757 research outputs found
Federal Earmarks in the State of Georgia
Earmarks have been controversial ever since becoming a prominent part of the congressional spending process. Critics charge that earmarks fund projects with little or no economic value (for instance Ted Stevensâ âBridge to Nowhere,â) but instead allow Congress members to direct government spending to campaign contributors (the charge leading to a federal investigation of the now-defunct lobbying firm PMA Group). On the other side of the controversy, congressional earmarks do fund a number of community improvements which are very valuable, at least locally. In Georgia, the fiscal 2010 appropriations bills included earmarks which allocated 2 million for needed repairs at Fort Pulaski outside of Savannah, 22 million for a new health and dental clinic at Fort Benning
Searching PubMed during a Pandemic
BACKGROUND: The 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic has generated thousands of articles and news items. However, finding relevant scientific articles in such rapidly developing health crises is a major challenge which, in turn, can affect decision-makers' ability to utilise up-to-date findings and ultimately shape public health interventions. This study set out to show the impact that the inconsistent naming of the pandemic can have on retrieving relevant scientific articles in PubMed/MEDLINE. METHODOLOGY: We first formulated a PubMed search algorithm covering different names of the influenza pandemic and simulated the results that it would have retrieved from weekly searches for relevant new records during the first 10 weeks of the pandemic. To assess the impact of failing to include every term in this search, we then conducted the same searches but omitted in turn "h1n1," "swine," "influenza" and "flu" from the search string, and compared the results to those for the full string. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: On average, our core search string identified 44.3 potentially relevant new records at the end of each week. Of these, we determined that an average of 27.8 records were relevant. When we excluded one term from the string, the percentage of records missed out of the total number of relevant records averaged 18.7% for omitting "h1n1," 13.6% for "swine," 17.5% for "influenza," and 20.6% for "flu." CONCLUSIONS: Due to inconsistent naming, while searching for scientific material about rapidly evolving situations such as the influenza A(H1N1) pandemic, there is a risk that one will miss relevant articles. To address this problem, the international scientific community should agree on nomenclature and the specific name to be used earlier, and the National Library of Medicine in the US could index potentially relevant materials faster and allow publishers to add alert tags to such materials
Who walks through the revolving door? Examining the lobbying activity of former members of Congress
This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Interest Groups and Advocacy on 14 January 2016. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online at: http://www.palgrave-journals.com/iga/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/iga201516a.html (DOI: 10.1057/iga.2015.16)Government watchdog groups and the government itself have shown concern about the ârevolving doorâ of employees moving from Congress to private lobbying organizations. As of yet, the academic literature analyzing who becomes a revolving door lobbyist is small but growing. We contribute to this literature by examining which former members of Congress become lobbyists. We construct a data set of all members of Congress who left the institution between 1976 and 2012, identifying those who go on to register as lobbyists. We observe several trends. Among these: there is not a significant difference in the rates at which former House members and senators become lobbyists; institutional standing (in the form of party leadership and other such positions) has a profound effect on which former House members become lobbyists, but less so among former senators; and there is some evidence that Republican former senators are more likely to become lobbyists than Democratic former senators, but this party difference is virtually absent among former House members
Hepatitis C seropositivity among newly incarcerated prisoners in Estonia: data analysis of electronic health records from 2014 to 2015
BACKGROUND:
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a widespread problem in
prisons. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of HCV
seropositivity, HCV genotypes, factors associated with HCV
seropositivity in newly incarcerated prisoners and to report
experiences of treatment with pegylated interferon/ribavirin for
HCV-positive inmates
Life, Death, and IQ: It\u27s Much More than Just a Score: Understanding and Utilizing Forensic Psychological and Neuropsychological Evaluations in Atkins Intellectual Disability/Mental Retardation Cases
This article highlights best practices for assessing MR and ID in capital cases with an emphasis on Atkins trial preparation and potential problems the authors have noted through experience. These best practices in Atkins hearings concern issues for the lawyers, forensic psychologists, and neuropsychologists, which include:
1. Practice effects and IQ testing
2. Consistency of IQ scores over time
3. Flynn Effect
4. Malingering versus cognitive suboptimal effort
5. Lack of records indicating pre-age 18 diagnosis of MR/ID
6. Retrospective assessment of adaptive behaviors
7. Death row trends of increasing IQ over the years while incarcerated
8. Maladaptive behaviors versus symptoms of conduct disorder and antisocial personality disorder
9. There need be no nexus between an Atkins finding of mental retardation and the adaptive behavioral aspects of criminal and homicidal behavior
10. Potential bias of collateral informants
11. Cultural issues inherent in IQ and adaptive testing
12. Considering the utilization of different experts within a particular case, i.e., assessment of adaptive functioning versus assessment of intelligence
