagnosis of dysthymia receiving psychodynamic short-term psychotherapy (as out-patients) were subjected to four semi-structured interviews, that ran concurrent to, but without collaboration with, their psychotherapeutic treatment. Social network graphs were compiled to produce a systematic account of how women differentiated themselves from each other within their social networks and to determine whether these individual differences could be developed as independent variables with regards the onset, maintenance and recovery from dysthymia. Data was compiled into a series of exploratory case studies and discussed in relationship to social network constellations. The emerging patterns of social interactions between social network members were then matched to feminist theory. The findings suggested that respondents' were socialised by their mothers to be stereotypical men within the context of highly dense, isolated and achievement orientated social networks. These social networks served to equate both mother and respondent with male power and differentiated them from other women. The subsequent social isolation and their ability to live up to their mother's ambitions for them generated loss and anxiety associated with dysthymia (Arieti & Bemporad, 1978). Recovery from dysthymia was directly related to the formulation of secondary and previously unidentified independent `weblet' constellations, that simultaneously reinforced respondents similarities to other women while accommodating their individual characteristic differences

Comment: Kidney exchange to overcome financial barriers to kidney transplantation

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The use of social networking technology in the promotion and scaling up of complex global health initiatives

Western medicine has a long tradition of humanitarian service in low resource countries and in crisis and disaster situations. However, advances in social network technology have dramatically changed the manner in which global health services are delivered. A new generation of healthcare professionals, modeled as social entrepreneurs, utilizing collaborative and nonprofit models is establishing relationships with healthcare professionals in host countries, to actively track early disease detection, scaling up of services and research. Oftentimes, technology allows healthcare professionals to contribute to these efforts remotely and without detracting from their routine clinical work as well as facilitating more flexible pathways for global health training in postgraduate education. This paper examines the limitations and opportunities for the utilization of social networking technology, including health care workers as social entrepreneurs, in early disease detection and in scaling up of services and research. Key words: global healthcare entrepreneurs, global burden of disease, social network technology, low resource countries, scaling up, capacity building, social enterpris

Global risk taking and decision making amongst live paired renal transplant patients

The proposed research project is designed to advance global scientific knowledge of decision making and risk taking amongst candidates for live paired renal transplants. The study will focus upon the transplant team, patient, donor and their social networks in the context of the decision making process, quality and decision readiness to proceed with live paired organs. More specifically, how the transplant team, recipients, donors and patient’s wider social networks communicate knowledge and the manner in which the experience of chronic illness (kidney failure) impacts upon the decision making process. We are particularly interested to study decision making and risk taking amongst minority groups (e.g. Black and Asian populations) who, according to the NHS Organ Donor Register, are three times as likely to need an organ transplant than their caucasian counterparts, but less likely to donate an organ. Also women, who are more likely to be organ donors and less likely to receive a donor organ, than their male counterparts

Trust Deficit in Surgical Systems in an Urban Slum in India Under Universal Health Coverage: A Mixed Method Study

Objectives: We carried out a mixed method study to understand why patients did not avail of surgical care in an urban slum in India. Methods: In our earlier study, we found that out of 10,330 people, 3.46% needed surgery; 42% did not avail of surgery (unmet needs). We conducted a follow-up study to understand reasons for not availing surgery, 141 in met needs, 91 in unmet needs. We administered 2 instruments, 16 in-depth interviews and 1 focused group discussion. Results: Responses from the 2 groups for “the Socio-culturally Competent Trust in Physician Scale for a Developing Country Setting” scale did not have significant difference except for, prescription of medicines, patients with unmet needs were less likely to agree (p = 0.076). Results between 2 groups regarding “Patient perceptions of quality” did not show significant difference except for doctors answering questions where a higher proportion of unmet need group agreed (p = 0.064). Similar observations were made in the in depth interviews and focus group. Conclusion: There is a need for understanding trust issues with health service delivery related to surgical care for marginalized populations

Building Global Capacity In Military Veteran Care Using Distance Learning

Topics Covered: 1. Broadening the scope of veteran care capacity 2. Building veteran care capacity as a global health issue 3. The role of education led research in building veteran care capacity 4. Disseminating veteran care capacity via education and engagement initiative 5. Veteran care as a tool of global health engagement 6. Future agendas in education led researc