13. Videotaping assessments
14. Litigation strategies expanding MR/ID findings.
Due to the length requirement of this article, some of these issues will be addressed and not to the extent of their respected complexities
Interactions between critical health system functions and HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria programmes
An evaluation of self-management outcomes among chronic care patients in community home-based care programmes in rural Malawi: A 12-month follow-up study.
"This paper investigates the impact of community
home-based care (CHBC) on self-management outcomes for
chronically ill patients in rural Malawi. A pre- and
post-evaluation survey was administered among 140 chronically
ill patients with HIV and non-communicable diseases, newly
enrolled in four CHBC programmes. We translated, adapted and
administered scales from the Stanford Chronic Disease
Self-Management Programme to evaluate patient's self-management
outcomes (health status and self-efficacy), at four time points
over a 12-month period, between April 2016 and May 2017. The
patient's drop-out rate was approximately 8%. Data analysis
included descriptive statistics, tests of associations,
correlations and pairwise comparison of outcome variables
between time points, and multivariate regression analysis to
explore factors associated with changes in self-efficacy
following CHBC interventions. The results indicate a reduction
in patient-reported pain, fatigue and illness intrusiveness,
while improvements in general health status and quality of life
were not statistically significant. At baseline, the
self-efficacy mean was 5.91, which dropped to 5.1 after
12\xC2\xA0months. Factors associated with this change included
marital status, education, employment and were
condition-related; whereby self-efficacy for non-HIV and
multimorbid patients was much lower. The odds for self-efficacy
improvement were lower for patients with diagnosed conditions of
longer duration. CHBC programme support, regularity of contact
and proximal location to other services influenced
self-efficacy. Programmes maintaining regular home visits had
higher patient satisfaction levels. Our findings suggest that
there were differential changes in self-management outcomes
following CHBC interventions. While self-management support
through CHBC programmes was evident, CHBC providers require
continuous training, supervision and sustainable funding to
strengthen their contribution. Furthermore, sociodemographic and
condition-related factors should inform the design of future
interventions to optimise outcomes. This study provides a
systematic evaluation of self-management outcomes for a
heterogeneous chronically ill patient population and highlights
the potential and relevant contribution of CHBC programmes in
improving chronic care within sub-Saharan Africa.
Context matters: a qualitative study of the practicalities and dilemmas of delivering integrated chronic care within primary and secondary care settings in a rural Malawian district
Background: With the increasing double burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in subSaharan Africa, health systems require new approaches to organise and deliver services for patients requiring longterm care. There is increasing recognition of the need to integrate health services, with evidence supporting
integration of HIV and NCD services through the reorganisation of health system inputs, across system levels. This
study investigates current practices of delivering and implementing integrated care for chronically-ill patients in
rural Malawi, focusing on the primary level.
Methods: A qualitative study on chronic care in Phalombe district conducted between April 2016 and May 2017,
with a sub-analysis performed on the data following a document analysis to understand the policy context and
how integration is conceptualised in Malawi; structured observations in five of the 15 district health facilities,
selected purposively to represent different levels of care (primary and secondary), and ownership (private and
public). Fifteen interviews with healthcare providers and managers, purposively selected from the above facilities.
Meetings with five non-governmental organisations to study their projects and support towards chronic care in
Phalombe. Data were analysed using a thematic approach and managed in NVivo.
Results: Our study found that, while policies supported integration of various disease-specific programmes at point
of care, integration efforts on the ground were severely hampered by human and health resource challenges e.g.
inadequate consultation rooms, erratic supplies especially for NCDs, and an overstretched health workforce. There
were notable achievements, though most prominent at the secondary level e.g. the establishment of a combined
NCD clinic, initiating NCD screening within HIV services, and initiatives for integrated information systems. Conclusion: In rural Malawi, major impediments to integrated care provision for chronically-ill patients include the
frail state of primary healthcare services and sub-optimal NCD care at the lowest healthcare level. In pursuit of
integrative strategies, opportunities lie in utilising and expanding community-based outreach strategies offering
multi-disease screening and care with strong referral linkages; careful task delegation and role realignment among
care teams supported with proper training and incentive mechanisms; and collaborative partnership between
public and private sector actors to expand the resource-base and promoting cross-programme initiatives
Changes to the national strategies, plans and guidelines for the treatment of hepatitis C in people who inject drugs between 2013 and 2016: a cross-sectional survey of 34 European countries
Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the leading cause of cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease and
hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. In Europe, people who inject drugs (PWID) represent the majority of
HCV infections, but are often excluded from treatment. The aim of this study was to report on national HCV
strategies, action plans and guidelines in European countries that include HCV treatment for the general population
as well as for PWID. Data on access to direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) were also collected.
Methods: In 2016, 38 non-governmental organisations, universities and public health institutions that work with
PWID in 34 European countries were invited to complete a 16-item online survey about current national HCV
treatment policies and guidelines. Data from 2016 were compared to those from 2013 for 33 European countries,
and time trends are presented. Differences in the data were analysed. Data from 2016 on general access to DAAs in
PWID are presented separately.
Results: The response rate was 100%. Fourteen countries (42%) reported having a national HCV strategy covering
HCV treatment; 12 of these addressed HCV treatment for PWID. Respondents from ten countries (29%) reported
having a national HCV action plan. PWID were specifically included in seven of them. Twenty-nine countries (85%)
reported having national HCV treatment guidelines. PWID were specifically included in 23 (79%) of them. Compared
to 2013, respondents reported that an additional seven countries (25%) had national strategies, an additional eight
countries (29%) had action plans and an additional six countries (19%) had HCV treatment guidelines. However,
PWID were not included in two, four and six of those countries, respectively. DAAs were reported to be available in
91% of the study countries, with restrictions reported in 71% of them.
Conclusion: Respondents reported that fewer than half of the European countries in this study had a national HCV
strategy and/or action plan, with even fewer including PWID. However, when compared to 2013, the number of
such countries had slightly increased. Although PWID are often addressed in clinical guidelines, strategic action is
needed to increase access to HCV treatment for this group and the situation should be regularly monitored
What do we know about inequalities in nafld distribution and outcomes?: A scoping review
With prevalence high and rising given the close relationship with obesity and diabetes mellitus, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is progressively becoming the most common chronic liver condition worldwide. However, little is known about the health inequalities in NAFLD distribution and outcomes. This review aims to analyze health inequalities in NAFLD distribution globally and to assess the health disparities in NAFLD-related outcomes. We conducted a scoping review of global health inequalities in NAFLD distribution and outcomes according to gender/sex, ethnicity/race, and socioeconomic position from PubMedâs inception to May 2021. Ultimately, 20 articles were included in the review, most (75%) of them carried out in the United States. Males were found to have a higher NAFLD prevalence (three articles), while available evidence suggests that women have an overall higher burden of advanced liver disease and complications (four articles), whereas they are less likely to be liver-transplanted once cirrhosis develops (one article). In the US, the Hispanic population had the highest NAFLD prevalence and poorer outcomes (seven articles), whereas Whites had fewer complications than other ethnicities (two articles). Patients with low socioeconomic status had higher NAFLD prevalence (four articles) and a higher likelihood of progression and complications (five articles). In conclusion, globally there is a lack of studies analyzing NAFLD prevalence and outcomes according to various axes of inequality through joint intersectional appraisals, and most studies included in our review were based on the US population. Available evidence suggests that NAFLD distribution and outcomes show large inequalities by social group. Further research on this issue is warranted.Fil: Talens, Mar. Universitat Pompeu Fabra; EspañaFil: Tumas, Natalia. Universitat Pompeu Fabra; España. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - CĂłrdoba. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudio sobre Cultura y Sociedad. Centro de Investigaciones de la Facultad de PsicologĂa - Grupo Vinculado CIPSI; Argentina. University Johns Hopkins; Estados UnidosFil: Lazarus, Jeffrey V.. Universidad de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Benach, Joan. Universidad AutĂłnoma de Madrid; España. University Johns Hopkins; Estados Unidos. Universitat Pompeu Fabra; EspañaFil: PericĂ s, Juan M.. Universitat Pompeu Fabra; España. University Johns Hopkins; Estados Unidos. Vall d'Hebron Institute for Research; España. Centro de InvestigaciĂłn BiomĂ©dica en Red de Enfermedades HepĂĄticas y Digestivas; Españ
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